BEST READS from 2019

     

I was willing to forego last year’s best list, then again, how can I say I was satisfied with my read list if I didn’t actually say why I was satisfied in the first place. So, weeks went by and here I am, late as usual.

In no particular order, here are the best books I read last 2019:

   

Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden:
The Winternight Trilogy may not be the most epic trilogy there is but it definitely holds power that I will always embrace it close to heart. The mixture of old tales I knew as a child with grand history is both fascinating and immersive. And Ms. Arden writes so beautifully, too. She ended this trilogy on a very high note. Not many had been successful in that attempt. You may want to try the audio version as well, read by Kathleen Gati.

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick:
I love reading books about books and library settings. Book lovers are the most interesting people, right? A reminder that we should protect all the Marthas in the world. I read this twice in a row. Simply wonderful. And Ms. Patrick picks the most curious protagonist.

The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris:
There are very few series I follow through the years and Chocolat is one of them. Lansquenet-sous-Tannes and its people feel like home to me. And I will continue reading them for as long as they exist.

The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg:
I love Berg’s take on people. I love her characters, including their flaws. I’m glad she gave her characters another motivation in life. I’m glad to have met Arthur and wishing there’d be more like him in the world. I’m happy knowing that his kindness survived him and will continue effecting.

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay:
I breezed through this. I love that this book loves the books I love. And the life lessons are spot on. Ms. Raey wrote these different facets of womanhood profoundly that oftentimes hit closer to home. Very keen and inspiring.

Find Me by André Aciman:
You should see the quotes I tabbed in this book! But that is not why this book is special. It is because of the hope it carries, not just for Elio and Oliver, but for everyone who may read it. It says that having an unlived life is living the wrong life and that we owe it to ourselves to find it. The audiobook was read by Michael Stuhlbarg.

Killer Instinct by James Patterson and Howard Roughan:
I love my share of action and espionage and this one didn’t fail to deliver. I (maybe) love this more than I love the first one. I am patiently waiting for the next installment.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern:
Enchanting! This is a nod to many stories I’ve read before and more. A sharp reminder of why I love reading books in the first place. We live for stories - we love reading them, hearing them, creating our own, and reliving them inside our heads. It says that "A book is made of paper, but a story is a tree." Just imagine all the branches and buds it sprouted. The cast of narrators did a wonderful job in the audiobook version, I highly recommend it.

As always, I'm excited to meet my next best reads. I'm sure you are too, friends!



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THANK YOU, 2018!

With respect to reading, 2018 was a good year. I’ve read 45 books in all, 21 out of that were five-starred. I know my numbers are measly compared to other readers, but I am really happy with my results. No one or two stars. Yay!

If you want to see My Year 2018 in Books via Goodreads, give it a click here.

Here are my most favored reads, in no particular order:

• PEACHES FOR MONSIEUR LE CURÉ by Joanne Harris (Chocolat #3) – Going back to Lansquenet and joining all the old and new characters were a wonderful experience. Ms. Harris’ words are always so tasteful, I enjoyed them very much.
• A MEMOIR OF AN ADVENTURE: The Argentine Tango Chronicles of Senor Don Roberto Juan Carlos Fuljumero y Suipacha by Robert Fulghum – One of my favorite authors. I knew Tango was exquisite, but it is even more so in Fulghum’s writing. As always, gleaning precious insights from Robert Fulghum's writing is a gift.
• THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF NICOLO ZEN by Nicholas Christopher – A boy pretending to be a girl and deceiving Master Vivaldi, I was instantly intrigued by the premise.
• THE INEXPLICABLE LOGIC OF MY LIFE by Benjamin Alire Sáenz – This was nominated for various awards, and rightly so. I love how Sáenz fleshed-out his characters; I love their goodness, their flaws, their pain, and their connections.
• HERO AT THE FALL by Alwyn Hamilton (Rebel of the Sands #3) – The whole series will stay with me for a long time. It’s magical!
• MURDER GAMES by James Patterson, Howard Roughan – An exceptionally satisfying read. I loved Dr. Dylan Reinhart from the very beginning.
• GOOD TIME COMING by C.S Harris – A hauntingly beautiful coming-of-age tale.  Louisiana 1862, a time when children cannot be children and adults will never be the same.
• BEAR TOWN by Fredrik Backman (Björnstad #1) – This was a departure from Backman’s usual whimsical stories. The premise was heavy with a moral dilemma and no one can easily forget this one.
• WHO KILL THE INNOCENT by C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #13) – I thought that it would be difficult to top Where the Dead Lie, but C.S. Harris has proven me wrong, yet again. I love, love this series!
• LABYRINTH OF THE SPIRITS by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (El Cementerio de Los Libros Olvidados #4) - Reading this installment is like taking a long exhale, unraveling everything slowly. Book #4 is worth the wait if only to read Fermin's witty dialogues again.
• SPEECHLESS by Adam P. Schmitt - One of the many reasons I love Middle-Grade books is that they give me a whole new set of lenses to look through. It is a very well-written, memorable story.
• BRIDGE OF CLAY by Markus Zusak - It's beautiful! It's sad, lyrical, and beautiful.
• WHEN ALL IS SAID by Anne Griffin – An absolutely brilliant read, coming this January 24th. Do put this one on your TBR.

Now, of course, I have special mentions:

• HELLO, UNIVERSE by Erin Entrada Kelly – Winner of the 2018 Newbery Medal. A tugging tale, replete with diversity.
• NEWS OF OUR LOVED ONES by Abigail DeWitt – A compelling read, perfect for historical fiction lovers.
• BRITT-MARIE WAS HERE by Fredrik Backman – Another charming book – it can be funny and heartwarming, other times, it can be sad.
• HOUSEKEEPING by Marilynn Robinson – It’s the absolute quietness of this book paralleled to the turbulent emotions it evoked inside that struck me. It is tragedy enveloped with disturbing calmness. Ms. Robinson snags me every time.
• EUPHORIA by Lily King – Special thanks to Tin who gave me a copy. This story will shift something inside of you. The melancholy was absolute.

My 2018 wish was fully realized, I’ve read some really satisfying books. I wish the same for this year. And maybe, more books in the mail, please and thank you.

It’s THE PAGE WALKER’S 6th bloggy birthday. Thank you for following, for the emails, and bounce rates!

Happy 2019, everybody!

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Here's To New Beginnings

   

Happy 2018, dear readers!

Last year was really busy for me. The move from the Philippines was extra challenging -been to places, made some new friends, and tackled some pretty weighty obstacles. I labored to realign some priorities and that helped me grow these past months since I came here in Canada. I took a couple of online courses from the University of Toronto and earned my certifications last November 2017. I had an odd job to gain a Canadian experience, which was not all that bad since I gained some good friends and connections through it.

   I managed to squeeze in a few readings, here and there. And here's what Goodreads has to say about it... (click photo)

I'm not a mathematical genius, but I'm pretty sure I counted only 37 books in there. Anyways, here are my best books for 2017 (in no particular order):

1. The Awakening by Amanda Stevens -I love how this series ended. It showed how Amelia evolved immensely and exacted due retribution in the process.
2. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - Ove’s an unlikely hero with an exceptional story.
3. Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone by Phaedra Patrick - It tackles family and communal issues, childlessness, and one's sense of self-efficacy with a good sense of honesty and depth.
4. The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce - I still cannot talk about this book. It was so painfully keen, and yet, I can't recommend it highly enough.
5. Where the Dead Lie by C.S. Harris - A favorite historical fiction series. There's no book in this series that I don't like. Every single one of them went through thorough research.
6. Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino - This is my 2nd Higashino, it doesn't disappoint at all. If you want a good mystery, you have one here.
7. The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce - Another RJ book, yes. The reader has to listen to this book intently, don't just read it.
8. A Murderous Procession by Ariana Franklin - the ending of this installment got me in knots for some time. I wish there was a way to finish this series.
9. Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen - A short read, but dense in many ways.
10. And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman - My second FB book. I cried without tears with this one, I don't know how else to express how heartbreaking it was.

The notable ones are:

1. I Murdered My Library by Linda Grant
2. See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
4. Nutshell by Ian McEwan
5. Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin 
6. Autumn by Ali Smith
7. Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
8. The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball

Wow, that's half of what I read last year. But that's exactly what I promised myself, that I'll aspire reading really satisfying books. Hopefully, 2018 will be filled with them, as well.


Let us be optimistic that my blogging will improve, too. I'll still be posting ARC reviews, some pre-Blogger reviews, Wednesday Spotlights, and maybe some Author Interviews. We'll see. Stay in touch.


Oh, by the way, it's The Page Walker's 5th Bloggy Birthday. Thank you for staying with me.

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THE 3-DAY LATE YEAR-END POST

Happy 2017, Everyone!

This is our annual welcome post, where I get to show you my year of reading, my top list for the previous year, and my wishes and perspective for this glorious year ahead of us. On top of that, The Page Walker’s 4th birthday is just around the corner. So, I bid you greet me a Happy Bloggy Birthday. Go ahead, don’t be shy.

Goodreads was good enough (pun not intended), to compile our yearly reading for us. So, simply click on the photo above and you’ll be electronically transported to that beautiful cover collage.  According to Goodreads, I read 62 books last 2016 (rereads not included). Pretty good job for a lazy sloth like me, I guess. The thing is I don’t regret reading any of these books. In fact, I’ve had some very satisfying reads. Most of them were real tearjerkers, some were bloody murder, and some were as scary as hell.

Last July 2016, I’ve already posted half of my best list, so, I’ll just add the rest here.

1. Stormy Weather by Dermot Davis – This is a philosophical challenge. I chose it for my TFG Bingo card because it posed a very intriguing storyline. I had a huge take from this story because it tells the story of a therapist struggling with his own priorities.
2. Leave Me by Gayle Forman – I connected with this book. The main character voiced every exhausted mother’s plea and call for validation.
3. The Sinner by Amanda Stevens – This is the 5^th installment of the Graveyard Queen. And I admit to loving this series too much because it scared me out of my pants (and out of my bed, too).
4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows – Another book for the TFG Bingo. This is a sweetheart. I dearly love all the exchanges.
5. All In  (The Naturals #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
6. Bad Blood (The Naturals #4) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – The Naturals is one freakin’ psyched series. I love it.
7. Stay Where You Are And Then Leave by John Boyne – The same guy who wrote The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas wrote this book, so, I don’t need to tell you to grab a huge roll of tissue when you read this.
8. The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino – This book is deceptive, I tell you. It lulled me into believing that it’d be the perfect murder. Then, the ending happened, and I totally lost it. Bloody murder and a tearjerker, rolled into one. What a punch!
9. A List of Cages by Robin Roe – This debut novel crushed my heart most assuredly. It made me cry, it made me angry – I felt absolutely helpless. The roll of tissue failed to rescue me from this one. I highly recommend this.

I’m proud of my TFG Bingo Challenge, even though I’m 4 books shy of completing a blackout. I finished 21 books, with 5 patterns.  I had great times exploring books to fit into each category and enjoyed most of my choices. Kudos to the mind who sacrificed both time and effort in creating such challenges. You can click on the pattern below to embiggen.

2016 turned me into a very lousy blogger, averaging to 2 entries a month. There is no excuse, really. Simply, lazy and uninspired. As I said earlier, The Page Walker is turning 4 this January. So, it’s time to seriously put the -ING into ADULTING. I’ll do my best to post something significant every week.

As to my reading, I still aspire to read satisfying books -those books that wounds, scars, and mends; those that will scare the wits out me; and those that will keep me at the edge of my seat (or perch, or wherever). I may even read a lesser number this year, but I want to make sure that all of them are those I've really wanted to read. Like the literary awardees I've been keeping an eye on; those series I've been missing; and those short story collections that have been gathering dust on my shelves. I'd be random and eclectic as always.

Again, thank you for putting up with me all through these times. I appreciate all the emails, the shy people who prefer not leaving a comment, and those who share my links. Sorry for not replying promptly to your emails, or for ignoring most of them. I am an awful, awful blogger, sorry. Yet again, to all the publicists and authors, kindly read my policy thoroughly before sending me an email. And if you could maybe get my name right sometimes, that would be awesome.  😉 Goodspeed!

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BEST BOOKS of 2016 ...so far

  As we reach the middle of 2016 -notwithstanding my expedient tardiness- it's time to take a look back at the best books  I've read so far. Presented in no particular order, here are the reads I've to shelve from January to June with my highest rating.

• The Visitor by Amanda Stevens - This 4th installment from the Graveyard Queen series is the creepiest the author has come up with, and it made my (eager) wait really worth it.
• When Falcons Fall by C.S. Harris - I can't remember a book from this series that I don't like. Mostly, because the author is a great historian, and with the full knowledge of her subject, she's able to seamlessly weave historical facts and fiction convincingly together. And the suspense here was killing me, so I read it overnight.
• Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein - A fun, fun read. I love how this book does its best to encourage children to experience the joys of reading and appreciate the many things a library can offer. Makes me wish I am a kid again. But sad that children in the Philippines will not fully experience this since city/public libraries are close to nil.  This book has a good range of book recommendations, from different genres, it's just wonderful.
• The Children Act by Ian McEwan - This first encounter with the author is totally awesome. He is a great conductor that masterfully directs words into playing what wrecks the heart in the most compelling way. Now, I'm a fan.
• Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman - I am simply in awe of the love this book contains. Probably, one of the major influences why I loved the London Spy series so much. 
• 15th Affair by James Paterson, Maxine Paetro - This is probably the most conflicting installment in the series. I stayed awake until almost two in the morning just so I could finish and close the book in peace, but I ended up tossing and turning miserably in bed instead. If you are familiar with the series, you'll know where I am coming from.
• Faithful Place by Tana French - When I started with the series, little did I know that I'd be very interested with tough Frank Mackey. I learned, later, underneath all that hard shell is a tender heart afflicted by a past, and I felt his ache.
• Surrender, New York by Caleb Carr - After four years, Carr's new novel is well-timed and worth waiting for. I highly recommend it. 

Meanwhile, my runner ups are:

• Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen - the narration is very akin to having an intimate conversation with a friend. The author is very insightful.
• The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig - Incidentally enough, this appeared to be on Book Riot's Best Books for 2016, so far.
• My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout - This too appeared in Time's Best Books for 2016 So Far.

And with that, I bid you "good hunting" for your next best book, while I go back to my slothful existence. Ta-ta!

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SOUP REVIEWS | 5

Crime Series.

Who Buries the Dead (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery, #10) by CS Harris

This latest installment in the series is set in London, 1813. A plantation owner in Jamaica and eclectic collector, Stanley Preston, was found decapitated at the Bloody Bridge. The crime itself was gruesome enough, but when a coffin strap was found with the inscription “King Charles, 1648” Devlin was doubly intrigued.

Men after another are dropping as Devlin digs into the root of the crime. He and his wife, Hero, soon found out firsthand the dangers these investigations are rousing. Devlin’s suspects run from the Home Secretary to Devlin’s previous senior officer during the war, and to Jane Austen’s brother (yes, that Jane).

I enjoy reading this series not just because Sebastian St. Cyr is a great protagonist, but because Ms. Harris is a great historian. Her writing always grabs me from the first page. Her detailed description of London comes alive, from the high streets to the down-trodden Fish Street. This is a very enjoyable read despite the macabre subject.

Book details:

Title:  Who Buries the Dead

Author:  CS Harris

Publication:  NAL, March 3, 2015

Rating: «««««

The Geneva Strategy (Covert-One, #11) by Jamie Freveletti

High government officials are being kidnapped around the US capital. All of them are involved in the drone military program. The Covert-One team is mobilized to recover these missing people. Along the way, Jon Smith has to figure out the connection between his recent run with some furtive men trying to abduct him with a drone in tow, and Fort Detrick’s institutionalized researcher Dr. Laura Taylor and her research on a memory drug.  

This is Ms. Freveletti’s 2nd contribution to the series. Her story outline and foundation are very interesting. The momentum flows very well, never hard to follow. I admire Ms. Freveletti’s effort in handling this series, seriously I do. But I didn't enjoy this the way I used to. It feels like she’s stirring the characters in a different direction. This series started with great and rounded characters, built slowly over time. And readers have invested in them for a long time. To give them a sudden shift is like reading a diluted version of them.

I do, of course, realize that Robert Ludlum is one hard act to follow. It’s just that I always look forward to this series and expected a lot.

Book details:

Title:  The Geneva Strategy

Author:  Jaime Freveletti

Creator:  Robert Ludlum

Publication:  Grand Central Publishing, February 3, 2015

Rating:  «««½

Lemon Meringue Murder (Hannah Swensen, #4) by Joanne Fluke

Summer in Lake Eden is always something to look forward to, especially the July 4th parade and fireworks. The Cookie Jar is thriving and they are now selling pies every Friday. People swarm the place with pre-orders every time. Norman Rhodes bought the house near the lake from Rhoda Scharf. He plans to demolish everything down and built their “dream house” on top of it. With Norman’s permission and assistance, Hannah and her mother, Delores, agreed to scout the place for some antiques worthy of resale.

When they arrived, they are welcomed with a box of Hannah’s very own Lemon Meringue pie laid on the kitchen counter with only a slice eaten off. But the real surprise is Delores’ discovery of Rhoda’s dead body down in the basement.

This is one cozy series. I like how this is growing on me and the characters, too. A good, easy read. And the recipes are plus factors, no doubt.

Book details:

Title:  Lemon MeringueMurder

Author:  Joanne Fluke

Publication:  Kensington; First Edition edition, March 1, 2003

Rating:  «««

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SOUP REVIEWS | 4

Short Stories.

  

For days, I have been contemplating how to post these short stories I've read recently. Then, I remember that I have this feature. It had been idle for such a long time, more than a year in fact. So for Nochebuena, we will have some soup... Soup Reviews, that is.

***

The Writer & the Witch by Robin Sloan

   There was this bridge, many tales have crossed it. A curse, a house, a library, a father, and a sacrifice were among them.

He had carved out a strange little kingdom,
there where the river met the road, just beyond the bridge.

When I was young, I enjoyed listening to my mom’s old aboriginal tales. When the night is due, she would stop and I would ask, “What happened next?” She would reply, “That’s for tomorrow night.” And so, it was.

This short story is something like that. A tale weaved intricately, best told before bedtime, or over a campfire. The storyteller will wait for the question, “What happened next?” before she/he will go on. The story deserves to be heard in full- in all its astonishing points, in its saddest moment, and in its fortitude.

Rating: ★★★★

The Door to Lost Pages by Claude Lalumière

   This is a collection of short stories loosely weaved together with one common factor, a bookshop named Lost Pages. Stepping through is like walking into a nightmare, and I meant that both in a good way and a bad way.

Clearly, this book is a spin-off of Paul Di Filippo’s Lost Pages, who also wrote the foreword. I enjoyed Lalumière’s prose and plot. He was able to create an atmosphere fully charged with phantasmagoria, but left enough room to squeeze in some tenderness in the midst of it. I was touched by Aydee’s plight

When the weather was like this,
she felt the world reflected hers sense of place in life:
neither this nor that; neither here nor there;
perpetually on the brink of transformation;
unwilling to settle for just one potentiality.

My biggest issue, I guess, is the sex scenes. I never mind sexual content for as long as they are exquisitely done. I've read American Gods by Neil Gaiman; I was never bothered by the Queen of Sheba’s man-eating vulva. But Lalumière’s sex scenes were tasteless, in my opinion. I know that it is unfair to make comparisons, and the scenes were necessary for the story to move forward, yes, but I cannot shake off the feeling that it was forcibly written in that manner for the sake of adding some spice.

Rating: ★★★½

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

   Fushigina Toshokan is the original title for this short story, first printed in 2005. As the title implies, the story is very strange indeed. Told in a dream-like fashion, the protagonist was able to relate his experiences from the bowels of an unidentified city library.

As far as the story goes, a boy had the most terrifying misadventure while borrowing books from a library. There is nothing far special other than how the strangeness was won by the boy with some help from newly earned friends. But like any Murakami books, nothing is as it would seem in his theme of surrealism and loneliness. The full impact of this strange tale comes at the ending. 

The tricky thing about mazes is that you don't know
if you've chosen the right path until the very end.

All of us, young and adults alike, have different ways of coping with loss. The process is sometimes nightmarish. And our boy protagonist is teaching us that no matter how deep and labyrinthine the bowels of loss is, with a bit of hope and bravery, there’s always a way to survive.

Rating: ★★★½

A Faraway Smell of Lemon by Rachel Joyce

   This is a short Christmas story and not a cheery read for the season, but in Joyce’s few words it conveyed a profound understanding of life’s ups and downs.

Everyone around Binny is on the rush, doing their best to finish their last Christmas shopping. Meanwhile, Binny’s feelings are debating whether to succumb to heartbreak or keep a strong front and celebrate Christmas with her children.

No matter how much she rails,
there are some things that are gone forever…
It is enough to have tiptoed to that space beyond the skin,
beyond our nerve endings,
and to have glimpsed things that beforehand we only half knew.

What started as an unpremeditated meeting with a shop girl, tending a small store for household products, turned out to be a compassionate encounter. As much as good things happen, we cannot simply shoo away the bad ones. Such is life. It is never easy, but sometimes it is the small menial things that may help us pull through by reminding us how something worn and dirty can still be revived. 

Rating: ★★★★★

The Museum of Literary Souls by John Connolly

   If only all book lovers may be granted such an opportunity, it is more than awesome.

Mr. Berger was leading a quiet life when he witnessed a woman commit suicide by the train tracks, in the small town of Glossom. No one believed him, especially the police. But a few days later, he saw the same woman again by the train tracks. This time, he was able to stop her and follow her back home… to the library.

It's a natural consequence of the capacity of a bookstore
or library to contain entire worlds, whole universes,
and all contained between the covers of books.
In that sense, every library or bookstore is practically infinite.

John Connolly magically stretched the mystery of bookshelves into doors and rooms of unimagined possibilities. His words are like a web of spells, spinning a tale I don’t want to end. The story was so beautiful and fulfilling, a true delight for a book lover like myself.

Rating: ★★★★★

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SOUP REVIEWS | 3

Detective Stories

Hi.  It had been busy for a while.  I'm sorry for not writing any updates lately.  I hope this next soup review will make up for the inactivity in this blog.  I had a great time reading these books, and I hope that you can find time to read them too.

The Janus Reprisal by Jaime Freveletti

This is the ninth book in the series, started by Robert Ludlum, and this is Freveletti’s first contribution.  It was subtle, but refreshing to read Jon Smith in a more vulnerable character, he was fleshed out nicely.  Well, almost all of the characters were, which I think was good.  Seeing a different side of these characters is always welcome.  Yet, none of the actions was the second rate. 

Knowing that Jon Smith is an officer and doctor of the USAMRIID, there’s a biohazard involve.  Terrorists attacked a hotel in The Hague in time for an infectious disease conference, killing scientists and politicians alike.  From not too far, at the International Criminal Court, a bombing occurred followed by the escape of the Pakistani warlord Oman Dattar, who happened to have a great grudge on the US.  As always, Covert-One is a fast-paced, escalating, and an “edge-of-the-seat” experience.

I love this series, and, maybe, always will.  I have you know that Jon Smith is a fictional crush. ♥

Book Details:
Title: The Janus Reprisal
Author: Jaime Freveletti
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Rating: ★★★★

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This novel is not a detective story, but there is a lot of detecting involved.  It’s a story of domestic violence gone viral.  Nick Dunne is the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance.  The way things are looking, a murder case may be slapped on his face, if he can’t find his wife soon.   He’s not sure of what to do, but he knows (without a doubt) that his wife is framing him.

To describe this story as totally sick is an understatement.  There’s something uncomfortable about the narrative and characters that urged me to aimlessly hammer out frustrations and vileness.  The complexities of the characters were great, and that makes Gillian Flynn a brilliant writer actually.  Using a unique narrative, she was able to accelerate her story into a well-built plot; keeping her readers guessing for the next thing to happen.  And I did like how she gave the intricacies of marriage those certain twists that the reader can either agree or disagree, adding to the mystery.

I already got Gillian Flynn’s other books, so, it will not be long before I read another story from her.  Thanks to Tricia, Lynai, Erika, Tin, Iris, Mei, Camille, and Mae for buddy reading with me.

Book Details:
Title: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Publisher: Crown

Rating: ★★★★

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

This is Hannah Swensen’s second book in the series.  She is no detective by the way.  She’s a cookie shop owner and a wonderful baker, apparently not too busy to have time snooping around.  She has a knack for discovering dead bodies and detecting who did the deed, even though she’s perfectly aware of the danger involved.  Go ahead and imagine her as the adult version of Nancy Drew with great baking abilities.

This time a Dessert Bake-off judge, and a local news writer were murdered.  She didn't waste time and got onto the snooping business as soon as she knew that a friend might be blamed for the murders.  Hannah was pretty close to being murdered.  Only her smarts saved her by a hairline.

I love how I audibly say “whew” at the end of every Hannah Swensen mystery solved.  And I sooo love the recipes.

Book Details:
Title: Strawberry Shortcake Murder
Author: Joanne Fluke
Publisher: Kensington
Rating: ★★★★

The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr

When we speak of detectives, we either speak of Batman or Sherlock Holmes –the two greatest.  The Italian Secretary is a pastiche of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.  I am no Sherlock expert, but this being written by Caleb Carr himself, I know it will be good, and I was not wrong.

The story focused on the ghost of David Rizzio haunting the Holyrood House.  Holmes and Watson were summoned by Queen Victoria through Mycroft Holmes, to investigate the murders that occurred recently in her Edinburgh residence.  A much diabolical plot lied underneath these murders, and it was not just up to Sherlock and Watson to capture the killers –the whole household of Holyrood House was involved.

It was a delight to read Caleb Carr’s prose once again. 

Book Details: 
Title: The Italian Secretary
Author: Caleb Carr
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Rating: ★★★★

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I saved this one for last because it seems difficult for me to write something about this without actually spoiling a thing or two in the story.  So let me just say these instead…

I love the whole story plot -the setting, the characters, and the twist at the end of the story.  Elizabeth Wein is a very gifted writer.  She was able to move the story forward in each chapter without revealing the final twist or any probable outcome.  All throughout my reading, I was fervently hoping, waiting, and biting my lower lip.  That doesn't happen often, it will really take very good writing to do that to me.  And it took me days to read this, absorbing the story carefully, lest I miss a clue somewhere. 

I believe that Code Name Verity is that kind of story I’ll never get tired of rereading.  I may have not cried a bucketful at the end of the story, but when I read the last “KISS ME, HARDY” in the story my eyes welled up and it was inevitable to hold it back.

Book Details:
Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Rating: ★★★★

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SOUP REVIEWS | 2

Pulitzer Prize Winners

These two books were contenders last April F2F. Both were outvoted by Gilead, written by Marilynne Robinson; since I know that both were equally good, I took the time to read them the following month. For me, they are interesting because of the fabrics that enveloped them.  The first coating would be their respective cultures.  The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao has no qualms relegating everything Dominican throughout the plot; while Interpreter of Maladies narrates the stories of Indians living in America in various circumstances.  The second coating is their journey in search of love beyond the barriers of fate and generation.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

The book centers on Oscar Wao and his family.  It was stated that the main subject was the curse of the Cabral de León family, fukú.  Yet, it’s no mistake that the driving force of the whole novel was love. All the characters were fueled by these two factors, no wonder they were always confronted by unspeakable violence. Truly, I was inspired by each character’s tenacity in life.

As the title suggested, we know that Oscar was destined to die.  His predicament throughout the story was his inability to find a woman who would love him back despite his incapacity to embody a typical Dominican male, both of flesh and spirit.  His search led him to a very heartrending end.

“Nothing else has any efficacy, I might as well be myself...
It is, lamentably, all I have.”

Most of the story was narrated by Yunior, Oscar’s best friend.  It was curious because Yunior is everything opposite  Oscar, they were night and day.  He has the physic and charm lacking from Oscar; yet he never had Oscar’s, faithful stubborn heart.  Something he found so stupid but admires very much about Oscar.  He had full rein in telling Oscar’s story, and the reader can recognize his devotion to his friend.  His narration can start from being funny to solemn, deadly serious, or grim.

Díaz was able to cross intertextual references from Sci-Fi to high fantasy, and comics.  And magical realism allowed him to bring in the supernatural elements into the story, which speaks naturally of Hispanic superstitions.  Also, he had no difficulty stitching Dominican history to make everything crispy.

Book Details:
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Author: Junot Díaz
Publisher:
Rating: ★★★★

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

I've read very few books of short stories and I found them all wonderful. Different perspectives on different life lessons, conflicts, or thoughts, bound by one concept. Interpreter of Maladies is no different from that.  Jhumpa Lahiri has the knack in approaching any simple situation as another lesson in life. It wasn't overthinking; just simple things we neglect to ponder on, which may sometimes make a great impact and change the course of our lives.  The stories have profound concepts that will bring the reader to a stop and look at life with new eyes.

"Believe me, don't believe me. My life is composed of such griefs you cannot even dream them." ~ A Real Durwan

Lahiri meticulously guided her readers to understand miscommunication further; in how our failure to interpret what we feel, or mean, may affect how we are truly seen by another person.  Oftentimes, we too have a distorted view of others, of our prejudice in trusting them to hear us out.  Healthy communication is something we struggle every day to earn and keep.  The lack of it may sometimes sever relationships.

The book also tackled the concepts of marriage, child and parent relationship, and religion.  Although these are reasons for joy and celebration, they can also be the beginning of secrets, doubts, and frustrations. There are certain levels of accountability and mutual respect in different relationships.  Our actions will affect others one way or another.

And since the book tells the lives of Indians living in America, the concepts of tradition, immigration, and the environment were never far behind.  The characters wrestled with their newfound identity, acceptance, and compromises.  Assimilation requires honest hard work; there is no easy way around it.

Book Details:
Title: Interpreter of Maladies
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
Publisher: Mariner Books
Rating: ★★★★★

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Both books showed us characters that were in conflict with themselves and with each other, or with a situation in life.  Both have their own special ingredient that made them worthy of a Pulitzer Prize.  In a nutshell, these books have everything a reader wants for entertainment and good moral shake.

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