Kelly Corn

A very fascinating, funny, original novel that was absolutely nothing like what I expected.

A lot of people really liked this book, I wish I liked it more, but I just didn't. I admit, I didn't ‘get it', so that's probably the major issue for me. And it was a little on the boring side. This isn't the first Mieville I've read, and it won't be the last, but it's definitely my least favorite of all his novels. I know he's an excellent writer with great ideas, but this book just fell short for me.

This is a new favorite! Also, my first Ann Patchett novel. Not the last, oh no, not the last...The book starts out with some definite [b:Heart of Darkness 4900 Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328698658s/4900.jpg 2877220] undertones. Dr. Marina Singh and her boss/lover Mr. Fox receive a letter from a rogue scientist studying deep in the Amazonian forest. Mr. Anders has died from a fever. Mr. Anders was a friend and many-year colleague of Dr. Singh, and Mr. Fox and Mrs. Anders convince her to go investigate the rogue researcher Dr. Swenson.And so opens up a fantastic story of Brazil, of medicine, of bohemians, and of love. Add in a few pinches of difficult ethical and moral decision-making, and you've got a recipe to keep you up at night, in terror and awe.Patchett's writing in this novel (and it seems, her other novels) is so musical, so poetic. There are several sentences or paragraphs that I would read over and over because of how they made me feel, sort of like listening to a favorite melody or reading a favorite snippet of poetry. She is an incredible wordsmith.I was never once bored, even though very little action takes place in the book. And the denouement is completely unexpected yet not unbelievable.I'm going to say it: I'm in a state of wonder after reading this novel.

What a scary little book! Other reviewers have said it better, but Hill House could keep you awake at night like it did me. A subtle psychological thriller, you won't find a lot of gore (there's just a little bit of blood), and you'll probably dislike the characters. Actually, I thought Dr. Montague seemed like an alright fellow, just doing some research into the paranormal like any good scientist. But Eleanor, Luke, Theodora, and Mrs. Montague seem to rub most readers unsatisfactorily. These are some strange folks.

But one reviewer touched on the Unreliable Narrator, and that really explains this book. After all, the entire story is straight from Eleanor's perspective, there is nothing omniscient or all-knowing, so the perspective IS skewed. Keep that in mind while reading. I think it's clear that Eleanor doesn't have the maturity or life lessons that many thirty-two year olds have since she spent the last 11 years of her life taking care of her invalid mother. She's almost a child, then, maybe a teenager. And so her impressions of Luke, Theodora, and Dr. Montague may not be the same as another narrator would see.

Excellent book, dark, scary, and a very worthwhile read.

I wonder sometimes how much my own mood and things going on in my life affect my like or dislike of books. For whatever reason I need something light, funny, easy to understand and easy to follow right now. And Agatha Raisin books always do that for me. This one I thought was especially cute. I think I need some more cozies in my life for the foreseeable future.

Star ratings are so tough - is this prize-winning literature? Nope! But it tickled me, lightened my mood, and I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery.

I loved every page of this book! A lot of literary elements worked in this book that might not work in others, and they all work together here so wonderfully. This is a book about books, about the Holocaust, about World War II, and about a German family.

First, commentary on non-spoilers:

1. The narrator being Death: I loved how this actually manifested in the book. It could have been a gimmick, some reviewers even think it was. But I feel that the narration of this particular story needed to be from a third-person omniscient subjective point of view, and who better than Death itself. Additionally, the narrator was neutral, he didn't like or dislike his job, he didn't like or dislike anything really, although Liesel he definitely seemed to have a soft spot for. Also, I enjoyed the constant little “asides” from the narrator; they inspired a lot of emotion in me like happiness, anger, and sadness just from how they are presented. Very succinct.

2. One of the elements of this book that really sets it apart from a lot of other “Holocaust” fiction (what else would it be called?) is that it is from a non-evil German perspective. Obviously, there must have been some non-Nazi sympathizing Germans (like Oskar Schindler), and this is a story about one such family. Still, despite being German, plenty of the horrors of war and Hitler's regime terrorize Liesel's family. Also, the narrator constantly reminded the reader about these other atrocities of World War II (such as the carnage in Russia and the suppression of the German people). Often, these atrocities aren't as explored in literature as the Holocaust, but they were devastating in their own right. And it's really rare to see a well-known book that explores all of these.

3. I wouldn't classify this book as Young Adult simply because I didn't know history well enough in my formative years to be able to understand the whole thing, so it's difficult to expect all young adults to be ready to tackle this book. Also, I personally preferred more... cheerful books at that age. This is just a general comment; I didn't even realize that it was considered Young Adult until I read reviews on GR about it, long after I had started it.

4. So many great themes to explore in this book made it an absolute delight despite it's depressing story. I think the most in-your-face theme is that about the role of books and words in a person's life. Here's a girl that treasures books, and can have so very few, and everytime I walked by my humble “library”, I thought about how lucky I really am to have so many books that I actually want to read. No Grave Digger's Handbook for me, thank you. The narrator treats words themselves as physical objects (whether spoken, on a page, or just in thought), which I loved: “Burning words were torn from their sentences”, “... the secret sat in her mouth. It made itself comfortable. It crossed its legs.” and “The words were flung at her, landing somewhere on the concrete step.” Lots of great color references as well, so I was busy cross-referencing while I was reading.

And now the spoiler-y parts of the review:

5. Thank goodness for the foreshadowing in this book. The deaths are so painful, especially those of Rudy and Hans. I was prepared though, I knew they were coming, and it made it easier for me to read. And foreshadowing is something that must be used with utmost care. It served well here, and was entirely because of the choice of narrator.6. I cried. This is the first book in my reading career that has made me cry, real big tears, not just a little sniffle and a little wet in the eyes. I had to stop and cry and blow my nose. The part that made me cry was the first book that Max gives Liesel that shows his brief family history. The little drawings in the book, then, were not gimmicky to me in the least bit. I loved both the little stories that Max drew, and they added a lot of depth to this book about books.7. One of the more thought-provoking elements of this book was the suspense that it made me feel even though what I dreaded the most never happened. I expected the family would get caught with the Jewish man in their basement, but they never did. I was on the edge of my seat constantly with this fear. I feel this may be a result of Hollywood and also [b:The Diary of a Young Girl|48855|The Diary of a Young Girl|Anne Frank|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519HKX9M69L._SL75_.jpg|3532896] (Anne Frank) because everyone hiding Jewish people gets caught, and when it happens, it's terrible. So I expected Hans would be carried away, executed, and the same fate would come to Max. It was a pleasant surprise that this didn't actually happen. I'm still thinking about what kind of reader I am that I thought for sure this would happen.

I'm with the many other readers of this fantastic book in giving it 5 well-deserved stars.

Something kept this novel from being a great read. It really started out with a bang – Kinsey Millhone travels to Mexico to verify that a man thought dead for 5 years is in fact alive. With usual Kinsey fashion, she eventually discovers the truth behind the sighting of the man and uncovers a lot of intrigue along the way.

I read these kind of mysteries because they are fun and quick. They keep me wanting to read more, they are hard to put down, but what separates them is their exposition, how they end. Do I feel satisfied? In the case of this particular Kinsey novel, I did not. The end of the book did not hold up to the trip there. Still, I enjoy this series and will read more!

Unlike many reviewers, I thought this book was as good as the first book, The Lies of Locke Lamora. Of course, what I liked the most from that book can be found in this book also – the lavish descriptions of setting, costumes, and the pirate boat itself. Mr. Lynch makes note in the book that he is no sailor and that many aspects of the pirate scenes may not be wholly accurate, so I give him a pass if he misses the mark on the pirate boats. Since I don't read much nautical-oriented fiction (or non-fiction), it seemed fine to me while I was reading it; I had no problems picturing the vivid scenes in my mind.

The action is not the same as that in the first book, but the action is still very much there in this book. This book really focuses on one great scheme designed by Locke and Jean (main characters), while the first book had several smaller schemes. In this book, the scheme has “sub”-schemes that begin to weave away from the main scheme.

I thought this book was just as entertaining, funny, and wonderfully written as the first and highly recommend it.

I can only assume that these must get better as the series progresses, but I wasn't terribly impressed with the first installment. Hamish Macbeth just seemed too weird, and the characters were hopeless stereotypes. I've seen mysteries with better characterization, so I know it can be done. I did enjoy the setting.

Re-read years later because I like Agatha Raisin quite a bit, still not better than 2 stars.

This book is an historical mystery, with emphasis on historical. The mystery part of the book is fairly undeveloped, however, it provided great context to Maisie Dobbs' incredible history. I would say a majority of this book tells the story of WWI and its effect on young British soldiers, nurses, doctors, and their families. I will definitely be reading more in this series!

I love Daniel Abraham's fantasy. His Long Price Quartet [b:A Shadow in Summer 208 A Shadow in Summer (Long Price Quartet, #1) Daniel Abraham http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312020105s/208.jpg 1711253] was such a refreshing and fortunate find, and I have yet to read anything that's worthy of fewer than 5 stars from this author. Even his science fiction is great [a:James S.A. Corey 4192148 James S.A. Corey http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-4df4c878d4149c45fac159e88cb784ad.jpg], but I haven't read any of his urban fantasy yet (and may not, it's not a favorite genre) [a:M.L.N. Hanover 1868743 M.L.N. Hanover http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1344347872p2/1868743.jpg].Daniel Abraham is a man of many pseudonyms. He has said before at conventions that he likes to keep his author personalities separate, and I think it works well. What he puts his “real” name on is the fantasy like The Long Price Quartet and this series, The Dagger and the Coin. I had my hopes up high for this book considering how much I like his other novels, and it did not disappoint.I have to admit that the beginning seems slow in pacing. The writing and prose is well-written and so very thoughtful that even without any major action, it's still difficult to turn out the lights and go to bed, though.The perspectives of 4 major characters are explored. The first is Cithrin Bel Sarcour, a ward of a bank, and a banker-in-training. Next is Sir Geder Palliako, Heir of the Viscount of Rivenhalm who loves reading and is perhaps a little chubby for nobility. Next is Marcus Wester, a near-mercenary who has been traveling for years to avoid the pain of the death of his wife and daughter. And last is Dawson Kallium, a baron looking out for the King. These 4 lives converge, not necessarily together in location but more in time, and the book chronicles their paths.Abraham can create amazing characters. Each of these characters has real and believable traits. One in particular left me absolutely disappointed in his not entirely justifiable decisions. These characters are not without faults and are not easy to pinpoint as good people or bad people. I still can't determine who's the real “bad guy” and who's the “good guy” - probably because there isn't one of either. The line between the two is fuzzy and ill-defined, as it is in real people.The magic system here at work is barely explored, but is as unique as that in his other novels. The opening is about a priest who definitely appears to have some powers - he can know without a doubt if someone is lying or telling the truth. Also, there are vague references to dragons and the book itself is called The Dragon's Path, so I'm sure I'll get to have more dragons in my future.The action and adventure comes from Cithrin's needing to move a large amount of real money from one city to another, several days trip apart. Also, Geder is traveling with an army to the city that Cithrin has just vacated. The plot is filled with political and moral intrigue that is far more compelling than it should be (I mean, how exciting would a banker's life really be?)Like any fantasy that I love, there are many races and lands to learn about. Abraham has created 9 different races that all seem very distinct. Instead just having different skin colors or accents or clothing styles, some are hairy, some are scaled, and some are short. There's enough history of these different races to just intrigue me immensely, but not enough to satisfy me. So I will have to read more....

Chilling side story set in the Milkweed Triptych universe about Gretel, the most disturbing of the Nazi super people.

I'm partial - I'm from the southwest and I love southwestern literature, and that's why I would give the book 5 stars. Unfortunately, the mystery itself is a little flat, maybe I would give that 3 stars. So I met in the middle with 4. I love this author, I love his characters, and I love the adventures these books take me on. Plus, I get to learn a little Navajo culture in the process.

Great book, well-researched, heart-wrenching, thought-provoking, and inspiring.

I gave a stellar 4 star review to the first Anna Pigeon mystery, [b:Track of the Cat 76706 Track of the Cat (Anna Pigeon Mysteries, #1) Nevada Barr http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170899635s/76706.jpg 954916], and was very excited to sit down with book two of the series. Perhaps I had my hopes up, but this book was quite a disappointment. As a reader of mysteries, I expect that certain elements of plots must be far-fetched like the fact that murders seem to occur in unlikely places (at every National Park that Anna Pigeon visits, for instance). This book, however, just had too many unlikely characters all brought together to live at this Park, and I just couldn't bring myself to accept it as even remotely plausible. Like the first Pigeon book, though, the book was filled with fantastic descriptions of nature and the Park itself (thus the 3 star rating instead of 2), but it just fell flat with a poor plot driven mostly by poor characters. I will definitely read more in the series, but if the next few are like this one, I will give it up.

I loved the first Anna Pigeon book [b:Track of the Cat 76706 Track of the Cat (Anna Pigeon Mysteries, #1) Nevada Barr http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1326365792s/76706.jpg 954916], wasn't very pleased with the second book [b:A Superior Death 86492 A Superior Death (Anna Pigeon Mysteries, #2) Nevada Barr http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300201512s/86492.jpg 1435861], and am glad to say that this one is much more like the first. Maybe I prefer the southwest setting of this one more than the cold Great Lakes area of the previous one. This book was also a little more believable than the previous installment. I know there's always some suspension of disbelief with these mystery series', but you know when you read one that is just really far-fetched. Barr's prose is nice, her descriptions of the landscape are beautiful, and Anna Pigeon is an unusual character that Barr develops very well.

I love Nevada Barr's settings! I am more neutral about the primary protagonist Anna Pigeon. And I generally don't like any of the other characters. This particular mystery is almost of the locked room subgenre. After running to escape a fast moving fire, several firefighters and rangers end up stranded far away from their base camp, with one of the rangers found dead after the fire passes them.

Wow! I have finally finished listening to this book. It is my “walking book” and guess what I've not been doing much of during the pandemic? That's right, taking care of my health. But now I'm back to my mostly daily walks and getting more books in for the year.

Harlan Coben can do suspense. I'm not a fan of the Myron Bolitar books (only read 3 but they didn't pull me in like his standalones). Lots of exciting big reveals in the end - and that's what I need in a exercise audiobook.

So torn on this book between 2 and 3 stars. I guess I'll go with 3 since I tend toward the positive side usually.

3 stars for the super-fun setting. Annie Laurence lives on an island off the East Coast selling books (what a DREAM job). To top it all off, she even lives in a posh tree house. She's got a great boyfriend (almost irritatingly too great, mostly I'm unsure why the author chose to make him wealthy). I thoroughly enjoyed all the references to great mystery authors, past and present. It was a Who's Who of Mystery Writers all throughout this mystery.

Unfortunately, this mystery was just not that good. I never ever know the murderer until either the end of the book, or maybe a chapter right before. But this murderer, I knew right off. And I just spent the rest of the book hoping I was wrong, only to find all the clues worked out just fine. I may read more in the series, but it's not a priority right now.

3 1/2 rounded up. Fairly predictable plot, some one dimensional characters (besides Cassie and March), and a lot more violent than my usual reads, but Michael Connelly sure knows how to tell a story. I listened to the audiobook and the time just flew by! Very entertaining despite the flaws mentioned above. Maybe because I'm going to Vegas next week myself...

I need a lot of mind numbing suspense to get through these shutdowns, and Michael Connelly is a master.

Almost as good as the first in the series, Deadline is a great installment in the Newsflesh universe. A lot more of the truth comes out to our journalist heroes, with just enough of a cliffhanger to make me read the third as soon as I can.

I have found a new series that I love. Now the first book in the series, although I enjoyed it, wasn't as good as this one. Also, I think the big difference between the two for me is that I listened to the audiobook for the second one, and wow that reader is absolutely amazing!

Maisie Dobbs is just such a wonderful character and I am enjoying the setting more and more.

This is fun read! The structure of the book is basically several short stories written in the same universe, some even reference the same characters. The version I read is a Special version edition with some additional stories. I can only assume that GRRM's recent great successes have something to do with these new re-releases.It reads like a comic book. I don't read comic books, but if I did, this is how I imagine they would read. The stories are action-filled, with just enough characterization to give the reader a little intro. The basic story is about the Wild Cards virus that has infected Earth. Some people infected with the virus are Jokers (about 9/10ths of those infected). The Jokers are typically deformed in some manner or have a worthless special power. The other 10% of the infected are the lucky Aces. These Aces have strong special powers like super strength, ability to read minds, ability to levitate objects, etc. There are a lot of typical powers, but there are some unique ones, too.My two favorite stories were “Down Deep” by [a:Edward Bryant 70454 Edward Bryant http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66.jpg] and [a:Leanne C. Harper 2924742 Leanne C. Harper http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] and also “Ghost Girl Takes Manhattan” by [a:Carrie Vaughn 8988 Carrie Vaughn http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1231952277p2/8988.jpg]. I was a bit put off by [a:Lewis Shiner 150432 Lewis Shiner http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1235134206p2/150432.jpg]'s “The Long, Dark Night of Fortunato”, so I'm glad that wasn't the first story.

I have a few books from my “younger” years that I just couldn't finish, and this is one of them. I remember being very disappointed, as I am a huge fan of [b:Snow Crash 830 Snow Crash Neal Stephenson http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312497352s/830.jpg 493634], and this book is not at all like that one. But, I have matured somewhat, and may give it another go someday.