David Navratil
I try to read 2 classics and 2 award winning books each month. This was 1 of the classics for June and for the 1st time in 2 years of reading I must say it didn't interest me at all. I should have researched a bit of what the book is about before starting! Strong emphasis on religion which is not my strong point. Also the author should have put names on some of the characters early on and used them all the time through out the book. Referring to characters as old man, nephews etc had me confused thru the 1st 1/3 of the book.
I'm sure this book s/b considered a classic to most folks but I was just sorry I read it!! DN
This was my Award Winning Book (2019 Pulitzer Prize Fiction) to read for May and it took me 20 days. If you like to read about trees and how their existence intertwines with our own lives and future of mankind then this is the book for you. Nine characters are involved in the story line and tells how trees affected their lives. Read this for the story and education of what this planet is losing!
DN
2018 GoodReads choice award for horror! This was a quick 4 day read (for me) and really enjoyed it. Story takes place in Castle Rock (Many of King's books use that location). Great characters and surprise ending I won't disclose. This is my 1st award winning book for March, I try to read 2 each month and 2 Classics each month.
I made a big mistake and read this book as I was also watching the Miniseries on TV. Kept picturing the actors in the TV series as I read the book! This was a good book & there are some strange characters! A bit of a surprise ending for me! If you like mysteries with great characters read this!
David
This book was an Agatha award finalist in 2016 for best 1st novel. Honestly I probably would not have read it if I'd taken time to find out what the book was about 1st. It involves the industry of wine making in Napa valley (Not a subject I would be interested in)! There is a murder at a wine party held at night, lots of suspects, lots of reasons, 1 goofy girl who is the subject, her best friend who is a wine tasting expert trying to help her and a few guys trying to get to know her better!! Fast read, clean book and good characters, it was the setting of taking place in a wine company that just didn't do it for me!
I gave it a 4, try it out you will most likely enjoy it! David
This book is told thru the eyes of a 6 yr old girl. It's about a trial of a black man for rape, however it mostly tells about life in a small southern town in 1935! It won the Pulitzer prize in 1960, bit of a long read for me, good characters and great book. Glad I took the time to read it. I've been reading 2 classics a month and 2 recent award winning books each month!! Read this if you like classics! David
2017 Edgar Award for Best Graphic Book! My 1st Award winning book for the month of Feb/19. Honestly the graphics were amazing, it was the story line I had trouble with. Always do with Fantasy and newer SF books however that is me, not the author. I still gave it a 5 anyway! I picked up a used (Like New) copy at Amazon and and was going to swap it at Paperback book swap on the internet but I may keep this. It is about 200 pages 81/2 x 11! If you like Fantasy get this book!! David N.
Great Book! My 1st classic read for the month of Feb/19. Very much follows the 1960 movie starring Rod Taylor. This book includes what happens after the Time Traveler escapes the Morlocks and travels much further into the future. I won't spoil that for any future readers! If you like classic SF this is the book! David N.
For the 1st classic read of Feb./19 I chose Invisible Man - I'm comparing this book to the 1933 movie classic. The 1st half of the movie follows the book very closely but the last half of the movie involves the Invisible Man's love interest whereas the book mainly describes the invisible man's attempt to stay alive. The author made many good points about the advantages of being invisible and also many
disadvantages of it also! If into classics this should be on your list! David N.
Queenpin is my 1st award book read in Feb (2008 Edgar Award Best PB Original), I've been reading 2 award winning books and 2 classics each month! This is about a young girl learning all the tricks in the rackets business from an older “Moll” who knows all the tricks and angles. Great book, short read, about 225 pages! David N.
Hugo Award Best Novella 2018! This is my 2nd SF book I've read in the past 4 months and again I had problems following what was going on! I'm 71 years old and watch SF movies constantly but the books keep me in the dark. I know it's not the authors but me, maybe I should avoid this genre. If you like SF I'm sure you will like this award winner. (I might try reading it again someday) - David
I've seen just about all the Movies and TV Specials of “Hound of the Baskervilles” and thought I would try the books out for my 2nd Classic Book this month. As I was reading I had a picture of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce(Homes & Watson in the 1040's Movie Series). The book is great and describes the dreary Moors and landscape very well. Read the book and if not able to get the 1939
film with Rathbone and Bruce or else the 1959 version with Cushing and Lee, both movies follow the book very well!! - David
For my 2nd award winning book of the month I chose Mr. Suicide which won the Bram Stoker Award for best 1st Novel, 2015. No vampires, werewolves etc in this book just 1 crazy teenager! The author keeps you in the teenager's mind through out the book. Very graphic and descriptive but this is a horror book!! This is a good book!! David
This is my 1st classic read for 2019 and it was good!! Takes place in early 1930's in the rural South.
Poor, uneducated share croppers having no income and trying to survive on farming!! I'm not good at giving reviews but if you want to get a “Feel” of what it was like back then, Read the Book!! David N.
For my 1st award winning book for 2019, Edgar award for 2017 for Best Paperback Original! Takes place in Ireland in the 1980's (Had a bit of trouble with some of the Irish slang) and this is book 5 in a series of Detective Sean Duffy books! Woman found dead in a castle where there is no way in or out!!
How was it done and why!! Great mystery, Read the Book! David N
I'm trying to read 2 Classic and 2 Award winning books each month! For Dec. this was my 2nd Award winning book for the month (2017 Agatha Winner for Best Contemporary Novel). This was a good one!! The author starts it out in a courthouse. A defendant is on trial but book doesn't mention why but instead goes back in time repeatedly! I really liked that alot and also a character is mention often just standing in the middle of a park, morning noon & night without a reason. Great characters and some twists and turns! If you like mystery & suspense get this book! (It's is a part of a series) - David N.
I gave this Edgar Award Winning Best Paperback Original (2018) a 5 star rating and wish it could have higher. I've been reading 2 Award Winning Books and 2 Classics each month for the past 3 months and I've had nothing but great success with all the books except for “Frankenstein”! This is a great mystery, good characters and a couple of big twists! Why would a woman not try to defend herself in a 1840's England court if she did not do the crime? This will keep you wondering thru out the book! If you're a mystery lover, grab this book! David N.
This was my 1st Classic read of Dec. (I'm trying to do 2 each month). This takes place in Eastern Europe (Russian Ukraine). I honestly had never heard of this book before and surprised me to find Witches, Magic etc involved. I was under the impression it was a Drama! I gave it a 5 rating but did have a bit of a problem trying to figure out the plot (Senior Citizen, Ha Ha)! Try it, only 250 pages!
David