It’s been an interesting reading week. I started the week by cramming three books in in two days so I could get them read and reviewed. Then, I spent Monday and Tuesday night cramming in the politics of the Democratic National Convention. By Wednesday morning, I was sleep deprived, knowing I wasn’t going to stay up until 1 AM three nights in a row. But, it’s been fun!
Before I get into books, let me just say, I’m thinking of you, Margie. If you missed last Friday’s post, Margie was in a serious car accident. She emailed me, but her arm’s in a cast, and I don’t know when she’ll be up to posting here. She’s doing a lot of therapy. It was more than her arm that was injured. I’m hoping she’ll be back in a few weeks and had time to do a little reading while she was laid up. In the meantime, we miss you, Margie.
It’s just a fluke that my current book fits a theme for August. August is Women in Translation Month to promote books written and translated by women. My current book fits both those standards. I’m halfway through What You Are Looking For Is In the Library. The author is Michiko Aoyama, and it’s translated by Alison Watts. This Japanese bestseller is a small book with large type, for those of you who prefer type a little larger in your books.
“What are you looking for?’ is the question asked by Sayuri Komachi, a librarian who seems to probe into the souls of the people who come to her library. They usually don’t know what they want, but Ms. Komachi listens to what they say, and what they don’t say. There’s the shop assistant who is unhappy with her daily job. There’s the accountant at a furniture company who dreams of owning an antiques shop. There are other users who are dissatisfied with their lives. And, each time Ms. Komachi offers a list of books, and an unusual title, and also something she created. That’s a bonus gift made from needle felting.
The Washington Post called What You Are Looking For Is In the Library the Best Feel Good Book of 2023. If you’re looking for a feel good book, check it out.
What about you? Did you find a feel good book for the week, or at least a book you enjoyed? What are you reading?
Hello all,
It was a fairly quiet week over here, except for the wind/rain storm we recently had overnight. Windows were open since it is still summer after all and wasn’t raining even a little bit when we went to bed, but we awoke to howling wind and a fair amount of rain having been blown right inside the house. Window ledges were completely wet and dripping little waterfalls down onto the floors. Exciting times at 2:30 a.m.
Two books again this week:
SIPSWORTH by Simon Van Booy
Helen, 83 years of age, has lived in Australia for sixty years and both her husband and son have died. With nothing to keep her there anymore, she decides to move back to England, the country where she was born. She leads a lonely, solitary life, following her basic routines and just letting time pass until she too will die. Pretty sad thus far into the novel. But then a small creature comes into her life, and her kind and thoughtful care of it – and sense of responsibility for it – end up bringing people into her life again; and with it a sort of second chance at living life.
I enjoyed reading this short book which could even be read in one long sitting, but one that also packs quite a bit of feeling and emotion into its spare prose. It doesn’t force any of it on you but you quietly absorb it all the same, and feel yourself wanting to be a better/kinder/more understanding person by the time the novel is finished.
THE TAKEDOWN by Carlie Walker (her debut novel)
I really enjoyed this fun, escapist novel. a mystery/rom-com/thriller/family dynamics story.
Sydney works for the CIA, with a solid history of successfully closing her cases. Her new case hits very close to home though. It’s almost Christmas and her sister Calla has just announced her upcoming marriage to Johnny – who, Sydney knows, is one of the biggest crime lords out there and the FBI would like nothing better than to take him down; which is why they ask Sydney to help since she’ll be well-placed to do the job since she’ll be at the family home for the holidays.
This is a tough assignment for poor Sydney. How can her beloved sister be marrying a crime lord?! Is her sister even aware that’s what he is? How can she keep her undercover life as a CIA (and now temporary FBI) agent secret from her family? And how can she do the job with Johnny’s bodyguard Nick always hanging around? And is she developing feelings for said bodyguard?! It’s all so complicated.
This is not a serious book by any means, but nor is it frivolous. I liked the out of the ordinary plot, and the characters, and the mix of humour and family issues, and it was surprisingly suspenseful. It was always entertaining and entirely worth spending time with.
Well, that’s a little drama at 2:30 in the morning, Lindy.
Both of your books sound interesting this week, but I’m leaning toward Sipsworth. Thank you for talking about them!
Lindy – I looked up the author of Sipsworth, Simon Van Booy. It appears he has several books I might like to read. Thanks for the suggestion.
Good morning. We had heavy rain over the weekend with some street flooding so it’s been a pretty quiet week. It’s supposed to be nice this weekend so something to look forward to.
I read a memoir, A Farmer’s Wife: My Life in Days by Helen Rebanks, set in the Lake District in England. It was an OK read.
I’m partway through a young adult book, Greenglass House by Kate Milford. It’s Christmas time and Greenglass house, a smuggler’s inn, is normally empty. But this year a batch of guests turn up unexpectedly. When things start to go missing two children decide to solve the mystery.
Rain! Both you and Lindy had the rain we need here, Sandy. We don’t need the flooding, but we’re experiencing a drought. Nothing like California did in the past, though.
I like the sound of your YA novel. Reminds me of mysteries I read when I was in junior high.
I went up to visit my family this last weekend, which slowed down my reading. Spent two days all together with plenty of games played. On the third day, I joined my brother and his family at Great America, an amusement park in the San Francisco Bay Area. That was fun.
Unfortunately, the cold I thought I was getting before the trip has hit me full force now that I’m home. It was nice it held off until then, but I’m not happy. I’ve been catching everything coming my way recently.
On the reading front, I’m just starting A ROYAL AFFAIR by Allison Monticlair, the second in the Sparks & Bainbridge Mysteries. I’m just far enough into it to have the set up, but I’m enjoying it so far.
Well, darn, Mark. I’m glad the cold held off, but catching it is lousy.
Ah, another fan of Sparks & Bainbridge, my someday series. I hope you can enjoy it in the midst of your cold.
WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS IN THE LIBRARY sounds excellent, Lesa. It goes on my list. And thanks for filling us in on Margie. I hope she’ll be back soon.
I’m in the Zürich airport on my way to Bouchercon in Nashville via Knoxville, where I’m first spending some time with my sister. I haven’t seen her in over a year, so I’m very happy. On the plane I’ll start Sarah Stewart Taylor’s AGONY HILL.
Today, though, I’d like to recommend Natasha Pulley’s THE MARS HOUSE, which takes place on a Mars where a human colony settled generations earlier. They are all genetically modified to adapt to the lighter gravity. In addition, each person is a “they,” with no clear gender. Many people live in married couples, but not to produce babies , and Mandarin is their main language. This group of around 5 million people have had a chance to become different from Earth’s humans for hundreds of years.
Into this well-functioning society come human refugees desperately seeking to escape a flooded earth. They are men and women, boys and girls, not “theys,” and they are much shorter but also three times stronger than Mars’s original colonists, who are disgusted by them and terrified of their strength.
Add tricky politics and an upcoming election, a slow burn romance between an Earth man from London and a Mars human, and lots of fascinating Mars customs, and you have an entertaining, very well-written, and thought-provoking story. I was gripped by it. Great world- building!
Darn, Kim. That’s one of the only reasons I”m not happy that I’m going to miss Bouchercon. I’m sorry I won’t get a chance to meet you. Enjoy the conference!
Just to let you know what happened with me and Merrily Watkins. I made it through 200 pages of the first book, and gave up. I liked Merrily’s daughter, Janie, more than I liked Merrily. Just wasn’t a character for me. I gave it a shot, though.
Lesa, 200 pages is a better-than-fair deal for any book! I almost never like a mystery unless I click with the main character, so in your position I’d have given up, too!
I’m very sorry to miss meeting you, too. Maybe next year!
Kim, Usually I give a book 50 pages, but I kept hoping I’d like Merrily. It didn’t happen, but I’m glad I tried it! So, thank you.
I got a surprise when my name jumped out at me–and what a happy surprise it turned out to be. I’m so glad you enjoyed my newest book, Jeff. Thanks for your kind words!
This week I read THE SECRET KEEPER by Genevieve Graham because several of you had recommended it a few weeks ago. Thank you! I really enjoyed it. The story of two Canadian sisters and the roles they played in World War II was interesting and well written. I had reserved it when it was mentioned and read her book BLUEBIRD in the interim, because it was immediately available. I preferred THE SECRET KEEPER, but enjoy the chance to gain historical information from a new perspective, this one being the role of Canadians in the war. I check in every day mainly to keep tabs on Lesa (she’s my sister) but frequently get recommendations, which is the reason everyone is here, right? I don’t comment very often, usually my comments are in texts to Lesa, but I wanted to say thank you!
Good morning, Christie! And, thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed The Secret Keeper. Lindy might have been the one to recommend it.
Yes, we’re all here to talk books. Thank you for dropping by. Most of all, thank you for being the one who sends me notes when my blog doesn’t appear, or when something is wrong. I appreciate it!.
I love you!
I read Michiko Aoyyea’s book last year but immediately recognized that cover. Memorable book although I had forgotten the gifts were felted.
Steeped in Irish village life and a tangle of relationships, a journalist investigates two deaths from decades earlier. LIES THE MUSHROOM PICKERS TOLD by Tom Phelan (2015) contemplates the role of luck in human affairs. I forgot about a plot at times, immersed in the dialogue of village life.
If you’re going to read only one book featuring a true-crime podcast, make it LISTEN FOR THE LIE. The novel is Amy Tintera’s adult fiction debut. Lucy’s hometown, even her parents, have decided she is guilty of murdering her best friend. Lucy relocates and pretends everything is fine until she’s the subject of a popular podcast. Follow each interview to an unexpected conclusion.
A charming historical mystery set in 1930,
THE PYRAMID MURDERS is the third book in the Miss Clara Vale series by Fiona Veitch Smith. A night at the museum in Newcastle England, a body and hidden jewels lead to Ciaro Egypt. The hunt is on for stolen antiquities. Well researched with ties to Agatha Christie’s Egyptian settings.
I hope this series continues!
Earlier this morning, I was thinking about Margie. Wishing her a speedy recovery.
Every one of your books sound interesting this week, MM. Thanks for bringing them to our attention. You’re right. What You Are Looking For is a memorable book.
MM, quite awhile ago I bought the first book in the Miss Clara Vale series just because it sounded so interesting but haven’t read it yet. So many other new and shiny books made me forget about it, but if the series is up to three books already I’d better hurry and catch up! I’m glad for the reminder.
What Are You Looking For in the Library sounds lovely, Lesa! Thanks for sharing this book. I didn’t have a chance to comment last week, but the book about cemeteries and burial grounds sounded fascinating too. This week I’m reading Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. It’s been on my list for a long time, and I’m happy to finally get to it.
Oh, Ordinary Grace! My favorite book by William Kent Krueger, Kate. I hope you enjoy it!
Ouch. Feel better, Margie. I hate to hear that.
Have fun at Bouchercon, Kim. Sorry we won’t be there so I could tell you in person how much I’ve enjoyed your books.
We’ve been very much enjoying the cooler, more comfortable weather (low 70s! dew points in the 40s!) this week, though we’re warming up again over the weekend.
Books, then. Jackie did very much enjoy the Kelley Armstrong time travel mystery, DISTURBING THE DEAD, but she says she was disappointed at the, by the lack of resolution about the two relationships. She wants that happy ending spelled out! She is now reading a book which I think was recommended here, the silly but fun (I am also reading it) HOW TO AGE DISGRACEFULLY by Clare Pooley, which I will cover when I get to my reading.
Books I finished this week:
John Hayden Howard, Reawakened Worlds Vol. 1. A friend sent me this trade paperback, a collection of mostly science fiction stories written in the ’50s and ’60s. I’d never heard of him before, but this is a fairly entertaining collection, without being something I’d say, “Wow, you need to read this.”
Gerald Kersh, Neither Man Nor Dog: Stories. A collection of mostly quite short stories, originally published in 1946, I believe. I’ve read a Crippen & Landru collection of stories by Kersh that was more impressive, but he’s very readable.
Kim Hays, A Fondness for Truth. The third (and latest, so far) of Kim’s Bern-set police series about Giuliana Linder & Renzo Donatelli. In this one, a woman biking home from a curling practice is deliberately (clearly) rammed by a car, and killed. Could it be because she’s a lesbian and someone didn’t like that? Or could it be a rival of the team? Or possibly, could it involve her work? One thing so fascinating to me about these books is that you learn things about Swiss (and Bern) society you didn’t know, along with the mystery. Every able-bodied 19 year old young man in Switzerland has to serve 10 months in the Army, or they can do 13 months in one of 8 acceptable civilian (“Civi”) activities, helping others either in nursing homes, farming, etc. The victim here worked with Civis. In addition, her partner is part of the Tamil refugee community from Sri Lanka settled in Switzerland, and that could have something to do with the case as well. Kim does a nice job of showcasing the disparate elements and bringing it together with a somewhat surprising but satisfying conclusion. Very good book.
Current reading:
Philip K. Dick, The Eye of the Sibyl and Other Classics. Fourth of his collected stories (I have one more to go), this are later (1964 on) and longer.
W. Somerset Maugham, Collected Short Stories Volume 2. I’ve read most of Maugham’s plays, some of his non-fiction, a few novels, and some of his stories over the years, including ASHENDEN, his collection of spy short stories, but when a friend reviewed one of his stories recently, it prompted me to look out for the three volumes of his collected stories that Penguin published.
Evan Friss, The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore. I know I wrote about this last week, but I am nearly done with it. There are long chapters about bookstores he considers important, historically, like the one in Marshall Field’s department store in Chicago, that was considered the largest bookstore in the world 100 years ago. Also the Strand, on Broadway & 12th Street in New York, though it moved there from the Fourth Avenue Bookstore Row. I barely caught the end of that in the early 1970s, when I would walk over from my job on Fifth Avenue & 12th Street to Fourth Avenue at lunchtime, and stock up on cheap hardbacks by Erle Stanley Gardner or Ellery Queen. He also covers Nazi (The Aryan Book Store) and Communist bookstores, the famous Gotham Book Mart (I remember taking a friend from England there at his request in 1980), and Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Good one.
Clare Pooley, How to Age Disgracefully. It might not (quite) be THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, but this is still a very fun and entertaining book about a group of seniors (along with a single father, in high school) who definitely won’t go quietly into the night. Daphne, Lydia, Alan, Ruby and the rest of the Senior Citizens’ Social Club, plus Ziggy and his child (Kylie), and a feisty dog (called variously by the characters either M or Maggie or Margaret Thatcher) will definitely have you turning the pages. I may wish it was Joyce and the rest of her crew, but I am definitely glad to be reading this one.
Have a safe week.
Update: just got an email that Linda Castillo’s THE BURNING is in and available to download, so I did. Will definitely read that next.
Jeff, I’m glad you are reading How to Age Disgracefully. I brought it home recently from the library, for the second time, and almost took it back unopened. I know it’s been mentioned here before, but your comments just made me more interested. Thank you!
I can’t wait to hear your comments about The Burning. Always interested to see what you say.
Good Morning!
Still not much reading going on due to chasing my almost one year old grandson around the house. He does not sit still!
I did finish The Company She Kept by Archer Mayor. It was a good read and I always enjoy catching up with Joe, Sammy, Lester and Willy.
I am about 100 pages in to Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo. This is a non-fiction book about the escape of 2 slaves from Macon, Georgia. It is incredibly suspenseful, despite knowing that all ends well. The author incorporates a lot of history about the time. Highly recommend this one.
And Margie, sending best wishes for healing for both you and your son. Take good care.
Good morning, Jennifer!
Naptime. Or, do you take a nap when your grandson does? I’d probably be worn out.
Archer Mayor is another one of those authors on my “someday” list.
Lesa, he isn’t a good nap taker, but that is when I try to get my reading in. Sometimes, rhe turning of the pages wake him up. And I do think you would enjoy Archer Mayor!
I think I’d like Archer Mayor, too, Jennifer. Just haven’t started the books yet.
What’s with these kids not being good nap takers? Neither are my niece and nephew. I always loved a nap, whether I was in kindergarten, college, or now!
I am so sleepy! Watched the Democratic Convention so late. I am loving The Burning by Linda Castillo. Thank you, Lesa. The print is a comfortable size for me and she is the best!
All good news, Carol! You’re right. The convention is running late, and I’m tired, too.
I’m so glad you’re loving The Burning, and that the print works for you!
One advantage to living on Pacific Daylight Time is that the convention coverage ends at 9pm! I liked AGONY HILL by Sarah Stewart Taylor and if I was still living in Mesa AZ I would be heading to the Poisoned Pen to hear her. I was disappointed by THE ROSE ARBOR by Rhys Bowen, I did not think it was as well developed as most of her books.
Cindy, I’d love to meet and hear Sarah Stewart Taylor!
I’m sorry The Rose Arbor was disappointing.
Jealous that you can still go to bed at a decent time!
I am thinking of Margie and sending good thoughts for her recovery.
I don’t have a copy of WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IN IN THE LIBRARY yet, but I am planning on getting one soon. It is on my wishlist so I won’t forget.
This week I read THE LADY IN THE LAKE by Raymond Chandler. Mostly I appreciate Chandler’s beautiful writing over his plots, but I ended up preferring this one to the last one I read, THE LONG GOODBYE.
Last night I finished reading A SYMPHONY OF ECHOES by Jodi Taylor, #2 in the Chronicles of St Mary’s series. The main theme is history, with time travel, and a lot of adventure thrown in. That series is compulsive reading, every night I would stay up late reading the book.
Glen is now reading INSIDE THE VICTORIAN HOME. The subtitle is “A Portrait of Domestic Life in Victorian England” by Judith Flanders. He is liking it so far and he is already reading me tidbits from the book. Last night it was about midwives.
Tracy, I totally agree with you about Raymond Chandler’s writing. Beautiful writing. The plots? Not always.
Oh, The Chronicles of St Mary’s! Love those books. I overindulged early on with the series, and now haven’t read any for a while. My niece loves those books!
So, Glen moved on from California to Victorian England. Eclectic reading!
I talk to Margie on Facebook. She seems in good spirits, which is good to hear.
We’re supposed to somehow get flash flooding, even though there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Still, don’t camp out in dry creekbeds, I guess.
This week I read:
The Case of the Gilded Fly by Edmund Crispin; It’s 1940, and instead of being out on the front doing something useful, Gervase Fen is annoying everybody at Oxford. A theater company comes to town to put on a play, and an obnoxious actress is murdered. Fen doesn’t care too much, because of the victim, but when a second murder happens, Katy bar the door!
Death of a Mad Hatter by Jenn McKinlay; The owners of a hat shop are helping out at an Alice in Wonderland themed charity event. The usual obnoxious boor is quickly murdered, possibly by poison in his hat. I didn’t want to visit England after reading this, as it seemed unbearably stuffy.
The Apprentice’s Quest by Erin Hunter; The usual hero’s journey, only this time with cats. So many cats with so many similar names, I quickly lost track of who anyone was.
The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki; Magical cats run a magical coffee shop in Kyoto during full moons. Sort of in the gray area between Chick-Lit and Hen-Lit. The set up was so much like a cozy, I kept looking for corpses and super cop boyfriends.
Still, I really enjoyed this one. There’s a lot of zodiac stuff involved, and I’m not one for horoscopes, but it was captivating. Out of the blue, one of the best books I’ve read in a while.
Glen – Thanks for the update on Margie
Hi Glen! Thank you. I’ll message Margie, and tell her how much we’re thinking of her, and how much we miss her. I’m glad to hear she’s in a good mood. Thanks for the update!
Some of those Japanese books are captivating, aren’t they? Now, I”ll have to look for The Full Moon Coffee Shop. Thank you.
I am late to contribute today. Two books for me this week.
I finished B.K. Borison’s last installment of the Lovelight Farms series with Business Casual. While this wasn’t my favorite in the series it was nice to catch up with the characters. This one centered on Beckett’s younger sister, Nova and Stella’s half-brother Charlie. It was pretty steamy but had some cute moments.
I also read Virginia Heath’s All’s Fair in Love and War about a governess watching the impish nieces and nephew of a strait-laced Naval officer. I found this one extremely charming but a little long.
Hoping Margie is recovering nicely and will be able to contribute here soon.
I’ve enjoyed our fall=like weather and am not looking forward to a return to the 90’s this weekend.
Happy Reading!
Happy Reading, Sharon! I always enjoy that greeting.
Yes, 90s again here next week, too.
I’m trying to remember if I ever tried one of the Lovelight Farm books. I don’t think so since you mentioned steamy.