The Last Mile - David Baldacci

He and she read

Another Baldacci page turner.  He felt the ending was contrived; she said, "it's fiction...he has to tie everything up".

 Eligible - Curtis Sittenfeld

She Read.

This book was pre publish date advertised as an update of Pride and Prejudice.  Intrigued, I reserved it.  The first review I read about it trashed it.  I was about to cancel my reservation, but decided to try it.  It really was entertaining...certainly not literature, but kind of a fun read.

Blood Defense - Marcia Clark

He read.

The first in a proposed new series by Marcia Clark.  Although have read and enjoyed other of Clark's novels, this one not as much.  A beach read with some implausibles in the story.

The Story of the Lost Child - Elena Ferrante

She read

Finishing this fourth of the Neapolitan novels was bitter sweet.  I read all four in succession, so spent a lot of time of the life stories of these two friends.  As with the prior two, things do get a bit ponderous at times, but I enjoyed the series...as wasn't as depressed at the end as I thought I would be!

The Guest Room - Chris Bohjalian

He read.


A good story of an example of how a "perfect" life can be totally screwed up by one bad incident. Th main character has it all...good job, marriage, children.  He organizes a bachelor party for brother. Through an agency, he hires two women who attend with their body guards.  Essentially, they are sex slaves kidnapped from Armenia.  At the party, the one woman stabs one party guard, the other shoots the second guard. The girls escape and the seemed charmed life falls apart.

The Fall of Princes - Robert Goolrick

He read.

The story of a highly educated young man in finance who was making lots of money for his clients, but drinking, drugs and women were getting the best of him until he took out a wealthy client and made a fool of himself.  He was terminated from his lucrative job; the bulk of the book was about his fall and how he lost everything including money, wife and how he redeemed himself at the end.  Written in first person narrative.  Good story.

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay - Elena Ferrante

She read.

Book three in Neapolitan novels. Although it gets bogged down a bit, I continue to enjoy this series and am looking forward to the fourth and perhaps final.

Warriors of the Storm - Bernard Cornwell

He read

Historical fictional account of early days of England being invaded by Norsemen and Danes.  King Alfred's daughter and their fight to keep the Norsemen from invading all of England.  Excellent story...typical Cornwell.

Once a Crooked Man - David McCallum

He read.

Yes, THE David McCallum of Mission Impossible and NCIS....  Interesting crime novel set in NYC and London with some interesting twists and turns. Enjoyable.  Quick read.

 As Time Goes By - Mary Higgins Clark

She read

Hard to believe I've been reading Mary Higgins Clark for 41 years!!!!  As I mentioned in a prior note about another one of her novels, I guess I still read her out of sentimentality as she was one of my mother's favorites.  This one is again typical....no suspense as you know the ending just about from the beginning.  But, it is light, quick reading and has a happy ending.  As I said in my prior review, if you are not a fan, don't bother....unless you need a mindless book for a day on the beach or an airplane trip.

Icarus - Deon Meyer

He read.

Good story about South Africa and its police force known as "The Hawks".  Good depiction of the growing of grapes for the wine business and the merging of black and white cultures post Apartheid.

Fool me Once - Harlan Coben

She read; he is just starting it.

I like most of Coben's writings.  This once kept me riveted...I put it down only once. But now that it has ended, with somewhat of a (spoiler) surprise ending, I'm not sure how I feel about it.  There were a few stretch my credulity  scenes and while the ending was kind of perfect for the story, I'm not sure it really "fit" with the character. I think the ending will provide a lot of "grist for the mill" for book discussion groups.

Everyone Brave is Forgiven - Chris Cleave

He read

World War II novel set in Britain during the bombings; it is about two friends, one who becomes a captain in Malta, the other is in charge of the children who remain in the city rather than being sent to the country.  The children left behind primarily were those who no one would adopt - disabled, children of color and others considered "undesirable".  Two women are involved with the two men and everyone does their bit during the war. Romance and tragedy of living throught the war.

The Waters of Eternal Youth - Donna Leon

He AND she read

I love Donna Leon's Guido Brunetti mysteries.  Set in Venice, Leon conveys so much about Venice is all about....the politics, the cynicism, the decaying beauty.  I feel that Brunetti and his family and associates are old friends.  Last time we were in Venice, I passed by the Questore fully expecting to encounter him and stopped at his favorite bar for a coffee.  Leon's books make me want to return to La Serenissima.
If you are a fan of Brunetti's, you will enjoy this work; if you haven't met him yet, you might enjoy reading the series from the beginning and getting to know the cast of characters.  A bit of a spoiler alert...sometimes Leon's novels end with one wondering if justice has been served....in this novel, it clearly has.