JANUARY READS

[rapa]

Happy 2015!!!! Did you remember to "RABBIT, RABBIT, RABBIT?"

I'm starting the new year with a debut novel by Martha Woodroof, SMALL BLESSINGS. This is a beautifully written book that will elicit laughs and tears. This heart warming story takes place in a small Virginia college town with a cast of charmingly imperfect characters.

Hope you, too, have time now to curl up with a good read.

[rapa]

Currently reading the recently releashed HONEYDEW by Edith Pearlman. This is a wonderful collection of short stories similar to those by Alice Munroe. These stories would be perfect for reading aloud to those not capable to read for themselves.

On deck is MAEVE'S TIMES:in Her Own Words. This is selected writings of Maeve Binchy from The Irish Times.

Today am picking up THE BOSTON GIRL by Anita Diamant, author of the fabulous THE RED TENT.

The past two days have been without TV, internet and all telephone service after techs doing an installation next door accidently cut our main line. This morning ATT send an angel to remedy the situation! Whew!!!!

[Lip Service]

Finished A Duty To The Dead by Charles Todd

It is the first of a series of mysteries featuring the character Bess Crawford, a nurse in England during WWI. The story is tight, the characterization very good, the feeling of the locale is excellent (even if the authors are East Coast dwellers). An enjoyable read that I recommend. There are four volumes to that series and there is another series about inspector Ian Rutledge.

Charles Todd is a pen name for an unusual team consisting of one writer working with his mother  

[Eaglewoman]

I have read all the Bess Crawford books, really like  Charles Todd.

[Carci]

I'm halfway through Don't Look Back by Greg Hurwitz.  Newly separated Eve takes a solo vacation (that was meant to celebrate her 10th anniversary) in the jungles of southern Mexico.  Supposedly a very safe locale we soon learn that is not the case.  One thing I have learned so far is that I definitely don't want to vacation in any jungle...  lol.

The book gets creepy scary pretty early in the story and Hurwitz can paint some rather gruesome scenes that make you want to put the book down but you can't because you have to find out what happens next. 

I have The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva up next.  It's an early book by him set in Germany 1944 that DH loved.  I'm into WWII books so will probably like it as well.

[Ioruach]

I just finished a novel called Shatter by Michael Robotham. It is a psychological thriller that I  found hard to put down.  At 470 pages, it might have gone on a bit too long, but, all in all, I thought it was well written. I highly recommend it to any “thriller” readers out there.  I have read a couple of the author’s other books and enjoyed them as well.  

[Carolyn Tewell]

GEESCH! I was having abandonment issues!

CARCI... I thought I had tried to read Hurwitz DON'T LOOK BACK...need to check on that.

RAPA...hopefully you have restored TV and all Internet connections. Would be challenging here in NE OHIO as Winter has settled in with a vengeance! No way to even cross street to have a glass of wine with neighbor without taking sled dog!

MAEVE'S TIMES. Was a "pick" by our Library and even saw a copy on the end aisle display. Considered grabbing but had a stack of too many books to handle at the time. Now, I will probably have to get on a "wait list."

I finished THE ESCAPE by David Baldacci. It did feature 2/3 of action by heroines. (Female staff). Yet, the hero reminds me of the old TV SHOW "THE LONE RANGER"...like nobody could be that perfect. Guess I like more reality with my fantasy.

I'm reading the non-fiction "THE DISTRACTION ADDICTION" by Alex Pang. Pretty dry so far...supposed to have some humor....I'm waiting?

Geesch! All I do is complain? I do read Plain Dealer, USA Today and Wall Street Journal for enjoyment.

Does that count?~mellow

[rapa]

Yes, TV/internet/phone lines restored after two days but must still call ATT to get credit for those days. Actually should ask for compensation for pain and suffering!!!

Am now enjoying THE BOSTON GIRL which begins when Addie Baum's 22 yr old granddaughter asks "How did you get to be the woman you are today?". Eighty-five year old Addie starts her story in 1915 and recalls her adventures with compassion for the naive girl she was. The author of this book is Anita Diamant, author of the fabulous THE RED TENT.

[Mandy Muffin]

Lining up my E-books for a three week cruise to Rio starting next weekend. With all the publicity, my new read is "American Sniper" by Chris Kyle http://www.amazon.com/American-Sniper-Autobiography-Military-Histor...  This could be the Academy Award winner.  I have an addition thirteen books selected and downloaded to the device, which should be sufficient. I don't know if the cloud travels with you on cruise ship?   I absolutely love my new Kindle Fire, which I purchased for just $79 on an Amazon special this X-Mas.  I generally had to pack a half dozen books when I took a cruise, even more for longer cruises, but now I have it all in less than a lb, as well as a fully functional tablet for communicating back to my family. Isn't technology great? 

[grammyk]

Have a wonderful vacation, Mandy!

[Mandy Muffin]

Thanks!  This is a 45 anniversary trip.  I've got some doubts that we will be in good enough shape to make the 50th, so we are doing something special this year.  We did a cross-Atlantic cruise for the 25th and went around the bottom half of South America for the 35th.  So this is one more "bucket list" item: being in Rio on Carnival Day. 

[Slopok]

Happy 45th Mandy. We'll celebrate our 45th this year also. We've never been on a cruise. We been scuba diving in the Caribbean but we always flew. A cruise may be just the ticket! I sure hope you and your's, as well as me and mine,will be around for the 50th.  

[Lip Service]

It is now to be taken for granted that all hotels and all cruise ships would have internet service and most of the time wifi as well. Since the ship is connected through satellite expect the response of the internet to be quite different so be more patient The signal travels at the speed of light and must go to the satellite and back. You are aware of it when you see people from different continents being interviewed on TV

A few years back, a hotel manager rolled his eyes when I told him that wifi will be expected and free. We're not quite there

I also love my kindle fire and use it for multiple things,  reading books, listening to music and playing games (mostly puzzles) also showing people pictures on it. I have about four hundred books on that device. When I went to a recent vacation overseas it was the right thing to have both during long flights and on the beach. If you also have Amazon prime then you can borrow a free book (one at a time) and watch lots of movies/tv shows

Mandy, I wish you a great holiday in Rio where the weather will be great and hope that the 50th will be even better.

For those who cannot go to Rio come on over to Silicon Valley where it is sunny and 74. Sorry Mellow, I know winter is brutal in your neck of the woods. I used to live near there and did not believe the weather report when it indicated that certain areas of the country were basking in warm sunshine. The grey skies got to me worse than the cold