Review 430: Shift

Shift by Hugh Howey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sure it's been a while since I read the first book in the series. I absolutely loved that book, was astonished by it. Maybe because of the hype and it started out as self-published?

So, finally I read book two, which is a prequel and yes I forgot most the ending of the book, but figured it wouldn't matter being a book that takes place earlier, leads up to the first book. Perhaps. In the end though, this book was okay but not great. Seemed a little repetitive at times, plodding and really long, unnecessarily so. The book also brought up a LOT of questions, so had to really suspend disbelief. If I had started here, I wouldn't continue. But now I'm two-thirds in and I did buy book three, so I'll keep going.

Oh, and I really disliked the ending of this book. But there's more, so maybe I shouldn't think of it as an ending...

Oh, just read there is a movie or series of Wool? Something to look into!

Review 429: Dreambound

Dreambound by Dan Frey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book surprised me! It's a bit of a mystery, a journalist Dad can't let go of his daughter who went missing six months earlier. His wife felt differently, gave her up for dead, and the marriage ended as well. But the focus in the book is these fantasy books that the kid was into and how they were connected with her disappearance. The Dad turns into an investigator and the way the whole story was told was well done.

I listened to the audio book version and it was awesome, as there were a many narrators for all the different voices, really added to the book.

maybe a few more thoughts on this book soon.

Review 428: Entries

Entries by Wendell Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It can be hard to rate poetry. I did enjoy reading these poems, they were accessible, but they didn't wow me.

A few poems were political in nature, some personal, and the last section: In Extremis: Poems about My Father was very personal. Yet the personal is relatable. It was a nice way to close the book.

This was the first I've read of Wendell Berry, although I've heard about him often. Will look for more of his works.

Review 427: All Waiting Is Long

All Waiting Is Long by Barbara J. Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



many issues are brought up in the book, but the characters take the center stage. Well written. Perhaps more thoughts on this soon.




but...i read this during a lull in reading and reviewing...feel a little stuck

Review 426: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Great airplane travel read.

Read entirely on a plane ride and it was the perfect book for that.

Review 425: The Locksmith's Daughter

The Locksmith's Daughter by Karen Brooks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Takes place in London in the 16th century, with a young woman as the main character, Mallory Bright. We quickly learn she has returned to her family, shamed, and posing as a widow. Mallory has strong ties with her Papa, the locksmith who taught her things that ordinarily only men would know. Her mother has always shunned her and even more so now she has returned, and so Papa finds a job for her. Soon Mallory is a spymaster.

The books mystery is one of Mallory’s life, but also what is also going on in England with the Queen Elizabeth declaring the Catholic religion outlawed. Mallory’s mother is one of the recusants, bringing more danger. Yet the Queens’ enforcer and right-hand man is Papa’s friend, Sir Francis Walsingham, would he bring the law upon them?

Meanwhile they have a long-term border, Caleb who is a playwright and homosexual. His plays have become popular although they may tend to comment on the current political situation that could be dangerous. He has a new benefactor, Lord Nathaniel, appearing at first as a bit of a rogue. Yet soon Mallory starts to see another side to the man.

With Mallory’s past of love and hate, she attempts to control her emotions and called this mediocrita, a balance of opposites. This attempt to find that calm is carried throughout the story in many different situations.

Mallory is a strong character, intelligent and doing work that in those days only men would do. She is unique in that world, although has some clouded judgment at times as well as succumbing to some womanly pining that embrace, the kiss…

Yes, there is a bit of romance in this historical book, but the plot leaves that mostly to the background.

There are a few gruesome scenes that I could have done without reading, but it adds to the layers and depth of this book.

It is not perfect by any means. There are awkward backstory moments when someone comes up in the story and we get a tangent, apparently Mallory remembering that occasion. Yet this minor flaw can be forgiven for a riveting tale and story. I particularly appreciated the long author’s note at the end which detailed many of the historical facts, and where the fiction began.

The intricacies of the story made this an interesting read. I held back reading this book thinking the romance part of the story would be the main focus, but happily it wasn’t. I enjoyed this book enough that I have several others of her now on my ever-growing to-read list.