Another novel from Tana French!

Broken Harbor by Tana French

Once again author Tana French takes her readers on a roller coaster ride of emotion and suspense. Having played a secondary role in a previous Dublin Murder Squad novel, “Faithful Place,” Detective Michael “Scorcher” Kennedy takes the primary lead in a gruesome murder case.  

Mikey, as he is known to his family, starts working with his new rookie partner, Richie,  teaching him the ropes as they delve into a incident that has left three family members dead and one survivor in the hospital. The scene of the crime is a beach area outside of Dublin called Broken Harbor and the reader senses immediately that the lead detective has bad memories of the place. 

Not only that, he has family troubles with a mentally unstable sister who shows up in need of attention just as the investigation starts to heat up. Layers are peeled away with each chapter, guilt and motives are revealed in characters, and stories are uncovered from the past, both distant and recent. This stunning novel blurs the lines between chaos and order, good and evil, loyalty and betrayal, as it leaves the reader both unsettled and satisfied. 

Other novels by Tana French also recommended

In the woods  

The likeness (still my favorite) 

Faithful Place

Debut novel with amazing young narrator

The Age of Miracles: A Novel

By Karen Thompson Walker

Published by Random House

I received an advanced reading copy on NetGalley

With the passing of the days, who hasn’t wished that their day couldn’t extend past the normal 24 hours, just to get some project completed or have more time to spend with loved ones? In this debut novel, author Karen Thompson Walker explores the scenario of the earth’s rotation slowing a little bit each day. At first, according to the eleven-year-old narrator, Julia, no one really notices the difference of a little extra sunlight. “We did not sense at first the extra time, bulging from the smooth edge of each day like a tumor blooming beneath the skin.”  As the novel progresses, the lengthening of days and nights – known as the slowing - becomes an issue of huge scientific proportions with results such as crops getting too much light and birds losing their sense of direction due to the change in the earth’s magnetic core. The impact upon society is subtle at first with the decision by the government to determine the official length of a day – 24 hours or sundown to sundown? The decision is made to revert back to “clock time” (24 hours) no matter where the sun is positioned. However, some want to let their bodies adjust to the earth’s slowing by staying on what they refer to as “real time,” keeping in touch with their circadian rhythms. These are but a few of the issues that swirl in the mind of young Julia, who carefully watches the effects of stress on those around: her parents, the neighbors, and fellow students. She not only has to deal with puberty, but with a coming of age in a unique time of crisis. She is able to see the small things in life – a fondly remembered relative, a first kiss, a love that resolves to persevere – as daily miracles in a time of uncertainty.  Julia’s honesty and freshness is reminiscent of Anne Frank in her attic. I recommend this novel written with such luminous prose that leaves the reader aching for more.

I love words

To be published - July 3, 2012

Grammar's Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time

By Mignon Fogarty

According to the Grammar Girl author, Mignon Fogarty, I can use the phrase:  "you have got to read this book." Being a word person myself, I appreciate the clever way each troublesome word or phrase's history is explained and advice given as to its usage (or non-usage). Most appealing are the quotes from popular TV shows or movies used to illustrate her points on correct grammar. Teens will be able to identify with modern English examples, making grammar fun - or I can even say grammar is the "funnest."  Recommended to middle and high school language arts teachers and curious teens alike.

Another book by Grammar Girl to check out:

Grammar Girl's 101 misused words you'll never confuse again  

New Year's Resolution and Inspiring Biographies

To begin the new year, I have made a new year's resolution to post to my blog at least twice a month!
When it comes to non-fiction, my greatest love is biography. I am intrigued and inspired by biographies - here are two titles that were memorable.


Unbroken : a World War II story of survival, resilience, and redemption  by Laura Hillenbrand
Written by the author of Seabiscuit, this biography chronicles the life of Louis Zamperini who was a troubled teen and then discovered his talent for running. Part of the US Olympic team, he competed in Berlin and was in training when the U.S. entered World War II. Zamperini was on a B-4 bomber that was shot down in the Pacific and survives a 47-day ordeal adrift on a life raft, only to be imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp. His story is one of resistance, survival, and redemption. Be warned that the narrative tends to be detail laden, but the life of Louis is worth the telling.

Another WWII biography features someone who might be more familiar to readers - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor who was part of the German Resistance during the Hitler regime. Bonhoeffer : pastor, martyr, prophet, spy : a righteous gentile vs. the Third Reich by Eric Metaxas. The biographer recounts the story of a man in pursuit of God, as well as his passion for Christian community. This book is a combination of the revelation of Bonhoeffer's character, mixed with an extensive survey of his theological writings. Exhaustive research makes the narrative cumbersome at times, but the reader will bear with the author's style to glean the richness of an outstanding German Christian in times of great turmoil.




Both books - highly recommended!

Deadlines, Storylines, and Timelines

I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.
- Douglas Adams

I have mental deadlines and most of the time I do not accomplish the grand goals I set for myself - like posting to my blog on a weekly basis. I often think about going back in time and organizing my life in such a manner so to make better use of my hours and energies.

However, time is a wibbly wobbly concept, according to Dr. Who.

Considering the possibility of going back and telling my younger self that she should really think about becoming a librarian sooner, only reminds me of why I love science fiction.

In an alternate timeline, I could have gotten a job cataloging for the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, England and never have met my husband or had three wonderful children. 

So here I am in my present timeline, thankful for my family and fondly remembering the storylines of my favourite Science Fiction authors instead.

All these authors are well worth reading; I still marvel at the imagination it took to create these sci-fi classics.

Douglas Adam's amazing and fun 

Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy - takes you on a zany trip through the universe

Isaac Asimov's unparalleled Foundation series - the perfect blend of science (fiction) and the study of human nature

 

 

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and the other novels in the Ender series - complex and multi-layered 

Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series - a clever romp through a literary alternate universe

Discovering home

Having moved a few times in my life, I found this novel - The unraveling of Abby Settel by Sylvia May - to be an emotional read (in a good way).

I can understand the feelings of being in a new place when your family is so far away. When I moved to the States I experienced a bit of what the title characters goes through in the novel. It is hard to be far from family and all things familiar.

Where do you turn when your life seems to be falling apart? This novel talks about the strength of family and the encouragement of friends. The most important lesson is a redefinition of "home" - from an address on a street to an attitude of finding contentment with where life and God has placed you.

I am thankful that I had a church community and connections to other parents from my children's school to help with my transition more than 20 years ago. Abby does find her way with the help of new friends, and comes out stronger for all the challenges she faces.

I encourage you to read this book - Sylvia May's first novel -  and to check out her website http://www.sylviamay.com

I am certainly looking forward to reading her next novel!

Literary Trip Part 3

For those who have read and enjoyed anything by Bill Bryson, I would recommend the Canadian author, Will Ferguson. He is a talented travel writer and in his book, Beauty tips from Moose Jaw, he will take you on a coast-to-coast tour of Canada like no other. He writes in a very personal and quirky style.
If you read this book - check out Chapter Seven - when he writes about being in Tadoussac and then driving up the Saguenay Fjiord.


My sister and I went whale watching that morning and had a very French style lunch at a little bistro in this very touristy town.

  We then drove up one side of the Saguenay Fjiord, taking in the beautiful scenery up to Chicoutimi and down the other side back to our motel in St. Simeon. 

It is fascinating to read another person's account of traveling on the same roads.