Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Alone Time with I'll Walk Alone
It has been many years since I have read Mary Higgins Clark...and I was surprised when I became thoroughly engrossed in this modern suspense novel. I highly recommend that you take I’ll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark on your next vacation! Escape into a quiet place where you can be alone and read this book cover to cover uninterrupted.
Unfolding like a suspense movie, the story begins when a woman makes a confession to a Father O’Brien. The unknown woman knows that a murder is about to happen but she can do nothing to stop it. The priest does not know the woman and cannot prevent the murder, so he prays. The priest has no idea that a killer has watched the young lady go into his confessional, and now he is a target.
Today Zan Moreland is a rising star, a Manhattan Central Park when he was being watched by a babysitter. Zan is trying to move on with her life, focusing on her career, but she thinks of her son daily and is especially sad on what would have been his fifth birthday. On the two year anniversary of her son's kidnapping, a photograph of Zan (or someone dressed exactly like Zan) appears in the papers and shows her taking her son out of his stroller. Zan feels crazy as the photo is impossible, and yet the look-alike is wearing the exact outfit that she wore the day her son disappeared. The photo is so convincing that Zan’s ex husband angrily accuses her of stealing their son.
With the emergence of this new photograph, police detectives start reinvestigating the case of the missing child. Zan’s friends know that she did not harm her son, but the photograph makes them doubt themselves and her. Zan’s husband is now eager for Zan to be arrested. Zan’s interior design nemesis Bartley Longe is confident and secretly thrilled at the idea of Zan’s impending arrest; surely this means she will lose the job for which they’ve both placed competitive design bids.
When the photo emerges, the rest of Zan’s life starts collapsing. Suddenly, Zan’s bank account has been reduced to nothing; all of her savings are gone. Someone has forged her signature for design jobs and ordered supplies against her credit; all the while that same person has purchased clothing on her credit card. Her assistant wonders why Zan has bought a one-way ticket to Argentina
There is a reason that Mary Higgins Clark is called the Queen of Suspense, and this novel is a continuation of her legacy. Many readers will enjoy the easy flow as the novel transitions quickly through small character chapters and story segments. First there is the priest, then Zan, Zan’s ex-husband, the kidnapper/ identity thief, and Zan’s friends. The plot moves along at a steady and interesting pace until all the pieces fall into place with a well-wrapped and satisfying ending.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Cover Judgement: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, 384 trade paperback pages
Ahhhh! I admit to being visually shallow and adoring this book's cover art the minute I saw the book! I’d nominate this book for the Book Art Cover Awards, if I hadn’t learned that this is the exact cover from Life Magazine, March 1924. The cover art is artistic and whimsical and I love it!
There are little gems and glimpses of wonderful language mixed throughout this proper British novel. And I loved the beginning, it was what I wanted, a first Chapter that fulfilled my great expectations. It is early in the book that Mrs. Ali and Major Pettigrew meet for the “first time”. They have met numerous times throughout the year, the Major buys his tea at Mrs. Ali’s shop, but this is their first encounter outside of her village shop. Mrs. Ali shows up at the Majors doorstep while he is in shock at having learned of the death of his brother. Feeling alone and not at all himself, the Major allows Mrs. Ali into his house where she proceeds to comfort him by making him tea. And so it begins...The Major’s widowed eyes suddenly open he starts to notice how lonely he’s been and how wonderful it feels to have a woman in the house again. The only problem is that the Major and Mrs. Ali live in a small English village—a quagmire of endless gossip and prejudice. Mrs. Ali hails from Pakistan which means that she is subjected to her relative’s expectations of a Pakistani widow with no children. The Major is a proper British gentleman who heretofore has lived a rigid and uncomplicated life. For the Major and all of his manners and properness, he realizes that just being seen with Mrs. Ali will get the local townspeople all aflutter.
Well, the beginning was great but I had issues with the middle and end. Central to the storyline is the Major’s belief that his brother’s widow will honor his expectation that he will inherit his brother's Churchill gun. The Major has one Churchill given to him by his dying father and his brother had the other gun—the pair were meant to be together. The only problem is that the two Churchills together have great value…enter Major Pettigrew’s snot-faced money hungry son and his brother’s greedy widow.
One quote that resonated with me was said by Mrs. Ali early in the novel, “I tell myself that it does not matter what one reads-favorite authors, particular themes-as long as we read something.” Isn’t that a wonderful sentiment?
Overall I think readers who love English novels and literature will enjoy Major Pettigrew and his dry wit. I wonder though if book clubs will enjoy this book? I am not sure that the book is broad enough, it may be a bit too standoffishly British.
Spoiler ALERT (below):
1. The Major says nothing and does nothing when Mrs. Ali leaves town. There is no logic as to why he would immediately fall back to Grace the townspeople approved and accepted choice for him. Somehow Grace is supposed to be perceived as the right choice and better than living alone? Seriously?
2. As an educated woman, Mrs. Ali resignedly and all too easily gives up her shop to her moody and disgruntled nephew. Then she leaves town to become a slave and housekeeper for her distant relatives--I don’t see the logic as sanity would dictate trying other solutions before this one. Especially because the nephew has no likable quality and the personality of a rock.
3. Roger, Major Pettigrew’s son has learned absolutely nothing. He never gains respect for his father; his moral compass remains at less than zero for this entire book. He is a bitter disappointment to the Major and to the reader.
4. Even discovering and uncovering his feelings for Mrs. Ali , the Major obsesses continually over the stupid Churchill guns. In the face of love, I’d have liked for him to have given up his obsession, been the bigger man and aimed for love over all material goods.
5. My hope was that the Major and Mrs. Ali would skip town and happily escape into a new and better life in another small town—far away from the snarky townspeople and the insufferable Roger.
Ahhhh! I admit to being visually shallow and adoring this book's cover art the minute I saw the book! I’d nominate this book for the Book Art Cover Awards, if I hadn’t learned that this is the exact cover from Life Magazine, March 1924. The cover art is artistic and whimsical and I love it!
There are little gems and glimpses of wonderful language mixed throughout this proper British novel. And I loved the beginning, it was what I wanted, a first Chapter that fulfilled my great expectations. It is early in the book that Mrs. Ali and Major Pettigrew meet for the “first time”. They have met numerous times throughout the year, the Major buys his tea at Mrs. Ali’s shop, but this is their first encounter outside of her village shop. Mrs. Ali shows up at the Majors doorstep while he is in shock at having learned of the death of his brother. Feeling alone and not at all himself, the Major allows Mrs. Ali into his house where she proceeds to comfort him by making him tea. And so it begins...The Major’s widowed eyes suddenly open he starts to notice how lonely he’s been and how wonderful it feels to have a woman in the house again. The only problem is that the Major and Mrs. Ali live in a small English village—a quagmire of endless gossip and prejudice. Mrs. Ali hails from Pakistan which means that she is subjected to her relative’s expectations of a Pakistani widow with no children. The Major is a proper British gentleman who heretofore has lived a rigid and uncomplicated life. For the Major and all of his manners and properness, he realizes that just being seen with Mrs. Ali will get the local townspeople all aflutter.
Well, the beginning was great but I had issues with the middle and end. Central to the storyline is the Major’s belief that his brother’s widow will honor his expectation that he will inherit his brother's Churchill gun. The Major has one Churchill given to him by his dying father and his brother had the other gun—the pair were meant to be together. The only problem is that the two Churchills together have great value…enter Major Pettigrew’s snot-faced money hungry son and his brother’s greedy widow.
One quote that resonated with me was said by Mrs. Ali early in the novel, “I tell myself that it does not matter what one reads-favorite authors, particular themes-as long as we read something.” Isn’t that a wonderful sentiment?
Overall I think readers who love English novels and literature will enjoy Major Pettigrew and his dry wit. I wonder though if book clubs will enjoy this book? I am not sure that the book is broad enough, it may be a bit too standoffishly British.
Spoiler ALERT (below):
Issues that I had with this novel:
1. The Major says nothing and does nothing when Mrs. Ali leaves town. There is no logic as to why he would immediately fall back to Grace the townspeople approved and accepted choice for him. Somehow Grace is supposed to be perceived as the right choice and better than living alone? Seriously?
2. As an educated woman, Mrs. Ali resignedly and all too easily gives up her shop to her moody and disgruntled nephew. Then she leaves town to become a slave and housekeeper for her distant relatives--I don’t see the logic as sanity would dictate trying other solutions before this one. Especially because the nephew has no likable quality and the personality of a rock.
3. Roger, Major Pettigrew’s son has learned absolutely nothing. He never gains respect for his father; his moral compass remains at less than zero for this entire book. He is a bitter disappointment to the Major and to the reader.
4. Even discovering and uncovering his feelings for Mrs. Ali , the Major obsesses continually over the stupid Churchill guns. In the face of love, I’d have liked for him to have given up his obsession, been the bigger man and aimed for love over all material goods.
5. My hope was that the Major and Mrs. Ali would skip town and happily escape into a new and better life in another small town—far away from the snarky townspeople and the insufferable Roger.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Escape into The Forgotten Garden
The Forgotten Garden
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton tells a sad and twisted almost-fairy-tale story, one that weaves between three generations from past to present. Mixed into the novel are little fairy tales which were written by an elusive author named Eliza Makepeace.
The beginning starts with a little girl, abandoned on a ship sailing toward Australia in the early 1900s. Months later the little girl and her small suitcase are found by the harbor master. The harbor master and his wife have been longing for children and he instantly adores the little girl, bringing her home to his wife. Soon, the harbor master and his wife are moving in order to present the little girl as their own in the next town. The harbor master knows that someone will be looking for the little girl, but she has become such a part of his family that he cannot giver her up. No one knows the little girls identity and she is very young, refusing to give her name.
In the present we meet Cassandra, a young lady who has been raised by her Grandmother. Upon her Grandmother’s death, Cassandra learns that her Grandmother has left her a cottage located in across the sea on the English coast. Cassandra’s Grandmother has never mentioned this other house so Cassandra feels compelled to visit to determine why her Grandmother held this secret. It is on the Cornish coast that Cassandra starts to unravel her Grandmother’s secret past and identity.
In the 1900s, Eliza lives in the slums on the Thames. Eliza is a strong-willed girl who makes up stories to comfort her brother every night. Eliza’s life is filled with hardship and suffering, and it almost seems a blessing when she is rescued from the slums by a distant relative. Soon she has a room in a beautiful old mansion, and she has the freedom to run by the sea. In her explorations, it doesn’t take long for her to discover the forgotten garden.
This story is winding and complex, and unfolds toward the end like a mystery. I knew that there would be parallels to The Secret Garden, but I was not expecting Eliza’s stories to be like those of the Brother’s Grimm and like those we all know through Disney, almost too similar in that they didn’t feel original. And, I had wanted the writing to be more rich and luminous. The writing style is simple and easy which was unexpectedly disappointing. And, I had figured out the mystery long before the end…
Still, I can see how this would lead to interesting book club discussions:
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, is 549 trade paperback pages.
The beginning starts with a little girl, abandoned on a ship sailing toward Australia in the early 1900s. Months later the little girl and her small suitcase are found by the harbor master. The harbor master and his wife have been longing for children and he instantly adores the little girl, bringing her home to his wife. Soon, the harbor master and his wife are moving in order to present the little girl as their own in the next town. The harbor master knows that someone will be looking for the little girl, but she has become such a part of his family that he cannot giver her up. No one knows the little girls identity and she is very young, refusing to give her name.
In the present we meet Cassandra, a young lady who has been raised by her Grandmother. Upon her Grandmother’s death, Cassandra learns that her Grandmother has left her a cottage located in across the sea on the English coast. Cassandra’s Grandmother has never mentioned this other house so Cassandra feels compelled to visit to determine why her Grandmother held this secret. It is on the Cornish coast that Cassandra starts to unravel her Grandmother’s secret past and identity.
In the 1900s, Eliza lives in the slums on the Thames. Eliza is a strong-willed girl who makes up stories to comfort her brother every night. Eliza’s life is filled with hardship and suffering, and it almost seems a blessing when she is rescued from the slums by a distant relative. Soon she has a room in a beautiful old mansion, and she has the freedom to run by the sea. In her explorations, it doesn’t take long for her to discover the forgotten garden.
This story is winding and complex, and unfolds toward the end like a mystery. I knew that there would be parallels to The Secret Garden, but I was not expecting Eliza’s stories to be like those of the Brother’s Grimm and like those we all know through Disney, almost too similar in that they didn’t feel original. And, I had wanted the writing to be more rich and luminous. The writing style is simple and easy which was unexpectedly disappointing. And, I had figured out the mystery long before the end…
Still, I can see how this would lead to interesting book club discussions:
- There are three storylines that follow three different women, what are their similarities/how do they differ?
- Compare The Forgotten Garden to The Secret Garden
- How similar are the Eliza stories to the Grimm fairytales?
- Nell’s choices on her 21st birthday impacted the rest of her life; did she make the right decision?
- Did you think this was a love story, a tragedy or a modern fairy tale?
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, is 549 trade paperback pages.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Indulge in this Southern Delight
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
Wonderfully surprising and engaging, this novel is a Southern delight that tells the coming-of-age story of CeeCee Honeycutt.
Twelve year old CeeCee has lived a lonely and heartbreaking life. CeeCee’s mom, Camille, has mental health issues and the young CeeCee is her mother’s sole caretaker. Camille isn’t a mother, she is a child; her wardrobe consists of tiaras and dress-up clothes. Southerner Camille has never adapted to living up North and mentally lives in her past where her crowning role was Vidalia Onion Queen. Sadly, CeeCee’s dad can no longer abide Camille and he is rarely home, letting Cee Cee take on the burden of her mother alone.
After Camille dies in a tragic accident, CeeCee meets her great Aunt Tootie. CeeCee has never met her Southern Great Aunt; an Aunt who had no idea of CeeCee or Camille’s troubles until now. Tootie is a take-charge spitfire, determining immediately that CeeCee needs a good female influence in her life. Headstrong and wealthy Tootie soon convinces CeeCee’s deadbeat dad that CeeCee will be better off living with her in Savannah.
Savannah is a new and wondrous place, a place where CeeCee can mourn her mother, while also finding little glimpses of happiness. In Savannah, CeeCee starts building relationships with adults, charming women who truly have her best interests at heart. Tootie is the caring, loving and dependable grandmother-like character. Oletta is the warm and sassy housekeeper who becomes CeeCee’s best friend. Tootie’s world is rich with southern women who serve as champions for the young impressionable girl they befriend.
Bittersweet, sad, charming, and endearing, this novel would be perfect for your next book club. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt was written by Beth Hoffman and the Trade Paperback is 306 pages
Suggested Menu:
Oletta’s Beach Picnic: ham and cheese sandwiches, potato salad, lemonade, coke, and raspberry cobbler.
Wonderfully surprising and engaging, this novel is a Southern delight that tells the coming-of-age story of CeeCee Honeycutt.
Twelve year old CeeCee has lived a lonely and heartbreaking life. CeeCee’s mom, Camille, has mental health issues and the young CeeCee is her mother’s sole caretaker. Camille isn’t a mother, she is a child; her wardrobe consists of tiaras and dress-up clothes. Southerner Camille has never adapted to living up North and mentally lives in her past where her crowning role was Vidalia Onion Queen. Sadly, CeeCee’s dad can no longer abide Camille and he is rarely home, letting Cee Cee take on the burden of her mother alone.
After Camille dies in a tragic accident, CeeCee meets her great Aunt Tootie. CeeCee has never met her Southern Great Aunt; an Aunt who had no idea of CeeCee or Camille’s troubles until now. Tootie is a take-charge spitfire, determining immediately that CeeCee needs a good female influence in her life. Headstrong and wealthy Tootie soon convinces CeeCee’s deadbeat dad that CeeCee will be better off living with her in Savannah.
Savannah is a new and wondrous place, a place where CeeCee can mourn her mother, while also finding little glimpses of happiness. In Savannah, CeeCee starts building relationships with adults, charming women who truly have her best interests at heart. Tootie is the caring, loving and dependable grandmother-like character. Oletta is the warm and sassy housekeeper who becomes CeeCee’s best friend. Tootie’s world is rich with southern women who serve as champions for the young impressionable girl they befriend.
Bittersweet, sad, charming, and endearing, this novel would be perfect for your next book club. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt was written by Beth Hoffman and the Trade Paperback is 306 pages
Suggested Menu:
Oletta’s Beach Picnic: ham and cheese sandwiches, potato salad, lemonade, coke, and raspberry cobbler.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Mardi Gras Celebration & The Lightening Thief
My friend from New Orleans chose Percy Jackson, Lightening Thief for what became our March Mardi Gras book club meeting. You may be wondering about the correlation between Mardi Gras and Olympians, and I was surprised that the connection is that New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewe names come straight out of Greek/Roman mythology! As I understand it, the Kewes are the parade groups and organizers for Mardi Gras and there are numerous Krewes including a Krewe of Muses!
How to host a Mardi Gras Book Club:
(taken straight from our fabulous New Orleans Hostess)
MENU: Jambalaya and red beans and rice, King Cake and Chicory coffee
PARTY FAVORS: Mardi Gras Beads and Masks (just for fun)
Book Club Discussions included:
• the Krewes and their mythological history
• how many of the book clubbers did research/looked up mythology
• how tweens and teens would be encouraged to look up the mythology stories
• chasm between the book and the movie
• the preteen humor in the writing
It was immediately clear that all enjoyed this book and many will pursue the rest of the books in the Percy series. Needless to say, the socializing was cut short as the first order of business was tucking into the delicious New Orleans-style food.
A Review: Percy Jackson & The Olympians, The Lightening Thief
I knew I would like this action adventure book when the first chapter was about vaporizing the pre-algebra teacher. Who wouldn't love that and why didn’t I ever have those powers? This book was written and is classified for young adults, but if you liked Harry Potter or know a bit about Greek mythology, you need to read the Percy Jackson series.
Percy is a difficult child, one with ADHD who has been kicked out of every school he’s ever attended. Now that he is eleven he starts seeing and dreaming odd things. Some things cannot be real and are beyond imagination, or are they? With the gods speaking to Percy in dreams, Percy is soon immersed in another world, one that he never knew existed, that of the Greek gods. Of course, once the real-world Percy has vaporized his algebra teacher, he realizes that something about his life has been missing. Percy will soon learn that he is a half-blood—the son of a God and a human.
Percy soon meets and befriends other half-blood children and mythological creatures. The skies are dark and angry, the seas are large and looming and the earth is quaking, the Gods are getting ready for war. Zeus, Poseidon and Hades are in-fighting and since Percy is a magnet for trouble, he is soon accused of stealing Zeus's lightening bolt. To clear his name, Percy must go on a quest to find the real lightening thief and to return Zeus’s master lightening bolt. In order to complete his quest, Percy must become a hero and defy the mythical creatures determined to destroy and defeat him.
Enjoyable for everyone, a very easy fun read for adults, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightening Thief was 375 paperback pages and can be found in the Young Adult (YA) section. Another YA plus, the paperback price was $6.75 at Wal-Mart. And, the 2010 movie is now available on DVD.
How to host a Mardi Gras Book Club:
(taken straight from our fabulous New Orleans Hostess)
MENU: Jambalaya and red beans and rice, King Cake and Chicory coffee
PARTY FAVORS: Mardi Gras Beads and Masks (just for fun)
Book Club Discussions included:
• the Krewes and their mythological history
• how many of the book clubbers did research/looked up mythology
• how tweens and teens would be encouraged to look up the mythology stories
• chasm between the book and the movie
• the preteen humor in the writing
It was immediately clear that all enjoyed this book and many will pursue the rest of the books in the Percy series. Needless to say, the socializing was cut short as the first order of business was tucking into the delicious New Orleans-style food.
A Review: Percy Jackson & The Olympians, The Lightening Thief
I knew I would like this action adventure book when the first chapter was about vaporizing the pre-algebra teacher. Who wouldn't love that and why didn’t I ever have those powers? This book was written and is classified for young adults, but if you liked Harry Potter or know a bit about Greek mythology, you need to read the Percy Jackson series.
Percy is a difficult child, one with ADHD who has been kicked out of every school he’s ever attended. Now that he is eleven he starts seeing and dreaming odd things. Some things cannot be real and are beyond imagination, or are they? With the gods speaking to Percy in dreams, Percy is soon immersed in another world, one that he never knew existed, that of the Greek gods. Of course, once the real-world Percy has vaporized his algebra teacher, he realizes that something about his life has been missing. Percy will soon learn that he is a half-blood—the son of a God and a human.
Percy soon meets and befriends other half-blood children and mythological creatures. The skies are dark and angry, the seas are large and looming and the earth is quaking, the Gods are getting ready for war. Zeus, Poseidon and Hades are in-fighting and since Percy is a magnet for trouble, he is soon accused of stealing Zeus's lightening bolt. To clear his name, Percy must go on a quest to find the real lightening thief and to return Zeus’s master lightening bolt. In order to complete his quest, Percy must become a hero and defy the mythical creatures determined to destroy and defeat him.
Enjoyable for everyone, a very easy fun read for adults, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightening Thief was 375 paperback pages and can be found in the Young Adult (YA) section. Another YA plus, the paperback price was $6.75 at Wal-Mart. And, the 2010 movie is now available on DVD.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Upward Trend: Paperback Book Prices
Despite this digital age, and I fear even sharing this sentiment, paperbacks remain my favorite book format. Unfortunately, within the last few months I have noticed that the cost of each and every paperback (no matter how small) has increased in price by $2. Every paperback is now $7.99 where they used to be $5.99. Also I have noticed Trade Paperbacks (those larger size-paperbacks) have increased too—those that used to cost $12 to $14 now cost $15. Yikes!
And what about those “Classics”? Well, I recently went on a quest for The Sun Also Rises (paperback) and was extremely disappointed. There were no (none, nada, zip) paperbacks which would have listed at $7.99—oh no, all that existed were trade paperbacks for $15. Oh my!
I haven’t been able to determine why paperbacks have increased; there are no search results in Google (well, no relevant results). In my opinion, now is not the time to increase paperback prices. I have less and less money to spend on books right now. My family income has decreased and we make less than we did three years ago—this equates to less disposable income which in turn means less money to buy books.
And while I know there has been an increase in e-readership, I would want to see the reasoning behind the price increase and correlation. How many readers would have purchased paperbacks but now purchase e-books? And, have those said readers given up paper books in their entirety? Conversely, isn’t it cheaper to stock, publish, and deliver e-books?
Dear Publisher?/Bookstore?/Economy?/E-Readers? Whoever you are… I am left disappointed and with less disposable cash to spend on my beloved paperbacks.
And what about those “Classics”? Well, I recently went on a quest for The Sun Also Rises (paperback) and was extremely disappointed. There were no (none, nada, zip) paperbacks which would have listed at $7.99—oh no, all that existed were trade paperbacks for $15. Oh my!
I haven’t been able to determine why paperbacks have increased; there are no search results in Google (well, no relevant results). In my opinion, now is not the time to increase paperback prices. I have less and less money to spend on books right now. My family income has decreased and we make less than we did three years ago—this equates to less disposable income which in turn means less money to buy books.
And while I know there has been an increase in e-readership, I would want to see the reasoning behind the price increase and correlation. How many readers would have purchased paperbacks but now purchase e-books? And, have those said readers given up paper books in their entirety? Conversely, isn’t it cheaper to stock, publish, and deliver e-books?
Dear Publisher?/Bookstore?/Economy?/E-Readers? Whoever you are… I am left disappointed and with less disposable cash to spend on my beloved paperbacks.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Author Next Door
I discovered mystery author Carolyn Haines (burgundy blouse in pic) by asking for Southern author suggestions at our local book store. Soon we had chosen Them Bones (first in the Mississippi Delta Mystery series) for our next book club. You may be amazed at how many authors live in your hometown. And, why not choose one of those authors for your next meeting?
One of our club members learned that there was a Writer’s Conference in a town near ours and that author Carolyn Haines would be a speaker at the Conference. My fellow book member took the initiative to find the author website and sent an email request asking if the author would like to meet with our book club. And, you guessed it, within 12 hours she had an e-mail from the author stating that she would love to meet with us! How thrilling!
A Review of Them Bones by Carolyn Haines
Witty spunky and Southern to the core, Mississippi resident Sarah Booth Delaney makes a wonderful protagonist—issues notwithstanding. Sarah Booth reminds me a bit of a smarter sexier and more interesting version of Stephanie Plum*--a thinking woman’s investigator if you will. Not to be too dull or serious, I must mention that Sarah Booth is haunted by Jitty, her Great Grandmother’s nanny.
Having grown up in Zinnia Mississippi, Sarah tries to epitomize a southern lady, but it is a bit difficult when she is single, over 30, jobless and soon to be homeless. Sarah’s largest worry is that she is about to lose her family mansion and heirloom belongings to foreclosure. In desperation, she dognaps Chablis, her gal-pal Tinkie’s spoiled little dog. Once she has “recovered” the dog for a sizable ransom, word spreads throughout the small town and Sarah Booth’s rep as an investigator is formed. Soon Sarah Booth is investigating a 20-year old murder, the stuff of small town rumors and lore. Unfortunately Sarah is also falling for handsome murder suspect Hamilton Garret V.
I must admit that I proposed this book to our book club believing fully that this was a cozy mystery. However, this book belongs squarely in the mystery category, the murder investigation and story are twisted, complex and smart. Will I go on to read the rest of this series?—Absolutely Dahling!
*Stephanie Plum is the protagonist PI in Janet Evanovich's popular book series
One of our club members learned that there was a Writer’s Conference in a town near ours and that author Carolyn Haines would be a speaker at the Conference. My fellow book member took the initiative to find the author website and sent an email request asking if the author would like to meet with our book club. And, you guessed it, within 12 hours she had an e-mail from the author stating that she would love to meet with us! How thrilling!
After her speech at the writing conference, Carolyn Haines met us at a local Tea Room for lunch. We brought her an honorary tee-shirt (and we all wore our specially made book club tees) and paid for her lunch. It was a wonderful and special lunch and Carolyn Haines was every bit as gregarious and spunky as her Sarah Booth character. I highly recommend that you contact an author and make a request for a book club visit. Carolyn shared her writing and publishing insights and was all-around terrific.
A Review of Them Bones by Carolyn Haines
Witty spunky and Southern to the core, Mississippi resident Sarah Booth Delaney makes a wonderful protagonist—issues notwithstanding. Sarah Booth reminds me a bit of a smarter sexier and more interesting version of Stephanie Plum*--a thinking woman’s investigator if you will. Not to be too dull or serious, I must mention that Sarah Booth is haunted by Jitty, her Great Grandmother’s nanny.
Having grown up in Zinnia Mississippi, Sarah tries to epitomize a southern lady, but it is a bit difficult when she is single, over 30, jobless and soon to be homeless. Sarah’s largest worry is that she is about to lose her family mansion and heirloom belongings to foreclosure. In desperation, she dognaps Chablis, her gal-pal Tinkie’s spoiled little dog. Once she has “recovered” the dog for a sizable ransom, word spreads throughout the small town and Sarah Booth’s rep as an investigator is formed. Soon Sarah Booth is investigating a 20-year old murder, the stuff of small town rumors and lore. Unfortunately Sarah is also falling for handsome murder suspect Hamilton Garret V.
I must admit that I proposed this book to our book club believing fully that this was a cozy mystery. However, this book belongs squarely in the mystery category, the murder investigation and story are twisted, complex and smart. Will I go on to read the rest of this series?—Absolutely Dahling!
*Stephanie Plum is the protagonist PI in Janet Evanovich's popular book series
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)