As soon as I got caught up on monthly book reviews, I got behind again. Oy. Well, at least I realized it while we’re still in November!
Let’s get right to it!
The Flight of the Falcon by Daphne Du Maurier – Armino Fabbio is a guide for Sunshine Tours and is satisfied with his humdrum life of leading tourists around, when he’s circumstantially involved in a murder of an old peasant woman on the streets of Rome. When he learns that the woman was his family’s faithful servant, he returns to his hometown of Ruffano. Once there, he’s haunted by the phantom of his brother, Aldo, that was shot down in flames in 1943. But the town seems to have forgotten its violent past – that of Duke Claudio, known as The Falcon, the twisted and cruel man that preyed on the people of Ruffano. But as the days pass, the parallels of past and present are ever more evident…
~This is the third Du Maurier book that I’ve read. I enjoyed the beginning a lot but as the book progressed, I got confused and then frustrated with the choices Armino was making. I finished it with a firm feeling that I wouldn’t read it again, but after a few days, I thought maybe I would… Now, weeks later, I’m undecided. There were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming that kept it from being predictable, I think I just didn’t like the direction some of them went, ha! So, a hesitant recommendation for this one, I suppose.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame – Follow Mole, Rat, Badger and Mole through their lives- whether it’s lounging by the River Thames, going on a great adventure or a comical caper.
~I read this a few years ago and it was enchanting to once again be immersed in the beautiful world that Grahame created. I adore Mole and Badger so much. I love the descriptions of their world- the season changing, the wood…etc. I highly recommend this not only as an idyllic story but also as it has several nuggets of life wisdom spread throughout.
Silver Canyon by Louis L’amour – Matt Brennan rode into Hattan’s Point and decided he wanted to put down roots. But a land war is brewing between the big ranches of the area and he’s warned to get out of town immediately. But Matt’s never backed down from what he wants- and he wants a ranch and the hand of beautiful Moira Maclaren.
~I always enjoy a L’amour novel – the fights are written with enough pizazz to be interesting and short enough that you’re not skimming ahead to get to the end of it. The romance was sweet but I felt that if the whole story had been longer, this part, perhaps, would’ve been more fleshed out. I liked that Matt kept getting into some serious trouble and having to figure his way out of it again. This wasn’t one of my favorites of his, but it was an enjoyable short read.
The Library of the Unwritten (Hell’s Library #1) by A.J. Hackwith – This is where all books that weren’t written, reside. And it’s the Librarians’ job to organize and repair all books. And, of course, retrieve any books that go wandering… Claire Hadley, Head Librarian of the Unwritten Wing, must retrieve a Hero that has gone in search of his author. She takes along her assistant, former muse Brevity, and a reluctant courier demon, Leto. But the simple retrieval turns into anything but, when the angel Ramiel attacks them, demanding they give him the Devil’s Bible… a book that has the power to reshape heaven, hell…and the earth. It’s up to the librarian to find this powerful weapon before it can be used in the battle between heaven and hell.
~Now, just to be perfectly clear here- this is a fantasy series. *ahem* With that out of the way, I’m not sure I would’ve picked this book up if a friend hadn’t strongly recommended it. As she’s rarely ever wrong on book recommendations, I went ahead and started it, even though it seemed way out of my normal. Well. This was well written and the twists and turns in the plot were mostly out of left field, that I had a hard time putting it down. There were parts that dragged, but I liked that characters overall, enough, that it didn’t ruin it for me. What I wasn’t a fan of, was the…what’s the word – pansexual- thing spattered throughout. Thankfully, it was written in a way that wasn’t off-putting enough that I had to stop reading. With that caution, I can recommend this book without reservation for the writing, the fun take on a library and its caretakers.
The Archive of the Forgotten (Hell’s Library #2) by A.J. Hackwith – The Unwritten Wing was saved, but hundreds of books were destroyed and Claire and Brevity both feel their loss. But as they’re trying to find their routine again after all the changes, a new threat appears. A strange ink appears in the Arcane Wing. Claire and Brevity are immediately at odds in their approach to deal with this new threat; a representative from the Muse Corps arrives to offer assistance; Hero and the angel Rami go searching in another realm for the answer… The true nature of this strange ink could change the afterlife entirely.
~After finishing book 1, I immediately requested this one from the library and devoured it. I was a little miffed at some of the character’s choices, especially the first half of the book. But, I really loved the reveal of what the ink was and how the characters chose to deal with it. There was a little more of the romance that I mentioned in my review of the first book but it was still so…nicely done. It’s weird to skirt around this topic a bit, because I don’t want to give away any spoilers. But what I did appreciate about it was that the attraction wasn’t just a physical-instant-love-throw-all-caution-to-the-wind type of thing. It was rooted in knowing the other person. Again, with that caution of the nature of the romance, can recommend.
Currently Reading:
Uprooted by Lyn Julius
The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (at 55% of a 69 hr audiobook)
Dragonsteel Prime by Brandon Sanderson
Conagher by Louis L’amour
God of Lost Words (Hell’s Library #3) by A.J. Hackwith
I hope you found something to add to your TBR! What have you been reading lately?
~Laura
the start of a good life 