Sunday Summary - September 23 - 29, 2018

Sunday Summary for September 23 - 29, 2018

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the week.

September is all but over and before you know it, the tick-or-treaters will be at your at your door. Just yesterday I bought our goodies for handing out (if you wait too long the good stuff is gone!). Hot tea for me and hot chocolate for my son (6) for reading time now.  We are falling into our usual routine of a trip to the library every three weeks, only now the focus is on finding books for him to read to me, insead of the other way around.  

I still read to him though - every night.  Lately we have been reading from the HARRY POTTER series every night at bedtime, and currently we are on CHAMBER OF SECRETS.

So, onto what I have been reading for myself this past week!

Books Reviewed:

THE OUTSIDER, by Stephen King.  Perhaps I should have saved the creepy tale for closer to halloween! You can check out my reviiew Here.

THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE, by Stuart Turton. This amazingly original was on my hot-list to read this season.  You can see the review for that book Here

THREE DAYS MISSING, by Kimberly Belle.  This thriller plays on a parent's worst nightmare.  You can see my review Here.

Ramblings and Miscellany:

I hate to say that I just wasn't feeling inspired to post any miscellaneous posts this week.  Busy at work, busy with my elderly mother moving at the end of October, and the usual home & family activities, have left me eking by as best I can for now, and I am just happy to find a little time to read and review.

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

Nothing to report here this week.

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I have finished the audio book edition of THE LAST TIME I LIED, by Riley Sager. Review is pending.

I am currently reading a book entitled THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES, by Hiro Arikawa. I suspecct that before the end, I will require tissue.

I am currently listening to UPROOTED, by Naomi Novik.  I enjoyed SPINNING SILVER so much, I just had to get this one!

My TBR is always changing, as I add new books and adjust the order I plan to read them to coincide with pending release dates, as I make every effort to finish reading an ARC before the release date.  As it currently stands, next on deck to read is HANNAH GREEN AND HER UNFEASIBLY MUNDANE EXISTENCE, by Michael Marshall Smith.  There are just so many great books coming out! 

Perhaps one day soon, I may slip in a book that is not an ARC! I have a stack of books waiting for me, and a list about a mile long of books I would like to add.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review; THREE DAYS MISSING, by Kimberly Belle

THREE DAYS MISSING, by Kimberly Belle

Audio book

Park Row/Harper Audio - 2018

Narrated by Vanessa Johansson and Sarah Naughton

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edge of your seat reading, playing on every parent's greatest fear.

Kat is a struggling mother in the midst of a nasty divorce.  Her son is extremely gifted intellectually, but does not fit in with his classmates socially.  He is small, skinny, and routinely bullied at school.

Because of this, his mother Kat, is nervous dropping him off at school for an overnight camping trip, but she never suspects that she will be woken by the police in the middle of the night, telling her that her son has gone missing.

At the camp, while a search party returns after failing to locate him, she finds herself in an unlikely alliance with with Stef, mother of one of Ethan's biggest tormentors.  

The story plays out with alternating points of view between the two mothers. You may at times think you know what is going on, but I can just about guarantee that Belle will surprise you before it is all said and done! 

Narration was on point and well delivered.

Happy Reading, 

Christine

Review: THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE, by Stuart Turton

THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE, by Stuart Turton

HarperCollins - 2018
Digital copy provided by publisher in exchange of an honest review. 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the most unique books that I have ever had the pleasure to read! Turton has taken pieces of the literary style book and shuffled them into a highly original and entertaining story

This book has an identity crisis.  I mean that in the best possible way. First of all, let's look at the name.  If you are going to read the book, you have to find it.  Depending where you buy the book, Evelyn may have "7 ½" deaths instead of "Seven".  Here in Canada, HarperCollins published it as "Seven". 

Next, and more importantly, is the genre and mood of the book. The setting gives it a somewhat "Agatha Christie style" Murder-Mystery feel to it, as it definitely presents a mystery, and it certainly has elements of modern Thrillers to it with its jaw-dropping revelations and plot twists. With the time-loop aspect, it also has a tiny bit of Sci-Fi in its make-up too. If you are not a fan of time-loop/time-travel, not to worry, you can still enjoy this book as it only loops through a single day, and the protagonist simply experiences it from different points of view. 

Aiden Bishop is attending a party at Blackheath Estate, owned by the Hardcastle family.  Evelyn Hardcastle is doomed to be killed at the culmination of the party, during a burst of fireworks. Aiden Bishop is doomed to witness it happen.  Trapped in a time-loop, Aiden's only hope of escaping is to solve the murder and present his proof to the mysterious figure who is his captor, who will then set him free.  But there is someone who will do whatever it takes to prevent Aiden's escape. 

I cannot for the life of me, wrap my mind around what the writing process must have been like for this book! I thoroughly enjoyed every page. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: THE OUTSIDER, by Stephen King

THE OUTSIDER, by Stephen King

Audio book

Simon & Schuster 2018

Narrated by Will Patton

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stephen King has been writing successful novels since before i could read ,so there really isn't much I can say about his writing that hasn't already been said. He co-authored a book called THE TALISMAN, with Peter Straub, way back in the 80's, that still has a spot on my favorites list easily 20 years after first reading it.  One of my first forays into fantasy and probably the point when I realized that it wasn't exactly horror books I liked, but dark fantasy instead.

One of the most prolific writers of our time, I think you  would be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn't come across his work.The majority of Kings books range from the gory to the darkly fantastical.  Some of his best books, in my humble opinion are the ones that go to the evil inside of mankind.  We often hear people utter terms like "monster" and "evil" when describing acts of men we hear about in the news  It is human nature i think to try and and explain away some of the horrific acts perpetrated by mankind by trying to distance ourselves from it by describing the perpetrator as such. A man or a woman could never hurt a child, - the person who did such a thing must be a monster.  We know on some level that these people are mere mortals, that is why we build prisons and jails and penitentiaries to house them and "punish" them.  But on another level, we still describe  them as otherworldly evil.

In this book, a young child is found murdered and defiled.  The police investigate, and they are sure they have the evidence to prove this apparent pillar of society is really a "wolf in sheep's clothing".  That their beloved community coach is in fact - evil. After all, you can't argue with fingerprints and DNA, right? But there are witnesses and evidence pointing just as clearly to his innocence.  Two families are destroyed. The family of the victim and the family of the suspect. How can the evidence showing guilt be as strong as the evidence proving innocence?  When the detective on the case goes looking for answers, he has to put aside all of his former beliefs, and re-examine the evidence with a mind open to what he believed was impossible.

This is the Stephen King I like.  I don't read all his work. I find some of it too gory for my own tastes.  But there is no arguing that the man can write good books. 

Paired with one of the most popular and prolific authors, is veteran audio book narrator Will Patton.  The man's voice can warm the cockles of your heart one second and give you the heebie-jeebies the next, which makes him a great fit for a Stephen King novel.

Happy Reading,
Christine

'Sunday Summary - September 16 - 22, 2018

Sunday Summary 

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the week.

It is a cool and rainy fall here on the prairies.  After such a dry summer it is hard to feel  disappointed by the rain - better late than never as they say.  Our farmers will appreciate it come spring = if we don't get unusual amounts of snow in the coming months.

With the cold wet weather comes thoughts of hot tea and good books.  I will be moving my elderly mother from her recently sold house of several decades, to an apartment closer to me.  My next few weeks may be a bit of a rough ride, but soon it will be all done and better for both of us.  The apartment block I plan to arrange for her has an active seniors group, and in their "room" they even have a small lending library.  While my love of reading was fostered by several people along the way, my mother did set an example, as she spent hours with her nose buried in German romance books. I can only hope that at some point my son finds a love of reading too.

Books Reviewed:

Since my last weekly update, I have only reviewed 1 book. You can read my review of TRICKSTER DRIFT, by Eden Robinson Here.  This is a sequel to SON OF A TRICKSTER - my review for that is linked in the current book review.

Ramblings and Miscellany:

While there were no blog posts of ramblings this week, I did take to social media with birthday wishes for GAME OF THRONES author George R. R. Martin. Also, yesterday was Hobbit Day. Did you celebrate with second breakfast? I did!

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

i KNOW YOU KNOW, by Gilly MacMillan, review Here

THE PROMISE, by Katerina Diamond, review Here.

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

My current read, THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE, by Stuart Turton was published this week.  I am almost finished reading it, and I will be posting my review soon.

I will also be posting my review of the audio book edition of  THE OUTSIDER, by Stephen King, which I just finished.

Next on my reading list is THE SICILIAN WOMAN'S DAUGHTER, by Linda Lo Scuro.  A Mystery-Thriller set around the women in Mob life.  A rather interesting take as the women are not usually cast as primary characters in writing about mobsters and organized crime. Many more new and exciting titles on deck after that.   It is hard not to rush through one, just to get to the next!

Happy Fall Y'all! and Happy Reading

Christine 

TRICKSTER DRIFT, by Eden Robinson

TRICKSTER DRIFT, by Eden Robinson 

Penguin Random House Canada - Available October 2, 2018

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the second book in the TRICKSTER series. You can check out my review of the first book, SON OF A TRICKSTER in this post.

I enjoyed the first book - SON OF A TRICKSTER, but I enjoyed TRICKSTER DRIFT even more. 

Perhaps it was that having already been acquainted with the author's writing style and/or the characters. Perhaps I just felt more like cheering in Jared's corner as he is fighting so hard to maintain sobriety. Perhaps this book was just more magical to me.  Whatever the case may be, it is a stunning sequel. 

Jared is trying to move on with a "normal" life.  He has sworn off drugs and alcohol in an effort to keep the magical creatures that nearly undid him at bay. He tries to put distance between himself and the people who enabled his toxic lifestyle and has packed a bag and moved to Vancouver to attend school and start building a solid foundation for his future. 

But if he couldn't run and hide from his mother's psychotic ex David, he certainly couldn't run and hide from the magic creatures that tend to gravitate to him. Magic always finds him, and while he makes friends with and cares for some of these beings, some are still a real danger to him.  

Robinson's ability to weave traditional first nations mythology into a modern coming-of-age/fantasy/horror is a real gift.  I am looking forward to the final book in the series - RETURN OF THE TRICKSTER, as of this writing I was unable to find any information regarding the anticipated release date, but I know I will be keeping an eye out for it! 

According to the CBC, as reported in this article, a film deal is in the works for the trilogy!


Happy Reading,
Christine

Sunday Summary - September 9 - 15, 2018

Sunday Summary  September 9 - 15, 2018

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the week.

Fall is quickly setting in here.  Yes, yes, I know that fall doesn't officially start for another week or so, but I don't think Mother Nature has checked her Calendar about the exact date.  It is starting to feel like hot tea and blanket on the couch reading weather here. Besides, I have been seeing wither outerwear in the stores for several weeks, and I have already picked up son's Halloween costume for fear I may not get anything decent should I wait. School is back in session and swimming lessons start again in two weeks.  Yup, everything is pointing to it being fall.

I have started lining up fall and winter reading choices.  There are so many good ones coming up, I cannot imagine that anyone will be at a loss of good reading material.

So, what has been going on at the blog this past week?

Books Reviewed:

SPINNING SILVER, by Naomi Novik. A delightful dark retelling of the classic Rumpelstiltskin. I loved this updated story.  You can read my review here

JAR OF HEARTS, by Jennifer Hillier - I reviewed this audio book thriller here.

Ramblings and Miscellany:

September 13th was Roald Dahl Day. More on the day honoring this beloved children's author can be read here.

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

LIES, by T.M. Logan was released this week on the 11th.  I was lucky enough to be able to review an advance reading edition of this book.  That review is posted here.

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

While technically I am no longer reading TRICKSTER DRIFT, by Eden Robinson because I finished it last night, I will mention it now as I have not yet composed my review, I will be posting it soon though.  I will tell you that I did enjoy it though!

I am currently reading a last minute add-on to my Advance Reading Copies list.  THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE.  i have been quite eager to read this book.  I doubt that I will be able to finish reading it prior to its publication on the 18th, but I am happy to be reading it now.  Stay tuned for that review to be posted soon.

Notable on deck in General Fiction is a lovely sounding story THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES, by Hiro Arikawa.  I suspect that tissue will be required.

Also on deck is a book that I have been anticipating ever since I read the synopsis. VITA NOSTRA, by Marina and  Serhiy Dyachenko.  This book was originally published in Ukrainian to much acclaim.  The English translation is being published on November 13th.  It is taking all my willpower to wait until I finish reading ARCs being published prior to that date first (I always try to read my ARCs in order of publication date).

Soooo many good books, so little time.  The lament of a bookworm.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: JAR OF HEARTS, by Jennifer Hillier

JAR OF HEARTS, by Jennifer Hillier

Audio Book

MacMillan Audio - 2018

Narrated by January LaVoy

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A tense, well written thriller, filled with twists and dark secrets.

Angela, Geo, and Kaiser are best friends. Inseparable teenagers, until one night when the unthinkable happens. Angela goes missing. Under the crushing weight of loss, the remaining two drift apart.

Fourteen years later, Geo is a big pharma executive and Kaiser is a detective. When Angela's remains are finally discovered,  it is determined that she is victim to Calvin James, a serial killer and ex-boyfriend of Geo's.  It falls on Kaiser to arrest his old friend Geo, who testifies against her former boyfriend, and is sent to prison for her part in Angela's disappearance. Everyone thinks they know what happened to Angela, but there were some secrets that Geo did not let out at trial.

By the time Geo is released from prison, Calvin has escaped. Now bodies are being found under eerily familiar circumstances. Geo's secrets may be more dangerous than she realizes. 

Now, if you are looking for a story with a completely lovable protagonist, this is probably not one for you.  Geo is definitely flawed, but she has some redeeming qualities as well. The rhythmic flow of past and present, with threads of mystery and deftly punctuated twists, keep you hanging on for more, and present you with the whole story in carefully crafted layers. 

Narration for the audio book was well done and easy to listen to. 

While not for those who prefer a completely innocent and lovable protagonist, this book otherwise has plenty to offer to fans of the Mystery/Thriller genre.

Happy Reading,

Christine

On This Day - September 13th - Roald Dahl Day

Beloved Children's author Roald Dahl was born on this day September 13, 1916.

While Dahl also wrote stories for adults, he is best known for the numerous children's stories he wrote. Most notable titles written by Dahl include CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (which was not once, but twice made into movies - first starring the Gene wilder, and more recently starring Johnny Depp), MATILDA, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, THE WITCHES, BFG, THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX, and more.

Dahl's trademark was the using new and inventive words known as Gobblefunk.

His whimsical stories have enchanted generations of children, with worldwide sales for his books being around 250 million copies! He is known as one of the greatest children's storytellers of the 20th century.

So raise your glass of frobscottle in salute of one of the greatest children's storytellers of all time!

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: SPINNING SILVER, by Naomi Novik

SPINNING SILVER, by Naomi Novik

Audio Book

Random House Audio  - 2018

Narrated by Lisa Flanagan

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Absolutely spellbinding, dark, and twisted.  I loved it.

SPINNING SILVER is a wonderfully twisted retelling of the classic RUMPELSTILTSKIN, all grown up and ready for an adult audience. 

Miryem is the daughter of the town money lender. Her father is not particularly successful, as he is not good at the collecting part of the job. One day Miryam - tired of living in poverty while her father's clients feast rather than pay their debts, decides to take over the family business.  Miryam is not only a successful money lender, she is also a shrewd business woman and is soon making sizable profits on her business dealings.  She brags that she can spin silver into gold.

This brings her to the attention of the Staryk king who has an affinity for gold. The Staryk are the cold, magical folk who live in the Forest on the borders of the town.  The Staryk king challenges her to to change his silver into gold three times.  Fail and be turned to ice, succeed and be taken to his winter kingdom to become his unwilling queen. 

There are so many facets to this story. Along with Miryem there are other key characters with their own stories - Wanda, who was working for Miryem to pay off her father's debts, and Irina, the daughter of a nobleman, who was all but locked in a tower until she is adorned with the Staryk silver and gains the attention of the Tsar. There was just so very much going on, but despite that, and the multiple points-of-view, this story was easy to follow as it was all so beautifully and intricately woven together.

The women of Novik's retelling are strong, smart, and powerful, which is another nice update to the classic version.  Despite that, she still creates a definitive "old world" mood in her work. 

The narrator was brilliant. Excellent emotional range, and ability to speak with a very convincing slavic accent added to the whole mood of the story. She definitely rose to the occasion and performed in a manner consistent with the quality of the story.

This story has definitely earned a place for itself as one of my favorite books this year, print OR audio.

Happy Reading,

Christine

                                                                                                                

Sunday Summary: August 19 to September 8, 2018

Sunday Summary: August 19 to September 8, 2018

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the week.

This is a bit of a "catch-up" edition, as I was on vacation in cottage country in August, and I ran out of mobile data, even after buying a top up, so I did not post a summary.

Now my vacation is over and the unofficial start of fall has come upon us with the start of school this week. Time to stock up on tea and books for the cooling weather ahead.

Books Reviewed:

As much as I like to think of summer vacation as reading time it really is not. Most of the time my reading is done in the evenings after my son is in bed for the night. On vacation normal bedtime is not observed.

Without my commute to and from work, I took a hiatus from audio books during this period. All in all, not a lot of books reviewed, but with the ebb and flow of life, sometimes all you can do is drift along. The books I did review are:

I KNOW YOU KNOW, by Gilly MacMillan. You can read my review of this thriller here.

THE BOOKSHOP OF YESTERDAYS,  by Amy Meyerson. I reviewed this heart warming piece of general fiction here.

THE PROMISE, by Katerina Diamond. The review for this crime thriller was posted here. 

Ramblings and Miscellany:

During this past few weeks, we paid tribute to the muse behind the Winnie the Pooh stories. A.A. Milne's son Christopher Robin's birthday was on August 21st. More on that in this post. 

In this post, I talked about the difficulties I had blogging using only my cell phone and data plan while on vacation in cottage country where I didn't have an Internet connection/Wif-Fi.  I learned a few things and come up with some strategies for the next time. 

On social media we celebrated "Read a Book Day" on September 6th, and "Buy a Book Day" on September 7th.  On those dates I have only this to say.

There were no books released this week that I had previously reviewed.  September is looking busy, so be prepared for many new and exciting books to hit the shelves at your favorite bookseller soon. 

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I am currently reading TRICKSTER DRIFT, the sequel to SON OF A TRICKSTER, by Eden Robinson.

I am listening to SPINNING SILVER, by Naomi Novik. This is a dark, adult re-telling of the legend of RUMPELSTILTSKIN.  I am almost done and have been enjoying it immensely.  I should be posting a review in the next day or two. 

I have several great ARCs on deck, and I am always adding more!  I will be reviewing THE SICILIAN WOMAN'S DAUGHTER, by Linda Lo Scuro, and THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES, by Hiro Arikawa, and there are some more exciting titles already cued up for reading and reviewing after that!  

I hope everybody has had a wonderful summer and is ready for the days of warm sweaters, hot tea, and snuggling up somewhere warm with a good book!

Happy Reading, 

Christine

Review: THE PROMISE, by Katerina Diamond

THE PROMISE, by Katerina Diamond

Avon Books - Available September 20, 2018

A digital advance reader edition was supplied by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Katerina Diamond is being hailed as the new "Queen of Crime", and for good reason. With a well thought out plot, and easy to relate to characters, this book was an easy read.  While some characters are from some of Diamond's previous books, this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone.

When Connor and his father move from the US back to the UK, they hope to put Connor's troubled past behind them.  But it can be harder to move on emotionally than physically.  He quickly falls in with the popular crowd at school, but he never really feels like he has found his niche. His new friends don't know about his shocking past, or his father. As the story progresses, Connor's life is spiralling out of control, and the consequences could be dire.

Meanwhile, detectives Adrian Miles and Imogen Grey are working hard to catch a serial killer, and Imogen is setting herself up as bait in a dangerous move. Can they figure out who the killer is before the killer finds out who she is?

This book had me engaged right at the beginning, and easily held my interest to the end. Multiple story-lines and sub-plots were woven into a single, cohesive work that was a pleasure to read.

Happy Reading,
Christine