Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Book #32 in 2012

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones.

I must have read a review and put this on hold because I don't think I would have just picked it up on my own.  I'm glad I read it though.  I loved the way the book changed mid-stream and went from telling one girl's side of the story to the other:  each girl, envious of the other, never truly appreciating what she had.  Most of the characterizations were great, except Gwen, who I never really saw why she made the decisions she did.

I bet this would be a great book for a book club.

4 stars.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Book #31 in 2012

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens.

Annie O'Sullivan is kidnapped and held in a remote cabin for a year before escaping.  The story is told through a series of visits with her psychiatrist.

Holy plot twist at the end, Batman!

5 stars.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Book #30 in 2012

The Strangler by William Landay.

I wanted to love this book because Landay wrote Defending Jacob, which I thought was excellent.
While it wasn't "bad", it wasn't in the same class as DJ.  I finished it, but probably wouldn't have if I didn't have faith in the author.  Trimming a hundred pages or so would have improved the book, I think.

Set in 1960's Boston, during the time of the Boston Strangler murders, the book follows the lives of three brothers - Joe, the cop; Michael, a prosecutor; and Ricky, a thief.  The books looks at the corruption on the police force and the Irish mob while telling the brothers' stories.

3 stars.