Library Loot....

 "Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that’s their secret weapon. They’ve spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they’re sixty years old, four women friends can’t just retire—it’s kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller"

Library cards are a great thing to have... and this week I used my Pickens County Library Card and downloaded Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn. A light, "fun" read by a writer that is primarily known for her 2 Victorian Mystery series that star bright female protagonists. Killers of a Certain Age is set in contemporary times, starring 4 women who were recruited while in college and trained to be international assasins for a group working outside of the "system". They've been at it for 40 years now and are on their retirement cruise... but it's not all fun and games and something is afoot on that ship...

Buzzfeed summed up its' review of this book as "The Golden Girls meets James Bond thriller."

Do you have a library card? 

Published September of last year by Penguin Random House,  be on the lookout for my review...

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett... A Review

I didn't know what to expect from Ann Patchett. I hadn't read anything by her before this book. There seemed to be a buzz in the air about a new Ann Patchett novel, and so I decided I would open the pages of this book for a brief look. What I found was wonderous! I was swept up into the story of these two ordinary families almost immediately and spent the next 50 or so years with them. At around page 182 I had an AHA moment and appreciated this story even more if that could even happen. What have I taken away from Commonwealth? That I love Ann Patchett, and that I loved this book!

Without giving too much of the story away, because that's the fun part to discover all a novel has to offer on your own, Commonwealth begins with a simple drunken kiss at a christening party that begins an affair, causes two divorces, two broken families, the unlikely bonding of 6 children, some of whom are related and trying to survive being ripped from their normal routine and trying to survive a tragedy that touched all their lives one summer long ago. Commonwealth follows all the characters through the ups and downs of trying to navigate life. You are reading it all in a book, which you discover is a book, and you can't help but feel something for each one of them. Empathy, hate, saddness and heartbreak, it's all there.

The writing is so inviting, I found myself not being able to put the book down even though I was just going to read a small bit to get a feel for Ann Patchett's writing style. I felt I was living through the story right along with these characters that were so well developed that they could just walk off the pages. And the story was so interesting right to the end. Each character had it's own voice and shared with us their point of view.

My initial thought was that this novel would be similar to The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, about a disfunctional family dealing with the everyday lessons of life and eachother. But Commonwealth is so much more than that and so much better. I would say that if you enjoyed The Nest, which I did, you will enjoy Commonwealth even more. If you enjoy literary fiction that revolves around the story of an ordinary family, just go out a pick up a copy of Commonwealth! It is moving and beautifully written.

Pulbished by Harper and released Sept. 13th.

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haru... A Review

"And then there was the day when Addie Moore made a call on Louis Waters."

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf, is the bittersweet love story of Addie and Louis, who much to the chagrin of their children and certain gossips of their small community of Holt, Colorado, decide to fill their empty days and lonely nights with the company of each other.

Addie and Louis, both in their 70's, have lived most of their lives in the small community of Holt, Colorado. They've raised children, fulfilled dutiful marriages, and endured the deaths of their spouses.  They knew each other from afar, and had known the others' spouse. But why does life have to come to a stand still now? Is it just because that's what is expected of them? One day Addie has an idea... and Louis gives it a try... why not spend our nights together? She misses sleeping with someone, and NOT for sex. Just the comfort of someone close during the loneliness hours of the day. She misses talking while going to sleep. She misses companionship. BUT, out of jealously, suspicion and probably fear, the people around them see things a little different. So, while Louis walks over to Addie's with his paper bag filled with his pajamas and toothbrush, tongues begin to wag...

This story was perfect. At a sparse 179 pages, there was no wasting of words, just the perfect amount to bring a well of emotions off the page. I was rooting for them! I wanted them to find the happiness that had eluded them all their lives! I wanted them to laugh at convention in the face. Oh, how I hated Addie's son! How cruel he was without thinking of her happiness! How both Addie and Louis deal with acceptance, love, affection, family and just being old made this a wonderful read. Don't miss this one! 5 stars from me!

2015 Snagged @ The Library Reading Challenge

Last year I started to use my local library more. I like supporting the library and it's nice to save a bit of money by not having to buy EVERY book I want to read! My library has both eBooks and paper books. If they don't have a book, I can search all the libraries in Connecticut and usually borrow it with an inter library loan. I started listing my "Library Loot" last year too, so when thinking about reading challenges this year, the 2015 Snagged @ The Library Reading Challenge just seemed to fit. This reading challenge is hosted by Felicia from The Geeky Blogger's Book Blog .

Here are the details...

• Runs January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015. You can join any time.

• The goal is to read at least twelve (12) books from the library. Twelve should be easy, that’s one a month. While twelve is the minimum, there is no maximum limit. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you.

• Any format will work for this challenge (print, ebook or audio) as long as you checked it out from the library it counts.

• Books can be any genre (fiction, nonfiction, romance, fantasy, mystery, thriller, horror, etc.).
• Crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed, including re-reads. The goal is to support your local library and save money.

• To join this challenge, grab the 2015 Snagged @ The Library Reading Challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link (Here's the link!) back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads (so as long as you have a dedicated shelf and Felicia has created a Goodreads group), Shelfari (I’ve created a Shelfari group. You can join and post your progress within the group), or BookLikes, etc., for the 2015 Snagged @ The Library Reading Challenge. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

The Levels...

1. Dewey Decimal: read 12 books
2. Thrifty Reader: read 24 books
3. Overdrive Junkie: read 36 books
4. Stalking the Bookstacks: read 50+ books

Last year I took out 12 plus books from the library and read 12, so I'm going to sign up for the Dewey Decimal Level and read at least 12 books. I think that's doable without stressing myself out. And that's what reading challenges are suppose to be - FUN! and not worrying about how many books you've got to read. 

Up for challenge of supporting your library and enjoying free books? Join me in the 2015 Snagged @ The Library Reading Challenge! I'll be listing the books I've "Snagged at the Library" AND the ones I've read and enjoyed right here and at the top of my blog under "Library Loot 2105". Thanks Felicia for hosting this reading challenge!

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Books I've Read for The Challenge…

1. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

2. The Stench of Honolulu by Jack Handey

3. The Tiny Book of Stories Volume 1 by Joseph Gordon-Levitt

4. Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun    Usher