"Endangered Species," by Nevada Barr

FM's rating:

1.      Premise 8

2.      Prose 8

3.      Plot 8

4.      Characters 9

5.      Overall 8

 Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

The character of Anna Pigeon is one of the most relatable in the genre (Mystery).  This fifth book in the series is as riveting as the first, with the setting changing to a different national park in each novel.  Solid-as-a-rock writing with no weaknesses and enough humor and philosophical musings to keep a reader coming back for more have made this series a staple.  

Here’s the July line-up!

“The Forever War,” by Joe Haldeman [7/4]
“Naked In Death,” by J. D. Robb [7/11]
“The Scarlet Letter,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne [7/18]
“A Small Death in the Great Glen,” by A. D. Scott [7/25]

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for the next month, please do so!)

   

"1984," by George Orwell

CJ's rating:

1. Premise 10
2. Prose 9
3. Plot 10
4. Characters 9
5. Overall 10

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Reading this book as an adult puts a whole new spin on the content. I first read "1984" in 1980 or 1981. At that time the focus was still on the fear of communism. Reagan was in the White House, the Berlin Wall intact and the United States still appeared to be the defender of democracy. I remember classroom discussions along the lines of "well, this one missed the mark." Now with all the "political correctness" (thought police), computers with video cameras in every home (telescreen), fitbits tracking people's every move, and a government (both republican & democrat) that seems bent on forcing everyone to agree with one side or the other I wonder if Orwell was projecting the spread of communism or that of democratic government. One can almost correlate groups in the novel to social groups in America today. Like those wholly dedicated to the Party (young Republicans & tea party) who wave the flag and are radical to a fault with no regard for humanity.
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FM's rating:

1. Premise 10
2. Prose 10
3. Plot 9
4. Characters 9
5. Overall 10

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

This book is everything its reputation implies.  It’s a good look at the logical outcome of political processes that were emerging during the time Orwell wrote it, and has since been referred to countless times as a cautionary tale pointing to where we may be headed today.  When I posted the books for this month on Facebook, it was with a meme that showed a picture of this book with the text, “This was meant to be a warning, not a guide.”  Upon re-reading the book, it becomes chillingly clear that that was much more than just a clever dig at our current “leaders” in Washington.  Many of the details in the book parallel current events more and more every year, not the least of which is the concept of perpetual warfare designed to deplete a populace’s resources so that life doesn’t get too comfortable for the “proles” - to keep them from paying attention to what’s really going on.  It's working.  Yes, this book is more important than ever; and a first rate reading experience in the bargain.

Here’s the July line-up!

“The Forever War,” by Joe Haldeman [7/4]
“Naked In Death,” by J. D. Robb [7/11]
“The Scarlet Letter,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne [7/18]
“A Small Death in the Great Glen,” by A. D. Scott [7/25]

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for the next month, please do so!)

"No Good Deed," by Manda Scott

FM's rating:

1. Premise 7
2. Prose 8
3. Plot 6
4. Characters 9
5. Overall 7

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

The story is a good one, but only enough to fill about 100 pages of this 304-page book.  The rest is unnecessarily drawn-out character development and “human interest” of a kind that has unfortunately been the stereotype of female suspense writers.  (The best female writers of this genre don’t fall into that stereotype, and they are among my favorites.) To Manda Scott’s credit, however, she didn’t feel obligated to put in any sex scenes, or even romantic ones, and none of her characters ever used the word “arse” or the word “shite” even once (as her colleagues in Scotland and other parts of the UK are prone to do)!  The plot was unnecessarily convoluted, even for this type of book, and created confusion that detracted – too many events and “clues” of questionable relevance for most readers to keep track of.   This did just enough damage in my view to preclude an “8” rating.

"The Last King of Texas," by Rick Riordan

FM's rating:

1. Premise 8

2. Prose 10
3. Plot 9
4. Characters 9
5. Overall 9

Comments (optional – but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Riordan is one of those rare authors who make any story fun to read simply by virtue of his way with words and subtle humor.  I highly recommend this series (beginning with "Big Red Tequila") to any adult!