Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 5 Stars - unique, complex and hard to explain

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shadow of the Wind is an unusual book. This is the kind of book which may cause the reader to question over and over - do I like this book? In turns I found it dark, disturbing, uplifting, frustrating, puzzling, concerning, etc. etc. But, in the final analysis, I found it to be so unique and atmospheric as to be a book I could not put down, and a book I know I will never forget.

How to explain it.... On the day 10 year-old Spaniard Daniel awakens to the horrible sense that he can no longer remember the face of his dead mother, his father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. He tells him this is a secret he must not reveal to anyone else and this trip changes Daniel's life. Daniel is told he is to select a book within the stacks which is to become his private mission - this book will be the one he personally will protect. Daniel selects The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax.

Daniel falls in love with Shadow of the Wind and begins a quest to locate other books by Carax. But, he is stunned to find the several titles written by Carax are difficult to locate. Someone has been systematically buying or stealing all copies in order to burn them. And, there is a great mystery surrounding Julian Carax himself. Is he alive? Did he die in Paris? Was he murdered in Barcelona? What became of the woman he loved? Who wanted him dead?

Shadow of the Wind is a book of great atmosphere - almost Gothic in nature. Set to the greatest extent in Barcelona, we experience the underbelly of this city during a time of great upheaval - the Spanish revolution and World War II. There are many characters and each has their story and their secrets. Initially, Daniel's search is simply to learn more about the author and to locate more of his titles to read. But, soon his quest becomes an obsession and Daniel finds it is a dangerous game he is playing. With his father suffering from grief, Daniel finds himself turning to others for assistance and information. Some are honorable, some he can trust, yet others are playing their own game. I am not going to get into names and descriptions of characters here because there are just too many and the relationships are so complex.

The twists and turns, the lies, the violence, the physical danger, the mysteries, the plots, the subplots, all make The Shadow of the Wind a sometimes frustrating read, but it is always interesting. The language is so rich and the story so involved. On one or two occasions you will jump up in your chair and say "WTH?" or "OMG".

There are many sexual references, and a few sex scenes, but none are graphic. The treatment of women in the book is difficult to experience, but seems very true to the era, which is the 1940's and 1950's. The evil and violence can be jarring, but the story has a sub-theme regarding madness and revenge that requires these kinds of scenes.

As a reader, I often seek the author's objective in writing the story. Is there a message or a lesson? I don't know if there is one in Shadow of the Wind. This is more of an it is what it is type of book. The language, the characters, the atmosphere, the mysteries, the romances - these are what this book is all about. This is also the first book in the series and I guess I can't wait to get my hands on the next.

For any of you who tend to read the end of the book first, that would be a major mistake. The beauty in this title is in the unfolding of the story, the complexity of the characters, and in the shifts and surprises along the way. This is a very rich book that kept me fascinated throughout.

Highly recommended for patient readers who are able to appreciate the slow yet relentless unfolding of a complex story.

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Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton - Fun new series 4 Stars

Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an advance readers copy of Curious Minds in exchange for my honest review.

Janet Evanovich has a new new hit series started with Curious Minds. In Riley Moon and Emerson Knight she has created endearing characters with enough quirks to make you laugh, enough heart to make you care, and enough money to finance the great adventure.

Riley Moon, former Texan and daughter of a sheriff, has just completed her education with her law degree from Harvard and has now joined the wildly profitable mega-bank Blane-Grunwald. As the new rookie, she is given a less than desirable task - talk to and calm down billionaire investor Emerson Knight who is feeling uneasy about his investments - particularly his gold. Highly good-looking and eccentric Emerson Knight turns out to actually have good reason to worry - there is something going on with the gold supply in the United States. And, he aims to find out what is going on.

In her efforts to appease the billionaire, Riley finds herself caught up in the middle of the mystery herself. However, those interested in obtaining the gold for themselves are ruthless and this endeavor is both dangerous and exhilarating for Riley and Emerson. Luckily, the quirky, odd, yet sexy Emerson, seems to be continually coming up with new plans filled with expensive equipment and unusual contacts. Riley is pulled against her will into the adventure, but is just plucky enough to make him a great accomplice.

As the first story in the series, this one is very satisfying. The two main characters have just enough sass and over the top confidence to believe they can overcome the danger and beat out the bad guys. There is just a hint of sexual attraction that leads you to believe more will come of this during the series, and that is pretty fun. The red-headed, Texan Riley who is drawn into Emerson's plans over and over again against her will is just enough off the wall to make her fun and engaging. Emerson is a man with awkward social skills, unlimited funds, complete confidence in his ability to fix things, and amazing good looks. Riley is at first repelled by his strangeness, then objects to his directing of her life, but slowly starts to warm to his boyish charm, while he appears to be charmed by her almost from the beginning. As a Jane Austen buff, I was immediately reminded of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. This sounds like a very good mix of main characters and should provide plenty of fodder for future stories.

My only concern with this first story is that the ending and resolution of the situation felt a little rushed and kind of haphazard. Although, to be honest, this was not an easy situation to resolve, and could not involve a simple case of turning the bad guys over to the police.

Now, here is my long-term concern for the series. As a reader, I found Stephanie Plum in her series, although a funny and engaging character, to be a non-changing person doing the same type of thing over and over again and getting similar results. Thus, I was bored with that series early on. Obviously, millions of readers did not have the same concern, but I am hoping in this series the authors can give us more in the way of character development. Could we please see the main characters grow and develop? Could we see their relationship change and evolve? I would hate to see 25 books of Knight and Moon with Riley still living in her little apartment and following Emerson unwittingly through adventure after adventure with him continuing to sleep in the tent in his living room.

Otherwise, as a first book in a series, this one is so fun and definitely highly recommended.

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Death at the Day Lily Cafe - 3 Stars - Forgettable but author has potential

Death at the Day Lily Cafe by Wendy Sand Eckel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an advance reader's copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Death at the Day Lily Cafe is a cozy mystery set in small town America. The main character is divorcee, Rosalie Hart. Rosalie has inherited her aunt's farm and has started a restaurant serving locally raised, organic produce and locally made pastries. Life is almost idyllic for Rosalie, her daughter Annie, staff at the cafe, including Glenn, Crystal and Custer, and Tyler, who works on the farm and is slowly working his way into Rosalie's heart.

However, this is a mystery series, so someone has murdered local flooring construction owner Carl James, or CJ Fiddler, and the Sheriff believes it was his wife, Lori. Doris, Lori's sister, is desperately looking for someone to help find the real killer because the Sheriff is sure he has his murderer. So, Doris and Lori turn to Rosalie who has previously helped solve a case in the area. Rosalie jumps into the fray, and the Sheriff is not too pleased.

The story is gentle, without much angst or violence and the characters are nice people who work hard and are looking out for each other. The story also has a touch of romance, and a lot of great sounding food from the cafe, with some recipes included at the end of the book. The murder is fairly quickly tied to greed, so we know it is unlikely anyone else is in danger. Rosalie carefully goes from one neighbor to the next questioning what they know about CJ, Lori and the possible motive for the crime. The Sheriff is not a nice person, but he also is working hard and his past is putting him in a vindictive mood.

Another reviewer used the word I would use to describe this story - forgettable. Despite the nice people and the good food and the mystery, the story just isn't that exciting, the dialogue is pretty mundane, and the resolution of the murder comes as a surprise, but without any great excitement or climax. This isn't a bad story. I gave it three stars, which means I liked it. But, I would not go out of my way to read the next or first books in the series. I think, though, this author has potential!


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Reclaiming History by Vincent Bugliosi - blast from the past - review from 2008 5*

Reclaiming History: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by Vincent Bugliosi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(Note:  I wrote this review in 2008.  This is one of my all-time favorite non-fiction books and I hate to have it forgotten.)

Wow! I finally finished this book! I am now adding it to my favorites list.

Vincent Bugliosi has written THE definitive book about the Kennedy assassination. Yes, it is well over 1500 pages (small margins, small font), but it is written in a very readable narrative style and I read it in chunks (over several months!)

First, if you do nothing else, you must read the first section "Four Days in November" just to get a feel for the minute by minute who was where, who did what, who said what, etc. This is so superbly written you will feel as if you were there yourself.

Then Bugliosi takes you piece by piece, step by step through each and every piece of evidence. In addition, you begin to understand Oswald, Ruby, members of the Warren Commission and their staff at a depth never before attempted.
Huge chunks of the book, which could be separate books in themselves, provide us with biographical information about Oswald and Ruby, and bring to life their families and friends.

Bugliosi spells out 53 (!) separate pieces of evidence which point to Oswald’s guilt (and to no one else’s!). And, believe me; he goes into great detail on the validity of each.

In "Book Two" every major conspiracy theory you can think of is dissected in great detail. Was it the mob, KGB, pro-Castro, anti-Castro, CIA, FBI, LBJ? Each is covered.

Did you see the movie JFK by Oliver Stone? Bugliosi totally rips it apart and explains the disservice Stone has done to our nation by pulling together a fantasy, and swearing it is truth and history.

Finally, what is the conclusion drawn by Bugliosi? "The purpose of this book has been twofold. One, to educate everyday Americans that Oswald killed Kennedy and acted alone, paying for his own bullets. And two, to expose, as never before, the conspiracy theorists and the abject worthlessness of all their allegations."

I am totally a believer. No other book I have read about the assassination and/or its aftermath has laid out such a compelling argument. No one else has notated every point, named names, quoted quotes, in such a way as to totally make their argument. This man spent 21 years on this book, completing almost all of the research himself. He has served his country well. Now, I, for one, can let JFK rest in peace.

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Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 5 Stars and a strong Highly Recommended

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the greatest joys in reading comes when you read a book that is truly original and you know when you read it is a special book. This is the one. The book you will read and tell all your friends they have to read. This is the one they will be making into a movie in the next few months and everyone will be be clamoring to see. Luckily, this author is also the one writing the screenplay, so let's hope they can do some justice to the book with the movie. But, as a librarian, I can only say, the book is almost always better than the movie.

This is the kind of science fiction tale that can be read by anyone. It is action, adventure, romance, family, science, futuristic, improbable, everything wrapped up together. Maybe scifi readers have read a book like this, but I have not and I can just say - Wow!

Our lives are a series of choices we make - hundreds per day, thousands that truly make a difference in the direction our lives take. But, what if we had taken the path not chosen? A theory of multi-universes believes these alternate lives are being lived in another dimension. What if someone found a way to move within these multi-verses?

Jason Dessen physics professor and a man who could have been a great scientist is kidnapped. He wonders if he will ever see his wife and son again. He has good reason to question this - the life he was living has been taken by a Jason Dessen 2 who chose the path to become a great scientist and has found a way to move within these dimensions. He has dumped Jason 1 in his own world.

This story is too complex and too unusual to explain much more - it will only spoil it for you. But, the story is so fast-paced and full of surprises, you will find yourself questioning everything. When I read a book that causes me to think about identity, life choices, family, love, etc. it is a book I want to share with others. I loved Dark Matters and I can't recommend it highly enough. Very unusual and quite a ride.

I obtained a free advance readers copy with the understanding I would write an honest review.

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Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon 5 Stars Unique and Compelling

Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon grabbed me from the outset and I found myself unable to stop as it took me on a ride through the past, the present and the future. I had no expectations of this story, which was probably a good thing, as it was so unusual I don't know if any expectations would have been valid.

During the great California earthquake of 1906 a very strange phenomenon occurs which prevents the residents of Greengage farming community from leaving the area. A deadly fog surrounds them making it impossible for them to leave. They wait, patiently or impatiently, for someone to arrive to rescue them. Four months later a young woman named Lux appears through the fog with an almost unbelievable tale. Although only four months have passed at Greengage, Lux has arrived from the year 1975. And, despite Lux's ability to move through the fog unharmed, this is not true for the Greengage residents. They are still trapped and it is still 1906 for them.

Lux is an unwed mother of a five year old named Bennett or Benno as he is commonly known. Lux had a painful break with her father in her early teens and it has continued to get worse, particularly with her unplanned and unwed pregnancy. Benno is invited to visit her parents, however, and while he is gone, she decides to go camping. It is the night of the full moon when she is surrounded by a fog that leads her to Greengage.

At Greengage, Lux meets Joseph, the visionary who created the community, his wife, Martha, and many others. Joseph's ideas for the community stem from the teachings of his mother - he sees Greengage as an opportunity to give everyone equal opportunities, regardless of their sex, race, etc. Joseph is also a man who experienced problems with his father, but finds the work he is doing to be the antidote. He is fascinated with the future Lux describes, as well as disappointed that society has not moved forward with the issues dear to his hear - equality, the environment, etc. Lux finds much of what she has always been seeking at Greengage - being treated as an equal, being respected for what she contributes, the chance to engage in fulfilling work, etc.

Lux cannot stay, as she needs to get back to her son. However, Greengage compels her to seek it out every full moon. But, the fog is not there every full moon, and is present erratically. It turns out that every time the fog is present and Lux returns to Greengage, only one month has passed in their time, regardless of the number of months that have passed in her time. Thus months or even years may have gone by in Lux's San Francisco time, while only one month has passed in Greengage. This becomes a serious factor in the rest of the story. Lux must leave before another full moon passes at Greengage, or she has no idea how much time has gone by in San Francisco time.

Valley of the Moon is a compelling read with the time changes and the variations from one time to another. However, the true story is about the separation of family, the inability in our world for people to be treated as equals, the search for a better world and place where we can all belong. Lux is a woman beaten down by shame and inequality who finds a place where what she brings to the table is more important than the labels placed on her and her son. Greengage is a Shangri-La where the utopia is tinged with the inability to leave without dire consequences, and the people there feel this entrapment.

I fell in love with Lux, Joseph and Greengage and believe this is a story worth reading. Highly recommended.

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Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani - Coming of Age for a 30 something - not my cup of tea 3 stars

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I try very hard not to make these kinds of judgements, but sometimes I honestly believe I am not the right audience for a book. I found this to be true of Very Valentine. I enjoyed it, but believe someone in a different situation might find themselves enjoying it more.

Valentine is a 33 year-old, Italian American shoe maker. The story centers around a few key aspects: Valentine's new relationship with chef and restaurant owner Roman, Angelini Shoes which is owned by Valentine's grandmother Teodora with Valentine as the key designer, and the very Italian American family surrounding them. Angelini Shoes, it turns out, is very deep in debt and is not really making enough money to call itself a profitable business. And, to top it off, Valentine's father is diagnosed with what he calls "prostrate" cancer.

Valentine is, therefore, struggling in several ways. She wants a romantic and loving relationship with Roman, but his business is taking up the majority of his time. In addition, Valentine's brother, Alfred is on her Gram to sell the building that houses Angelini Shoes in order to get herself out of debt and allow for a retirement, given she is 80 years old. Valentine is coming into her own as an artist and creator of shoes and is heartsick to think of the business going down without a fight. An opportunity arises for her to enter a competition to win the chance to display her shoes in the windows of Bergdorfs. This could be the making of both her and the shoe company, although it is a long shot.

Basically, this is a coming of age story for a late bloomer. Valentine has never had to take anything in her life too seriously, but now everything is hitting the fan at once. How important is the shoe business to her, and is she capable of putting her all into it? She loves Roman, but is she willing to give him her all, as well as demand from him what she needs? Can she get the support she needs from her family to finally break out of her role as "the funny one" and be considered a serious business woman? What about the health of her parents and grandmother - will she be capable of stepping into their shoes?

Although an enjoyable story with a lot of fun and funny sequences, I just found Valentine too immature for my tastes. She seemed to fly and back and forth between her concerns about developing as an artist and business woman and her sensitivity about being taken seriously. She continues to rely on her Gram while wanting to be independent. She wants to be special to Roman without having to allow him to be special to her. This story may appeal more to women in a similar age group to Valentine. For me, it was a case of it having just been too many years since I have needed to focus on these issues.

The story was fairly predictable as well. We could pretty much see each situation coming. But, the family was enjoyable, although somewhat stereotypical. All in all, not a bad read, but not one I would go out of my way to recommend.  I personally found it boring.



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