A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley

TITLE:  A Desperate Fortune

AUTHOR:  Kearsley, Susanna
GENRE:  Historical Fiction

DATES READ:  10/22/2017 - 11/12/2017

MY RATING:  3.5/5

I've loved all of Susanna Kearsley's novels and cannot wait to read this next prize from a library book sale!

---

A new time-slip romance mixing the past journal of Mary Dundas, a Jacobite exile, and future codebreaker Sara Thomas, who must crack the journal's cipher.

Another classic time-swapping Kearsley tale! I love her style. She always mixes romance with history, drama, past and present. In this particular novel, I liked the characters in the past much more than the character in the present. But then again, I do love historical fiction. Mary was brilliant. And who couldn't love the mysterious Hugh?

I appreciated Kearsley widening her horizons and including a main character with Asperger's syndrome. She was strong and bright and vulnerable. A lovely character. I also really enjoyed the secret codes (ciphers) involved in the story.

Overall, another lovely read. If you like Kearsley's other books, you will love this.

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

TITLE:  Heart-Shaped Box

AUTHOR:  Hill, Joe
GENRE:  Horror

DATES READ:  10/26/2017 - 11/2/2017

MY RATING:  5/5

My Stephen King Book Club decided we wanted to add an extra book on this month to read some of his son's work. I'm leading this month's discussion, so here's hoping it s a great discussion book. Looks like it's about ghosts...

---

Aging rock star, Judas Coyne, has an obsession with all things macabre and fancies himself a collection. So when he gets a chance to purchase a ghost online, he jumps at the chance. When the heart-shaped box box arrives, it contains not only a dead man's suit but a vengeful spirit. A vengeful spirit that has it out for Judas...

Oh my gosh! This book was just plain horrifying in the best way possible. In the beginning, I wasn't sure. What's scary about buying a ghost?

Good lord, everything...

Judas Coyne was such a great/iconic character with a strong impact. The aging rocker persona just worked. It was perfect and added to foreboding vibe. You wanted not to like him (calling his ladies by their home state to dehumanize them...) but in the end, his true nature comes out and you root for him.

It was a little happier of an ending than I expected, but it's one of the scariest books I've even read. Joe Hill truly is his father's son. Highly recommended for anyone who doesn't mind some serious creep factor.

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

True Grit by Charles Portis

TITLE:  True Grit

AUTHOR:  Portis, Charles
GENRE:  Classic/Wester

DATES READ:  10/18/2017 - 10/26/2017

MY RATING:  4/5

Read for regular Book Club. Downloaded the audiobook.

---

Mattie Ross (14 years old) loses her father when the corward, Tom Chaney, shoots him, steals his horse and all his money. She avenges her father's death by hunting down Rooster Cogburn, a US Marshal. They pursue Tom Chaney together into the Indian Territory with the desire for vengeance.

I'm so happy that I listened to this audiobook!

I loved Mattie Ross and Rooster. Our book club had such a great time and my mom and I made corn dodgers for a treat! This book is a classic western with plain and simple speech and plenty of action. There's wonderful comic relief in Mattie's seriousness and stubborn attitude.

She really was the only one with "true grit". Would recommend to any and all ages. Just a classic!

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

TITLE:  Pet Sematary

AUTHOR:  King, Stephen
GENRE:  Horror

DATES READ:  9/25/2017 - 10/21/2017

MY RATING:  4/5

October Stephen King Book Club choice for Halloween-time. I've heard it's really scary!!!

---

When the Creed Family move into their beautiful new home, they have no idea what secrets the wood hold. A mysterious cemetery. And the neighbors don't really want to talk about it... for good reason... something dead IS better...

Oh my goodness... this has to be one of the scariest books I've ever read! How horrifying.

I went into it knowing the premise already but it was still such a harrowing read. I can't imagine reading it when it first came out and having no idea. My first exposure to Pet Sematary was actually the movie Pet Sematary 2. I remember watching it alone at night during the summer when I was much younger, and not being able to sleep well for long time. Thinking back, I think that was my first exposure to Stephen King.

This was such a harrowing read. I felt no sympathy for the main character, Louis, throughout all of it. I did feel for his grief, but overall I feel he reaped what he sowed.

The idea of things brought back to life being "unnatural", moving differently, and the overall vibe was so eerie. It sent chills down my spine. I stayed up late to finish it and then had to turn all of my lights on!!!

Not to mention, my family has cats, and now they give me the creeps a little bit. Not a book for the faint of heart. Perfect Halloween read!

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

TITLE:  The Haunting of Hill House

AUTHOR:  Jackson, Shirley
GENRE:  Classic/Gothic

DATES READ:  10/9/2017 - 10/20/2017

MY RATING:  4/5

October regular Book Club choice for Halloween-time. I've always wanted to read it after watching The Haunting.

---

Four seekers travel to Hill House looking for evidence of a "haunting". Dr. Montague, Theodora, Eleanor and Luke. What starts as odd happenings feeling becomes deeper and darker. Perhaps Hill House wants one of them for its own...

This book is so creepy! And in such an old school way. No wonder Shirley Jackson is so renowned for her writing. She's inspired so many tales of hauntings.

Her language is fabulous and it's very different from the movie I watched. It was a pleasant surprise.

Such a different take on a haunting too. It was much more a mental attack and was an original unreliable-ish narrator. Was the house really haunted? That remains for the reader to decide. In a way, that makes the ghost story so much creepier.

The film took so many liberties and lost the original integrity of this classic. But I guess, any excuse to get Catherine Zeta Jones, Owen Wilson and Liam Neeson on screen together is a good one!

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

TITLE:  The Girl in the Blue Coat

AUTHOR:  Hesse, Monica
GENRE:  Historical Fiction

DATES READ:  10/10/2017 - 10/17/2017

MY RATING:  3/5

One of our book club member chose this for our November read. I finished over a month early, so hopefully I'll still remember all of my talking points.

---

Amsterdam, 1943. A girl named Hanneke deals in black market goods during the German invasion. One of her clients asks her to help find someone who's missing, and Hanneke's investigation will unravel a tangle of mysteries and open her eyes to the resistance.

This is tough to review because as a standalone pleasure reading novel it is a moving, fabulous and touching book. But it's tough to review as a novel for a book discussion.

I enjoy reading historical fiction about World War II, and the heroes that emerged from the wood work. It could be something as simple as hiding a piece of bread or as extreme as harboring Jewish people in an attic.

My only issue with our hero, Hanneke, is that she seems a little unrealistic. I guess I wanted more non-fiction in my fiction. I understand that she ran errands and traded on the black market and hid it from her family. But it all came across as a little too unique - that trope of being a unique "snowflake" in the literary genre.

Other than that gripe, I appreciate it when I can learn anything new about World War II history. In Amsterdam, there was the Underground Camera, and the rescue of babies from the detention center. I love learning about history! Something truth is stranger than fiction.

Definitely worth reading. Leans a little toward YA, but is very moving.

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz

TITLE:  Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe

AUTHOR:  de la Cruz, Melissa
GENRE: Chick-lit

DATES READ:  10/7/2017 - 10/9/2017

MY RATING:  2/5

This was another giveaway that I won from GR.

---

In this gender swap, Darcy Fitzwilliam plays the uptight successful businesswoman who must return when her mother falls ill to good old Pemberley, Ohio. At their family's Christmas party, she runs into Luke Bennet, a carpenter content with the simple life. But when a kiss under the mistletoe turns into a one night stand, hi-jinks ensue...

I need to preface this review by saying that Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is one of my favorite novels of all time. It will never drop below my top 10 and will have a place of pride on my bookshelf at all times. So, unfortunately, I did go into reading this adaptation in a bristly and judgmental manner. I couldn't help it!

I wish I had better things to say about this novel! There was the unnecessary gender swap and it is still told from the females POV. Only now, the female is the prig. She's a powerful CEO, who also happens to be a sniveling, whiny, rude, self-centered character.

Mr. Darcy may have been rude, but he had class. He fell for Lizzy because of her wit, intelligence, and stubborn demeaner. Not just because of a hot drunken kiss under the mistletoe!!! Chick-lit needs to strive to be better than this.

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

The Quiche and the Dead by Kirsten Weiss

TITLE:  The Quiche and the Dead (Pie Town Mystery #1)

AUTHOR:  Weiss, Kirsten
GENRE:  Mystery

DATES READ:  10/2/2017 - 10/9/2017

MY RATING:  3/5

I won this book as another giveaway from GR. It's one of those mass market cozy paperbacks!

---

Valentine Harris moves to coastal California to start a new life with her fiance but ends up with a broken engagement. At least she realized the dream of opening her own pie shop. But one morning, a customer croaks while eating her quiche and the police discover he'd been poisoned. Not it's up to Val and her pie crust sidekick Charlene to discover the truth...

Overall, this was a cute, cozy and quick read. The characters were quirky. The pie crust maker, Charlene, was a little too quirky and over-the-top for my taste, and it almost became annoying.

But for anyone looking for a little pie-themed murder mystery to breeze through, look not further! I was happy to read it and give it an early review.

Maybe I'll give it away to some and pay it forward. This one's a good one for a rainy day!

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

A Game of Thones by George R.R. Martin

TITLE:  A Game of Thones

AUTHOR:  Martin, George R.R.
GENRE:  Fantasy

DATES READ:  8/17/2017 - 10/5/2017

MY RATING:  5/5!!!

I finally decided to take another stab at it because I want to watch the series. I'm going to ping pong between audio versions and the hard copy because I think that will keep more motivated this time around.

---

In the game of thrones, you either win or you die. This unending battle for the Iron Throne is vast and treacherous. The first installment of A Song of Ice and Fire.

I LOVE this book!!! And I liked it overall more than I thought I would after the first go. There are so many character and so much detail. I think it was overwhelming the first time I picked it up. This time I was ready for it. I enjoyed the drama, the settings, and the fact that I now have an amazing show to start!!!

This (and all the rest, for that matter), are for detail-oriented readers. If you're not interested in learning a new land and reading about every little bit of intrigue (whether or not it's intriguing), you should probably steer clear. Martin goes into absolutely EVERYTHING!

A great fantasy canon to lose yourself in.

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

Duma Key by Stephen King

TITLE:  Duma Key

AUTHOR:  King, Stephen
GENRE:  Fiction/Horror

DATES READ:  9/7/2017 - 9/25/2017

MY RATING:  5/5!!!

This book was actually the first book that my Stephen King Book Club ever read. But the shop was still so new that nobody showed up except the book club leader, the bookshop owner, and my mama. I'm so glad they're bringing it back around for another go because my mom said I HAD to read it. Let's go...

---

Edgar Freemantle has a terrifying and debilitating construction accident that takes away his arm and fries his brain, leaving him with rage issues. After his marriage ends, his psychologist suggests a change of scene and the addition of some art therapy. Edgar leaves Minnesota and travels to Duma Key and rents a beautiful coastal house. He begins to draw and find peace, but soon discovers there's much more to this wild land and it's residents than meets the eye...

I cannot read another book for a little while due to my incredible book hangover!!! And I cannot rave enough about Duma Key! It lingered on and on in my mind after I finished it. Now, that's the sign of an enjoyed book!

The characters are rich and wonderful. From Libbet, to Edgar, and the amazingly fabulous Wireman (a fan favorite - especially in book club). And the world of Duma is so lush, it's like you've been trapped in its jungle for years.

This book has a place of utmost pride on my bookshelf. I will definitely read it again. And if I daresay... it has become my new favorite Stephen King book!!! Just don't tell The Shining... The Overlook might get mad...

Recommended to lovers of art, adventure, a little bit of horror, and just an overall rip-roaring good read!

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

TITLE:  Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

AUTHOR:  Berendt, John
GENRE:  Non-Fiction

DATES READ:  8/8/2017 - 9/7/2017

MY RATING:  4/5

I've always wanted to read this book! My aunt has the statue from the cover art in her garden. 😍 The south is a magical place...

---

A modern classic about one of the most enchanting southern cities. Savannah, GA. In the most grand mansion a murder takes place. Or was it self-defense? This menagerie of southern proportions is a true modern classic.

This book was a surprisingly delightful Southern treat. Everything in the South is bigger, better, and far more scandalous. And this book did not disappoint.

There was murder, fashion, drugs, insanity, art, drag queens (THE QUEEN), and midnight voodoo graveyard rituals. Berendt took the South to a whole other level. And yet, if he hadn't been there, it would still be just as outrageous as described.

This book is filled with historically accurate (and inflated to a perfect degree) drama. As I quoted in my GR review... "it's non-fiction in the most fictional fashion". And if that isn't the South, I don't know what is... Truly a joy!

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

Race to the Bottom of the Sea by Lindsay Eagar

TITLE:  Race to the Bottom of the Sea

AUTHOR:  Eagar
GENRE:  Fiction/Middle-Grade

DATES READ:  8/28/2017 - 9/3/2017

MY RATING:  4/5

I finally won a GR giveaway!!! It's a middle-grade/YA book, but it has a strong female main character. Booyah!

---

Young Fidelia, is an inventor and the daughter of well-known marine scientists. She loses both parents in a submarine accident and is then kidnapped by a pirate, Merrick the Monstrous, and tasked to find his lost treasure. Will she be able to locate the treasure before it's too late?

The young heroine, Fidelia Quail, was a spunky and intelligent scientist. That almost never happens. How refreshing!

There was a heavy marine biology and science focus, which was great for me. In addition, there were plenty of pirates, chocolate, and even some clever twists from a YA perspective.

Overall, a deep and intellectual female YA lead. I am all on board. We need more Fidelias in a world full of Bellas...

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

TITLE:  The Handmaid's Tale

AUTHOR:  Atwood, Margaret
GENRE:  Dystopian Fiction

DATES READ:  7/24/2017 - 8/17/2017

MY RATING:  2/5

This is a much desired book discussion book at book club, especially with the new Hulu series.

---

The dystopian future is found in the Republic of Gilead. It is an age where the instance of birth is more rare. And thus Commander's and their wives must make use a Handmaid (one who is mostly valued based on the viability of her ovaries). The story of a Handmaid, Offred, who can remember the years before Gilead. Back when she had a husband, children, a job, a life of her own...

I tried to like this book. I tried to like it because it's timely and I am a feminist. So, I should like this book... I feel like a bad feminist. I just cannot bring myself to give this book a good review.

I don't think it was the subject matter. I think it was the way it was written. I felt that it dragged on and on. I'm not sure if that was supposed to be stylistic. But it was just boring to me. The plot was promising but I felt it took too long to get to the point.

I listened to it on audiobook and I am so glad that I did. The whole concept of Gilead wasn't far-fetched for me. That was the scariest part. There wasn't a lot of shock value because it feels like something that could actually happen. 

I also didn't connect with Offred. And I always have trouble when I feel no connection with Offred. Not even a negative connection. Just nothing. I did like the narrator, Claire Danes. She was wonderful! I also heard that the punctuation in the book was odd, and that would have been very difficult for my focus. So, yay for audiobooks! 😊

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source

Joyland by Stephen King

TITLE:  Joyland

AUTHOR:  King, Stephen
GENRE:  Mystery/Horror

DATES READ:  7/30/2017 - 8/7/2017

MY RATING:  4/5

July pick for Stephen King Book Club!

---

The year is 1973. Devin Jones is college student who goes to work as a carny for a small amusement park in North Carolina. His life changes as he investigates a horrible fun house murder, summer love, and the fate of a dying boy. 

I loved this book! It was a quick no-nonsense murder mystery with charming characters, and a creepy yet equally whimsical setting. It did not read like a typical Stephen King book.

I enjoyed Devin's character, and I loved how he because part of Joyland. The theme park and the language of the carnies was quirky and fun, yet easy to pick up on. You started to feel like you were part of it.

The murder mystery was a classic whodunit and the addition of a haunted ride was just too delicious. I even think those that say they 'don't like' Stephen King would love this read. Would recommend to anyone/everyone. 

Will read and write soon!

Book Cover Source