Reservoir 13 (England)

Started: Sep 19, 2017

Finished: Nov 11, 2017

Setting: England

Kindle - 340 pages 

The story starts with the disappearance of a 13-year old girl. The girl's name was Rebecca, or Becky, or Bex. She had been looked for everywhere. But lest you think this is a story about Becky's disappearance, or how she disappeared (was she abducted; did she runaway; did she get lost in the surrounding woods; was she murdered; did she fall into one of the reservoirs surrounding the town?) it's not. Instead, the book revolves around the effect Becky's disappearance has on the people of the village and the village itself.

We meet and slowly become acquainted with several residents of the village. And slowly, like an onion, layers are peeled back to reveal more about them, their lives, their hopes and dreams. The seasons pass, people grow older, decisions are made, events happen and still, Becky is not found though she is remembered. Life goes on. For the residents of the village, Becky's parents, the village itself. Everyone but Becky.

The book is divided into 13 chapters, each chapter covering Becky's disappearance and the other 12 cover a year that has passed since Becky's disappearance. I enjoyed this literary device by the author (if it is a literary device) and found it a clever way to show the passage of time. However, until I got used to the writing style, I did find the first few chapters difficult to enjoy. Too many story lines packed into each paragraph.

Speaking of time, it should not have taken me almost 2 months to finish this book. It's not that long of a book, and the chapters are not particularly long - at least not longer than average. So why did it take me so long? In part, I found the writing style difficult to get used to. While he uses complete sentences and correct punctuation, his style (at least in this book) is to have a single paragraph address multiple topics or characters or events. It takes a bit of getting used to. And as a result, I could not read it for more than 1 chapter (or less) at a time. A paragraph might start with information about one character and two sentences later, in the same paragraph, another unrelated character would be mentioned. It flowed, sometimes too quickly and I didn't always feel like I was given a chance to really get to know a character. [I read someone else's review of this book (maybe on Goodreads?) and the reviewer stated that this may have been a device by the author, to show that life in a village goes by quickly - people move from one activity to another.] Perhaps.

I wanted to read this book since it was up for the Man Booker prize. Should it have been nominated? The author is English and in some ways the writing style reminded me of Ian McEwan, another English writer whose work I have read - full disclosure: only 1 book - Atonement. Not sure if that is a fair or apt comparison, but there it is. In some ways this book was a bit of a disappointment. I knew that Becky's disappearance would not be solved but I still wanted that to happen. And again, it comes back to the writing style.Not my most favorite. But, it was a Man Booker. So, would I read another book by this author? Yes, I think I would try one more book. But not right away. I think I need to read a mystery novel, one where the disappearance of a main character gets solved. 

Behind Closed Doors (England, Thailand)

Started: Sep 8, 2017

Finished: Sep 14, 2017

Setting: England, Thailand

Publication Date: 

Pages: 351 (Kindle)

I'm not sure that I can add much to the reviews of this book that have been posted on line or printed in newspapers and magazines other than to say "My Oh My!"

This is the story of Jack and Grace - successful, happy newlyweds who are inseparable. You can see how much Jack loves and respects Grace - always there to hold her hand or always there to help clear the dinner table after parties they throw for friends. And Grace clearly loves and respects Jack. You have only to see the way she looks at John - so much love in her eyes. And everyone can see this. Well, maybe everyone.

But in some ways their behavior is - well, a bit odd to say the least. Sure, it's normal for newlyweds to always seem to be together. In fact, their friends joke about how you never see Grace without Jack.  And that, it seems, may be the one thing about their relationship that is the truth. As the book unfolds we learn the true story of the depth of Jack's feelings for Grace.  And Grace's true feelings for Jack.

Grace is our narrator for the journey and her story unfolds in chapters titled "Past" and "Present." Through Grace, we learn about their courtship, their whirlwind romance, their wedding, their trips to Thailand, John's desire to have Grace's sister Millie (who has developmental issues) come live with them, and so much more about their lives behind closed doors. And what a story!

As the story unfolds we see Grace's personality change, and learn what conditions she has truly been living under since her marriage to Jack, and the decisions she has to make if she wants to save what is most important to her.

Without spoilers, all I can say is that this book is riveting and at times I kept reading "one more chapter" in an effort to finish the book. While the ending wasn't a complete surprise, it was craftily developed by the author.  his is the first book that I have read by this author but it won't be the last.  

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea (North Korea)

North Korea has been in the news a lot recently. A. LOT. And while what I have been hearing scares me, I realized that I really didn't know very much about this country. Most people may not, other than the bits we get in sound bites, news blurbs and such. Many people may have seen this image before - taken from space and providing an image of what North Korea is like - an image that most probably shocks most people in the Western world:

 Yep - that's an image taken from space at night showing South Korea near the bottom, China near the top and that large virtually black area in between, that is North Korea. I must admit that that image truly blows my mind to think that in 2017 there is a place on earth where there is virtually no electricity at night. It's not like there is some environmental catastrophe that causes this to occur. On the contrary, it is an orchestrated effort by the government to keep people "in the dark" both figuratively and literally.

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea was written in 2009, and tells the

Started: Aug 11, 2017

Finished: Sep 7, 2017

Setting: North Korea

Publication Date: Dec 29, 2009

Pages: 338 (Kindle)

true stories of six North Koreans who made it out. They were all true followers of the current family leadership: starting with Kim IL-Sung (who ruled from 1948 to 1994), his son Kim Jong-IL (who ruled from 1994 to 2011) and his son Kim Jong-Un (who has ruled in North Korea since 2011). Three generations of one family have ruled this country and its over 25 million* people. And the ruling family has also continued its line of tyranny, oppression, censorship and apparent indifference to providing even the basic conveniences and comforts to the people whose daily lives they control with an iron fist.

This book has been on my TBR list since 2011, and I wish I had read it sooner. Barbara Demick does a very good job of fleshing out the stories of these 6 individuals, all of varying backgrounds and personalities, all living in the 3rd most populated city, Chongjing. The six main characters/interviewees** of the book (using names different than their real ones to avoid any retribution to relatives left in North Korea) are:

• Mrs. Song - a pro-regime housewife and past head of the apartment block's co-operative spying/reporting organization reporting directly to secret police
• Oak -hee - Mrs. Song's rebellious, and eventually enterprising, daughter who is critical of the regime and only performs good "socialist" activities to avoid suspicion and getting into trouble
• Mi-ran - daughter of a miner, a South Korean POW, with bad family social status which disqualifies her from advancement, but one that may be improved with work; she is accepted at a teacher's college and begins teaching kindergarten right at the start of the country's devastating economic collapse
• Jun-sang - a student from a Japanese-Korean ancestry and Mi-ran's secret boyfriend in North Korea; becomes a privileged university student in Pyongyang but still develops a critical outlook on the regime and begins listening to South Korean television and radio 
• Kim Hyuck - a homeless street-boy whose father commits him to an orphanage and must struggle to survive and fend for himself
• Dr. Kim - a doctor with relatives in China who goes from privilege and prestige to starvation and helplessness in treating her starving patients

Demick does (I think) a good job of not becoming political and doesn't try to present a pro-American or overtly anti-communist slant in the book. Reading about the harsh conditions under which these people must live under, and the incredible journeys they all undertake to escape from North Korea (most involve either sneaking into China by foot or paying/bribing people to enter China) presented a testament to the ability of people to overcome obstacles that I will never have to endure. 

It's a very good book and I am so glad I read it - even though it took about 6 years to do so. I wish it could be updated in some fashion, perhaps to more closely reflect daily life in 2017. But then again, maybe it still does.

*(source: http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/north-korea-population/) 

** (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_to_Envy)

Weycombe: A Novel of Suspence (ARC) - (England)

Started: Aug 6, 2017

Finished: Aug 17, 2017

Setting: England

Publication Date: Oct 8, 2017

Pages: 360

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

G. M. Malliet was a name that was unfamiliar to me, but may not be to scores of readers of mysteries. She first came to critical acclaim in 2008, when she was awarded the Agatha Award for Best New Novel for the first book in her "St. Just" mystery series.

So, why have I not heard of her before? I have no idea. But, when her latest novel was available via Net Galley I knew I had to give her a try.

For me, reading the book brought back memories of the many Agatha Christie books I read as a teenager. I loved Agatha Christie books, even though I was never, ever able to figure out who committed the murder.

This book is about Jillian, an American married to Will, a member of the British aristocracy. They live in the quaint English village of Weycombe. Normally, Weycombe is a quiet village, where nothing of consequence happens. But, as the novel opens we learn that there has been a murder. Anna, the local real estate agent has been murder, and Jillian is the one who discovered her body. From that point on, the story unfolds as told by Jillian, and what a story it is!

We go along with Jillian as she tries to uncover who murdered Anna, and her investigation allows us to meet some of Weycombe's  many residents. And all play a role in the story unfolding until we finally find out who killed Anna, and why.

And can I just tell you that while I figured out by page 94 who killed Anna, I was still blown away by the big reveal! I did not see the twist coming.

I look forward to reading other books by G. M. Malliet, which may be more in the "cozy mystery" line of books. This book is definitely not in that genre, but is a good read all the same.

Not the Booker List

I subscribe to a number of blogs and newsletters that are book-related. Most blogs

Source: http://przmmedia.com/blogs/

 provide reviews of books and/or news about books and authors. In large part I subscribe to them to be up-to-date about books that might interest me.

Imagine my surprise when I got the latest email from The Guardian newspaper regarding the "Not the Booker List." What?!?!?! I mean, I know what the Booker List is, but the "Not the Book List?" Clueless.

It seems that each year the U.K. newspaper The Guardian, develops its own list of books based on public input, and issues it to coincide with the prestigious and better known Man Booker prize.  Here's the 2017 long list - and I do mean long... there are over 150 books on the list. And I have to confess that a great number of the names are unfamiliar to me. I suspect that many of them are authors from England, or perhaps Australia or Canada, or some other country with a  historical connection to the U.K.

And the 5 books that made the short list are completely unknown to me. I'm not sure if that means I need to expand my exposure to include more U.K-ish authors, or what.

Still, it's always nice to see these types of lists, even if its just to get a feel for the types of books that (in this case many U.K. ) readers are interested in. No commentary on the authors, or the books themselves, just an observation.

Check out the list for yourself and comment on any that pique your curiosity. Cheers!

The Late Show (ARC) - (United States)

Started: July 30, 2017

Finished: Aug 6, 2017

Country: United States

Publication Date: 07.18.2017

Pages: 303

Thank you to Net Gallery and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. This review is based on an ARC I received after the publication date.

I have been quite a fan of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series and now he has created a new series centered around L.A.P.D. detective Renee Ballard. She's a tough, kick-ass detective; someone who doesn't let go and continues to investigate a crime long after other cops give up. She doesn't take crap from people, even those within the L.A.P.D. who could cause her grief and make her professional life very difficult. She's got a back-story that I hope will unfold and be revealed in future books, but not too much and not too quickly.

In this first book, we learn that Renee is on the late shift - "the late show" - because of an incident that happened a few years earlier involving someone higher up in the L.A.P.D. command. But, because she is working the late shift, she gets embroiled in two crimes that she cannot, or will not, let go. She follows leads and re-examines evidence and ends up solving the cases, but not before her reputation and career (again) take a hit. She is like a bull dog, and does not give up until she has solved the cases and exposed those who believe their identities will remain hidden. If I was a cop I would want a partner like Renee. If I was a victim of a crime I would want Renee to be the detective handling my case. And if I needed a friend, I would want Renee to be that friend.

Another great detective character from a great writer. Well done, Michael Connelly; well done! I can't wait for Number 2 in this series!!

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - (Westeros)

Started: July 29, 2017

Finished: Aug 2, 2017

Country: Westeros

Publication Date: Oct 6, 2015

I forgot just how much I enjoy reading GRRM! It's been ages since I finished reading the latest book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" [ASOIAF] series, and this series of short stories reminded me how much I miss his writing and his ability to weave a storyline that is so complex, so detailed, contains so many characters and plots that at times I find myself wishing I could devote a room in my house to posting family genealogies and maps and histories and flow charts of who is related to whom, as well as the locales and events.

Or at least a notebook that might look something like this:

Source: Goodreads - posted by Jadranka - Sep 19, 2014

This book is a prequel to ASOIAF and revolves around the trials, tribulations, adventures and relationship between Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and his squire Egg (Aegon Targaryen). It is set about 90 years before the events chronicled in ASOIAF. It is novella #1 in a 3 novella series - at least according to this GRRM blog post from 2014.

But almost as captivating as the story is the enchanting artwork of Gary Gianni. I love his artistic interpretations of Dunk and Egg. And if I ever re-read ASOIAF (which may actually happen - one day!) it will be very, very difficult for me to get those images out of my head, even though both Dunk and Egg will be much older in that series.

In a way, reading this book has made me (and all other ASOIAF fans) anxious as to when/if GRRM will finish the story line. With Book 5 having been completed and with the HBO Game of Thrones series already going well beyond the books to date, and at least 5 spinoffs in the works, I wonder (as have many others) if GRRM truly has any motivation to actually complete the series. He probably has more money then he needs from the books, his cut of the HBO series, his cut from any spinoffs, not to mention any cut of the profits from merchandising, etc., so money probably wouldn't be an incentive.  So we have to rely on his commitment to finishing the story for his legions of fans as the incentive. At least, I hope so!