Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Children Act by Ian McEwan


Book: The Children Act

Author: Ian McEwan

Release date (if applicable): Published

Synopsis: High Court judge, Fiona Maye, presides over family court in London. All is going well until two events collide her life's roles into chaos.

The first involves a seventeen year old Jehovah Witness, Matthew,  who upon hearing he has cancer wants to refuse the treatment the government is forcing upon him.

The second is a husband who demands an open marriage and walks out on Fiona when she won't oblige.

What does the Matthew teach Fiona about life and the the willingness to accept the treatment by those around her?

My rating: 4 Stars

My opinion: Probably my favorite of Ian McEwan's books that I have read. This author is a really hit or miss author to me. Although On Chesil Beach is excellent, there was something quietly powerful to this book. On that note, I would like to have seen a deeper relationship built between the two main characters.

I found this book to be poignant with a deep sadness to it. It was one of those things aren't always as they seem.


Source: Doubleday for review

Would I recommend? : Yes

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Stand Alone

Doll Face by Tim Curran



 
Book: Doll Face

Author: Tim Curran

Release date (if applicable): May 5, 2015

Synopsis: Six friends driving home one night get diverted to the town of Stokes. Problem is that doesn't exist in the real world. It burned down to the ground over fifty years ago, but that is only where the nightmare begins.

My rating: 3 Stars

My opinion:
This book was a trip. There were times I was rolling my eyes at it considering it to be more of a B movie than a quality horror novel. Then there were times that I found myself going "WTH just happened?!?!"  I love how another reviewer characterized it as a wildly imaginative book. I think that nailed it. The book was a wild ride.

I would tell readers that this is more of a sci-fi'ish, paranormal, horror read. Not my favorite type, but this author did a good job in pulling it off. 

Source: DarkFuse for review

Would I recommend? : Yeah, I definitely have friends I would be telling about this book. Just pay attention to my genre comments to see if it is for you.

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Stand Alone

The Murder of Dr. Chapman: The Legendary Trials of Lucretia Chapman and Her Lover by Linda Wolfe




Book: The Murder of Dr. Chapman: The Legendary Trials of Lucretia Chapman and Her Lover

Author: Linda Wolfe

Release date (if applicable): Published

Synopsis: In 1831, Lucretia Chapman, wife, mother to five, and founder of Philadelphia's first boarding school for girls took in a Cuban lodger and her life was never the same. Participating in a torrid love affair that concluded with the murder of her husband.

My rating: 3 stars

My opinion: This was an amazing story. It blows me away that when I look at crimes in our society and then read books like this and realize that they happened in past as well.

Ms. Wolfe has presented a well researched book that depicts the lead up and aftermath of the murder. On that note, it did have significant periods of dryness that I didn't expect in this book.

Source: Publisher for review

Would I recommend? : Yes, with the caveat to push through the slower sections.

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Stand Alone

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

The Sound of Music: How a Beguiling Young Novice, A Handsome Austrian Sea Captain and Ten Singing von Trapp Children Inspired the Most Beloved Film of All Time by Tom Santopietro




Book: The Sound of Music: How a Beguiling Young Novice, A Handsome Austrian Sea Captain and Ten Singing von Trapp Children Inspired the Most Beloved Film of All Time

Author: Tom Santopietro

Release date (if applicable): Published

Synopsis: In 1965, The Sound of Music hit the big screens. What is the back story to this long held, classic family favorite that remains popular to this day?

My rating: 5 Stars

My opinion:  OK, first a disclosure: I am a HUGE Sound of Music fan. When I say huge, I mean behemoth huge. I have seen this movie well over 200 times in my 47 years on this earth. I own three copies of the DVD. I have scenes from this movie memorized. I have read almost every book put out on this movie and, I believe, all of the von Trapp family books and it is on my bucket list to visit the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.

I found Mr. Santopietro's book to be incredibly well researched and beyond detailed oriented. I find it easy to say that of all the books on this subject I have read, Santopietro's is easily the best. The book did have periods of dryness or that seemed to drag in over describing occurances, but those were few and far between and I found that I was able to overlook them with some new things that I had learned.

This book would have been 10/5 stars if photos were included. Especially with this book, couldn't figure out why photos weren't included. I will say that a member of Goodreads did comment on my preliminary review that she had purchased a copy and that there were pictures included in her version.


Source: Publisher for review

Would I recommend? : Not only would I recommend it, I have a copy in my Amazon cart waiting for purchase. Even though I have already read it, I found it worthy to add to my personal library.

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Stand Alone

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Fallen by Leslie Tentler


Book:  Fallen

Author: Leslie Tentler

Release date (if applicable): Published

Synopsis: Someone is assassinating the police officers of Atlanta and Detective Ryan Winter is desperate to solve these crimes when one of his friends is one of the victims while trying to recover from the loss of his son in a tragic accident.

When the shooting of his friend brings him into the ER of his wife, Dr. Lydia Costa, they are both forced to address the grief that wracks them both and try to solve the mysteries of the cop killings before they both become victims of an assassin taking names.

My rating: 4.5 Stars

My opinion: BAM! Leslie Tentler knocks it out of the ballpark again!

Ms. Tentler, in her first indie published book, is the master in balancing romance with mystery in a book that I could recommend across multiple genres.

Her characters continue to be approachable, realistic and down to earth wrapped up in a well developed and complex storyline. I love that she always puts nice twists into her who dunnits that leaves me thinking that I didn't see that ending coming. Fallen is no different.

Source: Author for review

Would I recommend? : Ms. Tentler is a Sisterhood of the Traveling Book favorite author. Her books are recommended to our members on a regular basis to the point we have had to ask her replace worn copies.

Stand Alone or Part of a Series: Stand Alone