A Year in Review - Books
I honestly thought I'd written about the books I'd read sometime since last January. Apparently not. *facepalm* So, behind the cut, the 28 books I read last year with comments about them. I had thought about splitting this into two posts, but I've already read 5 more this month that I'll have to write about fairly soon. :) So, with no further ado...
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. I read this one for book club, and really enjoyed it. It's a novel about the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney, his mistress of many years. As I've said before, I really like reading historical novels, especially if I learn something from them. And considering that I knew very little about FLW, I learned a lot from this book. For starters, I learned that he lived in the same Wisconsin county as some of my ancestors, which gave more meaning to both his story and theirs. I also didn't realize that he'd had a mistress - it's not something that gets mentioned in articles about his work. Reading her story was at once sad and hopeful. Sad because of the times and how, in order to be with him, she had to abandon her children, but hopeful because of knowing how things have changed since then. It was also very interesting to read about his work in Chicago and elsewhere, and their life together. All in all, a book I would recommend to anyone, though some members of my book club had no sympathy for Mamah due to personal circumstances that too closely resembled her choices.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Sometimes you have to wonder why you keep reading a book. This 800+ page historical novel was a chore to get through, but I have no one to blame but myself for finishing, since it wasn't a book club selection. *g* No, I saw it in the store, read the blurb, and thought it sounded interesting. Of course, the blurb didn't mention anything about it being about Dracula, and how the protagonists thought he really existed. Not that I mind books about the supernatural, but give me a heads up that that's what the book's about, 'k? On the plus side, the book has some awesome descriptions of various locales throughout Europe. On the minus side, it's told in three different timelines and all of them are told in 1st person! I tell you what, sometimes it was a pain figuring out who was telling the story in what timeline. Still, every time I thought about giving up, something happened to lure me back in, so I struggled through to the very unsatisfying end. I was so glad I'd picked this one up from the library rather than spending any money on it!
The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfer. Yet another historical novel told in 1st person. Fortunately, this one was shorter and more interesting. As the title indicates, the main character is a wet nurse, and the story takes place in Victorian England. Her mother was also a wet nurse, and her tale is interspersed with the main character's. The writer used an interesting technique in the writing of the novel by alternating chapters of the main story with letters written by clients of both women. I don't usually like it when books don't let the narrative flow (that's why I never finished The Grapes of Wrath) but once I figured that the letters mainly told the mother's story, it worked. Again, this is a book I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in the subject matter.
The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. Another historical novel. Are we sensing a trend here? This one was for book club and is about 17th century Holland and the artist Jan Vermeer. The opening scene set the tone for the whole book, and I really enjoyed it. I thought the author did a good job of depicting the life of a servant girl in the home of a struggling middle class family, how she had to be careful in her dealings with various members of the family, as well as their acquaintances - both of higher and lower classes. We also watched the movie starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson, and we all agreed that it wasn't as satisfying as the book. For one thing, it left out the opening scene of the book, which we all felt was integral to the entire plot. But, Hollywood, what can you do, right? Read the book. ^_~
The Help by Kathryn Stockett. This was another book club selection. They actually read it in November 2009, but I had to wait until it came in at the library. I will say that the book was well-written, and the story it told was interesting. I have my issues with it, though. The main one being that it's about the experience of being black in Mississippi in the 1960's, but it's written by a white woman. And the main character who's telling the story is also white. The author does address this issue, both in author's notes and in the narrative, but it still bothers me. Which is interesting given that I really enjoyed the TV series Any Day Now, which you just know, given the make up of Hollywood, was most likely written by white women. Maybe it has to do with the visual aspect of television watching vs the written component of reading? Whatever, I wouldn't say "not" to read this book because of that issue, just be aware of it as you read, because the story is definitely well-told and worth reading.
Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas. Another book club choice. I read it years ago when it was first published, and enjoyed the reread. It's not my favorite Sandra Dallas book, that would Alice's Tulips, but it's up there. *g* For those who've not read it, it's about a group of women during the Depression of the 1930's, and how things change when a new member joins their quilting circle. There's murder, secrets, sewing, and - throughout it all - friendship. A nice read for a quiet evening.
The Commitment by Dan Savage. Simply put, I loved this book! It was heartwarming, hysterical and hopeful. I loved the story of Dan and Terry traveling across country to see Dan's family, and all the usual headaches that involves, especially when traveling with a little one. (I laughed out loud at the story of how they handled a rash DJ acquired by not, um, using enough toilet paper. Shame on me, I know, but it was funnily told. *g*) I loved how they worked their way toward getting married when none of them (Dan, Terry or DJ) were sure they wanted/needed to be. And I loved how happy they all were at the end of the book. Go. Read. Enjoy. (I need to buy this one myself, since I read a library copy.)
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. This book made me want to walk the Appalachian Trail. For about 30 seconds. Which is how long it took me to remember that I don't like camping. *g* Still, it's a fabulous read and I loved the little known facts he interspersed in the story of how he decided to walk The Trail and how that adventure went. I could easily picture the various situations/people he described, and definitely admire him for even attempting what I have zero interest in doing. This was another book club selection, and we decided to walk the path at one of the local parks before discussing it. That was enough of a hike for me, but I recommend this book for anyone - whether they're contemplating that hike or not. *g*
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Fascinating. Simply fascinating. This is the true story of the woman behind HeLa cells, Henrietta Lacks. If, like me, you have no idea what those are, this book tells us the science in easy layman's terms while keeping the story human as well. Basically, HeLa cells are the first cells that replicated themselves in a petri dish and didn't just die off as all other cells had done before. And this is the story of how the author found out about Henrietta and what happened to her and her family. She gives a thorough, at least to my eyes, explanation of what the HeLa cells meant to science and puts everything in historical context. That context is of a black woman in the 1940's & 50's, and the white doctors and scientists who treated her. The book is written by a white woman, but, unlike for The Help, it didn't bother me. Perhaps because it's non-fiction, and she lets the people speak for themselves. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, and we're going to be reading it for book club in a couple of months. Yay! One I've already read. *g*
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Again, this one was for book club, and again, I enjoyed it. If you can call it 'enjoying' when it's a book about the Holocaust as told by Death. Anyway, it was very interesting, and I liked it a lot. *g* It's the story of an orphan girl who goes to live with a German family in the 1930's, and how they end up hiding a Jewish refugee in their home during the war. It's also the story of how the girl comes to love books and why she steals them. It's a Young Adult novel, and was a good, quick read.
The Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland. I read this book several years ago, but after reading The Girl with a Pearl Earring, I wanted to read it again. *g* This one is also about a painting by the artist Jan Vermeer, but whereas "Earring" followed the servant girl, who was theoretically the subject of the painting, this one follows the painting - and it's a non-factual painting at that - through a series of short stories back through time from the modern day to the time of its origin. I found that some of the stories stuck with me over the years, while others didn't, but I enjoyed the reread. There's also been a movie made based on this book, called Brush with Fate, which I saw on TV back in the day. Again, some images have stuck with me, so it'd be nice to see it again. Maybe some day. *g*
The Little Balloonist by Linda Donn. I found this one on the bargain table at some store and it sounded intriguing. Napoleonic France. Female hot air balloonist. Fiction based on fact. What's not to love, right? And it was a mostly enjoyable read. Because, in addition to all the aforementioned, there was love and mysticism and scientific experimentation. The only problem was, this was the author's first attempt at fiction after writing a couple of non-fiction books - and it showed. She included woodcut images and news article imprints, which, while interesting, would probably have been better placed in a non-fiction book. And some of her writing pulled me out enough to wonder if what I was reading was real or make believe. Not to say I wouldn't recommend the book. I would. It just skirts a very fine line between fiction and non-fiction, and doesn't quite manage to stay on one side or the other.
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen. From its improbable beginning to its climactic ending, this book club choice was an enjoyable read. It's not for everyone, though. Some people felt there wasn't enough character development for two of the main characters, and I'll admit their story was written as if we were just supposed to accept them as is with no explanation. But with a plot that begins with the far-fetched idea that a woman could fall off a cruise ship and end up diving into the water and survive by latching onto a bale of marijuana, sans clothing, isn't that to be expected? There's foul language aplenty, sex that fades to black, and villains who are as over-the-top as everything else. Just go with it. *g*
The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze & Lisa Niemi. Considering the crush I had on this guy, there's no way I wasn't going to read this. I'm glad I did, too. I hadn't realized just how long he'd been acting, and how many things he'd been in, so it was good to read about all of his experiences in both the theater and movies/television. It was also good to read about his and Lisa's relationship, and how enduring it was. Not something you see all that often in the world of show business. Again, I'm glad I read it, and I even made it through without crying.
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. This one was recommended to me by my oldest via his girlfriend. It's another historical novel of the 800+ page variety, and was much better than the other 800+ page book I read earlier in the year. *g* It's the story of a prostitute in Victorian England who rises from being on the streets to being the mistress of a middle class businessman. You can easily tell that a man wrote it from some of the language used and the way sex scenes were written, but then, that fit the character. Also, the writing style was interesting. I'm not sure you'd call it 2nd person, but it wasn't 1st, either. It was as if the narrator was talking to the reader like they were standing next to each other. If that makes any sense? And then it would veer into 3rd person for whole chapters at a time. Made for interesting transitions. ^_~ Still, it was a good story, and apparently the BBC has made it into a mini-series. Should be… interesting. *g*
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson. O.M.G! The man's dead, but his words aren't sacrosanct! Get that book an editor! Nobody cares how many pencils are in a desk, or what you had to buy because you live in Sweden but are too stupid to take winter clothes when you leave Stockholm for points farther north. In December. Gah! That being said? It also shouldn't take over 100 pages of exposition about the past to get to the meat of the story in the present. So, yeah, not my favorite book ever. The story was good - once I got there - but it took way too long to get there. Another book club choice, and I have no interest in reading the rest of the trilogy.
Naked Heat by Richard Castle. Yeah, yeah, you know why I read this one. :D To be honest? I didn't think I was going to. The first one wasn't all that great, so why bother with the second one? Still, once it was put online at abc.com I started reading, and you know what? It was better than the first one. :) Less author insert, more character interaction. Decent character development for Nikki, which there should be for a series based on one major character. Granted, it's not prize-winning fiction by any stretch of the imagination. But it was fun. *g*
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith. Speaking of fun… I had asked for this for Christmas 2009, and finally got around to reading it late last year. It's purely silly, and the conceit will wear thin very quickly, but I enjoyed it. Except for a few mischaracterizations of Darcy. *glares*
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. O.M.G. This book is just too scary in how easily I could see our country end up here the way things are going. And to think it was written just a quarter century ago as speculative fiction. I really, really hope it stays that way. *shudders*
Soulless by Gail Carriger. Sookie Stackhouse meets Lucifer Box. *g* Victorian England, werewolves and vampires are known to exist, and the main character has no soul so can render the supernaturals 'human' when she touches them. The writing is on par with the Sookie novels, not nearly as sharp/witty as Lucifer, and there's a romance aspect to it, of course, but it was still a fun read. There are, apparently, two more in the series. I need to remember to read them…
The Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby. Can we have some whine with our wine? *rolls eyes* Main character injured in a car accident, leaves home in Virginia for family owned property in France, lives there several years, father dies/is killed, she returns to find her brother and sister wanting to sell the family winery. B-B-But we caaaan't! *whine whine whine* So, yeah, I just wanted to slap the main character most of the time. Not only was she self-pitying, she was stupid when it came to the men she let walk all over her. There are more in this series as well, but you can bet I won't be reading them. (This was a book club selection. *g*)
Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich. Yeah, Stephanie et al up to their usual tricks. This one wasn't as good as some others. In fact, I recall skipping, or at least skimming, over large chunks of it. Maybe it's time for Stephanie to choose and let this series rest?
Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich. I got this one from the library thinking it was part of her "Between the Numbers" series. It's not, but it does have Diesel, Wulf, and Carl the monkey in it, so… Actually, it seems to be the first in a new series. It takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, and involves a baker who may or may not have supernatural powers of a sort and another baker who's sure she's a witch but keeps messing up spells - often with 'unexplainable' results. It was light fun and I like Diesel, so I'm willing to give the next one a read.
Nefertiti by Michelle Moran. Another historical novel! *g* This one was fascinating. I don't know as much about Ancient Egypt as I'd like; and this really brought it to life. The story is told from the POV of Nefertiti's younger sister, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Plus, I got lucky. At the same time I was reading this, an article came out in "National Geographic" about some mummies who are thought to be the parents/grandparents of King Tut. Since that figured right into the novel, it made for some informative additional reading.
Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn. *blinks* Was this really the only Regency romance I read last year? Wow. Unless you count PP&Z. *g* Anyway, yes, Regency romance by my current favorite author in the field. And, yes, it was good. She made me laugh and the story was well done. What more can you ask?
Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance by Gyles Brandreath. Picked this one up on a whim and am glad I did. It's a mystery novel as told by a friend and later biographer of Oscar Wilde, and Arthur Conan Doyle appears as well. It's a fictionalized account of the inspiration behind Wilde's book The Picture of Dorian Gray, and really did an excellent job of portraying all the main characters and the Victorian world they lived in. It's the first one in a series, and I just may read more of them. Only wish they were at the library…
Wine and War by Don & Petie Kladstrup. I know nothing about wine, except that I don't care for it, but this account of how the French people tried to protect their wines and wineries from the Germans during WWII was fascinating. It's a story I imagine few people are familiar with, and one that definitely needed telling. I'm very glad I read it, and encourage others to do so as well.
Always the Baker Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker. Okay, first off? If you're writing an 'inspirational' romance aka a Christian-based one, please say so somewhere prominently on the cover. If I'd seen this at a bookstore, I would've known. But I didn't. I got it at the library. Secondly, if you're writing a romance and you have no intention of following the trope of having the main characters get together by the end? Do a better job of convincing the reader about the couple/s you do plan to. Thirdly, skip the recipes. Though I suppose there are people out there who like that, so I guess I can let that one slide. So, yeah, not the best book to end the year with. Ah, well, new year, new books. :)
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. I read this one for book club, and really enjoyed it. It's a novel about the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney, his mistress of many years. As I've said before, I really like reading historical novels, especially if I learn something from them. And considering that I knew very little about FLW, I learned a lot from this book. For starters, I learned that he lived in the same Wisconsin county as some of my ancestors, which gave more meaning to both his story and theirs. I also didn't realize that he'd had a mistress - it's not something that gets mentioned in articles about his work. Reading her story was at once sad and hopeful. Sad because of the times and how, in order to be with him, she had to abandon her children, but hopeful because of knowing how things have changed since then. It was also very interesting to read about his work in Chicago and elsewhere, and their life together. All in all, a book I would recommend to anyone, though some members of my book club had no sympathy for Mamah due to personal circumstances that too closely resembled her choices.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Sometimes you have to wonder why you keep reading a book. This 800+ page historical novel was a chore to get through, but I have no one to blame but myself for finishing, since it wasn't a book club selection. *g* No, I saw it in the store, read the blurb, and thought it sounded interesting. Of course, the blurb didn't mention anything about it being about Dracula, and how the protagonists thought he really existed. Not that I mind books about the supernatural, but give me a heads up that that's what the book's about, 'k? On the plus side, the book has some awesome descriptions of various locales throughout Europe. On the minus side, it's told in three different timelines and all of them are told in 1st person! I tell you what, sometimes it was a pain figuring out who was telling the story in what timeline. Still, every time I thought about giving up, something happened to lure me back in, so I struggled through to the very unsatisfying end. I was so glad I'd picked this one up from the library rather than spending any money on it!
The Wet Nurse's Tale by Erica Eisdorfer. Yet another historical novel told in 1st person. Fortunately, this one was shorter and more interesting. As the title indicates, the main character is a wet nurse, and the story takes place in Victorian England. Her mother was also a wet nurse, and her tale is interspersed with the main character's. The writer used an interesting technique in the writing of the novel by alternating chapters of the main story with letters written by clients of both women. I don't usually like it when books don't let the narrative flow (that's why I never finished The Grapes of Wrath) but once I figured that the letters mainly told the mother's story, it worked. Again, this is a book I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in the subject matter.
The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. Another historical novel. Are we sensing a trend here? This one was for book club and is about 17th century Holland and the artist Jan Vermeer. The opening scene set the tone for the whole book, and I really enjoyed it. I thought the author did a good job of depicting the life of a servant girl in the home of a struggling middle class family, how she had to be careful in her dealings with various members of the family, as well as their acquaintances - both of higher and lower classes. We also watched the movie starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson, and we all agreed that it wasn't as satisfying as the book. For one thing, it left out the opening scene of the book, which we all felt was integral to the entire plot. But, Hollywood, what can you do, right? Read the book. ^_~
The Help by Kathryn Stockett. This was another book club selection. They actually read it in November 2009, but I had to wait until it came in at the library. I will say that the book was well-written, and the story it told was interesting. I have my issues with it, though. The main one being that it's about the experience of being black in Mississippi in the 1960's, but it's written by a white woman. And the main character who's telling the story is also white. The author does address this issue, both in author's notes and in the narrative, but it still bothers me. Which is interesting given that I really enjoyed the TV series Any Day Now, which you just know, given the make up of Hollywood, was most likely written by white women. Maybe it has to do with the visual aspect of television watching vs the written component of reading? Whatever, I wouldn't say "not" to read this book because of that issue, just be aware of it as you read, because the story is definitely well-told and worth reading.
Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas. Another book club choice. I read it years ago when it was first published, and enjoyed the reread. It's not my favorite Sandra Dallas book, that would Alice's Tulips, but it's up there. *g* For those who've not read it, it's about a group of women during the Depression of the 1930's, and how things change when a new member joins their quilting circle. There's murder, secrets, sewing, and - throughout it all - friendship. A nice read for a quiet evening.
The Commitment by Dan Savage. Simply put, I loved this book! It was heartwarming, hysterical and hopeful. I loved the story of Dan and Terry traveling across country to see Dan's family, and all the usual headaches that involves, especially when traveling with a little one. (I laughed out loud at the story of how they handled a rash DJ acquired by not, um, using enough toilet paper. Shame on me, I know, but it was funnily told. *g*) I loved how they worked their way toward getting married when none of them (Dan, Terry or DJ) were sure they wanted/needed to be. And I loved how happy they all were at the end of the book. Go. Read. Enjoy. (I need to buy this one myself, since I read a library copy.)
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. This book made me want to walk the Appalachian Trail. For about 30 seconds. Which is how long it took me to remember that I don't like camping. *g* Still, it's a fabulous read and I loved the little known facts he interspersed in the story of how he decided to walk The Trail and how that adventure went. I could easily picture the various situations/people he described, and definitely admire him for even attempting what I have zero interest in doing. This was another book club selection, and we decided to walk the path at one of the local parks before discussing it. That was enough of a hike for me, but I recommend this book for anyone - whether they're contemplating that hike or not. *g*
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Fascinating. Simply fascinating. This is the true story of the woman behind HeLa cells, Henrietta Lacks. If, like me, you have no idea what those are, this book tells us the science in easy layman's terms while keeping the story human as well. Basically, HeLa cells are the first cells that replicated themselves in a petri dish and didn't just die off as all other cells had done before. And this is the story of how the author found out about Henrietta and what happened to her and her family. She gives a thorough, at least to my eyes, explanation of what the HeLa cells meant to science and puts everything in historical context. That context is of a black woman in the 1940's & 50's, and the white doctors and scientists who treated her. The book is written by a white woman, but, unlike for The Help, it didn't bother me. Perhaps because it's non-fiction, and she lets the people speak for themselves. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, and we're going to be reading it for book club in a couple of months. Yay! One I've already read. *g*
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Again, this one was for book club, and again, I enjoyed it. If you can call it 'enjoying' when it's a book about the Holocaust as told by Death. Anyway, it was very interesting, and I liked it a lot. *g* It's the story of an orphan girl who goes to live with a German family in the 1930's, and how they end up hiding a Jewish refugee in their home during the war. It's also the story of how the girl comes to love books and why she steals them. It's a Young Adult novel, and was a good, quick read.
The Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland. I read this book several years ago, but after reading The Girl with a Pearl Earring, I wanted to read it again. *g* This one is also about a painting by the artist Jan Vermeer, but whereas "Earring" followed the servant girl, who was theoretically the subject of the painting, this one follows the painting - and it's a non-factual painting at that - through a series of short stories back through time from the modern day to the time of its origin. I found that some of the stories stuck with me over the years, while others didn't, but I enjoyed the reread. There's also been a movie made based on this book, called Brush with Fate, which I saw on TV back in the day. Again, some images have stuck with me, so it'd be nice to see it again. Maybe some day. *g*
The Little Balloonist by Linda Donn. I found this one on the bargain table at some store and it sounded intriguing. Napoleonic France. Female hot air balloonist. Fiction based on fact. What's not to love, right? And it was a mostly enjoyable read. Because, in addition to all the aforementioned, there was love and mysticism and scientific experimentation. The only problem was, this was the author's first attempt at fiction after writing a couple of non-fiction books - and it showed. She included woodcut images and news article imprints, which, while interesting, would probably have been better placed in a non-fiction book. And some of her writing pulled me out enough to wonder if what I was reading was real or make believe. Not to say I wouldn't recommend the book. I would. It just skirts a very fine line between fiction and non-fiction, and doesn't quite manage to stay on one side or the other.
Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen. From its improbable beginning to its climactic ending, this book club choice was an enjoyable read. It's not for everyone, though. Some people felt there wasn't enough character development for two of the main characters, and I'll admit their story was written as if we were just supposed to accept them as is with no explanation. But with a plot that begins with the far-fetched idea that a woman could fall off a cruise ship and end up diving into the water and survive by latching onto a bale of marijuana, sans clothing, isn't that to be expected? There's foul language aplenty, sex that fades to black, and villains who are as over-the-top as everything else. Just go with it. *g*
The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze & Lisa Niemi. Considering the crush I had on this guy, there's no way I wasn't going to read this. I'm glad I did, too. I hadn't realized just how long he'd been acting, and how many things he'd been in, so it was good to read about all of his experiences in both the theater and movies/television. It was also good to read about his and Lisa's relationship, and how enduring it was. Not something you see all that often in the world of show business. Again, I'm glad I read it, and I even made it through without crying.
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. This one was recommended to me by my oldest via his girlfriend. It's another historical novel of the 800+ page variety, and was much better than the other 800+ page book I read earlier in the year. *g* It's the story of a prostitute in Victorian England who rises from being on the streets to being the mistress of a middle class businessman. You can easily tell that a man wrote it from some of the language used and the way sex scenes were written, but then, that fit the character. Also, the writing style was interesting. I'm not sure you'd call it 2nd person, but it wasn't 1st, either. It was as if the narrator was talking to the reader like they were standing next to each other. If that makes any sense? And then it would veer into 3rd person for whole chapters at a time. Made for interesting transitions. ^_~ Still, it was a good story, and apparently the BBC has made it into a mini-series. Should be… interesting. *g*
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson. O.M.G! The man's dead, but his words aren't sacrosanct! Get that book an editor! Nobody cares how many pencils are in a desk, or what you had to buy because you live in Sweden but are too stupid to take winter clothes when you leave Stockholm for points farther north. In December. Gah! That being said? It also shouldn't take over 100 pages of exposition about the past to get to the meat of the story in the present. So, yeah, not my favorite book ever. The story was good - once I got there - but it took way too long to get there. Another book club choice, and I have no interest in reading the rest of the trilogy.
Naked Heat by Richard Castle. Yeah, yeah, you know why I read this one. :D To be honest? I didn't think I was going to. The first one wasn't all that great, so why bother with the second one? Still, once it was put online at abc.com I started reading, and you know what? It was better than the first one. :) Less author insert, more character interaction. Decent character development for Nikki, which there should be for a series based on one major character. Granted, it's not prize-winning fiction by any stretch of the imagination. But it was fun. *g*
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith. Speaking of fun… I had asked for this for Christmas 2009, and finally got around to reading it late last year. It's purely silly, and the conceit will wear thin very quickly, but I enjoyed it. Except for a few mischaracterizations of Darcy. *glares*
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. O.M.G. This book is just too scary in how easily I could see our country end up here the way things are going. And to think it was written just a quarter century ago as speculative fiction. I really, really hope it stays that way. *shudders*
Soulless by Gail Carriger. Sookie Stackhouse meets Lucifer Box. *g* Victorian England, werewolves and vampires are known to exist, and the main character has no soul so can render the supernaturals 'human' when she touches them. The writing is on par with the Sookie novels, not nearly as sharp/witty as Lucifer, and there's a romance aspect to it, of course, but it was still a fun read. There are, apparently, two more in the series. I need to remember to read them…
The Merlot Murders by Ellen Crosby. Can we have some whine with our wine? *rolls eyes* Main character injured in a car accident, leaves home in Virginia for family owned property in France, lives there several years, father dies/is killed, she returns to find her brother and sister wanting to sell the family winery. B-B-But we caaaan't! *whine whine whine* So, yeah, I just wanted to slap the main character most of the time. Not only was she self-pitying, she was stupid when it came to the men she let walk all over her. There are more in this series as well, but you can bet I won't be reading them. (This was a book club selection. *g*)
Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich. Yeah, Stephanie et al up to their usual tricks. This one wasn't as good as some others. In fact, I recall skipping, or at least skimming, over large chunks of it. Maybe it's time for Stephanie to choose and let this series rest?
Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich. I got this one from the library thinking it was part of her "Between the Numbers" series. It's not, but it does have Diesel, Wulf, and Carl the monkey in it, so… Actually, it seems to be the first in a new series. It takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, and involves a baker who may or may not have supernatural powers of a sort and another baker who's sure she's a witch but keeps messing up spells - often with 'unexplainable' results. It was light fun and I like Diesel, so I'm willing to give the next one a read.
Nefertiti by Michelle Moran. Another historical novel! *g* This one was fascinating. I don't know as much about Ancient Egypt as I'd like; and this really brought it to life. The story is told from the POV of Nefertiti's younger sister, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Plus, I got lucky. At the same time I was reading this, an article came out in "National Geographic" about some mummies who are thought to be the parents/grandparents of King Tut. Since that figured right into the novel, it made for some informative additional reading.
Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn. *blinks* Was this really the only Regency romance I read last year? Wow. Unless you count PP&Z. *g* Anyway, yes, Regency romance by my current favorite author in the field. And, yes, it was good. She made me laugh and the story was well done. What more can you ask?
Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance by Gyles Brandreath. Picked this one up on a whim and am glad I did. It's a mystery novel as told by a friend and later biographer of Oscar Wilde, and Arthur Conan Doyle appears as well. It's a fictionalized account of the inspiration behind Wilde's book The Picture of Dorian Gray, and really did an excellent job of portraying all the main characters and the Victorian world they lived in. It's the first one in a series, and I just may read more of them. Only wish they were at the library…
Wine and War by Don & Petie Kladstrup. I know nothing about wine, except that I don't care for it, but this account of how the French people tried to protect their wines and wineries from the Germans during WWII was fascinating. It's a story I imagine few people are familiar with, and one that definitely needed telling. I'm very glad I read it, and encourage others to do so as well.
Always the Baker Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker. Okay, first off? If you're writing an 'inspirational' romance aka a Christian-based one, please say so somewhere prominently on the cover. If I'd seen this at a bookstore, I would've known. But I didn't. I got it at the library. Secondly, if you're writing a romance and you have no intention of following the trope of having the main characters get together by the end? Do a better job of convincing the reader about the couple/s you do plan to. Thirdly, skip the recipes. Though I suppose there are people out there who like that, so I guess I can let that one slide. So, yeah, not the best book to end the year with. Ah, well, new year, new books. :)