cjeanne99's reviews
969 reviews

I’m going to have to read this again as I don’t remember the details. But I do remember that this book grabbed me. Eugene and Finny were so real to me. Fifty years later I still remember how much I loved this book. 

A favorite of my children - so glad I could introduce granddaughter Mara to the great green room, the little bunny, and of course, the old lady whispering “hush” - which has to be spoken in.a very exact manner prescribed by my son when he was three. 
Fun to learn that this book was not allowed at the New York Public Library for a few years. 
https://www.themarysue.com/goodnight-moon-controversy-why-was-the-beloved-book-banned-for-25-years/

Will Noor fulfill the prophecy introduced in Book 4? We still don’t know. 

On a day when a convicted felon has been sworn in as the 47th president of the United States - I listened to this biography of George Floyd. The authors give us George Floyd, his youth in Houston, his success as a high school athlete, his challenges with addiction as a young man, his move to Minneapolis to make changes, and overall - his faith in God. We learn of his grandfather’s struggles as an African American landowner in the late 1800’s - who lost his land over an unpaid tax bill - leading the family back to sharecropping - the racism that George grew up with, and continued to live with every day of his life. 
We learn of Derek Chauvin’s family background, his early days on the police force where he was reprimanded for using excessive force. 
They give us George’s last day of life, and the lasting legacy that has come from his murder.  

In which we meet Arthur Less, novelist, approaching his 50th birthday, ex lover of renowned poet Robert Brownburn, and avoiding attending the wedding of his current ex - Freddy Pelu. What does Arthur do? he schedules a weeks long multi country tour to make sure he is far away during the big event.
These two blogs summarize Less better than I can.
I do like Arthur - and will read more of his adventures. 

http://www.actuallyitsrobpentydotorg.com/less/
https://reading-while-queer.tumblr.com/post/189832391444/less-andrew-sean-greer#notes

This book did not have the pace I usually associate with a Harlan Coben book - as in - I did not become so engrossed in the story that I had to stay up until 2:00 am to finish. 
The initial premise of Natalie and Jake falling madly in love in their short time in Vermont didn't gel with me. Especially what we learn later about Natalie -

Her father was a professor at the college that she claimed to have never seen and that her "artist's retreat" was just a cover for the Fresh Start org.  Why would she get romantically involved with anyone???

Plus - I found Jake to be annoying. 
And then there's Benedict - I did not mind the Myron/Win bromance aspects of Jake and Benedict - but again - when we learn the "truth" about Benedict - what? 

Dropping my original 3 rating to a 1.5  Finished this three days ago and I’m still brooding about the storyline. What about giving us Natalie’s story? Explain about her father and her obsession that led to her need to disappear for six years. 
And what the hell was she doing in those six years?? 
And why cyanide? 

And why could Natalie only get a Fresh Start for her crime - but once Jake is involved they both get to go into witness protection?

My first introduction to Wendy Wasserstein - she shares a story of one woman's journey from 1960's high school to finding her own life as an art historian. Throughout the play she maintains a friendship with her gay doctor friend, and oddly - with a man she meets at a McCarthy rally who becomes the epitome of the baby boomer successful businessman who cheats on his wife and his friends. 
Heidi perseveres and maintains her own identity. 

An exploration of family dynamics, mental health and our expectations of people we meet. A University of Chicago math professor who wrote some groundbreaking proofs in his career, is dealing with mental illness. The play gives us scenes after the professor's funeral with the older daughter trying to convince her sister that  she should move to New York - so the sister can take care of her. But Catherine wants to stay in Chicago - wants to continue her math studies at Northwestern - and possibly a relationship with one of her father's students.  We also have scenes with the father interacting with Catherine.  Towards the end - Catherine reveals a notebook which contains a brilliant new proof - which she claims she wrote and sister and student believe must have been written by her father. How could 28 yr old Catherine have possibly written this? 
How much like her father is Catherine?
The play was just enough of the dynamics to be engaging - and not too much to become dreary. 

A new (for me) police procedural series to enjoy. Duncan Kincaid is on holiday at a timeshare in Scotland when a body is found electrocuted in the swimming pool. Kincaid moves the body out of the pool, and thus sets himself up to be antagonized by the local constable in charge of investigating the murder.  Other murders follow - and Kincaid calls for his preferred assistant - Gemma James - to drive up to help him with his investigation - further angering the local police. 
Looking forward to more from Kincaid and James. 

This Other Eden is about the residents of Malaga Island, Maine - people from multiple continents and countries who built a life there in the 1800's  - raised their families - lived and learned. Until just before WWI when the Maine legislature declared that the government needed to take over the island and the residents needed to "evacuate". Some left to other towns - but many were moved to the Maine School for the Feeble Minded.