Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this is a book club book. I loved it. Its so beautifully written and the story unfolds so carefully that frankly, I could not put it down. A sad story that has so many tender and reflective moments. Don't take my word for it, read it. Don't read any reviews, just sit down and read it. Let the story wash over you and unfold for you. Better than knowing about it. I just hope Ms Honeyman has a long career and writes a lot more books. I'll line up for her next.

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Turbulence by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a joy to read, sex, action and a touch of Stuart Woods humor. A very pleasant few days. I wish he would write six books a year. Alas, I now have to wait for Stone Barrington's next adventure and lover.
The character is so far fetched as to be unbelievable until Woods adds his personality, which makes him a real person.

People ask what I like about this author. I think its the many ways her weaves real life into this fantasy of wealth and beautiful people. I look forward to characters reappearing as the story unfolds. My guess is senator Box will come along in the next book. I'll be dissappointed if Stone doesn't deal with that slimeball.

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The Other Woman by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Of course I liked it, l have liked all of Daniel Silva's books. This one seemed special to me. I felt like the story was almost too real. I guess in this world, today, the reality is so far fetched as to make the newspaper read like a novel. It is fitting then that parts of a good novel might feel like a newspaper. Gabriel is still the main character but in this edition, the plot and subtext seems to be the main focus. I can't wait for the next masterpiece. Thanks Daniel Silva for a great read and some things to think about.

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Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a book club selection. Didn't particualrly like it. It seemed to make the holocaust too small. I guess that I will never be "happy" with a book about concentration camps. The subject is just so vast and the number of dead and maimed, both physically and mentally, is just too big to imagine. Alternatively, personalizing it in this story doesn't seem to help understand.
Caroline may be a real character but she is the least of the story. Her love affair, actually a construction of the author, seemed thin and hard to believe. Maybe I'm just too picky where this subject is concerned.

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Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Complicated plot that held my interest from page one. Again, the characters fit together and make for a great read.

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Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

No time for a review but I loved the book.

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Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love this series. The history alone is worth the read but its characters are rich and believable. The emotions are real and deep. I feel like each book is just a chapter in a continuing story.

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The Rising Sea by Clive Cussler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Never fails to satisfy. A delightful story that has adventure, science and heroism. These folks spin a tale that is interesting and informative. I know more about sea levels than I need to and I know a bit more about swords than I wanted to.. a fun read.

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When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A book club selection. Not my genre but still a thoughtful and thought provoking book. Made me want to hug my loved ones more often and spend more time on constructive things. We all die, its not how you die but how you live. No one lives a perfect life but we all can love more and hate less, build more and destroy less. Is this worth a read? Most definitely! Gives you an additional perspective on life and that is a good thing.

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Twisted Prey by John Sandford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

John Sandford is so readable. The characters so easy to picture and for the most part believable. Lucas Davenport has matured and become much more than a smart cop. He and his new side-kicks are fascinating. They story is rich with twists and turns. The characters seem real and this story is "ripped from the headlines..." Takes place in DC and the politicians are as sleazy and sick as one might expect from real life. Love this book. If you've never read a Prey novel, this one might stand alone and be a good place to start.

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Greeks Bearing Gifts by Philip Kerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This may be the last of the Bernie Gunther books. He died in March, 2018. You can read his obituary in the Guardian. He was just 62. This book, like the whole series, shows us some of the emotions and conflicts people have in impossible situations. To quote the obit about Bernie Gunther: "morally ambiguous fictional private detective Bernie Gunther first appeared in March Violets (1989), set in the city in 1936, after the Nazis’ rise to power, and the first of his Berlin Noir trilogy. Each book, he later admitted, was aimed at painting Gunther into a corner “so that he can’t cross the floor without getting paint on his shoes”

Bernie's life before, during and after the war shows him filled with massive ambiguity and some moral ambivalence too. I love that this character seems not just real but gritty and thoughtful in a way that real people might never be. He sees things in ways that are interesting and enlightening. I read and reread parts of this book because they were telling the truth about people and history, truth that has often been obscured by current events.

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Shoot First by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this series. Action, sex, humor.... just a great and fun read. Good continuing story. The formula is strong and he couled write 45 more and I'd love every one. Its like eating a great meal with perfect wine in a perfect setting.

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