February 2010 Reads

6. Those Who Save Us (Blum)

7. Feathers (Woodson)

8. In the Woods (French)

9. Stitches (Small)

10. Tales from Outer Suburbia (Tan)

Fish Files (Grisham)

11. The Bricklayer (Boyd)

Casino (Grisham)

12. Nineteen Minutes (Picoult)

13. Never Look Away (Barclay)

Michael's Room (Grisham)

Quiet Haven (Grisham)

Funny Boy (Grisham)

14. Ford County (Grisham)

15. Lowboy (Wray)

16. Secrets of Eden (Bohjalian)

17. The Knife of Never Letting Go (Ness)

* Short Story (not counted)

BOLD titles made my Best Reads List

Clicking on a title will link you to "Thoughts of Joy...".

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Monthly - Yearly Genre Stats:

Chick-Lit: 0 - 0

Classic: 0 - 0

Fiction: 4 - 4

Memoir: 0 - 0

Mystery/Police Procedural: 1 - 2

Non-Fiction: 0 - 0

Non-Fiction Graphic Novel: 1 - 1

Short Story Collection: 1 - 1

Suspense/Thriller: 2 - 4

True Crime: 0 - 0

YA Classic: 0 - 0

YA Fiction: 0 - 2

YA Graphic Novel: 0 - 0

YA Non-Fiction: 0 - 0

YA Science Fiction: 0 - 0

YA Short Collection: 1 - 1

YA Thriller: 1 - 1

Children's Fiction: 1 - 1

Children's Thriller: 0 - 0

Children's Sci-Fi/Fantasy: 0 - 0

Short Stories: 5 - 5

Audiobooks: 4 - 8

Books: 8 - 9

Total: 12 - 17

Best Reads: 0 - 0

Series: 2 - 6

DNF: 0 - 0

THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO

Author: Patrick Ness

Genre: YA Sci-Fi Thriller, Series #1

Published: 2008

Personal Rating: 1.5/5 (better than don't bother)

Yearly Count: 17

Twelve-year-old Todd Hewitt lives on a planet where there are no women and all thoughts (called Noise) can be heard by all men and animals. Todd runs across a hole in the Noise and begins his discovery of chaos.

Ugh. I can't believe I finished this book. I didn't finish because I wanted to know what was going to happen, but because I realized I was quickly well over 100 pages (YA fast read) and decided I wanted to count the book. Yep - that's the real reason. Unfortunately, I should have followed my instincts when I read the very first sentence. Oi ya yoi ya yoi.

The only good thing about the book was that it had a sense of adventure. That's it. That's why it got a 1.5 instead of a 1. The entire book was filled with violence and swearing and negativity. I will not be reading any further in the series. It is simply: Not. For. Me.

(in search of a 2010 best read)

SECRETS OF EDEN

Author: Chris Bohjalian

Genre: Fiction, Standalone

Published: 2010

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

Yearly Count: 16

Secrets of Eden is about domestic violence. The story is told through the eyes of the neighborhood preacher, an author who wrote a book about angels, the state attorney and the 15-year-old daughter who is a witness to some of the abuse.

My main reason for reading this was because it was written by Chris Bohjalian, and I have a lot of respect for him. I find him to be a man of integrity. Also, I find that his writing has unique characteristics, and I enjoy it.

Secrets of Eden maintained the Bohjalian feel, so I wasn't disappointed in that respect. I was, however, not jumping for joy for this story as it was being revealed. I did like the variety of narrators, but I didn't care for the author's book. Nothing against the topic of angels, but it just didn't appeal to me. I felt it placed a hokey aspect to the novel. Other than that, it was very good. I did solve the puzzle towards the end, but it was fun to find out if I was correct.

LOWBOY

Author: John Wray

Genre: Fiction, Standalone

Published: 2009

Personal Rating: 3/5 (just okay)

Yearly Count: 15

From Publishers Weekly:

Wray's captivating third novel drifts between psychological realities while exploring the narrative poetics of schizophrenia. The story centers on Will Heller, a 16-year-old New Yorker who has stopped taking his antipsychotic medication and wandered away from the mental hospital into the subway tunnels believing that the world will end within a few hours and that only he can save it. It's a novel that defies easy categorization, although in one sense it's a mystery, as a detective, Lateef, is on the case, assisted by Will's troubled mother, Violet. As Lateef tracks Will and gains some startling insight into Violet, Wray deploys brilliant hallucinatory visuals, including chilling descriptions of the subway system and an imaginary river flowing beneath Manhattan. In his previous works, Wray has shown that he's not a stranger to dark themes, and with this tightly wound novel, he reaches new heights.

I found that some of this novel was extremely interesting - observing what goes through someone's mind when they have a mental disorder for one and the subway traveling as another. Even though the majority of the book was based on what I found to be interesting, I still didn't come away with a very enjoyable experience. Maybe too much of a mixed-up mind was too much for me or the fact that I simply didn't connect with any of the characters. Wray's writing kept me immersed in Lowboy's world, but sad to say, I didn't even develop any sympathetic feelings towards him, nothing worth counting anyway.

My thanks go to the Goodreads Firstreads Program and Picador for providing me with this book.

FORD COUNTY

Author: John Grisham

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ford County: Stories, 2009

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

Yearly Count: 14

Grisham's first collection of 7 short stories was a success. They all had well-developed characters and plots, leaving me with a few scenes that I won't soon forget. I have always enjoyed Grisham novels, so this collection didn't surprise me. Now - I'm just hoping for more.

The following are the individual titles and links to my thoughts:

1. Blood Drive

2. Fetching Raymond

3. Fish Files

4. Casino

5. Michael's Room

6. Quiet Haven

7. Funny Boy

FUNNY BOY (7 of 7)

Author: John Grisham

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ford County: Stories, 2009

Personal Rating: 4.25/5 (better than very good)

(ss) Yearly Count: 5

Adrian returns home from a life in San Francisco to save his remaining friends from watching him die.

This story takes us back to the early 80s and reacquaints us with the misnomers of AIDS and the many prejudices of this world. It was an interesting trip back and one that I'm glad we have evolved.

QUIET HAVEN (6 of 7)

Author: John Grisham

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ford County: Stories, 2009

Personal Rating: 3.75/5 (better than good)

(ss) Yearly Count: 4

Armed with a dishonorable scheme, a man accepts a menial job in a nursing home.

It's apparent from the beginning that the man has a plan, but not knowing exactly what it is keeps the story moving along.

MICHAEL'S ROOM (5 of 7)

Author: John Grisham

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ford County: Stories, 2009

Personal Rating: 4.25/5 (better than very good)

(ss) Yearly Count: 3

A lawyer whose sole purpose is just to win is forced to acknowledge and understand the ramifications of his actions.

As a parent, this was an especially tough one to read. It contained a grief stricken family and their emotions were portrayed vividly.

NEVER LOOK AWAY

Author: Linwood Barclay

Genre: Thriller, Standalone

Published: 2010

Personal Rating: 4.25/5 (better than very good)

Yearly Count: 13

From Linwood Barclay's Website:

A warm summer Saturday. An amusement park. David Harwood is glad to be spending some quality time with his wife, Jan, and their four-year-old son. But what begins as a pleasant family outing turns into a nightmare after an inexplicable disappearance. As David struggles to restore his family, he discovers that the people we’re most close to are the ones with the biggest secrets.

Just like a roller-coaster, this was one speedy, twisty-turny, terrific ride! There were times when I thought I knew what was coming (reasonable assumptions), until I was shifted in my seat by a sharp turn and ended up going in a different direction. And like some roller-coaster enthusiasts, I didn't want to get off.

This book makes three that I have read, and I have one more on my TBR Shelf, but he has written 9! AND, one of them is a memoir! I love memoirs. He truly has become a steadfast author for me. I can count on a good read every time. Must get more!!!

BTW - In my opinion, the Barclay thrillers that I read, did not contain grisly, gory scenes. There was some violence and a little blood, but nothing that should cause any major nightmares.

My thanks go to LibraryThing Early Reviews program and Random House, Inc. for sending me this ARC. It is scheduled to be released on March 9, 2010.

NINETEEN MINUTES

Author: Jodi Picoult

Genre: Fiction, Standalone

Published: 2007

Personal Rating: 3.75/5 (better than good)

Yearly Count: 12

It took 19 minutes for Peter Houghton to kill 10 people, as well as, physically and mentally hurt a whole community. Nineteen Minutes is filled with emotions that range from love to hatred and empathy to disbelief. They are all explored from the beginning to the end in this true-to-life story.

There was a lot that I liked about this book and not much that I didn't, but I just can't bring myself to say it was "very good." Like the other two Picoult novels I have read (The Pact and My Sister's Keeper - BB: Before Blog), she writes a believable, flowing story; however, there were some incidences that I thought were stretching it a bit - nothing outrageous, but enough to catch my attention. What I liked most was the many different angles and topics that were covered. It wasn't a simple book by any means, and I think the issues were handled with respect.

I liked what Jodi Picoult says about being an author in an Amazon video, ". . . if you're really lucky, then you get to maybe open some narrow minds a little bit." I think her books succeed.

CASINO (4 of 7)

Author: John Grisham

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ford County: Stories, 2009

Personal Rating: 3.75/5 (better than good)

(ss) Yearly Count: 2

A local "ambitious hustler" weasels his way into building a casino with no regard for anybody, but himself. Once he becomes involved with the love of another man's life, he has a worthy opponent.

I didn't read this story all the way through from the beginning, so I lost the flow, but still found it to be interesting. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the ending so much, but it was still a good story. I'm enjoying this collection and looking forward to the remaining three.

THE BRICKLAYER

Author: Noah Boyd

Genre: Thriller, Standalone?

Published: 2010

Personal Rating: 4.25/5 (better than very good)

Yearly Count: 11

The Bricklayer, Steve Vail, is a fired FBI agent whose services are requested to help find a missing agent.

I really enjoyed this thriller! Vail is a fabulous, intriguing character. The workings of his mind and the timing of his wit were both compelling factors for me, and that doesn't even include the actual plot! The intelligent plot contained non-stop action and wasn't extremely off the reality chart, which is a very good thing for me. But, best of all, I was engaged from the beginning and didn't want to disengage. It's always a delight to be so engrossed in a book that you don't want to put it down. And, for those that wonder, yes - there is a strong female role as well.

What a terrific debut by Boyd! I hope to see more of him - hopefully showcasing Steve Vail.

Snow Day!!!

I want to take a moment and THANK those that continue to stop by and leave a comment or even just take the time to read my blog! I miss you all, but life at the moment is extremely busy between working and my family life - leaving me without much leisure time. When I do have a moment, I open up a book and usually fall asleep within a page or two. Sometimes I end up staring blankly at the TV. HOWEVER, next week we have the week off, so I'm hoping to stop by and visit YOU! Also, there's another holiday break coming down the pike, then . . . summer vacation! Today happens to be a "snow day," so I am not doing anything other than reading and catching up on my blog. What a wonderful day!!!

Another thing I just remembered - I don't even know what is popular in the blogosphere at the moment or what new books are coming out or simply - what good books you have read lately! Well, I know a few books that will be published soon because of LibraryThing, but I feel out of the loop. I don't know how you working people juggle it all. (I knew I had it good when I worked at home.)

Again, thank you for not abandoning me! Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Happy Reading, Everybody!

FISH FILES ( 3 of 7)

Author: John Grisham

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Ford County: Stories, 2009

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

(ss) Yearly Count: 1

A lawyer feels trapped in his marriage and profession, so he decides to take a less than legal approach to fixing his conundrum.

This story kept me intrigued the whole way through. However, the ending left a touch of doubt that I'm not thrilled with, but a very good story overall. And, of course, just because I enjoyed the storytelling, doesn't mean I agree with the character's methods. :)

TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA

Author: Shaun Tan

Genre: YA Short Story Collection

Published: 2009

Personal Rating: 3.75/5 (better than good)

Yearly Count: 10

This 15 short story collection is filled with random nonsense. However, some of the nonsense was entertaining. All the stories were peculiar and fantasy-based and carried a feeling of - think of something/anything bizarre and mold it into a flowing story. I'm sure we can all think of something bizarre, but it takes an author like Tan to put it together and oddly - make some sense. This is great for a short diversion or break from mainstreamed books.

STITCHES

Author: David Small

Genre: Graphic Memoir, Standalone

Published: 2009

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

Yearly Count: 9

David Small's family included him mom, dad and brother along with a grandmother and step-grandfather. It was an awkward family with odd behaviors that affected David in more ways than he realized at the time.

Using a graphic novel to tell his story was impressive. I was drawn in by both the pictures and words, and felt David's plight. He definitely had some very frightening circumstances, yet thankfully he has risen above it all and is able to tell his story to others.

IN THE WOODS

Author: Tana French

Genre: Police Procedural, Series #1

Published: 2007

Personal Rating: 3.75/5 (better than good)

Yearly Count: 8

Detective Rob Ryan and his partner Cassie Maddox are in search of a child killer in the same woods where Rob Ryan's life was shattered as a young boy.

This had a slow, but intriguing start, and I grew to really enjoy the way Rob told the story. The double mystery definitely kept me reading; however, I was very disappointed in the ending. Also, the potential of a supernatural element was not to my liking. I felt connected to the characters, so I'm interested to find out what The Likeness has to offer.

FEATHERS

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Genre: Children Fiction, Standalone

Published: 2007

Personal Rating: 2.75/5 (better than eh)

Yearly Count: 7

Through her daily living, sixth grade Frannie experiences and feels many new emotions. Her understanding of interactions grow throughout the book.

I really enjoy Woodson's writing. She is able to capture what may be true feelings of a sixth grade girl. However, I felt the story dragged a bit and just wasn't enticing.

THOSE WHO SAVE US

Author: Jenna Blum

Genre: Historical Fiction, Standalone

Published: 2004

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

Yearly Count: 6

Trudy, a history professor, is conducting a project based on interviews with German WWII survivors. Her German mother, Anna, does her best to live her life without causing or feeling any more harm or hurt; therefore, she doesn't share any stories from the past. Trudy is able to discover more through the interviews. The story is told in alternating chapters of the past and present.

This was another interesting viewpoint - surviving WWII Germans. I found the story as a whole to be very good, but it didn't draw me in like most of the WWII stories I've read. The main characters were clearly defined, and often, I could understand their emotions, but didn't feel them. Also, I was disappointed that there were so many gratuitous s*x scenes. I think I understand what the author was trying to convey, yet sometimes less is more. I believe this was one of those times. Overall - a good book, but nothing I would rave about.