The Reckoning by John Grisham

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38389488-the-reckoning" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Reckoning" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1527031057m/38389488.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38389488-the-reckoning">The Reckoning</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/721.John_Grisham">John Grisham</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2628773443">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book contains 3 parts. The first and second part are two different stories told in reverse chronological order and then in the 3rd part, the first story continues. Confused yet? In typical Grisham style, a mystery is introduced in the first part that compels you to keep reading hoping for a big reveal. Grisham has been known to throw a curve at the end of his novels. I have read nearly every adult novel from this author and the first and third part are very typical of many of his books - a legal case set in rural Mississippi. Where this one differs is part 2 where we get some very detailed descriptions of a soldier's experiences fighting the Japanese during WWII. I have to say, that if Grisham's accounts are historically accurate I can understand why the hatred for the Japanese was so high during and following the war. This part is sometimes difficult to read but very interesting from a historical perspective. I am afraid that it has almost no real significance to the other stories, however. Why was it included at all? Finally, my 3-star rating is due to only one thing. Although, a well written, lengthy narrative that compelled me to keep reading for over 400 pages, I felt the ending fell flat and the promised mystery was weak. Why would a man shoot in cold blood another man and then go to his execution refusing to give an explanation? I can't believe the reason is the one Grisham wrote into the ending. Even the expected slight twist was not enough to redeem the story. I felt cheated. The main character was a war hero and a well-respected member of the community and I just can't believe he would have killed a man for the reasons the author gives. - Thus only 3 stars.
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Books

I just finished reading Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani. This is the third book in the Big Stone Gap series. It was an interesting and quick read but not very satisfying. The book jumps forward in time months or years at a time with no warning. It's a lot like a photo album in the lives of the characters. You get the highlights but not the real meat of their story.

I also read The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. Kidd is perhaps better known for The Secret Life of Bees (which I have not read). It is a wonderful story of a middle-aged woman trying to re-identify herself after her child has left home. Perhaps, she doesn't cope with these mid-life changes as you or I would but I believe she makes the right choices in the end.

I'm still working my way through the Richard Jury Mysteries by Martha Grimes and have just finished The Case has Altered. This book was enjoyable, however, I realized after a few pages I had skipped the previous book. You really must read these in order to understand the evolution of the characters lives.

I am averaging about a book a week this year which is a lot slower than last year. I have a lot of books on my shelf to read. Even though I am not blogging much anymore I will try to still do these book updates about once a month or so.

Happy St Patrick's Day

I enjoyed Clan of the Cave Bear so much last year that I read its sequel Valley of Horses by Jean M Auel. Although, not as good as the first one (it would be difficult to achieve that level of epic again) it was certainly a satisfying read.

My one disappointment in the last month was The Collectors by David Baldacci. Baldacci used to be one of the authors I bought new in hardback but no longer. His recent efforts are just not worth that extra money. The Collectors is a sequel of sorts to The Camel Club and it is your typical government conspiracy type novel. The characters are entertaining but not very genuine.

Book Update

It looks like I am not reading near as much this year as I did in 2007. I think I read over 80 books last year. Mostly, the change is because of my change in job. I used to spend the better part of an hour each morning before work eating breakfast in my car and reading. I also spent a lot of time reading at my old job. Now I am much busier and do not have that hour in the morning. I miss it and I miss reading as much.

I picked up the new John Grisham book, The Appeal last week and read it. You can read my other posts about Grisham books here and here. Because I have read every other book he has written I am glad I read this one, in the interest of completeness. But if you haven't read his other books, or you aren't a big fan, you might as well skip this one. Certainly, low on the list of his efforts. Another legal thriller of sorts which are his genre afterall. But enough is enough. Write something else, please. He has proven he can write other novels and I wish he would.

The other books I've read recently do not seem worth commenting on with the exception of Norther Lights by Nora Roberts. Although Nora Roberts is probably best know for her romances she certainly knows how to spin other tales. This one was unique to me because it took place in Alaska. There's a little romance and there is a murder mystery which will keep you guessing until the end. It was very enjoyable.

The End of an Era

I am not a coffee drinker. (Although, I do own a nice coffee pot.) I do however enjoy drinking warm flavored drinks (International Coffee) in the cold weather. (Which we have had a lot of lately.) So like a lot of people, I have a favorite mug. I received it as a birthday present many years ago (15, actually) from a dear friend.

I know you are looking at it and thinking that it would be your favorite mug, too. In fact, I often had to hide it when my Dad visited because despite the number of mugs I had in the cabinet, he would choose this one. My kids also seemed to be attracted to this mug. Maybe I should have put it up and saved it. But it was my favorite mug to drink from and I cherished it.

Oh, you know what is coming next. This week, while in the kitchen preparing supper, I heard the Crash, and I knew. The mug is broken. It could not be saved. It will be missed.

Bloggy Break

So much for trying to blog once a week. I didn't want to give up blogging. Mostly because I enjoyed having other people stop by and comment. I enjoyed reading other people's blogs, too. But having the time has become a problem. With what free-time I have reading blogs has just become a low priority. It has become increasingly difficult to find the motivation to blog at all. So I'm going to officially take a break. Maybe I'll come back. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll just blog about the books I'm reading. I've enjoyed the time I spent reading others blogs and in general will miss all of you.

Nooga

We are enjoying a little family trip to Chattanooga. We're staying in a nice 2 bedroom suite near the Aquarium. The hotel has an indoor pool and a full breakfast. We've eaten at two good restaurants so far: Sticky Fingers and Big River Grille. My SIL has joined us and today we are headed to Ruby Falls.

I needed to get away for a few days and so far this is a relaxing trip. What I want from a vacation most of the time is time to read and relax and sleep and eat. Once in while a "do-all" trip is okay especially if you are shelling out the big bucks for the "Happiest Place on Earth". But often after these trips you need a vacation from your vacation.

Yesterday we went to the Tennessee Aquarium and I've got to say that it is much better than the Georgia Aquarium for many reasons. Not the least of which was how uncrowded it was. Of course, they do not have Beluga Whales but they had an amazing Penguin exhibit. It just doesn't seem as over done and commercial as the one in Atlanta.

I'm going to try and catch up on blogs this week because once school starts back we will be very busy again. January and February are very busy months at work, too. Keep stopping by occasionally and I'll try to blog at least once a week.

2007 Books

74 Seasise Avenue
Acid Row
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
Anodyne Necklace, The
Astrid & Veronika
Big Cherry Holler
Big Stone Gap
Brave New World, The
C is for Corpse
Cat Who Read Backwards, The
Catcher in the Rye, The
Children of Men
Circle of Quilters
Clan of the Cave Bear, The
Club Sandwich
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime, The
D is for Deadbeat
Dante Club, The
Dark Room, The
Deep Storm
Deer Leap, The
Dirty Duck, The
Dream When You're Feeling Blue
E is for Evidence
East of Eden
Endless Steppe
Ethan Frome
F is for Fugitive
Five Bells and Bladebone, The
Five People You Meet in Heaven, The
Flowers for Algernon
Forever in Blue
G is for Gumshoe
Glass Castle, The
Grapes of Wrath, The
H is for Homicide
Handmaid's Tale, The
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Help the Poor Struggler
Home to Holly Springs
Horse You Came in On, The
Husband, The
I am the Running Footman
I is for Innocent
If Angels Fall
J is for Judgement
Jerusalem Inn, The
Jimmy
Julie & Julia
Keeping Faith
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade
Man With A Load of Mischief, The
Memoirs of a Geisha
Memory Keeper's Daughter, The
Mercy
Michael Crichton Trio
Mists of Avalon
Nativity Story, The
Next
Night of the Jaguar, The
No Way Back
No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, The
Of Mice and Men
Old Contemptibles, The
Old Fox Deceiv'd, The
Old Silent,The
Once Upon A Day
Ordinary Heroes
Outsiders, The
Playing for Pizza
Queen of the Broken Hearts
Red Leaves
Reed's Beach
Road, The
Sandcastles
Scold's Bridle, The
Shoot The Moon
Single Shard, A
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Stolen Child, The
Tenth Circle, The
Time and Again
Time Traveler's Wife, The
Track of the Cat
Valley of Bones
Water for Elephants
Wedding in December, A
Wheel of Darkness Wild Fire