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Review Date: 5/30/2018
I found 1984 interesting in that it takes place around 1950 and told about how our freedom and democracy are fragile and big brother is watching and the dangers of Soviet threat to the world which can still apply today. One quote I did like was: "Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past." The book also cautioned against excessive power of mass media which is very prevalent with all the fake news that is coming out of our mass media today. I would recommend reading it as it is remembered as one of the the most important and moving works of fiction to be published in this generation.
Review Date: 8/25/2015
Roberto Bolano's 2666 is a political masterpiece about the inescapable violence of modern life in Latin America. Written prior to his death from liver failure, Bolano asked his publishers to release it in 5 separate books because it would financially benefit his family. The heirs, however decided otherwise and the book was published in one lengthy volume. The five parts are linked by varying degrees of concern with unsolved murders of upwards of 300 young, poor, mostly uneducated Mexican women.
Part 1 describes a group of four European literary critics, the French Jean-Claude Pelletier, the Italian Piero Morini, the Spaniard Manuel Espinoza and the English woman Liz Norton and their search for the writer, Archimboldi.
Part 2 concentrates on Óscar Amalfitano, a Chilean professor of philosophy who fears Rosa will become another victim of the femicides plaguing the city.
Part 3 follows Oscar Fate, an American journalist from New York who begins to investigate the murders.
Part 4 depicts the police force in their mostly fruitless attempts to solve the crimes, as well as giving clinical descriptions of the circumstances and probable causes of the various homicides.
Part 5 takes us back to Archimboldi and explains his connection to the murderer of these women.
I listened to the audio of this novel and found it very interesting. Part 4 with the descriptions of one murder after another was a bit intense but Bolano is making a statement about how people are not too interested in solving these murders of low income women. I would recommend it to anyone interesting in Latin American literature.
Part 1 describes a group of four European literary critics, the French Jean-Claude Pelletier, the Italian Piero Morini, the Spaniard Manuel Espinoza and the English woman Liz Norton and their search for the writer, Archimboldi.
Part 2 concentrates on Óscar Amalfitano, a Chilean professor of philosophy who fears Rosa will become another victim of the femicides plaguing the city.
Part 3 follows Oscar Fate, an American journalist from New York who begins to investigate the murders.
Part 4 depicts the police force in their mostly fruitless attempts to solve the crimes, as well as giving clinical descriptions of the circumstances and probable causes of the various homicides.
Part 5 takes us back to Archimboldi and explains his connection to the murderer of these women.
I listened to the audio of this novel and found it very interesting. Part 4 with the descriptions of one murder after another was a bit intense but Bolano is making a statement about how people are not too interested in solving these murders of low income women. I would recommend it to anyone interesting in Latin American literature.
Review Date: 4/11/2022
Leah lives across the street from Toby and his eccentric house where Toby has a lot of misfit tenants. Leah finally meets Toby and somehow with fate, romance and a helping hand, Toby and Leah's relationship show the makings of a dream come true. I love the characters in this book. It was fun to read about them and their quirky ways and see what was in store for them. I found it to be a feel-good story laced with Jewell's warmth and humor. I have read many of her books and have enjoyed them all. If you like touching and entertaining books then I am sure you will enjoy this one.
Review Date: 9/3/2017
Book Description
A brilliantly twisty, 80-page novella from the No. 1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae series. It's the night of the big Referendum, and all Acting Detective Inspector Logan McRae has to do is find a missing 'No' campaigner. Should be easy enough... But, as usual, DCI Steel has plans of her own. As the votes are counted there's trouble brewing in the pubs and on the streets of Aberdeen. Logan's picked up a promising lead, but all is not quite what it seems, and things are about to go very, very wrong...
My Review
This short novella was a very easy funny read. If you haven't read any of the Logan MacRae series then you may not recognize the characters. But, if you have read them, then you will enjoy this short story and the humor it contains. The book also gives a very good perspective of the Scottish Referendum for Independence which eventually did fail. I would also recommend it to those who have read his Logan MacRae series as it is a great fix for those who are waiting to read his new novel.
A brilliantly twisty, 80-page novella from the No. 1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae series. It's the night of the big Referendum, and all Acting Detective Inspector Logan McRae has to do is find a missing 'No' campaigner. Should be easy enough... But, as usual, DCI Steel has plans of her own. As the votes are counted there's trouble brewing in the pubs and on the streets of Aberdeen. Logan's picked up a promising lead, but all is not quite what it seems, and things are about to go very, very wrong...
My Review
This short novella was a very easy funny read. If you haven't read any of the Logan MacRae series then you may not recognize the characters. But, if you have read them, then you will enjoy this short story and the humor it contains. The book also gives a very good perspective of the Scottish Referendum for Independence which eventually did fail. I would also recommend it to those who have read his Logan MacRae series as it is a great fix for those who are waiting to read his new novel.
Review Date: 9/2/2019
Sensible Elspeth McGillicuddy is not given to hallucinations. Or is she? After she boards the Paddington Station train and becomes a witness to an apparent murder, no one believes her but her friend-the indomitable sleuth Miss Jane Marple.
Christy holds all the information very close to her chest and does not let go of it until the reveal at the end of the book. I still found the story interesting and enjoyed it very much. Her characters were fascinating and the plot was nicely paced. I look forward to reading more of her novels and recommend this book to those who love mysteries.
Christy holds all the information very close to her chest and does not let go of it until the reveal at the end of the book. I still found the story interesting and enjoyed it very much. Her characters were fascinating and the plot was nicely paced. I look forward to reading more of her novels and recommend this book to those who love mysteries.
Review Date: 5/26/2016
Book Description
IT BEGAN WITH SIX STONES . . .
From the deserts of Israel to the tsunami-lashed coasts of Japan, from the steppes of Mongolia to the most mysterious island on Earth--this is what we have come to expect from Matthew Reilly: stupendous action, white-knuckle suspense, heroes to cheer for, and an adventure beyond imagination. Strap yourself in and hold on tight as he unleashes his biggest and fastest adventure yet, The 5 Greatest Warriors.
When we last left Jack West Jr., he was plummeting into a fathomless abyss and his quest to save the world from impending Armageddon appeared doomed.
But all hope is not lost.
After an astonishing escape, Jack regroups with his trusty team. Racing to rebuild the final pieces of the fabled "Machine," they discover an ancient inscription containing a rhyme about five mysterious unnamed warriors--great historical figures whose knowledge will be vital to unlocking the secrets of the Machine and its long-lost "pillars." But the ancients have hidden their secrets well, and with each pillar bestowing an incredible power upon its holder, their pursuit has attracted the attention of other forces from around the world--some who want to rule it and others who want to see it destroyed.
With enemies coming at him from every side and the countdown to doomsday rapidly approaching, Jack and his team had better move fast. Because they are about to find out what the end of the world looks like . . .
My Review
The challenge continues in this book where the last book ended with a major cliffhanger. In my opinion, this is the best book in the trilogy as it is non-stop action and the ending ties everything up nicely. Some characters are true heroes but the ones that are bad are really evil which makes the book hard to put down and very exciting. Some happenings are totally unbelievable but you have suspend your belief and just enjoy the ride. I now look forward to reading more books by Reilly. I recommend this trilogy to those who love adventure tales.
IT BEGAN WITH SIX STONES . . .
From the deserts of Israel to the tsunami-lashed coasts of Japan, from the steppes of Mongolia to the most mysterious island on Earth--this is what we have come to expect from Matthew Reilly: stupendous action, white-knuckle suspense, heroes to cheer for, and an adventure beyond imagination. Strap yourself in and hold on tight as he unleashes his biggest and fastest adventure yet, The 5 Greatest Warriors.
When we last left Jack West Jr., he was plummeting into a fathomless abyss and his quest to save the world from impending Armageddon appeared doomed.
But all hope is not lost.
After an astonishing escape, Jack regroups with his trusty team. Racing to rebuild the final pieces of the fabled "Machine," they discover an ancient inscription containing a rhyme about five mysterious unnamed warriors--great historical figures whose knowledge will be vital to unlocking the secrets of the Machine and its long-lost "pillars." But the ancients have hidden their secrets well, and with each pillar bestowing an incredible power upon its holder, their pursuit has attracted the attention of other forces from around the world--some who want to rule it and others who want to see it destroyed.
With enemies coming at him from every side and the countdown to doomsday rapidly approaching, Jack and his team had better move fast. Because they are about to find out what the end of the world looks like . . .
My Review
The challenge continues in this book where the last book ended with a major cliffhanger. In my opinion, this is the best book in the trilogy as it is non-stop action and the ending ties everything up nicely. Some characters are true heroes but the ones that are bad are really evil which makes the book hard to put down and very exciting. Some happenings are totally unbelievable but you have suspend your belief and just enjoy the ride. I now look forward to reading more books by Reilly. I recommend this trilogy to those who love adventure tales.
Review Date: 8/31/2021
Helpful Score: 1
56 days ago Clara and Oliver met in a supermarket in Dublin. Oliver suggests they move in together since there is a Covid19 lockdown. It's a chance for him to hide away. Detectives discover a decomposing body. One of them is dead. Lockdown is an opportunity for the perfect crime. This was my first book set during the pandemic. It was a bit surreal to relive all the anxiety. A twisty plot kept me guessing and made for a real page-turner. Both characters have secrets. The story switches from present to past and back again. The ending was a surprise to me that I did not see coming. This was my first Catherine Ryan Howard book but won't be my last.
Review Date: 5/18/2016
Book Description
THE END OF THE WORLD IS HERE
Unlocking the secret of the Seven Ancient Wonders was only the beginning...
After their thrilling exploits in Matthew Reilly's rampaging New York Times bestseller, 7 Deadly Wonders, super-soldier Jack West Jr. and his loyal team of adventurers are back, and now they face an all-but-impossible challenge.
A mysterious ceremony in an unknown location has unraveled their work and triggered a catastrophic countdown that will climax in no less than the end of all life on Earth.
But there is one last hope.
If Jack and his team can find and rebuild a legendary ancient device known only as the "Machine," they might be able to ward off the coming armageddon. The only clues to locating this Machine, however, are held within the fabled Six Sacred Stones, long lost in the fog of history.
And so the hunt begins for the Six Sacred Stones and the all-important knowledge they possess, but in the course of this wild adventure Jack and his team will discover that they are not the only ones seeking the Stones and that there might just be other players out there who don't want to see the world saved at all.
From Stonehenge in England to the deserts of Egypt to the spectacular Three Gorges region of China, The 6 Sacred Stones will take you on a nonstop roller-coaster ride through ancient history, modern military hardware, and some of the fastest and most mind-blowing action you will ever read.
My Review
This 2nd book in Matthew Reilly's trilogy has everything: ancient history, heroes, bad guys, clever plot twists, well researched locations, great humor and non-stop action. It's a page-turner that is unputdownable which ends with a major cliffhanger. Can't wait to delve into the next book in order to find out how Jack and his team work towards saving the world.
THE END OF THE WORLD IS HERE
Unlocking the secret of the Seven Ancient Wonders was only the beginning...
After their thrilling exploits in Matthew Reilly's rampaging New York Times bestseller, 7 Deadly Wonders, super-soldier Jack West Jr. and his loyal team of adventurers are back, and now they face an all-but-impossible challenge.
A mysterious ceremony in an unknown location has unraveled their work and triggered a catastrophic countdown that will climax in no less than the end of all life on Earth.
But there is one last hope.
If Jack and his team can find and rebuild a legendary ancient device known only as the "Machine," they might be able to ward off the coming armageddon. The only clues to locating this Machine, however, are held within the fabled Six Sacred Stones, long lost in the fog of history.
And so the hunt begins for the Six Sacred Stones and the all-important knowledge they possess, but in the course of this wild adventure Jack and his team will discover that they are not the only ones seeking the Stones and that there might just be other players out there who don't want to see the world saved at all.
From Stonehenge in England to the deserts of Egypt to the spectacular Three Gorges region of China, The 6 Sacred Stones will take you on a nonstop roller-coaster ride through ancient history, modern military hardware, and some of the fastest and most mind-blowing action you will ever read.
My Review
This 2nd book in Matthew Reilly's trilogy has everything: ancient history, heroes, bad guys, clever plot twists, well researched locations, great humor and non-stop action. It's a page-turner that is unputdownable which ends with a major cliffhanger. Can't wait to delve into the next book in order to find out how Jack and his team work towards saving the world.
Review Date: 8/13/2021
A very original and unique read. Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. Every day, Aiden will wake up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. Sounds a bit like Groundhog Day. It's a locked-room mystery full of intrigue and suspense. It's one man's race against time to find a killer with lots of twists that kept me guessing until the very end. I started this book awhile ago and got so confused that I gave up. I saw that others enjoyed it, so this time I did the audio and paid strict attention. I found that I enjoyed it so much more the 2nd time around. I think I may even read it again and probably do the book and audio together. I found the characters to be oddly entertaining each with their own point of view. If you like putting together puzzles, then I think you will enjoy this book. I look forward to reading his next book, The Devil and the Dark Water
Review Date: 10/11/2019
Read this for a Halloween reading contest. Aaron loves fall. He loves apples, pumpkins and Halloween costumes. He dressed up as a ghost and the pumpkin was on his head.
Review Date: 9/12/2021
Lizzy Gardner, 17, was kidnapped just blocks from home after a romantic evening with her boyfriend, Jared. She woke up to find herself at the mercy of a depraved serial killer known as Spiderman. Lizzy narrowly escaped, the only one of his victims to survive. Fourteen years later, Lizzy is a private investigator who teaches self-defense to teenage girls in her free time. She does what she can to help others protect themselves and to forget the horror of her ordeal. Lizzy will always be known as; the one who got away. She receives a phone call from Jared, now a special agent for the FBI, with grim news. The killer has resurfaced, this time with a very specific target of Lizzy. He's made it clear that she will not escape him again. So begins a chilling game of cat-and-mouse, a terrifying, heart-pounding hunt that only one will survive. This is a dark serial killer book similar to Chris Carter's books. I was not completely impressed with this book but the reviews claim that the books get better and better. That makes me want to read the next book in the series. Gardner has a huge following from her Jessie Cole series so that is good to know. I do like the characters of Lizzy and Jared and find them interesting. Let's see how I feel after the 2nd book in the series.
Review Date: 3/30/2016
Book Description
Richard and Frances Myles are preparing for their annual European summer vacation in 1939 when they are visited at their Oxford college by old friend Peter Galt, who has a seemingly simple job for them. But in the heightened atmosphere of pre-war Europe, nobody is above suspicion, in fact the husband and wife are being carefully monitored by shadowy figures.
Above Suspicion was MacInnes' breakthrough book, a bestseller published in 1941 and released as a movie in 1943, directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Joan Crawford and Fred MacMurray.
"Hide and seek with death - in the shadow of terror... The hallmarks of a MacInnes novel of suspense are as individual and as clearly stamped as a Hitchcock thriller." - The New York Times
My Review
This was a very good debut for Helen MacInnes and a very entertaining read. It was written prior to the invasion of Poland during WWII and you can definitely feel the tension of the times while reading. Richard and Frances Myles were very believable characters and it was amazing that in 1939 MacInnes was able to pinpoint the treatment by the Nazi gestapo. I would recommend this book to those interested in WW2 espionage and I look forward to reading more novels by Helen MacInnes.
Richard and Frances Myles are preparing for their annual European summer vacation in 1939 when they are visited at their Oxford college by old friend Peter Galt, who has a seemingly simple job for them. But in the heightened atmosphere of pre-war Europe, nobody is above suspicion, in fact the husband and wife are being carefully monitored by shadowy figures.
Above Suspicion was MacInnes' breakthrough book, a bestseller published in 1941 and released as a movie in 1943, directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Joan Crawford and Fred MacMurray.
"Hide and seek with death - in the shadow of terror... The hallmarks of a MacInnes novel of suspense are as individual and as clearly stamped as a Hitchcock thriller." - The New York Times
My Review
This was a very good debut for Helen MacInnes and a very entertaining read. It was written prior to the invasion of Poland during WWII and you can definitely feel the tension of the times while reading. Richard and Frances Myles were very believable characters and it was amazing that in 1939 MacInnes was able to pinpoint the treatment by the Nazi gestapo. I would recommend this book to those interested in WW2 espionage and I look forward to reading more novels by Helen MacInnes.
Review Date: 2/2/2020
Helpful Score: 1
Copenhagen Department Q has another cold case to solve - brutal double murder of a brother and sister 20 years ago. They find out that Kimmie, a homeless woman, holds the key but they need to track her down. Violent characters who hide behind their money are suspects. A bit long-winded but suspenseful and an insightful look at ruthless people. Can be read as standalone. Looking forward to next book & recommended to those who love Nordic thrillers.
Review Date: 6/6/2014
Glen Garber, a contractor, has seen his business shaken by the housing crisis, and now his wife, Sheila, is taking a business course at night to increase her chances of landing a good-paying job. But she should have been home by now. With their eight-year-old daughter sleeping soundly, Glen soon finds his worst fears confirmed: Sheila and two others have been killed in a car accident. Grieving and in denial, Glen resolves to investigate the accident himselfand begins to uncover layers of lawlessness beneath the placid surface of their Connecticut suburb, secret after dangerous secret behind the closed doors. Propelled into a vortex of corruption and illegal activity, pursued by mysterious killers, and confronted by threats from neighbors he thought he knew, Glen must take his own desperate measures and go to terrifying new places in himself to avenge his wife and protect his child.
My Review:
I really enjoyed reading The Accident which was a real page-turner and I read it in one day. Never saw the ending of this one and was greatly surprised. This was my first Barclay book but won't be my last.
My Review:
I really enjoyed reading The Accident which was a real page-turner and I read it in one day. Never saw the ending of this one and was greatly surprised. This was my first Barclay book but won't be my last.
Review Date: 9/23/2019
when a fire breaks out at Murchison House that consumes the top floors and leaves three dead, Maeve and her colleagues are startled to learn the identity of one of the victims. Geoff Armstrong was a wealthy, notoriously right-wing London politician the last person they'd expect to find in a place like the Maudling Estate. And things get even murkier when evidence surfaces indicating Armstrong was murdered before the fire broke out. Was his death connected to the fire? To the other deaths at Murchison House? And what was he doing there in the first place? What Maeve begins to uncover will lead her on a terrifying journey through all levels of society, putting her very life in danger.
Maeve is a character that comes to life and you feel you know her personally. I missed Rob in this book but I loved Derwent and the interaction between him and Maeve. Jane Casey is a great writer and I'll look forward to her future books. If you like police procedurals, you will enjoy this series.
Maeve is a character that comes to life and you feel you know her personally. I missed Rob in this book but I loved Derwent and the interaction between him and Maeve. Jane Casey is a great writer and I'll look forward to her future books. If you like police procedurals, you will enjoy this series.
Review Date: 5/2/2017
This is a great series and should be read in order. I'm looking forward to the next one as it will be released very soon.
Review Date: 10/7/2016
Book Description
The sequel to Me Before You, which is now a major motion picture. Look out for Jojo's new book, Paris for One and Other Stories, coming October 18, 2016.
"We all lose what we love at some point, but in her poignant, funny way, Moyes reminds us that even if it's not always happy, there is an ever after." --Miami Herald
"You're going to feel uncomfortable in your new world for a bit. But I hope you feel a bit exhilarated too. Live boldly. Push yourself. Don't settle. Just live well. Just live. Love, Will."
How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?
Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can't help but feel she's right back where she started.
Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding--the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will's past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . .
For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.
My Review
This book was very good but I enjoyed Me Before You more. It was a good sequel to the first book in regards to dealing and grieving for a love one but didn't measure up to the first one which was a very emotional read. It was good to find out how Lou moves on and that she falls in love again. I would recommend this book to those who love fiction mixed in with emotional messages and I now look forward to reading other books by JoJo Moyes.
The sequel to Me Before You, which is now a major motion picture. Look out for Jojo's new book, Paris for One and Other Stories, coming October 18, 2016.
"We all lose what we love at some point, but in her poignant, funny way, Moyes reminds us that even if it's not always happy, there is an ever after." --Miami Herald
"You're going to feel uncomfortable in your new world for a bit. But I hope you feel a bit exhilarated too. Live boldly. Push yourself. Don't settle. Just live well. Just live. Love, Will."
How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?
Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can't help but feel she's right back where she started.
Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding--the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will's past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . .
For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.
My Review
This book was very good but I enjoyed Me Before You more. It was a good sequel to the first book in regards to dealing and grieving for a love one but didn't measure up to the first one which was a very emotional read. It was good to find out how Lou moves on and that she falls in love again. I would recommend this book to those who love fiction mixed in with emotional messages and I now look forward to reading other books by JoJo Moyes.
Review Date: 8/18/2023
Alice Raikes takes a train from London to Scotland to visit her family, but when she gets there she witnesses something so shocking that she insists on returning to London immediately. A few hours later, Alice is lying in a coma after an accident that may or may not have been a suicide attempt. Alice's family gathers at her bedside and as they wait, argue, and remember, long-buried tensions emerge. The more they talk, the more they seem to conceal. Alice, meanwhile, slides between varying levels of consciousness, recalling her past and a love affair that recently ended. A riveting story that skips through time and interweaves multiple points of view, After You'd Gone is a novel of stunning psychological depth and marks the debut of a major literary talent. Maggie O'Farrell tells a good story about love, family, grief and loss. Alice gets hit by a car and is in a coma throughout the rest of the book. She reflects on her life remembering old boyfriends, fun times with her sisters and some difficult times with her mother. I'm now looking forward to reading another Maggie O'Farrell book. If you love a good story then you will love this book.
Review Date: 6/23/2015
Peter Robinson, in my opinion, is one of the best writers of police procedurals. His characters are fascinating and believable. The stories get deeper and more meaningful and the characters richer and more complex with each new book. Alan Banks has grown to become a complicated man who is in conflict about his broken marriage and the demands of his job. I look forward to reading the next installment in the popular series.
Review Date: 4/23/2020
The Age of Innocence is a richly drawn portrait of the elegant lifestyles, luxurious brownstones, and fascinating culture of bygone New York society. It shows the atmosphere of desire and emotion and the social order that disturbs the foundation of one's identify. Newland Archer soon will wed May Welland but is attracted to May's cousin, Countess Ellen OLenska. He finds his world comfortable one moment but oppressive the next. Wharton's characters are so true to life that we feel we have certainly met them and know their hearts, souls and yearnings. The ending pacts a powerful punch and is not to be missed. Wharton was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1921. I would highly recommend it to those who love classical fiction.
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