Review: Elevator Pitch, by Linwood Barclay

Elevator Pitch, by Linwood Barclay

Penguin Random House Canada - 2019
Thriller - Psychological
Audiobook
Narrated by Jonathan MacLean

12 Hours, 52 Minutes

Elevator Pitch, by Linwood Barclay is a gripping thriller that will have you thinking twice before blindly stepping into a high-rise elevator! 

New York city is one of the most vertical cities in the world. So when hen an elevator car suddenly plummets killing the car's occupants, the city is shocked. When two more grisly elevator mishaps happen right on the heels of the first, it is clear that someone is orchestrating these events. With the city held hostage by terror, tourists are cancelling, businesses and the local economy are being impacted, and people dying waiting for emergency responders to reach them on upper floors. How long can a city like New York survive without the use of elevators, and who would would do such a thing?

Two New York detectives who discover their victim may be linked, and a reporter who has been a long time critic of the mayor try to figure out who would do this before the next gruesome scene presents itself. 

This was my first Linwood Barclay novel, but I doubt it will be my last. Barclay took an easily identifiable and relatable scenario - riding an elevator, and created a compelling thriller around it. I was drawn in to the story easily, and it kept my attention.  As in any good thriller, there were plot twists, and I can say that one of them had my jaw drop while I reached for the rewind. I am happy to report, that I did not correctly guess who was responsible. 

Narrated by Jonathan MacLean. His narration was clear and pleasant, with good tone and cadence, and voices to a variety of characters with emotion appropriate to the story. 

 Elevator Pitch will have you happily choosing the stairs,

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: 'A brightness Long Ago, by Guy Gavriel Kay

A Brightness Long Ago, by Guy Gavriel Kay

Viking - 2019
Fiction - Historical, Fantasy
Print
448 Pages

Set in a land reminiscent of Italy centuries ago, a man - Danio Cerra, tells the stories of his past and the people and events the fates used to shape his life and the times. 

It starts when he is barely more than a boy, working at the court of  a count so sadistic, he is referred to as "the beast".  He sees Adria, a woman he knows to have ulterior motives enter the count's chambers. He knows she is there to kill. Adria makes a quick escape, but it is not the last either Danio or the reader see of of her. 

As the story continues, we also meet a young, but tremendously skilled healer, and two army commanders who are fierce adversaries. Each of these characters enters and exits through the story several times, and each of them are changing the world as they know it, and being changed by it. 

For me, the fantasy aspect of this story was a little more subtle than I would like. I fell in love with one of Kay's previous works - a trilogy called The Fionavar Tapestry, and it is to this day one of my favorite books/series of all time. A Brightness Long Ago was not like the the Fionavar Tapestry, woven thick with fantasy. This was a piece of historical fiction with subtle threads of the fantastical woven into it.   I am not a particularly great fan of Historical Fiction per se; but one cannot deny the quality of Kay's prose for this book. It is lyrical, and has great depth. It is a story examines what it is to be an individual forging one's way in the world, how the memories made one day shape our decisions the next, and in the end, mold us into who we are to become.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern

The Starless Sea, by Erin Morgenstern

Penguin Random House Audio - 2019
Fantasy - Historical
E-book
Narrated by a full cast - Dominic Hoffman, Dion Graham, Bahni Turpin, Fiona Hardingham,       Allan Corduner, and Jorjeana Marie

18 Hours, 37 Minutes

This long awaited story by Erin Morgenstern - author of The Night Circus, did not disappoint. 

The story starts for us with Zachary, a university student in Vermont. While in the library one day, he finds a mysterious book.  This strangely enchanting book draws him in (as good books often do), but the book becomes even more mysterious when he goes to check it out, only to find that it does not scan out properly. Later, he is stunned to find one of his own memories in the pages. Shocked, he looks closely at the odd book and it  reveals three symbols as clues to the mystery - a sword, a key, and a bee - symbols from the memory of his childhood inked into the pages of the book.

He follows those clues, and finds himself attending an exquisite literary masquerade party. The party leads to a person, and the person to a door. Eventually finds himself in an intricate subterranean, labyrinthine, library world, where books are treasures, and his story and the stories of others merge across time and place in the most painfully beautiful way. 

I have been waiting for this book ever since I enjoyed The Night Circus, years ago.  There is always a concern when a book is so highly anticipated. Often, with that much anticipation I feel let down by the reality - that is not the case with this story. It is every bit as enchanting as The Night circus.  

There are several stories being told here, and yet they are ultimately all part of a bigger story. The layers and characters twisting and turning in space and time, slowly weaving themselves into the greater tale. Intricately beautiful, and beautifully intricate.

The greater story is a love story of sorts. it is an Ode to stories and storytelling.  There are even subtle references to stories from our real world that will warm the heart of book lovers. I noticed some of these tiny nods to some of my favorite books from over the years and adored the references, even more so for their matter-of-factness or subtlety.

The prose is enchanting, and the world building for this book is incredible.  Readers who enjoy portal fantasies will especially enjoy this story, for there are portals within portals in this intricate tale. It has a richness created from the use of elements such as time, fate, and the moon, it tells of pirates, and rituals, and so much more. This really is the kind of story one can get lost in. 

This is one of those books that I know I will re-visit in the future, even though I have finished it and loved it. It is just one of those books that you know will reveal even more to you should you read it again, and I know I will.  

Narration for this book was provided by a full cast of narrators with extensive credits to their names. If you you listen to audiobooks regularly, you will know the names, or at least you will know their voices - we're talking about some of the best in the industry here!  If not, you are in for a treat! Their performances were perfect and well suited to the characters and the story. 

The Starless Sea, was worth the wait, and worth the hype. It is a story that has become an instant favorite of mine, and I look forward to reading it again some day. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: The Book Of Dreams, by Nina George

The Book Of Dreams, by Nina George

Random House Audio - 2019
Fiction - Literary
Audiobook
Narrated by Steve West, Elizabeth Knowelden, and Xalvador Tim-Bradbury

10 Hours, 11 Minutes

The Book Of Dreams, by Nina George is a stunning story told from the the spaces between life and death, dreams and memory, past and present, and regret and redemption. 


The book follows three main characters. Henri, Sam, and Eddie. Each having their own story, yet each being very much part of each-other's. 

Henri, is a former war correspondent who has never been able to make the right decisions, and lives with his regrets. Sam is his estranged son. He is a Mensa candidate and a synesthete, experiencing the world quite differently than most people, and with greater sensitivity. Eddie is a woman who was once rejected by Henri.  She has moved on but she has yet to deal with the feelings she still has for him.

When Sam's school is holding a father-son event, he invites Henri to attend.  On the way to reunite with Sam, Henri has a horrible accident.  Badly injured and in a deep coma, he is admitted to a neurological facility with a questionable prognosis.

Sam starts skipping classes to visit with Henri, and it is while visiting that he meets Eddie. The two continue to visit daily, and bond over their mutual concern for Henri.

While Henri lingers in a coma, these three people all confront their own lives in the strange ethereal space where life and death, dreams and reality, and past and present meet. The threads of their lives beautifully woven into each other, swirling around and intersecting, each finding meaning in and from each other.  

I really struggled with writing my synopsis for this review.  To say too little risked making the story sound uninteresting, to say too much could spoil the beauty and magic of experiencing this story oneself.  While this story did not come across as a complicated read, it did have a subtle complexity. 

George's prose was breathtaking. The story evoked a mystical and ethereal feel that paired perfectly with the exploration of feelings of grief, regret, forgiveness and hope; of realizing our lives are not self-contained even if we may, at times, feel isolated. 

This story was narrated by Steve West, Elizabeth Knowelden, and Xalvador Tim-Bradbury. Each performing with clarity and pleasing tone, as well as performing with emotion appropriate to the story. Having a full cast of course makes it easier to follow a story such as this - told from multiple points of view.

Emotionally rich and poignant, The Book Of Dreams is a beautiful and moving story that will stay with a reader long after finishing.

Happy Reading,

Christine

I See You, by Clare Mackintosh

I See You, by Clare Mackintosh

Penguin Audio - 2017
Thriller
Audiobook
Narrated by Rachel Atkins

10 Hrs, 58 Min 

I See You, by Clare Mackintosh is an unnerving thriller that will have you re-thinking your routines. 

Like most of us, Zoe Walker has a routine that she follows to get to and from work.  She leaves home at the same time, she takes the same route to the train, and has a favorite place to wait on the platform and to sit on the train. Like most of us, Zoe has never given her routine very much thought. 

Then one day, as she is sitting in her favorite seat on her favorite train car, she is surprised to see a photo of herself in an ad for a dating site called "FindTheOne.com".  Initially concerned, her mind is quickly put to ease with the idea that it is probably only an innocent case of a look alike in the ad.  She sees other adds for the site - a new add every day with a new woman in the picture

That unease turns to terror when she recognizes the women she sees in the ads also in the news as victims of violent crimes! Now she realizes it really is her in the picture, and that she has been made a target in some one's deadly and twisted game..

This story starts with a definite chill factor. Most of us are very much creatures of routine, and imagining someone using that to target you is frightening and unnerving. Towards the end of the book, as the plot slides towards its resolution, it seems to stretch the boundaries of plausibility a little bit, but I personally was wrapped up in the story well enough to not have it bother me. The story ended with a bang, because although I thought I had things figured out, there was a pleasantly surprising extra twist that really caught me completely unaware. 

Narration of this story was performed by Rachel Atkins. Her tone and cadence were pleasant and clear and she was able to give voice to a range of characters, and appropriate emotions. 

I See You is a thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder for some time after you finish.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Ramblings: Eye Disease And The Bookworm - World Keratoconus Day 2019

November 10 - Keratoconus Day

*Originally posted November 10, 2018, Updated and re-posted November 10, 2019

Today is World Keratoconus Day. 

What does this strange sounding word have to do with a book blog? Simple - It is an eye disease; and what could be more threatening to the day to day happiness of an admitted bookworm than an eye disease? 

 

I have Keratoconus. I will always wear strong glasses. I will always have some vision issues, and Lasik is not an option.  I am one of the lucky ones though. I was diagnosed early enough to not have gone legally blind (it does not cause complete blindness, but can impair vision sufficiently enough to be considered legally blind) and/or require a cornea transplant. I was able to retain enough visual acuity to maintain my driver's license and most importantly, I am able to see my son's beautiful, smiling face. I did have to undergo a procedure called Corneal Collagen Cross Linking on my right eye, and expect that I may yet have to have the procedure on my left eye. Cross linking does not cure the disease, nor does it correct the damage already done by the disease. It merely halts progression of the disease. That is why early detection is so important. 

In the early stage, keratoconus symptoms can include:

• mild blurring of vision
• slightly distorted vision, where straight lines look bent or wavy
• increased sensitivity to light and glare
• eye redness or swelling

Left: normal cornea; right: cornea with keratoconus.

In later stages, keratoconus symptoms often include:

• more blurry and distorted vision
• increased nearsightedness or astigmatism (when your eye cannot focus as well as it should). As a result, you may need new eyeglass prescriptions often.
• not being able to wear contact lenses. They may no longer fit properly and they are uncomfortable.

Keratoconus usually takes years to go from early to late stage. For some people, though, keratoconus can get worse quickly. The cornea can swell suddenly and start to scar. When the cornea has scar tissue, it loses its smoothness and becomes less clear. As a result, vision grows even more distorted and blurry. 

Epidemiology estimates vary from 1 in 2000 to 1 in 500 people affected due to the symptoms so closely imitating astigmatism. Most will be diagnosed early in life (teen years), but some (like me) much later.

It was when I had the cross-linking done that I fell in love with audiobooks.  Nothing like sitting in a dark room with nothing to do to make you want a story read to you. Prior to attending my procedure appointment, I loaded up a tablet with a few audiobooks and turned the screen brightness way down for when I needed to view the screen for a few seconds. This was my company and entertainment for the first few days after the procedure. After a few days, I started venturing out of my dark room wearing sunglasses and still not ready to read or watch T.V.  While I puttered about doing light housework in my sunglasses I continued with the audiobook I had started, and I learned how much more pleasant housework is with a story, and how many more stories I could fit into my life by listening while I work.

Keratoconus is also the reason I love my kindle so much.  I haven't given up on hard copy yet - I love the heft of the book, the feel of the pages, and the smell of paper and ink; but the reality is my kindle is easier for me to read from.  Print books come with certain challenges that my Kindle addresses.  Smaller fonts in print books can be addressed by increasing the font size, the slight curve of the page near the binding is not an issue on an e-reader screen which is perfectly flat, shadows created by the location of the light source when reading in print are corrected by an adjustable, soft, evenly distributed back-light on the hardware. It takes me a little longer to read a print book, but that's okay, I still like to sometimes. Maybe one day I will no longer care to read print at all, but that day certainly has not come yet. 

There has always been a bit of a long standing debate/rivalry over the validity of audio and/or e-books vs. print books.  I would like to say that all formats are valid.  While I am still able to read print with a little effort, there are others who cannot. My Grandfather-in-law has macular degeneration and is now legally blind. An avid reader before his disease claimed his sight; he has relied heavily on audiobooks for years. 

Every year on Keratoconus day, I try to post something to raise awareness of the disease and its warning signs. 2018 was the first time doing so as a bookblogger. This is now my second year posting this on my blog, If you have read this far, I thank you. 

If you would like to learn more, you can start by visiting https://www.keratoconusgroup.org/
If you know someone recently diagnosed, searching for "keratoconus group" on facebook and requesting admission to the group will provide a much needed peer support. 

Happy Reading!

Christine.

Review: The Perfect Stranger, by Megan Miranda

The Perfect Stranger, by Megan Miranda

Simon & Schuster Audio
Thriller
Audiobook
Narrated by Rebekkah Ross

9 Hours, 42 Minutes

The Perfect stranger, by Megan Miranda is a novel of slow building suspense.

Leah Stevens was a newspaper reporter in the big city, until one day when she finds herself having to start over somewhere new, somewhere where nobody knows her or the past she wants to keep hidden. 

As luck would have it, she runs into her old friend Emmy - who, just out of a bad relationship,  is also looking to relocate. They decide to move to a rural town in Pennsylvania together. The town is on a sudden upswing and Leah is able to get work teaching. Emmy works odd hours, so they really don't see a lot of each other. But when a woman bearing a resemblance to Leah is found assaulted, and Emmy appears to be missing for several days,  Leah begins to worry. 

When it appears she has no choice, Leah reports Emmy missing. Oddly enough, the young police officer cannot find any proof that Emmy ever existed, let alone gone missing. Leah knows she has to find Emmy herself. Leah uses all her investigative reporting skills to try and find out what happened to Emmy. Once thing is for certain, Leah didn't really know Emmy as well as she thought she did. 

This story was a little slow for me, but overall it was entertaining enough.  There was a lot going on in the story, with the plot, sub-plots, plot twists, time frames, and characters, making it easy to lose track and become confused at times, and causing me to back up and re-listen here and there.  For me there was almost a little too much going on, weighing slightly heavy on an otherwise good story line. 

Narration was performed by Rebekkah Ross with clear and pleasant tone and cadence, and with emotional scope in keeping with the events of the story. 

While not particularly suitable for those who are looking for a quick paced, thrill-ride of a story; there is enjoyment to be had by those who enjoy a slow build suspense

Happy Reading,

Christine

Sunday Summary: October 5th to November 2nd, 2019

Wow, October flew by in a blur! 

As a Canadian, I celebrated thanksgiving in October. This year, thanksgiving was accompanied by an early winter storm. Trees were heavily damaged, some ripped out by their roots, and our city was estimating 20, 000 to 30,000 trees damaged.  A lot of people lost power during the storm, and many did not have theirs restored for days or weeks.  I kept my phone, Kindle, and rechargeable book-light charged "just in case", but we were fortunate to not have had any interruption to our power. We were even more lucky that my husband''s close call with a heavy tree limb was nothing more than that - a close call. 

Of course, October is also time for Halloween! I enjoyed seeing all the little kids coming to our door.  My own son had a bookish costume this year as he became Harry Potter for a day☺

Click on any of the cover images below to be taken to the corresponding Last Page Turned review! 

I am currently reading A Brightness Long Ago, by Guy Gavriel Kay.and I am currently listening to The Book Of Dreams, by Nina George

I have reviews pending for The Perfect Stranger, by Megan Miranda, and I See You, by Claire Mackintosh.

Notable titles on deck include Ninth House, by Leigh Bardugo. 

Happy reading, 

Christine.

Review: Bruja Born, by Zoraida Cordova

Bruja Born, by Zoraida Cordova

Recorded Books - 2018
Fantasy, Paranormal, YA
Brooklyn Brujas - Book 2
Audiobook
Narrated by Maria Liatis
8 Hours, 19 Minutes

The Mortiz sisters return in the second book of the Brooklyn Bruja series. A series steeped in rich Latin American Folklore.  

If you want a reminder of the first book, you can read my review of Labyrinth Lost HERE.

In the months following the events that occurred in Los Lagos, Lulu struggles to recover. She just cannot seem to regain her emotional footing.

On the way to a school sporting event, there is a catastrophic accident involving the school's bus, carrying among the  many others, Lula and her boyfriend Maks. Almost everyone on that bus was killed or seriously injured in the accident. 

Lula, though badly injured, wakes in the hospital to find that Maks is in ICU and death seems imminent. Lula, unable to let Maks go, performs a canto to take him back from death's tentative grip . Again, like in the first book, the spell goes wrong. Shortly after performing the canto, she discovers that the bodies of the dead that were involved in the crash, have gone missing from the morgue.  Her spell has gone awry and she has created a group of zombie-like creatures known as casi muertos. 

I enjoyed to story, but  not overwhelmingly so. 

It seemed to follow the same formula as the first book - spoiled sister bruja ignores the rules and tries to have things her way, putting the entire family in jeopardy when their spell goes wrong. Not a bad formula at first, but as a sequel it seems a tiny bit redundant. Of course after the events of the first book, it seems a little more reckless of Lula and makes her less likable because of it.  The one aspect that I felt seemed a little "forced" in the firsts book, I am happy to say felt much more organic in this one.  

I really do enjoy the Latin American folklore woven into the series story. That richness of culture makes the series enjoyable

Narration was provided by Maria Liatis.  At first I was a little disappointed to find that this book was not narrated by Almarie Guerra as was the first - but then it became clear that this book was being told by Lula's point of view - not Alex's, so it made sense to have a different narrator. Liatis performed with a clear, pleasant voice, good tone and cadence, and was able to portray the emotions relevant  to the events of the story. 

I have enjoyed the two books available so far in the series.  The third book in the series - Wayward witch is expected August 2020. 

Happy Reading,

Christine