KNIT TWO

TITLE: KNIT TWO
AUTOR: KATE JACOBS
Pages: 351
Date: 31/01/2010
Grade: 4.5
Details: no. 2 Friday Night Knitting Club
Library

This book is set five years after Georgia Walker died. Walker & Daughter knitting store is still up and running under Peri's management and the women of the Knitting Club still meet on Friday nights.
Georgia's daughter Dakota, now 18, is trying to figure out what to do with her life and ready to discover love.
Lucie is struggling to juggle a demanding five year old, her elderly mother and a successful career.
Caroline needs to discover who she really is and stop looking for men to complete her life.
Darwin gives birth to twins and gains a new perspective on life.
And Anita decides to marry Marty, despite objections from her children and sets out to try and fix a mistake she made 40 years earlier.
A trip to Italy for several members of the group brings them closer together and to their objectives. But it is a disaster back home that provides the insight that many of them need with regard to the future.
It was nice, revisiting with the members of the Friday Night Knitting Club and discovering what happened to them after Georgia's death. I felt I got to know them a lot better in this book then I did in the first one. Just as I felt that the writing had improved since then.
I'm looking forward to reading more about these women in the not too distant future. 

INNOCENT BLOOD

TITLE: INNOCENT BLOOD
AUTHOR: GRAHAM MASTERTON
Pages: 281
Date: 30/01/2010
Grade: 4-
Library

This book goes to show that sometimes it does pay to read both the blurb AND the author information if you want a good idea as to what sort of a book you're picking up.
I had never read anything by this author when the title made me pick it up while checking the shelves in the library. Curious I read the blurb and came to the conclusion that this was a mystery, maybe with some super-natural elements, and decided to bring it home.
It was only when I was about halfway through the book and found it was far more gruesome and graphic then I expected that I checked the author blurb and discovered that Masterton is "one of the world's bestselling horror writers".
This story though is not so horrific that I was tempted not to finish it. But, this is not a book for the feint-hearted; a lot of children (as well as adults) get killed and the sex scenes, although quite brief, do get graphic.
The book also suffers from another problem, one I encounted quite a lot when reading horror; I had to take too much on faith. Too much is unexplained and/or suddenly sprung upon the reader. 
Yet, despite all of that, I did find the story and characters interesting enough to keep turning the pages. Graham Masterton definitely knows how to write a story that draws you in.
This is the story of Frank Bell, a successful Hollywood comedy writer. When he brings his young son Danny to school, Frank witnesses how a white van drives into the school grounds and blows up, killing both Danny and several other pupils and teachers.
The bombing is claimed by a group called Dar Tariki Tariqat, and the authorities assume they're dealing with Muslim extremists.
But, as Frank teams up with Astrid, a mysterious girl he first meets immediately after the blast, and Neville Strange, a celebrated psychic detective and while the devastating attacks on Hollywood's entertainment industry continue, a different and tragic picture starts to emerge.
Frank is entering a world where terrible abuses from the past are being avenged and the dead are much closer than he could ever have believed. 

THE GHOST AND THE FEMME FATALE

TITLE: THE GHOST AND THE FEMME FATALE
AUTHOR: ALICE KIMBERLY
Pages: 419
Date: 27/01/2010
Grade: 4
Details: no. 4 Haunted Bookshop Mystery
            Large  Print

After my previous reads I really needed something lighter. And this books fits that description perfectly; it's a fun, light but reasonably well plotted cozy mystery.
The events in this story take place during a Film Noir Festival, with Penelope Thornton-McClure taking care of book sales and signings for the guest speakers.
During the opening night, one of the special guests Hedda Geist, a former actress and famous femme fatale, is nearly killed in an incident that's written of as an accident. Penelope however has her doubts, as does her ghost, Jack Shephard, a P.I. dead since 1949.
When the next day someone does die in Penelope's bookshop, her doubts are confirmed, although the police continue to stick to their unfortunate accidents theory.
Penelope's case in the present has links to a case of Jack's in the past and the two of them set out to solve both cases, but not not before more deaths occur and Penelope finds herself in danger.
A fun book, although at times highly improbable and with one or two holes in the plot. Still, for light relief it was the ideal book.
 

E-READER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.
And boy, did I get a surprise yesterday.
I wasn't really expecting anything for my birthday. With Christmas just behind us, and all the extra expenses as a result of the freezing cold lately I sort of hoped for a book or two, and that was it.
So, when I unwrapped my present from Dermot and saw he was after getting me an (Binatone) eBook reader I was flabbercasted. I think I didn't say a word for about five minutes. Just looked at the present, at Dermot and back at the present again, not quite able to believe my eyes. But, it was really there.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think this device is ever going to replace paper books for me. I love holding a paper book in my hands; love the way it smells and how great my house looks with all those shelves filled with books. But... every time I go on holidays there is that dilemma. What books do I bring?
It's not just that I have to make sure I bring enough books to last the duration of my time away. I also have to bring books that will fit with whatever mood I might find myself in during the holiday. As a result I always end up with luggage a lot bigger and heavier than is good for me or my budget.
With this eBook reader though, I can bring as many books as I like, in as many genres as I can think of without ever having to worry about fitting them all into my luggage or luggage charges.
So far I've only got four titles downloaded, but I'm sure that amount will steadily grow over the next few days, as I discover all the sites where I can download them. This is definitely a story to be continued.

THE STAR OF THE SEA

TITLE: THE STAR OF THE SEA

AUTHOR: JOSEPH O'CONNOR

Pages: 396

Date: 24/01/2010
Grade: 5
Details: Re-read for library Reading Group
            First read: 03/04/2005
Own

This is a book that improved up re-reading it. I liked it the first time, I marked it 4.5 back then, but this time around I liked it even better. I think I may have tried to read it too fast in 2005 because while I remembered most of the general story, some parts of the book I didn't recognize at all. Shockingly one of the details that had either completely slipped my mind or I had missed, was the ending of the story. So, it's just as well I didn't decide to rely on my memory for this book discussion.
This is the story of some of the people travelling from Ireland to America on the Star of the Sea in 1847.
While we get a good overall impression of life on the ship through the Captain's journal, and a clear insight into the worse than terrible conditions under which the poor travelled in steerage, this is basically the story of a few of the passengers, with each character's part told from their own point of view.
There is Lord Meredith, who has lost his house and land in Ireland and is taking his family to America to escape bankruptcy and build a new life. Although he despises the abuses the rich landowners inflict upon their poor and starving tenants in Ireland, he is basically a weak man, lacking the backbone to do anything about it or make anything of his life. Frustrated he lashes out at those around him in general and specifically at Grantley Dixson.
He is an American journalist and socialist who is having an affair with Meredith's wife. Dixon is also the compiler and narrator of this story.
Also on the boat is Pius Mulvey, a criminal and murderer , who has been placed on board with orders to kill Meredith.
Finally there is Mary Duane, childhood friend of Meredith, former lover and sister in law of Pius and now servant and nanny for the Meredith family. She has good reasons to detest both Meredith and Mulvey.
As we learn the details of these characters lives and follow their progress towards America, tensions rise.
By the time the Star of the Sea arrives in New York harbour, Lord Meredith has been brutally murdered, the reason why appearing obvious. But is it?
This book, while being a solid murder mystery, gives a heartbreaking description of life in Ireland during the famine and makes you wonder at (to quote a song) "man's blind indifference to his fellow man".
A must read for anyone interested in Irish history.


    

WOLF HALL, A phenomenal read

TITLE: WOLF HALL

AUTHOR: HILARY MANTEL

Pages: 650

Date: 22/01/2010

Grade: 5-

Details: no. 1 Thomas Cromwell Saga
Library

This was a fascinating book, telling the story of Thomas Cromwell and his rise to a powerful position in the court of Henry VIII.
In England in the 1520's King Henry finds himself with a male heir, with a wife unlikely to conceive again, and in love with Anne Boleyn.
When the king decides his marriage of 20 years needs to be annulled so that he may be free to marry Anne, he puts his advisor in an impossible position, caught between his king and the Pope, which will lead to his downfall.
Thomas Cromwell, a man from a very humble background and with a checkered and mysterious past, works for Wolsey and loves his patron. Yet, he steps into the vacuum created by Wolsey's demise and helps Henry achieve what he desires while at the same time advancing his own position and power-base.
This book pictures Cromwell as a diplomat in the truest sense of the word. A keen observer of people and hoarder of secrets, he shapes events to his own advantage.
Yet, he's not painted as a cruel man. He is very good and loyal to those he is close to. The impression given is one of a man doing what needed to be done, while not always liking it.
The book only takes us to the execution of Thomas Moore, with Anne still queen and Cromwell still in favour and planning a trip to Wolf Hall, the seat of the Seymours. Apparently a sequel is in the making, and I'm looking forward to reading it.
This was not an easy book to read and took a long time to get through. Yet the picture it paints of England at the time, the international politics and the intrigue at Henry's court made for captivating reading.

THE READ-A-THONE ENDS; 206 BONES & THE SURROGATE THIEF

Well, the Mystery Read-a-Thon is, for me at least, over.
I had planned a very quiet weekend with lots of time for reading. It didn't quite work out that way. The aftermath of our week without water took up far more of my time than I had anticipated and resulted in my reading being a lot more interrupted than I would have liked. But, in the end, I did manage to find 12 hours for reading. And here are the statistics for this weekend:
Time spend reading; Approximately 12 hours
Books started: 2
Books finished: 2
* 206 BONES by Kathy Reichs
* THE SURROGATE THIEF by Archer Mayor
Pages read: 547.
Underneath I will write some more about the Read-a-Thon experience and my thoughts on the two books.

TITLE: 206 BONES

AUTHOR: KATHY REICHS

Pages: 303

Date: 17/01/2010
Grade: 5
Details: no. 12 Temperance Brennan Series
Own

The first book I started and finished during this weekend's Mystery Read-a-Thon. And I have to say it was great to dedicate twelve hours to just reading, I enjoyed every single minute of it. The fact that I'd picked two great mysteries for this weekend definitely helped in providing that enjoyment.
I've read every book in the Temperance Brennan series, and I don't think I've ever been disappointed by any one of them. This book was no exception.
In this book things get very personal and potentially lethal for Tempe.
When the book starts we find Brennan waking up in a pitch black, cold place, her hands and feet tied up and not know how or why she ended up wherever she is. As she starts her fight for freedom, safety and life, the reader learns about the events leading up to her ending up in the trouble she is in.
It all starts when Brennan is accused of having made a crucial mistake in the autopsy of a heiress. She is able to proof that she didn't, but is unable to find out who made the accusation.
Back in Montreal, she and Ryan are involved in the investigation of the murders of several elderly women. Murders that appear to be connected to each other and to the death of the heiress. But who or what links them them remains as unclear as the future of her future with Ryan.
Meanwhile Brennan appears to be making mistake after mistake in her work, while at the same time the atmosphere in her workplace grows ever more toxic. Is Brennan really losing it, or is something more sinister going on.

As always, Reichs delivered a well written and plotted mystery with just the right mix of technical detail and page turning tension. Brennan and Ryan's relationship remains interesting and believable. A good book that left me wanting more, and resenting the fact that I will probably have to wait at least a year before the next one will be available.

TITLE: THE SURROGATE THIEF

AUTHOR: ARCHER MAYOR

Pages: 220

Date: 17/01/2010

Grade: 5

Details: no. 15 Joe Gunther Mystery

Library

And now for the second book I finished this weekend, and another great read. I have to say, I picked my books well.
It's been a few years since I last read a book in this series, and against my principles I skipped about 6 books in this series in order to read this one. But, I haven't been able to get my hands on the other books, and I like this series too much to be able to ignore a title when I do find it, even if that means reading it out of order.
The story begins with a domestic hostage situation going horribly wrong when someone is shot and killed. The gun used turns out to be connected to an 32 year old, unsolved murder case. A case Joe Gunther investigated at the time, while his much loved wife was dying from cancer.
At the time he had a likely suspect, who disappeared before Joe could get his hands on him, and hasn't been seen since.
Now that the gun has been found, Joe reopens the investigation, but with it the painful memories and doubts about his handling of the original case also surface.
And when the investigation of the past leads to murders in the present, the case gains a new urgency.
A very well written and plausible mystery. Gunther is a likable, recognizable, flawed and utterly human main character. I really hope that I'll stumble across more books in this series, soon.