THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF TIDYING UP

Author:  Marie Kondo

Genre:  Non-Fiction, Magic Cleaning #1

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  4.25/5 (very good +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Emily Woo Zeller

Yearly Count:  1

From Goodreads:

Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles? Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you'll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo's clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).

With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house "spark joy" (and which don't), this international best seller featuring Tokyo's newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home - and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.

DON'T BE FOOLED BY MY RATING, and I didn't audioread this book to jumpstart a New Year's Resolution!!!  (Also, the new show didn't have anything to do with it either.)  

I audioread this book, because it was short.  Period.  I was trying to reach my 52 books for the year; therefore, I had a collection of shorter books and audiobooks.  This happened to be one of them.  I didn't need it for 2018, so it became my first of 2019.  

My rating is purely based on two facts:  it kept me entertained and engaged (crazy talk, I say, crazy talk), and it left me with positivity, encouragement and inspiration.  I think that's worthy of a very good rating.

The nitty-gritty of the text was absurd.  Marie is the ULTIMATE PERSONIFIER.  I dislike personification immensely.  It's just not my thing.  I'm surprised I didn't topple over with dizziness while listening due to the amount of eye-rolling I did.  HOWEVER, for someone that is prone to clutter or just doesn't have the wherewithal to clean up after themselves, this method may be useful. 

Most importantly for me, I finished the book truly feeling revitalized.  Maybe just listening to someone else sort and throw out stuff does that for me . . . who knows?!  LOL  I do have a closet to clean out (tentatively scheduled for winter break).  Will I use the KonMari method?  NOPE!  Unless my clothing and/or other closet items start talking to me, then I may have to reconsider.

Thoughts of Joy

  

THIS ONE SUMMER

Author:  Mariko & Jillian Tamaki

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  50

From Goodreads:

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

Not much to say about this graphic novel. Some of it felt realistic and some not, but whatever. I continued to read, so that says something.

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SAY WHAT YOU WILL

Author:  Cammie McGovern

Genre:  YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/
Rebecca Lowman

Yearly Count:  44

From Goodreads:

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

This was just okay for me.   I've discovered that this type of storyline just isn't my cup of tea.  Or at least it doesn't rank up there as a good read. 

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ONE KICK

Author:  Chelsea Cain

Genre:  Mystery, Kick Lannigan Series #1

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Heather Lind

Yearly Count:  5

Kick, a survivor of child abduction, is asked to help a mysterious man rescue other abducted children.

Well, I didn't buy into this story.  I didn't care for Kick all that much, and then the man from who-knows-where appears -- none of it jelled for me.  I did continue and was somewhat engaged, but at the moment, I don't think I'll continue with this series either.  We'll see.

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THE BEAR

Author:  Claire Cameron

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  1/5 (don't bother)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/
Cassandra Morris

Yearly Count:  44

Five-year-old Anna takes charge of her 3-year-old brother after a black bear attack of their parents.

UGH.  This was absolutely horrible.  I only continued to listen, because I was in the middle of multi-tasking and just left it running.  Otherwise, this would be a DNF along with a toss across the room.  UGH.  Unless you like unrealistic, continual bathroom talk and 5-year-old ridiculous narration . . . don't bother.

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COP TOWN

Author:  Karin Slaughter

Genre:  Police Procedural, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Kathleen Early

Yearly Count:  30

From NetGalley:

Atlanta, 1974: As a brutal murder and a furious manhunt rock the city’s police department, Kate Murphy wonders if her first day on the job will also be her last. She’s determined to defy her privileged background by making her own way—wearing a badge and carrying a gun. But for a beautiful young woman, life will be anything but easy in the macho world of the Atlanta PD, where even the female cops have little mercy for rookies. It’s also the worst day possible to start given that a beloved cop has been gunned down, his brothers in blue are out for blood, and the city is on the edge of war.

Kate isn’t the only woman on the force who’s feeling the heat. Maggie Lawson followed her uncle and brother into the ranks to prove her worth in their cynical eyes. When she and Kate, her new partner, are pushed out of the citywide search for a cop killer, their fury, pain, and pride finally reach the boiling point. With a killer poised to strike again, they will pursue their own line of investigation, risking everything as they venture into the city’s darkest heart.

Hmmm.  This one is terribly difficult for me to rate.  I thought the manhunt was done well, but everything surrounding it was incredibly tough to hear.  There was every kind of discrimination and "ism" you can imagine.  Reality of the times (70s Georgia, and maybe even now), but nonetheless, it was tough to hear over and over and over.  Not a pleasant listen for me, but solving the crime kept me from making it a DNF.  (yikes)

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with the eGalley.

  

THE RENTED MULE

Author:  Bobby Cole

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/David de Vries

Yearly Count:  14

Cooper has a marriage that's falling apart and a business partner (with problems of his own) that wants to sell the business.  That happens to be just the beginning of the trouble coming his way.

The audiobook performance was not to my liking, but I did want to keep listening.  The plot was a bit goofy, as were the characters; however, I think I just wanted to know how Cooper was going to resolve his dilemmas.

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  My thanks go to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

MY SISTER'S GRAVE

Author:  Robert Dugoni

Genre:  Thriller, Tracy Crosswhite Series #1

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

Emily Sutton-Smith

Yearly Count:  6

Tracy Crosswhite abruptly changed careers from teacher to detective to seek the answers to her sister's disappearance 20 years ago.  When her sister's remains are discovered, her determination kicks into high gear.  She gets more answers than she ever anticipated.

The flashbacks and repetition were annoying, but I think it was a good introduction to Dugoni's work, and I want to read more.  Hopefully Tracy grows on me, though, because I thought she was just okay.  

Thoughts of Joy

  

WATCHING YOU

Author:  Michael Robotham

Genre:  Psychological Thriller,
Joe O'Loughlin Series #7

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Sean Barrett

Yearly Count:  4

From NetGalley:

Marnie Logan often feels like she's being watched: a warm breath on the back of her neck, or a shadow in the corner of her eye that vanishes when she turns her head.

Now her life is frozen. Her husband Daniel is missing. She can't access his bank accounts or his life insurance. Depressed and increasingly desperate, she seeks the help of clinical psychologist Joe O'Loughlin.

O'Loughlin discovers Daniel's Big Red Book--a collage of pictures, interviews, and anecdotes. The book, which Daniel intended as a surprise birthday gift, now leads to a shocking discovery. Any person who has ever crossed Marnie has paid an exacting price. And O'Loughlin may be next in line.

Oh my!  I was thoroughly enjoying this book until it went a bit off the rails for me.  It, fortunately, didn't overtake the plot, but I was let down - big time!  I must admit that if I had read it, I probably wouldn't have been as affected by it in a roll your eyes kind of way.  The pace kept me engaged and the characters were interesting, which is vital.  I look forward to more by Robotham.  

While this is #7 in a series, you'd never know!  It most definitely can be read as a standalone.

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for providing me with the eGalley.

     

THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD

Author:  Laura McHugh

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  2.5/5 (eh)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

Blue, McManus & Willingham

Yearly Count:  70

From NetGalley:

The town of Henbane sits deep in the Ozark Mountains. Folks there still whisper about Lucy Dane’s mother, a bewitching stranger who appeared long enough to marry Carl Dane and then vanished when Lucy was just a child. Now on the brink of adulthood, Lucy experiences another loss when her friend Cheri disappears and is then found murdered, her body placed on display for all to see. Lucy’s family has deep roots in the Ozarks, part of a community that is fiercely protective of its own. Yet despite her close ties to the land, and despite her family’s influence, Lucy—darkly beautiful as her mother was—is always thought of by those around her as her mother’s daughter. When Cheri disappears, Lucy is haunted by the two lost girls—the mother she never knew and the friend she couldn’t save—and sets out with the help of a local boy, Daniel, to uncover the mystery behind Cheri’s death.

What Lucy discovers is a secret that pervades the secluded Missouri hills, and beyond that horrific revelation is a more personal one concerning what happened to her mother more than a decade earlier.

Another book that just didn't grab me.  There were some interesting moments, but nothing that made me want to listen.  The worst part was how it was told.  Lots and lots of going back and forth in time and different people telling their story.  Not a fan.  :(

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 My thanks go to Random House Publishing Group & NetGalley for providing me with the eGalley.

THE LIFE WE BURY

Author:  Allen Eskens

Genre:  Mystery, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Zach Villa

Yearly Count:  65

Joe Talbert has to interview, then write a biography about the person for a college English class.  Joe goes to the local nursing home to seek out a subject.  He finds someone with quite the background!

I loved the narrator Zach Villa!  Perfect.  :)  The storyline was unique to me, and I appreciated that all the characters were significant to the whole.  I didn't quite believe everything; hence only a 4/5 rating, but was always engaged.  I will be looking out for more by Eskens and Villa!

Thoughts of Joy

THURSDAY'S CHILDREN

Author:  Nicci French

Genre:  Mystery?, Frieda Klein Series #4

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Beth Chalmers

Yearly Count:  64

Frieda is asked to help an old classmate's daughter who is dealing with some psychological issues.  This leads Frieda back to her hometown where she hasn't been back in decades.

I found the backstory of Frieda to be somewhat interesting and wanted to listen, but it wasn't as good as the other 3 in the series.  I'm still looking forward to #5 titled Friday on My Mind.

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HOW WE LEARN

Author:  Benedict Carey

Genre:  Non-Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  48

From NetGalley:

From an early age, it is drilled into our heads: Laziness, distraction, and ignorance are the enemies of success. We’re told that learning is all self-discipline, that we must confine ourselves to designated study areas, turn off the music, and maintain a strict ritual if we want to ace that test, memorize that presentation, or nail that piano recital.

But what if almost everything we were told about learning is wrong?

And what if there was a way to achieve more with less effort?

In How We Learn, award-winning science reporter Benedict Carey sifts through decades of education research and landmark studies to uncover the truth about how our brains absorb and retain information. What he discovers is that, from the moment we are born, we are all learning quickly, efficiently, and automatically; but in our zeal to systematize the process we have ignored valuable, naturally enjoyable learning tools like forgetting, sleeping, and daydreaming. Is a dedicated desk in a quiet room really the best way to study? Can altering your routine improve your memory? Are there times when distraction is good? Is ignorance always bad? Is repetition necessary? Carey’s search for answers to these questions yields cunning strategies that make learning more a part of our everyday lives—and less of a chore.

I usually love educational books, but I am incredibly sad to say I did not enjoy this one.  I suppose it's more about expectations than anything.  Reading 25 million studies, including numerous details of each, was not my thought going in.  Were there some interesting antidotes?  No.  Was there anything new?  No.  Not quite sure how this is new thinking or understanding, but with all the studies, this book can inform you how his questions are answered.  

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

ONE PLUS ONE

Author:  JoJo Moyes

Genre:  Women's Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Various

Yearly Count:  38

From NetGalley:

One single mom. One chaotic family. One quirky stranger. One irresistible love story.

Suppose your life sucks. A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied, and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can’t afford to pay for. That’s Jess’s life in a nutshell—until an unexpected knight in shining armor offers to rescue them. Only Jess’s knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages . . . maybe ever.

This one was "just okay" for me.  JoJo's writing was still spot on, but the actual story seemed a bit too predictable for me.    

Thoughts of Joy

My thanks go to Penguin Group and NetGalley for providing me with a eGalley.

A MAN CALLED OVE

Author:  Fredrik Backman

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

George Newbern

Yearly Count:  36

A Man Called Ove (pronounced ew-va) is about the life of a grumpy, old man.

Oh boy.  I'm feeling like a grumpy reader right now.  I had a love/hate relationship with Ove and the writing.  I did smirk at some of Ove's comments or thoughts, but he never really pulled at my heartstrings.  The writing just had an overwhelming amount of metaphors and similes for my liking and was consumed with blahness.  I can, however, understand how others could love this book.  It just didn't work for me.  I loved the narration, though.  George was great!

Thoughts of Joy

BEING MORTAL

Author:  Atul Gawande

Genre:  Non-Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Robert Petkoff

Yearly Count:  23

As a practicing surgeon, Gawande is attuned to both sides of the medical field - giving and receiving. His goal is to bring to light the fact that we may treat the end of life in a less than perfect fashion.  He focuses on the general aspect of getting older when a person is healthy and when medication is needed.  

I found the book to be somewhat redundant and not new.  However, if the world would take notice and implement Gawande's findings (when appropriate), life could continue to be self-driven even at its ending.

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ELIZABETH IS MISSING

Author:  Emma Healey

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Davina Porter

Yearly Count:  21

Maud (mother and grandmother) who has dementia is very concerned about her friend (Elizabeth) who she believes to be missing.

Maud is not Alice, but she definitely grew to be someone I cared about.  If it weren't for the change in timeframes, I would have rated this higher.  I really did enjoy the storyline of Maud and her sister, though.  There was a bit of redundancy with Maud, but unfortunately, that's the reality of dementia.  There is a mystery with her sister's storyline, and while I appreciated it, there wasn't a definitive resolution.

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THAT PART WAS TRUE

Author:  Deborah McKinlay

Genre:  Epistolary Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

Kellgren & Ganser

Yearly Count:  20

A divorcee living in England writes an author who lives in the USA regarding his work, and he responds!  (must say that is always exciting!)  :)  A friendship develops through their common interests.  

I really like epistolary novels, but sending letters these days is highly unusual -- especially with one word answers and far distances like . . .  over the pond.  That made no sense to me.  Also, I'm not a fan of lots of food talk and recipes in my books.  However, I did enjoy the blossoming of their relationship and loved how the ending was executed.

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THE GROWNUP

Author:  Gillian Flynn

Genre:  Thriller, Standalone Short Story

Published:  2014 (under different title)

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Julia Whelan

Yearly Count:  17
(Goodreads counts this as a book)

A woman with unsavory skills gets wrapped up in a family's drama.

So, I didn't like the basic topic at all -- for many reasons.  However, I do like Flynn's writing and did get wrapped up in the story.

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THE ROSIE EFFECT

Author:  Graeme Simsion

Genre:  Women's Fiction, Rosie Sequel

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Dan O'Grady

Yearly Count:  13

From NetGalley:

Don Tillman and Rosie Jarman are back. The Wife Project is complete, and Don and Rosie are happily married and living in New York. But they’re about to face a new challenge because— surprise!—Rosie is pregnant.

Don sets about learning the protocols of becoming a father, but his unusual research style gets him into trouble with the law. Fortunately his best friend Gene is on hand to offer advice: he’s left Claudia and moved in with Don and Rosie.

As Don tries to schedule time for pregnancy research, getting Gene and Claudia to reconcile, servicing the industrial refrigeration unit that occupies half his apartment, helping Dave the Baseball Fan save his business, and staying on the right side of Lydia the social worker, he almost misses the biggest problem of all: he might lose Rosie when she needs him the most.

I have mixed feelings about this book.  I really liked Don and all his efforts, but I did not like Rosie at all.  She rubbed me the wrong way.  I also didn't like some of the events that took place against Don.  This was not a pleasant read for me.

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