Monday, April 22, 2019
The World we Knew
I love Alice Hoffman's books and read them whenever I can. Alice Hoffman has written a story that we all need to read. Many of the dark forces that lead to WW2 are once again creeping over the world. This is not just another story about WW2 and the horrors of the Holocaust. It is the story of hope and love that succeeds because Ms. Hoffman has written a story that will capture your heart. She makes you want to feel what she is writing about and to care about what happened. The story starts in Berlin when everything is becoming difficult for the Jews. People are disappearing and life is becoming unbearable. A mother, desperate to save her daughter Lea from the Nazi's, seeks help from a renowned rabbi. However, it is his daughter. Ettie offers her a solution and together with Ettie's sister, they create a mystical Jewish creature a special golem which they name Ava. Ava's job is to protect Lea "as a mother would ". Her act is truly a gift and hope for the future. The four girls leave Berlin and head to France, where they believe that they will be safe. The world that they are in is torn apart by forces of evil that have been unleashed by the Nazi's. As the horrors get worse Ava's job becomes more urgent. Love and hate, hope and despair exist in the same house and Ava must find a way to fulfill her charge. Ava is mystical and speaks the language of the birds and fish and all things in nature. Ava knows what will happen and she manages to keep Lea safe but she cannot stop the horrors going on around them. Throughout the book, people resist, pay the price, fall in love and die. Ms. Hoffman weaves the natural world into the story in a mystical way. Ava is more a part of that world than the human world and her story is beautiful! The story ends with hope and love. I wanted to keep on reading, I wanted to know more of how the future would be for the characters that she created. I also want to believe that the things that happened can never happen again anywhere in the world.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Coming Back !
Today is the day that I finally am able, and willing to sit down, and start this blog again ! It has been over three years since I have done this and I must say that I have missed doing it. While my life has been full, there has not been much time for fun. I made a decision in April to change that and I am glad that I did. In July, I decided to go on the path that I am on and let go of the other. It was a wise decision. So back to reading and sharing !
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
The Job
By Janet Evanovich
What a breath of fresh air this book was ! No more heroines who couldn't find their way of a closet with the door opened ! I am so happy that she has aco-author who is not afraid to portray female protagonist who are not afraid of taking care of themselves ! Kate knows how to defend herself and is not afarid too ! Yeah ! Enough of my waxing poetic ! This is a good story. It is cross and double cross and is really well writen. I can see this as a TV series that I would gladly recorded and re-watch. Kate O'Hare and Nicolas Fox, the main characters in the story, make great team. In this story, they team up to bring down a vicious killer who has changed his body to avoid capture, or recognition. Nick knows human psychology and is not afraid to use it, to catch a killer. He uses a universal truth, you can change your exterior, but you will always be the same on the inside. He s so right, if you like wine, you will always like wine and so forth. A person can change their face, their hair color, the color of their eyes, but they will always like wine. This works well in the story. Of course it helps that are supported by a cast of characters straight out of central casting, not that that is and thing, it works really well.
The story is fast paced and well plotted and is a joy to read. This is anew series that has potential and I look forward to reading more of their escapades ! If you are tired of Stephanie Plum never growing up and loping in the same old, same old, read this one ! You will be pleasantly surprised, I know I was ! Thank you Janet !
By Janet Evanovich
What a breath of fresh air this book was ! No more heroines who couldn't find their way of a closet with the door opened ! I am so happy that she has aco-author who is not afraid to portray female protagonist who are not afraid of taking care of themselves ! Kate knows how to defend herself and is not afarid too ! Yeah ! Enough of my waxing poetic ! This is a good story. It is cross and double cross and is really well writen. I can see this as a TV series that I would gladly recorded and re-watch. Kate O'Hare and Nicolas Fox, the main characters in the story, make great team. In this story, they team up to bring down a vicious killer who has changed his body to avoid capture, or recognition. Nick knows human psychology and is not afraid to use it, to catch a killer. He uses a universal truth, you can change your exterior, but you will always be the same on the inside. He s so right, if you like wine, you will always like wine and so forth. A person can change their face, their hair color, the color of their eyes, but they will always like wine. This works well in the story. Of course it helps that are supported by a cast of characters straight out of central casting, not that that is and thing, it works really well.
The story is fast paced and well plotted and is a joy to read. This is anew series that has potential and I look forward to reading more of their escapades ! If you are tired of Stephanie Plum never growing up and loping in the same old, same old, read this one ! You will be pleasantly surprised, I know I was ! Thank you Janet !
Friday, December 19, 2014
The Killer App
by John Writher
What would you do if the world was on the verge of becoming unsustainable ? What if you could die and go back and live your life again ? Only this time you would be more productive because you could avoid the mistakes that you made the first time around ? Would you do it ? What if you had the chance to be the first, not really knowing what would or could happen ? Would you ? These are the questions that the author asks in this book and it really makes you think about our world and your choices.
The story is set in the not to distant future when on country, Great Britain, is facing very difficult times. Science has lengthened our life spans but not our ability to remain productive members of society. This is really not so fictions, it is happening now. Young workers are working at lower paying jobs and paying into a system that supports an aging population. In this work of fiction, three people realize that they have the means to reverse this. They realize that people, as they age, might just want to go back and be young again. They could be more productive, they could ease the burden on the younger generation by doing so. The story never examines too closely the moral implications of such a decision, rather these decisions are left to a population, that they know will prize youth above all. The author handles this well. He does not become judgmental about such a choice. The main characters devise a way to see if people can be persuaded to go back and start all over again.
The main characters in the story are not particularly likeable, they all have their ulterior motives and agendas For the story to work, they need to be this way. Mr. Writher presents us with a world where decisions are made on a cost effective basis, not all that far from real life.
The ending is mixed, the plan does not go exactly as hoped for , but then again not that far off. The last page is a cliff hanger, I will not spoil it here.
This book should make you think about some important questions facing human kind. I do not recommend this way but it makes for fascinating reading. I can envision this book for book clubs because there is so much here to discuss. Well done !
Janie
by John Writher
What would you do if the world was on the verge of becoming unsustainable ? What if you could die and go back and live your life again ? Only this time you would be more productive because you could avoid the mistakes that you made the first time around ? Would you do it ? What if you had the chance to be the first, not really knowing what would or could happen ? Would you ? These are the questions that the author asks in this book and it really makes you think about our world and your choices.
The story is set in the not to distant future when on country, Great Britain, is facing very difficult times. Science has lengthened our life spans but not our ability to remain productive members of society. This is really not so fictions, it is happening now. Young workers are working at lower paying jobs and paying into a system that supports an aging population. In this work of fiction, three people realize that they have the means to reverse this. They realize that people, as they age, might just want to go back and be young again. They could be more productive, they could ease the burden on the younger generation by doing so. The story never examines too closely the moral implications of such a decision, rather these decisions are left to a population, that they know will prize youth above all. The author handles this well. He does not become judgmental about such a choice. The main characters devise a way to see if people can be persuaded to go back and start all over again.
The main characters in the story are not particularly likeable, they all have their ulterior motives and agendas For the story to work, they need to be this way. Mr. Writher presents us with a world where decisions are made on a cost effective basis, not all that far from real life.
The ending is mixed, the plan does not go exactly as hoped for , but then again not that far off. The last page is a cliff hanger, I will not spoil it here.
This book should make you think about some important questions facing human kind. I do not recommend this way but it makes for fascinating reading. I can envision this book for book clubs because there is so much here to discuss. Well done !
Janie
The Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust
by Alan Bradley
Flavia doe it again, and with her usual charm and style ! Bravo Flavia. The story opens up where we left her. Flavia is now on her way to a school for young women in Canada. She is totally alone in a brave new world which she is totally unprepared for ! The stage is for murder, mystery and mayhem when a body falls out of the chimney in her new room. What a way to start ! Flavia must negotiate the challenges of a new school, new mates, new everything while she outs her best detecting skills to use to solve the mystery of the corpse ! Along the way she meets new friends and discovers things about herself that she would never have discovered had she stated in England.
I have to say that I did miss the interaction between her and her sisters, whom are absent from this book. They always brought out her poisonous side. None of the new characters do the job as well.
We are lead to believe that the corpse that falls out of the chimney is old and that the mystery may never be solved. However, Flavia is at her best and this is not the case at all. During the course of solving this mystery, Flavia is introduced in to the world of spy craft, and that is all I will say about that ! I hope that these new skills that she is learning will be put to good in use in future adventures !.
The murder, it turns out, was committed and covered up for the most basic of human reasons, the human heart.
Mr. Bradly has done it again, a great story with a great heroine !
Janie
by Alan Bradley
Flavia doe it again, and with her usual charm and style ! Bravo Flavia. The story opens up where we left her. Flavia is now on her way to a school for young women in Canada. She is totally alone in a brave new world which she is totally unprepared for ! The stage is for murder, mystery and mayhem when a body falls out of the chimney in her new room. What a way to start ! Flavia must negotiate the challenges of a new school, new mates, new everything while she outs her best detecting skills to use to solve the mystery of the corpse ! Along the way she meets new friends and discovers things about herself that she would never have discovered had she stated in England.
I have to say that I did miss the interaction between her and her sisters, whom are absent from this book. They always brought out her poisonous side. None of the new characters do the job as well.
We are lead to believe that the corpse that falls out of the chimney is old and that the mystery may never be solved. However, Flavia is at her best and this is not the case at all. During the course of solving this mystery, Flavia is introduced in to the world of spy craft, and that is all I will say about that ! I hope that these new skills that she is learning will be put to good in use in future adventures !.
The murder, it turns out, was committed and covered up for the most basic of human reasons, the human heart.
Mr. Bradly has done it again, a great story with a great heroine !
Janie
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death
by Mark Reuthlinger
This is simply a mystery, well plotted and delivered. I finished this is one setting and for me that is unusual. I do however appreciate a fast read every now and again.
What did I like abut the book ? Well for openers I liked the fact t hat he used older characters to be his detectives and solve the mystery. The story is set in a retirement facility so there are plenty of older characters to choose from. And I'm glad that for the most part he did. He only brought in younger characters when it was absolutely necessary, and when he did, they were well written and likeable. Bravo. The story actually revolves around solving a mystery. There are no current event headlines to push their way in to the story as happens in so many stories. Of course we call those thrillers now a days ! This one stays true.
What I really disliked about the book was the constant insertion of Yiddish and the necessary translations. It took away from the flow of the story and stereotyped older Jewish people. Both of which I found unnecessary and offensive. He didn't need this to move his story along.
Notwithstanding, the book has its charms. It is well written, plot and characters and I think that you will enjoy it. It is book club material, but it will satisfy the need for a good who done it !
Janie
by Mark Reuthlinger
This is simply a mystery, well plotted and delivered. I finished this is one setting and for me that is unusual. I do however appreciate a fast read every now and again.
What did I like abut the book ? Well for openers I liked the fact t hat he used older characters to be his detectives and solve the mystery. The story is set in a retirement facility so there are plenty of older characters to choose from. And I'm glad that for the most part he did. He only brought in younger characters when it was absolutely necessary, and when he did, they were well written and likeable. Bravo. The story actually revolves around solving a mystery. There are no current event headlines to push their way in to the story as happens in so many stories. Of course we call those thrillers now a days ! This one stays true.
What I really disliked about the book was the constant insertion of Yiddish and the necessary translations. It took away from the flow of the story and stereotyped older Jewish people. Both of which I found unnecessary and offensive. He didn't need this to move his story along.
Notwithstanding, the book has its charms. It is well written, plot and characters and I think that you will enjoy it. It is book club material, but it will satisfy the need for a good who done it !
Janie
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
The Gift of a Legacy
by Jim Stovall
This book is a fairly quick read because the story flows easily, This is a great thing for an authorto be able to do. The story is fairly simple. A young man is left a legacy by his great grandmother but cannot claim it until he learns some life lessons. To accomplish this. his great grandmother en lists the help of her attorney and a another friend whose son had to learn the same lessons. To say the lessons start of badly would be an understated. With the help of someone who has walked in his shoes, he learns the life lessons that he needs.
The author paints a one sided picture of wealth, portraying it as selfish and self serving. This is all to true in today's world. The book is well written and will hold your trimester. For those of you looking for a summer book club read, this book fills that bill. This is much to discuss and think about. Overall a really good read.
by Jim Stovall
This book is a fairly quick read because the story flows easily, This is a great thing for an authorto be able to do. The story is fairly simple. A young man is left a legacy by his great grandmother but cannot claim it until he learns some life lessons. To accomplish this. his great grandmother en lists the help of her attorney and a another friend whose son had to learn the same lessons. To say the lessons start of badly would be an understated. With the help of someone who has walked in his shoes, he learns the life lessons that he needs.
The author paints a one sided picture of wealth, portraying it as selfish and self serving. This is all to true in today's world. The book is well written and will hold your trimester. For those of you looking for a summer book club read, this book fills that bill. This is much to discuss and think about. Overall a really good read.
Monday, May 26, 2014
My Country 'tis of Thee
by Keith Ellison
I picked up this book to read on Memorial Day 20124 and I am so happy that I did. This is a book to remind all Americans that those who sacrificed for out freedom, did so for the freedom of all Americans, not just a particular class of Americans.
The Congressman opens the book with the story of his family, and it is a fascinating story. He was raised by a family who above all else valued family. This was expressed differently by his father and mother but their core values shaped the man that he would become. Hos father expected nothing less than achievement from his sons, and they all excelled. Their mother balanced their father in what was to become a healthy family lifestyle. His background is colorful, rich in history and nurturing.
His life started in Detroit Michigan and he describes in detail how that city also shaped him. He ultimately found his way to Minneapolis, Minnesota, which he claims gave him the impetus to grow and flourish. And grow and flourish he did. He speaks of Minnesota nice, and that is the feeling that you take away after reading about his life there. I especially found this true when he wrote about his campaigns. Mr. Ellison also devotes a good amount of time to how he became a Muslim and a lawyer. He credits his faith with the values that he embraces to this day.
The part of the book that I found fascinating was his description of Congress and t he humility that he felt walking in the same halls that Lincoln walked in.
He ends the book with his vision and hope for the future and I, for one, hope that he succeeds. This is a book for all Americans to read and think about. We are not hyphenated Americans, we are all Americans
by Keith Ellison
I picked up this book to read on Memorial Day 20124 and I am so happy that I did. This is a book to remind all Americans that those who sacrificed for out freedom, did so for the freedom of all Americans, not just a particular class of Americans.
The Congressman opens the book with the story of his family, and it is a fascinating story. He was raised by a family who above all else valued family. This was expressed differently by his father and mother but their core values shaped the man that he would become. Hos father expected nothing less than achievement from his sons, and they all excelled. Their mother balanced their father in what was to become a healthy family lifestyle. His background is colorful, rich in history and nurturing.
His life started in Detroit Michigan and he describes in detail how that city also shaped him. He ultimately found his way to Minneapolis, Minnesota, which he claims gave him the impetus to grow and flourish. And grow and flourish he did. He speaks of Minnesota nice, and that is the feeling that you take away after reading about his life there. I especially found this true when he wrote about his campaigns. Mr. Ellison also devotes a good amount of time to how he became a Muslim and a lawyer. He credits his faith with the values that he embraces to this day.
The part of the book that I found fascinating was his description of Congress and t he humility that he felt walking in the same halls that Lincoln walked in.
He ends the book with his vision and hope for the future and I, for one, hope that he succeeds. This is a book for all Americans to read and think about. We are not hyphenated Americans, we are all Americans
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
ANONYMOUS SOURCES
by Mary Louise Kelly
This is a wonderfully conceived and written who done it ! Kelly has written a clever modern day thriller that involves post 9/11 Muslim terrorism, British Intelligence, bad guys at the CIA , and one very inquisitive reporter.
Our gal reporter, Alexandra James is assigned to do a routine story about an apparent suicide at Harvard. A one Thom Carlyle, whose father, as it turns out , is very well connected. As it also turns out, there is nothing apparent about this suicide because it is not a suicide. James convinces her editor to let her go to London to do a human interest angle on Carlyle because there really is nothing else to write about. All of her digging in Boston is going nowhere. The local cops don't share, and no matter how hard she tries, she is getting nowhere. This is where the fun begins. There are love interest, real and imagined. There are multiple intelligence agents, all of who are very believable. And the people in DC are VERY believable.
James thinks that she is just trying to get background info to file her story, and in the bargain, relive some college a days and get some cool new shoes while she is there.In the process, she stumbles upon a terrorist plot to blow up the White House. This plot involves bananas, trans Atlantic murder, and James not knowing whom to trust. In other words, it is a great ride.
The story really heats up in the second half of the book and just flies.he pieces all fall into place and the story is satisfying. This is the first work I have written b this author, but I will be looking for more by her, she knows how to write a thriller !
by Mary Louise Kelly
This is a wonderfully conceived and written who done it ! Kelly has written a clever modern day thriller that involves post 9/11 Muslim terrorism, British Intelligence, bad guys at the CIA , and one very inquisitive reporter.
Our gal reporter, Alexandra James is assigned to do a routine story about an apparent suicide at Harvard. A one Thom Carlyle, whose father, as it turns out , is very well connected. As it also turns out, there is nothing apparent about this suicide because it is not a suicide. James convinces her editor to let her go to London to do a human interest angle on Carlyle because there really is nothing else to write about. All of her digging in Boston is going nowhere. The local cops don't share, and no matter how hard she tries, she is getting nowhere. This is where the fun begins. There are love interest, real and imagined. There are multiple intelligence agents, all of who are very believable. And the people in DC are VERY believable.
James thinks that she is just trying to get background info to file her story, and in the bargain, relive some college a days and get some cool new shoes while she is there.In the process, she stumbles upon a terrorist plot to blow up the White House. This plot involves bananas, trans Atlantic murder, and James not knowing whom to trust. In other words, it is a great ride.
The story really heats up in the second half of the book and just flies.he pieces all fall into place and the story is satisfying. This is the first work I have written b this author, but I will be looking for more by her, she knows how to write a thriller !
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
On My Mind
I have just finished two books that dealt with human trafficking, and this is kind of playing into my theory that books travel in circles. It is amazing how books from different publishers deal with the same topics and are published around the same time. Not that these books are bad, it is just interesting that they all come out at the same time. I do believe that the next book I pick will deal with a different topic.
I was going through my Costco magazine for the month and I came across an article about World Book Night. I need to find out more information about this and see how I can get involved for next year. From reading their website, I believe I am too late for this year.
I was going through my Costco magazine for the month and I came across an article about World Book Night. I need to find out more information about this and see how I can get involved for next year. From reading their website, I believe I am too late for this year.
Border Angels
By Anthony Quinn
When you think of Ireland, what do you think off ? Green shamrocks ? St. Patrick and the snakes ? A charmed isle where life is peaceful ? If any of these are your idea of what Ireland is this book will give you a very different picture of that country. This story is set on the border of Northern Island and Ireland in wild part of the country that has been peaceful sine the troubles. The same miseries that plagued this country also plagued Ireland. Greed in land speculations, failed business and a host of ghost developments. Into this mix throw in human trafficking along with every other criminal enterprise you can think of. The landscape is wild and so is the Eastern European evil master of all of this lawlessness.
This book will also take away any notion the prostitution is voluntary and victimless. It is neither. The woman at the heart of the story is a Croatian girl who has been trafficked and has been abused in every way you can think of. Lena Novak. She hangs her hope for escape on a customer, who in a previous life was IRA. Jack Fowler is still a renegade at heart, only now he traffics in selling real estate dreams to those who want to believe that they can have it all. Everything comes crashing down, the economy, his life and the story takes off from here.
There are many twists and turns in this book and I gurantee you will have fun following them. The book is well written and you will enjoy trying to untangle all the “knots” in the story. Read it and enjoy it !
By Anthony Quinn
When you think of Ireland, what do you think off ? Green shamrocks ? St. Patrick and the snakes ? A charmed isle where life is peaceful ? If any of these are your idea of what Ireland is this book will give you a very different picture of that country. This story is set on the border of Northern Island and Ireland in wild part of the country that has been peaceful sine the troubles. The same miseries that plagued this country also plagued Ireland. Greed in land speculations, failed business and a host of ghost developments. Into this mix throw in human trafficking along with every other criminal enterprise you can think of. The landscape is wild and so is the Eastern European evil master of all of this lawlessness.
This book will also take away any notion the prostitution is voluntary and victimless. It is neither. The woman at the heart of the story is a Croatian girl who has been trafficked and has been abused in every way you can think of. Lena Novak. She hangs her hope for escape on a customer, who in a previous life was IRA. Jack Fowler is still a renegade at heart, only now he traffics in selling real estate dreams to those who want to believe that they can have it all. Everything comes crashing down, the economy, his life and the story takes off from here.
There are many twists and turns in this book and I gurantee you will have fun following them. The book is well written and you will enjoy trying to untangle all the “knots” in the story. Read it and enjoy it !
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