The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Description:

"On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by David Henry's fateful decision that long-ago winter night."

My thoughts:

When David makes his fateful decision, I knew it was wrong, but I didn't know how the decision would affect his and his family's life. Kim Edwards took me on a bittersweet journey throughout the decades as she focuses on both David, Norah and Paul's life without Phoebe and Phoebe's life with Caroline. I especially liked the use of themes such as family, home, photography, memory and music.

Date read: 3/29/2007
Book #: 27
Rating: 4* = great
Genre: Fiction

ISBN-10: 0143037145
ISBN-13: 978-0143037149
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2006
# of Pages: 401
Binding: Paperback

A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George

Description:

"An isolated beach on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel is the scene of the murder of Guy Brouard, one of Guernsey’s wealthiest inhabitants and its main benefactor. Forced as a child to flee the Nazis in Paris, Brouard was engaged in his latest project when he died: a museum in honor of those who resisted the German occupation of the island during World War II.

It is from this period of time that his murderer may well have come. But there are others on Guernsey with reason to want Guy Brouard dead: his wives, his business associates, his current mistress, the underprivileged teenagers he mentored—any of whom might have harbored a secret motive for murder. As family and friends gather for the reading of the will, Deborah and Simon St. James find that seemingly everyone on the history-haunted island has something to hide. And behind all the lies and alibis, a killer is lurking. In order to bring this person to justice, the St. James must delve into Guernsey’s dark history—both past and present—and into the troubled psyche of someone who may have exacted retribution for the most unspeakable crime of all."

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this mystery set on the island of Guernsey. I didn't realize until afterwards that it was part of the Thomas Lynley series, though it focused on Simon and Deborah St. James. I liked the attention to historical detail, especially concerning the German occupation during World War II. The only quibble I have is that I wish the book had a map of the island.

Date read: 3/23/2007
Book #: 26
Rating: 3* = good
Series: Thomas Lynley #12
Genre: Mystery

ISBN-10: 0553801309
ISBN-13: 978-0553801309
Publisher: Bantam
Year: 2003
# of pages: 528
Binding: Hardcover

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

Description:

"When Larry Cook, the aging patriarch of a rich, thriving farm in Iowa, decides to retire, he offers his land to his three daughters. For Ginny and Rose, who live on the farm with their husbands, the gift makes sense--a reward for years of hard work, a challenge to make the farm even more successful. But the youngest, Caroline, a Des Moines lawyer, flatly rejects the idea, and in anger her father cuts her out--setting off an explosive series of events that will leave none of them unchanged. A classic story of contemporary American life, A THOUSAND ACRES strikes at the very heart of what it means to be a father, a daughter, a family."

My thoughts:

Most of the book was a very moving tragedy about a family which starts to fall apart after the patriarch divides his land among two of his daughters. It's loosely based on Shakespeare's "King Lear". I liked the writing, especially as told from the oldest daughter's point of view. It would have been interesting to have a chapter told from the father's viewpoint, and/or the youngest daughter's viewpoint.

Date read: 3/21/2007
Book #: 25
Challenge: TBR Challenge 2007
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Fiction

ISBN-10: 0804115761
ISBN-13: 978-0804115766
Publisher: Ivy Books
Year: 1996
# of Pages: 399
Binding: Paperback

Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff

Description:

"Austin was a black-and-white, far-from-young cat. Not just any cat, mind you, he was the Keeper's cat, a very outspoken feline with extremely strong opinions he was always willing to voice. After all, who knew better then Austin what was best for the well-being of Claire -- and for the not-quite-as-important rest of the universe?

Claire Hansen was a Keeper, a member of that select group which kept the universe in one piece. And now she'd been summoned to the Elysian Fields Guesthouse, a rundown bed-and-breakfast that seemed to attract the most unusual clientele. And Claire was not happy about this latest assignment, not happy at all.

Not when she'd been tricked into taking over here by a horrible little gnome of a man who'd abandoned his post before she'd even figured out who he really was ... Not when room six held a resident who'd been sleeping there for so many years that she really needed a good dusting -- except that it was far too dangerous for anyone to get that close to her... Not when the basement housed too much temptation for anyone's mental health... Not when she found herself surrounded by "helpers" as distracting as Dean, the hunky-yet-innocent handyman, and Jacques, a ghost with a real lust for life... And especially not when it looked like this might be not only her most challenging mission but one she'd be stuck handling forever... "

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this first book of the Keeper Chronicles. Claire certainly has her hands full, especially as Hell tries to break free and very interesting guests show up. I also liked Austin's snarkiness and the elevator which opens onto other dimensions including tv shows! I look forward to the next book in the series, The Second Summoning.

Date read: 3/13/2007
Book No.: 24
Rating: 3* = good
Series: Keeper Chronicles, #1
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0886777844
ISBN-13: 978-0886777845
Publisher: DAW
Year: 1998
No. of pages: 336
Binding: Paperback

The Geographer's Library by Jon Fasman

Description:

"Item 1: An alembic is the top part of an apparatus used for distilling. This one is made of sturdy green glass, thirty-six centimeters tall, eighteen centimeters around at the widest point of its base. The top part of the vessel is narrow and fluted and turns sharply to the right; alembics are set over a still to collect and carry vapors to another vessel. The vessel's inside bears a crust of gray material that seems to be a mixture of lead, iron, and antimony, as well as some organic matter, canine and human bones. Scorch marks are visible on the outside bottom, extending five centimeters up. No discernible odor.

Date of manufacture: unknown. Estimates range from 100 b.c. to a.d. 300
Place of origin: Hellenistic Egypt. "Alembic" comes from the Arabic "al-anbiq," which comes from the Greek "ambix," meaning cup or beaker

Last known owner: Woldemar Löwendahl, Danish-Estonian governor general of Tallinn. The alembic was unearthed during the construction of Kassari chapel on Kassari Island in April 1723 and brought to Löwendahl's office that June. The governor general placed it on the top shelf of an unfilled bookcase in the back corner of his office and never noticed when it went missing two years, six months, and seventeen days later...

When a twelfth-century Sicilian cat burglar snatches a sack of artifacts from the king's geographer's library, the tools and talismans of transmutation-and eternal life-are soon scattered all over the world. Nine hundred years later, a young Connecticut reporter finds evidence that someone is collecting them again. In the process of investigating the suspicious death of a local professor, Paul Tomm finds the dead man's heavily fortified office stuffed with books on alchemy. The Geographer's Library entwines his contemporary reporting with a chain of ancient stories-within-the-story, tracking the last time each of the geographer's tools changed hands-some bought, some stolen, some killed for.

The Geographer's Library is an extraordinary debut, smart, stylishly written, and full of suspense. It tempts with the glitter of antiquities and hooks with a chilling plot. In this brilliant debut, competing visions of an obscure professor's life take a young reporter from a sleepy New England town to the heart of an international smuggling ring that may hold the secret to eternal life. "

My thoughts:

While I enjoyed both the chapters concerning the reporter Paul Tomm and his quest to solve the murder of the professor and the ones concerning each object, the book didn't lead anywhere. Yes, there are answers, but there are also more questions. So, why a 3* rating? It was very well written with great historical detail and well-defined characters.

Date read: 3/13/2007
Book no.: 23
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery

ISBN-10: 1594200386
ISBN-13: 978-1594200380
Publisher: Penguin Press
Year: 2005
No. of pages: 384
Binding: Hardcover

Bite by Laurell K. Hamilton, et al.

Description:

"Follow a vampire hunter who is as deadly as her prey, meet a down home southern waitress who has found to her chagrin that vampires are her type. Read on and feel the euphoria of fear in the shadow of a VERY reluctant Queen of the Undead and take a step closer to the hot blooded edge of passion as a new myth of the night is unveiled."

This book features stories by Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Davis, MaryJanice Davison, Angela Knight and Vickie Taylor.

My thoughts:

Overall I liked the book. I especially liked the stories by MaryJanice Davison (set in the "Undead" series featuring Betsy Taylor but from another point of view) and Angela Knight (a different twist on the King Arthur and the Round Table).

Date read: 3/8/2007
Book No.: 22
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Paranormal Romance

ISBN-10: 051513970X
ISBN-13: 978-0515139709
Publisher: Jove Books
Year: 2004
No. of pages: 279
Binding: Paperback

Raising the Past by Jeremy Robinson

Description:

"FROM THE ICE. . . A mammoth, flash frozen in solid ice 10,000 years ago is brought to the surface by a team of scientists. An act of sabotage frees the giant from its icy tomb and reveals the secret held inside. OUT OF THE MAMMOTH. . . The body of an ancient woman, cloaked in furs, slides out of the mammoth's belly. But it is not the woman that holds the team's attention...it is the object she is clutching...a device created by an advanced civilization. THE HUNT IS ON. . . The device is accidentally activated, summoning forces who seek its destruction. It is the key to mankind's salvation and freedom from the men behind the curtain, pulling the strings and leading humanity towards destruction."

My thoughts:

A bit formulaic, but a fun thriller set in the Arctic. There's polar bears, crevasses, killer whales, aliens - shapeshifters and giants!

Date read: 3/7/2007
Book No.: 21
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Thriller

ISBN-10: 0978655117
ISBN-13: 978-0978655112
Publisher: Breakneck Books
Year: 2006
No. of pages: 308
Binding: Paperback

The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison

Description:

"Former-bounty-hunter Rachel Morgan has it pretty good. She's left the corrupt Inderland Runner Service and started her own independent service. She's survived werewolves, shape-changing demons, bad-hair days, and sharing a church with her vampire roommate Ivy. She even has a cute (if human) boyfriend-what more could a witch want?

But living with a reformed vampire isn't all it's cracked up to be, particularly when your roommate's very bad ex-boyfriend wants her back, and wouldn't mind you in the process. And especially when he's six feet of sheer supernatural seduction, and you've got a demon mark that makes vampires literally hotter than hell....

To save herself and Ivy, Rachel must confront the vampire master-and the dark secrets she's hidden even from herself."

My thoughts:

This is the second book in the Rachel Morgan series. I enjoyed the interactions between Rachel and the pixie Jenks, her vampire roommate Ivy and her boyfriend Nick. I also liked learning more about this world in which witches, vampires, and weres live among humans.

Date read: 3/1/2007
Book No.: 20
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0060572973
ISBN-13: 978-0060572976
Publisher: HarperTorch
Year: 2005
No. of pages: 464
Binding: Paperback

Shadows Over Baker Street edited by Michael Reaves and John Pelan

Description:

"Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is among the most famous literary figures of all time. For more than a hundred years, his adventures have stood as imperishable monuments to the ability of human reason to penetrate every mystery, solve every puzzle, and punish every crime.

For nearly as long, the macabre tales of H. P. Lovecraft have haunted readers with their nightmarish glimpses into realms of cosmic chaos and undying evil. But what would happen if Conan Doyle’s peerless detective and his allies were to find themselves faced with mysteries whose solutions lay not only beyond the grasp of logic, but of sanity itself.

In this collection of all-new, all-original tales, twenty of today’s most cutting edge writers provide their answers to that burning question."

My thoughts:

This book brought together two of my literary interests - Sherlock Holmes and Lovecraft horror. I especially liked the story "A Case of Royal Blood," narrated by H.G. Wells.

Date read: 2/28/07
Book No.: 19
Rating: 4* = great
Genre: Mystery/Horror

ISBN-10: 0345452739
ISBN-13: 978-0345452733
Publisher: Del Rey
Year: 2005
No. of page: 464
Binding: Paperback

Thief of Souls by Darian North

Description:

"The latest psychological thriller from national bestselling author Darian North examines the frightening world of a religious cult. A loving husband becomes devastated when his beautiful but troubled wife abandons him and their young daughter for a mysterious and seductive cult. Coping with the loss, the husband immerses himself in raising his daughter, discovering the joys of fatherhood. But the reprieve is only temporary as the cult kidnaps his daughter. To save his child, the husband must enter the cult's compound--alone and unarmed--and resist the temptations of their mesmerizing leader before he descends into a nightmare world of spiritual corruption, sexual seduction, and paralyzing fear!"

My thoughts:

First, I should jot down some thoughts right after I read a book, not weeks later. In any case, I remember this book as a good thriller about cults, family, and how a man learns the difference between a destructive relationship and one based on mutual strength and companionship.

Date read: 2/19/2007
Book No.: 18
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Thriller

ISBN-10: 0451188969
ISBN-13: 978-0451188960
Publisher: Signet
Year: 1998
No. of pages: 432
Binding: Paperback

Buried Dreams by Brendan DuBois

Description:

"Lewis Cole's friend Jon Ericson has spent years studying the history of their small New Hampshire town, convinced that it was once a Viking settlement. When Lewis receives a phone call from Jon saying that he's finally found the evidence to prove it, he hurries right over. What Lewis discovers instead is a dead body. In the brief time since Jon left that message, someone has murdered him. Lewis's suspicions immediately turn to Jon's estranged brother. And Lewis sets out to learn the truth. The latest entry in the Lewis Cole series presents an icon-oclastic view of New England as well as a breathless mystery."

My thoughts:

I got this book years ago, but put off reading it until I read the previous books in the series. I'm glad I did, because knowing the relationships between Cole and his friends Felix, Diane and Paula, helped me appreciate this book more. I also enjoyed Cole's amateur archaeological dig in his cellar and his trips with Felix into Maine.

Date finished: 2/18/2007
Book No.: 17
Rating: 3* = good
Genre: Mystery

ISBN-10: 0373265433
ISBN-13: 978-0373265435
Publisher: Worldwide Mystery
Year: 2005
No. of pages: 272
Binding: Paperback