The Confession by John Grisham

My latest listen on CD is The Confession by John Grisham.  It's been a while since I've read a John Grisham (even though this was actually a "listen) and I'm not sure why I haven't read him.  He's always enjoyable. 

The synopsis (from Amazon): In 1998, in the small East Texas city of Sloan, Travis Boyette abducted, raped, and strangled a popular high school cheerleader. He buried her body so that it would never be found, then watched in amazement as police and prosecutors arrested and convicted Donté Drumm, a local football star, and marched him off to death row. Now nine years have passed. Travis has just been paroled in Kansas for a different crime; Donté is four days away from his execution. Travis suffers from an inoperable brain tumor. For the first time in his miserable life, he decides to do what’s right and confess. But how can a guilty man convince lawyers, judges, and politicians that they’re about to execute an innocent man?

This was a really enjoyable book. If you plan on listening to it, it was fairly short (9 CDs) and the narrator did a good job.  I gave it 4 stars because there were some contrived parts and sometimes John Grisham can get a bit redundant in his lawyer mumbo jumbo. Basically, this was a book delving into the debate of the death penalty.  And if you are for the death penalty, by the end of this book, I guarantee, you will either be against it or certainly on the fence.  A definite recommendation. Read it.

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Girls In White Dresses by Jennifer Close

This is my latest book on CD. I usually pick what looks to be easy, chick-lit, somewhat mindless “reads” to listen in my car. This one was no exception and that isn't an insult (nothing wrong with mindless reads especially when they make you laugh out loud).

So the premise: Girls in White Dresses focuses on three friends, Isabella, Mary and Lauren – 20-somethings, making their way in NYC. Isabella is working in a dead-end job she hates, dating a pot-head; Mary is struggling her way through law school and dating a nice guy with an awful mother; Lauren is stuck waitressing and getting sucked into a “going nowhere” relationship with a sleazy bartender. The one constant in their lives seem to be each other and alcohol. The three are sick of brides and bridal showers and being bridesmaids and yet wish they didn't have to spend time in the dating pool. I REALLY liked this book. (4 stars only because of its lack of “depth”). Partly, I’m sure, because the woman reading was hilarious. She gave the characters such great voices but of course, that couldn't have happened without great writing. This book made me laugh out loud many times and I the characters were real and likable. I’d definitely read/listen to Jennifer Close again.

The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman

This is actually my latest listen on CD. Interestingly, the girl (guess I should say woman) who narrated is the chick who played Emma McArdle on Kate & Allie (Susan St. James daughter). At first, her voice sort of irritated me but I got over it and actually liked this story.

The novel takes place between 1999-2002. The central characters are Emily and Jessamine Bach, two sisters who are complete opposites. Emily is the CEO of a dot-com about to go public (making Emily a billionaire) Jess is a tree-hugging philosophy major who never seems to finish anything and is committed to nothing. Emily is balanced and driven, while Jess lives to dream and in turn spends her life flitting from job to job; boyfriend to boyfriend. Emily’s boyfriend, Jonathan, is hugely successful and part-owner of another wildly successful dot-com. Interestingly, as together as Emily may seem, her life really isn’t all she thinks it is and she finds this out when the 9/11 tragedy occurs sending her life and the lives of all those she cares about into a tailspin.

I liked this book and the 3 stars I gave it are solid. However, there were some characters that I could have done without and they gave no substance to the novel. They seemed to be written in as a source of annoyance. Maybe there to make the main characters seem more likable...I don't know but they weren't needed. Additionally, there seemed to be a few open-ended resolutions for some of the characters but maybe that was the point – we’re all just a work in progress trying to find our way and learn from our mistakes and life changes on a dime so good luck with the plans you make.  Regardless, I like the book...I'd recommend it...sure.

Deception by Jonathan Kellerman

Deception - an Alex Delaware mystery - is actually a latest listen.  I like listening to the Jonathan Kellerman novels because the guy who reads them is really good.

Plot:  Milo Sturgis, our rough and tough LAPD detective is looking for the person or persons who killed Elise Freeman, a teacher and tutor at the exclusive Windsor Prep Academy in Brentwood.  She's been found dead in her Studio City apartment in a bathtub full of dry ice. Interestingly, Elise left a DVD accusing three fellow teachers at the academy of repeated sexual harassment.  In an effort to understand the mind of the killer, Milo seeks out the help of friend and psychologist Alex Delaware. What turns up is a boyfriend with con artist tendencies, students whom Elise had inappropriate relationships with, teachers whom Elise had inappropriate relationships with, and administrators anxious to keep all those secrets hidden.

I liked this book but was a bit disappointed that it was so full of the mystery/crime to be solved and had no personal back stories of Milo or Alex.  One of the reasons I like to read books with recurring characters is because the characters become well-known to me and I like how things continue to develop with them as each book is written.  There was essentially NO story with Alex's longtime love Robin nor Milo's relationship with his partner.  That was a bit disappointing.  The mystery itself was interesting because the resolution is something that has of late, been in the news.  Coincidence?  I don't know but it was a good whodunit that kept me listening.

The Gift by Cecelia Ahern

My latest read is actually a latest listen. I listened to this in my car. This is actually my third (I think) “read” of Cecelia Ahern. I like her. She’s an easy read with mostly likable characters and usually a “surprise” at the end.

The Gift features Lou Suffern, an egotistical, philandering asshole whose only care in the world is his career and getting as far as he can in his company, regardless of whom he screws (literally and figuratively). On a morning, close to Christmas, he does something completely against his norm: He buys a cup of coffee for a homeless man (Gabe) camped outside his office building. Feeling good from this deed, he then sets Gabe up for a job in the mailroom. Soon, however, he begins to regret his charitable act when Gabe starts meddling in Lou’s life. Gabe seems to have a better handle on his own life than Lou and he seems to know Lou better than he knows himself. What follows is a struggle in Lou’s own mind on whether to continue as he has been or turning his life around to be a better man.

I did like this book. I hated Lou (mostly) but that was the point. The book itself was meant to have a “Christmas Carol” type theme to it with a mystical twist. Definitely an easy, holiday, slightly mindless read worthy of a solid three stars.

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

My latest finished book is another Cecelia Ahern, this time listened to on CD. Once again, I lucked out with the reader - she was really good!

The Book of Tomorrow is about Tamara Goodwin, a nearly 17-year-old Dubliner whose life has taken an unfortunate turn. Tamara was born into the lap of luxury. She lived a spoiled life until the abrupt death of her father, which leaves her and her mother with a mountain of debt and forces them to move in with Tamara's peculiar aunt and uncle in a tiny countryside village. Having lived a life thus far in the bustling city of Dublin, Tamara is suddenly lonely and bored. One day, with a traveling library as her only diversion she finds a leather-bound book with a gold clasp and padlock, but no author name or title. Intrigued, she pries open the lock, and what she finds inside takes her breath away. Tamara sees an entry, seemingly written by her but dated for the next day. She passes is off as off but when the next day unfolds exactly as recorded, Tamara's village life suddenly becomes much more exciting.

There's much more to this book than meets the eye and Tamara's aunt is an oddity all on her own.  While listening to this book there were many times I just wanted to keep driving so I could find out what happens next.  Definitely read this and if you're taking a trip, stop at the library and get it on CD - only 7 and perfect for a 4-hour (each way) drive!  I really like this author!

Joy For Beginners by Erica Bauermeister

My latest - actually a latest listen, rather than a recent read - is Joy For Beginners.  Again, it's always a crap shoot when I get a book to listen to because the reader can ruin it all but alas, this one was a winner. 

Synopsis:
At an intimate, festive dinner party in Seattle, six women gather to celebrate their friend Kate's recovery from cancer. Having survived such a thing has kicked Kate into gear to make the rest of her life exciting and not humdrum.  Kate strikes a bargain with her friends: In order to celebrate her new lease on life, she'll do the one thing that's always terrified her: white-water rafting. But if she goes, all of them will also do something they always swore they'd never do-and Kate is going to choose their adventures.

Each chapter focuses on a different friend in a different voice living a much different life than her compadres.  Each woman is so different from the next which makes it such a "real" book since the women I know and am friends with are often the complete opposite of me.  This book reminds you that it isn't the similarities which draw and hold a friendship together but the differences that bring to the table. 

I really, really liked this book and it was a really easy listen...light although there were times the subject matter was heavy.  I would imagine it would be a really easy read as well.

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

My most recent "read" was actually a latest listen.  I picked it up from the library and have been listening to if for the past couple of weeks.  The premise sounded good - eerie, and perfect for my morning rides to work.  Here it is:

Laurel, sees ghosts.  Growing up and until she moved to her gated Florida home with her video-game designing husband, she would often see her uncle Marty - shot down, unexpectedly and accidentally by her father when she was 10.  She would also see the ghost of another uncle's foot, amputated due to diabetes.  One night, in her current life, she sees the ghost of a girl from her bedroom window.  When the little girl leads Laurel into her backyard and to the swimming pool where a body is floating, the life that Laurel had built starts to fall apart.  Though the police think the drowning was an accident, Laurel believes different and sets out to prove that there is more to the story.  She enlists the help of her older sister, Thalia, whose life is altogether different from Laurel and who doens't mind mocking Laurel's happiness.  As the plot thickens and things become clearer, the unbelievable becomes reality and things in Laurel's life begin to seem less than perfect.

I REALLY liked this book.  I've found that often times when I get a book on CD, the book itself can have a great plot and story line but the reader can ruin it all with they're own interpretation of the characters.  In this case, the author herself read the book and gave a perfect voice to every character.  I was surprisingly thrilled to have liked this book as much as I did and would recommend it (in hand or by ear) to anyone.  Read it!  Great mystery, great surprises, great characters.

Ape House by Sara Gruen

Sara Gruen is the same woman who wrote Water For Elephants - by the way. This novel revolves around - yup, you guessed it, apes.  Specifically, bonobo apes.  The main character, Isabel Duncan, works in the Great Language Lab in Kansas.  She has dedicated her life to teaching the apes to sign and communicate with humans.  Obviously this intrigues people and a writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, John Thigpen, visits one day to write an article.  Unfortunately, a terrorists bombs the lab, terrorizing the apes and severely injuring Isabel.  The apes are then sold to man of questionable ethics who turns the apes into reality stars.  From this point on, it's Isabel's race to gain custody of the apes and find out who actually bombed the language lab and nearly killed her. 

This, I thought, was a solidly GOOD book.  It was nothing like Water For Elephants except that the animals are definitely the heroes.  I actually listened to this on CD in the car which, for me, sometimes changes the feel of a book.  Considering this book didn't get good reviews at all, I wonder if I liked it more listening to it then I would have.  Who's to say but I liked it and think it's worth the read.  I'm assuming that the information about the bonobos is true and it is truly fascinating.  Worth the read just for that bit of info.  Recommendation:  Read it, I think it's worth it.  Or listen to it...even better.

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

So here's the latest listen on CD.  This is the same author that wrote About a Boy (later a movie with Hugh - I always want to say Downs - Grant), High Fidelity (again, a movie made with John Cusack) An Education (made into a movie as well with Carey Mulligan) and many more. 

Juliet, Naked focuses on three characters:  Tucker Crowe a former cult musician who has been out of the spotlight for 20 years (vanished suddenly from performing/writing etc. without a by your leave), Duncan - a self-appointed "Crowologist" obsessed with all that is Tucker Crowe and his girlfriend Annie.  As the book opens, a few chapters in, a newly released version of Crowe's classic album Juliet is released to the "public" and Annie writes and posts online, a scathing review that ultimately ends her and Duncan's 15-year relationship. Tucker Crowe ends up emailing Annie regarding her review and thus begins a "relationship" between Tucker and Annie.

I can't say that I really liked this book.  It was sort of compelling as I was listening to it but only because I was waiting for some ultimate, awesome event to occur which would change the lives of the characters in a way that would make the book likable.  Alas, that never happened.  THe ending was weird and as I sit here thinking back on it...I'm not even sure how it did end.  Can't imagine they'd make this one into a movie.  Don't waste your time.

Promises to Keep by Jane Green

So, a new author for me...Jane Green.  I picked this up as a book to listen to in the car (can't stand the radio anymore and I get bored of the same music over and over).  It seemed like an easy listen...not too heavy...not too intense...something I could listen to in bits and pieces.  It's about Callie Perry a happily married photographer with two wonderful kids, a lovable sister, Steffi, and a best friend, Lila. Problems are minor in their lives: Steffi, a vegetarian chef can never settle down; Lila, a slightly plump, short 40 something year old Jewish woman has finally found love but the guy has a nightmare of an ex. Callie and Steffi's divorced parents haven't spoken in 30 years but it's something everyone accepts.  Suddenly, as life sometimes does, tragedy strikes when Callie, a breast cancer survivor, is diagnosed with a rare and incurable complication of the disease. Suddenly realizing that she has only months to live, she begins the painful process of saying good-bye.

It does sound like a heavy plot but really, it isn't.  Considering the subject matter, the story still manages to be light.  It borders on the corny side, definitely, but I never wanted to turn it off and just turn it back into the library (because it was a couple days overdue).  There were about 15-20 recipes at the end of the chapters too, which I wish I had the actual book with which to copy them from...some of them sounded deeeelicious.  Certainly a book I'd recommend for an easy listen if that's your thing or even a quick, easy read.  I'd certainly pick this author up again.

The Hand That First Held Mind by Maggie O'Farrell

So I didn't actually read this book - I listened to it on a Playaway - like an MP3 player that you can rent from the library.  I listen to books while driving now since I've band the radio and XM Radio.

Anyway - this is my latest read/listen.  It's actually two stories interwoven.  The first is that of Lexie Sinclair, living in post-WWII London.  Lexie is a rebellious 21-year-old, and when she meets handsome and sophisticated Innes Kent, she realizes he's the one who can help her find the adventure and excitement she craves. Their affair allows her to move up in the ranks at the magazine he edits, but a tragedy changes Lexie's life forever.  Fast forward 50 years to Elina Vilkuna, a young Finnish woman living in present-day London. Elina is a painter who faces her own struggles: she recently had a son with her boyfriend, Ted, and, after a rough child-birth, Ted and Elina struggle to get their relationship back on track.  As the reader gets to know the two stories, it becomes obvious that the characters lives are somehow connected.  Secrets are revealed and the truth comes crashing down on all.

I did like this book.  It was interesting and definitely kept my attention but there were times when the British "wit" and dry sense of storytelling became a bit forced.  I think much of that had to do with the woman who read the story but in the end - I'd recommend it.