Well, how has your week been? I’m waiting to see if everyone in my department at work has to have a COVID test. One of my staff members was exposed, and the family member who tested positive had the vaccine. Everyone in my department has had the vaccine, but with the breakthrough cases, any of us could test positive. (sigh) Think good thoughts.
And, I’ll think good thoughts for all of you dealing with extreme heat or fires. Take care of yourselves!
I’m currently reading Carlene O’Connor’s cozy mystery, Murder in Connemara. This book actually was released a year ago, but for sale only at Barnes & Noble. Next Tuesday it will be in general release. Tara Meehan, an American who moved to her ancestral home in Galway, Ireland, is getting ready to open her architectural salvage shop when an heiress tells her she wants her to source gifts for people so she can make amends. When the heiress ends up dead, Tara is already invested in the stories behind the gifts. Now, she wants to know if one of the recipients is a killer.
I’m always happy when I can travel to Ireland in my books. What about you? What are you reading this week? Even more important, how are you doing?
I didn’t get much reading done this week. We had a 94th birthday party on Saturday for my mom which was fun but then she fell on Saturday night. My brother was staying over at her house to give me a break but he didn’t hear her calling him. Fortunately she was only bruised and she did eventually get his attention. But it finally made her agree to wear one of those medical alert pendants so I had to get that set up for her. On the lighter side, it cooled off yesterday so my boyfriend and I went to our first outdoor concert in almost two years. A lot of the towns around here run free summer concerts but It’d been too hot to go.
I read an ARC of UNDER PRESSURE by Sara Driscoll. An FBI agent working on a task force to crack down on the sale of blood diamonds by the Philadelphia mob gets the idea to use search and rescue dogs to track an undercover agent to catch the buyers. It started off a bit slowly but once the story got moving I really enjoyed it.
MEANT TO BE IMMORTAL by Lynsay Sands. A fairly predictable vampire romance but it was a light read with some funny parts which is what I needed.
Oh, Sandy. I’m sorry about your mother falling. But those medical alert pendants are wonderful, if you can get someone to wear and use it. My father-in-law finally agreed to wear one when he fell outside when we were on the other side of the state.
I’ve read one or two of Sara Driscoll’s books. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Good morning! Hope you are all well. Sorry to hear you may have to have a COVID test, Lesa.
Last week my husband had some vacation time so we spent a few days in Duluth, MN on the shores of Lake Superior. We walked the long path that winds along the lake from the Rose Gardens to Canal Park. We arrived just in time to watch the fishing boats motor in and wait for the bridge to lift. It was a nice getaway.
In the last couple of weeks I read:
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman – Eleanor is a quirky character who spends most of her time alone. When a co-worker strikes up a conversation with her, she finds herself enjoying it. As the two become friends, Eleanor finds what has been missing in her life. I like quirky characters and I enjoyed reading this.
Death in Bloom by Jess Dylan – Lesa reviewed this and that is where I learned about it. I really liked this start to a new series. The characters were great as was the flower shop setting. And the mystery was interesting. The author found the right balance between mystery and small town life.
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley – Another story containing quirky characters. Piper’s husband perishes in a storm and she copes with it by pretending he is still with her. But the really strange thing is that all of the townspeople go along with it. Anders, a reporter, tries to figure out what is going on. I enjoyed this as well. It was a hope filled read.
The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris – this is a memoir about the author’s time spent becoming a Benedictine oblate. It is told in snippets coinciding with the Liturgical calendar and often contains her reflections on different aspects of monastic life. It was a fascinating read.
My husband and I also finished the final season of Hill Street Blues. We thoroughly enjoyed watching the series all the way through. This was a show that we remember our parents watching. Occasionally we would get to watch, but usually were sent to bed. Haha. We have moved on to NYPD Blue.
Have a good weekend!
Thanks for making me feel ancient, Gretchen! Some of us were over 30 when HILL STREET went on!
Glad you’re enjoying it, anyway.
Gretchen, We were Hill Street Blues regular watchers when it originally aired.
I read The Cloister Walk when it first came out. I also read Dakota by Kathleen Norris. They are rather slow going but you are right, fascinating reads.
Sharon, I have not read Dakota. I did enjoy Norris’ writing, but you are right, it was slow going at times.
I feel old, Gretchen. That comment about Hill Street Blues – “This was a show that we remember our parents watching.” Ha! I watched that.
I’m glad you enjoyed Death in Bloom. Your comments about why you enjoy the books are terrific. Thank you for sharing them!
Sorry to make you all feel old! I almost didn’t include the part about my parents watching, but decided to go for full disclosure😉. It was interesting remembering that there was a time when certain things were not allowed on television – like language and nudity – and seeing what they used instead.
In my opinion, the Sparks and Bainbridge Mystery series by Allison Montclair just gets better and better. In the first book, two women recovering from blows dealt to them during WWII got together to form a business, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Feisty Iris had been a spy in the war and thinks nothing of cheerfully consorting with gangsters, while conservative Gwen’s husband had been killed in battle. In the third series entry, A ROGUE’S COMPANY, Gwen is still living with her in-laws, trying to regain custody of her 6-year-old son and fighting against his grandfather’s determination to send him off to a brutal boarding school. The plot starts with a young man from Africa requesting their matchmaking services, but it soon becomes so much more. Gwen’s hostile guardian, Lord Bainbridge, has returned from a 6-month business trip abroad with a suspicious agenda, and soon there are a murder and a kidnapping to deal with. There is so much to love about this historical mystery series: an original premise, sparkling dialogue, believable character development, a rip-roaring adventure story, and protagonists to root for and embrace. Thoroughly delightful and highly recommended!
In WE CAN’T KEEP MEETING LIKE THIS by Rachel Lynn Solomon, Quinn is getting ready to go to college, and her wedding planner parents have already picked her business courses, expecting her to ultimately become a full-time member of the family business. What they don’t know is that Quinn has lost interest in the business, even though she’s OK with playing the harp at weddings. She has met a professional harp builder and performer who has rekindled her interest in the instrument and is secretly learning about a whole different way to play. Quinn’s part-time job for the family business brings her in frequent contact with Tarek, whose family’s business often caters the same weddings. Tarek is a year older, a budding baker, and the subject of Quinn’s last summer’s crush. He hasn’t made contact with Quinn for the whole school year, so their encounters are touchy at first. They work toward a real relationship, but each has hidden issues that make things difficult. And Tarek is a fan of grand gestures toward the girls he dates, while Quinn’s fear of another separation by her parents has led her to mistrust love. I truly enjoyed the characters in this YA book, the harp subplot, and the way Quinn and Tarek were able to work their way through long-held feelings and fears to a mutual awakening to what really matters in love and life.
Tracy Clark’s Chicago Mystery series is, for me, the epitome of what a PI novel should be–a dynamic-but-damaged protagonist, a couple of eccentric, long-time friends (one ex-con, one nun) who figure in the mystery in various ways, a vivid setting (Chicago in the frigid winter), and a tense plot that kept me reading breathlessly until the end, without unnecessary graphic violence. RUNNER is the fourth book featuring Cass Raines, who was formerly a police detective. A desperate recovering alcoholic mother contacts Cass for help finding her 15-year-old daughter, Ramona, who has disappeared from her foster home without a trace. By all accounts, this foster home is one of the good ones, so it is unclear whether Ramona simply ran away or . . . Cass prefers to work alone, but she finds herself cooperating with the detective on the case and–reluctantly–with another former detective who has insinuated himself into the case, as well as some lowlifes who might be able to hook her up with the information she needs. A dead body is found wearing the remains of a familiar-looking necklace. And some of the persons of interest are beginning to look even dodgier. There’s a cliffhanger at the end, although not with the main plot, so I’m happy to say that must mean the series will continue! Added bonus: the book is less than 300 pages long.
In STARS OVER SUNSET BOULEVARD by Susan Meissner, it’s 1939 and Violet and Audrey are both secretaries at the movie studio where Gone With the Wind is filming. Beautiful Audrey almost got a starring role in a film earlier and is doing her best to catch the eye of casting directors and studio executives. Violet wants nothing more than a husband and children. The plot tracks both as they pursue their dreams. The behind-the-scenes details of filming Margaret Mitchell’s beloved book are fascinating, although sparse, and I was rooting for both young women for the first half of the book. Overall, however, I found the story and the characters somewhat shallow and uninteresting. WWII reared its ugly head for a minute, but it really didn’t figure into the story (thank goodness). At the end, I was left with a feeling of wanting something less superficial and more memorable.
Margie, I just want to let you know I passed on your comments about Runner to Tracy Clark. I know authors can always use that kind of boost.
As always, I love your reviews. I appreciate ones that summarize the books, and express why or why you don’t like the book. Thank you.
Hope you’re staying inside and staying safe!
Thanks, Lesa. I also posted my review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Tracy Clark said thank you, Margie!
You say “ WWII reared its ugly head for a minute, but it really didn’t figure into the story (thank goodness).” Why thank goodness?
Margie, I completely agree with your assessment of Tracy Clark’s series.
Margie, I love the Sparks and Bainbridge series as well. I haven’t read the third one yet, but am glad to hear they keep getting better!
So sorry about the Covid testing, Lesa. I will never understand the choice to not vaccinate.
This week I finished NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE by Damhnait Monaghan. Her inspiration was the time she spent as a teacher in a outpost in Newfoundland in the 80’s. The book is the story of Rachel O’Brien who leaves the mainland after the death of her father to teach French at the local Catholic school in the small fishing village of Little Cove, Newfoundland in the 1980’s. This was just charming. I loved everything about it-the setting, the characters, the local language. I found myself down the Newfoundland rabbit hole after finishing with Alan Doyle playing loudly in the background 🙂
Now I am reading A CUP OF SILVER LININGS by Karen Hawkins. I am not enjoying this one as much the first in the series. I don’t particularly love the storyline of teenage Kristen coping after her mother dies and dealing with her unfeeling grandmother who wants to move her to Raleigh. The storylines concerning Sarah and Ava Dove are very good though. I would definitely read another book about Dove Pond.
Happy Reading!
PS to Rosemary. My husband and I finally finished all six seasons of Line of Duty last night (we watched two episodes a night). I cannot thank you enough for the recommendation. We are feeling a little lost now that it is all done.
I don’t understand that choice either, Sharon.
Well, thank you for your comments about A Cup of Silver Linings. I haven’t read earlier books in the series, but that one looked good. I’m going to bring it back unread after your comments. Too many other good books out there!
Happy Reading to you as well!
Sharon, I stopped reading this book for the very same reason.
Kaye, I need to be better about cutting my losses on books.
I loved Hill Street Blues. I cannot remember the channel numbers on the local stations so I have been missing all the TV series.
I am reading Bluebird by Sharon Cameron, I am enjoying it but it going slowly, There are two sets of characters, changing timelines and it is in small print. It is historical fiction, during WWII, involves a Nazi plot to steal an American secret project and what it was like for young women in schools that looked on Hitler as a God. I have notes on the two characters and the timeline. I do not want to get confused because it is both fascinating and scary.
Also reading What Would You Do If You Were Not Afraid by Michal Oshman. It is going much faster and is thought-provoking. The author grew up in Israel, has very successful careers already in Facebook and many places. All her life, she has fought against fear and anxiety. Culturally Jewish but not following strictly, she had years of psychotherapy and gave up because it did not help. Martin Buber’ s books, my favorite Jewish religious philosopher kindled her search through ancient Jewish teachings and became her worldview and her guide.
Carolee, I do that sometimes as well, keep track of the characters so I don’t lose them as I read books.
I’d say I was sort of hit-or-miss with Hill Street Blues, but I certainly watched a lot of episodes.
If you have Hulu you can stream the entire Hill Street Blues series.
Lesa, I hate this about the COVID news. Thinking of you with fingers crossed. I am SO angry with people refusing to do the right thing and getting vaccinated. I should just stop right there . . .
Books. I read good books this week.
Lizzie and Dante by Mary Bly. Those of you who reviewed and recommended this – Thank you!
The Summer Seekers by Sara Morgan. AND, those of you who reviewed and recommended this – Thank you!
I loved them both.
When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash (ARC) – Being a woman of the south, I seek out good southern lit but am disappointed far too often.
Following a tired pattern, many of the books I find lean heavily on southern stereotypes rather than the hard truth of today’s south. Sadly, this includes some highly praised southern novels.
After receiving an advance copy of Wiley Cash’s When Ghosts Come Home I stayed up way past my normal bedtime to read straight through till reaching The End.
Wiley Cash hits every note just right. Relative to the large number of books I read, I rarely give a book 5 stars. This one deserves 10.
Half way through this year, I have two literary heroes. Wiley Cash and Shawn A. Cosby .
Happy Reading Everyone.
You’re welcome, Kaye! I’m so glad you loved Lizzie and Dante. I just loved that book. As I said, I loved it enough to buy my own copy because I think I’ll reread it someday, despite the epilogue. And, maybe because of that epilogue as well. Just a special book.
Maybe not as special as a Wiley Cash or Shawn A. Cosby book, though. Razorblade Tears was wonderful.
Oh, I know where you’re coming from with the comment about the vaccine.
Sending lots of hugs and wishes that you find more good books!
Good morning. It is a beautiful day here in New Jersey. I was finally able to finish People You Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. It was very good. I am now reading When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I really enjoy the books written by this author. She is my go to when I want something light and entertaining to read. I am listening to The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker. I enjoy traveling to France via his books. I especially like to listen to his books because the narrator reads with a French accent. I look forward to the day when we can freely travel again without any worries. It is looking like it will be a little while yet so for now I will have to do my traveling through books.
Be well.
I know, Kathleen. My sister said she’s not going anyplace out of the country until at least 2023. I think she’s right.
Enjoy that beautiful day! We’ve settled into hot and muggy here in Indiana. Of course, it’s July. We’ve just been enjoying those 80s for so long that it comes as a shock when we really get our summer weather.
I think I’d enjoy the Susan Elizabeth Phillips books. I’ve just never settled in to start them.
Thank you! Have a good week!
Very sorry to hear about the possibility of you having to be tested for Covid, and the possible exposure. And hope everything turns out ok.
This week I finished reading USS SURPRISE by Patrick O’Brian. I enjoyed it immensely. This book was not that long but took me a while to read. I will soon be looking for the next book in the series.
Still reading books from my 20 Books of Summer list. Right now my book is ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE by Ian Fleming. I read many other books in the James Bond series (in order) between 2016 and 2018. Now I am getting back to it. I did skip THE SPY WHO LOVED ME because I wanted to finish the Blofeld trilogy, which ends with YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. I am not sure when and if I will read the rest. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN was published posthumously and does not get good ratings. The rest are shorter pieces.
Hill Street Blues came on a year after my husband and I got married and we were in our thirties. (Second marriage for me.) We were not big on television then so I never saw any of it.
Thank you, Tracy. Keeping my fingers crossed on that COVID.
Isn’t it interesting how our stages of our personal lives also affect what/how we watch TV?
Have you tried any of Anthony Horowitz’ James Bond books? I’m just wondering how they compare to Fleming’s. The estate picked him to write the books.
Lesa, I haven’t tried Anthony Horowitz’ continuation James Bond books yet, but I have a copy of Trigger Mortis, the first one he wrote. I have read both Magpie Murders books and The Word is Murder, so I know I like his writing. I look forward to seeing what he does with the series.
I haven’t read any other continuations of that series, although I have considered giving John Gardner’s books a try.
I was just curious, Tracy. Thanks!
I read, and liked, Trigger Mortis, but it didn’t really seem like a Bond book to me. Tracy, you’re WAY ahead of me on Horowitz, but did you read the Holmes book?
I’m pretty sure I’ve read all of Fleming’s Bond books, some of the earlier ones more than once. But it’s been a long time, and I wonder how they hold up.
Lesa: Being tested for Covid is really no big thing. They stick the swab up your nose and that’s it.
Rick, I read some of the Bond books (Ian Fleming only) long ago, and I probably did not notice the male chauvinistic behavior and ethnic slurs so much then, but I have found them to be fun and easy to read.
I am not surprised that TRIGGER MORTIS was different from Fleming’s Bond stories, but I think I will enjoy it either way.
I have not read any of Horowitz’s Sherlock Holmes continuation books, but I also have not read that much by Arthur Conan Doyle, and I thought I should read more of his books first.
Thanks, Rick. It’s always sounded awful to me.
Of course we all want you to test NEGATIVE!
Thank you!
Bummer about the COVID test. Hope it comes out OK. Sorry about being late here today, but the last Senior Day at Costco is (or was) tomorrow, so we went today. But happily, they listened to customers and will be keeping it open at 8-9 am for seniors (60+) on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting next week.
But I digress. We are finally out of the rainy pattern (at least for now) that has deluged us for most of July. Luckily it isn’t a problem for us, but maybe suburban areas around New York and New Jersey have had flooding, trees down, etc. Today is finally a little cooler and with much lower humidity.
Reading.As per usual lately, I was reading four books at the same time (well, not literally at the same time) this week. First finished BODY LINE by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, which seems to be the 13th (of 22, so I am way behind) Bill Slider mysteries. It’s been at least a couple of years since I read the last one, so I really enjoyed it. A doctor (though no one can say where he worked) is murdered, executed with a shot to the back of the head, and his latest paramour jumps out the window to escape the killer. He is divorced and seems somewhat sleazy, but who killed him, and why? I did guess who was behind a lot of it, but it’s always fun to visit with Slider, Atherton, and their team. I shouldn’t wait so long to read the next one. (Of course, I have several on the shelf waiting.)
Next is LONG STORY SHORT, the second collection of (long) St. Mary’s stories by Jodi Taylor. As a rule, the novels are better, but it is still enjoyable to read these stories, mostly 50-80 pages each. Different people are featured in some of them, but most of the usual crew is present.
Jenny (The Bloggess) Lawson’s first memoir, LET’S PRETEND THIS NEVER HAPPENED (A Mostly True Memoir) is a hoot, for the most part, though at times my thoughts were for her long-suffering husband Victor. I will definitely read her two later books, but after a break, because you need time off befor jumping back into the craziness.
I’m close to finishing Howard Fast’s THE LAST SUPPER & Other Stories, including several based on the period he was blacklisted in the 1950s.
I’m still not sure what I will read next, though it will be a mystery.
Jeff, You don’t have to be early on Thursdays, but I do always wonder about you if you’re not around. I’m glad COSTCO listened to the customers. With these breakthrough cases for people who have been vaccinated, it’s good to try to be safe anyways.
I don’t know why it took me so long to find the Bill Slider books, but once I read them, I tore through the series. I really like that team.
I can see why you’d need time off after reading Lawson’s books.
We’re into our upward climb with temperatures and humidity. Enjoy your weather!
I liked that Taylor short story collection too, Jeff.
Hi Lesa and all the Thursday People 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear about your Covid situation Lesa. All close contacts of anyone with a positive result are required by law to isolate for up to 10 days (depending on dates) here. The NHS app alerts people (of course not everyone has it or even has the right phone for it, you need quite a new one.) However, this is now causing so much disruption in workplaces, schools, etc that they are rethinking it. The school where my daughter works had 300 children off isolating a couple of weeks ago; most of them did not have the virus. In fact her headmaster ended up closing the school 3 days before the end of term, as it was just not worth keeping it open. Maybe once everyone has been vaccinated they can stop this, as whilst I know there are breakthrough cases, I’ve heard that they are generally not too bad (apologies if this is wrong.) But as has already been said, there seem to be so many people refusing the vaccine that I wonder if we will ever reach this point.
It’s turned quite cool here today, with low cloud; in fact I have just closed the bedroom windows, which have been wide open night and day for a couple of weeks. This morning there was hardly anyone at the river; it was beautifully peaceful. The level is most unusually low, but despite this I could hear fish flopping back into the water all morning – the salmon ‘jump’ as they make their way back to the sea. Unfortunately I never managed to look up from my book quickly enough to see one; I keep trying!
Kaye, I am interested to know what southern stereotypes are. I get annoyed when non-British authors write stereotypical nonsense about the UK (especially Scotland, which is certainly not all tartan kilts and Highland Flings!) but I doubt I’d recognise a Southern cliche. I will look up Wiley Cash.
I am reading The New Rector by Rebecca Shaw. It is the first in her Turnham Malpas village series; I have read several of the later books but now I wish I had read them in order – it’s not difficult to work out who is who wherever you start, but The New Rector gives a lot of the back story, and is, in my opinion, better written and more interesting than some of the later outings.
The characters are (mostly) not stereotypes, and although the series is not a mystery one, in this book we’ve already had an unexplained (so far) suicide and a murder. I do still find the/rector’s wife (doctor) Caroline far too good to be true (and no, she’s not going to turn out to be the murderer..) but there are some other characters who are much more interesting. Muriel, a kind, well liked, 60+ spinster with no family, thinks she is going mad because things keep moving in her house when she is out. Shaw shows how easy it is to persuade a vulnerable person that she is losing her mind, and I could really see how this might happen. As we get older, I think many of us start to doubt our own perceptions. Because I read the books out of order, i know that things turn out OK for Muriel, but in this book the reader does feel concerned for her.
Before this I finished Thunder On The Right (Mary Stewart), which was not as good as some of her others. The creepy convent was a typical, and well evoked, Stewart setting, but the main character, Jenny, just got wetter and wetter, and relied on her would-be lover Strong, Silent, War Wounded Stephen, to come along and sort it everything out. Even when she got herself into dangerous situations, all she thought about was when Stephen was going to turn up and save her. I read that Mary Stewart herself was not that pleased with this book. I’m glad I read Madam, Will You Talk? and Wildfire at Midnight first.
I am with you re Hill Street Blues Lesa – I remember watching it, and not with my mother! Great series.
And Sharon, I am so glad you enjoyed Line of Duty. I think we were all hoping against hope that there would be another series, – I read that Jed Mercurio was prepared to write one – but there has been no word on that from the BBC. As I probably said before, many people here were disappointed with the ending, but the more I thought about it, the more I could see how right it was. Mercurio is such a good writer.
My husband bought a pass to see all of the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival events online. Of course this meant he wanted to watch them all via the TV as that has the largest screen, so I was force fed a diet of jazz bands earlier this week. I enjoyed some, but some I felt just did not work online. Even when something did work, I found it hard to concentrate in this format, though I appreciate that the organisers didn’t have many other options. A few sessions were performed live in Edinburgh, but as we are now up here, we couldn’t have gone anyway, and to be honest I still don’t feel confident about attending such things. My husband, who has no such qualms, has now gone off to Latitude, a very big music festival in Suffolk. I have to say I feel this is reckless, but I suppose each to their own. He will stay in Edinburgh for a while on his return, so at least he won’t be anywhere near me! The organisers are requiring evidence of double vaccination or an NHS registered clear lateral flow test to enter, but I can’t see that the latter is reliable proof, as how can you really prove that it was you that took the test? But David says I am ‘being negative’, so hey ho! (He’s been double vaccinated so fingers crossed.)
Last night I watched an old DVD of the TV adaptation of HE Bates’s A Breath of French Air, the sequel to The Darling Buds of May. I read the book relatively recently too, and last night I again marvelled at some of the things that Bates wrote into the character of Pop Larkin. The worst of his undesirable traits were omitted from the TV version, but even so, if he behaved like that now he’d probably be locked up and/or reported to the social services, and some of the others weren’t much better. (Eg at one stage a drunken Charley, [usually nice] husband of Marietta [the Larkins’ oldest daughter, played by Catherine Zeta Jones in the days before she was famous] literally drags a screaming, terrified, Marietta off the beach because she has been playing ball with some French boys. Pop and Ma Larkin look on, taking this violent scene as an endearing little lovers’ tiff… ) Nevertheless, it was good easy entertainment if you put your modern day scruples to one side for an hour. The scenery was lovely, and I do like Pam Ferris (Ma Larkin – she’s also in Rosemary and Thyme).
On the radio I finished listening to Brighton Rock, which was excellent, I am also working my way through a series called The Corrupted by GF Newman. I had never heard of this before but it is great. It’s the story of an East End family from the end of the war onwards – most of the characters are petty criminals, some are involved in protection rackets, all are ‘on the fiddle’ as my mother would say (eg not paying tax, selling black market goods, cooking the books). Domestic abuse, racial abuse, prostitution, all feature – and of course they were all facts of life for many poor Londoners then, and still are now, even if in different versions. The fictional story lines are interwoven with real history – so the characters include people like the notorious gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray – and real life events are mentioned. There are at least six series and I’m only just nearing the end of the first one.
I hope everyone is having a good week, and that the temperatures have moderated in the places that were suffering (I know it’s still very hot in London and the south east here, but nothing like some of your conditions.)
Rosemary
Some of the southern stereotypes that make crazy include
“The Southern Belle. ” She’s blonde and pretty and has big hair and a million dollar smile. A beauty queen contestant. She can call a man “sugar” in a long drawn out ridiculous southern accent and he immediately falls under her spell. She might be smart enough to run a successful business but she covers up that intelligence with coyness. Southern men do not appreciate women who might be smarter than they are (rolling my eyes). IF however a southern woman is not a Southern Belle, she’s poor white trash living in a broken down trailer.
That southern men all own guns and hunt. Fact is, there are some southern men who do not own guns and who do not hunt.
That southern people are all racist. This is bullshit.
That southern people are all Republicans. This too is ridiculous. OR that all southern republicans love Trump. No. Not so.
I don’t mean to say that all southern authors present things in this way. But. Too many of them do.
A southern author I highly recommend is Anna Jean Mayhew. Her books are intelligent, well written, and spot on.
The book Hillbilly Elegy (and the movie) gives its audience a much exaggerated look all the things that are bad in the Appalachian South, where I live. The Appalachians also includes a good part of the northern part of the country, and I daresay that many of the problems spotlighted as southern also exist in the north. And in the west. And in all spots in between.
The book Appalachian Reckoning is a fair and honest and intelligent response to Hillbilly Elegy.
Actually, Rosemary, I guess I’m better at spotting them than explaining them. Maybe others can do better.
Kaye, I was born and raised in Birmingham, AL (in the 50’s and 60’s) and I don’t read many books set in the South, partially due to stereotypes. I wonder if you have read any of the Southern Sisters mysteries by Anne George, and if so, what did you think of them? In 2003, I read the first one but did not read any more of them. I have considered trying them again.
I thought I was the only person in the who was not a fan!
Thanks for your feedback on that, Kaye. I will look into Wiley Cash and Anna Jean Mayhew.
Tracy, I read all the Anne George Mysteries and loved them. But she was from Birmingham and I think I read somewhere when she died, she was the state poet.
Sharon, I do remember now that Anne George was poet laureate for Alabama, and that is one reason I assumed her portrayal of the South would be accurate. One of the sisters seemed very like my own sister. But maybe the story was too humorous and zany for me.
Kaye, have you read any of Sean Dietrich’s books? He writes real life stories about the south. I’m a big fan of his. Each night, he publishes an essay on Facebook and I have to say they are well written.
I enjoy his blog, Sean of the South, very much!
One of my favorite writers is Rick Bragg. He writes wonderful memoirs of his family and growing up in Alabama.
That’s interesting about the H. E> Bates, Rosemary. The last time we were in England (I think it was) we bought the complete boxed set of DARLING BUDS OF MAY. We watch “Christmas is Coming” every year. I’m surprised, because Charlie usually seems like a bit of a doormat.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you Lesa re COVID test but at least you didn’t bring it home to your Mom or Sisters. I read In Her Tracks by Robert Dugoni and this is a new author for me and a new detective. I love finding new ones that I can look for at the Library. Yes weather here today in CT is beautiful but I’m working! Tomorrow I hope for a beach day! Yes, I agree, it is very hard to understand reasons why people don’t get vaccinated – these past 2 years have been eye opening re differences in areas of the country.
Oh, I know Bob Dugoni, Donna. It sounds as if you enjoyed his book.
You’re right. We seem to live in a country that’s very divided, and it’s not red states or blue states.
Take care of yourself!
Those who deny science and are suspicious of Covid vaccines, or anti-vaccers, may discover the reward for ignorance is illness.
And, in most cases, a much worse case of COVID than those of us who were vaccinated will get, Rick.
Rosemary, I hope you hear back from Kaye. I’m sure we’d all like to know what she considers southern stereotypes. I did email her and tell her you had a question.
I wish this country was good at getting vaccinated. It makes me wonder if I’ll ever be able to travel outside the U.S. again. (sigh)
It’s been a good week at work, and getting to read everyone’s comments about their lives, the weather, and their books always makes for a good day. I love to read your comments about your family, what you’ve been doing, as well as what you’re reading and listening to. Thank you, Rosemary.
Lost my post, so I’ll just say hello! I so enjoy seeing what everyone is reading.
Well, darn. I’m sorry you lost your post, M.M. But, have a good week of reading, and a good week in general.
M M, that happens me too. So I’ve started writing my post as a Word document and then copying and pasting it here. Maybe that will help?
I now do the same, using the Pages app on my iPad.
Good suggestion. Thanks
I should be finishing ONE FOR THE BOOKS by Jenn McKinlay today. I’m enjoying it. Next up will be A SCONE OF CONTENTION, the new Key West Food Critic Mystery (set in Scotland) by Lucy Burdette.
Don’t you love the cover of One for the Books, Mark? I’m not always happy when authors take their characters away from their community, but it sounds as if Lucy Burdette takes some of the community with her in that book.
I’ve been enjoying perfect Portland Summer weather, high 70s to low 80s, which makes for nice morning coffee in the garden, or trimming, weeding, deadheading, and when it’s cooler out, walking and then reading in the morning room, watching the birds on the feeder. The library has been generous, though some books have been on hold for a very long time.
I finished THE FINAL PAGE OF BAKER STREET by Daniel D. Victor, a Holmes pastiche that I’d rate as “average”. The promise of the plot gimmick didn’t pay off as expected. Since I got a handful of the author’s books in a Kickstarter, I’ll hope the next is better.
After reading Lesa’s review of the second book in the series, I got THE FINDERS by Jeffrey B. Burton. Mason “Mace” Reid trains dogs, specifically search dogs and more specifically corpse dogs, dogs who find dead people or their remains. He has three dogs, but at the beginning of the story gets a fourth, Vira, a Golden Retriever pup with exceptional skill. A serial killer is at work in the Chicago area, and Mace and Vera find him, though both are injured in the process. An attractive and dog-loving police sergeant help Mace and they work together when it’s discovered there is more to the case than anyone realized. I liked the characters and their interactions, the dogs are great, and I enjoyed the book. I’ve requested a hold on the second book, THE KEEPERS. (I wonder if subsequent books will be titled The Losers, and The Weepers?)
A PITYING OF DOVES by Steve Burrows is the second in his birder murder series featuring Inspector Jejune in the Norfolk marshlands. This time a graduate student doing work on European Doves is found murdered, along with a man from the Mexican Consulate. Why would they be together, especially at a bird rescue site? Chief Inspector Dominique Jejune’s boss wants a quick solution, before things get too political, but that’s easier asked for than done. I am really enjoying this series, and have ordered the next ones.
It was a good reading week, and I have more in hand from the library, in addition to those “in transit”. I hope everyone else is enjoying their Reading Summer.
I didn’t even catch that, Rick! Now, I’ll be curious to see what the titles are for Jeffrey B. Burton’s next books! The dogs are fabulous. I really think they’re the stars of the books. I liked the characters, too, because Mace comes through, but he doesn’t pretend to be a hero.
Darn. I hit reply sooner than I intended. I’m glad your weather is enjoyable again.
Enjoy the next week of reading. And, thank you for using your public library!
Rick, I was wondering about those books, as I am a fan of other K-9 series (Paula Munier, Margaret Misushima). Will get the first one.
OK, I am first on the list for the ebook edition.
I’m sending good thoughts, too. Even though fully vaccinated, I still fret about breakthrough cases and wonder if I should get tested because I attended a funeral, etc.etc. There seems to be so much to worry about these days.
I’m not reading Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger. There are a lot of character names to remember in this one, so I can’t read it when sleepy or they all run together. Still, It’s a very good story.
The update on Young Blood by Tricia Fields — it did not appeal to me even though I’m a big fan of the Josie Grey series.. The writing in Young Blood seemed different,– not as polished.
I’m NOW reading Confessions — goodness, I proofread my comment and still messed up.
That’s okay, Patricia. You said enough about it that I’m sure we all decided you were NOW reading it. I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
I want to read this second book in this series. I, too, usually wait until the book is available to purchase other than Barnes & Nobles. I wished more people would vaccinate and wear their masks. I still wear it even when not required. I look forward to being able to go out without worrying about getting the virus.
I hope we reach that point eventually, Bonnie. It just bothers me that people, including a number of our elected officials, are still spreading fake news.
I’m liking it, but it has too many characters who all run together for me. This author tends to add way too many suspects in her books.
I’ve just started listening to The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine on audio. In print, I am reading Maggie finds her Muse by Dee Ernst and loving it.
Oh, good, Katherine. I’m glad you’re loving Maggie Finds Her Muse!
Lesa, I’ve heard the nasal swab is unpleasant, but better than the test they use in China, where you walk funny after.
The heat isn’t too bad, but there’s a lot of fires. Some of them are big enough, they’re creating their own weather. The air quality isn’t too bad, yet, but I can certainly foresee a time where I can’t go outside. Newsom’s busy trying not to get recalled. Too bad he didn’t think of that last year.
I read:
The Perseus Protocol by JT Sawyer; Our hero runs around India with the MacGuffin device, while Russian mobsters, Indian bandits, Dark Ops folks and tigers try to kill him. Lots of movement.
Maclean’s Kingdom by Tony Reed; a couple of goofs are hired to find a satchel in an old mine. They’re double crossed, and risk their lives to get paid their lousy $500. I can think of better career choices.
Secrets of the Force by by Edward Gross; An oral history of the entire Star Wars saga, from the first movie to the drek we get today. I enjoyed the part about the holiday special the most.
Hoop Noir by Ralph Dennis; Two gritty books about basketball. Even though these were considered a bit sleazy at the time, the game is probably even worse now.
All Gone by Joel Goldman; Cassie Ireland and Ryan Carter are back, investigating the ransom of the Magna Carta. And Cassie’s lost love returns. The first book was better.
Lockdown edited by Nick Lolakowski: Pandemic noir fiction. Might be too soon. I felt like almost all the stories were pretty much the same, except for the one with the ghost. Maybe he should have gone a little further outside his field of friends to find authors.
The Taking of Jemima Boone by Nick Pearl; A history of the one of the most famous abductions by Native Americans, of Daniel Boone’s daughter. Not bad, but I think Pearl was too scared of being cancelled to really give us the works.
I have to admit here, Glen, my lack of history knowledge. I do have a friend who is a descendant of Daniel Boone. She’s lived in Kentucky for most of her life.
What I’m admitting, though, is that we have a family story about a kidnapping by Native Americans, and I just thought it was a story. How unlikely. Then, I started researching family history. My paternal grandmother’s family has been here since the 1630s, early settlers in Massachusetts and Connecticut. It turns out there are four or five stories of the family in that area, and then in western Pennsylvania, that include Indian wars and abductions. And, I just thought we were white people romanticizing our history. I guess not. In one family of eight, the parents and five of the family were killed and three of the children abducted. One story tells of a young man taken to Quebec, sold to the Jesuits there, and he remained there rather than return when he was found. The taking of Jemima Boone is just one more account. I may have to pick up that book sometime.
I had the nasal swab twice last year before my surgery. The first time, I tested positive! Don’t ask me how, as we were only going out to the grocery once a week then and always careful in masks, etc. I had NO symptoms (I never did), but because I tested positive the hospital wouldn’t take me and I had to wait a month – and get a second test, this one Negative – before I had the surgery. I NEVER had any symptoms, neither did Jackie, and she was tested and was negative, so you explain it.
Anyway, my point was, the nasal swab did not feel like it was digging into my brain or anywhere close. It was slightly unpleasant but no big deal. When Jackie went, the tech let her swab her own nose. I have heard of other people who had more unpleasant experiences, mostly early on, but these days they should know what they’re doing and make it painless.
P.S. – I STILL don’t know if I had COVID with no symptoms or just a test with a false positive, which seems the more likely.
You’re right, Jeff. Sounds like a false positive to me. Thank you. That’s a little reassuring.
I just came in from the garden, got a tall glass of iced tea, and am opening the first page of THE LAST BOOKSHOP IN LONDON. Ahhh…
Oh, that book will go well with a tall glass of iced tea, Rick. I’ll be interested to see if it’s to your taste or not – the book, not the iced tea.
I hope you test negative…nothing worse than doing everything right and then – bam!!! i started Elizabeth and Monty- a book about the friendship of Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift – so far so good…Golden Age Detective Stories – self explanatory and great…When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips…
Oh, I remember seeing the cover of Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. Glad you’re enjoying all of your books, Gram. Thank you for the wishes!
The new one, edited by Otto Penzler?
There are two different nasal swab tests. One goes way up in there and one is lower level and does not go in nearly as far. Usually, the second one is the one the testers will allow the patient to do as the other one can be dangerous. My late wife had to have that deep one twice and that was long before Covid. There are some nasty infections, not just Covid, that only can be tested for with that deep penetrating nasal swab. Hope they leave you alone, Lesa.
I won’t bore everyone with updates about issues here or what I have been reading. Will say that I masked up and took my vaccinated self to the local library and picked up FALLEN by Linda Castillo early this afternoon. Reading is underway and I have got about half of it done so far.
Kevin, It’s never boring to learn what you’ve been reading. At least you mentioned Fallen! But, feel free to give us updates about life as well as books. I’m interested. And, people can always choose to skip what they don’t want to read.
Just finished, FALLEN. Heck of a read.
It is!
Am taking a couple of days off from the blog and the world and am checking social media only occasionally. Been very stressed and missing Sandi way worse than the always bad normal. It has not helped that I have fallen four times in the last three days. So, I am hiding in books.
The new Joe Landsdale, another book you recommended in a review awhile back and the title escapes me at the moment, FALLEN, and DEAD BY DAWN by Paul Doiron all showed up at the library at the same time. Feast or famine is the way. So, I am now reading DEAD BY DAWN and am halfway.