Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a book club selection that I read in 2 days. It is the definition of can't put it down. In retrospect this seems odd because the style was smooth did not seem rushed or hurried. I could not put it down. The plot, though a little convoluted, held up for the whole book. My confusion over what was exactly going on was, I'm sure, due to Mr. Swanson's fine writing.
Even if you don't usually read murder mysteries, read this one. If for no other reason than to enjoy the work of a master storyteller.

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City of Laughter by Temim Fruchter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite an ambitious book for a first novel. The prose is beautiful and the story concept is fascinating. The idea of Jewish folklore messaging us in the modern world is fanciful to me but the execution is convincing, and at least interesting.
I often found myself confused between the time and space of the stories unfolding but in the end the author seems to have brought it together.
I seldom seek out reviews for books I am interested in reading or have read. In this case I went to the New York Times. The reviewer brought my feelings into focus:
"Like desire and secrets, “laughter is no controlled substance,” Temim Fruchter writes in “City of Laughter,” her brainy and richly textured debut novel. “It goes where it wants to go.” Grief, too, is hard to contain. In the wake of both her father’s death and a difficult breakup, Fruchter’s 32-year-old heroine, Shiva Margolin, attempts to unravel 100 years of tangled generational trauma in order to find inner peace. The more complicated fate she ultimately embraces makes this unabashedly queer Jewish family story a new take on our uncertain age."

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The Measure by Nikki Erlick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An interesting concept. I'm not sure where it could have gone but I found the plot tedious and thin. There was a lot to think about but I have personally little interest in the all over the place philosophical ideas that this story offers.
This book is read for my book club and they will probably convince me I was wrong.
In the end, for me at least, love and devotion has no sell by date. I live each day as if it might be my last and I make sure to let those who I love, respect and am grateful to are told as often as I can. Those I dislike or treat me with disrespect are not worth the time. Life is always too short.

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April, 2024 Books Read

 

A Sinister Revenge by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok, I figured out what I like about Deanna Raybourn. She is a master storyteller and a genius in the use of era appropriate language. Complex or not she makes the story/plot easy to follow. I'm pretty sure she does this by having Veronica explain things to Stoker, kind of womansplaining. Sometimes he is dense as rock and other times seems to get everything. Veronica on the other hand is seldom confused and often way ahead of Stoker, and me!
Whatever it is I am soon on to #9 and then we all need to pray or beg for a #10.

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An Impossible Impostor by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I may well have figured out what magic these books hold for me. It Deanna Raybourn's incredible use of the English language. I love the language she uses. It is a real pleasure to read a book in which I need, or want, to look up a word on many pages. The plots are interesting and the added characters in each book are fascinating. As are the wonderful characters that repeat. Kind of a different ending. Liked this book a lot.

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His Majesty's Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World's Largest Flying Machine by S.C. Gwynne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a remarkable story that I did not know anything about. I have always been interested in Airships and this book is amazing. The book is beautifully written but became tedious. It was just too much information. You bknow from the get go that this is not going to end well and it didn't. This is not a spoiler, it what the book is about.

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Books Read In March

Hotel Moscow by Talia Carner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lots of confusing action and characters that I could not keep track of. By the time I figured out what was going on I still wondered essentially who was who.
Now I'm pretty good at figuring things out but this was an obtuse story about things that probably could never have happened. Just hard to believe the story.
The good part is that this is a well written book. I think it’s just the way the author wanted it. I was never surprised but I was astonished at the way the fall of communism and then failure of democracy was portrayed. It may be the saving grace, and for sure it’s why I finished the book. I lived during that period of history and I was amazed.


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The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great book, and what a masterful author. I was mesmerized from page one. I was sorry when it was over. Marie Benedict seems to be Hedy Lamarr. It feels like it is Hedy telling me her story. It feels so personal and real. Of course, it is a real story of real people in a time of unbelievable upheaval.
Facing personal and state sponsored discrimination. Amazing that one would be able to persevere. She must have been a remarkable person. BTW, I'm going back and watching a few of her first movies.

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An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Veronic Speedwell books. They are fun and interesting with beautiful prose that often cause me to look up a word or two. Thankfully I read on a Kindle.
This book, much like the others, starts with something benign and ends up in a full-fledged mystery with red herrings galore. I kept telling myself I knew the answer only to change my mind.
Deanna Raybourn is a master storyteller and uses the same kind of language that Veronica might use. Makes for an interesting and very pleasant reading experience.

You should read these in order.

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The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great book. Great characters, interesting plot and set in an interesting historical period. I loved it. The interplay and final connection of the characters was fascinating and so well thought out. I hate books where coincidence plays a large part in the plot. This story seemed to naturally occurr.
I did have some trouble with the flow. The time was hard to follow.
I would read as many books as this pair, or either of them write. Really worth the time.


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