#4: A Darkness More Than Night (Michael Connelly)

It seems that I am constantly playing catch up in my blogging. February has not been a nice month. There was simply no time to read….much less write about my reading! I finished reading the 7th of the Harry Bosch novels back in the middle of January and I’m just getting to blogging about it over a month later. As you can see, I wasn’t terribly excited to write about this book.

A Darkness More Than Night is a bit of a departure from what we have come to expect from Connelly’s plots. Harry is testifying in a murder trial against a Hollywood powerhouse while he is also being investigated as a suspect in another case. The new police detectives introduced in this story are not as fully developed as the cast of characters we have grown to love in the series, making the novel feel shallow and ill conceived.

I have shared my feelings about this novel with others who have read the series and they shared my sentiments about the abruptness of the changes in the structure. However, they did encourage me to continue reading the series as they think that I will continue to enjoy the books. I don’t know that I will finish the series though. I began reading the books as part of the My Library Shelf project and Darkness was the last of Connelly’s books on my shelf. I have a good feel for his writing and his voice. I have enjoyed the books, but I think there are many other authors that I would rather explore rather than devoting so much time and energy to this single storyteller.

#2: A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)

One of the joys of having a very productive reading life in January 2023 is that I’m not always finding time to post my responses to the readings in a timely manner. That’s the case with this classic novel that I decided to revisit as the calendar turned to a new year.

I first encountered A Tale of Two Cities as a high school freshman in Crawfordsville, Arkansas. The school was not known for its academic prowess and I often found myself bored in my classes. Through some type of insane logic, the administration decided to put me ahead in the math and English sequences. When Mrs. King announced that we were reading the Dickens novel as a class assignment, I was thrilled. The French Revolution was a fascinating era and I loved the use of hyperbole and symbolism throughout. Sadly, I became ill with the flu and spent much of the lecture period at home. I was resigned to tackle Dickens’ novel on my own.

Now that I was able to return to the novel as an adult, many of the details that make this novel a classic were made clear. While I recalled some of the symbolism employed — most notably, the constant knitting by Madame Defarge — I missed many of Dickens subtle statements about society and the danger of revolution. It is always a welcome opportunity to return to a work again with new life experiences and more mature perspectives. I also enjoyed having the opportunity to read the work at a leisurely pace; this allowed me to soak in all of the beauty of the text as I desired.

There will certainly be another classic novel in my future since I need to read something written before 1850 for the 2023 Reading Challenge. I’m not certain what that will be just yet or even when I’ll schedule that into my reading life. What I do know is that I am looking forward to exploring what is so special about these beloved texts that have withstood the test of time.

Now, back to my reading……

#34: Five Winters (Kitty Johnson)

To bring 2022 to a close, I finished my first ebook on the Kindle that I received for Christmas. I’ve not been incredibly interested in getting a digital reader since I spend so much of my day reading music from my iPad. I wasn’t sure how this gift was going to work out at all. So I just purchased the first inexpensive book that I thought I could handle to give it a fair shake.

That’s the best thing I can say about Five Winters. It wasn’t horrible. It wasn’t great. It was okay and a decent companion to actually beginning to read A Tale of Two Cities this week as well. The Dickens is going to take me a little longer to plow through for sure. Johnson’s novel was a nice diversion at the end of a long day.

#33: Mad Honey (Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan)

I have been a fan of Jodi Picoult’s writing for a very long time. I think I first discovered her work one summer while on break from Pepperdine and stumbled upon Keeping Faith. I’ve been a fan of her work ever since and (I think) I have read every word she has published. So it should be no surprise that I carved out time to read her latest novel and that I thoroughly enjoyed it. What shocked me is how absorbed and invested I was in the story of these characters and how I found myself questioning my own stances and opinions about important issues facing our world today.

Mad Honey is a story of developing love between two teens, Lily and Asher. At the end of the first chapter of this gripping tale, the reader learns that Lily was found dead at the base of the stairs in her home by Asher. Lily has only been living in New England for a few months; Asher is a star hockey player with dreams of playing at the collegiate level. Asher is the son of Olivia, a bee keeper who returned to her family farm after leaving her abusive husband. Since Olivia left the abuse when her son was rather young, she is uncertain how much Asher actually remembers about the situation. Does he carry emotional scars from what he witnessed? Does Asher carry the same rage and violence that he observed in his father? Olivia is desperate to contain the secret of her past and hopes to never discover the answer to her questions about Asher.

Lily’s body carries secrets as well. Her long sleeves and hair scrunchies attempt to hide the deep scars along her wrists. Lily arrives in town with very little history that she is willing to share. The only thing that is certain is that she is a talented musician and she is deeply in love with Asher. The question still lingers — what could have led to the scars that suggest an attempt to end her life? What other secrets lie at the core of this lovely young woman?

Asher is quickly accused of Lily’s murder despite his protests that he did nothing wrong. As the trial proceeds, hidden truths about both Lily and Asher are revealed. Mad Honey is a beautifully written tale that will keep the reader engaged to the final page while forcing them to examine their personal biases and prejudices against those who are “different.” Do yourself a favor. RUN to the bookstore and pick up your personal copy of this amazing book. Read it for pleasure initially; allow yourself time to think carefully and honestly about the issues that it raises for you. Personally, I plan to return to this book again in 2023 to see what other treasures it holds that I missed on my first journey through its pages.

Lastly, there are several topics that may trigger readers: domestic violence, suicide, bullying, transphobia, and rape. While I did not find any of the scenes excessively graphic, I feel it is my responsibility to warn readers of their presence.

Thank you, Jodi and Jennifer. You have touched my heart and life in ways you might have never imagined.

#31: Love on the Brain (Ali Hazelwood)

Sometimes, the Book of the Month Club offers options that I normally would not pick up to read. However, the premise sounds interesting and I find myself reading a palette cleanser. Despite my recent visits to Bridgerton, the romantic premise of Love on the Brain was not what I normally go for. After a slow start that found me struggling to connect with the characters, I was soon laughing out loud and rooting for this unusual cast to find love.

Bee is a neuroscientist who has sworn off of relationships. Her parents died when she was young resulting in she and her sister bouncing around between relatives in cities around the world. In graduate school, she was engaged to Tim – – but he ultimately left Bee at the altar for her best friend. As her professional career appears to be in the toilet, Bee is elated when she learns that she has the opportunity to co-lead a NASA project. There’s just one problem….Bee’s co-leader will be Levi, the sarcastic, egotistical man that made life in her graduate studies a living hell. How can this all work? Can two mortal enemies actually find a way to put the past behind them for the success of the project?

Love on the Brain combines scientific concepts and Twitter for a hilarious romp that brings the unlikeliest of couples together. From Bee’s quirky appearance to the quiet and extremely handsome Levi, sparks are flying. Toss in a bit of NASA lab espionage and you have the formula for a really fun read. Additionally, the commentary on the importance of family, the need for stability, and the role of standardized tests in graduate school admission (I kid you not!) keeps the book from getting too sappy. Am I surprised that I enjoyed this read as much as I did? Absolutely. Do I think I’ll check out what else Ali Hazelwood has written? Definitely. It was just too fun of a read to ignore the possibility that there might be something more to take in.

#30: Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Julia Quinn)

It should come as no shock to any of my regular readers that I picked up the fourth installment of the Bridgerton series last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now that Lady Whistledown’s identity has been revealed and she has retired from her writing, I wonder what impact this event will have upon the remainder of the series. Her witty insights and commentary was one of the things that I most enjoyed about these novels.

Romancing Mister Bridgerton continues the exploration of love in a non-traditional way. This time, the differences that must be overcome are a matter of physical appearances. The homely wallflower, Penelope, has been in love with the debonair charmer, Colin, for as long as she can remember. Does Colin even know that she has loved him? Penelope fully thinks that she will spend the rest of her life as a lonely spinster.

A few things to notice right away about this installment in the series. First, the book is a bit longer than the others in the series. The writing, however, is still excellent and worth the investment. Quinn’s commentary on the art of writing and the power of words are not to be missed. Second, this novel has more open-door intimacy; little is left to the imagination. At first, I was shocked by this choice, but I quickly came to understand why the author would make the change. It was important for the reader to see how much Colin ultimately comes to desire Penelope physically. If the audience doesn’t see the level of intimacy, there can be a question if this is a relationship of pity or convenience rather than love.

Bridgerton has been good to me this year and I’ve enjoyed the trips. However, I am going to delay my return to the series until the New Year. Typically, I find myself needing a break from the characters and writing style about halfway through a series. I’m not bored with Quinn’s plot or character development at all; I just want to make sure that I am not lulled into a sense of complacency due to familiarity. There is too much good writing in Bridgerton that I don’t want to miss a single turn of phrase.

#29: The Paper Girl of Paris (Jordyn Taylor)

I love reading historical fiction. There’s just something magical about mixing fictional characters with real events. Ever since reading Number the Stars, I have had a special place in my heart for works for young readers that address the horrors of World War II. When I stumbled upon The Paper Girl of Paris on a recent trip to the bookstore, I knew that I had found an exciting read that was going to move me. I was right in my assessment.

The Paper Girl of Paris tells the story of Alice and Adalyn. Alice is a 16-year-old girl who has just inherited a Paris apartment from her grandmother. When Alice and her parents arrive to check out the unusual gift, they find that the space is much as it was when the family left in the height of World War II. While exploring the apartment for information about her grandmother, Alice stumbles upon the diary of her grandmother’s sister, Adalyn. While she is initially intrigued by the discovery of another relative, Alice’s feelings change when she discovers a photograph of Adalyn enjoying drinks with Nazi invaders. Was Adalyn a supporter of the Nazis in Paris? Did she betray her own family who ultimately left everything behind to avoid the Nazis?

A thrilling story about the the French Resistance and the importance of family, The Paper Girl of Paris will be an exciting read for any history lover and a great introduction to the major issues of World War II for any young reader. I highly recommend it!

#28: An Offer from a Gentleman (Julia Quinn)

Netflix is responsible for my addiction to Bridgerton. After watching the first season of the series, I decided to read the novel for myself. I was immediately hooked and have found that 19th century English romances are fun reads for me. An Offer from a Gentleman is the third of the Bridgerton novels and has been my favorite of the series thus far.

An Offer from a Gentleman focuses on Benedict, the second son of the Bridgerton household. Benedict has avoided marriage for some time and is convinced that he will not meet the perfect woman. His feelings change when he has a wonderful encounter with a woman in a silver dress at his mother’s masquerade ball. As midnight nears, the woman rapidly departs a la Cinderella. Benedict will spend years in search of this mystery woman’s identity to no avail.

Who was the woman? She was Sophie, a bastard daughter of a deceased earl. After her father’s death, Sophie has been “cared” for by her stepmother. Perhaps a better description of Sophie’s treatment is “enslavement.” Like Cinderella, Sophie dreams of going to a grand ball with her stepsisters and stepmother. Since she is nothing more than a chambermaid in society, Sophie decides to keep her identity a secret from Benedict; they are from different worlds and a relationship between the two could never work.

Several years pass and Benedict encounters Sophie at a country estate party. When Benedict sees that the maid is in danger, he steps in as any gentleman would. In the process of rescuing Sophie, Benedict finds himself caught in a nasty rainstorm that leads to a dire illness. Sophie nurses him back to health and the two begin to fall in love. Can it lead to anything? Is it possible for love to overcome social differences and the biases of high society?

Quinn once again offers a compelling story that keeps the reader coming back for more. Mingling humor with romance and social climbing, An Offer from a Gentleman is poignantly written for a modern audience. I found Benedict and Sophie’s story to be the most compelling of the Bridgerton novels thus far. (I must admit that I am currently reading the next book in the series — Romancing Mister Bridgerton — and enjoying it as well. I hope to have a review of the fourth book later this week.)

#27: Angels Flight (Michael Connelly)

November was not a kind month for my blogging, but I actually managed to get some reading done during the month. What was the problem on my end? There were a few things. I’ve fought a cold for most of the month that finally turned the corner and became a mild case of bronchitis. It’s also the season of voice competitions and various auditions that require video recordings for my singers. There have been job applications to complete. (Yes, I’m looking for a new place to land. Have a lead for an open position for a collaborative pianist and teacher? I’m all ears!) Just to add to the fun, my portable keyboard decided that the keys now need to stick which makes typing at home much more challenging than it should be. I could use the iMac, but I’ve gotten spoiled by writing from the comfort of my recliner and sharing my thoughts with you, dear readers. Alas, this blog is not designed to tell you about the challenges in my personal life…..so let’s get back to the books.

Early in November, I read Michael Connelly’s Angels Flight, another of the Harry Bosch novels that I have been reading as part of My Library Shelf challenge. In this book, Harry finds himself called to investigate a mysterious hit outside of his normal jurisdiction. Why? Because the victim was a prominent lawyer who was in the process of bringing a case against the LAPD for corruption and racial bias. This novel finds Harry facing off with some old foes while trying to maintain relationships that he has built. Of all of the Harry Bosch novels that I have read thus far, this was by far the most enjoyable. Angels Flight captivated me not only with its intense plot, but Connelly’s excellent character development as well. While I wouldn’t recommend reading this one as a stand alone because the relationships that have been built in previous novels are all important to the story, this definitely suggests that Connelly has found his best voice and that the following installments in the Bosch series will continue to benefit as a result.

#26: 22 Seconds (James Patterson)

Once again, I have failed to keep up with my blogging on this site. Part of the problem is that I am more interested in reading than writing at the moment. The other issue is that my keyboard has become sticky and typing is very slow. I end up getting frustrated instead of feeling productive and just skip the writing process. Hopefully, the keyboard situation will correct itself in the weeks ahead.

22 Seconds is the latest installment in Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series. The story is predictable, yet entertaining. Lindsey finds herself in danger when she and Joe are on the trail of gun runners. The book was a quick read and just what I needed during a really stressful time at work.