June Reads

[Lip Service]

Memorial Day is now behind us, it must be summer

Good time for reading, please share with us your latest

[Lip Service]

I recently finished The Yard by  Alex Grecian, one may call it a historic procedural mystery. It  takes place in London in the 1890s when Scotland Yard was first established after Jack The Ripper. London was the largest city in the world and it increased sixfold in the span of ten years together with the problems that accompany fast growth. The mystery part is slim since we are given the identity of the perpetrator early on, but it is an interesting read if you like history

[Mandy Muffin]

I'm going retro for the next three book, as I give my Kindle Fire and my Iphone a rest.  Picked up three from the library yesterday:

--Cross Justice" by James Patterson.  I have read so many Alex Cross stories over the years that I thought that I'd check in on the Patterson novel machine and see what he is up to now.  The story takes place in Florida which will bring some familiarity to the scene.

--"The Revival" by Stephen King.  King has written a series of new novels that are not as weird as past efforts and resemble his early works.  This one involves exorcising demons.

--"Avenue of Mysteries" by John Irving. It's been a long time since "The World According to Garp," but the talented writer is probably at end of his career as he writes a story of a 13 year old Mexican girl who is mind reader.  Strange!

[Ioruach]

Carci, I also read The Player and The Fraud by Brad Parks and liked them as well. I can't find that my library has any older ones, though.

Now I am reading like mad, trying to finish All the Light We Cannot See, before it is due tomorrow. Can't renew it because there is still a waiting list. I noticed today that it popped back into the top 10 on the N. Y. Times best seller list after being absent a week or two. Seems like it has been there forever.

[Carci]

I've begun Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee.  It has been so many years since I read Mockingbird that I hardly remember the story... I just keep flashing on Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch from the 1962 movie.

I found the beginning rather boring but even though I told myself I would put it down, somehow I am still reading it and am over 1/2 way through. 

Have any of you read it?  

[Mandy Muffin]

Yes, I enjoyed it.  It showed a different side of Atticus Finch. 

[Carolyn Tewell]

Lip Service...thanks for starting us off!

CARCI...WATCHMAN...might get to it at some point. I'm still hoping to read THE FOUNTAIN HEAD in this decade???

LORUACH...Ordered 2 books by Brad Parks after reading your post. Titles provided on next post. They didn't have on Audio the whole series so guess I'll just have to muddle through.

MANDY...Cross Justice...seems like I have a Patterson "on hold" from library but not that title?

Also reading Mary Roach's STIFF...everything you ever wanted to know about what happens to a body after life. Read "GULP" and just ordered her Reader's Digest compilation of articles. Plus 2 more "BONK" and GRUNT. The woman is such an amazing researcher and "burst out laughing" funny.

Speaking on that same topic flow I'm listening to "GOODBYE TO THE DEAD" by Brian Freeman. The reader is Joe Barrett and I'm just lovin' it! Barrett is so close in voice to Frank Muller who was the champ of narration until his passing in 2008.

Watching CAVS/WARRIORS...going camping this weekend then Tues I head back to Fort Lauderdale to care for my Grandkids since their Dad is in Hospital and my Daughter is trying to be by his side as much as possible. Cleveland Clinic has several branches down there. Amazing.

I'll post more from under the palm trees with any kind of luck.~Carolyn

[Ioruach]

I did finish All the Light We Cannot See in time and thought it was well deserving of the Pulitzer Prize. But I'm sure the book is old news to most of you.

Now, after a weekend pause, I have some lighter Summer reading: a mystery called Vixen by Bill Pronzini who writes the Nameless Detective series. I also have a half dozen books on hold at the library, some with many names ahead of mine.

Other things are going on, though. I have unofficially been put in charge of the small boxed garden we have set up at my senior apartment facility. There is a nice porch overlooking the garden, so perhaps I can bring a book down there and watch the garden grow while I read.

[rapa]

Loruach, was the ending of the book satisfying for you? Unfortunately, I was left wanting more of something. Perhaps I should read it again!

Enjoy watching that garden grow! Do you have any herbs in the garden?

[Ioruach]

Thinking back, the ending didn't disappoint me, rapa. I never expected a completely "they lived happily ever after" ending to the book. The story covered a far to tragic period in history for that. But the ending was, I thought, much about survival, showing how people can endure and rise above tragic events in their lives. That was pretty much how I saw it.

Yes, there were quite a few herbs, rapa. Maybe I will have a chance to learn how to use some of them. Tomorrow I plan to put some radish seeds between the late summer arrivals. That's a trick I have often used to save space, because the radishes can be picked early before the late-arriving vegetables get very large. We will see how it all goes.

[rapa]

I ordered REDEMPTION ROAD from library per Ursula's recommendation. Fortunately there's no long reserve list so I'm #2 and there are two available. Need to finish Baldacci's THE LAST MILE before the 8th. Really good book but currently have little reading time.

[rapa]

Whew! Did finish THE LAST MILE last night. Was a fast moving Baldacci tome and quite chilling as this is an election year. Can pick up REDEMPTION ROAD tomorrow.

[Carolyn Tewell]

NOT A FAN OF BALDACCI....However Jim and I listened to the AudioVersion while camping and driving this weekend...LOVE, LOVE, LOVEing it! Both of us? YOWZA! That hasn't happened in a couple years.

Lots of characters, twists and turns, timelines but the guy can really put together an amazing mystery!!!

So did someone mention John Hart's REDEMPTION ROAD? I see that the Plain Dealer gave it an A- so I will be placing a hold on this tonight (library has internet link up for holds, notifications, etc)