Review – Page 19 – Book Journey

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedwick

Published on June 30, 2014June 30, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Seven stories though separated by centuries somehow intermingle as though merely breaking the surface of something much larger that lies just beneath… just out of vision…

An archeologist, an airman, a painter, a ghost, a vampire, and a Viking… center around an island called Blessed. Eric and Merle show up within the stories in different forms of their name as the stories unfold. What is this tale that binds?

Midwinterblood is a rhythmic tale appropriately read by the narration of Julian Rhind-Tutt. While short stories have never been something I was drawn to, always wanting “more to the story”, Midwinterblood unfolds in such a way that while the stories are separated by time and tale that I found myself looking for the clues that drew them together. That, as it turns out; was a good thing.

Midwinterblood is marketed as a children’s book but I felt it would have a stronger calling to more of the YA listeners and readers.

While I adore the cover that was on the copy I listened too; it was interesting to see the others covers on-line.. each engaging in their own way:

5 hours and 49 minutes

Publisher: Square Fish (April 22, 2014)

Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Woods

Published on June 24, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)48 Comments

It is Paris in the summer in 1926. Ernest Hemmingway along with wife Hadley are enjoying time in the villa in southern France. They laugh and flirt and receive admiring glances from strangers, yet they are not alone. Fife, the woman who caught Ernest’s eye at a party awhile back is there as well. As much as Hadley wishes she could hate her, she finds Fife’s laid back easy-going ways to be appealing. It is easy to see what draws Ernest too her,and Hadley herself has come to know Fife as one of her dearest friends even thought she occasionally gives Ernest an ultimatum – end it now.

Eventually, Ernest does end it. But not with Fife. He ends his marriage to Hadley and marries Fife who is overjoyed as she has won the man of her dreams, even at the cost of Hadley. Together, Fife feels, they were go into their golden years hand in hand.

As years go by, Fife starts to see Ernest giving an appreciate eye to a younger, perkier woman named Martha. Fife suddenly know what it feels what it must have been like for Hadley as she watches, helpless as her husband finds ways to go away with Martha. Heart sick, Fife watches her marriage crumble before her.

But – if Martha thinks that she is the last of the Hemingway wives; she had better think again….

Woo this was good! I listened to this on audio and Kate Reading did a wonderful job narrating the voices of Ernest’s four wives as well as Ernest and an assortment of friends along the way. (Kate Reading’s rendition of Fife was exactly as I would have pictured her sounding, a distinctive smooth self-assured voice.

This was one of those audio books you hate to turn off. I love historical fiction! This audio was filled with real letters and telegrams of conversations that just added to the intrigue of Ernest Hemingway. I had no idea about Ernest’s life or loves, or even his untimely surprising death.

The book is told in alternating chapters by each of the four wives (talk about hearing “her side” of the story!), this fictional story unfolds as though you were right there. It has left me wanting to know more. I have never read Hemingway, but I plan to give him a try after feeling that I now… kind of know the man, and am now curious between all that time of having an unsettled heart… what did he write about?

Super fab people…. SUPER FAB.

Narrated by: Kate Reading
Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
Publisher: Penguin Books (May 27, 2014)
Format: Unabridged

Please watch this site for June audio book related posts, like this one. For every post you comment on in June that has this audio book symbol:

I will put you into a drawing for a $25 book certificate for each comment (Barnes and Noble or Amazon – your choice). Winner will be drawn in July.

The Other Story by Tatiana De Rosnay (audio review w/giveaway)

Published on June 21, 2014June 21, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

I have heard Simon Vance narrate before and I am well aware of how others have gushed over his narration. While in the past I found him good, I had not found him exceptional… until now. Simon Vance’s narration of The Other Story totally turned me into a Vance fan! ~ Sheila

Best selling author Nicolas Duhamel (Kolt) is staying at a beautiful Tuscan Island Resort with his girlfriend, working on his second novel highly anticipated by his huge fan following and his editor. His debut book, The Envelope, stemmed from his finding out something about his father’s past and the book just flowed….

now..

he doesn’t have crap.

Lying to his editor, his girlfriend, and his many fans who all assume he is on the island fiercely tapping out something amazing, Nicolas instead is spending his time on Facebook posting pictures and watching the “likes” work their magic into the hundreds. He is hanging on Twitter basking in the attention he receives by typing in anything into that 140 character slot what he is eating, profound (so he thinks) thoughts on anything… and watching people… especially the beautiful girls who find him a temptation as a famous author.

And now, years later, as Nicolas feels on the brink of self-destruction, he discovers that there is more to his family history then he had even uncovered… and within that… is,

the other story.

I listened to this book on audio because 1) I have enjoyed Tatiana De Rosney in the past, 2) it’s the story of a best-selling author and 3) Simon Vance narrating is something I did not want to pass up.

My thoughts…

Nicolas Duhamel is an ASS. He is a walking ego having lived off the success of his first book and then making himself a social media icon. HIs ego is so big that it overpowers the book. On Facebook and Twitter he can be a God… when in real life he is a life sucking worm (my words) who leaves destruction in every life he touches.

*whew*

*Dusts off pants.* *stretches*

Ok. Now that I got that out-of-the-way. Never underestimate the power of writing a story about an author… or a book store…. or a book lover… or a book thief :). Many of us readers… LOVE the literary topics. And, as I mentioned above, that was one of the draws to this book.

Narrator Simon Vance ROCKED this audio. He was so engaging, as he discussed the puketastic (my word) Nicolas that I became quite engaged in the story line… probably mostly because I wanted to know

what would happen?

would he write another book?

what would it be about?

My gosh… am I so infatuated with authors that I will forgive them anything? No. In fact, if I would have went the book route with this one, I probably would have given up on it. While beautifully written and descriptive, it felt L O N G. There is a whole lot of story…. and I did not feel a decisive plot. Is the plot the writer’s block? Or something else? Even as the book closed I found myself questioning if there was a set plot.. .or was the whole book a plot?

If I say it enough.. the word plot loses all meaning. And that sounds about right.

There are some good qualities to the read, I would rate it a 3 out of 5, and certain do not rely on my opinion alone on this one.

*Note – this book has some crude, highly sexual chapters that may not be appealing to some readers (including this one)

Please watch this site for June audio book related posts, like this one. For every post you comment on in June that has this audio book symbol:

I will put you into a drawing for a $25 book certificate for each comment (Barnes and Noble or Amazon – your choice). Winner will be drawn in July.

Then and Always by Dani Atkins

Published on June 19, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Random House Audio
Audible.com Release Date: May 20, 2014

Rachel Witshire’s life is going better than she could have imagined. She has a wonderful group of friends including an attentive boyfriend, and she has been accepted into the college she had hoped for. Then, right before she leaves for college a terrifying accident changes everything.

Five years later Rachel still wears the scars of that day, both on the outside and the inside. When she returns to her hometown for her best friends wedding she is filled with uncertainty of what it will be like to encounter the old friends that were part of that overpowering and sad memory. Then a fall puts Rachel in the hospital and when she is able to leave she discovers things are not as they were… her scars are gone, her job is different, and the guy she loves….

but is this a case of amnesia? Head trauma? Or is this a reality that Rachel can cling to, no longer knowing what is truth and what is fiction… and not sure which reality she really wants to hold on to.

In a word… powerful. I have read several books over the past year with the “amnesia theme” but this one takes a little different path. At one point I thought the book felt predictable, and in some ways it was. Then the air was literally forced out of my lungs as I became fully engrossed as the book reached a conclusion that literally made me say “no way,” with a sense of awe and appreciation.

I listened to Then and Always on audio. Narrator Susan Duerden was well-chosen for this book. Thoroughly enjoyable at 8 hours and 45 minutes, a perfect length for a summer listen.

Please watch this site for June audio book related posts, like this one. For every post you comment on in June that has this audio book symbol:

I will put you into a drawing for a $25 book certificate for each comment (Barnes and Noble or Amazon – your choice). Winner will be drawn in July.

If I Can’t Have You by Gregg Olsen and Rebecca Morris

Published on June 15, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Susan Powell, A pretty blond young mother in Utah disappeared in December of 2009. Friends and family were baffled with the sudden and complete disappearance of Susan who would never have abandoned her two sons.

The only one who did not seem distressed with her disappearance, was her husband, Josh Powell.

As details unfold those who have not followed this event will be shocked at the level of dysfunction involved within a family that carried beyond the first generation.

Over the next three years, the police and investigators would uncover disturbing evidence involving a loveless marriage, and a father-in-laws obsession with his beautiful daughter in law. Most disturbing of all was Josh’s decision that when his boys were no longer allowed to stay with him, then no one would be allowed to have his sons.

If I Can’t Have You is a powerful and disturbing true retelling of the disappearance of Susan Powell and the eventual murder of her two young sons. It is always hard to put into words what I think of a true crime read. Bizarre, engaging, the human psyche occasionally blows my mind.

True Crime authors Gregg Olsen and Rebecca Morris did an amazing recollection of the details of this sad senseless occurrence of not that many years ago. I listened to this on audio and narrator Kevin Pierce handles this difficult subject matter with a professional and appropriate tone.

Readers/listeners of true crime will find If I Can’t Have You to be an accurate retelling of a heartbreaking event of modern time.

Please watch this site for June audio book related posts. For every post you comment on in June that has this audio book symbol:

I will put you into a drawing for a $25 book certificate for each comment (Barnes and Noble or Amazon – your choice). Winner will be drawn in July.

Delicious by Ruth Reichl

Published on June 6, 2014June 9, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)72 Comments

I simply ADORE books about food… memoirs, non fiction, fiction…. and I have read everything that Ruth Reichl has written.. Delicious being her first fiction story I was THRILLED to dive in! Whatever this woman writes… turns into magic. ~Sheila

Billie Breslin is excited when she lands a job at Delicious, the cream of the crop magazine of New York. She is young and feels unqualified to be playing in the big league, but Billie has something that is rare, she has a refined palate that can identify even the toughest of ingredients within a dish. While Billie loves to be a part of the behind the scenes of the magazine, even with much prompting she has no desire to actually cook for reasons she chooses not to say. Then suddenly, while it looks as though all of Billie’s dreams are coming true, the magazine is shut down, leaving long term employees stunned and Billie in shock as her dreams seem to tumble broken to the ground.

When Billie is asked to stay on as the sole employee of Delicious to continue to respond to letters to uphold the Delicious guarantee (if any recipe is not to your satisfaction you will be refunded the cost of your ingredients), she reluctantly agrees as she has no other immediate plans. While exploring the abandoned Delicious library before it goes on the market, she discovers a series of letters hidden in a secret room off the buildings library. These letters dating back to WWII, written by Lucy Swan, an intelligent 12 year old open up a part of Billie that she did not know existed, and may finally help her to release the secret she has held on to tightly for way too long.

As Ruth Reichl’s first fiction book I do admit I was a little cautious. When I first seen the book title I figured she had written another wonderful non fiction read centered around her amazing life of food tastings, restaurants, and more… a fiction story gave me pause, but also… curiosity.

Let me just tell you, no need to pause. PLEASE readers of food memoirs, foodish themed books, and also those who enjoy a good fiction read centered around characters you want to go have dinner with – DO NOT PASS UP ON THIS BOOK.

I listened to this on audio and absolutely fell in love with Julie Whelan’s narration. She brought the characters to life and I so want Sammy to be a real person because I think he and I could talk for hours and hours. I enjoyed this book so much I do not want to give up these amazing people I met within the pages and would absolutely follow them down another path if another book ever just happened to continue on with them. Just saying… 😉

Audiobook listeners – treat yourself to this DELICIOUS book… and those of you who do not do audio, I am confident that this book will read just as engagingly.

Fun note: While in New York for the Book Expo I attended an Audio Book Tea and Ruth Reichl was speaking there (the draw for me). She mentioned that several things in this book actually happened to her – the loss of a magazine job due to the closing of its doors, and some of the amazing descriptions within the book. I wish I could have chatted with her about this as I am SO CURIOUS as to how much is fiction….

Just today while looking for Ruth Reichl’s website I discovered a recent article by The New York Times regarding this book. I have not read it yet as I try to avoid all reviews and articles on books I have plans to review, but as soon as I finish typing this out, I am off to read it. I am sure it is a GLOWING review.

I have added this post to Beth Fish Reads Weekend Cooking.

FACE OFF – Authors face off their protagonists against each other! Edited by David Baldacci

Published on June 4, 2014June 4, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

Ever wonder what your favorite thriller authors are doing between books? They are imaging how their protagonists would stand up to the likes of other thriller writer protagonists… 😉 ~Sheila

Imagine if the protagonists from your favorite thriller writers teamed up to work together (or not). What level could you take a storyline?

What if Dennis Lehane’s Patrick Kenvie ran into Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch while apparently on a stake out for the same man?

Or John Sanford’s Lucas Davenport finds himself in the vicinity of Jeffrey Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme?

Or Lee Child’s Jack Reacher is hanging out with Joseph Finder’s Nick Heller?

And add-on a total of 22 characters facing off in 11 short stories, collaborated by the two authors to make each short story. And, (I think this is fun) each story starts out with a page or two blurb of how the authors worked together to create a short yet engaging thriller story in about 20 pages or less.

I have to say, I loved the idea of this book, and then actually reading it made me love it more. This is one of those remarkable ideas of bringing authors together with their protagonists for a big party! Always the fan of Dennis Lehane I rad his story that was created with Michael Connelly first and loved the quick paced thriller with a humorous edge to it.

Bosch looked over Patrick. “You like baseball Patrick?”

“Big time. Why?”

“You’re the first guy I have seen in this town not wearing a sox hat.”

Patrick pulled off his hat and considered the front of it as he ran a hand through his hair. “Imagine that. I didn’t even look when I left the house.”

“Is that a rule or something around here? You’ve all got to represent Red Sox Nation or something?”

“It’s not a rule per se, more like a guideline.”

Fans of thrillers this book is a must.

Each author has donated his or her story and all of the proceeds from the book go to fund ITW (International Thriller Writers), which charges no dues to its members.

File Under 13 Suspicious Incidents by Lemony Snicket

Published on June 1, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Listening Length: 3 hours and 1 minute
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Hachette Audio

If you are not a member of our secret organization, hello there. This is a blank audiobook which you shouldn’t listen to. ~ as seen on the back of the audio jacket

Lemony Snicket is in the town of Stain’d-by-the-Sea but his stay is not a quiet one. In thirteen separate incidents he is called upon to assist in cracking a mystery. Kidnappings, vandalism, food theft, and even potential ghosts, Lemony, along with the help of the reader, solves each case.

13 Suspicious Incidents is divided into thirteen short stories read by different narrators. Kudos to John Scieszka, Terry Gross, Sarah Vowell, Libba Bray, Ira Glass, Sophie Blackall, Jon Klassen, Chris Kluwe, Holly Black, Sook-Yin Lee, Rachel Maddow, Stephin Merritt, and Wesley Stace.

Each story is a mystery that Lemony files and then moves on to the next case. At the end of the thirteen stories, each story is quickly revisited and explains the solution. What a fun may for a middle grade student to try to solve these mysteries before they hear the answers!

I personally found the stories fun and enjoyed the different narrations. I have to admit… some of the cases had me stumped and I had to wait to the end to figure it out. 🙂

This audio is right around 3 hours long. This would be great for a car ride with kids.

The Summer Of Letting Go by Gae Polisner

Published on May 26, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Summer has arrived and 15-year-old Francesca “Frankie” Schell has no big plans. Four years ago while on the beach with her family, Francesca’s little brother Simon drowned while Francesca was supposed to be watching him. Even now, Francesca’s mother is distant towards her and her father seems to be spending a little too much time at the single ladies house across the street. Francesca’s best friend is always busy with her super cute boyfriend Bradley who Francesca wishes was her own.

With her home life a mess, Francesca goes to the local country club where she meets a darling 4-year-old boy named ironically Frankie and has a striking resemblance to Simon. As more and more coincidences starts to come up, Francesca starts to wonder if there is such a thing as reincarnation or if this is some sort of cosmic alignment trying to help Francesca to move forward from the tragedy that has held her in place for so long.

The Summer Of Letting Go is an engaging summer read that brings you right into the world that Francesca lives in. A powerful read of loss and moving on from the perspective of a teenage girl who not only has lived the pain of loss first hand, but also sees how if affects others around her.

I was surprised how engaged I became in this book. Well written, I had at least two moments where I caught my breath.. Gae Polisner does a fine job of bringing you right to that teenage level of “emotion amplified” and I didn’t want the book to end.

If you do audio, I recommend listening to this one. The narration of Tara Sands was excellent. Tara handled the different characters flawlessly.

The Here And Now by Ann Brashares

Published on May 25, 2014May 25, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Premma James has lived in New York since she was twelve years old. But Premma did not move from another state or another country to New York.

She moved from another time. The year 2090. The future.

In Premma’s time the world is in shambles due to a mosquito-born virus that killed millions. For Premma, and those like her who have escaped to the past to live better lives, they are under strict rules:

1. Never reveal where you are from

2. Never interfere with history

3. Never be intimate with someone outside their community

And that works just fine. Until Premma meets Ethan Jarves.

YA with an environmental flavor! ~Sheila

The Here And Now is A fairly quick paced YA read. Premma makes for a wonderful environmentally conscious protagonist. Her personal goals of trying to help prevent the future from happening as she knows it currently stands is admirable.

I enjoyed the read for the most part. The way things fall together is a little convenient, however my enjoyment of world building books allowed that fact to lapse into the overall enjoyment of the book.

Fun Fact: Ann Brashares is also the author of The Traveling Pants books, which was also a fun movie. If you are familiar with that story you know what style of writer Ann is. Her characters are relational and three-dimensional which makes for good reading!