Book Lovers Come On In

 2.5 Stars. I really liked this book.  At the beginning and in the middle.  Although it gave me angst because Jake was bullied so much by school mates and a teacher, and a policeman, I liked it and the characters.   Jake's parents were alcoholics, so he is on his own A Lot.  When he finds a scabby dog, he takes him home, but his father insists he pay for the food and care of the dog.  So, Jake gets a job.   And, he begins going every day to have a cup of coffee with an old man living in a a bus.  Enter town gossip, who tells the police that terrible things are going on. A court case ensues and that's when I didn't like the YA book.  I thought it was quite graphic in one section for young teens to read.  It totally turned me against the book. Hence, the low marks, even tho many people think it is a great book for YA.  NOT ME!  I would not have wanted my boys to read it.  

  If anybody wants to read a feel-good book, this is it!   Theo, a very distinguished gentleman in his eighties. moves from New York to spend time in a small southern town.  Everyone wonders about the one-named man who soon begins to make a difference in people's lives.   He begins by buying portraits that a local artist painted and put up on the coffee-shop walls.  Theo buys the portraits, then gives them to the person who was painted.  Some people are grateful, some are suspicious, but mostly everyone just wonders WHY has he come?  And, WHY has he come to this little town? The answers to those questions eventually come out and it's a surprise ending, for sure.  It's definitely a feel good book. I give it 3.5 stars.  

 Normally, I enjoy the books that Bonnie Rawson recommends to me.   NOT THIS ONE.  I can't tell her that.   It was dual dialogue; one chapter by the male hero; one chapter by Juniper Bean.  I liked her sides of the story, but his was too syrupy, sappy.  It gagged me with all his love-sickness. I did not like how it ended - the murderer seemed so unlikely and out of character.  And, the reasons didn't make any sense.   Juniper Bean grew up poor and was tutored in high school by Aidan, who she meets after coming back to town.  They end up being roommates (can you already see where this is headed?) and they discover a dead body one night after prom.  It goes downhill from there. Won't be recommending this book to anyone, or even admitted I read it..just stupid.

  Mehhhh  - Didn't finish.  But, I can't believe I read as far as I did.  Rather bland story and writing. I've read other books by Krueger, but I don't remember if they were as uninteresting as this one was for me.  It's the story of a sheriff - now private detective - who hears easier had sent away a man for murder.  Now, 25 years later, his son tells him he go the wrong person.   I quit about 85% of the way through and googled who did the murder.  Just as I suspected.  I do not recommend this book to anyone.

 Another great read by John Grisham...it's a good one. Eleanor is an 85 year old widow who goes to see Simon about drafting a will.  She tells him about all her millions in Stocks.  Simon is a bored small-town lawyer who gets greedy at the thought of all that money belonging to Eleanor, who has no relatives.  Except two step-sons who factor in minimally. When Eleanor ends up in the hospital after a car crash, her death is suspicious.  Simon is put on trial and found guilty...greedy lawyer murders old lady for money.   The ending is fun and unexpected.  I give it 3.5 stars.  Not my favorite Grisham, but not the worst either. 

  Based on an actual person who saved the lives of countless young Chinese girls who had been bought and sold to slimy owners in San Francisco.  She saved them from slavery and the sex trade.  She put her life on the line when she would go on raids to get them out of harrowing situations.   I was glad I read the YA version because it was sufficient.  I cannot imagine how wordy the original book would have been because this was lengthy enough.  It was plenty long to get the message out.   I give the book three and half stars.  It's just a linear story and I was interested in knowing this part of American/Chinese history.