The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

 I had heard of this book, so when I saw it at Deseret Industries, I picked it up for a dollar. A good mystery, it seemed. And it was, but I had no idea it was going to be so violent and so full of sadism. Yuck. Which is too bad, because the whole first third of the book gave no indication it was going to go that direction.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, and I'm sorry I'll never be rid of the violent images. On the other hand, it was an exciting mystery to uncover and follow; very cerebral, with very interesting and likable characters.

One of the main characters, Lisbeth Salander, has Asberger's Syndrome, and reading and understanding her traits were enlightening. A brilliant mind with few social skills...

It's set in Sweden, and a lot of the Swedish culture comes through, most particularly their casual attitude about casual sex. Marriage didn't mean fidelity and it wasn't expected in the main characters. That was interesting...Okay, that's about all I can say about this one. Not going down this road again. 

An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan

 This little paperback had beautiful art on the cover which made it stand out from others on the shelf at Deserest Industries. I was looking for something lightweight to take on the flight to Rapid City for our Christmas/50th Wedding anniversary celebration, and this one fit the bill. Plus, it was only $1.00!

When I bought it. I thought it was the Pride and Prejudice story, told from Darcy's point of view, which it is, but what I didn't realize is that this is the first in a trilogy of novels and only begins the story. Still, it is VERY well-writtten and very witty and amazingly reminiscent of Jane Austen, which is very unlike most of the P & P fanfiction.

It was the perfect story to rest back into at night in Rapid City, after a full day, to cozy into Melissa's huge bed, and lose myself. It wasn't exciting enough to lure me away from Leonard or Ann or Melissa, but welcoming enough to be a good and enjoyable sedative to lay me down to sleep.

My only beef is that it feels like the author draws out the story almost unendingly with many detours and new characters which are interesting, but the story progresses at a snail's pace! Really, let's get on with the connection between Darcy and Elizabeth! I haven't decided whether orr not to seek out the remaining two novels in this triology because I 'm not sure I have the patience! Still, it's fun to see someone do something so clever wtih dialogue and imagination to fill out the Darcy character. It also adds context to some of Austen's world with color and social amenities. So maybe I will... Amazon makes it so easy!

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

 This author's reviews were good, and she has lots of historical fiction, so I decided to see if she were in the library. She was, so I went with her Irish history story. It was an enjoyable read, but not a compelling read. I learned a sketchy amount of Irish rebellion history, and enjoyed some interesting characters, but will probably not seek this author out again. There is also an interesting time travel twist, where the heroine goes back in time and eventually gets to stay there with her own true love.

It was a bit confusing because Anne is the heroine, the granddaughter, and goes back in time (via boat accident) to become her grandfather's mother and help raise him. I finally got the characters all straight, but had to keep reminding myself who was who! It was well done, the writing and characters interesting, but bascially pretty one-diminsional. A fascinating idea and the quoting of lots of Yeats' poetry was a nice addition. 

I think I need character development to find a story compelling. And I need a love story, if a part of the story, to be real and not sweet and devoted in every detail and instance. Love is complicated and sometimes troubling; here it was seamless and endless. A nice idea but not as interesting to me.

Bottom line? I need more substance!

The Women by Kristin Hannah

 This book has been getting lots of attention and rave reviews, and it's about a period of time that I lived through, so I thought it would be worth a read. I "borrowed" the audio book from Libby, my library app, and enjoyed it immensely. 

It was approximately twelve hours long, and I got to listen to it on our way home from Rapid City for Christmas, on the plane, and on the drive home from Vegas, and most of today. It was fun doing an intensive immersion in that time and place.

The Viet Nam war was a tough one, and I think I knew there were nurses there, but apparently most people didn't realize they were. This sweeping novel covers the time from the late sixties, at the beginning of the war, through 1982 when the Viet Nam Memorial was dedicated. The author frequently gives dates and places that are historically accurate, and I found myself connecting with those dates and remembering where I was, and what I was doing. I was fairly unaware of the progress of the war...I was still in high school when it began, and it lasted all through my college years and into my time in West Berlin. I was an anti-war protester, but woefully ill-informed. I learned a lot from listening to this story.

The cultural references were right up my alley--lots of music was cited, some movies, some cars, and lots of fashion in clothes and hairstyles were described, and it was fun to re-live those memories. There was also the backdrop of other important cultural changes happening during this period--the civil rights strugggles and the women's movement. All of these contributed to the story and added to the richness of the time. 

The story kept my interest as nurse Frankie struggled as a novice nurse, as she returned home, and as she struggled with addiction and recovery. It was cool the way the people she met along the way often reappeared later in her story. It was well done. 

There were so many aspects of the war that I had forgotten. For example, the MIA's and the POWs, and their return... Walter Cronkite, and the gradual disillusionment of Americans with their government. It was like going back to that time. 

I think the author did a good job of describing the pain and heartbreak and horror of flashbacks. There were also horrible descriptions of the war and the wounded...which gave me a whole new understanding of the trauma of warr. She also described well the camaradie that can develop in such settings, and it helped me recall the times when I felt those feelings... 

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

 I have enjoyed this author, so I thought I'd try another one of his. It was in the library, so I took it home and savored it. It has been awhile since I got so engrossed in a story that I shut down all systems to read through to the end. This one did it for me.

I really liked the characters and the way their stories unfolded, one by one. I loved the small town interactions, the way the sheriff handled the jail, the way everyone knew everyone, yet there were still a lot of surprises. I especially liked how the main character finally grew out of his affair with his sister in law, though it took too long!

The racial prejudice of this small town reminded me of South Dakota life in many ways. Lots of good people, and a few who can't get over their narrow thinking. 

I like the way the farming and country life is described and it felt true to me. The last part of the book got darker as the story of how the central murder happened...The despicable victim's life was difficult to contemplate and read about. Up until the ending, though, there were a lot of sympathetic and interesting characters. I enjoyed it... A Lot. 

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

 I think I heard about this series from an online recommendation and it sounded like the first in a fun series of witty mysteries. I love the British settings, so it seemed a good bet.

It is a cute, pretty clean central character who is 34th in line to the throne. She's penniless and creative in trying to survive. It's witty and at times a little frustrating, so I'll probably let this one go. Still, it was a light, fun romp that had some killer one-liners. Maybe I should send it to Jann, since Lady Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie's ancestral home is in Scotland...with plaid wall paper in the loos which makes everyone sick! Like I said, cute but not a keeper. 

Flying Lessons and Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh - 5 hours

 This audio book from Libby was a joy! I enjoyed every story, although the Chocktow one was my least favorite. I liked how every author seemed to get inside the head of middle school aged kids and share their thinking with us. There was a boy who played wheelchair basketball, a girl who struggled to find the perfect secret Santa gift for her black friend, the only black student in the whole town. Life in the barrio and in the ghetto was well-shared. How do these kids carry on, I wondered? These authors did a great job of eliciting our sympathy... Probably my favorite story was the one of a Hispanic girl who helped her father paint the gym in a private school in exchange for her tuition. Another great one was a kid who struggled to play in a city basketball league when all the adults and bigger kids wanted to shut him out. Such good, descriptive writing!!!