“Burial Rites” by Hannah Kent

“Burial Rites” by Hannah Kent

Narrated by Morven Christie

Blurb from Amazon: In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnúsdóttir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of her lover. Agnes is sent to wait out her final months on the farm of district office Jón Jónsson, his wife and their two daughters. Horrified to have a convicted murderer in their midst, the family avoid contact with Agnes. Only Tóti, the young assistant priest appointed Agnes’ spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her. As the year progresses and the hardships of rural life force the household to work side by side, Agnes’ story begins to emerge and with it the family’s terrible realization that all is not as they had assumed.

My thoughts: This story is dark and at times disturbing, but beautifully written and, in this case, beautifully narrated. I imagine that Agnes must have been a very difficult character to write. This woman is condemned to death but doesn’t know when, and while waiting she must continue to live and work to earn her keep. Her full story comes out in pieces either through conversations with other characters, or from her own inner musings. Agnes’s story is, as much as possible, based on the actual facts of her life and what a horrific one it was. I would not expect life in Iceland in the 1800’s to be in any way easy, but this woman, even as a child, was never offered even the smallest of comforts. I think the story does an excellent job of spotlighting the social issues of the time, some of which are still relevant today. There are also some interesting musings on what it means for a society to invoke capital punishment. This is a thought provoking and fascinating look at a life that never really had a chance. If your looking for something a little different, I would definitely recommend this one.

Alinefromabook’s rating: 4-star-rating  4 stars!!

Happy Reading!

Links:   Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   Author’s website

 

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“The Forbidden Door” by Dean Koontz

“The Forbidden Door” by Dean Koontz

Welcome to Book 4 in the Jane Hawk series. The conspiracy in this series just continues to deepen. I don’t want to give away anything if you haven’t read the first 3 books yet, so I’ll just say that this part of the story centers around Jane trying to get back to her son while a national manhunt is underway to apprehend her. The media and the FBI are painting her as the most dangerous woman in the country but the few that are close to her know differently.

First of all, the conspiracy is complicated but not to the point of being outside the realm of possibility, which is something that really turns me off from a book. One of my favorite things about this series is the diversity of the characters. Mr. Koontz has created a cast that is black, white, Latino, young, old and in-between. One of the best characters in this book is the young man with autism. He plays a critical role and I think the author does a great job of writing this character’s personality and the quirks that come with autism. Now, let me talk a little bit about the bad guys. They just keep spiraling further and further into their depravity. There’s a couple of guys that are more than determined to find Jane and will stop at nothing to bring her in, dead or alive. But even these characters have distinct personalities and the interplay between them add a richness to this thriller that makes it an even better read.

Once again, Dean Koontz has tickled my imagination and sent chills down my spine with this latest installment in the Jane Hawk series. I can’t recommend this series enough. Book 5, “The Night Window”, comes out in about a month, so hurry up and get started on this series!

Alinefromabooks rating:  A+

Happy Reading!

Links:   Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   Author’s website

Thank you to Random House-Ballantine and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4/6/2019 at Alinefromabook

I can’t believe it’s already the 6th day of April. I’m really not sure what happened to the first 5 but here we are. North Dakota is in the midst of the Spring Melt which means that we are currently on flood watch. The Red River of the North is within walking distance of my house so there is some cause for concern but according to the latest predictions our house is not in danger this year. Nevertheless, my flood insurance is fully paid up.

I’ve been thinking recently that my writing doesn’t really communicate all that I want to say and I want to do something about that. One of the bloggers I follow is the writer Sammi Cox and every weekend she publishes a Weekend Writing Prompt. So I think I’m going to start taking her up on this challenge. This week’s prompt is Silence and I might actually have some thoughts on that topic. I’ll post whatever I come up with here and you guys can let me know what you think. Any tips for improvement would be appreciated.

I think it’s been a while since I did a numbers update so I thought I would do that now. My TBR is currently at 197. I started the year with 194. I could have sworn I wasn’t acquiring very many books. According to Goodreads, I’ve read 21 books already this year but I must confess that most of that reading has actually been listening. I am pleased with the status of my Goodreads challenge though. My best reading discovery this year has been the Audible Daily Deal. I’ve had the chance to try out new authors authors and genres without laying out a lot of cash. I’m also pleased that my NetGalley rating has reached 87%.

Coming up this week I will be posting reviews of “The Forbidden Door” by Dean KoontzThe Forbidden Door and “Burial Rites” by Hannah Kent.Burial Rites  I am currently listening to “The Waiting Room” by Emily BleekerThe Waiting Room and I am reading “A Murderous Malady” by Christine Trent. A Murderous Malady

So that’s where things are at here. I hope you all are having a great weekend and I will talk to you again soon.

Happy Reading!

“The Energy Codes” by Sue Morter

“The Energy Codes” by Sue Morter

The 7-Step System to Awaken Your Spirit, Heal Your Body, and Live Your Best Life

Blurb: Eighteen years ago, health pioneer and practitioner Dr. Sue Morter had a remarkable and profound awakening. While meditating, she spontaneously accessed an energy field—a level of consciousness—beyond anything she had ever imagined. This dramatic experience changed her life, freeing her from years of struggle and pain.

It also set Dr. Morter on a mission to discover how to create such radical transformation for her patients. Through years of advanced study and research in energy healing and medicine, she developed the Energy Codes, a life-changing program that has now enabled thousands of people all over the world to overcome pain, disease, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, and to awaken their innate creativity, intuition, and inner power.

Bridging ancient healing practices with cutting-edge science, The Energy Codes offers a detailed road map to help you experience deep healing in your life. Grounded in practical, accessible exercises, including yoga, breathwork, meditations, and Dr. Morter’s proprietary B.E.S.T. protocol, The Energy Codes will help you activate untapped energy and neurocircuitry in your body, empower your hidden potential, and become one with your true, essential self.

My thoughts: I’m not quite sure how to start with this one. This book doesn’t fit neatly into a category. It’s not exactly a spiritual book, but I think it requires a certain level of belief in the premise if you plan to use the steps outlined within. I did find this book fascinating though. Though most Christians would probably label this book “New Age” there are, in my opinion, some similarities between the Christian concept of the Holy Spirit and this author’s description of an energy outside of ourselves that we can tap into to improve our lives. One of the things I liked about this book is that it’s written and presented in a very orderly yest easy to read manner. Her descriptions of the steps have enough detail to be replicated while also being concise. There are many stories of people who have used this methodology and seen great improvements in their lives. Will I be trying the methods for myself. Not sure but reading this book has definitely given me food for thought.

Alinefromabook’s rating:  4-star-rating 4 stars!!

Happy Reading!

Links:   Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   Author’s website

 

“The Suffering of Women Who Didn’t Fit” by David J. Vaughan

“The Suffering of Women Who Didn’t Fit” by David J. Vaughan

‘Madness’ in Britain 1450-1950

A rare synchronised study of the colourful, often horrific, account of women and madness over half a millennia. From scold to witch, virgin to whore, this book exposes how an unchanging perception of women has altered responses to gender and madness.

This book is packed full of the history of madness and how women were affected by it. The author exposes the numerous theories, put forward by men, to explain the behaviors of women that weren’t considered acceptable, and the treatment or mis-treatment that ensued from those theories. It is not uncommon to see a diagnosis of madness used as a means of controlling women in society. This book is extensively researched and documented. While the information here is fascinating it’s not written for the casual reader. This book is more suitable for a college text. That being said, it is well written, informative and an excellent study of the topic.

Alinefromabook’s rating:  3 star rating 3 stars!

Happy Reading!

Links:   Amazon   |   Goodreads

“A Song of Shadows” by John Connolly

“A Song of Shadows” by John Connolly

Narrated by Jeff Harding

Charlie Parker Series Book 13

This may turn out to be more of a ramble than a book review. I loved listening to this book. This is, in my opinion, the best so far of the Jeff Harding narrations. He pulled me into the drama quickly and didn’t let me go until the end. As for Charlie, he’s recovering from the gunshots he received at the end of Book 12 and has decided to rent a house in the small coastal town of Boreas for the duration. Charlie has changed some as a result of his experience. He has accepted the presence of his dead daughter in his life and seems to commune with her frequently. Meanwhile, his other daughter, Sam, continues to grow and mature and has a significant presence in this story. She is a delightful character and I really enjoy her enlarged role in this book.

So what’s the story about? Well, Charlie has come across a dead body which initially appears to be a suicide. He offers his thoughts to the local sheriff and suspects it may be a murder. The investigation reveals the victim has a connection to a federal investigation into Nazi war criminals. The deeper Charlie gets the more complicated the conspiracy becomes but with the help of Angel and Louis the perpetrators have no chance of getting away with it. I love the direction that the characters are going in with this book. This book is a huge hit for me!

Alinefromabook’s rating: 5-star-rating  5 stars!!

Happy Reading!

Links:   Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   Author’s website

 

“Strange the Dreamer” by Laini Taylor

“Strange the Dreamer” by Laini Taylor

Narrated by Steve West

Lazlo Strange is a young man who has recently come of age. He has been trained as a librarian and he is a bit of a loner. Left as an infant at a monastery, his life took a turn for the better when he discovered the library. Over the years he has immersed himself in the legends of a city, far away from his own. The city no longer has a name and no one can even remember the last time and resident of the city was seen. Then one day a mysterious caravan arrives in the his city and Strange finds himself on a mission to save the legendary city, known as Weep.

This is a fantasy and I don’t often read books in this genre but I’ve come across so many good reviews of this one that when it showed up in an Audible sale I decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed. This is a hefty one with the audio running for a little over 18 hours but it’s a wonderfully engaging 18 hours. I really grew to like Lazlo, who is still an awkward kid when the story begins but matures into a young man with a keen sense of responsibility, a positive outlook on life and an endless imagination. The story has lot of drama and some thrilling close calls, plus an ending that definitely took me by surprise. I found that the author’s world building was very effective by not overwhelming. She has worked it into the story in a way that flows really nicely. The love interest is a sweet young woman with an incredible power, who just wants to be normal. I found the cast of characters to be very diverse and the relationships between them complex. This is the first book in a series and it left me curious as to what will happen next for these characters.

Finally, the narrator did an excellent job of telling the story and bringing the characters to life. Overall, I found this story really interesting and I think it is worth of the high praise it has received.

Alinefromabook’s rating:  4-5-star-rating 4.5 stars!!

Happy Reading!

Links:   Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   Author’s website

 

3/23/19 at Alinefromabook

3/23/19 at Alinefromabook

It’s a beautiful, sunny day in North Dakota. Yesterday the temperature got up to 50 degrees and there are slushy puddles everywhere as the snow is melting off. But we have been able to open the windows as couple of times for short periods, so the air in the house is fresher.

My company had it’s annual meeting this past week. A first for me, but spending a day and a half in a large crowd of people is not my preferred way to spend my time. I also got my annual eye exam this week and was quite pleased to learn that my eyes are in excellent shape with no sign of old age maladies and I don’t need to buy new glasses because my prescription hasn’t changed since last year. So, bottom line, I’m approved for another year of reading! Sidenote: when I bought new glasses last year I had them add the blue light filter since I knew I would be spending hours in front of a computer every day. I think it’s made a huge difference so if you’ve been thinking about it I’d say go for it.

This past week I was able to listen to the audiobook of “A Song of Shadows” by John Connolly. I hope to have my review up the next couple of days. Yesterday, I started listening to the next book “A Time of Torment“. I previously read this one and my review of it can be found here. I’m also reading “The Fordbidden Door” by Dean Koontz. Crossing my fingers that I have time to finish it this weekend. The next installment in the series, “The Night Window” is coming out in May. I received a review copy from NetGalley and can’t wait to get into it. I also have reviews coming of “Strange the Dreamer” by Laini Taylor, and “The Energy Codes” by Sue Morter.

So that’s what’s been happening here. Looking forward to a quieter week coming up so I can get caught up. Hope everybody is having a great weekend and reading lots of books.

Happy Reading!

“Two Kinds of Truth” by Michael Connelly

“Two Kinds of Truth” by Michael Connelly

Narrated by Titus Welliver

I just have to start by saying that after listening to this book, I have a total crush on Titus Welliver’s voice. I’m not sure what I ever thought Harry’s voice would sound like, but this is definitely it. So, “Two Kinds of Truth” is book 20 of 20 in the Harry Bosch series. I try as often as possible to read a series in order but for some reason, with Harry, I always end up with with a book at a different part of the series than the one before. Harry is no longer working for LAPD but instead is in San Fernando helping out with their murder squad, when he is called to the scene of a pharmacy where the father and son pharmacists have both been shot. Initially, the suspicion is that it may be gang related but it quickly becomes obvious that this is no ordinary gang killing. Soon, Harry finds his life on the line as he hunts for this ruthless killer.

Ahh, Harry Bosch. He’s like a favorite uncle for me. You know, the one with all the dangerous, exciting stories to tell. That’s the feeling I get whenever I pick up a book in this series. His former partner from earlier in the series makes a return visit in this story which makes for nice continuity. I also really enjoyed installments where Harry’s daughter makes an appearance. Some detectives are just meant to have a daughter and Harry is one of them. I really enjoy their relationship. This story has some tricky twists and a lawsuit against Harry as a sub-plot which adds to the drama. Basically, there is nothing I didn’t like about this book and if you haven’t discovered Harry Bosch yet…what are you waiting for?

Alinefromabook’s rating: 5-star-rating  5 stars!!

Happy Reading!

Links:   Amazon/Audible   |   Goodreads   |   Author’s website

3/12/19 at Alinefromabook

3/12/19 at Alinefromabook

Well guys, I just couldn’t resist a weather update because we got above freezing today!!! First time in two months! I left the office at lunch, the sun was shining, I even took my coat off for a few minutes just so I could feel the air on my arms. Of course there is a small downside in that when the outside temperature increases the inside heating systems don’t quite know when to stop and my office felt very overheated by 5pm.

In book news today, I have finally started “A Song of Shadows” by John Connolly on audiobook. This is the 13th book in the Charlie Parker series. There are currently 16 books in this series available in the U.S, with #17 coming in October, so I might just get caught up before the release. Jeff Harding is the narrator again in this one and I am really enjoying his narration. Unfortunately, one of the buds on my wireless headphones died today so I’m missing out on half the experience. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

I was so proud of myself yesterday because I got my review of “The Liar’s Child” out BEFORE the actual release date. Which was today, so not too big a pat on the back, but I am trying to get better. This accomplishment did not however boost my NetGalley score. So since my husband and I have recently discovered “Silent Witness” on Britbox, I’m going to watch an episode before I go to bed and do it all again tomorrow.

Happy Reading!