Karen
Karen
Several years ago, one of our many special customers recommended a book by the author Louise Penny. After reading Still Life, the first book in her series, I was hooked. The stories take place in Montreal but eventually, move to a tiny village called Three Pines. The villagers of Three Pines are sometimes funny, sometimes serious characters who try, but often fail, to assist the gentle but persevering Chief Inspector Gamache in his pursuit to resolve a suspicious death, corruption or the many mystery plots that continue throughout the series. Each book has an intriguing story line and provides an ending that makes you want to continue to the next book.
You will not regret reading this series by Louise Penny!
Some authors who write fiction for adults cannot transition well into the world of young readers. This is definitely not the the case for author Randy Wayne White.
Not only does he introduce three engaging new characters in Fins, he also ties in old friends, Doc Ford and Hannah Smith, from his successful series of books for adults.
Topics about the ocean, the fishes and wildlife off the coast of Florida are introduced in such an interesting and creative way for young readers (and adults) to understand and enjoy. However, Fins is also a serious book about the dangerous, and illegal, subject of poaching...hunting sharks for their fins. How our three heroes become involved and how their adventure of danger and intrigue begins is so well written that I didn’t want to stop reading.This is an important topic to present to young readers, and the author did not flinch when discussing the seriousness of the problem of poaching and its consequences. A very, very good book for all ages.
This is more than a book about a girl, a little dog and the homeless situation in which they find themselves. It’s a story of strangers learning to trust and care. As Piper (the young girl and hero of the story) says, ”serendipity...it means when things that don’t seem to have anything to do with each other come together in a good way.” Homelessness does not mean hopelessness. The serious topic of homelessness, the why and how it may happen to anyone, can be a tough story to tell, but the author, Bobbie Pyron, creates a storyline that will grab young readers and make them want to read until the end.
This book has been out for awhile but until now, I had not read it. The title is deceiving and can too easily allow one to dismiss this book as a simple story about marriage. Wrong! It’s w-a-a-y more. It’s a love story (of course); a story about friendship and commitment; a story about lives torn apart by unfair and unexpected events.
Read the first page! You will be hooked and want to learn more about these two people and the many people who influence their life. It’s about how and why love does not seem to be enough when sudden tragedy happens. This is an emotional rollercoaster of a story about survival, and you might not guess how it ends until the last few pages of the book.
At first, I thought the book should have been titled, "Anxious Reader." Was this about a bank robber, hostages, a bridge? Couldn’t figure it out! But then, Backman allows the reader to begin to understand the heart and soul of each character he introduces. Thru this diverse mix of people, Backman gives the reader a gift...insight into their thoughts, their lives and the connections we all share with each other.
Without realizing it, I was hooked! Spoiler...this is not really about a bank robber, hostages or a bridge. It’s about Love!
