#4stars

Terrie

Dec 2, 2019

#1 in Chaos Walking YA sci-fi trilogy

"The noise is a man unfiltered, and without a filter, a man is just chaos walking.” The first of a trilogy, this sci-fi book takes you on a roller coaster ride as a boy-about-to-become-a-man tries to stay alive on a hostile planet. The Knife of Never Letting Go (#1 Chaos Walking), Patrick Ness Genre: YA, Sci-Fi Published 2008, 512 pages Told in first person by Todd, an almost 13 year old (almost a man!), as he's forced to leave the only place he's ever known by the two people

A black Texas Ranger tries to solve 2 murders in rural Texas - Bluebird, Bluebird, first in a series

Terrie

Nov 26, 2019

A black Texas Ranger tries to solve 2 murders in rural Texas - Bluebird, Bluebird, first in a series

A black Texas Ranger dealing with a pile of personal issues is called on to solve two murders in rural eastern Texas - a black lawyer passing through town and a local white woman. Racial tensions are high in this tiny backwater town; can the Ranger set aside his own issues and do his job? Bluebird, Bluebird (#1 Hwy59), Attica Locke Award: Edgar Genre: Mystery Published 2017, 303 pages The mystery is solid: two seemingly unrelated murders - a black man passing through town an

Street Lawyer: A lawyer on the way up has an unsettling event with a homeless man

Donna

Nov 21, 2019

Street Lawyer: A lawyer on the way up has an unsettling event with a homeless man

Successful anti-trust attorney on the fast track to a partnership and big money has a dangerous and unsettling encounter with a homeless man that changes his life. The Street Lawyer, John Grisham Genre: General Fiction Published 1998, 384 pages In general, I find Grisham’s books very readable and this one was too. Michael and his surgeon wife Claire’s marriage is in trouble; they both work too many hours. While dealing with that issue in his life, Michael and several other la

Sibling love, a broken family all revolved around The Dutch House.

Terrie

Nov 19, 2019

Sibling love, a broken family all revolved around The Dutch House.

The Dutch House, Ann Patchett Genre: General Fiction Published 2019, 337 pages Wow. This is one of the best sibling stories ever. AND, it's an excellent dysfunctional family story. Danny and Maeve, the brother and sister of the novel, (she's 7 years older) forge an unbreakable bond as they struggle through the abandonment by their mom, their dad's second wife, dad's death, and their effort to just survive. "The story of my sister was the only one I was ever meant to tell." An

Underground Railroad: Two slaves flee the south using an actual underground railroad.

Terrie

Nov 13, 2019

Underground Railroad: Two slaves flee the south using an actual underground railroad.

This engrossing book is the story of Cora and Caesar's journey - though it primarily focuses on Cora as she tries to escape her horrific life of slavery. The twist to this story is that the underground railroad is an actual functional railroad - under the ground. A little magical realism in play - and I like the way it was handled. The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead Genre: Historical Fiction Awards: Pulitzer, National Book Award Published 2016, 306 pages I read this a

October Mini Reviews - SIX short book reviews

Terrie

Oct 30, 2019

October Mini Reviews - SIX short book reviews

This month we have six mini book reviews including The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida, Driving Miss Norma by Tim Bauerschmidt and Ramie Liddle, Most Dangerous Place by James Grippando, A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz, Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane, and The Other Wife by Michael Robotham. The Reason I Jump, Naoki Higashida Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir Published 2005, 135 pages Terrie's read I read this short book to satisfy a category in the #BookRiot #ReadHarder annual chall

Where the Crawdads Sing: A young woman survives alone in the marshes of N Carolina

Terrie

Oct 28, 2019

Where the Crawdads Sing: A young woman survives alone in the marshes of N Carolina

A young woman from an abusive home who basically raises herself finds her life complicated when she meets a young man - and someone ends up dead, with her as the main suspect. Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens Genre: General Fiction Published 2018, 384 pages This book certainly got a lot of hype so I picked it up as my first read of 2019 and I think it mostly lived up to all that attention. As a debut novel, it's amazingly perceptive and satisfying. It's not a book I would

Michelle Obama's insightful autobiography

Terrie

Oct 22, 2019

Michelle Obama's insightful autobiography

An articulate, eloquent, thoughtful autobiography. Michelle Obama shares her story starting with her childhood through the time the Obamas leave the White House. She shares insights into what drives her, her dislike of politics, and the things that matter most to her. Becoming, Michelle Obama Genre: Autobiography Published 2018, 421 pages This is the hardest review I've written - trying to corral my thoughts and put them in a reasonably cogent order is proving difficult. The

Terrie

Oct 17, 2019

Two Books by Thrity Umrigar

A couple who loses their son moves to India to "start over" is the framework for The Weight of Heaven, which Donna read. Terrie read The Space Between Us, the story of a wealthy Parsi woman, her valued servant of 20 years, and their changing relationship. The Weight of Heaven, Thrity Umrigar Genre: General Fiction Published 2009, 365 pages Donna's read I have read several books by this author and they have all been wonderful. This is a heart-wrenching story of an American cou

Buddy Read: a childhood classic about a little orphan girl who comes to Green Gables

Terrie

Oct 15, 2019

Buddy Read: a childhood classic about a little orphan girl who comes to Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables #1, L.M. Montgomery Genre: YA, Classic Published 1908, 320 pages Have you read this yet? I don't know how I never read this before.....and the writing style took me aback at first. But, on audio, my goodness, the flow of language! The words! The flowery, joyful, effervescence of Anne is so engaging that it made me smile. And it wants to make me use my words better. Instead of everything being "great", try splendid, terrific, or sublime. And though Montgo

A Curious Beginning - #1 in Veronica Speedwell series - cozy mystery set in the UK

Terrie

Aug 26, 2019

A Curious Beginning - #1 in Veronica Speedwell series - cozy mystery set in the UK

Veronica Speedwell #1 in series: London 1800s. A feisty, outspoken, liberated heroine. A strong, emotionally damaged, mercurial hero. A cozy mystery with murder, lies and deception galore, scientific minds being challenged to solve a winding trail of clues. A Curious Beginning (Speedwell #1), Deanna Raybourn Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery Published 2015, 339 pages THE PLOT Set in London in the 1800s, a very independent young woman avoids an abduction and is saved by a ba

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