I was happy to find this book on Kindle for two reasons. First of all, I read Behrens' first book, Law of Dreams, and really enjoyed it. Also, we were preparing to leave Florida to begin the long trip home to KL, and I wanted something to keep me going throughout the trip. It's a family saga - the family consists of Joe, his two brothers and his two sisters, who live with their mother and their abusive stepfather in the forests of Quebec around the turn of the century. The story centers around Joe, the leader of the family, his wife Iseult, and how he becomes a wealthy contractor in Montreal, covering some fifty years.
I can't say I enjoyed this one as much as Law of Dreams, but it still held my interest.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman ✔✔✔
This is the story of a newspaper which is owned by a family based in Atlanta, but is published in Rome. It follows the topsy-turvy lives of the various people who work at the paper - and each one is presented almost as a short story - as well as tracing the history of the Ott family from Oliver, who founded the paper fifty years ago. There is Kathleen, the editor-in-chief, Arthur the obituary writer, Abby the financial officer, Lloyd, who is going to extreme lengths to get his next byline, and - my favorite, Winston, a fledgling journalist who really doesn't know what he's doing, is sent to Cairo to be the "Egyptian stringer" and is completely taken over and pushed around by a bombastic, egocentric competitor who moves into Winston's apartment eats all his food, even takes his laptop away.
I enjoyed the book - it's one of those contemporary books that I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy but I end up reading very quickly and with increasing interest as it goes by. And it's an interesting glimpse into the world of newspapers, especially when they're all about to lose their jobs!
I enjoyed the book - it's one of those contemporary books that I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy but I end up reading very quickly and with increasing interest as it goes by. And it's an interesting glimpse into the world of newspapers, especially when they're all about to lose their jobs!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Bad Boy by Peter Robinson ✔✔✔
I really should read more of Peter Robinson's crime thrillers. This is probably the third one I've read, and I do enjoy them. There's not the extra craft and humor of Elizabeth George, but they are set in England, so they're a bit more civilized than American mysteries.
In this one, a childhood friend of Alan Banks' daughter, Tracy, accidentally shoots and kills her father. The owner of the gun - the Bad Boy - seduces and then abducts Tracy while her father is on vacation in the US.
In this one, a childhood friend of Alan Banks' daughter, Tracy, accidentally shoots and kills her father. The owner of the gun - the Bad Boy - seduces and then abducts Tracy while her father is on vacation in the US.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Sixty-Five Roses by Heather Summerhayes Cariou ✔✔✔✔
I heard this author being interviewed on CBC and was intrigued by the story of these two sisters, so I found it on line and ordered it. By some strange reason, it was waiting for me here in Florida when I arrived this winter - I began to think I hadn't ordered it and it didn't appear on my Kindle. Anyway...
Pam, Heather's younger sister, is born with Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic illness hardly even known about back in the 70s, and it was actually Pam's mom and dad who founded the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The reason for the title of the book is that Pam was too young to say the name of her illness, so she called it "sixty-five roses",
This was an amazing read - Heather lays it all out - how the family functions through all of this constant pounding of Pam's chest, going to the hospital, vomiting, masks, lungs bursting, plus how the rest of the family deals with her illness. Heather feels tremendous guilt because she didn't get the disease, Pam feels guilt that all of the rest of them give up their lives for her, and actually they do - but out of love and desperation. Another child - the youngest in the family of four siblings - is also born with CF although not as serious as the sister.
Pam lived till just after her 26th birthday, but what a journey - what a family - what a story! You couldn't get a novel as insightful and real as this one.
Pam, Heather's younger sister, is born with Cystic Fibrosis, a chronic illness hardly even known about back in the 70s, and it was actually Pam's mom and dad who founded the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The reason for the title of the book is that Pam was too young to say the name of her illness, so she called it "sixty-five roses",
This was an amazing read - Heather lays it all out - how the family functions through all of this constant pounding of Pam's chest, going to the hospital, vomiting, masks, lungs bursting, plus how the rest of the family deals with her illness. Heather feels tremendous guilt because she didn't get the disease, Pam feels guilt that all of the rest of them give up their lives for her, and actually they do - but out of love and desperation. Another child - the youngest in the family of four siblings - is also born with CF although not as serious as the sister.
Pam lived till just after her 26th birthday, but what a journey - what a family - what a story! You couldn't get a novel as insightful and real as this one.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Elizabeth the Queen by Sally Bedell Smith✔✔✔✔
A wonderful bio of Elizabeth, who celebrates her diamond jubilee on the throne this year. It was packed full of information, all of it interesting.
Some things to note:
1. The Queen loves to laugh and, like her mother, delights in surprises.
2. There is a very close family there, although she never interferes in their lives with advice - she just accepts and carries on.
3. Diana and Elizabeth got on well - Diana called her "Mum".
4. Diana knew how to manipulate the press for her own need of attention.
5. Elizabeth and Phillip have a very strong marriage and there's never been any affairs or such.
6. She was really quite beautiful - and tiny- as a young person.
7. She is tremendously well read in history and politics and works every day on "boxes" which come to her filled with information. She studiously reads these and is always prepared when the Prime Minister comes to visit.
8. She has never commented on any political situation in such a way as to show her own opinion.
9. She keeps active physically and walks miles every day.
10. She just seems like a person I'd like to have known.
Some things to note:
1. The Queen loves to laugh and, like her mother, delights in surprises.
2. There is a very close family there, although she never interferes in their lives with advice - she just accepts and carries on.
3. Diana and Elizabeth got on well - Diana called her "Mum".
4. Diana knew how to manipulate the press for her own need of attention.
5. Elizabeth and Phillip have a very strong marriage and there's never been any affairs or such.
6. She was really quite beautiful - and tiny- as a young person.
7. She is tremendously well read in history and politics and works every day on "boxes" which come to her filled with information. She studiously reads these and is always prepared when the Prime Minister comes to visit.
8. She has never commented on any political situation in such a way as to show her own opinion.
9. She keeps active physically and walks miles every day.
10. She just seems like a person I'd like to have known.
Death Comes To Pemberley by P.D. James✔✔
I've only read a couple of P.D. James' books, but I downloaded this one because I'm a fan of Pride and Prejudice, and this one is a sort of sequel to it. James is now 92 years old!
This one involves all the people who were in the Austen novel and has Wickham, the reprobate who took off with Lydia, accused in a murder. The first chapter, which basically sums up the plot line of P&P, was done very well, using the language and style of Jane Austen, but it did move very slowly throughout. Then there's a close to 20 page explanation and discovery to end the book, and you feel nothing but compassion for poor old Wickham, who was unjustly accused and spent months in prison while all these people who reveal their own involvement at the end could have exonerated him long before.
I think James was late for dinner and just wanted to tie things up quickly. Or maybe she forgot what she'd already written??
I don't know, but I think she should retire from writing - just dictate it and let someone else write it!
Jane wouldn't be happy, I'm afraid, and she certainly deserves better!
This one involves all the people who were in the Austen novel and has Wickham, the reprobate who took off with Lydia, accused in a murder. The first chapter, which basically sums up the plot line of P&P, was done very well, using the language and style of Jane Austen, but it did move very slowly throughout. Then there's a close to 20 page explanation and discovery to end the book, and you feel nothing but compassion for poor old Wickham, who was unjustly accused and spent months in prison while all these people who reveal their own involvement at the end could have exonerated him long before.
I think James was late for dinner and just wanted to tie things up quickly. Or maybe she forgot what she'd already written??
I don't know, but I think she should retire from writing - just dictate it and let someone else write it!
Jane wouldn't be happy, I'm afraid, and she certainly deserves better!
Believing The Lie - Elizabeth George ✔✔✔✔✔
I always snap up Elizabeth George's books - I've read them all, and have loved every single one of them.
In this one, Inspector Lynley is asked to ascertain whether a drowning at a huge country estate was an accident or a murder. He is asked to do this not as an investigation, so he has to dodge around questions from his boss at the same time as he's having an affair with her. He's still recovering from the tragic loss of his wife Helen, who was expecting their child when she was shot to death in front of their home.
What I like about Elizabeth George is her ability to weave so many different stories into the plot line in such a way that you don't lose track of them, and each one of them holds your interest. She also explores family dynamics so insightfully and so deeply that it's as much a psychological thriller as anything.
As usual, I'm already looking forward to the next one. Will Barbara Havers' friend find his daughter who's been taken from him by his wife? I'll be watching!!
In this one, Inspector Lynley is asked to ascertain whether a drowning at a huge country estate was an accident or a murder. He is asked to do this not as an investigation, so he has to dodge around questions from his boss at the same time as he's having an affair with her. He's still recovering from the tragic loss of his wife Helen, who was expecting their child when she was shot to death in front of their home.
What I like about Elizabeth George is her ability to weave so many different stories into the plot line in such a way that you don't lose track of them, and each one of them holds your interest. She also explores family dynamics so insightfully and so deeply that it's as much a psychological thriller as anything.
As usual, I'm already looking forward to the next one. Will Barbara Havers' friend find his daughter who's been taken from him by his wife? I'll be watching!!
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