- asherry25
- Karen
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
New For July
The Whisper Network by Chandler Baker
Chandler uses the
#MeToo movement as a springboard for her adult fiction debut that mixes women’s
social history with a credible murder mystery.
When the CEO of Truviv, a Dallas sportswear company drops dead of a
heart attack, General Counsel Ames Garrett is poised to take over. Slowly, it becomes clear that Garrett has
lecherous tendencies, a fact in-house attorney Sloane Glover admits, though she
also admits to having an affair with him before she married; when Sloane adds
Garrett’s names to a spreadsheet that is circulating amoung the women of
Dallas, a who’s-who of sleaze, Sloane teams up with her friends Ardie Valdez,
new mom Grace Stanton, and new hire Katherine Bell, into taking action against
Garrett. Chandler includes a compelling
murder mystery, as well as the different stories of working moms and the
work-life balance, as well as sexual harassment in the workplace.
Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber
Anna Kate has returned to her mother’s hometown of Wicklow,
Alabama, to bury her Granny Zee, and to fulfill the terms of Zee’s will which
states that Anna Kate must spend a couple months running Zee’s Blackbird Café
before it can be sold. Anna Kate tries
to stay to herself the best she can, but she is bombarded by locals and
tourists including the blackbird seekers who have come to town to find the
elusive bird, and to sample the magical blackbird pie, a recipe Anna Kate
cannot quite perfect. Also, back in town
is Natalie and her young daughter Ollie, to face Natalie’s overpowering
mother. As the two women’s stories
unfold, they parallel each other at times, and then converge, in a most unusual
way and may help explain to Anna Kate why her mother left Wicklow as a young, pregnant
woman, and about the car accident that killed her father and broke her mother’s
heart. Quirky and charming, Wicklow and
its residents welcome readers as surely as they do Anna Kate and Natalie, and
make them their own. The perfect read on
a sultry summer day.
The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson
Every since her father’s death, and the subsequent parade of women accusing the Chicago millionaire of sexual misconduct, Phoebe Miller has all but become a recluse in her home in an exclusive Chicago neighborhood, drinking her days away, arguing with and alienating herself from, her therapist husband Wyatt over her unwillingness to consider adoption after a stillborn son and multiple IVF treatments. Phoebe notices a rusted-out car stalking her house most days, but can’t bring herself to confront the driver or even call the police. After Vicki Napier, her 18-year-old son, and husband move in next door, things start to get interesting and downright sordid in Phoebe’s world. Secrets emerged, secrets stay hidden, a murder occurs, twists and turns abound, making it difficult to know who to trust, even after the last page is turned. A debut domestic thriller by an author worth watching.
Someone We Know by Shari Lapena
A teenage boy has been breaking into homes and spying on people using their computers in a quiet, upstate New York suburb, learning the secrets of his neighbors. Robert Pierce’s wife Amanda told him she was going on a weekend shopping trip to New York with a friend and never returns, and the friend knew nothing about the trip. Robert reports his wife’s absence with little feeling to the police, but someone knows where Amanda might be and why. Tensions and distrust rises as neighbors try to suss out who has been spying on them and who knows their secrets in this well-paced, clever domestic thriller.
Four investment bankers from the Wall Street firm Stanhope
and Sons are called to an after-hours team building exercise which turns out to
be an Escape Room in the form of an elevator in a building under
construction. Vincent, Sam, Jules, and
Sylvia quickly realize this is not an event organized by their company but by
someone with a vendetta, someone who has set the clues to point toward one of
their now dead colleagues, Sara Hall.
Told in alternating chapters, the present from within the elevator and
the past, narrated by Sara Hall, who is quickly drawn into the excitement of
working in high stakes baking, but is not sure it is worth the risk, especially
when one member of their team dies.
Sara’s narrative propels the story forward, while the foursome in the
elevator slow things down a bit, dragging out their search for clues and their
solutions. All in all, though, this
debut thriller from Australian Goldin is worth a read. A Library Reads pick for July.
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
Edith and her sister Helen grew up on a Minnesota farm
during the 1950’s. Edith married Stanley
Magnusson, living a typical life, scrimping to make ends meet, but making pies
that people will drive miles and hours to get a taste of. Helen married Orval Blotz, heir to the
failing Blotz Beer brewery, and is determined to make a success out of the
business. Using her inheritance money,
the entire proceeds from the farm, something that estranges her from Edith for
much of the rest of their lives, Helen tries to kick start the company. Edith, ponders over, but does not wallow in,
how her life might have been different had she had her share of the
inheritance. After Stanley dies, Edith
must work two jobs to make ends meet, especially after she takes in her
orphaned granddaughter Diana, who has her own ideas as to how to keep Edith
afloat. Through a series of events,
Diana finds herself working in a brewery, eventually becoming one of the top
brewers in Minnesota. Told from the
points of view of these women, in both flashbacks and present day, the story is
charming and touching, never mired down in grief, anger, or despair, and
becomes an uplifting tribute to familial love and loyalty. A Library Reads pick for July.
Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson
Amy Whey lives a quiet life in Pensacola, Florida, giving diving lessons, mothering her teenage step-daughter Maddie and her new son Oliver, and helping her best friend Charlotte run the neighborhood book club. But Amy is keeping a secret from everyone including her husband, a secret that is threatened to be revealed when beguiling Angelica Roux attends their book group one night. Roux seems to enjoy pitting the women against each other as they reveal their deepest, darkest secrets. When she gets Amy alone, Roux gets Amy to admit to her secret and threatens to tell all about the secret Amy has kept hidden unless Amy gives Roux what Roux wants. As Amy races to keep her secret without succumbing to a blackmailer she faces her past and learns some startling truths about her present. Clever, dark, and twisty, this departure from Jackson’s usual fare has enough levity interjected to keep from dragging down the pace of the narrative. A Library Reads Hall of Fame author.
Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman
Lippman’s stand alone thriller is set in 1960’s Baltimore
when Maddie Schwartz, and the age of 37, decides she has had enough of being a
good Jewish housewife, and leaves her husband and son to strike out as a
journalist, a long secretly held ambition, a touch job for a woman during this
time. The body of a young black woman,
Cleo Sherwood, is found in a fountain, and no one really investigated the death
wrote about it, and seems the perfect opportunity to Maddie. So does stumbling across the body of
11-year-old Tessie Fine, and then corresponding with her killer to learn the
truth about her death. Maddie stumbles
across stories and then tromps around in the investigations, not realizing who
she is angering or what she is getting herself into, making people reveal
things they’d rather keep hidden. Chapters
alternate between Cloe’s ghost, keeping a close eye on Maddie, and the people
Maddie runs across in her investigative reporting, people in her other life she
wouldn’t have given a second thought to.
Lippman packs as much into a story as she dares without leaving it
feeling overstuffed, and always has a few surprises for the last pages.
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
This Land Is My Land: a graphic history of big dreams, micronations, and other self-made states
Author:
Andy Warner
Stars: 5
Review by: libraryaimee
A non-fiction graphic novel about 30 self-made places around the world which were created with the dream of finding utopia. Some still exist, some are tourist attractions. Arizona Mystery Castle here I come!
Stars: 5
Review by: libraryaimee
A non-fiction graphic novel about 30 self-made places around the world which were created with the dream of finding utopia. Some still exist, some are tourist attractions. Arizona Mystery Castle here I come!
The Keep
Author:
Jennifer Egan
Stars: 3
Review by: libraryaimee
Strange plot, strange characters, but everything gets twisted together so expertly at the end that I enjoyed it very much! Unpredictable.
Stars: 3
Review by: libraryaimee
Strange plot, strange characters, but everything gets twisted together so expertly at the end that I enjoyed it very much! Unpredictable.
Restoring Grace
Author:
Katie FForde
Stars: 5
Review by: KM
So far, every book from this author has been really well-written, with great character development. Light and warming, yet substantive. British author.
Stars: 5
Review by: KM
So far, every book from this author has been really well-written, with great character development. Light and warming, yet substantive. British author.
The Reporter Who Knew Too Much
Author:
Mark Shaw
Stars: 5
Review by: rgfundamental
I enjoyed all the celebrity references & the historical significance. It is about the mysterious death of Dorothy Kilgallen & her investigating the assassination of JFK.
Stars: 5
Review by: rgfundamental
I enjoyed all the celebrity references & the historical significance. It is about the mysterious death of Dorothy Kilgallen & her investigating the assassination of JFK.
Britt Marie Was Here
Author:
Fredrik Backman
Stars: 2
Review by: Diane G.
This book was given to me as a birthday gift. I wouldn't have finished it otherwise! I have heard good things about Backman's writing, but found the character development lacking and the pacing of the book slow. I enjoyed the themes of the book and the progress of its main character, but overall, this book wasn't for me.
Stars: 2
Review by: Diane G.
This book was given to me as a birthday gift. I wouldn't have finished it otherwise! I have heard good things about Backman's writing, but found the character development lacking and the pacing of the book slow. I enjoyed the themes of the book and the progress of its main character, but overall, this book wasn't for me.
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk
Author:
Kelli Estes
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
This book came out a few years ago. It's Kelli Estes's debut novel. Mostly the story of a Chinese-American woman from the 19th century, the author intermixes chapters about her with chapters about a modern day white woman, using that device to tell a great story.
Stars: 4
Review by: Miss Lucy
This book came out a few years ago. It's Kelli Estes's debut novel. Mostly the story of a Chinese-American woman from the 19th century, the author intermixes chapters about her with chapters about a modern day white woman, using that device to tell a great story.
A Dog’s Journey
Author:
Bruce Cameron
Stars: 4
Review by: August Mom
A story told from the perspective of a dog with many lives. The connections of caring and showing up when needed in the lives of the humans is inspiring.
Stars: 4
Review by: August Mom
A story told from the perspective of a dog with many lives. The connections of caring and showing up when needed in the lives of the humans is inspiring.
Anatomy of an Illness
Author:
Norman Cousins
Stars: 5
Review by: PattiK
I’ve read this book multiple times. I speak about it at every single one of my Alzheimer’s event. I think it’s an important book for all of us to read because it reminds us of the intrinsic nature of our bodies towards health and wholeness and also of the importance of laughter.
Stars: 5
Review by: PattiK
I’ve read this book multiple times. I speak about it at every single one of my Alzheimer’s event. I think it’s an important book for all of us to read because it reminds us of the intrinsic nature of our bodies towards health and wholeness and also of the importance of laughter.
Sulfur Springs
Author:
William Kent Krueger
Stars: 5
Review by: Noel
I love the Cork O'Connor series!
Stars: 5
Review by: Noel
I love the Cork O'Connor series!
From Doon With Death
Author:
Ruth Rendell
Stars: 3
Review by: Lizzy
My introduction to Inspector Wexford. Not too impressed so far. A good mystery, but the main characters were kind of ho-hum.
Stars: 3
Review by: Lizzy
My introduction to Inspector Wexford. Not too impressed so far. A good mystery, but the main characters were kind of ho-hum.
Things My Son Needs to Know About the World
Author:
Fredrik Backman
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
Parenting advice/memoir. Very funny and very true! Would make a great new parent gift.
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
Parenting advice/memoir. Very funny and very true! Would make a great new parent gift.
The Pale Criminal
Author:
Phillip Kerr
Stars: 4
Review by: Chris L
Slick detective mystery full of historical info. Great snapshot of Germany as the Nazis came into power from the average German's point of view.
Stars: 4
Review by: Chris L
Slick detective mystery full of historical info. Great snapshot of Germany as the Nazis came into power from the average German's point of view.
Sadie
Author:
Courtney Summers
Stars: 3
Review by: Kristen E.
I suggest the audio of this book. It is a mystery that deals with some sensitive topics, but they were handled well. I found the main character, Sadie, very interesting.
Stars: 3
Review by: Kristen E.
I suggest the audio of this book. It is a mystery that deals with some sensitive topics, but they were handled well. I found the main character, Sadie, very interesting.
Heartburn
Author:
Nora Ephron
Stars: 5
Review by: Liza
I really enjoyed the book, per se, but I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Meryl Streep and it was really excellent.
Stars: 5
Review by: Liza
I really enjoyed the book, per se, but I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Meryl Streep and it was really excellent.
An Amish Betrayal
Author:
R.D. Schedman
Stars: 4
Review by: Pip 2
This is a Bible story written in Amish style! I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Stars: 4
Review by: Pip 2
This is a Bible story written in Amish style! I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Queen Bee
Author:
Dorothy Benton Frank
Stars: 3
Review by: Pip 2
A low country story about relationships with family and others. At times very funny.
Stars: 3
Review by: Pip 2
A low country story about relationships with family and others. At times very funny.
Cravings: Recipes for all the food you want to eat
Author:
Chrissy Teigen
Stars: 4
Review by: Cheryl M.
Chrissy Teigen literally lays everything on the table. Literally. She speaks about food with passion and introduces every recipe with IMHO a charming, LOL funny and often crass note. Chrissy is Thai and American and many of her recipes have an Asian influence - which I loved. I am working through the book, but everything I have done so far have had great results. Fish Wrapped in Paper - a new family favorite!
Stars: 4
Review by: Cheryl M.
Chrissy Teigen literally lays everything on the table. Literally. She speaks about food with passion and introduces every recipe with IMHO a charming, LOL funny and often crass note. Chrissy is Thai and American and many of her recipes have an Asian influence - which I loved. I am working through the book, but everything I have done so far have had great results. Fish Wrapped in Paper - a new family favorite!
Nanaville
Author:
Anna Quindlan
Stars: 5
Review by: Judy
If you are a grandmother you will totally enjoy this honest book about having your first grandchild . A small book, but speaks so much about family and relationships.
Stars: 5
Review by: Judy
If you are a grandmother you will totally enjoy this honest book about having your first grandchild . A small book, but speaks so much about family and relationships.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Author:
Lisa See
Stars: 5
Review by: DorCaf
This was a great summer read. I loved the story of the friendship among the women. I also feel like I learned a bit about the Chinese culture during the time when this story takes place.
Stars: 5
Review by: DorCaf
This was a great summer read. I loved the story of the friendship among the women. I also feel like I learned a bit about the Chinese culture during the time when this story takes place.
Saturday, June 15, 2019
The Curse of the Pharaohs
Author:
Elizabeth Peters
Stars: 3
Review by: Lizzy
Back in Egypt with another murder, along with a cast of comic characters. Also there is a love triangle, some crazy lady channeling some Egyptian goddess, a tomb waiting to be opened while strange situations happen, causing many to believe ancient curses are at work. Emerson even dresses up and puts on a crazy show hoping to root out the murderer. More hoots and laughs than scares in this book.
Stars: 3
Review by: Lizzy
Back in Egypt with another murder, along with a cast of comic characters. Also there is a love triangle, some crazy lady channeling some Egyptian goddess, a tomb waiting to be opened while strange situations happen, causing many to believe ancient curses are at work. Emerson even dresses up and puts on a crazy show hoping to root out the murderer. More hoots and laughs than scares in this book.
The Sentence Is Death
Author:
Anthony Horowitz
Stars: 4
Review by: Lizzy
Another enjoyable romp with Hawthorne being Sherlock to Horowitz being Watson. More twists and turns than The Long Way Hole! Two deaths. One definitely a murder. Are they related? Did the haiku predict it? And what a waste of good wine! Can’t wait for the third book!
Stars: 4
Review by: Lizzy
Another enjoyable romp with Hawthorne being Sherlock to Horowitz being Watson. More twists and turns than The Long Way Hole! Two deaths. One definitely a murder. Are they related? Did the haiku predict it? And what a waste of good wine! Can’t wait for the third book!
Before We Were Yours
Author:
Lisa Wingate
Stars: 4
Review by: Grandma I.
Riveting novel of children kidnapped from their parents and "sold" to rich adoptive parents, based on a Tennessee adoption agency that did that for about 30 years.
Stars: 4
Review by: Grandma I.
Riveting novel of children kidnapped from their parents and "sold" to rich adoptive parents, based on a Tennessee adoption agency that did that for about 30 years.
Save Me the Plums
Author:
Ruth Reichl
Stars: 3
Review by: Katie R
Interesting memoir from the editor of Gourmet. Made me miss the magazine.
Stars: 3
Review by: Katie R
Interesting memoir from the editor of Gourmet. Made me miss the magazine.
Sourdough
Author:
Robin Sloan
Stars: 3
Review by: Katie R
If you enjoy cooking, technology and farmers’ markets, this might be the book for you!
Stars: 3
Review by: Katie R
If you enjoy cooking, technology and farmers’ markets, this might be the book for you!
Wuthering Heights
Author:
Emily Bronte
Stars: 5
Review by: Cheryl M.
I so enjoyed this book. That does not mean it is an easy read. You need to find the right edition, editor etc. I had two: I read the Penguin Classics as it was edited by her sister and had great footnotes. I read others to see what authors like Virginia Woolf thought about the book, the writing and the issues. Read it!
Stars: 5
Review by: Cheryl M.
I so enjoyed this book. That does not mean it is an easy read. You need to find the right edition, editor etc. I had two: I read the Penguin Classics as it was edited by her sister and had great footnotes. I read others to see what authors like Virginia Woolf thought about the book, the writing and the issues. Read it!
Normal People
Author:
Sally Rooney
Stars: 4
Review by: Katie R
Really enjoyed this one. The characters were very well developed.
Stars: 4
Review by: Katie R
Really enjoyed this one. The characters were very well developed.
The Favorite Daughter
Author:
Kaira Rouda
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A thriller told by a very unreliable narrator!
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A thriller told by a very unreliable narrator!
The Next Person You Meet in Heaven
Author:
Mitch Albom
Stars: 5
Review by: NAndreoli
Just as good as the first!
Stars: 5
Review by: NAndreoli
Just as good as the first!
The Island of the Sea Women
Author:
Lisa See
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
This is a story of pain , sorrow, anger, anger and grief all rolled into one. This is historical fiction, set on the island of Jeju, South Korea. It centers on the relationship between two women, Mi-ja and Young-sook, from the 1930s to 2008. The characters, relationship and Korean society were so interesting! Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Lisa See always knows how to tell a good story and I learned so much about Korea's history.
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
This is a story of pain , sorrow, anger, anger and grief all rolled into one. This is historical fiction, set on the island of Jeju, South Korea. It centers on the relationship between two women, Mi-ja and Young-sook, from the 1930s to 2008. The characters, relationship and Korean society were so interesting! Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Lisa See always knows how to tell a good story and I learned so much about Korea's history.
The Silent Sister
Author:
Diane Chamberlaine
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
I listened to the audio book, and I thought it was great!! I guessed part of the ending pretty early on, but the book was still very enjoyable and I kept listening, waiting to hear how it would all turn out.
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
I listened to the audio book, and I thought it was great!! I guessed part of the ending pretty early on, but the book was still very enjoyable and I kept listening, waiting to hear how it would all turn out.
We'll Always Have Summer
Author:
Jenny Han
Stars: 2
Review by: Kristen E.
I have immensely enjoyed the first two books in Jenny Han's Summer Series. They are a bit fluffy and full of ANGST &DRAMA &produce the occasional 'eye-rolling moment from me ~ but they are also charming & nostalgic & summer-y & somehow authentic. I found this book to be quite the opposite and I wouldn't recommend it. I couldn't stand the characters & what the author did to them, particularly Jeremiah. I was so angry while reading this book but I still had to know what happened!
Stars: 2
Review by: Kristen E.
I have immensely enjoyed the first two books in Jenny Han's Summer Series. They are a bit fluffy and full of ANGST &DRAMA &produce the occasional 'eye-rolling moment from me ~ but they are also charming & nostalgic & summer-y & somehow authentic. I found this book to be quite the opposite and I wouldn't recommend it. I couldn't stand the characters & what the author did to them, particularly Jeremiah. I was so angry while reading this book but I still had to know what happened!
It's Not Summer Without You
Author:
Jenny Han
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
I like this series and the characters even if Belly gets on my nerves sometimes. It was nice to see the crew together again somewhat and helping each other grow. As a second book in this trilogy, I thought it was well-done and stood on its own merits.
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
I like this series and the characters even if Belly gets on my nerves sometimes. It was nice to see the crew together again somewhat and helping each other grow. As a second book in this trilogy, I thought it was well-done and stood on its own merits.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Author:
Jenny Han
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
3.5/4 stars. I don't know why her books are so compulsively readable for me. I think it totally takes me back to that age or something. I also really like her characters even though the main characters have been kind of immature.
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
3.5/4 stars. I don't know why her books are so compulsively readable for me. I think it totally takes me back to that age or something. I also really like her characters even though the main characters have been kind of immature.
Elevation
Author:
Stephen King
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
Stephen King has never really disappointed me. I don't like his gory books, but I love everything else he writes. This one was a particularly strange one, but as always I grew to really enjoy the characters and the story.
Stars: 4
Review by: Kristen E.
Stephen King has never really disappointed me. I don't like his gory books, but I love everything else he writes. This one was a particularly strange one, but as always I grew to really enjoy the characters and the story.
Field Notes on Love
Author:
Jennifer E. Smith
Stars: 3
Review by: Kristen E.
I've enjoyed Jennifer Smith's books in the past, but I didn’t make an emotional connection with the story or the characters in this one. It left me feeling like an outside observer. The story arc was kind of predictable, but I'd recommend it for a fun, quick read.
Stars: 3
Review by: Kristen E.
I've enjoyed Jennifer Smith's books in the past, but I didn’t make an emotional connection with the story or the characters in this one. It left me feeling like an outside observer. The story arc was kind of predictable, but I'd recommend it for a fun, quick read.
Hillbilly Elegy
Author:
J.D. Vance
Stars: 3
Review by: Kristen E.
I had mixed feelings about this book. I found the author to be kind of obnoxious at times and sort of condescending. I think he did have some interesting things to point out and I enjoyed the memoir portions, but sometimes I disagreed with him pretty strongly about his more general cultural observations. I also wish he had more solutions to offer.
Stars: 3
Review by: Kristen E.
I had mixed feelings about this book. I found the author to be kind of obnoxious at times and sort of condescending. I think he did have some interesting things to point out and I enjoyed the memoir portions, but sometimes I disagreed with him pretty strongly about his more general cultural observations. I also wish he had more solutions to offer.
I'll Be Gone in the Dark
Author:
Michelle McNamara
Stars: 5
Review by: TaraC
This was the obsession of Michelle McNamara. A must-read for any amateur sleuth or wanna-be Sherlock Holmes. Since its publication, the mystery has been solved, but it takes nothing away from the journey.
Stars: 5
Review by: TaraC
This was the obsession of Michelle McNamara. A must-read for any amateur sleuth or wanna-be Sherlock Holmes. Since its publication, the mystery has been solved, but it takes nothing away from the journey.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Author:
Heather Morris
Stars: 4
Review by: stillada
Based on a true story. Very disturbing. About the Holocaust. Do not read if this bothers you.
Stars: 4
Review by: stillada
Based on a true story. Very disturbing. About the Holocaust. Do not read if this bothers you.
The Pilot's Wife
Author:
Anita Shreve
Stars: 4
Review by: BKF
Kathryn, the pilot's wife, is told the plane her husband was piloting went down and all were killed. So starts the unraveling of the husband she thought she knew. Well written and a very good read.
Stars: 4
Review by: BKF
Kathryn, the pilot's wife, is told the plane her husband was piloting went down and all were killed. So starts the unraveling of the husband she thought she knew. Well written and a very good read.
Friday, June 7, 2019
The Black Cat
Author:
Martha Grimes
Stars: 4
Review by: Lizzy
Not only has the dog come back, but now the cat has come back. Actually, 3 black cats. Mungo and the cats made this story enjoyable. And of course, Plant. Jury is getting so boring. Harry Johnson is back. Oh, there are 3 murders of escort girls that Jury needs to find the connection to. Or is Harry just setting him up?
Stars: 4
Review by: Lizzy
Not only has the dog come back, but now the cat has come back. Actually, 3 black cats. Mungo and the cats made this story enjoyable. And of course, Plant. Jury is getting so boring. Harry Johnson is back. Oh, there are 3 murders of escort girls that Jury needs to find the connection to. Or is Harry just setting him up?
The Library of Lost and Found
Author:
Phaedra Patrick
Stars: 4
Review by: Lizzy
Charming tale of a librarian who receives a book signed by her grandmother who had died. Only problem is, she never knew her grandma wrote a book, the book was signed by her grandmother and dated after her death, and they were stories she and her grandmother had made up years ago! A mystery, a story of family, finding out who Martha really is, a story of hope and love with some quirkiness sprinkled in.
Stars: 4
Review by: Lizzy
Charming tale of a librarian who receives a book signed by her grandmother who had died. Only problem is, she never knew her grandma wrote a book, the book was signed by her grandmother and dated after her death, and they were stories she and her grandmother had made up years ago! A mystery, a story of family, finding out who Martha really is, a story of hope and love with some quirkiness sprinkled in.
A Piglet Named Mercy
Author:
Kate DiCamillo
Stars: 3
Review by: Lizzy
Cute story, wonderful illustrations. I was waiting for more of a story, but apparently this is connected to a chapter book series of this pig.
Stars: 3
Review by: Lizzy
Cute story, wonderful illustrations. I was waiting for more of a story, but apparently this is connected to a chapter book series of this pig.
Dust
Author:
Martha Grimes
Stars: 3
Review by: Lizzy
Wait. What? What is going on? What happened to the Jury I knew? Not that he was all that great, I always preferred Plant. And this Lu character?!? And the ending? Wait, what end? Well, first you don’t know who did it, second there is also a cliff hanger ending of something that you have no clue why THAT happened?! It was fun seeing Harry Johnson again. Malcolm was fun. Just a bunch of bizarre stuff. I will read the next one because I like my ends tied up!
Stars: 3
Review by: Lizzy
Wait. What? What is going on? What happened to the Jury I knew? Not that he was all that great, I always preferred Plant. And this Lu character?!? And the ending? Wait, what end? Well, first you don’t know who did it, second there is also a cliff hanger ending of something that you have no clue why THAT happened?! It was fun seeing Harry Johnson again. Malcolm was fun. Just a bunch of bizarre stuff. I will read the next one because I like my ends tied up!
Where the Crawdads Sing
Author:
Delia Owens
Stars: 5
Review by: Kim P.
I don't know where to begin with this book. Just read it. You won't be disappointed.
Stars: 5
Review by: Kim P.
I don't know where to begin with this book. Just read it. You won't be disappointed.
A Mother's Goodbye
Author:
Kate Hewitt
Stars: 4
Review by: stillada
I do not Highly Recommend it because it is VERY SAD.
Stars: 4
Review by: stillada
I do not Highly Recommend it because it is VERY SAD.
Shelter in Place
Author:
Nora Roberts
Stars: 4
Review by: Momma D
Very timely in light of the many mass shootings of late. It follows the life, after a mass shooting, of several of the survivors and how it has affected their lives.
Stars: 4
Review by: Momma D
Very timely in light of the many mass shootings of late. It follows the life, after a mass shooting, of several of the survivors and how it has affected their lives.
Dopesick
Author:
Beth Macy
Stars: 5
Review by: Keeread
About the opioid addiction in America, especially in old mine towns. Really opened my eyes to the way drug companies target doctors by giving them freebies, dinners, and trips in exchange for them to prescribe their drug. Also how drug companies hide the truth that opioids are addictive. Told about the science of the brain becoming addictive to the drug and how hard it is to come clean.
Stars: 5
Review by: Keeread
About the opioid addiction in America, especially in old mine towns. Really opened my eyes to the way drug companies target doctors by giving them freebies, dinners, and trips in exchange for them to prescribe their drug. Also how drug companies hide the truth that opioids are addictive. Told about the science of the brain becoming addictive to the drug and how hard it is to come clean.
Dig
Author:
A.S. King
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A YA novel by a critically acclaimed YA author. Summaries of her novels always make the book sound unappealing, but I have loved the two I have read by her. Weird and intricately plotted, this book makes you look harder at yourself and your family relationships.
Stars: 4
Review by: libraryaimee
A YA novel by a critically acclaimed YA author. Summaries of her novels always make the book sound unappealing, but I have loved the two I have read by her. Weird and intricately plotted, this book makes you look harder at yourself and your family relationships.
Between Shades of Gray
Author:
Ruta Sepetys
Stars: 5
Review by: MCG
This story is heartbreaking and uplifting and hopeful. I wish the ending had been a little bit more developed, simply because I wanted more of the story. Very well written and one of those books that I just couldn't put down- except to catch my breath.
Stars: 5
Review by: MCG
This story is heartbreaking and uplifting and hopeful. I wish the ending had been a little bit more developed, simply because I wanted more of the story. Very well written and one of those books that I just couldn't put down- except to catch my breath.
Depth of Winter
Author:
Craig Johnson
Stars: 4
Review by: Noel
I'm a fan of the Longmire series, but this one was not my favorite.
Stars: 4
Review by: Noel
I'm a fan of the Longmire series, but this one was not my favorite.
March Violets
Author:
Philip Kerr
Stars: 3
Review by: Chris L
First book in the Bernie Gunther series. Takes place in pre-WWII Germany. Detective tries to solve missing persons mysteries while skirting Nazis. Interesting snapshot of Germany in the 1930's.
Stars: 3
Review by: Chris L
First book in the Bernie Gunther series. Takes place in pre-WWII Germany. Detective tries to solve missing persons mysteries while skirting Nazis. Interesting snapshot of Germany in the 1930's.
Factfulness
Author:
Hans Rosling
Stars: 4
Review by: Grandma I.
Thought provoking insight to help us understand the world and its progress and problems better using available data.
Stars: 4
Review by: Grandma I.
Thought provoking insight to help us understand the world and its progress and problems better using available data.
Y is for Yesterday
Author:
Sue Grafton
Stars: 4
Review by: mystery lover
I like the book. Wish she wasn't jinxed by a review from another author (back cover on several of Grafton's books).
Stars: 4
Review by: mystery lover
I like the book. Wish she wasn't jinxed by a review from another author (back cover on several of Grafton's books).
Becoming
Author:
Michelle Obama
Stars: 5
Review by: DorCaf
Where do I start...the writing is tremendous. It is inviting and welcoming to young adult and adult readers of all ages and levels. The story she tells is honest and inspirational. She is an amazing person who responded to a higher calling. Yet, along the way she seems to manage to never forget where she came from and what is really important in life. A great book!
Stars: 5
Review by: DorCaf
Where do I start...the writing is tremendous. It is inviting and welcoming to young adult and adult readers of all ages and levels. The story she tells is honest and inspirational. She is an amazing person who responded to a higher calling. Yet, along the way she seems to manage to never forget where she came from and what is really important in life. A great book!
The Sun Does Shine
Author:
Anthony Ray Hinton
Stars: 4
Review by: DorCaf
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars is the writing which was just okay. The story deserves 5 stars. This man spent 30 years on death row...and he was clearly innocent. Yet, he emerged from his incarceration in a positive state of mind--simply amazing. This is a story about how he kept his humanity on death row and a story about our truly messed up legal system. I strongly recommend reading this inspirational story.
Stars: 4
Review by: DorCaf
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars is the writing which was just okay. The story deserves 5 stars. This man spent 30 years on death row...and he was clearly innocent. Yet, he emerged from his incarceration in a positive state of mind--simply amazing. This is a story about how he kept his humanity on death row and a story about our truly messed up legal system. I strongly recommend reading this inspirational story.
Safe Haven
Author:
Nicholas Sparks
Stars: 3
Review by: BKF
Not his best book. The writing was somewhat repetitive. A story about a woman who runs away from a very difficult life, wanting to start anew under an assumed name in a very small, backwoods town, always looking over her shoulder praying she'll not be found.
Stars: 3
Review by: BKF
Not his best book. The writing was somewhat repetitive. A story about a woman who runs away from a very difficult life, wanting to start anew under an assumed name in a very small, backwoods town, always looking over her shoulder praying she'll not be found.
An O'Brien Family Christmas
Author:
Sherryl Woods
Stars: 4
Review by: Raritangal
One of a series adapted by Hallmark for TV (Chesapeake Shores). Fast , fun read.
Stars: 4
Review by: Raritangal
One of a series adapted by Hallmark for TV (Chesapeake Shores). Fast , fun read.
The Song of Achilles
Author:
Madeline Miller
Stars: 2
Review by: Kim P.
The love of Achilles and his partner Patroclus during the Trojan War.
Stars: 2
Review by: Kim P.
The love of Achilles and his partner Patroclus during the Trojan War.
Ballparks - Then and Now
Author:
Eric Enders
Stars: 5
Review by: BigBison
Great pictures of long gone ballparks. I learned a lot.
Stars: 5
Review by: BigBison
Great pictures of long gone ballparks. I learned a lot.
Fun Home
Author:
Alison Bechdel
Stars: 4
Review by: line82
I wanted to read this because North Hunterdon HS banned it. I do not believe it should be banned.
Stars: 4
Review by: line82
I wanted to read this because North Hunterdon HS banned it. I do not believe it should be banned.
Glory Over Everything
Author:
Kathleen Grissom
Stars: 4
Review by: stillada
Both of this author's books were really good. They should be read in order.
Stars: 4
Review by: stillada
Both of this author's books were really good. They should be read in order.
Greeks Bearing Gifts
Author:
Philip Kerr
Stars: 4
Review by: Chris L
Detective Bernie Gunther hunts war criminals in post WWII Greece. Entertaining & somewhat historically educational.
Stars: 4
Review by: Chris L
Detective Bernie Gunther hunts war criminals in post WWII Greece. Entertaining & somewhat historically educational.
Educated
Author:
Tara Westover
Stars: 5
Review by: BKF
Unbelievable! It's amazing the author ever made it through childhood growing up in the family that was hers!! A very well written memoir.
Stars: 5
Review by: BKF
Unbelievable! It's amazing the author ever made it through childhood growing up in the family that was hers!! A very well written memoir.
Daisy Jones and the Six
Author:
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Stars: 5
Review by: Kristen E.
Taylor Jenkins Reid is officially one of my favorite authors. I've read two of her books and they both had awesome characters and were compulsively readable. This one was set in the mid sixties – late seventies. It absolutely transports readers to the most iconic age of rock n’ roll. The characters are what really make this book amazing though. They were so deep and real in all their imperfections and relationship. I just loved it! What a great read!
Stars: 5
Review by: Kristen E.
Taylor Jenkins Reid is officially one of my favorite authors. I've read two of her books and they both had awesome characters and were compulsively readable. This one was set in the mid sixties – late seventies. It absolutely transports readers to the most iconic age of rock n’ roll. The characters are what really make this book amazing though. They were so deep and real in all their imperfections and relationship. I just loved it! What a great read!
The Lost Man
Author:
Jane Harper
Stars: 5
Review by: Kristen E.
The Lost Man is set in the dry heat &isolation of the Australian outback. When Cameron Bright is found dead in the dirt, having dehydrated nine miles away from his parked car, it looks like it could be a bizarre suicide. The setting was such a huge part of the story it was almost a character in & of itself. Although the story was very character driven, it was a page-turner which is unusual for most thriller/mysteries. I highly recommend it!
Stars: 5
Review by: Kristen E.
The Lost Man is set in the dry heat &isolation of the Australian outback. When Cameron Bright is found dead in the dirt, having dehydrated nine miles away from his parked car, it looks like it could be a bizarre suicide. The setting was such a huge part of the story it was almost a character in & of itself. Although the story was very character driven, it was a page-turner which is unusual for most thriller/mysteries. I highly recommend it!
The Home for Unwanted Girls
Author:
Joanna Goodman
Stars: 3
Review by: Auntping
It was slow getting started. But it picked up speed. Another book where women's choices are limited. Would have like to have more followup at the end as this was historical fiction sorta.
Stars: 3
Review by: Auntping
It was slow getting started. But it picked up speed. Another book where women's choices are limited. Would have like to have more followup at the end as this was historical fiction sorta.
Daddy Love
Author:
Joyce Carol Oates
Stars: 2
Review by: Auntping
Not an easy subject. If you are going to talk New Jersey make sure your facts are on point. There is no hospital in Clinton, NJ. Thought she only grazed the surface of the subject.
Stars: 2
Review by: Auntping
Not an easy subject. If you are going to talk New Jersey make sure your facts are on point. There is no hospital in Clinton, NJ. Thought she only grazed the surface of the subject.
The Other Einstien
Author:
Marie Benedict
Stars: 4
Review by: Auntping
I am always amazed at the rights that women now take for granted. This book is about Einstein's wife and her struggle for an education, acceptance, and recognition in a male dominated field.
Stars: 4
Review by: Auntping
I am always amazed at the rights that women now take for granted. This book is about Einstein's wife and her struggle for an education, acceptance, and recognition in a male dominated field.
Cari Mora
Author:
Thomas Harris
Stars: 4
Review by: Judy
Thomas Harris wrote another good book not as scary as Silence of The Lambs, but it is violent. I think if you like the genre you will enjoy reading this book.
Stars: 4
Review by: Judy
Thomas Harris wrote another good book not as scary as Silence of The Lambs, but it is violent. I think if you like the genre you will enjoy reading this book.
Amity And Prosperity: One family and the fracturing of America
Author:
Eliza Griswold
Stars: 3
Review by: BertaP
The horrible impact on one family in Pennsylvania of fracking and their years long battle with the company and the government.
Stars: 3
Review by: BertaP
The horrible impact on one family in Pennsylvania of fracking and their years long battle with the company and the government.
Stony The Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow
Author:
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Stars: 4
Review by: BertaP
Such an important book to read. Made me aware of the horrible and systematic campaign by society and our government to denigrate African-Americans by means of ads, propaganda, books, movies, and legislation.
Stars: 4
Review by: BertaP
Such an important book to read. Made me aware of the horrible and systematic campaign by society and our government to denigrate African-Americans by means of ads, propaganda, books, movies, and legislation.
The Great Believers
Author:
Rebecca Makkai
Stars: 5
Review by: BertaP
Set in Chicago beginning in the 80's. A very touching account of the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community before it was recognized by the general medical organizations. A novel.
Stars: 5
Review by: BertaP
Set in Chicago beginning in the 80's. A very touching account of the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community before it was recognized by the general medical organizations. A novel.
Save Me The Plums
Author:
Ruth Reichl
Stars: 4
Review by: BertaP
Fun memoir about her years as the editor of Gourmet magazine.
Stars: 4
Review by: BertaP
Fun memoir about her years as the editor of Gourmet magazine.
Happiness
Author:
Aminatta Forna
Stars: 5
Review by: BertaP
This was may favorite book of the year. Loved the protagonists and their interactions.
Stars: 5
Review by: BertaP
This was may favorite book of the year. Loved the protagonists and their interactions.
Nine Perfect Strangers
Author:
Liane Moriarty
Stars: 4
Review by:Cheryl M.
"Here we meet Frances - a wonderful and human character who just needs a break from the lemons that life has handed her recently. She is one of nine strangers at a remote health resort for a 10 day transformative experience. Each are there for vastly different reasons." I'm wishing I was there.... until..well - you read the book. Sorry I just hate spoiling the fun which goes to the last page! I so feel I want to say more but I hate spoiling the fun for everyone. This is well worth the read!
Stars: 4
Review by:Cheryl M.
"Here we meet Frances - a wonderful and human character who just needs a break from the lemons that life has handed her recently. She is one of nine strangers at a remote health resort for a 10 day transformative experience. Each are there for vastly different reasons." I'm wishing I was there.... until..well - you read the book. Sorry I just hate spoiling the fun which goes to the last page! I so feel I want to say more but I hate spoiling the fun for everyone. This is well worth the read!
The Light Between Oceans
Author:
M.L. Stedman
Stars: 4
Review by: Kim P.
Living on a remote island in a lighthouse and suffering many miscarriages, a couple find a dead body and a very much alive new born baby floating adrift in a row boat. What should they do? Report it to the police or just keep the baby as their own?
Stars: 4
Review by: Kim P.
Living on a remote island in a lighthouse and suffering many miscarriages, a couple find a dead body and a very much alive new born baby floating adrift in a row boat. What should they do? Report it to the police or just keep the baby as their own?
The Game of Thrones (Book 1)
Author:
George R R Martin
Stars: 5
Review by: Kim P.
Season 1 of the show. I enjoyed the book. Will continue with the series.
Stars: 5
Review by: Kim P.
Season 1 of the show. I enjoyed the book. Will continue with the series.
All Your Perfects
Author:
Colleen Hoover
Stars: 4
Review by: Brenda
This book is a love story about a couple who has trouble having a baby, and what it can do to the relationship and marriage. Through everything they end up realizing that they can make it through and save their marriage by writing love letters to each other to remind them of how much love they have for each other even though they cannot have children.
Stars: 4
Review by: Brenda
This book is a love story about a couple who has trouble having a baby, and what it can do to the relationship and marriage. Through everything they end up realizing that they can make it through and save their marriage by writing love letters to each other to remind them of how much love they have for each other even though they cannot have children.