Search
Search results
Purrsistently (46 KP) rated The Life of Pi in Books
Jun 24, 2018
Ew.
It wasn’t the worst thing ever but definitely should have a content warning for graphic dismemberment of people and animals. I was not prepared for that at all and still would have read it but wouldn’t have been so broadsided.
I really didn’t enjoy this at all. I wouldn’t quite say “Don’t read this” but wouldn’t recommend it either. I didn’t find the thoughtful parts to be anything particularly profound, but I expected and would have enjoyed more of those and less extensive descriptions of feces.
I’ve never been one for this kind of story in general unless it featured really great characters. Life of Pi is no The Martian.
If you’re merely curious about it, I would recommend watching the movie instead because it will waste 10 less hours of your time if detailed defecation scenes aren’t your cup of tea.
I really didn’t enjoy this at all. I wouldn’t quite say “Don’t read this” but wouldn’t recommend it either. I didn’t find the thoughtful parts to be anything particularly profound, but I expected and would have enjoyed more of those and less extensive descriptions of feces.
I’ve never been one for this kind of story in general unless it featured really great characters. Life of Pi is no The Martian.
If you’re merely curious about it, I would recommend watching the movie instead because it will waste 10 less hours of your time if detailed defecation scenes aren’t your cup of tea.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated “K” is for Killer in Books
Jun 26, 2018
Kinsey Faces a Daunting Case
PI Kinsey Millhone’s latest case is a cold one. Lorna Kepler has been dead for 10 months, and when she died she had been dead for two weeks before she was found, so the police couldn’t even determine the cause of death. As Kinsey begins to investigate, she realizes that Lorna had a completely secret life, and the investigation causes Kinsey to become a night owl like Lorna was. Will following her footsteps lead to her killer?
This is another great mystery. The cold case quality leads to some interesting complications to the investigation. Lorna’s life included some things that don’t normally pop up in my cozies, but we didn’t get gratuitous detail, which I appreciated. The ending was a bit rushed, but that’s a minor complaint. We don’t see much of the other series characters, but Kinsey is fantastic as always, and the book is populated with real people that draw us into the story.
This is another great mystery. The cold case quality leads to some interesting complications to the investigation. Lorna’s life included some things that don’t normally pop up in my cozies, but we didn’t get gratuitous detail, which I appreciated. The ending was a bit rushed, but that’s a minor complaint. We don’t see much of the other series characters, but Kinsey is fantastic as always, and the book is populated with real people that draw us into the story.
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Life of Pi in Books
Jul 10, 2018
The "Life of Pi" was a slow but semi interesting read. I went into this book knowing that it was about a boy stuck on a raft with a tiger. That was definitely the interesting part of the book. I found myself wanting this book to just end, or get to the "good" part.
The main take away from the book is that you need something to believe in when you face an "impossible" situation. I found Pi's struggle with religion insightful and his practicing of three religions a little different.
This was definitely not my typical read. I am one of those readers who likes fast reads. I want to finish a book in two days because I can't put it down, not because I want the book to end.
All in all, it was an okay book. It kept me semi entertained but it wasn't the "life changing" book that I was told about.
The main take away from the book is that you need something to believe in when you face an "impossible" situation. I found Pi's struggle with religion insightful and his practicing of three religions a little different.
This was definitely not my typical read. I am one of those readers who likes fast reads. I want to finish a book in two days because I can't put it down, not because I want the book to end.
All in all, it was an okay book. It kept me semi entertained but it wasn't the "life changing" book that I was told about.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Emerald Blaze in Books
Jan 7, 2021
4.5 stars.
I do really enjoy this series.
This one starts with Catalina and her team trying to coax a "helper" monkey down off a lamppost while fellow PI firm, MII, do the same - both working for separate clients who claim to own the monkey. After sorting that little issue out they sense an unusual force coming from the water and are attacked by a horde of strange creatures. Afterwards she is summoned to her boss' house where she learns of a new job. A man has been found dead in what's known as the Pit and his father wants his murderer found and killed. Catalina has to figure out who did it and Alessandro - her teenage crush and the man who broke her heart when he left six months ago - is there to do the killing.
A lot more than just the above happened but it would be a spoiler to share that with others so I'll let you figure out the fun that is this book.
I really love House Baylor. They are all really protective of each other and have some of the handiest powers going for a PI firm: precision shooting, ability to sniff out lies, the ability to build armoured cars. I feel they've grown a lot over the last four books and in this one, they really are top of their game.
The romance between Catalina and Alessandro was definitely on a slow burn in this. We knew they cared about each other after the previous book but when he left, he really hurt her. It was like the pink elephant in the room. They didn't really acknowledge it but it was there, floating around, knocking into them occasionally to make them remember. It took a while but they did - eventually - talk to each other about it and finally resolved the issues they'd put between them
'm assuming that this isn't the last we'll see of these two since one arc of the storyline did not get resolved fully and the next book they'll be fighting the threat side by side to the death. I can't wait!
I do really enjoy this series.
This one starts with Catalina and her team trying to coax a "helper" monkey down off a lamppost while fellow PI firm, MII, do the same - both working for separate clients who claim to own the monkey. After sorting that little issue out they sense an unusual force coming from the water and are attacked by a horde of strange creatures. Afterwards she is summoned to her boss' house where she learns of a new job. A man has been found dead in what's known as the Pit and his father wants his murderer found and killed. Catalina has to figure out who did it and Alessandro - her teenage crush and the man who broke her heart when he left six months ago - is there to do the killing.
A lot more than just the above happened but it would be a spoiler to share that with others so I'll let you figure out the fun that is this book.
I really love House Baylor. They are all really protective of each other and have some of the handiest powers going for a PI firm: precision shooting, ability to sniff out lies, the ability to build armoured cars. I feel they've grown a lot over the last four books and in this one, they really are top of their game.
The romance between Catalina and Alessandro was definitely on a slow burn in this. We knew they cared about each other after the previous book but when he left, he really hurt her. It was like the pink elephant in the room. They didn't really acknowledge it but it was there, floating around, knocking into them occasionally to make them remember. It took a while but they did - eventually - talk to each other about it and finally resolved the issues they'd put between them
'm assuming that this isn't the last we'll see of these two since one arc of the storyline did not get resolved fully and the next book they'll be fighting the threat side by side to the death. I can't wait!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated Indigo Slam (Elvis Cole, #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Elvis Cole is hired by three children to find their father. He left them to search for work two weeks ago, which is the longest they’ve ever been gone. When the trail leads him to Seattle and evidence that the family was in witness protection at some point, Elvis realizes things are much more complicated than they first appeared. Has he stirred up old danger for the family?
The book starts strong and never really lags as it works its way toward an exciting climax. I was certainly hooked the entire time. While I still feel that Cole and his PI partner Pike are closer to caricatures rather than full characters, the rest of the characters pulled me fully into the book. My only real complaint was the lack of follow up on one thing from the previous book which could have really fueled some character growth for Elvis.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-indigo-slam-by-robert-crais.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The book starts strong and never really lags as it works its way toward an exciting climax. I was certainly hooked the entire time. While I still feel that Cole and his PI partner Pike are closer to caricatures rather than full characters, the rest of the characters pulled me fully into the book. My only real complaint was the lack of follow up on one thing from the previous book which could have really fueled some character growth for Elvis.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/01/book-review-indigo-slam-by-robert-crais.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated I is for Innocent (Kinsey Millhone #9) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Five years ago, Isabelle Barney was murdered on the day after Christmas. While her estranged husband was acquitted of the crime, her ex-husband is now suing him in civil court in a wrongful death case. Kinsey has been hired to help the lawyer win the case, taking over from a PI who just died. His notes were a mess, so she is completely retracing his steps. But as she goes, she begins to wonder just who committed the murder. Is she helping the court case, or hurting it?
Kinsey is back in top form in this book. The plot twists all over the place before coming to a perfectly logical climax. Henry and Rosie are involved in a very fun sub-plot that provides some laughs. The suspects are strong, and we meet a couple of new supporting characters since Kinsey has had to move her office.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-i-is-for-innocent-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Kinsey is back in top form in this book. The plot twists all over the place before coming to a perfectly logical climax. Henry and Rosie are involved in a very fun sub-plot that provides some laughs. The suspects are strong, and we meet a couple of new supporting characters since Kinsey has had to move her office.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-i-is-for-innocent-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated G is for Gumshoe (Kinsey Millhone #7) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
At the beginning of May, PI Kinsey Millhone is hired by a woman named Irene to track down her mother. The two usually talk one a month, but it’s been several months since they last talked. Before Kinsey can head out to the Salton Sea area, she gets words that a dangerous criminal is vowing revenge on the people who put him away, and one of those people is Kinsey. She does take the threat seriously. Should she? Will it complicate her search for the missing woman?
I was hoping with two parallel plots that they would build off each other. That doesn’t happen quite as well as I would have liked. In fact, the book begins to drag in the middle, although it certainly picks up near the end. We get to know another supporting character pretty well here, which in turn lets us get to know Kinsey better, which I love.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-g-is-for-gumshoe-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I was hoping with two parallel plots that they would build off each other. That doesn’t happen quite as well as I would have liked. In fact, the book begins to drag in the middle, although it certainly picks up near the end. We get to know another supporting character pretty well here, which in turn lets us get to know Kinsey better, which I love.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-g-is-for-gumshoe-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated Kinsey and Me: Stories in Books
Jul 9, 2023
Short Stories and Essays
This book breaks down into two unequal sections. The first roughly 70% is made up of nine short stories featuring Kinsey Millhone, PI in Santa Teresa. She solves a murder with a disappearing body and a case of a man who fell off his roof. She also gets involved when an actor gets kidnapped.
The back section featuring thirteen vignettes as author Sue Grafton reflects on her life growing up with a functioning alcoholic father and a destructive alcoholic mother. While she admits they are autobiographical, she frames them around a character named Kit.
Fans of Kinsey will delight in these nine stories, all previous published, but decades ago so hard to track down outside this collection now. Personally, I found the back section depressing, but I suspect these stories were theopoetic for Ms. Grafton to write, and I can see others benefiting from them, too.
Overall, fans of the series will enjoy the collection. If you are new to the series, you can jump in here, too, and meet Kinsey without ruining any of fun of the novels.
The back section featuring thirteen vignettes as author Sue Grafton reflects on her life growing up with a functioning alcoholic father and a destructive alcoholic mother. While she admits they are autobiographical, she frames them around a character named Kit.
Fans of Kinsey will delight in these nine stories, all previous published, but decades ago so hard to track down outside this collection now. Personally, I found the back section depressing, but I suspect these stories were theopoetic for Ms. Grafton to write, and I can see others benefiting from them, too.
Overall, fans of the series will enjoy the collection. If you are new to the series, you can jump in here, too, and meet Kinsey without ruining any of fun of the novels.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated The Wrong Side of Goodbye (Harry Bosch #19) in Books
Jul 13, 2024
Trying to Juggle Two Cases
Now retired from the LAPD, Harry Bosch is working as an axillary officer from the San Fernando Police Department, helping the small force clear back cases. That’s how he gets involved with a case of man who is serially attack women. Meanwhile, he’s hired as a PI to track down a billionaire’s potential heir. Can he solve both cases?
These cases were both intrigued, and I appreciated how the stakes kept being raised, explaining why Bosch would focus on one case at any given moment. While both stories resolved logically, I did feel like one got short changed, leaving me not completely satisfied with how that was wrapped up. Even retired, Bosch is still Bosch, mostly for better, although a couple of subplots are predictable at this point. We do get an update on his daughter, and Mickey Haller also shows up. The new characters are well drawn and help pull us in. Overall, this is a book that Bosch’s many fans will enjoy.
These cases were both intrigued, and I appreciated how the stakes kept being raised, explaining why Bosch would focus on one case at any given moment. While both stories resolved logically, I did feel like one got short changed, leaving me not completely satisfied with how that was wrapped up. Even retired, Bosch is still Bosch, mostly for better, although a couple of subplots are predictable at this point. We do get an update on his daughter, and Mickey Haller also shows up. The new characters are well drawn and help pull us in. Overall, this is a book that Bosch’s many fans will enjoy.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated Oliver Twisted (Ivy Meadows #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Ivy and her PI uncle Bob are working on a case together as they go undercover on the Get Lit! ship the S.S. David Copperfield. They are trying to track down the people behind a rash of petty theft that have been plaguing the literature themed cruise company. As part of her cover, Ivy is working in Oliver! At Sea!, the ships current play. However, the ship has barely left when Ivy finds her roommate stuffed into their closet. Have the thieves escalated to murder?
This is another delightful romp with Ivy. There are some fun distractions and twists before she begins to put the pieces of the case together, and the way everything comes together at the end is masterful. Ivy’s cast mates are also the suspects, and we get to know them very well, yet the regular characters we’ve met in Phoenix still get to pop in, mostly via a sub-plot Ivy is trying to help with over phone calls. Throw in some delightful humor and you have another winner.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-oliver-twisted-by-cindy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is another delightful romp with Ivy. There are some fun distractions and twists before she begins to put the pieces of the case together, and the way everything comes together at the end is masterful. Ivy’s cast mates are also the suspects, and we get to know them very well, yet the regular characters we’ve met in Phoenix still get to pop in, mostly via a sub-plot Ivy is trying to help with over phone calls. Throw in some delightful humor and you have another winner.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/02/book-review-oliver-twisted-by-cindy.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.