Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Trying to get a feel for the Russia of Stalin. This book does an excellent job of painting that portrait of the suffering, drama and dispare that the Russians must have felt living through that experience. The characters are developed beautifully and the seem like remarkably real people. Small people being pushed ans shoved by a giant government that cares little for their feelings or well being. And where does this lead? Do we face the same fate?

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Need to Know by Karen Cleveland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great read. Sort of a mash of a lot of spy stories with a little twist and turn. I suspected everyone and as the story unfolded I was often surprised. It was a pleasure to read and enjoy. Its my book club's selection this month and the questions of truth and believing will be fun to discuss.

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Choppy Water by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stuart Woods never fails me. No matter how depressing the world is, e manages to tell me a crime fantasy with beautiful women, excellent food and adventure that doesn't stop to catch a breath. I wish there was a new one every week. Those of you who think these books are from a formula miss the point. Great food comes from a great recipe and great ingredients combined with skill and taste That's Stuart Woods to a "T."
The fact the democratic president elect is a single woman is just a little frosting on the cake. Oh and the antagonists are right wingnuts. Just a fun read.

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The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would say a brilliant book. JoJo Moyes is a fantastic writer. The characters are rich and complex yet easy to understand. As in real life, first impressions often change and these characters opened up into interesting, real people.
The men in the story were split into two groups, the scum and the too good to be true. Both sets were totally believable and realistic. Love, a mystery in itself, is explored and dissected throught the story. I loved the book.
Hard to believe that mysoginy is still so widespread. I don't mean the pointing out of gender differences, I mean out and out hatred of women. I'm sick of it. These women were real people with guts and determination, it had nothing to do with gender.

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The Braid by Laetitia Colombani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it. Elegantly written and never over the top. Just real stories about real people. The translation is wonderful and the story seems unforced and natural.
The story was ot a revalation but the three women were woven into a lovely story. My book club loved it.

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The Order by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a brillant, exciting and relevant book. Just like every Silva book, I come away knowing something I didn't know before and I feel like I've gotten to know the characters even better than before.
I found the action and pacing to be just perfect and during a time when I'm bored by most things, this picked me up and kept my interest. Can't wait for the next one.

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Bombshell by Stuart Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not my favorite of the series. Just seemed like a short story with too much detail and not enough action. I still enjoyed it but I guess I like more plot and less........ I'm not sure what. I knew what I was getting and I had a few hours of fun.

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it, not sure why. Maybe it was the writing or the story that I thought was intriguing. Probably the mystery that develops and continues throuogh the whole book. There are so many things you wonder about as you read, without giving spoilers, Plot devices that keep the tension in the young girl’s life and refuse to give her any relief.
I read this for book club but I can see why its so popular. I’m glad I read it.


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Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great book. Starts light ends realistic. I find this period of time interesting and I find the Ritz a perfect historical metaphor for all of France. The French were so easily conquered in WWII probably because they were incredibly damaged by WWI and did not want a repeat. Even so the French people often went to extraordinary lengths to make the German occupation less than attractive.
Today in France the remnants of the occupation are all around and mostly disregarded.

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Under Occupation by Alan Furst
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great book about an interesting time. The occupation of Paris during WWII. Several other books have captured this era but Alan Furst does a great job with the atmosphere of Paris at the time. I felt as if I might have been there. Well done.

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The Book of V. by Anna Solomon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

To be honest I really wanted to like this book. I read it with interest but the stories seemed a bit disjointed and the whole thing sort of fell apart for me. Its a great idea and Ms Solomon is talented. I loved the writing, that's what kept me going. In the end I kept waiting for something to happen. It didn't. Lots of emotion, strange behaviors and complex relationships but for me, nothing.

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

As usual, John Sandford is a pleasant diversion from whatever else I do or read. Well constructed stories that follow a pattern. This one seems remarkably in tune with politics today and all the controversy around gun ownership. But forgetting that it was a romp with great action and in the end... well, I would not want to ruin it.
Well written, real understandable characters and convincing plotline. I love this guy.

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