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Monday, May 27, 2019
Intriguing Crime Series Offers More to Be Explored
11:53 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Dr. Emma Sweeney happens across the dead body of a university student while crossing campus after hours, she calls the first person who comes to mind—her boyfriend, Detective Sergeant Cormac Reilly. As persona non grata at the Galway police station, Cormac never would have been assigned to the apparent hit-and-run. Especially considering his relationship with the star witness. Things get even dicier when a student i.d. in the deceased's pocket identifies the victim as Carline Darcy, granddaughter of the billionaire owner of Darcy Therapeutics, the company which funds Emma's research. Suddenly, the "accident" is looking a lot like murder, with Emma quickly becoming the biggest suspect. And, somehow, Cormac is the one in charge of the investigation.
With the case getting increasingly complicated, Cormac is torn between his loyalty to his girlfriend and the evidence mounting against her. Determined to solve a murder and finally prove himself to his colleagues at the same time, Cormac will have to risk everything he has, both personal and professional, to find the truth.
While I didn't enjoy the second installment in Dervla McTiernan's Cormac Reilly series quite as much as the first, I still really liked The Scholar. Like its predecessor, the novel is a compelling, exciting page-turner that I had a hard time putting down. I especially like the characters McTiernan has created, all of whom are realistically complicated and flawed. Although the story people in this series have already come alive enough for me to care about what happens to them, I still feel like each of them has hidden depths to be explored. That's one of the reasons I'm so excited to see where this series goes. McTiernan has impressed me so far. I'm a big Cormac Reilly fan; I can't wait to see what happens to him next!
(Readalikes: The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan; also reminds me of crime novels by Tana French, Sharon Bolton, and Jane Casey)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Historical Insane Asylum Novel Heartbreaking, But Hopeful
10:26 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As the daughter of a wealthy San Francisco businessman, Charlotte Smith knows exactly what's expected of her. She's to conduct herself as a refined young lady ought, marry the man her parents select, and hold her tongue should she have any complaints. Charlotte's prepared to follow the predictable course set out for her life—until her beloved older sister is sent away. Phoebe might be a little different, but Charlotte knows she doesn't belong at Goldengrove, "a Progressive Home for the Curable Insane." Determined to rescue Phoebe, Charlotte schemes to get herself sent to Goldengrove. Shocked by the deplorable conditions at the hospital and the horrifying treatments forced on the patients, she vows to get both herself and her sister out. But that's not nearly as simple as it may seem ...
Both heartbreaking and hopeful, Woman 99 by Greer Macallister shines a harsh light on the misunderstanding and mistreatment that characterized mental health "care" in the late 19th Century. Depictions of life inside Goldengrove are graphic enough to make a point, but not so explicit as to elicit more than a PG-13 rating. Still, this is an eye-opening, thought-provoking novel. It's peopled with a host of "inconvenient" women who are brave, loyal, and compassionate. While I liked the premise of Woman 99 and its cast, I didn't end up loving the book. Macallister's prose is clunky, more tell than show, and the story wraps up in a way that feels convenient and inauthentic. Overall, then, I didn't adore this one like I thought I would. It's still an engaging read, just not as satisfying as it could have been.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Top Ten Tuesday: Hands-On Reading
8:35 AM
Welcome to another edition of my favorite bookish meme! I love Top Ten Tuesday, even if today's topic—Books That I Refuse to Let Anyone Touch (too special/valuable/fragile/etc.)—doesn't really apply to me. I'm not interested enough to collect rare books, not sentimental enough to keep nostalgic reads (at least not old, fragile copies), and not cautious enough not to let family and friends borrow my books. So, yeah, for this topic? I got nothing. Instead, I'm going to spin it a little and list the Top Ten Books I'm Hoping to Touch This Summer (or, My Summer TBR List). This will actually be the subject of the TTT list on June 25, but since I'm constantly biting off more than I can chew (er, read), I will no doubt be able to come up with another, entirely different list in a month. No problem.
Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun. It's a simple way to spread the love around the book blogosphere while adding to both your blogroll and your TBR
Top Ten Books I'm Hoping to Touch This Summer (or My Summer TBR List, Part I)
1. The County of Ross: A History of Ross County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on the Bench and Bar, Medical Profession, Educational Development, Industry and Agriculture, and Biographical Sketches by Henry Holcomb Bennett—Since February, I've been working hard to fulfill the first requirement in the process of becoming an accredited genealogist through ICAPGen. It involves writing a lengthy research report on four generations of a family who lived continuously in the part of the world in which you are seeking to specialize. For me, that's the Great Lakes region, where most of my ancestors settled after immigrating to the U.S. from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The specific family I'm researching has lived in Ross County, Ohio, for generations. Thus, I'm reading this 785-page gem, which was published in 1902. It's more scintillating than I thought it would be. I actually stayed up until midnight the other night reading it! #genealogynerd
That being said, The County of Ross is hardly the kind of page-turner that I'm going to be reading cover-to-cover just as fast as I can. I'll be reading chapters in between other books (probably mystery/suspense novels that I will want to consume at warp speed) so it will likely take me all summer to finish this hefty tome. I've got time since my report isn't due until August ...
2. The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King—I bought this Fred Rogers biography after seeing the excellent documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor? in the movie theater. I found the film so inspiring that I wanted to learn more about this iconic figure whose t.v. show was a daily part of my early childhood.
3. Educated by Tara Westover—This memoir about a woman's unconventional childhood and education has gotten all kinds of buzz since it was published. It's been sitting on my physical TBR pile for months and I still haven't gotten to it. Soon, I will.
4. Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord—I love Lord's poignant children's books, so I'm excited to read her newest. This slim novel is about a girl who's going to public school for the first time after being homeschooled and the rescue rabbit who helps her cope with all the challenges she's facing. Sounds sweet.
5. Amina's Voice by Hena Khan—I found this MG novel, which I've heard good things about, while browsing at the library yesterday. The story revolves around a Pakistani-American Muslim girl and her struggles with friendship, culture clashes, etc.
6. After the Lights Go Out by Lili Wilkinson—This Australian post-apocalyptic novel sounds intriguing. This is one I'd really like to get my hands on, but I can't find it anywhere, even though it was published last year. It's not available at my local libraries and it's not for sale on Amazon. Anyone know how to get a hold of this elusive volume without traveling to Australia?
7. Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim—I'm reading this one for a blog tour and it looks really fun. It's about a chef who wants to revitalize the Chinatown restaurant she inherits from her estranged mother.
8. The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan (available June 4, 2019)—I pre-ordered this WWII novel, which concerns a disgraced divorceé who travels to London to reunite with her estranged daughter. When she discovers that, in the chaos of war, her daughter has gone missing, she launches her own investigation to find her vanished child.
9. Her Daughter's Mother by Daniela Petrova (available June 18, 2019)—An expectant mother who becomes an unwitting stalker of the "anonymous" egg donor responsible for her pregnancy is the star of this forthcoming thriller. When the donor disappears, the woman launches her own investigation to find out what happened to the woman to whom she owes so much.
10. My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni—I came across an intriguing-looking series by Dugoni while perusing the mystery/thriller section of the library yesterday. My library didn't have the first installment, My Sister's Grave, so I requested it from another branch. It's about a homicide detective who's determined to solve her sister's disappearance and alleged murder.
What do you think of my summer reading list? Have you read any of these titles? What books are on your summer TBR? If you did today's topic, which books do you refuse to let anyone touch? I'd truly love to know. Leave a comment on this post and I will happily return the favor on your post (please make sure to leave the URL so I can find you).
Happy TTT!
Monday, May 20, 2019
Warm, Engaging MG Novel Has Feel and Appeal of Timeless Classic
7:41 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Billie O'Brien has a busy summer ahead of her. Not only will the 12-year-old be harvesting her bees' honey to sell in town, but she's also got to check her fishing traps, help her friend scoop llama poop (lots of llama poop), assist her dad with cheese making, and—most importantly—grow the biggest, best pumpkin she can so she can beat the socks off her former BFF in the pumpkin race that happens every fall on Madeline Island. Sam Harrington cheated her out of her win last year and she can't forgive him for that. The only way to get her revenge is to skunk him fair and square this year.
Of course, things aren't going to go smoothly when you've got cucumber beetles gorging on your pumpkins, an ex-BFF sabotaging your growing efforts, storms churning up your favorite fishing spot, and a mysterious stranger whose sudden appearance throws your family into a confusing whirl. Can Billie survive a summer full of unpleasant surprises? Can she beat Sam in the race? As Billie stumbles through three months of hard work, stinging disappointment, trying challenges, and unexpected revelations, she will learn some valuable lessons about family, friendship, and, forgiveness.
The Pumpkin War by Cathleen Young is a warm, engaging novel that has the feel and appeal of a timeless classic. Its bucolic rural setting offers readers a unique, insider's view of farm life while emphasizing the value of kids helping out and working diligently to achieve their goals. While The Pumpkin War is a slim novel, it's got lots going on inside. It tells a fun, exciting story that's also touching and real. Readers of any age can pick this one up and enjoy. I certainly did.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of books by Cynthia Lord)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Pumpkin War from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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