MY NAME IS VENUS BLACK (2018) by Heather Lloyd

My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A surprisingly engrossing first novel told from several points of view with characters you come to care about and root for throughout the book. Highly recommended.

FIRST SENTENCE: "My name is Venus Black because my dad was Joseph Black, and because on March 4, 1966, my very pregnant mother, Inez, just so happened to be watching a TV special about the Space Race when her water broke."

THE STORY  The problem with reviews is that too many details spoil the magical discovery of a wonderful story so I am going to keep this brief.

Before, Venus was a A+ student who loved the stars. After, her life would never be the same.

Separated from her autistic beloved brother Leo and furious with her mother, Venus embarks on a new life. She is resourceful but scared and angry. 

WHAT I THOUGHT: After reading some other reviews I was surprised to learn that My Name is Venus Black is considered for young adults. One person even suggested it was more appropriate for middle school students. I disagree. I'm 72 and adored this book. Judging the level of a book based on the age of the characters seems wrong to me. Certainly this is a coming of age story. The characters, although sometimes difficult, are (mostly) lovable and redeemable.The various threads cross and weave together to make a satisfying ending. I often say that I am looking for something different and special in a book. My Name is Venus drew me right in. And in the end, healing happens, family happens, love happens.

The writing is crisp and clean and the reader can easily follow the various points of view.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Reminded me a bit of The Language of Flowers and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

Disclaimer: An electronic copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley/The Dial Press/Random House for a fair review.

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: The Dial Press (February 27, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399592180
ISBN-13: 978-0399592188

HEATHER LLOYD, who has spent many years working as an editor and writing coach, lives with her husband in New York City. My Name Is Venus Black is her first novel. (From her website.)

MURDER AT BARCLAY MEADOW (2015)

Murder at Barclay Meadow by Wendy Sand Eckel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I get excited when an unexpected book shows up in my mailbox. Last week it was a new cozy mystery from Minotaur. Since I am drowning in books, I, of course, immediately read a few lines with the idea of setting the book aside. Instead I found myself drawn into the story immediately.

THE STORY: Rosalie Hart thinks she has the perfect marriage until she discovers her husband Ed is having an affair and wants a divorce just as their daughter Annie heads off to college.

Unwilling to stay in the home they shared, Rosalie escapes to the farmhouse left her by her late aunt on Maryland's Eastern Shore. But Barclay Meadows doesn't turn out to be a safe sanctuary when Rosalie discovers a body floating in the marsh.

Everyone insists that the death was accidental, but Rosalie senses something is wrong and begins to ask questions.

WHAT I THOUGHT: This debut novel by Wendy Sand Eckel uses social media in a clever and totally integrated way. She also makes cultural references that connect with the reader's experiences. And, what might be the best part for some readers, there are recipes! Do I have to confess that I read this book in just a couple of days? It's well-written, has enough scary moments (but not too many), and lots of interesting quirky characters. The small town setting is charming and you'll want to join me in a road trip to visit the area. I will be watching for the next entry in what has all the ingredients to be a popular new series.

FIRST LINE: "Before my only child left for her first year of college, she suggested I create my own Facebook profile."

BOTTOM LINE: A most worthy entry to world of cozy mysteries. The book will be released on July 28, 2015.

Title: Murder at Barclay Meadow

Author: Wendy Sand Eckel

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Publisher: Minotaur

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

No. of Pages: 320

Copyright: July 28, 2015

ISBN-10: 1250058600

ISBN-13: 978-1250058607

Disclaimer: An advanced reading copy (ARC) of this book was provided to me by the publisher Minotaur for an honest review.

"WENDY SAND ECKEL is a psychotherapist who lives in Annapolis, Maryland, where she enjoys her family, multiple pets, and life on the water. Murder at Barclay Meadow is her first novel." (AMAZON)

Update on THE BANKS OF CERTAIN RIVERS (2014)

 I originally reviewed The Banks of Certain Rivers by Jon Harrison in May of 2013 when it was only available as an e-book. Since then it has been picked up and released in paperback format.

Paperback: 366 pages
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (September 23, 2014)
Genre: Fiction
ISBN-10: 1477825231

The Banks of Certain Rivers by Jon Harrison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am leery about original E-books. I was encouraged to review this one  by a colleague, realized I could use my Prime membership at Amazon to 'borrow' it, and reluctantly started to read.

There is nothing more magical than discovering a new author with the gift of memorable storytelling.  The Banks of Certain Rivers, Jon Harrison's debut novel, is well-written, plotted, and edited! The characters that Harrison has carefully drawn for us are our friends, family and neighbors.

Read the introduction that sets up the story and you will be hooked. Immediately you become vested in this very special family.

Bottom Line: Highly Recommended

After his wife Wendy suffers a tragic accident and is institutionalized, Neil Kazenzakis is left alone to raise his son Christopher. Neil is a respected and well-loved high school teacher, but his world goes spiraling out of control when he is accused of attacking a student. Complicating matters is his secret relationship with girlfriend, Lauren, that he has hidden from Chris for two years.

With great humor and a sure hand, Jon Harrison attempts to answer these questions: What do you do when your beloved wife is in a nursing home and will never recover? How do you hold your life together when you are falsely accused? How do secrets impact relationships with those you love?

Written in the first person, we take the journey with Neil. The author uses an interesting technique to allow Neil to communicate with his wife.

Since I have been a Michigander over thirty years, the fact that this story is set here is an added bonus. The author describes recognizable places in the northern part of the mitten. He has a keen eye for the details that matter and sketches them with words in ways that make them come alive. Over and over again things in this story connected with my own life.

Some of the plot twists at the end of the book are a little over-the-top but by that point, it's irrelevant. This is a book you will want to recommend to your friends whether they have a connection to Michigan or not.

You can purchase the book from Amazon for $3.99 and it's worth that and much, much more. It was published March 19, 2013.

Biographical information on Jon Harrison is limited. "A native of the Midwest, JON HARRISON currently lives with his dog Jasper in the Northern Rockies. When not writing, he enjoys skiing, running, and climbing." from the book and from the website.

THE HOUSE GIRL (2013)

The House Girl by Tara Conklin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was intrigued from the first sentence and read the book quickly in just several days. This was a Kindle purchase and the title was chosen for our book group so I didn't know what to expect.

Ordinarily I wouldn't pick up an historical novel, but author Tara Conklin has created two compelling contrasting worlds (one in the past and one in the present) to tell her story. Alternating between the life of 'house girl' slave Josephine Bell and that of fast track lawyer Lina Sparrow makes for a compelling story.

Being a 'house girl' of a childless family, Josephine has been taught to read and has a naturally brilliant talent for creating artwork although most of it is attributed to her mistress.

Lina is handed the opportunity of a lifetime when she is assigned to find the perfect plaintiff for a court case involving reparations for slaves.

How the two stories weave together and eventually become one will keep the reader engaged although the writing is a bit flowery at times.
 
My book group doesn't meet until next Thursday so I may update these comments after I hear what everyone thinks.

Recommended for a solid summer read.

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THEN AND ALWAYS: A NOVEL (2014)

Then and Always: A Novel by Dani Atkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Can I just say that I loved this book? At first Kate Atkinson's "Life After Life" popped into my head followed by several others that have dealt with similar material, but Dani Atkins debut, "Then and Always: A Novel", is unique in its own way. Initially the fact that this book was recommended to people who loved "One Day" and the movie "Sliding Doors" was what attracted me.

After a devastating accident at the age of eighteen, Rachel Wiltshire's life alters forever or so she thinks. Five years later Rachel is apprehensively returning to her home town for the wedding of her good friend Sara and suddenly finds herself living a very different life surrounded by people, some of whom she had thought gone forever.

One might assume that because the story is about a very young woman, its appeal might be limited. Absolutely not. 'Literate chic lit' that tells a good story with implied life lessons should attract many readers.

The book will be available after May 20, 2014. Get a copy and take it to the beach with you this summer!

Bottom Line: A story that grabs you from the beginning and delivers the only ending that makes sense.

Title: Then and Always: A Novel
Author: Dani Atkins
Genre: Romance, fiction
Publisher: Ballantine Books; First Edition edition
ISBN: 0804178526
No. of Pages: 320 pages
Copyright: May 20, 2014
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: NetGalley

DISCLOSURE: Invited by NetGalley to request and receive this title for an honest review.

Dani Atkins lives in rural Hertfordshire, England, with her husband and two children. This is her first novel. (Source: Amazon)


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Reconstructing Amelia (2013)

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Everything you have read about Reconstructing Amelia is true especially the part about the inability to put the book down once you start reading.

Bottom Line: Highly recommended

Amelia has apparently committed suicide. How could that be? When a text shows up saying she didn't jump, the search for the truth begins. This mystery kept me up past my bedtime.

Told alternately by Amelia and her mother Kate, additional parts of the story are interspersed through a  student gossip paper and email exchanges. At first the past/present sections can demand extra attention but that becomes a natural part of the progression moving through the story.

If only we didn't keep secrets from each other especially when sometimes those secrets aren't as terrible as we think and may not even be the truth. Unraveling the mystery of Amelia's death is a fascinating study in relationships.

Nicole Kidman has already optioned the book for an HBO project she will star in and produce.

Kimberly McCreight attended Vassar College and graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. After several years as a litigation associate at some of New York City's biggest law firms, she left the practice of law to write full-time. Her work has appeared in such publications as Antietam Review, Oxford Magazine and Babble. She has lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband and two daughters for the past seven years.

The Banks of Certain Rivers (2013)

The Banks of Certain Rivers by Jon Harrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am leery about original E-books. I was encouraged to review this one  by a colleague, realized I could use my Prime membership at Amazon to 'borrow' it, and reluctantly started to read.

There is nothing more magical than discovering a new author with the gift of memorable storytelling.  The Banks of Certain Rivers, Jon Harrison's debut novel, is well-written, plotted, and edited! The characters that Harrison has carefully drawn for us are our friends, family and neighbors.

Read the introduction that sets up the story and you will be hooked. Immediately you become vested in this very special family.

Bottom Line: Highly Recommended

After his wife Wendy suffers a tragic accident and is institutionalized, Neil Kazenzakis is left alone to raise his son Christopher. Neil is a respected and well-loved high school teacher, but his world goes spiraling out of control when he is accused of attacking a student. Complicating matters is his secret relationship with girlfriend, Lauren, that he has hidden from Chris for two years.

With great humor and a sure hand, Jon Harrison attempts to answer these questions: What do you do when your beloved wife is in a nursing home and will never recover? How do you hold your life together when you are falsely accused? How do secrets impact relationships with those you love?

Written in the first person, we take the journey with Neil. The author uses an interesting technique to allow Neil to communicate with his wife.

Since I have been a Michigander over thirty years, the fact that this story is set here is an added bonus. The author describes recognizable places in the northern part of the mitten. He has a keen eye for the details that matter and sketches them with words in ways that make them come alive. Over and over again things in this story connected with my own life.

Some of the plot twists at the end of the book are a little over-the-top but by that point, it's irrelevant. This is a book you will want to recommend to your friends whether they have a connection to Michigan or not.

You can purchase the book from Amazon for $2.99 and it's worth that and much, much more. It was published March 19, 2013.

Biographical information on Jon Harrison is limited. "A native of the Midwest, JON HARRISON currently lives with his dog Jasper in the Northern Rockies. When not writing, he enjoys skiing, running, and climbing." from the book and from the website.

View all my reviews
 

Jungle Red Writers Celebrating Bookstores

Aunt Agatha's in Ann Arbor, MI

Do you recognize any of these mystery writers? Julia Spencer Fleming, Jan Brogan, Lucy Burdette, Hallie Ephron, Rhys Bowen, Deborah Crombie, Hank Phillippi Ryan, or Rosemary Harris?

The tagline on the Jungle Red Writers website clarifies its mission. "8 smart and sassy crime fiction writers dish on writing and life. It's The View. With bodies."

And for today, January 12, 2013, there is an interview with Jenny Milchman, who has a new mystery, Cover of Snow, celebrating the appreciation of bookstores. Jenny has actually done what I am talking about. She has visited an amazing number of bookstores all over the country.

Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures (Tweet Chat)

Last night I got a message from Penguin that the next tweet chats would be with the author of Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, which is high on my list of books to read. This is Emma Straub's first novel although she has written lots of other stuff. So I went to Amazon on my Kindle Fire and downloaded a sample. That hesitation to purchase on my part turned out to be a good thing; because when I went to my friendly branch library today to pick up the two books waiting for me, there was a third.

I've never fully participated in a tweet chat so I am really looking forward to the opportunity. There are three times and that is a relief since I am in the middle of a wonderful mystery by Dennis Palumbo. But more about that later. Details below if you want to join me. There is actually a reading guide. Click HERE.

Tweet #readpenguin

Join @PenguinUSA on Twitter for a chat with the author on these Wednesdays:

Sept. 12  4:30-5 pm EST   
Sept. 19  3-3:30pm EST   
Sept. 26  8-9pm  EST

COLLAPSE: America Will Fall (2012)

Collapse by Richard Stephenson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I thought it might be interesting to read something a little different this summer so when I was offered a free Kindle download of a first novel called COLLAPSE, I was in.

Ordinarily I don't read 'science fiction'. Once in a great while I will read something that is considered 'speculative fiction', but this is definitely 'science fiction'.

First time author Richard Stephenson is right on target exploiting our fears of natural disasters, ruthless politicians, and out-of-control foreign countries in 2027. Much of his story sounds plausible today.

Coming from a military and law enforcement career, the author delivers a lot of interesting detail about those fields. The heroes are men: a crippled, burned out Chief of Police, an ex-Navy Seal now an escaped convict, and the world's richest man. Ultimately it will be up to them to save their beloved country from collapse.

Since the book brings together three different stories, the author feels compelled to restate the basics where each strand takes up again in a way that hits the reader over the head.

A good editor could pull this book together for a wider audience. Right now, there is too much of the 'deus ex machina' for my taste.  It would make a great adventure movie with opportunities for wonderful special effects.

The only sex scene occurs near the end of the book and is a bit detailed and out of place for the genre.

BOTTOM LINE: If you like Tom Clancy and manly thrillers, you might find this first book in a series, enjoyable. If you like more literary reads, the lack of editing will drive you crazy.

NOTE: The dystopian thriller COLLAPSE is free this weekend (August 4 & 5) at Amazon!

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#ArmchairBEA Introduction

So today Armchair BEA features introductions from participating bloggers. I have gotten that far in figuring out what I am supposed to be doing! If you don't know what I'm talking about you can visit the Armchair BEA website. This absolutely fabulous idea allows those of us who can't make it to New York to be part of the publishing industries premier event.

The first task is to answer some questions so here goes.

Retired from the world of libraries, I have been blogging for five years to keep in touch with the world of books. I write about random things that appeal to me that have any loosely defined connection to reading and books.

Retirement Reward

 I am (in no particular order) a mother, grandmother, actress, singer, director, reviewer, reader, blogger, genealogist, friend, and time traveler.

My Bunny

Michael Tucker's Living in a Foreign Language (pub. 7/07) is bookmarked and sitting by my favorite chair. I recently read his first novel After Annie (pub. 3/12) and wanted to read more of his writing.

What I'm Reading Now

Sitting down to dinner with Chief Inspector Gamache at the Bistro in Three Pines would be an incredible experience. If he wasn't available, his creator Louise Penny, would be a most acceptable stand-in.

Author Louise Penny

 Recently I have found it necessary to invoke the Nancy Pearl's Rule of 50 (She's such a doll!) and expect that will occur more frequently as I get older. The saying "So many books, so little time." becomes more and more true with age.

Why I am not going to read SERENA (2008)

Recently, in a talk to a group of book lovers, I shared Nancy Pearl's approach to enjoying reading. She espouses her Rule of 50 which states "If you still don't like a book after slogging through the first 50 pages, set it aside. If you're more than 50 years old, subtract your age from 100 and only grant it that many pages." Being well over 50 these days, allows me to read even fewer pages before calling it quits.

Ron Rash's new book The Cove is on reserve for me at my local library. While waiting, I thought I would read his earlier Serena. There seems to be much division of opinion on Serena. Love it or hate it. I just don't want to read it.

"The year is 1929, and newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton travel from Boston to the North Carolina mountains where they plan to create a timber empire."

Right there things begin to fall outside my areas of interest. Rash's first novel was called 'a masterful balance of violence and beauty' and 'riveting' so don't let my lack of enthusiasm turn you away from this book. And who knows what my reaction to The Cove will be?

After Annie (2012)

After Annie by Michael Tucker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Herbie Aaron is one half of a celebrity marriage. . .But when Annie  dies of cancer, Herbie is lost."

I wanted to like this book. Then I started reading it and I didn't think that was going to happen. First of all, I didn't much like Herbie or the lifestyle he described. The sex and booze we all suspect is indulged in by theatrical types is very much in evidence. And, of course, since the author (and his wife) are well-known performers, we assume the book is built on their relationship and lives, whether that is true or not.

But something happened after a few pages and I fell in love with the characters. All of them. Even Herbie.

This is the first book in a long time that has made me really laugh and cry. (It says something like that on the cover, but for once it's true.) You'll want to hang out with these people. You'll think about making changes in your life and relationships. And because theater has been my life long passion, I can attest to the fact that the advice about acting and how to approach a role is truly insightful.

After all, Herbie is unique and seeing through his eyes makes you rethink the way you understand your own struggles. You'll be sorry to leave his world when the story ends.

Although this is Tucker's first published novel, he has written three other books of nonfiction about food and family. His bio says he is a writer and an actor. Both are more than true.


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The Icon Thief (2012)

The Icon Thief by Alec Nevala-Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nothing is better than winning a book in a contest than winning a really good book in a contest! I scored when I was chosen to receive a copy of Alec Nevala-Lee's thriller The Icon Thief. Mostly I don't even bother to enter contests but 1) I love thrillers and 2) I love the Philadelphia Art Museum. Some people might not find those compelling reasons but as a 'random reader' they make me happy.

Nevala-Lee's first foray into fiction takes the thriller concept to a higher, more sophisticated level. And since I love 'literate' mysteries, it stands to reason that a 'literate' thriller is going to be a pleasure to read.

Set in the international art world, a controversial work by Marcel Duchamp is stolen and everyone from the Russian mafia to art galleries to secret societies seem to be interested. Betrayal and greed make it difficult to know who should be trusted.

I was often torn between turning another page and running off to the computer to do research.

Even worse than reaching the end of the book was the teaser chapter of his next book, City of Exiles, which is not coming out until December 2012!

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Currently Reading - The Icon Thief

My favorite books are those that send me researching. The Icon Thief has done just that. The story concerns a famous work of art by Marcel Duchamp called Etant donnés, 1946–1966, mixed media, Philadelphia Museum of Art. This was posthumously and permanently installed in the museum in 1969.

I thought I did not know Duchamp but as a child attending art classes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I was familiar with Marcel Duchamp's  Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 (1912). Oil on canvas. 57 7/8" x 35 1/8". Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Philadelphia Art Museum

 And it was only a couple of years ago that I revisited the museum while on a nostalgia trip to home.

You can go HERE to learn how to pronounce Marcel Duchamp.

Mirror Image (2010)

Mirror Image by Dennis Palumbo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Years ago I discovered that I love thrillers and the better written and circuitously plotted, the faster I consume the story. I don't even attempt to solve the mystery. I'm just along for the ride and what a ride "Mirror Image" is! The last book I read, a memoir, took me a month; this book barely lasted three days!

Author Dennis Palumbo has come up with an angle that will keep me hooked. Besides being set in Pittsburgh, where I lived at one time, his narrator Dr. Daniel Rinaldi is a psychologist who consults with the Police on difficult cases. Surrounded by interesting characters who don't always behave normally, Dr. Rinaldi ends up in all kinds of trouble.

With great dialogue, fascinating characters, and sense of place, you won't have any trouble seeing this as a movie.

And although there is the requisite violence and sex, Palumbo knows when to back off and let the reader's imagination take over.

Luckily Palumbo has already followed up his debut title with a second Rinaldi tale called "Fever Dream". Find them. Read them. Then join me in awaiting the third installment.


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Bad Things Happen (2010)

Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was immediately caught in the web woven by author Harry Dolan and his mysterious character David Loogan. The writing and the storytelling are both deceptive in their simplicity. For literate mystery readers everywhere, discovering this new series is a delight.

Set in the college town of Ann Arbor, it was fun to recognize landmarks and locations used in the book. But that is only secondary to the characters, descriptions, and twists and turns in the plot that kept me up past my bedtime. Sophisticated and witty, I can't wait to read Very Bad Men.


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THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS (2011)

The critics may not be excited but the readers must be. Articles and mentions of Vanessa Diffenbaugh's debut novel The Language of Flowers are sprouting up everywhere. So I requested it from my friendly local library and it is sitting in a short stack next to my reading chair.

As it turns out, the language of flowers, which is also sometimes referred to as 'floriography' was quite important during the Victorian era. Messages could be sent expressing feelings without words. Diffenbaugh's novel weaves past and present to tell the story of a young woman forgotten in the foster care system trying to make her way forward in a difficult world. I must say I am looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about.