Books Read:
Elmet by Fiona Mozley 4/5 stars (my review here)
Audio Books Completed:
In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen 4/5 stars (my review here)
Castle in the Air by Diana Wynn Jones 4/5 stars (my review here)
The Bette Davis Club by Jane Lotter 4/5 stars (my review here)
A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King 3/5 stars
This second in the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series started off so slowly that I nearly abandoned it. Once it picked up, in the second half, it was a good tale. Like the first, it reads a bit like fan-fiction, but then don't we all want to be Holmes' MarySue?
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles 2/5 stars (my review here)
Did Not Finish:
The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan
I listened to over half of this mystery, and it was a good book up to that point. However, it continually hit three emotional triggers for me and I just couldn't comfortably listen to it. I would recommend it to people who love books set in today's India, and that don't get emotional over animals.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
2/5 stars
According to this short book, the Japanese concept of ikigai --the happiness of always being busy-- will lead to having a long, happy, and purposeful life.
This book lacks in many areas How to find one's ikigai is not discussed, and the focus is on living extremely long lives. Impractical suggestions are offered, such as (having found one's ikigai) changing jobs to one that fulfills, flows, and increases ikigai. Working at a job one loves would be wonderful for all, yet it most often is impossible.
A lot of this book is taken up with information from studies by other people; the research done by the authors is mostly given as quotes from interviews with super-centenarians on Okinawa. This advice was mainly diet, exercise, ikigai, and friendships. A large portion of the book is taken up with giving diet and exercise information.
Learning the brief bits about ikigai was interesting, but overall, very little practical guidance was given and reading the book felt like a waste of time. I honestly would not have finished it had it not been so short, and had I not purchased it.
Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
2/5 stars
According to this short book, the Japanese concept of ikigai --the happiness of always being busy-- will lead to having a long, happy, and purposeful life.
This book lacks in many areas How to find one's ikigai is not discussed, and the focus is on living extremely long lives. Impractical suggestions are offered, such as (having found one's ikigai) changing jobs to one that fulfills, flows, and increases ikigai. Working at a job one loves would be wonderful for all, yet it most often is impossible.
A lot of this book is taken up with information from studies by other people; the research done by the authors is mostly given as quotes from interviews with super-centenarians on Okinawa. This advice was mainly diet, exercise, ikigai, and friendships. A large portion of the book is taken up with giving diet and exercise information.
Learning the brief bits about ikigai was interesting, but overall, very little practical guidance was given and reading the book felt like a waste of time. I honestly would not have finished it had it not been so short, and had I not purchased it.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Elmet by Fiona Mozley
Elmet
Fiona Mozley
4/5 stars
Daniel lives with his father (Daddy) and sister (Cathy) in Elmet, in rural Yorkshire. They have recently moved there, built themselves a small home, and are living a self-sufficient existence. The actual owner of the land begins to cause problems, leading to a catastrophic event.
This story of family and relationships is narrated by Daniel after the event, and his voice is realistic. The characters are believable, their motives understandable. Mozley's prose is often poetic, always atmospheric, and generally engaging. Though I didn't actually enjoy Elmet, I must say that it is an intense and well-written novel.
Fiona Mozley
4/5 stars
Daniel lives with his father (Daddy) and sister (Cathy) in Elmet, in rural Yorkshire. They have recently moved there, built themselves a small home, and are living a self-sufficient existence. The actual owner of the land begins to cause problems, leading to a catastrophic event.
This story of family and relationships is narrated by Daniel after the event, and his voice is realistic. The characters are believable, their motives understandable. Mozley's prose is often poetic, always atmospheric, and generally engaging. Though I didn't actually enjoy Elmet, I must say that it is an intense and well-written novel.
Monday, February 19, 2018
The Bette Davis Club by Jane Lotter
Jane Lotter
4/5 stars
When Margo's spoiled niece, Georgia, runs away from her wedding, Margo is sent to retrieve her. Margo's partner in this is Georgia's jilted groom, Tully. Together, Margo and Tully take a cross country trip in a red 1955 MG searching for Georgia. On the way, Margo revisits her past and comes to grips with her present.
Lotter's well-written novel is laugh-out-loud funny in parts, and moving in others. The characters are easy to sympathize with, as well as fully fleshed and believable. The plot, no matter how ridiculous, is generally credible and always engaging. It's a shame that this was Lotter's only novel.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
Diana Wynne Jones
4/5 stars
Abdullah, a carpet seller in Zanzib, purchases a flying carpet which transports him to the garden of a lovely girl, Flower-in-the-Night. They fall in love, but before Abdullah can elope with her, a djinn kidnaps Flower-in-the-Night. With the aid of his magic carpet, a genie in a bottle, and an old cat-fancying soldier, Abdullah sets off on an adventure to rescue his beloved.
Jones was a gifted storyteller, and this is a fun adventure. Her characters become real as the reader gets deeper into the story, and even the most bizarre situations make sense after Jones works her magic tying up the ends. Humorous and well-written, Castle in the Air is a satisfying read.
Note: This sequel to Howl's Moving Castle seems like a stand-alone novel at the beginning, but as it reaches the final third, the reader must be familiar with the characters from the previous book for the situations to make sense.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
In Farleigh Field by Rhys Bowen
In Farleigh Field
Rhys Bowen
4/5 stars
During WWII, a parachutist is found dead in Farleigh Field in rural England. An MI5 agent with ties to the area, Ben, is sent to investigate. Ben is in a love triangle with Pamela, a translator at Bletchley Park, and Jeremy, an RAF pilot. While Ben investigates, life goes on apace with the threesome and their families. Eventually, it seems that a Fifth Columnist may be in their midst, and Ben and Pamela must put their wits to the test to prevent an assignation.
This is a surprisingly long novel, but the story flows well and is tied up nicely. The home front details were interesting and the setting was believable. Bowen's characters continually talk about the superiority of the upper class, which was annoying, but apart from that, this is a fine mystery with at least one surprise for the reader.
Rhys Bowen
4/5 starsDuring WWII, a parachutist is found dead in Farleigh Field in rural England. An MI5 agent with ties to the area, Ben, is sent to investigate. Ben is in a love triangle with Pamela, a translator at Bletchley Park, and Jeremy, an RAF pilot. While Ben investigates, life goes on apace with the threesome and their families. Eventually, it seems that a Fifth Columnist may be in their midst, and Ben and Pamela must put their wits to the test to prevent an assignation.
This is a surprisingly long novel, but the story flows well and is tied up nicely. The home front details were interesting and the setting was believable. Bowen's characters continually talk about the superiority of the upper class, which was annoying, but apart from that, this is a fine mystery with at least one surprise for the reader.
January 2018 Wrap Up
Books Read:
The Black Iris by Constance and Gwyneth Little 4/5 stars
In this, their penultimate book, the Little sisters deliver another screwball comedy with missing bodies, gruesome murder, and a little romance on the side. The witty dialogue and bizarre situations make for a fun read.
Unfinished Portrait by Mary Westmacott 4/5 stars (my review here)
Audio Books Completed:
On the Loose by Christopher Fowler 4/5 stars
A mix of the esoteric and mundane, this mystery follows the PCU on a search for a decapitating murderer that may, or may not, have a historical connection with King's Cross. It is one of the better Bryant and May mysteries, with strong writing, a suspenseful plot, and a dramatic conclusion.
It's Always the Husband by Michelle Campbell 5/5 stars (my review here)
My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse 4/5 stars
The first set of short stories to feature Jeeves and Wooster; Reggie Pepper stories are also included. It's, as expected, charming and entertaining. Not as smooth as some of Wodehouse's later collections, but still great fun.
The Heiress of Linn Hagh by Karen Charlton 4/5 stars
A young woman vanishes from a locked room in this mystery. While searching for the heiress, Inspector Lavender uncovers family secrets that point to a deadly scheme. The plot was interesting, and the characters well written. This was my first Inspector Lavender book, but it won't be my last.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones 5/5 stars
This tale of a selfish, vain wizard and a bewitched girl is excellently written, with a smart plot and living characters. This was a reread, and I enjoyed it even better this third time.
Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott 4/5 stars
In this highly didactic sequel to Little Men, we follow the late teen/early adult years of the students of Plumfield. The stories are interesting, though dated, and Alcott infuses the novel with life and laughter.
Did Not Finish:
Alice by Christina Henry
Good grief, you guys. .. this book! I love Carroll's Alice and am always eager to read retellings. This one is about sex slaves and sadism, though, and it is the most grim book I've ever attempted to read. I listened to the audio book, and with just TWO HOURS left to go, couldn't stand another minute of it. It's well written, the allusions are clever, but. . . just darn, y'all.
The Black Iris by Constance and Gwyneth Little 4/5 stars
In this, their penultimate book, the Little sisters deliver another screwball comedy with missing bodies, gruesome murder, and a little romance on the side. The witty dialogue and bizarre situations make for a fun read.
Unfinished Portrait by Mary Westmacott 4/5 stars (my review here)
Audio Books Completed:
On the Loose by Christopher Fowler 4/5 stars
A mix of the esoteric and mundane, this mystery follows the PCU on a search for a decapitating murderer that may, or may not, have a historical connection with King's Cross. It is one of the better Bryant and May mysteries, with strong writing, a suspenseful plot, and a dramatic conclusion.
It's Always the Husband by Michelle Campbell 5/5 stars (my review here)
My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse 4/5 stars
The first set of short stories to feature Jeeves and Wooster; Reggie Pepper stories are also included. It's, as expected, charming and entertaining. Not as smooth as some of Wodehouse's later collections, but still great fun.
The Heiress of Linn Hagh by Karen Charlton 4/5 stars
A young woman vanishes from a locked room in this mystery. While searching for the heiress, Inspector Lavender uncovers family secrets that point to a deadly scheme. The plot was interesting, and the characters well written. This was my first Inspector Lavender book, but it won't be my last.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones 5/5 stars
This tale of a selfish, vain wizard and a bewitched girl is excellently written, with a smart plot and living characters. This was a reread, and I enjoyed it even better this third time.
Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott 4/5 stars
In this highly didactic sequel to Little Men, we follow the late teen/early adult years of the students of Plumfield. The stories are interesting, though dated, and Alcott infuses the novel with life and laughter.
Did Not Finish:
Alice by Christina Henry
Good grief, you guys. .. this book! I love Carroll's Alice and am always eager to read retellings. This one is about sex slaves and sadism, though, and it is the most grim book I've ever attempted to read. I listened to the audio book, and with just TWO HOURS left to go, couldn't stand another minute of it. It's well written, the allusions are clever, but. . . just darn, y'all.
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