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Showing posts from January, 2017

Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?

This book is written by world-renowned biologist and primatologist Frans de Waal. He gives us insight into the minds of animals; minds that are far more intricate and complex than we originally thought. There are lots of interesting tidbits in here based on research involving crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, whales, octopi, and chimpanzees and bonobos which are our closest relatives. Some people assume that animals are inferior to us because they can't do what we're capable of doing, but what these people don't understand is that animals know what they have to know in order to survive and that every species is smart in their own way. I really enjoyed learning more about the way animal minds work - very interesting. 4/5.

Dark Matter

It's family night at the Dessen household, but at the insistence of his wife Jason Dessen leaves to go to a local bar for a drink where his friend is celebrating. On his way back Jason is threatened by a masked abductor and forced to drive to a remote location where he is then knocked unconscious. He wakes up to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits - strangers that know him and are extremely happy to see him. Jason begins to understand that this life he has woken up to is not the one he's been living in for the last fifteen years. His wife is not his wife, his son was never born, and Jason himself is not the ordinary college physics professor he used to be. Instead he is an incredible genius who has achieved something unbelievable. But he wants his old life back and he'll do whatever it takes to go back to that. I can probably count on one hand how many sci-fi books I've read. This one sounded too good to not check out. And I'm

Her Every Fear

Kate Priddy was almost killed by an ex-boyfriend. Now she has bouts of anxiety that could lead up to panic attacks. When a distant cousin from Boston, Corbin Dell, suggests they swap apartments for six months Kate agrees in the hopes that time away will do more good than harm for her. But after arriving to her new apartment on Beacon Hill, Kate learns that the young woman next door has been murdered. When the police question Kate about Corbin, she has few answers since she doesn't personally know him but has many questions of her own. After meeting another tenant in the building named Alan and a tearful friend of the victim outside the building named Jack, her curiosity is piqued. Did Corbin do it? She emails Corbin, who insists he did not murder his neighbour; he barely knew her. But after coming across objects that link him to the victim, she wonders if Corbin is in fact a liar and murderer.  A compulsive, easy-to-read, well-written, suspenseful book. Not a whole lot happens, i

The Wicked City

It's the late 1990's and Ella Hawthorne has just discovered her husband cheating on her and impulsively moves out of their home and into a tiny apartment in an old Greenwich Village building. After going down to do her laundry in the basement early one morning, her good-looking neighbour Hector advises her to stay out of the basement at night. The space next to the laundry room used to be a speakeasy in the '20's and laughter, clinking glasses, and jazz music can still be heard to this day. It's the 1920's and Gin Kelly, a saucy redhead, has moved from the hills of western Maryland to the Big Apple where she gets caught up in a raid at a speakeasy known as the Christopher Club. She also gets caught up in a love triangle between a rugged, strait-laced Prohibition enforcement agent and a Princeton boy from a well-known, well-to-do family. Prohibition enforcement agent Oliver Anson persuades Gin to help catch her stepfather Duke Kelly, one of Appalachia’s major alc

The 12 Dares of Christmas

Lauren Hall's only wish for Christmas this year is to raise money to build a new, no-kill animal shelter in Sycamore Cove. She will do anything to turn her wish into reality, even if it means daring a man she just met to pop out of a cake and jiggle his junk for the local knitting society. Gabe Nicholson's wish is to get the job of a lifetime working for the Governor. Except his wish may not come true after being dared by his best friend's little sister to preform a striptease. While playing their game of "I Dare You" and trying to hide their hot new romance Lauren's fundraising efforts don't seem to be going so well and Gabe's decent job opportunities are disappearing before his eyes. But maybe Santa can pull off a Christmas miracle for these two this season. I thought the first half of the book was cute and well-written. Then it became a bit repetitious between Lauren and Gabe. And towards the end with Lauren's brother - I hated it! I get t

A Year of Marvellous Ways

Marvellous Ways is in her ninetieth year. For nearly all her life she has lived alone in a remote Cornish creek. She's been spending her days sitting by the river with her telescope, waiting for something but not yet sure what that something could be. Drake is a young soldier who has survived the Second World War. He has promised to fulfil a dying man's last wish to deliver a letter to his father. When that doesn't go exactly as planned, he finds himself at Marvellous Ways' creek where the two form an unbreakable bond. Because of the way it's written it took me a while to get into. But Marvellous is such an interesting woman with so many stories to tell. I loved the peaceful setting of the creek - the flowers and the creatures that lived there. I also loved how simple things seemed magical, like the sea or how memories go into making bread. Like her previous novel "When God Was a Rabbit" I don't find it a memorable book but I enjoyed it as I was readin

The Devil Crept In

Jude Brighton is a tough and fearless twelve-year-old boy who goes missing from his small town of Deer Valley, Oregon. Seen as a trouble-maker, the residents believe Jude simply ran away. Stevie Clark is Jude's best friend, younger cousin and neighbour and he is determined to find out what happened to him. He begins investigating things himself. But no one really listens to Stevie or takes him seriously. Even when he unravels the mystery of Deer Valley's missing pets and even the other young boy who disappeared years ago but was later found dead; even when he uncovers a terrible secret that has been kept hidden for years. This is told in three parts. I did not like the second part or that storyline. The only reason this book got three stars from me was because of the epilogue. I really, really liked that epilogue! I also liked the setting - a quiet town with a big, spooky house way in the woods. And poor Stevie, how could someone not like Stevie? 3/5.

I Liked My Life

Maddy's husband, Brady, and their teenage daughter, Eve, are struggling with one nagging question since learning she committed suicide - why did she do it? Maddy seemed to have a great life. Her husband is successful, her teenage daughter is perfect. Maddy herself was thoughtful and good at giving advice. She believed in forgiveness and being nice to everyone. Brady is learning how he could've done things differently as is Eve, but it still doesn't make sense for Maddy to do something this drastic without any signs that something was wrong. However, Maddy hasn't completely left Brady and Eve. She is watching from beyond, trying to steer them in the right direction that will allow them to heal from the past and start anew. This is a beautifully written book. Each chapter has all three points-of-view: Maddy's, Brady's and Eve's. These characters are strong and real. They each have their own unique voice and opinions and I loved reading about each one. The whol

Little Duck Lost

A friend gave this book to me. It combines two of my favourite things - reading and ducks! On these pages are beautiful illustrations and embossing which only add charm to a cute little story of a duckling who gets lost and hatches alone after his egg rolls away from his family. He comes across many animals who lead him in the right direction, except for the mean old rooster. Soon enough the duckling finds his brothers and sisters and his mommy! Be sure to be kind to people and animals especially to those who need help! 4/5.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Christmas

I love these Chicken Soup for the Soul books. There are 101 stories about traditions, decorating, miracles, memories, giving and family that will make you laugh, cry, find inspiration, be grateful for what you have, and add to that cozy feeling the holiday season seems to bring with it. It's nice to read about the good things in the world - people helping people whether they're family, neighbours, strangers. My absolute favourite story was My Crazy Dad - I felt so bad for the father because his teenage daughter thought he was "losing his mind" but what he did was so cute. I also loved A Gift From the Heart, and The Mean Old Man Next Door. Thank you to Mom for a great Christmas present!   5/5.