Checking in before I head to West Virginia today with my family where we’re taking a short train trip tomorrow. But, it’s almost a five hour drive, so we’re going down today, and staying overnight a couple nights.
And, I’m sorry to talk about that and our beautiful weather when I know some of you are facing fires and even hurricanes. We’re getting into that dramatic time of year again, aren’t we? Stay safe, everyone.
Of course, I’m reading Amanda Jones’ book, That Librarian, after listening to her speak on Monday night. Yesterday, I wrote a recap of her appearance at The Bexley Public Library. For those who didn’t read the recap, here’s the summary of the book.
One of the things small town librarian Amanda Jones values most about books is how they can affirm a young person’s sense of self. So in 2022, when she caught wind of a local public hearing that would discuss “book content,” she knew what was at stake. Schools and libraries nationwide have been bombarded by demands for books with LGTBQ+ references, discussions of racism, and more to be purged from the shelves. Amanda would be damned if her community were to ban stories representing minority groups. She spoke out that night at the meeting. Days later, she woke up to a nightmare that is still ongoing.
Amanda Jones has been called a groomer, a pedo, and a porn-pusher; she has faced death threats and attacks from strangers and friends alike. Her decision to support a collection of books with diverse perspectives made her a target for extremists using book banning campaigns-funded by dark money organizations and advanced by hard right politicians-in a crusade to make America more white, straight, and “Christian.” But Amanda Jones wouldn’t give up without a fight: she sued her harassers for defamation and urged others to join her in the resistance.
Mapping the book banning crisis occurring all across the nation, That Librarian draws the battle lines in the war against equity and inclusion, calling book lovers everywhere to rise in defense of our readers.
I’m not far into the book, and, since I’ll be out of town, it’s going to take me a while to read it. But, for all of us who have the opportunity to read anything we want, That Librarian is a frightening book.
What about you? Are you in a bad weather situation? I know there are parts of California and Nevada affected, so I worry about some of you. Take care of yourself. And, if you have time, tell us what you’re reading this week.
No scary weather here in the Vancouver area; just lovely cloudy days, not hot, and no rain. Perfect for going for long walks. I do feel for any of you that have to worry about weather-related problems right now though; so stressful.
It’s been a quiet week for me, just taking it easy after my second cataract surgery. It went well. Not allowed to bend forward so I couldn’t do any housework (what a shame). Have to wear a hard plastic shield over the eye all night (so attractive). And then the five-week wait til I can go get a prescription for new glasses. By the end of October it’ll be a whole new me!
I did manage to read two books.
A GOOD INDIAN GIRL by Mansi Shah
The story centres around Jyoti, who is a chef and the daughter of parents who emigrated to America from Gujarat in India. Like the ‘good Indian girl’ she’s expected to be she marries a man her parents chose for her. After a series of failed pregnancies her husband divorces her because she can’t give him the children he wants. Being divorced sends her into ‘bad Indian girl’ territory and being estranged from her family. She doesn’t help herself in that regard by going to Italy to spend the summer with her best friend Karishma who lives there, and who Jyoti’s mother has long thought to be a bad influence on Jyoti. While in Italy Jyoti tries to make sense of her life and her place in it, while trying to figure out how she can make a living using her passion for cooking. There’s much more to the story than this but it can’t all be said without giving too much of the story away.
The novel raises many(!) issues – the struggle of new immigrants; motherhood; being part of a community, whether cultural or personal; divorce; the stress of multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts; personal fulfillment and how it relates to cultural expectations; lack of diversity in the publishing industry; forms that racism can take; and family, both your own and found family. That is quite a number of issues for one novel, but the author does a good job of crafting an interesting story around them, although sometimes I found the dialogue was so focussed on making a point about an issue, that it seemed more of a lecture than it did believable dialogue.
Jyoti’s love of preparing food and the emotions surrounding it come through loud and clear. As does the value of true friendship. Considering all the serious issues in this novel I should have connected more with the characters but I felt a bit removed from them for some reason. Still, the book provided food for thought about some issues I hadn’t come across before.
A BODY AT THE SEANCE by Marty Wingate (book 2 of London Ladies Murder Club, a historical/cozy mystery series set in the early 1920s) Book 1 was A Body on the Doorstep.
The Useful Women’s Agency has assigned Mabel the job of accompanying a client to a seance; the client is hoping to hear from her late husband who died several months ago, and she needs some moral support. The husband does appear at the seance, but he’s alive! Just as he declares he has something to say to his wife, chaos ensues, and he is discovered dead. For real this time. And just like that Mabel has another murder to investigate and solve, while still being assigned other jobs by the agency.
There are at least half a dozen possible suspects in this tricky case. Well-loved characters from the first book are included in this one, and once again they all do their part to help solve the case; even Gladys the dog, who plays a bigger part this time around. And quite delightfully, the mischievous 8-year old Augustus is here too.
Lindy, I’m glad you’re enjoying your weather, and that you are able to enjoy it despite your cataract surgery. I’m glad you found a way to read even before getting the new glasses.
I have the first book here at home, but I think I’ll skip it. I’m glad you enjoyed the Wingate!
Lindy, Jackie had both eyes done last year and it went well. She can now read without glasses as long as the print is big enough, but does have reading glasses for the smaller print.
I’m glad it all worked out for Jackie. I’m finding it’s a relief to at least have the surgeries over and done with. I can read just fine without glasses now, but it’s the distance vision I’ll need them for. And computer distance as well.
Hi everyone, from a decidedly autumnal Aberdeenshire. Our top temperature for Thursday is forecast to be 51F, which is fine by me, but we’ve also had quite a bit of rain lately. No extreme weather though, thank goodness.
I hope you have a great trip with your family Lesa – once again, let’s hear it for retirement!
I have seen THAT LIBRARIAN advertised but I didn’t know very much about it – now I really want to read it myself. It is many many years since there was any form of official censorship here, but never say never. What is happening in parts of the US is frightening, and as you say, those of us who are fortunate enough to live in more liberal environments need to remember not only to appreciate them but also to guard against their erosion. The state may have stopped banning books here in my childhood, but the Catholic church in Ireland burned Edna O’Brien’s first novel and banned its adherents (at that time most of Ireland) from reading it.
I started writing this post last Thursday and never managed to finish it, so I’m trying again on Wednesday night. Tomorrow is my husband’s 60th birthday, he retired from work last week, and so today we are planning to drive up to the north coast, visiting some of the North East Open Studios en route. NEOS is an annual event in which many artists and makers open their studios to the public – these can be anything from permanent galleries to someone’s garage or kitchen. The standard of the arts and crafts varies wildly, but I always enjoy chatting with the makers and hearing their stories. Some have been doing this for years, others have only started recently, perhaps after retiring or being made redundant.
I spent last weekend in Edinburgh again, cat-sitting Charlie and Herbie while Anna was down south. C & H are now curling up together in the same bed – we never thought we’d see the day, but in fact it’s only taken them 3-4 months to get to this stage. I think Charlie has been incredibly long-suffering and patient – Herbie is a menace!
Last night we went to see COME FROM AWAY at the theatre in Aberdeen. It was every bit as good as I’d been told, Anna and I loved every minute. David was slightly less enthusiastic as he couldn’t hear the words – I don’t think Anna and I caught every single thing either, but we understood enough to follow the plot and get most of the jokes. What a truly moving and engaging show – and one especially interesting for me as we lived in Newfoundland over one winter (1991/2).
Anna had come up to see the show with us, and before that I took her to visit my friend Sue and her goats – we had a great afternoon up on the windy hillside with the animals. I think Anna would love to have that lifestyle, whereas a couple of hours is quite enough for me. We came back laden with produce – cucumbers, celery, green beans and homemade blackcurrant and raspberry jams.
On Friday we will be back down the road again as we are having a family dinner for David’s birthday. Our son and his wife are coming down from Aviemore, and Madeleine from Glasgow. Anna is already back in Edinburgh. It’s been really difficult thinking of good presents for him, especially as his work colleagues ‘stole’ our best idea (a coffee maker.) One of the things I have bought is a voucher for two people to have a tour and tasting at the Port of Leith Distillery. This only opened last year, and it particularly interesting because it is built vertically – the reception and shop (where I had to go to buy the voucher) are on the 6th floor, and had impressive views of the docks and of Leith itself. There is a bar on the 8th (top) floor from which the panorama must be amazing. You can also have a meal there.
As for reading, I’m afraid I’m still on the same book I had just started two weeks ago, A CORNISH SECRET by Emma Burnstall. I really don’t know why I’m persevering with it as to be honest I think it’s pretty poor. The writing is so cliched and lazy (eg a two year old’s eyes ‘grew to the size of dinner plates’ – for goodness sake!), and although this is not a Shirley Conran/Joan Collins kind of book at all, every single piece of clothing is described in detail. I don’t care whether a minor character has a red striped shirt on – it’s totally irrelevant. So much of the writing seems to me to be padding to meet the publisher’s required word count.
I should’ve stopped reading this ages ago. Lesson learned. What I don’t understand is the number of 5* reviews this book has. Sometimes I can see that other people might well like a book that I don’t, but in this case the writing is so poor that it has become all I can see – the plot, which in itself is pretty thin and far too drawn-out – pales into insignificance. Burnstall has published several novels (I saw them in my library the other day) so I don’t know if this is just a dud or if they’re all just as bad, but I’m not moved to find out.
While staggering through the last few pages of this novel I’m also participating in Nora’s #spinstersinseptember themed read. I must admit this is largely to have an excuse to re-read (yet again) some of my favourite Barbara Pyms – EXCELLENT WOMEN, JANE & PRUDENCE, SOME TAME GAZELLE – but I’ve also dug out some other candidates, eg Mary Stewart’s THORNYHOLD, Ruth Watson’s wonderful THE SNOW & THE WORKS ON THE NORTHERN LINE, and Mary Wesley’s HARNESSING PEACOCKS.
I’ve started with Coleen McCullogh’s THE LADIES OF MISSALONGHI, about which I knew nothing. I’ve never read any of this author’s works – I didn’t even know she was Australian, let along that she wrote THE THORN BIRDS (which I also haven’t read) but so far I’m enjoying this little novel. It’s about three women eeking out a ‘genteel poverty’ existence in Byron, a small Australian town, in the early years of the 20th century.
Missy is the daughter of widowed Drusilla Hurlingford Wright. With them lives Drusilla’s crippled sister Octavia. The entire town is run by the males of the extended Hurlingford clan, and the only way a woman can have a better life is to marry well, and preferably within the family. Missy’s glamourous and wealthy cousin Aurelia is to be married, but Missy dreads having to wear yet another serviceable brown dress and pair of boots to the nuptials. Her only pleasures are walking in the wild valley below Byron and reading the romantic novels she borrows from the library, which is run by the wild, and wildly experienced Una.
Out of the blue a mysterious man calling himself John Smith arrives in town. He has somehow purchased the entire wild valley – a valley Missy has always seen as her own.
And that’s as far as I’ve got.
This week I also read THE LONDON EYE MYSTERY by Siobhan Dowd. It’s a children’s book but I loved it. It’s about an aspergic boy, Ted, who lives in south London with his parents and his irritating sister Kat. He has few friends as he finds it hard to relate to people, but he loves his family, and has an obsessive interest in weather systems. The family is visited by Aunt Gloria and her son Salim, who are on their way to New York where Gloria has a new job.
The cousins and their mothers go for a day out in central London, during which Salim wants to have a trip on the London Eye. Ted and Kat wait for him at the gate, but although they see him get into one of the pods, when it comes back down he is not there. Gloria is distraught, the police become involved, but eventually it is Ted and Kat who solve the mystery, through a combination of her determination and his unusual thought processes.
Dowd was such a good writer (she sadly died young) – the story is a real page turner, the characters are brilliantly nuanced and convincing. Dowd is another children’s author who could have taught many adult novelists a thing or two about pacing and economy of description.
I madly planned to take part in 20 Books of Summer again this year – I should’ve known better as I only read six books over the three months and one of them I haven’t reviewed yet. Hopeless.
Cathy, who runs this challenge, has decided to hand it over to a new person – if anyone volunteers – but I think I won’t try to take part again, as I always set myself up for failure, summer, and especiallyAugust, are just too busy for me. I’ll stick to the much easier challenges in which you can, if you wish, just read one book – eg Simon & Kaggsy’s year ‘book clubs’ where you simply read something(s) from a chosen year, Reading the Meow – any book feauring or about cats – and Dewithon; anything to do with Wales.
I haven’t had time to see much television lately, but I am watching the second series of SHERWOOD – I have one episode left and I really must see that before the weekend! The penultimate episode was terrifyingly good. I also started watching Nicole Kidman in THE PERFECT MARRIAGE, but after I’d seen the first episode Netflix decided to block my access – no idea why, I certainly have a live subscription. I’ll try again. Kidman is such a good actor.
I didn’t watch the Trump/Harris debate, but I did read about it in The Guardian. I think almost everyone on this side of the Atlantic finds it hard to understand how your ex-president is even allowed to run, never mind how the election can be on such a knife-edge. But we are not Americans. Plus, we have nothing to be proud of in our own politics – a country in which men like Nigel Farage (a great friend of Doanld’s I believe) can be elected to parliament really hasn’t earned itself the right to knock other countries’ voting behaviour. To us, Harris seems like a breath of fresh air – but it seems there are plenty of Americans who don’t share that view.
Next Thursday we should be on our way to the Hebridean Isle of Islay for the Lagavulin Jazz Festival. I will try to get something written beforehand, but if I don’t, apologies in advance. I seem to be away more than I am home just now; I’m hoping that November will be a little calmer. We have however decided to go to London just before Christmas to see ABBA VOYAGE. Seeing Jake Shears in CABARET last year was so fantastic – I doubt this Abba thing can live up to that, but it’s good to get away before the (alleged!) festive season.
It’s well past 10pm here so I will stop now.
Have a good week all,
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary! I just wanted to say that THE LADIES OF MISSALONGHI is such a fun read. I discovered it years ago and have re-read it at least once. It’s short and sweet: one of those great tales where all the baddies get their comeuppance!
Thanks Kim – great to know that!
Rosemary, I remember when you did the North East Open Studios before. I love that idea! I hope you enjoy it again this year.
And, congratulations to David! I’m loving every bit of retirement, and I think you do, too. I hope you all have a terrific time for his birthday.
Thank you for the update on Charlie and Herbie! It’s always good to hear about them.
Really, I just love reading your posts about life and books and television. Thank you.
Rosemary, we get the new series of SHERWOOD here on November 14, RIDLEY on this Sunday (the 15th), and A VERY ROYAL SCANDAL on September 19. We’re watching THE DIPLOMAT – not the Keri Russell series, which is returning October 31, but a series about a British consul (Sophie Rundle, last seen here in AFTER THE FLOOD). we are also watching the tense second series of TRIGGER POINT, with Vicky McClure as a bomb disposal expert with the London police after serving in Afghanistan.
Hi Jeff
I hope you enjoy Sherwood 2 when it arrives. I’ve seen both series of Trigger Point and enjoyed (if that’s the right word) them, but I’ve yet to watch The Diplomat and I’m not sure I know what A Very Royal Scandal is about, must look that one up.
I thoml it is about Prince Andrew’s interview about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Not for me, but Jackie is interested.
“The two year old’s eyes ‘grew to the size of dinner plates.’ ” the ophthalmologist has expressed deep concern.
The fires in So Cal aren’t impacting me, but some of my friends and dealing with the bad smoke and ash. Things are cooling off here, which should help the fire fighters. It was 20 degrees cooler on Wednesday than it was on Monday.
Thursday, I should be finishing THE GLASS BOTTOM HOAX, the latest Madison Night Mystery by Diane Vallere. Yes, she’s popping up on my reading list again. I’m only a few books behind, so hopefully I will be able to catch up by the end of 2025.
Anyway, this book finds Madison and her boyfriend going undercover on a cruise ship to find some thieves only to have their contact be murder just after the cruise starts. I’m enjoying it as always.
Good, Mark. You’re one person I thought of when I saw about the fires. I’m sorry for your friends.
Sure. Diane Valliere will probably write more books before the end of 2025, so you’ll always be behind. That’s how I feel with some authors.
Hello everyone. Lesa, I hope you have a lovely time in West Virginia. Here in Bern, it’s definitely fall, chilly and rainy–a good reading day. I’m still working through Cara Hunter’s Adam Fawley series, and I’ve also started the first in another British series. I’ve written here about how I love Mick Herron’s Slough House series about spies in London (I still have several to go there), and at Bouchercon, where Herron was a guest of honor, I discovered that he has also written four police procedurals (the Oxford series), so I’ve begun the first of those. Since I’ve finished Val Mcdermid’s Karen Pirie books (terrific!), I’ve begun another of her books, 1979; the heroine is Allie Burns. Anyone else read it?
Hi Kim! Don’t you sometimes love a chilly, rainy day for reading? It used to be a day to snuggle down with an afghan and a cat. Now, without my cats, I have the afghan and a fireplace.
I’ve seen 1979, but never read that one.
Did you get to meet Mick Herron at Bouchercon?
Kim, I started McDermid’s 1979 several years ago, but I found it a letdown after the Karen Pirie series so returned it to the library. But lately, I’ve been thinking about getting it back and trying again. I want to see how she goes every 10 years.
Agree with you about the Cara Hunter series.
When will your next book be out?
Yes, I shook his hand and told him how much I enjoyed the Slough House series. He was surrounded by people, so I didn’t have the courage to try to have a real conversation with him; I think it would have been hopeless anyway.
Whoops, that was a reply to Lesa’s question about meeting Mick Herron!
As for my fourth book in the Linder and Donatelli series, it’ll be out in the spring of 2025. The title is SPLINTERED JUSTICE.
Hi Kim, I remember the novel 1979 being very well reviewed, and I did read it but it didn’t seem all that interesting/gripping to me. On the other hand, my husband read it and loved it and went on to also read 1989.
Not much reading this week, but the 42nd annual Reno Balloon Race was beautiful & fun. I was surprised at the number of families with small children there for the pre-dawn Glow-Show. Around 50,000 attendees each of the three days.
Unfortunately, a wind-driven wildfire started Saturday afternoon just south of Reno. The weather service gave Wednesday a PDS (particularly dangerous situation) upgrade to the already red flag warning for the high winds and low humidity. I live well north of Reno, but my favorite library branch is in the evacuation zone.
I read the second in the Lily Adler series, Silence in the Library, by Katharine Schellman a few years back. Now backtracking to the first, THE BODY IN THE GARDEN. Delightful historical fiction set in Regency London 1815, the author creates a setting as a believable background to the story.
From 2009, Madeleine Albright’s READ MY PINS is a fascinating look at social history through a unique lens. The book was produced in conjunction with an exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design, NY.
I don’t recall where I heard of this. Lesa, is this one you mentioned?
Just starting THE BOOKSHOP: A History of the American Bookstore. I know this book has been mentioned here previously.
MM, I wondered about you when I saw the news about the Reno fires. I hope your favorite library remains untouched. I hope others are okay, too.
I love the appearance of hot air balloons in the sky, and went up in one once over the Sonoran Desert. What a trip!
I didn’t mention Read My Pins, but I know someone here did. And, Jeff mentioned The Bookshop. I think it’s one of the books I need to pick up at the library.
I just received an e-mail from Hatchett for Banned Books : https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/book-list/banned-and-challenged-books-to-read/?lens=family-reads&lid=3j8y7jjq958d&utm_medium=email&utm_source=HBGFamilyReads&utm_campaign=09.11.24%20Family%20Reads%20Banned%20Books&utm_term=familyreads
I added a lot to my wish list. Still want to read That Librarian!!
I finished reading a book that I won from LibraryThing that I felt was published because the author was a celebrity (even though I didn’t know her!) that seem lacking in substance. So I am treating myself to another Julia Spencer Fleming’s books, I Shall Not Want. She has never disappointed me, but I will have soon read her entire series!
Carol, Thank you for sharing the list from Hatchett. It’s such a crime that so many books are banned.
Yes, Julia Spencer Fleming is a treat. Her writing is beautiful, and her stories always make you think.
I just love all of the different things that you are doing in retirement, Lesa! Can’t wait to hear more about the train ride!
This week I read “How to Age Disgracefully” by Clare Pooley. I listened to the audio version of this book and I just might go back and read the physical book, just to enjoy every savory and deliciously funny simile that the book served up! Following 4 different characters – Daphne (a 70 year old self-imposed recluse), Art (another septuagenarian who can no longer find work as an actor), Lydia (a soon to be empty nester whose marriage is on the rocks) and Ziggy (a teenage father juggling school and child demands) – this book brings these disparate lives together resulting in a triumph of what friendship and resilience in the face of adversity can do. Highly recommend – feel good funny!
I had to take How to Age Disgracefully back to the library AGAIN. Too many people waiting to read it, for good reason from the sound of it. So many of you love it.
I’ll update everyone next week about the train trip, Mary. I know we’re supposed to have good weather.
P.S. I looked up the current banned book list in Texas and found this:
https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/list-of-texas-banned-books-shows-state-has-most-in-us-17480532
It is interesting, the longest lists are from places that I had already decided not to move to!
2,350 titles last year in Texas. That’s just unbelievable, Carol. I have to take a good look at that article when I get back. Thank you for sharing!
There is a very small group that is systematically, and very publicly, filing books to be banned requests in the various school districts and libraries across the state. They copy and paste the paperwork. In some places, they get fought. In other places where right wing nut jobs control school boards, it works.
All part of the local implementation of the Trumps Project 2025.
Another reason why folks just can’t vote Republican at any level. This is not the Republican party I grew up in back in the day.
Good morning. We finally closed on my mom’s house this week so my boyfriend and I are in PA for a few days to relax. It’s been a long year.
I read For We Are Many by Dennis E Taylor. It’s the second book in his Bobiverse series about ships piloted by clones of Bob’s mind that explore space looking for habitable planets for humans to move to since Earth is becoming uninhabitable.
Great news, Sandy! I’m glad you closed on the house, and now can enjoy a little relaxing time. Enjoy Pennsylvania!
Good morning. Like so many other hypocrites, the “Christians” attacking librarians need to look in the mirror and reread their Bibles to see what Jesus really said. These people make me sick.
But, moving on. Our weather has been lovely lately. Warmer this week and sunny without being terribly humid so far. Nice is the best description. Have a good trip. After Jackie retired we took the Grand Canyon train with my sister and her husband and son. We stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams and then at a lodge at the Canyon. Fun train ride.
Books, then. Jackie is reading the 12th (and last) Lizzie Grace book by Keri Arthur, SHADOW’S END, though she keeps saying she doesn’t see how this is going to tie up the series. She’s read several other series by this Aussie author.
This week I finished You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld. I like her writing and enjoyed the collection of stories. I know she’s written a novel from the perspective of Laura Bush and another novel about Hillary Clinton.
J. B. Callaghan’s In the Blink of An Eye was her first novel, featuring Chief Superintendent Kat Frank, just returned to work after nursing her husband through his final illness. Her boss convinces her to take on a project using an AI (AIDE – Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) to see if it can really help in the solving of crimes. Lock (the AI) appears as a hologram and interacts with Kat & her team. They start out with cold cases, several young men who have disappeared in the area, never to be found again. Lock helps them uncover a patterns, and, not surprisingly, the cases are not cold after all. Have these young men been kidnapped, if so by whom, and for what purpose? Of course, you can see some of what is coming, and i must admit that I spotted one major clue when Kat dismissed it for the key that it was, not that it told you who the perpetrator was, Good book and the sequel is scheduled for January, I think. One learns in the afterword that after trying to write for years with her husband’s encouragement, Callaghan wrote the book in a few months after the death of her husband of 26 years from cancer. Clearly she put her grief and experience to good use.
Finally finished the 400 pages of W. Somerset Maugham’s Collected Short Stories Volume 2 (Penguin edition). I might read some more of his stories along the way.
Currently reading three books – a short story collection, The Stark House Anthology, with pulpy ’50s writers like Harry Whittington and Gil Brewer; a mystery, Cara Hunter’s No Way Out; and a memoir, Sloan Crosley’s Grief Is For People.
The Hunter is the third in her DI Adam Fawley series, set in Oxford. Just after New Year’s, a devastating fire at a big house in Oxford appears to be arson. Two young boys are found inside, the three year old dead and the ten year old seriously injured. But where are their parents? Were they left home alone? I don’t want to give too much away – I’m halfway through this fast-moving read – so just let me say that this is a very good police series and you should start with the first book in the series. After the outstanding second book, I am expecting some surprising twists to come.
I’ve read Sloane Crosley’s three collections of essays, starting with I Was Told There Would Be Cake (2008) and enjoyed them very much. This memoir deals with two key events in her life from 2019. First, her apartment is burglarized and all her jewelry (including some from her grandmother) is stolen. Then, a month later to the day, her closest friend and former boss at Vintage Books, Russell Perreault, commits suicide. The book (I’ve read over a third of it) is about her grief and how she deals with it. Again, I like her writing.
Jackie finished her book overnight and said she did – sort of – wrap things up.
I just finished the latest Cork O’Connor mystery, Spirit Crossing. William Kent Krueger really makes one see the atrocities the “white man” has done to our Native Americans. It is still be done to them in Canada, the U.S.. and Central America. I imagine in South America too. This book shows the damage an oil pipe line can do.
Good morning. I’m continuing to recuperate at home and happy to be here. I won’t go into the boring details. Weather is quite reasonable right now as it is in the 80s. Nice to say goodbye to 100+, at least for now. I apologize in advance for dropping more reviews on you than usual. They cover the past month.
Renee Ballard is clearly the star of the newest Ballard and Bosch mystery, THE WAITING, by Michael Connelly. As the single-minded leader of the LAPD’s open-unsolved case unit, Renee is determined to solve even the most impossible crimes with the help of her diverse team, several of whom are civilians. Connelly is a master at describing Renee’s dogged, step-by-step investigations, including research, interviews, interactions with other law enforcement—often unfriendly—and situations of risk and personal danger. The team’s work on a high-profile 70-year-old cold case is juxtaposed with Renee’s search for her stolen police badge and gun. The suspense is palpable, and Renee is truly a character worthy of rooting for. Harry Bosch, now retired and recovering from a serious illness, also makes a brief but impactful appearance. And his daughter, a police officer hoping to become a detective, becomes a member of Renee’s team. We don’t know much about Renee’s personal life. She surfs to combat her insomnia, sees a therapist on the down-low, and her estranged mother hasn’t been seen after the Maui fires. I would love to read more about her life outside of the LAPD in future series entries to flesh out her character. (October)
WE’LL PRESCRIBE YOU A CAT by Syou Ishida appears to be part of a trend of current books by Japanese authors that employ magical realism, quirky characters, and a simplistic writing style.. People with a variety of personal problems visit a shady “clinic of the soul,” describe their situation, and are “prescribed” a cat to take home with them. Visitors to the clinic include a young man who hates his job, a middle-aged man who can’t deal with his too-cheerful female supervisor, the mother of a troublesome fourth grader, and a talented handbag designer and entrepreneur who is losing employees because of her perfectionism. I felt this book was less successful than others I have read in this genre, The writing style lacked nuance, and the messages were muddled and sometimes confusing. But although it was a miss for me, I believe it might be just the thing for those looking for a heart-warming book from an award-winning Japanese author.
The premise of THE HOUSE AT WATCH HILL sounds familiar. Young woman in dire straits suddenly learns she will inherit a house and a lot of money if she relocates–in this case, to Divinity, Louisiana–and stays in the house for 3 years. Intriguing? I thought so. But that’s where the similarity to other books I’ve read stops. What the book description doesn’t say is that this is a Gothic fantasy, replete with warring witches, vampires, violence, and raw sex. Fans of this popular author’s books are loving it, but it just wasn’t for me. I did enjoy some of the description of the mansion and its grounds. The plot development, however, is somewhat repetitive, and Zo Grey, the protagonist, seems largely unlikeable. The book ends abruptly with a cliffhanger, and I’m certain devotees of this genre will be eagerly waiting for the next in the series. (October)
Ellery Adams’ two mystery series are among my favorites, THE LITTLE LOST LIBRARY is book #6 in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series, and it’s a winner. This time the plot doesn’t revolve around the other members of the society, but rather around Lucille Wynter, a reclusive inhabitant of Miracle Springs who lives in what others consider a haunted house. Bookshop owner Nora has been bringing books to Lucille but has never been permitted inside the house. After Lucille dies in a suspicious manner, Nora is determined to find out just what brought about her death, especially since she has received a cryptic letter from Lucille that may ultimately reveal the secrets of Lucille’s estranged family and the reason she has hoarded so many things over the years, some of which may be real treasure. Besides solving the riddles in the letter, Nora has to deal with combative family members and dangerous situations. I love spending time in Miracle Springs with familiar characters and especially enjoy the mature love relationship between Nora and her law enforcement beau, Grant . The characters have depth, the plot is creative and compelling, and the ending is particularly uplifting , if not exactly what I expected . (October)
Last Saturday I heard a fascinating presentation at a Sisters in Crime meeting by author McCracken Poston, Jr., and I couldn’t wait to read his book, ZENITH MAN, published in February 2024. A defense attorney and former Georgia State legislator, Poston winningly records every last detail about an unusual case he handled 25 years ago. Everyone in town had known Alvin Ridley, a TV repairman, for years, and many feared him because of his frequently odd—sometimes frightening–behavior. (Much later, he was diagnosed as neurodivergent.) But when he was arrested for killing his wife after allegedly keeping her confined in their basement for 30 years, the author, who had known Alvin since childhood, agreed to take his case. Of course, it didn’t help that Alvin himself was reluctant to give his lawyer what he needed to defend him from these very serious charges, even refusing to let Poston in his house in the early days of the case. The book turns out to be about two complex, captivating characters–it’s just as much about the attorney as it is about the accused, which makes it all the more entertaining and appealing. Clearly, Poston had kept all of the transcripts, interviews, and infinite details at his disposal in order to make it such an engaging story. I’m not sure why he waited 25 years to tell it, but I’m so glad I became aware of the book, devouring it in just a day or two. If you’re interested in true crime or just an entertaining story, you are sure to enjoy Zenith Man. I highly recommend it.
It’s always cause for rejoicing when a new David Rosenfelt novel is available, and THE MORE THE TERRIER, book #30 in the Andy Carpenter series, is no exception. Those familiar with the series will already know that defense attorney Andy is never really looking for new cases, having inherited enough money to make him independently wealthy. But somehow he always gets sucked in when the defendant is a friend, or a friend of a friend. In this case, it’s a 19-year-old college freshman who adopted one of Andy’s foundation’s rescue dogs a few years back and has never been in any legal trouble. Now, however, he is languishing in jail and saddled with an incompetent defender, waiting for his trial. Brian has been accused of murdering his professor after a very public argument broke out in class between them. There’s even evidence showing he had the victim’s stolen belongings hidden in his apartment. I enjoyed the compelling mystery and the usual cast of familiar characters: Andy’s legal team (including his investigator wife), his cop and newspaper editor drinking and eating buddies, and his three dogs, each with its own distinct personality. What was missing for me was the usual high level of Andy’s signature snarkiness and hilarious comments. I love all of the books in this series, although this was not one of my favorites. (October)
I also read THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB by Robert Thorogood for a book club but wasn’t in a physical position to review it. All I remember is that it seemed quite derivative of the Thursday Murder Club books and not nearly at that excellent series’ level. There will be a TV series, however.
I recently ordered ‘We’ll Prescribe You a Cat’ and ‘The House at Watch Hill’ because both premises sounded so interesting, but after reading your thoughts about them I’m not sure reading either of them would be worth my time. Hmmm. I might return them unread and choose something else. Thank you!
Lindy, keep in mind that I read these books while in the hospital or Skilled Nursing Facility so my reaction to them may have been skewed by the place where I read them. Your experience may vary. ):
Margie, even though your circumstances were so frightening and stressful while reading those two books, I still think I can trust your judgement on them. We’ll see! If I do read them I shall give a full report.
I am happy you are on the mend Margie.
Thank you for the review of The Little Lost Library. It is my favorite of the Ellery Queen series.
Margie, can’t wait for the new Ballard/Bosch series, plus the upcoming tv series.
Enjoy your train trip in West Virginia, Lesa.
We did a dinner train trip in Cincinnati last year that was lots of fun. People really got into dressing up in the 1940’s era and there was a trio of singers singing Andrews Sister hits.
Only one book for me this week.
I read The Secret Ingredient by Sue Heath. It was very sweet and very emotional. Kate is a young widow who is stuck in grief. A confused older gentleman on her streets befriends her and opens her to a community and the ability to start again. This was rather on the Hallmark side, but I enjoyed it very much. I came to care about Kate, Charles, Mary, Della, and Jack. And I loved the aspect of how cooking brought them all together.
Safe travels, Lesa and Happy Reading!
I’m finally reading Crook Manifesto, the second volume in Colson Whitehead’s planned trilogy about Ray Carney, a New York City furniture salesman in the late 1960s and early 1970s who has a reluctant second job as a jewelry fence. Brilliant, evocative books.
Just read Circle in the Water by Marcia Muller (a Sharon McCone mystery) -well I hadn’t read one of hers for a long time and I was very disappointed. It was a slog to get through it. Nothing happening and very boring. I think she’s run out of plots. When you read about books being banned it makes you wonder if we are still living in the USA! Hard to believe.
Thanks to Lesa, I read the 6th Sparks and Bainbridge book, Murder at the White Palace. I have enjoyed this series immensely. Gwen and Iris make an unlikely pair to start the Right Sort Marriage Bureau but make a great team. To celebrate the end of the war and their success matching people, they decide to host a New Year’s Eve soirée. All the usual characters appear and we learn more about back stories.
One of the main themes is snooker, similar to billiards. I had to watch a YouTube video to get an idea of how the game is played.
Speaking of book banning, I read Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller. Set in Troy, Georgia, Lula Dean manages to have many ‘inappropriate’ books dealing with LGBTQ, slavery, women’s rights, etc. banned. Lula put wholesome books, (The Art of the deal, Chicken Soup for the Soul) in her little free library. Someone keeps the dust jackets and substitutes banned books (Are you there God? It’s me Margaret, The Catcher in the Rye). People’s lives, ways of thinking, are challenged and modified by reading the substitute books. Many threads to keep track of. A good example of some of Ranganathan’s laws of library science:
Books are for use.
Every person his or her book.
Every book its reader.
The weather was pretty hot early in the week, but now we’re down to 80’s, and I can’t just a tee-shirt at dawn without getting cold.
This week I read:
Tiny House, Big Escape by MZ Potts; A convicted murderer escapes prison and our sleuth and her supercop boyfriend search for him. There’s no mystery and very little else here.
Savage Season by Joe R Lansdale; Hap’s hippie ex-girlfriend comes back, and wants his help with a bunch of do-gooders, who aren’t so good.
Battery From Hellfire by Gordon Landsborough; Newbies are sent to North Africa to fight Rommel. Good luck guys! Cynical WWII novel from the 70’s.
Birth of Fire by Jerry Pournelle; A gang banger goes to Mars instead of prison, and gets involved in a revolution. I don’t think this would get published today.
The Disappearing Donor by Sarah Meaden; A cozy where the sleuth actually has a job and WORKS. It was very disorienting. Valuable paintings on loan are stolen from a non-profit. Our sleuth manages to investigate between raising money and office politics, and meets the usual supercop boyfriend.
Double the Bounty by Robert Randisi; A bounty hunter chases an outlaw who robbed two banks hundreds of miles away at the same time. The bounty hunter just can’t figure it out.
Under The Naga Tail by Mae Bunseng Taing; Stories of Cambodia during the time of the Khmer Rouge. Harrowing, but at least it doesn’t depict the country as some sort of paradise beforehand.
Assemble The Hyenas…I Feel A Pun Coming On by Bob Thaves; A collection of the comic strip Frank and Earnest. The strip doesn’t get talked about a lot, but I like it. For those who enjoy word play for sure.
Update: I’m 85% done with the Cara Hunter book and we just had the big reveal.
I finished it last night at 11. Good book, though so far #2 in the series is my favorite.
Today on the blog, I reviewed Den of Iniquity: A J.P. Beaumont Novel by J. A. Jance
https://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2024/09/review-den-of-iniquity-jp-beaumont.html
Sill doing THE WAITING on #NetGalley approval. I am hoping I don’t have the wait on the Dallas Library System to get Michael Connelly’s latest. I am on hold for it. But, it is clear that while they are no longer closing one of the branches, there are going to be budget cuts for the fiscal year starting October 1st. We just don’t yet know how bad.
Current read is THE TROUBLING DEATH OF MADDY BENSON by Terry Shames thanks to NetGalley. Nice to be hanging out with Chief Samuel Craddock. Been a hard week and the book escape helps.
I’m so sorry to hear about the cutbacks in the Dallas Library System, Kevin. That hurts, even though I’m not personally involved.
The new Samuel Craddock was a good one as a relief.