Book Reviews

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” 
― Francis Bacon, The Essays

 I realize I haven't posted for awhile..been busy contacting my congressmen, calling, emailing, sending postcards and letters...anything to get their attention to my unhappiness with what is going on in Washington due of "he who's name I cannot mention".  But I am not going to dwell on politics!   I am going to catch up on some of my book reviewing.

Recommended by a friend

"The Golem and the Jinni" by Helena Wecker really kept my interest.  This is not for those who do not care for fantasy or stories of legends.  A Golem is a creature made of clay who comes to life but must obey his/her master in all things. I had read of these creatures before...mostly if not altogether from Jewish legend.  The Jinni is a mythical creature...like a Genii in a bottle!  These two, a female Golem and a male Jinni, meet in New York City...probably around the early 1900's when a lot of immigrants were coming to our country.  I found it to be fascinating how they were able to survive and actually become human-like throughout the story.

Did I already read this???

Have you ever started a book and thought it sounds familiar? The "Art of Forgetting" by Peter Palmieri was one of those books for me!  But I couldn't put it down because I had no idea what was coming next!!  It is a medical mystery...and a mystery to me as to whether I had read it before...I did like it ...maybe twice, because I never could decide if I had read it previously!  It did keep me page turning!

Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer

"The Crossing" is one of Connelly's most recent mysteries.  If you are a follower of Hieronymus Bosch (not the artist, the detective) and the Lincoln Lawyer (think Matthew McConaughey) you will really like this one!  It even makes reference to the movie, "The Lincoln Lawyer"!

Yes, I know I have done this before

The last time I reviewed books, I reviewed "The Muse" by Jessie Burton as an audio book and at that time,  I said it might be one to read.  I have chosen it for my turn at our Villas book club this month.  It had been a while since I had listened to it so I decided to read it.  And I was right about this being a well-written and needing to be read book.  I really like this book...I would give it five stars!!!!

My most recent read book

And lastly, "Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson..I just finished it this morning before posting!  This is the most peculiar book....I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with it.  Ursula, the main character, almost dies at birth ....I am not giving anything away by saying that because it happens to her many times!!!  She is born? in 1910 and the book progresses through the 1950s? It can be confusing because it skips back and forth throughout...with different histories for Ursula and those around her.  Compelling reading, but can be a bit frustrating as I was never sure what was real and what was just in her mind! It is interesting though but can be a bit of a struggle so I don't want to rave about it and mislead anyone.