Book Review - The Elephant of Belfast; S. Kirk Walsh

 

The Elephant of Belfast; S. Kirk Walsh

Blackstone Audio - 2021 - Library Loan

Narrator - Charlotte McCurry - very good

(10 hours - 51 min.)

Hettie Quin is a 26 year old zookeeper at the Bellevue zoo in Belfast, Northern Ireland - the years are (1940-1941).  Hettie is a young woman who has always felt more comfortable with animals than people.  Her home life is not a happy.  Hettie's sister died in childbirth and her father, a man who drinks too much and seeks out other women has moved out. Her mother lives in a perpetual state of melancholy now.  It also doesn't help that the year is 1940 and everyone in Belfast feels the escalating tension between British loyalists and the Irish Republican army.

When Violet, a 3 year old Indian elephant arrives at the zoo from Ceylon, Hettie and Violet develop a special bond and a growing dependance on one another especially as Germany begins a blitz on Belfast. In the process Hettie's mom also goes missing.

Based on the true story of Denise Austin and a baby elephant named Sheila, The Elephant of Belfast reminded me (in a less intense kind of way) of The Zookeeper's Wife, a book and movie which I really enjoyed.   As a life long animal lover, I never really considered the impact of war on animals until reading these kinds of stories.  Although this book wasn't perfect, I enjoyed it a lot and thought it was a mostly heartwarming story that reminds us how love and having a purpose can give us hope in difficult times.  I was happy I had a chance to try this audio.

Rating - 4/5 stars

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Elephant of Belfast; S. Kirk Walsh

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon. I've been wanting to try this book since it was released last year.

The Elephant of Belfast; S. Kirk Walsh

Blackstone Audio - 2021

(library loan)

One

ON THAT MORNING OCTOBER 3, 1940, HETTIE QUIN KNEW she was lucky to be there, at the docks of Belfast, assisting with the elephant's arrival.  One of the other zookeepers had come down with a fever, and Ferris Poole had enlisted her help at the last minute. As she stood next to Ferris, at the edge of the crowd, Hettie steadied herself after having sprinted down the docks from the nearby tram stop; her mother had made her tardy by requesting multiple chores around the house before Hettie managed to slip out the door.  As she pushed sweaty strands of hair from her eyes,  she took in the stunning sight overhead--a young elephant being maneuvered through the air.  A crane and a system of cranes and pulleys elevated the animal from the deck of the moored steamship. The elephant's trunk coiled up and then unfurled like an opening fist. There was a hollow trumpet call. The crowd--women, men, children, sailors, dockworkers--let out a collective gasp, their gazes followed the orchestrated movements of the hoisting operation.  Hettie had never seen so many people at the docks:  It was as if British royalty or a famous screen actress were among the steamer's passengers arriving that morning.  The atmosphere felt festive, bright with expectation.

What do you think - read more or pass? This one is based on a true story!

Week in Review - Book Reviews: No One Goes Alone; Erik Larson - A Calling for Charlie Barnes; Joshua Ferris and Five Tuesdays in Winter: Stories; Lily King

 

Hello readers, did you have a good week? How is it that Christmas is next weekend?  We have been having extremely mild New England weather, which frightens me a bit after what the poor people of Kentucky in dealing with...such devastation.  We were supposed to have some snow but so far just rain.

This birthday week included a mini getaway. My husband has been wanting to visit the new Encore-Boston Harbor resort casino that opened just before COVID closed things down for a while.  Well, yes, it was my birthday but, I was happy to do something we would both enjoy.   We had a great time even though our wallets are slightly lighter, it was so much fun.  Here are a few pictures:

                     indoor ferris wheel

Books Listened to:

Rating 3.5/5 stars

(free Penguin Random House original audio download)

(7 hours and 35 min)

Erik Larson, the author of so many wonderful non fiction books has published his first work of fiction - a ghost story.

Set in 1905, a group of researchers led by William James, a brilliant psychologist, philosopher and prominent member of the Society of Psychical Research head to the remote Isle of Dorn to investigate some mysterious disappearances. One entire family of (4) disappeared while on holiday.

The audiobook read by Julian Rhind-Tutt was well done. It was very atmospheric and almost chilling at times, making it easy to envision the ghostly happenings the characters had encountered.  The characters, a mix of real life and author imagined ones were unique and easy to keep track of on audio. The setting and a dangerous, raging storm, the ship gone and the researchers stranded made for a chilling tale.  I liked that the characters were not sure who they could trust as well.  The story started out rather slow so it took a while for me to feel invested but, I was happy I listened to it.  I also liked that the epilogue gave some insight into the characters.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

(free library audio download) - Little Brown & Co.

(11 hours 30 min)

Charlie Barnes, nicknamed "steady boy" is a character not easily forgotten. Married (5) times of which (4) ended badly and, he is not on the best of terms with his (2) oldest offspring. The final blow comes when Charlie at 68 years old gets a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and, he is forced to reexamine his life.

Charlie was a character to love when he is hurting despite the fact that many who knew him disliked him for the things he did along the way.  It is Charlie's son Jake whose voice gives the reader insight to the life of Charlie Barnes.  At times I wonder whether Jake was a reliable narrator or an adult man-child comforting a broken heart. 

Despite the subject matter this is a story that made me smile, laugh and think. The writing is observant, funny, wise, sharp and even endearing at times, it's a story that makes you think. When death comes for us what will those we leave behind have to say about us and how we lived our lives?

The story was inspired bu the death of the author's own father in 2014.  Worth reading!  

The audio book was read by Nick Offerman who did a great job.

Rating - 4/5 stars

(free audible plus download)

(6 hours and 10 min)

For years I was never a fan of short stories but, I have a new appreciation for them. It's nice to sit for a brief period and feel a sense of accomplishment in just a short period of time.  In this collected of (10) stories The author touches on subjects that will resonate with most readers.  From coming of age stories, stories about the importance of friendship or, a story about selfish parents, another about a stern grandfather longing to reach his comatose granddaughter through his voice or, any one of the remaining stories most left an impression.  Each story made me think about just how very different people and families can be in different situations. Some stories made me smile, others made me mad or sad.  Well done.

Current Reads:

Not sure if I will get to finish my current reads as I will also be busy baking and preparing for a Christmas gathering here. Even the little ones are fully vaccinated now and all adults in the family boosted. Yoga is done until the new year (scary our instructor got COVID.)

                                                        Our 2022 Book Group Reading List 

                                         Have you read any of these and if so what were your thoughts?

1. January - In Five Years; Rebecca Serle  (2021)
2. February - Authenticity Project; Clare Pooley (2022)
3. March - Invisible Life of Addie LaRue; Victoria Schwab (2020)
4. April - Anxious People; Fredrick Backman (2020)  - already read & enjoyed
5. May - Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo; Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017)
6. June - The Lost Apothecary; Sarah Penner (2021)
7. July - A Long Petal of the Sea; Isabel Allende (2020)
8. August - The Only Woman in the Room; Marie Benedict (2019)
9. September - The Midnight Library; Matthew Haig (2020) - already read - okay read
10. October - Dark Matter; Blake Crouch (2016)

(November & December no meet but holiday luncheon)

Book Review - Earthlings; Sayaka Murata

 

TITLE/AUTHOR:  Earthlings; Sayaka Murata

PUBLISHER: Blackstone Audio

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2020

GENRE: Fiction / Literary / Coming of Age / Dystopian

FORMAT:  audio LENGTH: 7 hours 6 minutes

SOURCE:  library download

SETTING(s):  Japan

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  Don't let the cute cover lead you to believe this is a light read; it's an unsettling story that you won't easily forget.

BRIEF REVIEW:   Earlier this year I read The Convenience Store Woman and absolutely loved it so I wanted to try the author's latest novel as well. This one was very good but a much darker story, however,  Sayaka Murata has become another favorite on my list of must-read authors.

Since the age of nine, Natsuki has always felt like a bit of an alien when it came to human interactions.  Her mother physically and emotionally abusive, her father devoid of emotion and both parents favored her sister.  She isn't even able to get her mother to take her seriously when she is sexually assaulted by a teacher.  Yet, Natsuki gets by pretending her plush, hedgehog toy,  Piyyut, has bestowed its magical powers to protect her.  One summer while the family has gathered for her grandfather's funeral at their mountain retreat, she learns that her similar age, male cousin Yuu also feels that same societal alienation and believes he has ascended from the planet Popinpobopia. The two bond over their similarities and the duo pledge to marry when older.

Fast forward 20 years and Natsuki is married to Totomoya and in a loveless marriage.  The two met on a website for "people trying to evade society's gaze."  It turns out Totomoya is disgusted by the female body because of abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother.  Pressured by the "Baby Factory" to procreate and the feeling that people are trying to brainwash them, Natsuki and Totomoya plan a getaway to that mountain retreat where Natsuki reconnects with Yuu hoping that he has not forgotten their childhood promise.  What occurs in the rather brief finale is likely to horrify the reader or, at the very least, have them jolt up in shock and never forget how this unsettling story ends.

Beautifully translated from the Japanese by Ginny Tapley Takemoti, the author has written another stunning piece about the pressures and consequences of being expected to conform to societies expectations.

RATING:  4.5/5 stars

MEMORABLE QUOTES:  

"The person who had given birth to me said I was a dead loss, so I decided it must really be true."

"Society was a system for falling in love.  People who couldn't fall in love had to fake it.  What came first: the system or love?"

"I was a tool for the town's good, in two senses.  Firstly, I  had to study hard to become a work tool. Secondly, I had to be a good girl, so I could become a reproductive organ for the town."

Book Review - Strangers on a Train; Patricia Highsmith

 

TITLE/AUTHOR:  Strangers on a Train; Patricia Highsmith

PUBLISHER: Blackstone Audio and WW Norton

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021 (print ed. - originally 1950) (audio-2015)

GENRE: Fiction / Mystery / Psychological Thriller

FORMAT:  Audio/Print Combo Read /LENGTH: 301 pages (audio-9 hrs. 41 min.)

SOURCE: Amazon Vine and Library Download

SETTING(s):  NY, CT, DC

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  A  conversation between two men on a train (one a drunken psychopath) leads to murder.

BRIEF REVIEW:  In this story two men who have never met before are riding the same train. One man, Guy Haines is a decent man with a cheating wife named Miriam.  Guy is in the process of a divorce yet has a promising career and is involved with a nice woman named Ann.  The other guy is Charles Anthony Bruno is a lazy drunk from a rich family who can't wait for his father to die so he can inherit some money.  Bruno has a few too many drinks on the train and strikes up a conversation with Guy.  While Guy is just trying to mind his own business, he does tell Bruno a little too much info about his soon to be ex-wife.  The two part ways but before too long Miriam is dead - strangled and now Bruno is looking for Guy to help him out by getting rid of his father.  Unfortunately, Bruno is a psychopath that will stop at nothing to see that the rest of his plan is executed.

This was tense and sometimes disturbing story that pulled me in immediately.  I love deeply flawed characters and that combined with intense drama was a great combination.  It's one of this stories that shows readers what can happen when people become crippled by their own fears and guilt.

Although I saw the (1951) movie adaptation some years ago, I had never read the book until now.  I was so impressed that this book was Patricia Highsmith's debut novel (1950).  This was a combo print and audio read. The audio is read by Bronson Pinchot who did a fabulous job. Of course, now I want to see the movie again soon.

RATING:  4/5 stars

Book Review - Convenience Store Woman; Sayaka Murata

 

TITLE/AUTHOR:  Convenience Store Woman; Sayaka Murata

PUBLISHER: Blackstone Audio

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2018

GENRE: Fiction / Literary

FORMAT:  audio /LENGTH: 3 hours and 21 minutes

SOURCE: Library download

SETTING(s):  Tokyo Japan

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  A short gem of a book about an unconventional woman who just didn't fit society's expectations of normal.

BRIEF REVIEW:  Keiko Furukura is a 36 year old woman who has worked at Smile Mart,  a convenience store for 18 years. She loves her work, does a great job making sure that the store stays organized and that things run smoothly.  While she seems a bit "different", she likes her life and routines. 

Even as a child she had a way of shocking others with her reactions.  When the children found a blue bird dead in the park, while the other children cried,  Keiko wanted to know if she could take it home for her father to cook for dinner.  Another time when young boys in her class wouldn't stop fighting, she took a shovel and hit one over the head to get them to stop much to the horror of others.

As an adult, although she often feels out of place, she tries to appear normal. She doesn't understand the obsession of her sister and coworkers as to why she doesn't have a boyfriend or a better job. It isn't until she lets a short-term male convenience store employee stay with her do people begin to see her as normal but, the two misfits together are a whole other story.

I loved everything about this quiet, compelling story about society's pressure for individuals to conform. The first person narration by Keiko worked beautifully as it gave the reader the opportunity to see life and people through her slanted views which are sometimes a bit shocking and other times quite amusing.  The story lets the reader speculate as to what makes Keiko "different",  yes, she lacked social skills but, she also exhibited some sociopathic tendencies as well.  I loved Keiko, a delightful woman whose brain was wired just a bit differently. 

The story is beautifully translated from Japanese and the audio version, read by Nancy Wu was fantastic. I couldn't put this one down and will surely listen to it again or read the print edition as there were some great quotes.  Give this short novella a try if you haven't done so already.

RATING:  5/5 stars

MEMORABLE QUOTES: 

"There were two types of prejudiced people--those who had a deep-rooted urge for prejudice and those who unthinkingly repeated a barrage of slurs they'd heard somewhere."

"I decided to keep my mouth shut as best as I could outside home. I would no longer do anything of my own accord, and would either just mimic what everyone else was doing, or simply follow instructions."

" When something was strange, everyone thought they had the right to come stomping in all over your life to figure out why. I found that arrogant and infuriating, not to mention a pain in the neck.  Sometimes I even wanted to shut them with a shovel to shut them up, like I did that time in elementary school."

QUESTION --- Can anyone PLEASE name any other books with quirky characters like Keiko?  

Book Review - Confessions on the 7:45; Lisa Unger

Confessions on the 7:45; Lisa Unger

Blackstone Audio - 2020 

When I read that this book this might be similar to Strangers on a Train ,I really wanted to return to Lisa Unger, an author I enjoyed years earlier. For some reason I stopped reading her thrillers but decided it was time to remedy that.

The set up for this thriller one was good, Selena Murphy works in New York city and one day she misses her train home from work so she catches the 7:45 instead.  Sitting next to her is a woman who strikes up a conversation, the woman who says her name is Martha, tells Selena she has been having an affair with her boss. (LOL- who does this with a complete stranger? )  In turn, Selena feels comfortable enough to tell Martha that she suspects her husband Graham, is carrying on with the nanny, Geneva. (She's actually caught them on the nanny cam.) The two say goodbye and Martha tells Selena that perhaps the nanny will disappear.  A few days later Geneva is missing and her car is parked down the street from Selena and Graham's home. When Geneva's sister report's her missing, it isn't long before the police arrive at the Murphy residence with lots of questions.

This book starting out well and engages me but, it quickly became a struggle and did not work out well as an audio. There were far too many characters introduced into the mix, each have a separate story and some even have a story within a story. I struggled to keep it all straight.  To have made this audio book work, I  felt multiple narrators were needed to help distinguish all these individuals. To complicate matters even more, we learn that some characters have changed their names in order to keep up their cons.  I didn't care about any of the characters, even Selena after a while. Perhaps this might be easier in print? Vivienne Leheny narrated this one and she did a fine job but, additional narrators were needed.

Rating - 2.5/5

2 mini audio book reviews - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd; Agatha Christie and Writers & Lovers; Lily King

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd; Agatha Christie

Harper Audio (narrated by High Fraser)

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is detective story mystery with loads of clues and red herrings to enable the reader to test their sleuth skills.

Roger Ackroyd is a a wealthy man who knew too much. He knew the woman he loved had poisoned her husband and was being blackmailed.  She, as a result, took her own life.  Before Roger has the final piece of the puzzle he is murdered, stabbed to death, in his study.  

In the small village of King's Abbot, it's Hercule Poirot that has come out of retirement to work the case. He is assisted by the town doctor Sheppard and his nosey sister Caroline who provide a lot of speculation and humor about who might be involved.

Interestingly, the story is narrated in the first person by Dr. Sheppard. This is clue-based crime fiction at its finest. Memorable characters, a lot of gossip, humor and terrific twists. It's the kind of mystery that you want to go back and revisit for  missed clues once the killer is revealed. First published in 1926, I can't believe it took me this long to read this one. 

By the way, the audio book narration was very good. (This was a library audio download)

Rating - 4.5/5

.

Writers & Lovers; Lily King

Blackstone Audio - 2020

(narrated by Stacey Glemboski)

Writers & Lovers, takes place in 1997 Boston. Casey Peabody is a 31 year old waitress serving Harvard elites. She is living in a terrible garage apartment and rides her banana bike along the Charles River.  Her mother has died, romance is on the rocks, but, she's in love with two very different men. She has $70,000 in college debt and after 6 years, she is still working on that first novel. She's stuck and seems to lack direction as she mourns her losses. Will she ever find her way?

I loved the first person narration and the Boston setting. I could really feel the surrounding vibe of the area throughout this novel. Definitely literary fiction here but, the writing is clear, touching and funny, the flow was easy and I was quickly drawn into Casey's life and struggles.  I enjoyed Casey's journey as she tried to wade through life and achieve her dream through self-discovery.  The characters are quirky and I thought the down on her luck Casey was easy to root for.

The audio download from my local library was read by Stacey Glemboski who did a wonderful job.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

A Stone for Danny Fisher; Harold Robbins

TITLE: A Stone for Danny Fisher

AUTHOR:  Harold Robbins

PUBLISHER:  Blackstone Audio 

PUB. YEAR: (1952 - original pub) (2007-audio)

SETTING:  NY
FORMAT:  - Audible - almost 16 hours

RATING - 5/5

Set around the Depression era, we meet the central character, Danny Fisher, as a young Jewish boy growing up in Brooklyn.  His father, a pharmacist, has just purchased their first home, which he tells Danny is for him even though Danny has a sister. Danny loves his new house, but he quickly learns that he must learn to be tough. 

Because it's the depression, his family falls on hard times and are forced to leave Danny's beloved home and move to the lower east side to become renters once again.  Danny hates seeing what is happening to his family and must also contend with bullies, racists and violence on the streets of NY.  He learns to box so that he can be tough and, he finds that he is quite good at it as well.  All the while as Danny is trying to find his place in the world, his actions cause problems between him and his family, when in reality he is only trying to make things easier for his mother and father. 

Beautifully written, detailed, and emotional at times, A Stone for Danny Fisher, is a wonderful story about a lost childhood and the consequences of poor life choices. Harold Robbins knew how to write with a eye for detail. The intricate details are never boring, instead they drew me into the story even deeper, making me feel what Danny was feeling at times.  

There are some heavy subjects detailed here: anti semitism, bullies, prostitution, sex, violence and corruption. Not since Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, have I been so moved by a story.  Charles Leggett who narrated this audio book was absolutely outstanding. This is one of the best audio book stories I've ever listen more to and, although the audio is almost 15 hours, we couldn't wait to get back to this story every chance we got. Try it sometime, I'm betting you will enjoy it as well.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros; ~ A Stone for Danny Fisher; Harold Robbins

Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book they are reading or that they plan to read.  This one is a book my husband and I started listening to on a road trip last week. He had read the book 40+ years ago and loved it so we decided to try the audio. What do you think?

A Stone for Danny Fisher; Harold Robbins

(originally published in 1952 - Blackstone Audio 2009

"There are many ways to get to Mount Zion Cemetery. You can go by automobile, through the many beautiful parkways of Long Island, or by subway, bus or trolley. There are many ways to get to Mount Zion Cemetery, but during this week there is no way that is not crushed and crowded with people.

Why should this be so? you ask,  for in the full flush of life there is something frightening about about going to a cemetery -- except at certain times. But this week, the week before the High Holy Days, is one of those times. For this is the week that Lord God Jehovah calls His angels about Him and opens before them the Book of Life. And your name is inscribed on one of these pages. Written on that page will be your fate for the coming year.

For these six says the book will remain open and you will have the opportunity to prove that you are deserving of His kindness. During these six days you devote yourself to acts of charity and devotion. One of these acts is the annual visit to the dead.

And to make sure that your visit to the departed will be noted ad the proper credit given, you will pick up a small stone from the earth beneath your feet and place it on the monument so the Recording Angel will see it when he comes through the cemetery each night."

Curious? The audio is long (we are about 1/2 way through) but it's quite addictive.

The Wife; Meg Wolitzer

TITLE: The Wife
AUTHOR:  Meg Wolitzer

PUBLISHER:  Blackstone Audio

PUB. YEAR: 2015

SETTING:  Finland (flashbacks to NYC and MA)
FORMAT:  - audio download library(8 hours)
RATING: 4.5/5

The Wife is the story of a 40 year marriage that plays out over just 4 days.

Joe and Joan Castleman met in 1956 when Joan was a Smith College student and Joe was a literature professor there.  Joe was married at the time but, he was the kind of man who loved the pretty girls and they had a hard time resisting him as well. The two hook up, marry and Joan gives up her dreams of becoming a writer for marriage and motherhood.  Joe, according to Joan, was "one of those men who owned the world."

As the novel opens the couple are bound for Finland where Joe is to be awarded the prestigious Helsinki Prize for Literature. Joan is steaming, sick of taking a back seat to Joe and deciding she has had just about enough of this marriage.  Over a 4 day period, told through Joan's POV, we see flashbacks of their married life.

This is not a terribly long book, 8 hours on audio and approx. 225 pages, I loved the way the story's told and how it played out. It's a terrific character study with sometimes witty and sarcastic characterizations about being married to a womanizer and a narcissist. I really liked it and want to see the movie now. The audio was marred by Dawn Harvey who did a great job with the voice of the disgruntled Joan.

I loved this intro paragraph ....

THE MOMENT I decided to leave him, the moment I thought, enough, we were thirty-five thousand feet above the ocean, hurtling forward but giving the illusion of stillness and tranquility. Just like our marriage, I could have said, but why ruin everything right now? Here we were in first-class splendor, tentatively separated from anxiety; there was no turbulence and the sky was bright, and somewhere among us, possibly, sat an air marshal in dull traveler’s disguise, perhaps picking at a little dish of oily nuts or captivated by the zombie prose of the in-flight magazine. Drinks had already been served before takeoff, and we were both frankly bombed, our mouths half open, our heads tipped back. Women in uniform carried baskets up and down the aisles like a sexualized fleet of Red Riding Hoods.

Books Read - Week in Review - W/E - 2/11/2017

This past week was one for birthday celebrations for the hub and our first major snowstorm of the winter (it was reported that we got 13") but, fortunately, just about everything was canceled the night before and we could just stay in and enjoy the view. More snow scheduled for this weekend and another day next week -- Welcome to New England.

As some of you know we have (3) cats  (all adopted as kittens and - all senior snow. (2) are 14 years old  and (1) is 15.  We noticed that our sweet, petite Lily seemed thinner than she was at her December checkup. She was also constantly at the water fountain and turned her nose up to various food offerings (including tuna) for a few days. Off to the Vet we went yesterday where we learned she had lost 2 lbs since her December visit (she's only 5lbs now).  Not sure what is wrong with our Lily but awaiting lab reports -- please send positive vibes -- she's my lap cat by day and leg warmer by night.

UPDATE -- I'm happy to report that Lily started eating again yesterday (a lot too) The Vet called to say that her labwork was all normal (no thyroid or diabetes issues), so while this is all good news we all remain puzzled. Next step would be an ultrasound to see what might be going on, but, since she has been eating for a full 24 hours now, we decided to just watch her and hope it wasn't anything serious.  Thanks so much for all of your concern.

(pic taken 2/10/2017)

I finished (2) books this week: Excellent Women; Barbara Pym and The Impossible Fortress; Jason Rekulak (both different but liked each one).














 Excellent Women; Barbara Pym
(1952 - Penguin and Blackstone Audio) 

(My Thoughts) Excellent Women is one of those books that has been on my shelf for a while. I heard the audio, read by Jayne Entwistle, was fantastic so I borrowed the Playaway from the library -- what a terrific narration.  Excellent Woman was a wonderful comedy of manners set in 1950s England. Thirty-one year old Mildred Lathery is a sweet, likable and self described spinster.  She's a clergyman's daughter, her parents are deceased, she is smart but, one of those women "an excellent woman" that is respected but often passed over when it comes to romance. When a new couple moves into her building, she gets wrapped up in their lives and begins to realize there may be something more to life than church raffles and charity work.  

This novel is not action packed and doesn't require deep thought but, I loved the keen observations a wry humor. I highly recommend this one, a real treat. (4.5/5 stars)

The Impossible Fortress; Jason Rekulak

Simon & Schuster - 2017

(My Thoughts) - The Impossible Fortress was a fun coming of age story set in 1987. Billy Marvin and friends Alf and Clark are (3) typical 14 year-old boys who have just learned that Vanna White's nude photos are the highlight of the current issue of Playboy. The boys are determined to do whatever it takes to get copies of this magazine even though they are  too young to purchase it on their own. Sal Zelinsky owns the corner store that stocks this magazine. Sal's daughter Mary is a bright, young, overweight girl who loves computers and designing video games. Billy Marvin loves computers as well and thinks that if he begins to hang out with Mary he might somehow get closer to the coveted Vanna issue of Playboy as well. Unfortunately, Billy never anticipates what happens next. 

This is a well-written coming of age story. I enjoyed all the references to the 1980's - songs, the early Commodore 64 computer and all the crazy antics, boys being boys will do.  A story about moms, sons, teen friendship and raging hormones,  made for a fun read. (4/5 stars)

Next Up

• Setting Free the Kites; Alex George - G.P. Putnam & Sons (2017)

Have a Great Weekend All

2 Quick RIP XI Reviews - Pretty Girls; K. Slaughter and the Girls She Left Behind; Sarah Graves

 Pretty Girls; Karin Slaughter

Blackstone Audio - 2015

Kathleen Early - Narrator

Pretty Girls is a gritty, disturbing, psychological thriller. The Carroll family has never been the same since the disappearance of daughter and sister Julia from her college dorm some 24 years earlier.

After Julia's disappearance the two remaining sisters, Claire and Lydia haven't spoken in years and their lives couldn't be more different. Lydia is a single mom and recovering substance abuser with an ex-con boyfriend. Claire married a wealthy architect but, the effects of Julia's disappearance has affected her as well. She's spent time on house arrest and just when her monitoring device is removed, her husband is killed right before her very eyes.

As police begin to ask questions it appears that Claire did not know her husband all that well. And, what exactly happened to Julia when she went missing?  Lydia and Claire reconnect to do a bit of their own investigation.

I haven't read this author in several years and always enjoyed her psych thrillers previously but, wow, has her writing become disturbing. It's overridden with violence and brutality against women and, was very tough to listen to.  I had to fast forward over some of that violence.  Definitely not recommended for the faint of heart.

2.5/5 stars
(library audio)

The Girls She Left Behind; Sarah Graves

Dreamscape Media - 2016

Kirsten Potter - Narrator

A few months ago I listened to the first book of a new series by Sarah Graves. The book was Winter at the Door, with protagonist, Lizzie Snow. In that story Lizzie had just relocated to rural Bearkill, Maine to accept a job as Sheriff's Deputy. Previously, Lizzie had been a homicide detective in Boston but, relocated hoping to follow a lead concerning her missing niece Nicki.

Now in this second mystery, while fierce wildfires threaten homes nearby and a young girl named Tara goes missing, Lizzie has her work cut out for her, meanwhile her missing niece Nicki is always on her mind. The latest missing girl, Tara, has run away before but her mother is sure this time is different.  Meanwhile, a psychopath named Henry Gemmeil has escaped and in the past he has kidnapped women and kept them hidden.

Although this story is the second book of a series, there is plenty of background information provided so that you need not feel compelled to read book one before trying this one.  Overall, I enjoyed listening to this mystery. It's a bit darker than book one but, not overly so.  Lizzy is a decent protagonist but she can be a bit of a flake when it comes to romantic interests.  I loved the cold, dark, rural Maine setting of both of these books which makes the mystery aspects more atmospheric.  Kirsten Potter is a great audio book narrator as well.

3.5/5 stars

(library audio)

Wintering; Peter Geye

Wintering; Peter Geye

Knopf and Blackstone Audio

Suzanne Toren (narrator)

Wintering begins in the fictional town of Gunflint, MN, on the shores of Lake Superior.  Harry Eide is a man suffering from dementia. His mind takes him back to an earlier time when he and his young son Gus left home for the wilderness. At the time Harry was fleeing a bad marriage.  This time however, it's the middle of the night and the dead of winter and Harry is not the man he was 30 years earlier.  He leaves his home and is never heard from again.

The story is told in both time periods.  As Gus visits Berit Loving, Harry's lover for several decades, to tell her about his father's disappearance, we learn about the dangerous adventures of father and son 30 years earlier as they traveled by canoe, in freezing conditions exploring the wilderness the way the French voyagers did long before them.

I enjoyed this audio and I couldn't imagine anyone living through such harsh conditions as Harry and Gus.  I liked the part of the story told by Berit, flashing back to her relationship with Harry and also learning the secrets and backstory of some of the people of Gunflint, including Harry's own grandmother who Berit had cared for.

For me, this novel was all about the atmosphere, the desolate snow covered wilderness. It's a rather slow, reflective story but, one that was well executed. This is my first time reading this author but, I will definitely consider other books by him in the future.

4/5 stars

(library audio)

Another Brooklyn; Jacqueline Woodson

Another Brooklyn; Jacqueline Woodson

Harper Collins & Blackstone Audio - 2016

August is now a woman in her 30's recalling an earlier time (1973) when she moved with her father and younger brother to Brooklyn from Tennessee, leaving her mother behind for reasons she did not understand at the time.  As August and her brother now prepare to bury their father,  20 plus years later we learn what life was like for her and her close friends growing up in a less than ideal part of Brooklyn in the 1970s.

As she reflects back on her past we see how a difficult move was made more tolerable once she makes new friends (Angela, Gigi and Sylvia).  Sadly, the girls see and experience things that most parents try shelter their daughters from for as long as possible as they navigate from adolescence to young adulthood. 

As the story moves back and forth in time, theres's a dreamlike feel that was hard to shake.  The author does a wonderful job capturing both childhood innocence as well as the harsh realities and dangers faced by young girls in this particular part of Brooklyn in the 1970s.  For such a short novel (novella) serious issues such as -- race, poverty, addiction and mental illness surface. The audio book was read by Robin Miles who did an excellent job.

4/5 stars

(library audio)