August Reads

59.  Jane Eyre:  The Graphic Novel (Corzine/Bronte) ~ 3.5/5

60.  A Reason to Live (Iden) ~ 3.75/5

61.  Dead at Daybreak (Meyer) ~ 2/5

62.  Stiltsville (Daniel) ~ 2.25/5

63.  Man's Search for Meaning (Frankl) ~ 4/5

64.  Sandcastle and Other Stories (Bog) ~ 3/5

65.  Out of My Mind (Draper) ~ 3.5/5

66.  The Girl You Left Behind (Moyes) ~ 3.75/5

67.  Just What Kind of Mother Are You? (Daly) ~ 3.75/5

68.  A Conspiracy of Faith (Alder-Olsen) ~ 4.25/5

Amity & Sorrow (Riley) ~ DNF

69.  Back of Beyond (Box) ~ 4/5

70.  Rodzina (Cushman) ~ 3.5/5

71.  How to Be a Good Wife (Chapman) ~ 2.5/5

72.  The Good House (Leary) ~ 3.75/5

73.  The Tragedy Paper (LaBan) ~ 3.5/5



     

Monthly - Yearly

Audiobooks:  8 - 42

Books:  2 - 14

eBooks:  5 - 17

New-to-Me Authors:  13 - 46

*Short Stories:  10 - 49

THE TRAGEDY PAPER

Author:  Elizabeth LaBan

Genre:  YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

Nick Chamian & Jesse Bernstein

Yearly Count:  73

The Tragedy Paper is told from Duncan's and Tim's viewpoint regarding their junior/senior year in a boarding high school.

Another book that had great potential, but just didn't quite get there.  The big reveal didn't live up to the build-up, and one character's story was much better than the other.  And, unfortunately, the ending wasn't very satisfying either.  However, I did like the idea of the story and had a general interest throughout. 

THE GOOD HOUSE

Author:  Ann Leary

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/
Mary Beth Hurt

Yearly Count:  72

Hildy Good is a realtor in a small, New England town.  She's also a recovering alcoholic.  

Mary Beth Hurt (narrator) was the perfect Hildy!  Yet . . . I don't know if I actually liked her or not.  I was a little perplexed as to why the story was being told, because I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for something--anything to happen.  It wasn't until 3/4 into the story before something actually happened, then I didn't want to stop listening.  In general, there were several bits and pieces that I didn't care for (i.e.:  psychic readings), but I think Mary Beth Hurt stole the show with giving Hildy an unforgettable voice. She saved the book for me.



                     

HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE

Author:  Emma Chapman

Genre:  Psychological Thriller, Standalone

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  2.5/5 (eh)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  71

From NetGalley:

Marta and Hector have been married for a long time. Through the good and bad; through raising a son and sending him off to life after university. So long, in fact, that Marta finds it difficult to remember her life before Hector. He has always taken care of her, and she has always done everything she can to be a good wife—as advised by a dog-eared manual given to her by Hector’s aloof mother on their wedding day.

But now, something is changing. Small things seem off. A flash of movement in the corner of her eye, elapsed moments that she can’t recall. Visions of a blonde girl in the darkness that only Marta can see. Perhaps she is starting to remember—or perhaps her mind is playing tricks on her. As Marta’s visions persist and her reality grows more disjointed, it’s unclear if the danger lies in the world around her, or in Marta herself. The girl is growing more real every day, and she wants something.

This book had so much potential.  Even after the slow first half of too many visions or memories, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and continued reading.  Thankfully, it did pick up for a short while, and I actually thought it might redeem itself, but nope.  The ending was not satisfying either.  I'm disappointed.

I have to say that I did like the writing, though.  The mood was set perfectly, as well as the setting.  Like I said . . . great potential, but something went awry.




     

My thanks go to St. Martin's Press (ARC) and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

RODZINA

Author:  Karen Cushman

Genre:  Juvenile Historical Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2003      

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

Becky Ann Baker

Yearly Count:  70

Rodzina, a 12-year-old girl, is placed on a train with other orphans that travels from Chicago to the West.

For me, this was a good story, but a great way to learn how it must have felt being an orphan and placed on a train that goes to unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people.  It's a perfect story for children, though.  The time period was depicted well and understanding what was happening to these children was clearly described.  Rodzina was a great character that expressed the many thoughts, feelings, and fears that went along with being on an orphan train.

*Recommended By:  Staci from Life in the Thumb

BACK OF BEYOND

Author:  C.J. Box

Genre:  Mystery, Cody Hoyt Series #1

Published:  2011

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/
Holter Graham

Yearly Count:  69

Cody Hoyt, an alcoholic cop with 2 months of sobriety, discovers that his sponsor has been found dead in his partially burned cabin.  Cody is devastated by his death and determined to find all the details surrounding the tragedy.  His investigation leads him to Yellowstone National Park.

I haven't read a Joe Pickett novel (Box's other series), but have read a standalone.  Even with this only being my second book written by him, I think he's going to be a go-to author for me.  I tend to enjoy every book my go-to authors write.  Every book may not have stellar or suspenseful plots, but I can count on a solid, enjoyable read.  Woo!  I'm excited, because his Joe Pickett series is lengthy (14), so I'm anticipating a lot of good reads ahead of me.  :) 

In Back of Beyond, Cody proves himself to be an imperfect human being (I believe we can all relate to that, right?!). Many of his actions are impulsive and unpredictable which fit the description of a rogue cop perfectly.  I liked him.  The setting of Yellowstone National Park didn't come across to me as the beautiful place it is supposed to be, because of all the turmoil that transpired on its trails.  Those were the opposite intentions of Box.  What I did enjoy was the story and following the clues.  Hopefully the setting in the next book I read by him will be more appreciated.

AMITY & SORROW

Author:  Peggy Riley

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2013  

Personal Rating:  DNF #5

Format:  eBook

I was hoping that it was just a slow start, but I couldn't continue after 26%.  Nothing about it was holding my attention.  Ultimately, it wasn't the right choice for me.

My thanks go to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

A CONSPIRACY OF FAITH

Author:  Jussi Alder-Olsen

Genre:  Thriller, Department Q #3

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  4.25/5 (very good +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/
Graeme Malcolm

Yearly Count:  68

Carl Morck and his two assistants are presented with a message in a bottle.  The bottle was discovered approximately 10 years ago, so they are uncertain as to the validity of the message, but they slowly begin to gather clues.  They also investigate a series of arsons that leave a corpse in the ashes at each scene. 

I really like this author's style.  He keeps me engaged in all aspects of the story, including the characters. They are quite quirky, but that's what makes Department Q so interesting.  They keep me wondering.  I would like to have a few answers though, instead of just adding more craziness to each book.

The plot was clever, and as always, I love the depth that Alder-Olsen brings to his thrillers.  I don't remember as much humor in this one, but it was there.  Every book in this series has been a success for me.  Now I'm eagerly awaiting #4.

JUST WHAT KIND OF MOTHER ARE YOU?

Author:  Paula Daly

Genre:  Thriller, Standalone

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  67

From NetGalley:

Lisa Kallisto--—overwhelmed working mother--—is the not-so-perfect model of the modern woman. She holds down a busy job running an animal shelter, she cares for three demanding children, and she worries that her marriage isn’t getting enough attention. During an impossibly hectic week, Lisa takes her eye off the ball for a moment and her world descends into a living nightmare. Not only is her best friend’s thirteen-year-old daughter missing, but it’s Lisa’s fault. To make matters worse, Lucinda is the second teenage girl to disappear within the past two weeks. The first one turned up stripped bare and abandoned on the main street after a horrible ordeal. Wracked with guilt over her mistake, and after having been publicly blamed by Lucinda’s family, Lisa sets out to right the wrong. As she begins digging under the surface, Lisa learns that everything is not quite what it first appears to be.

This was a page-turner for me, but not the kind where I'm on the edge-of-my-seat anxious for what will be revealed.  It was more of a curiosity-based page-turner.  I wanted to know who was kidnapping these children!  I had no clue and was actually surprised by a couple plot twists.  

Speaking of the plot, there were too many plot points, some were followed up on and some were not.  I wondered why I had to read all about A, B or C for nothing.  Also, there were too many unnatural set-ups just for the plot to move forward.  Those annoyed me.  Lisa's character didn't necessarily ring true to me either, but I just may not have met anybody like her yet.  Overall, it was a better than "good" read.

My thanks go to Grove Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley. It is scheduled to be published on September 3, 2013.

THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND

Author:  Jojo Moyes

Genre:  Historical Fiction (part), Standalone

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  66

From NetGalley:

France, 1916: Artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his young wife, Sophie, to fight at the front. When their small town falls to the Germans in the midst of World War I, Edouard’s portrait of Sophie draws the eye of the new Kommandant. As the officer’s dangerous obsession deepens, Sophie will risk everything—her family, her reputation, and her life—to see her husband again.

Almost a century later, Sophie’s portrait is given to Liv Halston by her young husband shortly before his sudden death. A chance encounter reveals the painting’s true worth, and a battle begins for who its legitimate owner is—putting Liv’s belief in what is right to the ultimate test.

This was my first book written by Moyes and found her to be a terrific writer!  I was fully engaged with the 1916 storyline (WWI - Sophie) and was so disappointed when I abruptly found myself in 2006 (Liv).  The storyline of Liv was one that I could not relate.  I found it extremely difficult to swallow all she did to keep the painting.  The story continues to go back and forth in shorter spurts, until the full picture is revealed.  I liked that I wasn't sure of how the story would end and was somewhat pleased with it.  I loved the last line, though.      

My thanks go to Penguin Group and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.  It is scheduled to be published on August 20, 2013.

OUT OF MY MIND

Author:  Sharon Draper

Genre:  YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2010

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

Sisi Aisha Johnson

Yearly Count:  65

Almost 11 year old Melody gets around in a wheel chair and cannot talk.  People tend to not see her or fear her, because she has Cerebral Palsy.  However, Melody, is much more than her disability.  She has a photographic memory which aids her in being one of the smartest kids in her school, yet nobody knows it.  

I loved, loved, loved, the message of this book regarding Melody.  She was a fantastic character.  There were other parts of the book that I didn't care for and didn't believe.  Two parts of the ending were not realistic and actually disappointed me.  This is all coming from an educator and parent.  I am not the intended target; however, even so, it is not a book I would recommend to young teens.

     

SANDCASTLE AND OTHER STORIES

Author:  Justin Bog
Genre:  Short Story Collection, Standalone
Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  64

(ss) Yearly Count:  40 - 49

From NetGalley:

Ten literary, psychological, and suspense tales collected in Sandcastle and Other Stories are nothing short of an adventure through a roiling sea of emotion.

An old man twisted by fate and a lost love . . . a young girl playing on the ocean shore becomes entangled in nets of a mercurial god . . . a divorced man mired in troubles, coerced into taking a singles cruise . . . a Hollywood actor in a television drama, always typecast as the bad boy . . . a child kept awake by night terrors, and a woman who hides her secretive personality from everyone on the beach one sunny day.

Genuine voices of the characters, mixed with a clear-eyed tonal directness, make this a series with mesmerizing psychological interaction. Stories span a broad depth of human understanding and build a bridge between deepest chasms of pain and high portals of joy.

I really enjoyed the variety of topics this collection addressed and some were really great; however, I did run across some that were definitely not for me.  Ultimately, my individual ratings averaged out to be just an okay collection.  I really loved the Michigan connections and glad that I took the time to read these stories, but it wasn't a favorite.

My thanks go to Gemelli Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING

Author:  Viktor E. Frankl

Genre:  Memoir, Standalone

Published:  1946

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Simon Vance

Yearly Count:  63

Neurologist and psychologist, Viktor Frankl uses his years in concentration camps as evidence that people can overcome suffering by choosing their reactions and finding meaning in their struggles.  His theory of logotherapy focuses on searching for meaning and not just happiness.

I picked this up after I saw many wise quotes by Frankl in a book we used at a training I attended.   The quotes spurred a curiosity, and I sought out this book.  The first half was based on Frankl's experience in concentration camps (descriptive, but not overwhelmingly so), and the second focused on his theory of logotherapy.  Both were valuable and interesting.  While I enjoyed listening to this, I think it would be a good book to have on hand for reference.

   

  

STILTSVILLE

Author:  Susanna Daniel

Genre:  Women's Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2010

Personal Rating:  2.25/5 (not enjoyable +)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  62

In Miami, 1969, college-girl (Frances) meets college-boy (Dennis) and their lives are changed forever.

I saw that Sea Creatures was just published (Daniel's 2nd novel) and felt a push to get Stiltsville read before the summer ended.  I even switched out a book for it!

To my dismay, Stiltsville was not what I expected.  I was bored silly.  The storyline was so plain, and the characters lacked warmth.  There were some plot points that tried to elevate the story, but . . . they were just surface to me (and some nonsense stuff, too).  Even for the points when emotions could have been sincere and touch deeply, they were stilted.  No pun intended.  I think the title fits the book very well.  Bit of a disappointment for me, but others have enjoyed it immensely.

          

DEAD AT DAYBREAK

Author:  Deon Meyer

Genre:  Thriller, Standalone  

Published:  2005

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Simon Vance

Yearly Count:  61

In South Africa, ex-cop Zatopek ‘Zed’ van Heerden, now private investigator, is sought after to recover a will.  The will was stolen from a murdered antique dealer in his home.  The state will claim the estate if it's not recovered in 7 days.

I have wanted to read a Deon Meyer book for years now.  I actually have several in hardcover and eBook format, but this one caught my eye as an audiobook.  It was told by van Heerden in the past (his backstory) and the present, and it was complex.  Unfortunately,  my interest level waned pretty quickly, and it was almost put down to rest.  I'm not sure if the main cause was the absolutely atrocious language (I can read it a lot easier than listening to it!) or if I just wasn't interested in the storyline.  Needless to say, I will give another book of his a try, but I'm not very excited about Meyer anymore.

A REASON TO LIVE

Author:  Matthew Iden

Genre:  Crime Fiction,
Marty Singer Series #1

Published:  2012

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  60

From NetGalley:

In the late nineties, a bad cop killed a good woman and DC Homicide detective Marty Singer got to watch as the murderer walked out of the courtroom a free man.

Twelve years later, the victim's daughter comes to Marty begging for help: the killer is stalking her now.

There's just one problem: Marty's retired . . . and he's retired because he's battling cancer. But with a second shot at the killer--and a first chance at redemption--Marty's just found A Reason to Live.

This was a good introduction to Marty Singer.  Ultimately, I thought it was good, but not very good.  I think the cancer storyline turned me off a bit.  It's odd, because one part of me appreciated it and another part felt icky about it.  I think the idea of putting such a realistic, heart-wrenching component (such as cancer) into this fictional crime story just didn't fit.  I'm not exactly sure, but something didn't feel right about it.  Needless to say, I will continue onto #2 Blue Blood.  Despite my uneasy feelings about Marty's illness, I'm looking forward to visiting with him again.

My thanks go to NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

JANE EYRE: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL

Author:  Amy Corzine, Charlotte Bronte

Genre:  YA Graphic Novel, Standalone

Published:  2009

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)  

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  59  

After the deaths of her parents, Jane Eyre is taken in by her Aunt and Uncle.  Her life changes again after the death of her Uncle, but she is a determined child and forges ahead.  Jane's story of love and loss continues through her childhood and into her adulthood.

This book was a very peculiar choice for me.  First, I listened to the audio version of Jane Eyre approximately 10 years ago when I was attempting to broaden my horizons by reading/listening to classics.  At the time, I thought it was just okay.  No surprise there.  In general, I'm not a fan of classics.  Second, I'm not a re-reader, so I was surprised that I even entertained the idea of picking this one up in the first place.  Technically, I didn't reread it (listened the first time), but I do not like to read or listen to something that I already know what's going to happen.  Third, I've been searching for more graphic novels that would appeal to me when I saw it on Stacy's blog post (link below).  I was curious as to how the audio version would compare to the graphic novel, and I was pleasantly surprised.  I didn't even mind (well, not very much anyway) reading about what I already knew.  So, all in all, I had a good experience with Jane Eyre:  The Graphic Novel.

*Recommended By:  Stacy from Stacy's Books.