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Tuesday, August 23, 2016
TTT: And Still They Languish ...
8:03 AM
Believe it or not (not!), I started this blog ten years ago this month. Crazy. It's evolved a lot since then, as have I. Weirdly enough, in all those years, my enthusiasm for book blogging has not waned. I still think it's a grand old time. Will I still be doing this ten years from now? Probably. Here's to another decade of BBB!
I've been inhaling books for a lot longer than ten years so you'd think that I'd have read every book on my TBR
Top Ten Books That have Been On My TBR List Since Before I Started Blogging:
1. Atonement by Ian McEwan (2003)—This Booker Prize-nominated novel seems to be about many things: writing, a crime that changes people's lives, war, and I'm not sure what else. Lots of people love it and I've yet to read it or anything by McEwan for that matter.
2. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (2006)—I bought this book at Borders back in the day. I've been meaning to read it ever since. My Bailey (Bayley) ancestors did not come to America on the Mayflower, but they arrived in Plymouth soon after the famous ship docked. Mayflower is supposed to be a fascinating account of the Pilgrims and their journey to the New World. Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea has also been on my TBR list for some time.
3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2004)—This story about an autistic teen investigating the death of a neighborhood dog sounds quirky and interesting. I've seen lots of praise for it over the years. And yet, still it languishes on Ye Olde TBR ...
4. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (2006)—A sweeping multi-generational tale about fathers and sons, this novel came out the year I started blogging. Still haven't gotten around to it.
5. The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst (2004)—This tale about a man who tries to make sense of his wife's death by performing experiments to teach his dog to speak sounds ... unusual. Also heartbreaking. I'm still curious about it. One of these days I'll finally get to it. Maybe.
6. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (2001)—Admittedly, I'm not a huge dragon/fantasy fan. Still, so many people love the Inheritance Cycle series that I need to at least give it a go. The fact that Paolini wrote the first book when he was just 15 is another reason to check it out.
7. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (2002)—Like many people, I've only read one book by Zusak—The Book Thief. Some of my most trusted book blogging friends (I'm looking at you, Suey and Jenny) think he's written more than one great novel. I need to see for myself. This particular Zusak has been on my TBR list for far too long. It's about time I just read I Am the Messenger already!
8. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1998)—I love post-apocalyptic books, but for some reason I just can't ever get very far in this one. Not because it's not intriguing, just because I always get distracted by newer, shinier books.
9. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (2004)—I've heard so many great things about Roach's books, this one in particular, that it's a wonder I still haven't read her. I need to remedy that right away.
10. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (1992)—I was completely swept away by Outlander when I read it way back when. Why I didn't grab this sequel immediately I'm not sure. I'll have to read Outlander again before I can continue on with this series, so who knows if it will ever actually happen? I like big books (and I cannot lie), but re-reading has never been my favorite thing.
So, there you have it. What do you think? Have you read any of these? Do you consider any of them must-reads or can they linger on the TBR list? I'd love to have a look at your list. Leave me a comment on this post and I'll gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
(All book images from Barnes & Noble)
Dark, Twisty Thriller as Surprise-Filled as the Thames Itself
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for A Dark and Twisted Tide, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Lacey Flint mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order. Actually, in the case of this author, I recommend reading her books in order of publication to avoid spoilers about secondary, but recurring characters.)
After investigating several harrowing cases with a London homicide team, Detective Constable Lacey Flint has had enough. She now works for the city's Marine Unit. As if patrolling the water all day isn't enough, she's also moved into a houseboat on the Thames. Much to her surprise, the intensely private Lacey actually enjoys being part of the floating community with its laidback lifestyle and quirky residents. She's even taken to wild-swimming in the Thames, a dangerous hobby that appeals to Lacey's reckless side. Add in a satisfying relationship with DI Mark Joesbury and the former homicide detective is about as happy as she's ever been.
Then Lacey makes a gruesome discovery. Considering the Thames is infamous for producing at least a corpse a week, Lacey shouldn't be shocked to bump into a dead body during one of her clandestine swims. Still, it's a surprise to find the shrouded remains of a young Middle Eastern woman bobbing in the water. And that's only the first one. After several similar finds, it becomes obvious that someone is trying to get Lacey's attention. Drawn once more into a puzzling murder mystery, she scrambles for answers while a sinister presence stalks her every move. Already paranoid, Lacey's also hearing disturbing rumors about Joesbury. With both her personal and professional lives in turmoil, she's got to figure out what's going on. And fast. Before her own corpse becomes the next to surface out of the murky depths of the River Thames.
Fresh is not an adjective normally associated with the Thames, but in this case it fits. That's because the unique riverboat community setting in A Dark and Twisted Tide breathes fresh, new life into Sharon Bolton's already-excellent Lacey Flint series. It adds an extra element of color and intrigue that makes this, the fourth installment, stand out. Like its predecessors, A Dark and Twisted Tide also features interesting characters, vivid storytelling, and enough plot twists to make your head spin. My only complaint is that Joesbury is more off-scene than on in this one. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this riveting thriller.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Lacey Flint series, including Now You See Me; If Snow Hadn't Fallen [novella]; Dead Scared; Lost; and Here Be Dragons [novella])
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, August 22, 2016
Exotic Setting, Engrossing Plot Make Mesopotamian Adventure/Romance a Unique YA Treat
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Banished, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, Forbidden. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
After witnessing the man to whom she's betrothed kill the man she loves, Jayden believes she has lost everything. Estranged from her tribe, separated from her family, and on the run from Horeb—her bloodthirsty fiancé—the desperate 18-year-old combs the desert to confirm a rumor that her beloved Kadesh yet lives. Alive, but gravely wounded, Kadesh insists they flee to the far-off southern lands of his birth. Only there, in a place of peace, can he safely wed Jayden, making her his Princess of Sariba. Longing for a happily ever after far from the clutches of the vile Horeb, Jayden joins Kadesh's caravan of soldiers for the lengthy and dangerous journey.
Although she's thrilled to be on her way, Jayden can't rest easy. She worries about Horeb, who's only weeks away with his own army; about her lost sisters, whom she may never see again; about her young bodyguard, who may not be as trustworthy as he seems; and about Kadesh, who appears to be keeping important secrets from her. How well does Jayden really know the man she's following to Sariba? Will he fulfill the promises he's made to her or abandon her in a foreign land? With danger lurking around every sand dune, Jayden must decide where her loyalties really lie. All she wants is safety for herself and her family. Where will she find it? In Tadmur with a man who's loathsome but powerful or in Sariba with Kadesh, the prince she loves but hardly knows? As she fights for survival, Jayden must decide whom to trust—with her love, her lot, and the lives of everyone she loves.
I've been a big fan of Kimberley Griffiths Little ever since I discovered her middle grade "bayou books" a few years ago. Although her YA trilogy takes place far, far away from the Louisana swampland, the series has everything I've come to love about Little's storytelling—a vivid, atmospheric setting; colorful, intriguing characters; a compelling, fast-paced plot; and a sprinkle of magic that spices her novels with that something special that is hard to describe but easily identifiable as vintage KGL. Banished, the second book in the series, blends all of these elements to continue the riveting story begun in Forbidden. Although I found Banished a tad more predictable than its predecessor, I still raced through it, unable to stop until I knew what happened to Jayden. Since there's one more book in the trilogy (Returned, coming February 2017), it's a given that our heroine will not find her HEA quite yet. Banished is a satisfying read in and of itself, true, but it will definitely leave you hungering for Returned. All I can say is, February, come soon!
(Readalikes: Forbidden by Kimberley Griffiths Little; also, the publisher compares the trilogy to Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Schecter and The Red Tent by Anita Diamant)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs); violence; blood/gore; sensuality; and (non-graphic) references to rape, prostitution, and sexual slavery
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Banished from the generous folks at HarperCollins. Thank you!
Friday, August 19, 2016
Creepy Gothic Thriller Utterly Compelling, Deeply Disturbing
7:56 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Heptonclough is an idyllic little town on the moors in Northern England. Gareth Fletcher and his American wife, Alice, are thrilled to find a beautiful house there that seems perfect for them and their three young children. Tom, Joe, and Millie have plenty of room to roam, even if their favorite playground has become the old church cemetery next door.
Expecting a warm country welcome, the Fletchers are dismayed by the chilly reception they receive from the townspeople. A series of silly pranks convince the family that someone is not only watching them, but also trying to drive them away. As the pranks become more intense, Tom seems especially disturbed. Convinced he's being haunted by a dead girl, the 10-year-old tries to convince the people around him of looming danger.
Harry Laycock, a vicar from Newcastle, is also new to Heptonclough. Charged with re-opening the church next to the Fletcher's house, which has been closed for the last ten years, he's as spooked as Tom. Something's not right in Heptonclough—he feels it, too. It can't be a coincidence that three toddler girls died in the church during its closure, can it? With little Millie scampering around the church grounds, Harry feels a distinct sense of foreboding. Is the youngest Fletcher in danger? Or is Harry's imagination working overtime, just like Tom's?
When Joe and Millie go missing in turn, it's up to the newcomers to figure out what's really going on in a small town with big secrets.
I've mentioned that I'm a big Sharon/S.J. Bolton fan, yeah? At least a time or two (or three or ten ...), I'm sure. This is because the author always delivers a taut, twisty story that hooks me right from the start and keeps me riveted until the very end. Always. Hence, my book-binging, blog-burbling, Bolton-bent fangirling. She's good, y'all. Her books are not for the feint of heart (or stomach), but if you're down for a gritty, gripping thriller, she's your girl.
Before writing the Lacey Flint series, Bolton penned several standalone thrillers. Blood Harvest is the third (after Sacrifice in 2008 and Awakening in 2009). It's a creepy gothic thriller with an atmospheric setting, intriguing characters, and the surprising twist and turns that are Bolton's particular forte. Both utterly compelling and deeply disturbing, Blood Harvest is another addicting page turner that I just could not put down. It's not my favorite of Bolton's standalones (that would be Little Black Lies), but it's just as compelling as all her other books. I should know because I've read—no, devoured—them all.
(Readalikes: Reminded me of other Bolton thrillers, especially Awakening)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, sexual innuendo, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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