Review: Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I enjoy the TV show characters better, but I always find it interesting to read books that shows are based off of. This was a quick, fun book.



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Review: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What an sbsolutely incredible life story! Parts are so hard to believe, you simply know they HAVE to be true!

I read this as a recommendation from a fellow teacher. We work at a rural school, with many students who live similar lives to the author's time in West Virginia. Homes with no electricity, water, or even floors. Homes with holes in the walls and floors. No bathrooms, no food, and often no supervision. These kids are often hard for teachers to understand and to motivate. After reading this book, I feel more motivated as a teacher to try harder.

The author's strength, bravery, and honesty is amazing and admirable.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone-- but especially if you work with children in need.



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Review: A Cotswold Killing by Rebecca Tope

A Cotswold Killing by Rebecca Tope

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Not bad. Parts of it I found unrealistic, and the main character was a bit whiny in parts, but overall a fun mystery that didn't require too much deep thought.

I listened to the audible version of this-- I liked the narrator a lot.



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Review: Death of a Gossip (Hamish Macbeth, #1) by MC Beaton

Death of a Gossip by M.C. Beaton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was recommended to me by a friend that also enjoys mysteries set in the UK... I enjoyed the laid back character of Hamish Macbeth-- but was greatly annoyed at the silliness of Alice. It struck me that she didn't seem so ridiculous at the beginning of the book, but seemed to get dumber as the story continued.


Overall a good book. I will certainly give #2 a look.

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Review: Faithful Unto Death by Caroline Graham

Faithful Unto Death by Caroline Graham

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I am a HUGE fan of the Midsomer Murders TV show which is based off these books. And I have read one of the other Caroline Graham books-- which I really enjoyed. I listened to this audiobook, and didn't enjoy it as much as the other CG book I read. Maybe these books are just better when read?

I am also not a fan of the character of Det. Troy in this book. I realize characters are changed when TV shows are made from stories-- and I am GLAD that Gavin Troy's was changed for the show. His character in the book is rather despicable.

I still look forward to reading more of these stories-- but I think from now on I will READ them, and not listen. That being said, the narrator was fine. That is not the reason I didn't especially LOVE the book.



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Up Next: The Paris Wife by Paula McClain

From Amazon.com:


Paula McLain on The Paris Wife

Most of us know or think we know who Ernest Hemingway was -- a brilliant writer full of macho swagger, driven to take on huge feats of bravery and a pitcher or two of martinis -- before lunch. But beneath this man or myth, or some combination of the two, is another Hemingway, one we’ve never seen before. Hadley Richardson, Hemingway’s first wife, is the perfect person to reveal him to us -- and also to immerse us in the incredibly exciting and volatile world of Jazz-age Paris.

The idea to write in Hadley’s voice came to me as I was reading Hemingway’s memoir, A Moveable Feast, about his early years in Paris. In the final pages, he writes of Hadley, “I wished I had died before I ever loved anyone but her.” That line, and his portrayal of their marriage -- so tender and poignant and steeped in regret -- inspired me to search out biographies of Hadley, and then to research their brief and intense courtship and letters -- they wrote hundreds and hundreds of pages of delicious pages to another!

I couldn’t help but fall in love with Hadley, and through her eyes, with the young Ernest Hemingway. He was just twenty when they met, handsome and magnetic, passionate and sensitive and full of dreams. I was surprised at how much I liked and admired him -- and before I knew it, I was entirely swept away by their gripping love story.

I hope you will be as captivated by this remarkable couple as I am -- and by the fascinating world of Paris in the 20’s, the fast-living, ardent and tremendously driven Lost Generation.

Suggestions Box

Well, while we wait on Justy Mac to catch up (post her Water for Elephants post, and read Bossypants)... I think this is a great time to take suggestions on what we should read next. So far we have read 2 bestsellers, and 2 memoir-esque books.

So what next?

Post your suggestions!

Oh yeah, here is my review of Bossypants...

Bossypants by Tina Fey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What do I think? I think I want to be Tina Fey!
Hilarious! I really liked this one!

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