It is 1714 and Addie, the only child of a craftsman and his wife in a small French village, is told she must marry, something she has always avoided. But a local man's wife died and there are small children and…. rather than go through with this, she makes a deal with a mysterious man. … Continue reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – Victoria Schwab (Audible Audio Narrator – Julia Whelan)
Author: Emily Leader
I have been an avid reader since Dick and Jane met Sally. At age 7, I read my parents' first edition of "To Kill a Mockingbird." I am a retired lawyer and so read almost only fiction for pleasure. I'm adding in nonfiction these days, largely on social justice matters but also history, biography, and weird topics that catch my imagination. I used to read only serially, one book at a time. Presently, I read paperbacks, hardcovers, listen to audible, listen to CDs and read online through Net Galley. Covid-19 has caused me to read a lot so I have re-upped my Goodreads challenge for 2021 and am starting to review at least my favorite finds annd, perhaps, some stinkers.
What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust – Alan Bradley (Flavia de Luce, Book 11)
Do you ever read every book in a best selling series and think only you alone have discovered it and "get it" and love it? That's how I felt about Flavia de Luce from day one. She's all mine: her precocious interest in chemistry, her eccentric, brilliant mind, her ability to drag adults into her … Continue reading What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust – Alan Bradley (Flavia de Luce, Book 11)
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer – Patrick Suskind (Audible narrator – Nigel Patterson)
Ugh. One of the most despicable characters in literature: Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, an illegitimate poverty-stricken infant placed in a home for children of his kind. Ugly, unpleasant, but with a sense of smell unmatched. His caretaker binds him out to a tanner where he must spend his days using chemicals that are horrible and he is … Continue reading Perfume: The Story of a Murderer – Patrick Suskind (Audible narrator – Nigel Patterson)
Murder at the White Palace – Allison Montclair
First things First. This is the sixth book in a mystery series begun in 2019 and I missed the memo. That meant that when I started Murder at the White Palace, I found the beginning slow as I had to do the middle of a continuing story catch up on the characters. Iris Sparks, is … Continue reading Murder at the White Palace – Allison Montclair
The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese (Audio book read by the Author)
Months ago, I finished the over thirty hours audible version of The Covenant of Water, read by the author. It is one of my favorite books I have ever read, made even more so by hearing the words read as the author means them to be heard. We are immediately drawn into a family in … Continue reading The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese (Audio book read by the Author)
Sometimes, you just need a cozy Victorian Romantic Historical Fiction Mystery or three…:
The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart (Audible) – Nancy Campbell Allen, Narrator – Dannielle Cohen An enjoyable historical fiction romance/detective novel. Amelie Hampton, orphaned daughter from the wrong branch of the well-regarded, well-born Hamptons, lives in a rooming house owned by her Aunt Sallie, who raised Amelie and her two cousins after each lost their parents. They all work for … Continue reading Sometimes, you just need a cozy Victorian Romantic Historical Fiction Mystery or three…:
The Stolen Child – Ann Hood (audio narrator Jefferson Mays)
"The Stolen Child" is a beautifully written book and Jefferson Mays provided exceptional narration in the audio version. We move among characters from Nick, first shown in WWI in a trench in France; to Jenny, a 19 year old college dropout waitressing at IHop in the early 1970's; to Enzo, a Nativity set craftsman in … Continue reading The Stolen Child – Ann Hood (audio narrator Jefferson Mays)
Red Side Story – Jasper Fforde (audio version narrated by Jasper Fforde and Chris Harper)
I discovered Jasper Fforde early on with his first Thursday Next mystery and have ridden his rollercoaster of quirky, absurdist, full of social commentary novels ever since. For fans like me, Red Side Story, with a touch of Sci-Fi, a touch of fantasy and a dystopian vibe is a total win. Each time Fforde tries … Continue reading Red Side Story – Jasper Fforde (audio version narrated by Jasper Fforde and Chris Harper)
I Cheerfully Refuse – Leif Enger (Audio Narrator: David Allen Baker)
"I Cheerfully Refuse" is a near future dystopian novel that I "read" via an audio version. I keep not reviewing it because I loved it and want to do it justice, but it is a novel that is easy to inadvertently spoil. Generally speaking, there has been some climate related disaster that has resulted in … Continue reading I Cheerfully Refuse – Leif Enger (Audio Narrator: David Allen Baker)
Thunder Bay – William Kent Krueger (Audible Narrator David Chandler)
So delighted that someone recommended William Kent Krueger's writing in a post I read. I jumped into the middle of the Cork O'Conner series because Audible included some of his work in its plus catalogue. (lets you have additional books at no additional charge). This is the 7th book in the series. Cork's close friend … Continue reading Thunder Bay – William Kent Krueger (Audible Narrator David Chandler)
They Called me Bookworm 