It’s Thursday! Time to talk about what we’re reading. First, I’ll tell you why I didn’t read anything for two days. On Tuesday morning, I drove to my sister, Linda’s, in Ohio. Mom & my other sister, Christie, drove in as well. In the late afternoon, we went to Gramercy Books in Bexley. (Where else would we all go? But, I forgot to take a picture of the bookstore!) Very nice, active bookstore with lots of author appearances – Connie Berry, Celeste Ng, Jennifer Chiaverini, Louis Bayard. My kind of place.
Then, we went to what Christie called Chez Thomas. Linda’s oldest son, Thomas cooked dinner for all of us, chicken parmigiana, pasta, marinara sauce, Brussel sprouts. Delicious dinner. And, he took a picture of us.
From there, we went to Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley. Emmet Cahill, who has performed with Celtic Thunder, was performing at the church. When he tours, he tends to appear at a number of churches. Beautiful concert! He’s a trained tenor, and he performed Irish songs, religious songs, and a Broadway song or two. My sisters said they’d go see him again. Success! (And, Christie took a picture of me when I was thanking him afterwards, and getting my cd signed.)
So, with a five hour drive both ways, and time with family, I haven’t read anything for the last couple days. So, let’s talk about what you’re reading. I’d love to know.
Btu did you go to German Village? We visited a friend when she lived in Bexley in the 80s (for those who don't know, it's a suburb of Columbus and home to many mansions, including the Governor's Mansion). And German Village, where we had yummy pastries.
Really nice picture of you and your family, by the way.
Reading? I hope to finish Peter Robinson's CARELESS LOVE today. I've found a couple of his recent books to be slow starting, but not this one. There are two separate bodies found (or are they connected?), one investigated by Banks and the other by Annie Cabbot. Also reading the collection I mentioned, DARK CITY LIGHTS: NEW YORK STORIES, edited by Lawrence Block.
This week I finished (the previously mentioned) THE CRIME OF MISS OYSTER BROWN AND OTHER STORIES by Peter Lovesey, a good non-series collection first published in Britain 25 years ago, and Anne Hillerman's THE TALE TELLER. In this one she finally brings back retired Lt. Joe Leaphorn as a major character alongside Jim Chee and his wife Bernie Manuelito. Hillerman has done a fine job continuing her late father's series, and I think she gets a little more comfortable with each new book.
Lovely picture of you and your family Lesa.
Not much reading at my house either this week. We had a whirlwind trip to California over the weekend for a funeral.
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I am sorry. My comment posted before I could finish and I have not clue how to delete the first one 🙂
I finished LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly. It was not as compelling a story (to me) as LILAC GIRLS but it was very good. It was the story of the White Russians trying to escape while the tsar was being overthrown. Once again, one of the main characters Eliza Farriday was a real person.
Now I am reading GLORY ROAD by Lauren K. Denton. I've read her 2 previous books and found them to be page turners but this one not so much. I am enjoying the gardening tips at the beginning of each chapter though.
Happy Reading!
I didn’t read a lot this week either. We’re building a new garden path so we’ve been working on that. Our local library was nice enough to give us several huge stacks of old newspapers to use as a liner under the mulch.
I read MURDER LO MEIN by Vivien Chen. It’s the latest book in her noodle shop mystery series and I enjoyed it.
I also read two very short books. BLUE WATER BLUES by Vicki Delaney, a mystery set on a tropical island. The main character is a paramedic who moved there from Canada.
THE TEST by Sylvain Neuvel. It’s a dystopian fantasy about a not so distant Great Britain’s virtual reality citizenship test.
Sharon, I am 75% of the way through LOST ROSES, and I am enjoying it enough to attend the Barnes & Noble Book Club event next week to discuss it. It isn't my usual reading fare, but I found the historical details interesting.
I love most showbiz autobiographies, and TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH by Andrew Rannells is no exception. It covers Broadway/TV/movie star Rannells' quest to be a performer. Blessed with good looks, as well as singing and dancing ability, he still struggled after his move from Nebraska to NYC and after he dropped out of college to take a job. There were a lot of bumps in the road. But finally, he scored a job in the chorus of the Broadway production of "Hairspray"–3 years into its run. That's where this book ends, so I am hoping Rannells keeps writing so we can hear about his successes in "The Book of Mormon," "Falsettos," etc. as well as "Girls" and "The New Normal" on TV.
In her standalone, THE STRANGER DIARIES, Elly Griffiths effectively ramps up the suspense (without graphic violence) in chapters narrated alternately by Clare, a British high school teacher, her 15-year-old daughter, Georgia, and Harbinder, the detective who is investigating the murder of another English teacher at the same school (which Harbinder herself had attended two decades earlier). Clare is writing a book about an author, long dead, of a creepy story called "The Stranger," who formerly lived in one of the school buildings, and elements of the story suddenly appear relevant to the current murder. Clare starts to find brief messages in her own journal from a mysterious person which strike her–and the police–as subtle threats. And Georgia and some of her friends are taking creative writing classes from an older teacher who claims to be a white witch and posting them on a social media site. How it all comes together is fascinating.
My son and his two children are on the plane back to Shanghai. It was wonderful to visit with them. My granddaughter was sick with a cold virus and now we both have it. Cancelled my appointment today and will just try to get some rest.
Continuing to read Grave on Grave Avenue by Naomi Hirahara. I love that series because I am familiar with the places in LA. I worked in downtown LA for several years at the Federal Building.
Also, I have started Finding Rebecca by Eoin Dempsey, an audiobook. Picked it from my basket because it is only 8 discs long. I did not realize that half of it is set in Auschwitz. I have read so many books on that place but all non=fiction. This is fiction.
Just finished Miracle Creek by Angie Kim. I enjoyed it. Very thought provoking regarding family responsibilities versus self. The courtroom drama section was well done. Will start Cynthia Harrod-Eagle’s Bill Slider Omnibus series. Thanks for the recommendation Lesa. It sounded like my type of book.
Sounds like a fantastic time with family.
I should be finishing up DOUBLE WHAMMY by Gretchen Archer today. I have some issues with it, but I’ve been enjoying it for the most part.
Up next will be the latest middle grade book from Stuart Gibbs – SPY SCHOOL BRITISH INVASION.
We didn't go to German Village this trip, Jeff, although I've been there. And, I've been to The Book Loft, the enormous bookstore in the area. Fun trip!
Good to know Anne Hillerman is getting more comfortable. I like that series.
Thank you, Sharon, and I'm sorry about the purpose of your trip. Better reading next week!
Sandy, I have Murder Lo Mein sitting on a pile. Good to know you enjoyed it!
Margie, It sounds as if you had a good reading week, unlike some of the rest of us!
Carol, Probably bittersweet putting your family back on the plane. Except for the resulting colds, I hope you a wonderful visit.
DJ! I hope you enjoy the Bill Slider books. I'm loving the characters.
Thank you, Mark. It was a wonderful family visit. Sorry about the book that had some issues.
Lesa, so glad you had time with your family.
Love all the different things that all of you were able to share with each other.
Good reason to miss reading for a few days.
Hugs ~~~~~~
I read: Into the Frying Pan by Sarah Osborne; A typical Southern cozy taking place among medical school alumni and Civil War Re-enactors. I'm a west coast guy, and the Civil War didn't make it here. We had a militia, but they didn't fight any battles, so there's nothing to re-enact.
True SF anime by Michael Andre-Driussi; a guy writes essays on the kind of anime he likes, and tells you why you should like it too. He doesn't like Voltron.
Adventures with Nelson by Doug Olson; Short stories about a writer who gets in and out of capers with a little help from his friends.
Thanks for sharing a great picture of your family!
Mine will be visiting next weekend.
I finished Ellery Adams' MURDER IN THE READING ROOM, I liked this, but don't to spoil it for anyone by commenting.
Also up was Jim Carreyrou's BAD BLOOD: SECRETS AND LIES IN A SILICON VALLEY STARTUP. It read like a mystery – and was excellent.
Last but not least was THE TIME COLLECTOR by Gwendolyn Womack – which I enjoyed.
Hi Charlotte, I always take a book when I travel, but when I spend time with family, I seldom read a word of it. Lots of laughter, and no one wants to miss a minute of our time together.
Actually, I think Into the Frying Pan sounds interesting Glen. The west coast was fortunate to not get into that war.
Ruth, I hope you enjoy your time with family as much as I did. It's special, isn't it?
The Time Collector is on one of my TBR piles, so I like to know you enjoyed it.
DJ, I just brought Miracle Creek home from the library, so I'm glad you liked it. And Ruth, the same goes for The Time Collector. I loved Womack's last book, so I'm looking forward to this one.
I just started reading The Big kahuna by Janet Evanovich. Started listening to I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney on audio but finishing it up on my tablet.