July in Review and Some New Books

Not sure what I've got but there is nothing worst than a summer fever and body aches in the middle of a 5 day heat wave. I've been feeling under the weather since Thursday evening and yesterday I finally took my temp  yesterday and it was 100.7.  After a 4 hour mid day nap the fever seemed to break. I showered and was feeling better but, then went to bed again with more chills and, I tossed and turned all night, hopefully this virus will go away soon (no fever right now).  

July was a fairly good book for reading. I really enjoyed most of my selections.

1. Lily and the Octopus; Steven Rowley - 4/5 (eGalley) (July)
2. Vinegar Girl; Anne Tyler - 3.5/5 stars (audio) (July)
3. In a Dark Dark Wood; Ruth Ware - 4/5 (library) (July)
4. Ink and Bone; Lisa Unger - 4/5 (eGalley) (July)
5. Tuesday Nights in 1980; Molly Prentiss - 4/5 (arc) (July)
6. Before the Fall; Noah Hawley - 4.5/5 (eGalley & audio) (July)
7. The Dogs of Littlefield; Suzanne Berne - 4/5 (eGalley & Audio) (July)
8. Grief is a Thing With Feathers; Max Porter - 3.5/5 (eGalley) (July)
9. Wilde Lake; Laura Lippman - 3/5 (audio) (July)
10. The Good American; Alex George - 4.5/5 (library/bookgroup) (July)

New Books by Mail

• The House Between Tides; Sarah Maine (sent by Atria)
• Magical Jungle; Johanna Bamford (sent by Penguin)
• Intimations: Stories; Alexandra Gleeman (sent by Harper)
• Mercury; Margot Livesey (sent by Harper)
• Commonwealth; Ann Patchett (sent by Harper)
• Dear Mr. M; Herman Koch (sent by Amazon Vine & Hogarth)

Hope everyone has a great day and a wonderful August.

A Good American; Alex George

A Good American; Alex George

Penguin Audio - 2012

Gibson Frazier, narrator - excellent

A Good American was my book group pick for July and everyone loved it.  It's a wonderful story about the German immigrant experience from 1904 through 2010.

When Jette's mother rejects the man she has fallen in love with she convinces Frederick Meisenheimer to set sail for America. The couple, with a baby on the way, eventually settle in Beatrice, Missouri, a small town with other German immigrants.  While  Frederick immediately falls in love with all the possibilities American has to offer, Jette  with new infant son Joseph is homesick and restless, and when a second child, Rosa arrives, the couples relationship becomes strained.  When World War I calls eligible young men to duty, Frederick, although now 39 and running a restaurant, enlists in the military feeling a sense of duty to the country he loves. Jette is furious.

Music is of significant importance in this story, Jazz and Blues helps the family through the tough times and keeps the family close.  There are several wonderful characters who come to life on the pages as the reader follows the Meisenheimer  through the generations: WWI, prohibition, the Great Depression and WWII.  Heartbreak and tragedy comes often to this family and to the people they care about but, despite this they remain stronger together.  The story has a nice balance of love, life, romance and loss.

Although I definitely enjoyed the first half of this book more, the entire novel was a transporting experience with an unexpected revelation as the story wound down.  Alex George is a talented debut author to watch for. If you love well done immigrant stories, be sure to check this one out.  The audio was excellent.

4.5/5 stars
(library audio)

Grief is a Thing With Feathers; Max Porter

Grief is a Thing With Feathers; Max Porter

GrayWolf Press - 2016

Grief is a Thing With Feathers is a work of fiction, a short novella that takes place in London.  The story opens a few days after a man, with young twin sons has lost his wife.  The cause of her death is not disclosed but, her death was quick and unexpected.

The father, a Ted Hughes scholar, is deep with despair and unable to work. The young boys are dealing with their own sadness, sometimes without the supervision that they need.  Just when things seem they can't get much darker, the three are visited by "Crow" whose purpose is to watch over the grieving.  Crow finds humans dull, except when they are grieving, and he plans to stick around until he is no longer needed by this threesome.

I found this novella somewhat complex, much like grief. The POV shifts between the father, sons and Crow and, the narrative consists of both observations and pieces of poetry.  Of course, Crow had the biggest impact declaring early on, " I won't leave you until you don't need me anymore."  If you are poetry lover you may be reminded of Emily Dickinson's poem, "Hope is a Thing With Feathers."  It was refreshing to see Crow's efforts a success as the father and his sons begin to heal.

If you are looking for something different to read, something that will make you think give this novella a try.

3.5/5 stars

(eGalley)

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Bilgewater; Jane Gardam

Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where I share the first paragraph sometimes two, of a book that I'm reading or plan to read soon. 

Bilgewater; Jane Gardam

Europa - 2016

PROLOGUE

"The interview seemed over. The Principal of the college sat looking at the candidate.  The Principal's back was to the light and her stout, short outline was solid against the window, softened only by the fuzz of her aging but rather pretty hair.  Outside the bleak and brutal Cambridge afternoon --December and raining.

The candidate sat opposite wondering what to do.  The chair had a soft seat but wooden arms. She crossed her legs first one way and then the other -- then wondered about closing her legs at all.  She considered whether to get up.  There was a cigarette box beside her.  She wondered whether she would be offered a cigarette.  There was a decanter of sherry on the bookcase.  It had a neglected air."

What do you think -- keep reading or pass? 
(Feel free to join in this week by posting your intro below?

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Watching Edie; Camilla Way

Every Tuesday I host First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where I share the first paragraph sometimes two, of a book that I'm reading or plan to read soon. 

Watching Edie; Camilla Way

(NAL) New American Library - 2016

AFTER

Outside my kitchen window the long afternoon empties of light.  I look at London stretched out far below, my dripping hands held poised above the sink.  The doorbell rings, one long high peal; The broken intercom vibrates.  The view from up here, it's incredible, as if you're flying.  Deptford and Greenwich, New Cross and Erith, then the river, and beyond that there's the Gherkin, over there the Shard.  From my top floor flat here on Telegraph Hill, you can see forever and as usual it calms me, soothes me: how big it is, how small I am, how far from where I used to be.

The doorbell rings more urgently--whoever it is is putting their finger on the buzzer and holding it there.  The night hovers.

What do you think -- keep reading or pass? 
(Feel free to join in this week by posting your intro below?

The Dogs of Littlefield; Suzanne Berne

 The Dogs of Littlefield; Suzanne Berne
Brilliance Audio & Simon & Schuster
Carol Monda - narrator (excellent)

The Dogs of Littlefield was one wacky novel, it made me laugh and smile a lot. The audiobook reader, Carol Mondo, was perfect for this offering.

Littlefield, Massachusetts was recently named the 6th best place to live in the US. Great schools, charming town,  tree-lined streets and 1,146 psychotherapists and 679 psychiatrists and a few other unusual statistics.

Just after Dr. Clarice Watkins, a psychologist from Chicago, arrives in town to research the quality of life in Littlefield, someone begins poisoning the dogs in the town.  Things like this just do not happen in Littlefield, a town full of quirky, upper class busy bodies. So could the poisonings be in protest of the controversial off-leash proposal of a local dog park?

This book can best be described as a comedy of manners with a little mystery added to the mix. There  were a lot of characters but, it wasn't critical to keep them straight, the enjoyment factor was in the behavior and actions of the opinionated, neurotic and self-obsessed residents of Littlefield.  For example,  Dr. Watkins, new to the town,  is one of two persons of color in the town, and since she's from Chicago, some assume she knows the Obamas personally.  Equally insane is the way they react to a student from Pakistan.

I have to be honest, the mystery aspect of this novel is weak and the story lacks substance, but, the snarky writing never ceased to entertain me. I loved the descriptive writing about this insular town and the reactions of the wealthy people behaving badly.  If you enjoy quirky characters, this is a great summer book for you.  I highly recommend the audio as well.

Plot - 3 stars
Entertainment Value - 5 stars
(audiobook & eGalley)

Before the Fall; Noah Hawley

Before the Fall; Noah Hawley

Grand Central Publishing - 2016
Robert Petkoff - Narrator

Definitely one of the best books I've read this summer, Before the Fall, begins with the plane crash of a private jet headed to NYC from Martha's Vineyard.  Except for the crew, one passenger, and bodyguards, the other passengers were all wealthy people of influence.  Just 16 minutes into the flight the plane plunges into the ocean and only two individuals survive.

Scott Burroughs is a struggling artist who normally takes the ferry from Martha's Vineyard to NYC. On this particular day he is invited on the flight by Mrs. Bateman, an acquaintance. After the plane crashes Scott and JJ. Bateman, the four year old son of the CEO of a major news affiliate are the only survivors. Scott, a strong swimmer, is able to save JJ, however, his parents and older sister are among the casualties.

The rest of the novel is a wonderfully plotted narrative about the passengers, crew and next of kin of little JJ. As the stories surrounding the other passengers unfold, there is speculation about the cause of the crash and whether a bomb was involved.

The news media, as they often do, make a media circus out of this tragedy and, Scott's life is turned upside down. He is judged and accused by others based on speculation.   I must admit I couldn't stop thinking about John F. Kennedy Jr. as I read. If you recall his private plane also crashed over Martha's Vineyard, 17 years ago this coming Saturday. 

This is a suspenseful story with excellent character development and page turning plot.  I suspected this was going to be a perfect read for me but, I must say I was kind of disappointed the way the story played out in the end.  I still encourage you to try this one, a great summer read.

4.5/5 stars

(audio & eGalley)