JOYCE'S CHOICES: 2018

October 2018

It's been six years of blogging...hundreds of books discussed and reviewed. So many wonderful readers and supporters around the world! It's time to take a break...still reading, but less writing about it!

In the meantime, remember that reading is a great escape in today's world. No matter how much stress we have at work, in personal relationships or countless other issues faced in daily life, it all slips away when you lose yourself in a great story.

So goodbye for now, and remember to step away from all your distractions, crack open a book, and replenish your soul for a little while. We all need that!

ONE TO WATCH!! THE LAST TIME I LIED

I'm downloading this book! Sounds like a great read....THE LAST TIME I LIED BY RILEY SAGER has what it takes to hold my interest says the New York Times! "A creepy premise and a jaw dropping bombshell, long buried secrets and a narrator with a haunted past" says the reviewer.

What more do you need? Hopefully it will be a real "treat"... Right Onslow?

Anne Tyler is Back! (July 2018)

I just received this notice from Goodreads.com
My favorite author Anne Tyler has come out with a new book! Can't wait to add it to the top of my To Be Read list...

Dear Joyce,

July will be even sunnier this year with the publication of Anne Tyler’s charming new novel of self-discovery and second chances.

In Clock Dance, Tyler explores the big and small moments that define a woman’s life. Willa Drake can count hers on one hand—as a schoolgirl coping with her mother's sudden disappearance, as a college coed considering a marriage proposal, as a young widow trying to piece things back together. And many years later, when she receives a startling phone call from a stranger. Without fully understanding why, Willa flies to Baltimore to look after a woman and child she’s never met. This impulsive decision will lead her into uncharted territory; solace and fulfillment await in unexpected places.

Clock Dance is both a delightful addition to your summer reading and a thought-provoking exploration of how we become the people we are—and how it’s never too late to try something different.

Enjoy!

WAKING LIONS JUNE 2018

I'm currently recommending WAKING LIONS by Ayelet Gunnar Goshen. It's a thoughtful tale focusing on the most difficult questions an individual and country can face. There are harsh ethical dilemmas faced by well developed characters. Not a profound story but suspenseful to the very end.
So glad to find something that holds my interest! They've been few and far between!!

Below are some notable titles releasing soon.....Thankyou Bookreporter.com

ANOTHER SIDE OF PARADISE by Sally Koslow (Historical Fiction)
In 1937 Hollywood, gossip columnist Sheilah Graham’s star is on the rise, while literary wonder boy F. Scott Fitzgerald’s career is slowly drowning in booze. But the once-famous author is charismatic enough to attract the gorgeous Miss Graham. A notorious drunk famously married to the doomed Zelda, Fitzgerald fell hard for Sheilah, who would stay with him and help revive his career until his tragic death three years later.

CALYPSO by David Sedaris (Humor/Essays)
When he buys a beach house on the Carolina coast, David Sedaris envisions long, relaxing vacations spent playing board games and lounging in the sun with those he loves most. And life at the Sea Section, as he names the vacation home, is exactly as idyllic as he imagined, except for one tiny, vexing realization: it's impossible to take a vacation from yourself. With CALYPSO, Sedaris sets his formidable powers of observation toward middle age and mortality.

THE DANTE CHAMBER by Matthew Pearl (Historical Mystery)
Five years after a series of Dante-inspired killings disrupted Boston, a man is found murdered in the public gardens of London with an enormous stone around his neck etched with a verse from THE DIVINE COMEDY. When more mysterious murders erupt across the city, all in the style of the punishments Dante memorialized in PURGATORY, poet Christina Rossetti fears that her brother, the Dante-obsessed artist and writer Gabriel Rossetti, will be the next victim.

THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY by Ruth Ware (Psychological Thriller)
On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person --- but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money. Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it.

THE GRAY GHOST: A Sam and Remi Fargo Adventure by Clive Cussler and Robin Burcell (Thriller/Adventure)
In 1906, a groundbreaking Rolls-Royce prototype known as the Gray Ghost vanishes from the streets of Manchester, England, and it is only the lucky intervention of an American detective named Isaac Bell that prevents it from being lost forever. However, not even he can save the good name of Marcus Peyton, the man wrongly blamed for the theft. More than a hundred years later, it is his grandson who turns to Sam and Remi Fargo to help prove his innocence.

PROBABLE CLAWS: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown (Mystery)
Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen is excited to build a new work shed designed by her dear friend, local architect Gary Gardner. But when Gary is shot to death by a masked motorcyclist, Harry begins to burrow into her friend’s past --- and unearths a pattern of destructive greed reaching far back into Virginia’s post-Revolutionary history. As soon as Harry finds incriminating evidence, the killer strikes again.

SHELTER IN PLACE by Nora Roberts (Romantic Suspense)
It was a typical evening at a mall outside Portland, Maine, until the shooters arrived. The chaos and carnage lasted only eight minutes before the killers were taken down. But for those who lived through it, the effects would last forever. As the survivors slowly heal, find shelter and rebuild, they will discover that another conspirator is lying in wait --- and this time, there might be nowhere safe to hide.

WHAT AM I READING? (MAY 2018)

I can't seem to find a book that I've really loved...that I can't put down....that I've been totally immersed in..and that I want to recommend! But I'm still hopeful!

I finished An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Despite the quality of the writing I don't know what all the hype was about. I appreciate the serious story line and the impact on the black community but I had difficulty aligning with the characters and found the book slowmoving.

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a good beach read. Pretty standard story much like Gone Girl and Girl on the Train....not as good as either but held my interest. Refreshing to read something mindless occasionally.

Tangerine by Christine Mangan will make a great film. Very convoluted storyline, fabulous setting in Tangiers, and fast paced....Because I've traveled to that part of the world, I'm taken in by the vivid descriptions of the country.....However, too many events seem unlikely and gradually it all feels confusing and absurd. Haven't finished it yet so stay tuned....

I have a long TBR list...so moving on ....

A STORMY TALE APRIL 2018

It's a good thing Hemingway had several wives because Paula McClain tells their stories so adeptly. Her last book, The Paris Wife focused on his first marriage which became a long time New York Times bestseller. This new release sounds like another spellbinding saga focusing on Martha Gellhorn ...another wife. Each book tells a singular story with Hemingway as the leading man...and deservedly so!

Thankyou Bookreporter.com for the detailed review below.

LOVE AND RUIN by Paula McLain (Historical Fiction)

In 1937, 28-year-old Martha Gellhorn travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in the devastating conflict. It’s the adventure she’s been looking for and her chance to prove herself a worthy journalist in a field dominated by men. But she also finds herself unexpectedly --- and uncontrollably --- falling in love with Hemingway, a man on his way to becoming a legend.

In the shadow of the impending Second World War, and set against the turbulent backdrops of Madrid and Cuba, Martha and Ernest’s relationship and their professional careers ignite. But when Ernest publishes the biggest literary success of his career, FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, they are no longer equals, and Martha must make a choice: surrender to the confining demands of being a famous man’s wife, or risk losing Ernest by forging a path as her own woman and writer. It is a dilemma that could force her to break his heart, and hers.

HELLFIRE CLUB (APRIL 2018)

No one knows politics like Jake Tapper! Tapper has written a fast-paced thriller, full of suspense and intrigue, sex and danger....what more could you want?!!!

The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper

This political thriller tells the story of Charlie Marder, an unlikely Congressman trying to navigate Washington, D.C.'s political scene in the 1950s. Following a mysterious car accident, Marder and his wife find themselves thrust into a shady subculture of secret societies and off-the-record deals. When Marder discovers a conspiracy plot, he finds that his career and his life are in jeopardy.

ALTERNATE SIDE BY ANNA QUINDLEN

ALTERNATE SIDE by Anna Quindlen (Fiction)
Audiobook available, read by Ellen Archer

Some days, Nora Nolan thinks that she and her husband, Charlie,
lead a charmed life --- except when there’s a crisis at work, a leak in
the roof at home, or a problem with their twins at college. And why not?
New York City was once Nora’s dream destination, and her clannish
dead-end block has become a safe harbor, a tranquil village amid the
urban craziness.

The owners watch one another’s children grow up. They use the same

handyman. They trade gossip and gripes, and they maneuver for the

ultimate status symbol: a spot in the block’s small parking lot. Then one

morning, Nora returns from her run to discover that a terrible incident has

shaken the neighborhood, and the enviable dead-end block turns into

a potent symbol of a divided city.
Reviewed by Katherine B. Weissman.

NOTES

Anna Quindlen has always been a favorite author. Not only is she a
Pulitzer Prize winner but has written over nine books. ALTERNATE SIDES
has received mixed reviews but as a loyal follower, I'm attempting it.

Keep tuned....

Thankyou www.bookreporter.com for your comments.

WHAT AM I READING?

I was looking for something atmospheric, great characters and basically a well written, easy read. Sunburn by Laura Lippman is an intriguing mystery that unfolds at a leisurely pace...just what I wanted!

A mysterious woman with a past and a detective hired to track her. These two threads of the story lead to an exciting tale. Trite, you say? Oh well, maybe ..... but it kept me guessing and wanting more!

At the end of the book, I was left thinking, what the heck just happened?!! I recommend it ...it's nothing as it seems! A fast read, suspenseful and a page-turner....just what I was in the mood for....

NEW IN PAPERBACK From Bookreporter.com

March’s New in Paperback Roundups

March’s roundup of New in Paperback fiction titles includes
CAMINO ISLAND, John Grisham's thriller from last year that
openswith a gang of thieves staging a daringheist from a vault
deep below Princeton University’s Firestone Library --- and the
action never lets up from there.

David Baldacci’s END GAME, which marks the
return of CIA assassins Will Robie and Jessica Reel, who are
sent to investigate the disappearance of their handler, code-named
Blue Man --- and find themselvesup against an adversary with superior
firepower and a home-court advantage.

THE STARS ARE FIRE by Anita Shreve, which centers on an
extraordinary young woman who is tested by a catastrophic event,
and is based on the true story of the largest fire in Maine's history.

THE LYING GAME, an instant New York
Times bestseller from Ruth Ware, who has written a chilling novel
of friendship, secrets, and the dangerous games that teenage girls play.

Among our nonfiction highlights are THE RADIUM GIRLS
by Kate Moore, which fully illuminates the inspiring young women
exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring
strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances.

JACKIE'S GIRL, an endearing coming-of-age memoir
by a young woman who spent 13 years as Jackie Kennedy’s
personal assistant and occasional nanny --- and the lessons
about life and love she learned from the glamorous first lady.

Be sure to check out www.bookreporter.com

SPRING PREVIEW

Here's what Bookish.com had to say about upcoming Spring releases. Lots to look forward to......

Spring is an amazing season. We clean out our homes, we spend
more time outside, and we get to watch flowers bloom anew.

There are so many must-read fiction books coming out this
spring that we can’t wait to get started. Whether you’ve been
waiting for the new Michael Ondaatje novel or you’re a
Clarice Lispector superfan, there’s a book on this list for every
reader. Dive on in!

Be sure to check out Bookish.com for more information!

FEEL FREE (MARCH 2018)

If you're a fan of Zadie Smith, now you can see what's really going on in her head! These essays range from Smith's thoughts on everything from interviews with pop culture icons, to her views on films, music, works of art and so much more. Yes, this is an essay collection but one you won't want to miss....

Feel Free

By Zadie Smith

It seems that nothing is beyond the purview of Smith, who, between acclaimed novels, publishes must-read essays on Brexit, her mother's fascination with toilets, Justin Bieber, Jordan Peele's Get Out, and 27 other subjects, curated in this provocative collection.

— Natalie Beach

AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE (March 2018)

All the critics praised this book. "So many layers and messages". Of course it's about a marriage which leads to family... which leads to angst....which leads to heart-wrenching characters. In this case it's an emotional journey that takes an in depth look at a marriage that has been dealt a severe blow. Suspenseful and beautifully written it's an engaging and enlightening story.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

The quietly devastating effects of mass incarceration hit one recently married couple hard in Tayari Jones’s moving new novel An American Marriage. Roy and Celestial are upwardly mobile Southerners considering expanding their family when Roy is arrested and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. The rest of the novel explores the fallout, through letters and deftly-handled switches in points of view. Though it’s a heavy subject, Jones wields a light hand, imbuing Roy, Celestial and their friends and family with nuance and sympathy. What could have been an overwrought, didactic allegory about the prison industrial complex, is instead a subtle, powerful portrayal of ordinary Americans and the human costs of unjust systems.

BUZZFEED.COM

SUNBURN (MARCH 2018)

"Atmospheric" is the term reviewers have used to set the scene for Lippman's new novel. That immediately commands my attention...This sounds like a captivating story..Don't miss it! According to several blog readers it's a must read....

SUNBURN by Laura Lippman (Psychological Thriller)
Audiobook available, read by Susan Bennett
They meet at a local tavern in the small town of Belleville, Delaware.
Polly is set on heading west. Adam says he’s also passing through.
Yet she stays and he stays --- drawn to this mysterious redhead
whose quiet stillness both unnerves and excites him. Over the course
of a punishing summer, Polly and Adam abandon themselves to
a steamy, inexorable affair.

Still, each holds something back from the other --- dangerous
lethal, secrets. Then someone dies. Was it an accident,
or part of a plan? By now, Adam and Polly are so ensnared in each
other’s lives and lies that neither one knows how to get away ---
or even if they want to. Is their love strong enough to withstand
the truth, or will it ultimately destroy them? Reviewed by Ray Palen.

- Click here to read more about the book.

Thankyou Bookreporter.com for this review.

IT TOOK A BOOK (MARCH 2018)

I'm sort of back blogging again.. so many of you reached out, I felt the time had come to stop shopping for our new digs and concentrate on my true passion...Books! And it's a lot cheaper!

A friend recommended PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee and I was hooked! This is an epic novel spanning 500 pages of storytelling written in a simple evocative writing style. No wonder it was a National Book Award Finalist.

Without giving away too much, it's focus is four generations of a Korean family and all the complicated relationshops and struggles that ensue.

Take this book on your next vacation or staycation ....or anywhere! I loved it...It made me realize that reading is the true escape!

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March’s New in Paperback Roundups