While we’re getting much needed rain, I’m afraid readers in the south might be getting more wind and rain than they want from Helene. Take care of yourselves!
Have you ever seen the movie “Big Fish” or the musical or read the book? My sister and I went to see a local production last Sunday afternoon. I’ve seen it twice before, but this was the best production I’ve seen. Great voices in this musical version! And, it’s a show that makes me cry all the way through.
On Thursdays, I usually write about a book that everyone can get right now, but I’m enjoying Rosanne Limoncelli’s The Four Queens of Crime so much that I’m writing about it as I read it, six months before release date. I’ll remind you of the book again in March, if it lives up to the first half. The Four Queens of Crime are writers Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh and Margery Allingham. In 1938, they agree to act as hosts to raise money for the Women’s Voluntary Service, just in case Britain enters the war. The gala is held at the home of Baronet Sir Henry Heathcote. But, the next morning, there are four writers present when a body is found in the library.
I’m loving this traditional mystery. Detective Chief Inspector Lilian Wyles is one of the officers assigned to the murder investigation. Wyles was the first woman DCI of the Metropolitan Police. And, Wyles and the four mystery authors are not the only real-life people in this mystery. But, Wyles knows to capitalize on the authors’ expertise.
As I said, I’ll remind you of the book in March, but I was excited and wanted to talk about it. What about you? What are you doing this week? What are you reading? Stay safe, please!
Pouring rain here the last couple of days; fall is definitely here and I’m thoroughly enjoying the lower temperatures. A summer person I am not.
Two books again this week:
HARLEM SHUFFLE by Colson Whitehead.
It was interesting that Andrew Welsh-Huggins mentioned last week that he’d finished reading Crook Manifesto (2nd book in a trilogy) just at the same time that I’d started to read Harlem Shuffle (the 1st book).
Ray Carney is a black man in 1960s Harlem. He owns a furniture store and tries to make a good life for his wife and two children, and he has dreams of getting enough money together so they can move up to a better housing situation than they have currently. To that end, while his furniture business is totally legitimate, he does occasionally dabble in the illegal fencing of stolen goods. No one gets hurt and the extra money comes in handy.
But then his cousin Freddie gets him involved in a dangerous heist and his comfortable, relatively safe life is over. There are more cons, revenge, scheming, drugs, deaths, bribery, and some very frightening people.
This book was billed as a crime caper, a ‘hilarious’ morality play, and a social novel. This is the first novel by Colson Whitehead that I’ve read, and I understand that in comparison to others by him this is a light read, but to me it was bleak and just sad; and the crimes didn’t seem like capers to me but rather serious and dangerous. However, the Harlem setting and the depiction of the lives of black people at the time were so vivid and so well done. I am grateful that my life is nothing like that of the people who lived in 1960s Harlem. Given what I see on TV and read in the newspaper though, I think it’s often not too much different even today. Deeply upsetting.
THE LOVE OF MY AFTERLIFE by Kirsty Greenwood
Sharon mentioned this book last week, so I chose to read it next of the 350(!) or so other books I already have at home waiting to be read.
I loved this book. Can’t tell you anything specific about the plot though, otherwise it won’t be nearly as much fun for you if you decide to read it. Perhaps best described as a rom-com/mystery/ghost story? Very entertaining, many funny moments, many weighty moments, likeable characters, often quite touching, with a good many twists/obstacles/setbacks I didn’t see coming. A great feel-good read.
I’m a summer person, Lindy, but we needed the rain we’re getting. My best friend loves Colson Whitehead, but I think she had the same problem you did, finding these books depressing.
I’m glad you enjoyed The Love of my Afterlife, Lindy.
The Life & Death of Rose Douchette by Harry Hunsicker.
Oh, I haven’t seen Harry Hunsicker’s name in a while, Kevin.
I’m currently part way through THE SHERLOCK SOCIETY by James Ponti. It’s the first in a new middle grade series about four friends in Miami who set out to be detectives as their summer job. I LOVE his City Spies series, but this one isn’t quite working for me. Too many side quests. There is potential here, so I’ll blame it on the set up it has to do as the first in the series. I’ll definitely give the series a second chance.
Yes, sometimes there are just too many details in the set-up to the series, Mark.
It’s not necessarily the details, but we just pivoted away from what was the main plot all along. After spending roughly a quarter of the book setting up that plot. Now, we’re ignoring it completely.
Well, that’s weird, ignoring the plot.
Good morning all.
Winter, or at least autumn, has definitely arrived in Aberdeenshire. The temperatures have dropped and the predicted high today is 51F. Not raining though!
The Four Queens of Crime sounds good Lesa, I will add it to my groaning wish list…
We had a great time on Islay with amazingly good weather – a local told us this was the best they’d had all summer. Warm and sunny days, blue skies, very pleasant.
As a result we were out a lot, so you can imagine how many books were read….for me, about 3/4 of one, for David, a small section of a book his sister gave him about Scottish golf courses.
The golf book was written by a wealthy American who clearly likes to come to Scotland to play, but according to him most of our hotels are ‘terrible’ (they’re not) – he seems to prefer the resort-style ones built by people like your former president. The controversy over the construction of the Trump resort at Balmedie, just north of Aberdeen, was immense and still simmers away. It was built by ripping up an area of official Special Scientific Interest, and people were evicted from homes they had lived in for decades to make way for a golf course to please rich tourists. The city councillors tried to oppose it but our appalling local press attacked them incessantly and in the end consent was granted, probably by the Scottish Office (a branch of the Westminster government) which all too often overturns local planning decisions.
The one shred of silver lining about that course is that permission was then granted to build a wind farm in the North Sea directly opposite the greens. Mr Trump opposed that ferociously but by some miracle he lost.
Anyway, enough politics….
We visited some beautiful beaches – vast untouched sands on which we were probably two of only 5 or 6 people, absolutely beautiful. We also took the little ferry to the island of Jura, only 5 minutes by sea. It’s very different from Islay, being given over largely to huge shooting estates. There’s really only one small settlement, Craighouse, which has the only shop, a community-run cafe, the primary school, a hotel/bar and the Jura Distillery. The distillery has brought essential income to the island. David wanted to take a tour of it, so while he did that I sat by the water and read my book (probably the longest reading time I had in 5 days.) It was so peaceful and calm. There are lots of swans living around the shore, so I enjoyed watching them swim by.
Back on Islay we visited some of the other distilleries (of course…) and in between we attended events in the jazz festival. These included a concert in the RSPB centre; the composer/bassist had written a work based on bird sounds (Islay has a huge bird population, much of it migrant – the geese are just arriving down from the Arctic, with around 60,000 expected to turn up over the next couple of weeks). It was accompanied by a powerpoint presentation of bird photography. The concert was preceded by a walk with the warden, who pointed out an eagle, two egrets and a curlew, none of which we would have seen without his help.
Other concerts took place in distilleries, village halls and the Gaelic Centre. It was fun. A particular stand-out was a session with a yougn jazz singer, INDIA BLUE, and her band. What a fantastic voice. She lives in London but has many connections to Glasgow, where she studied. I’d definitely go to see her again.
On Tuesday morning we took the ferry back to the mainland – alongside the ship a school of dolphins popped up and played, it was so lovely to see them.
Sunshine continued as we crossed Argyll. stopping for coffee and excellent scones at the Falls of Dornoch Smokery. Then, as we started the long climb over the hills of Glenshee, the sky darkened and the rain bucketed down – I suppose you might describe it as atmospheric!
So all in all I read most of one short book, ie POETIC JUSTICE by Amanda Cross. I sometimes think I’m a one-woman Amanda Cross fan club, I’ve recommended her to so many people who were unimpressed. Her later books were really disappointing, but I still love the early ones. In Poetic Justice (written in 1970) there is student unrest on campuses across the USA, but especially at the New York university at which Kate Fansler teaches. Added to this, the old established College wants to close down the newer University College, which was set up to offer degrees to people returning to study after years out of the system, so called ‘mature students.’ It gets excellent results, and its alumni love it, but it doesn’t suit the faculty’s old school hardliners.
At a cocktail party arranged to celebrate Kate’s engagement (to Reed Amhearst), one of the strongest and most powerful critics of University College is poisoned with his own painkillers – he is allergic to aspirin, but someone has swapped two of his paracetamol for buffered aspirin (hence they didn’t taste of anything.) There are of course numerous suspects. Kate – but mainly Assistant DA Reed – must find the murderer before the next meeting of the Adminstrative Board, who have refused to discuss the college’s future until the crime has been solved.
As ever with these novels, the plot is secondary. It’s all the witty banter, and the sharp observation of the worst aspects of academia, that I enjoy.
Last night we went to an album launch at an Aberdeen club called The Tunnels. We’d never been down there before (it’s in a dead end street under a viaduct, all slightly seedy…) but it was a good evening, everyone in high spirits, and the band, Hamish Hawk, was brilliant.
Today we’re attending an event in the annual WayWORD festival, run by Aberdeen university students. This one is a re-imagining of DON QUIXOTE by a Spanish storyteller. I believe flameco may be involved. I’m still not sure how I persuaded David to come with me. On Sunday I’m going to another WayWORD session, with authors Zoe Strachan and Louise Welsh.
I haven’t seen much TV lately, but I have finally returned to THE PERFECT MARRIAGE, though I decided I needed to re-watch the first episode to remind myself of the story. Nicole Kidman is such a good actor.
I’m off out now so I’ll have to stop.
Have a great week all,
Rosemary
Rosemary, I saw some of your photos of Islay on Facebook. It looked like you had beautiful weather!
I read the Amanda Cross books years ago. I don’t remember much about them, but I must have liked them because I read most of the series.
I always find it fascinating to read about all the cultural events you attend. They’re so different from what we have here – or at least they’re different from the ones I know about.
Oh, I loved the Amanda Cross books.
I just finished the eighth book in Peter Grainger’s superb DC Smith series; if you’re a fan of British police procedurals, as I am, start with his first one, AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH. And, as a fan of British police procedurals (although I do like American ones as well!), I’m about to start THE MOTH CATCHER, the seventh of Ann Cleeves’s Vera Stanhope books. I’ve also read two terrific space operas recently. They’re more romances than traditional science fiction but with excellent world-building. The first is called LOCAL CUSTOM, and the second is SCOUT’S PROGRESS. They’re set on a planet called Liad among humans who are obsessed with family honor. The authors are Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. The novels aren’t new—I read them for the first time about twenty years ago–but that doesn’t stop me from recommending them if you’d enjoy being introduced to a mad-up society with fascinating customs.
Oh, Kim. Just what I need, another police procedural series, but I love a good one. So thank you. I’ll have to look for it.
That’s kind of annoying. My library has them, but only as audible books.
My library only had the audio book, too, Jeff. I ordered a free Kindle copy.
I think I read most of the early books (maybe 9 or so) on Kindle Unlimited using a 30 day free trial. Peter Grainger is such a good writer. I’ve bought a fair number of his more recent books on Kindle. That being said, the audiobooks are good too. I think they are available on Hoopla.
I second the recommendation! Love the series and keep up with it as each new one arrives. Also like the spin-off books Grainger writes. If you ever use kindle unlimited his books are usually free with that.
We haven’t had much rain here but Lesa’s train trip got me in the mood for one so we took a trip to Jim Thorpe, PA to take a ride on the train though the gorge up there. We enjoyed the ride but of course it rained all afternoon there. It was still fun and I found a used bookstore on the way home. Too bad it’s an hour and a half away.
I read an ARC of Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll. FBI K-9 teams Meg and Hawk and Brian and Lacey are sent to Aspen Colorado to search for a hijacked plane that crashed in the mountains. They not only have to try to locate the crash site and any possible survivors but possibly deal with an armed hijacker. And do it all on treacherous mountain sides at high altitudes. I really enjoyed the book.
Pets in the City by Dr Amy Attas wasn’t a successful a book for me. There was too much name dropping and not enough about the animals. It just felt repetitive after a while.
Sandy! I’m sorry it was rainy, but I’m glad you enjoyed a train trip. It sounds wonderful. I’ll have to check out that one. Thank you!
Sorry about Pets in the City. It’s a good title.
I’d put the four Queens of Crime in the order they are listed. I never read that much of Allingham. Just didn’t care for them as much as the others.
We’ve had almost no rain this month. Got a little yesterday and probably some more today, but it looks bad in Florida.
Books. Jackie is reading THE BRIAR CLUB by Kate Quinn, a book I will get back to later.
I finished two books this week. First was Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos, his second about Nevada Sheriff Porter Beck. Good book, exciting, fast read and I really enjoyed it. I like his side characters too, his sister and the rest. A childhood friend of Beck’s is involved with some very bad people. The usual very obnoxious Fed is on the case, but Beck has his own parallel investigation. There is a brilliant young girl involved too. Meanwhile, Beck’s eyesight is failing, and his father, the former Sheriff, has dementia. Good book.
I continue to read and enjoy Cara Hunter’s series about Oxford Insp. Adam Fawley and his team. Her fourth, All the Rage, is probably the darkest one yet. A young girl is abducted off the street in broad daylight, but she manages to escape. Yet, she and her mother are not cooperative with the police, despite the odds that the person will do it again. They quickly discover the reason, but then a second teenager is taken, and this time the ending is bleak. There are a number of suspects, a question of how the two cases might be connected, and even a link to the past. Seems when Fawley was a Sergeant nearly 20 years earlier, he was instrumental in putting away a serial rapist. The current cases bear a striking resemblance to those crimes, and the rapist, still in prison because he refuses to admit his crimes, claims this is proof that he was innocent all along. But surely, if it had been someone else, would he have stopped committing crimes for 18 years, only resuming when the first guy was up for parole? Or is it a copycat? As I said, the solution is pretty dark with a couple of good twists, and there is a cliffhanger of sorts that will clearly go over to the next book, which I have on hand (though I need a break in between).
Stark House has been reprinting noirish mysteries from the 1950s and 1960s (mostly) for 25 years now, as well as publishing similar new books, and The Stark House Anthology is a collection of short stories by such as Harry Whittington, Orrie Hitt, Ed Gorman, Bill Pronzini, Helen Nielsen, Jean Potts, Dan J. Marlowe, Stephen Marlowe, Fletcher Flora, Peter Rabe and others. Good book.’
You might think (as I did) that the aforementioned The Briar Club is something of a “chick” book, but it is also a mystery, and a period one at that. The Briarwood is a female-only boardinghouse in Washington, D. C. near Foggy Bottom in the early 1950s, and Quinn does a pretty good job portraying the various women, including the mysterious Grace and the lovely Nora. I’m a third of the way through it (Jackie is further along), with a body on Thanksgiving Day 1954 looming. More next time.
At the other end of the scale, I was intrigued by Lesa’s review of the forthcoming Dez Limerick book by James Byrne, so got the first, The Gatekeeper, from the library. If you like Jack Reacher or Nick Petrie’s Peter Ash, as I do, this is probably for you. Dez is a “gatekeeper” – “He can open any door, keep it open, and control who goes through and who doesn’t.” He’s also a musician and has a quirky sense of humor. I’ve only read a few chapters so far (alternating with THE BRIAR CLUB), but I’m looking forward to reading the rest.
We hadn’t had much rain at all this year, Jeff, so we needed what we’re getting. But, I’m sorry for those in Florida and Georgia.
You’re right. The Briar Club and The Gatekeeper are very different. But, I enjoyed both of them, along with Borgos’ new book.
Happy Reading!
Hi everyone! I am excited to be getting my schedule under control and rejoining the Thursday book conversation. I moved to a new town over the summer so this week I read This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live by Melody Warnick. I happen to be doing most of the things she recommends, but it was fun to see how the author came to love Blacksburg, Virginia.
T Kingfisher retold Grimm’s fairy tale the Goose Girl in A Sorceress Come to Call, which was a nice escape. I liked the range of characters and was fond of the one with a bad knee. Mystery-wise A Scandal in Mayfair by Katharine Schellman was good but didn’t hold any surprises.
A Cold, Cold World by Elena Taylor, which I learned about here, was very good. Sheriff Bet Rivers is still pretty new to the job and adjusting to being back in her hometown and following in her father’s (and grandfather’s’) footsteps as sheriff when a massive snowstorm and multiple crises, including a dead body, hit the town. I love the view we get into her decision-making and occasional second-guessing.
Your reading list sounds wonderful, Trisha! I hope you’re enjoying your new town. I might have to check out This Is Where You Belong. I love books that explore place and community.
I read A Cold, Cold World recently too and really enjoyed it! Bet was an appealing protagonist, and (speaking of place), I loved the remote Washington setting.
Welcome back, Trisha! I read that book quite a while ago, This Is Where You Belong. I hope you’re learning to belong in your new town.
Like you, that’s what I liked about A Cold, Cold World, Sheriff Bet Rivers and her decision-making.
The Four Queens of Crime sounds wonderful, Lesa! I can’t wait to read your full review of it. I’m currently reading Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy, which is about an ex-punk rocker nun in New Orleans. I’m only a few chapters in, but so far, I’m in love with Douaihy’s voice and writing style. I’m also re-reading Wide Sargasso Sea. When I was at Bouchercon, a panelist was talking about the influence of that book on her writing, and I realized I’d read it so long ago that I hardly remembered it.
Really enjoyed The Four Queens of Crime, Kate. Nice traditional mystery. I wasn’t the fan of Scorched Grace that everyone else seemed to be. I didn’t care for the protagonist, but that was me.
Good morning all! A beautiful Fall day today with sunshine and nothing on my schedule – bliss!
I finally finished “Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door”. I am sure it was recommended on this blog. There are THREE more in this series, so that should keep me busy for awhile if they turn out to be just as entertaining as this book. I have to say though, that the use of a certain four letter word, used numerous times at the start of this book, almost had me not finishing it. But the author thankfully moved on. A fun story about solving a murder and finding love, along with a cast of misfit senior neighbors and a family with psychic capabilities.
Oh, that makes for a wonderful day, Mary, gorgeous weather and a day to do as you’d like. Enjoy!
I usually don’t even notice the foul language, but too many times at the start of the book would be obvious and unnecessary. I’m glad the author moved on.
Time certainly got away from me this week. My sister spent the day with us Saturday. And a few days of dog sitting – the stack from the library gets shuffled from room to room but doesn’t get smaller.
The only book I finished was OTTER COUNTRY: An Unexpected Adventure in the Natural World. The author has been fascinated by otters since childhood, specifically the Eurasian otter, endangered in England. Determined to experience wild otters, Miriam Darlington spends a year wading through marshes, paddling down rivers, and swimming in sea lochs in England & Scotland.
I’m enjoying THE MURDERS IN GREAT DIDDLING by Katarina Bivald. Reviewed here last month, it’s as special as you said it was Lesa. Translated from Swedish, the author has a keen eye for characters.
“Hatred, uncertainty, fear, love, a desire to protect – everything that makes people interesting”
Sometimes life and dogs just get in the way of reading, MM. That’s okay.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the characters in The Murders in Great Diddling!
We are waiting on rain today too, Lesa. We got about an inch on Monday which made my lawn happy.
I read AN ART LOVER’S GUIDE TO PARIS TO PARIS AND MURDER by Dianne Freeman this week. I enjoyed going to Paris with George and Frances. This one involved solving the murder of an artist as well as George’s Aunt Julia. This is one of my favorite mysteries series.
I also finished YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls. I loved this quiet character driven book. Michael and Marnie are two unhappy people pushed into walking part of the Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk in England. The majority of the group bails on them but they continue the walk and get to know each other. I liked both of the characters and was familiar with the setting thanks to watching Julia Bradbury’s Wainwright walks on Acorn TV.
Happy Reading!
Fortunately for us, Sharon, we’re getting a break between rain. Hopefully, the rain will sink into the ground, and not just lie on the roads.
I am so lazy, but, for some reason, I enjoy those books about walks in England.
I’m glad you recommend You Are Here, Sharon. It’s our book club selection for October, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Margie.
No rain here, the weather has returned to summer but it is cooler in the morning. I read a children’s book from Amazon Vine and had to quit on it early, could not get into it all. To console myself, I am reading Redhead By the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler. Of course, I love it, the character is a man of routine just like my husband. It is sad and full of humor. I have only two more books that I have not read by her.
After that will pick out a book to read at the hospital. Paraesophageal Hernia Surgery on Monday, I kept saying Hiatal Hernia Surgery but I have been corrected many times so have to say the other! It is supposed to be an overnight stay but I have been told that I will be waiting in the recovery room until there is a room ready. I dread that, could be a long time with no book!! Anyway, will get it done, then my doctors can no longer nag me about it.
Hi Carol, Good luck with your surgery, and, additional good luck in getting a room. That seems to be a major problem in hospitals. And, without a book in the meantime!
It must be somewhat familiar reading about a man who resembles your husband.
Carol, that sounds gruesome. I hope the surgery goes well and that recovery will be speedy!
Hunkering down for Helene where we are expecting unprecedented conditions in the NC mountains where snowstorms are our normal concern, not hurricanes
In the meantime, we have been to Asheville NC to see the most recent Chihuly exhibit which was magical, as usual.
Also magical was Patti Callahan Henry’s upcoming novel,
The Story She Left Behind.
Inspired by a true literary mystery, New York Times bestselling author of the mesmerizing The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with the sweeping story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter’s search for them both.
In 1927, eight-year-old Clara Harrington’s magical childhood shatters when her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappears off the coast of South Carolina. Bronwyn stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation when she was just twelve years old. Her departure leaves behind not only a devoted husband and heartbroken daughter, but also the hope of ever translating the sequel to her landmark work. As the headlines focus on the missing author, Clara yearns for something far deeper and more insatiable: her beautiful mother.
By 1952, Clara is an illustrator raising her own daughter, Wynnie. When a stranger named Charlie Jameson contacts her from London claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother’s lost language. Clara is skeptical. Compelled by the tragedy of her mother’s vanishing, she crosses the Atlantic with Wynnie only to arrive during one of London’s most deadly natural disasters—the Great Smog. With asthmatic Wynnie in peril, they escape the city with Charlie and find refuge in the Jameson’s family retreat nestled in the Lake District. It is there that Clara must find the courage to uncover the truth about her mother and the story she left behind.
Told in Patti Callahan Henry’s lyrical, enchanting prose, The Story She Left Behind is a captivating novel of mystery and family legacy that captures the profound longing for a mother and the evergreen allure of secrets.
I thought of you, Kaye, when I heard Blowing Rock come up on the Weather Channel. You take care. I was surprised, too. I don’t think of your mountains in conjunction with hurricanes. Stay safe with your little family! Sending love and hugs.
Oh, Patti Callahan Henry’s book sounds sad.
Sad? No, not really. More uplifting and magical and beautifully wtitte.
Thank you for the recommendation, Lesa. I was delighted to find it on NetGalley, so I just requested it. Crooked Lane usually likes me, so I’m hopeful.
It’s hard to believe it’s officially autumn, as we’re still having highs in the 80s, with more 90s coming up. In one way, I’m glad it’s not too cool yet because I might have trouble finding sweaters that fit over my lovely Aspen neck brace. I have an appointment (finally) with the neck and spine doctor tomorrow, so maybe I won’t have to wear it anymore(?) Not counting on it, though. Made it through two books this week, rather than three, but I guess that’s understandable. When I do my PicCollage showing what I’ve read in September, I should have room for what I read in August in the hospital and nursing facility. Hopefully I will catch up soon.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune was one of my favorite books published in 2020–truly unique and uplifting. In the long-awaited sequel, SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA, the six magical children in an island orphanage–each with their own special identity and talents–have aged just a bit and are about to be joined by a new child, this one a Yeti. Their headmaster, Arthur Parnassus, who hopes to adopt them as his own children, is joined at the orphanage by his true love, Linus Baker. Linus investigated the orphanage in the first book, but now both are dedicated to providing the best possible life for the children without government interference or discrimination. But when Arthur receives negative reactions when summoned to testify before the government, he realizes that there will be a dangerous battle to secure everything he and Linus have worked for. Arthur himself had been abused as a child on the island, so he knows what is at stake. I loved visiting the children once again, and each has developed since the last time I visited. Several have developed new powers–some with humorous results–and all seem to support Arthur’s vision for their lives going forward. They are ready to do battle, if necessary, even if some of their methods are questionable. The sequel is much more philosophical in its tone–addressing the need to vanquish the fear of, and prejudice against, those who are different from the mainstream–and both the sentiments and the prose are beautiful, if sometimes repetitive. I must say that I prefer the first book, most likely because it was new and wildly creative and different from anything I had ever read before. Having relished two of Klune’s other books, I regard him as a true talent in the fantasy genre, with a huge and appreciative fanbase.
Debbie Johnson writes light “comfort reads” that I thoroughly enjoy, but she also writes books with considerably more emotional depth, such as STATISTICALLY SPEAKING. And this one affected me deeply, even though the protagonist is nothing like me. Gemma Jones has worked hard to keep herself mostly aloof from others after a fraught childhood–partly with an unreliable mother and partly in foster care–and it has caused her to move around when she feels she is getting too close to someone. But it is her decision to give the daughter she delivered when she was just 16 to a loving adoptive couple that has irrevocably affected her life. After receiving her degree, Gemma developed into an excellent and popular high school teacher, currently teaching history to students who will be attending university in a year or so. Gemma’s daughter would be approaching age 18 as well, and when a new student has similar coloring and the same birthday as her baby’s, Gemma can’t help hoping that, by some miracle, Katie could be the daughter she had named only Baby. In the meantime, she has somehow added Katie’s mother, Erin, to her small circle of friends that includes her disabled neighbor, Margie (finally a character with my own first name!) and the dog she and Margie share. Then there’s Karim, the gorgeous PE teacher who seems to be interested in a relationship with her. No spoilers here, but I found Gemma to be easy to root for. I became emotionally involved in her struggles to have a meaningful life in the face of her deep regrets and her mild OCD. And I nominate Karim for a place in my own personal hall of “best boyfriends” in literature. (December)
I hope you get it, Margie. I enjoyed this traditional mystery featuring the Queens of Crime.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you with the neck brace. I’m sure it’s bothersome.
I love that you found a “best boyfriend” in Statistically Speaking.
Just finished “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah Maas. Not my usual genre but had to see what all the fuss was about. Honestly, it felt a little derivative, sort of a “Beauty and the Beast” meets “Hunger Games” mash-up. But parts were entertaining. I enjoyed “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yaros more.
Well, there you go, Andrew. Probably a lot of young readers who haven’t read “Hunger Games”. That one was not derivative when it came out! I really enjoyed the first two in that series, but especially the first.
It cooled down for a while, but now we’re back up near 100 degrees. At least it cools down overnight now.
I went to a concert by Forejour, a Foreigner/Journey tribute act. It was in The Powerhouse, and was way too small for this kind of thing. I wound up sitting on a bench meant for two with three other people. Still, the concert was great from beginning to end. For some reason, I always get Foreigner and Loverboy songs mixed up as to who sung what.
This week I read:
Exercise is Murder by Bruce Hammack; A blind detective finds his Watson, and hunts for the killer of his friend. It’s like a TV show, but at least the murder method was novel.
The Rhinemann Exchange by Robert Ludlum; Early Ludlum before he became a brand. It’s WWII. The Americans need a part for their radar. The Germans need a part for their rocket. Business is business. Nobody seems to be this cynical anymore, even though there is plenty to be cynical about.
Beyond edited by Ray Bradbury; Billed as a science fiction anthology, every story involves magic so it’s actually fantasy isn’t it?
Welcome to the Campfire by Akushay Cougaonkar; a decent collection of poetry, but the word “comrade” is still soiled by communism, and took me right out of the flow.
Seven Ways to Sundown by Clair Huffaker; Huffaker is a widely regarded western writer, but the moralism of the books gets under my skin. The movie starred Audie Murphy and Dan Duryea, and was one of those psychological westerns that led to the Spaghetti western taking over. The movie is better than Night Passage though, so there’s that.
You’re right, Glen. Over 100 is too hot for night, so I’m glad it is cooling down overnight.
Oh, I like a book with a novel murder method.
I think Ludlum became a brand after The Bourne movies were so popular.
Glen is pretty much recovered from COVID. I continue to feel a bit better every day but still am very tired a good portion of the day.
I am now reading ORBITAL by Samantha Harvey. I don’t ordinarily read anything this new (came out in late 2023), but this a science fiction novella that is short listed for the Booker Prize, so it is getting a lot of attention. Reviews are mixed but I am enjoying it. I think readers are expecting one type of book and getting something different.
Glen finished reading SUSPENSE by Parnell Hall, and now he is reading RITES OF PASSAGE: DEATH AND MOURNING IN VICTORIAN BRITAIN by Judith Flanders. That is the 2nd book he has read by Flanders in the last month. I will have to pull of one of her cozy mysteries out of hiding and read it soon.
I’m sorry you’re so tired from COVID, Tracy. I hope you start to feel better soon.
You’re probably right. People reading Booker Prize nominees probably don’t expect a science fiction novella.