Wednesday, August 30, 2017

"On Reading" by Andre Kertesz *****


  • Collection of photos
  • Hungarian author/photographer
  • Originally published in 1971
  • Review:  

A collection of photographs taken by Hungarian photographer,  Andre Kertesz, depicts people all over the world, reading.  Somehow the photographer was able to repeatedly capture the intense absorption one experiences when reading, particularly something really, really fascinating.  There are photos of all ages, genders, & walks of life, yet the feeling evoked is universal to readers!  Absolutely wonderful!

"The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane" by Lisa See ***


  • Audiobook
  • USA
  • Originally published in 2017
  • Review:  I liked this tale of an ethnic minority in China and the tug of war felt by one of it's members between the ancient traditions and new ideas.   Unfortunately, the narrator of this audiobook had a sickeningly sweet voice which was somewhere between saccharine and whining. I suggest the book versus the audiobook.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

"The Sleepwalker" by Chris Bohjalian ***


  • Audiobook
  • US author
  • #1 in Sleepwalker series
  • Originally published in 2017
  • Review:  This story about sleepwalking is fairly good, yet a bit flat.  I prefer a book with more memorable characters and better use of language.

Friday, August 25, 2017

"Career of Evil" by Robert Galbraith ****


  • Audiobook
  • English author, actually J.K. Rowling
  • #3 in the Cormoran Strike series
  • Originally published in 2015
  • Review:  Absolutely engrossing, this third installment in the Cameron Strike series just reinforces what a dynamic writer Robert Galbraith, aka J.K. Rowling, is.  It is a bit gory, but the fast-paced plot and the marvelous characters of Strike and his partner, Robin, make it worth it!

"Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion and The Road to Recovery" by Janet G. Kitz ***


  • Non-Fiction 
  • Canadian author
  • Originally published in 1989
  • Review:  This is a detailed, pieced together telling of the massive explosion in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1917.  It was interesting, for the most part, and covered multiple facets of the disaster, including personal stories, finances, the recovery, the evaluation of the event.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

"The Mysteries of Pittsburgh" by Michael Chabon *****


  • US author 
  • Originally published in 2005
  • Review:  A marvelous coming of age tale as can only be told by Michael Chabon.  I think he is an incredible storyteller.  He creates iconic characters, uses language masterfully, and is very witty.  It was fun to read his first novel after having enjoyed all those which followed!

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

"A Piece of the World" by Christine Baker Kline ****


  • Audiobook
  • US author 
  • Originally published in 2017
  • Review:  A beautifully written story by the author of "Orphan Train".  The story is about the Christina of Andrew Wyeth's painting, "Christina's World".  The tale of a woman with a physical disability and the life that ensues is a poignant, difficult portrait in words.  What would it be like to live a life in which one is never seen?