Tiger Eyes

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love revisiting some of my favorite authors from growing up, and Judy Blume wrote some great ones. However, I hadn't read Tiger Eyes. Shocking, I know.

Davey's father is killed in a tragic holdup at their convenience store, and her family tries to find a way to move on. They visit her aunt and uncle in New Mexico and each person grieves and moves on in their own way. It's sad, and it's real, just like all Judy Blume books. Definitely worth the quick read.



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1984

1984 by George Orwell

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


A frightening look at the dangers of total government control, the loss of freedom of speech and thought, and the importance of continuing this discourse before it happens to us. Some might say it already has, but this book shows how terrible it really can be.

“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”
― George Orwell, 1984





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Another Man's Moccasins (Walt Longmire #4)

Another Man's Moccasins by Craig Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Another great installment to the Longmire series. It just keeps getting better and better.

This time we get some flashbacks to Walt and Henry's time in Vietnam, as the current day mystery has ties to their past. The body of a young Vietnamese woman is found in Walt's jurisdiction, and the Crow Indian found near the scene is accused of the murder. As Walt finds himself faced with proving a man's innocence, he is struck by the similarities to a case he had as a Marine investigator in Vietnam. The mystery is smartly woven together and I was guessing until the end.

Read this series. Just read it. You will like it.



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Academ's Fury (Codex Alera #2)

Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


More journeys in Alera. I just love this series!

Set two years after the first book, we join Tavi at the Academy. A threat is coming to Alera, and all of our favorites work to save the Realm from the four corners of the land. Yes, you get lots of Bernard and Amara goodness. Yes, Isana is still the same strong, reticent woman. Yes, Tavi continues to grow up. There's political intrigue around every corner. Trust no one. Except Doroga. Always trust Doroga. Another great installment in the series with good character growth all-around.





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The Winter People

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


An interesting book, and not anything I would typically read.

A story with two intertwining timelines, we journey in the past with Sara Harrison Shea, who was found dead after the death of her five-year-old daughter, Gertie. In the present day, we journey with Ruthie, who now lives with her family in Sara Harrison Shea's farmhouse in Vermont. After her mother disappears, Ruthie and her little sister Fawn find a copy of Sara's diary hidden in the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie searches for her mother, the past and the present collide and the truth comes out.


Suspenseful and a little scary, the story left me guessing at every turn. I don't usually read the horror genre, but enjoyed this one.



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The Crossing Places (Ruth Galloway #1)

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I picked up this book because I thought it would be a fantastic book. Archaeology? Check. Mystery? Check. Series? Check. I wanted to love it. I just like it.

Ruth is a forensic archaeologist, which is fascinating to me. I'm a bit jealous, actually. But this series hasn't crossed into "favorite series" territory for me, at least not yet. My nitpicks: Ruth constantly complains about her weight and is jealous of basically all other women in the world because of it, despite having men hitting on her all of the time. She has a real beef with her parents because they are Born Again Christians. You are nearly 40, Ruth. Be an adult, accept that they hold different beliefs than you, and move on. Or cut ties. And I have a real issue with violence against animals and children, and extra-marital affairs. This book hits all of my hot buttons. But I bought the first four books before reading any of them, so I will at least read through those before giving up on Ruth and company.

(And the mystery did keep me guessing--it had a lot of twists and red herrings, so that's nice.)



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The Road

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I thought this book was fantastic.

Bleak and depressing, it tells a tale of what our future could be. The imagery is cold. I needed a warm blanket and a cup of tea while reading it. It's the tale of a father's love, a tale of hope, and a tale of life continuing on.

Cormac McCarthy has a way with words. I could picture every location as they traveled along the road. I could feel every cold wind in my bones, and my stomach was clenched in fear and hunger for our travelers. If you haven't read this book, just do it. It left me changed. 4 1/2 stars.



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Kindness Goes Unpunished (Walt Longmire #3)

Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It's time for a road trip!

Walt and Henry take a road trip from Wyoming to Philadelphia (with Dog, naturally) where Henry will be presenting old Mennonite photographs found on the reservation to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts while Walt visits Cady, the greatest legal mind of our time. But when Cady gets hurt after they arrive, Walt is on the case and working with the cops in Philly to solve a crime. Way outside of his jurisdiction with some serious conflict of interest going on, but we'll let that slide.

Lots of fun in this one. We get to meet Vic's family, and they don't disappoint. I love Vic's mom. Not what I would have expected based on how rough Vic is, but she is great. Vic's dad, however, is exactly what I pictured. We got more insights into Walt's relationship with Cady and the ending sets us up for some interesting potential plot lines in the next books.

Another great installment to the series.



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