The Week in Review: 06.22.2018
Between the Covers
Finished last week:
Of all of James Patterson‘s characters, Alex Cross is my favorite. It’s been a while since I’ve read an Alex Cross book so I picked up CROSS FIRE, expecting it to be a fast paced read. In this book, Kyle Craig is back and he wants revenge against Alex. There’s also a sniper on the loose, targeting high profile political people. Alex has to protect his family from Craig, hunt for the sniper, and plan his wedding to Bree. As always with a Patterson book, this one was a quick read with short, tension filled chapters, but I wasn’t completely satisfied with it. I didn’t quite buy the way the sniper case was solved and I felt the ending was rushed. There were also a few loose threads (like the return of Alex’s ex-fiancé Christine) that seemed to be thrown into the mix for no reason. As you can tell, I didn’t love this book, but I liked it well enough. (Review copy provided by Little, Brown.)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I WANNA BE A COWGIRL by Angela DiTerlizzi is an adorable picture book about a little girl with a big imagination. She puts on her boots, spurs, and hats and heads out to become a cowgirl on her stick pony. She loves her adventures so much she dreams that she’s a cowgirl. Told in rhyming verse from the young girl’s point of view, this book totally charmed me. Elizabet Vukovic‘s illustrations are delightful and add just the right touch of whimsy. You’ll want to pick this up for the early readers in your life. (Review copy provided by Simon & Schuster.)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Originally published in 1945, THE EGG AND I by Betty MacDonald is the story of a newly married woman living on a chicken farm in Washington. I was excited to read this book because I loved MacDonald’s Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books when I was a child. I’m sad to say that, for me, this book did not stand the test of time. MacDonald’s racist attitudes toward Native Americans and her husband’s demands of her when it came to housework, etc grated on me after a while. I was surprised to learn that the characters of Ma and Pa Kettle originated from this book. Heather Henderson does a fine job narrating the audio version of this one but it wasn’t enough to save the book for me. (I won this book from A Bookworm’s World and Audio Publishers Association .)
Currently reading:
- THE SECRETS BETWEEN US by Thrity Umrigar
- GHOSTBUSTER’S DAUGHTER: LIFE WITH MY DAD, HAROLD RAMIS by Violet Ramis Stiel
- ASTRONAUT – AQUANAUT: HOW SPACE SCIENCE AND SEA SCIENCE INTERACT by Jennifer Swanson
On the Screen
Not much of anything.
Off the blog
- I went with Vance to the opening of a beautiful new brewery in our area.
- I’ve made some progress on my current puzzle but still have a long way to go.
- We walked at least three miles every morning and I averaged just over 17,500 Fitbit steps a day.
What’s going on in your corner of the world?
That puzzle looks really hard
I need to start a puzzle. I keep thinking I will and then I don’t.
I haven’t read a Patterson book in years but want to try the new one with him and Bill Clinton – The President is Missing.
I read an excerpt from Violet Ramis Stiel’s book and it made me want to read it. I’m a big Harold Ramis fan going back to Second City.
I remember The Egg and I – can’t think if I actually read it or not. I can see how attitudes have changed in a lot of ways and how that would be annoying. I used to read Patterson’s Alex Cross books and also his Women’s Murder books, but haven’t in quite a while. They just fell off my radar as other series took their place. I’ll not likely go back to them. That happens to me now and then. Oh, and Violet Ramis Stiel’s book sounds very interesting.
At least the Cowgirl book was a winner! Your puzzle is starting to come together.
My father always enjoys Patterson, but can you believe I’ve never read him? Will look forward to your thoughts on Thrity Umrigar’s book.
I’ve never read Umrigar.
I usually enjoy Alex Cross…so I’m sorry this one didn’t quite do it for you. I haven’t read one in a while.
I remember The Egg and I from when I was young…and I am not surprised that the sexist and racist attitudes would be grating. I have discovered many of the books of my youth are like that. Sigh.
Enjoy your weekend!
I hate when books don’t stand the test of time! It makes me feel old! LOL
I think I tried to read The Egg and I, but couldn’t get into it, which disappointed me since I love the area in which it is set. I’m eager to hear how you like the new Thrity Umrigar book! No puzzles here for a while. I think it’ll be a winter trend for us. We’re not here long enough to get one going!
Too bad this week’s books were a little unsatisfying. I have read a whole bunch of really good YA over the past week and it’s been a wonderful way to start my summer holidays.
I used to love James Patterson’s books, too, but I don’t read them at all any more. That puzzle looks crazy hard! How was the brewery?
I happened to like the Egg and I. The racist attitudes really took me by surprise. It was hard to overlook them, and I just thought her husband was a horribly selfish man. Yet I found enough of it enjoyable I could shrug off those uncomfortable parts.
The puzzle looks like fun. 🙂 I hope you are enjoying THE SECRETS BETWEEN US. I love Thrity Umrigar’s books. Have a great weekend, Kathy! We have rehearsals tomorrow and then there’s a big event at the dance studio on Sunday too, so we’ll be practically living there all weekend.
My husband is an Alex Cross fan. I’ll have to share your experience with him. I like your progress on the puzzle. I see why it’s so complicated – it’s lots of puzzles within a big puzzle. Keep having fun with it.
Kathy, thanks for your honest reviews. I Wanna Be a Cowgirl sounds charming. It sounds like you had a very good week. Keep up the impressive step count!
Cross Fire was just OK, but I do love Alex Cross as a character. I love when Craig re-enters the picture, but this one had a few issues that kept me from loving it. I wanna be a cowgirl sounds wonderful.
I don’t think I’ve ever read Patterson.
I haven’t read Patterson in a long time but I don’t think I’ll start back up with this one. At least, I WANNA BE A COWGIRL was good!