Book Review: Mr Penumbra’s 24 hour Book Store

My book club selected this book. Since it had been on my TBR shelf I was anxious to read this one Loved the title alone and the storyline seemed irresistible. An out of work California web designer(Clay) lands a job at a 24 hour independent book store. He agrees to work the over night shift but must record in exact detail everything the customer purchases and even what the customer is wearing. Tracking…sounds like what the internet does today.
But there are not many customers and the ones that come are special and strange. There is a waybacklist room and Mr Penumbra explains that Clay and friends can read these books as long as he signs a contract promising to read deeply.Clay has plenty of time at night to think and play on his computer.
Enter the love interest Kat. She is a Google employee. This is where I believe the plot went wrong. We have to read a lot of jargon and techy stuff. The plot leaves California and heads to New York where we meet a secret society including clocked hooded men(shades of Dan Brown and The DaVinci Code) The society is looking for the key to immortality. Then there is a whole issue of the make believe font called Gerritszoon. It was all too much.
I think Mr Sloan would have served us better if he had developed his characters especially Kat rather then explaining about the bells and whistles at Google.
All is wrapped up very quickly at the end of the story..perhaps too quickly like the author just wanted to be finished with this book.We did have a lively discussion at our book club and there were those that loved the book. I am told the paper back book glows in the dark but since I had the Kindle edition I of course was not privy to this. Maybe the techies can find a way so that the eBook readers can experience this. LOL

Book Review: Twain’s End by Lynn Cullen

Disclaimer: I received this free Kindle book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Took me awhile to get through this book despite it being a good read. It was actually a great read but I was reading other books at the same time. I liked that I could keep returning to this one and pick up right where I left off. If you are a Mark Twain fan and don’t want to hear any NEGATIVES about Samuel Clemens then DO NOT read this book. The genre is historical fiction and the author has certainly done a lot of research. The story focuses on Samuel Clemens, his alter ego Mark Twain(the sweetheart of America),his secretary Isabel Lyon and their complicated relationship.Clemens’ daughters and wife Livy also play important roles in the story, especially daughter Clara.Clara is spoiled and petty and is not a likeable character. My impression was that Samuel Clemens had many faults and was not at all like the folksy Mark Twain. He was moody and mean spirited. Isabel loved him despite his faults. She was interviewed by Hal Holbrook when he was doing his one man Broadway show on Twain. She would not say an unkind word against Clemens although she would have had plenty of reasons to set the record straight and redeem her good name. We find out immediately in the story that Isabel married Clemens’ business manager Ralph Ashcroft with Sam’s blessing and then a month he was slandering both of them. Then the back story begins. It is well written and the story is easy to follow. Helen Keller even makes an appearance with Anne Sullivan. My takeaway was the Samuel Clemens wanted to preserve the Mark Twain image at all costs including the fact that he did not want his autobiography published until 100 years after his death. This November it is being released in three volumes.It is 5000 pages. Lynn Cullen does a great job in telling this story.She also wrote Mrs Poe which will now be on my TBR list.

Writing 101: Assignment Three

One Word Inspiration: Regret

“Two roads diverged in a wood..and I took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference” Robert Frost

The assignment is one word inspiration. I chose regret. I am going to put a different spin on the word. Do I have regrets? …  lots of them but I refuse to dwell on something that cannot be changed

My story is about something I will not regret.

Vietnam was ramping up. I was in nursing school. I learned about the Army Student Nurse program where you could stay in  school ,get the same pay as a private first class and then upon graduation and passing RN exam,you promised the Army two years of service. You were then commissioned as a second lieutenant. I was all in. My parents were not and I needed their permission. I had led a sheltered life and lived in a small town. Not many people left. They were worried about their youngest going out into the rapidly changing world. It was the 60’s and troubled times were upon us. I convinced them to sign the papers and I was off. I was leaving that small town behind and headed for the great adventure. First stop: Ft Sam Houston Second stop: Ft Polk Louisiana.(most of soldiers that were headed to Vietnam were trained at Ft Polk where the weather was hot and humid) After Ft Polk ,that was it and family thought I would be coming home. But it didn’t happen. I extended my time and ended up in Vicenza Italy for two years.

How could I ever regret my decision? Oh the places I went and the people I met.(apologies to Dr Seuss) My eyes were opened as I learned to deal with so many different people. Some were like me but many  were not. They didn’t look like me or think like me. But I learned about acceptance and inclusion from them. They taught me there is room for all in this world.

I met my Texas husband in Italy. He was also serving in the military.We are both proud veterans.I left the Army Nurse Corps as a Captain.

When they dedicated the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Washington,D.C.(it is right in front of Arlington National Cemetery) I was there for  the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony five planes flew overhead. They were all piloted by women. It was awesome and years later I still remember the emotion. My name and  a short bio is in the database of the Memorial.

Recently my name was added to a Veteran’s plaque in my hometown in Massachusetts.

I think Mom and Dad were proud of the decision their daughter made. They came to know that the road less traveled has made all the difference this small town girl’s life.

Writing 101:Assignment Two

Write a list: Things I Like (not written in any particular order)

• Granddaughters
• Peace and Quiet
• Books
• Bible study
• Good Wine
• Good Margaritas
• Eating out
• Book club
• Library
• Volunteering at library
• Historical Fiction
• Dancing With the Stars
• Cats
• Cardinal birds
• Soft rainfall
• Blue skies
• Fall Colors
• Biographies
• Sunsets
• Starry Nights
• Books
• Writing
• Learning
• Volunteering
• More Books
• Flowers
• Morning Glories
• Hydrangeas
• Dogwoods
• Friends
• Cool walks
• Coffee
• Chocolate
• Gentle breezes
• Haircuts
• Christian Books
• The Pope
• My Church
• Red Sox
• NE Patriots
• The Masters
• Museums
• Fine Art
• Venice
• Books
• Sunrises
• New England in the Fall
• Texas in the Winter
• Independent Book Stores
• Amazon Prime
• Local Theatre Groups
• Listening to other people’s stories
• Facebook
• Kindle
• Blogs
• Net Galley
• Hugs
• Email
• Google
• Pinterest
• Words with friends
• Photos
• Photography
• Cook Books
• Seven Little Words
• Shopping with Coupons
• Groupon
• Remembering
• Did I mention Books and reading??

Writing 101: Assignment One

I write because I read. I read because I love words.  Changing one word   in a sentence can alter it’s entire meaning.Thoughts swirl around in my mind like a whirlpool.Some days they get on paper and other days they go down a different path and get lost. So I write so I can get those swirly,whirly  thoughts on the WRITE path.

The Last September:Book Review

Disclaimer: I received this ARC book(digital version) from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was like getting re-acquainted with an old friend. The setting was Cape Cod where I spent many a vacation. It is autumn and one can hear the waves gently lapping on the shore. The novel is suppose to be a murder mystery but it is also a love story. Brett is married to Charlie and is working on her Emily Dickinson dissertation. The novel has snippets of Dickinson’s poetry and some facts regarding her life.(some I was not aware of until I looked up the information) Charlie is a gourmet cook but he doesn’t always use his talents other then to cook for his wife. He doesn’t hold jobs for very long. But he is fiercely loyal to his brother Eli and despite his faults he does love Brett and his daughter Sophie. Eli may be the saddest character in the book. From the first sentence you know that Charlie has died but it is the back story that gives life to the Charlie character. And as we learn more about the relationship between Charlie,Eli and Brett the “who dunnit” aspect of the book almost takes a back seat.The writing overall is lovely. The characters are well developed. I loved this book for the easy telling of the story.Because of the beautiful prose one feels as if they are drifting through the story rather then just reading it. Despite the murder,I felt like I was witness more to a story where the power of love prevails.

The Girl With No Past :Book Review

Disclaimer: I was sent this ARC from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This read did not feel like a psychological thriller but rather like a mystery in which the reader is given many twists. Perhaps I feel this way since my last read we a real psychological thriller(The Winter Girl)
The story centers on Leah who lives in a time warp due to two tragic incidents that happened when she was a teenager. She likes routine. She has her job,her books,her apartment and no friends. But her character changes rapidly and that is where I see the flaw in this book. She goes from almost a recluse who doesn’t trust, to someone who trusts new acquaintances including an online person. Her change is brought about because of some anonymous emails that reveal someone knows her secret past. Rather then going to police(as most would do) she decides to handle things on her own.That choice brings her into dangerous territory. I just felt the character change bordered on unbelievable.
This is a fast read and on the plus side you do want to find out Leah’s secrets which are revealed towards the end. Some of those secrets can be figured out before the end of the book
The writing was not good and I couldn’t help but think that perhaps this was written for young adults.
In the end we are still left wondering if Leah will follow a real friend’s advice about not wasting the life you were given.
All in all the plot was good but the characters and writing certainly needed tweaking. I give the book 2 stars meaning it was OK