some good books

Thoroughly enjoyed Rowling's new mystery, and did not expect to at all because the Harry Potter books are tedious and I never finished one of them. But this book is good. The Cuckoo's Calling, 2013. I liked the two main characters, thought the plot was pretty good. I hope she writes some more about the same characters.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, 2013 was good too. Great story, Harold goes on a quest and finds his life. He is a retired sales representative receives a letter from an old friend, Queenie, who informs him that she's dying from cancer. Harold scribbles a polite reply and heads to the mailbox at the end of the road and keeps going, for 600 km until he gets there, facing all the things that really happened in his life en route.


Unleashed by David Rosenfelt, 2013 was very mediocre. Kept listening to it becuase it was not too long, it's only saving grace. Maybe it was the reader but it was not a good book at all.


The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers, 2013 is a great book. A very good writer, a war book, but worth the read. The Iraq war, he writes about Al Tafar located in the province of Nineveh in northwest Iraq where the men will do most of their fighting. This man can write.

The heart of the matter by Graham Greene, not sure when he wrote it. Another man who can write. Very perceptive observations of people - and relationships. Interesting book, I like it.


seating arrangments by Maggie Shipstead, 2013, is the name of a book i did not like at all and gave up before I got half way. Was not interested in a single character or the story.

Connie Willis' To Say Nothing of the Dog, did not finish either. she needs an editor, way too wordy and long, her books are, for me. Entertaining and likeable characters flitting about in time, but way too long.

Books, a few good, several mediocre

This one was really good, well researched and interesting to read: Pukka's Promise: The Quest for Longer-Lived Dogs by Ted Kerasote, 2013. He goes to rendering plants, kill dog shelters, non-kill dog shelters, and researches food, toys, breeds, mutts, vets.... all kinds of things to do with dogs. Good writer.

Quit 3 books half way and am not sure I can remember any of their titles, sigh.

Did finish The Interestings 2013, by Meg Wolitzer, but cannot say that any of the characters were particularly interesting. Artsy, or people trying to be artsy or mooning over not being artsy. Quite a tedious lot. Not a badly written book, it's longish and I did go to the end but really, did not care what happened to any of them. Better title The Uninterestings.

Read a couple of mysteries by Susan Hill and liked them, her earlier and later detective stories. They were enjoyable, think I liked the latter one better. The Betrayal of Trust, 2012 and Various Haunts of Men, 2007, featureing the same detective, Simon Serrailler, who was not really that great. the other characters were though

books

Just finished My Criminal World, 2013, by Henry Sutton. Entertaining mystery about a mystery writer and all the trials and tribulations of the trade. Not a great book but enjoyable to read.


Listening to Graham Greene book. Good story, interesting observations on people and behaviors. The Heart of the Matter. Don't know when he wrote it. Very perceptive writer.

In the car listening to a book by Sarah Vowell, read by the author. She uses other voices for the quotes, which is interesting. It is a non-fiction book about Hawaaii, about which I know nothing.... the Americanization of Hawaaii. Unfamiliar Fishes, 2012. I like the way she links the historical stuff she is talking about to the contemporary world in different ways. Interesting book.

knitting

Wendyknits KAL summer shawl, lots of errors.

back of shawl, drying outside

made from Knit Picks tonal sock yarn.

Kate Davies blanket, Rams and Yowes. Love the pattern and love working with Shetland wool.

books

Leaving Everything Most Loved, Maisie Dobb by Jacqueline Winspear, 2013. The latest Maisie Dobbs book is good, perfect car listening in that the story is easy to follow, the characters familiar. She has good plots with lots of interesting details about the class and roles of the characters, set in the 30s in London.

May We be Forgiven, A M Holmes. Good book, disasterous happenings to a pair of brothers, one a complete sociopath, the other living in his shadow. Have not yet finished it but will do so, not sure what is going to happen to either of them.

Really liked Ancient Light by John Banville, 2013. Such a good writer. Is there any difference between memory and invention is the question he is writing about. Main character is an aging actor, remembering his torrid affair with a friend's mother when he was 15. Good story. Good ending. Excellent writing.

Books

At Last by Edward st Aubyn, 2012. Great book, it's the final of a series about the same bunch of ghastly people from old money, he is such a good writer, sentences you want to read twice. And his main character Patrick, seems to have survived his dreadful childhood and addicted adulthood. There is hope for this survivor.


John le Carre, 2013, his latest book, a delicate truth is good. Thoughtful and believable and interesting. His final radio interview with Eleanor Wachtel is very good too.


Nick Harkaway Angelmaker, 2012. An entertaining tale, good but not great. Too long. Good car listening.


The Accidental Captives The Story of Seven Women Alone in Nazi Germany By Gossage, Carolyn. Very interesting story about a group of Canadian women stuck in Germany during 1941 -1942 after their boat was sunk en route to Africa.

The Chosen Dead By Hall, M. R. (Book - 2013), another great Jenny Cooper mystery. Like this author with his flawed coroner and interesting plots.

books, some good

Listened to the 3rd Alan Bradley book, A Red Herring Without Mustard 2011, and grew tired of it, think I have had enough of Favia. It's pretty good, but I've lost interest in her, the village, and the dead bodies. I stopped listening with 10 minutes to go, such was my lack of interest.

But, Kate Atkinson's new book, Life after Life, 2013 is good. Quite different from her other books, repeatedly jumping back in time to re-write the main character's story, but it's good and I will listen to every minute of it.

just about finished Michael Frayn's book of 2011, My Father's Fortune and like it very much.

and Phillipa Gregory's The Women of the Cousins' War, 2011, is very interesting. Women never written about in history, as if they did not even exist. "PHILIPPA GREGORY and her fellow historians describe the extraordinary lives of the heroines of the Cousins’ War books: Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford; Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV; and Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. "