DECEMBER READS

[rapa]

December already! Where did the year go?

As Dr. Seuss said:
"How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?"

Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite storytellers. Today I picked up her just released novel FAITHFUL. The cover says that for anyone who's ever been a hurt teenager, for every mother of a daughter who has lost her way, FAITHFUL is a road map. Here, take a look/see:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29430788-faithful

[Ioruach]

Seems like there has been so much going on in my life over the last couple months that made my reading slow down somewhat. But it never stopped. I just finished Razor Girl, which cheered me up a great deal. Before that I read a better than average thriller, Invasion of Privacy by Christopher Reich. I just started The Black Widow by Daniel Silva, all 517 pages of it. I only have 500 to go.

Thomas Farquhar asked which books members enjoyed re-reading. Most of my pleasure reading today consists of novels.  And unlike poetry or some non-fiction, I don’t often re-read novels. When I was a kid, however, I remember re-reading my books often; The Zane Grey novels for young people, especially. The Young Forester and The Young Lion Hunter come to mind. I think I read both of them a dozen times if I read them once!

My one exception to not re-reading books now in my elder years has been Tim O’Brien’s masterpiece of the Vietnam War: The Things They Carried. The chapter called On the Rainy River never fails to bring tears to my eyes. I love that book.  Somehow, the writing keeps bringing me back to its pages time and time again. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that all have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a great and prosperous New Year and any other holiday they might celebrate.

[Jick]

I'm

currently reading  ORIENT by Christopher  Bollen. It's set on a small island off Long Island being overran by artists. As the blurb says : "a gorgeously written book with literary chops beyond doubt. Come for the prose and stay for the murders".

[Carci]

Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss :)

I recently read an excellent novel, one of my best this year, by Paulette Jiles,  News of the World. She is a new author for me and I am now reading another of her books: The Color of Lightning. Both are set in the west in the mid 1800, just after the civil war.

Highly recommended for a change of pace... News of the World:

In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction from the author of Enemy Women that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.

[rapa]

Today I picked up Richard Evans's THE MISTLETOE SECRET. 'Tis the season to be jolly!!!!!! :)

[rapa]

Turns out THE MISTLETOE SECRET storyline mainly takes place in Midway/Heber, Utah where my son lives. Started the book last night, enjoying being able to picture the area and finished this 300 page small book at 3:30 a.m. This was an enjoyable fast read dealing with loneliness.

[Carolyn Tewell]

I put SMALL GREAT THINGS and FAITHFUL on my library list. (Youngest Grand-daughter's name is Shelby)

Finished COMMONWEALTH. THANK GOD! After the first 60 pages I went back to grasp the characters and found myself doing that over and over...plus she continued adding new ones? Kept asking "Is this a condensed book?"

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED...unforgettable! Listened on audio a few years ago.

I have no other recommendations. Currently listening to David Balcacci's latest...NO MAN'S LAND. I don't like it but have nothing else. I listen at night and it does put me to sleep....lol

Always bizzy this time of year. Right now I am making old fashioned fudge...you know from the back of the Hershey's box with a couple added enhancements. My kids who are age 40's and 50's become like 10 year olds begging for this treat at XMAS.

My work hours are cut back so I can babysit Mamsan. Get respite a couple times a week to dash in and fire up the calculator.

Glad to see all of you!

[Ioruach]

Old fashioned fudge....yummy!

[Ioruach]

I just finished Home by Harlan Coben, which is in his Myron Bolitar series. The plot involves the reappearance of one of two boys who disappeared, or were kidnapped, ten years earlier when they were only 6 years old. I found the story to be very riveting and I enjoyed it very much. It was also very suspenseful and kept you guessing about what actually happened to the boys until the last couple chapters. I would classify it as one of Coben's best novels, among his many others. 

Before that I read Black Widow by Daniel Silva. It was also quite good, although rather long---more than 500 pages. It was all about the ISIS terror group, their attacks in Europe, followed by attacks on America, the group's ultimate goal. The novel was, however, somewhat puzzling because much of it focused on Gabriel Allon's (who for those of you who haven't read Silva is the protagonist in all his books) effort to infiltrate the group and learn where their next attacks would be. But that effort turned out to be a complete flop...at least that was my reading of it. It was pretty clear that Silva's primary goal in writing the book was to highlight the serious threat that ISIS (or ISIL) presents to the world. 

[rapa]

Just reserved HOME in large print as one is available. Will have it to read over Christmas week-end! Thanks, Loruach, for the recommendation.
Currently reading Lee Child's NIGHT SCHOOL. It hasn't grabbed me yet. Hope it picks up soon!

[rapa]

Thouroughly enjoyed Coban's HOME! Thanks to you and Carci for the recommendation!!!!!!

[Slopok]

Reading Never Cry Wolf" by Farley Mowat. Really enjoying the book,lots of humor and wolfish  insight:

In 1948, Farley Mowat landed in the far north of Manitoba, Canada, a young biologist sent to investigate the region’s dwindling population of caribou. Many people thought that the caribous’ conspicuous decline had been caused by the tundra’s most notorious predator: the wolf. Alone among the howling canine packs, Mowat expected to find the bloodthirsty beasts of popular conception. Instead, over the course of a summer spent observing the powerful animals, Mowat discovered an animal species with a remarkable capacity for loyalty, virtue, and playfulness.
 
Praised for its humor and engrossing narrative, Never Cry Wolf describes a group of wolves whose interactions and behaviors seem strikingly similar to our own. Mowat humanizes these animals that have long been demonized, turning the widespread narrative of the “savage wolf” on its head and inspiring many governments to enact protective legislation for the North’s most mysterious creature.

[Mandy Muffin]

I seem to have lost my E-Mail notice link with this group, as I switched computers but I just finished a book that may be of interest to the group:  As a Louise Penny fan, I'm just finishing her latest novel set in Three Pines (actually a composite town in the Eastern Townships of Quebec) and am delighted with both theme and story line.  "A Great Reckoning" takes Inspector Gamache into the past of Three Pines and evil doings at the Police Training Academy. The story line has a cadet named Amelia Choquet who has all the mystery of the girl with the dragon tattoo. A secret map takes the plot back to World War I and involves both the police and the town in an Agatha Christie type investigation.  A pure joy to read. An added touch is the integration of both French and English culture, which is my heritage.