"Vampires In The Lemon Grove"

"Vampires In The Lemon Grove" by Karen Russell

The Good Reads Review calls this a "magical new collection of stories that showcases Karen Russell’s gifts at their inimitable best."...  (sigh)  Well, I guess I just don't "get" all of Russell's idea of magical.  This is the 2nd book by her, that I have read.  ("Swamplandia" first)  And I didn't really like that one, either.  

Funny, but the beginnings of both these books, were promising.  But..... Later......  Not my kind of reads.....

#23

"The Blue Zones"

"The Blue Zones"  by Dan Buettner

"National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner has traveled the globe to uncover the best strategies for longevity found in the Blue Zones: places in the world where higher percentages of people enjoy remarkably long, full lives."

Yes, another book on how to live a longer, HAPPIER life.  I high-light "happier," because it's not just about living to 110, if the last 20 years are spent in a nursing home.  If we can add years to our life, we want them to be good years.  

So the author and a team, visit these pockets of long-lived people, around the globe.  No particular "Fountain Of Youth" found.  Of course not!  These people are not "youths," later in life.  They are simply healthier, than most of the world.

I like a book, which "whispers" that "It Will Share A Secret With Me".  :-)  Like a little kid, I like to find Secrets.  The author doesn't promise a Secret, but I guess I tend to hope there will be one, hidden inside.   :-)  Not!  There is a lot of wisdom about living.  Sadly, such is hard to adapt, in our weirdly-on-speed-world, though...   But I enjoyed reading the book.     

Read more here, in 'Good Reads'...

# 22

"The Wee Free Men"

"The Wee Free Men"

by Terry Pratchett

Oh good grief, this is soooooooooooo much fun!!!!!!!  I 'ken' you'll enjoy reading it.

You can read reviews by clicking here...................... 

And the best part is, there are more books.

-gigggggles-

#21

"Swamplandia"

"Swamplandia"  by Karen Russell

From a review:

"Thirteen-year-old Ava Bigtree has lived her entire life at Swamplandia!, her family’s island home and gator-wrestling theme park in the Florida Everglades. But when illness fells Ava’s mother, the park’s indomitable headliner, the family is plunged into chaos; her father..."

This book begins with such a weirdly different premise, that I had hoped it would be fun, fun, fun.  But...   Nope.  The fun part ran out and the far-from-fun parts set in.  

So I'm sorry to say, I did not really enjoy the book. 

See more, at 'Good Reads'...  By clicking here......... 

"Dragon's Keep"

"Dragon's Keep"

by Janet Lee Carey

Look at that marvelous cover art!    And with the word "dragon" in the title!  How could this book miss?

Yes, how.....?

But it did.  -sigh-

"Far away on Wilde Island, Princess Rosalind is born with a dragon claw where her ring finger should be. To hide the secret, the Queen forces her to wear gloves at all times until a cure can be found,so Rosalind can fulfill the prophecy to restore the family to their rightful throne.But Rosalind’s flaw cannot be separated from her fate. When she is........"

Beautiful Princess, horrible flaw, wonderful prophecy...  Great aspects.  But the plot turned into a series of "The Perils Of Pauline"...   Troubles, after troubles, after troubles, after troubles, each one worse than the last...  Befall our heroine.  

Sure, a plot has to have "bad-stuff-happen," or it would be dull.  But this book has just too many "bad-stuffs-happening," for my taste.  

-sigh-

"Tea With The Black Dragon"

"Tea With The Black Dragon"  by R.A. MacAvoy

How could I resist a small paperback book, with this particular cover art?   I couldn't, of course.  And the reading of it, was happily delightful.

I borrow from a review by "Haley" on Good Reads Site;

"A strange, poetic, and fascinating novel, Tea With the Black Dragon is unique among the fantasy novels I've read, namely because the element of fantasy involved is decidedly subtle. MacAvoy teases the reader, hinting that there is much more to protagonist Mayland Long than he's currently choosing to express, but..."

If you like very subtle fantasy...  Which seems to be hard to find, these days...  I recommend this little book.

Click this link......"Tea With The Black Dragon"...   for more...

"The Fifth Assassin"

"The Fifth Assassin"  by Brad Meltzer

Loved it!!!  And "Uncle A." will tooo!  Am so sure of this, that I had us go out and buy a Large Print copy of it, in our area book store.  

I had the library LP copy out of the library, and read it in a short time.  (Long book, but short chapters.)  But can only keep a "new" book out for 2 weeks, and that doesn't give him long enough.  Now, when he finishes with the library LP copy of "Killing Lincoln" (Bill O'Reilly), he can read "The Fifth Assassin" at his leisure.

OK, what is it about?  History, secrets, Washington, DC, searching for the meanings in code, fast pace, a thriller....  Plus, the author has done his background work!!!  If any of these things intrigue you, please read "The Fifth Assassin."