Language Arts by Stephanie Kallos FIC Kal

     

I don't even know how to explain this book!   The main character is Charles Marlow - as an adult and also as a child.  The story moves back and forth between these parts of his life.  In present day he is a long-divorced man who teaches English to high school students.  His daughter, Emmy, has left the nest to go across the country to college.  His parenting is still not done because of his son Cody.   Cody is extremely autistic.  When he began to lose his language Charles' wife Alison began to feverishly search for a reason.  There were no answers of course.  Cody is now in a facility but he will soon be 'aging' out of the system and Alison is on the hunt for a new place.

The story of his childhood is mostly focused on the year he was in fourth grade.  That was the year that his teacher was determined to make sure they practiced and practiced their Palmer penmanship.  I can't really explain to you here why that it is important but it is a recurring theme throughout the book.

This is not a fast, easy read.  It is much deeper than that!  And the ending was a big surprise.  I loved it.

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See Me by Nicholas Sparks FIC Spa

   

I read all of Sparks' books and although this was quite a bit different than his others, I really enjoyed it.

Colin is your bad boy who is trying to stay on the straight and narrow.  He is working on a degree in education and is quite focused on it.  To take care of some of those 'bad boy' feelings he spends a lot of time in the gym and does some sort of organized fighting. (the name escaped me as soon as I read it!)

Naturally the woman he falls for is his complete opposite.  Maria's parents are immigrants who have supported their family with a restaurant.  Maria has worked hard to get a law degree and works in a good law firm - but it isn't easy being young and beautiful in her firm.

Colin has to watch every step because there is a detective who thinks he should still be in prison and he is watching closely for Colin to mess up.  And Colin doesn't plan to mess up.  But then there is that whole damsel in distress thing.  And he loves this damsel.  So when Maria is being stalked, Colin is willing to do anything - even if it is the last thing he does on the outside.

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The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis MYS Pat

 

Other than the Women's Murder Club series I really haven't read many Patterson (+ co-author) books in several years.  This one drew my attention and I really enjoyed it.

Many towns have a spooky house that has a lot of rumors attached to it.  This one is located in The Hamptons and there were a lot of deaths connected to it.  It is still beautiful but has been neglected and no one has lived there in a long time.  But a Hollywood big shot and a local waitress are victims of a gruesome crime and their bodies are found in the house.

On the case is Jenna Murphy, a former NYPD detective.  She had to leave that job and moved to The Hamptons where her uncle, the police chief, offered her a job.  When she was very young she and her family would visit The Hamptons on vacation and then her parents just quit going there.  She quickly becomes invested in the murders.....and there are more to follow.  Jenna is determined to get to the bottom of the crimes - even if she ends up going against orders!

As is typical, there are lots of red herrings and surprises.  It was fast-paced and very entertaining.

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