Sunday, October 19, 2014

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes

Title:  One Plus One
Author: JoJo Moyes
Did I listen or read?: Nook book
When did I finish?: 10/12/14
When was the book published:
Main Characters:  Jess, mom in poverty, Ed, about to get jailed for insider trading, daughter Costanza (Tannie) and step son
What happens? Very similar to Little Miss Sunshine, Tannie is a math genius and Mom gets Ed to drive them all to Scotland for the math olympics
How long was this? about 350 pages
Did I like this? More great stuff from Jojo, even with the similar plot.  Wonderful writing, characters and story.  I they would just stop saying, "Maths."
Overall grade: A

Sunday, October 5, 2014

The Girl You Left Behind by Jo Jo Moyes

Title: The Girl You Left Behind
Author: Jo Jo Moyes
Did I listen or read?: nook book
When did I finish?: Sep 30, 2014
When was the book published: 2014
Main Characters: Sophie Lefevre, husband Edouard, the Kommandant in 1916 -  Liv Halston, who owns the painting in modern London, her accidental boyfriend who happens to be an stolen art recoverer
What happens? Sophie bravely works in her hometown in France, occupied by Germans, running a hotel/bar/restaurant.  Liv's life is falling apart since the sudden death of her husband, and the painting becomes an obsession for her.
How long was this?
Did I like this? Very good story.  Great characters, very exciting
Overall grade: A-

Sheltering Rain by Jo Jo Moyes

Title: Sheltering Rain
Author: Jo Jo Moyes
Did I listen or read?: nook book
When did I finish?: Sep 26, 2014
When was the book published: 2002
Main Characters: Kate, mother of Sabine, daughter of Joy
What happens? Kate's life is screwed up, she sends teenage daughter Sabine to Ireland to summer with her estranged mother Joy on a horse ranch.  Flashbacks to Joy's meeting her husband, whirlwind romance in Hong Kong.
How long was this?
Did I like this? Really well written, good soap opera story.  Very enjoyable.  The teenager's thought process is captured perfectly.
Overall grade: A-

Don't Ever Look Back by Daniel Freidman

Title: Don't Ever Look Back
Author: Daniel Freidman
Did I listen or read?: audio book from library
When did I finish?: 9/26/2014
When was the book published:
Main Characters: Buck Schatz, 88 year old retired detective, Elijah long time nemesis bank robber
What happens? Buck defies his wife and gets involved with Elijah who claims he wants to surrender for protection, and flashes back to 1965 when Elijah robbed the biggest bank in Memphis in the middle of race riots due to a labor strike.
How long was this? 8 hours
Did I like this? Pretty good.  Buck is really annoying, but after a while I got used to his cantankerous rambling and the plot was pretty good.
Overall grade: B

Personal by Lee Child

Title: Personal
Author: Lee Child
Did I listen or read?: nook book
When did I finish?: Sep 24, 2014
When was the book published: 2014
Main Characters: Reacher
What happens? Reacher works as an international spy to figure out why a super assassin has fired a bullet 700 yards and hit a bullet proof shield protecting the french president, but didn't follow with another shot.
How long was this?
Did I like this? Reacher rules.  Maybe not his best stuff, but read it three days anyways.
Overall grade: B+