The Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde (book review)

The Language of Hoofbeats

Author:  Catherine Ryan Hyde

Published: December 2014

Publisher:  Lake Union Publishing

Pages:  342

Genre: Fiction 

Edition:  Trade paperback

Source:  A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher and TLC book tours in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. 

From the bestselling author of Pay It Forward comes a story of the heartbreak and healing power of family. New to a small town, Jackie and Paula envision a quiet life for their kids: a young adopted son and two teenage foster children, including the troubled Star. However, they quickly butt heads with their neighbor, Clementine, who disapproves of their lifestyle and is incensed when Star befriends her spirited horse, Comet. Haunted by past tragedy and unable to properly care for Comet, Clem nevertheless resents the bond Star soon shares with the horse. When Star disappears with Comet, the neighbors are thrown together—far too close together. But as the search for the pair wears on, both families must learn to put aside their animosity and confront the choices they’ve made and the scars they carry. Plumbing the depths of regret and forgiveness, The Language of Hoofbeats explores the strange alchemy that transforms a group of people into a family.

My Thoughts:

The Language of Hoofbeats is a tender slower read that explores family and relationships in a story where a lesbian married couple with an adopted son and two foster children move to a small town where Paula practices large animal veterinary care and Jackie is an artist who works out of their home.  One of their foster children, Star, hasn't been with them long enough for either Paula nor Jackie to really get to know but she comes from a home of neglect with a mother who was institutionalized with mental illness which brought Star into the foster care system.

Moving can be difficult and each member of this family has their struggles with the adjustments to rural life.  Star especially has a hard time of it until she meets Comet, the horse who lives in a small corral across the road from their new house.  Star and Comet take to each other instantly but Clementine, the horse's owner objects strongly to having "that girl" interfering with her horse. There's a long history behind Clementine's bitterness and it evolves through the book in chapters told in her voice alternating with chapters told in the others' voices.  

When Clementine refuses to sell Comet to the family, Star takes action and during the night sneaks out to set Comet and herself free.  Their disappearance is the point from which the novel evolves.

The Language of Hoofbeats explores the love of a girl for a horse and just how far one is willing to go to find that which they seek.  It's a story of love, acceptance, understanding and sorrow and is sure to touch your heart and draw a tear.  Catherine Ryan Hyde, as in Pay it Forward, reaches into the very soul of the characters whom she writes about and for whom she writes in this new novel, The Language of Hoofbeats. 

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the bestselling author of twenty-four novels, including the 1999 smash hit Pay It Forward,which has been translated into more than two dozen languages, and was made into a major motion picture starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment. In addition to her novels, Hyde is the author of more than fifty short stories and is founder and former president (2000–2009) of the Pay It Forward Foundation. During her years as a professional public speaker, she addressed the National Conference on Education, met with AmeriCorps members at the White House, and shared a dais with President Bill Clinton.

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Connect with Catherine

 Website | Facebook | Twitter

#TheLanguageofHoofbeats  

Finally, it's Here!! The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah (book review)

Monogram Murders
Author:  Sophie Hannah
Published:  September 2014
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages:  320
Edition:  Hardcover
Genre:  Mystery
ISBN: 9780062297211
Source:  A complimentary copy was provided with thanks to the publisher and TLC book tours in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Since the publication of her first book in 1920, Agatha Christie wrote 33 novels, two plays and more than 50 short stories featuring Hercule Poirot. Now, for the first time ever, the Agatha Christie Estate has approved a brand new novel featuring Dame Agatha's most beloved creation.

Hercule Poirot's quiet supper in a London coffee house is interrupted when a young woman confides to him that she is about to be murdered. She is terrified, but begs Poirot not to find and punish her killer. Once she is dead, she insists, justice will have been done.

Later that night, Poirot learns that three guests at a fashionable London hotel have been murdered, and a cuff link has been placed in each one’s mouth. Could there be a connection with the frightened woman? While Poirot struggles to put together the bizarre pieces of the puzzle, the murderer prepares another hotel bedroom for a fourth victim…

In the hands of internationally bestselling author Sophie Hannah, Poirot plunges into a mystery set in 1920s London – a diabolically clever puzzle that can only be solved by the talented Belgian detective and his ‘little grey cells’.

Published worldwide in September 2014.

http://www.agathachristie.com/christies-work/stories/the-monogram-murders/541

My thoughts:

I've been an Agatha Christie fan for a few decades so when I heard Sophie Hannah was going to write a Hercule Poirot novel I was excited. Though Poirot was written out in Curtain: Poirot's Last Case, it didn't deter me from my desire to read The Monogram Murders despite it being written by another author, Sophie Hannah.  

The novel is set in 1920's London, around the period of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.  Hercules Poirot is retired and all he desires is to relax with a cup of coffee in a local coffee house when in comes a distraught woman with murder on her mind... her own!

Shortly after meeting this woman, Jennie; Poirot and his friend of short acquaintance (a mere six weeks previous to the meeting of Poirot and Jennie), Edward Catchpool from Scotland Yard, find themselves at Bloxham Hotel investigating three murders that had taken place in one evening at the famous hotel.  

As Christie wrote Poirot, an intelligent Belgian man of style and sharp mind; Hannah's Poirot is virtually identical; an impeccable likeness of the great sleuth. Hannah kept him true to character, paying a great homage to Dame Agatha Christie.  As in this example from page 207:

"Au contraire, mademoiselle.  In due course you will have your turn to speak, you may rest assured, but first I have another question for you.  You said to me, "Oh please let no one open their mouths!".....And - pardon me! - one final observation, mademoiselle....." (Hercule Poirot, The Monogram Murders)

Just as Christie would have done, Hannah wrote in several twists in the plot so the reader, much like poor Catchpool, cannot quite keep up with Poirot who, himself, throws in a few false leads to keep Catchpool's grey cells working and, quite frankly, the reader's too. 

At first one may be able to determine this is not Christie writing this Hercule Poirot mystery as Hannah's writing style is similar but not identical, but Hannah does a fine job of capturing the attention of the reader by writing a twisted plot the likes of Christie that we soon forget whom we are reading and just sit back and enjoy another visit with the incredible Poirot.  Does Hannah pull it off?  Yes, she does.  Her obvious love for Agatha Christie's writing and for Poirot is tangible in this new tribute to a woman who is outsold only by the bible and Shakespeare.  It was wonderful to be in the presence of the great Belgian sleuth again.

“Sophie Hannah’s idea for a plot line was so compelling and her passion for my grandmother’s work so strong, that we felt that the time was right for a new Christie to be written.” (Mathew Prichard, grandson of Agatha Christie)

About Agatha Christie:

Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. Her books have sold more than a billion copies in English and another billion in a hundred foreign languages. She died in 1976.

Learn more about Agatha Christie through her official website.

Meet the Author:

Internationally bestselling author Sophie Hannah breathes new life into the incomparable detective. In this thrilling tale, Poirot plunges into a mystery set in 1920s London—a diabolically clever puzzle that will test his brilliant skills and baffle and delight longtime Christie fans and new generations of readers discovering him for the first time. Authorized by Christie’s family, and featuring the most iconic detective of all time, this instant Christie classic is sure to be celebrated by mystery lovers the world over.

Connect with Sophie Hannah through her website, or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

7 Days and Counting Until the Release of John Grisham's Gray Mountain!!!!

Grisham's books are my favourite for a good legal thriller.  I am really looking forward to this one, starring a female protagonist.  I think that's a big deal for a Grisham novel.  Do you?

#JohnGrisham   #GrayMountain  #legalthriller

Debut Mystery Release: Killer WASPs

Killer WASPs

A Killer WASPs Mystery

Amy Korman

Crime really stings in Killer WASPs (Witness Impulse e-book, on sale 9/16/2014, $1.99), a Witness Original from debut author Amy Korman. If you love cocktails, antiquing, parties, shopping and the occasional crime-lite thrown in amid vodka tonics and tennis matches at the club, then you’ll love Killer WASPs. The first installment in this modern and cozy series features crime, romance, and fun amid the classic estates of Philadelphia’s Main Line.

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, is a haven for East Coast WASPs, where tennis tournaments and cocktails at the club are revered traditions. Little happens in the sleepy suburb, and that is the way the Lilly Pulitzer–clad residents prefer it. So when antiques store owner Kristin Clark and her portly basset hound stumble upon the area's newest real estate developer lying unconscious beneath the hydrangea bushes lining the driveway of one of Bryn Mawr's most distinguished estates, the entire town is abuzz with gossip and intrigue.

When the attacker strikes again just days later, Kristin and her three best friends—Holly, a glamorous chicken nugget heiress with a penchant for high fashion; Joe, a decorator who's determined to land his own HGTV show; and Bootsie, a preppy but nosy newspaper reporter—join forces to solve the crime. While their investigation takes them to cocktail parties, flea markets, and the country club, they must unravel the mystery before the assailant claims another victim.

Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series will enjoy shaking up the Philadelphia Main Line. To learn more, check out the Killer WASPs Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/killerWASPsseries.

About the Author: Amy Korman is a former senior editor and staff writer for Philadelphia Magazine, and author of Frommer’s Guide to Philadelphia. She has written for Town & Country, House Beautiful, Men’s Health, and Cosmopolitan. Killer WASPs is her first novel.

Purchase your copy here:  HarperCollins, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks

Supreme Justice by Max Allan Collins (book review)

Supreme Justice

Author:  Max Allan Collins

Published:  July 1, 2014

Publisher:  Thomas & Mercer

Pages:  336

ISBN 9781612185309

Genre:  Legal thrillers, crime drama, fiction

Source:  a copy was provided by the publisher and TLC book tours in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A new standalone thriller from the creator of The Road to Perdition and the Nathan Heller series. 

After taking a bullet for his commander-in-chief, Secret Service agent Joseph Reeder is a hero. But his outspoken criticism of the president he saved—who had stacked the Supreme Court with hard-right justices to overturn Roe v. Wade, amp up the Patriot Act, and shred the First Amendment—put Reeder at odds with the Service’s apolitical nature, making him an outcast.

FBI agent Patti Rogers finds herself paired with the unpopular former agent on a task force investigating the killing of Supreme Court Justice Henry Venter. Reeder—nicknamed “Peep” for his unparalleled skills at reading body language—makes a startling discovery while reviewing a security tape: the shooting was premeditated, not a botched robbery. Even more chilling, the controversial Venter may not be the only justice targeted for death…

Is a mastermind mounting an unprecedented judicial coup aimed at replacing ultra-conservative justices with a new liberal majority? To crack the conspiracy and save the lives of not just the justices but also Reeder’s own family, rising star Rogers and legendary investigator Reeder must push their skills—and themselves—to the limit.

My Thoughts:

I don't believe I've read Max Allan Collins previous to Supreme Justice but I have seen some of the movies made from some of his books and scripts such as:  Saving Private Ryan and Air Force One.  He has also written graphic novels including Road to Perdition from which a movie was made.  So, obviously he's a very accomplished writer.

Supreme Justice is a stand alone novel featuring Joseph Reeder, a former Secret Service agent who took a bullet for a president he didn't like and later left to run a highly successful security firm.  He ruffled a few fellow agents when he criticized the president for whom he took a bullet.

When a supreme court judge is killed in an alleged robbery; Reeder's friend, a police detective, cajoles Reeder (aka Peeps) into looking at the footage of the robbery.  Played frame by frame, Reeder sees what others didn't.  This was an assassination made to look like a robbery. Because of his extensive training, including being able to read body language, and his intuition, Reeder is invited to act as an advisor with the service in relation to the shooting. 

Shortly thereafter another judge is murdered in his yard and it is obvious he had been followed and his routine memorized.  The more Reeder investigates and watches, the sooner he realizes there's a conspiracy at play and the leaders within the conspiracy are likely people he is now working with.

Supreme Justice is definitely driven by the plot rather than by the characters and it is a real page turner. In a book like this, I don't mind a lack of character development in the supporting cast.  Reeder (Peeps) was well developed, his character believable and intriguing with an ability to read people and situations that is sometimes a gift and sometimes a curse. It makes it difficult to get close to someone just as I imagine being friends with a psychiatrist would be.  

While aspects of the ending were predictable, there was still an element of mystery about who and how. As the climax drew near, my only complaint is that it seemed an abrupt ending. But I would be hasty to not realize the clues had been dropped all along the path.  It really was cleverly designed, artfully composed and carried out by a cunning writer.  

Overall, I really enjoyed my first Max Allan Collins novel. Highly recommended to readers of Lee Child, political thrillers, legal thrillers, mysteries and crime dramas.  My favourite genres!

Meet the author:

Max Allan Collins has earned fifteen Private Eye Writers of America “Shamus” nominations, winning for his Nathan Heller novels, True Detective and Stolen Away, and receiving the PWA life achievement award, the Eye. His graphic novel, Road to Perdition, the basis for the Academy Award–winning film starring Tom Hanks, was followed by two novels, Road to Purgatory and Road to Paradise. His suspense series include Quarry, Nolan, Mallory, and Eliot Ness, and his numerous comics credits include the syndicated Dick Tracy and his own Ms. Tree. He has written and directed four feature films and two documentaries. His other produced screenplays include The Expert, an HBO World Premiere, and The Last Lullaby. His coffee-table book The History of Mystery received nominations for every major mystery award and Men’s Adventure Magazines won the Anthony. Collins lives in Muscatine, Iowa, with his wife, writer Barbara Collins. They have collaborated on seven novels and are currently writing the Trash ‘n’ Treasures mysteries.

2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino - book review

2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajamas

Author:  Marie-Helene Bertino

Publisher:  Crown

Published:  August 5, 2014

Pages:  272

Genre:  Fiction

Source:  I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

2 A.M. AT THE CAT’S PAJAMAS begins on a quiet morning in a Philadelphia apartment the day before Christmas Eve, where we meet the precocious and smart-mouthed nine-year-old Madeleine Altimari.  Madeleine’s mother has recently died, and her father is still lost in his grief. Meanwhile, Madeleine finds solace in music and aspires to become a jazz singer. Just two days shy of her tenth birthday, she is about to have the most remarkable day of her life.

After facing down mean-spirited classmates and rejection at school, Madeleine decides today is the day to find Philadelphia’s legendary jazz club, The Cat’s Pajamas, and make her debut. On the same day, Madeleine’s fifth grade teacher Sarina Greene, who has moved back to Philly after a divorce, is nervously looking forward to a dinner party that will reunite her with her high school love. And across town at The Cat’s Pajamas, club owner Jack Lorca discovers that his beloved venue may close be closed due to financial woes by the end of the night. As we follow these three lost souls over the course of twenty-four hours, we also meet a cast of unique and brilliant characters who surround them – from the warm-hearted cafe owner Mrs. Santiago to Melissa, the former “snake lady” exotic dancer who might be Lorca’s last hope for love.  With sharp wit and irrepressible spirit, Marie-Helene Bertino turns Philadelphia into a magical place where anything can happen.

A sparkling and completely original novel, 2 A.M. AT THE CAT’S PAJAMAS will capture your heart and make you root for Madeleine, Sarina, Lorca, and those whose lives they touch around them.

My Thoughts:

I love the raised black velvet feel of the lettering on the light turquoise cover of 2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajamas.  At 272 pages, it's not a long read but it was slow going getting into this novel.

Nine-year-old Madeleine is quite foul-mouthed which is alarming to me for a child so young.  She gets kicked out of school by her principal for slugging another kid in the nose; granted he was making fun of her and she was standing up for herself.  Young Madeleine's mother passed away earlier in the year and her father spends most of his time in his room, so deep is his grief.  Madeleine is one of those children whom the neighbourhood seems to raise.  She has one wish, and that is to sing jazz.  As luck would have it, it looks like she will get that wish.

Sure I rooted for Madeleine because at first I felt sorry for her more than anything.  I tend to root for the underdog and love to see them overcome their challenges.  I'm a sucker for that in fiction or real life.  Understand she has a rough time of things and only one friend, the one who taught her all the filthy language she knows.  Madeleine doesn't care to make any others.

She's a little girl against the world, trying to make her wish come true despite the odds.  The Cat's Pajamas may be her answer but it's owner has troubles of his own, as does Madeleine's favourite school teacher.  Their stories are intertwined and come together on the eve of Christmas Eve, the perfect time of year for a little magic.

2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajamas is a saucy bit of entertainment with a terrific title that promises a good time.  For many, this novel will be a nice change with its current day dreams and an older era feel. It's precocious, feisty and jazzy; just like its protagonist.

Amazon.com:  http://www.amazon.com/m-The-Cats-Pajamas/dp/0804140235

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18815488-2-a-m-at-the-cat-s-pajamas

Author's website: http://mariehelenebertino.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarieHeleneBertino?ref=hl

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/mhbertino

Meet the author:

Marie-Helene Bertino is the author of the story collection Safe as Houses, which won the 2012 Iowa Short Fiction Prize and The Pushcart Prize, and was long-listed for The Story Prize and The Frank O’Connor International Short Story Prize. An Emerging Writer Fellow at New York’s Center for Fiction, she has spent six years as an editor and writing instructor at One Story.

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Connect with Marie-Helene Bertino

Website | Facebook | Twitter

The Death of Lucy Kyte by Nicola Upson - book review

The Death of Lucy Kyte

Author:  Nicola Upson

Published:  June 2014

Publisher: Bourbon Street Books

Pages:  368

Source:  A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

An unexpected inheritance plunges beloved British mystery author Josephine Tey into a disturbing puzzle of dark secrets connecting the present and the past in this intriguing historical mystery brimming with psychological tension.

When Josephine Tey unexpectedly inherits Red Barn Cottage from a godmother she barely knows, the will stipulates that she must personally claim the house in the Suffolk countryside. But Josephine is not the only benefactor—a woman named Lucy Kyte is also in Hester’s will. Sorting through the artifacts of her godmother’s life, Josephine is intrigued by an infamous murder committed on the cottage’s grounds a century before. This old crime—dubbed the Red Barn murder—still haunts the tight-knit village and its remote inhabitants. Is it superstition, or is there a very real threat that is frightening the locals? And is the truth related to the mysterious Lucy Kyte, whom no one in the village admits to knowing? Surrounded by the shadows of obsession, abuse, and deceit, with a palpable sense of evil thickening around her, Josephine must untangle historic tragedy from present danger to prevent a deadly cycle from beginning once again.

Goodreads, Amazon, IndieBound, and Barnes & Noble.

author's website and Facebook page.

My Thoughts:

The Death of Lucy Kyte takes place in the early half of the century in a cute town whose inhabitants bear grudges and judgments for generations.  When she inherits her godmother's cottage home, Josephine takes on the task of clearing out the old home and in doing so learns the tale of the death of a local village girl; a tale that had mesmerized her godmother so much she had written a journal of her story.

While Josephine inherited the home, a mysterious Lucy Kyte inherited any contents within that she might choose.  But how to find this mystery lady and what was the significance of her role in her godmother's life?  Later, when Josephine discovers the death of Lucy Kyte, she determines to solve the mysteries surrounding her godmother and the two deaths.

Set in the Suffolk countryside of the UK, The Death of Lucy Kyte explores how a village can influence, a grudge can linger, and how forbidden relationships can have enduring consequences.  The Death of Lucy Kyte is a descriptive narrative of another era written in descriptive style that illustrates the nuances of village life, for good and bad, unveiled with the investigating prowess of the seasoned mystery author Josephine Tey.  It's a bit slow reading but worth the time for the build up towards a suspenseful climax.

Meet the Author:  

Nicola Upson is the author of five Josephine Tey mysteries, including An Expert in Murder, Angel with Two Faces, Two for Sorrow, Fear in the Sunlight, and The Death of Lucy Kyte, as well as two works of nonfiction. She has worked in theater and as a freelance journalist. A recipient of an Escalator Award from the Arts Council England, she splits her time between Cambridge and Cornwall. Visit Nicola at her website, www.nicolaupson.com, and on Facebook.

Chasing the Sun - book review

Chasing the Sun

Author:  Natalia Sylvester

Published:  June 3/14

Publisher:  New Harvest

Pages:  304

Source:  A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher and TLC book tours in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Partially inspired by her grandfather’s kidnapping in Peru, CHASING THE SUN: A Novel (Lake Union/New Harvest; on sale June 3, 2014) is Natalia Sylvester’s suspenseful debut about a man whose wife is kidnapped just as their marriage is falling apart.

After going out for an errand, Marabela Jimenez doesn’t return home and her husband suspects she has left him – again. Only, the next day a letter arrives in the mail that reads:

 Querido Andres,I’m being held by three men who say they’ll keep me safe as long as you cooperate. They say that means no cops and no media. They say they’ll call when they’re ready to talk to you. Kiss our children for me and tell them not to worry. Keep me in your thoughts as I will be keeping you in mine.Marabela

Despite their crumbling relationship, Andres quickly realizes he must do whatever it takes to get Marabela home. He can’t possibly afford the ransom the kidnappers demand or handle this threat to his family alone so he hires a consultant to help negotiate with the terrorists. He also reaches out to his estranged mother, who has never cared for Marabela and even reconnects with an old friend who may hold the key to his past and his wife’s future. As each day passes without the return of his wife, Andres is forced to come to terms with whether or not what he and Marabela have left is worth saving and how far he’ll go to bring her home.

Set against the backdrop of the political turmoil and terrorist threats of 1992 Peru,CHASING THE SUN is a story of how trauma has a way of exposing our most difficult truths and healing past wounds and regrets.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

My thoughts:

Beautiful Peru, she is alluring.  During the time of civil unrest, however, that beauty is torn to reveal an undercurrent of danger.  Kidnappings are not unusual so when Marabella disappears, the horrific visions of torture are not far behind.

Marabella and Andres have a strained marriage.  They've struggled but Andres doesn't give up so easily.  Even when Marabella disappeared and returned in a few days, he forgave.  This time is different.  A note arrives from the kidnappers demanding a grand sum in exchange for the return of his wife.  Andres wants her back but he doesn't have the money they've demanded. 

Andres' mother comes to his aid and with her assistance and that of a consultant, Andres goes about the effort to free Marabella but not without trepidation. On one hand, he must save her.  On the other, his marriage is battle worn and he's unsure of its stability.  Knowing his wife and the possible torment she may sustain during her captivity, Andres fears for the remnants of his marriage.  How will this affect her and ultimately him and their family, assuming she is freed?

The cover of this hardbound debut novel is beautiful in its selection of colours.  Never for a moment does it belie what author Natalia Sylvester has created therein.  Chasing the Sun is a suspenseful tale of the terror one faces when someone they love is kidnapped and the lengths to which one is willing to go to save the person they love.  It's a tale of love and strife, pain and anguish, and the hope for reunited and reignited love amidst the beautiful backdrop of Peru and the terrorism of a country in turmoil.  A fabulous read by a debut author, Chasing the Sun's plot will hold you fast until you've finished the last page.

Natalia Sylvester was born in Lima, Peru. She came to the U.S. at age four and grew up in South Florida, where she received a B.A. in creative writing from the University of Miami. A former magazine editor, Natalia now works as a freelance writer in Austin, Texas. 

Connect with the author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter |Pinterest

Hilary Rodham Clinton Shares with New York Times Her Favourite Books

Hilary Clinton's memoir, Hard Choices, just hit bookshelves across the continent.  In this interview with the New York Times, she shares her favourite books, those she read to her daughter, and those which have had influence in her life.  You may be surprised at what you read in this column.

http://nyti.ms/1kOxPQg

Currently she's reading Goldfinch by Donna Tartt; Maya Angelou's Mom & Me & Mom; and Missing You, the recent release by author Harlan Coben.

I'm reading Fault in Our Stars by John Green and The Death of Lucy Kyte by Nicola Upson.

What we have in common, pertaining to our reading tastes:

Book with greatest influence:  the Bible

Author whose series must be read as they come available:  Louise Penny

Guilty pleasures:  gardening books...

She and I both read John Grisham!

I like her taste in books.  I just may have to pick up her memoir after all.  I really wasn't going to because I didn't like the person the media makes her out to be but maybe I was wrong.  Maybe the media is wrong.  Perhaps not.  At any rate, I now want to read Hard Choices.

Will you?  

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - YA book review

We Were Liars
Author:  E. Lockhart
Published:  May 2014
Publisher:  Delacorte Press
Pages:  225
Source:  borrowed
Genre:  YA

http://www.emilylockhart.com

We were liars
A beautiful and distinguished family
A private island
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends - the Liars -
   whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart.

Read it.

And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

My Thoughts:

There were four friends, all teenagers, who got together each summer on an island.  They swam, played games, ate fudge, two of them fell in love and they were liars, each of them.

The fifteenth summer changed them, changed lives.  It was the summer Cady was found on shore with a cut in her head, drenched, and alone.  She could not remember what happened to her nor could she remember that summer.  

We Were Liars is suspenseful yet whimsical.  It's a coming of age story told through the eyes of Cady and is centred on the summer she couldn't remember.

The narrative is so clever as portrayed in these notes from Gat to Cady:

"In a profound, symbolic gesture, I am giving you this bar of Vosges I got when we all went to Edgartown.  You can eat it, or just sit next to it and feel superior. "

"Better than chocolate, being with you last night.Silly me, I thought that nothing was better than chocolate."

John Green endorsed this YA novel saying, "Thrilling, beautiful, and blisteringly smart.  We Were Liars is utterly unforgettable." 

We Were Liars is a creative endeavour full of wit and clever metaphors, written to entertain even the more mature reader.  

"Once upon a time there were three beautiful children, two boys and a girl.....  Bounce, effort, and snark.  Contemplation and enthusiasm.  Ambition and strong coffee.  Sugar, curiosity and rain.  And yet, there was a witch.  There is always a witch."

Not strictly for YA audiences, We Were Liars will shock you to your core.  Jaw dropping, shake your head, hide your eyes shocking.  I cannot tell you more.  You must discover this novel and its intricate tale for yourself.

Meet the Author:

E. Lockhart is the author of four books about Ruby Oliver: The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, The Treasure Map of Boys, and Real Live Boyfriends.  She also wrote Fly on the Wall, Dramarama, and How to be Bad (the last with Sarah Mlynowski and Lauren Myracle).  Her novel The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks was a Printz Award Honor Book, a finalist for the National Book Award, and winner of a Cybils Award for Best Young Adult Novel.

WeWereLiars.com