Books: January 2020 Reading Wrap-Up plus a link to my YouTube wrap-up.

My January 2020 Reading Wrap-Up

(There is an Amazon link to each book.  If you are interested in a bit more information, just click on the link.  I am an Amazon Affiliate.  If you click on the link and buy anything at all, I get a percent of the sale with no cost to you...thanks:-)
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Here is a scale on how I rate my books.

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Book 1 

"Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster"

by Jon Krakauer

Genre-Nonfiction, Adventure, Memoir.

4.16 stars on Goodreads out of 5 stars

I would give the book 4.25 out of 5

                                                           
                                                              

Overview I found on GoodReads

A bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon, but journalist-mountaineer Jon Krakauer, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, saw nothing that "suggested that a murderous storm was bearing down." He was wrong. The storm, which claimed five lives and left countless more--including Krakauer's--in guilt-ridden disarray, would also provide the impetus for Into Thin Air, Krakauer's epic account of the May 1996 disaster. 

My Favorite Quote,

“But at times, I wondered if I had not come a long way only to find that 
what I really sought was something I had left behind.” 

― Jon Krakauer, Into Thin Air

My Thoughts Before I Read the Book

We are all made differently. Just because a mountain is there is no reason, in my opinion, to climb it. I had someone ask me once, "You do want to run a marathon, don't you?" My answer without hesitation was "No." I guess the one thing that I would want to do is go to a Dude Ranch and ride horses even maybe go on a cattle roundup. To many, this would be as dangerous as a climb up Mt. Everest. So see, we are all made differently. 

My Thoughts After I Read the Book

First off, this book reads like a novel or a memoir, which I really liked. It is a blend of the author's experience, along with a history of others who had an interest in the mountain.

The focus of the book is on several people that were determined to get to the top of Mt Everest.  The author, Jon Krakauer, is one of those people. The preparation for the climb and the experience when it came to the ascent and descent is written in detail.   This is the true account of the tragedy that occurred in May of 1996, the deadliest climbing season in the history of Mount Everest. Some made it down the mountain. Many did not. 

It is incredible to me the desire to climb such a dangerous mountain.  There are many risks involved.  With the high altitude, you run the risk of pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, hypoxia, and of course, the risk of frostbite, low oxygen levels, and let us not forget the risk of falling to your death. 

On the mountain, you will encounter crevasses that you need to cross, usually on an aluminum ladder that did not seem all that safe to me.  There is low oxygen, most people need oxygen to scale the mountain.  You will risk slipping, bad weather, and come across many bodies of those who came before who did not make it down.

There are parts of the book which were a bit too technical for me, and at that point, I did a bit of skimming rather than reading.   But for the most part, it is a smooth read. 

I thought the character descriptions were exceptional.  I felt a connection with the people in the book.   The information on the Sherpa was interesting also.  The levels of climbing assistance and pricing to make the climb were eye-opening. 

My Final Thought

What it takes just to get to base camp is exhausting.  I would have stopped there. 

In summary, "I will not be climbing Mt. Everest".

There is a movie called Everest premiered in 2015.  I did watch this movie.  It was ok, not great.  There were many good actors in this movie, and it did give you a feel for the mountain.  I was left feeling a bit empty after the movie because it lacked the fullness found in the book. 

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Book 2

"The Family Upstairs"

by Lisa Jewell

Genre-Mystery, Thriller, Fiction.

4.01 stars on Goodreads out of 5 stars
I would give this book 3.5/5

                                                                

Overview From the Book Jacket

"Twenty-five years ago, police were called to 16 Cheyne Walk with reports of a baby crying. When they arrived, they found a healthy ten-month-old happily cooing in her crib in the bedroom. Downstairs in the kitchen lay three dead bodies, all dressed in black, next to a hastily scrawled note. And the four other children reported to live at Cheyne Walk were gone".

Quote about the book by People

In The Family Upstairs, the master of “bone-chilling suspense” (People) brings us the can’t-look-away story of three entangled families living in a house with the darkest of secrets

My Thoughts Before Reading the Book

There must be some not so nice people living upstairs, and now there are dead people in the house and four missing children. I hope it ends well!

My Thoughts After Reading the Book

This book, I guess I would describe as suspense and drama.  It is told from the perspective of 3 people. Libby, who, as an infant, was the only one found alive in the house with three dead bodies.  She was adopted, and later at age 25, she would inherit the home where she was found and would also learn much more about the house and its residents.   Henry, we learn about his life growing up in this house and follow him into adulthood. You get to know Lucy and how she fits into all of this.  She is a single mother of two, and her story is compelling.   These three are reunited when Libby turns 25 and inherits the property. 

The original family living in this house seemed to have it all.  They were more than financially secure and enjoyed the luxuries of this wealth.  Then the family moved in upstairs, and their lives changed dramatically and tragically. 

I did find a connection with some of the characters.  I found the book to be confusing and hard to follow at times.  I did not love this book, and I did not like the ending.  The conclusion of the book left you hanging just a bit and opened the door to your imagination or a sequel. 

As I always do, I looked to see if there was a movie.  There as not one, as of yet, for this title. I did find a 1926 silent film called "The Family Upstairs."  I wanted to watch it even though it has nothing to do with this book, but I could not find it, sadly. 

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Book 3

"True Colors"

by Kristin Hannah

Genre-Fiction, Women's Fiction, Chick Lit.

3.93 stars on Goodreads out of 5 stars
I gave this book a 3.5/5

(I like the cover with horse best:-)

                                                               

Overview From Amazon Site

True Colors is New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah's most provocative, compelling, and heart-wrenching story yet. With the luminous writing and unforgettable characters that are her trademarks, she tells the story of three sisters whose once-solid world is broken apart by jealousy, betrayal, and the kind of passion that rarely comes along.

Quote

"Abuse can make an animal mean."

My Thoughts Before I Read the Book

I don't remember where or when I bought this book. What probably interested me was the photo of the horse on the cover. I am interested in the relationship between the sisters and the family dynamic. I like the quote, too; I wonder if they are speaking of animals as well as humans?

My Thoughts After Reading the Book

This was the story of a family.  An extremely stern and controlling father and three sisters. The sisters all seek their father's approval, and at times they get it and many other times not.  There is a bit of romance and forbidden love.  In essence, it is a story about love, relationships, jealousy, murder, injustice, and of course, horses.  You follow the sisters as they try to find their way in life and love.  You see how they drift apart and come back together through difficult times.  

Overall it is a pretty good book.  For the most part, I enjoyed it.  It was a bit slow at times, and I did do a bit of skimming, but overall it had good character development, and it was a fun read. 

I looked to see if there was a movie and there is not one based on this book.  There is a movie called "True Colors" which is a political drama that only got 47% on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Book 4

"Long Bright River"

by Liz Moore

Genre-Mystery, Fiction, Thriller.

4.38 stars on GoodReads out of 5 stars.
I gave this one 4/5 stars.

                                                                    

Overview From the Book Jacket,

In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two once-inseparable sisters find themselves at odds. One, Kacey, lives on the streets in the vise of addiction. The other, Mickey, walk those same blocks on her police beat. They don't speak anymore, but Mickey never stops worrying about her sibling. 

Then Kacey disappears, suddenly, at the same time that a mysterious string of murders begins in Mickey's district, and Mickey becomes dangerously obsessed with finding the culprit--and her sister--before it's too late.

Quote

I could not find a quote that spoke to me.

My Thoughts Before I Read the Book

I am very interested in the opioid crisis. I can't even imagine the extent this problem is causing in families. This is a fiction book, but it will possibly give a bit of insight into the pain involved in the horrible problem of addiction. My brother was an alcoholic, and I have seen first hand the damage this does on the addicted and those that love them. His addiction led to his death. 

My Thoughts After Reading the Book

This is the story of the lives of two sisters Kacey and Mickey.  Their parents were addicts, and this follows the lives and chosen paths of their daughters.  Kacey falls into a life of addiction while her sister Mickey decides on a different life course, that of a mom and a police officer.  The sisters reside in the same city.  Kacey spends much of her time on the street trying to earn money for her addiction, and Mickey is on the street also, doing her job to enforce the law and keep one eye on her sister. There is a serial murderer loose in the city, and much of the time, the book is focused on the danger Kacey may be in or if, in fact, she is a victim of violence because she does go missing.

A good book with good character development.  I found myself wanting Kacey to recover from her addiction and also wanting the good guys to catch the murderer.

It sounds like someone has bought the film rights to this book.  There was very little info out there but we should keep or eyes open for a possible movie.  That would be great!

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Book 5 

"A Grave Matter"

by Anna Lee Huber

Genre-Mystery, Historical Fiction

4.03 stars on Goodreads out of 5 stars
I have to give this book 2/5 due to the fact I did not finish it.

                                                                  

Overview From the Book Jacket

Scotland, 1830. Following the death of her dear friend, Lady Kiera Darby is in need of a safe haven. Returning to her childhood home, Kiera hopes her beloved brother Trevor and the merriment of the Hogmanay Ball will distract her. But when a caretaker is murdered and a grave is disturbed at nearby Dryburgh Abbey, Kiera is once more thrust into the cold grasp of death.

Quote

“Remember friends as you pass by, as you are now, so once was I. 

As I am now so you must be, prepare yourself to follow me.

(18th Century epitaph)” 

My thoughts Before I Read the Book

I like mysteries, and I love historical fiction, so this should be a good choice for me. I wonder if the word "grave" means a literal grave or if it means or if it is an adjective meaning a serious matter.

My Thoughts After Reading the Book

Well, in answer to the question is "grave a noun or an adjective, it is a literal grave.

The book starts off pretty exciting.  There is a gala ball taking place, then there is a murder and a grave robbing. Sets the stage for an interesting story, right?  Well, in the beginning, I thought I was really going to like the book, but sadly it just became a bit too slow for me.  Being historical fiction, I wanted to learn more about the history of grave robbing in Scotland,  but the focus seemed to be more on the relationships.  I could not connect with the characters, so I had little interest in their relationships, and thus I grew bored.  This book was a "Did Not Finish" (DNF) for me.  As I found myself skimming and even skipping pages, I finally decided to give up.  

Yes, body snatching was a problem back in that day.  Bodies were stolen to sell for medical research.  Bodies were also taken and held for ransom.  I found on one site that Charlie Caplan's body was held for ransom not in Scottland but in Switzerland. 

There is a movie called "A Grave Matter" that is not based on this book.  I found it does focus on death though. I have not watched it. 

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I would love to know what you are reading.  If you have read any of the above books did you enjoy them?  Drop me a note in the comment box.

Take care and happy reading!

KathieyV:-)