I mean, this was fine. Ernest Cline took his shot at a middle school novel. It was condescending at times, and I don’t think his target audience wouldI mean, this was fine. Ernest Cline took his shot at a middle school novel. It was condescending at times, and I don’t think his target audience would get his many references to people and music from the 1980s. The visit from a flying saucer is pretty out of left field, as is the main character’s psychic link with the bats.
I did enjoy that the book features a healthy relationship between a child and her uncle. Also, Opal is big and weird and “kinda barrel-shaped” but happy with herself.
I really enjoyed the author’s debut novel The Wishing Game, but The Lost Story didn’t work for me.
Two teenage boys, best frRounded up from 2.5 stars.
I really enjoyed the author’s debut novel The Wishing Game, but The Lost Story didn’t work for me.
Two teenage boys, best friends, disappear in a forest and reappear months later. One, Rafe, remembers nothing; Jeremy, the other, breaks all ties with Rafe. Fifteen years later, the two boys have no contact. Jeremy has become a finder of lost people, and a young woman seeks his help finding her sister, who disappeared in the same forest years before the boys. Jeremy is willing to look for the sister, but he requires Rafe's help.
The enchanted world that lies beyond the disappearances is based on a child’s imagined fairy tale, but it’s a little TOO “child telling you a long long boring story. ” “And then, and then there were UNICORNS, and Rafe became a PRINCE and Jeremy became a KNIGHT and there was a staircase in a TREE and there were silver tigers and red crows and everything was MAGICAL ….”
If you are going to mold your story around a child’s fairy tale, there has to be something new. Something extra. I didn’t feel like The Lost Story had anything new or extra. It legitimately felt at times like a story a six-year old made up and won't stop talking about.
The story does try to deal with abusive parents and childhood trauma but it mostly just feels like an excuse to aim at adults an ordinary and predictable (I knew who the bad King of Lost Virginia was as soon as he was mentioned) fairy tale for children by throwing in a lot of pop culture references and some wink-nudge comments about Rafe, Jeremy, and the big sexy bed.
The best part was the pet rat, and I enjoyed the West Virginia setting. I will read the author’s next book, but this one was a miss for me. I read an advance reader copy of The Lost Story. ...more
The Condor’s Riddle is a kitchen sink of a novel. A huge cast of zany characters and a plot full of politics, drugs and alcohol, religion, family dynaThe Condor’s Riddle is a kitchen sink of a novel. A huge cast of zany characters and a plot full of politics, drugs and alcohol, religion, family dynamics, a secret treasure, a mysterious dead man, a lost dog, and an archivist.
The main character (if there is one) reminded me of the main character in Being There. In fact, many things from this novel reminded me of many other books and movies, with everything being thrown in a blender for a wild ride. Bebéi is a middle-aged archivist who took a huge risk – he quit his job in France and took a new job in a small village in the Caribbean. He is a dreamer who pays attention to everything around him, and I enjoyed him a lot.
An orphan, he was taught by the uncle who raised him to “work as a submarine – so quietly that no one would notice him, and with such diligence that no one could complain.” (p. 6 of the advance reader copy) And so he did, until he arrived in Santa Clara by the Sea. One day, he is moved to join the school band in a parade through the streets. When the parade stumbles across a dead body and a loyal dog, the whole village becomes involved in solving the mystery. This is very much an It Takes a Village tale. “Poor Bebéi, little did he know what he was getting into.” (p. 27 of the ARC)
Other colorful characters include a drag queen who runs a bookstore, a walking philosopher, the owner of a shaved-ice stand and her three sons (the cop, the Rastafarian, and the petty thief), the mystical blind indigenous child, and too many more to mention.
There were parts of this book that I quite enjoyed, but overall for me as a reader it could have been a little shorter and there could have been a lot less politics. There’s a lot of shenanigans around drugs and money laundering, and drug runners, narcs, and CIA (and other) agents. There are kidnappings and torture. A list of the characters to refer to would be helpful. This could make a great movie in the right hands, tightened up and focused on the most interesting parts.
Love the cover. I was given an advance reader copy of The Condor’s Riddle by the author.
(Note, I read an ebook version but not on a Kindle. The hardcover version on Goodreads has no cover and no page count.)...more
OK, I love the Murderbot Diaries series from Martha Wells, so I’m reading a lot of her older stuff. I’m clearly not alone sinRounded up from 3.5 stars
OK, I love the Murderbot Diaries series from Martha Wells, so I’m reading a lot of her older stuff. I’m clearly not alone since this book (two books, really) is being re-released, no doubt to take advantage of her new fans.
That said, so far I prefer her science fiction to her fantasy. The two Ile-Rien stories show flashes of the humor and brilliance I like from Wells, but they are also a little too long and a little too unfocused. Both of them ended fabulously, but it was a long road to get there. I am undecided whether I will read the books that follow in this world, but I am glad I read The Book of Ile-Rien.
(I admit, I didn’t realize this was two entirely separate stories; I assumed it was more like the Murderbot series, where one book flows into the next. I was surprised when the first story came to what felt like an abrupt end when I thought I was only half done. This would have been more obvious if I’d held the print book instead of an advance reader copy.)
I think I would like this book more if I read it a second time, which I may, at some point.
I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley....more
The Christmas Guest is a small bite of a read, a little snack that can be read in one sitting. It’s immersive and fun and a bit disturbing. We hear frThe Christmas Guest is a small bite of a read, a little snack that can be read in one sitting. It’s immersive and fun and a bit disturbing. We hear from two voices: Emma Chapman, the English student who lives at Starvewood Hall, and Ashley Smith, the American classmate Emma has invited home for the holidays. Ashley speaks to us through the words she pours into her diary.
The author pulled me in right from the Dedication: “For two aunts – Pearl Taylor Moynihan, who disliked Christmas, and Sue Ellis Swasey, who doesn’t particularly like it either.” The dedication is followed by an Epigraph that calls out to A Christmas Carol.
The novella opens with our narrator, living in New York and alone on Christmas Day except for her cat, sorting through her crowded bedroom closet. She comes across an old diary, written by a friend thirty years ago. Although hesitant to “go back in time to that annus horribilis, that murderous year,” she cannot stop herself and begins to read.
The author pokes fun at himself and his “gothic” novella, with Ashley, the diary’s author, revealing that things are both exciting and creepy and almost willing herself into a gothic romance or thriller. (“Chance of gothic thriller murder mystery: Growing by the minute.”) There are a few twists, but in a weird way this is a comfort read for the cozy mystery reader. It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out where the story is going, but the atmosphere makes it worth the read.
The cover is amazing – cute and cozy but also sinister. I read an advance reader copy of The Christmas Guest from Netgalley. (Although it comes out in October, I recommend waiting until Christmastime to read it. ...more
Parts of The Great Transition are some of the best climate fiction I have read. In this book, climate change happened. Fires, floods. Massive numbers Parts of The Great Transition are some of the best climate fiction I have read. In this book, climate change happened. Fires, floods. Massive numbers of climate refugees. Massive extinctions. All the terrible things that we know are coming came. Then a movement took back the planet from the climate deniers and criminals and humanity reached net zero emissions.
This is a remarkable debut novel. The writing is assured. The author clearly did his research on climate change. The planet reached the brink but was pulled back, but only at incredible cost in lives and species. There is one section where the author describes the effort to save the last stand of giant sequoias that moved me to tears. What are we doing to the only planet that we have?
No mistaking, this book has an agenda. The author wants us to look in the mirror and confront what’s coming, make some changes so the worst is changed to not quite the worst. Hold accountable the people who are responsible for the climate damage. But the book also has at its center a family. Mom and dad were heroes in the effort to save the planet. Both lost their parents and families to climate change. Their daughter Emi suffers from anxiety and an eating disorder. Her mom despairs that Emi doesn’t appreciate how good she has it.
The author is a teacher and I feel like the book really shows that he knows young people today. Emi feels very believable. Her mother is still fighting the climate fight; her father has moved on and wants to appreciate the good things. This conflict causes a lot of family drama. The author uses a homework device to tell parts of the backstory; Emi is writing a report on the Great Transition. I didn’t find this wholly effective. Parts 1-3 are the best part of the book. I was wholly immersed. I did not find Parts 4-6 as effective. The family drama gets to be a bit much and the plot turns a little too Hollywood. Also, I thought the book had ended two times before it finally did. It might have been more effective to leave some things unsaid.
Still, I found this book easy to read and very thought provoking, both hopeful and terrified for our common future on planet Earth. I highly recommend it for fans of climate fiction and dystopia.
I read an advance reader copy of The Great Transition. It is scheduled to be published on August 15....more
A pretty good follow-up to book 1. I wish there had been more Tannahill Khan, but the overall vibe is creepy and tense. I had to put the book down a fA pretty good follow-up to book 1. I wish there had been more Tannahill Khan, but the overall vibe is creepy and tense. I had to put the book down a few times. I'm not sure why Khan was sidelined - so we can see Laughton as a strong capable woman without him? But unfortunately she showed a too stupid to live side. She is followed and frightened, then blithely seems to forget all about that as she continues to be followed - and threatened.
The author successfully misled me in one of the major plot points, but there is another "coincidence" plot point that I found a bit of a cheat. But the author does successfully explain away why two people who suffered trauma and changed their names are still in the area where they are known.
I enjoyed the Forest of Dean setting, as my only other experience with it is in the Harry Potter books and movies. The book contains some revolting graphic violence. The mythical Cinderman is a looming presence, but at no point did I think it was real and behind the disappearances (perhaps because of Laughton's no nonsense scientific investigation).
Overall, The Clearing kept me reading. I missed Kahn, and many of the plot points don't bear close scrutiny, but the overall vibe was compelling. I look forward to book three (hopefully, with more Tannahill Khan in it).
I read an advance reader copy of The Clearing from Netgalley....more
Marion Chesney's heroines are always so silly, and her heroes are always so proud. Still, one of the better Chesney romances I've read. Marion Chesney's heroines are always so silly, and her heroes are always so proud. Still, one of the better Chesney romances I've read. ...more
Charlotte Sloane is a widowed lady of quality with a secret. She is a satirical cartoonist under a pen name. She uses her pen to cast light on injustiCharlotte Sloane is a widowed lady of quality with a secret. She is a satirical cartoonist under a pen name. She uses her pen to cast light on injustices and misbehavior. Circumstances bring her together with two orphaned guttersnipes who she comes to love as her own, and with the intimidating Earl of Wrexford. This series has a nice mix of mystery, historical details, and found family. The relationships feature romantic love, parental love, family love, and deep friendships.
The book that introduces these characters and other series regulars is Murder on Black Swan Lane, and book seven in the series is due out in September. This is a great time to start reading, because if you like the first book, you can move right on to the next, but the number of books already published is not intimidating. Set in Regency London, the author likes to spotlight legitimate scientific innovation of the time period. Real scientists make occasional appearances in her stories.
Book seven, Murder at the Merton Library, starts with the murder of an Oxford librarian. It deals with fallout from the Napoleonic wars and intrigue around competition to create a marine propulsion system utilizing steam engines. (If that sounds boring, don’t worry – the author makes it interesting.) The Regency details seem perfect, and the author believably makes her female characters as important to the action as the male characters. I’ve found some of the other books in the series a bit draggy at times, but this one moved along briskly for me.
This series is a lot of fun for the serious historical mystery reader. I read an advance reader copy of Murder at Merton Library from Netgalley. It is scheduled to be published on September 26. ...more
A warm and wonderful series of short stories about two kids and their unforgettable grandmother in central Illinois in the 1930s. It has one of the beA warm and wonderful series of short stories about two kids and their unforgettable grandmother in central Illinois in the 1930s. It has one of the best endings of any book I've ever read.
I wish they'd make a movie, or a TV series....more
Finn is no Adventures of Huckleberry Finn., and the idea that Huck (view spoiler)[is half black (hide spoiler)] completely undermines his behavior in Finn is no Adventures of Huckleberry Finn., and the idea that Huck (view spoiler)[is half black (hide spoiler)] completely undermines his behavior in Twain's book. The author joined my book club by phone, and he was super interesting. The book club was pretty horrified by the opening pages.
I hate to think of this being taught instead of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Alongside, okay, if you want to, but it's no substitute. ...more
Loved the book, loved the movie with Ben Kingsley. "Eppie in de toal-hole!" Loved the book, loved the movie with Ben Kingsley. "Eppie in de toal-hole!" ...more
This is a hard review to write. When I chose to read it, I thought Set Adrift would have more information about the disappearance of the yacht, but (sThis is a hard review to write. When I chose to read it, I thought Set Adrift would have more information about the disappearance of the yacht, but (spoiler alert) there is virtually nothing because virtually nothing is known. It disappeared. A dinghy was found. But the yacht and the people lost with it never were. The subtitle is “a Mystery and a Memoir” – it might have been better called “an Unsolved Mystery and a Memoir” or just “a Memoir.”
This reads like a therapy diary. I hate to be critical of someone’s attempts to work through their childhood trauma, but the narrative is all over the place. The transcripts of the author’s attempts to interview family members are uncomfortable and not illuminating. The author seems to be trying to force some kind of resolution where no resolution is going to be found.
Her memories are definitely not reliable, and family members, especially her adopted dad, don't seem to get fair treatment. There’s a lot of mental running in circles. There’s a lot of trying to make the Bermuda Triangle into more than it is. Despite being not yet two when her parents died, and being raised by an aunt and uncle along with her older sister, the author really leans into her primary identity as an orphan.
If you are working through trauma, or are trying to find your own answers through religion or meditation, you may find Set Adrift of interest. I'm sorry the author lost her parents and grandparents at such a young age and in such tragic and unresolved circumstances, but I had no patience with her, especially with her need to push family members to places they didn't want to go. Good thing I was not her therapist.
I read an advance reader copy of Set Adrift from Netgalley. ...more
This lovely little novel will appeal to any reader who wanted to escape into a children’s book. If you wanted to attend Hogwarts, or visit Narnia, or This lovely little novel will appeal to any reader who wanted to escape into a children’s book. If you wanted to attend Hogwarts, or visit Narnia, or live in a boxcar, or travel space and time with Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, you might want to check out The Wishing Game.
At its heart, this book is the story of a foster kid and the teacher’s aide who wants to adopt him. Christopher found his parents dead of an overdose; Lucy doesn’t even qualify to foster him, much less adopt him. As an unhappy child, Lucy ran away to the reclusive island home of Jack Masterson, author of the entrancing Clock Island series. She was not alone in wanting to live on his island; his 60-book series appealed to many children. The books featured unhappy children who wished for something and were willing to do the work to make their wishes come true.
Now an adult, Lucy is one of four lucky contestants invited to Jack’s home. After a long barren stretch, he has written one last novel. The four contestants have a chance to win the sole copy and do whatever they want with it. Each of the four contestants has a wish they hope they can fulfill by winning the contest. Also on the island is Hugo, the handsome artist for the series book covers.
Jack, middle-aged, single, childless, and gay, has his own regrets as he realizes that “the amount of sand in the top of my hourglass is far less than the sand in the bottom” (chapter 15 of the advance reader copy). He is mysterious and a bit mad. He has had tragedies in his life, and he has always felt the deepest connection to the children most in love with his books.
This story moved me, touched me, made me laugh, made me cry. Ultimately it is an uplifting read and a story of found families. It reminded me of the best parts of Roald Dahl’s Matilda. In the right hands it will make a terrific movie. I’m definitely putting it on my list to read with the library’s book club after it comes out.
I read an advance reader copy of The Wishing Game from Netgalley.
July 2024: a reread for book club. Enjoyed it just as much the second time. ...more
This book is definitely a book of its time. Disaster, people dying, people killing each other, mortal peril - but young love and angst is real, y'all!This book is definitely a book of its time. Disaster, people dying, people killing each other, mortal peril - but young love and angst is real, y'all! The swoony teen love was quite eye rolly at times. The best relationship was between Kady and her fellow hacker Byron.
Much of the plot was pretty cliched. The book is told through messages and logs etc., and that is not the best format for an audiobook. The cast did a good job, but I definitely missed things (like the fact that the teen hacker's screen name is ByteMe, not BiteMe). I listened to just over half the book, and then we got to the raving mad sentient artificial intelligence with feelings and I could not take it anymore. I switched to print for the rest of the book. The violent mass murdering was not great to listen to either. The authors kept introducing characters for us to become interested in and then killed them.
For some reason (because the book is marketed to teens maybe), there is supposed to be no swearing, so the bad words are blacked out in print. In the audio, the words were sort of pronounced but swallowed, which was super super annoying. They should have said them, skipped them, or substituted other "safer" expletives.
So yeah, I'm finished and I'm glad. Not going on to book two.
Another engrossing historical mystery from Karen Odden. Her books seem extremely well researched; no detail ever jumps out at me as not fitting the seAnother engrossing historical mystery from Karen Odden. Her books seem extremely well researched; no detail ever jumps out at me as not fitting the setting.
Odden’s main character Inspector Michael Corrovan is an interesting character with a colorful past. A number of appealing side characters who can be fleshed out in later books in the series are sprinkled throughout the narrative. Odden likes to scatter poetry and literary references through her books, which I like.
I didn’t feel Corrovan’s relationship to his lover Belinda – really, given the times and their supposed love for each other, they would choose to maintain separate households rather than marry? Maybe so, or maybe she’ll grow on me in future books.
The mystery was appropriately mysterious, although (view spoiler)[I am so tired of historical fiction that relies on rich men’s deviant sexual preferences as plot points. I feel like that is a storyline I’ve read over and over. There must have been some other crime going on in England in the 1800s! (hide spoiler)] I realize it’s hard to find original plot lines. At least Corrovan isn’t assisted by a bevy of wise street urchins. I also kept wondering if I’d missed something, as there are a lot of references to Corrovan’s previous work that muddled my attempts to follow the plot in Down a Dark River. (Was it from the previous books that don’t focus on Corrovan? It’s been too long since I read them to remember any of the characters from previous books, if they appeared.)
If you are a fan of Anne Perry’s Victorian mysteries, you might enjoy Karen Odden’s books. I will read book 2 - soon, while this one is fresh in my mind. ...more
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