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cjeanne99's reviews
971 reviews
A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
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.
Looking forward to more from Kincaid and James.
This Other Eden by Paul Harding
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
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.
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
I know the main points of her story - but learned the details - and gained a greater appreciation of what a strong person she is. The world is a better place because of Malala. The addition of her speech to the United Nations at the end of the book was a great ending.
All The Broken Places by John Boyne
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I had a slow start with this book - put off by some of the foreshadowing statements in the earlier chapters. And - when Gretl makes her pact with Mr. Darcy-Witt - I almost threw my iPad on the floor. But I’m wondering if that was the reaction Boyne was going for. Gretl one more time making a “deal with the devil”. Did not expect her to murder the abusive husband
This statement from Boyne in his afterword hit home for me:
Writing about the Holocaust is a fraught business and any novelist approaching it takes on an enormous burden of responsibility. Not the burden of education, which is the task of non-fiction, but the burden of exploring emotional truths and authentic human experiences while remembering that the story of every person who died in the Holocaust is one that is worth telling.
He chose to tell a very different view of the Holocaust story - and I think he did a good job. I haven’t read the story of Greta’s brother - and I think I will.
This statement from Boyne in his afterword hit home for me:
Writing about the Holocaust is a fraught business and any novelist approaching it takes on an enormous burden of responsibility. Not the burden of education, which is the task of non-fiction, but the burden of exploring emotional truths and authentic human experiences while remembering that the story of every person who died in the Holocaust is one that is worth telling.
He chose to tell a very different view of the Holocaust story - and I think he did a good job. I haven’t read the story of Greta’s brother - and I think I will.
The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Simplistic story of lessons being taught to a grandson whose wealthy grandfather wanted to ensure that his life philosophy was passed on. I am sure that many an adult study group has been formed at churches around the world for people to discuss and try to “live out” the gifts of this book.
The gifts aren’t a bad idea - but the execution of grandpa creating twelve challenges accompanied by twelve video tapes was too preachy for me.
The gifts aren’t a bad idea - but the execution of grandpa creating twelve challenges accompanied by twelve video tapes was too preachy for me.
This Is What Happened by Mick Herron
fast-paced
3.75
Two sisters in London are estranged after the death of their parents. One is an advertising executive - the other an office worker struggling to be liked. Maggie meets a man who claims he works for M5 - and he needs her to perform some espionage at a company in her building. What starts as a.prank becomes two years of Maggie’s life as the man convinces her that she has killed someone while trying to leave the building and therefore must go into hiding in a safe house. He then tells her that the espionage she performed unleashed a computer virus that allowed the Chinese government to take over Great Britain - life as she knew it is gone. She must stay in the safe house.
Two years later - Maggie’s sister Meredith starts to look for her - cleverly tracks down her trail - and thanks to a wardrobe malfunctionHarvey wears a yellow scarf of Maggie’s when Meredith first meets him at a coffee shop begins to put the pieces together of who might have been the last person to see her sister.
What an ending.Meredith comes to Harvey’s house on the same day he has decided to kill Maggie. He attempts to kill Meredith but only succeeds in knocking her out. Harvey goes to the basement but when he tries to hit Maggie on the head he instead knocks out the lights - a struggle in the darkness ensues - Meredith wakes up and screams - Maggie hears her - gets upstairs and Harvey falls down the stairs dead
Two years later - Maggie’s sister Meredith starts to look for her - cleverly tracks down her trail - and thanks to a wardrobe malfunction
What an ending.
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Oh how I love Beartown. Year two. Kevin and his family move away. All but three of the Beartown Junior team players become the A Team in Hed. Benji, Bobo and Amat stay. Peter is still the manager. Sune is ill - so Elizabeth Zackell is brought in to coach the A Team.
Teemu Rinnius’ brother Vidar is the goalie. Ana and Maya’s friendship grows - almost breaks - and remains strong in the end.
The Pack, Ramona, Jeannette, Leo - love them all.
I wonder if Fredrick Blackman would join me for coffee one day. Would love to talk with him.
Teemu Rinnius’ brother Vidar is the goalie. Ana and Maya’s friendship grows - almost breaks - and remains strong in the end.
The Pack, Ramona, Jeannette, Leo - love them all.
I wonder if Fredrick Blackman would join me for coffee one day. Would love to talk with him.
River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.75
Almost a DNF for me - but I stuck with it in bits and pieces. Still - I never connected with Rachel as a character - or a mother - which I think is part of my problem.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Revisiting an old friend - will work through the rest of the series throughout 2025.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
First book in CS Lewis' Classic series of Narnia. FIrst read it in 1977 - and then wrote a research paper on Lewis and Narnia for an English Class seminar in college.