This is Alma’s story – well, her story as a writer of a lot of unfinished manuscripts. What will she do with all her stories that she could not find aThis is Alma’s story – well, her story as a writer of a lot of unfinished manuscripts. What will she do with all her stories that she could not find an ending for? In her mind, the best solution was to purchase a plot of land and build a proper graveyard and give them a proper burial. (Hence: the title of the book!)
Thus, a most unusual story. And, the locals are up in arms trying to figure out what is going on with this neighbor. Of course, everyone loves a great author, but an author who is going to bury her words? Maybe there can be a festival for storytelling of tales untold that we all can participate in? (Some of the rantings of the neighbors!) Regardless, Alma’s own stories are going to find their place.
And, before we know it, readers are bombarded with a multitude of characters to keep up with as Alma intends to bury her stories. Are Alma’s stories coming to life on their own?
In many ways, for this reader, I felt confused. I wasn’t sure I was following where this story was going, or if I wanted to go along for the ride from Vermont to the Dominican Republic. Or even if I liked Alma. All I wanted was for the story to end.
But in all fairness, there was still something magical and witty and earnest and strange that made me continue to read it. Did that make me weird?
Do you ever wonder where a story is going and then when it finally gets there, you weren’t sure you should have waited around to see?
When it takes thaDo you ever wonder where a story is going and then when it finally gets there, you weren’t sure you should have waited around to see?
When it takes that much discussion to see who did what and why – and then that many flips and flops as to why about the why so that we as readers are supposed to be satisfied about the why?
Hmmm… should we be satisfied with the final outcome?
So, should I have started with the end here?
Kiki didn’t love Jamie enough to marry him, so she broke up with him. And, then she sees him at a book launch for a mutual friend of theirs. He says he is doing fine. But afterwards she discovers he has supposedly committed suicide. Kiki doesn’t believe he has, even though the police are convinced.
Now, what does this have to do with the murder of a girl that happened 4 years earlier? There is an unknown narrator here, too to provide more confusion.
So, Kiki may be an engaging main character who wants to believe that Jamie didn’t kill himself, and that he didn’t kill this girl 4 years ago. And, she will do everything to figure this out. Even putting herself in danger. Isn’t that typically what amateur sleuths do in murder mysteries?
And, that is what leads me to all those questions above.
Maybe others may find this an intriguing and complex psychological thriller. I found it a bit messy needing too much explanation to make it plausible....more
“Heaven for this climate; hell for my long-awaited lunch with Mark Twain.”
My best friend Sharon wanted to discuss this book with me. So, I couldn’t wa“Heaven for this climate; hell for my long-awaited lunch with Mark Twain.”
My best friend Sharon wanted to discuss this book with me. So, I couldn’t wait for “James” to come in from our local library. Surprisingly, for both of us, we were one of the first to receive it.
And, so I put all my other books on my “currently reading” Goodreads list aside, and began to read this one.
Let me address the elephant in the room. For me. First.
I will give you an example of my concern here…
“Lak I say, I furst found my hat up on a nail. ‘I ain’t put dat dere,” I say to mysef. ‘How dat hat git dere?’
I recognize that speaking this way was the dialect of the time. But does it need to be written that way in contemporary books? Every time I had attempted to read this story, with words spoken in that dialect, it felt uncomfortable and unpleasant.
I can appreciate that the author was trying to stay true to the times, and the characters, but I felt myself tripping over those words and wondering if I would be able to get myself through the pages. My head would begin to hurt, and I would find myself slamming the book down in frustration.
And then I would find myself asking…
Was the whole book going to “talk” this way? And, if so, was I going to be disappointed and miss out on the story, and my discussion with Sharon? I could feel a dilemma coming on. What was I to do?
I read a few more pages.
It appeared as long as they weren’t talking, it was easy to follow the narrator, James telling of his story. It would just be when James or anyone else would speak that I would cringe. And, this book was full of conversations. And, of course, this story, and what we are wanting from his story, is his slave’s point of view.
I continued to read.
Thankfully, the author provides short chapters. He is taking us on the same adventure as Huckleberry Finn, but through James’ view instead. It would be his perspective. And, as readers, we will follow along with him.
If anyone remembers Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, some scenes may seem familiar, but the author finds ways to insert the story with his own backdrops. So, that the emphasis is on James and how he views the world and what is happening in it.
As I mentioned earlier, it was hard for me when the book was conversational. And yet, that was the majority of the story.
So, how did that make my reading experience? Less than enjoyable? And yet, could this be a brilliant telling of a homage to Twain? After all, this was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
To be honest, I am conflicted. It isn't going to be an easy read (besides what I mentioned). My Goodreads friend, Jamie shares it best. Her review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
But…let’s just say it got better as I continued to read. It was an adventure, most importantly. And, despite the “language barrier” I think it was a worthwhile read....more
I remember how excited I was when this came out a few years back, because I am a big fan of Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes. So, I was curioCatching up…
I remember how excited I was when this came out a few years back, because I am a big fan of Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes. So, I was curious about how any other author would interpret him. Carr is another author who had been commissioned by the Conan Doyle estate to write a Holmes short story, which then grew to novel length.
Interestingly enough, it almost feels like there are more authors out there writing Sherlock Holmes stories than Conan Doyle actually wrote. (He managed 4 novels and 60 short stories.)
I won’t try and count the many authors at this point, but those of you who are Conan Doyle fans, know what I am talking about, right?
And, now that nobody needs permission from the estate (effective 2022), anybody can use the famous detective character in a story. So, who knows how many more authors will incorporate Sherlock Holmes into their storyline.
Back to this one. As a donation to my Little Free Library Shed, it was another opportunity for me to re-visit this long ago read, and write my review.
What Carr does is keep Holmes and Dr. Watson in London and Scotland during the time of Queen Victoria, same time period, more or less as Conan Doyle.
This story imagines an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria. With 9 failed attempts on her life, Mycroft, Holmes, brother, is quite concerned what the German and Scottish nationalists might be up to next. Are they attempting to maneuver a war against England?
There are some parts of this book that are hard to read, because the author chooses to write as people may speak – like – “…we’ll nae let ye muhrder more Scots patriots…”
I wanted this to be purely Holmes and Dr. Watson doing simple detecting work. But it didn’t feel that way. It just fell flat.
Have I been spoiled by the original Conan Doyle, and the many television actors who successfully played Sherlock and/or Dr. Watson, i.e., Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Martin Freeman (Dr. Watson)?
I was even charmed by actors Jeremy Brett (Sherlock) and Basil Rathbone (Sherlock). I know I am dating myself, but they really did know how to pull off a good Sherlock.
Getting back to the book, and my attempts to stay focused (here on my review and with my reading), I think Carr’s problem was trying too hard to keep in the spirit of the original, but still trying to find opportunities for invention. I am not sure, in my opinion, he was able to meet it. At least for me. ...more
Sometimes books just want to make a point. But what happens when a point goes too far?
This book is divided into sections. It isn’t always clear who iSometimes books just want to make a point. But what happens when a point goes too far?
This book is divided into sections. It isn’t always clear who is the narrator at first until you are reading for a while, and then that person is identified, or a format change is created. Or sometimes the chapter will just give you a time elapsed label. And then there are the social media posts which will give readers another viewpoint.
But each narrator will have a completely different perspective which then gives the reader a totally different set-up which makes us then ask…
Who are we to believe?
There are so many different viewpoints that it becomes a bit confusing and convoluted at the same time. And, difficult to create alliances with any one character. Which means, is anybody really likable? And, if they aren’t, is the book?
The focus of the story is on fear, control and what is the truth in any given situation. And…Who is telling the truth – Cole? Mel? Lennie?
Surprisingly, because there are so many perspectives, and opinions, this may make for a good selection for a group discussion because of the male and female narrations. Even if the different angles/perspectives and opposing viewpoints have readers questioning who to believe. That in itself, provides a great basis for discussion, right?...more
Let me start this review by saying I believe I am going to be an outlier when it comes to this book. So, please feel free to look at other reviews.
VeLet me start this review by saying I believe I am going to be an outlier when it comes to this book. So, please feel free to look at other reviews.
Very pregnant Alice and her boyfriend Joe decide to leave London and move to the suburbs where they think they will have an easier lifestyle.
No sooner does Alice settle into her prenatal class, than all the mothers-to-be are setting out to solve the murder of the proprietor of the business. This leads them to a commune, more death, far-right politicians and some other hinky individuals and secrets to be revealed.
What will Alice learn about Joe along this journey?
In my opinion, the beginning of the story tried too hard to be funny, the middle moved quite slowly, but the last third of the book, went a tad better.
Still, the story felt a bit disjointed, and took too long to get to the point, and there were way too many characters. So, the soap opera-ish drama took away from the clean-up ending conclusion.
Oh, and in due course everyone had their babies. I think. I lost track of who’s who and eventually lost interest, too.
I love Thursdays. They are my day to go to my local public library to pick up books. I feel like a young kid going into an ice cream store ready to piI love Thursdays. They are my day to go to my local public library to pick up books. I feel like a young kid going into an ice cream store ready to pick out my favorite ice cream. What flavor should I choose today?
When I saw this book, I was intrigued. I have never read this author before, and according to the side flap it sounded like magical realism, one of my favorite genres.
When I went to check my books out, the librarian said, “oh you must read this book first, there is already someone who is waiting to read this one right after you.” Which means I only get 3 weeks to finish it! So, with my large pile of books, I put this one at the top of my reading pile to begin reading first.
So, I did. Begin. To read it. First.
Well, where do I begin?
What I understand is that this is the author’s first novel. She has typically written contemporary short stories fiction. So, as a first novel, she decided to make this a 600-page story. Now, after having the experience of “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese, I have been more willing to venture into larger novels, as long as I have felt the story had meaning and purpose.
But where was this one going? I felt confused, and…well, it was strange. And I was having difficulty finding my way through the pages.
There appeared to be some drama, and grief, and resilience, and a supernatural presence which seemed menacing, and wanted the characters to explore what it truly means to be alive.
But it was really hard to understand how to connect to the characters when I didn’t really know what their purpose was for being. Are they dead or presumed dead? Are they missing or are they not? Are they on a mission or in some alternate reality?
Where am I as the reader?
I felt so off balance I am sorry to say that I had to abandon the book when one character said, “do you want to be dead, because I don’t. I want to avoid being dead for as long as possible.”
What?
Maybe it would have been easier for me to understand had this been a short story? Then maybe the author could have gotten to the point sooner.
Well, I hope the next reader who is so anxiously waiting for this book from my local public library, will be excited to get it earlier when I drop it off today....more
Once again, I am re-visiting another classic reading experience that just happened to be donated to my Little Free Library Shed. I am now Catching up…
Once again, I am re-visiting another classic reading experience that just happened to be donated to my Little Free Library Shed. I am now bringing my review to Goodreads.
I know I am going to be an outlier here. Typically, I appreciate this author’s books, and maybe when I first read this book, I could understand the artfulness of it. But for whatever reason, I was just not in to her. It was just too dark for me. And if this causes you to stop reading my review from this point on, I get it completely. I am sorry to disappoint.
If I were to describe this book in one word, I would say…
Intense.
Our narrator is a quiet girl named Ruth who is so use to loss that nothing feels permanent to her. Her father is barely a memory. A photograph. She lives with her sister Lucille and a succession of guardians on a mountain lake that has also claimed the lives of her mother and grandfather. Her grandfather having died in a train accident. Years later her mother leaves her two daughters with her grandmother on the porch, and then takes her own life.
There doesn’t seem much for Ruth to hold on to but memories and dreams. And then Aunt Sylvie comes to take responsibility for the girls. But she is flowing in madness.
And because Ruth is the one narrating, we are never sure what exactly is going on with Ruth. Is she in fever madness, too?
“I have never distinguished readily between thinking and dreaming. I know my life would be much different if I could ever say…”
What did I just read/re-visit?
This was just too melancholy for me. I may have been in the wrong mood to re-visit this one. Another time, perhaps? I don’t know. For all those 5-star reviews out there, thoughts? ...more
I was originally looking forward to reading this story, especially with its 1947 post-war New York setting. Its premise sounded interesting and the seI was originally looking forward to reading this story, especially with its 1947 post-war New York setting. Its premise sounded interesting and the series sounded like it had potential with two Holmesian-type detectives searching for a missing woman.
And then I opened its pages and the author had provided two pages worth for a “cast of characters.” We were not off to a good start.
Of course, as I shared, this is a series, and if you aren’t familiar with the characters, it doesn’t help that it doesn’t read like a stand-alone, so readers who haven’t read the earlier books, will feel like a fish out of water.
So, I tried, and hoped for the best in understanding these humanly-flawed protagonists.
But then the author delivered something that spoiled everything for me. (And forgive the spoiler, for which I don’t typically offer.) A cliffhanger. And to me, that is the worst sin of an author.
In his acknowledgments, the author says, “I know – a cliffhanger. Please don’t hate me. There was no other way to do it. The stakes are about to get raised for our heroines, and I hope you’ll stick around for the ride.”
Well, I disagree! There are other ways to do it. In my opinion, stories should have a beginning, a middle and an end. There is absolutely no excuse for a cliffhanger with a book. To leave readers suspended this way, I feel, is detestable.
And for when we come into a series in the middle (yes, I know we shouldn’t), the least an author can do is catch us up with a few lines within the current story. And, I don’t think it should be in the list of the cast of characters where all the nuances attached to the character’s name should give readers all the clues about who they are and how we should know them.
Yes, I realize we should read the series from the beginning, but when our library doesn’t have the first books, we would appreciate at least a little help in this way from authors.
I also realize not everyone may agree with what I share here – I am obviously an outlier. I get it.
This is not an author/series I will be following. So, for anyone who is interested in this series, or who has rated it higher, this is my reason for not. ...more
I always appreciate the donations that are provided by my neighbors to my Little Free Library Shed. They also serve as a reminder for me tCatching up…
I always appreciate the donations that are provided by my neighbors to my Little Free Library Shed. They also serve as a reminder for me to re-visit books that I have read in my recent past so that I can bring my reviews to Goodreads.
Here is the premise of this story in question form that the book asks…would you defend your husband (she is an attorney) if he was accused of killing his mistress?
Can a book be really, really good at the beginning and the end and but fall flat in the middle? Which means it frustrates the reader to not be sure they want to even reach the end?
And what if a story has so many questions but not enough answers – does that make it a good read, or an ineffective plot?
And what if a plot feels so unrealistic as a reader you find yourself shaking your head and wondering, did I read that right? Or, should I have read this, at all?
And then by the time we get to the rushed conclusion, did it really connect to the whole story? Was I satisfied with this story or did I feel it was a convoluted plot trying to be a good mystery?
The author won the Booker Prize for 2023 for this story. But does that mean he won my heart for best book to read?
This book was prominently displayedThe author won the Booker Prize for 2023 for this story. But does that mean he won my heart for best book to read?
This book was prominently displayed in my local library as I perused the bookshelves. On the cover it said, “The Booker Prize 2023 Winner.”
Now, to be honest, being a book award winner has never impressed me. Leading a Library Book Discussion group for 12 years, we have often read and discussed Pulitzer and Booker Prize winners, and at the same time wondered what those committee members were thinking when they selected some of those books!
Still, that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to take this book down off the shelf, in the hurry I was in, and add it to my pile of books to check out.
So here I am, ready to discuss this book with you.
First, for those who aren’t aware, the Booker Prize is an award given every year to the best English-language fiction published in the United Kingdom and Ireland in a given year.
And, second, since it is considered one of the literary world’s most prestigious awards, this is quite the accomplishment even to make the shortlist!
But even after sharing all that, it was interesting to note, before opening one page of this book, that not all reviewers were kind. Especially since this is somewhat of a dystopian novel. Not my favorite genre. I’m being honest.
So, after I opened the book for myself to read, will I be kind?
The story is set in contemporary Dublin, Ireland. There is a reference to a “virus” to set the tone for the story about a pandemic as a backdrop. We get the sense of a free society with a constitution and a rule of law, but there is a chaos descending created by a “political” crisis. But the fight between who and what is rather vague. There is also a moral ambiguity.
And then there is more frustration that comes up for this reader. Dialogue is not punctuated with quotation marks. How am I to know the difference between a thing said and a thing thought? This brings on headaches for me.
The book continues into chaos. The story, and my attempt to read it.
There are also no paragraphs, only continuous sentences that refused to find an ending – barely. This reader/reviewer did what I could only do…I turned my last page about half way through and DNF’d it.
I think this is it in my Jodi Picoult phase of reading and re-visiting her books. I almost feel like after re-visiting so many of her pastCatching up…
I think this is it in my Jodi Picoult phase of reading and re-visiting her books. I almost feel like after re-visiting so many of her past books, I have been sitting with an old friend and conducting a heart-felt conversation about all these different characters that have been in this amazing author’s repertoire.
And now, I come to this book. Her debut novel. This was our introduction to her. She was unknown to the world. How would we react to her?
For many, this book wasn’t noticed initially. It probably took a few more Picoult novels before this one was even read. And then, when it was finally read, it may not have been particularly cared for because of the multiple P.O.V.’s. (5).
And because each narrator had a story to tell, it wasn’t even clear whose story was in current or past tense. So, by the time we got to the end of the story, we weren’t sure if there was any satisfactory resolution, for any of the characters.
And for this reader, I felt completely left in the dark. Which considering the subject matter, was not a safe place to be left.
I had so many questions. To reveal my questions would give away spoilers.
Let’s just say, this is a story of love, loss and self-discovery. It is also a story of abuse.
The characters felt shallow, oblivious and flat, and unlikable for the most part. So, whether my questions get answered or not, I’m not sure I would be invested enough to care.
Sadly, this was not a great debut. Thankfully, Picoult grew as an author with later novels and found a way to create better voices for her characters in future stories. ...more
The title is truly a good question, because this plotless un-novel makes me wonder if I need to go elsewhere to find iWhere do I begin with this book?
The title is truly a good question, because this plotless un-novel makes me wonder if I need to go elsewhere to find it.
The author interchanges the novel between first-person narration and email format third person narration which created a confusing flow reading dynamic for me. I will try to explain.
I am not a fan of reading conversations without quotation marks telling me where it begins or starts for one.
And I’m not even sure the conversation banter that took place within this novel was something to be enjoyed.
Let alone the mindless sex. The author’s writing about sex is rather direct. There was nothing fun about it. I don’t know what I was looking for, but it was like someone was just telling me it happened and well they were done. Okay, got it.
Of course, I was doing my best to like and understand these characters through the mains email letter writing, and that wasn’t exactly easy, either.
If the characters were trying to connect, or be funny or smart, or show love or caring toward one another, it was awkwardly frustrating to watch and read.
Unfortunately, this novel did not work for me. Which most likely makes me an outlier here. Your best bet is to go read others reviews before judging this book....more
And then there was “The Maidens.” Could it be as good as “The Silent Patient?” No. I didn’t really care for this one. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Was I ready to give up on Michaelides yet?
When I started reading some of my Goodreads friends mixed reviews, I became concerned. I rearranged my question from ‘was I ready to give up on Michaelides yet’ to, should I even bother to read this one?
Well, I decided to read it, especially when a friend donated the book to my Little Free Library Shed.
What was I in for?
The narrator, Elliot Chase, lets readers know right away that “this is a tale of murder.” But he is also clear in his telling of this story, that he is an unreliable narrator. So, there are lots of moments in which readers are left to wonder, did this really happen as he is describing?
Still, so much of the plot seemed like a movie I had already seen or a book I have already read. How many times have we been told this story?
And unfortunately, how could readers become invested in it with such a floppy plot, and unbelievable, one-dimensional characters?
It didn’t take long for me to stop wondering who was going to be murdered or why. I just didn’t care any longer. As far as I was concerned, murder the lot of them! No one was particularly likable!
Lastly, ‘the fury’ refers to a malign Aegean wind. But, by the end of this soppy mess, I think the real fury was me, angry I had wasted my time.
If you are wondering why the author’s name is familiar, you are right to wonder. This is Sir Michael Caine, CBE the Oscar winning actor for the film “If you are wondering why the author’s name is familiar, you are right to wonder. This is Sir Michael Caine, CBE the Oscar winning actor for the film “Hannah and Her Sisters.” He even had a movie out in 2023, the year he celebrated turning 90 years old.
I wanted to read this one, because of his notoriety and my curiosity about him as a writer. And this is his debut work of fiction.
But as I dove into it, I couldn’t help but wonder, would this have been published if it hadn’t of been written by a famous actor?
Premise: His protagonist hero is a 45-year-old DCI Harry Taylor. Old school cop. Tough with a good heart. And he happens to be on the trail of some missing uranium with a lot of suspects.
So how did it do?
I felt it was poorly written, predictable and contrived. Unfortunately, it did not keep me engaged.
Let’s just say, it was a slog read. Difficult to enjoy, despite the twists and turns thrown at us readers. I think it wanted to be an exciting thriller, but it was more of a yawner for me.
After discovering that I had read “Money to Burn,” by this author, review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..., I decided to also order this book from my library.
The question for me, after reading “Money to Burn” was simply…
Is this an author I wanted to continue following?
But…
Before I answer that question, let me ask you one…
Do any of you watch the series, “Law and Order?” What comes to mind, when I think of this series, is their continuing statement to describe their show…
“Ripped from the headlines.”
And…
It seems every time we watch an episode, we are comparing it to some recent story that was making the news, and wondering how they were going to twist or turn it to fit their own weekly series plot line.
So…
Was this what this author was attempting to do with this book?
Or…
Was the author generating plot for plot’s sake, and whatever was happening to the characters just didn’t feel compelling enough?
Especially…
When we start the story with the financial mastermind named Abe (Bernie Madoff reincarnated on the page?) committing suicide after his billions of dollars financial scheme has been exposed. (Note: This isn’t a spoiler, it is very clearly shared from the beginning that this would happen.)
And…
Then readers are flip flopped all around when there is murder, mayhem and confusion about who did what and suspicion is the order of the day.
So…
What happened to the money?
And…
Are we running out of breath with main characters, Patrick and Lilly, young financial analysts who have been kidnapped, let go, and then attempting to escape from psychopaths and mobsters and the FBI?
What secrets do they have to hide?
Let’s just say, that this was a less-than-thrilling thriller, with cliché characters and a plot that too easily left readers out-of-breath and confused.
Disappointed comes to mind.
So...
Will I read this author again? I think you can figure out the answer, right?
With this being another donation to my Little Free Library Shed, it seemed only right to re-visit Catching up…
I read this when it first came out.
And…
With this being another donation to my Little Free Library Shed, it seemed only right to re-visit it and write my review for Goodreads.
Let me just start with my response to the setting of this story…
As readers, we are transported to the south of Spain.
The Mediterranean light and atmosphere of the Spanish village described in this book…
Evocative. Beautiful. Enchanting.
And…
Even the descriptions of the vineyard, the Spanish families and shopkeepers, and farm workers are charming.
But…
The main characters are less than desirable. On the front cover it says…
“Sometimes, your parents don’t know best.”
Which…
In my opinion is misleading…
Because…
It appears that the family cast in this story – the kids called upon to come help their Mum & Dad in Spain after their father suffers a stroke, don’t seem to know what is best either. If anything, they all have a lot of growing up to do.
Which…
Makes this story feel more like a yarn, an implausible tale, with the hope that everyone will change for the better. The problem is that it read like a soap opera with a lot of family dilemmas and very few redemptions.
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