Review 658: The Nightingale

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
My rating: No Rating

Not rating this book since I didn't read it entirely. I actually read very little of it, but quickly realized this book won't work for me. For one, I'm not a fan of the style, the way the book was written. And secondly, not a fan of dramatized war books. Thirdly this is not a short book either, well over 500 pages or 17 hours. I was listening to the audiobook (audible gave it out free, this was years before their plus catalog of free titles).

It looks like a movie is being made, if it comes out I may watch it as 2 hours is easier than 17. But I don't know...

There was a reason this sat unread in my library for over 10 years. I read many reviews and they seem to be polarized on either end, and from them it confirmed my opinion this is one for me to skip.

Review 657: Land That Moves, Land That Stands Still

Land That Moves, Land That Stands Still by Kent Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The opening of this novel has the husband, Haney, being killed in an accident on the farm while building a fence in the pouring rain. They had already lost a son years ago. Now Mattie is alone, except her daughter comes home from college to help out. The farm needs constant work. Shellie didn’t do farm work while growing up, so she has to learn too.

Mattie is confused by several things she learns shortly after her husband’s death, like why did he want to be buried in Maine instead of next to their son here in North Dakota. She finds a plane ticket he bought, then there was an invoice from their neighbor. They had friends from Maine, but couldn’t find letters from them and Mattie looked everywhere.

Meanwhile, the work continues. They had advertised for a man to help on the farm, and a young woman showed up instead. Dawn, as she wants to now be called, knew how to fix the farm equipment so it worked out.

There was also a young Indian boy hiding out in the barn. Mattie coaxed him out, said he could stay, and she paid him for helping out with all the work too. But in the fall he would need to go to school. The boy was shy and took a very long while to figure out his name. In the meantime Mattie looked into a missing person’s report, trying to find his family.

While the women work the farm things happen, and they also learn about Haney’s life.
There was something about this novel that has stuck with me, my mind keeps going back to that farm, the rural area in North Dakota. The author drew the characters fully, although not all completely likeable. There’s sadness, violence and neighbors that you just know are going to do something horrible someday.

This was another book that had lingered on my bookshelves for a long time. I’m glad I finally picked it up to read, but it wasn’t easy going the whole way.

Review 656: Winter

Winter: The Story of a Season by Val McDermid
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars

Suppose it was my mistake in understanding what this book was about...I thought it would be about nature in winter time. Instead it is more an autobiography of sorts. The author writes about different traditions and festivals in Scotland, but mostly her memories of being a child experiencing these. Also, I did not realize this is an author of thriller, mystery books perhaps well known for those who enjoy this type of genre.

The beginning of the book begins with what McDermid typically does in a new year, preparing to write a new book. Then it backtracks to the Fall with Halloween, and how that was for her growing up in Scotland. How different things were, such as using a neep, or rutabaga, instead of a pumpkin. This becomes a pattern for the festivals and holidays that occur during the winter, with McDermid’s personal recollections. Often those are of her in childhood, but not always. There was a section on comfort food, which for her is soup.

It is decent enough, and I didn’t mind reading about Scottish traditions and her experiences. I just wish I had known that going in. Again, fully my part in not understanding as I sometimes just glance at descriptions not wanting too many spoilers beforehand. The book included some drawings peppered throughout the book. I quite enjoyed those images.

Thanks to Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 655: The God Peak

The God Peak by Patrick Hemstreet
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


This second book in the trilogy was fairly similar to the first book. The team we met in book one had been split and remained so. One group was being kept hostage, Team Chuck, much like what happened in the first book, but by a different sort of organization.

Most of the book was about Team Chuck plotting to escape and get back to the other group, try to control them, along with what that group was up to…world peace, anyone?

Overall the book was somewhat okay, but far from great. Again, the ending was left hanging, not everything was resolved. Looks like this third book failed to happen, which is okay, as I’m not sure I could take another one.

Review 654: The Lost Van Gogh

The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer
My rating: 2.75 of 5 stars


Apparently this is a second book in a series. I did read the first book, but was long ago enough that I have forgotten the characters. No wonder I felt off-kilter with the characters and background. I didn't realize it until listening to the author's note at the end. Otherwise, the story was too much of spy-type book for my liking.

The gist of the story is Alexis Verde buys a painting at an antique store. Turns out underneath that painting is another, a Van Gogh self-portrait. The boyfriend Luke Perrone, also an artist and figures as the main character. Before Alexis can get someone to authenticate the painting it is stolen from her by some street thugs, on behest of someone that had been tracking the painting. Luke and Alexis go to his friend who was with INTERPOL to help track it down. There are more characters involved as well, but these are the main ones.

The odd thing about this book was the shifts in POV, some chapters were in first person, some in second, while most chapters being in third person. It was jarring, particularly when some of the characters were assumed the reader knew who they were with defined backstory.

The author’s note at the end discussed aspects that were based in facts, but a second self-portrait by Van Gogh is not one of them. Other aspects of stolen/looted art being traded internationally is something that is not fiction.

I listened to the audiobook, but the print version includes at the end of the book sketches the author did, as he is an artist himself. The pencil sketches relate to this book, such as places that are important in the book and some of Van Gogh, and Amsterdam.