44 Scotland Street by Alexander McCall Smith

November 6 - November 14

I've tried reading other books by this author and didn't like them.  Thought it was worth a try for a different series as well as it being a book for book club.
No better results - I didn't like the writing style - choppy and seemingly flying around with no direction or plot.  The characters didn't interest me - they were whiny and self-centered.  I gave it 68 pages and 8 days of my reading and finally said no more.

Ordinary Grace ★★★★ by William Kent Krueger

This was a well-written book that tells of the summer of 1961 in a small town where 3 deaths affected a great many people.

First we have a small boy who was hit by a train, second a homeless man dying under the railroad trestle and last a young girl murdered, found also near the railroad tracks.

Frank Drum the main character was a friend of the young boy, found the homeless man, and was the brother of the murdered girl.  The troubles that he suffered that summer trying to understanding what had happened is beautifully chronicled  and carries the reader onward to a satisfying conclusion.

DATE READ: Sept 22 - Sept 26
NO. OF PAGES: 300
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: Nook

Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

First in Tearling Series
I read this book for Book Club and was very pleasantly surprised.  It was kind of a cross between Snow White and Harry Potter but it was fun, well-written, and definitely has me looking for the second in the series.  It was full of magic and the setting no only startled me but my group as well. Not just for kids!

All the Light We Cannot See ★★★ by Anthony Doerr

Pulitzer Prize Winner, check.  Audiobook, check, check.

Two things that should have pushed this book over and yet they didn't.  IMHO, the story was too ordinary, and the writing style drove me bonkers.  We were constantly been thrown back and forth in time and place so that the story seem very choppy and that was not helped by very, very short chapters (which normally I like).  I tried it on audio and then switched to a regular book, hoping that seeing the written word would help, but nada.

So many people raved about this book, I had a hard time  finishing and only did so because it was for my book club. Big disappointment.

DATE READ: June 23 - June 29
NO. OF PAGES: 771
Type of Book audiobook, ARD
SOURCE: Public Library

Our Souls at Night ★★★★ by Kent Haruf

What a quiet gentle book.

Addie was a widow and Louis a widower.  When Addie comes to his house to ask him to spend the night, Louis and this reader are a bit startled by the bluntness of the request.  But as Addie explains how her loneliness  affects her especially at night, this reader totally understood where she was coming from and why just having that warm body and voice in the dark was a comfort.

As the story progressed we see the friendship deepen to where they are sharing more than just a bed and feel the heartbreak as the situation is taken out of their control by outsiders.

I had never read anything by Kent Haruf before and heard that this book was his last.  If all his books are as beautifully written, the literary world has lost a star IMHO.

I will be looking for his earlier books.


DATE READ: February 7 - February 7
NO. OF PAGES: 192
Type of Book audiobook
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile

The Husband's Secret ★★★ by Liane Moriarty

What would you do if you found a letter addressed to you from your spouse with the instructions "to be opened only on the event of my Death"?

Ethically, you need to put it aside but curiosity of what the letter contains can drive a person crazy.  This the premise of the Husband's Secret.

The novel is filled with the concept of guilt - Rachel feels guilty because of Janie's death, Jon Paul feels the weight of culpability for his actions which have driven him for years while others, Felicity and Will don't seem to feel any guilt at all for their behavior.

I read this book for my ladies' book club and our discussion really centered around the first question - would you open the letter?  I found it extremely interesting that those who had been married for a lengthy period of time said no but that the younger and shorter married members said yes.  I guess it's a matter of trust.  Overall, I felt that the book was predictable as to the involvement among the characters.


DATE READ: January 22 - January 31
NO. OF PAGES: 573
Type of Book audiobook
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile

Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

416 pages Audiobook 12 discs 14½ hours


Historical account of the rowing team that went to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Munich and against all odds won the gold medal.  The story was enriched by the personal accounts of several of the rowers. 

The Recipe Box by Sandra Lee

Grace Holm-D'Angelo's world is unravelling - she is having trouble at work, her teenage daughter is in a rebellious mood, and her best friend has died of cancer.  Flying home for the funeral,  Grace is confronted by her mother.  They have been estranged ever since Grace found a startling fact about her mother inside the Recipe box.

Trying to improve her daughter's behavior, Grace leaves her daughter with her mother and heads back to her job in LA  but when she hears that Emma has disappeared she heads back to found her.

The story goes on with a new romance for Grace  and a decision to return to her hometown and try a change in her future.

The story seemed very predictable and the characters very two-dimensional.

★★½

GENRE: Fiction
CHARACTERS: Grace, Emma, Ken, Brian, Leeza, Lorraine
Series/ Progress:
DATE READ: July 24 - July 25
NO. OF PAGES: 197
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, LILIES
SOURCE: Nook

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

After 20 years with no contact, Harold receives a note from a former co-worker, Queenie, telling him that she's dying.  Guilt immediately  attacks Harold's conscience, so he sets out to save her by walking the length of England unprepared for the journey - physically, mentally, emotionally and financially.  The tale of journey and the enlightenment he receives along the way point the reader to soul searching of their own.

 ★★★

GENRE: Fiction
CHARACTERS: Harold Fry, Maureen Fry, Queenie Hennessy
Series/ Progress: 1/2
DATE READ: March 19 - March 23
NO. OF PAGES: 453
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: bookshelf Stockpile

Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Having watched the movie and knowing the story didn't make this children's book any less enjoyable.  Seeing the little boy and his desire to believe that Santa is real makes this story touch even the heart of those older.

The love  of Christmas and belief in Santa will always make this story a classic.

 ★★★★★

GENRE: Children's
SUBJECT: Santa
Setting: North Pole
CHARACTERS: Santa, Conductor, little Boy
DATE READ: November 29 - November 29
NO. OF PAGES: 32
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: Public Library

A Great and Godly Adventure: The Pilgrims and the Myth of the First Thanksgiving by Godfrey Hodgson

This book tells the tale of the Pilgrims - their reasons for seeking a new home, their trip across the Atlantic, and their efforts to settle what was to become known as the Plymouth Colony in current day Massachusetts.  The statics of their survival was very enlightening as well as the clarification of the Thanksgiving myth.

 ★★★
GENRE: History
SUBJECT: Plymouth Colony
Setting: Massachusetts, Holland, England
CHARACTERS: William Brewster, William Bradford, Thomas Weston, Samoset, Squanto
DATE READ: November 14 - November 18
NO. OF PAGES: 193
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: Public Library

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein is not the monster's name but it is what causes most people to picture the monster.  Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist, who works at creating new life but when he is successful, he tries to abandon his creation.  The story tells of Victor's discomfort with the monster and the monster's anger at Victor.

It didn't really do it for me.

 ★★★

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: creation of life
Setting: Europe
CHARACTERS: Victor Frankenstein, Monster, Robert Walton
DATE READ: October 19 - October 20
NO. OF PAGES: 319
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, LILIES
SOURCE: Library

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

 ★★★¼

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: Hollywood infidelities
Setting: Porto Vergogna, Italy,  Hollywood, CA,  Sandpoint, ID
CHARACTERS: Pasquale Tursi, Dee Moray, Michhael Deane, Pat Bender, Alvis Bender, Richard Burton
DATE READ: July 10 - July 13
NO. OF PAGES: 511
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, LILIES
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile

PLOT:....................................................................4.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.00
Average..............................................................................................3.31


Dee Moray, a starlet from the Cleopatra filming, arrives Porto Vergogna being hidden away by the studio because of an unanticipated pregnancy resulting from a fling with the film's star.  The hotel's owner, a starry-eyed young man, befriends Dee and tries to help her.

The story splits into a chronicle of Pasquale's troubles - his mother's death, his romance and finally his search for Dee - and the life that Dee finally made for herself and her son. 

I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed because I had heard so many good things about this book and it didn't live up to my expectations.  It was okay, but not great.

Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn by William Mann

 ★★★¼

GENRE: Biography
SUBJECT: Life of Katharine Hepburn
Setting: Connecticut, Hollywood
CHARACTERS: Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, George Cukor, Thomas Hepburn
DATE READ: June 17 - June 29
NO. OF PAGES: 656
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , 
SOURCE: ARD stockpile

PLOT:....................................................................3.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................3.50
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.00
Average..............................................................................................3.19 


Just about every biography of Katharine Hepburn was written and influence by Katharine Hepburn herself, however, this book was undertaken after her death and the research that was used were paper trails -  itineraries of ships, trains, planes, along with schedules for theater shows, etc.  Mann also explored her sexuality in a way not previously defined.  He insinuates at times that she was gay, transgender, bisexual, but never comes to a conclusion.  

However, I'm not sure how well we can accept the stories that he tells.  Someone else's life will always seem different to other people than to the person who lived it.

This book said many things about  Katharine Hepburn as well as Spencer Tracy, George Cukor, and Howard Hughes but whether you care to believe it, is your choice.

Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple

★★★★¼

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: architecture, dysfunctional family
Setting: Seattle, WA; Antarctica
CHARACTERS: Bernadette Fox, Elgin Branch, Bee Branch, ManjuLa , Audrey Griffen, Soo-Lin Lee-Segal
DATE READ: April 25 - April 30
NO. OF PAGES: 479
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , LILIES
SOURCE: AUDIO stockpile

PLOT:....................................................................4.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................5.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.50
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................5.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................4.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.00
Average..............................................................................................4.38

Do not judge a book by it's cover - because I know that if this was in a pile of books and I could choose only one, the cover would have sent me searching further in the pile. But I had an advantage - my sister, the librarian.  Yes, she told me I'd love it, she told me I'd laugh, but I was still skeptical. I will never again doubt  my sister when she says that a book is worthy of my perusal.  I probably would have just passed this book by if she hadn't raved about it.

The story is told through a e-mails, letters, newspaper articles from various points of view and this could be chaotic but no it works.  The characters are quirky - Bernadette is a reclusive former prize-winning architect who has abandoned her profession to be a stay-at-home mom who neither cleans nor cooks but has a virtual assistant from Asia order takeout, her husband Elgin, a Microsoft big shot, who bicycles to work and ignores his wife and child, and Bee (Balakrishna) the perfect student, who was born with a heart problem that has turned Bernadette into what she is.  Then add over-zealous PTA/neighbor Moms and administrative assistants with a crush on the boss, how could Bernadette's world not go berserk.

A intervention gone wrong results in Bernadette's disappearance and an aborted vacation to Antarctica becomes the rabbit hole that Bernadette falls through.

This satirical novel is so amusing that you will laugh out loud, just don't judge it by its cover. 

Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank

 ★★★★½

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: marital relationships
Setting: Atlanta, GA & Charleston, SC
CHARACTERS: Leslie Carter, Wesley Carter IV, Charlotte Carter, Holly Carter, Harrison Katz, Dannette Stovel, Cornelia Street, Lisette Katz, Jonathan Rae, Harlan Green
DATE READ: March 18 - March 23
NO. OF PAGES: 497
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,  Group Reads
SOURCE: MCL Audio

PLOT:....................................................................4.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................5.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................5.00
STYLE:..................................................................4.50
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................4.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.00
Threshold Quality.................................................4.50
Average..............................................................................................4.50

Okay, who sneaked in and planted listening devices in my house?  I swear that somehow Ms. Frank has been listening in on comments made by my husband of 40 years and that's where she got the inspiration for this book.  Not only is Wesley a bad imitation of my husband (all his faults but none of his virtues) but I actually believe that I have heard the same words attributed to Wesley come out of my husband's mouth.

This story was so much fun - I laughed so hard at times that I actually cried.  I was proud of Leslie for standing up for herself and showing that it's never too late to stand up to a bully.

The 100 year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

 ★★★ ½

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: adventures, political changes
Setting: Sweden, China, Spain, US
CHARACTERS: AllanKarlsson, Benny Ljungberg, Julius Jonsson, Francisco Franco, Harry Truman,    
DATE READ: January 25 - January 30
NO. OF PAGES: 384
Challenges: TIOLI, CATEGORY, 
SOURCE: Public Library

PLOT:....................................................................4.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.50
Average..............................................................................................3.50  

Allan Karlsson on his 100th birthday decides that he doesn't want to stay at the nursing home for his party, and so he climbs out of his window and starts an adventure.  Throughout the book we are shown the remarkable life that he has lived and the historical moments he has been a part of.  His part in history  is now offset by his latest adventure that is filled with humorous actions and unbelievable antics of new friends found along the way.

Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber

★★★½

GENRE: fiction
SUBJECT: romance and angels
Setting: New York City
CHARACTERS: Lucye Farrara, Aren Fairchild, Wendy Farrara, Shirley, Goodness, Mercy, Will, Gabriel
DATE READ: December 13 - December 17
NO. OF PAGES: 212
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:   no, Library audio

PLOT:....................................................................3.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................3.50
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.50
Threshold Quality.................................................3.50
Average..............................................................................................3.50 

A cute little Christmas story with reminders of two Cary Grant films centered at the holidays.  We have angels helping a relationship that may be in danger (Bishop's Wife) and miscommunication/meeting at the Empire State Building (An Affair to Remember). Love always prevails at Christmas.

I had mentioned on Debbie Macomber's Facebook page that my Ladies Book Club had selected her holiday books for our December read and she was kind enough to send us bookmarks and recipe cards.  All the ladies were thrilled.

Light Between the Oceans by M. L. Stedman

 ★★★★½

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: post partum depression, isolation, child bonding
Setting: Janus Island, Australia
CHARACTERS: Tom Sherbourne, Isabel Sherbourne, Lucy Sherbourne, Hannah Roennfeldt
DATE READ: November 14 - November 20
NO. OF PAGES: 324
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:   no, New Nook

PLOT:....................................................................4.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................4.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.50
STYLE:..................................................................5.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................5.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.50
Threshold Quality.................................................4.00
Average..............................................................................................4.50

Tom Sherbourne went to war and when he returned his spirit was scarred by what he'd seen and done but he met Isabel and their spirits touched.  He was the lighthouse keeper on Janus Island and after their wedding they returned to this isolated locale.

Isabel suffered several miscarriages and one stillborn so when a small boat washed ashore with a dead man and a small baby, Isabel immediaely ook the child to her heart and cajoled Tom to allow her to keep it and pass it off as her own.

However, when they accidently determine that the child's mother is still searching for her child, the Sherbournes are in a quandary.

This story was so profound that often though I couldn't stay awake to read it, I couldn't go to sleep either.  It was beautiful written with well-defined character and situations that were very believable.

My favorite of the year!

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

 ★★★

GENRE: General Fiction
SUBJECT: Holocaust survival
Setting: Westerbrook, NH, Auschwitz, Poland
CHARACTERS: Sage Singer, Leo Stein, Minka, Josef Weber
DATE READ: July 23 - July 29
NO. OF PAGES: 460
Off the Shelf (pre-2013)? Source?:   no, Public library

PLOT:.........................................3.00
CHARACTERIZATION:............3.00
TOPICS:.....................................4.00
STYLE:.......................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:............................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:....................2.50
OWNERSHIP:............................2.50
Threshold Quality.......................3.00
Average..............................................................3.00

Sage Singer, an atheist of Jewish descent, works at a religious bakery.  Having been scarred, she hides in the back and works during the night.  One day she is introduced to an old man and they become friends.  But here is where the story gets weird.  Josef informs Sage that he was a Nazi SS officer and that wants her to kill him.

The story is also that of Sage's grandmother and her survival during the Holocaust as well as a story that her grandmother wrote during her youth and incarceration at Auschwitz.

At times, the stories were difficult to follow because they kept jumping back and forth.

The ladies in my book club rave about Jodi Picoult so we selected this one for July.  I had read My Sister's Keeper but was not impressed so I was hoping that this one would be better.  The story was okay but I felt that the characters were a bit stereotypical and lacked originality.