Books I read in 2016

Blind Side by Michael Lewis – This is the story of Michael Oher and intercity black kid who was adopted by the affluent Toehy family of Memphis. And about the evolution of football from the sixties until 2007. They made a movie about Michael’s story that starred Sandra Bullock (who won an academy award for her performance), Tim McGraw and Quintin Aaron. The movie was wonderful but the book was fabulous. This is the book Ryan gave me for our Christmas book exchange. Highly recommended.

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys – We are all familiar with the events surrounding the Holocaust. This story is about what Stalin did to the Lithuanians and two other nations before WWII broke out as he annexed those countries into Russia. He sent all educators, political leaders, police etc. Anyone who had the capacity to oppose him in reality or in theory and sent them in cattle cars to work farms in Siberia or the Arctic Circle. The men he threw in prison and millions died. Told through the eyes of a 14-16 yr old girl Lina. Very heart wrenching.

Doll Bones by Holly Black – Polly, Zach and Alice have been friends forever. They are now entering middle school. They all love playing with action figures but Zach’s dad decides it’s time for Zach to grow up. The friends go on one last adventure or is it a ghost story?

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks – A book recommended by my daughter Kaitlin. This book recounts the case histories of patients lost in bizarre, apparently inescapable world of neurological disorders, perceptual & intellectual aberrations. Patients who have lost their memories and their past, turrets, autism. Dr. Sacks does a wonderful job of humanizing these people. Some of the technical stuff was over my head but by in large an enjoyable read.

Counting by 7’s by Holly Goldberg Sloan – Willow Chance has lost her parents and is taken in by a quirky set of characters. Her guidance counselor who is faking his way through his job, some of the other children he counsels and their mother. Willow is a genius and calms herself by counting by 7’s. Wonderful characters and touching story.

The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman – The Sparrow women have lived in Cakehouse for Generations. When they turn 13 a magical power is manifest. Rebecca Sparrow the first couldn’t feel pain. Elinor could smell a lie and Jenny could see other people’s dreams. Jenny and Elinor are estranged. Now Jenny’s daughter has turned 13, her gift is to see how some people will die. Which gets her worthless father in trouble when he tries to report a murder that hasn’t happened yet.  No bad language, Yay! Nice Read.

Stars in Your Eyes by Lynn Kurland – I have read all of Lynn’s time travel novels. Loved most of them but this one was pretty weak sauce. Imogen Maxwell is on the hunt for odd medieval antiques to dress the set of a movie. A sword sends her back to 1252 AD to Phillip de Piaget who is trying to get his betrothed to the alter. But his betrothed, Heather, will have none of it.

The Emerald Mile, The Epic story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedorko – This was 10 years in the making. Beautifully told. We get the history of the Grand Canyon and the damming of the Colorado. And the events that led up to this momentous ride. This was Joe’s book for me this Christmas. Wonderful!

Lady with a Black Umbrella & Red Rose by Mary Balogh – Early Mary Balogh so clean Regency. Enjoyable light reads.

The Mage and the Magpie: Magemother Book 1 by Austin J Bailey -Daniel told me a friend of his had written a book so I downloaded it onto my Kindle and was pleasantly surprised. An invisible girl. A missing mage. A world in need. Brindley is left on a church doorstep and her father hears a bell which draws him to her. Now Brinley is hearing the same bell which draws her across time and space. Liked this a lot.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike – Wings was on a list of NY Times bestseller list of LDS authors. Highly recommended by Stephanie Meyers. Much the same format as Twilight only with Faeries. Laurel was found on her parent’s doorstep. She knows she’s not like other kids but doesn’t realize how different till she grows a flower blossom on her back. It was okay not great. But Aprilynne has written more than a dozen books. In fact, at least two more in the Wings series. Not running out to buy them.

Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas – Hazel finds an old diary in a trunk and gives it to her neighbor. It’s the secret diary of Mattie Spenser. Pioneer woman and settler with her husband Luke in the Colorado Territory. It’s her story and its charming and also heart breaking. LOVED IT!!!

Enchanted Inc. by Shanna Swendson – Kate Chandler is a small town Texas girl who has moved to the Big Apple with a few friends. Katie was worried that New York was very different but she is seeing people dressed up with Fairy wings and elf ears and gargoyles who don’t stay put. Her boss is a monster but then Katie gets approached by a company who wants to hire her away from her loser job because of her special talents. Cute but no substance.

The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright – For someone who loves to read this was a wonderful book. Based on the real story of a family living in the Stung Meanchey Dump, the largest municipal dump in Cambodia. They eek out a living scavenging while the wife tries to find ways to heal her chronically ill son. Then one day Sang Ly discovers that the drunken, bitter old rend collector can read and Sang Ly begs her to teach her. A beautiful story of hope and redemption. Loved this book.

Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer – I have read all Ms Heyer’s Regency Romances. They are delightful. She also wrote a handful of Historical Novels and Mysteries. They are also period pieces. This one is set in post WWI. A set of siblings inherit a mansion from an uncle. It is rumored to be haunted by a monk because the mansion used to be a monastery. The longer they stay the more they are convinced something else is going on. Very enjoyable. Not fast paced by satisfying.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer – Fairy tale told in the Science Fiction genre. It was an enjoyable read. It is set in post WWIV. In the New Bejing Cinder is a cyborg orphan. Who is the best mechanic in New Bejing. The Prince brings his android to be repaired. Great action and conflict. There are three more books in the series. Scarlett, Cress and Winter.

On the Wings of Heroes by Richard Peck – On the home front during WWII, through the eyes of a young boy. Wonder as always. One of my favorite Youth Authors.

Dragon Trials by Ava Richardson – Showed up on my Facebook feed. It was kinda mediocre but not bad enough for me not to read to the end.

The Curse of Chalion by Louis McMaster Bujold – Caitlin Penny from my Novel Critique group recommended this as a good example of building Religion into a fantasy. (Actually, she recommended Paladin of Souls the second in the series) Bujold is wonderful writer and I loved the world she created. Her protagonist, Lupe de Cazaril, is very flawed and mostly stumbles through being a hero. Wonderful.

Paladin of Souls by Louis McMaster Bujold – Again a very flawed protagonist, Ista, dragged kicking and screaming through her heroism. The Five Gods aspect was so well developed. Caitlin was right to recommend it.

Instructions & Fortunately the Milk & The Sleeper and the Spindle &Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman – Instructions is lessons we learn from stories, fairytales and nursery rhymes. Fortunately the Milk is a fun book to read aloud about a dad going to the corner to pick up milk when it takes him along time he tells a story that is very entertaining but somewhat unbelievable. The sleeper and the Spindle is a new twist to the Sleeping Beauty story. Lovely graphic novel. Blueberry Girl is a picture book he wrote for his wife and daughter when his daughter was only a bump. All of these are completely delightful.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling and John Tiffany and John Thorne – I was forward that this was a play and so was not disturbed by its format. Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy are misfits at Hogwarts and trying to down play their famous and infamous fathers. Trying to find his own place in the world Albus gets into one scrape after another and drags Scorpious with him. They almost undo all the good Harry and his friends have done. I enjoyed it.

2,000 to 10,00, How to write faster, write better and write more of what you love by Rachel Aaron – Rachel is the author of over a dozen Fantasy and SciFi novels. She tells her secret of putting out 10,000 words a day. I will reread this because it was pretty short and had some great pointers.

Fishers of Men, The Kingdom of the Crown book 1 by Gerald Lund – Set during the ministry of Christ it is two families living through that time and those events. I listened to it on Audible. It is wonderful. I love the notes at the end of each chapter that give us more on the details discussed during that Chapter. Ie How much exactly is a talent?

An Incomplete Revenge by Jacqueline Winspear – Another Maisy Dobbs story. Her mentor Lady ? and son commission her to do a seemingly straight forward investigation of a small town that is getting ready to buy a brickworks in. But all is not as it seems. I love these stories and the main character is revealed a little more with each adventure.

Paperboy by Vince Vawter – An 11-year-old boy living in Memphis in 1959 throws the meanest fast ball in town but he can’t even say his own name because he stutters so bad. He takes one of his friend’s paper route and make an odd collection of friends. It was wonderful.

Forever Odd by Dean Koontz – Six months after Stormy’s death. Odd’s friend Danny is kidnapped and his stepdad killed. Now it’s a raced against time and evil to get Danny safely home.

The Archivist by Martha Cooley – Adult themes of guilt, insanity and suicide were wrapped up in a novel heavily referencing the letters of T>S> Elliot. Matthias Lane is a 60-year-old archivist in a library that has the letters not meant to be seen until 2020 of TS Elliot. But a beautiful, persistent student wants to read them.

Agatha Raisin: The Wizard of Evesham by M.C. Beaton (Marion Chesney) – Found the book at Casa Esperanza or the Mother’s Special Care common’s room while we were doing hospital bed rest trying to keep Dean from coming too early. I have read a lot of MC Beaton or Marion Chesney Regency novels and like her style. Her Agatha Raisin Mystery did not disappoint.