Great read! If all short stories were this good, I'd have them piled up in my "to be read" stack.Great read! If all short stories were this good, I'd have them piled up in my "to be read" stack....more
It's always wonderful to open a new Armand Gamache novel, isn't it?
This one was a bit convoluted, for my taste, as Gamache & his team had to run all It's always wonderful to open a new Armand Gamache novel, isn't it?
This one was a bit convoluted, for my taste, as Gamache & his team had to run all over in multiple countries (including visiting two closed monasteries and spending a fair amount of time in a shelter for the unhoused) in search of answers & evidence in time to avoid a an almost unimaginable attack in Montreal.
Who knew that Canadian politicians, even fictional ones, could be as dangerous as some in the U.S? The distinction between good guys & bad guys becomes quite problematic for Gamache, who can't be sure who to trust, with some major surprises along the way.
It seems that Gamache might have "adopted" for his team another person who would be thrown aside by others. We'll have to see what happens in the next book to know.
Three Pines is still attractive, a place one would love to visit. That said, there clearly could be danger involved in such a vacation. Would Ruth and her duck make up for the risk?...more
Connelly has brought us some new interesting characters and a solid mystery, with multiple twists and turn. I'm curious to see where he'll take this.Connelly has brought us some new interesting characters and a solid mystery, with multiple twists and turn. I'm curious to see where he'll take this....more
It is so very much fun to pick up a book you haven't read, by a favorite author. I just opened my Kindle and there was Commissaire Adamsberg and his tIt is so very much fun to pick up a book you haven't read, by a favorite author. I just opened my Kindle and there was Commissaire Adamsberg and his team, like old friends stopping by for a visit. Well, a rather nasty visit, of course, since it does involve murders. The plot is rather complicated, with unanticipated twists and turns, of course. Virginity also plays a role. Fred Vargas brings her readers solid, believable characters, including the settings, especially the small town/rural setting and the local characters who are very upset by the wanton, disrespectful taking of a stag. Vargas is just really, really good.
Books like this really do keep me from getting to my book-club assignments in a timely fashion, never mind sleeping....more
I'm having a lot of fun reading some of Connelly's earlier books. He is just SO good!I'm having a lot of fun reading some of Connelly's earlier books. He is just SO good!...more
Set in an Ojibwe community that is suffering the scourges of alcohol and drug abuse, and deaths resulting from these, eighteen-year-old Daunis FontainSet in an Ojibwe community that is suffering the scourges of alcohol and drug abuse, and deaths resulting from these, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontain is recruited by the FBI as a CI, a role that often makes her quite uncomfortable. She agrees only because it seems that to investigate these, concretely the meth epidemic, is a way to save her people.
Boulley brings Ojibwe culture, some traditional healing, a bit of chemistry, the love of famiy and community, and hockey to this novel....more
I enjoy mysteries set in Australia, for some reason. This was interesting, with a complex plot. It was a bit more "romance" than I generally care for,I enjoy mysteries set in Australia, for some reason. This was interesting, with a complex plot. It was a bit more "romance" than I generally care for, but not annoyingly so....more
Although I read this through in two days, my reluctance to put it down was more the result of waiting for something, anything, to happen than of the pAlthough I read this through in two days, my reluctance to put it down was more the result of waiting for something, anything, to happen than of the pleasure I was getting out of the book. The premise was interesting. Harold receives a letter from Queenie Hennessy, an old friend from work. She is in hospice, dying from cancer. He hasn't seen her in decades. He betrayed her at work and then she was gone, without any word, not even a "good-bye asshole". He writes a reply and on the way to the mailbox, after a brief conversation with a young woman working at a garage, finds himself on a quest. He must walk to the hospice, a journey of some 500 or so miles, to right the wrong he did her. Of course, he is in totally inappropriate clothing and footwear for such a trip, doesn't have his mobile phone, or any experience with long hiking. In fact, he is totally out of shape. He is convinced that as long as he is walking, Queenie will stay alive. He phones his (essentially estranged) wife, sends postcards to his wife and Queenie, meets all sorts of helpful people, has a dog for a while, runs into various scrapes, etc. As he walks, he goes over his life, sort of the life review we old folks do (according to scholars), trying to figure out how his life went so astray.
While there were some surprises in the book, I didn't see any of them as the "big oomph" that one might expect from such a story. ...more
Keur brings us some new, interesting characters. At the top of the list are Mike Murphy (wounded veteran, main character) and his (retired bomb-sniffiKeur brings us some new, interesting characters. At the top of the list are Mike Murphy (wounded veteran, main character) and his (retired bomb-sniffing) dog. Murphy brings his dog to his home town (Mogollon County, Arizona) to take on a job in the Sheriff's dept and hunt for his wife's killer. Murphy doesn't have much patience for procedures and rules. The sheriff himself initially comes across as a sort of good-old-boy, easy going, kind of lax, but readers (and Murphy) learn that there is much more to him than this. There is also a receptionist (sorry, read it a week or so ago & have forgotten names) who is an annoying-as-hell, nit-picking, stick-to-the-rules pain in Murphy's butt; the antagonism goes both ways. And yet . . . There is more to this character & the working relationship between the two, as they get to know each other. And these are only some of the characters. None of them, not even the bad guys, are the cardboard cut-outs that some authors rely on.
Keur also subtly, & occasionally directly, addresses gender and race issues in this one, something I really value in a novel, regardless of genre.
By page 60, I did not want to read this book Amir is such an unlikeable boy! He treats Hassan like dirt, playing with him only when there is no one elBy page 60, I did not want to read this book Amir is such an unlikeable boy! He treats Hassan like dirt, playing with him only when there is no one else, thinking of him as stupid because Hassan isn’t able to go to school because his job is to take care of Amir, and more. All the while, Hassan is loyal to a fault. When the bully approaches, Hassan is the one who saves Amir from being attacked. So, I don’t like Amir, privileged brat that he is. But now, Amir has just won the kite race. Hassan, the best kite runner around, has gone off to retrieve it. Amir is so happy with his performance that he forgets all about Hassan. Belatedly, he goes to find him. There, backed into a dead end in an alley, Hassan is being threatened by the same bully (with his brass knuckles) and his gang. Amir watches from hiding, frozen in fear, as Hassan is attacked, beaten and raped. Amir watched and did nothing to help. After, he pretended he hadn’t seen anything at all. As much guilt as I feel about such a strong reaction to a boy, a fictional boy at that, and despite it being obvious that Amir's treatment of Hassan is rooted in the treatment of Amir by his own father, I can't help it; I really, strongly dislike this boy.
After putting the book down for a week, I decided I had to try again. So I finished it. A friend had told me that if I made it past the half-way point, I would change my mind. She was right about that. The latter portion of the book gives readers sort of "on the ground" views of the lives of Afghan refugees in the US and the lives of those left in Afghanistan and surrounding places after the Taliban gained power.
Obviously, betrayal and redemption are major themes in the book. There is also much about the father-son relationship. It seems that Amir does achieve redemption in the end. I'm not sure that end really made up for the assault of the early portion of the book on this reader's emotions. I puzzled a lot over why my reaction to Amir was so strong. After all, a lot of contemporary fiction has a lot of violence, including sexual violence (though I avoid a fair amount of that, where it seems to be gratuitous). And really, Amir himself was not violent toward Hassan. His betrayals were mostly smaller scale than that. But they were continual and without remorse. Beyond that, a real problem for me in the first part of the book was that Hosseini is such an amazingly good writer! I truly felt each "small" betrayal; these hurt me more than the horrific violence in the latter part of the book, possibly because the sort of things happening had been reported in the media and were less personal.
I'm glad I finished the book, but still have mixed feelings, reflected in my 4, rather than 5, star rating. ...more
This is a magical book. Not that it's about magic, but it is magical.
There is a clinic, Kokoro Clinic for the Soul, that people learn of through rounThis is a magical book. Not that it's about magic, but it is magical.
There is a clinic, Kokoro Clinic for the Soul, that people learn of through round-about, convoluted paths of word of mouth. Directions to the clinic are problematic--no proper address, just a list of intersections and a description. Once you find it, it appears less than appealing--an old building squeezed into the end of an alley, where you climb to the 5th floor in a dark building, and work up your nerve to push open the heavy wooden door. Inside you are met by a less than friendly nurse, who shoos you in to see the doctor. He also is odd, though not as cold as the nurse. You tell him your woes and, as the title promises, he prescribes you a cat, for a specific course of treatment (so many days, maybe two weeks), sends you back to the nurse for instructions, and you are on your way.
Each chapter takes you through one patient's "adventure" with this unusual, yet strangely effective, treatment. The stories vary, and are fun, charming, etc. There is also a backstory, which is never spelled out, but comes to light slowly. No spoilers beyond that.
If you are feeling weighed down by the ugliness around us, the weight of the world's problems, this book can't solve those. But it can help your soul....more
"What You Have Heard is True is a devastating, lyrical, and visionary memoir about a young woman’s brave choice to engage withDescription from Amazon:
"What You Have Heard is True is a devastating, lyrical, and visionary memoir about a young woman’s brave choice to engage with horror in order to help others. Written by one of the most gifted poets of her generation, this is the story of a woman’s radical act of empathy, and her fateful encounter with an intriguing man who changes the course of her life.
Carolyn Forché is 27 when the mysterious stranger appears on her doorstep. The relative of a friend, he is a charming polymath with a mind as seemingly disordered as it is brilliant. She’s heard rumors from her friend about who he might be: a lone wolf, a communist, a CIA operative, a sharpshooter, a revolutionary, a small coffee farmer, but according to her, no one seemed to know for certain. He has driven from El Salvador to invite Forché to visit and learn about his country. Captivated for reasons she doesn’t fully understand, she accepts and becomes enmeshed in something beyond her comprehension."
(Please forgive the lack of accents in this review; I don't know how to do them in GR) Given that it is now 2024, much of what this memoir covers is, indeed, history & will be unfamiliar to many younger people today, though it won't feel like history to those of us who are older. It is also emotionally painful to read.
While Forche did engage with horror, when she first met Lionel Gomez Vides and his daughters and when she first went to El Salvador at his request, it doesn't seem that she expected to engage with horror or even travel with the intent of helping others. She herself doesn't seem to know why she let this stranger who showed up at her door with his daughters to stay with her, much less why she joined him in El Salvador. In fact, while reading the first chapters of the book, I couldn't imagine letting a strange man stay with me (though the kids probably made it feel safe enough) much less follow him to El Salvador, a country that was in turmoil and on the brink of war. Farmworkers, nuns, priests, protesters and more were being attacked by the military and death squads. It does seem that, initially, Forche was quite naive about what was happening and what risks she was taking.
The writing is, indeed, lyrical (though for someone who has never been into poetry, this took some adjustment). This is a beautifully written memoir and a is a powerful indictment of the ruling regime in El Salvador and, frankly, the country that fully supported this regime--the U.S. (sound familiar?). It also is a strong portrait of Forche's awakening to the horror and growing involvement in the struggle. There is horror here; it was a horrible time in El Salvador and Forche does not pull any punches. Even for someone who was aware of the issues, reading this first-hand account of stumbling upon mutilated bodies, learning of individuals who have been disappeared, and more, was tough going. Forche did face danger. She also couldn't look away once she came to know the situation, and did engage, despite the danger and horror.
This is a delightful, comic read. Money is found; the dog is involved in this. The mystery and adventure lie in what follows from this find. This invoThis is a delightful, comic read. Money is found; the dog is involved in this. The mystery and adventure lie in what follows from this find. This involves the trip of a lifetime, a burglary, a slimy PI, a priest and, of course, the dog, among others. The characters are fun. The denouement is unexpected. There is a bit of romance. Oh, hell, let me just admit that I did laugh out loud and acknowledge that this is a funny, sweet story.
And, yes, the author is my sister. That said, the 4 stars are legit and honest. (Those of you who read my reviews know that only serious social issues get 5 stars from me. And since you know me, I resisted cheating with 5 stars.)
Merged review:
This is a delightful, comic read. Money is found; the dog is involved in this. The mystery and adventure lie in what follows from this find. This involves the trip of a lifetime, a burglary, a slimy PI, a priest and, of course, the dog, among others. The characters are fun. The denouement is unexpected. There is a bit of romance. Oh, hell, let me just admit that I did laugh out loud and acknowledge that this is a funny, sweet story.
And, yes, the author is my sister. That said, the 4 stars are legit and honest. (Those of you who read my reviews know that only serious social issues get 5 stars from me. And since you know me, I resisted cheating with 5 stars.)...more
Ok, this might not officially be a classic yet, but it will be. How can it not be? David Copperfield in Appalachia. (And, yes, I have downloaded CoppeOk, this might not officially be a classic yet, but it will be. How can it not be? David Copperfield in Appalachia. (And, yes, I have downloaded Copperfield to reread.) But it's more than that. So much a classic for our times. You can get a description/summary of the book anywhere, which likely will be better than one I could write, so I'll skip to my review, with points I want to pick out.
First, I was maybe about half-way through when I wanted to quit. I couldn't, of course, being the person who had suggested it to my book club, but still. It was so very painful to read. Demon was such a sweet child, put through the wringer at every turn. You almost bleed for him reading it. He goes from one horrific foster situation to another that is even worse. Sometimes, the people take in foster kids for the money. Sometimes for the free labor. Almost never for a love of children One exception was the Peggot family, who were truly good people. Sadly, fate intervened and they couldn't adopt Demon, despite their fondness for him. So he takes off to find his grandmother, who it turns out, hates anyone who pees standing up. So, no, he can't stay there.
That said, she finds him a place, with Coach, who is happy to take him in, seeing his potential for becoming a football star. Yes, there is a school (HS) with some dedicated teachers, where he could get a real education (not that he keeps it up) and become an athlete. First, Mr. Armstrong gets his attention, challenging the class to consider the limitation to mining if one wanted a job: "Wouldn't you think the miners wanted a different life for their kids? . . . What the companies did, he told us, was put the shuthole on any choice other than going into the mines. . . . The counties got bought up whole: land, hospitals, courthouses, schools, company owned. . . and for once we believed him, because down in he dark mess of our little skull closets some puzzle pieces were clicking together." (p 280) "Everything that could be taken is gone. Mountains with their heads blown off, rivers running black. My people are dead of trying, or headed that way, addicted as we are to keeping ourselves alive. There's no more blood here to give, just war wounds. Madness. A world of pain, looking to be killed." (p280). After Mr. Armstrong's class there is art with Ms. Annie. Ms. Annie is so excited to have a student with real talent and the desire to use it that shebhas arranged for him to ride between schools with Mr. Maldo, the janitor who works across two schools, so he can have two hours of art! What Demon experiences here goes beyond being welcomed, as he had been by the Peggots. Coach and Ms. Annie see his potential, potential for art and for sport, potential he never saw in himself. Also, he has some insights that haven't been shared yet, possibly because he was too busy surviving to articulate them. "There's this thing that happens, let's say at school where a bunch of guys are in the bathroom, at the urinal, laughing about some dork that made an anus of himself in the gym. You're all basically nice guys, right? . . . And then it happens: the dork was in the shitter. He comes out of the stall with this look. He heard everything. And you realize you're not really that nice of a guy. This is what I would say, if I could, to all smart people of the world with their with their dumb hillbilly jokes: We are right here in the stall. We can actually hear you." (p317).
Demon does get some big breaks [IF YOU DON'T WANT ANY SPOILERS, SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH!]: 1) his time with the Peggots; 2) football--he went from being a nobody kid that no one wanted to being a star! Sadly, he had a bad injury that was followed by lousy medical care and drug addiction, trashing this opportunity; (this is where I about gave up); 3) his comic strip with Tommy, followed by an actual contract (yes, at this point he was a functioning addict); 4) Dori, his girlfriend, with whom he lives, also an addict, dies of an OD. He's using and flailing. Finally he hits bottom.; 5) Rehab & a sober house; 6) I'm not going to tell you.
When I wanted to quit, a friend in another book club told me to keep going, that there was a happy ending. Well, I didn't see how that would be possible. So let me tell you that if you are too discouraged to keep going in the book, put it down, but only for a while. Then pick it back up, because my friend was not wrong.
What a beautiful book this is! I know this is a strange thing to say about a book filled with abject poverty (think Appalachia during the Great DepresWhat a beautiful book this is! I know this is a strange thing to say about a book filled with abject poverty (think Appalachia during the Great Depression) , suffering on a scale that is hard to imagine, snobbery, racism (of course)--the sort we're used to and an unusual kind, violence against women and against coal miners who have the audacity to talk union, and more. So how can it be beautiful?
Of course there is the Kentucky Pack Horse program, part of the WPA. This program has women carrying books, newspapers, magazines, and scrapbooks of recipes, clothing patterns, favorite poems, etc. to people in the hills who have no access to any of this. These are the Book Women. Their job is arduous. The travel, hauling books and more, through difficult territory would be hard enough on its own, but there also are human hazards--those who would harm these lone women out in the woods, those who simply don't want any truck with reading, much less anything to do with the government. And banned books do raise their heads, but the Pack Horse Women manage. But there also is the joy of delivering books and more to their "patrons", bringing reading materials to those who long for them. These are strong, amazing women, dedicated to their work.
The book centers around Cussy Mary, a pack-horse librarian, carrying books to her patrons, including a school house. She is one of the blue people of Kentucky, possibly the last of her kind. Yes, there really were blue people. They were hated and feared because of their color. Not only were they "colored", as in not white, but they were a scary color. They suffered hatred, a special racism, violence, and more. Even those who didn't hate them often feared them. Except those like the school children and the most welcoming of Cussy's patrons. These people really looked forward to her visits, obviously for the books, but also for small favors (e.g. reading to someone who is nearly blind) and friendship.
There is the beauty of the area, and it is beautiful, despite what the mine owners are doing to the environment. There also is the beauty of the people of Appalachia. These are tough people, who keep going, despite privation and loss, who find (and make) beauty where they can.
Most of all, there is love--love of the land, love of family, love of friends and, yes, even romantic love....more
I read something by Hemingway once. Didn't like it. Thought I should give his work another chance. Why does everyone love this guy's books? I honestlyI read something by Hemingway once. Didn't like it. Thought I should give his work another chance. Why does everyone love this guy's books? I honestly can't see it. In an even, I forced myself to stay with it until I got to page 35 and realized I had to quit before throwing my nice Fire right through a window. Talk about tedious characters!...more
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