After sitting in the stairwell at work for forty-five minutes on Friday, during a tornado warning, Monday was glorious here. It was a record high of 77, and sunny. I’d take that any day. Now, we’re back in the fifties, of course, but that’s typical March weather. What’s going on in your neck of the woods?
A year ago, I read Trish Doller’s novel, The Suite Spot, set on Kelleys Island, which is in my home area. It was a delightful romance, and Doller had the details right about the local area, which everyone in my family appreciated. My Mom and sisters all read it. Off the Map is her new novel set in Ireland. Ireland! I knew I’d love this one. I’m 2/3 of the way through it. Carla Black flies into Dublin to be maid-of-honor in her best friend’s wedding to Keane Sullivan. Keane’s brother, Eamon, meets Carla at a pub, and they hit it off immediately. Carla knows it’s a fling. She doesn’t do love or relationships. She’s always on the move, traveling around the world. And, she hasn’t been home in almost six years because the man she loves most, her father, Biggie Black, who taught her everything, is suffering from early onset dementia. He told her to hit the road, and not look back. Eamon has his own issues. He’s a cartographer who has never traveled. Off the Map is a sexy love story that’s taken me from Dublin to the Wicklow Mountains to Donegal and Tralee. By the end of the book, I’m suspecting it will take Carla Black and Eamon back to Florida to see Biggie.
What about you? What are you reading this week?
We’re in the middle of more rain, expected to continue at some level for the next week at least. Today was a brief respite from the rain, at least during the daytime. There still may be some issues getting to Lake Tahoe for the skiers, so I’m not sure if my overnight babysitting scheduled for next weekend will happen (my son and daughter-in-law are supposed to meet friends in Tahoe). The cold weather is getting really old, but I complain even more when it’s too hot. Lesa, I know you prefer the heat. Anyway, I’m happy to say that I enjoyed all three of the books I read this week.
In Jane Harper’s EXILES, Kim left her 6-week-old baby girl in a stroller bay on the first night of an annual festival in small-town Australia. A year later, Kim is still missing and presumed dead as Aaron Falk, a law enforcement financial investigator, comes to town to attend the christening of his godchild. Aaron and Raco, the baby’s father, are old friends, and Raco’s brother is the father of Kim’s 17-year-old daughter. The author follows the lives of both Aaron and this traumatized family in their quest to find out what happened to Kim, and to identify the hit-and-run killer of another friend six years ago. It is a quiet, intimate book, focusing on the characters more than the investigation, although the story takes a surprising turn in the final chapters. I enjoyed the family dynamics, the Australian venue, and a well-written romantic thread. This is the third book in the Aaron Falk series, all excellent reads.
In THE CELEBRANTS by Steven Rowley, six college students transfer to UC Berkeley from other universities at the beginning of their sophomore year, find themselves in the same dormitory, and, based on their shared stigma as transfers, forge a friendship that will last a lifetime. But on the eve of graduation, one of their number is found dead–cause unknown. That shattering event leads Marielle to declare a pact among the remaining five–the others are Jordan, Jordy, Craig, and Naomi–to stage a funeral for each of them upon demand, while the requester is still alive. After graduation they scatter all over the country for their new jobs, and only the two Jordans decide to turn their close friendship into a romantic relationship. Over the next 25+ years, each “living funeral” takes place when one of the friends is going through a challenge that makes them long to reconnect with the group–a failing marriage and teenage daughter, a legal disaster, a plane crash that takes the lives of parents, and a serious illness. I must admit that it took me a while to warm up to the five individuals, if not the premise of the pact. But before reaching the middle of the novel, I realized that I was all-in. The author develops each person beautifully and makes each “funeral” seem somehow inevitable. Each of the ceremonies takes place in a different venue and plays out touchingly–they were my favorite part of the book. The overarching theme is that we all need to know, while we are alive, that there are others who love and value us beyond our wildest expectations and despite our flaws, and that we are not alone. It’s not a comedy like Rowley’s hit book The Guncle, but it is a winner. (May)
Even with fifteen Kate Burkholder mysteries under her belt, Linda Castillo has masterfully maintained the quality of her highly-lauded series. Much of the credit rests with her remarkable protagonist, a woman who split with her Amish family and community almost 20 years earlier but brings her deep understanding of Amish culture to the role of police chief of her home town, Painters Mill, Ohio. Kate carries out the responsibilities of her role with skill and diligence but is sensitive to the differences in the way she must approach her extended family and the other locals, depending on whether they are part of the Amish or the Englischer community. In AN EVIL HEART, a brutal (and briefly though graphically described) crime occurs in the first chapter, and a young Amish man lies dead. His parents, his roommate, and his young fiancee are devastated, but before Kate and her team can identify and apprehend the killer, another murder occurs. I am fascinated by the way Kate is able to conduct an unfaltering and oft-dangerous investigation while maintaining a long-term relationship with live-in fiancé Tomasetti, a law enforcement agent in Ohio’s FBI affiliate. An Evil Heart is largely a dark story, with a breathless, pulse-pounding scene toward the conclusion of the book. Fortunately we have Kate’s wedding with Tomasetti to look forward to after the mystery is resolved. The author’s ability to juggle suspenseful scenes with ones charged with deep emotion–especially the not-quite-Amish wedding–is nothing short of a marvel. (July)
I’m so ready to move on to spring, Margie, that it startled me when you said “skiers”. I certainly wasn’t thinking of skiing!
You’re first two books sounded interesting, but I’m going to admit I read the first and last sentences of your review of An Evil Heart, just to see if you liked it, but I’m reading it, probably this weekend, and didn’t want to know anything ahead of time.
Stay safe with all that rain!
Aren’t teh murders in all of Castillo’s books brutal? She tends to start her books that way. Jackie is several books behind, but I am looking forward to this one.
Jeff, you are probably right. I don’t remember the details of any of her previous books, although I’ve read them all. That’s what happens when you read too much (is there such a thing?). I just found this method of murder a bit over the top, but fortunately it was brief. It didn’t affect my rating at all, though. I think it is one of Castillo’s best.
I just started reading Exiles as I loved The Dry – glad to hear you liked it. I also like the Australian background.
I am happily in the middle of APPREHEND ME NO FLOWERS by Diane Vallere. This is in her Madison Night series. Madison is an interior decorator who is a huge fan of Doris Day. It’s set right after the actress’s death, and it’s interesting watching Madison deal with that as well as the murder and mayhem going on around her.
Good morning, Mark! Nice to see you said you’re happily in the middle of your book. I hope you enjoy the entire book!
It’s chilly here this morning with a chance of snow Friday night.
I finished reading The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern American by Christopher Gorham. It’s my favorite book so far this year. I passed it onto my mom and after she finished it she sent copies to a couple of family members.
I also read Death of a Traitor by R.W. Green who picked up the Hamish Macbeth series after M.C. Beaton died. I almost didn’t read it because I found the characters in the first book he wrote felt too different but I wound up liking this one.
Don’t you love a book, Sandy, that you can pass on to others? When Leila Meacham’s novel, Roses, first came out, I read it, and passed it on to my Mom. She passed it to everyone in her card club, and people in the family. I’ll have to look at The Confidante. Thank you.
Good morning- I made the thirty mile trip to Reno midday yesterday, forecast as the one clear day this week. I shouldn’t have been surprised when it snowed once again. But the sun was out for the drive back home. An “atmospheric river” is due in later today – the old term Pineapple Express was somehow friendlier.
Three books were the highlights of my reading this week, all good, but each of different:
SEEKING THE MOTHER TREE: DISCOVERING THE WISDOM OF THE FOREST by Suzanne Simard (2021)
Written by a UBC Forestry Professor, a personal and scientific work on trees, forests, and the author’s discoveries that trees share resources via an underground fungal network.
WHEN I’M GONE, LOOK FOR ME IN THE EAST
by Quan Barry (2022)
Traveling across windswept Mongolia, estranged twin brothers test their relationship on a journey of duty and understanding. Fascinating look at the people and culture of Mongolia.
And CONVICTION by Denise Mina (2018) its plot revealed in unexpected twists.
Raised in a storytelling family, Anna McLean finds refuge in stories’ patterns and hidden meanings. Her storytelling skills came into play 15 years ago, when she was forced to mask herself with a new identity.
Now convinced she has no other options, she goes on the run, with a washed-up musician at her side and a true-crime podcast as her guide.
The main characters were also featured in her 2022 novel Confidence.
I don’t typically listen to audio books, but for William Kent Krueger, I’ll make an exception. About an hour into his new audio only novella THE LEVEE. (Read by JD Jackson) The story is based on the 1927 flood on the Mississippi river. A family, a storm, a complicated rescue and the true cost of survival.
MM, Thank you for mentioning William Kent Krueger’s The Levee. I’m sure Sandie Herron will be interested.
You had an eclectic mix of books this week! I’m glad you enjoyed them.
And, you’re right. Pineapple Express sounds so much better than “an atmospheric river”.
They have gone back to the old term of “Atmospheric River” because a few years ago there was a huge outcry about “Pineapple Express” being racist.
They stopped saying Pineapple Express, as the phrase became the name of a drug route, I’m told.
Happy Thursdays at Lesa’s, everyone.
I read some good stuff this past week.
The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard which is not going to appeal to everyone, but I loved loved loved it.
Description from NetGalley
“Enter the magical world of La Llorona with New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard.
After a childhood filled with heartbreak, Irene, a talented artist, finds herself in a small Central American village where she checks into a beautiful but decaying lakefront hotel called La Llorona at the base of a volcano.
The Bird Hotel tells the story of this young American who, after suffering tragedy, restores and runs La Llorona. Along the way we meet a rich assortment of characters who live in the village or come to stay at the hotel. With a mystery at its center and filled with warmth, drama, romance, humor, pop culture, and a little magic realism, The Bird Hotel has all the hallmarks of a Joyce Maynard novel that have made her a leading voice of her generation
The Bird Hotel is a big, sweeping story spanning four decades, offering lyricism as well as whimsy. While the world New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard brings to life on the page is rendered from her imagination, it’s one informed by the more than twenty years of which she has spent a significant amount of her time in a small Mayan indigenous village in Guatemala.
As the New York Times said, “[Maynard] has an unswerving eye, a sharply perked ear, and the ability to keep her readers hanging on her words.” People Magazine said of her: “Maynard’s spare prose packs a rich emotional punch.”
From Dust to Stardust by Kathleen Rooney
Colleen Moore, a fascinating woman I had never heard of is depicted by the character named Doreen O’Day
Kathleen Rooney takes us on a wild romp through the Jazz Age of Hollywood as she brings to life one of the most unforgettable icons of that era. In this vivid fictional retelling of the life of Colleen Moore—the original flapper of silent films—she reminds us that the line between fantasy and reality is gossamer and that even the strongest of women need their dreams.” —Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator’s Wife and The Girls in the Picture
From the bestselling author of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk comes a novel about Hollywood, the cost of stardom, and selfless second acts, inspired by an extraordinary true story.
The novel includes the story of the construction of a one-ton miniature Fairy Castle which you can visit in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/colleen-moores-fairy-castle/
There are also several books about it.
An American Beauty by Shana Abe
Another fascinating woman I was unaware of.
Description from NetGalley
“Amidst the opulent glamor and vicious social circles of Gilded Age New York, this stunning biographical historical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor conjures the true rags-to-riches story of Arabella Huntington — a woman whose great beauty was surpassed only by her exceptional business acumen, grit, and artistic eye, and who defied the constraints of her era to become the wealthiest self-made woman in America.
1867, Richmond, Virginia: Though she wears the same low-cut purple gown that is the uniform of all the girls who work at Worsham’s gambling parlor, Arabella stands apart. It’s not merely her statuesque beauty and practiced charm. Even at seventeen, Arabella possesses an unyielding grit, and a resolve to escape her background of struggle and poverty.
Collis Huntington, railroad baron and self-made multimillionaire, is drawn to Arabella from their first meeting. Collis is married and thirty years her senior, yet they are well-matched in temperament, and flirtation rapidly escalates into an affair. With Collis’s help, Arabella eventually moves to New York, posing as a genteel, well-to-do Southern widow. Using Collis’s seed money and her own shrewd investing instincts, she begins to amass a fortune.
Their relationship is an open secret, and no one is surprised when Collis marries Arabella after his wife’s death. But “The Four Hundred”—the elite circle that includes the Astors and Vanderbilts—have their rules. Arabella must earn her place in Society—not just through her vast wealth, but with taste, style, and impeccable behavior. There are some who suspect the scandalous truth, and will blackmail her for it. And then there is another threat—an unexpected, impossible romance that will test her ambition, her loyalties, and her heart . . .
“This story of one woman’s ascent offers a fascinating look at the choices she made to become a Gilded Age titan.” – Kirkus Reviews on An American Beauty”
While I found An American Beauty the most interesting book, Kaye, I went down a rabbit hole with From Dust to Stardust because I went off to look up the Fairy Castle. Oh, my gosh! I wish it was at the Chicago Art Museum, where I’ve been several times & I always end up in the area with the miniature rooms. It would have fit perfectly there.
Thank you for sharing. Happy Thursday, my friend! Hugs!
Yes! Rabbit Hole! Me too! I’m surprised we didn’t bump into one another. I want to see the castle in real life. Hugs back to you, dear one.
Kaye, The Bird Hotel and From Dust to Stardust are both on my list of NetGalley books that are Read Now because they sound good to me but I’m waiting to see some of the reviews before adding to my shelf. I know you don’t like to do reviews, but what did you particularly like about each? I trust your judgment!
Good morning! Cold here after some wonderfully warm weather. Arthritic knee is screaming. Bathroom renovation began Tuesday and the cats are distraught. I am ready for it to be over because I hate the disruption so much but I know there’s at least another week to go.
Finally got around to reading one of the Ava Lee books that someone recommended last year. The Red Pole of Macau by Ian Hamilton is the third or fourth book in the series, citations vary on that point. Smooth engrossing read. Ava Lee is officially a Canadian forensics accountant but since she gets pulled into all manner of malfeasance, she tends to use her exotic kickboxing skills far more often than an accountant should have to. This one sees her dealing with the remnants of an Asian tong in the province of Macau. I loved it.
My review for Kevin’s Corner next week is of London Interrupted by J. A. Marley. Professional thief Danny Felix is strong-armed into stealing a large amount of cash by a demented cop. I always enjoy Parker, Junior Bender and Wyatt, other fictional thieves, so I liked this one, only not as much as I expected to, the body count was startlingly high.
Not sure what’s next, it’s hard to settle to reading with the domestic upheaval. I am sure I will find something.
Good morning, Aubrey! Well, that makes for a miserable week between aching arthritis and domestic disturbances. I’m sorry for all of you! I hope you at least get some peace this weekend.
I’ve never read any of Ian Hamilton’s Ava Lee books. Asian tongs, kickboxing and accounting. I don’t think it’s for me.
After 18 straight days in the 80s, 77 looks good to me! We are supposed to be around that today before returning to the low 80s tomorrow. Looks like we might get a few more 70s days next week, which would be perfect as a friend from up north will be visiting.
Jackie is reading and very much enjoying the new J.D. Robb book (ENCORE IN DEATH, I think), though she agrees with you that the last one was better, being more personal.
I read the third (and, according to the author, final) book in Darynda Jones’s Sunshine Vicram series, A BAD DAY FOR A HANGOVER, which does pretty much wrap things up.
BINOCULAR VISION was the large collection of New and Selected (older) stories by Edith Pearlman, which I did finally finish after several weeks of one or two stories a day.
I very much enjoyed Claire Keegan’s FOSTER but had a more mixed view of her earlier collection of stories, ANTARCTICA, which was often very grim. But let me very much recommend her newest book, SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE, set in Ireland around Christmas in 1985. Beautifully written and a lovely short novel. She is a real talent.
After THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB, I decided to try Will Schwalbe’s new book, WE SHOULD NOT BE FRIENDS: The Story of a Friendship. It’s mostly about Schwalbe and Chris Maxey, a friend he made though a “secret society” they were in at Yale in the early 1980s, and who has remained a friend (more or less) ever since. I liked it quite a bit for the most part, but Schwalbe can be quite the difficult and often unsympathetic character at times. I’ve started Schwalbe’s BOOKS FOR LIVING, subtitled Some Thoughts on Reading, Reflecting, and Embracing Life.
A friend recommended D> E> Stevenson’s MISS BUNCLE’S BOOK, but after two tries I was just not in the mood so returned it, I’m reading John Dickson Carr’s collection of early stories he wrote as a teenager, THE KINDLING SPARK. Also Maxim Jakubowski, ed. BLACK IS THE NIGHT, a collection of new stories “inspired” by the writings of Cornell Woolrich (DEADLINE AT DAWN and REAR WINDOW were two of the movies based on his books). Joe R. Lansdale, Barry Malzberg, and Martin Edwards are a few of the authors included.
Still not sure what I want to read next, but I borrowed VANISHING EDGE by Claire Kells, which was recommended and looks interesting.
Jackie has Nora Roberts’s THE CHOICE waiting when she finished the Robb book.
Jeff, I first heard Small Things Like These on BBC Sounds and absolutely loved it. Having spent several Christmases in small town Ireland around that time, it all rang very true to me. The Catholic church had such power in those days. I do have a copy of the book now, and I’ll get to it eventually.
I’ll be interested to hear what you think of Schwalbe’s BOOKS FOR LIVING. I saw it at the library yesterday.
I found Claire Keegan from Lesa’s mention of the Orwell prize for Small Things Like These last year. I also read Foster and enjoyed both.
Jeff, I didn’t realize Claire Keegan’s Foster was the basis for the Irish film The Quiet Girl that is up for Oscars. I’ll have to look for that movie. And, I have to pick up the book Small Things Like These. I think I’m going to skip Antarctica. I do like her writing, though.
I like the way you describe Schwalbe’s latest, that’s he’s quite the difficult and often unsympathetic character. I agree.
Jackie and I are in agreement as to J.D. Robb’s latest books. I can’t wait for her to read The Choice!
Ooooh, i can’t wait to hear what Jackie has to say about The Choice!
I am finally commenting before the day is over! Amazing.
Arizona is showing off a bit after a winter of wacky weather! It snowed 2-3 inches two days before the Tucson Festival of Books! But as Craig Johnson bragged, when he comes to town he “heats everything up!” Oh Lesa, you would have loved being back at the festival. Since the pandemic the festival is finally back in full glory and it was delightful. I was introduced to Irene Maldonado when she sat on a panel with the ‘great dames’, JA Jance, and Laurie R King. I bought 2 of Maldonado’s books, The Cipher and The Falcon. Her references to both hooked me right away. I also sat in on a panel with Craig Johnson, Margaret Mizushima and Terry Shames and in typical fashion we were well storied and entertained by all of them. I sat with Margaret’s husband and we had a jolly time!!
I can’t choose a favorite of the 5 sessions I attended but the one with Alex Prud’homme profiling his new book, Dinner With the President was fantastic and a total surprise. The book was all sold out but you can bet your bottom dollar that I am getting that one. I intend to be a book pusher and convince my book group to read it! His stories about his great aunt, Julia Child, were such tender moments in addition to the historical anecdotes he shared of her visits to the White House. If you can ever make it to Arizona during the first or second week of March and attend the Festival I can guarantee you won’t regret it. We just did one day this year, which is truly out of character for me, but I was so glad we were able to be back celebrating authors and books!
Now a big thank you to the lot of you who mentioned Val McDermid’s book, Out of Bounds. I had never read any of McDermid’s books, but I am not disappointed!! I loved the writing and the beautiful vocabulary just amped it up a notch. The cadence was a treat but, I will have to say, I am not up on any Scottish vernacular. I had to ‘phone a friend’ to figure out a few twists of phrase, but that was half the fun. Thanks for a terrific recommendation. I am looking forward to trying more. Any suggestions?
I can just hear Craig saying he heats everything up when he comes to town.
I love the Tucson Festival of Books. I told them at The Poisoned Pen that I’ll probably come back in March when I can to attend the festival, and then go to the Pen. That festival is just so organized. I love that it’s on the U of A campus. I’m jealous that you heard such great panels.
And, thank you for telling us about Dinner with the President. The book sounds terrific. I just put it on hold!
I may be wrong. I’m thinking it’s Jeff that’s a fan of the D.I. Karen Pirie books by McDermid. The Distant Echo is the first in that series, and the Barry Award for Best British Crime when it came out.
Yes, I do like the Pirie books, so much better than the TV adaptation. But it is McDermid’s stand alones, especially PLACE OF EXECUTION, that are her best in my opinion. Just one of the best mystery books I’ve ever read.
Yes! Place of Execution is my fave of all of her books, and is one I have read more than once. I agree, Jeff, that her stand alones are where she shines.
Thanks then for the great rec. I will definitely make room for Place of Execution on my towering TBR!
Thanks so much for the recommendation. I will reserve Place of Execution ASAP. Your praise is well considered.
Good afternoon everyone,
We had heavy snow on Monday night. It had been forecast for a day earlier, so I was very glad that they got that wrong as it meant I travelled up to Deeside from Edinburgh on Monday afternoon without any problems.
Since the snow stopped falling we have had beautiful sunny days, though the temperature hasn’t risen much over 0C. I’ve walked by the river every day and the sunsets have been spectacular. There are also a lot of birds around, I think the more timid ones come out looking for food. On my way back just now I think I heard a woodpecker.
Last night I ‘attended’ an online event with Catherine Simpson, author of ONE BODY, WHEN I HAD A SISTER, & TRUESTORY. Although I knew full well that she had grown up on a farm in Lancashire, for some reason I was still surprised to hear her strong north country accent.
Simpson was speaking almost exclusively about One Body, and said that one of the things she had learned from having had breast cancer was that appearances, size, weight, etc – all of which had dominated her life for decades – were unimportant. I think this is something that most women of my generation struggle with, so it was interesting to hear her take on it. One of the things she said was that she was glad that her two grown up daughters have no hang ups about any of this, have abandoned make-up altogether, and are comfortable in their bodies.
I was surprised about this, as from my own observations I’d say most 20-something women are even more obsessed with all of these things than we were. My own two daughters would never go out without makeup, I’m sorry to say. They even felt they had to put it on to go to school as soon as they were teenagers – this was something that simply would not have occurred to us (and if it had, we’d have been told to ‘get that off your face’ and been given detention) I don’t agree in the slightest with the way we were terrorised at school, but I do think it’s a shame that girls feel so pressurised at such a young age.
I finished THE BAD QUARTO, a Jill Paton Walsh Imogen Quy mystery. I enjoyed the references to places in and around Cambridge, but I do always find Imogen a bit too perfect, and also can’t really believe that a college nurse would have so much access to the inner sanctum, be a close friend of the Master’s wife – and have been made a FELLOW of the college. Oxbridge colleges simply don’t work that way. I also found the denouement of the plot confusing and unconvincing. Having said all that, I’m sure I’ll read more of these – if just for the settings.
I have started re-reading Virginia Woolf’s A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN. I’m not a huge fan of the great one’s novels (a bolt of feminist lightning is no doubt heading my way…) but I am enjoying this book a lot. It’s based on two papers VW gave at women’s colleges between the wars. I first read it as a teenager and I do think most of it went right over my head, but now I find myself agreeing with all the points she makes about the restrictions on women’s lives, and how much harder it was for them to write – even if they had money, it all belonged to their husbands, and their role was seen as homemaker above all else. They were constantly told that they shouldn’t worry their inferior brains with anything more than the laundry lists. And if they didn’t have money, they were very probably illiterate and anyway far too busy, and worn down with endless childbearing, to do anything ‘frivolous’. VW writes all this as slightly arch fiction, but it works for me.
I’m also reading NEVADA by Imogen Binnie, which I saw recommended somewhere. It’s about a trans woman going on a road trip and meeting a guy who reminds her of her younger (male) self. It’s described as a ‘hilarious, ground-breaking cult classic’ and I am enjoying it so far.
I’ve just read an article about Jill Mansell, whose romance novels are extremely popular, at least in the UK. She said her role model was Jilly Cooper – before she read Cooper’s books she didn’t realise that romances could be funny, and even then, when she wrote her first one she sent it to Mills & Boon, who rejected it, saying that it was very well written but ‘too funny’ – they didn’t want humour. I’ve never read any of Mansell’s books, but I do love Jilly Cooper, so I’m going to our library in a minute to borrow one.
Our bad news on the library front is that the city council is closing six of its branch libraries. This is so sad. My own branch has somehow escaped the cull. I have no idea how they chose the ones to close down – at least three of them are in very disadvantaged areas of Aberdeen, which seems particularly cruel to me – there are children using the computers in these places to do their homework, as they have no internet access at home. Meanwhile, the area in which we live is one of the more affluent in the city, and is very unlikely to have any families without at least an ipad or some form of internet access.
On TV I am working my way through UNFORGOTTEN, but the early series are only available on one catch-up station (ITVX) and it is terribly unreliable, keeps shutting down while you are watching something, and is generally infuriating. Last night I gave up and turned to ENDEAVOUR – the latest series is set in the 1970s, and as Nancy pointed out this morning, it might seem like ancient history to our children, but it feels like yesterday to us!
Last Thursday we went to The Lemon Tree to see The Comet is Coming, and I must say it was the best performance I have seen so far this year. If you like loud electro-jazz I can’t recommend this band too much. The sax player is Shabaka Hutchings, and he is just amazingly good. I believe they are going to be at the Coachella Festival in April.
I’d better get up the road now if I’m to get to the library in time. Have a good week all – and I hope those of you who need it get better weather. I’ve never even heard of a Pineapple Express, or indeed an atmospheric river – what are they?
Rosemary
Rosemary – Both Pineapple Express and Atmospheric River are terms for long, narrow band of tropical moisture. “River” describes the volume. The warm temperatures can lead to destructive flooding when it comes in contact with this year’s deep snowpack.
So sad to hear about the libraries. Our local system actually has one on the grounds of a middle school, another in a senior center. Although they have been reducing books in favor of electronic media throughout the system.
Here you go, Rosemary. “A well-known example of a strong atmospheric river is called the “Pineapple Express” because moisture builds up in the tropical Pacific around Hawaii and can wallop the U.S. and Canada’s West Coasts with heavy rainfall and snow.” “An atmospheric river is a long, narrow band of tropical moisture that gets carried along mid- and upper- parts of the atmosphere. These “rivers in the sky” can transport significant amounts of water vapor from tropical regions near the equator to mid-latitude locations like northern California.” The best way to tell you is to share the definitions.
Humph. I have a problem with library systems that close the libraries in the poor neighborhoods where people need them the most. You’re right. Then, they’ll tell you it was because they weren’t used as much as the libraries in the well-off neighborhoods. Were the hours good for working people? Was there transportation to get to that library for people who have to use mass transportation? Maybe more so in Scotland and England where mass transportation is better than most places in the U.S.
I’m glad you’re home.
Note that the current one is coming from Hawaii. You can see it on satellite. Also note what I said above regarding the fact that one term is now considered racist.
Everything is racist nowadays, Kevin. I’m sorry. I have a heard time thinking of a pineapple as racist.
It was referring to the people, allegedly. I thought it was nonsense at the time and still do. I also think naming winter storms is nonsense. Since I am still not SUPREME RULER OF THE WORLD, I remain unworshipped and unable to fix stuff.
Our weather is up and down and all around the town as my mother used to say. Colder weather has arrived again, and they are saying measurable snow by the weekend with rain tonight in Cincinnati. We shall see.
I read three books this week. Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand. I usually find her books hit or miss but my daughter highly recommended this one. The story of an ex-restaurant owner hired to redo the abandoned Hotel Nantucket. There’s a ghost and a staff of misfits. I enjoyed this.
Next was Duchess Goldblatt A Memoir by Anonymous. This was a Mrs. Darcy recommendation. It was interesting but I didn’t find it as fascinating as most of her readers. Duchess Goldblatt is pseudonym for a writer with a Twitter account. She is followed by such luminaries as Lyle Lovett, Connie Schultz, Celeste Ng.
Lastly, I read This Never Would Have Happened if Prince Were Alive: A Novel by Carolyn Prusa. I nearly gave up on it at the beginning. Ramona is a 38-year-old mother of two children working at a start-up company in Savannah. She is the only employee with a family and her boss has no compassion for a working mother. Hurricane Matthew is tracking for Savannah. Ramona goes home to get ready to evacuate to find her husband and his mistress walking out of their bedroom. There was lots of chaos and flawed characters but in the end, I stuck with and was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it.
I saw the miniature house Kaye wrote about at the museum in Chicago with my daughter and her family. It was fabulous. I will have to look for the book when it is published.
Happy reading!
My mother asked me about snow here, Sharon. Our predictions have just been for flurries, no real snow, thank heavens. Everyone knows I hate it. Good luck!
I have to admit I don’t find Duchess Goldblatt as clever as others do on Twitter. I just don’t get the appeal, but that’s me.
That miniature house sounds so wonderful. I could examine them forever for every little detail.
Happy reading to you, too, Sharon!
I read A Frying Shame, the last one of a cozy trio by Linda Reilly. I read the reviews of this book before finishing it and I don’t agree with some of them. Talia’ s calico cat, Bojangles still doesn’t get much space in the book even though it is cute on the cover and her new boyfriend, Ryan, doesn’t either. But despites disappointments, I still loved this cozy.
Talia’s employee, Martha, the curmudgeon from the previous book developes more in character and there is a knock out scene in the diner that belongs in the movies. I cried and laughed and would have jumped up and down, but I can no longer do that without serious injury!
Talia has been warned not to investigate but she and everyone at the diner are so worried about her other employee, Lucas, who is the hospital unconscious.
I loved the way that she accidently obtained information on the case by helping two elderly women, the first one, by helping the sister of the unloveable victim pack up the apartment so that the landlord could rent it out quickly and another older woman who had spilled her groceries through no fault of her own.
The author ties all the ends and puts a bow on it. A great way to end a series.
We have a chilly 57 degrees this morning. I am going through photo’s and my genealogy collection today to try to get them ready to pack for ougaigar move. I received a bunch of books that I have won and took off from the computer early to finish reading the above cozy and read a little in This Is How America Looks Like by Ilhan Omar. I heard her talk on a news show, Rep. Omar made a statement about the brutal attack of a transgender woman at a Minnesota Light Rail Station.
I found a memoir written by her with the aid of Rebecca Paley of her journey a child growing up in Mogadishu, Somalia. She was young when her mother died, that she has no memory of her. Smallest of the family, she got into trouble for fighting a bully much bigger than herself who was harrassing a boy bigger than her. She, a preschooler told the bully to meet her outside after school!. Pulling the bully down and rubbing his face in the sand, she was filled with anger at the bully who made a vulgar remark about the bigger boy’s. She knew that people need to revere their mothers, not say horrible things about them. A crowd gathered and her eight grade brother was shocked to see what she was doing in the middle of the crowd. Her father’s response was to laugh. Nobody should be coming to my house complaining about my smallest baby.
I am reading this book slower than usual and appreciating it her experiences as a child at home and later in a dangerous situation where her family was holding tight in their home while bullets flew around and hitting the house. Civil war had begun in Somalia in 1982. Her father belong to a clan that was designated for extinction by the clan that took over the government. Her family split op
I had computer trouble, finishing my post. Her family split up and traveled by a cattle truck until it was stopped by many bullets. People scrambled over each other trying to get off the truck. On they went with no food or water and like a miracle her father met them to take them to the refugee camp in Kenya. In the camp, people were dying of malaria. Her father said, at least we will die together as a family in the camp.
Carolee, I was pleasantly surprised to hear how Omar’s father was so supportive of a daughter. I know that’s not always the case in African countries. Thank you for mentioning This is How America Looks Like.
Thank you, Lesa!
Raining on and off here all the time. At the least the drought is over for a while.
This week I read:
Sheeps passing in the Night by Elizabeth Ludwig; Lambapalooza is happening on Martha’s Vineyard, and someone is sabotaging the sheep. Priscilla investigates.
Better Off Dead by Lee and Andrew Child; Jack Reacher is walking through the desert when he sees a jeep crashed into the only tree for miles around. Then the usual tomfoolery…or jackfoolery as it may be.
The Official Democrat/Republican Joke Book by Larry Wilde; written in 1976. A time capsule of dated jokes. Kids today probably wouldn’t even understand most of them.
Fallen Hero by Wayne Stinnett; There’s a serial killer loose in the Keys, and Jesse McDermott is searching for him, but he meets a beautiful FBI agent first.
Catch of the Day by Ruth Logan Herne; Back to Martha’s Vineyard, (only 3 more books to go!) as the fisherman’s pension fund has been looted, and the only real suspect just happens to be a friend of Priscilla’s cousin. We know where this is going.
He Said He Would Be Late by Justine Sullivan; A psychological thriller. I read a book almost just like this a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, when the woman in the usual perfect life (this seems to be a big thing in psychological thrillers.) sees a text to her husband, she freaks out about whether he is cheating on her. Shouldn’t there be a serial killer or something involved? Just hire a PI.
Glen, I totally agree with you. Some of those psychological thrillers could be over early if the woman would just take some logical action. Not a fan of psychological thrillers.
Glad the drought is over for a time. I hope this helps with wildfires this summer, too!
I am surprised that I finished two books in the last week.
One was BABY, WOULD I LIE? by Donald Westlake, which I described last week. The is Branson, Missouri, the plot centers around a murder trial of a country music star no longer in his heyday, accused of brutally murdering a woman. It was much more of a fun read than Fender Benders and a different look at the country music industry. This one also focused on journalism as the main characters worked for a weekly magazine.
The other book was TIME TO MURDER AND CREATE by Lawrence Block. It is the 2nd book in the Matt Scudder series, which I assume most people here are familiar with. I read the first book in the series back in 2011 and it took me this long to return to it. I liked it and I read it very quickly, but I think the series get much better as it goes along.
So that is my reading. We are waiting for rain here. It should start tonight. The Santa Barbara International Orchid Show is taking place this weekend, for the first time since the pandemic, so I am hoping the rain does not cause problems for that.
Oh, I’m hoping it doesn’t cause problems for the orchid show, too, Tracy. Should be okay, I would think. I’m sure the orchids are already in place inside.
Going back to two classic authors – Donald Westlake and Lawrence Block. Reliable.
Stay dry!
Hey, Lesa and everyone. At least I’m getting better about not posting at night, even though the afternoon is late for many of you early birds. Lesa, we have the same gray weather you do and supposed to rain. Well, it’s good reading weather anyway.
I did get to Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus this week. I have about 60 pages to finish it tonight and I love it. Now I know why this book was on so many “best” and “favorite” lists last year. It is beautifully written, which is especially impressive as this book is the author’s debut. It takes place in the latter 50s and early 60s and features Elizabeth Zott. Elizabeth is a scientist, but the men with whom she must work don’t recognize her as such, and her boss is as morally reprehensible as it gets. Of course, she is smarter and more capable than the lot of them. There is one male scientist who works at the same lab as Elizabeth, and thinks she’s wonderful. This man is a world renowned scientist. I won’t say more because it will get into spoilers. However, I will say that Elizabeth struggles the whole book against men who refuse to entertain the notion of a woman wanting to be more than a wife and mother. I’ve gotten mad at plenty of points in the book, but that didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the book. Elizabeth Zott is one outstanding character.
Another book I’ll mention is one I’d read a while back but just have gotten my review up for it. This book is entitled Hide and the author is Kiersten White. This story is worlds apart from the book Hide by Tracy Clark, which I talked about recently. This Hide takes place at an abandoned amusement park in the middle of nowhere. Fourteen contestants have agree to live in the park for a week, sleeping at night under a large pavilion. During the day, they will be hunted in a high stakes game of hide-and-seek. The last one not found will receive $50,000, an amount of money that would change any of the lives of any of the participants. Mack is the main character, and as a child she suffered a tragedy that shattered her family and world. Mack is currently homeless, so the money would give her a chance at a life with some stability. As is too often the case, when something sounds to good to be true, it isn’t. Mack and her fellow contestants quickly learn that they are participating in a dangerous game in a park with unyielding fences and an iron gate. There is a touch of the horror/supernatural, but I didn’t mind that at all. I’m not a big supernatural fiction fan, but in some stories, like this one, I am okay with it.
Stay home & stay warm, Kathy. Wish I could!
Lessons in Chemistry. I really need to get to that book. There are just others in my way.
I could almost read this second Hide. I’m not fond of horror, though, so I don’t know.
Today I review The Darkest Game: A Novel by Joseph Schneider on my blog. This is the third book in this police procedural series built around LAPD Detective Tully Jarsdel. Like all really good series, the books build on each other so it is best to read in order before reading this one. My spoiler free review is at
https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2023/03/review-darkest-game-novel-by-joseph.html
My current read is HIDE by Tracy Clark. Billed as “A Detective Harriet Foster Thriller” the read is first in a new series. Not sure what I think of it at this point.
Would have read more today, but spent much of the day pulling together the tax stuff for the CPA. Nothing like doing that to realize what an utter failure one is writing wise. I mean, I already had a good idea, but today has really brought that fact screaming home.
Kevin, I think gathering tax information makes everyone feel incompetent.
I’ll have to check your review of The Darkest Game. I read the first two, but haven’t even seen this one.
The tax stuff was really depressing. I knew I had not been doing much writing/submitting wise, but damn…..seeing the numbers was a real smack in the head. It may just be time to call it quits on that and not worry about it. With Sandi gone, nothing is right, and I just don’t have any ideas anymore.
Sent my review of The Darkest Game in to you if you can use it. I had no idea the book was out until I stumbled across it on Amazon while doing something else.
We’re back in the 40s-50s in North Carolina, with rain this morning. I’m still reading The Angel maker by Alex North. Just finished the Librarian of Banned Books by Brianna Labuskes. It was very good and so relevant to what’s going on in present day.
Thank you, Katherine. I don’t know if I want to look for Librarian of Banned Books or not, since it is so relevant. Sadly.