I haven't done a book report in, well, years. I always have to disclaim that I don't actually read books. I listen to them. But it is one of my goals to physically pick up an actual book and turn the pages before the year is over. So here is my review of the last handful of books I have listened to. I always make sure that I am selecting unabridged versions of the novels. I also tend to choose authors or narrators in batches. I do get comfortable with a certain style of writing or a certain voice.
So let's get started. Let's see what gets a five star rating.
First off I have been on a Louise Penny kick lately. I read the first four books in the Inspector Gamache series (or is it called the Three Pines series? I've seen it referred to as both) back in 2012. I thought it was time to pick up the series again. I do love finding a prolific author. She has written 13 books so far and I'm only on number 7 so I have a nice backlog of books to read. I also adore Ralph Cosham's narration and am gutted that he passed away after book 10.
The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny: One of Louise Penny's particular talents is her character development. Her characters while engaging and likable, they are also flawed. The Brutal Telling begins with the discovery of a body in the local bistro and the signs all point to one of the beloved Three Pines residents as being very closely connected with the murdered man and could quite possibly be the murderer. As the investigation unfolds more and more of his lies and cover-ups are exposed. Flawed indeed. As is Louise Penny's signature style the book perfectly weaves together traditional police procedural with subplots that suffuse the books with humor and a better understanding of the characters and the town where they live. We have Rosa, the sweater wearing duck, priceless antiques, and a trip across the country to learn more about its indigenous people. I really enjoyed this one despite the poor behavior of some of the residents of Three Pines. Louise Penny is very adept at revealing personality traits of her characters that I think will be integral for future books in the series. I'm looking at you Peter Morrow…. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny: I was a little uncertain about this book since it doesn't take place in Three Pines, which is a character unto itself in the series. It takes place in Quebec City, where Inspector Gamache is taking some time to recover from injuries sustained in an investigation that went terribly wrong. The details of that investigation are weaved into three other parallel stories. While in Quebec City, doing some research at the Literary and Historial Society a dead body is discovered and Inspector Gamache gets pulled into that investigation. The body is that of a historian that was trying to uncover the truth about the founder of Quebec and the mystery of his remains. Meanwhile Gamache has asked Jean Guy Beauvoir (his 2nd in command) to return to Three Pines to discretely open up the investigation of the murder in the previous book that landed one its residents in jail. I liked getting to know Jean Guy better in this book. It did take me a while to fully get engaged in it but once I was it was hard to put down. The subplot of the investigation that tragically ended in both Inspector Gamache and Jean Guy being injured is slowly and nail-bitingly revealed. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Okay – let's move onto another author. I'm currently listening to the book 7 in the Gamache series but I'm only a few chapters in.
The Sparrow Sisters by Ellen Herrick: This novel is akin to the magical realism that Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen do so well. It's the story of three sisters that come from a long line of mystical healers and while they try to keep a low profile in their town they are still sought out for one of the sister's healing herbs and tinctures. A new doctor moves into town and he is very critical of her methods. There is a tragedy and the sisters are the subject of a modern day witch hunt. I enjoyed this book but it was rather predictable with a cliched love story (do they hate each other or are they wildly attracted to each other…). Very Alice Hoffman-lite. ⭐⭐⭐
The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson: Hmm. Two books with sisters in the title. I do like consistency in my reading. Joshilyn Jackson is an author that I truly believe should be listened to. She narrates her own novels and makes each character really comes to life. Set in the South, the story centers around Leia Birch Briggs, a graphic noveliest trying to overcome writer's (illustrator's?) block. Her career problems take a backseat to her personal ones when she unexpectedly becomes pregnant after a drunken one night stand, her sister's marriage implodes and her beloved grandmother Birchie is diagnosed with dementia (which comes to light in a hilarious telling of a fish fry going seriously wrong).
She heads to her grandmother's home town to sort things out where a trunk containing human remains is discovered in Birchie’s possession, making her a either a suspect or a witness but with the dementia it's hard to get the true story.
While laugh out loud funny in parts, the book also tackles both past and present day racism in the South, family dynamics and loyalty. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Next on my list (after I finish listening to A Trick of the Light, book 7 in the Gamache series) is to actually read A Gentleman in Moscow. Once Grace is done with it.
