The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
Too many parties and clothes (2/9/2021)
I confess to being a librarian so I would have liked more details about her work, especially the organization and description of the cataloged works. She is a fascinating subject but I thought the book a little superficial because of the emphasis on how she looked and who she knew. She has a fascinating story to tell, but I am not sure this is it. Almost a 4 star but not quite.
The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir
by Sara Seager
Brush up your astrophysics (7/15/2020)
I enjoyed this book. Her story is quite singular. How she made it to the top of her field as a scholar and women makes for a very good read. She only mentions being on the spectrum at the end. I would have liked to learn more about what that meant in her life. The only problem I had is not a complaint. The science was hard for me to follow, and a good part of the book was highly technical. The writing about the decisions she made for her sons was strong. One can't always admire academics for their writing. This is a pleasant exception.
And They Called It Camelot: A Novel of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
by Stephanie Marie Thornton
Camelot with adjectives galore (12/10/2019)
This book is OK, but I would not have finished it if I hadn’t agreed to do a review. "My very blood thrummed with the sheer pleasure of it all…' (p. 210) is a bit on the purple prose side for me. Jackie’s life was plenty big without the "trembling knees" and other florid turns of phrase. So many adjectives ... no noun was safe. The book does not present Mrs. Kennedy as intelligent or canny – it all just sort of happened. I am not a chick-lit or romance lover in general so that may be my bias. I hoped for a book that would treat the subject seriously and illuminate the singular life of Jackie Kennedy. There is plenty of drama in her life without the flourishes. It is a fast read and the subject will probably make it popular. But, alas, there is never an editor around when you need one.
Ordinary Girls: A Memoir
by Jaquira Díaz
Not an ordinary girl! (10/1/2019)
I am of two minds about this book.
Jaquira Diaz does not blink. She is not interested in your comfort zone. She is telling her story as she lived it – in the moment. She wants you to understand the how of Puerto Rican culture and history informed her life. By any measure, the author's early life is troubled, chaotic, bizarre. Not an easy read.
However, the structure of the book was a problem for me. The book reads like a string of pieces that were published elsewhere and the same events are repeated over and over. The book started to crawl with this repetition. The non-linear writing is an interesting approach to a chaotic life but not completely successful. After her descriptions in great detail of her youth and her service in the military, the book goes into warp speed to get to the end without the why's of her decision to go back to school and her journey to a more satisfied life.
I recommend the book because it is powerful, Diaz voice is worth reading, and the issues she raises are important and timely. It is a bumpy ride, but it pays off ... mostly.
Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen
by Mary Norris
It was really Greek to Me (2/23/2019)
I picked this book because I loved Between You and Me. Greek to Me was not as accessible, but I enjoyed it a lot. Knowing NOTHING about the Greek language (save a few common crossword clues), the language parts were a bit lost on me. However the travels, explanations of Greek myths, culture, history and Norris funny and readable prose was a treat. Made me want to visit. A great read.
Anatomy of a Miracle
by Jonathan Miles
Anatomy of a Miracle (1/20/2018)
I enjoyed almost all of this book. It reads very much like non-fiction and that was interesting to me because I am mostly a non-fiction reader. The premise is a challenging one to keep in the air without crashing and the author is very successful with this juggling act. A couple of the digressions slowed it down for me toward the end. The larger issues of the book are very timely and thoughtful. All in all, a good read.
Victoria
by Daisy Goodwin
A Different View (11/2/2016)
As the author points out, we usually think of Victoria as a very mature and dour woman. This story, highlighting her early years, was a good and interesting read; and pretty accurate in its fact. As the basis for the Masterpiece series, it just can't miss. The book should have a HUGE audience. Because it is historically presentable, most readers will enjoy the story and the history.
Girl Waits with Gun
by Amy Stewart
You Go Girl! (7/28/2015)
I was interested in the book because of the true story that inspired the author. It was a very slow start for me but really picked up speed about 80 pages into it. I liked the style of the writing and the other sisters grew on me. I loved Constance from the start. Turned out to be a good and fun read, so don't be discouraged if it starts slow for you -- pays off in the end.
An Unmarked Grave: A Bess Crawford Mystery
by Charles Todd
An unremarkable grave (5/1/2012)
This book was my first Charles Todd read. The characters are appealing and the setting is well done but it never got off the ground It was a little flat; there was a lot of activity (to France and back) but not much action or forward progress. The resolution of the mystery came out of left field -- if there were clues to assist the reader in solving the puzzle, I missed them. It made for a pleasant afternoon, but I don't think I will go back to the beginning of the series. May give Ian Rutledge a try.
The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great
by Eva Stachniak
Palace Intrigue (1/5/2012)
I don't usually read historical fiction because the history is interesting enough without the fiction that slows the events down. Winter Palace was a pleasant surprise and a good read. There are enough characters to be a real Russian novel, but not too many to keep track of. The narrator's role was well chosen because her job is see and hear everything so she doesn't seem artificially omniscient. Catherine had an amazing life so there is a ton of good stuff to work with and Stachniak didn't mess it up. I did find it slow in a few places so it gets a 4 instead of a 5. I wanted to know more at the end of Winter Palace (always a good sign) and am now reading the new Catherine biography by Robert Massie to finish the story.
A Trick of the Light: Armand Gamache Series #7
by Louise Penny
Murder (again) in Three Pines! (8/3/2011)
A good read! Penny's fans know what to expect from the series and all moving parts are well-oiled and performing as they should. The book is well plotted and the clues are all well (and deftly) planted. I did not find the victim as compelling as others in the series have been. Penny has given herself a real challenge keeping a tiny town with a minute population fresh and new. We know the usual suspects so well that we can kind of finish their sentences for them by now. But I still love them and there is certainly plenty going on to move the book and the series along smartly.
 (1).gif)
