CL_kcls
King County Library System
CL_kcls's Completed Shelf
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CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 27, 2021
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 13, 2020
Comment:
'The Family Journal' is a soft, gentle story, one much needed these hectic days.
In reading reviews elsewhere, I am appalled by those who found it "racist" simply because the journal discussed slavery in the mindset of the time and place, when the journal was written. 'The Family Journal' is FICTION, but the times the journal reflects are history. A book is not supposed to reflect a reader. It is supposed to entertain, entice the imagination, educate, make readers think beyond their experiences and expectations of what they want the world, and its history, to be. Further, they might want to familiarize themselves with the author, who, in this case, had celebrated her 53rd wedding anniversary at the time 'The Family Journal' was written. Do the math then reflect upon whether your granny would be "woke" enough for you.
I laughed a those offended by the "church going" because there was so little regarding it mentioned other than the "going". And, clearly, those upset about the southern dialect, idioms and just plain manners and the constant cooking/eating have never been to the old south.
I am equally appalled by those reviews that excoriated the mother because she dared to discipline her children and remove them from an environment that was against her principles, values and hopes for them. This world needs more parents to hold their children accountable, to teach them acceptable behavior, to model values. Perhaps we would have fewer people waiting, nay, hoping for others to bump that chip off their shoulders, giving them the excuse to be angry and oh so offended.
I am saddened that some found The Family Journal "boring". Is there action, intrigue and wild sex? Nope, just a good, much needed wholesome story about respect, expectations, friendship and values that stand the test of time.
4 stars'The Family Journal' is a soft, gentle story, one much needed these hectic days.
In reading reviews elsewhere, I am appalled by those who found it "racist" simply because the journal discussed slavery in the mindset of the time and place, when…
The Pastry SchoolThe Pastry School, BookSweet and Savoury Pies, Tarts and Treats to Bake at Home
by Jones, JulieBook - 2020
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 11, 2020
Comment:
'The Pastry School' is absolutely stunning. The pictures are vivid and make your mouth water.
I appreciate the detailed instruction, the ingredients in weight and volume, that the recipes are on one single page and that the author is so encouraging: "I'm not saying this pastry is a doddle, but it is something you'll get better at with practice, and believe me, I say this from experience."
Never in my lifetime with my baked goods be that artistic and stunningly beautiful, though. Thank you to Julie Jones for including this prominently, opposite a gorgeous example of her work: 'Artistry aside, what we mustn't forget is that the fundamental, most important and rewarding aspect of making and baking with pastry, will always be the eating.'
4 Stars'The Pastry School' is absolutely stunning. The pictures are vivid and make your mouth water.
I appreciate the detailed instruction, the ingredients in weight and volume, that the recipes are on one single page and that the author is so…
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 10, 2020
Comment:
'Troubles in Paradise' redeemed the trilogy and is so much better than the 'What Happens in Paradise' (Paradise, #2). The characters developed some depth and have grown up!
The angst of the previous books is resolved maturely. The hurricane ending is riveting, especially given that it is the fact of the hurricane and love of the island that led to the series. It brings the series full circle for the author.
4 stars'Troubles in Paradise' redeemed the trilogy and is so much better than the 'What Happens in Paradise' (Paradise, #2). The characters developed some depth and have grown up!
The angst of the previous books is resolved maturely. The hurricane…
CL_kcls's rating:
2 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 8, 2020
Comment:
'The Friendship List' made me furious. Two adult women turn into train wreck, shallow teenagers in the blink of an eye. Along the way, one discovers sex and tell us us about it, graphically, ad infinitum. Does anyone need a fictional character to describe her self induced orgasms, like an announcer giving a football play by play?
The parent/child relationships also turn on a dime, beginning with a father who has his teen daughter on birth control and COUNTS her pills despite her promise to him that she's a virgin. Way to let your kid know you trust them, Dad. Did you consider she could just drop them down the drain?
Of course, here's a shocker, she has sex right under his nose which sends him in a tail spin... after which he buys her a 'how to' guide because men are easier to please and she should be sure to have a turn at pleasure. And his adult friend, who is also a teacher, says, "Use a condom" after which the teen replies, "You, too." Great parenting, that.
Does anyone know how to tell a child, even a teen, NO! anymore, or have the expectation of respect? Parents are not the friends of their children. They trust you, you are responsible for them, you have a responsibility to guide them to adulthood, not throw 'how to' guides and condoms at them or be their pals sharing sex secrets.
That is not parental love, it's despicable.
Ironically both adults blame the parents that raised them for their problems.
There is little romance, less coherent dialog and a lot of pages you just need to skip over in 'The Friendship List'. The only slightly redeeming factor of 'The Friendship List' is the straight talk from the elderly friend of Unity, but even she gets fed up with the dead husband dithering.
How many times does a reader have be told one hides in her grief and the other was punished by her parents with rules after her teenage pregnancy? I lost count of the times I read the line "Ellen heard the words but couldn't process them at first." Suck it up, buttercup, you're (supposedly) the adult.
Sorry, Ms. Mallery, even with the tidy little bow at the end, this is the third book in a row that has disappointed me, each one more than the one before it.
2 generous stars considering I wasted my valuable reading time and I kept it overdue to waste that time. Don't waste yours.'The Friendship List' made me furious. Two adult women turn into train wreck, shallow teenagers in the blink of an eye. Along the way, one discovers sex and tell us us about it, graphically, ad infinitum. Does anyone need a fictional character to…
CL_kcls's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 28, 2020
Comment:
I enjoyed Savannah Reid much more before she married her partner/friend/nemesis/love Dirk. They were both more interesting. They're married and now it's constant ruminating on Dirks faults and how she loves him anyway and he loves her as she indulges his poor manners and big appetite. Yawn.
'And the Killer Is . . .' is like too many mysteries these days, with focus too many side stories and uninteresting red herrings, until, voila! the story is solved. It's like eating a salad for dinner. It's a good salad with interesting components but by bedtime you are hungry again.
'And the Killer Is . . .' is sadly quite boring and nauseatingly repetitive. All the main characters are all getting stagnant and predictable. It would be my last Savannah Reid novel except they are getting a new family member as well as a Reid sister who has moved to California. I'm not sure it will rescue Savannah from the stars in her eyes and awful Dirk dialogue, but I'll probably to give it a (last) chance.
3.5 starsI enjoyed Savannah Reid much more before she married her partner/friend/nemesis/love Dirk. They were both more interesting. They're married and now it's constant ruminating on Dirks faults and how she loves him anyway and he loves her as she…
Five Marys Ranch Raised CookbookFive Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook, BookHomegrown Recipes From Our Family to Yours
by Heffernan, MaryBook - 2020
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 18, 2020
Comment:
You have permission to laugh at me. I managed to confuse Five Mary's with Six Sisters.
Mary Heffernan is living a life I never knew I wanted. My heart is a bit broken because I am of a 'certain age' where taking on that type of adventure is no longer possible.
'Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook: Homegrown Recipes from Our Family to Yours' is a beautiful book that make clear her family loves their life. It is just not a book of recipes but an album of their life with recipes.
'Five Marys Ranch Raised Cookbook: Homegrown Recipes from Our Family to Yours' hit a lot of the marks I look for in a cookbook: pictures that represent the recipe accurately (and make my mouth water), concise, understandable instructions and, of course recipes I want to and will be able to make.
4 starsYou have permission to laugh at me. I managed to confuse Five Mary's with Six Sisters.
Mary Heffernan is living a life I never knew I wanted. My heart is a bit broken because I am of a 'certain age' where taking on that type of adventure is no…
CL_kcls's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 17, 2020
Comment:
I enjoyed 'The Confession Club'.
I liked the quirky characters. However, I don't think we were given enough opportunity to know the characters. There are amusing moments and poignant thoughts, but the characters feel more like long time neighbors who wave hello and chat with me occasionally rather than friends.
The stories of all these characters were disjointed and there was nothing to grab onto to actually know them. It's such a departure from Elizabeth Berg's normally in depth characters. John, the one character we get to know best, we don't really know until nearly the end of the book.
I still enjoyed it, but, as a reviewer elsewhere said, "This book was a quick and pleasant read with no surprises and nothing startling or beautiful about it. "
Sadly, I probably will not remember anything about 'The Confession Club' when, if, Mason #4 debuts.
3 StarsI enjoyed 'The Confession Club'.
I liked the quirky characters. However, I don't think we were given enough opportunity to know the characters. There are amusing moments and poignant thoughts, but the characters feel more like long time neighbors…
Enchanted BonesEnchanted Bones, eBookSarah Booth Delaney Series, Book 20
by Haines, CarolyneBook - 2020
CL_kcls's rating:
1 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 9, 2020
Comment:
I don't know why good novelists find it necessary to attempt short stories with beloved, developed characters. Who is their audience? New readers? They will be left confused and bereft.
Not me. I hate Patterson's "Book shots" and 'Enchanted Bones' pretty much fits that emotion.
'Enchanted Bones' shows the caring and love for the Mississippi Delta with lyrical language. Unfortunately, the lovely descriptions don't save the story. The leaps of conclusions are beyond logical but keeping with the unbelievability of the story. Further, the cover has absolutely nothing to do with the story. That's an ugly, unnecessary deception.
I'm thankful 'Enchanted Bones' only took little time to read, but what a waste of time I could have used on better books.
I hate that the disappointment that is 'Enchanted Bones' left me casting a wary eye on future offerings from Carolyn Haines.
1 very generous starI don't know why good novelists find it necessary to attempt short stories with beloved, developed characters. Who is their audience? New readers? They will be left confused and bereft.
Not me. I hate Patterson's "Book shots" and 'Enchanted…
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Sep 22, 2020
Comment:
'The Book of Second Chances' is a difficult book to review. Many remarked it started too slowly and, ultimately, they abandoned it. That's rather a shame. It does start slowly and I wondered if I would become invested in the character, who seemed to prefer to wallow in her aloneness. But, she does face up to the journey her grandmother sets her on, mostly wallowing along the way, until she finds herself in the journey.
The descriptions of the people she's sent to find and the places that give her the clues to find them are wonderful. The writing fueled my imagination with the depth of its descriptions.
"Shakespeare & Company has a green facade, battered wooden shelves set outside on the pavement, a chalkboard adorned with quotes and facts of old, and a square portrait of the Bard himself, hung above the door.
Does it still look the same? Emily wondered as she crossed over the threshold, breathed in the comforting scent of books. She felt the weight of all those words, some new, some ancient, that filled the minds of people from every part of the world."
It's through the journey that we, and Emily, get to know her grandmother. From pages of her diary she sparkles with living, while Emily continues to shrink and hide, even from herself.
"No, I mean you. Always thinking you're only worth something because of her, She was holding you back," he said, stabbing his finger onto Emily's sketchbook. "Stagnating you."
'The Book of Second Chances' is a long journey of a mere nine days meant to uproot a short 28 year lifetime. It did.
"She was no longer the person who had been existing but not living. . . .
. . .What now? How to start again, how to figure out the future? She had been dying, slowly form the inside out. Her grandmother was the only one who could see it and chose to save Emily, to make her notice all the little cracks in the world and not always to see them as a bad thing."
I really enjoyed 'The Book of Second Chances' although one unresolved question in chapter 22 is still driving me crazy. "I sent her a copy of this," he said, showing her a snapshot of the photograph taken outside the bookstore in Paris. "Asked who the last woman was."
Alas, that question was not answered. Was it meant to be? Or does it no longer matter to Emily and her journey?
4 Stars'The Book of Second Chances' is a difficult book to review. Many remarked it started too slowly and, ultimately, they abandoned it. That's rather a shame. It does start slowly and I wondered if I would become invested in the character, who seemed to…
CL_kcls's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Sep 20, 2020
Comment:
The early Will Trent stories were always difficult and heart-rendering to read. We cheered him on as he overcame his demons, fears and insecurities. 'The Silent Wife' brings us back to his demons and to those of Sara Linton, which are many and equally heartbreaking.
'The Silent Wife' takes us back to Grant County, to the days of Jeffrey Tolliver, (and yes, his demons), and Lena Adams. I suspect we are not done with Lena Adams. We will probably never be done with Lena Adams.
'The Silent Wife' goes back and forth seamlessly between now and then, connected by heinous crimes, mistakes made and horrible revelations.
I suspected 'who did it' but was shocked at the denouement of that character.
My favorite line comes not from the story but from the author's note at the end -WHICH YOU SHOULD NOT READ UNTIL YOU FINISH THE BOOK!-
"I bet you guys didn't notice that I've been secretly writing love stories.
Really gritty, violent love stories, but still."
Karin Slaughter writes intense books but they are tempered by her sarcasm and wit, usually through the characters of Faith Mitchell and the always irascible Amanda Wagner.
You could probably read 'The Silent Wife' as a stand-alone but you will be missing the great depth of the characters and the events that developed it.
I can't wait for the next book in the series.
5 stars.The early Will Trent stories were always difficult and heart-rendering to read. We cheered him on as he overcame his demons, fears and insecurities. 'The Silent Wife' brings us back to his demons and to those of Sara Linton, which are many and…
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Aug 31, 2020
Comment:
I gave 'Fifty Fifty' and 'Liar, Liar' the mediocre reviews I felt they deserved. 'Hush' (originally 'Hush, Hush' when I first came aware of it ) is infinitely better.
'Hush' resolved the problem of 'Liar, Liar'. A great deal of the book is about the three main characters, delving into their personalities, both sad and rather brutal self-examinations since 'Liar, Liar'.
'Hush' is far more tightly written than either 'Fifty Fifty' or 'Liar, Liar'. The mystery story line is tightly woven into the character story lines.
I've said before, I'm not reading much of Patterson anymore, certainly none of his stand alones nor any new main character books. I'm glad I took another chance on Harried Blue. Of course, that was sheer stubbornness on my part. I would request the library purchase 'Hush, Hush', they would say it was 'on order, then it would be cancelled because it wasn't published in the the United States and we would repeat that dance every few months.
I enjoyed 'Hush' immensely and I like Harriet Blue a lot better than I did when I first met her. She finally has some depth.
4 starsI gave 'Fifty Fifty' and 'Liar, Liar' the mediocre reviews I felt they deserved. 'Hush' (originally 'Hush, Hush' when I first came aware of it ) is infinitely better.
'Hush' resolved the problem of 'Liar, Liar'. A great deal of the book is about…
CL_kcls's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Aug 29, 2020
Comment:
I was excited to read the newest Amos Decker and Alex Jamison book, 'Walk the Wire'. Then, Baldacci added Robie, Reel and Blue Man to what appeared to be an interesting case made more interesting by their appearance!
But, Decker himself inadvertently summed up the truth about 'Walk the Wire very well: "Every time he felt he was gaining traction, another event would force them into an entirely new direction. Part of that was happenstance, he was sure. And he was also certain that part of it was intentional."
No kidding.
There are more wayward plots in this book than mole tunnels in my yard. Most of them are irrelevant to the initial case, yet they all come to near immediate resolution, some before you know it happened. At one point, I thought I put my bookmark in the wrong place and missed something big. I didn't. And frankly, you don't need a flow chart to keep track of my moles, but you will with all the characters, plots and moving parts in Walk the Wire.
Amos Decker seems to be missing a step or two. He is more bumbling than we know him to be. Baldacci subtly hints his condition is changing. If that's so, it makes Decker less interesting, at least in this book.
My other disappointment with 'Walk the Wire' is the utterly banal and sophomoric writing that's so unlike David Baldacci, especially the dialogue between characters. "I loved you," shouted Southern, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Like I have never loved anyone ever. I was looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you."
"Liz, You were very special to me. So kind and supportive. But. . . killing people and saying you did it for me? That's . . . you can't do that. It's wrong. You know that."
Southern tightened her grip on Dawson's throat. "I loved you. That's why I did it. It was all for you! You!"
Gag. Especially in the particular circumstances in which that conversation takes place.
Despite characters I enjoy immensely, I am sad to say 'Walk the Wire' is not up to par.
A gracious 3 stars. Do better, Baldacci.I was excited to read the newest Amos Decker and Alex Jamison book, 'Walk the Wire'. Then, Baldacci added Robie, Reel and Blue Man to what appeared to be an interesting case made more interesting by their appearance!
But, Decker himself…
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Aug 24, 2020
Comment:
'Near Dark' is aptly named.
Scot Harvath came awfully close to the edge of complete darkness in 'Near Dark'. After the devastating events of 'Backlash' Harvath is, quite simply, a wreck:
"He could sense that he had tipped over the rim, that he was falling into the blackness of the abyss."
The difference with 'Near Dark' is that for Scot, this time is not about defending his country or protecting allies, it's about protecting those he loves and self-preservation. It's simply, glaringly, about avenging those he couldn't protect and consoling his grief, his helplessness, his anger with revenge. It's a bit jarring that those above him know and quietly sanction what he's doing.
There's a lot of backwards looking in 'Near Dark' as well as much recap of common stagecraft we've learned from Scot over the years, so sometimes it reads slowly. Other times the action is lightning and brutal. We can almost see the pieces of the puzzle Scot must solve as a line of dominoes slowly falling. However, I'm not sure what the unfinished end, the teetering but not fallen last domino means. It was odd and unScotlike.
We see a glimmer of hope for Scott in his latest partner, Sølvi Kolstad, but just as that is too easily predictable, the fact is they are both very good at what they do and they are both equally damaged.
"We all have our crosses to bear. What's more, we wouldn't trade ours for someone else's. If you and ten other people walked into a room and all laid their crosses on the table, everyone would be walking out with the same cross they walked in with."
"He supposed that was because we get used to ours, but it was more than that. Our cross, we realize, helps define who we are. How we wrestled with our problems, how we battled the demons that often accompanied them, was what built character. And as much as her straight-forwardness had unsettled him, it was good to have that reminder."
The question going forward is how will Scot Harvath be defined? By his losses or by his strengths?
4 stars'Near Dark' is aptly named.
Scot Harvath came awfully close to the edge of complete darkness in 'Near Dark'. After the devastating events of 'Backlash' Harvath is, quite simply, a wreck:
"He could sense that he had tipped over the rim,…
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Aug 18, 2020
Comment:
Hope on the Inside is a compelling title for this Marie Bostwick book on many levels, not the least of which is that hope comes from inside of us, our attitude, our willingness to listen, to learn, to change, to just keep going.
Others elsewhere have used a quote from the beginning of the book as their jumping off point. That's fair, but but only in its use as a wake-up call to the lead character and how it led to a new life.
Another quote that I like much better, because, as the story says, it's "a good kick in the butt":
". . . There are plenty of ways to leave your wife without actually walking out the door. You can, for example, leave her emotionally," she said, her tone in exaggerated clarity as she filled Rick's coffee cup then her own.
You can cut off conversation and congress. You can move your lips but say nothing, limiting your discussions to the weather and passing the salt. Or you can say everything without uttering a word. Reproach and simmering resentment, are in fact best communicated through ponderous silence. That's what passive aggression is all about, right? Inflicting maximum damage without leaving a trail? Giving yourself cover and plausible deniability while shifting the blame?" . . . Just as you can obey the letter of the law but violate the spirit, so can you violate the spirit of marriage. Two people can occupy the same home and bed for months, or years, or even an entire marriage, yet live lives that are entirely separate. And terribly, terribly lonely. . . ."
I found this quote important because it's the turning point in the lives of the characters and in turn, the story.
The one thing I really liked about Hope on the Inside is that there were no easy answers, no convenient happy ending to the dilemmas the characters faced. Some needed time, some needed to hear hard words, but their problems were theirs alone to face, to accept, to solve, with the help of friends and mentors.
4 stars . . . with a shocked personal declaration- who in the heck doesn't like rosemary!!? Rosemary is my go to spice along with sweet basil, and, rosemary olive oil bread is my favorite indulgence! Oh, Marie Bostwick, you almost had me completely!Hope on the Inside is a compelling title for this Marie Bostwick book on many levels, not the least of which is that hope comes from inside of us, our attitude, our willingness to listen, to learn, to change, to just keep going.
Others elsewhere…
Cleaning the GoldCleaning the Gold, BookA Jack Reacher and Will Trent Short Story
by Slaughter, KarinBook - 2020
CL_kcls's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Aug 7, 2020
Comment:
Neither Jack Reacher nor Will Trent are much of themselves in 'Cleaning the Gold'. They are both a subdued shadow of the characters many of us excitedly wait to read. Had this been the introductory story to either set of novels, I would never have gotten to know them.
That said, the premise of the story is quite good, but the execution of is, at best, lacking. As other reviewers elsewhere mentioned, I was left looking for the rest of the ending. In as much as 'Cleaning the Gold' was published in 2019, perhaps our heroes will meet again to figure out what they started and how to finish it.
If you are not familiar with either character or author, please don't judge them on this book. Jack Reacher is simpler to understand, while it takes a while to flesh out and understand the depth of Will Trent and his experiences.
I am a bit shocked the' Cleaning the Gold' only took up half of the pages in the book. The remaining half are excerpts of books from both authors - both of which I read prior to this short story.
3 stars because I'm a fan of both characters and both authors. I am a bit concerned now that Lee Child is handing off the Reacher novels to his brother. Reacher is a character that is singularly Lee Child. I will admit though that it can be done. Those who have taken up the mantel after the death of Tom Clancy have done it well. The question becomes will we accept perhaps a lesser Reacher or is it more important that a favorite character go on? When Sue Grafton died suddenly, her family kept a promise that no one will continue the Kinsey Millhone books. Missing them both still stings.Neither Jack Reacher nor Will Trent are much of themselves in 'Cleaning the Gold'. They are both a subdued shadow of the characters many of us excitedly wait to read. Had this been the introductory story to either set of novels, I would never have…
CL_kcls's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Aug 7, 2020
Comment:
'Sunrise on Half Moon Bay' wants to be a good summer read. It has many of the makings, but the repetitive dithering of one character and the repetitive conversations of the other got on my nerves.
This is not a long book, but it's story was stretched out by it's repetitiveness. Perhaps it began it's life as a short story.
'Sunrise on Half Moon Bay' is not nearly as wonderful as the 'Sullivan Family' series but neither is it as bad as 'The View from Alameda Island'. The 'Sullivan Family' series is always intricate while 'Sunrise on Half Moon Bay' is simply simple, uncomplicated and unnecessarily tedious.
3 stars with a note: After I finished the book and wrote this review, I was reading the reviews on a well-known online bookseller. One in particular made me laugh: "I live in the Bay Area and have spent a lot of time in Half Moon Bay. I’ve never read a Robyn Carr story before. I borrowed the book on my Kindle because of its setting. This is the fictional story of two sisters. This is also fictional Half Moon Bay—there is no sunrise on this west facing beach, no pool, no movie theater. The story goes downhill from there. . ."'Sunrise on Half Moon Bay' wants to be a good summer read. It has many of the makings, but the repetitive dithering of one character and the repetitive conversations of the other got on my nerves.
This is not a long book, but it's story was…
CL_kcls's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Aug 4, 2020
Comment:
'Masked Prey' was probably being written long before the insanity of 2020. The publishers probably picked a release date for 'Masked Prey' long before the political insanity of 2020. I could have done without the predictable, clichéd politics. Personally, I am sick to death of politics and all it's iterations and machinations.
This Prey lacked the normal wit we have between Lucas and his fell0w crime fighters. It seemed forced and not very witty. Masked Prey is much more thinking and running down whatever ideas the thoughts produced. I don't think the plot was especially fast-paced. I do enjoy Rae and Bob and am glad they are back even while they reluctantly have to sit on their hands and weapons while Lucas thinks.
I've been reading John Sanford/John Camp since 1995. John needs to find himself again by re-reading his earlier books. And bring back Kidd!
3.5 Stars'Masked Prey' was probably being written long before the insanity of 2020. The publishers probably picked a release date for 'Masked Prey' long before the political insanity of 2020. I could have done without the predictable, clichéd politics.…
Gennaro's Pasta Perfecto!Gennaro's Pasta Perfecto!, BookThe Essential Collection of Fresh and Dried Pasta Dishes
by Contaldo, GennaroBook - 2020
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Jul 9, 2020
Comment:
'Gennaro's Pasta Perfecto!: The Essential Collection of Fresh and Dried Pasta Dishes' reminds me of eating at my Grandma's house when I was a child. She made fresh pasta every other day and bread twice a week.. This is the first cookbook that has ever mentioned a pasta shape from my child hood, quadrucci. We always had it in Grandma's soup, just as Gennaro's recipe.
On a personal note, my Grandfather was a master chef, yet he never cooked at home, except minimally on holidays. When he was admitted to a nursing home in his final days my Grandmother brought him three meals every single day because he refused to any but her cooking. That's quite a testament.
Thanks for the delicious memories, Chef!'Gennaro's Pasta Perfecto!: The Essential Collection of Fresh and Dried Pasta Dishes' reminds me of eating at my Grandma's house when I was a child. She made fresh pasta every other day and bread twice a week.. This is the first cookbook that has…
CL_kcls's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added May 31, 2020
Comment:
While I enjoyed 'The Christmas Boutique', I feel misled by the title and the description.
Yes, ostensibly it is about a Christmas boutique but only as a plot vehicle to know the characters a bit more deeply. A better title might have been 'Christmas Memories'.
As someone who has been reading the series from the beginning, I found the book a bit slow. Most of the memories are recaps of the histories we already know. What little that is new did add a bit more depth to the characters, though.
I don't doubt Jennifer Chiaverini has great affection for the Elm Creek Quilts books, but I feel like her heart is with her offerings of the historical fiction she's been writing in the last 7 years or so, especially given that this is the first Elm Creek book since The Giving Quilt in 2012. I hadn't even realized it had been that long.
'The Christmas Boutique' has the feel of an after-thought, an 'Oh gosh it's been a while, I have to give them something.'. Yes, I know that sounds harsh, but it's what I came away with when I closed the cover.
I know there are still untold stories from the past and the futures of the Elm Creek quilters. I hope we get to read them soon and they are written from the desire of the heart rather than given out of a sense of obligation.
3.5 starsWhile I enjoyed 'The Christmas Boutique', I feel misled by the title and the description.
Yes, ostensibly it is about a Christmas boutique but only as a plot vehicle to know the characters a bit more deeply. A better title might have been…
CL_kcls's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Apr 12, 2020
Comment:
I'm conflicted about James Patterson. I won't deny he writes a good story, weaving story lines together. The words he writes to the children in his books are tender and beautiful.
However, I also think he perpetuates the short attention span of the digital generation with "chapters" that span a mere two pages.
'Criss Cross' is a typical and predictable Alex Cross novel. If you are familiar with them, you know what I mean. If you aren't I will attempt not to spoil it. The Cross stories/books have such a familiar and too repetitive arc, that I think anyone of us can copy it. Granted, we don't write police procedurals, nor are many of us psychologists, but I could have a rough outline for a Cross novel written in under an hour: horrible crime, family, bad guys taunting and/or haunting Cross, family, acting outside his mandate, family, success, family, sequel.
I think it's time for Alex Cross to break out of his mold, to actually finish an interesting case that does not leave us waiting for a sequel. It's gotten stale.
When Alex Cross refers to past cases, as he often does, I find myself wondering if I've forgotten them from previous books or they are ones simply a part of Cross' memory.
James Patterson is a good writer but he settled for fame and saturating the book lists instead of being a great writer. How do we know? When a new book of his comes out there are hundreds of holds and requests for it at the library. Our library system tries to buy one copy for every six requests. A month after the book is released, there are no significant holds and no one waiting for a copy: fame vs greatness. He chose fame, fleeting as it is for each new offering.
A very rare memorable Patterson quote from 'Criss Cross':
"So when did you stop listening to your heart?" I asked.
"Don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do. There had to be a time in your long-ago past when you knew right from wrong instinctively. Do you remember that time?". . .
. . . "Do you remember?" . . .
. . . "Of course you remember. Of course you do. It was there when you were born. It was there before you were born. Did you know that the heart has its own nervous system? It's true. The heart is alive and alert long before the brain develops. It's a deep organ of thinking, another way of knowing." . . .
. . . "When did you stop listening to your heart?"
He shook his head. "I don't know what you're --"
"Yes, you do," I said. "You stopped listening to your heart because you thought it was broken. . . ."I'm conflicted about James Patterson. I won't deny he writes a good story, weaving story lines together. The words he writes to the children in his books are tender and beautiful.
However, I also think he perpetuates the short attention span of…
CL_kcls's rating:
2.5 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 10, 2020
Comment:
So, this book.
I was initially put off by 'Where Have All the Boys Gone?' because it was all about vacuous girls lamenting, loudly and graphically, not having sex, and going from man to man like brainless female pin balls having 'break-up revenge' sex. The first third of the book is an ugly course in self induced female degradation.
'Where Have All the Boys Gone?' did get a bit more interesting/amusing when these children pretending to be adult women landed a job to protect the forest in remote Scotland, but eventually the story devolved in caricatures of sex starved women claiming to be feminists descending like craven vultures on an old, quiet community of mostly men.
Yes, the ending is pure Jenny Colgan, but had I realized 'Where Have All the Boys Gone?' was one of her early comic "romance" I would have passed it by. Thankfully, Jenny no longer confuses blatantly utility sex with romance and now gives us likeable if still often confused characters.
2.5 stars and I will never again reading anything Colgan published before 2012's 'Rosie Hopkins Sweetshop of Dreams'. And really, 3 days to finish a Colgan book pretty much says everything that needs to be said about it. There are far too many other books just waiting for me to open and enjoy them.So, this book.
I was initially put off by 'Where Have All the Boys Gone?' because it was all about vacuous girls lamenting, loudly and graphically, not having sex, and going from man to man like brainless female pin balls having 'break-up…
Twisted Twenty-sixTwisted Twenty-six, Large PrintA Stephanie Plum Novel
by Evanovich, JanetLarge Print - 2019
CL_kcls's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 1, 2020
Comment:
Our little girl is growing up! With the chaos of 'Twisted Twenty-Six', Stephanie Plum realizes her life is unfulfilling. She just doesn't know how to change it or what she wants.
There were quite a few profound statements by Grandma Mazur in 'Twisted Twenty-Six' in addition to the sass we know well. Then there's Lulu with her own brand of profundity: "Sometimes I find human nature to be real disappointing," Lulu said. "I guess that's why God made metallic extensions and pink hair dye. Sometimes you gotta compensate."
It appears with the announcement of the title of the next book at the end of 'Twisted Twenty-Six' that Stephanie might be moving forward, at least that's what I think the absence of a numbered title might mean! I hope so. As entertaining as she had been all these years, it IS time for our little girl to grow up!
4 starsOur little girl is growing up! With the chaos of 'Twisted Twenty-Six', Stephanie Plum realizes her life is unfulfilling. She just doesn't know how to change it or what she wants.
There were quite a few profound statements by Grandma Mazur in…
A Mrs. Miracle ChristmasA Mrs. Miracle Christmas, Large PrintA Novel
by Macomber, DebbieLarge Print - 2019
CL_kcls's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 1, 2020
Comment:
I am a fan of Debbie Macomber, especially her Blossom Street and Cedar Cove series, their offshoot books, many of her Christmas books and especially, 'Call Me Mrs. Miracle'.
The problem I have with 'A Mrs. Miracle Christmas' is that it seems as if it was written specifically as an outline for another Hallmark movie. It is too agonizingly repetitive and I found it hard to get a grasp on the personalities of the granddaughter and her husband. They were written as romantic but they didn't feel romantic. It was written as Christmas, but it didn't evoke Christmas. And frankly, Mrs. Miracle herself sounded nothing like the character Doris Roberts played so charmingly. I aggressively loathe movies made of books I've read, but if Hollywood and authors insist upon ruining books, let's at least expect the character to consistently sound like the characters we know (ahem, Lee Child with that poor excuse for our beloved Jack Reacher).
The writing left me feeling like 'A Mrs. Miracle Christmas' was a skimpy, wilted appetizer to something that could have been so much more.
3 StarsI am a fan of Debbie Macomber, especially her Blossom Street and Cedar Cove series, their offshoot books, many of her Christmas books and especially, 'Call Me Mrs. Miracle'.
The problem I have with 'A Mrs. Miracle Christmas' is that it seems as…
CL_kcls's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 18, 2020
Comment:
'A Book of Bones' is a daunting and complicated novel and yet so impressive in regards to the research. It is not a fast read, full of occult, mysticism, religion, history, facts and myth.
I am sincerely hoping it's not the end of Charlie Parker novels, as it is the end of a thread that ran through several previous stories.
There were a couple of quote I marked, funny . . . and not so much:
". . .The Fulcis even joined Sam in coloring some pictures provided by Dave, albeit with a disturbing intensity, and excessive use of black and red crayons.
"Jesus," said Dave, as he watched- from a safe distance- the Fulcis concentrating on their artwork, "they probably learned to do that in the therapy sessions at the mental institution."
"You think it helped?", asked Parker
"Not really. If Tony scribbles any harder, he'll go through the table. And what are they doing anyway? I gave them a picture of a unicorn to color, and now it looks like it's dying of gunshot wounds. They're not even staying in the lines."
Ha! If you've read the series you know that's hysterical!
. . . "He had discovered worlds in books, but books were not the world entire, and it had taken only a few hours in London to confirm this for him, like a suspicion long hidden but conspicuously ignored for fear of the regrets it might unleash. . . . he felt both sorrow at his own foolishness, and joy that this realization had not come too late."
". . . God had made the world, then left it to function according to His design while He watched how man might respond, and in what manner he might deal with its turbulences."
". . . What might have befallen him had Glenmore not come forward was unclear, but when asked why Quayle left him alive, Johnson replied: "He told me it was because I loved books."
"The lake was gone. In its place stood a version of Quayle's Chancery lair, with all its books and furnishings.
"What is this?" Quayle asked.
"This is the Old God's mercy. This is your oblivion."
And in that moment, Quayle was rendered eternally blind. "
There are so many more profound quotes in 'A Book of Bones', a 5 star must read.'A Book of Bones' is a daunting and complicated novel and yet so impressive in regards to the research. It is not a fast read, full of occult, mysticism, religion, history, facts and myth.
I am sincerely hoping it's not the end of Charlie Parker…
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