It was a good week here, except for the snow when I woke up Monday morning! Snow? We had 60 degrees one day last week. Rain all this week, but temperatures in the 50s and higher most days. Snow? Kind of weird. But, Sunday night was shepherd’s pie at my sister and brother-in-law’s, with leftovers several nights this week. I love shepherd’s pie.
Just a reminder. Tomorrow, we’re going to talk about Comfort Reads here at Lesa’s Book Critiques. That can mean anything you want. Your favorite books that you turn to when the world is frustrating. A genre you love (short stories? fantasy? police procedural?) Maybe they’re childhood reads or a setting that takes you home. I’ll mention a couple of my comfort reads tomorrow to kick it off. Here’s what’s odd. After I mentioned this here, a couple days later, there was an article in the New York Times about comfort reads. I think a lot of us are looking for escape reading right now. The article really wasn’t my type of comfort reads. She started complaining that her favorite movie wasn’t on Netflix any longer, then had two literary novels. Oh, well. We all escape in our own way. That’s why we’re talking about comfort reads.
Next Monday night, Linda and I are going to see Norah O’Donnell from CBS News, interviewed by one of my favorite journalists, Connie Schultz. O’Donnell has a new book out, written with Kate Andersen Brower. It’s called We the Women: The Hidden Heroes who shaped America. For the 250th anniversary of the United States, O’Donnell focuses on the women who helped to shape the country, as they fought for independence, or as they fought to be the first in their field.
The book is in fifty year segments. Phillis Wheatley was the first African American poet to publish a book of poems. Deborah Sampson fought in the Revolutionary War. The second section covers the women of Seneca Falls, and the Civil War, 1826-1875. I recognize some of the women of 1876-1925. However, I’m most familiar with the women of 1926-1975: Eleanor Roosevelt, Frances Perkins, Babe Didrikson, Pat Schroeder.
This isn’t going to be a fast read, but I wanted to dip into it before I hear Norah O’Donnell on Monday night.
What about you? What have you been doing this week? What are you reading?
I hope you can stop in sometime tomorrow to talk about comfort reads!
I wish we’d had at least one snowfall here this winter, but for the most part it’s been just a lot of rain with warmer than normal temperatures. And certainly no lovely walks in snow a foot deep. I always look forward to winter but I feel cheated this year.
We have to ‘change the clocks’ this weekend and I’m so glad that’s the last time we’ll have to do it. The B.C. government has finally decided to end the madness and stick to daylight saving time forever. While I’m happy we won’t have to change the clocks every six months anymore, if I’d been able to choose, I would rather we’d stuck with standard time.
Two books this week:
THE HOUSE WITCH by Delemhach aka Emilie Nikota (published 2022 and #1 in a series)
At the beginning I wasn’t sure about the writing style which came across as a bit simply written, but the story was so engaging that it soon stopped my doubts. t’s a feel-good, cozy fantasy/adventure, with a smidge of romance.
Fin is what is known as a House Witch. He’s not a powerful elemental witch, merely a lowly mutated one. His powers, such as they are, center around home – meaning he cooks, protects those living there, makes things comfortable, and above all tries to keep everyone safe.
He obtains a job as cook in the castle of the king and queen of Daxaria. He wants to be left alone, do his job, and keep secret the fact that he’s a witch. Although things don’t work out the way he planned because all and sundry keep coming into his kitchen – the king, nobles, staff – and there’s always some issue or problem he ends up having to deal with. Why can’t everyone just leave him in peace?! Then there’s the problem of a looming war with a rival country and just what is he meant to do about that? And there’s also the fact that his horrid father seems to be the Chief of Military for said rival country.
Just because he’s a witch doesn’t mean that he always makes the best decisions for himself, yet he has a way with people and slowly he becomes an important and respected person in the lives of many.
The book is fairly long at 460 pages but that gives it the time and space to build the characters and we witness them come into their own, and it never feels long. There’s too much going on! It’s a humorous, heart-warming story of found family, a bit of self-discovery, and how to be brave when you’re scared. And there’s a cat familiar that I anticipate will play a larger role in future books.
AGNES AUBERT’S MYSTICAL CAT SHELTER by Heather Fawcett
A cozy fantasy set in 1920, full of magic and cats.
Agnes, a widow, runs a cat rescue shelter together with her sister Élise. It’s her mission in life to rehome as many cats as possible to save them from a life on the streets. She’s barely getting by when a duel between two of the city’s magicians gets out of hand and destroys most of the buildings in the neighbourhood, including the space she’s renting. She needs to find another place to rent before winter sets in but no one is willing to rent to her when they find she intends to keep multiple cats on the premises. Then she finds a place she’d been warned against and yet it seems too good to be true – clean, spacious, reasonable rent. Out of other options she takes it and hopes for the best.
Turns out the building belongs to a powerful magician, name of Havelock, and that the storefront Agnes rents is just for show; a cover for the real business being conducted in the basement by said magician who has troubles of his own trying to ward off his hostile sister who seems bent on becoming the most powerful magician in the world. There’s also a police officer hanging around who suspects something illegal is going on at the premises.
Agnes is a kind woman, tends to believe the best of people, and is completely devoted to her business of helping as many cats as she can. And the cats in this story are a wonderful addition; I loved them and all their different distinct personalities. One of the strongest parts of the book.
Havelock is a gruff, brooding person with a bad reputation and is much feared by everyone, although all he wants is to be left alone to work with his spells and artefacts.
Slowly, with a kind gesture here and there, Agnes and Havelock grow to respect each other and work together.
I liked the book (great cover art too!) although the entire first half was slow, I thought. In the second half the story really came into its own and was much more gripping and drew me in.
I wish I could send you our snow when we get it, Lindy. I certainly would!
I have AGNES AUBERT’S MYSTICAL CAT SHELTER sitting on the counter here, on my soon to read TBR pile. Isn’t the cover great? I love it. I’m getting ready to read it when I finish the current fantasy I’m reading. You make me want to read The House Witch, too.
And now, thank you very much Lindy, I have two new books to read! They sound perfect.
I am SO JEALOUS that you won’t have to change the dratted clock any more, Lindy! Hurrah for you!
Me too Lindy – we are stuck with this stupid system in the UK, drives everyone nuts.
Lindy, both of those books sound good.
We are in the middle of quarter end at work. And it seems to be going okay. I’ll be focusing on the extra reporting we have to do the rest of the week. Hopefully, things will continue to go smoothly so I can meet my deadlines.
I’m currently 2/3 of the way through FATAL FRIED RICE by Vivien Chien. This is book seven in her Noodle Shop Mysteries. I am enjoying it, but the pacing has been uneven. Part of the problem is that no one seems to know the victim very well, so there isn’t much to investigate. Still, we’ve managed to get a few tidbits, and I’m curious to see how everything is going to come together. Should be finishing it on Thursday.
Well, darn, Mark. I’m sorry about Fatal Fried Rice. I know Chien is one of your regular reads. Sorry about that.
Good luck with the quarter end!
Good morning. We saw Shrek at a local playhouse and we liked it so much that we bought tickets to see it again in a couple of weeks. Our weather this week is rainy but I’ll take that over snow. And they are predicting temperatures near 70 for most of next week. Of course then it drops back into the 40s and 50s.
This week I read two books about saving libraries, both of which have already been reviewed here.
BOOKING FOR TROUBLE by Jenn McKinlay which I really enjoyed. But I was sad that it’s going to be the last book in the series.
THE ASTRAL LIBRARY by Kate Quinn. I really had to force myself to finish this one. I never connected with the main character Alix and wound up thinking that it could have been a really good book if someone better versed in fantasy had written it.
That’s saying a lot, Sandy, that you liked it so much you’re going to see Shrek again that soon. I’ve only done that with a couple plays, Come From Away and Les Mis. I’m seen other plays multiple times, but those are the only two I’ve seen that close together. With Les Mis, though, it was because I fell in love with the lead actor, Ramin Karimloo.
Rain here, too, but as you said, I’ll take it any day over snow.
I feel the same way about Jenn’s Library Lover’s mysteries. I’m sad to see the series end.
We had a wonderful trip to Cinncinnati last weekend. I cannot say enough about The Auschwitz Exhibit at the City Museum. It was the most impactful thing I have seen. I started reading about the holocaust in elementary school and thought I was well prepared for the exhibit, but it was really exceptionally well done. For just over 2 hours, no one in our group said a word. lots of tears though.
The Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson was certainly a nirvana for those who enjoy aviation history. It was more interesting than I thought it would be. My husband was enamored with it; we got separated for 25 minutes and he was never aware I wasn’t there! The highlight for me was the brief mention of the Tuskeegee Airmen. I worked for years at a bookstore and one of my favorite customers was a Tuskeegee Airman, Harry Stewart. Harry and his squad won the Top Gun Competition during the war, but they were not given credit for the win due to their race. The record was only recently corrected. Anyway, there was a large photo of Harry and his fellow winners on display. Was so glad to see him there. For anyone who is interested, Harry wrote a book,Soaring for Glory. A good book about a wonderful gentleman.
I did not read a word this week. Our first day off from taking care of our grandson was spent doing mounds of laundry as our dryer had stopped working and the repair took a few days. So, next Monday will be my inaugural lay on the couch and read day!
Have a good rest of the week!
You know what really makes me feel good, Jennifer? That you enjoy it here enough to stop by, tell us what you’ve been doing, and don’t feel that you have to talk books. It does make me feel we’ve built a community here where we want to share bits of our lives. Thank you!
I’m happy to hear about your visit to Cincinnati and Dayton. I’m going to tell my sister about the Air & Space Museum. It’s one place she wants to go with her husband this summer. His father was career Air Force, and I think he’ll enjoy it. It’s the Tuskeegee Airmen aspect that I find interesting, and that you knew one of them!
I think they will really enjoy the museum. After the displays pertaining to Viet Nam, I had had enough. Think that visiting when we were bombing Iran was not the best timing for me to enjoy seeing modern day weapons.
Isn’t Wright-Patterson where they supposedly had the space aliens before Area 51?
Sounds like a good trip.
I didn’t see any mention of aliens, Jeff, but it wouldn’t surprise me!
Hi Jennifer. I agree the Auschwitz exhibit was really good. I found the suitcases sobering as well as the child’s shoe and sock. I’m glad the Air Force Museum was open. We have gone many times. You never manage to see it all!
Yes, the shoe with the sock really struck me as well. That and the video of a survivor telling of how he and a cattle car of men realized it was the Sabbath and still celebrating it.
I think (hope?) the snow is finally gone at home, as they are getting 60 degree temperatures all next week. It’s been a pretty miserable winter there. Here is more to your liking, Lesa, as we’ve been warm, mostly sunny, if perhaps a little more humid than I’d choose. I haven’t felt great this past week – various, mostly minor cold symptoms – and Jackie tripped and hit her arm into the dresser. Luckily, it was a muscle bruise rather than anything serious, but she’s still black and blue.
Books. Jackie did finish her Nora Roberts book, THE SEVEN RINGS, and said the ending made her cry. She wanted to refresh her memory – it’s been a long time – before she read the new Julia Spencer-Fleming book, so she is rereading the last one, 2020’s HID FROM OUR EYES, and enjoying it all over again.
Comfort reads? On the one hand, that’s tricky, as I’m sure I’m not the only one here who rarely rereads. There always seems to be something new I want to read, and I just don’t go back and read things I’ve already read, which is the way I think most of us think when we hear the words “comfort read.” But I’ll try and think of titles for tomorrow. To me it’s more the kind of book.
I don’t remember the specifics of the crimes in John McMahon’s first book about Gardner Camden and the PAR (Patterns and Recognition) team at the FBI, HEAD CASES, as much as I remember the characters of the people. The second, Inside Man, seems more complicated, as there are two different sets of crimes (or are they connected, one can’t help but wonder) – serial killings and a possible armed attack. It took a while to keep everything straight, and for the team to get things together, but it all works in the end and, as with the first book, it is well worth your time. But definitely read book one first.
don’t mind the occasional dark book, as long as there is at least some light in it. For instance, things looked bleak for Deputy Eli North in Amy Pease’s NORTHWOODS, but you knew he had his mother’s support (as the Sheriff), and things always seemed like they could get better. This leads me to Malcolm Kempt’s A GIFT BEFORE DYING. If you look on Amazon, you’ll see very high praise from Lee Child, Michael Koryta, and Amy Pochoda, among others. Indeed, this ia a well written book. But, frankly, that doesn’t mean it is something I (or you) will want to read. Corporal Elderick Cole has been exiled to a post in far northern Canada (an actual place on Baffin Island, in December) after botching a high-profile missing child case. His wife has left him and he doesn’t seem to have any friends or support. The local Inuit community can only be described as depressing, and it is no surprise when a 16 year old girl hangs herself. But did she? Apparently not without help. Cole won’t let it go, even though he rarely sleeps, ahs to deal with gangs of feral 10 year olds whose idea of entertainment is throwing rocks at helpless dogs, etc. It’s a relatively short (260 pages) book, but after reading 100 pages of unremitting gloom, I had to ask myself, is it worth it? Do you want to read the rest? DO you care what happens? So far, the answer is no, though I haven’t returned the book to the library and have read a couple of chapters. Kempt comes by his expertise naturally, as (don’t ask me how), he spent SEVENTEEN years as a criminal lawyer in the “remote Arctic” before moving to Newfoundland to become a writer. As they say, your mileage may vary, but I just can’t really recommend it unless you want a 100% unremittingly bleak experience.
And now for something completely different, as Monty Python used to say. To get the taste of that out of my mouth, I picked another first book, Fergus Craig’s brilliantly titled I Am Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home. This has a killer (so speak) start. If it doesn’t grab you, nothing will. Connie Quinn, our heroine, is, frankly, a serial killer. She killed 7 people (more of less, she thinks seven is the total), all of whom deserved it, like the guy who was kicking his tied up dog. Now she is out of prison at 75 after 35 years for her crimes, and ready to enjoy the rest of her life. Somehow, she is able to buy a place in Sheldon Oaks, the lovely retirement home where you wouldn’t be surprised to meet Joyce and Elizabeth in the halls. Things are going well (she’s in a cooking class) until someone is murdered and Connie’s past history is outed, making her the obvious suspect. But we know she’s innocent – her killing days are behind her (probably), and she isn’t ready to go back to prison for something she didn’t do. It doesn’t help that several retired law enforcement people (including the murder victim) are residents, or that so many people are ready to lock Connie up, but things are never all black, and you can assume she’ll find the real culprit. This is an even shorter book (a little over 200 pages), and I’ve raced through it in a couple of days. It’s just a fun read, probably a comfort read candidate. Try it.
I’ also reading short stories as usual – I read 68 in February – and will get to those as I finish the book.
Oops, correction. I think I typed Connie and it was Carol Quinn.
Sorry.
You got it, Jeff! Comfort reads can be a type of book – short stories, palate cleaners. Anything that gets the taste of a dislikable book out of your mouth works. It doesn’t have to be a re-read.
Now, I want to go back and check out the ending of The Seven Rings, but I lent my book to my sister, and she lost it. She was supposed to pass it on to three other people, too! Oh, well.
I will definitely not be reading A Gift Before Dying. Thank you!
You and Jackie take care!
I finished the book and it was delightful and charming and a wonderful change from the depressing A GIFT BEFORE DYING, right down to Carol’s insistence on a Poirot-like dénouement where she revealed the actual culprit(s). If you like The Thursday Murder Club, I daresay you’ll like I Am Not The Only Murderer in My Retirement Home as well. It left a smile on my lips.
Jackie says the end of the Nora Roberts was the wedding (of course), with all the ghosts of the murdered brides in attendance.
One last thing, Lesa. Shepherd’s pie is a clue in the retirement home book!
Oh, that’s funny, Jeff. With your comments, I have to put it on hold at the library. I take two books back, and have 4 waiting for me. I’ll still have a TBR list when I die.
There are 63 people on the waiting list, Jeff!
I too never go back and read something I already read. I never re-watch movies either. Too many new things out there.
I like the sound of the book by Fergus Craig; I’m glad you mentioned it! And what a great title.
It really was a lot of fun, lighter than a lot of recent stuff I’ve been reading.
The weather here continues to be warm, yesterday we got rain. My brother who is a ski host at the local ski resort said that they are hoping to make it through spring break which is still two weeks away. After that it’s anyone’s guess. Per their agreement with the BLM, they have to shut down operations on April 15th whether they have snow or not. The lack of snow didn’t deter him from buying another set of skis though. He has so many sets, I was like you needed another set? Well yeah, new technology. Okay….
Books read this week:
Spirit of Steamboat by Craig Johnson. A while back, Lesa recommended this book. My brother is a big fan of Craig Johnson and has read them all and raves about them. I figured I would give this one a try. I really enjoyed it.
Central Park West by James Comey. I didn’t know the ex FBI director was also a mystery author until I saw his latest book being promoted. This is his debut book. The governor of New York gets murdered and all signs point to his estranged wife as the one who killed him. She hires a top attorney to defend her. A mobster who is up on charges for his crimes offers up information about the hit for a reduced sentence. He ends up murdered and now it looks like there is a link between the mob and the deceased governor.
The book has a lot of acronyms in it which was a little hard to keep straight but overall, it was a fast paced read and I enjoyed it.
Boys and their toys, Bev? That’s funny about your brother. Should I hope he gets more snow before April 5?
Yes, Spirit of Steamboat is one of my Christmas reads. I’m glad you liked it!
Oh, man, Shepherd’s Pie. I love it too, Lesa. AND i love you that you and Linda will be attending his event! I have some heroes – most of them are women. Smart, strong women. Women who have voices they’re not afraid to use. Both Norah O’Donnell and Connie Schultz are rock stars to me.
Rhonda McKnight is a writer i like. Her WRITER IN RESIDENCE was the book I needed right now.
Alexandra “Alex” Chambers is a writer who has lost her words. Facing a crushing case of writer’s block and a looming deadline that threatens to end her career, she accepts a lifeline: a writer-in-residence position near Edisto Island in the South Carolina Lowcountry. She expects solitude, Spanish moss, and the time to salvage her next novel. She doesn’t expect Gabriel Scott.
Gabe is everything Alex isn’t ready for–handsome, steady, and a bestselling author. From the moment he walks back into her life, ten years after a fleeting encounter in his bookstore, the chemistry is undeniable. He challenges her to stop hiding behind her laptop and start living the story she’s afraid to tell.
But amidst the ancient live oaks, Alex also discovers a profound connection to the Gullah Geechee culture–a heritage she never fully understood until now. Guided by the quiet wisdom of Ms. Kate, an elderly Gullah cleaning woman with losses of her own, and a blood-deep pull toward a past that refuses to stay buried, Alex begins to unearth family secrets that reshape her identity.
To find her voice, Alex must confront the ghosts of her past and the fears of her present. Writer in Residence is a heartfelt tale mixed with second chances, love, heritage, determination, and the courage it takes to claim your own happy ending.
I’ve just looked up Rhonda McKnight – her books really appeal to me, I’d added a couple to my wish list. Thanks for the recommendation Kaye.
They are gentle reading, Rosemary, but not too twee or overly sweet. i am in need of gentle right now while the whole world seems to be on fire.
Writer in residence sounds very good Kaye! I will keep an eye out for it. Being released here in September.
And, I forgot to say how excited I am about Comfort Reads!
My reading interests stretch far and wide. I read between 120 and 150 books a year, including a few rereads. My rereading obviously doesn’t interfere with finding new books to read.
Writer in Residence! I just requested it, Kaye. It sounds wonderful. I probably won’t get it. I have so many books on NetGalley right now. Can I help it that so many good books are coming out this year?
Linda & I are both diving into We the Women. Short vignettes on the women, so we can read it easily. At least I’ll know some of what they’re talking about.
I can’t wait to hear about your Comfort Reads. Paris, anyone?
Good morning! I didn’t post last week because I was at Left Coast Crime in San Francisco from Wednesday to Sunday. It had been 10 years since I attended this annual convention, along with my husband. That’s when I got to meet and spend time with our own Lesa (2014 in Monterey, 2016 in Phoenix)–great memories. I was happy I didn’t have to fly to this one, and that someone from the Capitol Crimes (Sacramento) chapter of Sisters in Crime was willing to drive me there and back.
I attended 15 of the panels, and it was hard to choose because there are four going at the same time! I saw everything from corruption in crime novels (one of the author panelists is a former CIA employee) to how much sex to include in a romantic mystery, and a Liar’s Panel. I also attended Author Speed Dating, where 40 authors in pairs rotated among all of the tables, with two minutes each to talk about their books and give out lots of swag. Also went to a Debut Authors breakfast and, of course, the final Lefty Awards banquet, where I sat at the table hosted by Terry Shames and Susan Shea, both old friends from Sisters in Crime NorCal.
My favorite thing at these conventions is always talking to people, including so many SinC NorCal members that I hadn’t seen in person since moving away from the Bay Area in 2020, as well as many of the newer members, including one whose books I bought and who has agreed to be the subject of the Member Profile in the May issue of the newsletter I edit, The Stiletta. Once I finish one of her books, I’ll be coming up with questions to send her for our (email) interview. I also like to strike up conversations with strangers. This year, in line for Speed Dating, I met a lovely woman who used to be a pharmacist and recommended a promising allergy medication since I was having a bit of an allergy attack. I have already ordered it and am looking forward to starting with it!. Conversations also led to a delicious dinner in SF’s North Beach, renowned for its Italian restaurants and a quick walk to San Francisco’s Ferry Building, eating an empanada on a bench with two new friends, watching the seagulls and looking at the Bay. The weather was gorgeous–in the low 70s. And I was pleased to find that Starbucks is a one-minute walk from the hotel.
By the way, I’m pleased to say that I’ve lost all of my original shyness at these conventions and am willing to approach any of the authors I want to talk to. Also, I kept my promise to myself and didn’t bring a load of books home in my luggage, even though I could have since I wasn’t flying. After hearing from the authors, I wanted to buy six books in the book room, but instead I looked them all up on Amazon and ended up buying them on Kindle (much cheaper–$4.99 or $5.99 each). Overall, it was a truly wonderful experience, and I’m so glad I attended. Next year it will be in Santa Fe. I’ve never been there and would love to go, but we’ll see how things are with the country and the airlines by that time.
Even though I didn’t post last week, I still have only three books to talk about this week (I didn’t make much time for reading at LCC).
I imagine the delightfully prolific Lee Goldberg must have had fun writing his latest book, MURDER BY DESIGN, as it is wildly creative and quite different from anything I have read from him. Wally Nash is a struggling actor best known for his performance as three different “featured corpses” on CSI and for TV commercials for such unpleasant subjects as flatulence and diarrhea. He also accepts temp assignments to keep himself financially afloat, which are usually pretty boring until he finds himself assigned as an assistant to Edison Bixby. A former LAPD homicide detective with a perfect record, Bixby now works as an insurance company claims investigator after taking a bullet to the face in a previous case that left him unable to control his inappropriate comments and insults. He is especially skillful in analyzing how the design of a building or other venue where a death occurs is always a contributor to the crime. Goldberg explains in the Author’s Note that he did a tremendous amount of research on this topic, and it shows. Together the pair work on several intriguing cases, which may or may not be linked to each other, and Bixby comes to some pretty startling conclusions. Wally narrates the story, as he begins to realize he can sometimes use his acting skills to keep Bixby out of the trouble caused by his traumatic brain injury. Another prominent player in the story is detective Bridget McGregor, who often appears hostile but has a–shall we say–special relationship with her former coworker in the LAPD. I found the design theory quite credible, even though the character of damaged and egotistical Edison Bixby is decidedly over-the-top. Somehow, for me at least, he becomes (almost) likeable as the story progresses, and I loved reading about the details of his magnificent home and its amazing outdoor amenities. There is a big twist that I didn’t see coming and a satisfying and entertaining ending. I’m pleased to see the book is labeled number one in the Edison Bixby series, and I look forward to seeing where this duo goes from here. (June) Note: I also got to talk to the author, Lee Goldberg, at LCC.
Always a sucker for a well-written show biz memoir, I really enjoyed Jeffrey Seller’s THEATER KID. I was already familiar with his name from some of my favorite Broadway shows, but I found his long road to success absorbing as well. At an early age, Seller found that his love for the theater and performing was a much-needed respite from his home in a poor area of Michigan with a brain-damaged father and a mother working low-paying jobs so her family would have medical benefits. Starting with a role in his temple’s Purim play and in the local Stageworks company, he found his interests later developed into booking and producing shows, with a flair for recognizing and collaborating with the most talented people he could find. As a gay man, Seller had to avoid the burgeoning HIV epidemic while searching for a soulmate. My favorite chapters, of course, were detailed descriptions of getting several shows produced and promoted–Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, and Hamilton–all winners of multiple Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The author’s writing is straightforward and matter-of-fact, which I appreciate in this type of book–very little philosophizing or grandstanding and even less politics. My sincere thanks to Lesa, whose detailed review brought this book to my attention. Anyone who appreciates musical theater should find much to enjoy in this book.
If you are very interested in the details of beekeeping and honey production, you are the right audience for BUMBLEBEE SEASON, Eileen Garvin’s follow-up to The Music of Bees (2002). Of course, the book is much more than a beekeeping textbook, although the technical side may be too much for some readers (including myself). One of the protagonists, 23-year-old Jake, had an unnecessary accident years ago that put him in a wheelchair, Searching for meaning in his life, he happened upon a fortyish beekeeper, Alice, who ultimately took him on as a partner in her business producing honey for restaurants in the area and beyond. But this year, the harvest season is coming soon, and Jake has no one to help him harvest the honey, as Alice is out of town with her “man-friend” for months and others who have helped him before are not available. The bumblebees of the title, as opposed to Jake’s honeybees, are the subject of a field group from a local university who are trying to determine whether a certain type of those bees can be found in a particular area of Oregon, to ensure they are protected. Entomologist Abigail, also in her twenties, was transferred from her assistant professor job at the university to the aforementioned field group after she has yelled at her students and treated them without respect– Abigail is neurodivergent, though she doesn’t know that yet. She is, however, intelligent and dedicated, with no tolerance for others in the group who are not. And Flaco, a 14-year-old boy with limited English skills, travels from Mexico to Oregon when his mother feels he is in danger of being recruited by unsavory gangs near his home. How Jake, Abigail, and Flaco come together for their mutual benefit is the gist of the plot. The main characters do develop throughout the book, although it is slow-going and often overshadowed by events such as a massive fire, immigration dangers, and family issues. not to mention a fraught political race for a new sheriff. I personally enjoyed the previous book with the theme of “found family” and felt this one got too bogged down. But Garvin is a talented writer with a lot of potential for future books. (April)
Margie, thank you for your summary of LCC. Dallas was the last one I went to. But, I’m not as good as you are in talking with strangers. Maybe Toastmasters helped? I’ve never been good at striking up conversations. Good for you.
I’m glad you liked Theater Kid. And, I’m looking forward to Lee Goldberg’s new book. Thank you for that review, too. I think I’ll skip Beekeeping.
Thank you for that wonderful description of your time at Left Coast Crime Margie, I really enjoyed it and could imagine the events from all the detail you gave us.
I too no longer worry about talking to strangers – I think it’s come about in part through my reviewing in the Edinburgh festivals for so long. I just start talking to people in the queues or to the performers after the event; almost everyone is friendly and happy to chat. (At least in the Fringe and the Art Festival – speakers at the Book Festival are usually whisked away as soon as their session is over, and for some reason people attending these events just aren’t as chatty. I think the Book Festival does seem to attract a lot of a certain type of Edinburgh resident.)
How lovely to get a lift there and back too. I’m glad you had such a good time.
The Left Coast Crime convention sounds like so much fun Margie! Author speed dating – what a fascinating idea. Two minutes isn’t very long though is it. I wonder if the most important take away from the whole thing will be the tip for the new allergy medication!
Good morning All – sunny and above freezing – life is good! My husband loves shepherd’s pie too, Lesa. I’m more of a chicken pot pie kind of gal! This weekend I am heading downstate to see my family for my annual pizza and cards gathering. I plan the party, and my s-in-law allows me to use her house for the event. Should be fun.
This pas week I read two books:
– The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery. This locked room murder mystery was great fun. On the night that Halley’s Comet was to make it’s appearance in 1910, Steven Pike, new under butler at Tithe Hall, is assigned to watch Great Aunt Decima Stockingham and keep her out of the way of the main house. Meanwhile at the manor, the Viscount, believing that the Comet will cause mayhem to the Earth, has all of the servants, along with family and friends, sealing themselves up inside their rooms for the night. The next morning, the Viscount is dead, shot in the eye with an ancestral crossbow in his locked study, and f-bomb dropping Miss Decima, along with Steven, are busily trying to solve the murder, and stay alive, as Steven’s past incarceration, and new servant status, has him nominated the most likely suspect. So many suspects, so little time.
– When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal. Interesting family story about two sisters – one who faked her own death and is now living in New Zealand and the other who still lives in California but against all odds becomes an ER doctor. Kit believes her sister Josie was killed in a train accident years earlier, but sees a strangely familiar face on the news at the scene of a fire in Auckland. Soon Kit is on a plane heading to NZ to find her sister and find out why she has let her family believe that she has been dead all of these years. The majority of the story is flashbacks, told i alternating chapters by Kit and Josie, of their terrible upbringing. Secrets are revealed in the flashbacks and in real time when the two sisters reconnect. A story of resilience and self actualization.
Pizza and cards sounds fun, Mary. We do play pinochle in my family when we have 3 or more. But, a pizza and cards party sounds fun.
That’s one of the few Barbara O’Neal books I’ve never read. I love most of her books, but that one just never appealed to me. I’m happy to hear it was a good one.
I’m with you on the chicken pot pie Mary!
How fortunate you are to hear Connie Schultz interview Norah O’Donnell, Lesa. It will be an interesting evening for sure.
Thank you for taking Monday’s snow. They predicted a couple inches for Cincinnati but we ended up with a trace. This week has been nothing but rain with thunder and lightning. They don’t think the Ohio River will flood though.
I read two books this week. My first book was Laws of Love and Logic by Debra Curtis. Lily Webb finds herself torn between her first love and her devoted husband. Lily’s high school boyfriend is college then NFL bound when an unexpected event happens. She ends up leaving Portsmouth for college and falls in love with the older Marshall Middleton, a famous ornithologist professor. But memories of the boy from high school are always there. When she goes to her high school reunion, their paths cross and she is tempted and she asks herself if she can be in love with two people at the same time. I liked this book but didn’t really love it. I think it was a Read with Jenna book club choice.
My second book was reviewed by Lesa last week, if I remember correctly. Booking For Trouble by Jenn McKinlay is the latest Library Lovers’ Mystery with Lindsey Sullivan. This is my favorite of the Jenn McKinlay series. The mystery itself was my least favorite part of the book about a bunch of entitled wealthy people who belong to the exclusive club, I always enjoy my visits to Briar Creek. The author presented a much better case about how important libraries are than Kate Quinn in The Astral Library and I appreciated Lindsey not being in mortal danger to solve the case. I hope this isn’t the last of the series.
Happy Reading!
You’re welcome, Sharon. We took one for the state. My Mom in northern Ohio didn’t have snow either. We’re getting the rain. She’s getting fog.
I’m afraid Jenn has said it’s the last in the series. She said maybe she’ll have an idea again, so consider it on hiatus. This one was one of my favorites as well. As you said, Lindsey wasn’t in danger.
We have been having temperatures in the 80s, and the weather report is that temperatures will plummet on Saturday!
I finished Bookwomen’s Daughter, and it was even better than Bookwomen. It is so strange that the blue people of Kentucky with a rare gene disorder have so much discrimination and have had to hide from the law. They were not allowed to marry whites, and they went through the horrors of being killed because they were blue. I highly recommend this book.
I have just started The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung. It is going quickly. Two women, Alice Li, a food blogger, and her estranged mother, Vivien Li, a Tiananmen protester, have to team up to prevent a second cyberattack from China. The first one caused panic, fire alarms and security alarms go off everywhere, even in China. Alice Li never has had the approval of her mother because of her food blogger job and her weight.
Carol, You’re the first one to bring up The Last Mandarin. I’m happy to hear it’s going quickly. Must be good.
I’ll admit 80 sounds a little much for this time of year. I love the 80s, but it’s too soon.
Hi everyone,
After the endless rains of January, we have been having some fabulous weather – sunny, relatively warm, with blue skies and crisp days. I have been able to walk by the river, and even read my book down there for the first time this year.
This wretched virus really stopped me doing much at all for over three weeks, but just in the last few days I have felt much better. Still coughing, but not uncontrollably, so I feel a bit safer going out in public! Tomorrow I am taking the bus to Dundee for a talk at the V & A about Miss Cranston’s Tea Rooms. I am also meeting with the British Association of Friends of Museums convenor for Scotland to discuss our group’s intention to hold the 2027 conference in Aberdeen.
Today I went into the gallery, as we on the committee have all been asked to write a short piece about our favourite exhibit(s) – these will be posted onto our social media sites to encourage more people to visit both the gallery and the city museums.
I took photos of several paintings, including a beautiful seascape by Monet and a portrait of the ultra-sophisticated Marguerite McBey by her husband, James. She was American, he came from a very poor background in a small Aberdeenshire village; he was a (totally self-taught) war artist, and after the war they lived a very glamorous life in Tangiers.
The thing I liked best, however, was an album compiled by a Dutch student called Bos, who was in Aberdeen during the lockdowns. Knowing few people in the city, they describe some of the things they saw and did during that time. They sat at the harbour and played a penny whistle to the seals and birds, swam in the River Don as it passes through one of our larger parks, and also wrote about our trams – which were sadly withdrawn in 1958, but which served the city well for over 50 years. The trams themselves were all taken to the beach and burned – which seems beyond bizarre to me, but that’s what happened.
Yesterday we had an excellent session in the Memories of Scotland programme – this time it was about Aberdeen in the 1960s. Most of the people who came along shared their own experiences of growing up and then working in the city, and as someone who only came here as an adult, I really enjoyed hearing all of their stories. At that time oil was just beginning to take off here – there’s a wonderful photo of a Texan oil man in a Stetson talking to some very poor-looking children on a street corner. They would never have seen anyone ‘from away’ before, let alone someone with so much money. The guy looks so well fed and healthy beside these scrawny, undernourished locals – it reminded me of the bit in Vera Brittain’s TESTAMENT OF YOUTH, when, towards the end of the First World War (in which she was a nurse), when all of the British and European forces were exhausted, half-starved, demoralised, injured and ill, the American soldiers swept in to assist, looking so strong and healthy, and full of enthusiasm.
And of course plenty of other things were happening in the city at that time – Ewen showed us pictures of famous bands performing in the Music Hall, people queueing round the block for the new bingo clubs, and the construction of high rise blocks of flats, hailed as the desirable replacement for Aberdeen’s slum housing.
There was also a notorious outbreak of typhoid in the city at that time – the infection coming from some imported corned beef. The public health authorities imposed very strict quarantine on all contacts of the sick people, and no-one was allowed in or out of the city for some time. Cinemas and theatres were closed; even swings in parks were tied up. As a result nowhere else in Scotland was affected. The poor butcher who sold the meat was vilified, and never really recovered, even though it was proved over and again that none of this was the shop’s fault.
More and more people are coming along to these sessions, which is great, as not only are they interesting, they also bring people together and we all have great chats.
Books – I finished DEATH IN THE DORDOGNE, the first Bruno, Chief of Police, book by Martin Walker, which I enjoyed very much. Now I am reading two books, HEARTBURN by Nora Ephron, and AT HOME IN MITFORD by Jan Karon.
I think I did see the film of Heartburn many years ago, but I’d never read the book. I am loving it; Ephron is such a good writer, so sharp and so funny. I have her I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK on my shelves too, so I’ll maybe read that next.
I have had several of the Mitford books for some time, but this is the first I’ve read. What gentle, entertaining and touching stories they are. I’ve no doubt the characters are cliches but I like them and want to know what happens to them all. I am not in the mood for difficult, long winded, literary stuff at the moment (if ever…) I’m glad there seem to be so many books in this series.
Today I was at the central library. I borrowed PINE BY Francine Toon, which was recommended by a friend – has anyone read it? Mick Herron (SLOW HORSES) says it’s ‘a moving study of memory and loss,..both spooky and tender, drenched in a sense of place and eerily timeless.’
I also picked up WRECK by Catherine Newman – I know nothing about this one, I just saw it on the shelf and thought it looked interesting. It’s meant to be funny, so that’s good. I believe the author also wrote SANDWICH – I’ve heard of that one though not read it.
David has just finished ESPEDAIR STREET by Iain Banks, but I don’t think he rated it very highly. I’ve never read any of Banks’s novels – I think he’s most famous for THE WASP FACTORY.
Lindy, I have heard that Heather Fawcett mentioned on several book podcasts this week. If it ever finds its way into the Aberdeen Library Catalogue I’ll be interested to read it.
On TV I have now tried twice to watch the latest adaptation of Agatha Christie’s THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY, but I just can’t get into it. Helena Bonham Carter is excellent as Lady Caterham, but I find Mia McKenna-Bruce unconvincing as Lady Eileen, and some of the other acting is really poor. I might give it one more go, but only if I can’t find something better to watch. We did see an episode of the CELEBRITY BAKE-OFF recently, which was a lot of fun. The celebrity episodes are in aid of cancer charities, and the participants enter into it all with a sense of fun – they quite often haven’t even made a cake before, let alone practiced, so there’s far less of the tension that dominates the regular show – though in this one two of the contestants injured themselves and one fainted at the sight of blood, so it wasn’t without drama!
I’m going to start thinking about my favourite comfort reads now.
Have a good week all, hope that’s the end of your snow Lesa!
You always speak of such interesting things Rosemary. Someday I’d like to visit your part of the world and hire you to be my personal tour guide for the duration of the trip!
(I think I’m at the same stage as you as far as coughing goes – last night was the first night in weeks that I haven’t coughed for two hours straight, and my legs seem to have their normal strength back. So exciting.)
I’m so glad to hear that both of you are finally getting over your coughs! 👏
Thank you Mary!
Lindy – yes please! Do visit Aberdeenshire, I would *love* to show you around. My son lives in the Highlands and my daughters live in Glasgow and Edinburgh, so plenty of scope there too.
I know exactly what you mean about your legs. I did my shortest river walk a couple of times when this virus was still in my system, and it was really hard work. I did the walk again on Tuesday and Wednesday, and at last I could do it without feeling exhausted. As you say, so exciting! I really should appreciate my good health more.
Onwards and upwards for both of us!
I love that series about Aberdeen that you’re attending, Rosemary. I’m glad more and more people are showing up for it. It’s important to remember history. We all know how important it is since the U.S. has totally forgotten, or, at least the people in charge have. Buggers.
The Astral Library asks, if you could live in a book, as a minor character, what book would you pick? I didn’t pick any because I couldn’t think of any happy places or times where I wanted to live. But, Linda picked Mitford. And, I think she’s right. It’s a comfortable place. No one is killed. There’s no crime, or, if there is, it’s minor. I can’t think of any place quite as comfortable.
I like the Bruno mysteries. Right now, I’m enjoying Mark Pryor’s Hugo Marston ones, though. A little darker in most cases. But, I’m liking them as much as Kaye said I would.
What an interesting idea Lesa. I’d definitely like to live in Mitford, or failing that maybe the St Denis of Martin Walker’s Dordogne books (assuming I’m not a murder victim, that is…)
This week, the weather is heating up, after a fairly cold winter.
Didn’t read much this week.
Sentinel by Mark Greaney; The protagonist couple is sent to Ghana, the most stable democracy in Africa. Low bar, I guess, because no sooner do they get there, China backs a coup. Of course, there’s a merc they have a past with. There’s a lot of action in this one. Some say Greaney might have overtaken Brad Thor as the leader in this particular subgenre. I’m probably included in the “some.”
My brother-in-law is tearing through Greaney’s Grey Man books, Glen. I wondered what was taking him so long. Every time I went over he was reading Greaney’s book. I thought he was stuck on one. They all look the same. He’s racing through them.
That’s the trouble with books today. So manypublishers seem scared to put an actual picture on the cover.
Still, the books are different colors.
I am not yet prepared for the comfort reads post tomorrow, but I will be thinking on it more today. Glen has a blood test tomorrow because of a change in his medication so I don’t know what time in the morning we will be done with all of that.
Today we went walking at a small park in downtown Santa Barbara. Years ago, we lived across the street from the park (in a ratty apartment), so we have been walking in this lovely park for over forty years. Then we had breakfast at a favorite breakfast / lunch / deli place which is usually crowded, but we hit it at the lull between lunch and breakfast and it was quiet and not too busy.
In the last week, Glen has been reading LOS ANGELES’S BUNKER HILL: PULP FICTION’S MEAN STREETS AND FILM NOIR’S GROUND ZERO!, by Jim Dawson. That title and subtitle sort of describes the contents. Glen says that the information on the locations gets too granular but that there is some interesting history of filming in the area. And some nice vintage photos.
Before that, Glen read DO ADMIT: THE MITFORD SISTERS AND ME, a graphic novel by Mimi Pond. Like most graphic novels, it was a quick read. There were no page numbers, but it was pretty thick so I checked Goodreads and it said there are 452 pages. He enjoyed it, and I will be reading it this month too.
I read YOU CAN NEVER DIE, a graphic memoir by Harry Bliss. Glen read it in 2025. There is a lot about his dog that he had for 17 years and the grief he experienced after the dog died. That story is intermingled with information about his childhood and his career. Most of it is interesting, I liked his writing, and I love his art. But it is sad overall. He had an unhappy childhood and his parents were abusive. I liked it a lot overall and I am very glad I read it, but definitely not a comfort read.
Now I am reading CONTEMPLATION OF A CRIME by Susan Juby. Juby is a Canadian author, and the setting is a small island off Vancouver Island. This is the third book in a mystery series about a butler with a Buddhist / contemplative background. She works for a very rich couple. I read the first two books in the series and liked them a lot. I am about half-way through and this one has an interesting plot which is just too complex to describe here.
Oh, you don’t have to prepare anything, Tracy. Someone may say something that triggers a book for you. Don’t make this a job. I want you to enjoy it!
Hi Lesa, Shepherds pie is one of my favorite meals ever. In NC, we were in the 40s Monday, in the 80s today. go figure…..I just finished Last One out by Jane Harper on netgalley audio. Currently reading The Astral Library by Kate Quinn & The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg in print.
Did you like this one by Jane Harper, Katherine?
I thought it moved a little slow and I had a hard time staying interested. It may have been because I listened to the audio and might have like it better in print. I loved her Aaron Falk novels and The Survivors.
Thanks, Katherine. With your warning, I won’t feel bad if I don’t finish it.