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#1. FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT by Elle Cosimano // ★★★☆☆
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This book is about a writer who is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel. She is mistaken for a contract killer and the shenanigans begin! A fast, easy, entertaining read to start the new year. My only critique is that I didn’t really like the romance parts, but that’s just personal preference. Guess I’m not a fan of the “suspense romance” genre. 3.5 stars. (And thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!)
#2. MRS. POLLIFAX AND THE HONG KONG BUDDHA by Dorothy Gilman // ★★★★☆
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Number seven in the series! I liked how characters from previous books made a return appearance. This book was centered around a terrorist attack and it was interesting to hear perennial thoughts on evil from a book written in 1985. Like this quote:
“But terrorists–” He shook his head. “They’re the parasites of the century. They want to make a statement, they simply toss a bomb or round up innocent people to hold hostage, or kill without compunction, remorse or compassion. If they need money, they simply rob a bank. I have to admit not only my contempt for them,” he added, “but my fear, too, because their only passion is to mock and destroy, and that really is frightening.” (p.127)
#3. WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE: A BIOGRAPHY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN by Stephen B. Oates // ★★★★☆
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This biography was a highly readable, honest look at Abraham Lincoln: a melancholic, inexperienced man trying to do his best. Reading about this testy time in American history also made it evident that politics is always the same – so many opinions from a bunch of hotheads!
In 1864, in a biographical assessment published in two Boston journals, [Harriet Beecher Stowe] extolled Lincoln as a man of peculiar strengths, not a strong, aggressive individual so much as a passive one with the durability of an iron cable, swaying back and forth in the tempest of politics, yet tenacious in carrying his “great end.” “Surrounded by all sorts of conflicting claims, by traitors, by half-hearted, timid men, by Border States men, and Free States men, by radical Abolitionists and Conservatives, he has listened to all, weighed the words of all, waited, observed, yielded now here and now there, but in the main kept one inflexible, honest purpose, and drawn the national ship through.” (p.389)
#4. BLUE SHOES AND HAPPINESS by Alexander McCall Smith // ★★★☆☆
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Number seven in the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series! I haven’t read a book in this series since September 2021 so it was nice to return to Botswana and Mma Ramotswe. This was a meandering story with no strong plot line, typical of Alexander McCall Smith’s writing. Cozy, but probably forgettable.
#5. SECRET SOLDIERS by Keely Hutton // ★★★★☆
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A young adult novel recommended to me by my son. This was fascinating historical fiction about tunnel warfare during WWI. I’m interested to learn more about this aspect of war. I loved the brotherhood theme throughout this book too.
“Bats said after shifts last summer he’d come out here and sit among the poppies to remember that even in the middle of all this fighting and death, beauty still exists and life continues.” (p.144)
#6. NO FEAR SHAKESPEARE: HAMLET by William Shakespeare // ★★★☆☆
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I took this “No Fear Shakespeare” version of Hamlet off of our school shelves and it proved helpful. I also read the play alongside the 1948 rendition starring Laurence Olivier. I still don’t know if I completely got it, but I did identify it as a tale of failed revenge as Hamlet has an existential crisis of who he is and what he needs to do. Definitely would like to revisit it with a professional on Shakespeare someday. (Ellen says Dr. Henry Russell is excellent!)
#7. KENNEDY’S AVENGER: ASSASSINATION, CONSPIRACY, AND THE FORGOTTEN TRIAL OF JACK RUBY by Dan Abrams // ★★★☆☆
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This book was focused on the JFK assassination and subsequent shenanigans from a new-to-me viewpoint: the court system. I enjoyed reading what amounted to transcripts rewritten in prose. It’s really interesting to think that Ruby’s murder of Lee Harvey Oswald was played on television, giving the world access to this information before the trial. It also highlighted the question of how modern technology impacts the legal system – I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to find truly impartial jurors in the age of social media. 3.5 stars.
MY 2025 UNREAD SHELF PROJECT
Unread Books as of January 1, 2025: 206
Books Finished in January: 7
Books Donated/Sold in January: -0
Books Added: +0
Unread Books Remaining: 202
Current “Read 100 Books Off My Shelves Project” Total: 11/100
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