OMG What a Good Book

This is the best book I have read in a long time, It has been a logn time since I couldn't put down a book I was reading but this one had me even dreaming up alternate endings to the story.  

How to be Both by Ali Smith

I'm going to try harder to comment on EVERY book I read.  I just finished How to be Both.  The title is always something I am interested in, where did it come from, how does it fit into the story? Well this time it is multiple references to "being both" from a frog to a girl dressing as a boy to fit into the world to a young girl discovering she is attracted to another girl.  And that is only a few examples.  if you are going to read this one I suggest you start with "camera".  That might sound cryptic but if you get the book you will understand. I give it 3 stars

Julia Spencer-Fleming and her Rev. Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series

Just finished her latest book in this series and I am a little unsatisfied.  Her books always end on a cliff hanger but this time there are several cliffs and unfinished threads.  Not to give it away but the only thing that was tied up was that Clare is still pregnant and that Russ is now resigned to starting a family at this late date.
the only thing I can say without giving anything away is I was cold the whole book. what a storm

Now We Wait.....

Book Discussion Group Books for 2013

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
The Shoemakers Wife by Adriana Trigani
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chelalier
Death come to Pemberley by P.D. James
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson

Announcment

I want to welcome my new granddaughter: Amelia Clare

Book Discussion Books

Well, we are down to the wire on this years first half of the book group books.  There have been some really good books and some of the usual stinkers. 
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain was a really good book and a great balence between fiction and truth.  the story of Earnest Hemmingway's early adult years seen through the eyes of his young wife was a really good choice for the group.
Nine Lives by Dan Baum falls under the stinker category.  Even though the stories are riveting and varied showing us the lives of several Katrina survivors, the writing left us cold.  I think Dan should stick to reporting.
Finn by Jon Clinch.  I don't even know where to start with this one. compelling, disturbing, sometimes confusing on the time line and yet I kept reading to find out what happens. This is the story of Huck Finn's father, one of the most discussing characters you will ever read about, but it is liking watching a train wreck. You can't look away.
Room by Emma Donoghue.  We read this book last year for the Meadowdale Book group.
The Worst Hard Time The Untold story of Those who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan was a wonderful look at a horrific time in American history.  It was so well written you would forget you were reading a non fiction account with real people. This was my favorite book of the 6 month series.
The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle is a well told story of a family with a lot of problems who are able to come together for each other when they need to.  I don't think I would recommend this to others but I did appreciate the story and the writing..

So many good books and bad ones too

So lately I have finished. a Chet and Bernie Mystery, To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn, which was great, a YA title, When She Woke by Hillary Jordan, which was terrific, and a book group book, Finn, by Jon Clinch, which was disturbing.  Of these three I really expected to love Finn so I guess that is why I was sooooo disappointed.  I love (and remember well) Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain and while Clinch has captured Twain's style of writing and the dialect of the time (and place) the path the story takes is so hard to read.  It really was the stuff of nightmares.

To Fetch a Thief was really good. I just love all of the Chet and Bernie mysteries.  Quinn has not let us down in any of his books.  I can't wait for the next one.

When She Woke is a futuristic Scarlet Letter.  I thought it was a bit preachy at first but found out it just telling the story of where our society could go. Totally believable and a bit scary.