Life's That Way by Jim Beaver

This is a memoir of the life of Jim Beaver, actor, father, husband during the year from October, 2003 to October, 2004. It is actually a series of e-mail messages sent to friends late at night. The messages were meant to keep family and friends apprised of what was happening to his beloved Cecily during her courageous fight with lung cancer.

These are so much more than words or e-mails because they convey the depth of love he felt for his wife and child and the depth of despair during his wife’s illness and after her death.

One of the most poignant aspects of the memoir, in my opinion, is that he recognizes that his plight is not unique but rather that many people experience great loss every day. It is in this recognition coupled with his honest entries that Jim seems to become an old friend.

If you are interested in reading words and experiencing emotions behind the words, then read Life’s That Way. It does not take on the angle of woe is me but faces the challenges of life head on and in doing so validates our feelings during similar circumstances.

Thank you Jim Beaver for the courage to publish your personal thoughts.

Ladybookbug!

Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson

There was a time when I would only read specific authors. This would cause me to wait impatiently for their next book to arrive. Now that I have expanded my “horizons” I find there are several books at a time arriving for different authors and I never run out of something to read.

I have read all of the “Goldy” series by Diane Mott Davidson. She was the first author I was aware of who incorporated recipes into her books. In fact, I actually used a recipe from one of her earlier books at a party. It was a big hit! It was a pizza made with Spanish onions, brie and pears.

Her latest books brings back many of her prime characters including Tom, Marla, Arch, and Julian. She’s into catering a wedding in this entry which includes a myriad of delicious sounding recipes as well. I really think she should compile all of her recipes in a cookbook. Maybe she will at a later date.

Ms. Davidson’s books are what I would call “light” mysteries. In this latest entry a favorite town doctor and his vehicle are found in a ravine. It appears to be an accident. Further on in the story, another character dies. The two deaths have something in common and Goldy is just the person to unravel what it is.

If you are not into thrillers or horror and just enjoy a good tale, this one’s for you!

Lady Bookbug!

The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle

The reason I was interested in this book was because it had a subject heading of Asperger’s Syndrome, which is a condition on the autism spectrum.

In this story Jordan, the son of Courtney (an oby-gyn doctor) and Mark is seen walking slowly in the pouring rain on a school day. His next-door neighbor Sarah sees him and offers him a ride. He reluctantly gets into her van and off they go. What happens next is “the straw that broke the camel’s back” so to speak. The seemingly ordinary life of a young family unravels with the discovery of an unspeakable crime.

Jordan and his neighbor Danny were once good friends but their friendship has deteriorated and Danny has no idea why until, he discovers some discs in Jordan’s backpack.

This is a story about betrayal between friends and not really knowing who your neighbors are. This is Ms. Kittle’s third entry into the field of novels. I hope it is not her last. This was a well-written book with attention to detail in regard to the crime and the parties involved.

Ladybookbug!

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

Speaking of Gardner, this is a MUST read. I know I’ve mentioned before that I really enjoy this author. Her stories are undoubtedly thrillers in the highest sense of the word.
This latest entry is no different.

It’s interesting to note that the author has become apprised of the intricacies of how the Internet works and this makes this particular story all the more plausible.

Sandra and Jason Jones are a young couple with a 4 year-old child. Sandra works as a school teacher and Jason is on the staff of a local newspaper. They are really into raising their child and keep mostly to themselves. One of the more unusual aspects of their family relationship is that Sandra and Jason work alternative shifts. Essentially, they are like “ships that pass in the night”.

One day Jason arrives home only to discover that their child is asleep in her bed and his wife has gone missing. The police are called, Jason is categorized as a “person of interest”, they discover that a pedophile is living down the street, and the pursuit to find Sandra begins.

This was the kind of story when you want to turn to the back of the book and find out what happens. Oh no, I did not do that! Please keep right on reading this until the end. It’s worth it!

Ladybookbug!

Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child

Jack Reacher is travelling on the New York subway early in the morning when he spots a woman on the train who meets all of the overt criteria for a suicide bomber. He carefully approaches the woman, identifying himself as a cop. What happens next results in an intricate web of paths leading toward the ultimate prize.

Susan Mark was an employee of the government. As such she was familiar with the intricacies of meritorious awards which are a key ingredient of this new novel by Lee Child. Manhattan, Afghanistan, the United States Government, Homeland Security, Delta Force, the NYPD and others, all work together to keep the reader on edge, wanting to find out what happens in the end.

This is a grip the edge of your book story. Child’s vivid descriptions of every scene go a long way toward propelling the reader to read on. This is a story fraught with lies, big and little and it is up to Reacher to find the truth.

Great Read!

Ladybookbug!