Finished July 31
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
This is the second book in the Chaos Walking series that started with The Knife of Never Letting Go.
We start with Todd being separated from Viola and Mayor Prentiss having taking control of the town of Haven, now called New Prentisstown. He has also declared himself the President. The men and the women are separated again and strict rules are in place.
Todd and Viola are both told by Prentiss that he wishes for peace and a hopeful future, but neither of them trusts him.
Todd is paired with Prentiss' son Day and put to work outside the town.
Viola is in a healing house while she recovers from her injuries and learns a trade herself.
As we see the trust between the various players falter, and recover, only to falter again, the novel has us riding an emotional rollercoaster. Ness keeps throwing new problems into the novel and you never know what is going to happen next.
A great suspenseful read, with lots going on and the relationship between Todd and Viola developing to new levels. Looking forward to the next one.
Saturday, 31 July 2010
NYC Story
Finished July 31
Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment
This novel takes place over a few days in New York City. An older Jewish couple, Alex and Ruth, is looking at selling their coop as they are worried about the stairs to their 5th floor home becoming a problem for the future.
Their elderly dachshund, Dorothy, has suddenly lost control of her rear end, causing them to rush her to the animal hospital.
Alex and Ruth are worried about their dog, their home, their future, and Alex's artwork.
With a tanker stuck in the Midtown Tunnel and everyone talking about terrorism, the whole city seems to be worried about the future as well.
With people traipsing through their home and worry over the tunnel situation growing, Alex and Ruth's concern is centered on Dorothy and her chances of recovery.
We also see things from Dorothy's point of view.
I really enjoyed this look into the life of a couple and seeing their lives up close and personal. Learning about their past, and their friends, and seeing their relationship with each brought to life made this an excellent read, and I read it in one sitting.
Highly recommended.
Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment
This novel takes place over a few days in New York City. An older Jewish couple, Alex and Ruth, is looking at selling their coop as they are worried about the stairs to their 5th floor home becoming a problem for the future.
Their elderly dachshund, Dorothy, has suddenly lost control of her rear end, causing them to rush her to the animal hospital.
Alex and Ruth are worried about their dog, their home, their future, and Alex's artwork.
With a tanker stuck in the Midtown Tunnel and everyone talking about terrorism, the whole city seems to be worried about the future as well.
With people traipsing through their home and worry over the tunnel situation growing, Alex and Ruth's concern is centered on Dorothy and her chances of recovery.
We also see things from Dorothy's point of view.
I really enjoyed this look into the life of a couple and seeing their lives up close and personal. Learning about their past, and their friends, and seeing their relationship with each brought to life made this an excellent read, and I read it in one sitting.
Highly recommended.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
New Fiction
Finished July 27
Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman
This book starts with a tragedy. Between their wedding and the reception, a young couple is killed in a car accident. The rest of the book follows their families over the course of that summer in Maine, and the following three summers.
The young man, John, grew up on the coast of Maine. He went to school to become a boat designer and he and Becca are restoring a boat they intend to use to run Caribbean charters. John's mother Jane makes her living cleaning houses for the summer people. John's younger brother Matt is the first in the family to go to college. John also has a young cousin, Samantha, who was adopted from Cambodia, and who served as the flower girl at the wedding.
Becca's grandmother was from the island and her grandfather is a famous violinist whose Parkinson's has now forced him to teach rather than perform. Becca's mother, Iris inherited the family home in Red Hook and she teaches at Columbia University, so the family uses it as a summer home. Becca's father Daniel was a boxer in his youth and now teaches law at CUNY. Becca has a younger sister Ruthie, who is academically minded and has just been accepted into a Master's program at Harvard.
We see how the tragedy affects the different family members in different ways as they struggle to deal with their grief and move on with their lives.
A touching and insightful story that takes a closer look at grief and its different manifestations.
Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman
This book starts with a tragedy. Between their wedding and the reception, a young couple is killed in a car accident. The rest of the book follows their families over the course of that summer in Maine, and the following three summers.
The young man, John, grew up on the coast of Maine. He went to school to become a boat designer and he and Becca are restoring a boat they intend to use to run Caribbean charters. John's mother Jane makes her living cleaning houses for the summer people. John's younger brother Matt is the first in the family to go to college. John also has a young cousin, Samantha, who was adopted from Cambodia, and who served as the flower girl at the wedding.
Becca's grandmother was from the island and her grandfather is a famous violinist whose Parkinson's has now forced him to teach rather than perform. Becca's mother, Iris inherited the family home in Red Hook and she teaches at Columbia University, so the family uses it as a summer home. Becca's father Daniel was a boxer in his youth and now teaches law at CUNY. Becca has a younger sister Ruthie, who is academically minded and has just been accepted into a Master's program at Harvard.
We see how the tragedy affects the different family members in different ways as they struggle to deal with their grief and move on with their lives.
A touching and insightful story that takes a closer look at grief and its different manifestations.
Monday, 26 July 2010
Poetry for the Real World
Finished July 26
Ballistics by Billy Collins
I have been reading this book of poetry slowly, savouring each poem. Billy Collins takes ordinary moments in life and captures them eloquently in his poems.
Each one is a gem.
It is hard to find words to describe the experience I had with this book, other than to say, READ IT, YOU'LL LOVE IT.
Ballistics by Billy Collins
I have been reading this book of poetry slowly, savouring each poem. Billy Collins takes ordinary moments in life and captures them eloquently in his poems.
Each one is a gem.
It is hard to find words to describe the experience I had with this book, other than to say, READ IT, YOU'LL LOVE IT.
Friday, 23 July 2010
Audio Thriller
Finished July 23
The Nearest Exit by Olen Steinhauer, read by David Pittu
This is the second in the series that started with The Tourist. This continues more or less where that book left off. Milo Weaver is still experiencing some fallout with his wife from his recent adventures, and feeling less than optimistic signs up again as a Tourist. The jobs he is given seem very easy and he think they are being careful to give him jobs that they can watch the outcome of easily. Then he is given a job that he can't stomach, and he agonizes over what to do. Again he enlists the help of another to find a solution that he can live with, but even that goes wrong for him.
There is trouble within the Tourism department and suspicions grow when information seems to be leaked to others. Milo finds himself becoming involved again despite his best intentions.
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and the plot is a nice twisty one. A great read.
The Nearest Exit by Olen Steinhauer, read by David Pittu
This is the second in the series that started with The Tourist. This continues more or less where that book left off. Milo Weaver is still experiencing some fallout with his wife from his recent adventures, and feeling less than optimistic signs up again as a Tourist. The jobs he is given seem very easy and he think they are being careful to give him jobs that they can watch the outcome of easily. Then he is given a job that he can't stomach, and he agonizes over what to do. Again he enlists the help of another to find a solution that he can live with, but even that goes wrong for him.
There is trouble within the Tourism department and suspicions grow when information seems to be leaked to others. Milo finds himself becoming involved again despite his best intentions.
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and the plot is a nice twisty one. A great read.
Monday, 19 July 2010
Mystery Thriller
Finished July 19
Choker by Frederick Ramsay
This is from the series featuring Ike Schwartz, but is the only one I've read in that series. Ike is the sheriff of Picketsville, Virginia, but is also ex-CIA. When on a vacation by the water on the Delmarva peninsula, Ike is called by an old friend, Charlie Garland, still in the CIA.
Charlie's niece's fiance, Nick, disappeared a couple of months ago when flying a small plane and the family is looking for answers. Ike uses his old skills to backtrack and figure out where Nick and his plane ended up, but finds more questions arising. The search has led him into a situation of international terrorism.
Back home, acting sheriff Frank Sutherlin is looking into missing church silver and the questionable behaviour of a group of teens. Local pastor Blake Fisher suspects some of the local kids of being drawn into satanic worshiping without full knowledge of the consequences.
From the domestic to the international, there is a lot going on here and the action gets very intense at times. Another book that will keep you reading right until the end.
Choker by Frederick Ramsay
This is from the series featuring Ike Schwartz, but is the only one I've read in that series. Ike is the sheriff of Picketsville, Virginia, but is also ex-CIA. When on a vacation by the water on the Delmarva peninsula, Ike is called by an old friend, Charlie Garland, still in the CIA.
Charlie's niece's fiance, Nick, disappeared a couple of months ago when flying a small plane and the family is looking for answers. Ike uses his old skills to backtrack and figure out where Nick and his plane ended up, but finds more questions arising. The search has led him into a situation of international terrorism.
Back home, acting sheriff Frank Sutherlin is looking into missing church silver and the questionable behaviour of a group of teens. Local pastor Blake Fisher suspects some of the local kids of being drawn into satanic worshiping without full knowledge of the consequences.
From the domestic to the international, there is a lot going on here and the action gets very intense at times. Another book that will keep you reading right until the end.
Edge of the Seat Mystery
Finished July 18
Final Approach by Rachel Brady
This novel features Emily Locke, a woman still recovering from a tragedy in her life four years earlier. When someone from that time shows up asking for her help in a case, she is reluctant to help, until she hears that it involves a missing child.
For Emily, that is how this all began. Four years ago, when a friend's child was missing, Emily found him and called the police. But her own family tragedy, losing her husband and young daughter, also came out of this time. She feels the man who is now asking for her help betrayed her back then, and can't bring herself to trust him entirely.
As she immerses herself deeper into the case, she finds more similarities with that past case and her own loss, and she becomes sure that the answer to this case will also bring her answers of her own.
The plot is fast moving and emotional, and the book is one I just couldn't put down.
Final Approach by Rachel Brady
This novel features Emily Locke, a woman still recovering from a tragedy in her life four years earlier. When someone from that time shows up asking for her help in a case, she is reluctant to help, until she hears that it involves a missing child.
For Emily, that is how this all began. Four years ago, when a friend's child was missing, Emily found him and called the police. But her own family tragedy, losing her husband and young daughter, also came out of this time. She feels the man who is now asking for her help betrayed her back then, and can't bring herself to trust him entirely.
As she immerses herself deeper into the case, she finds more similarities with that past case and her own loss, and she becomes sure that the answer to this case will also bring her answers of her own.
The plot is fast moving and emotional, and the book is one I just couldn't put down.
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