It’s Thursday, and I know we’re here to talk about What Are You Reading? But, if you didn’t get a chance to share 3-5 favorite books last Thursday, feel free to share today. I’d love to know what you enjoyed reading in the first half of the year.
I’ve just started Richard Osman’s forthcoming book, We Solve Murders. This is not in his Thursday Murder Club series. Here’s the blurb.
Solving murders. It’s a family business. Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He still does the odd bit of investigation work, but he prefers his familiar routines: the pub quiz, his favorite bench, his cat waiting for him at home. His days of adventure are over. Adrenaline is daughter-in-law Amy’s job now. Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul. Working in private security, every day is dangerous. She’s currently on a remote island protecting mega-bestselling author Rosie D’Antonio, until a dead body and a bag of money mean trouble in paradise. So she sends an SOS to the only person she trusts . . .As a thrilling race around the world begins, can Amy and Steve outrun and outsmart a killer? Release date is Sept. 17.
I might not have reviews every day in the next week. I drove up to Mom’s yesterday, and I’m going to enjoy time with family. But, I’ll touch base.
What about you? Are your temperatures better? I drove up in rain, the aftereffects of Beryl. What are you doing this week? What are you reading?
Lesa, I hope you are rested from your drive to your mother’s place and enjoying the visit. I will most likely get a copy of WE SOLVE MURDERS by Osman as soon as it comes out. Glen and I have not bought any books except inexpensive Kindle books since January 1st, and as of September we will start buying books again. (The book buying ban has been a good experience, really.)
We have a fire in Santa Barbara County, the Lake Fire, which is the largest in California currently (although not nearly as large as many previous fires in California). It is not close to threatening our area at this time (about 30 miles away), but you never know. The air quality seems bad of course.
I read A CLOSED AND COMMON ORBIT by Becky Chambers, the second book in her Wayfarers series. It is science fiction and features humans, many other species, and two Artificial Intelligence characters. I have enjoyed both books in the series and will read more. I am now reading the third book in the Birder Murder Mystery series, A CAST OF FALCONS by Steve Burrows. Rick Robinson recommended the series to me, and and I am so glad he did. I miss Rick.
Glen finished reading THE FALL OF BERLIN 1945 by Antony Beevor. It was long but he read it very quickly. Now he is reading REINVENTING HOLLYWOOD: HOW 1940S FILMMAKERS CHANGED MOVIE STORYTELLING by David Bordwell. It is another long book, very scholarly, but he is enjoying it because he likes reading about movies and filmmaking.
Oh my goodess Tracy, I do hope that fire stays away from your community. Take care.
Rosemary, thanks for your concern. The work to combat the fire seems to be going well so far and I don’t think any structures have burned or lives lost. I hope it stays that way. We were out all morning with errands and shopping and bad air quality is having its effect on us.
And PS I agree, I also miss Rick.
I am often reminded of Rick, books he sent to me or books he suggested I read. That is a good thing but still makes me sad.
Hi, Tracy. I don’t blame you for putting a hold on book buying. It can add up. But, I’m hoping we all enjoy this one.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the books you’ve been reading.
Yes! Mom and I put together a jigsaw puzzle this morning Banned books. It was fun, but that’s why I’m late today.
Doing a jigsaw puzzle with your mom sounds fun. You are lucky to be able to spend time with her and your sisters.
You’re right, Rosemary, and I know how lucky I am.
This week has been way too hot for me. When I tell you that my optimal temperature when going for a walk is between 2-5 degrees C (35-41F), and that this week I must endure temperatures of 35C (95F) well … I’m not happy with the state of affairs. I realize that many of you have much higher temperatures to deal with and that I have no right to whine and complain, and yet I will. Summer is not my happy time. However, there is good in everything I guess because since I can barely function when it’s hot I was ‘forced’ to recline on the couch, tea at hand, and do nothing but read. Hence, two books this week:
MARGO’S GOT MONEY TROUBLES by Rufi Thorpe, an author I hadn’t heard of but who was recommended to me. In a nutshell – Margo sleeps with her English professor, becomes pregnant, decides to keep the baby, needs to find a way to support them both, ends up making nude online videos, finds she’s good at it and makes a substantial amount of money, the videos cause havoc in her personal life, and young Margo must somehow find a way to balance this ‘work’ and her life.
The book has been billed as ‘blisteringly funny’ but I found no humour. I just found it sad that Margo’s life was difficult, and almost every step of the way I wished she’d make better – or if not better then at least other, choices; although she proves to be a good mother. I admit I had trouble with the idea of her making these sex videos, and with the cavalier attitude and language associated with the subject matter. However, she became a strong and confident young woman despite everything, with more sense than most of the supposed adults in her life.
Even though many words and parts of the novel made me cringe, the author did a pretty good job of bringing humanity and interest to what might otherwise have been a very bleak story.
THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY by Megan Bannen. It’s a fantasy/adventure/romance. Hart is a marshal whose job it is to keep the border towns safe from anything that might escape out of the wild expanse beyond them. It’s a lonely, dangerous job but he’s good at it. Mercy works almost single-handedly at her father’s undertaking business. Her father is sliding into dementia and her brother doesn’t seem to be interested in the business so it’s up to her to keep it afloat. Mercy and Hart despise each other but are forced to cross paths regularly whenever Hart needs to drop off a body to the undertaker. They are brought closer together by a series of letters, but the possible path to true love for these two is never easy.
At the beginning I found some of the dialogue and choice of words to be a bit un-adult-like but this seemed to sort itself out as the book progressed and as I became more invested in the characters and the story. There are several entertaining and well-rendered secondary characters (both human and not) that add greatly to the enjoyment of the story.
The book has some fun banter, some suspense, some sadness, some joy, some wise words, and some humour. None of it is what you would call deep, but it was a fun, escapist read in a genre that isn’t usual for me. In the end I didn’t even notice the fantastical elements – it was just me and the story.
Lindy, I hear you! I absolutely loath hot weather, and would much rather walk in cool temperatures. Summer is not my happy time either, I prefer autumn and even winter, so long as we don’t have ice. I just wish our rain would stop now.
That’s a great phrase ‘it was just me and the story’ – I think a writer has succeeded if a book makes you feel like that.
Lindy, I’m a 70-80 degree person, but lived in Florida and Arizona, so had heat and humidity both. However, your decision to relax with tea and a book sounds wonderful.
I agree with Rosemary. Perfect “It was just me and the story.” I like that.
I hope you get a break from that heat soon.
Earlier this week, I finished up A VERY WOODSY MURDER, the first in a new series from Ellen Byron. I loved it! This one is set in the Sierra Nevada mountains and is just a ton of fun.
Now I’m working on DREAM TOWN, the latest Eve Ronin Mystery from Lee Goldberg. We are dealing with bones found in a preserve and a dead celebrity. I’m enjoying it and wondering exactly where the story is supposed to be going. Which is definitely a good thing, right?
I enjoyed A Very Woodsy Murder, too. It was fun, wasn’t it?
You’re right. I prefer the ones I don’t guess while I’m reading.
Just saw this. YAY! Thanks, Mark.
Good morning all,
I hope you have a great stay with your mother Lesa. Jigsaws are so absorbing – I’ve had to stop doing them for now as I can spend far too many hours working on them.
We have had nothiing but rain here. Yesterday I was supposed to be walking with my friend Karen, but even though she’s much more outdoorsy and fit than i am, we agreed that we simply could not face getting soaked yet again, and instead had a coffee in my local cafe – it’s also a kilt outfitters, so she was able to get a dress shirt and tie to go with her son’s kilt for his university graduation next week.
Today the rain has sort of stopped but the sky is grey, and I’m missing another walk, as the friend I was meeting was supposed to have people working on her roof yesterday, and thanks to the weather they had to postpone to today – so again I’m just calling in for a coffee. I’d better get some exercise soon!
Our national election was won very soundly by the Labour Party. We hope for better things, but we have learned not to be too optimistic. At least Keir Starmer and his new cabinet seem to be getting down to business rather than partying. And most of his inner circle were state educated – some even had free school meals (which are means tested) – so we hope this lot will have a better idea of how hard life is for so many people at the moment. I think (almost) everyone here is very nervous about your forthcoming election. I read George Clooney’s article this morning. Worrying.
Last weekend we went to the Fetternear Estate, north of Aberdeen, to see some art. It was being displayed around some derelcit old farm steadings. The event was organised by a group called Experimental Use of Space, whose aim is to show art in places that wouldn’t normally be used for this. There were all sorts of things, from huge knitted dragons and painted fish to interpretive dance (and no, I haven’t got a clue what that was about) and glass sculptures. It was an experience. David said he enjoyed looking at the beautiful old buildings more than the art!
After that we had coffee and cakes at The Old Post Office, a small cafe in the tiny village of Chapel of Garioch (pronounced Geary – Aberdeeshire pronounications are a law unto themselves, eg the village of Finzean is pronounced Fingan.) David said the plum crumble cake was excellent. I found the scones less so, I’m afraid.
This week I’ve been working away at art gallery stuff and still trying to plan my Fringe, Book and Art Festival schedules for next month, so there’s not been much time for reading. I did finish the book a friend had sent me for review – I half wish I hadn’t agreed to do this, as it wasn’t that good, but hey ho. He’s also been advertising it on Facebook and asking his friends to review it on Amazon and ‘only 5 star reviews please’ – which I do think is a bit of a nerve. This is something I also come across more and more in the Fringe festival – if you give anything less than a 100% fantastic review to something, there is a lot of comeback – people seem to expect 5* for everything, and in my old-fashioned view that is not what reviewing is about.
I then started reading THE FRENCH RIVIERA: A LITERARY GUIDE FOR TRAVELLERS by Ted Jones. I had high hopes of this one, as many writers have lived or at least stayed along the Cote d’Azur over the years – eg Henry James, Edith Wharton, Virginia Woolf, Bruce Chatwin, Josef Conrad – but unfortunately I found the author’s style very dull. His narrative was really just a list of names and facts, and I realised I wasn’t taking much in, so I decided to stop – and this is rare for me.
I now need to find another book related to France. I have many but I’m finding it hard to choose. I may re-read Mary Stewart’s MADAM, WILL YOU TALK?, which is, at least in my opinion, one of her better novels . Any suggestions appreciated! It can be a book by a French author, or one set in France, or with any reasonable connection to it.
This week I also had to join two other ladies of a certain age (ie mine..) from our art gallery committee to empty our collection box in the foyer of the Maritime Museum. This box is huge and whoever designed it certainly didn’t give much thought as to how the donations would be extracted – there is a thin shelf right at the bottom (ie at floor level) which has to be unlocked and slid out, but when the box is full of coins, they block the slot so that the shelf won’t move. The three of us tried repeatedly to make this work, and in the end had to enlist the help of the reception staff. Quite a crowd of tourists gathered round to watch what must have looked like the most ridiculous heist ever attempted. Richard Osman could probably write a book about it.
I’d better get back to work now.
Have a good week all – and hopefully one that’s not too wet/hot/cold!
Rosemary
Hi, Rosemary. We’re on the road this week and not watching television, but we did see the first episode of the new series of GRACE on Saturday. It was fun to see John Simm reunited with his LIFE ON MARS co-star Philip Glenister in this one.
Also enjoyed the third (and final) episode of SIGNORA VOLPE with Emilia Fox (daughter of Edward Fox and Joanna David). The scenery of Umbria is beautiful.
Enjoy your holiday Jeff!
I’m still working my way through the last series of Fat Friends. Unfortunately I’ve discovered that both Grace and Signora Volpe are pay-to-view on Prime (even with membership – I really don’t know why we have it these days) so I will just have to wait for those.
It’s the final of the EUROS (football) this weekend, so our TV will be monopolised with that for, I think, Sunday evening – but of course I can still watch things on my iPad.
We’re watching Fat Friends series one.
No effects of Hurricane Beryl in Switzerland but still we have more rain than usual. I’m reading Ann Napolitano’s beautifully written and moving novel full of lovely people called HELLO, BEAUTIFUL. Next comes one of Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie novels. I still have quite a few to go.
Thank you, Kim, for following up with a suggestion for Rosemary.
Hi Rosemary. If you’re looking for fun mysteries set in France, try the first BRUNO CHIEF OF POLICE book, which is set in a village in the Dordogne. I love this series and have read them all. Oh yes, the author is Martin Walker.
Thanks for this Kim – do you need to read them in order> My library service has some of the series but not the early ones. I think the oldest one it does have is The Devil’s Cave (the 5th book.)
Rosemary – I loved the visual of you and your cohorts emptying the donation box! And I also love the phrase “of a certain age”! Thanks for the smiles this morning!
You’re very welcome Mary!
Oh, we spent the whole morning doing a puzzle.
Loved David’s comments about the structures. I enjoyed seeing the art when you posted on Facebook, but I would have enjoyed seeing the buildings.
And, the coffee shops, as I’ve said before.
I think we’re all worried about our elections. I was pleased to see yours,
and hope France gets theirs straightened out.
Good luck with your weather!
Hi Rosemary, I’ve some suggestions for books related to France for you.
– Murderous Mistral by Cay Rademacher. (set in Provence, #1 in a series, pub 2014, I remember liking it enough to read others in the series)
– The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen (historical fiction, pub 2021, one of my favourite books)
– Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell ( historical fiction with some romance, pub 2020, I quite enjoyed this one)
– Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles (historical fiction, pub 2024, I have not read this one yet though)
Good morning, all. We’re on the road this week in southeastern Connecticut, and the cooler temperatures (79-80) are a nice change from the 90s. We went to Narragansett, Rhode Island yesterday, and we’re going to Foxwoods this morning, so Jackie and my cousin can gamble and check out the outlet stores. Jackie did win $52 at Mohegan Sun on Tuesday. We’ll be home on Saturday and, unfortunately, back in the heat.
Not a lot of reading time this week, but I did get some stuff finished. I read and enjoyed Kim Hays’s first Bern-set police procedural, PESTICIDE. Two murders take place within a couple of days, and it won’t be too much of a spoiler to say that- ultimately – we see that they are at least somewhat related. Cops Giuliana Lindor and Renzo Donatelli are both married, but there is a definite attraction between them. What I was patt impressed by was this: this is the first book in the series, and thus has to introduce the reader to the characters and settings, let us know who everyone is and what their relationship to each other is, etc. Yet Kim manages to do this while making it clear that this is just one in an ongoing series of crimes that the team has worked on over the years. They all know each other and work well together. This seemed very subtly and skillfully done to me, and I’ve read a lot of procedurals over the years. Nice job, Kim.
Roddy Doyle is probably best known for THE COMMITMENTS and its sequels. Here the Dublin-based author set himself a different task in his first collection of stories, THE DEPORTEES – write about all the Nigerians and other immigrants who have poured into Ireland and changed the country (for the better, Doyle clearly believes) post-9/11. There is even a new Jimmy Rabbitte sequel to THE COMMITMENTS.
WE CAN REMEMBER IT FOR YOU, WHOLESALE and Other Classics is the second collection of Philip K. Dick stories from the early 1950s that I’ve read, and I enjoyed it for the most part. despite his somewhat jaundiced view of humanity and where we are headed.
I read a couple of highly complimentary reviews of Steve Cavanagh’s thriller KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU, so checked it out, and it is well worth reading. Had I been home I’d have finished it by now. Two women, both of whom have had a child murdered in a brutal manner, and both of whose killers have gotten away with it, meet in a support group and eventually come up with a STRANGERS ON A TRAIN plot – each will kill the other’s person, while the other has a perfect alibi. But, of course, it can’t be that simple, and it isn’t. But then who is Ruth, the victim of a near fatal attack herself, and where does she fit into the story? Each chapter is told from a different character’s perspective, including the sympathetic cop on both cases, and I am expecting more twists (I must admit that I predicted the first one) along the way.
Enjoy your vacation, Lesa.
PS – Jackie read her Keri Arthur book, SHIELD OF FIRE, and she is now reading Lora Leigh, PLAY DIRTY.
The Roddy Doyle collection sounds good Jeff – I love The Commitments, so i will look this one up. Thanks for telling us about it.
Thanks for making my day, Jeff. I’m delighted that you liked PESTICIDE!
Enjoy your vacation, and time with family, Jeff. And, enjoy the cooler temperatures!
Like you, I’m not going to have much reading time while I’m here, but I’m on deadline for LJ, so I need to make time.
Tell Jackie good luck!
She won another $30 at Foxwoods today. My cousin, who nearly always wins, lost both days.
When I read your recent review of Joyce Maynard’s memoir, I remember thinking I’d never read that author. And then a copy of her recent novel “How the Light Gets In” appeared in my mail. Now just to find a spot in my TBR. Week whatever of “excessive heat” warnings here. The bright side is the high desert tends to cool off at night with regular 50 degree temperature swings.
Smoke and bloody mirrors, another convoluted tale from Anthony Horowitz, CLOSE TO DEATH. The fifth Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery. From the book jacket… “Horowitz gives you clues. If you are sharp and paying attention, you can solve them. I assume. I never have.” My type of fun read.
From new author Sharon Wishnow’s, THE PELICAN TIDE, an engaging work of historical fiction. The setting is Grand Isle, Louisiana in 2010. When the Deepwater Horizon oil platform explodes, lives are lost, and oil inundates the barrier island. Suspenseful, yet heartwarming, the story explores the damage to a restaurant owning family and the close-knit fishing community. The characters are well defined and the use of setting is interesting with food, weather and friendships.
And finally the third in the Marlow Murder Club series, QUEEN OF POISONS, brings us once again to the town of Marlow England where murders occur with alarming regularity and the trio of amateur sleuths decipher the clues.
How the Light Gets in had excellent reviews, MM. That title will always make me think of Louise Penny, though.
Sounds as if you had a good reading week. Those temperatures provide good reasons to read.
My cousin is reading the Joyce Maynard book now, and she has been raving about it since we got here.
It’s been hot and humid here but the weather turned yesterday afternoon and it was nice enough to go listen to Winslow, a local Eagles cover band, that was doing an outdoor concert a few towns away.
I read WINTER LOST by Patricia Briggs. It’s the latest in her Mercy Thompson fantasy series and definitely not a stand alone. I always enjoy these.
Oh, that’s great that the weather cooled off you were able to enjoy outside entertainment.
I haven’t read any of the Mercy Thompson books. I’d probably like them.
Jackie is also a big fan of the Mercy Thompson books, but then she likes paranormal, which this is. She’s got this one on hold.
Hi!
Will keep this short as I am babysitting the grandkids. Our youngest just learned to walk, so life is becoming busier! My mother in law has just entered hospice care, so we are going back and forth as best we can. It is an 11 hour drive from our home in Michigan to Charlotte, NC where she lives.
Best books of the year so far:
Proof Positive by Archer Mayor
Standing in the Shadows by Peter Robinson
Untold Power-The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson by Rebecca Boggs Robert’s
And the best book, by far, that I have read this year is a fantasy. The Will of the Many by James Islington. Suspect it will be my favorite of the year! Have a good week!
Oh, Jennifer. Such extremes, with the grandchild and your mother-in-law. Not at all easy.
Thank you for sharing your favorites! I’m always interested!
I read two really good ones recently so felt I had to comment! The Guests by Margot Hunt – 3 strangers show up by boat during a Florida hurricane – really good like a Christie! I put in reserves of her other books -my library didn’t have any so they are getting them from other libraries in the system. I also just finished The Hunter by Tana French – takes place in Ireland and I love the dialogue – can just hear them talking as I read – everything in Ireland is “grand” – so funny as we never use that term here in the USA. Anyway mystery was great and I am going to look for other of her books as well. Weather is hot and humid and you really don’t want to stay outside which is a shame for this time of year.
Although I’d read The Searcher (first Cal Hooper book), I did an audio re-read before reading The Hunter. Totally agree on the dialogue, especiallythe pub scenes. Tana French also has six books in her excellent Dublin Murder Squad series.
On a, I’m glad you commented on the books you read. Thank you!
And, I really need read Tana French.
Have a wonderful time with your Mom, Lesa. Precious moments those!
This week I read “Yours Truly (Part of Your World #2) by Abby Jimenez. What a fabulous book – I couldn’t put it down – read it in two days! Laugh out loud funny at some points, and get the box of Kleenex for a good cry at other points. Dr. Jacob Maddox loses his girlfriend to his brother and decides to move to a new hospital to begin anew. There he meets Dr. Briana Ortiz, who is also having a difficult time in life, losing her husband to her best friend, AND her brother, Benny, is struggling to live with a life threatening kidney situation. Jacob’s mother had been the recipient of a kidney that saved her life, and he had vowed to someday donate a kidney to save another person’s life, in her honor. Jacob, after learning of his co-worker’s brother’s dilemma, decides to get tested and discovers that he is a match and agrees to anonymously donate his kidney. Of course, Brianna finds out about it – and although they had gotten off to a rocky start in their work relationship – agrees to be Jacob’s pretend date at family gatherings so that the relationship between Jacob’s ex and his brother will be blessed by his family once they realize that he has moved on with his life. What follows is the rocky ride of the two of them falling in love and living happily ever after. Highly recommend.
Thank you,Mary!
My sister reads Abby Jimena’s, and loves her books. I need to ask if she read this one. Laugh out plod, yet tears. She’ll enjoy it.
Good morning, everyone! I’m not walking today, nor have I walked for about 2 weeks because of the high temps. I really miss it! I’m hopeful about next week (maybe). Today there will be a high of 111, then 110 tomorrow, and maybe by Sunday it will get into the high 90s. I’m with everyone who said they hate hot weather. I just try to stay in A/C as much as possible.
I preordered We Solve Murders a while back, and our book club is going to read it in November, I think. Looking forward to it. Oh, and the B&N preorder sale is back again, so yesterday I preordered 3 books I know I won’t be able to get from NetGalley. Here is what I managed to finish this week.
The festive cover and appealing title of Jenny Bayliss’s latest book, KISS ME AT CHRISTMAS, are both misleading, but they don’t detract from the overall entertaining and uplifting plot. Yes, there is a romance involved, and the book is set (in Little Beck Foss, England) just before and after Christmas, but the story is really about how people of wildly diverse ages, genders, financial situations, and backgrounds come together to solve a near-impossible problem for everyone’s mutual benefit. Harriet, a former English teacher, is currently on the school’s pastoral care team, giving special attention to teenaged students who are struggling with the transition to adulthood. When she catches the “famous five” breaking into a long-abandoned theater during school hours, the haughty female owner dictates that, in exchange for not pressing charges, Harriet must clean up the theater so it will be more attractive to potential buyers. Of course, she insists that the students help with the cleanup, and she hatches a plan to request that the theater be made accessible, even after it is sold, to various groups who can no longer use the community center. The owner reluctantly agrees but mandates that there be a full production of a play in the theater shortly before Christmas (only 5 weeks away). Harriet relents, since her 17-year-old daughter is away for the first time at Christmas and she needs to distract herself from being a Scrooge this year. Is it any wonder that she chooses “A Christmas Carol,” as the play, and the process of cleaning, casting, building and painting the sets, and rehearsing begin. There are so many delightful elements of the process and so much character development that I won’t reveal any spoilers, except to say that I did shed an unexpected tear or two toward the end of the book. The relationship of Harriet and James, the theater owner’s personal attorney–which began with a one-night stand–is charming and develops slowly, shining a light on each of these relatable middle-aged individuals. Of course, this holiday-themed book can be devoured at any time during the year and is a quick and satisfying read. (September)
I read Jo Piazza’s THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE, a historical novel told in two timelines, for a book club. In the early 1900s, Serafina Marsala lived a hard life typical of the women in Sicily. A top student who had hoped to gain more education, she was instead married at 16 and quickly the mother of three boys. Serafina struggled to keep a roof over their heads when her husband went to America to find a better job. She came to admire the woman everyone called a witch, who tended to the medical needs of the town’s women and children when they had no place else to go. Serafina asked the woman to teach her everything she knew, and she slowly developed the same skills and began to use them. In 2016, acclaimed butcher and chef Sara is trying to rebuild her life after losing her treasured restaurant, her marriage, and the custody of her young daughter. When her much-loved great-aunt Rosie died and left her the deed to a plot of land in Sicily purportedly owned by her ancestor, Serafina, Sara honored her aunt by taking that trip, with travel reservations and other arrangements set by Rosie before her death. The story alternates between the two timelines, as Sara tries to learn whether Serafina was murdered, as she read in one report, and by whom, and whether she truly owned the land that is now being fought over by several parties. Alternately, we follow Serafina as she navigates her difficult and dangerous situation and tries to find safety for her children and, ultimately, happiness for herself in troubled times. Although it is an interesting tale, it lacked the depth I was looking for. I have to admit that I don’t enjoy reading about lives of misery, even if there is redemption at the end, so this wasn’t the right book for me. However, I realize that many other readers may be looking for just such an affecting historical story.
Anyone who has read the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy knows that author Kevin Kwan is unmatched with books that feature excess and entitlement. In LIES AND WEDDINGS, the plot is a little too reminiscent of Crazy Rich Asians. There are marriages to save families from financial ruin, over-the-top weddings, constant name dropping (people and brands), exceedingly quirky characters (each introduced with a list of all of the schools they have attended), unnecessary footnotes (the book is already long), and a few–all too few–characters who are comparatively normal and somewhat relatable. Two of the prominent characters have almost no redeeming qualities–a shrieking matriarch and a too-wealthy young playboy who does exactly what he wants, regardless of who gets hurt, especially himself. Although the author is undoubtedly talented and his books are entertaining, I would like to see something different from him in the future.
In the third Scottish Isle Mystery, DEATH AT A SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS, author Lucy Connelly has renewed the promise of the series debut by setting it back in Sea Isle, a lovely Scottish town with quirky, relatable characters. Dr. Emilia, a former ER doctor in the United States, is enjoying her new life as the town physician and coroner, living in an old, renovated church and lucky to have the latest in medical equipment and the support of the local constable (and her landlord). Bram and the Stokers, a popular rock band, comes to Sea Isle–hometown of two of the members– for a last concert before they embark on their next big tour, and their concert for the locals is a smashing success. But it isn’t long before the charismatic lead singer is found dead, and the other band members are reeling. Was it a murder, or a suicide? Can they tour without him? And where is his notebook with the songs he has been writing for their new recording and tour? Dr. Em gets involved in her role as coroner, but also fears that one of the band’s other members is responsible for Bram’s death when she learns how he was killed and what was going on in his life that may have led to his death. It’s an intriguing story, but I was more interested in spending time with Em, her trusty assistant and her neurodivergent brother, the aforementioned (hot) constable, and her supportive friends, and in the surrounding holiday events. I hope future series entries will allow Em to stay in town and build on the regular characters, their developing relationships, and the small-town ambience. (October)
Oh, Margie.I’m sorry. I don’t remember you having those kind of temperatures in the past. Sorry about your walks.
I liked Death at a Scottish Christmas. I may have to try Bayliss, too. Thanks for the recommendation!
Just finished reading Dear Justyce by Nic Stone. I loved it and now understand why young kids get into trouble and have a good idea of what they need. Going to post my review on FB and hope that many people read it. Going to do the review later today. Now, I want to read all of her books.
Carol, I really liked Dear Martin by Nic Stone. Thanks for recommending Dear Justyce.
Thank you, Jennifer.
Carol, Dear Martin was in our jigsaw puzzle of books today. I’m not famine with Stone’s books.
We got 2-1/2 inches of rain in Cincinnati from the remnants of Beryl. Yesterday was overcast and only in the 70’s (heaven) but it cranks back up to the 90’s by the weekend.
We are jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts as well, Lesa. We just finished The World of Charles Dickens which was one of the hardest puzzles we’ve ever done. Thank goodness my grandson was here to help, or we would still be working on it. Now we are working on Birducopia by Charley Harper from Pomegranate Puzzles.
This week I read two books. I absolutely loved THE SAME BRIGHT STARS by Ethan Joella. The story of Jack Schmidt who has been running his family’s restaurant for years without taking time for himself. When the DelDine group offers to purchase the restaurant, he has to decide whether to sell or not. Like all of Joella’s books, this was a gentle quiet moving read.
My second book was the 4th in the Electra McDonnell series by Ashley Weaver. This one was disappointing. The mystery was definitely not the focus and there seemed to be a lot of repetition concerning Ellie and Major Ramsey’s relationship. I found it rather a sad read and was disappointed with some of the decisions Ellie made.
Happy Reading!
Wow! I’m glad I didn’t drive in that kind of rain yesterday, Sharon.
Mom does jigsaw puzzles by herself, but I need someone to do them with. It’s nice that your grandson enjoys them.
I’ve never read anything by Joella. I’ll have to check him out.
It’s hellaciously hot here. Too hot to do much of anything.
I went to see Horizon, Kevin Costner’s new western. It seems he’s retained all the wrong lessons from Dances with Wolves. There’s a reason people still quote Tombstone, and have forgotten Wyatt Earp. There’s several storylines. Most of them are boring. Everyone is converging on the little town of Horizon. Indians, Kevin Costner, a wagon train with some clueless Brits and an incompetent wagon master, a family of psychos, the army, and who knows who else. Costner is no Randolph Scott.
This week I read:
Steeped for Murder by Kirsten Weiss; A lady wants to open a tea shop. After fronting six months rent, she finds someone else, a tarot card reader, is also renting it. Turns out the realtor is a con man. The two try to get their money back, but instead find the realtor dead behind their shop. Then the lady finds herself surrounded by bachelors while trying to solve the mystery. I wonder if The Bachelor TV show should go this route with a sort of murder mystery weekend?
The Voyages of Sinbad by Samuel DenHartog; A pretty good retelling of the legend of Sinbad.
Through a Darkening Glass by RS Maxwell; WWII is starting, and British college girl evacuates with her grandmother to a great aunt’s home in the countryside. She learns country life, gets a useless job, and eventually, there’s a murder. Lacks the Sturm Und Drang of a lot of these WWII books, and I think that’s a good thing.
At least there’s air conditioning at the movies, Glen.
That’s a pretty funny idea, The Bachelor with a mystery weekend.
Very late check in to report that this afternoon I started Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgas. Second in the series.
For those who do not know, it is apparently possible to get your ear canal infected and have it try to swell closed. I have done this, according to the doc, and added a left ear drum infection to the plate. I honestly did not know it was possible to infect the ear canal.
Am on antibiotics, pill and ear drops, and all they have done is making my stomach go off. Price of tp is going to skyrocket due to a nationwide shortage caused by one Texas man, economists say.