Tuesday, August 28, 2018

some good books

Birds, Art, Life by Kyo Maclear, 2018. Non fiction, sort of an extended essay, on looking at the world of art and life whilst looking at birds as a beginner birder. Interesting book, thoughtful.

New mystery by james Oswald, No Time To Cry, 2018, with a new set of characters. He works another inoffensive entertaining ghost into the works as well. I don't usually like ghosts, but Oswald does them well. A good mystery, good new heroine, good plot. A promising beginning to a new series.

Three Things About Elsie, by Joanna Cannon, 2018. Good book, dementia captured in a unique way. Lovely characters and good story.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark, 1961. never read this book, and am glad to have now. An interesting take on a single woman, how critical the world is of single women, how much the same now

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

good mysteries

Clare Mackintosh, Let Me Lie, 2018. unexpected turns in the plot, a good mystery. good characters and a realistic ending.

The Intrusions, Stav Sherez. 2018. Have not read this author before, may go back and read the earlier books. Great ending to this mystery. Some realistic digital invasions of privacy portrayed.

Robert Goddard, Into the Blue. Read this years ago, and it's long winded but good story telling and was glad to re-read it.

Thirteen, 2018, Steve Cavanagh. Bit creepy, get tired of serial killer stories, but it's well done.

The Vanishing Box, Elly Griffiths, 2017, Book 4 of Magic Men series, very enjoyable, interesting characters.

two good memoirs

No One Tells You This by Glynnis Macnicol, 2018. She writes about her 40th year, dealing with expectations indoctrinated into women, and her real and complicated and very busy life. Well written and good to hear. Very good book.

They Left us Everything, by Plum Johnson, 2016. Also a very good book, she writes about going to deal with the family home after her mother dies. She expected it would take 6 weeks, and it took 16 months. Very heartfelt story of a family, a house, and dealing with what was left.

Thursday, August 2, 2018

4 good novels

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner. 2018, Grim setting, a huge women's prison in California, and a tough tale of a young women's life there, and her life getting there. But a well written book, worth reading.


A Horse Walks into a Bar, David Grossman, 2018. Israeli writer translated, good writer. another rough story, a stand up comedian tells his story. Not too much humour to be found anywhere, but an interesting book

Re-read Micael Ondaatje's The English Patient. 1993 Good the second time around. Now to watch the movie again. Beautiful writing in patches.

Clock Dance, Anne Tyler, 2018. Was irritated with the main character for most of the book, for being so passive and not standing up for herself but the author redeems herself with the ending. Good characters, good book and thank god, a good ending.