Maeve Binchy's The Lilac Bus is more of a novella than a full novel. At just over 100 pages, it is a quick and easy read about some loveable, and some not so loveable, quirky characters. The novella is broken up into eight chapters, one for each of the characters.
Tom owns the Lilac Bus, and every Friday his passengers travel with him from Dublin, across Ireland to a small town for the weekend. Each one of them is traveling there each weekend for a different purpose, and each chapter reveals that characters purpose. What makes this book so enjoyable and interesting is that in addition to telling their own story in their chapter, each character also includes commentary on the lives of the other passengers. It isn't until you read each character's chapter that the reader is able to put together the pieces of the puzzle.
Maeve Binchy is excellent at character development, and is known for her heartwarming stories about Ireland and it's people. Her characters come alive on the page, and this book is a perfect example of how she can make the characters in her books seem like people you know.
If you haven't ever checked out Maeve Binchy, she is worth your time. Her novels are charming, and this one is no exception. Happy Reading!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Behind in Blogging
The beginning of this year has been a very difficult one for my family. Due to recent medical crises with my Mom & Dad, and my mother's passing a couple of weeks ago, I have gotten behind in my blogging. These last three months have been an incredibly busy, stressful and emotional time. I escaped a bit with my reading, but my time on the computer was greatly limited. Since so much time has passed, I can't give full reviews to each book that I consumed. So below, I am going to give a brief synopsis and my overall recommendation for each book.
The Drums of Autumn
This is the fourth book in the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. So far it is my favorite in the series. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will just say that it is full of action, adventure and my favorite characters. If you have started reading this series, this book is a must read.
Perfect Match
Jodi Piccoult is excellent at weaving an emotional storyline and making the reader question what he/she would do in the same situation. Her books are realistic, heart wrenching, and sometimes difficult to read. This is one of those books. In Perfect Match the main character, Nina, is a prosecutor. She prosecutes child molesters and knows all too well that the legal system does not always protect the victims. She never expects her own child to become a victim. What would you do, if you knew that your child's molester might get away with it? What would you do, if you knew the process to convict that monster might inflict more damage onto your family? Jodi Piccoult addresses those difficult emotional and moral questions, and writes a story that is a page turner from the beginning. Highly recommend, but this is a difficult read.
Kill Me
I had not read Stephen White before reading this fast paced thriller. What if you could hire someone that would take your life at a precise, predetermined time? What if you could set the parameters for the point at which your life would have no more meaning? What if you changed your mind? The book really has two main characters, a therapist and the patient that comes to him trying to change the course of a future that he set into motion. The author unfolds the story so expertly to keep you guessing and thinking up until the very end. Full of action, and truly a page turner. I will be returning to Stephen White. I recommend this one.
Love, Unexpectedly
This novel by Susan Fox was a silly romance that was free on my nook. It was alright. Different premise/setting than any other romance I have read, and a twist on the typical romance formula. It served it's purpose of being a quick, simple read, but there was nothing too special about it. If you have limited time to read, you might want to skip this one.
Cool Shade
This was also a free nook book. This novel is the reason I am not a big fan of romance novels. The author, Theresa Weir, tried to mix a romance in with some mystery. The plot fell really short, the mystery was poorly contrived, the characters were barely likeable, and it followed the annoying typical romance novel formula (boy meets girl, boy & girl hate each other, boy & girl get together, then have misunderstanding, then work it out. Oh and by the way, girl is really needy and even though it is the 21st century and girl is in her mid 20s, she is still a virgin.) Blech! I don't believe the author did any research into her subject, which makes me as a reader feel that she just thinks I am stupid. Maybe I was for wasting my time on this one.
Still Alice
This was an intelligent, well researched, touching novel by Lisa Genova. In it, Alice, a Harvard professor is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. The story follows her as she accepts her fate, begins to deteriorate, and is forced to give up her independence. The fact that it is written from the perspective of the person with Alzheimer's is part of the reason that the novel is so gripping. The author has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, so the book gets technical and yet the story is eloquently written. This was an impressive novel, especially for a first time novelist. Lisa Genova is one to watch. Highly recommend this one.
Off Season
Anne Rivers Siddons' novel about a woman dealing with her husband's death is moving and thought provoking. Lilly, the novel's main character, takes a road trip to her family's cabin in Maine so that she can grieve her husband. She delves into her past, from her childhood to falling in love with her husband, Cam, and their life together. While in Maine, she discovers things that her husband kept from her and discovers something that maybe she should have seen coming. While this book was touching, I sort of felt like so many bad things could not possibly happen to one person. I really liked Lilly, and wanted more for her. This novel was okay, but not one that would make me seek out more by the author.
The Journey Home
At just over 100 pages, this was more of a novella than a full novel, by Michael Baron. He weaves two seemingly separate storylines together. The first is about a man in his late thirties who has just awoken with no idea where he is or where he is from, he only knows that he must find his wife. The second is about an elderly woman suffering from dementia and living in an assisted living facility. Her son visits her every day and tries in vain to get her out of the downward spiral she is in. There is a twist to the story that I figured out early on, but it didn't ruin the book for me. There was a happy ending, one that I needed at that moment in my life. I recommend this one, especially since it was such a short novel.
Love in a Nutshell
This is a Janet Evanovich romance novel, that she co-authored with Dorien Kelly. I loved this book. Not your everyday romance with a good mystery thrown in, all with a dash of Evanovich's humor. As stated previously, I am not a big fan of the typical romance. In this book, the typical romance novel formula is not really present. The subject matter is researched well enough, the characters stay true to themselves, the reader is actually kept guessing until the end, and the main characters are likeable. The main female character is starting over in the small coastal town where her family owns a cabin. She wants to turn the cabin into a B&B, but she has a cash flow problem. She finds a job at the local brew pub, and works as the owner's spy. He is being sabotaged, but doesn't know why or by whom. Typically in a romance novel, there is some sort of misunderstanding that drives a temporary wedge between the two love interest characters. In this novel, surprise of all surprises, the characters are actually honest with one another and said misunderstanding is avoided. So refreshing! This one was definitely worth the time. There is a reason Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite "escapism lit" authors.
Double Dare
The good dose of escapism in the last novel, had me wanting more. So I read this free nook book by Rhonda Nelson. It was another example of why I don't care for the typical romance. I didn't hate this book, but with so many more worthy novels on my shelves, this was a waste of time. Silly, gratuitous, formulaic. This one was about a girl who was prearranged to marry someone so that her father's company could have a smooth merger with the groom's family's company. Really? In today's business world? She runs away from the alter and decides to hire an "adventure guide" to take her on an adventurous vacation. Complete silliness, no noticeable research into the subject matter, characters who do not stay true to their profiles from the beginning of the book, and for Pete's sake another virginal main character. Please! Another pet peeve...this was a "self published" electronic book that was full of grammatical errors and misspellings (words that the spell check wouldn't necessarily catch). I am not a perfect speller and make my fair share of grammatical errors, but if I were going to put my name on a novel, you can be sure it would be edited by someone other than the word processor's spell check. The main character's name was misspelled several times (Sam was spelled Same). C'mon self publishers, you can do better than that.
Chasing the Dime
After reading a few escapism romance, I was ready for something else, so I picked up Michael Connelly's thriller. This was a great read. Henry Pierce gets a new phone number after moving out of the home he shared with his girlfriend. But the phone calls Henry is getting are certainly not for him; they are all for a girl named Lilly who, it appears, is some sort of an escort. Pierce heads a company that is on the cutting edge of emerging technologies and has come across a discovery that could change the world. Now is not the time for him to be distracted. But he feels drawn to Lilly and finding out what happened to her. The ride Michael Connelly takes the reader on from there is a suspenseful page turner (almost 400 pages that I ripped through in less than two days). At times, the novel gets quite technical but it stays interesting all the same. If you are looking for a mystery that will have you guessing until the last pages, this is it. I recommend this one.
Whew! I am caught up. Happy Reading!
The Drums of Autumn
This is the fourth book in the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. So far it is my favorite in the series. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will just say that it is full of action, adventure and my favorite characters. If you have started reading this series, this book is a must read.
Perfect Match
Jodi Piccoult is excellent at weaving an emotional storyline and making the reader question what he/she would do in the same situation. Her books are realistic, heart wrenching, and sometimes difficult to read. This is one of those books. In Perfect Match the main character, Nina, is a prosecutor. She prosecutes child molesters and knows all too well that the legal system does not always protect the victims. She never expects her own child to become a victim. What would you do, if you knew that your child's molester might get away with it? What would you do, if you knew the process to convict that monster might inflict more damage onto your family? Jodi Piccoult addresses those difficult emotional and moral questions, and writes a story that is a page turner from the beginning. Highly recommend, but this is a difficult read.
Kill Me
I had not read Stephen White before reading this fast paced thriller. What if you could hire someone that would take your life at a precise, predetermined time? What if you could set the parameters for the point at which your life would have no more meaning? What if you changed your mind? The book really has two main characters, a therapist and the patient that comes to him trying to change the course of a future that he set into motion. The author unfolds the story so expertly to keep you guessing and thinking up until the very end. Full of action, and truly a page turner. I will be returning to Stephen White. I recommend this one.
Love, Unexpectedly
This novel by Susan Fox was a silly romance that was free on my nook. It was alright. Different premise/setting than any other romance I have read, and a twist on the typical romance formula. It served it's purpose of being a quick, simple read, but there was nothing too special about it. If you have limited time to read, you might want to skip this one.
Cool Shade
This was also a free nook book. This novel is the reason I am not a big fan of romance novels. The author, Theresa Weir, tried to mix a romance in with some mystery. The plot fell really short, the mystery was poorly contrived, the characters were barely likeable, and it followed the annoying typical romance novel formula (boy meets girl, boy & girl hate each other, boy & girl get together, then have misunderstanding, then work it out. Oh and by the way, girl is really needy and even though it is the 21st century and girl is in her mid 20s, she is still a virgin.) Blech! I don't believe the author did any research into her subject, which makes me as a reader feel that she just thinks I am stupid. Maybe I was for wasting my time on this one.
Still Alice
This was an intelligent, well researched, touching novel by Lisa Genova. In it, Alice, a Harvard professor is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. The story follows her as she accepts her fate, begins to deteriorate, and is forced to give up her independence. The fact that it is written from the perspective of the person with Alzheimer's is part of the reason that the novel is so gripping. The author has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, so the book gets technical and yet the story is eloquently written. This was an impressive novel, especially for a first time novelist. Lisa Genova is one to watch. Highly recommend this one.
Off Season
Anne Rivers Siddons' novel about a woman dealing with her husband's death is moving and thought provoking. Lilly, the novel's main character, takes a road trip to her family's cabin in Maine so that she can grieve her husband. She delves into her past, from her childhood to falling in love with her husband, Cam, and their life together. While in Maine, she discovers things that her husband kept from her and discovers something that maybe she should have seen coming. While this book was touching, I sort of felt like so many bad things could not possibly happen to one person. I really liked Lilly, and wanted more for her. This novel was okay, but not one that would make me seek out more by the author.
The Journey Home
At just over 100 pages, this was more of a novella than a full novel, by Michael Baron. He weaves two seemingly separate storylines together. The first is about a man in his late thirties who has just awoken with no idea where he is or where he is from, he only knows that he must find his wife. The second is about an elderly woman suffering from dementia and living in an assisted living facility. Her son visits her every day and tries in vain to get her out of the downward spiral she is in. There is a twist to the story that I figured out early on, but it didn't ruin the book for me. There was a happy ending, one that I needed at that moment in my life. I recommend this one, especially since it was such a short novel.
Love in a Nutshell
This is a Janet Evanovich romance novel, that she co-authored with Dorien Kelly. I loved this book. Not your everyday romance with a good mystery thrown in, all with a dash of Evanovich's humor. As stated previously, I am not a big fan of the typical romance. In this book, the typical romance novel formula is not really present. The subject matter is researched well enough, the characters stay true to themselves, the reader is actually kept guessing until the end, and the main characters are likeable. The main female character is starting over in the small coastal town where her family owns a cabin. She wants to turn the cabin into a B&B, but she has a cash flow problem. She finds a job at the local brew pub, and works as the owner's spy. He is being sabotaged, but doesn't know why or by whom. Typically in a romance novel, there is some sort of misunderstanding that drives a temporary wedge between the two love interest characters. In this novel, surprise of all surprises, the characters are actually honest with one another and said misunderstanding is avoided. So refreshing! This one was definitely worth the time. There is a reason Janet Evanovich is one of my favorite "escapism lit" authors.
Double Dare
The good dose of escapism in the last novel, had me wanting more. So I read this free nook book by Rhonda Nelson. It was another example of why I don't care for the typical romance. I didn't hate this book, but with so many more worthy novels on my shelves, this was a waste of time. Silly, gratuitous, formulaic. This one was about a girl who was prearranged to marry someone so that her father's company could have a smooth merger with the groom's family's company. Really? In today's business world? She runs away from the alter and decides to hire an "adventure guide" to take her on an adventurous vacation. Complete silliness, no noticeable research into the subject matter, characters who do not stay true to their profiles from the beginning of the book, and for Pete's sake another virginal main character. Please! Another pet peeve...this was a "self published" electronic book that was full of grammatical errors and misspellings (words that the spell check wouldn't necessarily catch). I am not a perfect speller and make my fair share of grammatical errors, but if I were going to put my name on a novel, you can be sure it would be edited by someone other than the word processor's spell check. The main character's name was misspelled several times (Sam was spelled Same). C'mon self publishers, you can do better than that.
Chasing the Dime
After reading a few escapism romance, I was ready for something else, so I picked up Michael Connelly's thriller. This was a great read. Henry Pierce gets a new phone number after moving out of the home he shared with his girlfriend. But the phone calls Henry is getting are certainly not for him; they are all for a girl named Lilly who, it appears, is some sort of an escort. Pierce heads a company that is on the cutting edge of emerging technologies and has come across a discovery that could change the world. Now is not the time for him to be distracted. But he feels drawn to Lilly and finding out what happened to her. The ride Michael Connelly takes the reader on from there is a suspenseful page turner (almost 400 pages that I ripped through in less than two days). At times, the novel gets quite technical but it stays interesting all the same. If you are looking for a mystery that will have you guessing until the last pages, this is it. I recommend this one.
Whew! I am caught up. Happy Reading!
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