February Reads

[rapa]

"Hello February!" Are you ready for Punxsutawney Phil, Cupid, Year of the Monkey, Abe and George's birthday and a Leap Year jump into March?
Hope you treat yourselves to some good reading as winter continues.

I just started CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER by Tom Franklin. This is a compelling, literary crime novel set in rural Mississippi. It begins in the late 1970's with a secret friendship between a young white boy and black boy which was broken via the white boy's father. Twenty years later the black boy returns to the town as a constable and must confront the past that they had buried to deal with a suspected crime. Good read! Whipped through 100 pages last night.

What are you reading?

[rapa]

The challenge doesn't interest me as I read for pleasure and escape. I avoid directional reading!

[Slopok]

I agree with Rapa. I may stay involved with one genre for a while, then move on to another but I'm never without a book to read. 

[Mandy Muffin]

I am taking a 45,000 mile trip around America with an unemployed college professor from Missouri.  "Blue Highways" is a classic road adventure by William Least Heat-Moon.  (His Indian name)  He is off to find every back road in the nation in a beat up old camper van, as he chronicles his trip. Takes place in the early 80's as the American scene is shifting from rural villages to the big city and expressways.  Great reading, as I was always an adventurer. This is considered one of the best "on the road" book ever written. And I can do it all from my lanai here in the South Florida sunshine.  

[Lip Service]

One side effect of reading Blue Highway is that whenever you walk into a restaurant or diner you will start counting how many calendars they have on the wall

[Mandy Muffin]

I have driven many of the roads in this travel epic over the years.  I have heard some of the myth and mystery before about many of these places but enjoyed a retelling. But the guy really liked his drink, as he always was sure to sample the local beers, wines and liquor.  Of course, when you're on the road, the neighborhood tavern is a good place to meet people and get some of the local history.  Also, what 38 year old, well educated man has the free time to go off for a few months and leave the world behind?  A recently laid-off college professor who had just divorced his wife.  

[Carolyn Tewell]

EAGLEWOMAN...Wednesday we had a Friends of the Library meeting regarding a 100 book challenge....time line? 50 books year and win a very cool upscale jacket. I looked over the list and was encouraged to try many of their recommendations. Like your suggestions some would bring me out of my comfort zone. Library patrons are "fired up" to say that mildly!

Robert Crais's THE PROMISE...which features Law Enforcement Officer with his Police Dog, Maggie. The mystery is engaging enough but the inclusion of the dog and his master is enlightening to me. (As a side note Action Man and I studied for almost 3 years to purchase a German Shepherd)

Owning a dog is a big responsibility and we felt we were not up to the commitment. We have taken over time owning cats....challenges enough with them!! <^..^>

[Carci]

I loved The Promise, Carolyn, one of the best of this year so far.  So much insight into what our furry friends are thinking and reacting to.  My little, Boo, will be 13 next week and has been failing, healthwise, for over a year now.  She recently developed cataracs which have rendered her totally blind in the last month.  Very hard to deal with but we still love her dearly and will try to make her life as good as possible for as long as we still have her with us.

I am reading 2 books, simultaneously, right now... something I have never done before.  They are vastly different in genre so I am having no trouble keeping the story lines separate... lol

Winter Men was a free Amazon Prime book last month and is the story of 2 German brothers during WWII.  They both join the Nazi party to further there careers, altho neither one of them supports Hitler.  They are being drawn into a war which they don't support but can't openly oppose...  very interesting reading.

I'm also reading The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty.  I like 2 of her previous books and this one is a light mystery and a nice change of pace... I've just started it so will say no more for now.

[Mandy Muffin]

I just finished "The Last Anniversary" and thought the book was delightful. I have been to Sydney and love most novels set in Australia.  It was a "gentle" treatment of a serious subject,postpartum depression. 

[Mandy Muffin]

After getting off the "Blue Highway" I am now reading the new Lisbeth Salander novel.  The girl with the dragon tattoo has to be one of the most intriguing women in modern detective stories.  So a new writer is now presenting her in "The Girl in the Spider's Web."  David Lagercrantz has taken over the writing after the death of the original author, Stieg Larson.  Amazon has it out for $3.99 today. Lizbeth is in all kind of trouble, standing trial for murder, as the new story opens at the Millennium investigative news magazine.  

[Mandy Muffin]

Sorry, this one didn't pass the first 50 pages test.  Not the same quality of writing as Steig Larsson's original books, although it got decent reviews and was atop the best seller list for a while.  Lucky for me, Wiki had the the entire plot line which is a tangled computer hacking scheme.  I skipped this after reading the plot and went to a free book I just got yesterday from Amazon, "North of Here" by Lauren Saville. If you are a prime member check your mail as I get free book offers all the time from Amazon.  This one is about very dysfunctional Connecticut family who have a getaway cabin in the Adirondacks. Good writing and interesting plot so far, as a daughter is dealing with the death of her father and brother, as well as an alcoholic mother. She is greatly in need of a man in her life but which one to choose?  

 

[Flowergram]

Thanks Mandy - to you.  I ordered this book - sounds like it is a good one.  Have not been reading much of late and reading different types of books.  Some on the kindle and some real books.  I try taking a book along wherever I go - if I have a wait - I can always read, use a paperback for the convenience.  Have ordered a couple of Greg Isles books and look forward to starting those.  Sorry to hear the Girl in the Spiders Web not so good- loved Steig Larson's series.  Still have not seen the movie.  Less time to read if I watch a movie - I guess.  LOL.

[Slopok]

Finished, Crooked Letter, recommend by Rapa and Winter Men, recommended by Carci, both very good books. Started a Michener book but it's a little slow for these wet, cold days so I'll have to find something with some action....Maybe a Jericho Quinn book.