TITLE: THE CAVEAUTHOR: KATE MOSSEPages: 97Date: 11/04/2009
Grade: 4
Details: Quick Reads series
Library
This book is part of a series called "Quick Reads". These are books aimed at adults who are learning to read (better). The books are not very big, but they contain full and grown up stories, and there is absolutely no reason why the should be snubbed by more experienced readers. And considering that they are priced at only 1.99 Pound, they are attractive price-wise too.
In this book Kate Mosse returns to the past and to France, like she did in Labyrinth and Sepulchre.
The story is set in 1928 and Freddie is driving through France on his way to meet friends. Although WW I has been over for 10 years, Freddie is still troubled by the death of his brother and the fact that his remains were never found.
During a thunderstorm, Freddie crashes his car but is lucky enough to find a remote village where he finds shelter. He meets a young girl, Marie, there who tells him a shocking story about her family and her village. A story that leads Freddie to discover a centuries old secret and brings comfort to his own life.
This story was so interesting that I could have done with it being longer and more detailed. As it is however, it was a fun, quick and fascinating read.
TITLE: THE MONSTERS OF TEMPLETON
AUTHOR: LAUREN GROFF
Pages: 361
Date: 10/04/2009
Grade: 4
Library
I find it very hard to classify this story. It has the characteristics of a mystery, although there is (recent) murder. I also reminds me of a family saga. But in the end I think it's a story about growing up and finding your roots. I would call it a coming off age story if the main character hadn't been well into her twenties. Whatever it is though, it's a good and captivating read.
On the day Willie Cooper returns home to Templeton, broken-hearted and unsure about her future, the corpse of a huge monster floats to the surface of lake Glimmerglass.
Because Willie is depressed and lethargic her mother, Vivienne, sets her a task. Willie has always believed herself to be the result of her mother's wild youth in a commune, with her father being one of three possible men. Now she finds out that her father is in fact a local Templeton man, who is in some distant way related to her forefathers, who were the founders of Templeton.
Her quest to discover his identity leads her back in time through the history of both her family and her town. It brings her in contact with ghosts and uncovers some family scandals. It also brings Willie back to herself and gives her a new perspective on life.
A good, although not a fast, read.
TITLE: THE ART OF MENDING
AUTHOR: ELIZABETH BERG
Pages: 236
Date: 06/04/2009
Grade: 4.5
Own
It's been a long time since I read a book by Elizabeth Berg, and that's a shame. I had almost forgotten how good she is at writing about real people, living a situation you could imagine finding yourself in. She's not one for coming up with a perfect, fairytale ending, just to make the reader feel good. Instead, she keeps it real, offering a resolution as you would find in real life; something that is a first step in the right direction, provided the characters keep on moving in the right direction after the reader leaves them.
This story is being told by Laura Bartone, who is in her fifties. She and her family are heading on their annual trip to her parental home for the Minneapolis state fair. However, this time it won't be an effortless holiday. Laura's younger sister, Caroline, who has always been the odd duck out, needs to share some traumatic childhood memories in order to move on with her life. They are not memories she shares with Laura or their brother, and Laura is deeply shocked and confused by them. They leave her questioning what to believe.
As the family is shocked by another devastating event, Laura and her family have to come to terms with their past and find the power of forgiveness and new beginnings in order to face the future without falling apart.
The character Laura lends her friend a copy of LOST LAKE by Mark Slouka, remarking that it's very good. Now, of course, I'll have to check that book out.
TITLE: 8TH CONFESSION
AUTHOR: JAMES PATTERSON
Pages: 352
Date: 05/04/2009
Grade: 4+
Details: no. 8 Women Murder Club Mystery
Library
Two mysteries are at the centre of this novel, as well as issues of the heart variety for three of our four friends.
Cindy, the journalist, decides to investigate the brutal murder of a homeless man known as "Bagman Jesus" when the police have neither the time nor the resources to look into it, receiving some assistance from Lindsay and her partner.
Meanwhile, Lindsay herself is investigating the suspicious but for a long time unexplained deaths of San Francisco's rich and famous. Deaths that only get explained when they're linked to an open case from the 1980's.
Meanwhile, Lindsay is still struggling with commitment to Joe, Cindy finds a new love interest that puts her on a potential collision course with Lindsay, and Yuki falls for a man who turns out not to be what he appeared to be.
This was an easy read, but not really anything special. While Patterson's writing did keep me turning the pages, this story didn't really count as a thriller for me, and could have done with one or two surprises.
TITLE: A PERFECT SPY
AUTHOR: JOHN LE CARRE
Date: 05/04/2009
Grade: 3.5
Details: Audio / 18 Cd's / 20 hours & 58 minutes
Read by: Michael Jayston
Library
"A lot ado about nothing" is how I would describe this book. For a story this long and at times confusing, remarkably little actually happens.
Magnus Pym, counsellor at the British Embassy in Vienna and life-long spy vanishes after attending his father's funeral in England. Pym has been under suspicion of being a double agent for some time and now both the British and the American secret service are desperate to find him, while his wife tries to make sense of the whole situation.
The explanation as to what is going on and why emerges as Pym writes his life story.. Except that for me the life story didn't really explain anything.
If I had been reading this book, I would probably have cast it aside in frustration. Listening to it in fits and starts made staying with the story possible. But I was never really compelled to finish listening to it.
TITLE: SALVATION IN DEATH
AUTHOR: J.D. ROBB
Pages: 436
Date: 04/04/2009
Grade: 5
Details: no. 27 Eve Dallas & Roarke Mystery
Own
After having read all these Eve Dallas books, revisiting her and Roarke on yet another adventure is a bit like coming home, a welcome reunion with old friends.
Nora Roberts in her guise of J.D. Robb draws you into the story from the very first paragraph and doesn't let you go until the last full stop, bringing the reader on a thrilling and at times sexy ride along the way. And while the books are definitely formulaic, they never feel like that.
This instalment starts with a priest conducting a funeral mass in a packed church. When he arrives at the Holy Communion and drinks the wine, he drops dead from poisoning.
Soon after Eve starts investigating, she discovers that the murder victim wasn't who he said he was, wasn't even a priest in fact. And after the discovery of his true identity, the background to his fraud and the reason he got himself murdered, both Even and Roarke find themselves revisiting their dark pasts and relive old nightmares.
TITLE: HOME TO BIG STONE GAP
AUTHOR: ADRIANA TRIGIANI
Pages: 301
Date: 01/04/2009
Grade: 5
Details: no. 4 Big Stone Gap novel
Library
I think this is probably the last of the Big Stone Gap novels, but who knows? The series started off as a trilogy, and this is part four. And although the story lines in the book are neatly tided up, there is scope for a follow up. And considering how much I enjoyed these books, I wouldn't be sorry if Trigiani decided to revisit Big Stone Gap again.
With Etta married and living in Italy, something Ave Maria has a hard time coming to terms with, life in Big Stone Gap has changed dramatically. And when Jack Mac has a major health scare, it becomes very clear that nothing in life can be taken for granted.
When a very close friendship of Ave Maria's is threatened by the revelation of an old secret, Ave Maria has to reassess her values and her feelings. Only coming to terms with the past can bring the possibility of a happy future.
Trigiani is a champion when it comes to writing about feelings, emotions and the things that motivate people. She doesn't require a steady stream of dramatic events to keep her readers interest. Her characters and their lives are interesting enough to do that on their own account.
