Thursday, June 12, 2014

Mini Bookish Thoughts: A Little Bit of This and That

First Sentence: There was one universal truth in Lucky Harbor, Washington - you could hide a pot of gold in broad daylight and no one would steal it, but you couldn't hid a secret. 

Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis (Grand Central Publishing, 2014; 352 pgs) ~ My guilty pleasure.  This is my second Shalvis book (the 10th in the Lucky Harbor Series--each book is a stand alone), and truly and utterly brain candy.  A contemporary romance set in a small coastal town; a steamy romance between a somewhat aloof and angry police detective and a sweet and independent woman who fate seems to slap down at every turn; a theft; and, well, didn't I already say a steamy romance?


First Sentence: I stood in the shadows of a deserted shop front across from The Blood and Brew Pub, trying not to be obvious as I tugged my black leather pants back up where they belonged.

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (HarperTorch, 2004; 416 pgs) ~ How could I not have started this series years ago?!  It's so perfectly me!  Witches!  An urban setting!  Magic!  Supernatural beings!  A cool neighbor!  A Mystery!   Action!   Bring on the next book, please.



First Sentence: "Can you hold up those guys with the body bag, Loo?" 

Death Angel by Linda Fairstein (Dutton Adult, 2013; 384 pgs) ~ This is the 15th book in the Alexandra Cooper, New York Assistant District Attorney, series, the book I thought I read but hadn't.  Thank goodness I had it on hand.  Set in Central Park, this murder mystery takes some interesting turns, including carrying several different story lines: the homeless, a missing child, murder, stalkers, a hint of romance, the very wealthy to the history and geography of  Central Park.  And of course, the usual office politics.  There was a lot going on in this novel, maybe too much (so many different threads, not all of which came together in the end), but I enjoyed it.  And now I'm officially all caught up with the series!



First Sentence: Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Dutton Books, 2012; 313 pgs) ~ This is one of those books that made me melt as I read it.  I loved Hazel.  I loved Augustus even more.  Sure, he is a bit too perfect, but given the text is narrated by Hazel who thinks he's pretty perfect, is it any wonder?  I can't blame her really.  He was awesome.  I even loved Isaac.  And Hazel's parents.  Oh, and of course, John Green.  I cried. I laughed.  When people have said this is not a book about young adults with cancer and about dying, they are only partly wrong. Because it is about that.  But mostly it is about falling in love, about expectations and disappointment, about suffering and grief--and most of all about living.  I could go on and on about the philosophical points made throughout the book, the ideas the different characters put forth--but I won't.  Read the book for yourself, if you have not already.

The movie, starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, directed by Josh Boone, was very well done.  I thought Woodley and Elgort did an amazing job--they really do have good chemistry.  I saw it hot on the heels of finishing the book.  There were changes made, which is to be expected whenever a book is translated to the big screen, but the overall feel and tone of the movie and the book were the same.  To me, that makes it a home run.  Like with the book, I laughed, and I cried as expected.  Have you seen the movie yet?

Source: All four of the above listed books were purchased by myself for my reading pleasure.


© 2014, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

22 comments:

  1. I've not read any of those... As always, I've lots of catching up to do.
    I really want to read The Fault in Our Stars; I've heard so many good things about the book as well as the movie.

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    1. Melody - The Fault in Our Stars is really good. I hope you like it if you read it.

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  2. I haven't read any of them but I do have the fault in our stars on my kindle, I may bump it up the tbr after reading your review.

    Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

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    1. Lainy - It's quite popular, especially right now, I know. I hope you like it when you read it!

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  3. Not read any either but I do so like your words braIn candy! It sounds so right

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    1. Mystica - I can't remember where I first heard the term "brain candy" but it fits so perfectly with some of the books I read. :-)

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  4. I've read and taught classics most of my life. Now, I'm all for brain candy!

    (I forgot I had Bloglovin because I never used it, now I'm happy to have it)

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    1. Jenclair - Brain candy is good for the soul. :-)

      I'm not a big fan of Bloglovin but it has come in handy now and then.

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  5. Fault, was really good. I have yet to see the movie. I preferred reading it because you could control the emotional aspect of the story yourself. Too sad... put it down. LOL. In a movie, I am that person trying not to cry that ends up crying and getting her glasses are spotty.

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    1. Ti - That was me during and at the end of the movie, Ti. Spots all over my glasses, red eyes. LOL

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  6. I have plans to see TFIOS with a friend but we both have to be in town at the same time first! I'm looking forward to seeing it.

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    1. Kathy - Did you and your friend get to see it? I hope you enjoyed it!

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  7. I love reading your mini-reviews.

    I just can't bring myself to read The Fault in Our Stars--or see the movie. I cry over books dealing with much less important issues than what Green explores. I think it's one of those books I might have been able to read before I became a mother, but not anymore. As beautiful as that book may be, I just can't handle it.

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    1. A.M.B. - I understand. I feel that way about certain books and movies too. No thank you! I know I'm not ready/able to read or watch them at this point in my life.

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  8. Interesting selection. I've only read the Kim Harrison book but have The Fault In Our Stars reserved at the library - along with everyone else who is hoping to read it before the film is released.

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    1. Tracy - Did you get a chance to read The Fault in Our Stars? I nearly decided against it because of all the hype, but I couldn't resist in the end. :-)

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  9. I've seen the Jill Shalvis one around, and I do enjoy a nice contemporary romance.
    I went to see The Fault in Our Stars with my daughter last week, she read the book already, I haven't yet. We both cried our eyes out.

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    1. Naida - I like Jill Shalvis's books. They aren't too complex and will never win a "best of" award from me, but I enjoy them. :-)

      I think my husband had tears in his eyes after The Fault in Our Stars too. :-)

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  10. I enjoyed the Shalvis quite a bit. Death Angel looks really good. I've added Fairstein to my list of authors to try because of your last review and now I'm definitely interested in her books. I will read The Fault in Our Stars one of these days! I haven't seen the movie yet but that's not really a surprise. I read a lot of books and watch a lot of TV but movies never make it to my must do list for some reason.

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    1. Katherine - Just be forewarned that Alex in the Fairstein books often has those "to stupid to live" moments. She asks for trouble, the situations she puts herself in. :-)

      I try to get out to the movies at least once a month or so. It's just something I like to do for myself.

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  11. I just got the audio of TFIOS and am not sure when I'll be able to set aside the hours to do it all at once.

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    1. Stacy - You don't have to listen to it all at once, you know. :-) I hope you like it when you do get to it!

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