I was moved and impressed by this first entry in the Joe Talbert and Max Rupert Series. Allen Eskens is a wonderful storyteller and highly gifted writer and darn it. Now I have to fit in at least the rest of this series with my huge audible or kindle library. Still, The Life We Bury … Continue reading The Life We Bury – Allen Eskens (Joe Talbert/Max Rupert #1) (Audio Narrator Zach Villa)
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.
The Sing Sing Files – Dan Slepian (Audio Narrated by Author)
I listened to this in just two days. Dan Slepian wrote a compelling and totally engrossing story of a series of men who landed in prison for crimes they did not commit, due to sloppy investigations, disregard of significant exculpatory evidence and more. JJ, who became Slepian's friend eventually, despite his best efforts over many … Continue reading The Sing Sing Files – Dan Slepian (Audio Narrated by Author)
The Girl in the Painting – Tea Cooper (Audible Audio Narrator – Casey Withoos)
In the 1860s, Michael and Elizabeth Quinn's parents emigrated to Australia with the plan that teenaged Michael would soon follow with his then baby sister, Elizabeth. I forget why because I took too long to review this book, as happens too often with my very favorite reads, but Michael has to leave school and go … Continue reading The Girl in the Painting – Tea Cooper (Audible Audio Narrator – Casey Withoos)
Committed – Suzanne Scanlon
"They'll keep you thirty days or until your insurance runs out. Then you're cured." It is August 1992. Suzanne Scanlon writes her own story, that of a Freshman woman at Barnard, not quite fitting in, becoming desperately lonely, her main friend a guy she knows who talks suicide with her. Ultimately, she tries it and … Continue reading Committed – Suzanne Scanlon
The Drowned – John Banville
Every now and then, the most unlikeable characters, and -- in this case one or two despicable characters-- grab me and instead of dropping a book with a loud, "Enough!" I read it to the fascinating end. The Drowned opens with Denton Wymes (pronounced "Weems") walking his dog on a beach in the evening. He … Continue reading The Drowned – John Banville
The Examiner – Janice Hallett
I want to be Janice Hallett and think up these wonderful quirky novels told through communications among the characters. The Examiner is her latest entry where Gela, an art professor is hanging on by a thread because to stay relevant, she must connect art to its commercial potential. To be relevant, as we have all … Continue reading The Examiner – Janice Hallett
Identity Unknown (Kay Scarpetta)- Patricia Cornwall (audiobook narrator – **January LaVoy**)
Kay Scarpetta's return to Virginia makes for more interesting plots than were present for a time in this series. I admit, what I loved about the Scarpetta books were the early entries. I resisted the turn to high tech spy thrillers and upscale living with connections, connections, connections. I've always liked the characters and all … Continue reading Identity Unknown (Kay Scarpetta)- Patricia Cornwall (audiobook narrator – **January LaVoy**)
The Road – Cormac McCarthy (Audio Narrator-Tom Stechschulte)
The Road, to me, was a profound dystopian novel that mesmerized me but -- and this is a big but-- if I had read it in print instead of listened to it, I might not have finished it. The narration of the audio version was wonderful. The prose is slow, and dreamy, a final journey … Continue reading The Road – Cormac McCarthy (Audio Narrator-Tom Stechschulte)
The Naturalist’s Daughter – Tea Cooper (Audiobook Narrator -Corrine Davies)
The Naturalists Daughter is part literary fiction, all historical fiction, part mystery and part thriller. As a budding fan of Tea Cooper, I was thrilled to listen to my second audiobook of one of her works. The Naturalist's Daughter takes place in a dual timeline. In 1808, Rose Winton, lives in the town of Agnes … Continue reading The Naturalist’s Daughter – Tea Cooper (Audiobook Narrator -Corrine Davies)
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore – Matthew J. Sullivan (Audio Narrator – Madeleine Maby)
This is both a literary fiction book and a mystery that unfolds as Lydia, a self-contained clerk in a bookstore in a so-so relationship with a handsome, controlling boyfriend, tries to make sense of the suicide of one of the regulars at the store. Like Lydia, Joey had secrets and trauma and his suicide in … Continue reading Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore – Matthew J. Sullivan (Audio Narrator – Madeleine Maby)
They Called me Bookworm 