Brief Book Review - The Custom of the Country; Edith Wharton

The Custom of the Country; Edith Wharton

(Combo audio/eBook - library download)

Tantor Media (2011) - 16 hours 20 minutes - read by Lorna Raver - very good)

This was the first book I decided to read from the book bucket list I created a few weeks ago and, I was very glad I tried it.

This is a story about Undine Spragg, a beautiful midwestern girl who has dreams of climbing the social ladder. The thing is, Undine isn't all that high on the ladder to begin with.  She knows how to attract the men that she thinks will help her but, once she gets the man she "thinks" she wants, she is already wondering if there is someone or something better that she can set her sights on. She takes advantage of everyone she meets. From New York to Paris when she meets a millionaire that seems worthy of her, she stops at nothing to make him hers.  She doesn't realize when she tires of him, divorce will be considered a black mark on her going forward.   

A classic satire, the ending shows the reader that even in the end, not much has changed for Undine.  She is still every bit a user. She's vain, obsessed with clothes, jewels and social status.  Although this book is funny and entertaining at times, Although I enjoyed this classic, I found it impossible to root for Undine.

RATING - 4.5/5 stars

Book Review - The Family Remains; Lisa Jewell

The Family Remains; Lisa Jewell

Atria - August 9, 2022

(sequel to The Family Upstairs)

This is a story has a lot going on in it but, it's also a very good read.  The story begins when human bones are found by a mudlarker in the River Thames. Detective Inspector Samuel Owusu is in charge of the investigation and, it appears that the bones may be tied to a nearly 30 year old cold case involving a ballerina and a suicide pact that left (3) adults cult members dead and several children wondering what happened in their Chelsea mansion. Lucy Lamb and brother Henry are adult children of the tragedy.  Lucy is temporarily staying with Henry along with her (2) teenage children.  Henry, however, has other things on his mind and is obsessed with finding Phin, another character tied to the the Chelsea mansion days.  Henry is off on a mission, determined to find Phin.  Henry is a seriously obsessed and creepy character with one thing on his mind which moves the story into high gear. Then yet another storyline about Rachel and husband Michael who also happens to also be the former husband of Lucy.  Rachel and Michael meet and marry quickly and things go very wrong very quickly.  

The description states that this is a standalone sequel but, I think that is a far stretch as so much of the story is tied to former characters from the first book. I would describe this novel as crime drama more than a mystery or thriller. It is a story that kept me quickly turning the pages.  A character driven novel told from multiple POVs and timelines, I started this as an audio, which was expertly narrated by multiple performers.  I switched to the print edition only because it was easier for me to keep the timelines and POV straight.  I was quite happy I read the first book of the series before this sequel. I found the ending satisfying as well.  I'll definitely be returning to read more books by this author that I may have missed.

Rating - 4/5 stars

(NOTE: (a print edition and audio download were sent to me by the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.)

Book Review - Vacationland - Meg Mitchell Moore

Vacationland; Meg Mitchell Moore

William Morrow - 2022

Vacationland proved to be a delightful summer story which swept me away, once again, to the beautiful state of Maine.

The story begins with a 29 year old woman named Kristine Turner who has boarded a Greyhound bus in PA with a small suitcase, $761 dollars and a letter left for her by her recently deceased mother.  The letter shares some long withheld information and has brought Kristie to Maine.  A quick visit that turns into a what looks like a much more permanent stay in Maine.

Louisa Fitzgerald McLean is an NYU professor on sabbatical who should be working on her book.  Her husband is mostly unavailable and busy working on a new start up company in Brooklyn. So Louise packs up their (3) children ages, 12, 10 and 7 and is off to Maine to stay with her mother and father. Martin, her father, is a well respected retired judge who has Alzheimers.  He is at the stage while he has some good days, he also requires outside help.  These expenses have caused Louisa's mom to rethink how much longer she can keep their summer home and expenses associate with it.

As Kristie begins to settle in to a Maine lifestyle, meets a nice boyfriend who happens to be the caretaker at the Fitzgerald summer home, it is Kristie's life and the secrets of the past that really propel this story in an unexpected way.  This book was so well written, has great characters -- even the young children have interesting stories that are fun to read about.  I enjoyed this book so much that I immediately purchased (2) other books by this new-to-me author.  Highly recommended.  This was a combo audio book download - (read by Stacey Glemboski - very good) from the library and eGalley provided to my by the publisher. Both were so enjoyable.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

Book Review - The Foundling; Ann Leary

 

The Foundling; Ann Leary

Simon & Schuster Audio - 2022

Scribner/Marysue Ricci Books - 2022

Mary Engle was raised in a Catholic orphanage when her mother died shortly after her birth. Her best friend there was Lillian Henning.  

Fast forward to 1927, Mary is now eighteen and has been hired  as a secretary by Ann Vogel, a psychiatrist she met at a lecture. The brilliant Dr, Agnes Vogel runs the Nettleton State Village for Feebleminded Women of Childbearing Age.  She believes that weak, feeble minded women are preyed upon by unscrupulous men and should be confined in an institution where they can do farm labor to earn their room and board.  Unfortunately, many of the women at this institution were not feebleminded, instead they were dumped there by spouses and parents if they were deemed difficult or in some cases unmarried and expecting a child.  The institution is located in a remote area and conditions at the institution were horrific to say the least.

One of the women at Nettleton is Mary's former friend Lilian Henning. She has been confined there for having the child of a black man who she was not married to.  Lillian begs Mary to help free her.

Mary was a frustrating character at times who failed to see what was going on before her very eyes. Quite naive to say the least, I gave her a pass at times because of what she went though as a child. The novel is a fictionalized account of Laurelton State Village for Feebleminded Women of Childbearing Age which was located in central PA. 

The story was frightening at times forcing you to think about what went on back in the day when women were deemed unfit to have children.  We learn about eugenics -- selective breeding and removing undesirables from the race, forced sterilizations and the prohibition of mixed races from marrying as well as individuals with mental and physical disabilities. 

I thought the author did a good job getting her story across.  This is my third book in the last few years that has focused on the treatment of women in the 1920s. It was disheartening to see women considered as mere chattel back in the day regardless if they were rich or poor. I originally started the audiobook, read by Laura Benanti, but,  I then switched to the eBook which I preferred.

Rating - 4/5 stars

NOTE:  I received an audio and eBook download from the publisher at no cost in exchange for my unbiased review.

Brief Book Review - Cloud Cuckoo Land; Anthony Doerr

 

Cloud Cuckoo Land; Anthony Doerr

Combo - Read/ Listen (mostly read)

Scribner and Simon & Schuster Audio - 2021

(audio narrated by Marin Ireland and Simon Jones - very good)

It took me a while to wrap my head around what turned out to be an impressive story. I started with the audio book which is expertly narrated but, I quickly decided this one would work better for me in print because of the concentration required.

This expansive novel is almost like five separate stories about five characters in different centuries.  From medieval Constantinople to modern day Idaho and even on an intergenerational starship on a 592 year journey. Each of the characters, some elderly and some young, becomes fascinated by an ancient Greek manuscript called "Cloud Cuckoo Land" which was believed to have been written by Antonius Diogenes. As the story plays out we also learn more about "Cloud Cuckoo Land." The chapters of this novel are short and the stories that go back and forth between centuries are beautifully written and sometimes a little sad as we read about the struggles and hardships of individuals along the way.  The way everything comes together in the end was not only amazing but, it was incredibly moving as well.  

If you are ready to put in some effort, I think you will be rewarded by this one.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I was provided a copy of both the eGalley and the audio download from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

Book Review - The Lioness; Chris Bohjalian

 

The Lioness; Chris Bohjalian

Doubleday and Random House Audio

May 2022

It's 1964 when Katie Barstow, an A-List Hollywood actress marries David Hill, an art gallery owner. The couple decides to invite Katie's brother, Billy Stepanov, who is also David's best friend, Billy's pregnant wife, Margie, and some other wealthy Hollywood actors and friends on a Serengeti safari honeymoon destination.  As the guests settle into their home base enjoying the beauty and taking photos, the day after isn't anything they could have anticipated. Pretty quickly, the much anticipated adventure turns into a nightmare when Russian mercenaries arrive at the home base as they are about to set out on safari and kidnap the Americans and their safari guides.

The story pulled me in and I liked the adventure, suspense, time period as well.  The beautiful setting, the descriptions of the beautiful animals in the wild was vividly described.  There were some gory parts but nothing too hard to take. I found the background info on Katie and Billy's childhood at the hands of their Broadway theatre parents interesting and felt for Billy who was often abused while sister Katie was groomed for the stage/screen. 

The audiobook was excellent and narrated by: January Lavoy, Grace Experience and Gabrielle DeCuir.  I also had the eGalley which came in handy while waiting for an oil change and at a doctor's appointment last week.  Even though the audio was addictive, there were far too many characters for me to be able to fully appreciate whose POV I was getting at various times.  I found that a bit confusing and frustrating even though the audio and eGalley lists the characters at the beginning of each.  Overall, I enjoyed this story and the wrap up was satisfying. I did think it would make a good story for the big screen.

Rating - 4/5 stars

NOTE: Thanks go to Doubleday, Random House Audio and NetGalley for allowing me access to these electronic downloads in exchange for my unbiased review.

Book Review - Project Hail Mary; Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary; Andy Weir

Ballantine Books and Brilliance Audio - 2021

(audio narrator - Ray Porter - fantastic)

I put this book on the back burner for a while even though I enjoyed The Martian by Andy Weir. It's just that SF is generally not my thing.  After several rave reviews from fellow bloggers, I decide to try a combo (eBook/audio) and I was so glad I did.  

Ryland Grace is a junior high science teacher, concerned about the Earth's dropping temperatures possibly leading to another ice age.  One day he wakes up on a space ship light years away and naked as well except for some breathing apparatus and lots of connected tubes and cameras watching him.  He eventually finds out that he is the sole survivor of a suicide mission and how all that came to be.

There is a character, well okay an alien life form, named Rocky that add so much interest and made for some fun as well as touching moments between he and Ryland.  Learning what actually happened through flashbacks worked so well.  I loved the audio narration but, was glad I had the eBook as well so I could gloss over some of the scientific and math components which bored me a bit.  There was a good amount of funny dialogue which I especially enjoyed. If you'd like to try something different be sure to check this one out. I sure hope the movie is in the works as, I enjoyed The Martian by Andy Weir which I read/reviewed in 2015  - the movie was great as well

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: The eBook download was sent to me by the publisher at no cost and the audio book was borrowed from my public library.

Book Review - Lessons in Chemistry ; Bonnie Garmus

 

Lessons in Chemistry ; Bonnie Garmus

Doubleday - 2022 - Random House Audio

Narrators - Miranda Ralson and Pandora Sykes  (very good)

(Combo - read/listen)

Set in CA in the early 1960s Elizabeth Zott is brilliant research chemist working at the Hastings Institute.  As the only female scientist in her work group, she has to fight harder to prove herself and to be taken seriously.  Why should be expected to make copies and fetch coffee for the men she works with? The only male who seems to recognize her brilliance is her fellow coworker - Calvin Evans, who has been nominated for the Nobel prize for his work. Together there is "chemistry" beyond the lab.  

When several years later Elizabeth finds herself unemployed and a single mother of a daughter, her friends Harriet and Walter help her out.  She finds herself in a new job, a cooking show called Supper at Six, with a live audience  - because cooking is chemistry.  While her wing-it style infuriates the producer and sponsors, the show becomes an instant success, not just because of her cooking tips but, because she also challenges her female viewers to question the way things have always been done and the importance of taking time for themselves and the things that they want out of life.

This book spoke to me in many ways, I loved the time period. Elizabeth was a wonderful, strong, quirky heroine and a champion for women.  Her no nonsense style and her matter-of-fact way made the men who hoped she would fail step back and take notice. Thanks to her mother, her daughter Mad (Madeline) was wise beyond her years and not afraid to question adults when things don't seem quite right.  There was also a stray dog named Six-Thirty who joined the family, the dog, a keen observer of character  understood hundreds of words despite having flunked out of his bomb sniffing training.  The story is heartwarming and infused with much dry wit. Readers who enjoy strong women characters will likely enjoy the debut gem. I can't wait to see what this talented new author will write next. DON'T MISS IT!

Rating - 5/5 stars

Book Review - The Diamond Eye; Kate Quinn

 

The Diamond Eye; Kate Quinn

William Morrow and Harper Collins Audio - 2022

(combo - read/listen)

I don't read a lot of historical fiction but, I always seem to enjoy it when I do.  I was drawn to this recent release mostly because it was inspired by a true story about a female Russian sniper in WWII. Lydia Mila Mikhailovna, Pavlichenko known as "Lady Death", (Mila) in this story, was credited with killing some 300 Nazis in WWII.  She was just 16 years old when her son was born, subsequently divorced and a student of history at a Ukrainian University when she enlisted in the Russian Army and was given a rifle to fight.

This story was a nice blend of fact and fiction and the chilling winter setting in Kiev seemed ideal as well. The storyline gave much insight to what war is like on the frontline.  It made it impossible for me not to relate some of what happened in this story to the current ongoing crisis in Ukraine today.  I liked how former President Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor were written into The Diamond Eye. Mila came to the US on a goodwill tour and these two strong women were able to forge a lasting friendship.  A story featuring strong women is always a bonus for me. Although the storyline felt a bit heavy at times, war never being an easy topic to balance in fiction, this novel did have some lighter moments and even a bit of romance as well. The characters, Mila, her former husband Alexei and her partner Kostia were well crafted as well.

This was a combo read/listen for me. The eGalley was sent to my by the publisher at no cost and the audiobook was downloaded by me from the public library. I thought the audio reader - Saskia Maarleveld did a very good job.  I now look forward to trying Quinn's book, The Rose Code soon as well.

Rating - 4/5 stars

Book Reviews - The Book of Cold Cases; Simone St. James - Nine Lives; Peter Swanson

The Book of Cold Cases; Simone St. James

Penguin Audio - 10 hours 44 min.

(Narrators: Brittney Pressley, Kirsten Potter and Robert Petkoff - very good)

Shea Collins is a young woman who works in medical office by day and maintains a true crime blog, The Book of Cold Cases, in her free time.  She tries to get tips on unsolved cases the authorities are no longer actively pursuing.  One day at her office job she recognizes Beth Greer, a woman linked to, but acquitted of, (2) separate 1977 unsolved murders. Both victims were men and were shot by a woman who left a note. The gun used, coincidentally, was the same type of gun that killed Beth's father years earlier. Beth has kept a low profile at the family Oregon mansion ever since she was acquitted of what has been called the Lady Killer Murders.

Shea pursues Beth in the hopes of getting a brief interview and surprisingly, Beth eventually agrees to meet with her at the Greer mansion. The meetings are uncomfortable to say the least and it seems clear that there is at least 1-2 ghostly beings that are not happy about what is going on.  

The characters were interesting enough as both Shea and Beth have a good deal of baggage which gets uncovered.  Shea has been dealing with trauma from her past and we learn of Beth's troubled childhood as well. The story has a slow build and was satisfying over all. I thought the author did a decent job balancing the serial killer story line while adding a bit of the paranormal as well. Of course my favorite minor character was a cat by the name of Winston Purrchill.  I loved the authors previous book: The Sundown Motel which also had a bit of a paranormal element to it. This offering was slightly less thrilling for me but, yet it held my interest and I enjoyed the way the story played out.

Rating - 4/5 stars

Nine Lives; Peter Swanson

William Morrow and Harper Audio - 2022

(combo read/listen)

(Narrators - Jacques Roy and Mark Bramhall - very good - 7 hours 11 min)

Nine Lives was an interesting mystery that involved a rather cryptic list of names. Nine individuals in different parts of the country receive a list of nine names, their name being one of them.  At a quick glance none of the individuals seem to know the other people on the list but, it soon becomes clear that someone wants them these people dead.  The people on the list are different ages, occupations, sexual orientations and live in different areas of the country.  What's the connection or motive? One of the individuals on the list is Jessica Winslow, an FBI Agent from Albany, NY and, she hopes to see this case solved before she ends up as one of the victims.

This isn't a really long book and the story is told from multiple POVs which worked out well; I never found it difficult to follow even when listening on audio after I switched off from the eBook.  I felt like the reader is given just enough back story on each of the individuals on the list to keep things interesting before the story moves on to another potential victim. The manner of death varied which kept it interesting as well.  Some of the characters were likable while others not so much.  In many ways this book reminded me of Agatha Christie's,  And Then There Were None except that all of these victims died in very different locales.

Rating - 4/5 stars

Book Review - French Braid; Anne Tyler

 

French Braid; Anne Tyler

Knopf 3/22/2022 and Random House Audio

(9+ hours - narrated by Kimberly Farr (very good)

"Nobody outside a marriage has any real notion of what goes on inside."

It's 1959 and time to meet the all American family - The Garretts  - Mercy and Robin (mother and father) and their (3) children: Alice and Lily are teens and David is the youngest child.   Father, Robin is running the family hardware store in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Robin is sort of removed from the daily life of his children.  The mother, Mercy, tends to the needs of her children but, she is far from a warm and comforting sort of mother. She is unfulfilled with her life, her marriage and, her real passion seems to be her art.  The children: Alice is responsible and the one who likes to follow the rules, Lily is perhaps too boy crazy for her own good and young David seems confused; he longs to be grown up yet still very much a child who needs reassurance. 

As the story begins in 1959, Robin decides that the family should take a vacation. It will be their first and last vacation as a family. We follow the Garrett family from 1959 through the present day.  This is an expansive yet quiet, poignant, reflective kind of story about family.  There are special moments to be shared but, also there is that secret desire to break free from the family. 

I thought the Garrett family felt cold, there was not a lot of emotion but, in reality that is just how some families are.  There was one particular scene on a train involving the grandmother and her granddaughter which will forever be etched in my mind when I think about this book.  In some ways the mother, Mercy reminded me of Delia in Ladder of the Years, a book I finally read a few months ago and loved - she too was an unfulfilled mother needing something more than what her marriage and children provided.

If you are wondering about the significance of the title French Braid it is this - when a hair braid is undone crimps and crinkles remain -- "that's how families work too. You think you're free of them but, you're never really free! The ripples are crimped forever."  Not my favorite Anne Tyler novel but, I'm certainly happy I experienced it. No one writes about family like Anne Tyler, an author who is not afraid to show us human frailties in her flawed characters.

Thanks go to Knopf Publishing and Random House Audio for allowing me access to the eGalley as well as the audio download in exchange for my unbiased review.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

Book Review - The Paris Apartment; Lucy Foley

 

The Paris Apartment; Lucy Foley

William Morrow - 2022

I haven't had a lot of luck with this author in the past but, I was really looking forward to this one as the setting appealed to me.

The Paris Apartment opens with Jess leaving London hoping to regroup. She has no job and no money and hopes to spend some time with her half-brother Ben in his Paris apartment. Ben doesn't seem overly excited for Jess to visit but, the two have remained somewhat close despite growing up apart after their mother died when they were young.  Jess definitely drew the short end of the stick shuffled between different foster home settings while Ben's adoptive family was wealthy and able to provide him with advantages in life that Jess was not afforded.

When Jess arrives at The Bienvenue, a stately building with tall iron gates, she is unable to connect with Ben as his phone goes unanswered. When she finally does gain access to the building and inside his apartment, something seems amiss.  Ben is no where to be found, his wallet and keys are in his apartment and, most residents of the building are closed-mouthed when she seeks answers.  She has very few clues to go on and, her leads seem to go nowhere.  

What happened to Ben and why aren't those who know him willing to help her?  

Told through multiple POVs, Ben, Jess, the building Concierge, Sophie, Mimi and Nick. All of the residents of the building were odd and rather creepy.  Jess was a great character who had a hard life and wasn't afraid to take chances in getting to the bottom of what happened to her half-brother Ben. The concierge seemed to be hyper vigilant. The building itself had that secret locked room kind of feel with danger lurking close by.  My biggest complaint about this book was how slow moving the story was. There was an awful lot of filler which did little to propel the story. I eventually switched from the audio book to the eBook as I wasn't a fan of the multiple POVs on audio. I felt more satisfied when the story did begin to get more interesting even though certain parts seemed a bit too convenient.  This isn't a bad book but,  it's just one I won't be raving about.

Rating - 3.5/5 stars

Book Review - Ocean State; Stewart O'Nan

 

Ocean State; Stewart O'Nan

Dreamscape Media 3/15/2022 and Grove Press

Narrated by Sara Young 

"When I was in the eighth grade my sister helped kill another girl.  She was in love, my mother said, like it was an excuse.  She didn't know what she was doing.  I had never been in love then, not really, so I didn't know what my mother meant, but I do now. "

From the first lines of this short novel we know that a girl has been murdered and that the younger sister did not understand why this happened.

Ocean State takes place in 2009 in the blue collar town of Ashaway, Rhode Island (actual RI town).  What follows these jolting first sentences are the events that led up to this event and the fallout that resulted.  

The story is told from the POV of (4) female characters though a series of flashbacks and internal thoughts. Carol is a divorced single mother who works as a nurses aide while trying to raise her (2) teenage daughters. She is a woman who doesn't always make the best decisions. She drinks a bit too much and seems to jump from one man to another. Her daughters: Angel 16, is in high school - she is popular and hot-tempered.  Marie 13, adores her older sister but, she is lonely and has no real friends. She is bookish and feeds her emotions with food.  Birdy is a petite, brunette and is the high school girl who was murdered.

Myles is the good looking, popular, jock that Angel has been dating for three years.  Myles comes from a wealthier Rhode Island family and will soon be off to college. Angel by contrast works at CVS part time and has no college plans.  Deep down Angel knows that their relationship is not a forever one.  Myles has been seeing Birdy on the side and Angel eventually becomes aware of it. The sad thing is that both Angel and Birdy are in many ways quite alike, both crazy about a boy who isn't really worth fighting over.

Ocean State is a well-written and deep character study that gets to the heart of teenage jealousy and love triangles.  It's a story that focuses more on what led up to this tragedy and the aftermath of those left to sort it all out.  I found it hard to care about most of the character except for 13 year old Marie who I felt quite sorry for.  This novel is quite different from any of the author's previous books but, it was extremely well written.

I began listening to the audio book, narrated by Sara Young, who sounded like a teen which was appropriate for most of the characters. However,  I quickly became annoyed with the narration after she repeatedly mispronounced "Chariho", the school district and regional school the teens attended.  I felt like the audiobook narrator should have taken the time to research the correct pronunciation of places, since the author felt it important enough to use all actual Rhode Island places in this book.  I ended up switching to the eGalley making this short novel a combo read/listen. This book isn't really a mystery but, it is a very good story. I love the way this author has a real talent when it comes to describing the details of small town life and regular everyday people and their situations.

Rating - 4/5 stars

Book Review - The Book of Mother; Violaine Huisman

 

The Book of Mother; Violaine Huisman

Scribner & Simon & Schuster Audio - 10/19/2021

Translated from French by Leslie Camhi, The Book of Mother, is a deeply moving and, at times, a rather painful read.  It is a story about dysfunctional mother/daughter relationships: what goes on and how the individuals are affected by the emotional trauma and abuse later in life. 

The mother, Catherine, A.K.A. "Maman" is a beautiful but broken woman who suffers from mental illness in the form of manic depression.  Her daughters Violaine age 10 and Elsa, age 12 are the victims of their mother's instability in the form of sometimes violent mood swings and just an overall pervasive chaotic, unpredictable home environment.  The story takes place in Paris in the wake of Catherine's third marriage falling apart.  There is a horrible scene when she deliberately drives her car into traffic with the two daughters in the car.  Fortunately, everyone survives but it's clear that Catherine needs an intervention and  psychiatric stay.  The girl's father (second husband of Catherine) isn't interested in being tied down raising his daughters so the girls try to hide their situation from school officials - at least for a while.

The story is told in three parts - first by young Violaine (yes, same first name as the author but this is debut fiction, one which has a semi-autobiographical feel.)   We learn through Violaine what went on in the household and how she and her sister tried to understand the many things they witnessed and how their mother could mistreat them as she often did.  We also learn about Catherine's early life through a third person POV, which helps the reader understand what has "perhaps" happened early on to cause her to behave as he does and what triggers her violent mood swings.  Finally, the last part deals with the sisters as adults and trying to process what they have endured try to move forward with their adult lives.

I'm always interested in stories involving dysfunctional/mother daughter relationships.  Catherine comes across as vain and self-absorbed yet, there were moments when I felt for her and what had happened to her when she was younger.  This is a tough read but, it is well-written and the translation is excellent as well.  One thing that struck me was how much these sisters loved their deeply flawed mother despite all they had to endure.  Potential readers should be aware of potential triggers: sexual abuse, mental illness, substance abuse and suicide.

Rating - 4/5 stars

This was a combo read/listen for me. The audiobook was narrated by Tosca Hopkins who did a very good job. The eGalley and audio download were provided to me at no cost by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for my unbiased review.

Book Review - On Animals; Susan Orlean

On Animals; Susan Orlean

Avid Reader Press & Simon & Schuster Audio 10/12/2021

 On Animals was an interesting collection of essays written and published by the author over the last 25 years. Each of the essays examines animal-human relationships from the ones we are most familiar with: the animals who become a part or our family to farm animals and exotic animals as well.  Some of the animals featured in the essays were: tigers in New Jersey, lions in Africa, working oxen pairs in Cuba, the use of pack animals in rocky terrain like Afghanistan, show dogs, dog breeders, donkeys, rabbits, pandas, racing pigeons, Keiko, the orca whale featured in Free Willy and more.   

One essay in particular made me sad when the author wrote about the use of animals in the early movies. Animals in movies at that time were considered disposable, especially horses in movies like Ben Hur. It was terrible how cruelly they were treated at that time.

The essays were based on some of the authors previously published articles, observations and travel research over the last 25 years.  The author, at one point, also gave up city life in Manhattan for farm life in upstate New York where she was able to grow her animal passion - when she moved her animals moved as well.

As an animal lover, I found this collection of essays to be informative and fun to read. I enjoyed the writing style as well  I think most animal lovers will enjoy this book which was so full of interesting information. This was a combo read (eGalley) and (audio download) for me.  The audio was read by the author. For some reason the author's tone seemed a bit flat and uneven to me at times so I opted for eGalley as a supplement.

Thanks go to Simon & Schuster Audio, Avid Reader Press and Edelweiss for allowing me early access to this interesting collection.

RATING - 4/5 stars

Book Review - Billy Summers; Stephen King

 

                                                             Billy Summers; Stephen King

                                                       Simon & Schuster Audio and Scribner - 2021

Who is Billy Summers? At 44, Billy has seen a lot, a decorated war vet who served in Iraq, a professional sniper and a calculated killer with one last hit to accomplish before that part of his life is over.  While waiting for just the right moment to make that final hit, he uses not only multiple disguises but, also poses as an author who needs quiet and seclusion to work on a book his is writing.  

It is through this therapeutic writing exercise that we learn so much about Billy and his childhood tragedies as well as the horrors he experienced in Fallujah.  The internal struggles that Billy deals with help the reader to understand the real Billy, a man ultimately in need of redemption.  When a young, college student named Alice is drugged and viciously raped and dumped on the side of the road, it is Billy who rescues her and helps her heal from the physical and emotional trauma.  We suddenly see the softer side of Billy, a man with compassion but also one who understands in the need for justice.

I will admit this story took a while to get going but, once it did, everything just flowed making this a book that was so hard to put down.  Through Billy we get a taste of small town life as he goes about his business using different aliases along the way, talking with some towns people while he poses as a writer.  There are loads on literary references in this story which I enjoyed. Some of the locations where Billy finds himself are "red state areas" that allows the author to make several political observations which may annoy some readers, but that is a rather small insignificant part of what what ends up being a very satisfying crime novel.  I could definitely see this story playing out on the big screen. Highly Recommended

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This was a combo read for me. The audio book, read by Paul Sparks was very well done. The audio download was made available at no cost to me by Simon & Schuster Audio and the print edition I borrowed from my local library. 

Book Review - The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer; Liza Rodman and Jennifer Jordan

TITLE/AUTHOR: The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer; Liza Rodman and Jennifer Jordan

PUBLISHER:   Simon & Schuster Audio and Atria (print)

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021

GENRE: Non Fiction / Bio/memoir / true crime

FORMAT: combo: eGalley and audio download / LENGTH: 9 hours 1 min.

SOURCE:  Edelweiss and Publisher / audio download

SETTING(s):  MA

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  Part biography and part true crime, it isn't until decades after the fact that the author realizes the nice man who babysat her and her sister as children was actually a serial killer.

BRIEF REVIEW:  Liza and her sister were lonely little girls growing up on Cape Cod in the 1960s. Their mother was not the nurturing kind. By day she worked at a Provincetown motel where they also lived and by night she danced at a local nightclub. It wasn't unusual for her to leave the girls with whomever was available when she had to work or had a date.  One of the babysitters at the time was the handsome, friendly Tony Costa who worked as a handyman and made trash runs to the dump for the motel.  Often on these runs the girls would accompany Tony who Liza recalls as kind, fun and often treated them to ice cream treats.  As it turned out Tony lived a double life during these years and in 1969 it finally comes to light that he was responsible for numerous murders and dismemberments of young women he met in the area.  He buried their bodies in the Truro woods on Cape Cod which he referred to as his "secret garden".

The story is told in alternating story lines from Liza's young, lonely and sad life with her irresponsible mother and then shifting off to Tony's troubled early years and history of drug abuse and his abusive treatment of women up until his arrest in 1969 and death in prison in 1974.  I thought it was interesting that it wasn't until decades after Tony's death that Liza learned that her babysitter early in life, was actually the same Tony Costa responsible for several gruesome murders.

The story was fascinating yet the flow of this story felt quite jarring at times for me. It was almost like two separate books.  The story is very graphic at times with gory details of the murders and other vivid details of abuse: drugs, physical, verbal and sexual abuse.  Fortunately for Liza, as she recalls, Tony seemed to feel sorry for Liza and her sister and treated them with kindness and she remembers him as more dependable than their own mother.  Once Liza learned Tony "the serial killer" was also Tony "her babysitter", she became obsessed with finding out all the details of the man she had long considered to be a nice man.

RATING:  3.5/5

Thanks go to Atria and Edelweiss for access to the eBook. The audiobook was a free download from my library. It was read by Andi Arndt and Aida Reluzco  - both readers did a good job overall.

Book Review - Swimming Back to Trout River; Linda Rui Feng

 

TITLE/AUTHOR: Swimming Back to Trout River; Linda Rui Feng

PUBLISHER:   Simon & Schuster Audio

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021

GENRE: Fiction / Family Saga / Asian Americans

FORMAT: 272 pages - audio download / LENGTH: 8 hours 15 min.

SOURCE:  Publisher / audio download

SETTING(s):  China and a fictional US college town called Chimney Bluffs

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  A beautiful story of family that takes place around China's Cultural Revolution.

BRIEF REVIEW:  1986 - Ten year old Junie who was born without lower legs has been living with her loving grandparents near Trout River since the age of five. Her father Momo was an engineering student in Beijing but, in 1981 left for grad school in the US. Cassia stayed behind but,  she left for the US two years later.  Now in 1986 after Junie hasn't seen her parents in five years she receives a letter from her father telling her that he plans to come for her by the time she turns twelve.  Junie is determined to stay right where she is with her grandfather, her biggest advocate. He has even built her a prosthetic leg which has helped her to thrive.  One thing that Junie was not aware of was that her parents led separate lives in the US and each parent has failed to communicate separate pasts and tragedies which led to their estrangement. Momo is determined to reunite with Cassia so that their family can be together again.

I loved reading a little of China's history from 1960 through the Cultural Revolution under Chairman Mao. I loved that classical music and the violin played a role in the story and also reading about how superstitious the Chinese people in this story were.  Most of all, I loved Junie's special relationship with her grandfather even though Junie's story is not as in depth as the stories of Momo, Cassia and Dawn, a musician Momo had been involved with. The story was quite poignant at times and, I was not prepared for the way this story ended but, I found it satisfying and thought provoking.  If you are looking for something a little different: culture, immigration, the arts and love, I highly recommend this debut novel.  I'll definitely be looking for future books by the talented new author.

RATING:  4.5/5

This was a combo read/listen for me. Thanks go to Simon & Schuster for allowing me access to these books: eGalley (Edelweiss) and Simon & Schuster (audio) in exchange for my unbiased review. The audiobook was read by Nancy Wu who did a great job.

Book Review - Dream Girl; Laura Lippman

TITLE/AUTHOR:  Dream Girl; Laura Lippman

PUBLISHER:  William Morrow and Harper Audio

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021

GENRE: Fiction / Psych Thriller

FORMAT:  eGalley and audio / LENGTH: 320 pp - 8 hrs. and 54 min.

SOURCE:  Edelweiss and Library download

SETTING(s):  Baltimore, MD 

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  A  suspenseful yet witty thriller about an author who lacks self-awareness.

BRIEF REVIEW:   Gerry Anderson is a 61 year old author who has experienced success. His book "Dream Girl" starring a woman named Aubrey McFate made him an instant success with his fans.  The fans felt Aubrey was based on a real person the way she seemed to come alive on the pages. Gerry does have three former wives and some 37 lovers but, who's counting?  He recently moved from New York City to high rise penthouse in Baltimore to be near his mother who had dementia but, she passed away soon after the move.  Now he's trying to write the memoir his publisher is looking for but, he's having trouble focusing.

Now he finds himself confined to a bed for 8-12 weeks after tripping over a rowing machine, slipping on the concrete floor and tumbling down a floating staircase where he lay until his assistant arrived the next morning.  With an assistant with him by day, a nurse by night and lots of pain meds, Gerry is dazed and confused and confined to bed with a brace.  When calls and emails from a woman claiming to be Aubrey begin and Gerry even claims to have seen Aubrey in his penthouse he begins to wonder whether someone is playing a trick on him or was there an Aubrey in the past that really inspired the woman in his book.

As the story progresses we get a little history into Gerry's past, his issues with his father and his relationship with his mother and his relationships with women in general. It becomes clear Gerry is a cad, a misogynist and making it likely that there must be plenty of women out there who would want to get even with him.

This story is both suspenseful and witty, I caught myself frequently smiling especially with the audio version which was read by Jason Culp. He did a great job with the Gerry character.  Gerry is unlikeable for sure but he was such a fun character in that he totally lacked self-awareness.  It was hard not to feel for him at times. Honestly, all of the characters were unlikeable and that usually spoils a book for me but, not this one. It wasn't perfect but in addition to the clever storyline, I liked that there were references to other books and movies and mostly that the story just put a smile on my face. Overall, a good read and maybe a better listen!

Thanks go to  William Morrow, Edelweiss and my public library for allowing me access to this delightful book in exchange for my unbiased review.

RATING:  4/5

Book Review - One Two Three, Laurie Frankel

 

TITLE/AUTHOR: One Two Three, Laurie Frankel

PUBLISHER:  Macmillan Audio and Henry Holt and Co.

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021

GENRE: Fiction / Siblings /Small Town Life

FORMAT:  eAudio/eGalley LENGTH:  14 hrs 59 min / 400 pp

SOURCE:  NetGalley / Macmillan Audio

SETTING(s):  Massachusetts (?)

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:  A  big-hearted story about siblings and small town life after a chemical spill changes everything.

BRIEF REVIEW:   Bourne, is a very tiny town where everyone knows everyone. Seventeen years earlier Bourne made national news when the water turned green and was found contaminated. Belsum, the factory in town had been leaking chemicals into the water there.  The residents that are left have suffered the lasting effects, many have died from cancer as a result of the contamination and poisoning. Now the same company is back in town promising new jobs, which the town desperately needs,  and claiming they have changed their ways.

Nora Mitchell was pregnant at the time and is now a widow.  In addition to motherhood, she's an activist and her focus has been on gathering evidence for a class action lawsuit on behalf of those who have suffered. Nora gave birth to triplets just after the disaster and two of them have likely been affected as a result of the contamination. The story is told from the perspective of each pf the triplets in the present day at age sixteen.

Mab (One) is the "normal" triplet who feels the guilt of being born unscathed.  Monday (Two) is a lover of books, known as the town librarian and her quirky nature lead me to believe that she is likely on the autism spectrum.  Mirabel (Three) has been noticeably, physically affected by the spill and even speaks through a specialized device.

The story is told through (3) distinct voices of the triplets.  We learn the unique story of Bourne, its residents past and present and the consequences of what the people living in Bourne have experienced.  What could have been a rather depressing story was told in a way that never felt that way. If you enjoy quirky, unforgettable character driven stories  complete with even a rather tidy ending, this may be just the kind of story for you.  A story of friendship, siblings, resilience, acceptance and moving forward. I enjoyed the story but, did think it was a bit too long. The audio was good and easy to follow but, I also had the eGalley which worked well for a great combo read.

RATING:  4/5  

Audio download and eGalley sent to me in exchange for my unbiased review courtesy of Macmillan Audio, Henry Holt & Co and NetGalley.