Wednesday Reading Meme
What I Just Finished Reading: Again I had a busy weekend with the fam and got no reading done then, so only two books this week: The Gathering by CJ Tudor and The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley. Reviews below.
What I'm Reading Right Now: I've finally managed to get to Beasts of New York, a delightful story told from the POV of a courageous squirrel.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: I've got one book waiting to be picked up at the library and two more in transit, so it depends when I get out again. (I've gone out the last two days and the heat and all the walking has killlllled me.) I think it'll probably be at least a couple of days before I venture out again, so I may go with The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey in the meantime. It's not a prompt-filler but was picked as a Dusty Bookshelf pick.
105. The Gathering by CJ Tudor
In a world where vampires are known and relegated to small, remote communities where the Vampire Protection Act is more of a suggestion than the law, a cop specializing in vampires is sent in to investigate a murder. As the bodies pile up and the prejudiced locals edge closer to taking the law into their own hands, she has to figure out just who the culprit is.
There’s a lot to love about this one. The protagonist is a 50-something, slightly out of shape cop, which I kind of loved. There’s a lot going on in the small town of Deadhart, Alaska, and the author keeps the twists and turns coming. The pace is maybe the problem: there’s a LOT happening and a big cast of characters, including some from an old crime that may be connected, and it can be a little difficult to keep track of who’s doing what to whom. Overall, though, I loved this world and would love to see more of Detective Atkins’ adventures in it.
Dates Read: August 26 to 31, 2024
Page Count: 336
4 out of 5 stars
+ Challenge Factory Save The Bees - 4B - character is thirsty
106. The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
Five years after the events of the first book, GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) once again steps into the breach, taking the kids (Grant, now 9 and Maisie, now 14) on a European holiday before their dad remarries an Italian marchesa. Not quite a Baroness, but that doesn’t stop Patrick from embracing all things Sound of Music.
When the book focuses on Patrick and his life lessons, it’s a solid five stars. All of the humor feels natural and real, and once again Mr. Rowley nails the kids' voices, again particularly little Grant. But their visits to Paris, Venice, et cetera felt a bit like a travel magazine. I found myself picturing Mr. Rowley on his research trip for the book, taking notes on the history of hotels and hot chocolate. He’d be like the grown-up version of Grant with his notebook, ready to do that trip report for extra school credit. So alas, I had to drop it down a star, and the schmaltzy ending didn’t help matters.
Dates Read: September 01 to 02, 2024
Page Count 307
4 out of 5 stars
+ Challenge Factory Save The Bees - 4C - MC is shallow (he can come across that way!)
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What I'm Reading Right Now: I've finally managed to get to Beasts of New York, a delightful story told from the POV of a courageous squirrel.
What I'm Planning to Read Next: I've got one book waiting to be picked up at the library and two more in transit, so it depends when I get out again. (I've gone out the last two days and the heat and all the walking has killlllled me.) I think it'll probably be at least a couple of days before I venture out again, so I may go with The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey in the meantime. It's not a prompt-filler but was picked as a Dusty Bookshelf pick.
105. The Gathering by CJ Tudor
In a world where vampires are known and relegated to small, remote communities where the Vampire Protection Act is more of a suggestion than the law, a cop specializing in vampires is sent in to investigate a murder. As the bodies pile up and the prejudiced locals edge closer to taking the law into their own hands, she has to figure out just who the culprit is.
There’s a lot to love about this one. The protagonist is a 50-something, slightly out of shape cop, which I kind of loved. There’s a lot going on in the small town of Deadhart, Alaska, and the author keeps the twists and turns coming. The pace is maybe the problem: there’s a LOT happening and a big cast of characters, including some from an old crime that may be connected, and it can be a little difficult to keep track of who’s doing what to whom. Overall, though, I loved this world and would love to see more of Detective Atkins’ adventures in it.
Dates Read: August 26 to 31, 2024
Page Count: 336
4 out of 5 stars
+ Challenge Factory Save The Bees - 4B - character is thirsty
106. The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
Five years after the events of the first book, GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) once again steps into the breach, taking the kids (Grant, now 9 and Maisie, now 14) on a European holiday before their dad remarries an Italian marchesa. Not quite a Baroness, but that doesn’t stop Patrick from embracing all things Sound of Music.
When the book focuses on Patrick and his life lessons, it’s a solid five stars. All of the humor feels natural and real, and once again Mr. Rowley nails the kids' voices, again particularly little Grant. But their visits to Paris, Venice, et cetera felt a bit like a travel magazine. I found myself picturing Mr. Rowley on his research trip for the book, taking notes on the history of hotels and hot chocolate. He’d be like the grown-up version of Grant with his notebook, ready to do that trip report for extra school credit. So alas, I had to drop it down a star, and the schmaltzy ending didn’t help matters.
Dates Read: September 01 to 02, 2024
Page Count 307
4 out of 5 stars
+ Challenge Factory Save The Bees - 4C - MC is shallow (he can come across that way!)
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