• I was challenged by @beyondthosepagess to share my #readingabovetheclouds stack! ☁️ I’ve tagged a few of my bookish friends to share their #cloudstack too! Feel free to share, tag, and join in the fun. #cloudstack #cloudstacktag #readingabovetheclouds #readmorebooks #bookstagram #bookstagramtags #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #booklife #bookworld #readingaddict #literary #bookishlove #bookworms #bookobsessed #reads #humansofbookstagram #unitedbookstagram #bookishfeatures #bookgeek #bookprojects #readingforfun #addictedtobooks #readabook #becauseofreading #whitebooksstack #bookstacks
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    I was challenged by @beyondthosepagess to share my #readingabovetheclouds stack! ☁️ I’ve tagged a few of my bookish friends to share their #cloudstack too! Feel free to share, tag, and join in the fun. #cloudstack #cloudstacktag #readingabovetheclouds #readmorebooks #bookstagram #bookstagramtags #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #booklife #bookworld #readingaddict #literary #bookishlove #bookworms #bookobsessed #reads #humansofbookstagram #unitedbookstagram #bookishfeatures #bookgeek #bookprojects #readingforfun #addictedtobooks #readabook #becauseofreading #whitebooksstack #bookstacks
  • LADY IN THE LAKE by Laura Lippman Laura Lippman has consistently been one of my "go-to" authors for years. With each new title in her ever-growing catalog, she blends touches of mystery and suspense with a plethora of various genres. I was a bit underwhelmed with her last novel, Sunburn, so I was eager to see Lippman redeem herself with her latest. Lady in the Lake is a return to form for the author and the kind of novel that made me a fan of her writing in the first place. ————————————————————— Maddie is a 1960's era housewife who gave up her life in search of something more. Looking to make her mark on the world, she stumbles upon the body of a murdered girl. Maddie quickly parlays this discovery into a job at the Star newspaper and begins to work toward her goal of becoming a columnist. When everyone else dismisses the murder of young Cleo Sherwood, Maddie suspects something more. She follows her intuition to dig into the untimely death. At every turn, Maddie is discouraged from proceeding with her investigation. Someone wants their secrets to be buried with Sherwood and will stop at nothing to prevent them from rising to the surface. ————————————————————— Lady in the Lake is Laura Lippman writing at her best. She mixes an underlying mystery with historical fiction that soars from the pages. Lippman alternates between chapters about Maddie with others written from the perspective of various people that Maddie encounters. This gives the narrative a depth that further enhances the world Lippman creates. There are also the occasional soliloquies of the dead Cleo Sherwood commenting on Maddie's investigation. These ghostly speeches only add to the suspense and dread that lies just beneath the surface of this story. While I wasn't really shocked by the revelations at the end of the book, I don't think that's the point of the novel. The mystery is there more to aid in the telling of the historical story and the growth of Maddie as a character. This book expertly combines compelling characters with historical details and a touch of mystery that makes it into a really solid read.
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    LADY IN THE LAKE by Laura Lippman Laura Lippman has consistently been one of my "go-to" authors for years. With each new title in her ever-growing catalog, she blends touches of mystery and suspense with a plethora of various genres. I was a bit underwhelmed with her last novel, Sunburn, so I was eager to see Lippman redeem herself with her latest. Lady in the Lake is a return to form for the author and the kind of novel that made me a fan of her writing in the first place. ————————————————————— Maddie is a 1960's era housewife who gave up her life in search of something more. Looking to make her mark on the world, she stumbles upon the body of a murdered girl. Maddie quickly parlays this discovery into a job at the Star newspaper and begins to work toward her goal of becoming a columnist. When everyone else dismisses the murder of young Cleo Sherwood, Maddie suspects something more. She follows her intuition to dig into the untimely death. At every turn, Maddie is discouraged from proceeding with her investigation. Someone wants their secrets to be buried with Sherwood and will stop at nothing to prevent them from rising to the surface. ————————————————————— Lady in the Lake is Laura Lippman writing at her best. She mixes an underlying mystery with historical fiction that soars from the pages. Lippman alternates between chapters about Maddie with others written from the perspective of various people that Maddie encounters. This gives the narrative a depth that further enhances the world Lippman creates. There are also the occasional soliloquies of the dead Cleo Sherwood commenting on Maddie's investigation. These ghostly speeches only add to the suspense and dread that lies just beneath the surface of this story. While I wasn't really shocked by the revelations at the end of the book, I don't think that's the point of the novel. The mystery is there more to aid in the telling of the historical story and the growth of Maddie as a character. This book expertly combines compelling characters with historical details and a touch of mystery that makes it into a really solid read.
  • CATHERINE HOUSE by Elisabeth Thomas What would you sacrifice for the guarantee of success? Behind the formidable black iron gates of the forested estate lies Catherine House, an institution renowned for higher learning. Getting into the revered school is no easy task. Catherine House is well-known for being nearly impossible to gain admission to. Equally infamous is the school's experimental approach to pedagogy. Still, entrance into Catherine House leads to almost certain success. Its students have gone on to be the top in their fields, no matter what the concentration of study. Even better, students of Catherine House pay no tuition and live at the school for free. Admission to the school is not without cost. In exchange for the promise of power and prestige, students must sacrifice three years of their lives, living every moment of those three years at the school, unplugged from their family, friends, and society at large. Would you take that deal? —————————————————————— In her debut novel Catherine House author Elisabeth Thomas paints a chilling portrait of the sacrifices one makes in the name of ambition. She deftly writes about the Gothic halls of Catherine House, establishing a sense of place that fills each page with equal parts dread and sensuality. The book takes a while to find its narrative footing. The world that Thomas is building is wonderfully rich, but the story that takes place in this world is less sure of itself. It wasn't until the halfway point that I felt the novel gained a true sense of purpose and direction. It was at that point that the pages started to turn a bit faster, making me feel more connected to the main character's drive to discover the secrets behind the school's pristine facade. The revelations were satisfying, though I'm not sure they necessarily delivered on the buildup of the entire book. In the end, Elisabeth Thomas's Catherine House will probably generate a mixed reaction depending upon your personal tastes or mood. It leaned a bit too far into focusing on world-building over the plot for me, but I'll still be happy to read more from this promising new author.
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    CATHERINE HOUSE by Elisabeth Thomas What would you sacrifice for the guarantee of success? Behind the formidable black iron gates of the forested estate lies Catherine House, an institution renowned for higher learning. Getting into the revered school is no easy task. Catherine House is well-known for being nearly impossible to gain admission to. Equally infamous is the school's experimental approach to pedagogy. Still, entrance into Catherine House leads to almost certain success. Its students have gone on to be the top in their fields, no matter what the concentration of study. Even better, students of Catherine House pay no tuition and live at the school for free. Admission to the school is not without cost. In exchange for the promise of power and prestige, students must sacrifice three years of their lives, living every moment of those three years at the school, unplugged from their family, friends, and society at large. Would you take that deal? —————————————————————— In her debut novel Catherine House author Elisabeth Thomas paints a chilling portrait of the sacrifices one makes in the name of ambition. She deftly writes about the Gothic halls of Catherine House, establishing a sense of place that fills each page with equal parts dread and sensuality. The book takes a while to find its narrative footing. The world that Thomas is building is wonderfully rich, but the story that takes place in this world is less sure of itself. It wasn't until the halfway point that I felt the novel gained a true sense of purpose and direction. It was at that point that the pages started to turn a bit faster, making me feel more connected to the main character's drive to discover the secrets behind the school's pristine facade. The revelations were satisfying, though I'm not sure they necessarily delivered on the buildup of the entire book. In the end, Elisabeth Thomas's Catherine House will probably generate a mixed reaction depending upon your personal tastes or mood. It leaned a bit too far into focusing on world-building over the plot for me, but I'll still be happy to read more from this promising new author.
  • SAFE by S.K. Barnett What are the things that make you feel safe? 2020 has been a year of fear and uncertainty for many, and the idea of safety seems to be one worth exploring. COVID-19 has become an all-encompassing subject, one that promotes much debate, unpredictability, and even fear. I'll admit that my own anxiety levels have increased this week as the number of cases has rapidly risen in my own state. Safety has become a paramount priority for me and my family. The ability to transition to working from home again after a month of being back at work certainly plays into my sense of security. However small it may seem, wearing my mask when I venture out into public also makes me feel safe. Beyond COVID-19, I find safety in the routine things like cooking dinner, playing with my dog, and falling into the story of a really good book. It seems no coincidence that this week's read is appropriately titled Safe by S.K Barnett. I was gifted a copy of the book from the publisher and was eager to dig into this intriguing thriller. ————————————————————— In Safe author S.K. Barnett brings a different take on a classic missing person mystery. Rather than focusing on the time of looking for the kidnapped child, Barnett picks up the story when the family is reunited. The novel digs deep into what comes after the happily ever after, revealing that the resolution of the years-long case is hardly the end of the story. The joyful reunion between parent and child soon gives way to drama, paranoia, and fear. Barnett deftly writes compelling character development while still filling the book with the twists and turns that make it a truly page-turning thriller. The revelations about each character intertwine with the driving plot, propelling the novel forward at a rapid pace. Flashbacks are interspersed with the present-day story, providing ample context about the events that lead up to the story without giving away any of the shocks that follow. As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the world, I'm happy to fall into the comfort of a good book like Safe by S.K. Barnett.
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    SAFE by S.K. Barnett What are the things that make you feel safe? 2020 has been a year of fear and uncertainty for many, and the idea of safety seems to be one worth exploring. COVID-19 has become an all-encompassing subject, one that promotes much debate, unpredictability, and even fear. I'll admit that my own anxiety levels have increased this week as the number of cases has rapidly risen in my own state. Safety has become a paramount priority for me and my family. The ability to transition to working from home again after a month of being back at work certainly plays into my sense of security. However small it may seem, wearing my mask when I venture out into public also makes me feel safe. Beyond COVID-19, I find safety in the routine things like cooking dinner, playing with my dog, and falling into the story of a really good book. It seems no coincidence that this week's read is appropriately titled Safe by S.K Barnett. I was gifted a copy of the book from the publisher and was eager to dig into this intriguing thriller. ————————————————————— In Safe author S.K. Barnett brings a different take on a classic missing person mystery. Rather than focusing on the time of looking for the kidnapped child, Barnett picks up the story when the family is reunited. The novel digs deep into what comes after the happily ever after, revealing that the resolution of the years-long case is hardly the end of the story. The joyful reunion between parent and child soon gives way to drama, paranoia, and fear. Barnett deftly writes compelling character development while still filling the book with the twists and turns that make it a truly page-turning thriller. The revelations about each character intertwine with the driving plot, propelling the novel forward at a rapid pace. Flashbacks are interspersed with the present-day story, providing ample context about the events that lead up to the story without giving away any of the shocks that follow. As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the world, I'm happy to fall into the comfort of a good book like Safe by S.K. Barnett.