Shine

 

Shine by Lauren Myracle, 359p.

Sixteen-year-old Cat has spent the past three years avoiding everyone in her mountain town of Black Creek, NC, but when her childhood friend, Patrick, becomes the victim of an apparent hate crime she must rebuild burnt bridges to carry out her own investigation.  As Cat pieces together the events leading to Patrick's violent attack, she learns secrets from the people she avoided all these years and is reminded of secrets from her own past.

Shine, a 2013-14 Missouri Gateway Award Nominee, is ideal for readers who are ready to explore more complex issues such as sexual abuse and tolerance in a small town community. 

Frame Work

Frame Work by Anne G. Faigen  253 pp.

An English professor and her grandmother travel to Prague for a conference where the professor is to present a paper. While sightseeing they purchase a small watercolor painting and discover a drawing hidden behind the painting. Upon investigation it appears to be done by Mary Cassatt and is possibly valuable. Then people begin dying and the women find themselves caught in the intrigue of artwork stolen by the Nazis during World War II and a network that is still trafficking in the contraband. As a mystery, this story was predictable. However, historical material about stolen treasures and about Hannah Senesh (Szenes) was well researched and presented in the context of the story.

Going Bovine

Going Bovine by Libba Bray  400 pp.

I started reading this when it first came out a few years ago but had to return it before I finished. I just got back to it and really enjoyed it. Sixteen year old Cameron Smith is diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease a.k.a. bovine spongiform encephalopathy a.k.a. "Mad Cow" disease and is going to die, which sucks. He is given hope by Dulcie, a strange sort of punk angel who may or may not be a hallucination. She tells him there is a cure if he's willing to go find it. Cameron begins a trek of epic proportions with a dwarf named Gonzo, a yard gnome possessed by the Norse god Balder, fire giants, a jazz horn player, a rock band that disappeared in a black hole, a missing scientist, snow globes, and an MTV-like spring break party in Florida. I'm not going to give away the bittersweet ending.

The Burgess Boys

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout 320 pgs.

After loving the author's previous book, I was excited to listen to the audio of this book.  However, this one just didn't do it for me.  Talk about the dysfunctional families, the secrets, the horrible relationships among the family members but this book had nothing 'interesting'.  The Burgess Boys are Jim and Bob.  They sort of seem to hate each other and all of them have their own "issues."  The relationship between Jim and Bob is obviously the center of the book.  They still act like young kids to each other, name calling and pushing each other around seems common.  Their sister Susan is a sad-sack with a son who is kind of an outcast.  She still lives in the family home-town in Maine unlike her brothers who moved to New York City when they could.  The action that moves the story along is when Susan's son Zack gets into some  trouble and the brothers "come home" to help out.  There is some learning and growing by the end of the book but still nothing as great as Olive Kitteridge.

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Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad
110 pages


This is my 3rd time reading this book.  I like it, and perhaps keep coming back to it, because it's one of the few books I've come across that tells a captivating and well written story that doesn't go on-and-on-and-on, which I appreciate because often times my attention wanes on long works.

Marlow is a seaman who contracts with a trading company to pilot a steamboat up a river in the jungles of Africa during Europe's imperialistic foray.  He encounters Kurtz, whose years trading in the jungle, away from all the conventions and establishments of "civilization" have left him untethered from traditional moral pretenses. It's a must read for those who have yet to pick it up.  

Instructions for a heatwave

Instructions for a heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell 289 pgs.

Is there anything better than well written novel about a family with secrets?  I wonder.  This is a great one about the Riordan family, Gretta and Robert and three adult children.  The story starts with Robert walking away...as in disappearing.  The family has no idea where he might be or why he left.  The adult children, Michael Francis, Monica and Aoife come together after three years of not sharing the same space.  There are historic hurts and a lot of strange interactions to figure out before they even get down to the business of finding their father.  Oh boy, there are some fabulous family secrets that come out!  As I was running out of pages, I began to worry that this story would not be wrapped up, that I would be left with a mystery that would drive me insane!  I shouldn't have worried.  O'Farrell did a wonderful job with everything and I loved this family, each and every crazy one of them.

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Around the World in Eighty Days

Around the World in Eighty Days: Companion to the PBS Series by Michael Palin  262 pp.

In 1988 actor Michael Palin undertook a journey to recreate Phileas Fogg's fictional travels in the Jules Verne novel. Filmed for the BBC, it was broadcast in 1989 and later shown on PBS in the U.S. This book is the day by day diary of Palin's travels with his film crew, collectively known as Passepartout. He began the trip, as Fogg did, starting at the Reform Club and continuing by train, ship, balloon, foot, dog sled, and other methods of transport (except for aircraft). Although not as entertaining as the series, this was a light and fun read.

The Valhalla Exchange

The Valhalla Exchange by Jack Higgins  224 pp.

In April 1945 the Third Reich is defeated and the Germans are waiting for the Allies to overrun Berlin. Martin Borman, Hitler's secretary and evil henchman is making plans for his escape following the burning and burial of the remains of Hitler and Eva Braun. Part of the plot involves using five high profile prisoners as bargaining chips to negotiate for his freedom. The prisoners are kept at Schloss Arlberg and prepare for the arrival of either the Nazis who will certainly kill them or the arrival of Allied troops who will free them. For a $1.99 Kindle sale book, this was a winner.

Midnight Riot

Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch 310 pgs.

Peter Grant is just finishing his training as a police officer and is waiting for his permanent assignment.  He works a bizarre murder and interviews a ghost.  Yes, you read that right, he talks to a ghost.  This is handled masterfully in the book.  Peter doesn't really believe in ghost and doesn't really want to tell anyone that he talked to one. Peter soon learns about a lot of supernatural things because he gets drafted into the unit that deals with such things.  It is a unit consisting of his commander and him.  He starts as an apprentice wizard, studies magic and things really move along for him.

Based on the supernatural element, this isn't my kind of book.  However, I really enjoyed this one very much.  Peter is a compelling character, a little bit of a smart-ass and just rolls with the punches.  I will certainly read the next in the series.
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Zealot

Zealot: the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan 296 pgs.

I listened to the audio version of this book because it came faster than the print copy which has significant holds.  I've read other books by Aslan and enjoyed them so fully expected to enjoy this one too.  The audio version is read by the author which, I think, gives interesting emphasis to his important points.  I like the way he admits that little can be known but much can be inferred from the historical records of the time.

I agree with Kathleen, this book gives you a lot to think about.  I'm leaving my print copy request active because I think I'll need to read over many parts to clarify many things that went too fast for me.  I am still very impressed with Reza Aslan.

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