rtwete
Johnson County Library
rtwete's Completed Shelf
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rtwete's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 27, 2011
Summary:
This is a very witty engrossing police procedural, rivaling Ruth Rendell's writing. Dalziel, also sometimes known as The Fat Man, is superior to Peter Pascoe. There was a 60's murder, American nanny and broke English estate owner both convicted. He was last man hung in England. Characters who were guests at the estate at time of murder were somewhat connected to English govt/royal family/Profumo scandal. Also some nebulous connections to US government, British Home Service (their CIA). Now in 90's, nanny released from prison and deceased police officer who did the investigation is being implicated, so to speak, in getting a false confession from her, or otherwise botching the investigation.This is a very witty engrossing police procedural, rivaling Ruth Rendell's writing. Dalziel, also sometimes known as The Fat Man, is superior to Peter Pascoe. There was a 60's murder, American nanny and broke English estate owner both convicted. …
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 25, 2011
Summary:
Fictionalized account of Pearl S. Buck as child friend of completely fictional Chinese girl. Chinese girl is narrator and it goes through her whole life. Pearl S. Buck and family had to leave China in late 30's due to civil war and murderous intent toward all foreigners.Fictionalized account of Pearl S. Buck as child friend of completely fictional Chinese girl. Chinese girl is narrator and it goes through her whole life. Pearl S. Buck and family had to leave China in late 30's due to civil war and murderous…
rtwete's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 23, 2011
Summary:
Lady who lives in seaside estate is ill and may be dying, her daughter and great grandson live with her. She wants her grandson, who she raised, to come and visit with his fiance, Rose, whom she has met only once. He promises they will, but his fiance has sent back ring and said she wont marry him. Meanwhile, Fiona from another seaside area runs into above fiance and they are identical twins, separated as babies. Rose is rich, Fiona is not. Rather contrived, but likable characters, as always.Lady who lives in seaside estate is ill and may be dying, her daughter and great grandson live with her. She wants her grandson, who she raised, to come and visit with his fiance, Rose, whom she has met only once. He promises they will, but his…
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 22, 2011
Summary:
Son of father who is dying comes back home to Kingdom County to care for his father. Other brother had apparently committed murder and hung himself in jail years ago. Current sheriff and present son have a history. Previous sheriff (father of current) was autocratic. Intelligent writer.Son of father who is dying comes back home to Kingdom County to care for his father. Other brother had apparently committed murder and hung himself in jail years ago. Current sheriff and present son have a history. Previous sheriff (father of…
rtwete's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 20, 2011
Summary:
Bird is abused young girl in South. Older sister also beaten by parents. Father beats mother, even at one point hiring someone to beat her more viciously than he can. Father commits suicide and mother and girls move to trailer park/motel where she works and continues abuse. Youngest girl meets kind black woman in park. At halfway point I skipped to end. No need to read last half of book to understand end, which was unrealistic.Bird is abused young girl in South. Older sister also beaten by parents. Father beats mother, even at one point hiring someone to beat her more viciously than he can. Father commits suicide and mother and girls move to trailer park/motel where…
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 20, 2011
Summary:
After WWI, a man going to job interview via train, sees a woman & 2 children on platform. He thinks they are wife and children who supposedly died in a bombing. He goes back and cant find them, but is soon arrested for woman's murder. Rutledge is called in from Scotland Yard to find children, dead or alive. He discovers woman is working woman with ambition and somewhat mysterious past.After WWI, a man going to job interview via train, sees a woman & 2 children on platform. He thinks they are wife and children who supposedly died in a bombing. He goes back and cant find them, but is soon arrested for woman's murder. Rutledge is…
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 18, 2011
Summary:
Set in Holland in 1600's when tulip investment bubble is raging. Older husband and young wife have their portrait painted by Jan van Loos (actual artist). Artist & wife start an affair. Wife's maid becomes pregnant and wife pretends she is pregnant.Set in Holland in 1600's when tulip investment bubble is raging. Older husband and young wife have their portrait painted by Jan van Loos (actual artist). Artist & wife start an affair. Wife's maid becomes pregnant and wife pretends she is…
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 18, 2011
Summary:
Heroine is orphan adopted by upper class family. She is besotted with young man of family, who becomes a doctor. He and brother-in-law go to Crimean War to treat casualties. For some reason, women go also, maybe it starts out just as a travel jaunt, then they end up embroiled in the war. Women return to England except for heroine. She seems very attached to Georgie & wife's children. Like US Civil War in same century, more are killed by disease and pestilence than battle.Heroine is orphan adopted by upper class family. She is besotted with young man of family, who becomes a doctor. He and brother-in-law go to Crimean War to treat casualties. For some reason, women go also, maybe it starts out just as a travel…
Speaker of Mandarin: An Inspector Wexford MysterySpeaker of Mandarin: An Inspector Wexford Mystery, Book
by Rendell, RuthBook
rtwete's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 18, 2011
Summary:
Detective Wexford goes to China on an educational police trip. While there, he "sees" an old woman with bound feet in various places. After returning to England, one of his co-tourists is found murdered.
rtwete's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 18, 2011
Summary:
Young mother insists her week old baby has been switched with another. Her husband doesnt believe her, he wicked mother-in-law may or may not believe her. Husband's former ex-wife was murdered on property 2 years before. Police consider case closed, except for Simon, who believe the young mother, maybe, and wishes to reopen the murder case.Young mother insists her week old baby has been switched with another. Her husband doesnt believe her, he wicked mother-in-law may or may not believe her. Husband's former ex-wife was murdered on property 2 years before. Police consider case…
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 18, 2011
Summary:
Setting is private school in England. Niece of emir of Ramat is student, as is niece of pilot who flew her Ramat niece's cousin out of Ramat revolution. Pilot entrusted with fortune in jewels and his them somewhere in his niece's belongings. PE teacher is murdered in the gym, no apparent connection. Young man who is gardener is really member of England espionage service. Police are informed of this after murder.Setting is private school in England. Niece of emir of Ramat is student, as is niece of pilot who flew her Ramat niece's cousin out of Ramat revolution. Pilot entrusted with fortune in jewels and his them somewhere in his niece's belongings. PE…
rtwete's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 7, 2011
Summary:
Memoir of novelist, one of my favorites, he writes novels of west, mostly (not western formula, though). This may be his first published book, 1978, he was 39 at that time. His mother died when he was 6 and his father and mother's mother raised him, together. Many of his novels' characters are based on real characters in his life.Memoir of novelist, one of my favorites, he writes novels of west, mostly (not western formula, though). This may be his first published book, 1978, he was 39 at that time. His mother died when he was 6 and his father and mother's mother raised…
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 7, 2011
Summary:
Sequel of sorts to This House of Sky, memoir published in 1978. Uncle has left him some letters, from author's mother to her brother. Mother died when author was 6, so they shed some light on some of his "wonderings".
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Mar 3, 2011
Summary:
Four or five generations of black and bi-racial women of a family from slavery to mid-20th century. Based on author's ascendants, but it is a novel. Louisiana Creole culture.
rtwete's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 27, 2011
Summary:
Indian college student is seduced by another student. When she becomes pregnant she doesnt want an abortion and he doesnt want to marry. Her brother and parents tell her baby is stillborn. She marries an Indian man from America and finds out much later her son is still alive and has leukemia.Indian college student is seduced by another student. When she becomes pregnant she doesnt want an abortion and he doesnt want to marry. Her brother and parents tell her baby is stillborn. She marries an Indian man from America and finds out much…
rtwete's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 27, 2011
Summary:
Historical novel, based on life of Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot. Mary is a skilled fossil hunter and her finds keep her family from the poor house. Elizabeth is of a higher class, but poor too, in 1820's England. They become close friends, during Mary's childhood and after she is grown. Elizabeth helps widowed mother and Mary and brother when she can, with sales of fossils, etc. Assorted men take the credit for many of Mary's discoveries.Historical novel, based on life of Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot. Mary is a skilled fossil hunter and her finds keep her family from the poor house. Elizabeth is of a higher class, but poor too, in 1820's England. They become close friends,…
Talk ShowTalk Show, BookConfrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-screen Secrets
by Cavett, DickBook - 2010
Added Feb 25, 2011
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 25, 2011
Summary:
Third in Dr. Quirke series. Dr. Quirke is just out of drying-out hospital. His daughter, Phoebe, is concerned about her friend April Latimer, whom she hasnt heard from for 2 weeks, nor has their circle of friends. April is a junior doctor (intern?) and a member of an influential family in Dublin, in government & medicine. Quirke & Det. Hackett start to suspect family is involved in her disappearance. African man may or may not be involved with April romantically, he is in circle of friends. This is 1950's setting.Third in Dr. Quirke series. Dr. Quirke is just out of drying-out hospital. His daughter, Phoebe, is concerned about her friend April Latimer, whom she hasnt heard from for 2 weeks, nor has their circle of friends. April is a junior doctor…
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 22, 2011
Summary:
Lisbeth Salander & Michael Blomqvist investigate 40 year ago disappearance of Harriet Vanger, upon request of her uncle Henrick Vanger. Lisbeth is expert computer hacker, also kind of socially inept.
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 22, 2011
Summary:
An orphan lives with her uncle, a Catholic priest. She is very happy with him, but charges of abuse arise. Her best friend's family is a big part of story. Husband is abusive to wife and rather scary to kids.
rtwete's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 14, 2011
Summary:
Story starts in 1918. A woman waiting for her husband to come home to England wants something special to greet him, so she paints the front door red. Then story moves to a family of siblings. One brother becomes suddenly ill, but the doctors cannot diagnose. He leaves hospital and disappears for a short time, but wont or cant tell anyone why. Meanwhile, his younger brother Peter may be the Peter that the woman behind red door was waiting for. But he is married to Susannah, who appears not to be that woman. Peter has a leg wound from the war.Story starts in 1918. A woman waiting for her husband to come home to England wants something special to greet him, so she paints the front door red. Then story moves to a family of siblings. One brother becomes suddenly ill, but the doctors…
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 13, 2011
Summary:
Mattie is a plain woman, swept off her feet in Iowa by an Iowa man who is homesteading in CO. Right after Civil War. He is stuff and domineering, but not real bad, for the times. They take covered wagon out to CO and begin by living outdoors.
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 13, 2011
Summary:
Someone is killing homeless men, then impaling them on spikes of gates that are locked at dark that lead to the London Zoo. Sometimes homeless hide in park to sleep after closing. Woman leaves abusive boyfriend and house & pet sits at nice house near the park. She meets the man whom she donated bone marrow to, but he may not be what he seems. One of the homeless men (he has money, but chooses to live on street since his wife and children died) is "watching over" her.Someone is killing homeless men, then impaling them on spikes of gates that are locked at dark that lead to the London Zoo. Sometimes homeless hide in park to sleep after closing. Woman leaves abusive boyfriend and house & pet sits at nice house…
rtwete's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 11, 2011
Summary:
Sarah is daughter to Martha Carrier, in 1690's MS, near Salem. They clash and Sarah indicates she is guilty of something in the future. Martha is arrested as a witch and eventually her children are as well.
rtwete's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Feb 8, 2011
Summary:
Dr. Faraday becomes family doctor to the Ayres family, a mother and 2 children in their 20's. Doctor's mother was a servant in Hundreds Hall for a short time. Son was wounded in WWII. Daughter is rather spinsterish. They have one full time and one part time servant. House is deteriorated and they continue to sell off land to live off the money. Servant tells dr. there is a "presence" of evil in the house (the little stranger), soon the son believes this as there are strange happenings mostly revolving around him. Mother comes to believe the presence is her long dead young daughter who died in childhood.Dr. Faraday becomes family doctor to the Ayres family, a mother and 2 children in their 20's. Doctor's mother was a servant in Hundreds Hall for a short time. Son was wounded in WWII. Daughter is rather spinsterish. They have one full time and…
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