Reader for Life

Quick Review : Mr. Churchill's Secretary

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal. Bantam Books, 2011.

[Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers]

Mr. Churchill's Secretary introduces the reader to Maggie Hope, an intelligent, self-sufficient woman living in WWII London. Maggie is a strong woman whom I found interesting and refreshing. In addition to great characters, MacNeal's book combines two of my favorite genres -- mystery and historical fiction. This is definitely a series I will follow. I can't wait to see what Maggie's next adventure is!

Indie Lit Awards : winners posted!

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:56:00 +0000

The winners of the 2011 Indie Lit Awards have been posted! It was fun working with my team to select the winner and runner-up for the Mystery category. Congratulations to all the winners. Head here to see the list!

Weekly wrap-up : number forty-seven

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

The weekly wrap-up is my way of keeping my loyal readers informed of my bookish activities and holding myself to my bookish obligations. The questions may change slightly depending on the week.

Q: What are you reading right now?
A: Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind: A Bestseller's Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood by Ellen F. Brown and John Wiley, Jr. and Hotel Angeline: A Novel in 36 Voices

Q: Why are you reading it? Business? Pleasure? For review?
A: I'm reading the Gone with the Wind book because one of the authors sent me a copy to review. Hotel Angeline just sounded intriguing. One novel written by 36 authors in one week? Come on. Plus, one of the authors is a fave of mine, Erik Larson.

Q: What have you read since the last weekly wrap-up?
A: The Two Death of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey, which is on the Indie Lit Awards Mystery Short List.

Q: What do you plan to read next?
A: Shatter by Michael Robotham

Q: Why do you want to read it?
A: I received a copy for review through NetGalley and enjoyed the first of his books published by Mulholland Books, The Wreckage.

Q: What books did you acquire?
A: I am heading the Mystery Panel for the Indie Lit Awards and received a copy of another of our short list titles, A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny.

Q: What bookish events did you attend?
A: As this posts, I am on my way to the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in Dallas, TX. There will be lots of books and bookish people surrounding me at all times!

Review : The Uninnocent

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

The Uninnocent: Stories by Bradford Morrow. Pegasus Books/Open Road, 2011.

[Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers]

There is certainly nothing innocent about the characters in Morrow's stories. I'm not opposed to dark stories. I'm a huge mystery and crime fiction fan after all. However, the majority of Morrow's stories were too dark and depressing even for me. Many of his characters are beyond uninnocent and enter the realm of amoral and disturbed.

Although this was my overall impression of The Uninnocent, there were stories that I found less objectionable and even enjoyed. "Amazing Grace" was an interesting story about the truth that is revealed when a blind man regains his sight. "The Enigma of Grover's Mill" cleverly integrates Orson Welles' War of the Worlds into the story and the psyche of his main character. Finally, "Ellie's Idea" is a humorous look at one selfish woman's efforts to make amends and tell the truth.

If you decide to read The Uninnocent, be prepared for dark stories with sometimes disturbing themes. Morrow is actually a good writer...if you can stand to have his characters inhabiting your head.

Buy The Uninnocent: Stories at Powell's or Amazon.com.

Weekly wrap-up : number forty-six

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

The weekly wrap-up is my way of keeping my loyal readers informed of my bookish activities and holding myself to my bookish obligations. The questions may change slightly depending on the week.

Q: What are you reading right now?
A: The Spy Who Jumped from the Screen by Thomas Caplan

Q: Why are you reading it? Business? Pleasure? For review?
A: I received a copy for review.

Q: What have you read since the last weekly wrap-up?
A: Oh wow, it's been quite a while since I posted a weekly wrap-up. How about what I've read so far this year? Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre and The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi

Q: What do you plan to read next?
A: The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey

Q: Why do you want to read it?
A: I've had a copy in my TBR pile, but the main reason is that it made the mystery short list for the Indie Lit Awards. I have to read it as part of my judging duties.

Q: What books did you acquire?
A: I bought a few books off my Christmas wishlist that I didn't get including Crimes in Southern Indiana by Frank Bill and The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz. I also bought The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly, which I've wanted to read for about a year now.

Review : Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré. Penguin, 2011. (Originally published 1974)

[Source: Publisher / NetGalley]

A blown defection raises suspicions of a mole within British intelligence. Retired agent George Smiley is brought in to investigate and, in the course of uncovering the mole, finds out that his old boss, Control, was close on the mole’s trail before his death. The mole is one of the top men in the London office, and Smiley must keep his cards close for fear of tipping off the traitor.

Le Carré wrote eight novels featuring George Smiley. While Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is the fifth in the Smiley series, it is also the first in a three book sub-series featuring the “Quest for Karla,” a Russian super-spy. I enjoyed the process of Smiley’s investigation, but found the actually uncovering of the mole a bit anti-climactic. When considered as a set-up for the search for Karla, however, the novel improves in my eyes. There were characters that I wished had been further developed, but I’m betting le Carré is prepping us for their further adventures in subsequent installments. I would definitely read The Honourable Schoolboy, the second in the sub-series.

Obviously, I read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in preparation for seeing the movie. I’d never read this acclaimed spy novel and thought it was important to do so before entering the theater. I’m looking forward to seeing the new film despite hearing that it is hard to follow even if you’ve read the book. I’m grateful that I’ll be one step ahead of the non-readers in the audience!

Buy Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy from Powell's or Amazon.com.

2011 fourth quarter favorite

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

I decided to spotlight my favorite book of each quarter of 2011 partially to let you know my clear favorites and partially to help me pick my favorite book when the year ended. In 4Q 2011, I read 33 books.

I considered skipping naming a favorite for the fourth quarter. As I reviewed the list of books I read, none of them really jumped out at me as in the previous quarters. Perhaps I just waited to long to reflect on my reading. There are, however, of few books of note that I think deserve a mention, all of which fall outside my normal mystery reading.

I enjoyed the writing style and the story in The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. I was participating in a readalong and found it difficult to stay on the schedule rather than reading straight through, which I think is a sign of a good book.

I have fond childhood memories of watching The Scarlet Pimpernel with my mom (the version with Jane Seymour), but had never read the book. I found out my movie version actually takes elements from several of the Pimpernel books not just its namesake. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book and am glad I finally read it.

Finally, a non-fiction pick. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain really made me think. Reading Quiet was an opportunity for self-reflection. I am most definitely an introverted person and Cain taught me something about myself and those close to me. For the first time, I realized the difference between introversion and shyness.

Buy The Marriage Plot from Powell's or Amazon.com.

Buy The Scarlet Pimpernel from Powell's or Amazon.com.

Buy Quiet from Powell's or Amazon.com.

Reading challenge : 2012 Edgar Awards

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:30:00 +0000

image courtesy of Jeff Babbitt

I'm continuing the Edgar Awards Reading Challenge in 2012. If you are considering joining me, here are the details to help you decide.

What books are eligible for the Edgar Awards Reading Challenge?
Any Edgar Award winning books counts. Check out the possibilities here. You can leave the search box blank to bring up all winners for a particular category.

Do I have to choose what books to read before I sign up?
No, you can choose as you go.

What are the levels of participation?
Patrolman = 1-3 books
Sergeant = 4-6 books
Detective = 7-9 books
Lieutenant = 10+ books

What are the dates of the challenge?

January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012

When can I sign up to participate?

Feel free to enter anytime during the course of the year.

How do I sign up?

If you are interested in joining me...

grab the button code below for your blog,
enter your blog link in the Mr. Linky below,
and leave a comment telling me your participation level.

If you don't have a blog of your own, just leave me a comment to let me know you're participating and at what level.

In addition to posting reviews of what I read, I'll periodically post updates and let you leave links to your posts.

Check out the Edgar Awards Reading Challenge page for my reading list and a list of participants.

The original image used to create the Edgar Awards Reading Challenge button is courtesy of Jeff Babbitt under a Creative Commons license.

Reading challenge : 2011 Edgar Awards wrap-up

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:50:00 +0000

image courtesy of Jeff Babbitt

I'm a little late in posting this, but here it is - the wrap-up of the 2011 Edgar Awards Reading Challenge!

I reached my goal of reading the Best Novel winners for 1978 through 1989 with the exception of the 1987 winner. I did try to read A Dark-Adapted Eye, but just couldn't get into it.

Several participants also succeeded in reaching their goals. At the Patrolman level (1-3 books), Karen Russell from How Mysterious! read and reviewed 2 Edgar winners. At the Sergeant level (4-6 books), Veggiemomof2 from Insanity, Table for Four, submitted 7 reviews and Monica submitted 3. You can check out their reviews at the links listed below.

How Mysterious!:
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965 Best Novel)
The Laughing Policeman (1971 Best Novel)

Insanity, Table for Four:

Paper Towns (2009 Best Young Adult)

Acceleration (2004 Best Young Adult)

Twisted Summer (1997 Best Young Adult)

Reality Check (2010 Best Young Adult)

Columbine (2010 Best Fact Crime)

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief (1999 Best Juvenile)

Coming Back (written by 1995 Grand Master but not a winning book)

Monica:

A Dark-Adapted Eye (1987 Best Novel)

The Long Goodbye (1955 Best Novel)

Reality Check (2010 Best Young Adult)

If you reached your goal and aren't listed here, please let me know!

I plan to continue the Edgar Awards Reading Challenge in 2012 and will create a separate post with all the details for joining me. Thanks to Karen, Veggiemomof2, and Monica for sticking with me in 2011!

2011 reading challenges

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:26:00 +0000

I narrowly managed to achieve all my reading challenge goals for 2011. Klingsor's Last Summer by Hermann Hesse, which I was reading as a K title for the A to Z Challenge really slowed me down in the last couple weeks of the year. I had a hard time getting through the novella "Klein and Wagner." Anyway, December 30 I managed to finish it and The Outlaw Album by Daniel Woodrell and read Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman in its entirety. Thank goodness for short books or I never would have made my hundred book goal!

To see all my 2011 challenge reads, check out this page. A wrap up post for the 2011 Edgar Awards Reading Challenge will be up sometime this week!

Indie Lit Awards : Nominate now!

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:34:00 +0000

Nominations for the Indie Lit Awards are only open for 2 1/2 more weeks! Get your nominations in now!

Need more information about the Indie Lit Awards? Here are the basics.

The Independent Literary Awards are given to books that have been recommended and voted on by independent literary bloggers. Nominations are open to all readers, and are then voted upon by a panel of bloggers who are proficient in the genre they represent. Each panel is led by a Director who oversees the integrity of the process.

Nomination Guidelines:

Books nominated must have a 2011 release date.
You may nominate a book that has already been listed (the books with the most nominations will be what we add to the Long List).
You may nominate books in more than one genre, up to 5 per genre.
Nominations are open to all readers who do not make their income through the sales of books (i.e. not authors, publishers, or publicists) — hence “independent” from the publishing industry.
Nominations are open midnight PST September 1, 2011 – 11:59 PST December 31, 2011.

I'm leading the Mystery panel, so I would be especially grateful if you nominate your favorite 2011 mysteries!

Weekly wrap-up : number forty-five

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

The weekly wrap-up is my way of keeping my loyal readers informed of my bookish activities and holding myself to my bookish obligations. The questions may change slightly depending on the week.

Q: What are you reading right now?
A: Caribou Island by David Vann and The Uninnocent by Bradford Morrow

Q: Why are you reading it? Business? Pleasure? For review?
A: I'm reading Caribou Island for pleasure and to fill an empty slot in the A to Z Challenge. I received a copy of The Uninnocent through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. It is a collection of short stories, and I'm fitting them in around full-length novels.

Q: What have you read since the last weekly wrap-up?
A: The Amber Room by Steve Berry

Q: What do you plan to read next?
A: Murder on the Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner

Q: Why do you want to read it?
A: An historical mystery set in France? Why wouldn't I want to read it?

Q: What bookish events did you attend?
A: I attended the Indiana Library Federation Annual Conference during the first part of this week. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to prep posts before leaving, so that's why I've been MIA on the blog this week. Sorry for the lack of content!

Weekly wrap-up : number forty-four

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Q: Why are you reading it? Business? Pleasure? For review?
A: I'm still reading The Marriage Plot as part of a readalong.

Q: What have you read since the last weekly wrap-up?
A: The End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina, Death Notice and Bad Moon by Todd Ritter, and Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

Q: What do you plan to read next?
A: The Uninnocent by Bradford Morrow

Q: Why do you want to read it?
A: I received a copy through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Q: What books did you acquire?
A: NetGalley: The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel
Purchased: The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth and The Phantom Tollbooth 50th Anniversary Edition by Norton Juster

Review : Death Notice

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Death Notice by Todd Ritter. Minotaur Books, 2010.

[Source: Library]

Death Notice is Todd Ritter’s debut novel and first in the Kat Campbell series. Kat is the police chief of small town Perry Hollow, Pa., where crime is a rarity. She and the townspeople are shocked when their tranquility is shattered by a brutal murder. Knowing she is out of her league, Kat calls in the help of the state police, which arrives in the form of Lieutenant Nick Donnelly and his task force. Terror is added to Kat’s shock when Nick tells her the murder appears to be the work of a serial killer. Local obituary writer Henry Goll also becomes involved in the case when he realizes he received a death notice for the victim before his death. The killer continues to use Goll to communicate his plans. With each death notice, Kat, Nick, and Henry must race to beat the clock and catch the killer.

Death Notice is a clever crime novel that kept me guessing the entire time. Several suspects pop up along the way, but I was never sure of anyone’s guilt or innocence. Kat, Nick, and Henry are all extremely likeable but also very complicated. They each have demons that haunt them and drive their actions. Ritter has crafted an gripping whodunit with compelling characters for his first novel. I have Bad Moon, the second in the series, on hand to read next and can’t wait to get started.

Buy Death Notice at Powell's or Amazon.com.

Review : The End of the Wasp Season

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

The End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina. Reagan Arthur Books, 2011.

[Source: Publisher]

The End of the Wasp Season is the second in the DS Alex Morrow series. The story begins with the murder of a young woman, Sarah Erroll, in her home. When Morrow and her colleagues arrive on the scene, they find a large sum of money hidden in the kitchen. Where did the money come from? Why was the woman murdered? As the investigation begins, the reader already knows who did it and quickly finds out why. The truth of the Sarah's life, however, unfolds more slowly.

Like Still Midnight, Wasp Season is a journey during which the reader waits for Morrow to catch up to what you already know while filling in the gaps. Unlike Still Midnight, the journey seems artificially prolonged. I spent a good portion of the book wondering why the police were wasting time picking on poor Kay instead of following the obvious lead provided in the emergency call. Of course, Alex Morrow eventually defies Bannerman, who is now her boss, to pursue the appropriate course of investigation and solve the case. I was a bit annoyed, however, by Alex’s realization that she was being passive because of her pregnancy -- after spending most of the book annoyed with her male colleagues for assuming her being pregnant would affect her work!

That being said, The End of the Wasp Season is still a good crime novel. Despite being annoyed at Kay’s treatment, I was glad to have her in the book. She is another strong-willed woman the reader can admire. Plus, she and Alex were friends in their youth so she allows a bit more of Alex’s personal side to be revealed. I love the general feel of this series and will read the next one when it comes out even though The End of the Wasp Season didn’t quite measure up to Still Midnight.

Buy The End of the Wasp Season at Powell's or Amazon.com.

Review : Still Midnight

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Still Midnight by Denise Mina. Reagan Arthur Books, 2010.

[Source: Purchased]

Still Midnight is the first in Denise Mina’s DS Alex Morrow series. The novel opens with the crime. The culprits are looking for someone named Bob. When no one in the house they attack is called Bob, they take the father, a simple Ugandan shop owner, for ransom. The police must figure out why the family was targeted and race against the clock to save the father. DS Alex Morrow is, of course, the one to figure it all out even though she is passed over as head of the case for the boss’ protégé, DS Grant Bannerman.

Still Midnight is a classic story of bumbling criminals except that there is nothing comical about the situation. I found myself cringing at both their actions and their stupidity, especially the ringleader, Eddy. The character of Alex Morrow is reminiscent of the great Jane Tennison from Prime Suspect. DS Alex Morrow is a woman in a man’s world. She is disliked by her male colleagues for being a female officer -- and for being a good one. There is also underlying tension in her personal life, which remains unexplained for a large portion of the novel.

I was fully engrossed in the narrative and was taken off guard by the twist that pulls all the strings together. In my book, these are hallmarks of well-constructed crime fiction. If you are a fan of strong, female characters in crime fiction, Still Midnight is the book for you.

Buy Still Midnight from Powell's or Amazon.com.

Weekly wrap-up : number forty-three

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:30:00 +0000

The weekly wrap-up is my way of keeping my loyal readers informed of my bookish activities and holding myself to my bookish obligations. The questions may change slightly depending on the week.

Q: What are you reading right now?
A: The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides and The End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina

Q: Why are you reading it? Business? Pleasure? For review?
A: I'm reading The Marriage Plot as part of a readalong and The End of the Wasp Season for review.

Q: What have you read since the last weekly wrap-up?
A: If Jack's in Love by Stephen Wetta, Still Midnight by Denisa Mina

Q: What do you plan to read next?
A: Death Notice by Todd Ritter

Q: Why do you want to read it?
A: @Dana_Kaye sent me a copy of Bad Moon, so I want to start at the beginning of the series with Death Notice.

Q: What books did you acquire?
A: NetGalley: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carre
LibraryThing Early Reviewers: The Uninnocent by Bradford Morrow

Reading challenge : Nick Hornby : Update six

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I think I'm making great progress on my personal Nick Hornby Reading Challenge! Since my last update, I've posted reviews of A Long Way Down and Slam. I also read Otherwise Pandemonium, which includes two short stories - "Otherwise Pandemonium" and "Not a Star." Initially, I didn't realize "Not a Star" was included here. The fact that it is knocks another item off my reading list - the standalone publication of the same story.

That leaves me with the following left on my Hornby TBR list.

"Small Country" in Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some Other Things... (short story)

Click (one novel with ten authors)

Juliet, Naked

Lonely Avenue (lyrics and short stories)

I'll definitely get through Juliet, Naked and hope to fit in the short stories around other books. I fear I may not be able to fit in Click, but will do my best to complete this challenge.

Feel free to leave links to your own Nick Hornby reviews as a comment on this post.

Review : Hell & Gone

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Hell & Gone by Duane Swierczynski. Mulholland Books, 2011.

[Source: Publisher]

In Hell & Gone, Charlie Hardie is still in the clutches of the Accident People. After who know how long, Charlie finds himself face to face with Mann and presented with a no-win situation -- work for the Accident People in a secret underground prison or die. He decides to live and enters a bizarre world unsure who he can trust. Can Charlie somehow escape an inescapable prison? Can he keep his wife and son safe from the Accident People?

Hell & Gone drags the reader along the roller coaster ride Charlie embarked on in Fun & Games. I marvel at Duane Swierczynski’s ability to create new and crazy, yet contextually completely believable, story lines in the Charlie Hardie trilogy. There are nail-biting moments in Hell & Gone where you aren’t sure that “unkillable Charlie” will remain unkillable. Swierczynski’s twists and turns will keep you enthralled to the very last page. Then you’ll be upset that you have to wait until March 2012 to see how this adventure resolves in Point & Shoot, especially if you've found a new favorite in Duane Swierczynski like I have.

Buy Hell & Gone from Powell's or Amazon.com.

Weekly wrap-up : number forty-two

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Q: Why are you reading it? Business? Pleasure? For review?
A: I received a copy for review through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Q: What have you read since the last weekly wrap-up?
A: Gideon's War by Howard Gordon, The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen, A Single Shot by Matthew F. Jones

Q: What do you plan to read next?
A: Still Midnight by Denise Mina

Q: Why do you want to read it?
A: I received a copy of The End of the Wasp Season for review and want to start at the beginning of the series. This will also be my first foray into reading a full-length novel in ebook format. Here's hoping I like it!

Q: What books did you acquire?
A: Purchased: The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides and Silas Marner by George Eliot

Q: What bookish events did you attend?
A: Well, it wasn't exactly a bookish event, but last night I attended a taping of Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me! at Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University. Such a good time!

Review : Slam

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Slam by Nick Hornby. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2007.

[Source: Purchased]

Slam, Hornby’s first foray into young adult fiction, is narrated by Sam, a teenage boy that must learn to be a man. Sam’s hero is skateboarder Tony Hawk and, as Sam’s life takes a downward turn, he turns to “TH” for advice. The poster in Sam’s bedroom typically throws words from Hawk’s autobiography back at him, but then he begins showing Sam his future. Sam doesn’t particular like what he sees as it confirms his worst fears -- his ex-girlfriend is pregnant and he’s about to be a father.

Hornby handles the problems and pressures surrounding teenage pregnancy as well as Sam’s coming of age expertly. He’s pretty good at creating the voice of a teenage boy, which, if you’ve read his short story, "Otherwise Pandemonium," you will recognize. I have a feeling the short story was a test run. Anyway, the voice was completely believable to me.

It was interesting to see Hornby play with his earlier pattern. In High Fidelity and About a Boy, the main characters are men who still act like boys, but who finally learn to be men during the course of the novel. Sam doesn’t have the opportunity to grow into a man child because he has a child of his own. He learns the lessons of Hornby’s earlier characters much sooner and much more quickly than Rob or Will.

I’m not normally a YA reader, but had to read Slam because of my love of Hornby’s work. I was not disappointed. If you haven’t picked up a Hornby book yet, consider Slam as an option. And really, if you haven’t picked up a Hornby book yet after nearly a year of me praising him, you should be ashamed of yourself. :)

Buy Slam at Powell's or Amazon.com.

Review : The Hand that Trembles

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:58:00 +0000

The Hand that Trembles by Kjell Eriksson. Minotaur Books, 2011.

[Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers]

The Hand that Trembles is the fourth in Eriksson’s Ann Lindell series, but I felt pretty comfortable reading it without having read the previous installments. There are multiple story lines in this crime novel - mainly the reappearance of a Swedish county commissioner in Bangalore, India, who was presumed dead and a mysterious severed foot found near the remote community of Bultudden. Ann Lindell is responsible for solving the case of the severed foot. Eriksson develops interesting characters and well-constructed plot lines. As simple as the stories may seem, they involve numerous players that leave you wondering where the truth lies.

The Scandinavians are really flooding the American market in the wake of Stieg Larsson’s success. I see the appeal. The Hand that Trembles, like all the others I’ve read, have a distinct psychological element to the narrative that enhances the crime story. Also like most Scandinavian crime novels I’ve read in the last year or two, the pace is slow, but the payoff seems worth it in the end. Even though I tend to struggle a bit with the pacing of the first 100-200 pages and tell myself no more Scandinavian crime novels, the final push and resolution always leaves me ready to jump back into the Scandinavian milieu. If you’ve become a fan of the Scandinavian crime novel or Ann Lindell specifically, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed by The Hand that Trembles.

Buy The Hand the Trembles from Powell's or Amazon.com.

Review : The End of Everything

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:30:00 +0000

The End of Everything by Megan Abbott. Reagan Arthur Books, 2011.

[Source: Publisher]

Lizzie Hood and Evie Verver are thirteen-year old best friends and next door neighbors. On afternoon, Evie disappears and Lizzie appears to be the last to have seen her. While trying to assist with the official investigation, Lizzie also sets out on her own secret mission to find the truth. Was Evie kidnapped? Did she run away? Will she ever come back?

The End of Everything carries an intensity of emotion and need from which it’s impossible to tear yourself away. Lizzie’s life will clearly never be the same once Evie disappears, but even more frightening is the thought of what Evie’s life is like. The horrible possibilities floating around Evie’s disappearance lend a melancholy and poignant air to the novel. Even as I found it difficult to put this book down, I also felt a sense of revulsion and horror at the implications and truths uncovered. The End of Everything is clearly a gripping novel, but be prepared for some pretty unsavory moments.

Buy The End of Everything at Powell's or Amazon.com.

Weekly wrap-up : number forty-one

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Q: Why are you reading it? Business? Pleasure? For review?
A: I'm reading this one for pleasure. I was a huge fan of 24 and am excited to see how his work on that show translates to Gordon's writing.

Q: What have you read since the last weekly wrap-up?
A: Triple Crossing by Sebastian Rotella, Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T. R. Simon, and Black Light by Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan, and Stephen Romano

Q: What do you plan to read next?
A: The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen

Q: Why do you want to read it?
A: I received a copy for review.

Q: What books did you acquire?
A: From publicist: Bad Moon by Todd Ritter

Reading challenge : Edgar Awards : Update eight

noreply@blogger.com (iubookgirl) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:30:00 +0000

image courtesy of Jeff Babbitt

Since my last Edgar Awards Reading Challenge update, I've read and reviewed one additional title, Old Bones by Aaron Elkins. If you're watching my list, you'll see that I skipped A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine. Well, I tried, I really tried. My general policy is to give a book 50 pages before giving up on it. I struggled to get through 50 pages of A Dark-Adapted Eye. It was hard to follow what was going on until I was treated to a lengthy family history, which, in turn, bored me to tears. Needless to say, the book ended up in my DNF pile. It's my first failure in this challenge.

On a happier note, I should be able to achieve my new goal of getting through the 80s (with the exception of Ms. Vine, of course). I only have A Cold Red Sunrise by Stuart M. Kaminsky left.

Still no participant reviews since the last update. The year is winding down everyone! Time to get those Edgar winners read and reviewed if you want to meet your goal. If you need to post reviews for previous months, links can be found on the Edgar Awards Reading Challenge page. Use the Mr. Linky below to share your reviews for October. Please be sure to give the direct link to your post rather than the link to your blog. For those of you without blogs, feel free to post your update/review in the comments.