This was an oddly hypnotic novel, marvelously haunting. The story of the orphan Ren, who has wondered his entire life how he lost his left hand, and his life both in and outside of the St. Anthony's orphanage, The Good Thief is enchanting in the style of old-school fairy tales. With a hero's journey, a resurrected giant, a dwarf, a flock of Mousetrap girls, nuns & priests, grave robbers, thieves, and an evil rich relative, it becomes a tale of good and evil. Yet we are not always sure who is who, and therein lies the beauty of this engrossing novel.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Book Review: Full Dark, No Stars
Not the best of King's work, but not too shabby. My advice: read the first two stories in this collection, then close the book & walk away. You'll never miss the last two. But don't read 1922 right before bed, or in a dark room. Stephen King may be getting old, but he is still the king of creepy!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Book Review: Evil At Heart
Chelsea Cain ROCKS. That is all.
Okay, maybe not all. I read a lot of books and I cannot remember the last time I threw a book down because a scene made me go "Eeewww!!!!!" (Trust me, you'll know it when you get there!)
Each of the Gretchen Lowell series is as good as the one before, and that's quite feat! The characters are fully formed, and the plot captures you from the first chapter. I cannot wait to read the next book.
Oh, and I really, really want a Beauty Killer manicure.
Okay, maybe not all. I read a lot of books and I cannot remember the last time I threw a book down because a scene made me go "Eeewww!!!!!" (Trust me, you'll know it when you get there!)
Each of the Gretchen Lowell series is as good as the one before, and that's quite feat! The characters are fully formed, and the plot captures you from the first chapter. I cannot wait to read the next book.
Oh, and I really, really want a Beauty Killer manicure.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Book Review: Shutter Island
After seeing the movie, I wanted to read the book, and I'm glad I did. Very enjoyable, descriptive, and while I did see Leo DiCaprio's face throughout my reading (not a bad thing!), the other characters were totally new. I'll definitely be picking up more of Mr. Lehane's books.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Book Review: Room
"Room" is one of the most emotionality charged & moving novels I've read in a long time. Told entirely from the point of view of five-year-old Jack, who has spent his life inside of Room with his Ma, and believes the outside world to be only make believe. For Jack, Room is his home, but it is Ma's prison, where she's been kept captive for seven years by the man they both refer to as Old Nick.
As the world they know changes for both Ma and Jack, my exhilaration in reading never lagged for even a moment. This is a poignant, sometimes horrifying, occasionally funny tale of love between mother and child. As an Early Childhood Educator, I read Jack's voice with delight, as it is both age-appropriate, yet true to his circumstance. This is a book I want to read again, and will be recommending to everyone. To me, it is a story of how even in the worst of circumstances, love can prevail.
As the world they know changes for both Ma and Jack, my exhilaration in reading never lagged for even a moment. This is a poignant, sometimes horrifying, occasionally funny tale of love between mother and child. As an Early Childhood Educator, I read Jack's voice with delight, as it is both age-appropriate, yet true to his circumstance. This is a book I want to read again, and will be recommending to everyone. To me, it is a story of how even in the worst of circumstances, love can prevail.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Book Review: If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister's Story of Love, Murder, and Liberation
This memoir makes me want to call each member of my family, especially my sister, and tell them how much I love them, make sure they are safe, and then keep doing that every day.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Book Review: Sweetheart
I am hooked on this excellent series. Gretchen Lowell & Archie Sheridan make a combustible and dangerous mix. Chelsea Cain takes typical themes (obsessed cop, serial killer, reporter after the truth, evil politicians) and gives them a new and distinctly Portlandian twist!
I read this book in one sitting (as I did the first), and am ready for the next! Totally reccommended for anyone who wants a compelling thriller with a heart.
One note: this book won't make as much sense if you haven't read the first in the series, so try to read them in order.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Book Review: Whistling In The Dark
Sally O'Mally has a big imagination, but she's not entirely wrong. Someone is murdering & molesting the little girls in her neighborhood, and someone is watching her. Are they the same person? Read the book, and find out.
I enjoyed this book, and read it all in one sitting , but there were some things that confused me. Little details, like ages: how old are Sally, and her sisters? There are hints given, but never a definite age, and that bothered me. We never know for sure what city the novel is set in, and that bugged me, too.
The good points outweighed these little annoyances, however, and I have to say that this was a quite a good read. The characters are full-formed and interesting, the storyline moves along at a quick pace, and there are a couple of twists that even I didn't see coming. And the ending is quite amusing, I must say!
One of my favorite characters is Sampson, the gorilla at the zoo, who Sally & her sister Troo visit almost daily. Sally is sure that Sampson is singing along with her when she sings "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."
Overall, this is a book worth reading. Funny, smart, and uplifting. With a big heart, a big imagination, and a great sense of timing, Whistling in the Dark is staying on my shelf!
Monday, May 16, 2011
A Book Review: Heartsick
Truly awesome thriller, with a sense of humor. Chelsea Cain, one of Portland's own, has written a sick, twisted, and disturbed novel, and I love it. Gorgeous serial killer, a wounded cop, an intent young reporter, and a new crime spree: all set the stage for one of the best crime novels I've read in a long time!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Book Review: Dead Reckoning
I have loved the Sookie Stackhouse series from the first book, and am a fan of the show based on the books as well. Sookie's world, filled with odd creatures, strange adventures, is both dark and funny. I've loved the interaction between characters both supernatural & human, Sookie's growing relationship with Eric, her friendships with Pam & Sam.
Ms. Harris has told us that the Sookie Stackhouse series will come to an end after book #13, and after finishing Dead Reckoning, #11, I'm not so sad about that. Don't get me wrong--I'd love to have more stories about Sookie & her amazing, weird life, but it seems clear the story is drawing to a close. And that's all right. This is not as action-packed as any of the others; in fact, it's a little slow, filled with a lot of back-story. It is interesting, but if you're looking for a "rollicking fast-paced adventure" this isn't it.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated by Alison ArngrimI finished this book in two days, and loved every minute of it. Kept reading sections of it out loud to whoever was nearby--the dog, the cats, my boyfriend.
When watching Little House as a child, I always connected more with Nellie (although I looked like Laura!), and admired her ability to be such a bitch. Turns out Alison Arngrim & I were learning the same lessons from her character-- freedom & confidence, how to stand up for ourselves.
Alison Arngrim's life story could easily have been another "poor me, former child-actor" tale of woe, but she never allows any of her darkness to drag the reader down. All is told with a light hand, a comic edge, and a chutzpah that brings a smile to your face as you're crying. She's used her abuse & loss to help others. This Prairie Bitch is one amazing gal!
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