WHAT I READ
WHAT I READ
Reading is one of my great pleasures. I read a book or more each week. Here are a few that I found exceptionally enjoyable
Click on the book cover to see the book on Amazon
Click on the book cover to see the book on Amazon
The Last Flight: A Novel - by Julie Clark
A Complex Plot That is Well Developed and Completely Believable
The title interested me, and it was included with Amazon Prime, so I downloaded it, and I am so glad that I did. The plot is simple, two women trying to escape living in danger, but Clark's story is complex and moves swiftly. The protagonists, Clair and Eva, and the supporting characters interact unexpectedly and with clever twists. The author develops all the characters well, adding richness to the storyline. I hated to put the book down, wanting to find out what would happen next. I often find fault with stories such as this, noticing conflicts in the timeline or dialog. Not so with The Last Flight. Clark’s story is very well crafted, with no conflicts or mistakes in the captivating tale.
The Collector- by Daniel Silva
Another Great Read in the Gabriel Allon Series
I am a fan of author Daniel Silva, having read all 26 books. His latest book, The Collector, is one of his best. The protagonist, Gabriel Allon, has grown older during the series of 23 novels, and this book finds him a happily retired Israeli spy living in Venice, Italy, with his wife and two children. His passion is art, and he spends his days restoring old masterpieces until he is called to help find the world’s most valuable missing painting. Allon enlists the help of a beautiful Danish computer hacker, and his former colleagues put a plan in motion to bring down a cohort of Vladimir Putin known as The Collector. I enjoyed the return of colorful characters from earlier Gabrial Allon books and appreciated Silva’s ability to build fascinating new characters.
Lost Horses - by Mark Saha
A Wonderful Book of Short Stories
I really enjoyed the stories in Lost Horses! The writing is excellent and there were no glaring errors, that I find in many books to distract me. Even though the stories are short, the characters are very well developed. I found several of the stories quite emotional. The chapter Wide River was somewhat shocking is describing the fate of excess horses yet it is actually a love story that I knew wouldn't work out. Grandpa Goes to Mexico was my favorite. The authors words paint a beautiful picture as Wes, a nonagenarian, embarks on what will likely be his last journey with Ralph, a horse who seems to understand the situation better than Wes. What an enjoyable book! I'll read it again.
Old Soldiers Never Die - by Dargan Ware
A Wonderful Love Story
Old Soldiers Never Die is a beautiful story…a love story…that spans World Wars I and II. It is also a story that sheds light on the good German people who were not part of either war and would help a stranger and welcome them into their homes. I am not a fan of "war stories," but the author, Dargan Ware, weaves the story of two wars into the life story of the protagonist Eamon O'Connor, later called Jamie Connery. The reuniting of Jamie (Eamon) and Brigitte was one of the most touching scenes that I have read in quite a while. It made me teary-eyed. The book is not action-packed, and I liked the slower pace. For me, it made reading it more enjoyable. I thought it was very well written despite a few grammatical and formatting errors. If you like a good love story with a rich historical background, I highly recommend Old Soldiers Never Die.
The Black Sheep Rebel Girl Rises Again: Whimsical Tales and Truthful Lies - by Rachel Hutcheson
A Unique and Amazing Book!
What a great little book. I say little because I read the book in about 90 minutes. And, that 90 minutes was fun reading.
The author, Rachel Hutcheson, includes short sayings throughout the book. Her take on a Buckminster Fuller saying is, “When you believe in yourself, it doesn’t matter if anyone else does.” I have printed that out and stuck it on the wall of my home office. One of the first stories that I loved was The Envelope and the Bill. The story only takes up one page on my reader, but I loved it! It is unique, as most of the stories are. Hutcheson's book is unusual, and unusual in a very good way. I have never read anything quite like it. A story mid-way through the book is “Mrs. Claus. It’s only a little over two pages, but it really made me smile. The author’s talent shines in her little stories like this! In the “My 2 Cents” vignette, Hutcheson writes, “We all have thoughts. I just wrote this one down, and now you can be the judge of it.” I judge the book to be a great read! Highly recommended to all.
The author, Rachel Hutcheson, includes short sayings throughout the book. Her take on a Buckminster Fuller saying is, “When you believe in yourself, it doesn’t matter if anyone else does.” I have printed that out and stuck it on the wall of my home office. One of the first stories that I loved was The Envelope and the Bill. The story only takes up one page on my reader, but I loved it! It is unique, as most of the stories are. Hutcheson's book is unusual, and unusual in a very good way. I have never read anything quite like it. A story mid-way through the book is “Mrs. Claus. It’s only a little over two pages, but it really made me smile. The author’s talent shines in her little stories like this! In the “My 2 Cents” vignette, Hutcheson writes, “We all have thoughts. I just wrote this one down, and now you can be the judge of it.” I judge the book to be a great read! Highly recommended to all.
Father's Violin - by John Hope (author), David R Martinez and Jaina Hope (illustrators)
A Tail of Devastation, Desperation, and Hope
Father's Violin takes place in May 1945, shortly after the Battle of Berlin ends. It is a story of the survival and triumph of Hertz, a thirteen-year-old boy whose only remaining possession is his father's violin. The author's description of the devastation and desperation of Hertz stunned me. I have read other accounts of the end of World War II, but none impacted me as this story did. How this teenage boy survived with no food, no clothing, and no real shelter is chilling. The book is lightly illustrated, and the drawings added a great deal to the feel of the story for me. Father's Violin is an excellent book, and I will certainly read it again.
Equal Time Point - by Harrison Jones
Would Make a Great Mini-Series
Equal Time Point has so much happening that it would likely require a mini-series to tell the whole story. A movie would just not be long enough to develop the characters, settings, and plot. Having flown many international flights over the Atlantic, I found the author's details to be fascinating. The technical elements added to the depth to the story, even for someone who is not an aviation professional or even an enthusiast. Unlike other disaster books that I have read, all of the characters and actions were believable. The story is very well written and easy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Kidnapped: The true story of my captivity in Iran - by Linda Davies
Extremely Entertaining True Story
Five stars for Linda Davies "Kidnapped!" I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The story is well-written and riveting. I finished the book in one sitting. Her captors' descriptions, the places where they were held, and the political circumstances were illuminating. I feel that I learned more about Iran from Davies' book than from any other source. I was entertained and educated.
Urraca Mesa Redemption: A Supernatural Wild West Tale - by Daniel P. Douglas
Really Enjoyed the Book
The subtitle, “A Supernatural Wild West Tale,” caught me. I have never heard of nor considered supernatural and wild west going together. They do in this book. I enjoyed the story so much that I finished it the same day. Not only did I think the story was great, but I also liked the way the author writes. It is hard for me to describe, but the sentence structure seemed unique, which increased my enjoyment of reading the story. The author did a great job of developing the main characters. As I read, I developed a connection to them. Jack and Winslow were intriguing, and without giving anything away, I wanted them to succeed. They both carried a lot of emotional baggage that the author revealed to build suspense. I was pleased that the supernatural element of the story was minimal. Urraca Mesa Redemption is a “western,” a genre that I don’t often read, but a very good one.