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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
sharrona has commented on (98) products
The Paris Directive
by
Gerald Jay
sharrona
, October 18, 2014
This book was enjoyable on several levels: the writing was excellent, the staging and scenery were vivid, and the storytelling was engaging. In any "first in a series" novel, it's hard to strike a balance between the plot and characters, challenging to keep the reader's interest while building characters who will return in future books. Here, I was left wanting more about Mazarelle, and of course I'll hunt down the next book in the series. (Mission accomplished, Gerald Jay!) My only gripe is that Mazarelle is too much like Louise Penny's Inspector Armand Gamache, even to the point of having an obnoxious junior sidekick. Penny's series has been one of my favorites for years, and reading this book was difficult as I struggled with the almost-Gamache character.
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Egg & Spoon
by
Gregory Maguire
sharrona
, September 26, 2014
Delightful blending of three Russian folktales. Although it's set near the end of the tsars' reign, the author humorously inserts many tidbits of modern culture. "The usual suspects" all show up -- tsars, Rasputin, Baba Yaga, the Firebird, the Ice Dragon, matroyshka dolls, Russian winter, and so on. This story has the power to lift you away from today's reality, make you laugh, and perhaps even make you cry. Definitely Maguire's best since Wicked. I enjoyed it enough to read it again, but preferably in print the next time, so I can turn back a few pages (or chapters) to find some elusive reference or description, and to remind myself "Who is the narrator, this guy who's in prison?"
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Live to Tell
by
Lisa Gardner
sharrona
, March 14, 2014
4th in the D. D. Warren series, something of a letdown, could've been a much shorter, tighter, and more tense story. I read this series out-of-order, as the books became available, and this is my last until more are published. Reading it, I noticed something else about the writing: Gardner didn't make the major characters very distinct. Although each chapter was titled with the name of a character, and unfolded mostly in first-person perspective, they all seemed quite similar. I had to keep asking myself "Now which one is Victoria? Which one is Danielle? Who's Karen?" The book I liked best in the series was an audio version of CATCH ME, and the narrator(s) did a great job of giving the characters distinct voices. I don't recall ever saying this before, but an abridged audio version of LIVE TO TELL might be an improvement!
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Telling Room A Tale of Love Betrayal Revenge & the Worlds Greatest Piece of Cheese
by
Michael Paterniti
sharrona
, August 30, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyable book -- a non-fiction account of stories, storytellers, storytelling, and listening. Oh yes, and a very special cheese. Beautifully written, with the most entertaining (though sometimes tangential) footnotes I've encountered for a long time. Ambrosio, the legendary, heroic, larger-than-life cheesemaker, dominates most of the book. He is such a compelling character that I did not want to read the latter sections the author gleaned from those who might contradict Ambrosio's stories and thus diminish him. But by the end of the book, I turned the last page almost expecting to see another chapter, or even a footnote, containing that single remaining hoped-for event.
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Between Worlds The Making Of A Political
by
Bill Richardson
sharrona
, July 17, 2013
Hearing this book, I could almost imagine that Bill Richardson is sitting over in the corner telling me stories. He reads this abridged version of his published memoir smoothly, and makes the listening most enjoyable. As in most of his public life, he takes a positive point of view on events and people, and when there's something negative to say, he does so simply and directly, without rancor. Richardson is one of my most admired Americans, and being reminded a little more about his background and work history only intensifies my respect for him.
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13 1 2
by
Nevada Barr
sharrona
, June 24, 2013
These comments apply to the unabridged audio version, read by Dan John Miller: What a huge disappointment for my family! We've enjoyed every one of Barr's Anna Pigeon series over the years and looked forward to hearing this one. A few lines of dialog in the first chapter leapt out at me and ruined whatever suspense/mystery might have carried the story. I wondered later if perhaps the reader, knowing the whole story at the time he read aloud, might have tried too hard to make a couple of comments seem unimportant. Something in his delivery made me ask a question and then mentally answer it. Not until the last chapter did the author give the answer -- the same answer -- but by then I was too bored to care. The characters were not very compelling. Good people, striving to succeed and live a full life in spite of horrendous childhood experiences...shouldn't it be fairly easy to make them appealing? And the villain was one-dimensionally evil, with no real background on why he was that way. Even a favorite author falters once in awhile, but I will not seek out any future non-series books Ms. Barr chooses to publish.
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Breaking Point
by
C. J. Box, C J Box
sharrona
, April 25, 2013
Another excellent addition to the Joe Pickett series. I have to admit, halfway through I scanned the rest of the book looking for Nate Romanowski's name! He's definitely my favorite among the continuing characters. As with other books in the series, BREAKING POINT makes a compelling case in favor of environmentalism, and a strong case against ineffective/corrupt government bureaucracy. These aren't the most subtle points of the story, but whether you agree or disagree with Box' political views, the people carry the story. The characters are distinctively written, easy to understand (though not always easy to admire), and bring the story to life in a way that seems chillingly real, or at least possible. I had only one criticism of the storyline. Without giving spoilers: The main character chose a difficult and high-risk solution to a problem when a much simpler and almost foolproof, low-risk solution was available. I wondered why, as I read about his decision, and also wondered why none of the other characters suggested it. Soon I realized this implausible choice was necessary to get to the rest of the story. One of the most rewarding things about following a series is that the continuing characters and locations become familiar. A one-sentence reference to a past event, or to a person not in the present story, evokes a memory of another whole book. In this way, each book gets better and richer with the accumulated history of the series.
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Music of Ghosts
by
Sallie Bissell
sharrona
, April 16, 2013
5th in the Mary Crow mystery series -- it was a long wait for this excellent addition to a favorite series, but well worth it. I have missed the two main continuing characters as I would distant family, and it's good to reune. The story was easy to follow but tough to figure out, with subtle clues that were apparent only after they were no longer needed! I said "I shoulda known that!" more than once. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and I'm so glad that another book is scheduled for next year!
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Two Graves
by
Douglas J Preston, Lincoln Child, Douglas Preston
sharrona
, April 07, 2013
Impeccable narration by René Auberjunois could not overcome my disappointment at this implausible, fragmented, and frustrating "visit" with Special Agent Pendergast. Three or four separate plots--and I do mean separate--never connected the characters we usually enjoy as an ensemble. Pendergast was in South America, Corey Swanson was in Kansas, Constance Green was following her own story line, and NYPD Detective Vincent D'Agosta was mere window-dressing. None of the plots overlapped or worked together, yet none was strong enough to stand alone. They are not improved by being bound together in one volume. I usually enjoy suspending disbelief, at least a little bit, when going on an adventure with Pendergast. But the main plot, focusing on him, was a deadly combination of "timeworn" and "ridiculous." Pendergast remains one of my favorite continuing characters, and I will most likely read the next novel as soon as it's available. By then I hope the bitter taste of this one will have dissipated.
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Death of Yesterday
by
M C Beaton
sharrona
, March 30, 2013
Hamish Macbeth #29 (2013 addition to the mystery series) Unabridged audio narrated by Graeme Malcolm After the first moments of the narrator speaking over harsh jangly intro music, this book was wonderful! I enjoyed Mr. Malcolm's rendition of various accents, and he was able to differentiate among characters without making any of them sound too extreme. The story was up to Beaton's high standards for this series; each book seems like a visit to Lochdubh to see old friends. Having read the first 28 books in only a few months, I am now reduced to waiting a year for each new addition, and it's difficult!
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Beggars Opera
by
Peggy Blair and Nicole Winstanley
sharrona
, March 29, 2013
First novel in a new series featuring Inspector Ricardo Ramirez, head of the Havana Major Crimes Unit -- This book is fast-paced and suspenseful, with short chapters, crisp writing, and plot threads that move from scattered to tightly knotted as the story unfolds. Everything that happened at the end was hinted at earlier in the book; some things that were hinted at didn't happen -- and that makes for a good mystery. I will definitely read the second book in this series and will wait impatiently for more.
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Growing Up in the South
by
Suzanne W Jones
sharrona
, March 17, 2013
Interesting collection, including unfamiliar passages from familiar authors plus a few new ones I'd not met before. This sampling will definitely motivate me to read some of their other works.
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Cutting Season A Novel
by
Attica Locke
sharrona
, March 14, 2013
After enjoying Attica Locke's first novel, BLACK WATER RISING, I expected another fast-paced, tense, and action-filled story. THE CUTTING SEASON was a disappointment in all three areas. Aside from the finding of a body in a shallow grave, everything else in the first 3/4 of the book seemed like background or side-story. Very little happened to advance the plot. As I started to listen, I groaned aloud at the narrator's voice. She sounded like a cranky child. But within a few minutes I got used to her, and appreciated her clear diction and the appropriate emotional content of her reading. Quincy Tyler Bernstine's narration actually improved the story. A romantic scene seemed to be added for no purpose at all; it gave little insight into the characters beyond making me like them a bit less for their questionable encounter. As with much of the text, it had nothing to do with the plot. I have already recommended BLACK WATER RISING to many friends, and will continue to do so, but I've also started adding "but avoid Locke's second book."
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Remember Me Irene
by
Jan Burke
sharrona
, March 07, 2013
Another great addition to the Irene Kelly series! Irene unexpectedly meets one of her former college professors, who's now a bum living on the street. Soon she's investigating his murder, and the clues go back 20 years or more.
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Quiche of Death 20th anniversary edition
by
M C Beaton
sharrona
, March 03, 2013
A slow, gentle start to what I assume may be a slow and gentle series. The writing and storytelling are very good, up to the standard Beaton set in her Hamish Macbeth series. But Agatha Raisin herself doesn't grab me yet: she is neither likable nor unlikeable. Good friends -- friends who have never steered me wrong on book recommendations -- strongly recommended the series, so I will read at least one more before deciding.
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Forest House
by
Marion Zimmer Bradley
sharrona
, March 02, 2013
This book was a disappointment. After enjoying _The Mists of Avalon_ when it was first published, I looked forward to getting into the series. MZB died in 1999, and this book was published in 1997 I believe, so perhaps she was relying more on her sister to do the writing by then. Diana Paxson is not credited in any way in the edition of the book I have, though she's listed as co-author on several websites. If this is an indication of the rest of the series, I'll have to say "thanks but no thanks." The last 20 pages or so were good, and would've made a great short story, but the rest of the book was dull and poorly written.
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Connections
by
James Burke
sharrona
, February 27, 2013
One of my favorite books of all time! I've bought many copies and given them away. This is perhaps the only (or at least the first) science book that can take my breath away with the beauty of a thought, or bring tears to my eyes.
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Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
by
Alan Bradley
sharrona
, February 26, 2013
(Flavia deLuce mystery #1) Great start to a new series! Flavia de Luce is a charming child, not completely childlike but yet not fully adult, either. She functions in both worlds -- the realm of murder, policemen, unwitting and "witting" adults, as well as in her small family as the youngest of three sisters. Flavia is bright but not nerdy, clever but not obnoxious, and always eager to excel and to please those few adults who treat her as an equal. There's a good dose of gentle humor in her character, and in Bradley's writing. By the time I'd read half the book, I had already started looking for others in the series and had recommended it to several friends. The book included an excellent interview with the author. I was wondering how a 70-ish Canadian man could be inspired to write about an 11-year-old British girl of the 1950s, and this brief conversation gave me insight into Bradley's way of writing and thinking.
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Rosemary Remembered
by
Susan Wittig Albert
sharrona
, February 25, 2013
A good addition to the China Bayles series The first two books in this series didn't "wow" me, but appealed enough for me to try two more. After reading the 3rd and (this) 4th books in 2 days, I was hooked. The author seems to have hit her stride, and lucky for us readers, the series continues. The mystery plot in this book was excellent, just complex enough to be interesting and yet simple enough (once explained at the end) to make sense and leave no annoying loose ends. The characters, relationships, and the community continue to develop from book to book. The continuing characters are the kind of folks I'd like for neighbors and friends.
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Hour Before Daylight Memoirs of a Rural Boyhood
by
Jimmy Carter
sharrona
, February 24, 2013
Listening to former President Carter read this abridged (6 hr) version of his autobiography was like having him sitting in the room telling me stories. Very enlightening. It's always amazing to me to listen to the experiences of someone who lived through the Great Depression. Well-written, well-read, and very enjoyable.
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The Illuminator
by
Brenda Rickman Vantrease
sharrona
, February 20, 2013
The beautiful cover is what attracted me to this book at first. After I'd read 50 pages or so I thought it was a marvelous historical thriller. After 100 pages my opinion dropped a bit, and I would've called it a historical romance. But I did follow the story to the end, which was sad, but not particularly thought-provoking. I've read that the author did a lot of legitimate historical research into the late 14th century in England, and that shows, but there's not much meat on the bones of the plot. The title character is a truly admirable person, and he's rewarded with the greatest measure of sadness. All in all, fairly depressing, and for little purpose.
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Sacrifice
by
S J Bolton
sharrona
, February 17, 2013
A well-told story, with lots of twists and turns. Before starting it, I read a bit about the author and her writing of this book. So as the story unfolded, I thought I knew things the "average" reader didn't know. But I was still fooled, and fooled again, and misled on a merry chase of the truth. Some readers have suggested a sequel. As the tension and eerie dynamic among the three main characters was resolved nicely at the end of this book, I'm not sure they have the strength to sustain more plot. And as far as I can tell, Bolton's subsequent books are also stand-alones.
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Postmistress
by
Sarah Blake
sharrona
, February 15, 2013
A hauntingly told story of how individuals cope with day-to-day life under the threat or reality of war, set in the days before the USA entered World War II. A radio reporter travels through occupied Europe; an American physician volunteers in London; a postmaster and her small Cape Cod community wait, watch, and listen. Even without the clever set-the-stage introduction, these characters and this story would have seemed real.
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Templar Legacy
by
Steve Berry
sharrona
, February 14, 2013
The Templar Legacy (Cotton Malone #1) Audio CD 7-hour abridgement by Robert Hack, approved by the author, and read by Brian Corrigan This book was far superior to the author's THE THIRD SECRET, which I heard in unabridged format a few months earlier. It was plausible, entertaining, and did not lose its tight story line by being abridged. An intriguing introduction to continuing lead character Cotton Malone. Excellent reader, too.
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First Thrills High Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors
by
Lee Child
sharrona
, February 10, 2013
A collection of 24 short stories from International Thriller Writers, Inc., introduced by Lee Child with an afterword by Steve Berry. A few of the authors are familiar favorites (Jeffery Deaver, Karin Slaughter, Stephen Coonts, Ken Bruen, Alex Kava, and John Lescroart) but most are being newly-introduced by this publisher. Many are very good, some are very coarse and gory, and there's even one surprising science fiction story by an established spy-thriller writer! A good and entertaining mix!
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Third Secret
by
Steve Berry
sharrona
, February 09, 2013
Pretty interesting. If the background information presented is factual, then I'd say I learned a lot of trivia about the Catholic church. (If not, it still set up and supported the story line nicely.) I found the ending to be a letdown. It almost turned into a religious campaign for Christianity and specifically for the Catholic church. I liked the mystery/suspense/intrigue parts of the story just fine, though!
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Lace Reader
by
Brunonia Barry
sharrona
, February 08, 2013
Brunonia Barry's THE LACE READER grabs the reader's attention from the first page, and never disappoints. It's well-written, well-edited, and tells quite a "tall tale" that seems real. Engaging characters -- even the ones the author makes unlikeable -- carry the story along from different points of view. I read it almost nonstop and immediately sent it to my best friend, who quickly emailed "Read one page and I'm hooked." It's clear why this book has gotten the attention that it has. I can only hope it marks the beginning of a very long writing career.
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Clan of the Cave Bear Earths Children 1
by
Jean M Auel
sharrona
, February 07, 2013
Vast epic novel of the beginning of humanity. Could all of that progress really be compressed into the life of one mere woman -- Ayla? Although it stretches credibility, it's a well-told tale, and the beginning of a strong series.
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Behind the Scenes at the Museum
by
Kate Atkinson
sharrona
, February 06, 2013
This book was quite boring. Within the first few pages (when Ruby describes her own birth) hints were dropped about the ultimate "big secret" of the book. By the time I'd read a quarter of the book, there were so many hints it wasn't a secret any more. By the time I got to the end, I was disappointed that there wasn't anything more to the story than that. None of the characters were particularly likeable, nor were they bad enough to hate. The book was billed as "darkly funny and satirical" in one review. I saw no humor except for the brief slapstick physical mishaps at a wedding reception late in the book. On reflection, I gained nothing from reading this book, and got about a half-minute of laughter from that one scene. It truly was a waste of my limited reading time.
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Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, Balco, and the Steroids Scandal That Rocked Professional Sports
by
Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams
sharrona
, February 05, 2013
(These comments refer to the unabridged audio version of the book, narrated by Scott Brick.) Various anecdotes and bits of back-story on the infamous "steroids scandal" that rocked professional baseball in the early 21st century. The narration was very good: the reader seemed genuinely enthused about the text, and that helped to hold my interest. The book was an interesting snapshot of a time just before Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's home run record. Sadly, the drug abuse and cheating continue today.
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Real Deadwood
by
John Ames
sharrona
, February 05, 2013
This book was so poorly edited that it was almost painful to read. Many interesting anecdotes were clumsily tied in to a TV series called "Deadwood" (which I'd never heard of until I read this book).
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
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Thyme Of Death: A China Bayles Mystery: China Bayles 1
by
Susan Wittig Albert
sharrona
, February 04, 2013
Pretty good mystery! Now that I've read the 1st and 2nd in the China Bayles series, I'll work my way through the rest of them. I think this is a series that is best read all together. The characters and setting aren't (yet) strong enough to be remembered over a long lapse between books. In contrast, Kay Scarpetta, V. I. Warshawsky, Kinsey Millhone, Mary Crow, Deborah Knott, and Benni Harper feel like distant relatives that I'll never forget and will always be glad to hear from/about. I think this series has the potential to create that kind of attachment; that's why I'll continue to read them.
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Watership Down
by
Richard Adams
sharrona
, February 03, 2013
Can't say enough good about this book. It's entertaining on several levels -- the lives of a community of rabbits, and the allegory to human society. Was made into a pretty decent movie, too. Part of my lifetime permanent library; I'll read it again and again.
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Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball
by
George F. Will and Bob Costas
sharrona
, February 01, 2013
In a time when most of the sensations in baseball are about cheating, doping, and other misbehavior (on and off the field) it's refreshing to hear George Will's take on four well-known and admirable figures in the sport. Excellent reading by Bob Costas, though he sounded a bit hurried in places. Perhaps he, too, felt that the abridgement of a substantial book to two cassettes was too short!
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Catch Me
by
Lisa Gardner
sharrona
, January 31, 2013
Fast-paced suspenseful story, unfolded in small pieces that the reader can fit together. As more pieces are added, the puzzle has to be rearranged again and again. Just when it all seems clear -- something new! This is the kind of storytelling that appeals to folks who like to figure out "whodunnit" before being told. The narrator's speaking voice is pleasant, and she enunciates clearly. However, she read two major characters so similarly that I often couldn't tell them apart. When I finally caught on to who was speaking, I wished I could "turn back a page or two" to review what she had said and what it meant. Having heard one D. D. Warren short story, and then this novel, I'm definitely interested enough in Lisa Gardner's writing to seek out more in this series.
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Black Water Rising
by
Attica Locke
sharrona
, January 29, 2013
Endearing underdog Jay Porter always endeavors to do what's right, but he makes some gargantuan detours on the way. Readers learn tantalizing bits and pieces of information, just as he does, and must tolerate unanswered questions along with him. Locke structures the tale as a mixture of present-day and past anecdotes, and gradually ties events and people together. The book was very hard to put down, and I was sorry to see it end. It left me with a few unanswered questions, and thus the haunting uncertainties of Porter's life and future will stick with me. My only complaint is that this author's work deserves better editing. One particularly perplexing sentence, for example, says "Jay grabs the shotgun from his wife, slides a bullet into the chamber, and points the barrel of the rifle at the intruder."
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Selected Poems
by
Robert Frost
sharrona
, January 28, 2013
Robert Frost has been my favorite American poet since I heard him recite one of his poems at President Kennedy's inauguration. I was 12 at the time, and Frost was near the end of his long life. Since then I have memorized a few of his poems. His words will always be part of me. He writes beautifully, and simply, of things familiar and commonplace. Yet there is more to his work than first meets the eye. "Some say the world will end in fire; some say in ice," and "Something there is that doesn't love a wall," and "For I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep." The only thing that could improve this book would be to include more of his poems.
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7th Month A Detective D D Warren Story
by
Lisa Gardner
sharrona
, January 26, 2013
It's hard to compare a "long short story" or "short novella" to the author's full-length novels. This one is a good detective story, from setting up a murder to solving it in a span of 2 days, (and under 2 hours in the unabridged audio version). As in most short fiction, there's little room for extras such as character development, background, scenery, etc. Readers familiar with the D. D. Warren series will be please to see a slightly different angle on Warren's life just prior to the events of CATCH ME, Gardner's next novel. Excellent narration distinguished characters, genders, and moods without going overboard.
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Innocent Unabridged
by
Scott Turow
sharrona
, January 24, 2013
Tense and exciting rematch between Rusty Sabich and Tommy Molto, 20 years after the events of Turow's PRESUMED INNOCENT (which, cleverly, were not detailed in this story). Nor was the surprise ending of this book given away ahead of time, yet upon hearing it, I knew it fit all the facts. A well-written, fast-paced story expertly narrated by Edward Hermann and Orlagh Cassidy.
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Red Mist Scarpetta 19
by
Patricia Cornwell
sharrona
, January 18, 2013
RED MIST is a welcome return to the style and character of Patricia Cornwell's early Kay Scarpetta novels. For a few years, the author's work was bitter and all the characters seemed angry; the books were not pleasant to read. It's great to welcome "the real" Kay Scarpetta back. Kate Burton narrated this book beautifully. She gave each character a distinctive voice without overdoing the accents...even including a brief conversation with an Australian man! A good narrator can make or break a book, and Burton is the best reader for Cornwell of several I've heard. The multiple murder mystery was well-plotted, and when the "whodunnit" was revealed, I felt that I had been given all the facts and a fair chance to figure it out along with Scarpetta.
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Cove
by
Ron Rash
sharrona
, January 08, 2013
Set in the southern Appalachians during WWI, this compelling story defies categorization: southern lit, historical fiction, a war story, a love story, something mysterious and eerie...all descriptions fit, yet none fits perfectly; THE COVE is one-of-a-kind. Ron Rash writes short books, filled with simple sentences and basic language. Yet there is great magic in his storytelling. He creates a sense of place that is much as I imagine this area would have been in the early 20th century. A strong fear of the unknown permeates his characters, whether that's fear of strangers, fear of Germans, fear of a woman's birthmark, fear of a haunted cove where Laurel lives in isolation with her war-damaged brother. Characters are drawn clearly with little wasted language, and are distinct in their views of life and their treatment of others. The story drew me along, coaxed me to put off asking a few questions that turned out to be important. This is a very subtle and effective form of foreshadowing, and when secrets were revealed near the end of the story, I said to myself "I should have known." (Not "I knew it!") Rash's ONE FOOT IN EDEN is one of my favorites of the past decade, and THE COVE will join it on my "keep and read again" shelf.
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The Colorado Kid
by
Stephen King
sharrona
, January 06, 2013
Excellent story, surprisingly brief for Stephen King (4 CDs, unabridged), and surprisingly not focused on horror or the supernatural, this was a straight-up "whodunnit" -- plus the "why?" and "how?" and all the other questions journalists seek to answer. But rather than the traditional formula of a mystery story, The Colorado Kid was more about the art of telling a story than the story itself. Narrator Jeffrey DeMunn did a beautiful job of creating distinctive voices of two elderly Maine coast newspapermen, without reducing their "down East" accents to something laughable or unintelliglble. He also kept separate the voice of a woman grad student interning with them. This book interested me when I learned it was the basis, or at least the initial inspiration, for the SyFy TV series "Haven," and it did not disappoint.
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Death of a Kingfisher
by
M. C. Beaton
sharrona
, January 05, 2013
A bittersweet pleasure, as this is the most recent book in this series and we'll have to wait another year for more story! Having just recently discovered this author and series, we've enjoyed all 28 visits to the village of Lochdubh in northern Scotland (or "Sutherland" as the Vikings called it when they came south for a break from their weather). Beaton's storytelling is magical, in that she creates such lively and distinct characters with few words. None of the books has taken us more than several evenings of reading aloud, yet the characters, environment, community, relationships, and murder-of-the-moment are richly detailed and seem quite real.
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Night Train A Novel
by
Clyde Edgerton
sharrona
, December 03, 2012
The two young men, one white and one black, living in North Carolina, were my age-peers as I grew up in nearby Virginia. I grasp their circumstances and identified with many of the small details of their lives. As the book progressed, I kept waiting for the "setting the stage" portion to end, and "the story" to begin. Unfortunately, it never did. When there is virtually no plot, the characters and environment have to take the lead. The environment was vividly portrayed, and a variety of characters were moderately interesting. I have to admit, through most of the book I had no idea which characters were black and which were white; this surprised me, as the teasers for the book indicated it was a story about a black-and-white friendship and the racial divisions in a community. All in all, this book was much less than I had hoped.
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Silks
by
Dick Francis
sharrona
, December 01, 2012
A decent, though not outstanding, addition to the long-running body of steeplechase racing mysteries by Dick Francis. Contrary to some comments, I thought Felix Francis' input was apparent -- not so much in specific paragraphs or plot elements, but in an overall tone. For example, the language and behavior was somewhat coarser than Dick Francis usually wrote. But my biggest criticism is one of structure and formula for a successful mystery story: The missing piece of information needed to solve the crime was withheld from the reader until the very end. Had we known that fact at the same time Geoffrey "Perry" Mason learned it, we would've had a chance to solve the riddle along with him. Instead, we were relegated to the role of passive observers.
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Locked In
by
Marcia Muller
sharrona
, November 30, 2012
An interesting change in viewpoint for fans of this long-running mystery series: with McCone out of commission, the other continuing characters show their stuff and develop more independently. Very short chapters (2-3 pages) keep the action moving among all story lines. Excellent story, but not the place for a new fan to begin the series!
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Map Of Bones Sigma Force 02
by
James Rollins
sharrona
, November 29, 2012
There's a bit too much "formula" in this book: the plot moves from one inescapable situation to another, with the good guys always escaping. Not much character development, not much of the bad guys' motivation presented, but lots of suspense and fast action. I must admit that the formula worked on me, as I was eager to keep reading the 521 pages to see "what next?"
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Anywhere Anytime Any Body Yoga
by
Emily Slonina
sharrona
, November 28, 2012
A quick glance through this book confirms the sincerity of the "Any Body" yoga title. After reading a few pages, this long-time wannabee is actually doing it! Emily Slonina's approach is gentle, supportive, and pressure-free. She emphasizes safe postures, and encourages students to learn their own limits below the pain threshold. She shows and tells not only what to do, but why and how it works. Understanding this "engineering structure" helps me learn and remember the moves. These moves can be done in short sessions throughout the day -- while lying in bed, sitting in a wheelchair, in a car during a traffic jam, standing in line at the post office, while gardening, etc. This book (written in response to demand from Emily's students) is well organized, clearly written, and generously illustrated. It will remain a well-used part of my permanent library, and of my life!
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Old City Hall
by
Robert Rotenberg
sharrona
, November 27, 2012
With great difficulty, I stopped reading partway through the book and started at the beginning again, in order to read it aloud to a disabled family member. It was one of the best-written books we've shared for a good while. The characters were distinct, interesting, and believable. Some reviewers have commented that they would've liked more character development. I perceive this as a compliment to Rotenberg, who made the characters so appealing and then left us wanting more! I look forward to what I hope will become a mystery/suspense series. The author used short chapters, alternating between several locations and intertwined story lines. Each chapter ended with a question that made us read on, but usually the next chapter added another question! However, the eventual denouement was satisfying, tied up the loose ends, and made sense. So many extras were included, beyond the "whodunnit" story: views on life in Toronto from different perspectives of folks not born and raised in Canada, history and use of language, and legal proceedings that (I imagine) were quite realistic. I eagerly await more from Mr. Rotenberg!
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The Thirteenth Tale
by
Diane Setterfield
sharrona
, November 26, 2012
Haven't listened to a book quite this bad for many years. Had I not been a "captive audience" on a long car trip, I would've quit. But the drive let me give the book every opportunity to improve. It didn't.
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Good Son
by
Michael Gruber
sharrona
, November 25, 2012
Michael Gruber is an excellent writer, but in this book his storytelling was not up to par. The "thriller" plot had holes in it, and the characters weren't quite interesting. The setting was timely and intriguing, and Gruber's use of language was impeccable, as always. Had this book been written by someone else, I might not have been quite so harsh in my judgment. I've read most of Gruber's books, and although the author has moved on beyond his Jimmy Paz trilogy, I confess that I have not. None of the subsequent books lived up to the standard those set, for compelling characters, atmospheric suspense, and boundary-pushing, thought-provoking plots.
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Devil Amongst the Lawyers
by
Sharyn Mccrumb
sharrona
, November 24, 2012
This long-awaited addition to the "Ballad" series disappoints. About halfway through the book I stopped wondering when the introduction would end and the real story would begin...I realized this book is not about the actual events on which it's based, but more about the unsavory journalists congregating for the trial. No one is likeable; no character elicits sympathy, admiration, or even strong enough dislike to be interesting. Was a young Nora Bonesteel inserted in the story just to lure her fans? I rarely fail to finish reading a book, once started, especially one such as this, written by a favorite author. I confess I would have cast it aside had I not made a commitment to write a review. Finishing it was more an assignment than a pleasure.
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A Little Death in Dixie
by
Lisa Turner
sharrona
, November 23, 2012
Southern Gothic murder mystery, full of suspense and surprises. A great read! The good guys aren't entirely good, and the bad guys... well, they aren't very good at all. But for much of the book, it may be hard to tell which is which. The final denouement plays fair with all the clues given, and is true to the personalities, weaknesses, and strengths of the characters. And the characters -- wow! Interesting, distinctive, richly-layered with complex pasts and warped or sheltered views of the present. The setting is so vividly portrayed it made me wish for a Memphis breeze to cool things down. Lisa Turner is a fantastic addition to today's writing scene! I can't wait for sequels!
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The Shadow of the Wind
by
Carlos Ruiz Zafón and Lucia Graves
sharrona
, November 22, 2012
A real challenge to read -- hard to maintain interest when there's only 10 pages of plot in every 100 pages of text. It would have made a terrific short story! There was little character development and virtually no suspense, with the "surprise" ending hinted at so broadly throughout the book. The villain was perhaps the best part, but not enough to sustain 486 rambling pages.
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Dead Aim: A Chris Klick Mystery
by
Wendell McCall
sharrona
, November 21, 2012
McCall's mystery was complex and interesting. His lead characters were not. The bad guys were one-dimensional and the ultimate bad guy was unsubtly pointed out very early in the story. The setting was good but sometimes the language describing nature's beauty or feelings of love were just "way over the top." SPOILER One major plot flaw: "Where's the dog?" A woman came to hire Chris Klick to find 3 things: her missing husband, her money, and her dog. The dog was, by far, the most important to her, and had her in anguish over his loss. At one point, she had to make a quick getaway to another state, and presumably left the wounded dog alone in a laundry room (unnoticed, without comment!). When she and Klick finally returned to that house, the dog was never mentioned again. I was reading this book aloud, and nearly every page I turned in the last quarter of the book elicited another "But where's the dog?"
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Body Work
by
Sara Paretsky
sharrona
, November 20, 2012
Having followed the V. I. Warshawski stories for two decades, I looked forward to another visit with my Chicago "friend." Paretsky always shows me something about Chicago (and sometimes about life) that I didn't know, and BODY WORK is no exception. The complex plot provokes thought about Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome in Iraq war veterans, violence against family, different family dynamics in different sub-cultures, homophobia, and performance art. Despite this ambitious scope, the mystery plot was tight, well-told, and unfolded in a way that allowed the reader to make guesses, test them against the facts, and learn along with Vic. The denouement tied up all loose ends neatly. However, there are a few things about this book that are a bit "off." As Vic storms into and through middle-age, she doesn't seem to have progressed, learned, matured in all the ways you might expect from her fast-paced, intense work and personal life. She hasn't changed and adapted as I would have expected. And there's that annoying little niece Petra, who serves no purpose in the stories except to annoy the reader. Still a great read!
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Burn
by
Nevada Barr
sharrona
, November 19, 2012
This is the 16th Anna Pigeon story, and I've enjoyed them all. BURN had excellent writing, as always, but the plot was weak, with too many convenient coincidences and an ending that rushed to tie up loose ends. Not very convincing.
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Trinity Six
by
Charles Cumming
sharrona
, November 18, 2012
A fast-paced, tension-filled "modern" spy novel covering mid-20th century through early 21st. Better than most of the best I've read...as good as John LeCarre's work (my highest praise for this genre). The characters were distinctive, clearly drawn, and interesting with just enough small details to make them memorable, and likeable (or detestable, as appropriate). The plot was complex enough to seem real and to maintain my keen interest, but not overly or unnecessarily convoluted. Many times I thought I knew something the characters hadn't figured out yet... and I was wrong, wrong again, doubly wrong, and so were they! I fell gleefully for the misdirection and enjoyed the ride. The author was particularly good at creating a lead character who was a bit of a bumbler, who took foolish risks, and who was habitually fearing and imagining the worst. At the most tense moments it was still possible to both identify with him, and laugh at his antics; his slight goofiness somehow balanced, but never interfered with, the stark tension and danger of the situations. I will definitely recommend this book to friends and will seek out more of his novels to read.
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What Nurses Know Diabetes
by
Rita Mertig
sharrona
, November 17, 2012
Good basic information, seems to be oriented much more toward insulin-dependent diabetics than those who control the disease with oral meds and/or diet. I was hoping for info and advice somewhere in between the level of a support group and a physician, but did not find much beyond the basics here. Having dealt with diabetes for decades in close family members, I have a basic level of knowledge. I would recommend this book to folks who don't have a support group, don't get much information from their medical professionals, and who are starting the search for the kind of information that lets you manage your disease (instead of the other way 'round). Well written, facts seem clear, opinions are duly identified.
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What Was I Thinking The Dumb Things We Do & How to Avoid Them
by
William B Helmreich
sharrona
, November 16, 2012
Expecting a book that would make me laugh, I was pleasantly surprised to find it's far more than that. Not only does Dr. Helmreich entertain, he teaches, and makes it fun to learn. His observations hit home with me, describing and accounting for a few "dumb" things I've done in life. An even greater "Aha" moment came when his descriptions seemed to predict and detail the public embarrassments of so many famous people. Helmreich's thoughts on risk, how we analyze it unconsciously (and often incorrectly) and make decisions accordingly, was fascinating. This book was easy to read, to pick up for a few minutes now and then, although it made me want to sit still and read straight through all at once! I will definitely read this again and will refer to some specific parts as I see them applied in real life. I don't know if I'm a strong enough character to make positive changes in my life based on what I learned in this book, but the author certainly did his part, and now it's up to me!
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A Trick of the Light: Chief Inspector Gamache 7
by
Louise Penny
sharrona
, November 15, 2012
A TRICK OF THE LIGHT is Louise Penny's seventh novel in the marvelous series featuring the Surete's Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. She has created a cadre of continuing characters so real, so human, that I think I could wander into Three Pines and know everyone, and be accepted as their friend. This book is an excellent story, beautifully told, as usual. I was surprised by the number of grammatical errors that remained in the text, though -- enough to draw my attention away from the quality writing.
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Takeover (Large Print)
by
Lisa Black
sharrona
, November 14, 2012
Good start to a new series. This book could have been an episode of the Canadian TV series FLASHPOINT. Most mystery/thriller novels I read are about a crime being solved -- this one is about a crime being committed, in real time, and was thus very hard to put down.
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Fever Dream
by
Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
sharrona
, November 13, 2012
Tense story, open ending leading to the next book. Glad I didn't read this one until I had COLD VENGEANCE in hand! I like the way these two authors write together, seamlessly, and their development of strong continuing characters. In this story, Laura Haywood took a giant step from "Pendergast detractor" to "Pendergast fan," and it scared her! Wishing a quick & total recovery to Vince D'Agosta!
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Thunderhead
by
Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
sharrona
, November 12, 2012
This is definitely one of the best non-Pendergast novels by these authors! It deals with archaeology and Anasazi ruins, and brings Nora Kelly and Bill Smithback together for the first time. Very suspenseful (except of course we know that neither Nora nor Bill can get killed!) and well-plotted. Even when you know what's bound to happen, you still can't turn the pages fast enough. A good read!
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Life
by
Keith Richards
sharrona
, November 11, 2012
A terrific fun read! This autobiography gave me lots of insight into Keith Richards' world, and some fascinating background information on The Rolling Stones. Not one to "dish dirt," Richards wrote mostly about his own experiences, and took full responsibility for the bad and good things that have happened to him. Within this unfiltered picture of the "sex, drugs, rock&roll" sixties (and well beyond) he focuses mainly on the music. I found myself unable to give the book away after reading it, because there are so many parts I want to read again. For example, he talks a lot about unusual music techniques used in specific songs, making me want to grab the right CD and listen to each with his explanation in mind. Richards' story is not told in strictly chronological order. Chapters are short and peppy. Many times he'll mention a person or situation briefly, and add "But that's another story," and the reader can look forward to finding that story later in the book. Even though I've been a fan of the Rolling Stones' music for more than 50 years, I knew little about the individual band members beyond what appeared in newspapers. Having attended a number of their concerts, I had some appreciation for Keith Richards as a musician. This book surprised me by making me fond of him as a person.
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Blue Diary
by
Alice Hoffman
sharrona
, November 10, 2012
Hauntingly realistic story that reminds us people are sometimes not what they seem... and are sometimes just what they seem not to be.
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Coroners Lunch
by
Colin Cotterill
sharrona
, November 09, 2012
Enticing start to a mystery series! Appealing characters, decent mystery plot, and just the right amount of not-preachy political perspective on 1970s Laos. Parts of this story reminded me of Tony Hillerman's novels. I will definitely read more!
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Outlander
by
Diana Gabaldon
sharrona
, November 08, 2012
If I were stranded on a desert island and could have only a handful of books, this would be one of them. Great escape from wherever/whenever you are.
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One Dog Night
by
David Rosenfelt
sharrona
, November 07, 2012
Another terrific addition to the Andy Carpenter series. Engaging characters, well-concealed clues, and a satisfying resolution to the mystery. My only minor gripe is that the dogs were only minimally involved.
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Eyes Wide Open
by
Andrew Gross
sharrona
, November 06, 2012
Having read a few of the Women's Murder Club mysteries co-authored by Andrew Gross and James Patterson, I was expecting a fast-paced, tightly-plotted thriller. EYES WIDE OPEN did not disappoint. It also tapped into some unresolved fears I didn't know I had about cult-type mass murders from my teenage years. The characters were believable, and their actions were consistent with their own reality. And this is a quick read -- not too much deep thinking required of the reader, and it's so darn compelling that you just blaze through it to find out what's happening on the next page!
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Sanctus
by
Simon Toyne
sharrona
, November 05, 2012
Fast-paced thriller (with speed bumps) The characters were distinctive, appealing, and cleverly ambiguous as to their affiliation with the "good" or the "evil" elements of the story. The plot was structured for suspense, and the style of storytelling released little pieces of the truth here and there. This provided compelling suspense, and made me want to keep reading. The speed bumps came, unfortunately, from the writing. The first sentence of the book reads: "A flash of light filled his skull as it struck the rock floor." Ideally the first sentence draws you into the story and piques your interest for what comes next. Instead, it set me to wondering about sentence structure, misplaced modifiers, rules of grammar, etc. Obviously that sentence means his head hit the floor, but doesn't it actually say that the light beam hit the floor? Perhaps both hit the floor. How could he have said it more clearly, I wondered. By that time, my interest in the story had waned; I didn't relish having to parse every sentence to figure out what the author was trying to say. But the descriptions of the book that had caused me to choose it drew me back to the story. As I read I put a sticky note on each spot where something was amiss with the writing -- poor sentence construction, misplaced modifiers, illogical sequences, use of the wrong word, etc. After 5 or 6 chapters I was hooked on the story and stopped marking the speed bumps, but they still jarred me. Toyne did an excellent job of building a story, a cast of characters, and a mystery surrounding an ancient secret. His work deserves better editing!
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Shadows in the Street
by
Susan Hill
sharrona
, November 04, 2012
This book was a bit of a chore to read. It had been strongly recommended to me, and I kept telling myself "It will get better before the end." The writing was good, and the plot was good. I can imagine enjoying the same story told in the context of a P. D. James novel or even in America with China Bayles or Benni Harper solving it nicely. But it just didn't grab me, and I think the sole reason is my lack of connection with any of the continuing characters. Perhaps I did the author a disservice by not starting at the beginning of the series, where presumably Simon Serailler was introduced and developed as an interesting, sympathetic character. By the time of this fifth book in the series, Hill may have assumed that readers already know and love Simon; little personal detail or character insight were given.
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Corruptible
by
Mark Mynheir
sharrona
, November 03, 2012
Always on the lookout for a good new mystery series, I enjoyed giving this one a try. The writing is good, and the characters distinctive. The plot was fair, perhaps a few too many sub-plots and definitely too many bad guys diffusing the focus. The more I read, the less I liked it, persevering only to learn "whodunnit." With a disappointing and rather pointless ending for this story, I definitely won't be reading any more in this series.
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The Rembrandt Affair (Gabriel Allon Novels)
by
Phil Gigante
sharrona
, November 02, 2012
Phil Gigante is an excellent reader -- he distinguished voices, accents, and genders without overdoing it. As exciting as any Gabriel Allon story, and incredibly timely for the current world situation. I don't usually like abridged audiobooks, but this one was almost 7 hours and didn't seem to leave out anything significant.
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The Drop: Harry Bosch 15
by
Michael Connelly
sharrona
, November 01, 2012
These comments refer to the unabridged audio version of this book. Just as good as the "old" Harry Bosch stories -- tight, tense, exciting -- and Len Cariou did a great narrating job.
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Kill Alex Cross
by
James Patterson
sharrona
, October 31, 2012
These comments relate to the audio version of this book. Nice voice distinction between Alex Cross (Andre Braugher) and the general narrative (Zach Grenier). Fast-paced, suspenseful, and typical of this author's work.
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Broken Teaglass
by
Emily Arsenault
sharrona
, October 30, 2012
These comments apply to the unabridged audio version of the book. Knowing this book had been a best seller, I expect either to love it or hate it, but I'm feeling neutral. The setting and initial introduction were great. The lead characters were not bad. The action was way too slow, and the "mystery" almost non-existent. In fact I wouldn't call it a mystery at all, just an interesting story with a twist at the end. A twist that is very easy to figure out well ahead of the ending. This is a book I would've enjoyed a lot more in print. Parts I would've skimmed right over, and other parts I would've read slowly and maybe reread. I would've marked my current spot with a finger and leafed back through previous chapters to see where I'd read that name, or that phrase before, because it seemed important. This book was structured in a fragmented, complex way that, while essential for the plot to develop, does not lend itself to being read aloud in a straight-through traditional manner.
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Hoax
by
Robert K Tanenbaum
sharrona
, October 29, 2012
These comments refer to the abridged audio version of this book. Not a great introduction to Tanenbaum's noted series. Perhaps it was the abridgment, which took out nearly all opportunities for character enhancement and reader empathy. Or perhaps it was this narrator's voice, diction, and pacing; he added nothing in the way of emotion or drama. Because of the author's reputation, and the suggestion of several friends, I may try another in this series someday -- in print!
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Death In Vienna
by
Daniel Silva
sharrona
, October 28, 2012
This review refers to the abridged audio version. Good abridgment (to 5 CDs), didn't seem chopped at all. Following Gabriel Allon on his travels to exotic and dangerous places is always fun. This time it was a little less due to poor narration. We groaned aloud every time the narrator mispronounced "Xavier" as "EX-avier," for example.
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First Rule Joe Pike
by
Robert Crais
sharrona
, October 27, 2012
This review refers to the unabridged audio version. Joe Pike, one of my favorite characters, takes the lead in this story, with Elvis Cole helping in the background. Blatant grammatical errors marred this performance. Since the author was reading his own work, there's probably no one else to blame. The story line dragged a bit. 99% of the time I prefer unabridged recordings (as this is), but in this case I think a good abridgement might be an improvement.
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The Killing Way
by
Tony Hays
sharrona
, October 26, 2012
Historical fiction plus a decent mystery, set in a period that fascinates me. Memorable and likeable characters, plus a few of the other kind, make a balanced cast. Good enough that I'll follow at least one more book in the series.
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I Am Half Sick of Shadows: A Flavia de Luce Mystery
by
Bradley, Alan
sharrona
, October 25, 2012
Flavia and I, both post-WWII Baby Boomers, have little else in common. Yet I love reading the stories and puzzling things out along with her. Sometimes I understand things she doesn't, but often it's the other way 'round. Usually the words "charming" and "cozy" are enough to turn me away from a potential book, but both apply here, in their best aspects.
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Weed That Strings the Hangmans Bag
by
Alan Bradley
sharrona
, October 24, 2012
Flavia's a charmer. This is the third book I've read (getting my hands on them out-of-order) but it fits in nicely. The storytelling, the characters, and the setting all resemble Agatha Christie's stories set in St. Mary Mead. Very enjoyable, and this reader really brought the characters to life (refers to unabridged audiobook version).
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Jack 1939
by
Francine Mathews
sharrona
, October 23, 2012
Fast-paced, suspenseful story that could have happened. The presence of famous historical figures lends authenticity, and will leave readers wondering where the line between fact and fiction is crossed. Mathews crosses that line skillfully and smoothly, weaving the real with the imagined, and creates a very credible story. It's a quick read, simply because once you start you won't be able to put it down.
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Savage Kingdom The True Story of Jamestown 1607 & the Settlement of America
by
Benjamin Woolley
sharrona
, October 22, 2012
Information from a large variety of source documents, compiled into an interesting narrative (without much padding). Excellent narration by David Drummond. This audiobook is about 14 hours, unabridged, and I have to admit I multi-tasked for a few minutes here and there. I'm not a history buff, but did study Jamestown in elementary school in Virginia, and have visited it numerous times. I thought I knew a lot about the settlement, but this book increased my knowledge, understanding, and perspective.
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You Are Not So Smart Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction & 65 Other Ways Youre Deluding Yourself
by
David McRaney
sharrona
, October 20, 2012
Informative, entertaining, and downright FUN! Even after hearing about many pitfalls and traps our brains are subject to, there's really no preventing it. We are human, after all! It will make you nod your head in recognition of things you do, and groan at their foolishness and inevitability. Highly recommended!
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Granddad Theres a Head on the Beach
by
Colin Cotterill
sharrona
, October 18, 2012
An enjoyable book, read effectively by Kim Mai Guest. Compared to Cotterill's other series (Dr. Siri Paiboun, national coroner of 1970s Laos) this story has more humor and light-heartedness. It brings the reader to a place unfamiliar to most: modern-day Thailand. As with the Dr. Siri series, this story is shaped by the country's political and social challenges. The last quarter of the book does not lend itself well to being read aloud, though. It contains a lot of short, choppy dialog, as the main character (Jimm Juree, a mid-20s journalist) dictates a screenplay by radiophone to let the authorities and her confederates know what's happening. This may not have been the best narrative vehicle for advancing the story through a tense climax. Jimm Juree is a delightful investigator and crime-fighter: energetic, modern in a not-quite-modern world, intelligent, and creative. I will definitely seek out the first book in this series and wait eagerly for more to be published.
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A Short History of Nearly Everything
by
Bill Bryson
sharrona
, October 16, 2012
Terrific book, entertaining and yet academic & authentic enough to be worth the time to read it. When I read this I was reminded of James Burke's writings and wonder why science couldn't be taught in school the way these men write. I can't think of anyone to whom I wouldn't recommend it, except those folks who believe the earth is 6000 years old and cannot tolerate thinking outside that box.
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Contrition
by
Robert E. Hirsch
sharrona
, October 14, 2012
Almost didn't finish this book; only knowing that I had agreed to review it made me persist. I wanted to like it, and kept waiting for the storyline to develop. The author creates good scenes, writes vivid descriptions, and builds interesting characters. What this book lacked was a plot. Good and evil personified clash in a small town -- but nothing suspenseful, thrilling, or surprising happened. And too much religious dogma is assumed to be true, as the foundation of the story. That simply is not credible and definitely not entertaining. While struggling with getting through this book, I did a little reading about the publisher. Had I done that first I might have been appropriately skeptical of the book's description as a mystery (which was what led me to request a copy to review).
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Hell Is Empty: Walt Longmire 7
by
Craig Johnson
sharrona
, October 11, 2012
The landscape often plays an important role in these stories, especially here. This 7th Longmire book was suspenseful and thought-provoking, but I missed the camaraderie, conflict, and humor among the supporting characters, especially Vic Moretti and Henry Standing Bear. Just my personal preference to follow along with the whole ensemble, but the entire series is excellent and I wouldn't miss a single volume. I wouldn't, however, recommend this as a starting point for anyone just sampling the series!
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Off the Grid
by
P J Tracy
sharrona
, October 10, 2012
OFF THE GRID was a tense and tightly-wound story. The beginning was puzzling as the authors jumped from location to location, among sub-groups of important and minor characters. The elements of terrorism seemed real enough to inspire great discomfort. Could this really happen? Could it BE HAPPENING? Even so, the "surprise" ending was no surprise at all. Perhaps because I'd jotted down character names, sorting them into similar groups (Monkeewrench staff, law enforcement, and a few others I won't name) I saw a plot thread developing that wasn't meant to be revealed until the end. Engaging characters, fast-paced action, and a logical progression of events combined to make this a very enjoyable book. I've already started collecting the previous five in the series so I can read them in order.
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Whisperer
by
Donato Carrisi
sharrona
, October 09, 2012
Suspenseful, tricky, and ultimately satisfying. The author very skillfully lulls the reader into a sense of knowing who's who and what's what, then...kaboom! Another surprise! The plot is solid and logical, the characters are believable and sympathetic. Some reviews criticize the choppy translation from Italian to English, but I didn't notice any such problems. The story was so compelling that it drew me quickly through each page. "What next?" I wondered a number of times, and was never disappointed to find out. My only disappointment is that this doesn't seem like a story that could turn into a series. The character I'd like to follow may not be strong enough to carry another book.
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Three Day Town Deborah Knott
by
Margaret Maron
sharrona
, October 08, 2012
(Unabridged audio edition) C. J. Critt is the perfect voice for Deborah Knott! I love listening to these books. This one reminded me of a TV series that's introducing a spin-off -- the familiar characters encounter and interact with the new ones. I realize Sigrid Harald isn't exactly new: Maron wrote a short series about her some years ago. And of course Sigrid has to be a distant relative of Deborah's! My favorites of the Deborah Knott series are the ones set in her home town, among family and friends that have almost become my own friends over the decades of reading about them.
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Broken Harbor
by
Tana French
sharrona
, October 07, 2012
A truly tragic story, from a number of different points of view, was nearly ruined by being about half again as long as it should have been. I might have liked some of the characters if I'd heard them whine just a wee bit less. Not a single person in the whole book elicited any sympathy or admiration. One of Tana French's great strengths is her use of words to paint pictures and tell stories beautifully. But in this book there was so much conversation in "every day language" that the author's gift was lost. Stephen Hogan's narration was excellent...just enough Irish accents to give a sense of place, but not enough to make it hard to understand. All in all, I found this book to be a great disappointment after French's first three.
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Death Of A Hussy
by
M C Beaton
sharrona
, October 05, 2012
Reading the Hamish Macbeth books is like eating potato chips -- I always want "just one more." At the moment I am assembling the whole series and reading them in order. The mystery plots are OK; it's the characters, their relationships, and the community that shine in this series. The occasional bit of humor surprises and delights. And Beaton's beautiful descriptions of the scenery -- mountains, lake, sea, hills, tarns, changing weather -- make the environment yet one more enjoyable "character." I had only one gripe with this book. Person A cannot write Person B's will. So when Person A left everything to Person B, with the qualifier that when Person B died it was to be distributed in a particular way, that did not make sense to me. The plot depended on that detail, though, and thus lacked credibility. But as I said, the plots aren't the reason I'm enjoying this series so much.
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Ghosts of Savannah
by
Terrance Zepke
sharrona
, October 03, 2012
Zepke has compiled an entertaining guidebook to more than twenty haunted sites in Savannah. Each short chapter begins with a conjectured conversation or vignette set in the time of the original haunting. Then the historical facts are presented, along with information on contemporary events, tours, and driving or walking directions. This would be a terrific book to tuck into a backpack or tote bag (just a little bit too big for most pockets) while doing a walking tour of the historic areas of Savannah. I've visited Savannah several times, and this book makes me want to go again and look for the slightly eerie side.
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The Beautiful Mystery: Chief Inspector Gamache 8
by
Louise Penny
sharrona
, October 01, 2012
Each new book from Louise Penny is a greatly-anticipated treat, and this is one of her best. It is a story of sadness, even tragedy, as individuals are overcome by their flaws. Yet it is also a story of hope, as the steadfast Inspector Gamache bears so much for so many.
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Off the Grid
by
P J Tracy
sharrona
, August 24, 2012
NOTE: I just finished reading this book, and the "excerpt" published on this website, featuring someone named Coulter, has absolutely nothing to do with OFF THE GRID. OFF THE GRID was a tense and tightly-wound story. The beginning was puzzling as the authors jumped from location to location, among sub-groups of important and minor characters. The elements of terrorism seemed real enough to inspire great discomfort. Could this really happen? Could it BE HAPPENING? Even so, the "surprise" ending was no surprise at all. Perhaps because I'd jotted down character names, sorting them into similar groups (Monkeewrench staff, law enforcement, and a few others I won't name) I saw a plot thread developing that wasn't meant to be revealed until the end. Engaging characters, fast-paced action, and a logical progression of events combined to make this a very enjoyable book. I've already started collecting the previous five in the series so I can read them in order.
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