Sycamore Row, by John Grisham

This book was a long time coming!  After being introduced to the scrabbling new attorney Jake Brigance in 1989’s A Time to Kill, we’re finally getting an update from Mr. Grisham.  And what a highly entertaining update it is!

In Sycamore Row, the year is now 1988, and the cast of characters includes the wealthy white Seth Hubbard, who takes his own life by hanging.  Before that, however, he writes a will, leaving most of his $20 million + fortune to his black housekeeper, Lettie.  Oh, did I forget to mention that he has intentionally excluded his two children?  Knowing that the contents of this will won’t be taken lightly, he enlists the help of Mr. Brigance via a letter left with his suicide note.  In the deep south of Clanton, Mississippi, you can imagine where this one is going.  And, lest you feel I’ve given too much away, this all occurs in the first 20 or so pages. 

Every time I pick up a John Grisham book, it’s abundantly clear to me why he’s so successful.  His books are just *so* readable, with likeable and unlikable characters alike.  (And, yes, I used a form of the word ‘like’ 3 million times in that sentence on purpose, just to make sure you’re still paying attention.)  Most importantly, though, each of those characters has a particular role to play.  Nothing aggravates me more than a bunch of ‘throwaway’ people added in the middle of the book, simply as filler.  Whether you love them or hate them, you’ll find yourself embroiled in the activities of each of the people introduced (or reintroduced) in Sycamore Row.

This is a tough book to review without giving too much away, though.  You already know the meat of the story – it’s the subsequent 425 pages that will fill in all the details.  Suffice it to say that it was an engrossing story, with a stomach-churning ending.  You’ll have to get there for yourself, though.  I’m not giving it away.   

 

 

Doctor Sleep, by Stephen King

From an Amazon.com description - “On highways across America, a tribe of people called the True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, the True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the steam that children with the shining produce when they are slowly tortured to death.”

I’ll be honest – I’m glad I didn’t read that description before I picked up the book.  The whole concept of this troupe of marauding vampire-types just doesn’t scream ‘read me.’  Admittedly, though, I’m probably in the minority on that.

I will also say that I’m very glad I read the book’s predecessor, The Shining, shortly before picking this one up.  It’s not that the cast of characters will have you lost, or asking questions.  But, it’s nice that they were all fresh in my memory (feeble as it may be), and I was eager for an update on their progress. 

Dan (Danny) Torrance is now a middle aged man, struggling to defeat his alcohol-laced demons, when he wanders into a small New Hampshire town and takes up residence.  He soon becomes a responsible employee at a local hospice, where he is given the moniker Doctor Sleep.  I’ll let you interpret that one for yourselves.  Along the course of his journeys, Dan meets young Abra, who also has the shining, and the two embark on a quest to battle the aforementioned True Knot.

One thing I think readers should be aware of before picking this book up – it’s not going to send chills up and down your spine.  You won’t have problems sleeping because you’re afraid of things going bump in the night.  It’s not THAT kind of Stephen King novel.  What it is, is a well-crafted story, with rich, deep characters.  That said, in true King fashion, he gets a bit long-winded somewhere in the middle, and the book could probably benefit by a reduction of about 100 pages.  But, I'll let Mr. King slide on that one.  

I started reading Stephen King several years ago, when books like Insomnia and Cell were released.  I was less than impressed.  A few years ago, he released 11/22/63, and I was blown away.  HERE’S the master storyteller I’ve always heard about.  He followed that up with Joyland, another quick favorite of mine.  I don’t know what middle age is doing to Mr. King, but it’s working.  I have no idea what his next book will be, but you can be sure I’ll be ordering it.  In the meantime, I may need to dig out some more of mom’s old copies of King classics, such as Salem’s Lot, Carrie, and Christine.

4 Stars (Oops…have to get used to my new rating system!)  I give Doctor Sleep…

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Lookie, lookie!!  I have a pretty blog now!!!  Isn't it pretty?? 

I figured if this was something I was going to stick with for a bit, I wanted a nice, eye-pleasing look to go with it!  So, since I have zero knowledge and/or skill in this area, I hired the *very* helpful and talented Lori at Imagination Designs to help me out.  If your blog is in need of some aesthetic assistance, please seek her out - you'll be glad you did!!

A few random book thoughts...

It’s been a few weeks (months?) since I’ve updated the miscellaneous extra books that I’ve finished without reviewing.  Here are just a few of them that I deemed worthy of my little, meaningless spotlight:

-      Unseen by Karin Slaughter – 4 stars (If you’re a fan of crime fiction, you *must* check out Ms. Slaughter’s books.  There have been a few random misses along the way, but for the most part, her books rock!  She definitely ranks somewhere in my list of top 10 favorite authors.)

-      The Hit by David Baldacci – 3 stars (Meh – nothing great here.  If you’ve read one Baldacci, you’ve read ‘em all.)

-      The Perfect Ghost by Linda Barnes – 2.5 stars (Don’t waste your time.  The description on the back flap is more entertaining than the 300+ pages contained within.  *yawn*)

-      The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith – 3.5 stars (I admit that I drank the kool aid on this one.  Once the cat was out of the bag that Mr. Galbraith is actually Ms. J.K. Rowling, I just *had* to have it.  It was a decent read, but certainly nothing earth shattering.  I could take it or leave it.  That said, the kindle edition is only $5.99 today – not sure why.  But, if you’re interested, why are you still here reading this?  Go spend some money…buy buy buy!  Okay, who’s singing the N’Sync song, now?)

-      Mistress/Guilty Wives by James Patterson – 3 stars (I bunched these two separate titles together for a reason.  If you’re a Patterson fan, you’ll know why.  His books all meld together after a bit, and you can’t tell one from the other.  These were your typical page-turning, speed-reading specials from someone who USED to be a favorite.  Go back to writing your own books again, Mr. Patterson, and maybe you’ll re-join the top 10 with Ms. Slaughter up there!)

 

And, since I’ve promised myself that no post shall be shared without a pretty picture to go with...

(The last time I shared some eye candy on here, it was a Channing pic for my friends.  This time, it's all about me, baby.  *sigh*)