Anne Perry

Another author I track is Anne Perry. My introduction to Perry happened one day when my husband and I were in the library together. I was looking for an audio tape to listen to while I drove to Colorado to see my daughter and her family. Hubby suggested Perry because he'd heard she was an LDS author who wrote mysteries. (Mysteries are my genre of choice.) I don't remember what that first novel was (I know it was either a William Monk or a Thomas Pitt), but I thought it was the perfect type of book to listen to while driving. Whenever I took a trip I would listen to one of Anne's. Then I forgot about those for a couple of years. Three years ago my daughter was having problems with her pregnancy so I started making frequent trips to Colorado. I again looked for some more Perry books. I developed a real interest in William Monk and the nurse Hester Latterly. After listening to several in a helter-skelter order I decided I wanted to read them in order.

William Monk Series. There are 14 books, but they are quick reading, interesting Victorian mysteries. I usually like to start at the beginning of a series and follow it through. With these I didn't realized it was a series and just read several out of order. It was actually fun to go back and read the first ones already knowing some of the outcomes in relationships. I reccommend this series for traveling or for light(lacks graphic violence or sex), but rewarding mysteries.

Thomas Pitt Series. When I finish reading all of the Monk series, I want to start on the Pitt series. To date I've only read 3-4 of them. Monk and his wife, Charlotte, work together to solve the mysteries.

World War I series. This is my favorite of Perry's series. There are three books so far with a fourth schedule for Sep 2006. The first, No Graves As Yet was awesome. Set in 1914 on Cambridge campus, it's a moving historical whodunit. The 2nd, Shoulder the Sky, continues the story of the 3 young adult siblings started in the first book. Each book has one mystery that is solved, but others present themselves. To borrow a quote from the School Library Journal, "The characters' emotions and thoughts capture the confusion, frustration, and determination of those fighting the war. Without describing too graphically the horrors of the front, the author presents memorable tableaux of a soldier, an ambulance driver, a doctor, a field nurse, and those in positions of leadership and trust. The murder investigation and espionage greatly enhance the action and interest in the complex plot." The 3rd, Angels in the Gloom, I've haven't read yet. The library has had it on order for 6 months now and my name is the first on the hold list. (How can it take 6 months to get a book in?!) The Publisher's Weekly has this to say about Angels, "This powerful and intense third novel in Perry's WWI series continues the Reavley family's anguished search for the "Peacemaker," a shadowy figure responsible for their parents' murders two years earlier, and now intent on Anglo-German world domination as a means toward world peace." The 4th book is At Some Disputed Barricade: 1917.

Note added 5 March 2006: Angels in the Gloom finally came in. I'm reading it now and am very impressed. I forgot there were 4 Reavely children. The first two books focused on only the younger three. The 3rd book focuses on Josheph who is a chaplan sent home wounded to live with his married sister Hannah. It's nice getting to know her better. One of the things that impresses me with Perry's books is her accurate description of the time periods she writes about.

Dean Koontz

There are a few authors that I actually track--checking the internet for their next book. One of those is Dean Koontz. I check Amazon.com regularly so I know when a new Koontz is released. For example, his next novel, The Husband, is being released May 30. The first part of May I will log onto my library account and put that book on hold.

With few exceptions, I love Koontz's books. Koontz's grasp and descriptions of good and evil is awesome. His writing is colorful, descriptive and, at times, even poetic. Koontz makes me feel that with a long series of wrong choices, any of us could be truly bad. That feeling encourages me to strive to make the right choices. His consideration of good and evil surpasses any other author I"ve read. In spite of the horrific evil portrayed, I'm usually filled with hope and fortitude by the time things wind to an end. Also worth noting while reading Koontz are his fabulous descriptions of the sky. It would have been fun to write down all his varied and graphic descriptions of sunrises and sunsets and everything in between.

Koontz is the master of suspense. I am always totally immersed in his stories and characters. One of my favorites is From the Corner of His Eye. After you read this, you might think twice about the consequences of the smallest things you do. The characters are well fleshed-out and you really care about them and are encouraged by them. This book is suspenseful, sad, hopeful, funny and thought-provoking. I have pages in my reading journal with fabulous quotes from this book. I'll limit myself to sharing just a few.
* When your're as hollow as Enoch Cain, the emptiness aches. He's desperate to fill it, but he doesn't have the patience or the commitment to fill it with anything worthwhile. Love, charity, faith, wisdom - those virtues & others are hard won, with commitment & patience and we acquire them one spoonful at a time. Cain wants to be filled quickly. He wants the emptiness inside poured full, in quick, great gushes, and right now.
* There must be something important I'm supposed to do that I'll do better if I'm blind.
* . . . sore tooth of truth.

Another favorite is Odd Thomas and its follow-up, Forever Odd. Odd is the name of the main character. Two quotes from Odd:
* Sometimes simply getting from bed to bathroom can take the charm out of a new day.
* We who survive must go on in the names of those who fall. Perserverance is impossible if we don't permit ourselves to hope.

My husband and sister have both read the first two books in Koontz's Frankenstein series. They loved them. I'm waiting until the 3rd one comes out so I don't have the agonizing 2-year wait in between each book.

Reading Dean Koontz is like coming home for me, which is a weird analogy, but both fill me with satisfied sighs.

Learn From My Mistakes

I'm hoping that the time I wasted reading these books will save you the time to read other things. I am not going to attempt to organize these into the one I hated most down to the one I hated least. Just think of this blog as a garbage can--everything randomly piled in.

1. The Last Girls by Lee Smith. UGH!
2. Winter Marriage by. . gee, I didn't even write down the author's name. Didn't finish the book, either.
3. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Very interesting concept and some of it wasn't so bad, but overall, a waste of time.
4. A Cure for Dreams by Kaye Gibbons. The title is tempting, but the book is unsatisfying.
5. Clay's Quilt by Silas House. Another interesting title.
6. My Father's Dragon by ??? A Jr. classic? YUCK!
7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I know, I know! It's a best seller, but I really did not like it. After writing this blog, Myke shared a few great quotes from Life of Pi. Read his comment to get all three. After discussing this book with several others, I decided it should not be on my hate list. Do go ahead and read it, you'll probably like it.

"To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation."

"Oncoming death is terrible enough, but worse still is oncomming death with time to spare...."

8. Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman. 9. All Is Vanity by Christina Schwartz. Boring, but I finished it--Darn it.
10. A Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg. I like Berg's writing, but this one was only so-so, which means, why bother?!
11. The Portrait by Ian Pears. I loved Pears' Instance at the Fingerpost so I kept reading this one hoping there was a little gem inside. I found this ONE buried deep:

"I know how hard it is to acquire good technique. I acquired mine by constant labor and study, year after year, day in and day out. It did not come naturally or easily, and it is the one thing I am truly proud of. To get what you want you have to have mastery, orthewise you are like a man trying to speak English with only a limited vocabulary. Unless you have the range, you end up saying what you can say, not what you mean."

12. The Red Hat Club by Haywood Smith. Someone in my book club actually chose this for one month's selection. I read the 1st 50 pages, grabbed a big chunk in the middle, flipped to the back and finished the last 50 pages. Ghastly and very predictable.

Leafing Through . . .

I have to say, this little exercise of writing about some of my favorite books has been very rewarding. The last few years I've kept a journal of most of the books I've read. In addition to the title and author, I try to record a few lines to remind me about the book. Often I copy some lines that reverberate with meaning for my life at the time. Sometimes I run across a particular discription or use of words that just pleases me and I get a few of those written down as well. Time is the main constraint. I think I've read 4-5 books recently that I haven't even written in my journal. I'll get to them, I will, I WILL!

Anyway, I've been having fun rummaging through the pages, reminding myself of some of the good books, quotes, ideas, etc. that had slipped my mind. I don't need to tell you that most of a book eases right out of my mind like a ghost through a door. Journals help with a mind like mine. (There are several really dumb, dumb books in my journal, too--I think I'll do a list of books I hated.)

Favorite Newberry Award Books

Every summer our public library has an adult summer reading program. Those patrons who want to enroll are encouraged to read from nine different categories. There is a choice of twelve categories. One of the categoreis is Newberry Awards. I probably would have never read a Newberry without this little push. I've enjoyed every Newberry I've read, but I'm going to limit it to my favorites. Click here for a Dated List of Newberry Award Books.

1. The Giver by Lois Lowry.
When I read this book as a youth I didn't understand it very well. Much later in life I reread it and loved it. A couple years ago my mother and I attend a book fair at the Salt Lake City's new and wonderful library. Lois Lowry was one of the presenter. She was absolutely charming--humorous and thought-provoking. She mentioned that she had written 2 sequels to The Giver, Gathering Blue and Messenger. Rush right out to buy them. Loved them all, though Gathering Blue was my least favorite, but very necessary to the series.

2. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.
Set in Nazi-occupied Denmark in 1943, this 1990 Newbery winner tells of a 10-year-old girl who undertakes a dangerous mission to save her best friend. I really loved this book and highly recommend it.

3. Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi. I've read 2 books by Avi and loved both. This one is about a 13-yr old boy in 14th century Europe. A great selection for young boys (or old women, like me).
4. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.
I didn't see the movie by the same name, but I'm not sure it followed the book. Based on a true story of an Indian girl who survives 18 years alon on an island. In 1976 the Children's Literature Association named this riveting story one of the 10 best American children's books of the past 200 years

5. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
My daughter recommended this novel. Well written and great story of a friendship between two fifth graders-a boy and a girl. Keep a box of kleenex colse by.

6. Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo. Such a cute title and a wonderful book. Aimed at 4th-5th grade, I think. While looking for a picture of the cover I ran across this great guide for teachers, along with activities, etc. What a fun book to use in teaching! A teacher's guide to Despereaux
DiCamillo is the author of some other noteable books that I look forward to reading. You may have heard of Because of Winn-Dixie and Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.

7. The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg (read June 2006) What a wonderful book. I had planned to read the 2006 Newberry Award book, Criss Cross, but the librarian shared her opinion that The View from Saturday was much better. I thank her for directing me to this book.
The story features four 6th graders and their teacher. We focus in on each of the children one by one and experience their journeys of emotional and social growth. The journeys are not catastrophic; just parts of their lifes that help them grow. The ribbon that runs throughout is an academic team contest at the end of the school year. I know, the storyline does not sound that intriguing, but the book IS magnificient. I rate this book with a 5.

Towards the end of the book the 6th grade teacher, Mrs Olinski, is meeting her former mentor and principal. She watches this older woman who she has greatly admired and thinks, "A turquoise jogging suit. Tuquoise!" She had always regarded turquoise, like shocking pink and chartreuse, as the color equivalent of the word ain't: quaint when seldom used but vulgar in great doses.

Konigsburg also wrote the 1967 Newberry Award From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I'm thinking I'll read it for next summer's reading program.