pickThis was a fun, enjoyable MG fantasy + mystery—with a dragon, an ogre, two castles (naturally), and a young girl making her way in the world. As an adult reader rather than the intended middle grade audience, I had a few issues with the writing. But I liked the characters, I liked the mystery, and I probably would have loved this when I was the target age! This was a soft pick… and my 2011 read for #192025.
My issues: ⤵️
pickI read this in October—an account of a mother & daughter forced to flee a life of privilege in Mexico and settle in a California farm labor camp during the Great Depression. It was fascinating to have read this *right* before starting Grapes of Wrath. Same era, same destination, different focus. As I read Grapes of Wrath, and the Joads headed for California, dreaming about living in a little white house and picking all the oranges they wanted, ⤵️
so-soPatriarch Simeon Lee invites his adult children home for Christmas. Faithful Alfred has done his duty in looking after the family business when his father retired & Simeon resents him for it, whilst George is an MP but still relies on his father's money & isn't allowed to forget it. Meanwhile Simeon has been estranged from Harry & David for 20 years. (continued)
pickIt felt like King could have been describing social media and the terrible hold it has over some young men when he was talking about Arnie and Christine. Creepy.
This book always reminds me of the Chevy Nova my mom had when I was 13. She was warming it up one day when it somehow slipped out of gear, drove into the street, and hit a kid who was driving illegally the day before he was to get his license. #192025 #losersclub
pickJudy, such saucy language! I like it! 🤣
This was a wild ride through my neck of the woods in New Jersey. Plainfield? Know it. Watchung? Shop there often. Has a good cheese steak place. Hillside? My guy's parents still live there, & he works there. Clinton Manor? I went to a wedding there once. It got run down recently & was torn down earlier this year to make way for more Subaru dealer parking.
1978 #192025 @Librarybelle
Spoilers below⬇️
pickAnother solid book with Hercule Poirot getting to the bottom of things. One perk of audio is that I find it more difficult to figure out the killer, so I just go along for the ride.
Published 1936 for #192025 @Librarybelle and my November #BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks
pickIn this noir thriller, a student murders his pregnant girlfriend and then starts pursuing her sister. This was a very suspenseful read that I found hard to put down!
#ChristmasCrimeChallenge (noir) @Ruthiella @RaeLovesToRead
#52bookclub (author has won an Edgar award)
#192025 #1953
so-soI had this at 4+ stars until the last chapter. I… can‘t.
It‘s a nicely twisty mystery, populated by semi-unlikable characters with questionable integrity and dubious motivations. I figured out bits and pieces, but not how they all fit together—and of course it‘s all cleverly unraveled by Poirot. Then there‘s the last chapter. 😬 Nope.
pickHercule Poirot is returning home after a successful case abroad. He is travelling on the famed Orient Express which is unusually busy for the time of year. One of the passengers, a rich American, recognises Poirot & tries to employ him to investigate a threat to his life, but Poirot (having taken an instant dislike to the man) demurs.
At one point, the 12-year-old from a remote island conveniently and improbably has the exact expert knowledge that is needed
Levine emphasizes one of her world-building points ad nauseam: the idea that “Only a dragon knows ITs gender.” Which by itself is interesting and unique… but the execution got annoying, especially the over-usage of “IT” as a pronoun. In all caps. Never “it,” always “IT.” And, ⤵️ 4h
The consequences for the perpetrator were problematically non-existent… which (at least contextually speaking) makes sense for a middle grade novel, but also makes no sense when it comes to plot resolution. 4h