5 Best Books

5 Best Books is hosted by Indie Reader Houston blog. This week's 5 Best Books is a category I love reading so I thought I would play. Here is my list of 5 Best Books ... that take place during war.

My All Time Favorite:

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Set during the French Revolution, this is probably the first classic I truly fell in love with when we read an excerpt in my 9th grade English class. It is such a lovely love story. Full of heart and compassion, yet also deceit and angst. I shed a few tears with this novel, which I made a point of reading at least once a year through high school and college. I own a cloth bound copy of this book and it is one I truly treasure.

Recent Reads:

The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman

I picked up this book at a charity book sale. I liked the cover, but it was the fact it was set in a zoo during World War II that I chose to read it. I once worked as a zookeeper and often wonder what happens to zoos during war time. After reading a bit about the book, I learned that a lot of research had been done and much of the story is fact based. When I visited eastern Europe last year I so wanted to go to Warsaw Zoo, but Warsaw was too far from our other stops. My next trip to Europe has Poland on the agenda.

Skeletons at the Feast: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian

Another wonderful read set during World War II (it is my favorite war to read about). I started blogging just so I could share this book with other readers, so go back to the beginning of my blog to see my full review. I enjoyed this story because it wasn't told from the Allies point of view (which most WWII books I read are), but a German plantation owner. Again this book is based on real life accounts. The authenticity of the story is what puts it high on my list of books you should read.

A Series:

The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy

Really this whole Cold War era series could be on my list, but since that is too many and I have other great war set books I'll just list the one that got me hooked on the series. I love the Jack Ryan series. I think this might have been the first real adult books I really read. It is this series that hooked me on espionage/thriller novels. (I had always loved that kind of movies, but I guess there weren't a lot of YA titles in this genre). I never got tired of reading one of Clancy's Ryan series novel no matter how many he wrote. I kind of wish he would write another just so I can experience the thrill once more.

One From Childhood:

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Another classic tale set during World War II. I think this book really made World War II come alive for me, you know, go beyond just words in a history textbook. It is probably also the book that peeked my interest in tragedies and dark fiction. I am always amazed at what the human spirit can endure and overcome.

What I'm Reading

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme started by Book Journey to share the books we are reading each week.

On my Nook:

The First Victim by J. B. Lynn

Published June 13, 2011 by Carina Press

An ARC from Netgalley.com

Fifteen years ago, Emily Wright barely escaped from a serial killer dubbed the Baby Doll Strangler. She wants nothing to do with the small town where she was abducted, but when her father is hospitalized she reluctantly returns home to care for her teenage sister.
When her sister's friend is killed and left in front of Emily's house, Emily begins to relive the nightmare she endured long ago. Soon she realizes that her sister, too, is in danger from the killer—and the only person who can help is the man Emily left behind: Deputy Bailey O'Neil. Together, Emily and Bailey must discover the killer's identity before he claims his next victim... From GoodReads.com

Traditional Books:

Sebastian and the Afterlife by William j. Barry 
Published February 2011 by The Writer's Coffee Shop

I have about 100 pages left and should finish it up tonight or tomorrow unless regular life gets in the way. It has been a really good read so far; I just haven't been home enough to read it. It's a signed first edition so I don't want to be carrying it with me.




Vaccine-nation: Poisoning the Population, One Shot at a Time by Andreas Moritz
Published March 2011

I've finally made it past the first 100 pages. Now the book is moving into an area where I more agree with the author, but still thinks he is using too much propaganda to get his point across.




Listening to:

I'm still on the waiting list at the digital download library to get this book in audio format. But I moved up to the #1 spot at the end of last week so I am hopeful I will be listening to it this week.

The Peach Keeper: A Novel by Sarah Addison Allen

It’s the dubious distinction of thirty-year-old Willa Jackson to hail from a fine old Southern family of means that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam—built by Willa’s great-great-grandfather during Walls of Water’s heyday, and once the town’s grandest home—has stood for years as a lonely monument to misfortune and scandal. And Willa herself has long strived to build a life beyond the brooding Jackson family shadow. No easy task in a town shaped by years of tradition and the well-marked boundaries of the haves and have-nots.

But Willa has lately learned that an old classmate—socialite do-gooder Paxton Osgood—of the very prominent Osgood family, has restored the Blue Ridge Madam to her former glory, with plans to open a top-flight inn. Maybe, at last, the troubled past can be laid to rest while something new and wonderful rises from its ashes. But what rises instead is a skeleton, found buried beneath the property’s lone peach tree, and certain to drag up dire consequences along with it.

For the bones—those of charismatic traveling salesman Tucker Devlin, who worked his dark charms on Walls of Water seventy-five years ago—are not all that lay hidden out of sight and mind. Long-kept secrets surrounding the troubling remains have also come to light, seemingly heralded by a spate of sudden strange occurrences throughout the town.

Now, thrust together in an unlikely friendship, united by a full-blooded mystery, Willa and Paxton must confront the dangerous passions and tragic betrayals that once bound their families—and uncover truths of the long-dead that have transcended time and defied the grave to touch the hearts and souls of the living. From Goodreads.com

Straight forward medical suspense novel: Lethal Remedy by Richard L. Mabry

October 2011; Abingdon Press; 9781426735448 
audio, ebook, print (288 pages); suspense

by Donna Huber


After getting my Nook, I signed up for Netgalley.com. It is a place where reviewers can request ARCs from publishers. I browsed through the list of books (it's a bit overwhelming) and came across a Christian medical suspense novel. I'm always trying to find new Christian books that aren't romances so I thought I would give it a try. I was not disappointed. 


Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

If you combined the medical investigations of House with the amateur sleuthing of Diagnosis Murder, Christian principles of Facing the Giants, and the feel-good vibes of a Hallmark movie in written form, you would have Lethal Remedy. All the things I best liked from the shows/movies were rolled up in this book. The writing style was excellent, making it an easy and relatively quick read. The mystery elements were just enough to keep you intrigued, while not making you have to think super hard to follow along. For a mystery/suspense lover, Lethal Remedy would be a wonderful beach read, unfortunately, you have to wait until October to get your copy.


I made a rather odd observation while reading this medical story. I read a lot of medical set stories (the possible tragedy, the compassion of the characters in such a setup, etc always seems to draw me in). I don't know why I have been taking note of this because it is just odd. But in several recent stories that I have read there has been a similar phrase. If the patient has an IV it is always noted when someone would hold the patient's hand they were careful (or similar phrasing) of the IV. It was mentioned at least twice in this book. I just find it funny that authors would add in this detail.


My only complaint with Lethal Remedy... I didn't feel the author tied up the storyline about the digital recorder well enough. Maybe it was a plot point that was supposed to distract the reader from what was really happening in the story, but I would have liked for it to have been resolved a bit more.


Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Lethal Remedy. It's probably a book I would read again. It was a nice change from the pulse racing, blood pumping thrillers I had been reading. But at the same time, it engaged me in a good whodunit plot line. I recommend this book to any reader who likes a bit lighter mystery/suspense novel.

*Note: I sent my review to the publisher prior to it appearing on my blog. I received an email from the author Richard Mabry. In the email, he addressed my concern over the digital recorder and said in the final version there is more resolution to this point. I thank Dr. Mabry for taking the time to email me.

Buy Lethal Remedy at Amazon

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Tips on Thursday

 

During Armchair BEA there was a day were bloggers shared tips and tricks that were really helpful. Also I'm part of a Twitter group that share ideas, opinion, and tips useful to book bloggers. I know a lot of bloggers out there have information they can share with their fellow bloggers so I have started a weekly Tips on Thursday meme. Link to any post (recent or not so recent) on your blog that provides helpful information to book bloggers.  

One of the best tips I have received was from Cait of The Cait Files. In a #BookBlogHelp chat she mentioned that it is a good idea to leave a link to you blog in the comments you leave on other blogs. I tried it out last week. I did not know how to make the link clickable and again Cait walked me through it. It is a simple piece of html code.

<a href=URL> Text to appear </a>

In place of URL you put the full address to your blog. For me it would be http://girl-who-reads.blogspot.com. In the "text to appear" space you type whatever you want to be visible. I use Girl Who Reads (works as a signature and also is the name of my blog). Now Girl Who Reads will be a clickable link in the comment.

I really think it has helped send traffic to my blog. I know that I am more likely to visit someone's blog if all I have to do is click the link. Also I often read the comments left on other blogs and will follow links left in the comment section.

I hope this is helpful for you. Do you have a tip or trick to share? Link to a post on your blog or leave a comment with a tip (remember to practice making a clickable link). If you have questions or want an opinion on book blogging, you can use the hashtag #bookbloghelp on Twitter where several book bloggers meet up for impromptu, informal chats about book blogging.

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Waiting on...

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine, that highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting. I won't be doing this every week, just when a book I'm particularly excited about announces its release date or book cover.

K. B Hoyle revealed on her blog On Alitheia the cover for the third novel in the series Monday. You may remember I reviewed the first two in the series - The Six and The Oracle - early in my blogging days. I absolutely fell in love with the series. 

K. B. Hoyle's  The Gateaway Chronicles is a modern day, set in the US, Chronicles of Narnia type series for young adults, but highly enjoyed by adults, too. The White Thread is due out Fall 2011.

I highly recommend you start reading the series now so you will be ready to jump right into the continuing tale of 6 kids (now high school students), a prophecy, and a race to save Alitheia. I wonder if Darcy's feelings have changed for the prince. I'm sure he has grown up a lot (I think he will be much more man than boy in this book) while she has been away for Alitheia. I also hope we get a glimpse at least at Yahto Veli. Just thinking about the wonderful story that Hoyle is weaving together makes me all excited and wanting to pull out my copy of The Six to once again enter Alitheia.