Monthly Archives: April 2021

This had been on my wish list for some time but then a bookish friend recommended it so I upped its place in the “line.”   I’m glad she did.  It’s quite good.  So good in fact I may have … Continue reading →

Of Ishiguro’s 8 novels I’ve read 6, missingThe Unconsoled and A Pale View of the Hills.  And I’ve read his volume of short stories.  I’ve really enjoyed reading his books although the last three have not been as good, imo. … Continue reading →

Although I’ve read a couple books, I haven’t been a big Harlan Coban fan until now.  He gets a bit too much into the fem-jeop violence for my tastes (females in jeopardy).  But the publisher blurb intrigued me (see below):  … Continue reading →

Russell Shorto writes books of popular history, but this is his first memoir and it’s a family memoir with some history thrown in.  I guess I’m a Shorto fan because he written 7 books and now I’ve read 5 – … Continue reading →

I read this back in March so I won’t count it in this month’s stats but I forgot to log it back then.   The New Wilderness By Diane Cookread by Stacey Glemboski  12h 46m Rating:  8  From the Booker site: … Continue reading →

This kind of nonfiction is not my favorite – it’s pretty “creative” in terms of writing style and that sometimes interferes with my enjoyment.  It makes me switch back and forth between aesthetic enjoyment and factual detail and the main thrust of Kindred … Continue reading →

I guess I’m late to the party but I’m tired of being overweight and unhappy about it.  I’m not able to exercise much due to age and surgeries. Sad because moving a lot has always worked in the past in … Continue reading →

This book was a disappointment because I’ve very much enjoyed Sears’ prior novels – the ones in the Jason Stafford series.  This is another New York thriller but I’m not sure about it – somehow there is the same-old, same-old … Continue reading →

It took me a little while, but I finally decided on another spy novel by Mick Herron. This one is an older stand alone and nothing like my favorite Slough House and Jackson Lamb books. It’s read by Julia Franklin … Continue reading →

This may be the grossest book I’ve ever read and that’s seriously too bad because it’s also brilliant.  On the one hand it’s so gross there were places which simply creeped me out.  On the other hand I finished, totally … Continue reading →

Whew!   Starting out with #1 in a series.  (After the last #4 as stand-alone crime book this is a relief.)  And it’s a gentle book – where the last book put the thriller before all else, this one is … Continue reading →

This is pathetic –  it’s #4 in a series of 4 (so far).  And it would really be best to read the books in order – (take heed).  Unfortunately it was my first, so there were lots of connections I … Continue reading →

A question from a reader posted on this blog prompted me to reread this marvelous book.  Yes, I had a good crime novel going but I’m open these days and From a Low and Quiet Sea is quite short, a novella … Continue reading →

I read this years ago but my reading group selected it for April and because it had been so long I did it again.  I have it at home in paperback so I purchased a Kindle version – it’s not … Continue reading →

I’m going through a lot of sale books lately, but that’s a good way to find new-to-me authors such as LynDee Walker.  First impressions were that not only is the narrative try too hard to be cute and funny, the … Continue reading →

I got this because it was on sale and because I’d heard a lot about it over the years and because I’m interested in Irish history and finally because Gerard Doyle narrates it.  I was kind of hoping for some … Continue reading →

That’s what this book is about – the economic crashes and the crises of the west from the Tulip Bubble of the 17th century to the German post-WWI hyper-inflation, the US stock market crash of 1929 and the housing loans … Continue reading →