Finished September 27
Undone by Karin Slaughter
This book takes us to one of Atlanta's busiest hospitals and merges two series by Slaughter. Sara Linton is working in the emergency department of the hospital and has been for two years. She has moved away from the house that she shared with her husband and immersed herself in this busy world as a refuge from his tragic death.
When a young woman comes into emergency, naked, hit by a car, and obviously a victim of torture, she becomes involved in a police investigation. Will Trent and Faith Mitchell of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are also at the hospital when the woman arrives, and Will jumps into the case immediately. The local police are not cooperative, but Will makes inroads, and when a second victim is found, they start looking for connections.
When another woman is kidnapped, leaving a six-year-old child, they realize that they are working against time to save her.
The suspense is ongoing throughout and both Faith and Will have their own secrets to protect and their own weaknesses that sometimes complement each other. This story had many flawed characters with many issues and is as good as Slaughter has ever been.
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Suspenseful Audiobook
Finished September 25
Blind Eye by Stuart MacBride, read by Stuart MacBride
Polish men are turning up with their eyes gouged out and the sockets burned. None of them is willing to tell the police anything about the attacks. They are always found abandoned on building sites. Letters telling of the attacks arrive at Police Headquarters, telling of more attacks if the police do not take action.
DCI Finnie is in charge of the investigation, and DC Logan McRae is kept on his toes trying to please both the DCI and his own DI, a lesbian who is trying to make her wife happy by getting them a child.
When DC McRae and his DI come upon an attack before the perpetrators have left, they finally have a witness, but he's on the run and trying to stay safe himself.
Logan isn't sure who to trust and ends up being shot at, threatened, blown up, kidnapped, and threatened some more before he finally comes to the end of the case.
This book is fast moving and the author's reading of it is engaging and kept me gripped.
A great adrenaline-pumping read.
Blind Eye by Stuart MacBride, read by Stuart MacBride
Polish men are turning up with their eyes gouged out and the sockets burned. None of them is willing to tell the police anything about the attacks. They are always found abandoned on building sites. Letters telling of the attacks arrive at Police Headquarters, telling of more attacks if the police do not take action.
DCI Finnie is in charge of the investigation, and DC Logan McRae is kept on his toes trying to please both the DCI and his own DI, a lesbian who is trying to make her wife happy by getting them a child.
When DC McRae and his DI come upon an attack before the perpetrators have left, they finally have a witness, but he's on the run and trying to stay safe himself.
Logan isn't sure who to trust and ends up being shot at, threatened, blown up, kidnapped, and threatened some more before he finally comes to the end of the case.
This book is fast moving and the author's reading of it is engaging and kept me gripped.
A great adrenaline-pumping read.
More Short Stories
Finished September 23
The Journey Prize Stories, 19 selected by Caroline Adderson, David Bezmozgis and Dionne Brand
This is the journey prize stories for 2007, a collection that includes ill-fated romance; a child's dream of having a sister; a man who, when faced with a family crisis, faces his own life differently; the competitions and truths around a convenience store arcade game; a journalist's experience when trying to advance her career; and, my favourite, a young woman's ever-present chill is alleviated in an unexpected way.
It is always interesting to read the new up-and-coming writers.
The Journey Prize Stories, 19 selected by Caroline Adderson, David Bezmozgis and Dionne Brand
This is the journey prize stories for 2007, a collection that includes ill-fated romance; a child's dream of having a sister; a man who, when faced with a family crisis, faces his own life differently; the competitions and truths around a convenience store arcade game; a journalist's experience when trying to advance her career; and, my favourite, a young woman's ever-present chill is alleviated in an unexpected way.
It is always interesting to read the new up-and-coming writers.
Amazing photographs
Finished September 22
Creature by Andrew Zuckerman
This large-format photography book has wonderful images of many animals, from insects to grizzly bears.
The photographs include some close-ups and all open your eyes to the variety of textures and the detail of each animal. You can stare at some photographs for a long time, just taking in the detail.
From the quills of a porcupine to the toes of an elephant, this will have you taking a new look at each animal included.
Creature by Andrew Zuckerman
This large-format photography book has wonderful images of many animals, from insects to grizzly bears.
The photographs include some close-ups and all open your eyes to the variety of textures and the detail of each animal. You can stare at some photographs for a long time, just taking in the detail.
From the quills of a porcupine to the toes of an elephant, this will have you taking a new look at each animal included.
Monday, 21 September 2009
Fast-Moving Thriller
Finished September 21
Even Money by Dick Francis and Felix Francis
The latest book by Dick Francis, whom I've liked from the first read, and a winner as usual.
I started it yesterday and finished it today and enjoyed every bit of it.
Here the main character is Ned Talbot, bookmaker. Ned inherited his firm from his grandfather and has a young man, Luca, working for him that knows the computer side of the business. When a man tells Ned that he is his father, whom Ned was told died in a car crash with his mother when he was only a year old, Ned is sceptical, but agrees to talk with him.
When the man is killed in a stabbing in the parking lot barely an hour later, Ned is thrown into turmoil. Trying to find out more about his father, Ned tells the police the truth, nothing but the truth, but not the whole truth, and tries to find out more on his own.
Adding to Ned's problems in life is his wife Sophie's mental state. She has been in and out of mental institutions struggling with bi-polar disorder and Ned tries to shield her from everything that is going on in order to protect her.
With lots going on and a good plot line, this story continues to make me a Dick Francis fan.
Even Money by Dick Francis and Felix Francis
The latest book by Dick Francis, whom I've liked from the first read, and a winner as usual.
I started it yesterday and finished it today and enjoyed every bit of it.
Here the main character is Ned Talbot, bookmaker. Ned inherited his firm from his grandfather and has a young man, Luca, working for him that knows the computer side of the business. When a man tells Ned that he is his father, whom Ned was told died in a car crash with his mother when he was only a year old, Ned is sceptical, but agrees to talk with him.
When the man is killed in a stabbing in the parking lot barely an hour later, Ned is thrown into turmoil. Trying to find out more about his father, Ned tells the police the truth, nothing but the truth, but not the whole truth, and tries to find out more on his own.
Adding to Ned's problems in life is his wife Sophie's mental state. She has been in and out of mental institutions struggling with bi-polar disorder and Ned tries to shield her from everything that is going on in order to protect her.
With lots going on and a good plot line, this story continues to make me a Dick Francis fan.
Quirky poetry
Finished September 20
Itty Bitty Kitty Ditties by Tim Hodapp, artist Alex Boies, designed by Jo Davison
I picked this small poetry book off the new book shelf on Saturday just for the title. It has simple, charming illustrations paired with 26 poems, each about an individual cat from Agnes to Zack.
The poems are short four-lined rhymes, and the illustrations bring them to life.
A quick amusing read.
Itty Bitty Kitty Ditties by Tim Hodapp, artist Alex Boies, designed by Jo Davison
I picked this small poetry book off the new book shelf on Saturday just for the title. It has simple, charming illustrations paired with 26 poems, each about an individual cat from Agnes to Zack.
The poems are short four-lined rhymes, and the illustrations bring them to life.
A quick amusing read.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Memoir
Finished September 19
The Doctor Will Not See You Now: The Autobiography of a Blind Physician by Jane Poulson
This is the memoir of a woman who overcame obstacles in her life and used her experiences to improve the lives of others.
A Toronto native, Jane was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes as an adolescent. She studied hard at her favourite subject science and continued those studies at university. Persisting in her quest for an interesting and useful life, she applied to medical school and was accepted into McGill. She lost her vision in her last year of medical school at the age of 27, and with the support of friends and colleagues, did her internship despite her lack of sight. She found a niche in palliative medicine and soon became sought out for her insights into the field.
She moved back to Toronto to spend more time with her family and in her 40s was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She also developed heart disease. While not actively practising following these health setbacks, she still did research and wrote, adding her own experience as a patient to the information she shared with her colleagues. Jane died at the age of 49.
This memoir shows her personal struggles, the friends and faith that helped her find her way, and the information she added to the knowledge in her field. An inspiring story.
The Doctor Will Not See You Now: The Autobiography of a Blind Physician by Jane Poulson
This is the memoir of a woman who overcame obstacles in her life and used her experiences to improve the lives of others.
A Toronto native, Jane was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes as an adolescent. She studied hard at her favourite subject science and continued those studies at university. Persisting in her quest for an interesting and useful life, she applied to medical school and was accepted into McGill. She lost her vision in her last year of medical school at the age of 27, and with the support of friends and colleagues, did her internship despite her lack of sight. She found a niche in palliative medicine and soon became sought out for her insights into the field.
She moved back to Toronto to spend more time with her family and in her 40s was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She also developed heart disease. While not actively practising following these health setbacks, she still did research and wrote, adding her own experience as a patient to the information she shared with her colleagues. Jane died at the age of 49.
This memoir shows her personal struggles, the friends and faith that helped her find her way, and the information she added to the knowledge in her field. An inspiring story.
Short Stories
Finished September 20
One Good Story, That One by Thomas King
This collection of stories mixes Christian symbolism, Native myth, materialism, and bureaucracy together in ways not seen before. King takes from a variety of sources to create humorous and entertaining tales. The native element is strong and Coyote appears in many of the stories here. King's writing also uses satire to bring out the story and these are no exception.
I found the stories mesmerizing and thoroughly enjoyed this book.
One Good Story, That One by Thomas King
This collection of stories mixes Christian symbolism, Native myth, materialism, and bureaucracy together in ways not seen before. King takes from a variety of sources to create humorous and entertaining tales. The native element is strong and Coyote appears in many of the stories here. King's writing also uses satire to bring out the story and these are no exception.
I found the stories mesmerizing and thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Audio Thriller
Finished September 18
Rules of Vengeance by Christopher Reich
This book picks up a few months after Rules of Deception left off. Jonathan Ransom is flying into London from his Doctors Without Borders post in Kenya to speak at a conference.
His wife Emma, presumed dead by most people, is also in town. She meets with him, but then tells him she must say goodbye, perhaps forever. He is determined to find out what is happening and follows her. Once again he gets drawn into the world of spies and terrorists, violence and flight.
The action-packed plot never stops, and kept me entertained through a long drive home from New York State.
Rules of Vengeance by Christopher Reich
This book picks up a few months after Rules of Deception left off. Jonathan Ransom is flying into London from his Doctors Without Borders post in Kenya to speak at a conference.
His wife Emma, presumed dead by most people, is also in town. She meets with him, but then tells him she must say goodbye, perhaps forever. He is determined to find out what is happening and follows her. Once again he gets drawn into the world of spies and terrorists, violence and flight.
The action-packed plot never stops, and kept me entertained through a long drive home from New York State.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Canadian Short Stories
Finished September 17
The Journey Prize Stories 20 selected by Lynn Coady, Heather O'Neill, Neil Smith
The Journey Prize stories are "the best of Canada's new writers" and this is the 2008 edition featuring the finalists for the Journey Prize for that year.
This edition has a special feature: comments from more than twenty well-known writers whose early work appeared in the anthology.
It also lists all the stories from all the years.
This year's anthology features writers living from B.C. to Quebec and covers a wide variety of subjects. From the bleak to the fantastic, these are stories by authors to watch.
The Journey Prize Stories 20 selected by Lynn Coady, Heather O'Neill, Neil Smith
The Journey Prize stories are "the best of Canada's new writers" and this is the 2008 edition featuring the finalists for the Journey Prize for that year.
This edition has a special feature: comments from more than twenty well-known writers whose early work appeared in the anthology.
It also lists all the stories from all the years.
This year's anthology features writers living from B.C. to Quebec and covers a wide variety of subjects. From the bleak to the fantastic, these are stories by authors to watch.
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