I hope you all had just the kind of holiday you wanted, whether it was quiet, by yourself, or filled with family. I had a little of both, time with family, and time with just my Mom when we put together jigsaw puzzles and watched game shows. For me, what was important was that I had time with my Mom and some of my family.
I know Jeff and Jackie are getting ready to head to Florida. Safe travels! And, I hope the weather continues to be good traveling weather. I’m heading home on Saturday. I’ll have had a week and a half with Mom. It’s been great. Even if I did have vacation from work, I always had to be back at a certain time. Now that I’m retired, I can go at my own pace.
As to reading, about the only reading I’ve done was the comics and the clues on Jeopardy. As I said, I came to spend time with Mom, not to read. I’ll be back on track next week. In the meantime, what about you? What have you been reading this week? And, how were your holidays?
Finished Obey All Laws by Cindy Goyette. Got it via NetGalley. Strongly recommended. Comes out Jan 9th.
I’ll have to check it out, Kevin. Thank you!
I had a good holiday with my family. Despite this cough I have that I can not seem to shake. But, I’m home now as I had to return to work on Wednesday. Thursday is day -2, so the beginning of a month end close. (At least it isn’t a year end close, we did that at the end of November.)
Reading wise, I’m about a quarter of the way into DEAD AND GONDOLA by Ann Claire. I’m enjoying it, but I’ve had a hard time getting into the book (it’s the first in a series). I think it’s me (see previous paragraph about my cough). Definitely intrigued by a couple of things that are going on, so I’m curious to see what happens next.
Mark, Is that one of the Christie Bookshop mysteries? I know others have said they’re just so-so. It might not be you and that cough.
I hope that cough doesn’t linger much longer.
Mark, I was disappointed in Dead and Gondola and decided not to continue on in the series. I will be interested in your thoughts when you finish.
Good morning Lesa,
I can hardly believe it’s less than a week since we got back from London – and since then we’ve done Christmas!
Our little jolly to London was great, I enjoyed every minute. Our train travel there and back was very easy and comfortable, and while we were in the capital we just walked everywhere – there is so much to see, so much variety of architecture, and so much has changed since we last lived there.
We were staying in Whitechapel, an area of the East End that was once very poor but has now – like most places – been at least partly gentrified. But alongside the renovated terraces and warehouses there is still a lot of social housing, with real little communities living their domestic lives just minutes from the city centre.
The East End has benefited from successive waves of immigration over the centuries, so you see the influence of everyone from the Huguenots to today’s largely Pakistani residents. Fascinating markets and shops.
We visited the Whitechapel Gallery, the Cable Street Mural (painted to commemorate the uprising of local communities – Jewish, Irish, all sorts – against a march by Oswald Moseley’s Blackshirt fascists in the 1930s), and Brick Lane.
We walked down to the river at the Tower, then along from Tower Bridge to Southwark and back through the City of London – which has been transformed by huge skyscrapers, many with unusual architectural features – the Gherkin, the Shard, the Toaster and many more. They sit right next to buildings that have been there for hundreds of years.
In the evening we walked back along the river to the Playhouse Theatre at Charing Cross. The buildings on the south bank are all illuminated at night – it was a spectacular sight, with many having customised their displays for Christmas.
And then to Cabaret. What can I say? It was amazing!
The theatre has been transformed into the Kit Kat Club – you even enter via the fire escape stairs to the basement. Inside the foyer dancers and musicians mingle with the guests, you are offered a free drink, then the ‘club’ opens and you take your seats.
The inside of the theatre has been redesigned so that the ground floor audience sits in the round – the people nearest the front have tables at which food and drinks are served pre-show (I believe this comes in at £400 pp).
We were upstairs and had a great view of the circular stage. This revolves from time to time to suit the plot – there are otherwise very few props. The musicians are seated in what would normally be the first floor boxes.
In the middle is a trapdoor. The pre-show music and dancing continues, then as the lights go down, the EmCee emerges from the depths of the theatre.
Jake Shears was absolutely in his element – what a performance. He certainly proved he can act as well as sing and dance, he brought so much nuance to the role. But all of the cast were brilliant.
And the costumes – Jake’s in particular – were stunning.
I was so engaged in the show that the ending came as a surprise – I had no idea we’d been there for over four hours (including the pre-show stuff.)
I’d happily see it all again.
We walked back along the river to Whitechapel, bought snacks in a late night grocery, and knew we’d had a night we’d never forget.
And the next day, back to Edinburgh and Christmas food shopping. Hey ho!
Our Christmas was fine, it was good to see the family, and David, Anna and I managed to get a walk at the beach both days, once at portobello and once at Yellowcraigs near North Berwick. It was cold but beautiful, there were lots of dogs making merry, horses paddling in the surf, even some intrepid human swimmers braving the sea.
Today we head back up to Aberdeenshire – or at least I think we do, as there was a big storm up there yesterday and many roads were closed – both by floods and fallen trees. It’s passed over now but we’ll need to check on the travel news. We’re very lucky in that if necessary we can just stay here.
Reading! Like you lesa I’ve done precious little. I’m still on Rosamund Pilcher’s WINTER SOLSTICE – her usual tale of upper middle class families, but this is definitely one of her better books.
Elfrida, an actress, has retired to a quiet country village. There she is taken under the wing of Gloria, a wealthy and madly sociable woman who is on her second marriage to Oscar, a retired musician and teacher who has left London only reluctantly, to give their daughter Francesca a better childhood.
Elfrida also has a cousin who has fled his banking career in London, and his wife and adult daughters, to live in a cottage in Cornwall with his second wife.
Back in the village tragedy strikes and a new life opens up for Elfrida.
And that’s as far as I’ve got.
Everyone is very posh, even if poor, and speaks in that code that such people use – ‘how sweet’, ‘would you mind terribly if I didn’t’ (aka ‘I’m not going to, whatever you think’), etc. I’m never sure if Pilcher did have a very good ear for these things or just spoke like that herself so thought everyone else did.
I’ve been looking at the 52 BOOKS challenge. It gives you a list of prompts into which you fit 52 books for the year. You can interpret the prompts in any way you like – some are straightforward, eg ‘a book with over 40 chapters’, some much less so, eg ‘a smelly book’ – which can of course refer to the title, the story or indeed the smell of the book itself.
It’s kind of interesting to try to come up with appropriate titles – though whether or not I’ll actually get them read is quite another matter.
I almost forgot to add that on television we watched a most delightful little programme – MOG’S CHRISTMAS. It’s a new animation, just 30 minutes long, based on Judith Kerr’s famous series of children’s books about a well meaning but slightly dim tabby cat who lives with a family in London.
In this excursion Mog is flummoxed and upset by the turmoil of Christmas, with everyone in the family too busy to play with her, and various aged relatives turning up to stay. When a giant Christmas tree arrives, it’s all too much and Mog ends up taking refuge on the snow covered roof. But how will she get down?
It’s a lovely little story, with the characters voiced by many famous actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch and Miriam Margoyles, and a song sung by Sophie Ellis Bextor.
Even Charlie watched it!
We also watched the second series of VIGIL – Jeff, I wonder if you’ve seen it? We thought it was better than the first one. It’s set partly in Scotland and partly in a fictitious Middle Eastern oil-rich country. Complicated and fast moving. We enjoyed it.
And now I’d better get up and get packing.
I hope everyone has a happy Hogmanay when it comes. We’re going to see THE OLD BLIND DOGS at the Blue Lamp on Saturday, but I imagine we’ll spend New Year’s Eve itself at home. Our son and our younger daughter madeleine will both be back at work, and Anna is going to a wedding in Glasgow that night, so it’ll just be us. I’m quite looking forward to the peace and quiet really – so fingers crossed that we get it.
See you all in 2004!
Rosemary
Good morning, Rosemary,
The entire time I read your post, I thought, my sister, Christie, is going to love this post. The parts about the dogs and the horses in the sea, and so much more.
I enjoyed reading about London, and Cabaret. Thank you for taking the time to write to all of us.
Hogmanay is going to be quiet for me. I’m driving home on Dec. 30th. I’ve enjoyed all this time with my Mom. It’s so nice to be with family, especially over the holidsays.
Sending lots of love, and thanks, again, for your posts.
Thanks Lesa – and of course I’m not indulging in time travel! I meant 2024. See you all then.
Rosemary, I read WINTER SOLSTICE by Pilcher just a week or so ago and I loved it. It was my first book by Pilcher and I did not know what to expect but it was the perfect book for me at this time.
What a coincidence Tracy! I’m enjoying Winter Solstice so far.
The Pilcher everyone seems to love is The Shell Seekers. I’ve not read it but I have seen two different tv adaptations.
Rosemary, no. But looking at that cast, I will definitely watch it if it is available here. (Bummer, it’s on Peacock, which we don’t have.) We have one more episode to go on the latest SHETLAND, had the Christmas episodes of VERA, CALL THE MIDWIFE and BEYOND PARADISE, and are nearly done with the fourth series of SUSPECTS.
Good morning. We had heavy rain last night so there are a bunch of flooded roads in the area since the ground hadn’t really dried out from last week’s heavy rain. Fortunately we’re in a dry area.
I finished All Systems Red by Martha Wells, book one in the Mutderbot series, a short Sci-fi book about a robot who’s part of a team exploring a planet. He hacks his control module so he’s basically a free agent. It was an OK book so I’ll probably try book 2 at some point.
An ARC of Twinkle, Twinkle Au Revoir by Heather Weidner. A cozy mystery about a film crew shooting a TV show in a small town. There were way too many characters to keep straight.
Stay safe, Sandy, with all those flooded roads!
My sister thinks I’d like the Murderbot books, but I just haven’t got around to them yet.
Heading out for a New Year’s celebration tonight. For some reason this year my holiday schedule is a bit ahead of the actual calendar.
I’ve wondered about graphic novels, so I took the opportunity with a recently published one described as a “breathtaking visual experience”. WATERSHIP DOWN with its plucky and resilient rabbits was adapted by James Strum & illustrated by Joe Sutphin. Definitely beautiful and also faithful to the original story. I currently see wild rabbits as part of my everyday life and found the artwork quite realistic. Fun, but this form of story is just a novelty for me.
Another fun one for the holiday season THIS IS CHRISTMAS, SONG BY SONG – The Stories Behind 100 Holiday Hits. Popularity being the selection criteria. The songs are arranged in chronological order by year of release starting with Bing Crosby’s 1946 White Christmas.
And a memoir to wrap up this rather unusual reading week. WHAT THE BEARS KNOW: How I Found Truth and Magic in America’s Most Misunderstood Creatures. The story of the Bear Whisperer of Animal Planet fame and his life working with the California Black Bears in Mammoth, CA.
Happy New Year’s to the group and wishes for wonderful reading in 2024.
Happy New Year, MM! Enjoy your celebration tonight.
I’m not a big reader of graphic novels, but the Watership Down one sounds gorgeous.
I agree. I hope you have wonderful reading in 2024!
Good morning! It was a memorable Christmas, with Christmas Eve at my house and Christmas Day at my son’s house. Then yesterday was my older son’s 44th birthday, so we were together again for a fun dinner at Red Lobster. And in just a few days, I’ll be babysitting Sunday and Monday as my son and daughter-in-law fly to Las Vegas for an overnight mini-vacation. I’m really going to need that massage I’ve scheduled for next week! Lesa, you mentioned Jeopardy, so I’m assuming you watched Juveria Zaheer demolish the competition last week–absolutely amazing! Can’t wait to see her compete again. As for reading:
BULLETPROOF BARISTA, the 20th in Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mysteries, finds Village Blend, the New York City café Clare Cosi manages, the center of an episode of a TV series–not just supplying craft services but also hosting a few scenes. Jerry Sullivan, a seasoned comedian and all-around show business veteran, is the star of the show, and he fondly remembers Village Blend as a gathering place for show biz professionals and aspirants when he was just starting out. Clare is thrilled to have the publicity for the shop, not to mention a lucrative contract, but there is trouble from the start, There are a couple of “accidents” on the set that have tragic consequences, but Jerry wants to keep them on the down-low so that his series can continue, and members of Clare’s team who are tapped as extras or for small speaking parts tend to agree. Although law enforcement, including her fiancé, are investigating, Clare (as usual) can’t help doing her own investigation. I enjoy spending time with Clare, her family and her coworkers and trying to figure out whodunit (not too difficult, but still fun), in this long-running series.
I’m excited whenever Heather Webber comes out with a new standalone because I know I’m going to love it, and AT THE COFFEE SHOP OF CURIOSITIES is no exception. As usual, magical realism is a part of the story. One character is able to match a “curiosity” in her shop to the right person; one can envision the future; another can hear sounds from long distances away; and then . . . there are the butterflies. The story is told by the two damaged main characters in alternating chapters. Ohioan Ava answers a mysterious ad for a job as caretaker of an elderly man in Driftwood, Alabama and finds it’s nothing like what she expected, but maybe just what she needs. Maggie runs the coffee shop in Driftwood and worries that her father is thinking of selling the shop that she has poured her life and her heart into ever since her mother died. This is an affecting story of owning your dreams, overcoming your fears, learning to see yourself as others do, and accepting yourself as you are. Besides the two main characters, who are beautifully portrayed, I absolutely loved the Driftwood townspeople, who (mostly) provide love and support to others who are important to them, and even to strangers. My favorite is Estrelle, an older woman who always dresses in black and strikes fear in everyone she knows, but who has a softer side that unfolds as the story progresses. I also liked the several romantic relationships, which progress from initial reservations into something more meaningful. And the handsome dachshund and the standoffish cat are priceless. I loved it!
I thoroughly enjoyed John Stamos’ autobiography, IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME, as I found it to be well balanced between his journey to success in show business, his relationship with his devoted parents, sisters, and friends, and just a bit about some struggles with alcohol. Of course, I knew about John’s TV claims to fame that included General Hospital (as a teenager) Full (and Fuller) House, and ER, but I didn’t realize he had success on Broadway–both musicals and dramas–and in some films. I especially liked the chapters about his unlikely friendship with Don Rickles, his love for Beach Boys music which led to his becoming a part-time drummer for the band, and his deep relationship with Full House costar Bob Saget until Bob’s untimely death a couple of years ago. I also enjoyed his search for his own family–his marriages to Rebecca Romijn and to his current wife, Caitlin, and his becoming a father of a young son, named for his own father, later than he expected.
Margie, I’m so glad you had such a memorable Christmas. It was such a good decision to move close to family, wasn’t it? I’ve enjoyed my visit with my Mom, and I could just extend it by one day because we wanted to do that.
My reading has suffered, but it sounds as if you found time to get a few books read. Sending love and hugs, Margie, and wishes for a wonderful 2024.
Christmas was quiet but Saturday I met younger son’s family at the Delaware Children’s Museum. It was fun to watch my granddaughter explore. One of the things I liked about the museum was that a couple of the areas had a small bookcase with appropriate children’s books. Saw one of her cousin’s favorites from when he was a toddler in the trains area. I’m currently reading Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. I’m liking it but not loving it. Next up is Beast in View by Margaret Millar for next week’s book group. Glad you had a nice visit with your mom.
Oh, I like the sound of that, Lois, the Children’s Museum with some appropriate books.
I took Everyone in My Family…back to the library unopened. Just no time.
Enjoy your week!
I’m glad you had an extended visit with your mother — and the freedom to stay as long as you wished!
I’m reading The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins, author of The Wife Upstairs and other bestsellers. I can always expect a well-written, entertaining book from her, and this one hasn’t disappointed me yet. The heiress of the title is Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, whose death left behind a magnificent estate in the NC mountains and plenty of lingering questions about the mysterious demises of her string of husbands. Her adopted son Camden wanted nothing to do with his vast inheritance, and he’s been living quietly for 10 years as an English teacher in Colorado. Now an urgent plea from a family member has drawn him — with his wife — back to NC. And that’s when the suspenseful drama begins. I’m not far into it, but I’m enjoying it tremendously.
I’m currently reading The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories, edited by Martin Edwards.
We are big fans of jigsaw puzzles in our house. The room in our house that is designated as a den or office we use for jigsaw puzzles. We always have one set up on an old dining room table. Best discussions and decisions are made while working on a jigsaw puzzle.
Only one book this week. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon will definitely be on my favorite list for the year. I don’t have enough superlatives to describe this book. I thought it was just amazing. It is based on the Martha Ballard, a real-life midwife in the 1700’s after the French and Indian War in Maine. Although rape is subject matter as well as how difficult it was for women to give birth it was handled with such care. Mostly it was the story of a remarkable woman and her family. I especially enjoyed the author’s note at the end where she gave follow ups on the characters lives.
Safe travels home, Lesa.
Happy New Year and Happy Reading!
Sharon, My Mom said the same thing. They ate in the kitchen, but had a large dining room table, and there was always a puzzle set up. You’d walk by, and put in a few pieces. My grandmother always seemed to have a jigsaw puzzle in progress.
I’ll have to mention The Frozen River to my mother. She might like that.
Thank you! Happy New Year and Happy Reading to you as well!
Happy Thursday at Lesa’s, everyone!
I continue to pick up books that I find I’m just not relating to and putting them back down unfinished. Still searching for the book that i know will turn this slump around.
You’ll find that special book set in Paris, Kaye, I’m sure.
Sending hugs & hopes that you feel better soon. That might be affecting the slump as well.
I certainly had a nice Christmas with family and friends.
I should have my list ready today or tomorrow.
This week I read:
Nobody’s Favorite by WL Ripley; newest book in the Jake Morgan series sees the former Texas Ranger investigating the death of a teacher nobody liked. In the usual small town blowback, it turns out nobody much likes Jake either.
Storm Clouds Over Paris by RJ Calder; Newest book in the Frenzi series, as the ace killer is recruited to the CIA to foil an assassination plot, hoping he’ll kill his way to the perps.
The Boys In The boat by Danial James Brown; They’re making a movie adapted from this book about a hard scrabble rowing crew from Washington state that went to the Olympics. Very inspiring.
Native Nations by Kathleen Duval; An attempt at writing Native American History without the sense of victimization so present in most scholarship. Mostly successful, although the first half covering the years from 1000 AD to 1492 was definitely better than the second half.
It sounds as if your nonfiction books were better than your novels this week, Glen.
Good to hear your Christmas celebrations were good ones!
I am currently reading The Echo of Old Books by Barbara A. Davis. It’s at least two stories in one. I’ll know more when I finish the book.
Jody, I like the title, The Echo of Old Books. I hope it turns out to be good.
I just started Five Decembers by James Kestrel. Loving it so far!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Lesa! I also visited my mother and saw my sisters and brother at my older sister’s house where we all spent Christmas. I read very little Sat-Mon. The public library I work at was also closed Tuesday & Wednesday. I cleaned my bedroom and closet so I listened to the Fury by Alex Michaelides on audio (through Netgalley). Also read some of None of this is True by Lisa Jewell. Back to work today!
Good luck, Katherine, with the work. You might have a few more slow days before it all returns to normal. I’m glad you had a few days off.
It’s so nice to spend time with family.
We had a lovely, quiet Christmas, but then my son and I got sick the next day. Glen was supportive and went out and bought us groceries.
Last week I finished WHO KILLED THE CURATE? by Joan Coggin. This is a vintage Christmas mystery, originally published in 1944. It is a humorous mystery, of the screwball comedy type, I guess. The main character is Lady Lupin, who is now married to a vicar and living in a small village. She doesn’t fit in at all, she is too scatterbrained and doesn’t have any idea of how to be a vicar’s wife, but she is so well-meaning that no one minds too much. I enjoyed it, but I only recommend it to readers who like a lot of humor in their mysteries.
Glen finished reading CHASING JACK by Parnell Hall. This was a standalone book, not part of any of Hall’s series. He enjoyed it, and I will read it sometime soon.
Now he is reading ENTHUSIASMS, a book of essays by Mark Girouard. Mark Girouard is an expert on country houses, and Glen has several of his books on that subject. Big coffee table books. He is enjoying this one which is nice and small, although like most books of essays, it is a mixed bag. Some especially good ones were “Drooling Victorians: the strange story of Pet Marjorie” and “The Wrong Castle: a Charlotte Mew correction”. I want to try this one too.
I was going to keep this short but it looks like my brain is working better today.
Tracy, I’m doing so much better spending time with Mom. The sister I usually spend time with is sick, and her husband and son both have colds, too. I’m sorry you got sick.
Happy to see your brain is working again! I hope you’re feeling better.
Thanks, Lesa. One week from today we will be on the way. Just late today due to waking up late, doctor’s appointment, brunch, etc.
Jackie read CALICO at my recommendation and enjoyed it a lot, and she is now reading a Keri Arthur (Australian paranormal stuff) book.
I read and liked THE MYSTERY GUEST by Nita Prose, the followup to her THE MAID. Our heroine, Molly Gray, is now Head Maid at the hotel where she works, and is faced with the dead body of a murdered author, a man she has an unhappy history with dating back to her childhood. I know you said you liked this one a lot more than the first, but I didn’t really, just liked both of them about the same.
Mostly I’ve been reading a lot of short stories, as I have managed to reach 600, which is way down from the last two years, but not too bad. (I’ve averaged 762 stories read over the last 9 years, for a total of 6,858. With the current total it is down to 692 per year.)
Current reading (near completion): A MANUAL FOR CLEANING WOMEN: Selected Stories by Lucia Berlin, and a collection of 19th Century stories, THE PENGUIN BOOK OF MURDER MYSTERIES, edited by Michael Sims. The latter is not my usual reading fare, and I wouldn’t want a steady diet of it, but for a change of pace it isn’t bad.
I am also paging through, though not reading every story, the NYTimes’ OVERLOOKED, a fascinating collection of people who, for whatever reason (I mean, Sylvia Plath!) did NOT have an obituary in the Times when they died. I mean, maybe you can resist reading about the 60 year old woman who was the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive (Annie Edson Taylor in 1901, but I sure couldn’t.
Not sure what to read next, but I got a notice a book on my list was available to download, so I did. Then, almost immediately afterwards, a second book came in. Then the next day, a third! So, we’ll see. For the record, the books are:
Mark Billingham, THE LAST DANCE. First in a new series about Sgt. Declan Miller, whose wife (a DI) was murdered. It’s supposed to be “lighter” than his DI Thorne series.
Jean-Patrick Manchette, SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET. I’m a big fan of the late French writer, so had to try this one. I’d most recommend THREE TO KILL and THE PRONE GUNMAN.
Laura Flam & Emily Sieu Liebowitz, BUT WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW?: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE ’60s GIRL GROUPS. A No-brainer for me.
Have a great week and a very Happy New Year, one and all. Stay safe out there!
Jeff, You and Jackie stay safe on your return to Florida.
I loved Overlooked. Like you, there were a couple I didn’t read, but I read most of the articles. I was surprised to see Jack Black’s mother was an aerospace engineer. Fascinating book.
I missed two library holds by staying longer at my mother’s, but that’s okay. I’m happy to stay here. Heading home on Saturday morning.
LEGS. I really would love to sit down with this author. PEOPLE COLLIDE and finishing, RETURN TO VALLENTO.. all very good
I have vowed to start contributing to this post instead of just reading all the wonderful updates from others! I get so many great suggestions from this blog – thank you all.
I am working my way through the tome “ Barbra” by Ms Streisand. Very readable, but halfway through decided I needed to take a break. I am now reading Stephen Spotswood’s 4th book in the Pentecost and Parker series, “Murder Crossed Her Mind” and wishing that I could just sit and devour it in one setting. Super good, highly recommend so far. I’m about halfway through this one too.
Happy New Year!