My 2013 Reading Journal

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Audiobook
US author
Originally published in 2009
Review: A fascinating fictional journey to death in the mind of a dying man. The boundaries are fading between past and present, between the dying man and people from his past, and between life and death. I enjoyed the author's use of language. I found myself thinking that it wouldn't be a bad way to go. Having spent time volunteering in a hospice, the connection between the utterances of a dying person and what may be occuring in their inner world seemed so plausible. Very good book!

Audiobook
US author
Mystery/Suspense
Originally published 1977
Review: It just does not make any difference! Regardless of how many times i tell myself I will not get sucked into Stephen King's terror inducing storytelling......I always get sucked in. He is consistently able to tap into the part of my psyche susceptible to sheer terror. How does he do it? The hedge animals were the creepiest part of this one!

Audiobook
#1in Royal Spyness series
Originally published in 2007
English author
Review: A light and entertaining murder mystery set amongst the impoverished British aristocracy. Fun.

Audiobook
Stewart Place Book Club selection
US author
Originally published 2008
Characters: claire(needs heart), shay (murderer, miracle worker), curt(cop, stepdad), elizabeth (murdered daughter), lucius(AIDS inmate), michael(priest, juror feeling guilty), maggie(aclu attorney)
Review: Jodi Picoult has a real knack for tackling controversial issues and illuminating multiple perspectives to consider. This time around she tackles the death penalty and organized religion, with a touch of medical ethics. No small feat! The story was thought provoking and the characters were memorable. Well done!

Audiobook
Swedish author
Originally published 2009
Review: A sweet story which, for me, was like stepping inside the mind of a 100 year old whose internal world is significantly more vivid than his physical world. The reader is privy to a set of adventures through history, with the protagonist playing quietly dynamic roles in major political events. Meet characters like Albert Einstein's adopted half brother, an elephant who save's the protagonist's life by sitting on a villain, and a mob boss. I imagine an elderly person's hazy blending of history, both personal and political, with the yearning to escape the restrictions which accrue with age.

Audiobook
German author
Originally published 2011
Review: A medieval murder mystery? A clever mix of medieval values, beliefs, and characters make for an intriguing story. I think this is an example of " the more things change, the more they stay the same". Is there witchcraft afoot? Or is it corporate espionage? Or did a simple desire to be safe create a situation where innocents lose lives? You will have to find out for yourselves.