Visiting an old friend. . .

After seeing the most-recent HP movie (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) last weekend (was I the LAST person in America to see this?!), I re-caught the Hogwarts bug and decided to go on and read the next (and last!) book in the series, in early preparation for next summer's release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I. The first time I read this book, I was kind of confused by all the explanations of the purpose, locations, and ways to destroy the Horcruxes, and then when they got into the Deathly Hallows - the history, powers, and how they could overcome the horcruxes (right?), I gave up and just skimmed for the basic story line. I knew it was to be the last in the series, and wanted to know who would die, who would win the fight between The Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters, whether the stories coming out about Dumbledore were true or not (was he a good guy who loved and protected Harry or a selfish person just using him?), and whether Harry would survive another encounter with Voldemort -- er, I mean, with You-Know-Who. This time through, however, knowing where we're headed in the story, I was able to take my time and revel in the reappearances of characters I had met throughout the series, and to really enjoy the story. I still think the time when they're wandering around trying to figure out what to do next -- and basically doing not much dragged on too long (apparently, Ron agreed, right?) -- but the formula Rowling had set up for each book required that it take an entire school year. So Rowling was stuck. And maybe the lack of action was realistic, building up frustration and allowing the Death Eaters to really take over and establish their regime. I just had always liked the fast-paced action in some of the previous books. But then - knowing this was the last book, I wasn't in a hurry for it to end, either. Basically, I very much enjoyed the return visit to Harry's world. If you haven't taken a trip through that world lately, grab one of these books, sit down with a cup of hot chocolate, and pass a few pleasant and stress-free hours.
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars

Twists and Turns

Mrs. Duell had reviewed this book so well that I couldn't help but read it -- and am I glad that I did! It is AWESOME! I loved the movie Mystic River, based on the novel by Dennis Lehane -- but loved it with a spine-tingling dread, and aftereffects of reliving certain parts. I had forgotten all of my mixed feelings about Mystic River until I was about 3/4ths of the way through Shutter Island. WOW! I loved the characters - they are so familiar and multi-dimensional. Teddy and Chuck are U.S. Marshalls sent to the island to investigate the disappearance of a woman from this prison/mental institution for the criminally insane. To complicate matters, a hurricane is blowing in. They encounter not just lack of cooperation, but resistance to their questions -- and as time goes on, they begin to suspect that someone is trying to keep them on the island forever. And then the story REALLY goes off in unexpected directions - to my absolute delight. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mind games, suspense, and thrillers.I couldn't put it down.

Rated: 4 out of 4 stars

How Romantic!

Jack and Laurel Cooper are owner/operators of a small-town B&B in Virginia. They've been married a long time, and are leaders in their community and at their church. At the beginning of this sweet book, they die one night in each other's arms, he from a brain tumor and she of a heart attack. What, you say, they die at the BEGINNING?! What kind of a story is THAT?

Well, the rest of the book deals with their three adult children and other family members who gather for the funeral and share memories of this loving couple. Each of their kids is dealing with his or her own life problems. Matthew, the oldest, comes "home" without his wife. They have been trying unsuccessfully to adopt a baby, and the stress has been damaging. Morgan has been on the run (most recently in Brazil) from an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and when he returns, he is forced to confront his old sweetheart, who is now engaged to his nemesis (i.e. "enemy"). Samantha (aka Sam) is a single mother, having divorced her husband after learning about his second extramarital affair. Going through their parent's things, they discover several boxes full of letters, and they learn that throughout their entire marriage, their father had written a letter to their mother each and every Wednesday. These letters range from love letters to newsy chats, and sometimes the letter was no more than a scrawl on a used envelope -- but as they go through the letters, the kids read about a devastating event that their parents had kept secret for years. They are forced to confront not only their own problems, but their parents' -- and to decide what to do next.

I liked this book because it was a quick read, the characters had real problems, and the solutions weren't pat or too-predictable. There was a definite Christian angle, which I found refreshing after reading too many books about vampires, murder, and social deviants.

Rating: 3 out of 4 stars