Summer Dreams, Ripped at the Seams . . .

At the beginning of the summer, I was having visions of sunny afternoons spent reading on the porch swing, and relaxing get-away weekends of camping, fishing and reading. So, I purchased seven books with which to fill those long, lazy hours. Yea . . . not so much!

We have only found time for one camping trip so far, and the addition of a full-time job pretty much ended the afternoon plans.  So here it is, nearly Labor Day, and only 2 1/2 books marked off my list. 

Book #1 was Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman (review here).  Excellent start!

Book #2 was Ladies' Night by Mary Kay Andrews

While this book doesn't rate quite as high as #1, it was still a good summer read.   There were times that the heroine's legal troubles seemed a bit contrived, and the ending was predictable . . . after that it sounds a little silly to say how much I enjoyed it -- but I did.  

Book #3 is The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg.  Dave and I are reading this one together and both enjoying it so far.  

On the up side, driving to work every day allows more time for listening to audio books, so I've "read" three this summer:


Trunk Music by Michael Connelly - I assumed it would be good because Connelly wrote wrote it.  I was not disappointed.


The Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright -

The shepherd, an elderly, mysterious, learned man, escapes the buzzing restlessness of the city to live in the backwoods neighborhood of Mutton Hollow in the Ozark hills. There he encounters Jim Lane, Grant Matthews, Sammy, Young Matt, and other residents of the village, and gradually learns to find a peace about the losses he has borne and has yet to bear. Through the shepherd and those around him, Wright assembles here a gentle and utterly masterful commentary on strength and weakness, failure and success, tranquility and turmoil, and punishment and absolution. This tale of life in the Ozarks continues to draw thousands of devotees to outdoor performances in Branson, Missouri, where visitors can also see the cabin where the real Old Matt and Aunt Mollie lived.

No need to review a classic.  Beautiful story and now I've added visiting the site in Branson to my Bucket List.

And my favorite, Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah.  Amazing story!  As in Ladies' Night, there were moments that I felt the hardships were contrived to create more drama, but over all a unique and engrossing story.  Highly recommended!

I'm obviously not going to make it through my summer reading list before summer ends, but there's nothing wrong with a "Summer read" in the Fall.

Mini Reviews

A quick look at what I've been reading lately, with an excerpt from the publisher's synopsis (in black) and my thoughts (in purple).

The Sunflower by Richard Paul Evans 

In the wake of personal tragedy, Christine and Paul meet on a humanitarian mission in Peru. They must confront their deepest fears and learn to trust and love again.

Above average love story.  Particularly enjoyed the detail of life in the Peruvian jungle.  

Sharp Objects by Jillian Flynn

Camille’s assignment from the newspaper where she works takes her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.  As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. 

Every bit as disturbing and unsettling as Gone Girl.  Won't quite mess you up for life, but it will sure stick with you.

An Angel for Christmas by Heather Graham 

Christmas has never brought out the best in the MacDougal family.  In the midst of a sibling shouting match, a stranger appears. He could be a criminal, a madman, or something far more unexpected. The MacDougals take a leap of faith, but when another stranger arrives, they don't know which of them to believe. One of these men can't be trusted. And one is about to bring Christmas into their hearts.

Not as fast-paced as it could be, but I love the slightly un-resolved ending.  A twist on the typical feel-good Christmas story. 

Live by Night by Dennis Lahane  

The '20s are roaring, liquor is flowing, bullets are flying, and one man sets out to make his mark on the world.  Joe Coughlin has graduated from a childhood of petty theft to a career in the pay of the city's most fearsome mobsters.  Joe's climb up the ladder of organized crime takes him from Jazz Age Boston to Tampa's Latin Quarter to the streets of Cuba. 

Not up to what I expect from Lehane.  Ho-hum plot moves agonizingly slow at times.  2 stars for story, bonus star because he's usually one of my favorite authors.

Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie, Ranger, Morelli, Lula and all the cast of crazies . . . yada yada yada.  Decent story, no progress.

Silent Night by Deanna Rayborne 

Lady Julia and Brisbane hope for a quiet, intimate Christmas together.  Amongst the celebrations, a mystery stirs. There are missing jewels, new faces at the Abbey, and a prowling ghost that brings back unwelcome memories. 

Novella that I really didn't care for but I'm blaming myself.  The story was more about the characters, with whom you need to be familiar, than the mystery.  Poor choice of places to jump into a series.

The Boddy in the Snowbank by Jenna Bennett  

A short story based around the classic game of Clue.  Published on
Smashwords.

It had complete sentences and paragraphs and stuff.

The Golden Spiders by Rex Stout

Why has the brilliant sleuth, Nero Wolfe, taken a case for $4.30?  And  why were his last two clients murdered? Archie Goodwin goes undercover as a mortician to find out. And Wolfe ponders the cryptic clues: a gray Cadillac, a mysterious woman, a pair of earrings -- shaped like spiders and dipped in gold.

Classic.  Best sleuth ever written. 

Poseidon's Arrow by Clive Cussler

An attack submarine capable of incredible underwater speeds. Nothing else in any other nation’s naval arsenal even comes close. One problem: A key element of the prototype is missing—and the man who developed it is dead.  It is up to NUMA director Dirk Pitt and his team to go on a desperate international chase to find the truth, from Washington to Mexico, Idaho to Panama. What they discover at the end of it is a much, much greater threat than even they imagined.

Dave and I read this together.  He ranked it a 3 on the scale of all Cussler's books.  I've only read one other, so couldn't really judge.  Plot was good, quick pace, unique story.  But I couldn't get past the narrative changing perspective mid-paragraph.  One sentence calls the hero, Dirk Pitt, by name (as in "Dirk ran up the gangplank." - only, you know, better than that) The next sentence of the same paragraph refers to "he" ("He grabbed the binoculars.") But "he" isn't Dirk - it's a totally different guy on a totally different ship.  Very disconcerting - not to mention confusing.  So it gets 2 stars from me.

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Have you ever been on one of those carnival rides that swings you back and forth, gaining speed, climbing higher with each swing, until momentum fails and you sail back down and up the other side?  Eventually there is a moment where you swing high enough that the cage pauses for just a second at the top of the arc before tipping over the top, bringing you down the other side in a new direction.  

That is how I felt reading Janet Evanovich's newest Stephanie Plum novel.  There were moments when the momentum built in one direction, nearly to the tipping point . . . but not quite.  Then the story swings in the other direction, gaining speed again as we reach the point of no return . . . and fall backwards once again.  It was fun, but it lacked that climactic moment of decision and new direction.  In the end the ride slows and everything returns to it's usual spot. . . and we wait, somewhat less enthusiastically, for the next ride.

Flip . . . Flop . . . Fun

Flip-Flop!  Flip-Flop!  I completed my review of Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich, but when I re-read it, I realized I sounded like a certain political candidate from a few years back who's opponents waved rubber sandals to accuse him of "flip-flopping" on the issues.  
I have been with Stephanie from book one, and have eagerly awaited the release of a new adventure each June.  I even drove 110 miles through torrential rain and hail to purchase one volume on release day.  However, *FLIP* you may remember (from this post) that I nearly called it quits after Sixteen.  The stories were beginning to feel re-cycled, and there was no progress in Stephanie's life.  

Character advancement is a delicate balance.  Too little and the stories seem repetitive.  Too much and the focus of the story changes.  Many a television series has fallen victim to the "too much" side of this coin (Murder, She Wrote and House, to name a couple.  Ask me about my opinions, I'll be glad to share.)

After reading Smokin' Seventeen, I still feel the series errs towards the "too little" side, but there's a "but". *FLOP*  Dave is relatively new to the series.  I think he's read three or four (and all out of order, which is bold new territory for him).  He reminded me that, advancement or no, the stories are funny!  Just read them for enjoyment and don't try to make it deeper than that.  We're not analyzing Shakespeare, we're just having a good time.  And he's got a point.  The familiar crowd - Grandma Mazur, Lula, Connie, Mooner, et. al. - were as comical as ever.  The plot was full of nutty villains and exploding cars.  There's even more sex!

Did Stephanie make any crucial life or relationship choices?  No, *FLIP* but *FLOP* she took steps in the right direction by realizing she has let the Morelli/Ranger situation fester too long.  Admitting you have a problem and all that. . .  By the last page, she APPEARS to have made a choice.  *FLIP*  I say appears because we've fallen for that cliff-hanger before.   *FLOP*  At least this time we don't have to wait as long to find out.  Explosive Eighteen is coming in November and you know I'll be waiting in line.

Dave gifted me a lovely autographed copy of Smokin' Seventeen for my birthday.

Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

Elizabeth "Lizzy" Tucker was surprised to inherit Great Aunt Ophelia's house in Marblehead, MA, just outside of Salem, but even more surprised to hear that her own superior cupcake baking skills came from being an Unmentionable. Diesel, agent for the Board of Unmentionable Marshalls, or BUM, drops this information bomb in order to use Lizzy's ability to find empowered objects, specifically the Seven Stones of Power. BUM needs to have possession of all seven stones, each representing a deadly sin, before the "other side" collects them and brings about Hell on Earth. (from review by Library Journal)

There is a line from Outlaw Josie Wales, one of Dave's favorite movies, that we use frequently:  "Don't piss down my neck and tell me it's raining."  And in that spirit, don't change a couple names and tell me it's a new series.

Many authors write multiple series and do so successfully - varied characters, locations, and situations.  Wicked Appetite is a poorly disguised Stephanie Plum novel packaged as something new.  Stephanie and Lizzy are basically the same woman - including gestures, expressions and vocabulary.  Since both stories are written first-person, it's like hearing Stephanie's voice come out of Lizzy's mouth.  Even in the between-the-numbers books, Diesel is obviously Ranger with magic powers - man of few words, mysterious, no known address.  He even moves and gestures like Ranger.  Now add a kooky sidekick (Lula/Glo), a co-worker who's more rational but still willing to join in their unlikely schemes (Connie/Clara), a not-all-there guy in funny costumes (Mooner/Hatchet), a bewildered father, and Carl the Monkey (a former Plum character) - and you've got a Plum novel.  Or is it?

And the similarities continue:  Lizzy has a propensity for rolling her eyes - just like Stephanie.  Diesel drives a Porsche Cayenne and/or Turbo - just like Ranger.  Even some situations/diaglog are repeated:  Diesel vows to sleep on the couch when staying at Lizzy's then, when discovered in her bed the next morning, says "I lied." - nearly word-for-word from a scene between Stephanie and Ranger. 

This was Dave's first Evanovich book so he found it hilarious - wacky characters, calamitous magic spells, a minion in renaissance garb, and a monkey with a penchant for giving everyone the finger.  It was fun, easy to read and had enough mystery to keep you guessing.

I agree with him on all points but, for the long-time Evanovich fan, it's also disappointing.  I hope that as the series progresses, Lizzy will become her own woman and readers can love her as much as we do Stephanie.

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum and her cohorts are still as comical as ever.  In their sixteenth caper, Vinnie is kidnapped by his bookie so Stephanie, Lulu and Connie set out to rescue him and raise the money to pay his gambling debts.  As usual, there are botched captures, close calls, one-liners from Grandma Mazur, and the occasional teasing moment with Ranger and Morelli.  Ms. Evanovich's books are always laugh-out-loud funny and thoroughly enjoyable.

The problem is that some of the "usual" is beginning to wear thin.  I don't know how much time has elapsed in Stephanie's life since the beginning of the series - no more than five years, I'm guessing - but for the rest of us it has been sixteen years and it's time to move on.  I don't want the series to end by any means, but the characters and situations are feeling stagnant.

Without giving away any plot points, this story was the perfect opportunity to make changes at the bond office and let Stephanie move into the next phase of her life, but by the last page it appeared that all was returned to normal.  Maybe Ms. Evanovich has surprises in mind for #17, but they certainly weren't foreshadowed.

Then there's the Ranger/Morelli conundrum.  Granted, the conflict was fascinating in the beginning; and Ms. Evanovich risks losing half of her loyal readers no matter who she has Stephanie choose but - if you'll pardon my crudity - it's time to piss or get off the pot. I have never hidden my opinion that I am firmly in Ranger's camp.  While Joe is handsome and sexy and fun, he's also normal (or at least as close as anyone in a Plum novel gets).  Ranger is mysterious and a little dangerous - he's fantasy to Joe's reality.  Whichever man Stephanie is going to choose, just do it - the story could evolve well either way.  By hanging on the fence, the relationship parts of the books have gone from sexual tension and romance to blah.  She can't decide who she wants, so she picks neither.  It's getting frustrating and maybe a touch boring. 

I have loved these characters for so long that I will still anticipate the release of the next book in the series and hope against hope that new things are to come, but for now I'd have to say that Sizzling Sixteen is a fizzle.