No complaints today. The weather has been gorgeous, 70s and low 80s during the day. I’m an Ohio resident again, with my driver’s license, car title, registration, license tags, voter registration. And, I have my library card to the Columbus Metropolitan Library System! It’s been a fruitful week. What about you? Did you have a good week?
I SHOULD be reading for either Library Journal reviews or for moderating a panel for the Library Journal Day of Dialog. I did finish three books this week for reviews. But, today I started Ben Aaronovitch’s Winter’s Gifts. It’s a spin-off of his Rivers of London series. Magic, and gods, and all things unexplained. This one is set in the United States and features FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. She works for the department that handles the weird, the supernatural and the genuine occult. In fact, she’s worked with Detective Constable Peter Grant in London. (Think X-Files.)
“When retired FBI Agent Patrick Henderson calls in an ‘X-Ray Sierra India’ incident, the operator doesn’t understand. He tells them to pass it up the chain till someone does.
“That person is FBI Special Agent Kimberley Reynolds. Leaving Quantico for snowbound Northern Wisconsin, she finds that a tornado has flattened half the town—and there’s no sign of Henderson.
“Things soon go from weird to worse, as neighbors report unsettling sightings, key evidence goes missing, and the snow keeps rising—cutting off the town, with no way in or out…
“Something terrible is awakening. As the clues lead to the coldest of cold cases—a cursed expedition into the frozen wilderness—Reynolds follows a trail from the start of the American nightmare, to the horror that still lives on today…“
I love these kind of urban fantasy books.
What about you? What are you reading this week?
I’m taking Thursday off work. I’m joining my brother and his family at Universal Studios. I haven’t been in roughly 15 years, so I’m looking forward to it.
In the meantime, I’ve just barely started on A Nutcracker Nightmare by Christina Romeril. I’m only a couple of chapters in, and I’m getting back into the world. (This is the second in the series.) I feel like it’s a little rougher than it should be, but hopefully things will smooth out as I acclimate the the author’s writing style.
Enjoy your day with family, and at Universal, Mark. Family is what I appreciate most about moving back to Ohio.
Hello, everyone! It’s taken a turn for the hotter here in NorCal, hopefully just a couple of days with highs of 90, starting tomorrow. At least, when I walk tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. it will be 63, meaning I can wear short sleeves. I was wearing a jacket at that time of day just a few days earlier.
This week my reading was mostly disappointing. However, my first book was amazing, although definitely not for everyone. My currently read looks like it will be better.
I’m still reeling after finishing Adam Plantinga’s first thriller, THE ASCENT. A seasoned sergeant in the San Francisco PD, Plantinga has impressed readers with his outstanding non-fiction classics, 400 Things Cops Know and Police Craft, and now he has revealed a masterful storytelling skill with a book that is unrelentingly propulsive, shocking, and full of graphic violence. More importantly, he has created an iconic character, Kurt Argento, that you can’t help rooting for, even as you wonder how such a person can exist. Kurt has recently resigned from the police after the tragic death of his wife and the inappropriately uninhibited behavior that followed. He’s someone who can’t resist stepping in when someone is in jeopardy, and he has the mad skills to back it up. That’s what lands him in jail during a road trip with his beloved dog after he stops a thug from molesting a young girl at a fair. And he has the bad luck to arrive at a maximum-security state prison in Missouri when a technology glitch opens up many of the inmates’ doors unexpectedly, soon leading to riots. But the governor’s daughter–taking a tour to fulfill a requirement of her master’s program–and two accompanying state troopers, the prison nurse and chaplain, and other prison employees are glad to have Argento on their side. Almost the entire story takes place at the prison over a few hours, and it is unbelievably suspenseful, disturbing, and enthralling. Those of faint heart and/or weak stomach may want to skip this one. It is FAR outside of my usual literary fare, but I couldn’t look away. Sometimes I felt the violence was just too much, but I so admire the author’s insightful descriptions, self-assured writing style, and adept combination of both personal experience and research, together with the creativity that makes this an unforgettable read. Adam Plantinga is a SF police sergeant who gave a couple of memorable talks to my chapter of Sisters in Crime around 2016-18, and many of us couldn’t wait to see his first fiction work. It was worth waiting for. But I don’t know how he can follow this one up! (January)
Celebrated food critic and magazine editor Ruth Reichl has written her second work of fiction, following an impressive string of memoirs. In THE PARIS NOVEL, book editor Stella lives her life according to self-imposed rules and schedules. Having suffered a traumatic childhood, she is reluctant to stray from the sheltered life she has created. So, in 1983, when her estranged, very inattentive and flamboyant mother dies and leaves her a one-way ticket to Paris, it takes a lot of courage for Stella to take a leave from her job and embark alone on a journey to an unfamiliar city. As she makes new acquaintances who recommend places and things for her to experience, she finds herself gradually becoming more willing to expand her world and explore what she really wants to do with her life. Reichl excels, of course, at writing about food and restaurants and making the reader feel hungry and immersed in the sensual experience of eating. She also beautifully describes some highlights of the City of Light, including Les Deux Magots and Shakespeare & Company, inviting the reader to savor these delights and many others. Where I had trouble with the story was in establishing a connection with the character of Stella. Also, I felt that the events of the last couple of chapters were too abrupt and not grounded in the story. However, I did enjoy Stella’s quest to find out whether a real-life artist’s model portrayed in a number of paintings ever succeeded in fashioning her own artistic career. Those who live for stories about food and Paris will undoubtedly enjoy this book. I respect Reichl as an author and have enjoyed many of her books, especially her outstanding 2014 foray into fiction, Delicious! (April)
In Beatriz Williams’ THE BEACH AT SUMMERLY, Emilia Winthrop, nicknamed Cricket, has always lived in New England on Winthrop Island, named for her ancestors. She used to dream of going to college at Wellesley, but her mother’s stroke has made it necessary for her to stay home to help her father, caretaker of the island’s Summerly mansion, look after her mother and Cricket’s younger sister. The wealthy Peabody brothers, whose family inhabits Summerly, have been like siblings to her throughout their childhood, but World War II has disrupted both families’ lives. Life is beginning to return to normal after the war, but Cricket’s dreams remain unfulfilled. Then, a glamorous divorcee and her young children move to the island and offer Cricket a whole new perspective on life. I found it difficult to follow the story that often shifts between post-war 1946 and Cold War 1954, and that includes an espionage plot. And although Cricket went through many difficult situations, I wasn’t able to engage with her, or with several of the other major characters. I did like the youngest Peabody brother, Shep, but I didn’t find his yearning for his childhood best friend, Cricket, totally convincing. This one, read for a book club, was, unfortunately, a miss for me.
We’re having damp weather today, Margie, and it’s going to rain later, so I don’t know if my sister and I will take our Thursday walk. We went to one Metro park last Thursday, and a different one on Tuesday. I like the pace she and her dog set because it’s not too fast for me.
An eclectic list this week, but I don’t know that I’m attracted to any of them. The first one does sound a little too violent.
Good morning everyone. It’s most definitely autumnal here, much cooler, though we’ve had some beautiful days.
On Sunday we drove over to Dufftown on Speyside to meet up with our son and his wife for lunch at the Sidings Café, which is housed in an two old railway carriages at Dufftown station.
The line was axed years ago, but keen volunteers have revived it and it runs between Dufftown and Keith during the summer, and for special occasions throughout the year. The weather was so sunny that we ate at one of the tables on the station platform. We then had a walk along part of the Speyside Way with two dogs in tow – fortunately they’re both well trained, as there were plenty of cyclists and other walkers around.
Later on David and I did another, circular, walk on the hills above the village. It was still sunny and bright, and the views of the countryside and the village itself were wonderful. Hardly anyone about up there either, just some curious cows.
We drove back over the Cabrach, a wild and sparsely inhabited Highland area which looked beautiful in the evening sun, but which I wouldn’t want to drive in the dark or the winter.
Speyside is of course prime whisky and fishing country. There are distilleries everywhere – Dufftown is a small place but it has three of its own. The Spey is a very popular river with anglers, though it hasn’t done so well this year owing to low water levels (now restored by the amount of rainfall we’ve had lately.)
This week I finished two books.
HOLDING by Graham Norton was very enjoyable. It’s set in a small town in rural Ireland, where builders excavating an old farm site for a new development uncover some bones. Their discovery has wide reverberations throughout the area; many people have secrets they don’t want revealed, but one person really wants to know the identity of the deceased.
Norton manages to write in an entertaining way while also examining some serious issues – the misery of people who can’t bring themselves to move on, and the contrast with those who, despite challenges, manage to do so, is a particular theme. Holding is an easy read and I liked it.
ARSENIC AND OLD BOOKS by Miranda James is, I think, my first Charlie and Diesel story, though I know many of you have read all the books in the series. I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this one, but I loved it. It is so interesting to me to read about such a different community – everyone is so polite, no one seems to work the crazy hours that people do here and, I imagine, in the more northern states, and even the food is special. I do appreciate that this is a cosy mystery, I’m sure life isn’t perfect in the South, just as it isn’t elsewhere, but I found it fascinating.
I particularly appreciated the fact that Diesel, the wonderful Maine Coon cat, is a great character but still very much a cat. He doesn’t solve the mystery or catch the killer, but his presence really adds to the book. And I found all of the main characters well drawn and interesting, from Charlie himself to his housekeeper Azalea and his co-worker Melba (what a name.) And as someone who knows embarrassingly little about US history, a plot focusing on things that happened in the Civil War was a great incentive to educate myself about the period.
I hope our library system has more of James’ books.
I’m now reading THE MOONSPINNERS by Mary Stewart for the upcoming #1962club week.
I find Stewart very variable – I love some of her novels but there are others that I find pretty poor. I’ve only read the first 50 pages of this one so far; an English girl who’s been living in Greece for a while (hence can handily understand the language) takes a trip to a remote part of Crete. She’s to meet a friend there (who’s travelling on a private yacht!) but of course the friend is delayed. Nicola decides to take a long walk on a deserted hillside (because according to her nothing every happens to anyone in Greece….I suppose this was written 41 years ago!) and is held at knifepoint by a Greek, who takes her to a shepherd’s hut housing an Englishman who’s been shot.
She somehow talks them into allowing her to help them. It’s already very clear that Mark, the wounded hunk, is to be the love interest.
One thing I often notice about Stewart’s novels is that she is allowed to indulge in pages of description, often before anything happens at all. I do wonder if a modern writer would get away with this. I don’t think we have the attention span for it any more – I certainly don’t – but perhaps back then readers were patient.
Apart from the outstanding THE BEAR, (which I’m watching on my i-Pad thanks to our TV not being compatible with Disney+), I’ve not found much to grip me on TV lately, but my friend Karen has now recommended UNION, presented by the historian David Olusoga. It’s about the origins of the GB union and all the strife along the way – Karen says it’s excellent, and even the picky Guardian gave it 4* and said ‘finally a history programme that’s not deathly dull.’
On the radio I found an adaptation of Mick Herron’s THE SECRET HOURS, in which a retired academic and spy has his peaceful country cottage invaded by thugs. He wants to find out why. We then move on to London, where an enquiry has been set up into possible historic overreaching by the secret service. I’m onto episode 9 of 10 and I still haven’t worked out the connection between the two, but it’s very good!
Today I am off into town to get my vaccinations – at least I hope it’s plural, as I’m not technically old enough to get the Covid booster till next month, so I just hope they will relent and give it to me with the flu one – they’ll save themselves and me time if they do. The government is being much more restrictive with eligibility for the covid vaccine now – I don’t know if that is the case in the US? We can pay for the flu vaccination if we want to go to a pharmacy, but there is no private access to the covid one here.
Tomorrow Nancy and I are going to see two new ballets, Twice-Born and Schachmatt (Checkmate), and on Saturday we are taking Charlie back to Anna in Edinburgh.
Right, I’d better get on and go!
Have a good week all.
Rosemary, I feel the same way about Diesel that you do. I love that he is a normal cat, but such an essential part of life in the book.
And, I hope Charlie had a good week or two with you! You seem to lead such a busy life that it’s probably best he’s not at home wondering where you are.
Thank you for your description of your day in Dufftown on Speyside. I always enjoy your outings.
Have a good day!
Rosemary, I mentioned WHO IS ERIN CARTER? last time. If you don’t mind the SPOILER, Douglas Henshall turns out not to be just a rich guy who wants Erin to tutor his underachieving son, but Mr. Big in the drug dealing business! It was pretty ridiculous that he left SHETLAND for that, but I guess he got a ncie trip to Barcelona.
Oh my goodness, it sounds even worse than it did last week! I don’t know what Dougie can have been thinking of – though as you say, maybe it was the location.
I try not to be harsh in my comments about a book but I have to say The Guest by Emma Cline was awful. The ending of the book was left open ended so your saying to yourself “what the heck does that mean”. I was so annoyed that I looked the book up on the web to see if I could find other comments about it and found comments that were exactly what I thought. I certainly will never read another book by her. Weather this week has been beautiful but once again rain is expected for Saturday so it will be a good reading day! Glad to hear all you have accomplished in your new home.
Sometimes, Donna, there just isn’t much good to say. I agree with you. I try not to be too harsh, but sometimes the book just calls for that. I’m sorry about The Guest. I’m glad I didn’t read it!
Good morning. I think today is going to be our last warm sunny day in NJ. Rain is supposed to move in tomorrow and then our highs will be in the low 60s.
This week I read an ARC of Snow Place for Murder by Diane Kelly. A developer turns up dead during a weeks stay at a mountain lodge to pitch his latest project to investors. The book started off slowly but picked up after the murder
I’m going to miss these warm, sunny days, Sandy. I’ve enjoyed having the doors open in the afternoon. I think we’re going into rainier and cooler, too.
Glad your book picked up the pace!
After a few cloudy days, the sun is once again warming the high desert. The nights are cool, but still above freezing.
I went through a few “not for me” books before settling on a reprint of Agatha Christie’s THIRD GIRL originally published in 1966. It features Adriadne Oliver as a mystery writer and Hercule Poirot. Both characters were in the recent movie. The timeline has Poirot at loose ends, having finished his Magnum Opus, an analysis of great writers of detective fiction (that one I would like to read!)
Also the second in the Perveen Mistry historical fiction series set in 1922 with Bombay’s only female lawyer, THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE by Sujata Massey. This takes place in Satapur, a small princely state, where the majara and his eldest son have both recently died.
Sometimes, MM, an old classic is the best way to go. I find Agatha Christie to be a comfort read. I prefer others over Hercule Poirot, though. He was never one of my favorites.
Personally, I find THIRD GIRL (one of the very late ones) one of the worst Christie titles. We watched the TV adaptation recently, and they made a lot of changes from the book. It didn’t make it much better, though…
Congrats to you on your new library card! And for taking care of all the details involved with moving to a different state. We moved from Indiana to Texas 3 years ago to be near the grandkids. And it’s raining here today, which is great!
I recently read “Holly”, the new Stephen King book and actually enjoyed it without having read earlier books with the character. Next was “An American in Scotland”, which I was a little disappointed in, but I intend to read the next one if there’s a series. I’m now reading “The River We Remember” by William Kent Krueger. Next up is “Black Sheep” by Rachel Harrison I enjoyed her “Cackle”.
Enjoy the turning leaves in Ohio. We don’t see a whole lot of that in San Antonio.
Thank you, Linda! And, the leaves are turning here. I enjoyed seeing trees Tuesday when my sister and I (also a Linda) walked in one of the Metro Parks here. And, we have a 2 1/2 hour drive this weekend up for a family wedding, so I imagine we’ll get to enjoy the trees on that trip.
I hope you enjoy “The River We Remember”. William Kent Krueger is a special writer.
Happy Thursday at Lesa’s, everyone!
Lesa Holstine, you are now a full-fledged Ohio citizen (once again. Welcome Home!).
And a retired woman. Is it feeling real yet? When I first retired I just kinda felt like i was on vacation for quite awhile.
So. What I’ve been reading. Mentioning only the most outstanding, and it truly is an outstanding book,
The Memory of Lavender and Sage
by Aimie K. Runyan
Loved Loved Loved it. For those of us who love a little magic in our fiction.
The description does not do it justice
Description from NetGalley
“Food critic Tempèsta Luddington has always felt like the odd person out in her family, ever since she lost her beloved mother at the tender age of thirteen. When her workaholic father passes fifteen years later, Tempèsta is not surprised that the majority of the considerable family money will pass to her dutiful younger brother, Wal. Still, she is left a modest remembrance from her mother, and for the first time Tempèsta has a world of choices before her.
Lost in grief and hoping to reconnect with her memories and her mother’s past, she uses the money to buy a ramshackle manor house in Sainte-Colombe, a small village in Provence, where her mother had grown up. But she is greeted with more questions than answers. Her welcome, especially by the town’s stodgy mayor, is cold at best, and she finds herself wondering if the entire experiment was a mistake.
Yet she stays, stubbornly sticking it out, slowly learning that her mother’s legacy was more than just a nest egg. Through her mother and the village, Tempèsta learns the value of community and friendship, the importance of self-confidence, and the power of love and trust. What’s more, she sees for herself that there is magic and beauty in the everyday—even something as simple as a sprig of lavender and sage.”
You convinced me, Kaye. I just requested The Memory of Lavender and Sage. Keeping my fingers crossed. I don’t always get approved for the same books you do. Mysteries, yes. Women’s fiction, not always. I guess I just don’t read and review enough of it. Maybe now in retirement!
I don’t think I’ll feel retired until I get through this weekend. Maybe then when everything doesn’t feel so hurried. Family wedding means a couple days away from home, and unsettled again. I need a stretch here. Still not sleeping well, but I’ll get there.
Kaye, you are a bad influence on me (but I love it)! You spoke so highly about the book that I had to request it. Today I’ve already gotten 3 books from NetGalley–one I wished for became a Read Now (Murder Crossed Her Mind by Stephen Spottswood), another I was waiting to request appeared today as a Read Now (A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh), and I was approved for a St. Martin’s book that I heard about on LJ Prepub Alert (Off the Air by Christina Estes). My NG shelf is up to 12, which is higher than I like to go. I’ve been trying hard to read mostly NG books, and I’m making progress, but . . . And I had to sneak in a book club book, and I also have another book out of the library. It didn’t help that I am now in the Berkley Besties and snagged a couple of their books as well (two done and reviewed, and as a reward, I was able to choose a third). Sigh–I know, first world troubles.
Oh, Margie, you made me laugh! I hope you love The Memory of Lavender and Sage. Except wait! How do I become a Berkeley Bestie!!! Lucky you!
I woke up in the middle of the night. Could not get back to sleep, I looked the libraries closest to the apartments that we are going to see soon! One is not far and great and unfortunately, the other one is iffy, I would love it if we were closer to the downtown Austin Public Library but probably too far. It looks fantastic.
I finished The Polish Girl by Malik Adler and now want to read her book about The Two Brothers of Auschwitz. The Polish Girl is actually a Russian girl whose family left Russia for Poland. The father separated from the family so that they would have a better chance of staying alive. He was later captured and was executed in a concentration camp.
I didn’t know it until I finished the book that is loosely based on the life of one the author’s friends. The mother sent her little boy to live with another family and instructed him to never let anyone see him undress or bathe with the family’s children. Later he was back with the mother and his older sister.
The mother was very intelligent but self-centered and her wits kept her children alive. She had visitors over and told of her woes, I think to elicit pity. She was very pretty and spoke five languages but not very affectionate to her children. The daughter went to Catholic School. She wanted love from her mother, but when she became an adult she learned to love herself and not need her mother’s approval. I highly recommend this book for learning more about the Jews under the Nazis. It is amazing that they survived and you learn how they avoided being sent to the concentration camp. The knowledge of what happened in the camps, came to them in little bits.
I also got a book from Amazon Vine, The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar. I am only 30 pages into the book but savoring every page. I wish there was a way that I could meet the author. I feel that our hearts are the same!
Good luck with your apartment, and your local library, Carol. I wasn’t too impressed with the branch where I got my library card, but I think there are 28 branches in the library system, so I don’t have to go to that one.
Have you read Heather Morris’ books? She wrote The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Three Sisters. All her novels are based on true stories. My friend, Donna, loves her books. They sound like something you might like.
I have read the Tatooist of Auschwitz but no the Three Sisters. At the church that I used to attend in Indianapolis, I met a man who was a prisoner at one of the concentration camps. I remember the tattoo on his arm. He never wanted to talk about his experience which I assume was horrible. I will look for Three Sisters, thank you.
Lesa, that’s great that you accomplished so much so fast. Well done. Weather-wise, yes it
was a great week once we got past last Friday’s downpours. Officially 5.86 inches in Central Park, but 7 inches or more in some parts of Brooklyn and Queens. With the rains the previous week, September was the rainiest since 1882. But starting Sunday, it was 76-77-80 and 83, with mid-70s predicted today before more rain returns. Unfortunately, Jackie was sick all week, and couldn’t go out until yesterday.
Books. Jackie read a Rockton book by Kelley Armstrong, ALONE IN THE WILD, which she liked very much, and is now read Linda Castillo’s AMONG THE WICKED.
Even though you could see where it was going, and yes it was sad, I really liked the fourth Thursday Murder Club book by Richard Osman, THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE. Joyce steps up and channels her inner Elizabeth when the latter is preoccupied, and that was fun. He says he is taking a break with a new series before he goes back to the next in this series, one of my favorites.
I really enjoyed the last John Scalzi stand lone book, THE KAIJU PRESERVATION SOCIETY, and was looking forward to the new one, with the great title, STARTER VILLAIN, and the excellent cover. I enjoyed it a lot, but have to say not as much as the last one. Charlie is a former business reporter, divorced and working as a substitute teacher, when his uncle dies. He hasn’t seen him since his mother’s death when he was 5, but it seems he is the only heir, and Uncle Jack was a super villain, of sorts. Charlie has to learn on the run, so to speak, with the help of his uncle’s assistants and, yes, sentient cats and dolphins. Fun, light reading,
Edward D. Hoch published over 1000 short stories in his lifetime, I believe, and over 100 of them were police procedurals about Captain Leopold, who works in a Connecticut city much like Hoch’s own Rochester, New York. They start off relatively straightforward – the first was published in 1962 – but later ones have some of the same locked room or “impossible crime” elements as other of Hoch’s series. He is always worth reading, and LEOPOLD’S WAY is no exception. It was published in 1984 and there is a new collection (THE KILLER EVERYONE KNEW) out just this year, with later stories.
You’re right, Jeff. I enjoyed Starter Villain, but I won’t be talking about it all year as I did with The Kaiju Preservation Society. That was just special.
I need to find my copy of The Killer Everyone Knew. I know I moved it, but, naturally it’s taking me a while to unpack things.
Tell Jackie I’m sorry she was under the weather. Hope she’s doing better now.
Lesa, Columbus Metropolitan Library System and The Franklin Park Conservatory are the two things I miss about Columbus. I know you are excited to be part of the system. I used the Southwest Library Branch in Grove City. The building is really pretty and the staff very friendly. Hard to believe only 85 miles separate us but we had record highs the past few days close to 90 in Cincinnati. A rude awakening is waiting us for the weekend.
Two good books this week. I enjoyed The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove by Karen Hawkins. Ella returns to Dove Pond after leaving Paris to try and sort out a recurring dream that manifests itself in strawberry frosting somewhere on her body. She thinks it has to do with being accused of stealing The Book of Cakes by her one-time mentor but like with all things Dove Pond, Ella discovers she can’t run away from her past. This one was highly enjoyable, and I loved the magical realism element. However, I really dislike anything that has to do with the whole influencing trend and although Ella had a team to handle it all, I find it tiring.
I cannot say enough good things about my second book that I picked up on Kindle Unlimited. The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros was just wonderful. A dual storyline that takes place during WWII and present day. The WWII storyline deals with Scarlett and the handsome American she falls in love with. She also becomes a best-selling romance author. After she dies an unfinished manuscript is discovered that the great granddaughter she raises decides to publish. The author selected to finish it butts heads with Georgia while sparks fly. The story switches between the letters from Scarlett to Jameson and what happens between Georgia and Noah while trying to get it finished. And in between there is the actual novel. I loved all of it.
Thanks also to Kaye for the recommendation of The Memory of Lavender and Sage. I will look out for it!
Happy Reading!
Sharon, I haven’t yet been to the Franklin Park Conservatory, although Donna & I had tickets when we came in May. Just too much to do in those few days. I’ll get there eventually, just as I’ll get to some of the other library branches eventually. It’s hard to leave behind a great library system, isn’t it?
We’ve had nice weather, but not in the 90s!
I’m so glad you had a couple good books this week.
Anne Perry’s The Traitor Among Us.
Sounds like you’re getting settled in just fine, Lesa. I’ll bet you’re one happy lady.
I finally finished the Elon Musk biography, which I enjoyed very much. Now I’m back into creepy suspense with an old Dean Koontz novel, The Darkest Evening of the Year. It’s a faster read, that’s for sure.
Working on getting settled, Patricia. I’ll get there.
I would think Dean Koontz would be a faster read!
You’ll get settled in, eventually, Lesa. Heck, we’ve got the holidays coming up. When you can Christmas shop at 9 in the morning on a Tuesday, it might all become real.
It rained maybe a little too much this weekend, but now it’s in the 90’s.
This week I read: Billy Jack (The Great Escape) by Steve William Laible; Nothing to do with Tom Laughlin, this story is about a little kid who thinks going to bed while the sun is still shining is wrong, so he sneaks out of his room, and finds all kinds of trouble. A kids story not really for kids.
Gilmore Girls: At Home in Stars Hollow by Micol Ostow; A kids book about the TV show, which, AFAIK was never marketed toward small children. A very strange choice. Are they looking for better re-run ratings in a couple of years?
The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg; Reads like someone was developing a TV show like Castle, but decided to make a book series instead. A con man/thief teams up with an FBI agent to go after the real bad guys. At least there’s pirates.
Garden Plot by Kristen McKendry; The lady who runs a halfway house for addicts finds a body in her garden. Set in Canada, everyone is very polite.
With Lee Goldberg’s background, Glen, it’s quite possible The Heist started out to be a TV show. Pirates! That’s unexpected. I’ve been reading Goldberg’s recent books, and I like the way he includes humor in his Eve Ronin police procedurals. I know my brother-in-law is a fan, too.
You’re right. It might feel like retirement when I can go shopping during the week. Even grocery shopping is better now.
Ben Aaronovitch’s new book sounds interesting, although I haven’t kept up with the Rivers of London series. I read the first three books and have the 4th one on my shelves. I do like fantasy or science fiction books that also mystery stories.
Weather has been fine here although we are going into a period of hot days. We got flu shots this week and next week is full of medical appointments, including the Covid vaccine.
I am currently reading GREENWOOD by Michael Christie, a Canadian author. It was nominated for best novel by the Crime Writers of Canada in 2019, and it won. But I have yet to figure out why it was considered crime fiction. I am halfway through it and I still have problems describing it. It is a multigenerational family story with a focus nature and ecology, especially trees. And yes, there are plenty of mysteries, but not much crime.
Regardless of those comments, which makes it sound like I don’t like it, I am finding it a wonderful if strange book. I first heard about it because of the award (and a book blogger, Bill Selnes of Mysteries and More in Saskatchewan), but I read it because it sounds like a very good book, regardless of genre, and so far it is. It starts in 2038 and follows members of the Greenwood family in various periods in time: 2008, 1974, 1934, and 1908.
Glen finished the book he was reading last week: 1941: FIGHTING THE SHADOW WAR: A DIVIDED AMERICA IN A WORLD AT WAR. He gave it 5 stars. Now he is reading SOLDIER, SAILOR, FROGMAN, SPY, AIRMAN, GANGSTER, KILL OR DIE: HOW THE ALLIES WON ON D-DAY by Giles Milton. He has been reading a lot about World War II lately. He must like this one, because he has already bought two more books by this author.
After just buying a lot of books at the book sale, we are still buying new books.
What can I say, Tracy? I bought Winter’s Gifts right after I got a library card here. I get the need to buy books.
I know I’m not up-to-date with the Rivers of London books, but this one grabbed my attention. Since it was set in the U.S. with a female protagonist, I was interested. I like Peter Grant, but I was ready for someone different.
Wow! You have accomplished quite of bit in one week! I am reading What Remains by Wendy Walker and A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert. On audio, I just started a egalley of The Last Close Call by Laura Griffin.
I tried, Katherine. That’s what I really wanted to accomplish this week.
I like Victoria Gilbert’s books featuring librarians.