My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 100!!!
I would like to thank NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.
Christmas Mysteries: Ten Excerpts to Set the Season (Plus Three More to Celebrate the New Year) by various authors
Summary:
Ten excerpts from classic and contemporary mysteries with Christmas themes: Rest You Merry by Charlotte MacLeod; The Fourth Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders; The Egyptian Cross Mystery by Ellery Queen; Not a Creature was Stirring by Jane Haddam; The Midnight Before Christmas by William Bernhardt; Omit Flowers by Stuart Palmer; The Queen is Dead by Jane Dentinger; Killed on the Ice by William DeAndrea; The Shortest Day by Jane Langton; and The Sleeper by Gillian White. Also includes three bonus excerpts with a New Year's theme: The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers; Stress by Loren D. Estleman; and The Clock Strikes Twelve by Patricia Wentworth.
My Opinion:
This book wasn't what I expected. I expected the excerpts to follow a similar layout to what you would see in a magazine - a few lines of backstory to get you settled, a juicy point of the book to lure you in, and a conclusion with information on how to locate the book. Instead, every one of these excerpts was the first chapter of the book. Granted, this was still useful to see if I liked the author's writing style, and there were two or three that opened with action, but as far as "teasers" go, the first chapters may not have been the best selections.
As another small note, including books that are 4th, 5th, and even 11th in their respective series could create a further barrier when trying to draw new readers (as I assume the point is with a collection like this). I read a chapter, liked it, then saw it was the 11th book in the series. I have to read the series in order (and I can't be the only person that feels this way) so now I have to decide if I liked the chapter enough to commit to 11 books...based on the amount of mysteries available, my answer is probably not.
Of the 13 excerpts, I noted 5 authors I would like to read more from (Sanders, Haddam, Palmer, DeAndrea, and Estleman), I struggled to read 3 of the excerpts (by White, Sayers, and Wentworth), and I was neutral on the remaining 5.
My Favorite Excerpt:
Not a Creature was Stirring by Jane Haddam
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
A Permanent Member of the Family
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 99.
A Permanent Member of the Family by Russell Banks
Summary:
A collection of 12 short stories.
My Opinion:
The author has a very quiet poetic way of writing. Each story was more about human behavior and emotions than big climatic events; I enjoyed it but it's not a writing style for everyone. As with most short story collections, there was some unevenness but definitely more "hits" than "misses".
I had not read the author before but would definitely read another one of his books.
My Favorite Story:
"A Permanent Member of the Family" (the title story), although "Former Marine" was a very close second.
A Permanent Member of the Family by Russell Banks
Summary:
A collection of 12 short stories.
My Opinion:
The author has a very quiet poetic way of writing. Each story was more about human behavior and emotions than big climatic events; I enjoyed it but it's not a writing style for everyone. As with most short story collections, there was some unevenness but definitely more "hits" than "misses".
I had not read the author before but would definitely read another one of his books.
My Favorite Story:
"A Permanent Member of the Family" (the title story), although "Former Marine" was a very close second.
Undead and Unsure
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 98.
Undead and Unsure by MaryJanice Davidson
Book 12 in the Undead series
Summary (via the book jacket):
It's no surprise to Betsy that her trip to Hell with her sister, Laura, landed them in hot water. Betsy isn't exactly sorry she killed the devil but it's put Laura in a damnable position: forced to assume to role of Satan (she may have the training but she looks good in red) - and in charge of billions of souls now that she's moved up in the world. Or is that down?
But Betsy herself is in an odd new situation as well - that of being a responsible monarch suddenly in charge of all things earthbound, like her vampire husband, Sinclair, who has gone from relieved to ecstatic to downright reckless now that he can tolerate sunlight. And if Sinclair isn't enough to contend with, Betsy's best friend Jessica is in her - hopefully - last trimester. Considering she's been pregnant for way too many months, Jessica's become a veritable encyclopedia of what not to expect when you're expecting. Oh, the horror...
Everything comes to a head at Thanksgiving dinner, which quickly - and literally - becomes Hell for Betsy and her family...
My Opinion:
This series gets crazier and crazier with each book. While it does keep the story interesting since you never have a clue what direction it will go, it's unsettling to read a book that appears to have been written on the fly with no thought to plot development (backed into a corner? Parallel Universe time!) or cohesion. This series fell apart around the tenth book, and I hope the author takes a moment to calm down and gather her thoughts before the next book comes out.
Will I continue to read the series? Of course. Hopefully with more enjoyment than this book gave me.
Quote from the Book:
"Yes, this was one of the oddest confrontations I had ever taken part in, involving no less than the Antichrist, the beloved aunt of my childhood, an infant, a Civil War scholar, a billionaire, a homicide detective, and a dead physician."
Undead and Unsure by MaryJanice Davidson
Book 12 in the Undead series
Summary (via the book jacket):
It's no surprise to Betsy that her trip to Hell with her sister, Laura, landed them in hot water. Betsy isn't exactly sorry she killed the devil but it's put Laura in a damnable position: forced to assume to role of Satan (she may have the training but she looks good in red) - and in charge of billions of souls now that she's moved up in the world. Or is that down?
But Betsy herself is in an odd new situation as well - that of being a responsible monarch suddenly in charge of all things earthbound, like her vampire husband, Sinclair, who has gone from relieved to ecstatic to downright reckless now that he can tolerate sunlight. And if Sinclair isn't enough to contend with, Betsy's best friend Jessica is in her - hopefully - last trimester. Considering she's been pregnant for way too many months, Jessica's become a veritable encyclopedia of what not to expect when you're expecting. Oh, the horror...
Everything comes to a head at Thanksgiving dinner, which quickly - and literally - becomes Hell for Betsy and her family...
My Opinion:
This series gets crazier and crazier with each book. While it does keep the story interesting since you never have a clue what direction it will go, it's unsettling to read a book that appears to have been written on the fly with no thought to plot development (backed into a corner? Parallel Universe time!) or cohesion. This series fell apart around the tenth book, and I hope the author takes a moment to calm down and gather her thoughts before the next book comes out.
Will I continue to read the series? Of course. Hopefully with more enjoyment than this book gave me.
Quote from the Book:
"Yes, this was one of the oddest confrontations I had ever taken part in, involving no less than the Antichrist, the beloved aunt of my childhood, an infant, a Civil War scholar, a billionaire, a homicide detective, and a dead physician."
Monday, December 30, 2013
Under the Duvet
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 97.
Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes
Summary:
A collection of nonfiction essays from author Marian Keyes, some of which were previously published in magazines and newspapers and some of which are published here for the first time.
My Opinion:
I really liked all of the fiction books by Keyes that I've read but it's been awhile since I had read anything by her. So as I was scanning my books today looking for a light read, I decided to pull this one out (published in 2004, it's been on my shelf for years) and use the opportunity to revisit her writing.
Although her writing style seems to be a bit better suited for her longer fiction novels (just as the story picked up steam, it was over), I wasn't disappointed with this book. It was a nice reminder for me to see if she's written anything recently that I haven't read yet.
My Favorite Story:
"Till Debt Us Do Part"
Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes
Summary:
A collection of nonfiction essays from author Marian Keyes, some of which were previously published in magazines and newspapers and some of which are published here for the first time.
My Opinion:
I really liked all of the fiction books by Keyes that I've read but it's been awhile since I had read anything by her. So as I was scanning my books today looking for a light read, I decided to pull this one out (published in 2004, it's been on my shelf for years) and use the opportunity to revisit her writing.
Although her writing style seems to be a bit better suited for her longer fiction novels (just as the story picked up steam, it was over), I wasn't disappointed with this book. It was a nice reminder for me to see if she's written anything recently that I haven't read yet.
My Favorite Story:
"Till Debt Us Do Part"
The Execution of Noa P. Singleton
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 96.
The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver
Summary (via the book jacket):
Noa P. Singleton never spoke a word in her own defense throughout a brief trial that ended with a jury finding her guilty of first-degree murder. Ten years later, having accepted her fate, she sits on death row in a maximum-security penitentiary, just six months away from her execution date.
Seemingly out of the blue, she is visited by Marlene Dixon, a high-powered Philadelphia attorney who is also the mother of the woman Noa was imprisoned for killing. Marlene tells Noa that she has changed her mind about the death penalty and Noa's sentence, and will do everything in her considerable power to convince the governor to commute the sentence to life in prison, in return for the one thing Noa is unwilling to trade: her story.
Marlene desperately wants Noa to reveal the events that led to her daughter's death - events that only Noa knows of and that she has never shared with a soul. With death looming, Marlene believes that Noa may finally give her the answers she needs, though Noa is far from convinced that Marlene deserves the salvation she alone can deliver. Inextricably linked by murder but with very different goals, Noa and Marlene wrestle with the sentences life itself can impose while they confront the best and worst of what makes us human in this haunting tale of love, anguish, and deception.
My Opinion:
Wow. This book was outstanding. I can say nothing else because peeling the layers away at your own pace is such an important part of the experience. I'm still recovering. I can't wait for someone else to read this so I can talk about ALL the feelings!
Quote from the Book:
"If I were to offer an explanation of why I did what I did, half of the public wouldn't believe it, and the other half wouldn't think it changed a thing. The only people who would be transformed by a revelation are related to Sarah, and this so-called revelation isn't going to bring her back. So why does anyone really need to know?"
The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver
Summary (via the book jacket):
Noa P. Singleton never spoke a word in her own defense throughout a brief trial that ended with a jury finding her guilty of first-degree murder. Ten years later, having accepted her fate, she sits on death row in a maximum-security penitentiary, just six months away from her execution date.
Seemingly out of the blue, she is visited by Marlene Dixon, a high-powered Philadelphia attorney who is also the mother of the woman Noa was imprisoned for killing. Marlene tells Noa that she has changed her mind about the death penalty and Noa's sentence, and will do everything in her considerable power to convince the governor to commute the sentence to life in prison, in return for the one thing Noa is unwilling to trade: her story.
Marlene desperately wants Noa to reveal the events that led to her daughter's death - events that only Noa knows of and that she has never shared with a soul. With death looming, Marlene believes that Noa may finally give her the answers she needs, though Noa is far from convinced that Marlene deserves the salvation she alone can deliver. Inextricably linked by murder but with very different goals, Noa and Marlene wrestle with the sentences life itself can impose while they confront the best and worst of what makes us human in this haunting tale of love, anguish, and deception.
My Opinion:
Wow. This book was outstanding. I can say nothing else because peeling the layers away at your own pace is such an important part of the experience. I'm still recovering. I can't wait for someone else to read this so I can talk about ALL the feelings!
Quote from the Book:
"If I were to offer an explanation of why I did what I did, half of the public wouldn't believe it, and the other half wouldn't think it changed a thing. The only people who would be transformed by a revelation are related to Sarah, and this so-called revelation isn't going to bring her back. So why does anyone really need to know?"
Girl Walks into a Bar
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 95.
Girl Walks into a Bar...Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle by Rachel Dratch
Summary:
The longer the title, the shorter the summary. Rachel Dratch (most famous for her time on SNL) writes about her attempts at dating, her surprise pregnancy at age 43, and new motherhood.
A quote from her book that sums it up pretty well: "So you're forty-three and think you can't have kids but unexpectedly got pregnant on a trip to Hawaii with a guy you've known for six months who you think is a good guy but the two of you aren't even close to any sort of a commitment".
My Opinion:
A light, enjoyable read. Rachel made me smile without forcing the funny and she is a great storyteller.
Quote from the Book:
"I was forty-three years old and I was actually seeing the benefits of not having kids and was accepting my fate after all those years of struggling. Then, I met a guy in a bar."
Girl Walks into a Bar...Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle by Rachel Dratch
Summary:
The longer the title, the shorter the summary. Rachel Dratch (most famous for her time on SNL) writes about her attempts at dating, her surprise pregnancy at age 43, and new motherhood.
A quote from her book that sums it up pretty well: "So you're forty-three and think you can't have kids but unexpectedly got pregnant on a trip to Hawaii with a guy you've known for six months who you think is a good guy but the two of you aren't even close to any sort of a commitment".
My Opinion:
A light, enjoyable read. Rachel made me smile without forcing the funny and she is a great storyteller.
Quote from the Book:
"I was forty-three years old and I was actually seeing the benefits of not having kids and was accepting my fate after all those years of struggling. Then, I met a guy in a bar."
Sunday, December 29, 2013
The Lady and Her Monsters
My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013. I just finished book 94.
The Lady and Her Monsters: A Tale of Dissections, Real-Life Dr. Frankensteins, and the Creation of Mary Shelley's Masterpiece by Roseanne Montillo
Summary (excerpted from the book jacket):
This nonfiction book recounts how Mary Shelley's Victor Frankenstein mirrored actual scientists of the period. Shelley and her contemporaries were artists, poets, and philosophers, united in captivation with the occultists and daring scientists risking their reputations and their immortal souls to advance our understanding of human anatomy and medicine.
These remarkable investigations could not be undertaken without the cutthroat grave robbers who prowled cemeteries for a supply of fresh corpses. The newly dead were used for both private and very public autopsies and dissections, as well as the most daring trials of all: attempts at human reanimation through the application of electricity.
Juxtaposing monstrous mechanization and rising industrialism with the sublime beauty and decadence of the legendary Romantics who defined the age, Montillo takes us into the world where poets became legends in salons and boudoirs; where fame-hungry "doctors" conduct shocking performances for rabid, wide-eyed audiences; and where maniacal body snatchers secretly toil in castle dungeons.
My Opinion:
I started this book November 5 and just finished today. The book is less than 300 pages. That in and of itself is a pretty good indicator of how I feel about this book.
One of the consequences of random reading (and always finishing the books I start) is that a book I pick up on a whim can very quickly turn out to be a book that's not for me. I can't fault the author. Well, maybe I can fault the author a little...the second half of the book was very interesting and full of "fun facts" but I had become so bogged down by the details of the first half that I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.
On the nonfiction spectrum, this is closer to the "textbook" side than the "reads like fiction but happens to be true" side. This is not a criticism, just a note to those who consider reading it.
Quote from the Book:
"As the weeks passed, the critics continued to speculate that either Godwin [Mary's father] or Shelley [Mary's husband] had written Frankenstein. In a way, they were right and wrong at the same time. By birth and marriage, Mary was both a Godwin and a Shelley." ~ one of the things I learned from this book - Frankenstein was originally published anonymously.
The Lady and Her Monsters: A Tale of Dissections, Real-Life Dr. Frankensteins, and the Creation of Mary Shelley's Masterpiece by Roseanne Montillo
Summary (excerpted from the book jacket):
This nonfiction book recounts how Mary Shelley's Victor Frankenstein mirrored actual scientists of the period. Shelley and her contemporaries were artists, poets, and philosophers, united in captivation with the occultists and daring scientists risking their reputations and their immortal souls to advance our understanding of human anatomy and medicine.
These remarkable investigations could not be undertaken without the cutthroat grave robbers who prowled cemeteries for a supply of fresh corpses. The newly dead were used for both private and very public autopsies and dissections, as well as the most daring trials of all: attempts at human reanimation through the application of electricity.
Juxtaposing monstrous mechanization and rising industrialism with the sublime beauty and decadence of the legendary Romantics who defined the age, Montillo takes us into the world where poets became legends in salons and boudoirs; where fame-hungry "doctors" conduct shocking performances for rabid, wide-eyed audiences; and where maniacal body snatchers secretly toil in castle dungeons.
My Opinion:
I started this book November 5 and just finished today. The book is less than 300 pages. That in and of itself is a pretty good indicator of how I feel about this book.
One of the consequences of random reading (and always finishing the books I start) is that a book I pick up on a whim can very quickly turn out to be a book that's not for me. I can't fault the author. Well, maybe I can fault the author a little...the second half of the book was very interesting and full of "fun facts" but I had become so bogged down by the details of the first half that I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.
On the nonfiction spectrum, this is closer to the "textbook" side than the "reads like fiction but happens to be true" side. This is not a criticism, just a note to those who consider reading it.
Quote from the Book:
"As the weeks passed, the critics continued to speculate that either Godwin [Mary's father] or Shelley [Mary's husband] had written Frankenstein. In a way, they were right and wrong at the same time. By birth and marriage, Mary was both a Godwin and a Shelley." ~ one of the things I learned from this book - Frankenstein was originally published anonymously.
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