D is for Dick Francis

When Dick Francis passed away, it was a sad day. I found the idea of never reading another Dick Francis novel heartbreaking. 

I don’t know how old I was when I read my first Dick Francis novel, but I do know that it came in the middle of my “I’m going to be a professional jockey” phase. I’m guessing that’s the reason I picked up that first book. Not only did Dick Francis use the world of steeple chasing as a setting for most of his novels (eventually his novels got away from the horse world, but I’ve never thought they were as good) but he’d also been a steeplechase jockey.

Dick Francis wasn’t just any jockey. He was good. Good enough he was often selected to ride the horses owned by the royal family. During his racing career, he won several championships, though he never won a Grand National. A few years ago I purchased a horse racing book and was delighted to find a few pictures of Mr. Francis during his racing days, including a shot of a tumble he took at a Grand National fence.  

After retiring from the racing world, Dick Francis started writing mystery novels. Unlike some people who rely on their name to sell a couple books but lack any real talent, Francis was really good.  The great thing about his books is that I feel comfortable recommending them to everyone. They have a little violence but nothing graphic, there are allusions to sex but by today’s standards those scenes are very g-rated, minimal foul language, and the books are well written, nicely plotted with enough suspense and tension to keep the reader hooked. The books are told in first person by the main male character.  

My favorite Dick Francis novels, all of which I’ve read several times are: Break In, Bolt, Whip Hand, and Francis collection of short stories, Field of Thirteen.      

My Thoughts Regarding Being Henry David

 

 Being Henry David by Cal Armistead

 Contemporary Young Adult novel

Stand alone title

There was something about Being Henry David that appealed to me when I first learned of the book a few months ago. Before I started reading it, I crossed my fingers and hoped it lived up to my expectations.

When I first started reading Being Henry David, my stomach lurched. It took me a few pages to adjust to the authors writing style. Her sentence structure mirrors Hanks disjointed thoughts, but once I did, I found her writing to be very lyrical and consistent. 

She has a knack for using words to paint a very vivid picture. Although I’ve never visited Walden’s Pond, her descriptions transported me there. There was even a few points in the book where I forgot I was reading and was transported directly into Hank’s world.

The book is told completely from the viewpoint of the main character, a young man name “Hank” It starts when he wakes up in the middle of Penn Station and realizes he has no idea who he is. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t call up any memories. The only clues he has is a copy of Walden. 

It doesn’t take very long for Hank’s situation to go from really bad, to horrible, to the downright terrifying. Desperate to escape, he jumps on a train and heads to Walden’s Pond, hoping to find some answers there.

The change in location doesn’t magically restore Hank’s memory, but it does put him in a position to connect with some pretty interesting people, including Thoreau expert, and in my opinion the best character in the book, Thomas. With Thomas’s help, Hank slowly starts searching for clues to his identity and tries to figure out where he stood.

The author did an excellent job of maintaining the forward momentum of the plot. Although there are some points where it becomes a bit predictable, it never drags which is what I really care about.

All of the characters are well developed and very enjoyable. Best of all, each one was quite unique. I don’t think there was a single character in the entire novel who I would consider to be of cookie cutter variety. Each one had quirks and issues, and best of all, they played an important role in the novel.

My biggest complaint with the book is that when it ended, while Hank’s story reached a nice ending point, I still wanted to know what had happened to a few of the other characters. Oh well, maybe when the author releases the next book, it will answer all my questions.

I think Being Henry David bears a strong resemblance to what might happen if Sarah Dessen and S.E. Hinton joined force and co-authored a book.

I received Being Henry David via NetGalley.

Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

 I'm making an effort to participate in the Broke and Bookish's Tuesday top ten lists. This week the them is debut authors.

1.
 
There's so much I already love about this book. The title, the concept, and the cover. I can't wait to get it on  my bookshelf.

2.

I haven't quite figured out if the MC is a succubus or an actual nightmare, but either way, I'm intrigued

3.
 
I like Selke lore, and the blurb sounds interesting.

4.

I don't know much about this one, but I like the cover the FMC is suppose to be sarcastic. I like sarcastic
characters.

5.

Spies in Elizabeth's court! I've gotta read this one. Plus, the cover model looks a bit like one of my sisters.

6.
 
This story has me intrigued, though I'm not sure why. The author scored the jackpot with the cover.

7.
 
The title caught my eye, and the concept of a genie with a murderer hot on his tail has captured my imagination. This sounds like it's going to be a great read. 

8.

 I love cemetery's, especially old ones, and can't wait to read this book, which, based on the blurb, focuses on some interesting cemetery lore.
9.

I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but look at this one. How can the story be anything but amazing? My only hesitation right now regarding this book is that the way Goodreads currently has it listed makes it look like the first in a series.

10.

I can't find much information about this book, but I'm intrigued.

 Additional lists of debuts other bloggers are eagerly anticipating can be found at the http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/.

My List of Ten Older Books I Don’t Want People to Forget About

1.       The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe-Yes, I know it’s part of a series. I love the series, but this book is has an extra special place in my heart. I think I own five or six copies , and must read it once or twice a year. I’m so glad I was allowed to think of it as a fairytale and a story about a magical place. 

2.       The Misty of Chincoteague Trilogy-When I was in elementary school, I thought these were the best books ever written. Friends and I used to swap  battered copy's back and forth all the time, and spent recesses playing Misty. When my family vacationed out east, I insisted on a trip to Chincoteague just to see where everything happened. Anyone who knows of a horse crazy girl should make sure this trilogy is on their shelves.

3.       The Hero and the Crown-Seriously, if you haven’t read any Robin McKinley novels, you need to right now. This book is a fantasy novel with the feel of a fairytale. It’s a great book. All of McKinley’s books are. 

4.       To Kill a Mockingbird-This is another book that I read at least once a year. Each time it blows me away. I love the atmosphere and wish Harper Lee would have written more books. 

5.       The Prince and the Pauper-This might not be one of Twain’s best known books, but I love it.

6.       The BFG-I love the BFG and wish all giants were like him. So cute and cuddly. If you haven’t read this Roald Dahl book, you need to. It’s a warm and fun read. 

7.       The Island of the Blue Dolphins-I’ve always been a solitary soul who requires long stretches of solitude in order to maintain peace of mind, so the idea of having an entire island all to myself was appealing. As an adult and a writer, I’m blown away by O’Dell’s ability to write an entire novel with no supporting characters.

8.       The Old Man and The Sea-Quite similar to “Dophins” and a great read. My favorite Hemingway book.

9.       Break In-I’m a longtime fan of Dick Francis and have read most of his books, but this, his first novel, will always be my favorite. I love the character of Kit.

10.   Morgan and Ewe-This was one of the amazing picture books in the Serendipity series. I don’t know how many times my parent’s read it to me when I was little. It is one of the books I look for whenever I need a gift for someone who has children. Great story, great morals, and breathtaking pictures.