Fiction

Background

“Britt Marie Was Here” is a spin off of My Grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry. In this book, Britt-Marie has left her husband and found a job in an economically depressed town. There she meets some unexpected friends and learns a lot about herself.

My Thoughts

I really didn’t have a good attitude going into this book. Britt-Marie was my least favorite character in his earlier novel. Yet, it was so good… So I read this one. Despite the slow start, it got better and soon I wasn’t having to force my way forward. By the end, it earned a solid ok. There just wasn’t many people in the book I can empathize with. Everyone is not particularly likeable in there own way which, though realistic, isn’t that fun to read about.

Recommendation

Not a bad book but I would pass on this one.

Background

This is the story of Beartown and hockey. It is also the story of one city against other. It is also the story of prejudice and crime. But it is mostly about hockey.

My Thoughts

This is such a base story. It takes you through the basest of people and brings them to some sort of redemption. There isn’t much hope. There isn’t much growth. Though it was well written, I really didn’t like it.

Recommendation

Skip this one.

Background

Eleanor Oliphant is a woman who has a hard time in just about all situations. However, she has never missed a day of work and keeps her desk and her life spotless. Eleanor did not have a “normal” family life and it is greatly impacting her.

My Thoughts

I nearly put this book down a number of times. It was hard to read as Eleanor is so damaged. It is hard to hear the darkness in people. It puts me in a bad mood…

However, I’m glad I worked through it. There is still hope in the world.

Recommendation

I’m on the fence with this one. I don’t know I would recommend it.

Background

This is the story through the eyes of Elsa. Elsa loves her grandmother and “granny” loves her. Granny gives Elsa a quest which teaches her about all the people around her including her own family.

My Thoughts

This book started slow and got better and better. You can’t come away and not think granny was awesome. Nuts, but awesome.

Recommendation

I great read. I reserved everything Mr. Backman wrote after reading it.

Background

Origin is Dan Brown’s latest novel. Published in 2017, Mr. Brown takes on the subject of the singularity and artificial intelligence. Again Robert Langton finds himself embroiled in politics on the world stage. This time, he finds himself on the run with Spanish royalty while both the far right and the police are trying to stop him.

My Thoughts

Dan Brown writes a good novel. He brings you into the characters and walks you easily along side of them. The subject matter on this book was pretty good. The singularity is getting closer and closer to all of us. I enjoyed his optimistic view of the future.

Recommendation

A great read

Background

The third and final of the Mary Poppins’s’s’s. This time, Mary pops in with and through the fireworks. She puts the house back in order in her own particular way.

My Thoughts

It is still hard to rationalize and understand a snippy vain Mary Poppins. However, she certainly is that and more. I think these books are getting lost in time. Our modern world is getting further and further away from what was proper at the time these were written. Travers has a great imagination and they were an easy read. However, some of the situations and character interactions were discordant with more contemporary sensibilities.

Recommendations

Not the most enjoyable read but at least you can tell your friends you read it.

Background

This is the sequel to Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers. Mary Poppins pops back into the lives of the Banks children as quickly as she left the first time. However, this time she comes down the string that Michael Banks sent up on a kite.

My Thoughts

I was not happy with the “Mary Poppins Returns” that came out recently as a sequel to the first. (With the exception of the cameo by Dick Van Dyke.) Anyway, I was surprised how many things that happened in the movie actually happened in these books. Going into the pottery, the floating laughing uncle and so on. Mary Poppins is a conceded vain know it all who gaslights others when they see something was amiss. I didn’t really get that feel from the Disney films.

Recommendation

It was a good easy read. I appreciated the chance to learn more about the Pre-Disney Mary Poppins.