by Anita Shreve
Andrew returns to his childhood home in upstate New York to bury his mother. Next door lives Eden Close and her mother, two women still suffering from the loss of Eden's father, who was killed by the person that broke into the house and raped Eden 20 years before. Eden, now blind, continues to live with her mother, in spite of a difficult relationship when Eden was a child. As Andrew prepares his mother's house for sale, he and Eden rekindle their relationship and uncover the secrets of that long-ago night.
This was a good book with a great story. It moves along and leads you in one direction before taking a turn and leading you somewhere else. Eden is a mysterious character for much of the book and the reader only sees her through Andrew's memories. I didn't find the ending unbelievable as some of the reviews I've seen suggest. The entire book leads to the ending and all the pieces fit.
This is available as paperback (as I read) or for the Kindle.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Go Ask Alice
by Anonymous
For more than 25 years, this diary of a drug-addicted teen has served as a warning for teenagers about the dangers of experimenting with drugs. Try as she might, the writer is not able to stay away from drugs for any length of time.
I remember seeing this as a play in junior high school back in the early 80s. It was intense then and is still intense in written form. Whether it is an actual diary or a work of fiction is still being debated, but either way, it's a good read.
For more than 25 years, this diary of a drug-addicted teen has served as a warning for teenagers about the dangers of experimenting with drugs. Try as she might, the writer is not able to stay away from drugs for any length of time.
I remember seeing this as a play in junior high school back in the early 80s. It was intense then and is still intense in written form. Whether it is an actual diary or a work of fiction is still being debated, but either way, it's a good read.
Island of Lost Girls
by Jennifer McMahon
Sitting in front of the local convenience store, Rhonda Farr witnesses a little girl being a abducted from her mother's car by a six-foot bunny. This abduction brings Rhonda back to 1993, and her best friend Lizzie who later disappeared. By revisiting the events of that summer, Rhonda sees through her adult eyes the secrets she didn't see as a child.
Another great book by Jennifer McMahon. She manages to tell the story both in the current time and that long-ago summer without any confusion or loss of storyline. I especially liked how the way that Rhonda perceived things as a child shaped into what she believed happened as an adult. It's only when Rhonda is able to understand what really happened that she is able to move past that fateful summer.
This was a paperback I got from Amazon for $6. It would have been worth paying more.
Sitting in front of the local convenience store, Rhonda Farr witnesses a little girl being a abducted from her mother's car by a six-foot bunny. This abduction brings Rhonda back to 1993, and her best friend Lizzie who later disappeared. By revisiting the events of that summer, Rhonda sees through her adult eyes the secrets she didn't see as a child.
Another great book by Jennifer McMahon. She manages to tell the story both in the current time and that long-ago summer without any confusion or loss of storyline. I especially liked how the way that Rhonda perceived things as a child shaped into what she believed happened as an adult. It's only when Rhonda is able to understand what really happened that she is able to move past that fateful summer.
This was a paperback I got from Amazon for $6. It would have been worth paying more.
Port Mortuary
by Patricia Cornwell
Dr. Kay Scarpetta is back, along with her regular crew of husband Benton Wesley, niece Lucy and ex-cop Pete Marino. This time she returns home to Boston, where a man is found mysteriously murdered near her home. Before long, Scarpetta's military background comes back to rear its ugly head and she finds that as usual, nothing is what it seems.
I'm a long-time reader of the Kay Scarpetta series. The early ones are by far the best, but I dutifully read each installment as it is released. This one, however, was a chore for me to finish. There was less action and more inside Scarpetta's head. Pete Marino and Lucy have both become somewhat unlikable characters and it's hard to care about them much. Benton is so full of "I can't talk about my patients" that it's hard to understand why he's even included in the story. This group of characters seem to have outlived their early connections. I guess being at the top of her field has made Scarpetta less able to accept help from anyone.
If you haven't read any of this series, I would recommend the early ones. The most recent are vastly different, in my opinion.
Dr. Kay Scarpetta is back, along with her regular crew of husband Benton Wesley, niece Lucy and ex-cop Pete Marino. This time she returns home to Boston, where a man is found mysteriously murdered near her home. Before long, Scarpetta's military background comes back to rear its ugly head and she finds that as usual, nothing is what it seems.
I'm a long-time reader of the Kay Scarpetta series. The early ones are by far the best, but I dutifully read each installment as it is released. This one, however, was a chore for me to finish. There was less action and more inside Scarpetta's head. Pete Marino and Lucy have both become somewhat unlikable characters and it's hard to care about them much. Benton is so full of "I can't talk about my patients" that it's hard to understand why he's even included in the story. This group of characters seem to have outlived their early connections. I guess being at the top of her field has made Scarpetta less able to accept help from anyone.
If you haven't read any of this series, I would recommend the early ones. The most recent are vastly different, in my opinion.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
A Book Note
Most of you know by now that I got a Kindle for Christmas and wow, do I love it. Which you all probably also already now. But I'm currently reading "Port Mortuary" by Patricia Cornwell and it's a real book and I have to say that in the 3 short months I've been a Kindle owner, I've become very spoiled. Carrying and holding this 500 masterpiece is killing me. I much prefer my Kindle.
I do have probably 50 or more actual books that I haven't read yet, picked up at the library book sale or thrift stores. And with any luck, a library will open in this town of mine before I die. So I know I'll be reading actual books for a long time yet.
As far as the Kindle goes, I wanted to tell any other Kindle owners a couple of things I do.
-- Since I have so many books to read, I can't quite yet justify paying for books. So I check the amazon.com site EVERY DAY, that's right EVERY DAY, and scan the "free" books list. You'd be surprised by the number of times you can find something amazing for free. And free books are a good way to try books or authors you wouldn't otherwise try.
-- Check the Amazon "Bestseller" list. Those are the books that people paid for, but right now, 4 of the the top 10 books are only 99 cents. Click around on those and see what other books people have bought.
-- For these free or low-cost books, be sure to read the descriptions. A lot of them are Christian fiction, which I don't always care for. Read the reviews. Some of them might only be partial books. Some of them might be books from a series. (I like to read a series in order.) Most of the time, you won't have a problem, but it's best to know what you're getting ahead of time so you're not disappointed.
Good luck and happy reading!
I do have probably 50 or more actual books that I haven't read yet, picked up at the library book sale or thrift stores. And with any luck, a library will open in this town of mine before I die. So I know I'll be reading actual books for a long time yet.
As far as the Kindle goes, I wanted to tell any other Kindle owners a couple of things I do.
-- Since I have so many books to read, I can't quite yet justify paying for books. So I check the amazon.com site EVERY DAY, that's right EVERY DAY, and scan the "free" books list. You'd be surprised by the number of times you can find something amazing for free. And free books are a good way to try books or authors you wouldn't otherwise try.
-- Check the Amazon "Bestseller" list. Those are the books that people paid for, but right now, 4 of the the top 10 books are only 99 cents. Click around on those and see what other books people have bought.
-- For these free or low-cost books, be sure to read the descriptions. A lot of them are Christian fiction, which I don't always care for. Read the reviews. Some of them might only be partial books. Some of them might be books from a series. (I like to read a series in order.) Most of the time, you won't have a problem, but it's best to know what you're getting ahead of time so you're not disappointed.
Good luck and happy reading!
Don't Die, Dragonfly
by Linda Joy Singleton
Sabine Rose is living with her grandmother after being kicked out of her last high school. This time, she is determined to keep a low profile and keep her psychic gift a secret from everyone. But when she can't get rid of her spirit guide Opal and starts seeing disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo, she has to find a way to protect herself and her friends.
Another teen fantasy book that I really enjoyed. This genre has seemed to pull me in over the last few months and there are so many of these books available for reasonable prices. This was a fast read and intriguing. Sabine was a realistic teenage girl - from what I remember - and all the characters were interesting. Definitely an author I would read again.
This was a free Kindle book on Amazon. I see it's now listing for $7.96.
Sabine Rose is living with her grandmother after being kicked out of her last high school. This time, she is determined to keep a low profile and keep her psychic gift a secret from everyone. But when she can't get rid of her spirit guide Opal and starts seeing disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo, she has to find a way to protect herself and her friends.
Another teen fantasy book that I really enjoyed. This genre has seemed to pull me in over the last few months and there are so many of these books available for reasonable prices. This was a fast read and intriguing. Sabine was a realistic teenage girl - from what I remember - and all the characters were interesting. Definitely an author I would read again.
This was a free Kindle book on Amazon. I see it's now listing for $7.96.
Hardly Knew Her
by Laura Lippman
A series of short stories featuring women and what they do in different situations. There are also two stories featuring Lippman's well-known character Tess Monaghan, from her mystery series. From the title story to two stories featuring single mom and suburban prostitute Heloise, Lippman does not fail to surprise the reader with twists and turns that keep everything moving along.
I have not read Lippman's Tess Monaghan series, though the two stories in this book have persuaded me to. I have read her book "What the Dead Know" and really enjoyed it. All of these stories feature strong women and the choices they make. "The Crack Cocaine Diet" is probably my favorite because I was so surprised by the story.
I got this on Kindle for Amazon for 99 cents. Definitely a bargain!
A series of short stories featuring women and what they do in different situations. There are also two stories featuring Lippman's well-known character Tess Monaghan, from her mystery series. From the title story to two stories featuring single mom and suburban prostitute Heloise, Lippman does not fail to surprise the reader with twists and turns that keep everything moving along.
I have not read Lippman's Tess Monaghan series, though the two stories in this book have persuaded me to. I have read her book "What the Dead Know" and really enjoyed it. All of these stories feature strong women and the choices they make. "The Crack Cocaine Diet" is probably my favorite because I was so surprised by the story.
I got this on Kindle for Amazon for 99 cents. Definitely a bargain!
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