fiction – F Words that are not 4 Letters

What I’m Reading Now: Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

Book: Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk

Fiction/Nonfiction: Fiction

Author: Kathleen Rooney

Have I Read This Author Before: No

One Sentence Summary: On New Years Eve, 1984, 85 year old Lillian Boxfish takes a walk in her hometown of Manhattan, encountering many people, having adventures, and recalling her long, successful career as an advertising woman for Macys, in a male dominated industry, and her sometimes challenging life as a wife, mother and divorcee

Best Thing About the Book: She is a very compelling character with lots of confidence and grit, making this a fun, easy story to read

Worst Thing About the Book: There wasn’t really a plot, just some meanderings and musings. I’ve been reading mostly thrillers, so this wasn’t a “I can’t wait to find out what happens” suspense book

What I Learned: A lot of interesting facts about life in the 1920s and 30s: During prohibition, it was possible to get a prescription for a pint of liquor “for medicinal purposes only.” Also, when the Empire State Building first opened in 1931, during the depression, much of its office space remained unrented, so it became known as “The Empty State Building.”

The Bottom Line: A very enjoyable read with a most interesting, adventurous character with a well-lived life, and nice descriptions of NYC

Would I Read This Author Again: Yes

Next Book to be Read by This Author: From Dust to Stardust

What I’m Reading Now: The Thursday Murder Club

Book: The Thursday Murder Club

Author: Richard Osman

Fiction/Nonfiction: Fiction

Have I Read This Author Before: No

One Sentence Summary: A Group of older individuals living together in a nursing home type facility in the UK become involved in a murder investigation when someone they know is murdered and they soon are doing a better job solving it than the local police

Did It Make Me Want to Keep Reading: Yes

Best Thing About the Book: Very funny but also a good mystery with lots of suspects and components; a very fast read

Worst Thing About the Book: The number of characters and story lines (both past and present) sometimes made it difficult to remember all of the components

What I Learned: Many British terms as I was often googling when I came across something I didn’t know: Spanner (wrench), wpc (Woman Police Constable), Stone (about 14 pounds) to name a few

The Bottom Line: After being enmeshed in intense thrillers for the last several months, this offered some of that mystery with less gore and more laughs

Would I Read This Author Again: Yes

Next Book to be Read by This Author: We Solve Murders

What I’m Reading Now: The House Across the Lake

Book: The House Across the Lake

Author: Riley Sager

Fiction/Nonfiction: Fiction

Have I Read this Author Before: No

One sentence summary: A mostly has-been actress with a drinking problem moves to her childhood summer home on Lake Greene where her husband drowned the year before, and gets caught up in the mysterious disappearance of her neighbor.

Did it Make Me Want to Keep Reading: Yes, there were multiple possible scenarios and I wanted to find out which was the reality; the writing was clear, and intelligent.

The Best Thing About the Book: The writing is straightforward, very readable, and creates suspense. There were several possible outcomes and I found myself changing my theories.

The Worst Thing About the Book: The story does alternate between the past and the present which occasionally caused me to flip back and forth at times to remind myself what happened when, but I don’t hate it completely as it also sets up one of the most interesting twists.

What I Learned: A little bit about police procedure and the difficulties of evidence obtained illegally.

The Bottom Line: An interesting, compelling read with a Twist you won’t see coming.

Would I read this Author Again: Yes, I enjoyed this and look forward to the next one!

Next Book to be Read by this Author: Survive the Night

What I’m Reading Now: The Stranger

Book: The Stranger

Author: Harlan Coben

Fiction/Nonfiction: Fiction

Have I Read This Author Before: Yes

One Sentence Summary: A stranger approaches various, unrelated strangers across the country and tells them secrets about the people in their lives that will change their world forever

Best Thing About the Book: This was very different from the previous Harlan Coben books I’ve read in the past; less blood and murder, but creepier in its highly personal nature

Worst Thing About the Book: Some of the conversations are frustratingly circular (Her: “Do you know who she is, yes or no?” Him: “I think I do.” Her: “Who is She?” Him: “You don’t know?”)

Did it Make Me Want to Keep Reading: Yes

What I Learned: I read the acknowledgements at the back of the book, which I never do, and learned that Harlan Coben accepts donations from individuals to use their names in his books, and then donates that money to charity; very cool!

The Bottom Line: Definitely a page turner as various, seemingly unconnected plot lines start to come together in typical Coben fashion with plenty of surprises

Will I Read This Author Again: Yes

Next Book to be Read by This Author: Play Dead