Friday, August 22, 2014

Presidents and Polygamists - August 22, 2014

Currently Reading:
  • Secrets of the Lighthouse by Santa Montefiore (received through NetGalley)
  • J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist by Thomas Beller (received through NetGalley)
  • The Last Word by A.L. Michael (received through NetGalley)
  • Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch (received through the publisher)
  • All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot (received through Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway)


Recent Reviews:

I Love You More by Jennifer Murphy (received through NetGalley)
4 stars
 


Picasso Lane, eleven year old girl and eavesdropper extraordinaire, knows everything that is going on around her and right now that means knowing more than she should.  Her mother has just discovered that her husband has two other families and has been spinning a web of elaborate lies.  His murder, which occurs early, causes further examination into this sociopathic man, his three wives and a daughter who seems to know more than she lets on.   The novel is told through multiple perspectives, including Picasso, the detective assigned to the case and, most interestingly, the three wives as one omnipresent being.  Picasso is an original and interesting character and her voice was definitely my favorite.  Well-written with a few good twists thrown in, I enjoyed this novel and will look for further books by this author.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


James Madison by Lynne Cheney (received through NetGalley)
3 stars
 


This is the first biography of James Madison that I have read so I have no way of knowing if Lynne Cheney has added anything new to the field.  She did do a tremendous amount of research and her knowledge of politics in early America is demonstrated in this book.  I may be alone in this, but I really had a hard time getting through this at times.  It felt very dry in a way that I can’t quite put my finger on, but there were times that I really had to talk myself into finishing.  Overall though, I did learn a lot about James Madison’s role in the formation of government and his relationship with other luminaries of the time so ultimately I am glad that I stuck with this presidential biography.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

 

 

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