As I write this, the meteorolgists haven’t decided if we’re going to get a dusting of snow this weekend, or up to seventeen inches. I’m voting for the dusting, but I don’t think I have a choice. The closer we get to the weekend, the more they’ll know. They usually do a pretty good job of forecasting snow here.
Just a reminder, if you missed yesterday’s post, you might want to go back and read it. Margie Bunting wrote about her favorite books of 2021, and there are some you might want to read. Thank you, Margie!
Before I ask what you’re reading, I’m going to mention my award, and then we’ll move on. Thursdays are our day to talk about books. Yesterday, Mystery Writers of America announced they will be presenting me with the 2022 Raven Award. It “recognizes outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing”. I’m so honored that I’ll be receiving this award at the end of April. And, I want you to know I’m not handing the award over to you, but you’re part of this. I think our Thursdays here have become special.
Because I’m always reading for Library Journal, it sometimes takes me a while to get through some of the other books I’m reading. I really only have about 100 pages left in Terry Pratchett’s Guards! Guards! A friend told me I’d like it because I like police procedurals. She’s right. The Night Watch have to investigate when a dragon appears in Ankh Morpork. For a small group of three, with the addition of a young man whose father volunteered him (unheard of!), it’s not easy to set aside their drinking ways and actually investigate. It’s a fun book, and I should finish it soon.
What about you? Are you waiting for snow? Digging out of snow? Or enjoying beautiful weather? Most important, what are you reading?
I’m enjoying nice weather. Sorry, don’t hate me.
Earlier this week, I finished ON THIN ICING by Ellie Alexander. Thin is the right word since the plot was rather thin, unfortunately. Most suited to a short story than a novel. There was a strong sub-plot that helped, but still.
Now I’m working on THE SELF-WORKING TRICK AND OTHER STORIES, a collection of short stories featuring Eli Marks, the magician detective from John Gaspard. The series is fun, and so far, so are these stories.
Mark, you’re not expecting over a foot of snow. I can understand anyone enjoying their weather without that prediction.
I have a librarian friend who loves that series by Ellie Alexander. I just can’t stand the ongoing relationship with her husband. Drove me nuts, so I finally quit.
Congratulations on the award. I just started The Living and the Lost by Ellen Feldman.
Thank you, Leeza! I recognize the title of your book, but that’s about all I know.
Good morning and congratulations on the well-deserved award Lesa. I also wanted to mention what a pleasure it is to see your smiling face as the poisonedpen blogger. So busy!
Pleasant weather here, sunny and warmish with highs in the mid-fifties. Great for getting in that daily walk.
I’ve had a good reading week starting with Pickard County Atlas (2021) the debut novel by 7th generation Nebraskan Chris Harding Thornton. Unfolding over six tense days in rural Nebraska, it tells of the aftershocks and trauma of family history in a small town. I’ve lived in Nebraska several times and found the setting authentic, an interesting presentation of lives of quiet desperation. You presented a thorough summary of the book in January 2021. I didn’t find the book nearly so grim, the writing itself is beautiful and quite descriptive.
If not for a personal recommendation, I might not have read The Wonder Test (2021) Michelle Redmond. Recently widowed, FBI Agent Lina returns home to sell the house she has inherited in upscale Greenfield, California. She discovers the town has been transformed into a Silicon Valley suburb on steroids, obsessed with an annual exam called The Wonder Test. When students at her son’s high school go missing, Lina attempts to solve the mystery. While she struggles, Greenfield’s shadowy dangers creep closer to her own family. A slow start while the background is established, but the suspense builds to become a ‘can’t put down’ novel.
The next wasn’t a book, but a very interesting long article about an author, Isabella Lucy Bird. She sailed to the United States in 1854 for her health and two years later published her experiences as The Englishwoman In America. At age 25, she had a career as a successful travel writer. In 1872, Bird traveled to New Zealand and Australia, then stopped in Hawaii. At 4 feet, 11 inches tall, with all her ailments and (in her words) “the padded look of a puffin,” Bird was tougher than she appeared. She wrote vivid letters to her sister, Henrietta, about riding horses and climbing Mauna Loa, which became the book The Hawaiian Archipelago: Six Months Among the Palm Groves, Coral Reefs, & Volcanoes of the Sandwich Islands. Subsequent letters would become the basis for A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains. Fascinating!
Hope everyone has a great week with plenty of reading.
MM, thank you.
You do have nice weather!
I loved that self-description by Isabella Lucy Bird of “the padded look of a puffin”. That’s what I look like! She was taller than I am.
I’m so glad you liked Pickard County Atlas. Isn’t it interesting how people have different reactions to books? I love that.
Stopping by to congratulate you on the Raven Award, Lesa.
So well deserved!!
My reading is still pretty erratic this month, so I have not been commenting much.
Continued happy reading to all!
Thank you, Grace! That was so nice of you to stop by. Sending good wishes that you’re able to enjoy your reading again soon.
Congratulations, Lisa!! You so deserve the Raven Award! For all the years you reviewed for us at Mystery News and the years you’ve written this blog, we all thank you!
Thank you so much, Lynn. And, thank you for everything you did for readers.
That’s great news about the Raven Awed. If you look at the list of previous recipients you see that (1) they don’t give it every year and (2) it is an impressive list of people – Otto Penzler, Marvin Lachman, Barbara Peters, Marilyn Stasio, etc. Well deserved. Will you be coming to New York to pick it up?
No snow here (ha ha), but we have had rain and cooler (though still in the 70s) here in South Florida the last few days, Since New York had a high of 19 the other day, and another 20 degree day is predicted this weekend, I am even happier to be out of that. I’m rooting for the dusting too.
We’ve been here a week now (11 weeks to go) and still seem to be running around a lot. Between that and the computer I have just not seemed to have a lot of reading time so far. I do have a book (the new Lee Goldberg) waiting for me at the library. I did read the Tom Hanks collection of stories, UNCOMMON TYPE, and it was pretty good overall, with a couple of very good stories. I am now reading A SURPRISE FOR CHRISTMAS, the British Library anthology edited by Martin Edwards. I am nearly finished with MARKED MAN, the latest Joe Gunther mystery by Archer Mayor. I found this one confusing for a while, as there are many members of this extended family living under one roof (in different apartments) and it is not that easy to keep them all straight. Turns out the patriarch, very much not a nice man, died a year ago and it was just discovered that even though he was dying, his death was not natural. Now two more family members are dead, with somewhat clumsy attempts to make them look like accidents. The pace has picked up in the second half.
I hope my reading will pick up too. Jackie is reading another of Christine Feehan’s “Dark” books, with the Jayne Cstle (Jayne Ann Krentz) book waiting next, and the first Darynda Jones paranormal book here from the library.
Have a good week everyone, and congratulations again to Lesa.
Thank you, Jeff. I’m just in awe at the list of recipients of the Raven Award. It is an impressive list. As long as COVID doesn’t shut down the award ceremony, I will come to NY for it.
70s sound wonderful right now, with our weather prediction. Actually, 70s always sound good even with the rain.
I hope you feel settled in soon, so you can get back to your reading!
Lesa, congratulations on the Raven Award! It is well deserved.
The snow is going to miss us this time. We may get an inch or two, but nothing major. We are experiencing beautiful weather right now. Highs yesterday were in the mid-thirties and should be close to that again today. But, then we will drop down into the teens again.
This week I read:
Reserved for Murder by Victoria Gilbert – the second book in the Booklover’s B & B series. A famous romance author is staying at Chapters along with some fans that have won the privilege of spending time with the author. One of the fans is the head of a large, fanatical fan club. When she is found dead, Charlotte starts snooping around. Suspects abound and secrets are uncovered. It took me a long time to warm up to Charlotte in this book. I had the same problem in the first book. But, after I warmed up to her I ended up enjoying the mystery.
Sunrise by Susan May Warren – The story takes place in Alaska and the author does a great job of helping the reader understand what it would be like to live there, both the beauty and the raw wildness of the land. Dodge left ten years ago to join the military and swore he would never return. But, his dad has a flying accident. At the urging of his sister, Dodge returns to help his dad heal and to take care of the family ranch. Echo has never left Alaska, although she always thought she would. She spends her days raising sled dogs, helping her dad and guiding research teams. When a fellow researcher goes missing in the middle of a storm, Dodge and Echo must work together to save her. Full of plenty of adventure and a little romance, I really enjoyed this one.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Gretchen!
You’re right about Charlotte. It does take a little bit of time to warm up to her. I’m not sure exactly why. I’m glad Sunrise worked better for you.
Thank you! Happy Reading to you as well!
Good morning. Congratulations on the award. This week has been cold but sunny although they are saying we might get 3 – 6 inches of snow Sunday night into Monday. My mom has a podiatrist appointment Monday which we rescheduled due to the last snow storm and it looks like I’ll have to reschedule it again. On the plus side she finally got her Covid booster. Not many places here are doing the Jansen shot anymore and she can’t walk long distances or stand very long. A very nice woman from the county set her up with a small pharmacy that we’d never heard of a couple of towns over and the people there bent over backwards to make it easy for her.
This week I read an AZC of SEWN AT THE CRIME by ACF Bookens. Set down south, a body turns up under the floor of a former black school that’s being demolished. I enjoy this series although it’s a bit gritty for a cozy series since the books tend to deal with issues of racism and sexuality.
MURDER JUST FOR SHOW by Thea Cambert is a short mystery featuring a man and a woman who are hired to do a blog about small house living. This is the second book in the series and the “are they attracted to each other or not” factor is already wearing thin.
SPIRITS AND SOURDOUGH by Bailey Cates is the latest in her magical bakeshop series. These are always a fun read.
Thank you, Sandy!
I think that’s a beautiful story about the woman from the county and the small pharmacy that was so kind to your mother. One of those stories that just makes me feel better about the state of the country. I think we’re still pretty good on a one-to-one basis
I don’t know why publishers think every mystery series has to have a romance. Life really isn’t like that.
I’m in a “literary” phase at the moment, and a “Big Book” phase as well. I’m working through William T. Vollmann’s unbelievable epic “The Dying Grass”–it’s a commitment, but a rewarding one. I believe it’s essential to read this book in print, but it weighs something close to 3 pounds so you have to hold it on your lap or on a desk! I also have a nonfiction book going, “The American War in Afghanistan” by Carter Malkasian–it was a NYTimes best books of 2021list, and is detailed and quite good.
I like to see occasional comments about nonfiction books, David, as well as “Big Books”. That 3 pound book would drive my lap cat crazy. 1341 pages in the Vollmann! You’re right. That is a commitment.
My current nonfiction is only 512 pages, and I’m plugging along. I’m on the 60th discovery in Lost Cities, Ancient Tombs: 100 Discoveries That Changed the World. So fascinating and well-written.
Good morning! No snow in my neck of the woods. It’s actually been in the fifties here in Northern California, so not as cold as before. I do hope we have some more rain during the winter, even though we’ve already gotten much more than usual.
THE CLOCKMAKER’S WIFE by Daisy Wood alternates stories about one woman’s sacrifices during WWII while her husband was imprisoned and, in the present day, her granddaughter’s attempts to discover the truth about her family’s involvement in the war effort for the benefit of her elderly mother. I am not a fan of war stories in general (I read this book for a book club), but I admired the vivid depiction of one particular attempt to thwart a plan to demoralize the English by attacking a landmark dear to their hearts. The rest of the novel fell a bit flat for me, especially a romance that was unconvincing and uninteresting. Most of my book club mates seemed to like it a little more than I did.
Ellery Adams’ Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mysteries are a cut above most other cozy mystery series because the characters are mature, grounded, and relatable, and the plots are well thought out and thoroughly engrossing. They don’t feel frivolous or silly, but they are endlessly entertaining. In THE VANISHING TYPE, four women who own or manage businesses in Miracle Springs, NC started the Society a few years back when they discovered that each of them had a well-kept and tragic secret that she longed to reveal to just a few trusted friends. Nora is the leader and protagonist, but this story also features Hester, owner of the Gingerbread House Bakery. Hester’s boyfriend, a police detective, has plans to propose to her and is pretty confident she will accept, but he doesn’t know about her secret. As the book progresses, more disturbing details about Hester’s background are revealed, and more than one murder occurs in this small town. At the same time, Nora and her police chief beau are trying to figure out why a stack of books in her Miracle Books shop have been defaced, and why a series of old books–each with a different flower on the cover–are showing up in the strangest places. I particularly love the town of Miracle Springs and the characters of the four Society members. Also keeping things fun and interesting are Nora’s quirky and devoted bookstore employee, her vibrant long-distance best friend, and the bookstore’s imaginative and fun events, in addition to the oft-mentioned delicious-sounding bakery treats. And if you enjoy this series, you’ll want to look for the author’s enthralling 7-book Book Retreat Mysteries, which have a magical realism factor. (Apr)
Ellie Alexander’s Sloan Krause mysteries are a favorite series of mine (I’ve never read her Bakeshop Mysteries), and I was delighted to see that the author is moving in yet another direction with LOST COAST LITERARY, a standalone set in a small college town in coastal Humboldt County, CA. In addition, I am thrilled to note that Alexander’s signature emotional depth is one of this book’s strengths. Emily has moved from Silicon Valley to NYC for her first job in publishing. But when she learns her grandmother has died and left her a huge home in Cascata, she has to travel there to fulfill the stipulations of the will. She can’t sell the house until she edits a stack of her fellow book editor/bibliophile grandmother’s “forsaken” manuscripts. This is in Emily’s wheelhouse, as she has always loved to write alternative happy endings to book classics with endings she disliked. Now, however, she is shocked to see her manuscript edits playing out in real life, sometimes with near-disastrous results. At the same time, Emily is grappling with her lifelong feeling of abandonment by her grandmother and other close relatives after she and her parents left Cascata when she was 8 years old. And yet the picture she is getting of her grandmother from her cousins and others she meets as kind, intuitive, and much beloved doesn’t mesh with the dire picture her father has drawn for her. The author’s detailed, lush descriptions of Emily’s grandmother’s house, the colorful houses of Cascata, buildings such as her uncle’s pub and the local paper goods store, and the nature surrounding them are to die for. Her struggle to help the townspeople who are the subjects of the forsaken manuscripts is palpable, and her dawning realization of what she wants her life to be is ultimately satisfying. If you like an engaging and uplifting plot tinged with magic realism, this book is for you. (March)
Margie – THIS! “Ellery Adams’ Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mysteries are a cut above most other cozy mystery series because the characters are mature, grounded, and relatable, and the plots are well thought out and thoroughly engrossing. They don’t feel frivolous or silly, but they are endlessly entertaining.”. Yes! You said exactly what I feel about this series. Thank you. I’m not normally a cozy book reader, but I do enjoy Ellery Adams.
Congrats on your award – it’s always great to get recognition for a job well done. Thanks to Margie for letting me know a new Harlan Coben book is coming as he is one of my favorites. After ditching my plodding book I read one that I bought for my husband – Tear it Down by Nick Petrie – fast paced which is just what I needed. Fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher should try him. I was also thrilled when I went to the Library to find an Ann Cleeves book The Heron’s Cry there as I love her books and I have just started reading it. Until the covid numbers go down, I’m avoiding anything non-essential (of course, the Library is essential)!
Thank you, Donna. And, I’m happy to know the library is essential! My brother-in-law really likes Nick Petrie’s books – Peter Ash, right? I’m glad you decided to quit a book that was just dragging you down.
Oh, you sold me on Lost Coast Literary, Margie! I like Ellie Alexander’s Sloan Krause books, although I gave up on the Bakeshop Mysteries. I’m going to look for her new one, though. I need to catch up on Ellery Adams’ series. My friend, David, loves them and always compliments the writing in that series. Thank you for the reminder!
Congratulations Lesa! It is nice to be recognized for all your hard work.
I just finished on audio, The Last Word by Lisa Lutz. This is the final installment in the Spellmans series. I loved this series. It is about a totally dysfunctional, zany family of private investigators who are not beyond investigating each other. Many laugh out loud moments. This was always my go to when I wanted something light and funny. I will miss the Spellmans and their wacky behavior.
I have just started listening to Leaving Everything Most Loved (# 10 in the Maise Dobbs series) by Jacqueline Winspear. This is another series I enjoy. It is a series that you must read in order to fully understand the characters and story line.
I am reading The Bombay Prince (Perveen Mistry #3) by Sujata Massey. Perveen is a woman solicitor in India during the 1920’s. What I like about this series is it brings into the story historical elements such as politics, religion, racism, and sexism all with a mystery going on in the background. I highly recommend this series.
Wishing you all a wonderful week.
Thank you, Kathleen!
Oh, yes. My best friend loved all of those Spellman books, and she’s not usually a mystery reader. I agree with you that you should read the Maisie Dobbs books in order. Thank you for the recommendation of the Sujata Massey books. Happy Reading in the week ahead!
I have #17 in the Maisie Dobbs series on hold at the library, due out in March. Great storyteller although I didn’t care for her memoir.
Oh that is interesting MM, as I was wondering about getting that memoir for my mother. My grandmother used to take the children down to Kent for the hop-picking in the summer, and I think Winspear also remembers that. I’d be keen to hear what you didn’t enjoy in the book (which I have not read.)
I got fed up with Maisie Dobbs I’m afraid!
I think just a personal preference. I only know her as a writer and wanted more about the writing. I just couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for her parent’s early marriage. But maybe that’s the part your mom may enjoy. I remember Lesa was looking forward to it in her Nov 20 Treasures column.
I think the early books pre-Canada were the best, but I enjoy the series look at Post war Europe at a human level.
Good morning, Lesa. We had our round of good snow and are experiencing cold nights but nice days for the next week or so. We need the moisture so much, but I’d also request the next snowstorm be a dusting (or maybe an inch or two) 17 inches would be excessive. Anyway, I’m currently reading Varmint Rumble by Gary Reilly. This is the last book in the Asphalt Warrior series published by friends of Gary after he passed away. The main character is Murph, a Denver taxi driver who gets too involved in the lives of his passengers. It’s a fun series.
Good morning, Patricia! We’re okay with our moisture level here, so we don’t need 17 inches. We’ll know more tomorrow as to what we’re supposed to get.
I’ve never heard of the Asphalt Warrior series. It’s nice to know it’s been a fun series.
Well Wahoo!! Congratulations are definitely in order for your Raven Award. I hope you are smiling extra big on the outside and the inside.
January weather in the Valley of the Sun is when we are at our best. (Low 70’s and lovely clouds for the next days.) Our AirBnb is booked solid for the next 3 months and that means I am getting in quality audiobook time as I clean and ready for the next visitors. Right now I am enjoying Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce (quirky with a totally different storyline than I was expecting and a terrific narrator!) I just finished a fantastic middle grade book that will definitely be one of my favorites for the year, A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus. (Set during WW2 England 3 orphaned siblings are sent to the country to be billeted during the expected bombings on London. The love of books plays prominently and it was a total delight. ) I am also caught up in a debut novel called A Little Hope by Ethan Joella and the writing has me entranced. (A book about grief, love and starting over.) Finally the book Falling by T J Newman (a former flight attendant and bookseller at Changing Hands in Tempe) is a nice diversion since I am not flying!!!
Whether I take the time to comment or not each week please know that the community you have created among readers is the best feeling around. Thank you.
Stay warm and safe.
Thank you, Gaye, for the congratulatory note. Most of all, thank you for saying what a great community of readers we have here. We do!
It sounds as if you’ve enjoyed your books lately. It’s always wonderful to have a streak of satisfying books.
I heard A Place to Hang the Moon praised on a book podcast Gaye – it’s great to have a second recommendation, as it does sound interesting.
I forgot to say congratulations for the Raven Award, Lesa. It’s so well-deserved.
Thank you, Patricia!
Congratulations on the Raven Award, Lesa!
We are under the same weather predictions as you for the weekend. I have a feeling it will pass us just like the one from last weekend.
Two fun books for me this week.
I picked up Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens after reading about it from Margie. It was silly at times but a cute quick read. No surprises that there was more to Laura’s parents’ love story and which guy she would end up with but I had a smile on my face by the end of it. I also went down the rabbit hole of finding pictures on Jersey of the places mentioned.
Next I finished Jane Darrowfield Professional Busybody by Barbara Ross. Another book I selected thanks to Margie and Thursdays with Lesa. I am finding I’d rather read stories with older characters than those in their twenties and thirties. I have the next in the series in my library queue.
It would be worth your time to carve out some reading space for Ellery Adams’ Secret Scone Society mysteries. They are one of my favorites. Thanks for the heads up Margie that another one is coming out.
Happy Reading!
I hope you’re right, Sharon, that this system goes south of us, too.
Thank you for the congratulatory note!
I love rabbit holes. I think that’s part of the fun of reading. And, I’m with you. I still read books with younger characters, but I appreciate mature characters in the books, ones who have had life experiences.
I think I’m going to have to go back and read the first in that series by Ellery Adams in order to remember the characters. It’s been so long since I read that first book!
Happy Reading to you as well!
Congratulations on winning the Raven Award! I have not read much in tshe Maeve Binchley book because The Paradise Guest Hotel has taken over. The author has long chapter, really long and it is difficult to where to stop. It is very dramatic with scenes from bombings at nightclubs in Bali and shifts from that to grief over a sudden loss of a child with spinal menighitis and of a boyfriend in the nightclub, 9/11 is remembered by the main characters. It is a good story and I will finish it before I go back to the other book. I am thinking of starting an audio book because of my eye problems.
I cancelled the procedure for my left eye on Monday because I am allergic to the preservative in the material of the patch. My doctor said that it would OK to do it but I am too scared to do it. Woke up this morning with bloodshot eyes despite all the eye drops. My doctor went home sick and now I have an appointment with her on Tuesday morning. I will ask her for more alternative treatments.
Thank you, Carolee!
Maybe audiobooks will work best for you. I know Rick mentioned a kindle, but perhaps a device isn’t right for you. I know it’s nice to be able to have a device that you can enlarge the print. We were just wondering if that would work. You have to take care of your eyes!
I have an very old Kindle and also the app for the desktop. The old one loses its charge often and the desktop is often eliminated when I get updates for my laptop. Very frustrating, each time, I have to reload the app and it does not work often. I tried to buy a newer model and they sent me a broken one, I returned that one and received another one that had scratches alll the inside. I finally got a partial refund for it, never going to try that again!
Oh, I’m sorry, Carolee.
Just stopped by to extend my congratulations! The Chicago Tribune’s weather page had a big blooper for the Sunday forecast (gave the font size, not the weather). I finished listening to Lightning Strike, the latest Cork O’Connor tale from William Kent Krueger. The setting is in 1962 or so when Cork’s father Liam was the sheriff. Over the past two years (maybe a little longer) I listened or re-listened to the entire Cork series in order so I know the entire story arc (even when the arc bends back many decades). My new listening is a Lucas Davenport (John Sandford) from a couple of years ago. My reading is deeper — finished the tough, triumphant The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore.
Thank you, Nann! I have another friend who reviews here, Sandie Herron, who listened to the entire Cork O’Connor series in the last year as well. The next Lucas Davenport book actually features Davenport’s daughter.
You’re right. That is a deeper book. Thanks again for stopping by!
Congratulations. I will add this book to my never ending list! Just finished WinterGuest. It is WWII. Pretty good. Now reading latest in Patterson’s Maximum Ride series. I thought it was done forever.
Thank you, Carol Jeanne!
Oh, no. Patterson’s series go on forever!
Just wanted to add my congratulations, Lesa. MWA chose well! A well deserved recognition of all of your hard work and commitment to the community of book lovers. Way to go!
Thank you so much, Jennifer!
Hello to all Thursday Peeps, and another hearty congrats to our lovely hostess and newest Raven recipient. An honor most deserved.
I’ve tried and given up on a few books recently, but books I have read but enjoyed are:
The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick ( ARC)
Love & Saffron by Kim Fay – Every bit as lovely as your recommendations.
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner (ARC)
Today I’m going to start The Paris Bookseller by Kerry Maher.
Thank you, Kaye!
I’ll be curious about your reaction to The Paris Bookseller. And, I’m still so pleased you loved Love & Saffron!
Kaye, I have requested Phaedra Patrick’s new book on NetGalley, but no news yet. I’ve loved all of her books. I’ve also “made a wish for” The Summer Place on NG. Since Jennifer Weiner is so popular, I think it will be an unfulfilled wish. But I’ll definitely read both. Glad you liked Love and Saffron.
Oops. I hit that little Post Comment button a little prematurely.
Our local weather folks are tracking two weather events. One beginning this evening, and the second beginning Sunday, predicting a possibility of 8 to 12 inches. Apparently, the snow we saw falling at 10:30 this morning was a little rogue snowfall, off on a tease all its own.
I am embarrassed to admit that I have not read any of Sir Terry Pratchett’s work. But because I have a thing for dragons I am going to change all that and read Guards Guards! It sounds delightful.
Just a warning, Kaye, that Terry Pratchett’s books are a little confusing at the beginning until you put the characters together.
I love your description of this morning’s rogue snowfall. That’s why you’re such a terrific writer, Kaye.
Good afternoon Lesa, and huge congratulations on your award. As many others have said, it is so well deserved – and I do hope you get your trip to New York to receive it.
We have had some glorious weather (and also some wet and miserable days, but I’ll try to forget them…) – it’s been cold but with brilliant sunshine, blue skies, and a real promise of spring in the air (which is quite strange for January in Aberdeenshire – we’ll probably get a horrible shock before the winter really is over.)
Today Nancy and I walked at Dunect Estate. The estate suffered a lot of damage in Storm Arwen, but is extremely well managed, so most of the fallen trees have been at least removed from the roads and tracks. The tree surgeons are still hard at work with the chain saws though, and massive logs are stacked up ready to be chopped up for fuel. It is sad to see some very old trees down, but that, I suppose, is nature. One of the estate cottages had a wonderful tree house – we looked for it, then realised that the tree it was in had been a victim of the winds, and that we could see the roof sticking out above the felled trunk on the ground. Such a shame, as it must have given so many children so much pleasure.
I was determined to read more in 2022….perhaps predictably, it has not worked out that way so far. Having returned Catherine Alliott’s A CROWDED MARRIAGE to the library half read, I started Patricia Scanlan’s ORANGE BLOSSOM DAYS (enticed by the beautiful cover) and was again disappointed. I really tried to stick with it – it’s about the residents and hangers-on of a new luxury apartment block on the Spanish coast – but I just could not engage with any of the characters.
There is an Irish couple (the author is Irish) who were not too bad, but then a Texan couple who were such caricatures that I wanted to scream. They have a lot of money, an ‘open’ marriage, and really they are both as unpleasant as each other. Their two children have been parked with the granny back at home, and although the wife goes on about wanting to protect the girls from the worst of the forthcoming divorce, she seems actually to spend 99% of her time picking up younger men or shopping – this is one of those books with endless references to brands (I thought this had stopped some time ago!) and to (presumably) high-end stores in the area that those of us who don’t own penthouses in Marbella are very unlikely to have heard of. (And as the author knows that, she explains all about them in long and tedious detail. repreatedly.) And do ALL Texans say y’all ALL the time? And refer to every woman as ‘chick’? No I thought not…
I looked Patricia Scanlan up on Goodreads, and it seems that she is the author of many very well received novels, so maybe this is just not her best – in fact several reviewers said just that, that they had loved her other books but not this one.
So with my new found determination not to waste my time, today I took it back, half-read. Now I’m feeling quite nervous about picking up my next book!
And while at the library I could not, of course resist borrowing a few more books:
CASTLE SKULL by John Dickson Carr (one of the British Library Classics series – I keep trying to find one I like!)
THE WIFE by Meg Wolitzer, which looks intriguing.
STANLEY & ELSIE by Nicola Upson – a novel based on part of the life of Stanley Spencer, his artist wife Hilda, and their new maid Elsie. This does look good, and Nicola Upson is a respected writer, though I haven’t read anything else by her.
HOLDING by Graham Norton, who is such a brilliant TV host and radio presenter here. It’s a novel set in a remote Irish village where human remains are found at an old farm The cover describes it as ‘Darkly comic, touching, and at times profoundly sad.’
TRACE ELEMENTS by Donna Leon – I think this is something like the 30th Brunetti book, and I can’t remember if I’ve read it or not – but that’s the joy of libraries, if I have I can just take it back.
TELL TALE by Jeffrey Archer – a book of short stories. I have never read anything by Archer, who fell from grace in a very big way when he was convicted of perjury some years ago, but I know he is said to be a very good writer so I thought I ‘d try him.
50 GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR CAT by Jackie Strachan – saw this on the shelves, and it does seem to have some good ideas. I think Charlie Parker is quite sharp, and gets bored sometimes, so I thought I’d have a look at these. Some involve catnip – I bought a plant of this for my previous cats and they were totally uninterested. Gave it to my friend for her cat, and she (the cat!) was ecstatic, and as Sue said ‘floating on a cloud over Aberdeen’. My husband said maybe it’s cat cannabis, and our cats, being orientals, would prefer opium in a hookah…
I seem to have a bit of an Irish theme going here, as my top listening on BBC Sounds lately was Claire Keegan’s SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, which was brilliant. I had no idea what it was about, especially as I had cleverly muddled up the author with Clare Chambers (author of SMALL PLEASURES, also very good), and it turns out they are in fact quite different – who knew?!
Small Things Like These is the story of Bill Furlong, a coal merchant living in New Ross, a port town in Ireland. Most of the story is set in the 1980s, with flashbacks to Bill’s childhood ina big house outside the town. He was the illegitimate son of a maid to Mrs Wilson, the widowed owner of the house. When the maid became pregnant, Mrs Wilson did not throw her out, but kept her on, and Bill grew up with the kind and gentle influence of Mrs Wilson and her other help, Ned, as well as that of his own mother. He has never known who his father was.
Bill now has a wife and five young daughters. Two are already at the best school in the town, which is right next door to the covent. He and his wife are desperate to make sure the other three also gain places there.
Bill delivers coal and wood to the nuns. By chance he witnesses an event that makes him start to question what is actually going on at the convent, which (as we are gradually shown) is one of the notorious Magdalen laundries. Bill is a good man, and he begins to realise that just about everyone else in the town knows all about the convent, but says nothing because the church – and especially the nuns – have so much power. If he rocks the boat, his daughters’ education may be jeopardised. But if he doesn’t….
This is a wonderful, sad, shocking story, and Keegan conveys, in the small detail, just what a hold the Catholic church had on Ireland even as late as the 1990s. (if you have seen Peter Mullan’s excellent film, The Magdalen Sisters, you will know about the laundries). But it is not just a history lesson, it is a beautiful story so subtly told. I want to read the book now.
I’m now listening to A ROOM WITH A VIEW by EM Forster, which is one of those books that I thought I had read but clearly haven’t. So far it’s good. It’s about Lucy Honeychurch and her fussy cousin Charlotte, who are on holiday in Florence in the very early part of the 20th century. Lucy is an innocent who wants to see life, Charlotte, who is older and only there through the generosity of Lucy’s mother, is far more cautious and terrified of Abroad in general. Propriety is all. Things are going to happen.
On the television I am enjoying the new series of CALL THE MIDWIFE, and on Sunday the next in the new VERA series was finally aired – owing to social distancing issues, only two episodes were ready to show in the autumn, and now the other two are at last seeing the light of day. I will be interested to see what you think of this one Jeff, as I enjoyed some of it but again felt that the ending was very weak.
I was writing something about Jane Harper’s THE DRY yesterday, and realised that there is a film based on it. I thought it might be streaming somewhere, but that somewhere turned out to be the Disney+ channel, which is a newcomer in the UK – I had fondly imagined that it would just be showing Disney films, instead of which it seems to be cornering the market in a lot of other stuff. I am not prepared to pay for any more services – we already have Prime and Netflix, and we don’t really have time to watch everything there is of interest on those (plus BBC i-player and the other free catch up channels) – so I will just have to wait. Even the DVD is expensive, and my library did not have it, though I will check the catalogue for other branches. Has anyone seen it? is it good?
It’s almost 6pm here now so I’d better start to address the Dinner Problem.
Well done again Lesa! What a star!
Have a good week all,
Rosemary
I forgot to say, I also recently discovered a great podcast called The Mookse and the Gripes – two American guys just discussing the books they’re reading, have read or hope to read. Unlike too many podcasters, they are not fixated on new releases, nor on how many books they read each week. It’s a really genuine chat between two polite, gentle, friends – in the episode I heard they talked about David Copperfield, Don Quixote, and (one of my great favourites) Dorothy Baker’s Cassandra at the Wedding.
I’m not one of those people who listens to podcasts, but that one sounds delightful, Rosemary. I think it would be fun to listen to.
Thank you! I hope I get to go to NY for the awards, too.
I’ve heard of Small Things Like These. I don’t know where I heard of it, but it was positive.
Oh, you’ll have to tell me if 50 Games works with Charlie Parker!
Late to the party – goes with living in the Pacific time zone. Our 15 inches of snow is mostly melted – it was almost 60 yesterday, although we are back to seasonable 30’s today.
I finished THE LAST DANCE OF THE DEBUTANTE by Julia Kelly. I liked all the details about the last year debutantes were presented at court but would have liked her to have her main character go through the entire season. I enjoyed it but not as much as a couple of her previous books. I did happen to rewatch the episode of DOWNTON ABBEY when Rose is presented at court, a nice accompaniment.
I also read the first Connie Berry mystery, A DREAM OF DEATH, and am anxiously waiting for the second one to be available from the Washington digital library. Thanks to whoever mentioned her books
Still reading, though, Sandy, so you’re not late. I’ve reviewed Connie Berry’s books, but Margie just mentioned them yesterday, too. I think others have enjoyed them as well. I’m glad you liked it.
Congratulations Lesa!
The weather here is nice, but we still need more rain to make up for the drought.
This week I read:
Tengu by John Donohue; A martial arts thriller about a clueless White guy who goes to The Phillippines to rescue his sensei, and is in over his head before he even gets on the plane. Last book I needed for this series.
The Black Bird by Richard Stark; The companion series to the Parker series featuring Alan Grofield ends with this story of thief Grofield getting recruited for spy-jinks. He isn’t very good at those, but he is good at survival.
Dark Intercept by Wilson and Andrews; These guys are prolific, penning several series concurrently. This one is about a former SEAL who gets suckied into the supernatural while rescuing a psychic girl.
On Borrowed Fame by Donald Jeffries; A completely disorganized info dump about the fates of various stars of stage and screen, and how many of them die broke and alone. Completely disjointed, it felt almost felt like a virus wrote it.
Hot Cash, Cold Clews by Erle Stanley Gardner; A collection of his excellent Lester Leith stories.I keep hoping Crippen and Landru will reprint Gardner’s Speed Dash stories, but no luck so far.
Paloma Crossing by Randall Reneau; Involves a Texas sheriff, a PI, a drug runner, the usual cartel, a corrupt judge, ODESSA, Muslim terrorists and an international assassin, but has very little action. What a waste.
Thank you, Glen!
Well, except for a couple stinkers, it sounds as if you had a good reading week! I’d love to see you get the rain, and keep the snow away from us. We’re okay.
How thrilling that you have received the Raven award! And very deserved. I am glad to hear that you are enjoying Guards! Guards! This has been recommended to me over the years and I hope to actually read it this year.
No snow here in Santa Barbara. The weather is mild here although I would go for rain and more overcast days if we could get it. Inside our condominium it is always cold and my husband and I fight over running the heat, but that means that it is usually very comfortable in the summer, so I will be grateful for that.
I recently finished BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. I loved it. It is a time travel book but not typical. Set in a tiny café in Tokyo.
Now I am reading LAST SEEN WEARING by Hillary Waugh, published in 1952, one of the first true police procedurals. And OLIVE KITTERIDGE by Elizabeth Strout. I want to read more by both of those authors, and I already have too much to read.
Thank you, Tracy.
I would love your mild weather, but I would hate the water restrictions put on you because of the draught.
I’ve heard terrific things about Before the Coffee Gets Cold. One of those “I mean to get to it” books. I know what you mean about too much to read!
I must again add my congratulations on the Raven Award. I was so excited to see the news on Facebook yesterday! Our weather has been lovely, lows in the 70s and sunny. Anyone who wants can throw a snowball in my honor. We’ll be getting colder this weekend but nowhere near snow. I’m making up for that with my reading which is taking place in the snow of Painter’s Mill, Ohio in Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder series. I started the first, Sworn to Silence, on audio using the whisper-sync method of listening to the audiobook and reading along in the Kindle version. It was fine at first, but I ended up with a headache from the constant highlighting and shifting of words being read. And I kept reading ahead! So I abandoned the audio and finished on the Kindle version. I use the Kindle app on my iPad Pro so am able to enlarge the print to my liking. I quickly finished that book and am now reading the second, Pray for Silence, also taking place in the snow!
No snowballs in your honor, Sandie. Think of me when you have sunballs! Thank you for the congratulations!
I love Linda Castillo’s series. I’ve read all of them. You have some enjoyable reading ahead of you!
I just discovered this blog via the Washington Post and I’m really happy to have found you!
Most important—congratulations on the Raven award!
I’ve just read 2 very good mysteries by Juris Jurjevics, Play the Red Queen and Red Flags. They are set in Vietnam during the 1960s and they are excellent— the detective is a military policeman. I think a series was planned but unfortunately the author died. He was also a founder of Soho Press.
Thank you, Annie, and welcome! And, thank you for the congratulatory note.
I recognize the name of Juris Jurjevics, probably because you said he was a founder of Soho Press. I’ll have to check with a couple of the regular readers to see if they read either of those books. They might be interested.
Every Thursday, we talk about “What Are You Reading?” Most of us read mysteries, but we also talk about all kinds of other books – story collections, romances, women’s fiction. We have one reader who is very well-informed about Golden Age mysteries. I hope you come back regularly to read the blog. And, I really hope you feel welcome to jump into the conversation on Thursdays. It’s a lot of fun!
Congratulation on the award Lesa. I finished reading a short story called Unwitting Accomplice by R V Raman.
Thank you!. Oh, I’m waiting for the next mystery novel by Raman!