A post 9-11 novel, the setting for Ohio is a gritty, dying town New Canaan, a small town in northeast Ohio. Hard hit by the economic downturn, the dirty town whose major industries are long gone and the biggest employer is Walmart. The story at the heart of Ohio is like a lot of stories. The heroes of the town have been the high school football players, getting away with more than the average high school kids do, just as they have for generations. But these kids have little in common with high school heroes of the past: one dies serving his country in the Middle East; one commits suicide; one OD's and accidentally sets fire to his apartment building, killing a couple as he does so; and one leaves town abruptly, vanished like the hope of the future. Ten years after graduating, four classmates return to 'The Cane’, where their stories are told, constantly intertwining. Stephen Markley writes what has happened in so much of our country post recession: the opiod problem, ridiculously unpopular wars, violence at every turn in life, mounting economic pressures, divisive political upheaval and every other dirty little secret every small town has seen in this era. This was a hard novel to read, as the reader recognizes those once bustling small towns in the throes of death, wherever they are from. Well written with excellent development of character, Stephen Markley takes us on a trail of flatlined middle America, where the hope of a country died. A solid four and 1/2 stars, only because it was a book that needed to rest for a while before voyaging on. If you want a cheery, little read, this isn’t is. This will make you sad for a generation that could have and deserved more than we gave them. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in exchange of an honest review. Click to set custom HTML
0 Comments
Suitable to review a book about a jury when the Paul Manafort jury starts deliberating today. Not knowing all the facts the jury hears, but only hearing what the media highlights, it's hard to know what to think, but it appears Paul may be leaving home for a bit. That said, I read a good novel last week in the Caribbean. It was a great beach read. We, the Jury is one of those books that just captures your interest from the first page and four hours later, you look up and have forgotten to give your kids dinner. Set in a California courtroom, the book highlights the jury of a murder/spousal abuse:self defense case. The personalities of the jurors and their reaction to each other and the facts of the case make this a page turner. Well written, the characters are well developed and diverse, and most are unlikable. The politics of a small county in California enter into the story, as does bias. There are twists and turns, much in the style of Grisham. It's a really good read and will be enjoyable to those readers who like courtroom thrillers and fiction. I rate this four stars and would recommend you try it. It was a great beach read for me in the Caribbean on vacation. Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Beautifully descriptive prose of what I imagine Cuba to be, interweaves with what felt like a fever dream, from the perspective of a grieving widow. The book, The Third Hotel, is a glimpse of Van den Berg’s ability to write, however, it’s a little vague how the story all wraps up. Clare, the main character, spots her dead husband on the Havana streets. She stalks him, he disappears into the alleys. She watches him buy mangos and then he fades from view. As her husband was a professor of horror films (really…there is such a thing), the horror, mystery and intrigue enter into the way the story is written. The book is not written as horror, but her attendance at a horror film festival is the backdrop, making it feel off kilter. This is the book that will have you flipping back into the chapters you just read to make certain you aren’t losing what you thought you read. The writer takes us on train rides and walks in search of the husband and answers for the main character. During the reading of this novel, I wanted more. After completing the novel, I wanted even more. Van den Berg did not leave the reader with any answers. If you read novels that have clean endings, this one will not be satisfying to you. If you like novels that take you on a journey to help you come to your own conclusions, this might be a good fit. I was confused much of the time, even though the writing was excellent. For me, this was a three star read, but for others, I’m guessing it will be the best book they read this year. Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Turks and Caicos is this gorgeous everywhere you look. It's so hard not to fall in love with the water and it's people. If wishes were to come true, I'd spend the rest of my days here.
The Power of Dog by Andrew Marshall is a lovely memoir of loss and healing by adopting a love of a dog. As a dog lover myself, I know all too well the way that dogs can heal a wounded heart. This book is a moving tale of growth and moving on because of the joy of one dog, Flash. The author’s partner dies after a long illness and is left grief-stricken. He spends a couple of years simply sleep walking through life, not being able to move on. He finally decides to fulfill a dream of dog ownership, which was the plan with his partner, until he became sick. The author takes his responsibility of dog dad seriously and adopts a wonderful puppy. Good writing that depicts the puppy, Flash, and the special bond that eventually heals the author’s heart, this is a book that you simply don’t want to put down. It’s the perfect book for dog lovers, something that holds your interest and not too dense. I was so sorry when it ended. This is a five star book that deserves to be read by those who love dogs, experiencing grief or simply want a heart warming read. Anyone who is a dog lover already knows how much emotional support a dog can provide. Five stars. Don’t hesitate to buy this one. Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review. #ThePowerOfDog #NetGalley These are our two rescue dogs who saved our lives. Meet Max on the left, and Chula on the right. There are no words to describe our love for these two lovies.
Quite possibly the best biography written this year, Elizabeth Warren is simply a fascinating read about a fascinating woman. Well researched and smoothly written, this biography shows the reader why Senator Warren speaks for us all. A great legal mind, she started out as a lower middle class high schooler with great debate skills. I am proud to call her a fellow Speech Language Pathologist, even though, sadly for us, she didn't remain in the profession.
The book shows the struggle of being female in a male dominated world of law in the 60's and 70's and how, in spite of everything working against her with babies and day care issues, she managed to rise in academia to make a difference. I adored the book, will likely reread it, and know that there are a few good politicians left. The author has provided us with her life so far. I for one, hope that we can add her name to a list of another male dominated society. President of the United States. Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks, and #NetGalley for a pre-publication ebook in exchange for an honest review. #ElizabethWarren |
AuthorReader, Traveler, Reviewer. Come join us as we travel the US in our RV. I review books. Archives
October 2019
Categories
All
|
Proudly powered by Weebly