Book Review Blog Carnival

Over the past two weeks book bloggers have been hard at work trying to find good fiction for you to read.  This post is part of the ongoing Book Review Blog Carnival which highlights special book reviews from book blogs across the internet.  If you are a reader of Books For Sale then I hope that you enjoy these great book reviews.  If you are a book blogger yourself then please consider submitting one of your own book reviews for inclusion in the next edition of the Book Review Blog Carnival.

“The Art of Detection,” by Laurie R. King

A whodunnit by an author who is new to me, The Art of Detection, is set in San Francisco in 2004 and 1924. The book is from the middle of a series featuring SF police detective Kate Martinelli. King cleverly intertwines a “lost” Sherlock Holmes short story, purportedly written by Arthur Conan Doyle while visiting San Fransisco in the ’20s into the story of the murder in 2004.

“The Shadow of a Smile” by Kachi A. Ozumba

Ozumba not only writes about a big important subject, corruption and imprisonment in Nigeria, he does so with consummate skill and humour. The Shadow of a Smile is a compelling novel that centres around Zuba, a complex and fascinating character who is wrongly imprisoned accused of theft. Ozumba has a brilliant ear for dialogue. He brings Nigeria bubbling to the page. At times poignant, lyrical and often very funny. Fans of Ben Okri should check him out.

“Snake Dreams” by James D. Doss

In honor of Native American day coming up on Oct 12, I am reviewing the latest in the series of mysteries all taking place in or around the Ute Indian reservation in Southern Colorado written by James D. Doss. This is the thirteenth book in the Charlie Moon Mysteries (first in the series was The Shaman Sings.) Charlie Moon started out as a Ute Tribal “Policeman” in Southern Colorado, but he has become a rancher with his own spread and cattle while being a tribal investigator on the side.

“It’s Easy Being Green” by Crissy Trask

If you’re relatively new to the concept of sustainability, need some help navigating the lingo, or looking for some help figuring out what types of pursuits might fit your lifestyle, this book can offer some guidance as well as references that you can continually look back to.  If you’re looking for a matter-of-fact guide to tell you what to do, then this book isn’t for you.  Also, if you’re looking for playful storytelling, this book won’t be a good fit – it’s very middle-of-the-road in its presentation.

“You Can’t Drink All Day If You Don’t Start in the Morning” by Celia Rivenbark

Celia’s latest book like all her others (which P.S. I am definitely going to go back and read!) is a collection of essays written about her life as a Mom living in the South, and although the underlying theme is Southerness, it is humorous for anyone. There is a ton to say about her, but no one can out do the About page on her website, aptly titled: Me, me, me! so make sure you check it out!

“The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster

When we first encounter him in the opening moments of The Phantom Tollbooth, first published in September 1961, Milo is bored, bored, bored. Conveniently lacking parents and with few apparent responsibilities other than going to school, he lives in a house well appointed with toys, games, books, and other goodies. Nothing can engage him. “I can’t see the point in learning to solve useless problems, or subtracting turnips from turnips, or knowing whereEthiopia is or how to spell February,” he grumbles.

“The Last Dickens” by Matthew Pearl

Daniel Sand is a conscientious young clerk at Fields, Osgood & Co., tasked with picking up the latest installment of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, but when he is killed before he can bring it back to the office the coroner and local police write him off as an unreliable opium addict. Osgood, and his assistant Rebecca (Daniel’s sister) have more faith in the late clerk with Osgood suspecting that other circumstances might have played a role in Daniel’s death, especially when an attorney he questions about the details of Daniel death and the missing installment of Edwin Drood, is murdered.

“Stranger Than Fiction” by Jim Murdoch

I have never been much of a fan of sequels; just don’t trust them because nine times out of ten they disappoint me. But it is that one-in-ten chance that a sequel will prove to be the equal, or better, of an original book or movie that stops me from giving up on them completely. So, despite the fact that it has probably doomed me to nine disappointing sequels in-a-row, I am happy to report that Stranger than Fiction, Jim Murdoch’s follow-up to Living with the Truth, is a treat.

“As Darkness Falls” by Bronwyn Parry

Some failures are worse than others. Most of us, when we fail, can mark it down as a lesson learned, and move on. But when your failure results in, first, the death of a child, and then, the death of a man you believe to be innocent, then moving on is almost impossible. For Detective Isabelle O’Connell, it was all made worse by the fact that it has happened in the town of her own childhood, and the dead child is that of people she grew up with. That was a year ago.

“25 Ways to Win With People” by John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell is a well known leadership guru and has written many bestseller books. His friend, Les Parrott, who is a professor of Psychology, a successful speaker, and an author of relationship books, phoned John one day to suggest some specific things that he should teach his readers and they decided to write this book together.  This book is divided into 25 chapters, each with specific things to do to achieve successful relationship with others. In each chapter, John teaches how he works with people while Les helps readers to understand the Psychology behind the practice.

“The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is all about discovery.  I tagged along on the journeys of Beli the mother, Lola the sister and Oscar the brother.  For a relatively short read, I got to know the characters so very well.  I knew what made them tick, what would piss them off, how they would react and why.  I feel as if I can have a conversation with any of them and would be able to fill in what they would say.  That’s how well Diaz established his family of characters.

“The Whole Truth” by David Baldacci

In many ways, this book was indeed what I expected.  This was a political thriller pitting a powerful man, and his abuse of power, against an exceptionally skilled hero with a very complex past.  Nicholas Creel, heading the world’s largest defense contractor, is a very wealthy man with very grand financial and socio-political goals.  His ambitions lead him to work with a perception management firm to manipulate world events.

“Anything But Typical” by Nora Raleigh Baskin

A middle-grade fiction book about a 12-year-old boy with autism doesn’t necessarily sound like a must read, but Anything But Typical is never what you expect. If you know someone with autism, you have to read this book. If you are interested in the craft of writing, you have to read this book. If you are a teacher with quirky students, you have to read this book. And, oh yes, if you are a middle-grade aged kid who likes a superbly written book, you have to read this book.

“The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros

This is a story told in a series of simple but eloquent vignettes about the life of Esperanza, a young girl growing up in the Latino section of Chicago. I love the concept. The short vignettes to me represent both the snapshots we have as adults looking back on our childhoods, and the snapshot feel of living in that time. I can remember that feeling as life as vignette even as a child reflecting on childhood. Cisneros captures that so well.

“Dead End Road” by Richard Wink

You’re on a bus, all is dark outside, and then you pass someone’s house or flat, the curtains are open, the lights are on and for . . . How long? A second? Three, maybe four seconds? . . . you get to watch what’s going on in their lives; someone watching the tele or washing the dishes, ironing, maybe, or sitting at the window looking right back at you. And don’t say you never do it because we all do. If you’re that kind of person – and my assertion is that we all are deep down – then you’ll find Richard Wink’s first full collection, Dead End Road, unputdownable.