From the Archives: Colson Whitehead's The Nickel Boys & We Carry Their Bones by Erin Kimmerle

I am reviving my From the Archives feature from years ago, in which I featured books I journaled about during my pre-blogging days. This new version will feature books I journaled about but did not review on my blog at the time I read them. 

As I get closer to finishing Tananarive Due's The Reformatory, my thoughts keep coming back to two particular books I read in the summer of 2023. All three books are linked together through their setting and history. I actually had written a review for the original two books back then that I meant to add to, polish and post, but for some reason I never did. I do not remember why now. Most of my From the Archive posts come straight from my journal and are not as well put together or lengthy as this one.  

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Anchor Books, 2019

Fiction/Historical; 210 pgs
Source: Own TBR

We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys by Erin Kimmerle

William Morrow, 2022

Nonfiction; 256 pgs

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

In 2023, I set a goal for myself to read at least one fiction/nonfiction pairing, and I settled on Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys and We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys by Erin Kimmerle. I read The Nickel Boys first and followed it with Erin Kimmerle’s book. Even though Colson Whitehead’s novel is a work of fiction, I couldn’t help but think of his characters as I read the nonfiction book, We Carry Their Bones. Erin Kimmerle is a forensic anthropologist with the University of South Florida who took on the task of not only locating the school’s graveyard to determine the number of graves there actually were, but also to figure out who was buried there so the families of those boys could finally get answers as to what happened to them.

The Nickel Boys is a novel set in 1960’s Florida about two boys at a so-called reform school for delinquent and wayward boys. Elwood Curtis was neither of those things. Abandoned by his parents, he was raised by his grandmother. He did well in school, held down a job, and was about to enroll in a class at the local black college. At a time when having dark skin itself was enough to be considered a crime by many of the white people in power, an innocent mistake was all it took for Elwood to be arrested and sentenced to the Nickel Academy. Elwood quickly learned that life at the Nickel Academy would be more than difficult. He is befriended by Turner, another inmate at the school who helps Elwood navigate life at the Nickel.

Touted as a school that will teach boys how to be “honorable and honest men,” the Nickel Academy was anything but. The school was divided into two halves due to the segregation of the times. While treatment on both sides was bad, it was much worse for the boys on the non-white side. Resources were scarce, mostly because of the corruption among officials and tradesmen. The boys were a free source of labor. The boys suffered all kinds of abuse—physical, sexual, and emotional—and their living conditions were horrendous. Children were chained to the walls as punishment or locked in tiny spaces and kept in isolation. Everyone knew what being taken the White House meant. Beatings and torture of the boys were common place. Some boys were taken away and never came back.

Whitehead, among other sources, uses Kimmerle’s research and findings to help shape his novel, The Nickel Boys, making it more personal and tangible in a way that only historical fiction can. His characters may be fictional, but, as Kimmerle’s research shows, what the characters had to endure and suffer through was very much the way of life at the real Dozier School for Boys. The White House is a real place as was Boot Hill, where many bodies of boys were (and some still are) buried. There were no markers and just how many people were buried there and exactly why and how they died was a point of contention based on faulty and missing records. School records show 31 bodies were in the school’s graveyard, however, Kimmerle unearthed nearly double that amount. Children of all ages were found buried, their causes of death from pneumonia, fire, blunt force trauma, and gunshots among possibly others.

The Nickel Boys was my first Colson Whitehead novel, and I found it to be extremely well written. My heart broke for Elwood, Turner, and all the other boys in the novel. The book also made me very angry at the treatment and torture these boys endured. As I read Nickel Boys, I could not help but think of some of the children I have worked with over the years in my own profession. Children who are troubled, neglected and abused. These children are not so different from the children who were forced to stay at schools like Nickel and Dozier. While I would like to believe schools like this and the treatment the children received have long since ceased, it would not be surprising to find out that is not the case. Racial disproportionality and disparity continue to be a major problem throughout the United States within the schools, child welfare and criminal justice systems, and in the medical field.

I loved Erin Kimmerle’s energy and dedication in helping identify and reunifying the boys of Dozier School for Boys with their families. Seeing the struggle she, her team, and the families of those boys had to go through to get to get answers was beyond frustrating. The roadblocks the local and state government, law enforcement, and other officials put up to hinder the truth coming out did not stop them though. This was not a secret that people wanted to get out. Even those who supported the efforts from the beginning or came around later to seeing the necessity and value in giving these boys some semblance of justice were afraid to publicly give their support, instead offering it in whispers and in private. It is shameful the lengths taken to try to stop the truth from getting out about the school and what went on there. The families of the boys, Kimmerle, and other supporters persevered, however. 

Kimmerle also provides context and history in her book—what lead to the creation of the school and how it endured as long as it did despite the many complaints, legal issues, and attempts to close the school there were. The school finally closed in 2011. It was open for about 111 years all told. Kimmerle and her team used ground penetrating radar to locate and map the graveyard to determine how many graves there really are and then begin the process of exhuming the bones and using forensic science, including DNA testing, to identify the deceased.  

Both authors touch on the long term repercussions and damage caused to the psyches of the boys who survived Nickel/Dozier. The nightmares and post-traumatic stress symptoms, in particular. The school accepted children as young as five and six years old, often for minor transgressions such as trespassing and truancy or even using profanity. Their education was scant and they were more often forced to work. To think this was just one school among many of its kind at the time. 

Both The Nickel Boys and We Carry Their Bones are excellent books in their own right. Reading the books back to back enriched my reading experience. There is so much more I want to say about these two books and my thoughts here don't really do them or the history described in their pages justice. 

I have not yet seen The Nickel Boys movie, but I do hope to soon. Perhaps after I finish reading The Reformatory. Have you read either of these books? If so, what did you think? 

---

© 2025, 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.

From the Archives: A Blogging Retrospective - August 2006

[Post idea stolen borrowed inspired by Kay of Kay's Reading Life's Bookish Nostalgia and Stacy of Stacy's Books' A Look Back features. Thank you, Ladies!]

I spent less time amongst the pages of books this month than I have in the last couple of months, but my August adventures were no less worthwhile. I traveled the world and through time, ducked a few physical and magical blows, tracked down the bad guys, and breathed in the ocean air.

And so August of 2006 came to an end. After starting my book blogging career with a bang (16 posts in the later half of the previous month), I settled into what would become my average for the next couple months with 9 posts. 

I cross-posted a couple reviews I had written for the website Front Street Reviews, which is no longer in business, as well as a few from Curled Up With a Good Book, mixing it up with books of my own. The one book I won from Harper Collins First Look Program, was my first DNF of the year. The book was Haweswater by Sarah Hall, a historical fiction novel set in 1936 England. While the prologue drew me in, I was soon bored, weighed down by description, and decided it best to set the book aside. I never returned to it.

I tried out a new mystery series called Targets of Affection by RG Willems featuring a veterinary technician, that tackled the heavy topics of animal and child abuse. Although at times on the slow side, I enjoyed the novel and getting to know the characters. The relationship between Shelby, the protagonist, and her husband, as well as her dog, Spin, especially stood out for me.

The Shattered Blue Line by Patrick A. Davis was a new to me type mystery, a military thriller, set at the Air Force Academy. Murder and politics always mean high stakes, and it proves true in this case too. Continuing with the thriller theme, I read and enjoyed my first George Pelecanos' novel, The Night Gardener. I had heard a lot about Pelecanos and was eager to give his work a try. True to expectation, the novel was dark and gritty, where nothing was simply black and white. While The Shattered Blue Line was more about guilt and atonement, The Night Gardener was centered around our actions and their consequences.

Stepping a little out of my comfort zone, I agreed to read a Christian thriller novel, the first in a trilogy by Lisa T. Bergren called The Begotten, in August of 2006. The novel has some fantasy elements and was overall an entertaining read. Not enough, however, for me to go on and finish the trilogy.

Catherine Chidgey's The Strength of the Sun stands out from my August reads that month ten years ago because it was the only book that I reviewed that didn't qualify as a mystery. The past and the present, as well as the characters lives, are woven together in a story about loss, love, and human connectedness.

That August, I revisited two series I enjoyed. It was good to visit again with protagonist, Melanie Vargas, a federal prosecutor in a series by Michelle Martinez. The Finishing School is the second in the series. Melanie is a great character, and it was interesting to see how she balanced motherhood with work, especially with such a demanding job. I ended the month visiting with my favorite wizard, Harry Dresden in Proven Guilty. I always feel a bit out of breath after finishing one of Jim Butcher's novels. 

On a personal front, I discovered that month my request to change shifts at work was accepted. At the end of the month, I would move from the swing shift to the day shift, or so I hoped. My husband and I were enjoying the second season of Veronica Mars, and Parker and Riley were as playful as ever. And so concludes my August of 2016.

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think?

Do you remember what you were reading 10 years ago? 

What was the last book you read that was outside of your comfort zone?

---

© 2016, 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.

From the Archives: A Blogging Retrospective - July 2006

[Post idea stolen borrowed inspired by Kay of Kay's Reading Life's Bookish Nostalgia and Stacy of Stacy's Books' A Look Back features. Thank you, Ladies!]


July 2006 was overcast, stormy and hot. I took advantage of a week long vacation to get in some quality reading time. My husband had a flat tire and the person at the tire repair shop switched out the wrong tire. I am sure there was plenty of cuddle time with my cat, Parker, and dog, Riley.

I'll be honest with you. The reason I decided to set up this blog at this very moment instead of tomorrow or two months from now is because I am avoiding the book I am reading.

With those opening lines, Musings of a Bookish Kitty was born on July 23, 2006. Sixteen posts went up during the final days of July, reviews mostly. I received all of one comment that month by my online book group friend, Linda Sheehan. Boy, did she make my day! I was very active in online book groups at the time, mostly through Yahoo Groups. I had been participating in them for years, enjoying the company of other book lovers who were just as obsessed with reading and books as I was. Although book blogging was not a new concept when I entered into it, the community was much smaller than it is today. In fact, I wasn't aware there was a book blogging community at all initially. I knew a couple of people who had book blogs, but that was it. When I did discover it, I was in awe of other book bloggers and the community itself. Everyone was welcoming and made me feel right at home.

Reviewing books for publishers, publicists and authors may not have been very common in 2006, but it was on the rise. I had been reviewing books for Harper Collins' First Look Program for little a while before starting my blog. There were also websites set up where readers could volunteer to read and review early releases or independently published books on those sites. I would eventually give that a try--but that's getting ahead of myself. One of the books I reviewed on my blog during my first July of blogging was First Look book, Lifeless by Mark Billingham, a crime fiction novel set in London. It was my first book by the author.

In July of 2016, My template for my reviews was more defined in terms of sections, although not much different from what I do now when it comes to content. I posted about my rating system, which I would go on to add numeric value and define a little more clearly the next year. At some point, I went in and added the numeric (1 to 5 paws) ratings in to those early reviews, although I can't tell you exactly when that was. I have since stopped rating books on my blog, although I still rate them on my reading spreadsheet and when I list books I read on sites like Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Although I reviewed 13 books that month, I read 11, which, even today, is a pretty amazing number for me.  I am tempted to copy and paste my July 2006 reading summary post because it describes the books I reviewed in July very well, as if I was traveling through the world--which I was, in a way.  My reading took me across the U.S., into Canada, and through Europe, Asia and Africa. Not to mention taking me all over history, past to present, fantasy, mystery, and more realistic fare. Most were books I owned, although one was a review book and another from a BookCrossing bookring (similar to my postal mail group, where a book is mailed from reader to reader). Just via books.

My July 2006 reviews:

• The Birth of Venus by Sarah Durant 
• Labyrinth by Kate Mosse 
• Lifeless by Mark Billingham
• The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
• The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard
• The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
• Bombay Time by Thrity Umrigar
• Tales From a Child of the Enemy by Ursula Duba
• Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
• Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn
• Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore

Three of the books I reviewed received my highest rating (Labyrinth, The Alchemist, and Tales From a Child of the Enemy) which must have been a happy surprise at the time. Even then I didn't give Outstanding ratings often. I still think highly of all three books. If I were to pick a favorite from the bunch today, I might be more likely to go with The Birth of Venus or Empire of the Sun, however. But I may have Empire of the Sun muddled in my head with the movie--which I loved. My least favorite definitely remains Christopher Moore's book, I am sad to say, which I liked somewhat, but found disappointing. I have yet to try anything else by the author.

It appears my first month of blogging got off to a great start. I certainly read and reviewed some great books that month.

• Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think?
• Do you remember what you were reading 10 years ago? 
• Do you think your opinion of what you were reading then has changed? 

---

© 2016, 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.

From the Archives: Favorites From 2006 (The Last Two Reviews From My Pre-Blogging Days)

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. Here are a couple of my reviews from 2006:

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Random  House, 2005

Fiction; 258 pgs

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is the story about the lives of two special friends in nineteenth-century China. The two girls are matched as laotongs, a rare friendship that is established between two girls specially chosen to be lifelong friends. They communicate through a secret language called nu shu. The descriptions and writing style of Lisa See, the author, brought to mind Arthur Golden with Memoirs of a Geisha. I found the historical and cultural aspects of the novel intriguing: the foot binding process, the role of women in society and within the family, for example. The chapter and description of the foot binding process was difficult to read at times. Foot binding was a big part of the Chinese culture during that time period and a reflection on the place of women in society. It was believed that foot binding was proof of personal discipline and an ability to endure the pain of child birth as well as whatever other misfortunes might come. Small feet were a sign of beauty. The smaller the feet, the better the wife. Lisa See painted a disturbing portrait of women’s roles in those days, where only having male offspring made a woman valuable and women were the property of their husband’s family. While this idea still exists today in one form or another in some cultures, it was even more widespread back then. The friendship and misunderstandings between Snow Flower and Lily brought to mind Hassan and Amir from Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. Like it did for Amir, my heart ached for Lily and the poor choices she made, which ultimately caused a riff in her friendship with Snow Flower. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a powerful novel, not one that I will easily forget, and is by far the best novel I’ve read so far this year.

The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller #1)  by Michael Connelly

Little, Brown & Company, 2005

Crime Fiction; 404 pgs

Defense Attorney Michael Haller’s clientele are not always the most popular among society. He defends drug dealers, gang members, rapists, and murderers. His most recent client promises to bring in a paycheck. He’s a well-to-man accused of raping and brutalizing a woman he picked up in a night club. As he builds his defense, Haller suddenly finds himself in the middle of something even bigger than he expected. His friend and colleague turns up dead and Haller must put his wits to the test, possibly to save his own hyde. Author Michael Connelly lets readers into the backdoor of the defense attorney world. Michael Haller is a character whose ethics and morals raise eyebrows at almost every turn. As sleazy as he seems at times, it’s impossible not to be pulled in by his charm and root for him all the way. Michael Connelly has written a funny, suspenseful thriller that was difficult to put down and kept me up until the wee hours of the morning to finish. I did find the story was predictable in how it eventually played out. Trying to avoid any spoilers, I do have to say that I did smile at the very end of The Lincoln Lawyer. Michael Connelly knows how to be true to his characters.

---

And with this, the last of my journal entries pre-blogging days has been posted to my blog. I initially began keeping a reading journal the later half of 2003 in hopes of keeping track of the books I read. I thought it would be fun, not to mention a good way to help me remember what I read. I wrote a brief synopsis of each book and followed it up with my general thoughts, often just a line or two, sometimes more, depending on how inspired I was by the book or just how much I had to say. Kind of like how my reviews seem to work out today . . . I'd like to think I have gotten better and organizing my thoughts and explaining what it is I liked or did not like about a book a bit better since I began blogging, but I also know it will probably always be a work in progress.

I posted the first one on November 2, 2008, as part of my Sunday Salon posts, referring to them as my "Reading Retrospective" posts.  In my first post, I featured the first three books I ever recorded in my reading journal in the fall of 2003: Mystic River by Dennis Lehane, The Mindhunter by John Douglas, and The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Eventually I came to post my pre-blog reviews independently as From the Archives posts.    

Many of the books I remember, and revisiting my exact thoughts after I read them has been both entertaining and sometimes even surprising.  It's amazing how our perceptions change over the years. There were books I barely remembered at all and wish I had written more about to help jog my memory.  There are those books I remember liking more or even less than I actually did when I read them. A reflection of the books, a faulty memory, or perhaps just a changing perspective over time? Maybe a combination of some or all of those things. There were also many authors I just had to read more by and yet . . . And yet, it's impossible to get to all the books we want to read.  I'm still working on it.  

I have enjoyed revisiting my reading during the time I kept my journals. My only regret is that I didn't start writing down my thoughts about the books I read sooner. Thank you for taking this journey into the past with me.

Before Goodreads and LibraryThing and book blogging, did you keep track of your reading? Have you ever looked back on your reading over the years? What stands out for you when you look back?

---

© 2016, 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.

From the Archives: Fiction 2006

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. Here are some of my reviews from 2006:

The People’s Republic of Desire by Annie Wang

Harper, 2006

Fiction; 445 pgs

I read somewhere that this book is like the popular American TV show, Sex in the City, but set in Bejing. I only saw the American TV show a couple of times. The main character was a columnist who explored being young and single in New York. The People’s Republic of Desire is much like that. Narrated by Niuniu, an American Chinese woman who returned to China after she has her heart broken in the United States, readers are introduced to contemporary Beijing and other major Chinese cities through the eyes of young women and men. The novel read like a series of vignettes and essays in many respects as Ms. Wang touches on various cultural topics regarding ethnicity, love, sex, money, and power. In exploring the lives and motivations of her friends and acquaintances, Niuniu also learns more about herself. I enjoyed The People’s Republic of Desire quite a bit. I found it entertaining and interesting. Because the copy I have is an uncorrected proof, I can forgive the multiple typographical errors. One thing I found particularly annoying in this novel, however, was that the author’s attempt to get information across through dialogue at times seemed more like a lecture and less like the conversation it was portrayed as being relayed through. This happened on at least two or three occasions. Fortunately, the book had many redeeming qualities. 

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

Dial Press, 2002

Fiction; 291 pgs

As Kate's nephew's 18th birthday approaches, memories of her life in Crow Lake resurface and at times overwhelm her. Orphaned at a young age, the Morrisons were forced to pull together to survive. Kate's two older brothers made many sacrifices for their family in order for the four siblings to stay together. Kate's recollections also took readers into the lives of the Pyes, another family in Crow Lake, whose fate seemed far worse than the Morrisons. No one in the Morrison family or even the others in their community truly understood just how bad it was for the Pye children or how their lives would eventually be connected. Crow Lake is a novel that delves into the heart of family sacrifice, community, disappointments, and family love. The novel started off slow but eventually found its groove. Kate is not the type of character that a person easily warms to. Her personality is on the dry side and yet it is hard not to feel empathy toward her and her situation. She has a lot to learn, both about herself and her family, in particular her brother Matt. I was most taken by the sacrifices her brothers made in order so that Kate, her sister and the two brothers could stay together in Crow Lake. The way the community came together for the family was heartwarming.

---

© 2015, 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.

From the Archives: Nonfiction 2006

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. Here are some of my reviews from 2006:

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
1965
Nonfiction; 343 pgs

In April of 1960, there were approximately 190 people on death row in the U.S.A. In January of 2006, that number has risen to about 3,700. Mr. Capote’s book, In Cold Blood, is considered one of the most riveting true crime novels ever written. It is the story of two men who brutally murdered a family in the family’s Holcomb, Kansas farmhouse in November of 1959, the investigation and the trial, which eventually led to their deaths by hanging in 1965. Based on interviews with the two murderers and careful research, Mr. Capote’s rendition of the events that took place in the two men’s lives was gripping and heartbreaking. Despite my wanting to see justice served for the nightmarish crimes the two men committed, I could not help but feel sorry for them on some level. Mr. Capote was able to produce empathy for them in the way he told their stories, although not taking away the desire for them to face the consequences of their actions. Mr. Capote’s vivid descriptions of time and place throughout the book brought the story into the here and now. It was well written and definitely worth reading. The book reads like a novel and is even more haunting because the events that took place are true. 

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Scribner, 2005
Nonfiction/Memoir; 288 pgs

In The Glass Castle, the author, Jeannette Walls, decided to share the story of her childhood, a story she kept secret for many years. She was raised by loving and eccentric parents: an artist/teacher mother and an inventive and alcoholic father. The family constantly struggled with poverty, moving from town to town, avoiding bill collectors, and eventually settled in a small West Virginian town. Jeannette Walls and her siblings had a difficult childhood, scavenging for food, basically taking care of themselves, and fighting off bullies, including sexual predators. This is the story about the Walls’ family’s strength, endurance and love for each other as they struggled to survive, each in their own way. The Glass Castle was a touching memoir and Jeannette Walls is an example of how a “bad” childhood can lead to a good life.

Maybe Baby by Lori Leibovich ed. 
Harper, 2006
Nonfiction; 263 pgs

I am constantly being asked if I have children, and, when I reply in the negative, the follow-up is generally the question of when. I am surrounded by people with children at work, both new parents and parents anxious to get that last child out of the roost. For most of them, despite the struggle parenthood offers, they say it is worth it—a must have experience for any person. And then there are the couple of people I know who are steadfast in their decision not to have children. In my view, there is nothing wrong with either choice. It’s a very personal one—and certainly not an easy one to make in many instances.

Maybe Baby is a compilation of essays by 28 writers who “tell the truth about skepticism, infertility, baby lust, childlessness, ambivalence, and how they made the biggest decision of their lives.” This book appealed to me because of the subject matter. In a society where more and more women and men are choosing not to have children, there is still a stigma against those who make that choice. And for those who have children, the balancing act of maintaining relationships, juggling a job and finances, and trying to be a good parent create a big challenge and is life changing. One aspect that I found quite interesting was the difference of parenting in other countries and cultures. It makes one wonder if perhaps the American culture itself doesn’t add to the stressors of being a parent today. 

I found Maybe Baby to be engrossing, entertaining and thought provoking even despite it not being my typical read. I am still not sure where I stand in regards to whether I want to have a child, but I do know that whatever decision I make will be the right one for me. [As you may know, my husband and I did finally decide we wanted to have a child, and it was the right choice for us. I still stand by my belief that whether to have children or not--and how many--is a personal choice.]

---

© 2015, 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.

From the Archives: Mysteries 2006

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. The first half of 2006 seemed to be my time for series reading. I read quite a few mysteries at that time. Here are some of my reviews from 2006: 

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4) by Agatha Christie

1926

Crime Fiction; 241 pgs 

It has been over a decade since I last read something written by the queen of mystery. Agatha Christie is an even better storyteller than I remember. Set in King’s Abbot, the novel is narrated by the small community’s doctor, Dr. Sheppard, who takes on the role of assistant to the famous now-retired detective, Hercule Poirot. They set out to discover who killed and was possibly blackmailing the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. I found Ms. Christie’s novel to be delightful to read. I enjoyed getting to know here characters and spending time in the presence of M. Poirot. 

Deadly Housewives by Christine Matthews ed.

William Morrow, 2006

Crime Fiction; Mystery; 286 pgs 

Fourteen popular mystery writers join together in this anthology of short stories about housewives and murder. The stories touch upon everything from marriage, jealousy, motherhood, and friends. Compared to the hit TV show, Desperate Housewives, the stories that make up Deadly Housewives certainly share in drama, although be prepared for something much different. While I found all of the stories entertaining, four stood out and were my favorites, written by Carole Nelson Douglas, Marcia Muller, Suzann Ledbetter, and Eileen Dryer. Some made me laugh and some held suspense. I especially enjoyed reading the “Little Black Book” blurbs that were tacked on at the end of the book. It’s always fun to see a little slice in the lives of the authors. 

Laguna Heat by T. Jefferson Parker

St. Martin's,1985

Crime Fiction; 322 pgs 

I had seen T. Jefferson Parker’s name and his books advertised now and again over the last couple of years and never really considered giving one a try. No reason in particular. I had the opportunity to hear Mr. Parker speak at the 2006 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and decided it was time to give him a chance. On the ride home from the festival that evening, I started thumbing through the book my husband was kind enough to purchase for me while there and was hooked on the very first sentence. I somehow managed to set it aside until I could at least finish the book I had already been in the middle of, but as soon as I go the chance, I picked up and started reading Laguna Heat. Homicide Detective Tom Shephard returns home to Laguna Beach, hoping for a fresh start. He left the LAPD after a fatal shooting to save a fellow officer and his failed. His first case with the Laguna Beach Police Department turns out to be a serial murder, bodies found scorched to death and a link to the past that may involve his own family and friends. T. Jefferson Parker’s novel was an entertaining read. The author’s descriptions were colorful and brought the setting and characters to life. I couldn’t help but pick out the differences as I read of life back in the mid-80’s to today. Defense attorneys would have a field day in the courtroom if crime scenes were handled that way today. I liked the feel of the book in my mind as I read it, the words, and the way the story came together. It had an old-fashioned feel to it. Tom Shephard was a sympathetic character and I especially loved his dog Cal. Laguna Heat is a good hard-boiled mystery, definitely worth taking the time read. I look forward to reading more books by Mr. Parker. 

Bad Twin by Gary Troup

 Kingswell, 2006

Crime Fiction; 258 pgs 

Private detective Paul Artisan is hired by a wealthy businessman to locate his missing twin brother. The two brothers couldn’t be more different: one being the more responsible one while the other being carefree. Artisan has his work cut out for him as he begins the investigation. While the money is great, it’s not what drives Artisan forward in what sometimes appears to be an impossible quest. He wants to learn the truth and protect a man who might be in grave danger. For all the hype Bad Twin is receiving because of its appearance on my favorite TV show, Lost, and the big question mark as to the identity behind the author Gary Troup (a character from the TV show Lost who went missing when the flight he was on from Australia to Los Angeles crashed somewhere in the Pacific), this is a wonderful little mystery that stands all by itself. Lost fans may be thrilled to recognize a name here or there, but other than that, the book is very much its own entity. The novel was extremely well written, fast paced and interesting to read at every turn. There was humor, insight, and intrigue throughout. I loved the character of Artisan’s best friend Manny Weissman with all of his references to literature, which were peppered throughout the book. I did find the book predictable in some ways and pretty much had the ending figured out with one exception; however, that didn’t dull my enjoyment of the novel at all. **After seeing the season finale of the TV show, Lost, some of the characters take on new meaning in the Mr. Troup’s novel. The Hanso Corporation and the Widmore family are linked yet again. It raises more questions for fans of the TV show, but did we really expect anything else? 

Gone (Alex Delaware, #20) by Jonathan Kellerman

Ballantine Books, 2006

Crime Fiction; 365 pgs 

Police consultant and child psychologist Alex Delaware is back in another installment of Jonathan Kellerman’s series. He joins his friend, homicide detective Milo Sturgis, in the murder investigation of a young woman who Alex had been hired to evaluate after it was discovered the carjacking and kidnapping/torture of she and a friend was an elaborate hoax. As Milo and Alex begin to unravel the life of the young woman, they find something much darker and more sinister than they ever imagined. Mr. Kellerman effectively used dialogue, especially the conversations between the two main characters, to dissect the lives of the people they were investigating as well as their motives. Although I guessed right off the whodunit part, I still enjoyed seeing how it all came together in the end. I’ve never been a huge fan of Robin, one of Alex’s love interests, but by the end of the book, I actually liked her as a character. Alex continues to be a superman of a character, however, Mr. Kellerman doesn’t forget to remind readers that all that Alex sees and goes through takes its toll on him. 

Twelve Sharp (Stephanie Plum, #12) by Janet Evanovich

St. Martin's Press, 2006

Crime Fiction; 310 pgs 

It’s impossible not to laugh out loud when reading a Stephanie Plum novel, at least I haven’t been able to resist yet. The description of Grandma Mazur and Lulu in their costumes at the Plum’s residence had tears welling in eyes because I was laughing so hard. Although Janet Evanovich is not the best author around and her bounty hunter books are out there in the believability range, she certainly tells a good yarn. I still find myself feeling bad for Ranger and Morelli, the two men in Stephanie’s life. I’m not sure I would be as tolerant and patient as they’ve been with her—and with each other. Twelve Sharp offers readers a glimpse into Ranger’s life and character when his daughter is kidnapped and his supposed wife appears on the doorstep of the bonds office where Stephanie Plum works. In between trying to catch bounties, Stephanie is also on Ranger’s trail and that of his missing daughter. Action, hilarious bumbles mixed in with the usual high jinx, and romance fill the pages of the 12th novel in the Stephanie Plum Bounty series.

---

© 2015, 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.

From the Archives: Fantasy Reads in 2006

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. The first half of 2006 seemed to be my time for series reading. Here are some of my reviews from 2006: 

The Nymphos of Rocky Flats (Felix Gomez, #1) by Mario Acevedo 

EOS, 2006

Fantasy/Crime Fiction; 354 pgs

The title is enough to incite giggles, I know. A mix of fantasy, mystery and science fiction, Mario’s Acevedo’s debut novel packs a lot of punch. His style of writing makes for an easy and enjoyable reading experience. The Nymphos of Rocky Flats is about a detective whose most recent assignment is to find out the source of a rash of nymphomania at a government facility in Colorado. As stated on the back of the book, the main character, Felix Gomez, “went to Iraq as a soldier and came back a vampire.” As Felix’s investigation begins, he finds himself and other vampires in the area being the target for vampire hunters. The storyline was unusual and creative. I immediately liked Felix and enjoyed meeting the other characters in Mr. Acevedo’s novel. The book got off to a great start and although the book took an unexpected direction into science fiction, which seemed a bit much, it still somehow worked. I would definitely be willing to read more by this author in the future. 

Inkheart (Inkworld, #1) by Cornelia Funke

Chicken House Ltd., 2003 

Fantasy/YA; 534 pgs

Mo, Meggie’s father, has an unusual gift. He can read people and objects into and out of books, a gift that has proved to be more of a curse than anything else. Twelve-year-old Meggie is suddenly thrust into a world her father tried to keep from her, when Dustfinger, one of the very characters her father brought to life, pays a visit to warn them that an evil villain is searching for Mo and the book from which both Dustfinger and the evil Capricorn came from. Meggie is a lover of books as is her father and great aunt, Elinor. As a booklover, it was difficult not to form affection for such like-minded characters. I enjoyed Inkheart once I got into it. I could have done without the first 120 or so pages, which seemed to drag on and on. The story took off when Mo finally opened up to Meggie about his gift and the story of her mother’s disappearance. At that point, I lost myself in the story and hung onto just about every word. 

Broken (Women of the Otherworld, #6) by Kelley Armstrong

Bantam, 2006 

Fantasy; 444 pgs 

Author Kelley Armstrong brings readers back into the life of werewolf Elena in her latest novel from the Women of the Otherworld series. Elena is not only the only female werewolf, she is also pregnant, something no one thought possible for her kind. Her accelerating pregnancy isn’t enough to keep her from finding trouble, however. Tasked with stealing a letter that could reveal the identity of the infamous Jack the Ripper, Elena and her pack soon find themselves in over their heads when Elena somehow opens a portal into another dimension. It soon becomes clear that she is a target to the zombies that have come through the opening. Elena, Jeremy, and Clay are determined to close the portal to save Toronto. I enjoyed the adventure of my werewolf “friends;” however, I wasn’t quite as smitten with the book as I was with other books in the series. The story didn’t grab me the way the previous stories have and the writing was unimpressive. The characters weren’t as fleshed out as they had been in previous books and I missed some of that in Broken. Although disappointing, I found the book to be a good light read. 

Cell by Stephen King

Pocket Star, 2006

Horror; 350 pgs

Stephen King is one of those authors I avoided for a long time because I knew what type of books he generally wrote. Cell is pretty much what I expected in the way of a Stephen King horror novel. I much prefer the more psychological suspense thrillers to the gory apocalyptic horror novels, and Cell definitely fell into the latter category. There was also the matter of having felt like I’d read or seen the story before. Multiple times. War of the Worlds came to mind (it was even mentioned in the book), that whole idea of searching for someone, trying to get away and at the same time trying (whether knowingly or not) to save the day theme. In Cell, artist Clay Riddell, suddenly finds himself in a real life nightmare when the people around him using cell phones appear to go crazy, attacking each other and animals on the street. Clay joins up with a couple of other people who were not affected by the strange signal transmitted by the cell phone, and they go in search of his son, meanwhile discovering the complexities surrounding the now so called phone-crazed people. I didn’t find the book in any way scary. I may have laughed at some very inappropriate times. Still, I enjoyed the story and spending time with the characters. It was an entertaining read, and even if I didn’t come away from the book with a newly developed fear of cell phones, I was holding my breath near the end, hoping for the best, hoping the “good guys” would come out on top. 

Single White Vampire (Argeneau #3) by Lynsay Sands

Dorchester, 2003

Romance; 369 pgs

Kate C. Leever is the new editor for reclusive author, Lucern Argeneau, whose biographical stories about his family have been dubbed paranormal romances. She is determined to convince him to share a part of himself with the public at the Romantic Times conference. Lucern reluctantly decides to go, not realizing what he’s getting himself into. What Kate doesn’t realize is that Lucern is a vampire and that vampires are not just fictional characters. Both she and Lucern find themselves drawn to each other and yet their fears and pride are not making it easy for either. While I enjoyed Single White Vampire on some levels, it was not very satisfying. This particular novel reminded me of my Harlequin days back in high school when I devoured books about brooding men falling in love with the heroines of the novels. The story was nothing new. The characters were two-dimensional. There just wasn’t a whole lot of meat to the story, and while I don’t regret reading it, I am relieved to have finished it. On a more positive note, Ms. Sands' perspective of vampires was fresh and new, not one I’ve encountered before. She definitely was able to get across that her vampires were not the dangerous all powerful creatures many authors portray them as, as much as they are just misunderstood beings with certain heightened gifts. [Obviously I hadn't read a lot of this type of book back then.]

---

© 2015, 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.

From the Archives: Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. The first half of 2006 seemed to be my time for series reading. Here are some of my reviews from 2006:

Fool Moon (The Dresden Files #2) by Jim Butcher

Roc, 2001

Fantasy; 342 pgs

I am not really sure why it took me so long to read the second book in the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. I really enjoyed the first book when I read it years ago. I really shouldn’t have waited so long. Fool Moon finds modern day wizard Harry Dresden in the middle of a grizzly murder investigation that involves werewolves. With several different people hot on this trail and wanting him dead, Harry must find a way to save his own skin as well as save the day. I like the way Jim Butcher has drawn Harry’s world through words. Harry is a down to earth and likeable character. The Dresden Files series is urban fantasy at its finest. 

Grave Peril (The Dresden Files #3) by Jim Butcher

Roc, 2001

Fantasy; 378 pgs 

Grave Peril opens with Chicago’s very own wizard, Harry Dresden, and his friend Michael the knight on their way to the hospital to stop a ghost from reeking havoc. The third novel in the series is action packed and suspense driven as Harry lands himself in one life-threatening situation after another. Ghosts and vampires abound in Grave Peril. With Harry’s friends at risk, will he be able to sort through the clues to figure out who is behind the city’s recent supernatural problems before it is too late? I held my breath several times throughout my reading of this book. It was exciting at every turn. My only complaint is that I felt somewhat lost in the beginning, which was perhaps part of the point, as I wondered if I had skipped a book in between this and the one before it in the series. 

Summer Knight (The Dresden Files #4) by Jim Butcher

Roc, 2002

Fantasy; 371 pgs 

Wizard Harry Dresden faces certain death if he does not uncover the identity and motive behind the murder of the Summer Knight. Not only is he compelled to solve the crime because of the hold the sidhe Winter Queen has over him, he also risks expulsion from the White Council into the hands of the Red Vampires. With the help of friends, including an unexpected face from his past, Harry just may have a chance. Summer Knight was exciting and suspenseful. Jim Butcher’s books are hard to put down because the action is nonstop. Sometimes with so many characters the pages get a bit crowded, but the story always comes together in the end. Summer Knight has put me in the mood to start on the next book in the series right away! 

Death Masks (The Dresden Files #5) by Jim Butcher

Roc, 2003 

Fantasy; 374 pgs

Modern day wizard, Harry Dresden, is called upon to fight in a duel to the death with the Red Court of Vampire’s champion in order to save his friends and create a neutral area during the war between the vampires and the wizards of the White Council. In between preparations for the duel, Harry is tasked with finding the Shroud of Turin, only to learn that he isn’t the only one looking for it. Susan and the Knights of the Cross come to Harry’s aid in fighting off assassins, searching for the shroud, and in fighting in the duel. As I’ve come to expect of the Dresden Files books, Death Masks was nonstop suspense and heavy on the action and magic. Jim Butcher knows how to tell a gripping story that has yet to disappoint. 

Blood Rites (The Dresden Files #6) by Jim Butcher

Roc, 2004

Fantasy; 372 pgs

Asked to do Thomas a favor for a friend, modern day wizard Harry Dresden goes undercover in the adult film industry, trying to uncover who is behind a deadly curse that seems to be attacking women involved with the latest movie project. Harry also has his hands full when he discovers that the Black Court Vampires are in town. He’s determined to find their lair and destroy them. Blood Rites is fast paced and wild ride as Harry comes up against strong foes and learns a family secret that will change his life forever. Jim Butcher’s books keep getting better and better as the series continues. Although Harry’s a fairly open person as narrator of the Dresden Files books, Blood Rites added a more in-depth personal touch that goes straight to the heart. 

Dead Beat (The Dresden Files #7) by Jim Butcher

Roc, 2005

Fantasy; 424 pgs

Dead Beat, the seventh book in the Dresden Files series, was rich with action and subject matter. Harry takes on powerful necromancers who are using black magic; he must locate the Word of Kemmler or else Marva of the Black Vampire Court will ruin the reputation of one of his closest friends; and Harry struggles with a new inner voice that he must decide to trust or not. Some of Harry’s old friends (and not so much friends) make an appearance: the local werewolves, Queen Mab, Butters the mortician, the Wardens from the White Council, and Harry’s brother Thomas. Jim Butcher delves deeper into Harry’s psyche as he juggles with right vs. wrong, realizing that not everything is black and white. Harry has always bent the rules and has never claimed to follow the righteous path, however, his aim and motive are always good. Harry learns much about himself in this novel, and it is my favorite of them all so far. As usual, Jim Butcher has demonstrated his talent at putting together a suspenseful and nearly impossible to put down novel. Dead Beat is fast paced, action packed and one wild ride. 

---

© 2015, 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.

From the Archives: The Invisible Ring and Dreams Made Flesh by Anne Bishop

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. The first half of 2006 seemed to be my time for series reading. Here are some of my reviews from 2006: 

The Invisible Ring (The Black Jewels #4) by Anne Bishop

Roc, 2000

Fantasy; 398 pgs

The Invisible Ring is a prequel to the Black Jewels series that I read just over two years ago. I had started to read The Invisible Ring at that time, but ended up setting it aside because I needed a little space between the books. I hadn’t expected to wait so long to read the prequel, however, this time I was much more ready for the book and enjoyed it quite a bit. Although the world Anne Bishop created in her novel was not fresh in my memory, it was easy to slip back into it. In The Invisible Ring, Priestess Dorothea who rules over Hayll is determined to see the Gray Lady, queen of Dena Nehele, dead so that she can overtake the queen’s land and people. The perfect opportunity arises when the Queen steps off her lands to buy slaves at the market. She picks up an unlikely lot of slaves, many of whom have secrets just like herself. Among the slaves is the powerful Red-Jeweled Warlord, Jared, who had been a pleasure slave for many years and whose last queen died at his hands. Dorothea and her Master of Guards soon discover that killing the Gray Lady will not be an easy task. Anne Bishop’s story contained suspense, magic and even a touch of romance throughout. The author painted a very dark world, where cruelty and unfairness seem to rule over honor and justice. 

Dreams Made Flesh by Anne Bishop 

Roc, 2005

Fantasy; 439 pgs 

Stepping back into the realm of the Black Jewels, I decided it was the perfect time to read Dreams Made Flesh, which is made up of four stories involving some of my favorite characters from the Black Jewels series. The book opens with a creation story not quite like any other. Next is the story of Eyrien Warlord Lucivar and hearth witch Marian. Readers learn a dark secret about Saetan and what can happen if his family is threatened. And then there is the final story is of Warlord Prince Daemon and his Queen, the Witch, Jaenelle. Power, revenge, and retribution fill the pages of Dreams Made Flesh, in a realm where women tend to have the upper hand and the men serve. But threaten the man and those he loves, and there will be no mercy. I hated to see the stories come to an end because I so enjoy spending time with Anne Bishop’s characters. When I finally make it to some of her other books, I hope they are just as good.

---

© 2015, 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.

From the Archives: Plain Truth and Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. Here are some of my reviews from 2006:

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

Washington Square Press, 2000

Fiction; 405 pgs

Jodi Picoult is an amazing author. She takes on difficult subject matters and weaves a story that is complex, engrossing, and thought provoking. Despite the heavy subject matter of her books, they are next to impossible to put down, always fast flowing and intriguing. A reader rarely knows what to expect next. She did no less with Plain Truth where she brings the world of the Old Order Amish and modern American culture together. An Amish unmarried young woman is charged with the murder of her newborn child, a baby born in a barn of her family’s farm in Paradise, Pennsylvania. Defense attorney, Ellie Hathaway, trying to run from her old life and find out where exactly she wants to go, finds herself reluctantly coming to the girl’s aid. Katie and Ellie form an unusual bond despite their circumstances. From the interview in the back of the book, Jodi Picoult researched her topics thoroughly: neonatacide, farming and the Amish culture. Plain Truth touches on such subjects as community versus individuality, as well as the strength of faith, family, culture and truth. Plain Truth was a moving book that tugs at the heartstrings on many levels. Behind the main story line are the characters and their own struggles, all of which the author brought to the forefront with her usual expertise. The pain, the sadness, the joy, the love . . . All of it came flying off of the pages as I read. 

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

Atria, 2001

Fiction; 434 pgs

Upon his release from jail after serving time for sexually assaulting a teenage student, former teacher Jack St. Bride is looking to start over. He takes a job in the small community of Salem Falls as a dishwasher, working for a woman who is fighting off her own demons. Jack denies ever having assaulted anyone, much less having a sexual relationship with an underage girl, however, his past conviction creates quite a stir in the community when the townspeople learn about it. Suddenly Jack finds himself at the heart of a rape allegation by the daughter of the wealthiest man in Salem Falls. She and her three friends are a coven of witches who like to cast spells. No real surprises lurked around the corner in Salem Falls for me as they have in previous books by the same author. Just the same, Salem Falls was a very powerful and thought provoking novel. Besides taking on the subject of rape first hand, Ms. Picoult also opened the door for discussion about community reactions to those who have been punished for crimes and are looking to restart their lives again. While no one wants a child molester living next door, what if that person was really innocent and had been falsely accused? The subject matter of Wicca, which Ms. Picoult did a good job of portraying, including pointing out the misconceptions about the religion, was raised. It made for an interesting parallel, the community uprising at Jack’s presence in town and his nearly being figuratively burned at the stake by women who live under a banner that once had been under a similar attack. As expected, Ms. Picoult has created three-dimensional characters that come to life right from the pages. Readers get into their heads and know their hearts while at the same time, we are kept at a little distance so we don’t truly know them, one of the points that Ms. Picoult commented in the readers’ guide she wanted to make. Ms. Picoult has yet again expertly weaved her story together. Another excellent novel!

---

© 2015, 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.