Mini Bookish Thoughts: A Little Bit of This and That

First Sentence: There was one universal truth in Lucky Harbor, Washington - you could hide a pot of gold in broad daylight and no one would steal it, but you couldn't hid a secret. 

Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis (Grand Central Publishing, 2014; 352 pgs) ~ My guilty pleasure.  This is my second Shalvis book (the 10th in the Lucky Harbor Series--each book is a stand alone), and truly and utterly brain candy.  A contemporary romance set in a small coastal town; a steamy romance between a somewhat aloof and angry police detective and a sweet and independent woman who fate seems to slap down at every turn; a theft; and, well, didn't I already say a steamy romance?

First Sentence: I stood in the shadows of a deserted shop front across from The Blood and Brew Pub, trying not to be obvious as I tugged my black leather pants back up where they belonged.

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (HarperTorch, 2004; 416 pgs) ~ How could I not have started this series years ago?!  It's so perfectly me!  Witches!  An urban setting!  Magic!  Supernatural beings!  A cool neighbor!  A Mystery!   Action!   Bring on the next book, please.

First Sentence: "Can you hold up those guys with the body bag, Loo?" 

Death Angel by Linda Fairstein (Dutton Adult, 2013; 384 pgs) ~ This is the 15th book in the Alexandra Cooper, New York Assistant District Attorney, series, the book I thought I read but hadn't.  Thank goodness I had it on hand.  Set in Central Park, this murder mystery takes some interesting turns, including carrying several different story lines: the homeless, a missing child, murder, stalkers, a hint of romance, the very wealthy to the history and geography of  Central Park.  And of course, the usual office politics.  There was a lot going on in this novel, maybe too much (so many different threads, not all of which came together in the end), but I enjoyed it.  And now I'm officially all caught up with the series!

First Sentence: Late in the winter of my seventeenth year, my mother decided I was depressed, presumably because I rarely left the house, spent quite a lot of time in bed, read the same book over and over, ate infrequently, and devoted quite a bit of my abundant free time to thinking about death. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Dutton Books, 2012; 313 pgs) ~ This is one of those books that made me melt as I read it.  I loved Hazel.  I loved Augustus even more.  Sure, he is a bit too perfect, but given the text is narrated by Hazel who thinks he's pretty perfect, is it any wonder?  I can't blame her really.  He was awesome.  I even loved Isaac.  And Hazel's parents.  Oh, and of course, John Green.  I cried. I laughed.  When people have said this is not a book about young adults with cancer and about dying, they are only partly wrong. Because it is about that.  But mostly it is about falling in love, about expectations and disappointment, about suffering and grief--and most of all about living.  I could go on and on about the philosophical points made throughout the book, the ideas the different characters put forth--but I won't.  Read the book for yourself, if you have not already.

The movie, starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, directed by Josh Boone, was very well done.  I thought Woodley and Elgort did an amazing job--they really do have good chemistry.  I saw it hot on the heels of finishing the book.  There were changes made, which is to be expected whenever a book is translated to the big screen, but the overall feel and tone of the movie and the book were the same.  To me, that makes it a home run.  Like with the book, I laughed, and I cried as expected.  Have you seen the movie yet?

Source: All four of the above listed books were purchased by myself for my reading pleasure.

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