mudflapflossy
Vancouver Public Library
mudflapflossy's Completed Shelf
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, eBook
by Adams, DouglaseBook - 2003eBook, 2003
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jul 23, 2012
The Pit and the PendulumThe Pit and the Pendulum, eBookThe Essential Poe
by Poe, Edgar AllaneBook - 2009eBook, 2009
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jul 23, 2012
Comment:
Preferring to retain my childhood memory of enthralled terror I refuse to re-read this. As a little girl my parents gave me a boxed set of classics for Christmas one year, Heidi, Black Beauty, books of that ilk, can't remember the others but I sure remember this one! They were bound in what appeared to be red leather & gold embossed, I felt very privileged & grown up. Honestly, I don't believe I'll ever be as thrilled with any gift again. I was very young, perhaps 10 or 11 at the time. Had they known what a terrifying horror story this was I don't believe they'd have allowed me to read it, which just made it all the more delicious.Preferring to retain my childhood memory of enthralled terror I refuse to re-read this. As a little girl my parents gave me a boxed set of classics for Christmas one year, Heidi, Black Beauty, books of that ilk, can't remember the others but I sure…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jul 23, 2012
Comment:
I was both pleased and a little wary when this book came out, thinking could he pull off historical fiction? Well he absolutely nailed it. The depth of empathy he breathed into his characters was drawn from his personal experiences growing up in rural Arkansas, enabling him to write a heartbreaking story of an impoverished farming community. It’s got it all, destitute share-croppers, migrant farm workers, a sweet young boy who lives for baseball, a devastating flood and a mentally unhinged murderer thrown in for good measure. At the risk of belaboring the point I believe if Grisham had written this under a pseudonym this book would have been taken seriously & ranked as one of the great American novels. Plus it inspired me to finally getting around to giving my house a fresh coat of paint.I was both pleased and a little wary when this book came out, thinking could he pull off historical fiction? Well he absolutely nailed it. The depth of empathy he breathed into his characters was drawn from his personal experiences growing up in…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jul 14, 2012
Comment:
Talk about high drama! I stayed up all night reading this one. I actually envied the main character Reena Hale’s strong supporting family. Without them she would never have been able to deal with the insanity of having a serial arsonist on her trail. One real criticism I have was that the villain was SO obvious, a 3 year old could have figured it out sooner than Reena did. I found it really annoying that she took so long. Other than that, real page turner.Talk about high drama! I stayed up all night reading this one. I actually envied the main character Reena Hale’s strong supporting family. Without them she would never have been able to deal with the insanity of having a serial arsonist on her…
Dinner at the Homesick RestaurantDinner at the Homesick Restaurant, eBook
by Tyler, AnneeBook - 2011eBook, 2011
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jul 14, 2012
Comment:
Now this is great literature! It follows the lives of three siblings: Cody is bitter & envious, Ezra kind but excessively passive and Jenn is overly impulsive with a penchant for marrying the wrong men. After their father deserts the family, they’re left to be raised by their mother Pearl Tull, a rigid perfectionist with a definite mean streak. What struck a cord for me was how all three children growing up in the same household could all remember their childhood so differently. I thought it was hilarious that they couldn’t make it through a meal together without one of them storming off in a huff. It’s a raw sort of story, not a lot of kissy / huggy going on, but it’s real. Finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1983. According to Wiki Anne Tyler considers it her best work.Now this is great literature! It follows the lives of three siblings: Cody is bitter & envious, Ezra kind but excessively passive and Jenn is overly impulsive with a penchant for marrying the wrong men. After their father deserts the family,…
Quotations
- Favorite quote: “Cody, in particular referred continually to Pearl’s short temper, displaying it against a background of stunned, childish faces so sad & bewildered that Pearl herself hardly recognized them. Honestly, she thought, wasn’t there some statute of limitations here? When was he going to absolve her? He was middle-aged. He had no business holding her responsible anymore.”Favorite quote: “Cody, in particular referred continually to Pearl’s short temper, displaying it against a background of stunned, childish faces so sad & bewildered that Pearl herself hardly recognized them. Honestly, she thought, wasn’t there some…
- you make your own luck
- Pearl Tull comments on her ageing "I'm falling into disrepair”
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jun 28, 2012
Comment:
I’m weird enough to read a book just to satisfy my curiosity about a title. It’s a prison tattoo, stands for 12 jurors, 1 judge & ½ a chance. If you were also curious I just saved you the ordeal of having to read this. Not a book for the faint hearted, it’s full of overly graphic descriptions of child murderers, I prefer some subtlety. I almost gave it up but couldn’t, too caught up in the story, so I guess credit is due to the author on some level. It has a good premise and the story of a boy imprisoned for the murder of his family is finally (1/2 way into the book) rescued from the morose by the character Polly as a love interest. Liked the New Orleans setting and the tarot card reader was a spicy touch. It was okay but ridiculously predictable.
Favorite quote “perhaps love was like the mumps. If a woman came down with it after forty, it could kill her"I’m weird enough to read a book just to satisfy my curiosity about a title. It’s a prison tattoo, stands for 12 jurors, 1 judge & ½ a chance. If you were also curious I just saved you the ordeal of having to read this. Not a book for the faint…
Quotations
- Perhaps love was like the mumps. If a woman came down with it after forty, it could kill her
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jun 27, 2012
Comment:
If you already read the 1st book of the series 'Blood Brothers" you know you're going to read this as well, just like I did so go for it. It's okay, not as good as the 1st, but enjoyable.
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jun 25, 2012
Comment:
Entertaining & though provoking. We’ve got the same story playing out right here in Bountiful, BC. I’ve read a few books on polygamy, I like that this one focuses on how nasty this religion is for boys as well as women. Although I usually find it annoying, I also enjoyed how the author jumped between past & present telling 2 stories at once. Ann Young’s struggle to end polygamy in the late 1800’s became fresh & relevant, while the telling of polygamy’s impact on a gay young man in present times was really poignant. Some good lines in it, I particularly liked the description of “The 1st’s” as the Greta Garbo of cults.Entertaining & though provoking. We’ve got the same story playing out right here in Bountiful, BC. I’ve read a few books on polygamy, I like that this one focuses on how nasty this religion is for boys as well as women. Although I usually find it…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jun 14, 2012
Comment:
By Book 4, this story is just worn out. What happened to the author’s sense of humour? The main character Ave Maria has aged into an annoying bore, her husband & daughter now so 1-dimensional you could care less. Granted there are still a few gems. When Freeta (the jaded old lady who works the diner) is asked if she’s planning to wear a veil at her upcoming wedding she responds pithily “Hell no, a veil at my age I’d look like a beekeeper” But lines like that are just an echo of the charm & lightness that was prevalent in the 1st novel "Big Stone Gap". There was some interesting tension created between Iva Lou & Ave Maria as their friendship takes a bad turn, handled well. Other than that, pretty poor effort”By Book 4, this story is just worn out. What happened to the author’s sense of humour? The main character Ave Maria has aged into an annoying bore, her husband & daughter now so 1-dimensional you could care less. Granted there are still a few…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added Jun 08, 2012
Comment:
Expecting fluff I was pleasantly surprised at the level of suspense in this novel. I’m giving it 4 stars because I didn’t see the who-done-it coming. You can’t help but root for the heroine, she’s strong & weak at the same time literally clinging to her sanity by a thread, loved her. Supporting characters fun as well, particularly her boss Joanie at the greasy spoon, put me in mind of Yoda. The dialog is clever, they talk like real people. – I put this is up there with my favorite Nora Roberts booksExpecting fluff I was pleasantly surprised at the level of suspense in this novel. I’m giving it 4 stars because I didn’t see the who-done-it coming. You can’t help but root for the heroine, she’s strong & weak at the same time literally clinging to…
Milk Glass MoonMilk Glass Moon, eBookA Big Stone Gap Novel
by Trigiani, AdrianaeBook - 2002eBook, 2002
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 29, 2012
Comment:
This book’s main focus is on the evolving relationship between Ave Maria & her daughter Etta. Etta is maturing into a headstrong young woman and making life choices that don’t fit with Ave’s idea of how she should live her life. This struggle of wills is handled with insight & intelligence. The novel jumps around between small town Virginia, the Italian countryside & New York, keeps it interesting. All the great supporting characters are back; at this point they seem like old friendsThis book’s main focus is on the evolving relationship between Ave Maria & her daughter Etta. Etta is maturing into a headstrong young woman and making life choices that don’t fit with Ave’s idea of how she should live her life. This struggle of…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 23, 2012
Comment:
I suppose you’d categorize this as a paranormal/romantic suspense. Mostly its romance, formula Nora R., the demon-chasing is definitely secondary, Steven King it’s not. I didn’t love it, but it was an entertaining read that hooked me enough to want to read the 2 sequelsI suppose you’d categorize this as a paranormal/romantic suspense. Mostly its romance, formula Nora R., the demon-chasing is definitely secondary, Steven King it’s not. I didn’t love it, but it was an entertaining read that hooked me enough to…
Big Cherry HollerBig Cherry Holler, eBookA Big Stone Gap Novel
by Trigiani, AdrianaeBook - 2001eBook, 2001
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
1st half of the book is a little tedious & depressing but it pulls up its socks, so persist. Not as light & funny as the 1st novel, Trigiani’s writing style has matured and so have the characters in Big Stone Gap, be prepared for a lot of soul searching. The main character Ave Maria is someone I'd like to meet in real life and have a heart to heart with! All marital problems are not the wife’s fault alone, and Ave Maria’s character clearly champions this mindset. There is no getting around it, this book is sexist. Still a good read though1st half of the book is a little tedious & depressing but it pulls up its socks, so persist. Not as light & funny as the 1st novel, Trigiani’s writing style has matured and so have the characters in Big Stone Gap, be prepared for a lot of soul…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
I just read Ruth Rendell’s “The Crocodile Bird” & “The Water’s Lovely” which were both excellent. Read great reviews on this one and was all set for a similarly enjoyable read. It was such a letdown. The story is agonizingly drawn out, every character is either just dull, out-and-out dislikeable or in most cases both, so I couldn’t empathize with them at all. I think I'll give reading Ruth Rendell a break for nowI just read Ruth Rendell’s “The Crocodile Bird” & “The Water’s Lovely” which were both excellent. Read great reviews on this one and was all set for a similarly enjoyable read. It was such a letdown. The story is agonizingly drawn out, every…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
This is such a sweet enjoyable read, chalk full of great humour and wonderfully eccentric characters. The main one, Ave Maria Mulligan is okay but I prefer the supporting cast. Her best friend Iva Lou, a bookmobile driver & God's gift to men for one. Another is Fleeta, the chain-smoking pharmacy cashier who loves pro wrestling, such a hoot. The author’s choice of locale adds the perfect ambiance.This is such a sweet enjoyable read, chalk full of great humour and wonderfully eccentric characters. The main one, Ave Maria Mulligan is okay but I prefer the supporting cast. Her best friend Iva Lou, a bookmobile driver & God's gift to men for…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
This book takes a lot of criticism, mostly due to the audacity of a white author presuming she could ever hope to describe what it was like to be a black woman in the 60’s. Absolutely justified and yes it’s full of stereotypes, but it’s an enjoyable read. Don’t look for to much depth/relevance; it’s a bit fluffy. Placed in the early 60’s in Mississippi this is mainly the story of 22 yr old Skeeter who takes it upon herself to write about the help, alienating herself from friends, family & boyfriend in the process. I bought into the characters, cared what happened to them. In particular Aibileen the wise one who raised 17 white kids but lost her own. Minny who’s big mouth is constantly getting her in trouble, & my favorite Celia Foote, Minny’s white trash employer with the heart of gold, I totally visualized her as a Marilyn Monroe wannabe. I loved it. National BestsellerThis book takes a lot of criticism, mostly due to the audacity of a white author presuming she could ever hope to describe what it was like to be a black woman in the 60’s. Absolutely justified and yes it’s full of stereotypes, but it’s an…
Quotations
- I'm sorry, but were you dropped on your head as an infant?
Bringing Adam HomeBringing Adam Home, eBookThe Abduction That Changed America
by Standiford, LeseBook - 2011eBook, 2011
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
It is a well researched book, but it is not a well written book. For years I’ve watched John Walsh on America's Most Wanted without knowing the story behind the disappearance of his son Adam so I had to give this a read. Expect to come away really angered by the shoddy police work by Detective Jack Hoffman, and impressed with Detective Joe Matthews’ tenacity in finally solving this crime. But do bear in mind Joe Matthews co-authored it, he paints himself quite prettily while demonizing everyone else. I found that a little suspect…
I expected it to be gruesome, but the writing style is downright repetitive, in particular the way it kept rehashing Ottis Toole’s confession. After the 7th retelling I thought enough already! It would also have been improved by focusing more on the Walsh’s story and less on Toole & his serial killer lover Henry Lee LucasIt is a well researched book, but it is not a well written book. For years I’ve watched John Walsh on America's Most Wanted without knowing the story behind the disappearance of his son Adam so I had to give this a read. Expect to come away…
The Man in the Rockefeller SuitThe Man in the Rockefeller Suit, eBookThe Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of A Serial Impostor
by Seal, MarkeBook - 2011eBook, 2011
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
I get that this is a true story however it read more like a great mystery novel. What a life this guy led, bizarre is the best adjective I can come up with. This is a beyond doubt an entertaining read, and a refreshing change from the blood & gore prevalent in most True Crime stories.I get that this is a true story however it read more like a great mystery novel. What a life this guy led, bizarre is the best adjective I can come up with. This is a beyond doubt an entertaining read, and a refreshing change from the blood & gore…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
My second Ruth Rendell novel, I’m absolutely blown away by this writer! I love her great characterizations; Marion Melville in particular is a vicious piece of work, totally despicable. The vulnerable people at the heart of this taut and enticing story are the Sealand family, particularly Heather who's assumed to have drowned her unsavory stepfather Guy in the bath. Characters include the above mentioned Marion Melville, who cozies up to the lonely and aged in hopes of inheriting their property after she's poisoned them, and Marion's dumpster-diving brother Fowle. Rendell throws in subplots including desperate romances & a killer lurking through London’s parks. Lots of plot twists, a total page turner masterfully written. Loved it!My second Ruth Rendell novel, I’m absolutely blown away by this writer! I love her great characterizations; Marion Melville in particular is a vicious piece of work, totally despicable. The vulnerable people at the heart of this taut and enticing…
Madame TussaudMadame Tussaud, eBookA Novel of the French Revolution
by Moran, MichelleeBook - 2011eBook, 2011
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
Boring, I didn’t even finish it which is extremely rare for me as I’m an optimistic reader, always hoping a book will get better once the story develops. This one just didn’t
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
Swedish authors are all the rage right now due to Larsson’s extremely popular trilogy, so I picked this one up. A really good read, this strange & haunting tells the tale of 15 year old Josef & his sister that survive the slaughter of the rest of their family. Detective Joona Linna turns to a doctor who gave up hypnotism for help in solving the crime. It is gory, but not over the topSwedish authors are all the rage right now due to Larsson’s extremely popular trilogy, so I picked this one up. A really good read, this strange & haunting tells the tale of 15 year old Josef & his sister that survive the slaughter of the rest of…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
What struck me was its honesty. You may downright dislike some of the characters, it’s almost impossible not too as they seem to make such ludicrous life choices. Once I turned off my inclination to judge, to shut down my mind set of always thinking like a westerner, I thoroughly enjoyed this simple, fable-like tale. Ha Jin offers poetic insight into a foreign way of life. I believe I came away from this with a little better understanding of Chinese society. Found it interesting that the author based this on a true story. Winner of The National Book Award of 1999What struck me was its honesty. You may downright dislike some of the characters, it’s almost impossible not too as they seem to make such ludicrous life choices. Once I turned off my inclination to judge, to shut down my mind set of always…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
1st Patricia Cornwell novel I’ve read, now I'm a fan. I didn't realize it was #11 in a series when I picked it up, I read it out of sequence but that didn't matter at all, you can jump in and enjoy this series without starting with the 1st book. Loved the main character Kay Scarpetta, a medical forensic specialist as she tracks the "French werewolf”. The supporting cast including her gay niece Julie, the slovenly detective Marino and an aging Nazi 'sympathizer’ were all terrific.1st Patricia Cornwell novel I’ve read, now I'm a fan. I didn't realize it was #11 in a series when I picked it up, I read it out of sequence but that didn't matter at all, you can jump in and enjoy this series without starting with the 1st book. …
The King of VodkaThe King of Vodka, BookThe Story of Pyotr Smirnov and the Upheaval of An Empire
by Himelstein, LindaBook - 2009Book, 2009
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
My boss recommended it so highly I felt obliged to read it, plus I enjoy a good biography…Which this wasn’t, dry as dust. I pretended to finish it so as not to offend him (I did get ALMOST to the end) I suppose I’m now a little more knowledgeable on Russian history which is not a bad thing, it’s just that this book could have been so much better.My boss recommended it so highly I felt obliged to read it, plus I enjoy a good biography…Which this wasn’t, dry as dust. I pretended to finish it so as not to offend him (I did get ALMOST to the end) I suppose I’m now a little more knowledgeable…
mudflapflossy's rating:
Added May 16, 2012
Comment:
A nice change from your normal MA book, it focuses on the time before she became queen, exploring her relationship with her mother & siblings.1st book of a series, looking forward to the sequel due out this summer
Comment: