Shadow of Power

Martini, Steve. Shadow of Power.

6 word synopsis: Author murdered. Supreme Court Justice involved.

Found the premise a bit hard to swallow, but the novel was fast-paced and the legal stuff interesting.

Fiction. Legal thriller/mystery. ARC. 2008. 390 pages.

Late Night Talking

Schnur, Leslie. Late Night Talking.

6 word synopsis: Sterling Behavior? Radio host seeks love.

I found this little novel annoying. Jeannie Sterling hosts a late night radio talk show where she, her co-host, and listeners vent about poor behavior. Two love interests, self-involvement, bad behavior (she keys his car- huh? a grown woman who professes to be the arbiter of good behavior?).

Ooops. Another one for which I am the lone dissenting voice. After checking the Amazon reviews, it appears I would be the only one to give the book less than 4 or 5 stars. I might have given it 2.

Fiction. ARC. Chic Lit. 2007. 308 pages.

Belong to Me

de los Santos, Marisa. Belong to Me.

6 word synopsis: Suburban lives: Love, loss, and learning.

I had actually read the previous book about these characters, but didn't realize it when the ARC arrived. I really enjoyed this one, and didn't go back and re-read my review of the previous novel Love Walked In until I had finished Belong to Me.

Probably a good thing, because although I had liked parts of the first one, my overall impression of Love Walked In was "simply Chiclit."

De los Santos' latest effort, however, is much more. Certainly, it will appeal more to women than to men, but the narrative and the characters have grown and developed; they have blossomed into something much more complex than the original.

Here is a link to my 2006 review of Love Walked In. I still love the poem I found by de los Santos (Milagros Mourns the Queen of Scat) and included in the review.

Thanks to Christine at Harper Collins for this one.

Another review can be found at Lesley's Book Nook. Interestingly, Les read Belong to Me first, and Love Walked In second and liked Love Walked In better. I had completely forgotten about Cornelia and Clare when I read Belong to Me but definitely preferred the Belong to Me.


Fiction. 2008. 388 pages.

Weekly Geeks & Other Stuff

The Weekly Geeks topic this week is favorite books from your childhood. I had so many books that I loved that thinking back and trying to remember all of them was an interesting experience.

Pippi Longstocking; All of a Kind Family; Ann of Green Gables; Cheaper by the Dozen; Little Women; Little Men; Jo's Boys; The Secret Garden; Caddie Woodlawn; Hitty, Her First Hundred Years; The Wind in the Willows; Charlotte's Web; Swiss Family Robinson; Black Beauty; Treasure Island...and more. How many hours of comfort these books gave me!

There are others that were favorites when my kids were little, too, but I won't go into that. My childhood favorites are older classics, and yet, I think they hold up and have appeal today.

Received a bunch more ARC's in yesterday's mail. This is a great thing because next week we will be leaving for Florida, and I'll be fully prepared with books for the trip.

A Lady Raised High

Gardner, Laurien. A Lady Raised High.

6 word synopsis: Henry disposes of Catherine and Anne.

We all know how this story begins and ends. In fact, we know most of the basic information along the way because Henry is still infamous for having had six wives: "Divorced, beheaded, died/ Divorced, beheaded, survived."

Yet his relationship with Anne Boleyn still fascinates. Actually, this novel is ostensibly about Frances Pierce, who becomes one of Anne's ladies and remains with her until the execution. Because of Frances' position in the court, her story is entangled with Anne --and with Anne's friends and enemies; so while Frances tells her story, she is also recording Anne's rise and fall.

For those unfamiliar with some of the political dynamics of this historical event, there is much information interwoven with Frances' story, but the novel lacks narrative weight and the characterization isn't as strong as it could be. My favorite novel about Anne is still Brief Gaudy Hour.

Fiction. Historical fiction. 2006. 284 pages.

Computer Diagnosis: Recovery

OK, now that my computer is working again, I've missed Week 2 of Weekly Geeks. I do think it is a great idea and am going to try to catch up a little. Yes, I know that Week 3 is already posted, but "I'll think about that tomorrow" -- to quote Miss Scarlett.

I've gone back and edited my posts on The Girl With No Shadow, Mystic and Rider, A Flaw in the Blood, and The Thirteenth Tale to add links to other reviews.


I've a couple more books to review, but here is a picture of the first of the Queen Ann's Lace to bloom. I love them.

The Forgery of Venus

Gruber, Michael. The Forgery of Venus.

6 word synopsis: Who painted newly discovered Velázquez' Venus?


An ARC from Lauren, this unusual book is gripping and takes the reader on so many twists and turns that it is almost impossible to describe the plot. Chaz Wilmot, a talented artist, has difficulty selling his best work, not because people aren't willing to buy, but for some tangled personal reasons relating to a difficult relationship with his father. He makes his living in commercial art, just getting by, rather than putting his best work in galleries.

Several events converge at once, and Chaz finds himself in Europe, confronted with the possibility of a huge windfall if he is willing to forge a Velázquez. Before leaving the U.S., Chaz had participated in a drug study during which he had hallucinations of "being" Velázquez, and the combination of the residual effects of the study and the possibility of earning enough money to provide treatment for his sick son help persuade Chaz to try.

I'm not sure how to classify this one - mystery, alternate history, time travel, a study of madness, psychological thriller... a little bit of everything thrown in here. Doesn't matter, I suppose; I found it fascinating, well-written, informative, and highly entertaining.

(It took me a day or so after finishing the book to write this review, and I'm only just now getting it posted because of computer difficulties. I thought maybe I could come up with a more concise version of the plot, but no such luck. The plot is complicated and fascinating.)

Fiction. Psychological thriller? 2008. 318 pages.

Weekly Geeks

Thanks to Dewey's Weekly Geeks, I've discovered some new blogs. I'm looking forward to next week's challenge.

My Own Little Reading Room - a girl after my own heart, she reads across the spectrum.

Educating Petunia - I've already spotted one of my favorite Shakespearian comedies and an Edith Wharton review.

This Red Head Reads - Well, I love red heads and have a lovely daughter with red hair (even if it has been coaxed along somewhat).

The Axe for the Frozen Sea - Interesting blog titles attract me, and from a Kafka quote, even!

Foreign Circus Library - Saw a couple of titles there that I'd like to read-- always a good recommendation.

The Girl with No Shadow

Harris, Joanne. The Girl with No Shadow. Did you enjoy Chocolat? This novel is the sequel and carries on with the lives of Vianne and Anouk. Chocolat is one of the rare instances in which I preferred the film to the novel, but I very much enjoyed The Girl with No Shadow which, admittedly, has some serious differences from its predecessor.

The story is told from multiple points of view and is, therefore, a bit confusing each time the narrator switches because the voices are not much different and the commentary is usually about the same events, regardless of narrator. I found it a minor inconvenience and, perhaps, a deliberate one as there are certain elements in common with each narrator that Harris might have wanted to emphasize. One of the elements, of course, is magic. Vianne is not currently indulging in magic, Anouk isn't sure if magic is real or if certain events are "accidents," and Zozie uses magic with the selfish abandon.

Fairy tale elements are obvious throughout, but not in the same way as in Chocolat -- this story is magic vs magic.

This ARC was a surprise, as I was unaware that Harris was working on a sequel.

Fiction. Magic & Mystery. 2008.

Another review: Les' Book Nook

The Fault Tree

Ure, Louise. The Fault Tree.

6 words synopsis: Can blind mechanic save the day?

Blinded in an auto accident 8 years ago, Cadence Moran has succeeded as an auto mechanic by means of touch and engine sound. Walking home one evening, she hears a cry and then is almost run down by a car. The bad guys, unaware that Cadence is blind, are afraid she will be able to identify them and proceed accordingly. I went along quite willingly until the end, at which point, things went a bit overboard. I believe in both the realm of possibility and in the realm of probability, but wish the author had stayed in the second realm for the conclusion.


Fiction. Mystery. 2007. 336 pages.

The Pandora Prescription

Sheridan, James. The Pandora Prescription.

6 word synopsis: Paranoid conspiracy theories. Science mumbo-jumbo.

Lots of misdirection and sudden changes in direction. The chase would have been better if the premise had been more realistic. Interesting comments about the Kennedy assassination. Goofy/bright/vulnerable protagonist, but even he never quite materializes as an integrated personality, more like a composite of parts.

Fiction. Suspense/mystery/thriller. 2007. 414 pages.

Assassins at Osprey

Raichev, R.T. Assassins at Osprey.

6 word synopsis: Two by two; pairings and murder.

This is the third "country house" mystery by Raichev. I enjoyed the fast reading, complicated plot and will look for the previous mysteries involving mystery writer Antonia Darcy and her husband Major Hugh Payne. There is a murder, but "assassins" is a bit of a misnomer. Light, but fun.


Fiction. Mystery. 2008. 222 pages.

Books and Gardens

Some garden pictures on a rainy day.


I've been trying to spend some time reading blogs, and I'm gradually getting around, but it is slow going since I've not had as much computer time lately. And everywhere I visit, I have to stop and add new books to the TBR list.

Last week I ended up in Baton Rouge for a visit to my daughter and to keep a feverish grandchild. He wasn't down long! Bounced right back. In the end I had a nice visit with both grandkids and with my daughter, a trip to Lowe's and some storage cabinet assembly, and a trip to Whole Foods- supermarket of dreams!

Then on Saturday, Amelia and Chris brought Bryce Eleanor for me to keep. She is so much fun - she laughs and waves her arms or sleeps. Sunday, I took her down to the country, and Chris took her home late Sunday afternoon after he worked all day putting in a stereo system in the cabin. Amelia didn't plan on him being gone that long and kept texting: Where is my baby? And my fried chicken? And I still have the stroller in the trunk of my car!

I've not been doing a very good job keeping up with either of my own blogs lately. If I make a post to Bayou Quilts, then I don't find time to post here. Maybe because I'm behind on reviews again.

Need to review: Assassins at Osprey, The Fault Tree, The Pandora Prescription (library books), and The Girl with No Shadow (many thanks to Anna at FSB for this ARC that I really enjoyed).

In progress a bunch of ARC's: The Mindful Woman (still), The Forgery of Venus, The Philosopher's Apprentice, and Moving Forward.

American Bloomsbury

Cheever, Susan. American Bloomsbury.

6 word synopsis: Concord encouraged literary genius. Entangled lives.

B-

Interesting material about Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, the Alcotts, Melville, friends, and associates. The writing, however, was disjointed and often without pronoun antecedents. Emerson was largely responsible for the fostering of literary geniuses in Concord and the book did give a great deal of information about their lives. It make me much more curious about these individuals whose home base was such a very small town, and I will be looking for some biographies from the extensive bibliography Cheever included.

Nonfiction. Biographical. 2006. 200 pages.

A Flaw in the Blood

Barron, Stephanie. A Flaw in the Blood.

6 word synopsis: What did Victoria know? Poor Albert!

Grade: A

Intriguing hypothesis. Includes a number of nonfiction source materials that I'd like to follow up on. As I told Amelia, Erin, and Holly, I will never look at Victoria in the same light; I know the book is fiction, and yet...

Fiction. Historical Mystery. 286 pages.

Another recent review: My Random Acts of Reading

Cauldron

McDevitt, Jack. Cauldron.

6 word opinion: Simply could not suspend my disbelief.

C-

Don't believe space travel will ever be this casually achieved. This "world" never seemed plausible.

Fiction. Science Fiction. 2007. 373 pages.

Death Walked In

Hart, Carolyn. Death Walked In.

6 word synopsis: Bookstore owner involved in murder - again!

B-

A readable mystery about the owner of Death on Demand mystery bookstore. Annie and Max find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation involving stolen Double Eagle gold coins.

Fiction. Mystery. 2008. 293 pages.

Absentee

I seem to be having a difficult time deciding on where to put my attention. Lots of family stuff going on (including Bryce Eleanor's baptism this past Saturday), visits from Erin and Max, yard work, doctor appointments, deciding on and purchasing new sewing table (with hydraulic lift!), arrival and assembly of said table, yoga classes and practice, and lots of reading.

But no blog posts. Now, I have to play catch up again. Need to review: A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron, Cauldron by Jack McDevitt, Death Walked In by Carolyn Hart, and American Bloomsbury by Susan Cheever.

Also need to play catch up with blog reading. I've been computer/internet absent for quite a while and have missed lots of stuff. Oh, and emails to catch up on as well! Now, I'm really discouraged.

Book of a Thousand Days

Hale, Shannon. Book of a Thousand Days. This excellent YA novel is based on a little known tale "Maid Maleen" from the Brothers Grimm that I've never read, or have long since forgotten. Lady Saren has refused to marry the man her father has chosen for her and is to be shut in a tower for seven years. Dashti is Saren's new maid and, unaware of the situation, gives her word that she will not leave Saren. The two girls are sealed into the tower with enough food to last for seven years.

Dashti decides to keep a book of thoughts and is initially quite cheerful; Saren is withdrawn and depressed, in spite of Dashti's efforts to cure her with healing songs. It is only through Dashti's efforts and resourcefulness that the two girls survive, but their time in the tower takes a tremendous toll.

This is a story of courage and loyalty, love and magic, evil and adventure. Dashti's character, revealed through her own words as she records events in her book, develops from a girl who is simply cheerful and accepting, to one who decides to survive against all odds and to carry the Lady Saren with her (kicking and screaming if necessary).

Hale manages to tell an exciting tale, develop a charming heroine, and appeal both to youngsters as young as 10 or 12 all the way through to adults.

This is my first book by Hale, but I now understand the high praise she has received from other bloggers. (I first heard about her a couple of years ago when Booklogged read Goose Girl and recommended it, but although I kept Goose Girl and Shannon Hale on my TBR list, I never went any further.) I intend to correct that omission.

Fiction. Fairy Tale/YA. 2007. 305 pages.

Mad Kestrel

Massey, Missy. Mad Kestrel. Pirates and Fantasy - sounds like a good combination. The book started off well, with a girl pirate who has magical powers she must keep secret. If her magical skills are discovered, she could be abducted by the Danisoba, who seek out and take any magical children from their parents to be raised exclusively by the Danisoba. Kestrel managed to escape when the Danisoba killed her parents who refused to surrender her, and grew up in the alleys, a street urchin who managed to survive.

Eventually, a hearty old pirate captain takes Kestrel under his wing and trains her as a pirate. Then things start to go a bit south. Kestrel loses the independent attitude of the daring pirate lass whenever she comes in contact with Phillip McAvery and begins moving back and forth between a simpering, love-struck adolescent and a swashbuckling, take-charge pirate. That's a bit of a stretch.

That little flaw in her character undermines the believability of her exploits. The plot has some problems as well.

Fiction. Fantasy. 2008. 320 pages.