Some People

I am not sure if more people are like Maggie or not like Maggie.  I think if we have the answer to that life would be a lot easier.  This book just completely messed with my understanding of morality and how I think (or thought) people see right and wrong.  This is How I Lied was pretty terrible regardless. 

So...this is weird.

In the Bleak Midwinter is the first book in the Rev. Clare Fergusson, and Russ Van Alstyne series.    This was not a book that came highly recommended.  In fact, when my friend told me about it she said, "These characters are terrible.  They are such jerks.  They are completely incompetent at what they do."  But then she told me that she has read every one of the books in the series.  And has every intention to read any forthcoming books in the series.  
Well I had to read one, right?
I am a pastor and so is Fergusson and so I figured that might be interesting.  And I love detective fiction, so I figured that might be interesting.  
It was not interesting at all!
My friend was right!  Neither Fergusson nor Val Alstyne are good at their jobs.  They are not sympathetic characters either.  But will I read the next one?  Yes.  I have already started it.  Will I probably read the rest of the series.  Probably.  It is like not being able to look away from an accident I guess.  I actually don't know.  It is just so bizarre.
Just.  Yeah.  I can't recommend this book either, but I will say if you read it, you might get hooked.  

A Lot of Evil

Men (and women and trans and fluid gender) people can do a lot of evil deeds.  We have seen it through history, we see it today.  Are there people who ARE evil?  I don't think so.  I mean, I would certainly say that someone like Adolph Hitler makes me think there are, but I wonder...and I am reminded that Hitler, too was made in God's image, but did NOT grow in God's likeness.  Did he not grow in God's likeness and, quite the opposite, was responsible for the death and torture of millions because he was missing something, as sociopaths are said to be missing the ability to experience empathy?  Did he do these things because somehow evil got inside him?  And does that make HIM evil or was it his ACTIONS that were evil?  Does it matter?

That has nothing to do with anything right now except that the second book in the Detective P.T. Marsh series is called The Evil Men Do.  And there is a lot of sorrowful evil in this one.  For some reason I wasn't as caught up in it as the first, hence four stars.  But I will try the next one. 

The Last One

Keep in mind, I don't like romance mixed with murder.  This is just me...but The Last Sister will be the last book I will read in the new Columbia River series.  WAY too much love WAY WAY WAY too much love.  But if you like thriller chick-lit, it might be for you!

LOVE THIS!

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit was just soooo good.  It was just the perfect kind of book for me, as it showed people who follow Jesus, and in case, even professionally minister in His name, actually acting like Jesus!  And toward people who love people with the same body parts, even!  Can you imagine!  Heaven on earth!
And it also was honest in showing how some people who claim to be following Jesus aren't quite there yet when it comes to understanding that God does not care WHOM we love, God cares THAT we love!
Complicated, but simple and sweet and funny and heart-breaking and beautiful.

Secrets

Two Can Keep a Secret was a really good mystery, one that I didn't see coming.  A lot of twists and turns and really believable, I think.  Good, good stuff.  After reading One of Us is Lying, this was top on my to read-list.  And it didn't disappoint.  If you like OOUIL, check it out!

This is a book

that makes me want to jump and shout!  Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World was just awesome.  Just awesome.
Ivy is a fantastic character, and so is June.  Although I did keep thinking of Faith, Hope and Ivy June every time I heard their names! 
Just so good.  So good.  I loved Ivy's best friend, too.  This book is one of the best books I have ever read about LBGTQ issues, but it is WAY more than that because it is just one of the best books I have ever read for middle grades on any topic, with any kind of characters.  Ashley Herring Blake has that way of just getting into the young mind/character, etc. like Andrew Clements, she just puts you THERE.  So good highly recommended and so NOT predictable and more of the same old same old. 

Slacking

Slacker is a book that I know will have much appeal.  It is funny and it short and it is well done.  I will easily be able to recommend this book.  I just didn't give it the full five stars because it wasn't for me. 
The cover turns me off right way because while I know the animal on the cover is a beaver, it just reminds me of that horrible movie Caddyshack and with the whole gopher subplot going on and I really, really found that movie repulsive most because of the swimming book incident.  In fact, completely because of the swimming pool incident because it is just that awful.  So right away I am judging a book by its cover for a completely ridiculous connection that isn't even there.
Many apologies to Mr. Korman who really is a great writer. 
The book features a kid who is a slacker, except when it comes to gaming.  And the rest of the story I really liked, but the whole beaver angle, even without the cover issue just didn't appeal to me.  Still, I can recommend this book to others who aren't as ridiculous as I am! 

Influence

The Saga of Styx Malone was really, really good.  A great story about so many things.  Families for sure and brothers and fear and this world in which we live and the unfairness of it and foster care and just so much.  Kekla Magoon is an author I need to get to know better and I loved X so so so so so much, and she co-authored it and it was just so well done. 

While I Didn't LOVE

Robert B. Parker's Colorblind, I had to give it the five stars because I am just so darn proud of Jesse Stone.  I just love that he went to rehab and I just love that Jen is no more.  I just really, really love that.  And that made all the difference.  Yes, Reed Farrel Coleman writes a different Jesse from Parker's Jesse, but Jesse is still a great guy.  This one just didn't grab me like some have.  But still, you go, Jesse.  I love you. Long may you run. 

Life Is But a

Walking Shadow(s), a poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.  It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Walking Shadows is the twenty-fifth book in the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series and I loved, loved, loved it.  Not a surprise, as I love Faye Kellerman and this series!

Please, Ms. Kellerman, allow Peter to be so stubborn as to not listen to Rina's urgings for him to consider retirement!

Unless Rina would then open up her own little PI company....she is just as good (if not better) at detecting that her hubby!

Fantastic! 

Another One!

Fruits of the Poisonous Tree was VERY 5 star and ahead of it's time, I think.  This made me feel the way that I did about Death Masks in that it gave me a renewed sense of enthusiasm about a series.   There is no corpse in the book, as the author says in his foreword, because the murder that takes place here is rape.  I thought that was a powerful statement about the crime of rape.  And keep in mind, this was published in 1993.  Very, very, very good. 

Order Restored

Scent of Evil is the third in the Joe Gunther series and now I am back in order!  This one was okay, too.  I mean, good but not a four star.  Yet like I felt when I read Skeleton's Knee.  I liked it enough to go on the next! 

The More I Read

about the late sixties makes me glad I wasn't around then.  The Risen was another excellent book by Ron Rash.  It was very sad.  Definitely not a lifter.  I couldn't help but really dislike Ligeia.  REALLY.  I think I disliked her more than the grandfather!

My First Ron Rash Novel

was Above the Waterfall and I am VERY disappointed.  NOT disappointed in the book!  It was excellent!  But disappointed that this was not a series!   The main character, the town sheriff named Les would be an excellent main character for a series.  Rash is such a great writer though, I bet he would get bored.  But man, this was really good. 

Learning More

So much to learn from reading!  Boarderlines is the second in the Joe Gunther series and I learned a lot more about Vermont!  Especially the whole Woodchuck vs. Flatlander deal!  This was good, but I wasn't sucked in that much, but I am for sure going to read the next one.  I like Joe a lot!

Just so well done

Rain is Not My Indian Name is a book I can highly, highly recommend for so many reasons.  It made me wonder why I have not read more from Cynthia Leitich Smith. One of places I always check when I read about with Native American characters is this site.  I was so pleased to see that this book is

My Heart and Other Black Holes was good book.  And the only thing I didn't care for was that the ending seemed really rushed.  I totally get what happened and why it happened and how Aysel came to feel as she did, but I just wish Warga would have taken a little more time getting there.  I know that is not very like me!  I prefer a short book.  I think it really says a lot about how much I liked this book, given that I would want it to be even longer! 

Jane Doe

A History of Jane Doe was good.  It was very good.  A very moving and real look at depression.  Very sad.  I do recommend it.  But it is very sad, but yet hopeful.  But yeah...sad.  I really liked Jane's parents.  And Ray and Simon and Ray's mom and Jane herself and also Ray's mom's boyfriend.  Good, good book. 

The BIG Read

In 2019, God willing, one of the libraries in which I work will be participating in The Big Read.  The book will be In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez.  She wrote Before We Were Free, which was a remarkable book.  I discovered Tia Lola Stories on a library audio app and listed to both books included in this one download:  How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay and How Tia Lola Came Learned to Teach.  Realistic, funny (especially when Tia Lola is practicing her English by saying everything she knows at once) and touching.  Just great!  I wish that the other books in the series were available on audio!