Killers of the Flower Moon

"Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

4/5 stars

Finished 10/27/19 (catching up)

I highly recommend this book. It’s a non fiction that mostly reads like a novel. Yes, part of the story is the birth of the FBI, but the main focus is the murders of the Osage tribe members for headrights on their land because of all the oil money it brings. The investigations, cover-ups, and deception throughout the years of the Reign of Terror make for a very interesting yet heartbreaking story.

Turtles All the Way Down

"Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

3/5 Stars

Finished 10/4/19 (catching up)

I definitely don’t think this is one of John Green’s better books. I enjoyed it and found the mental struggles of the main character interesting, but it didn’t draw me completely in. I wasn’t attached to any of the main characters or the story line for that matter. It was just a light read that kept me entertained. I will recommend it to my teenager though because she might enjoy it more.

Once Upon a River

"Once Upon a River" by Bonnie Jo Campbell

5/5 Stars

Read 9/16/19 (catching up)

What a wonderful book! I loved the main character, the setting, the storyline, the writing.....I just plain loved it. I worry for the future of Margo, but I know that whatever challenges she will face, she will find a way to overcome them. And I know she'll be happy.

The Twilight Wife

"The Twilight Wife" by A J Banner

4/5 stars

Read - 9/6/19 (catching up)

I truly enjoy a good book with twists and turns and this one provides that. This is a story of a young woman who survives a diving accident but lost all memories of the last 4 years of her life. As sights and smells start to bring memories back, she learns more and more about her recent past but can’t always match it up to the current life she’s living. Is her mind playing tricks on her or is she being fed lies? Or could it be a little of both?

Two years!!  Two years passed since I read a book!!  That's a sin!  Life just gets in the way sometimes I guess.  That's not excuse though.  Luckily I think the reading bug has bit me again :)  Reviews will be starting back up soon.

"Commonwealth" by Ann Patchett
Published by HarperCollins

Finished 7/11/17  -   3.5 / 5 stars

The story begins and ends with a bottle gin, with lots of family drama in between. A drunken kiss turns into an affair, separating 2 families yet bringing 6 children together. Well, at least for part of the summers and a little of their adult lives. With each chapter you learn a little more about each character through their current living situation, their memories of the past, and how that past shaped the person they are. Although related by either blood or marriage, each character is quite different and bring a different aspect to the story.

Although not my favorite Ann Patchett book, I did truly enjoy it. Initially I had a hard time keeping straight which child belonged to which adult but eventually that became much easier and it never took away from the enjoyment of the story. I definitely recommend it.

“I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere But the Pool”

By Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella

Finished 6/26/17 – 4/5 stars

“Life gets in the way” is an understatement when it comes to why I haven’t read a book in so long.  But you don’t want to hear about that…..you want to know what I thought about this book.  Well, I loved it!  As I do all the antidotal books this mother/daughter team puts out.  I’m about a decade younger than Lisa, but relate and find plenty of humor in her stories.  And although a different generation than Francesca, I enjoy her stories as well.  I truly enjoy them all and feel like they are family while I read these books.

These stories are just the dose of humor needed.  I’ve read a couple biographies of comedians this year and actually enjoy these books more.  Neither make you laugh ‘til you cry, but I find these stories more relatable and thus more funny and endearing.  They are an easy read to take you away from the chaos of everyday life.  And with it being a book of short stories, you can easily put it down and pick it back up without worrying about where you left off (or you can just read it in two days like me).

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.