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laurieb755's Reviews (784)
Second historical fiction I've read in the past two months, and equally - perhaps more - moving. Marisa Silver imagines the lives of Florence Owens Thompson (Mary Coin) and Dorothea Lange (Vera Dare). America's dustbowl depression past comes vividly into view through Silver's prose. Told through the voices of Mary Coin (migrant mother and worker), Vera Dare (photographer and mother) and Walker Dodge (professor of culture and father), Silver creates the lives behind the famous photo - who is the woman in the picture, and who is the woman who took that picture? And what of the young boy?
Perhaps one of the more curious "children's" books I've yet to read. The initial appeal was due to the author, Lane Smith, as I knew him as one of the two authors behind The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, a book I thoroughly embraced as an adult and teacher.
Return to Augie Hobble is wild and wooly, confusing (yes, I was confused for a bit) and thought provoking, supernatural and curious, sad and uplifting. I did not know where Lane Smith was taking me, but I absorbed every minute of it and devoured this tale in two days, plus a few preliminary pages prior to the devouring.
The back inside book jacket mentions that Smith is married to Molly Leach, who is the designer of this book. I was interested enough to do a little research and found this video about their collaboration.
If you are looking for a different kind of read, check this one out!
Return to Augie Hobble is wild and wooly, confusing (yes, I was confused for a bit) and thought provoking, supernatural and curious, sad and uplifting. I did not know where Lane Smith was taking me, but I absorbed every minute of it and devoured this tale in two days, plus a few preliminary pages prior to the devouring.
The back inside book jacket mentions that Smith is married to Molly Leach, who is the designer of this book. I was interested enough to do a little research and found this video about their collaboration.
If you are looking for a different kind of read, check this one out!
A blurb I read noted that this was a book likely to be devoured in one sitting. Almost true; I started it yesterday and read till I couldn't stay awake anymore, then finished it this morning. Absurd, full of suspense and curious happenings, not sure who to believe or if they are all a tad bit nuts, hooked on the narrator's tale. Had I read this as a kid, at home alone, at night, I might not have fallen asleep so easily…
Ultimately, quite enjoyable as mystery and suspense, and a reminder of the importance of double checking the language of clues.
And I just noticed something rather odd and I'd be interested in knowing if anyone else has the same experience or perhaps the book jacket has been changed. The inside front cover has a blurb about the book. It mentions "Alec Charlesworth, a librarian who finds himself suddenly alone: he's lost his job, his beloved wife has just died, and to top it all off, his sister has disappeared." Only it isn't Alec whose sister has disappeared. It's Wiggy whose sister has disappeared. Book jackets need to have the facts accurate!
Ultimately, quite enjoyable as mystery and suspense, and a reminder of the importance of double checking the language of clues.
And I just noticed something rather odd and I'd be interested in knowing if anyone else has the same experience or perhaps the book jacket has been changed. The inside front cover has a blurb about the book. It mentions "Alec Charlesworth, a librarian who finds himself suddenly alone: he's lost his job, his beloved wife has just died, and to top it all off, his sister has disappeared." Only it isn't Alec whose sister has disappeared. It's Wiggy whose sister has disappeared. Book jackets need to have the facts accurate!
I may have slightly overrated this book for sentimental reasons. I grew up on Long Island, just a 40 minute drive from Manhattan and a slightly longer drive to Lincoln Center. My parents took my brother and me (and upon marrying, my husband, as well) to innumerable performances of the New York City Ballet, plus occasional forays to hear the Philharmonic (including with my Mom when I was newly married) or see theatre at the Vivian Beaumont. And I attended at least one opera at the Met.
Reynold Levy's account of his tenure as CEO of Lincoln Center is fascinating on its own merits, and even more so because it was my "backyard" for years. I was particularly intrigued to read about his history there as it encompasses the transformation of the Lincoln Center "campus", the most recent iteration of which I have not yet seen in person. Indeed, three quarters of the way through Levy's story I determined to visit Lincoln Center later this summer in order to revisit the familiar and be surprised by the new.
While all of Levy's story is interesting, including his overall career path, I especially appreciated the last chapter of "leadership lessons that matter most." My career is in the non-profit sector (independent school teacher) and that is precisely the sector in which Reynold Levy has lived his professional life. His lessons are useful and practical and many can apply equally well to heads of schools, heads of divisions of schools, heads of school departments, and faculty leaders.
PS As I just updated the number of books in my 2015 reading challenge, I was reminded of the importance Reynold Levy gives to reading as a way to improve one's mind, self-educate on almost any given topic, and find inspiration and ideas.To that end, he provides a 10-page, varied-topic bibliography at the end of the book.
Reynold Levy's account of his tenure as CEO of Lincoln Center is fascinating on its own merits, and even more so because it was my "backyard" for years. I was particularly intrigued to read about his history there as it encompasses the transformation of the Lincoln Center "campus", the most recent iteration of which I have not yet seen in person. Indeed, three quarters of the way through Levy's story I determined to visit Lincoln Center later this summer in order to revisit the familiar and be surprised by the new.
While all of Levy's story is interesting, including his overall career path, I especially appreciated the last chapter of "leadership lessons that matter most." My career is in the non-profit sector (independent school teacher) and that is precisely the sector in which Reynold Levy has lived his professional life. His lessons are useful and practical and many can apply equally well to heads of schools, heads of divisions of schools, heads of school departments, and faculty leaders.
PS As I just updated the number of books in my 2015 reading challenge, I was reminded of the importance Reynold Levy gives to reading as a way to improve one's mind, self-educate on almost any given topic, and find inspiration and ideas.To that end, he provides a 10-page, varied-topic bibliography at the end of the book.
I should start writing down where my book recommendations come from, as this book was on somebody's list, most likely an author I was investigating who suggested it as having been influential in their early reading or writing, and I would like to recall that source!
from Doon with Death was published when I was 10 years old (1964), though in some ways the writing made me feel it had been written a decade earlier. I grew to appreciate Chief Inspector Wexford's and Mike Burden's exchanges as they interacted with each other and with the people they interviewed as part of their investigation. Rendell's descriptions of the town and people conjured up a stultifying locale, one I would not want to visit, let alone live in.
Nonetheless, I was hooked on the story. Perhaps two-thirds of the way through I knew one important clue as to the killer, but it wasn't till the end that I knew exactly who it was. To me that's a good mark of a mystery writer - just enough hints to get the reader thinking and guessing, but not so many hints that the reader solves the mystery before the last page.
from Doon with Death was published when I was 10 years old (1964), though in some ways the writing made me feel it had been written a decade earlier. I grew to appreciate Chief Inspector Wexford's and Mike Burden's exchanges as they interacted with each other and with the people they interviewed as part of their investigation. Rendell's descriptions of the town and people conjured up a stultifying locale, one I would not want to visit, let alone live in.
Nonetheless, I was hooked on the story. Perhaps two-thirds of the way through I knew one important clue as to the killer, but it wasn't till the end that I knew exactly who it was. To me that's a good mark of a mystery writer - just enough hints to get the reader thinking and guessing, but not so many hints that the reader solves the mystery before the last page.
I did not like this book but I had to know how it ended. Found my way to this, Andrew Ervin's first novel, via the New York Times Book Review. Sounded like an interesting premise, which it was. But I could not abide most of the text; liked the story but not the writing. Still, managed to make it to the end by skimming much of the book after the first chapter. Interesting ideas which might have been better served with different prose.
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Though…(as I think about it) maybe the prose was perfect! You will have to see for yourself.
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Though…(as I think about it) maybe the prose was perfect! You will have to see for yourself.
THANK YOU CASSIE BEASLEY for bringing magic to me! This may be billed as a book for young readers but really it is a story for young-at-hearters and I recommend this book to any and all, even the non-believers!
Delightfully imagined, lovingly crafted, deliciously populated, Circus Mirandus tugs at all the right places. I think Cassie Beasley has herself come from Circus Mirandus!
Delightfully imagined, lovingly crafted, deliciously populated, Circus Mirandus tugs at all the right places. I think Cassie Beasley has herself come from Circus Mirandus!
Having read the previous three books in this series, with the first one having grabbed me, and the third one having disappointed me, this most recent book rocked! It took me about a quarter or more of the book to decide if it was way too silly to continue, but once I made the choice to read on, it turned into a rollicking good jaunt filled with acceptable craziness and wonderfully choice twists.
Having read the other books, this was the perfect book to read while on vacation. Not sure how it stands up on its own, for those who might read it without having read any of the past stories.
And Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris, the wedded team of authors, has set us up for a sequel. Ah, but of course they did! ;-)
Having read the other books, this was the perfect book to read while on vacation. Not sure how it stands up on its own, for those who might read it without having read any of the past stories.
And Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris, the wedded team of authors, has set us up for a sequel. Ah, but of course they did! ;-)
Enjoyed the first and second romps but this one seemed quite frivolous, though definitely a good bedtime book as it yielded no unpleasant dreams. I was disappointed in the writing, which seemed too quickly pulled together, too filled with descriptions of convoluted contraptions. The contraptions got the best deal in the house, while the characters, especially the main ones, were given typical and superficial personas. Would I read the next book in the series, if there is one? Nope.
UPDATE August 14, 2015
Ha ha on me - I just finished the next book in the series! And guess what, I liked it! So much for swearing off the reading of the next book. ;-)
UPDATE August 14, 2015
Ha ha on me - I just finished the next book in the series! And guess what, I liked it! So much for swearing off the reading of the next book. ;-)
Thanks, Ann, for another good read recommendation! This is my first Maisie Dobbs novel, and I will definitely read more of Jacqueline Winspear's series. Peppered with historical references and rich descriptions of place, the book played out like a movie in my mind.
With that said, I was a bit taken aback to come across a few proofreading glitches, for instance the appearance of the same word twice in a row. Not having read other Maisie Dobbs' adventures, I do not know if this is typical or atypical. However, it jolts my reading and interrupts the flow of my "cognitive camera".
This tale takes place mostly on the island of Gibraltar, in the period leading up to World War II during the Spanish Civil War. It is a reminder that countries and people choose their paths based as much on expediency and need, as on ideology and what they perceive as 'fair and right'.
With that said, I was a bit taken aback to come across a few proofreading glitches, for instance the appearance of the same word twice in a row. Not having read other Maisie Dobbs' adventures, I do not know if this is typical or atypical. However, it jolts my reading and interrupts the flow of my "cognitive camera".
This tale takes place mostly on the island of Gibraltar, in the period leading up to World War II during the Spanish Civil War. It is a reminder that countries and people choose their paths based as much on expediency and need, as on ideology and what they perceive as 'fair and right'.