It’s been a relaxing week here. It started when my sister, Linda, and I went to see the musical “Pippin”. It was different from the shows she and I had seen years ago. This time, the stage show had illusions, which were fun. Neither of us remembered the Leading Player, the narrator, being as nasty as she was towards the end of the show. But, we enjoyed the show. We made it through Saturday, then Sunday dinner before we had to settle in this week. Yesterday was the first day we didn’t have dramatic weather, although we still had rain.
Have you ever heard of a deracho storm? “A derecho is a group of intense storms that last several hours, travel for hundreds of miles and generate unusually powerful wind gusts.” The storms swept from northern Illinois and Chicago and into northern Indiana, but The New York Times didn’t spend much ink discussing the drama of our weather in Ohio, thunderstorms, with rolling thunder that went on forever, flooding roads, winds that even picked up a car and flipped it over (the driver is fine), hail in some places. I was lucky where I live. I didn’t lose power, and didn’t see trees down in our development. But, I felt lucky I didn’t have to go anyplace until yesterday. Dramatic weather.
How’s your weather been? What did you do this week? What have you been reading?
I used one of Kevin Tipple’s reviews yesterday because I was finishing Kate Ellis’ The Chapel of Bones. My review of that runs tomorrow. I’ve just started A Witch in Notthing Hill by Alexandra Paige, a paranormal romance. I have to admit I’m finding it a little silly, and I’m not sure if I’ll finish it. We’ll see. Here’s the summary.
Perfect for fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, this cozy and whimsical romance follows an accident-prone witch and a hot grumpy occult bookstore owner who doesn’t believe in magic as they travel across London to undo a spell gone awry.
When rising Hollywood actress and secret witch Willow James accidentally turns her manager into a cat while trying to escape her contract, she’s sure she’s hit her magical low point. Determined to fix her mistake, she journeys to London in search of a rare spell hidden within the famed occult bookstore, Coven & Codex. The last thing she expects? The shop’s brooding, handsome owner, Oliver Hadley, who’d rather avoid magic altogether.
Together—with a ragtag group of friends (both human and feline)—Willow and Oliver must scour every corner of the city, from museums to festivals to bustling street markets, to find the missing pieces of the spell. Along the way, Willow’s unpredictable magic and Oliver’s skeptical heart will face the one thing they can’t escape… love.
Filled with enchanting adventures, sparkling romance, and a dash of mischief, A Witch in Notting Hill is a sweet and spirited tale of discovering magic where you least expect it.
What about you? What have you been reading this week?
Goodness! I have not heard of a derecho storm. It sounds frightening and destructive.
Here in BC the wildfires continue, with entire towns given evacuation orders, and thousands of people will not have homes left to return to. I feel so fortunate that where we are, some smoke and poor air quality are the only things we have to deal with. And then there are idiots who start campfires near here even though they’re not allowed to because of the fire risk. David and I were out for a walk one morning and saw smoke from deep in the bush and trees by the river. We’re told to call 911 to report smoke/fire, so he did and the fire department arrived within three minutes.
This week I read:
THE DEATH OF DORA BLACK by Lainie Anderson (Book 1 of the Petticoat Police Mystery series)
The story is set in Adelaide, Australia during the time of WWI. The story follows Miss Kate Cocks, the officer in charge of the South Australian Women’s Police Branch. The story is inspired by the real-life Kate Cocks, and some of the exploits of that lady are woven throughout.
Kate is not an easy person to like – she’s tough, takes no nonsense from anyone, is strict about upholding morality in the community, doesn’t smile often, is touchy and humourless and yet …she has a soft heart which is proven time and time again. Her character is balanced nicely by that of Ethel, a young female constable who assists her.
From the book blurb: ‘When shop assistant Dora Black is found dead on a city beach, Miss Cocks and Ethel are ordered to stay out of the investigation and leave it to the men. But when Dora’s workmate goes missing soon after, the women suspect something sinister, and determine to take matters into their own hands.’
I very much enjoyed this book, especially the second half as things became quite tense and suspenseful. It’s billed as a ‘cozy’ but it was much more than that partly because of the subject matter which involved drugs, prostitution, and the issue of how difficult it was for women to break into ‘men’s work’, and partly because of the depth to the backstories of Kate and Ethel which made me care about them. I will definitely be looking for the next book in the series.
THE UNFORTUNATE SIDE EFFECTS OF HEARTBREAK AND MAGIC
by Breanne Randall
The story is told mainly from the point of view of Sadie, currently in her late 20s, born into a family of witches. Unfortunately, her magic came with a curse. Her beloved grandmother tells her she will suffer four heartbreaks, each one worse than the last; and if she’s not careful, when all four heartbreaks come to pass the curse will consume her, and her magic will flee, leaving chaos behind.
Also in the story mix is a man from the past who she had feelings for and enters her life again but in less than stellar circumstances; serious illness; a mysterious, possibly menacing ghost; a long-absent parent coming back; mental illness; and much else besides.
Despite being sympathetic towards Sadie and understanding how difficult it would be to live a life with this curse hanging over her, I couldn’t warm to her character. She seemed immature, whiny, and very woe-is-me. The second chance romance didn’t work for me either; we weren’t given enough of a backstory to feel invested in it.
There was a curious lack of depth to any of the characters despite some quite heavy themes including mental illness which speaking of, didn’t add to the story so I don’t know why the author chose to include it.
Sounds weird to say, but my favourite part of the book was the chapter with the death of a family member – as that was the only part of the 320-page book that made me feel a real emotion.
That storm is destructive, Lindy, but nothing at all compared to the wildfires in BC. I’m so sorry for everyone involved. I’m sure you and David are aware of what’s going on. Why would anyone start a campfire in the woods?
My youngest sister always looks forward to your book reviews, and she’s picked up some you’ve written about. I don’t think The Death of Dora Black is for her, but I know she’ll be interested in the subject matter. I never heard of the South Australian Women’s Police Branch, and I doubt if she did either.
Lesa , so glad you made it through your storms okay! We have been having some pretty dramatic thunder, lightening, hail and flooding. Stay safe!
One book to recommend.
SHE WAS NEVER HERE by Lisa Unger
and it is a doozy!
Description
When a shocking accident costs a young nanny her job, a handsome stranger offers her a position at his isolated estate – in this electrifying psychological thriller from New York Times bestseller Lisa Unger.
When aspiring writer Ivy Chase loses her nanny job, she finds herself broke and with no place to go. Out of options, she has no choice but to accept an unexpected offer from handsome and wealthy widower Evan White. Soon, she’s on a private jet, heading towards the stranger’s isolated estate, Fox Glenn, to care for his two children.
Fox Glenn, lovingly restored by Evan’s late wife, Tess, is idyllic. But the children are haunted by their mother’s death. Lulu is tormented by a menacing imaginary friend named Lavender. Asher is sullen and angry. Almost as soon as Ivy arrives, the police are at the door. The former nanny, who Ivy has come to replace, has disappeared.
Meanwhile, Ivy’s previous employer has discovered shameful things about Ivy. She wants vengeance and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. As Ivy tries to unravel the mysteries of the White family while managing frightening threats of her own, she realizes she’s not safe anywhere – inside or outside the walls of Fox Glenn. Combining eerie gothic suspense with razor-sharp tension, Unger delivers an up-all-night, read-with-the-lights-on thriller about desire, deception, and revenge.
You stay safe, too, Kaye. This weather is something else. We’re getting that, and two and a half hours north, Mom was out running around because they didn’t have rain or drama.
I used to like gothic suspense, but I think Lisa Unger’s book is too much for me!
Those storms sound like something else. We are cooling down a little. Only in the upper 80’s today and will be in the lower 80’s tomorrow. Definitely cooler than normal this time of year. I’m here for the heat in August!
Reading wise, I’m working on LEGALLY BLIND LUCK by James J. Cudney. It’s book seven in the eight book series, and I intend to read book eight in December since it is a Christmas set story. It’s not a favorite series since the writing is poor and needed a good editor. But so far, I haven’t hit any road blocks. Hoping I can get through it quickly without it bugging me too much.
And yes, I know I don’t have to finish the series, but I do want to see how things turn out for the characters.
I was at the dentist yesterday, Mark, and the assistant was your kind of person. We were watching the news of the eclipse in Spain, and she loved the sound of the 94 degrees there.
One of those who gets attached to characters, Mark? I get it.
Good morning! First, some good news to report. My 2 year old grandson had a CT scan, MRI and Pet scan to see if his tumor is responding to chemo, and it is! The tumor has shrunk 90% and is no longer touching his brain or optic nerve! We are thrilled with that news. It has given us all a boost as he heads into surgery next week to have a feeding tube installed in preparation for 6 to 8 weeks of daily radiation in addition to his weekly chemo. Luciano used to go to the hospital and appointments with various doctors happily, but now anticipates the procedures and there are lots of silent tears. Afterwards, he is all smiles and laughter. He is such a happy person! Yesterday, we took Luca to the Detroit Zoo. He enjoyed watching the otters play and the ducks waddling around. There was a display of dinosaurs which move and roar. He was quite enthralled with them! We spent a good bit of time there before heading to an appointment. We are heading to his chemo appointment shortly, with perhaps a sliver of very cautious hope.
I am so pleased to hear your good news Jennifer. Your grandson is so brave, as are all of you. I saw my two month old grandson yesterday and I can’t imagine how awful it would be if anything happened to him. I really feel for you all, but it’s great that there’s now some hope on the horizon. Very best of luck to everyone. I think of you often.
Jennifer, I know how eagerly we all await good news for Luciano. You must hold your breath every time there is a new appointment or treatment. I’m sorry you all are going through this, especially him. He’s such a little boy to have to deal with this. I hope it continues to be good news.
I’m glad you enjoyed Missing. I don’t think The think there will be a sequel.
Jennifer, such good news about poor Luciano. Fingers crossed that it continues to go well.
Jennifer, so happy to read the good news about Luciano. Poor little thing. I hope it continues to go well with him.
Good morning! As for the weather here, I am thrilled by a forecasted 3 days of highs in the 80s, starting today. Then back to the 90s, but I’m hoping the 100s are behind us. This week we learned that our 17-year-old cat, Sasha, has kidney disease, and we weren’t too surprised because we know she has declined a bit. We hope that with a kidney diet and supplements, we will be able to continue enjoying her presence for another 6 to 12 months, as the vet estimated. On a happier note, I really enjoyed two mentoring sessions yesterday with fellow members of my Toastmasters club. We get together on Zoom, and I feel like both of them resonate with the guidance I offer them, and it is always a pleasure to have our discussions.
Here are the books I read this week:
The setting and the story of WILD DARK SHORE by Charlotte McConaghy are bleak, but there are beautiful moments that make reading it worthwhile. Widower Dominic and his three children are living on remote Shearwater island, close to Antarctica, their assignment to protect and maintain the world’s largest seed bank. When needed, these seeds will be used to replace others that are lost forever. But it is clear that the island itself is in danger, and the objective changes to determining which of the seeds are most valuable and should be saved when a boat picks up Dominic and his family a a few weeks’ time. Adding to the intrigue is Rowan, a woman who came to the island for an unknown purpose and barely made it when her transport was destroyed by the unyielding sea. There are many aspects of the story that make this book particularly memorable: characters with depth, family histories and dynamics, love and loss, sacrifice, natural beauty, fascinating local flora and fauna, and twists that make you wonder where the truth lies. I read this as a book club selection, and while it was not a book that I would have normally sought out, I definitely benefited from learning things I had never dreamed of, and from enjoying the author’s unique voice and style.
As I am a grammar/word nerd myself, It was the title of Dave Boling’s book, CLAIRE MAGUIRE IS SECRETLY CORRECTING YOUR GRAMMAR, that pulled me in (although I have never personally sent marked-up articles back to their authors). Claire is a retired English professor in her mid-seventies, now teaching a creative writing class in a deal with her landlord to avoid a rent increase on her converted barn-loft residence.She is a loner by choice, and her teaching style is formidable, scaring away several of her students on or just after the first day. But the remaining four students–including a journalist who joins late– learn to deal with Claire’s personality and realize that what she is teaching is something that can greatly improve their writing and that her guidance makes them feel better about their own chances to succeed. My favorite part of the story is Claire’s relationship with Wil, a former logger and current chainsaw sculptor specializing in whimsical bears, who is vocally combative at town council meetings. Each brings enrichment to the other as they challenge each other to experiment with new projects and different ways to look at their world. My least favorite chapters were the flashbacks to 1969, when Claire and her boyfriend were involved in Vietnam War protests that turned violent and experimented with drugs. Claire is a fascinating character who sometimes felt a bit “all over the place” but still engaged my attention. I was disappointed with some of the choices the author made, but I still enjoyed the overall experience. Note: This book was made available on NetGalley after the pub date for some reason, and currently mine is the only review, with only one review on Amazon. I’m not sure why.
Thank you, Lesa, for recommending James Norbury’s lovely little book, BIG PANDA AND TINY DRAGON. It’s a book that can be read in less than one hour, but readers will want to linger on the many little jewels inspired by Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, accompanied by perfect little drawings on every page. As the two very different animals travel together from one spring to the next, they comment on nature’s splendor and their mutual friendship and admiration. They also touch on such diverse topics as the beauty of small things, kindness for others and oneself, discovering one’s own path in life, companionship, and happiness, as well as the importance of listening, learning from mistakes, mindfulness, silliness, and so much more. And the beauty of the book itself, including a narrow red ribbon as its bookmark, cannot be denied. I’m glad I took the opportunity to experience it myself.
Margie, I’m glad you had the chance to Zoom with fellow Toastmasters. I’m sure you missed it last month when you had a conflict with your regular meeting.
Big Panda and Tiny Dragon is special, isn’t it? I have The Cat Who Taught Zen to read tonight.
I missed your post earlier. I’m glad I flipped back through!
Jennifer, it is wonderful to read that your grandson is progressing well through his treatment. I know this has to be a very difficult time in your life, and I am sending you and your grandson healing vibes and prayers.
What a brave little boy your Luciano is! Thanks so much for sharing his news, Jennifer. sending good thoughts.
The best news Jennifer! Sending good thoughts.
What a blessing! Congratulations on this miracle!
Thanks, everyone. A long road ahead and lots of uncertainty, but so grateful for a good start. Thanks for the support
Jennifer, I’m really happy to hear that the tumour has shrunk so much! That’s the best news you could have gotten. But I feel so sorry that Luciano still has to endure so much in the coming weeks. The feeding tube alone sounds awful for such a young child, and all those weeks of radiation! As well as the chemo. I still feel mightily for him and the whole family. What a thing to have to go through.
Oops, forgot to mention the book I read. Our library had a copy of Missing by E.A. Jackson that Lesa reviewed. I did really enjoy the book and I hope there will be another one. Thank you for the recommendation, Lesa!
Hello, friends. I’m in Logroño in Spain without my laptop and typing with one finger, so I won’t write much. Ill try to make up for it next Thursday when we’re back. We drove here through France (spending one night near the city of Bordeaux on the way) to see the total eclipse, and it was spectacular. Now we’re still in Spain, being normal tourists in the city of Burgos.
I’ve recently read the second Philmena McCarthy mystery by Michael Robotham, THE WHITE CROW, which was excellent. Great policewoman character, exciting, well-plotted, villains at several levels, including in the police. Now I’m in the middle of THE OLIGARCH’S DAUGHTER, which is a thriller and not the kind of book I normally read. Entertaining but, to me, the main character is making unrealistic decisions, which are diminishing my enjoyment. Mire next week when I’ve finished it.
The BC forest fires are very disturbing.
Kim, My sister went to see the eclipse when it could be viewed in the U.S. a few years ago, and said it’s a memorable experience. Enjoy Spain!
Michael Robotham’s series sounds good. Thank you!
I remember when that eclipse happened. My sister was disappointed that she only saw a partial, but she enjoyed even that.
I think Robotham has other series. I’m going to check out another!
Kim, very jealous you got to see the eclipse. It looked amazing on the news, so can only imagine seeing it in person.
Try Robotham’s Cyrus Haven series, starting with GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL.
Good Morning from Aberdeenshire, where the temperature is about 75F – which is far too hot for us! Neither of us could sleep last night, we are so unused to this. Fortunately it’s only set to last till tonight; by tomorrow it should be around 65F. The south and centre of England, however, may have temperatures as hot as 100F. I am so glad I live so far north.
Your weather sounds terrifying Lesa! I’m glad you were able to stay at home. Once upon a time I would go out whatever the winter weather was here, but now I am much less keen – and if the ice comes on that’s it, not going anywhere for at least a week.
Yesterday we had a fun day out – we drove to Ballater to meet up with our son Freddie, his wife Naomi and their baby, Flynn. It was a beautiful (hot!) day. Ballater is a village on Upper Deeside, the nearest one to the royal residence at Balmoral. Many of the businesses there have royal warrants to supply the king, and before that his mother, the late queen.
When Freddie was small we lived very nearby and I used to take him there when we did grocery shopping (in the then tiny co-op and independent bakery.) It was really just a normal village but with royal connections. It’s well into the Highlands, so the scenery around it is spectacular. Now, though, it has become Air B & B central – so many houses and flats are rentals, and almost every shop is now a cafe or a gift shop. It’s still a lovely place to visit, but the atmosphere is quite different.
Nevertheless, we ate at a very simple cafe, Brown Sugar, that has been there for many years. The staff are really friendly, and unlike some of the other coffee shops, this one has no pretensions to coolness. I had a fabulous rock cake – something that few cafes make any more – and David had a breakfast roll with vegetarian haggis and fried egg.
It was lovely to see Flynn, he had grown and developed so much in the space of a few weeks, and is now smiling at times. We had a bit of a walk beside the Dee, which is really majestic up there – but there has been so little rain that it was very low, all the stones were exposed, you could almost walk right across it.
By the time the Dee gets down here to Lower Deeside it is a bit narrower and even lower. We really need some rain, and actually quite a bit is forecast for the weekend and next week, so fingers crossed.
Earlier in the week Nancy and I had a good walk on the Drum estate, a few minutes’ drive from here. There is one part of the walk that I always dread, as it involves crossing a very small stream via stepping stones. This time we had actually crossed it before we realised, as it was completely dry. The bracken, however, was the highest we’d ever seen it- I pulled my socks up over my trousers and held my arms across my chest to try to avoid the ticks, they are rampant just now. Fortunately I don’t think any got me – many of my friends have found themselves covered in them when they’ve come home from dog walks.
Tomorrow I am having lunch with the young girl that I may have mentioned before, who has moved up to Aberdeen for her partner’s job. Josie is a recent Masters graduate from Glasgow School of Art, so would love a job in that area, but of course they are almost impossible to find. So I am going to introduce her to my friend who is one of the curators at our art gallery – she won’t be able to produce a job out of a hat, but at least she can tell Josie about anything that might be coming up.
BOOKS!
As usual, not many.
I read one volume of the Slightly Foxed periodical to which I subscribe. It had sixteen contributions (usually essays of 2-4 pages) from a variety of people, some famous, some not at all. I always find something interesting to read, and this time an article that drew me in was ‘Don’t Give Up the Day Job’ by Frances Donnelly.
It’s about Graham Greene and his lesser known novel, the thriller STAMBOUL TRAIN. I have read The Honorary Consul, The Quiet American, The Power and the Glory, Our Man in Havana, Travels with My Aunt and Brighton Rock but I’d never picked this one up.
Greene wrote it simply to satisfy his publishers – he had indeed given up his day job at The Times to write full time, and although his first novel had been very well received, the next two had not had good sales. He was in his twenties, already married, and with no other means of financial support, so he wrote Stamboul Train as a ‘commercial book with film potential’. It’s about a disparate group of passengers on a train traversing a snowy Europe in the 1930s.
I have managed to find a copy in the library store, but haven’t started it yet. Donnelly is very keen on it, but says that Greene was so annoyed about having to write it in the first place that he refused to give the readers the resolution they would expect. She says ‘the writing and the vivid and strongly observed characters’ more than compensate for the ending. I will read it and find out if I agree.
I am currently reading THE ART OF A LIE by Laura Shepherd – I may have mentioned it last week. It’s about a confectioner in 18th century London, whose husband is brutally murdered. After his death Hannah discovers that social climber, secretive, Jonas was in possession of a vast sum of money. Hot on the tail of this money is Henry Fielding (the real life author of the novel Tom Jones, who became a magistrate), who is convinced it was obtained by nefarious means. Hannah sets out to investigate, and is accompanied by the mysterious Mr Devereaux, who claims he was a close friend of Jonas, and wants to help her. But does he?
I haven’t got too far yet, but there has already been one massive twist in the plot – i certainly didn’t see that coming. No-one is who he (or she) seems in this book. Hopefully I’ll have finished this by next week and can tell you whether it’s worth reading.
I have to go out now as I have booked for a talk about ‘The People of Stonehaven Harbour’ – which I presume means historic people, as these days the harbour is mainly populated by tourists and day trippers!
Have a good week all.
Good afternoon, Rosemary! I’m sure you won’t read this until it’s afternoon in Aberdeenshire.
I don’t remember you telling us about Josie. I hope she’s able to find a job opening eventually. I would think the arts field is a tough one to break into, as well a tough to find a job in a limited area. I used to say that to people who applied for library jobs, and bemoaned that they’re won’t any openings. Yes, there were jobs, but, for one reason or another, they were unable or unwilling to move. Unable I get, for family or relationship reasons. Unwilling because they just don’t want to move, I don’t get. Fortunately, I could move, and I moved every ten years or so for my jobs.
I’m really sorry for everyone in Europe and the northern U.S. who has to live through the heat without air conditioning. As much as I say I like heat, I do have air conditioning.
I’m not into walks, but I love to read about yours.
I’m sure you enjoyed your visit with Flynn. He’s about the same age, two months or so, as my new great-niece. They do change so much at that age.
Happy reading! I hope your weather gets better.
Rosemary, your description of the river Dee sounds like you were talking about the Coquitlam River near where we live – many exposed rocks and you can walk across the river in a few places the last few weeks. We need rain too. Seeing it now, it’s hard to remember that in winter when it’s raining here most of the time, the river often floods the walking trail beside it by a foot or more, and becomes a wild rushing thing.
I’m back! The last two weeks have definitely been a challenge. School started on Monday and I survived. Yay! The weather here is hot and smoky with all the fires. You can’t even see the foothills because of all the smoke. This coming week, we’re supposed to get cooler weather. I’m really looking forward to it.
I think I took Christmas in July literally. The books I’ve been reading lately all have Christmas themes.
Mrs. Claus and the Fatal Figgy Pudding by Liz Ireland.
Christmas is coming and Nick (aka Santa) and April, his wife are rushing around getting ready. April is busy with all her volunteering and Nick of course getting ready for his big night. As luck would have it, one of the elves finds a baby elf on the front step of the castle and April is determined to find its parents. One of her volunteer duties is the stage manager of Santaland’s annual play. During one of the rehearsals, the elf playing Tiny Tim dies after eating April’s figgy pudding. Now in addition to finding the baby’s parents, she has to solve a murder before Christmas.
A great addition to the series! It was a fast read and I loved the story.
A Christmas Guide to Family and Murder by Dianne Freeman
George’s sister, Fiona invites George and Frances to spend Christmas with the family at their Norfolk estate. While they looking forward to all the Christmas festivities in London, the children convinced them that they need to go to Norfolk because they get snow. Upon arrival, it’s raining and very windy. A lot of the neighbors have received a lot of damage, but the coast got the blunt of it. While the menfolk head off to help with the damage, Frances, Fiona, and the children stumble on a dead body in the field. With everyone gone, Frances and Fiona work to solve the murder.
This is the 9th book in the series and an enjoyable read. I never did guess who the murderer was.
The Mortal Enemy Murder Club by Gloria Chao
Having read the first book in the series, I was looking forward to a new adventure with the characters. Kat who is brilliant and doesn’t feel she fits in anywhere, is contacted by her sworn enemy, Mandy. Mandy is the voice of the podcast, Dish Gets Served. Mandy claims someone is stalking her and wants to kill her. For Kat and her best friend, Olivia it’s hard to believe because Mandy is a liar about everything but they agree to investigate. Plenty of hijinks amongst the trio. In some cases, the book just drags but there is an attempt at humor in the form of Kat’s parents.
Bev, Since school already started, I’m glad you found time to join in today. And, just as important, time to read a couple Christmas books. I have both of those books on my TBR pile, so I’m happy to see you enjoyed them.
Stay healthy! I’m sure it’s not easy with the aftereffects of the smoke.
We took a day trip to PA last Saturday. We went to Peddler’s Village which is an area of shops and restaurants to pick up a few things and then to Doylestown for lunch and to check out the bookstores. The used bookstore there runs porch sales where the books are either .99 or .35. I picked up a couple of Sci-Fi books off the .35 rack.
It’s been cooler and less humid here in NJ the past few days so Roger decided he wanted to replace the weedy patch on the side of the shed with a raised bed. More trips to Home Depot and the garden center. I really need to plant fewer vegetables next year because we are drowning in them. Of course I say that every summer and then plant to many the following year. Our library has a food bank kiosk in the lobby so I drop some of the extra there.
I only finished one book this week. Lesa reviewed a book by James Norbury that sounded interesting. My library didn’t have that one but they had THE CAT WHO TAUGHT ZEN. It was worth checking out for the illustrations alone but I also enjoyed the story.
Sandy, I picked up The Cat Who Taught Zen at the library yesterday. I’m glad you liked Norbury’s artwork and story. It’s next up on my pile.
Peddler’s Village sounds fun, especially the bookstore part of your trip. Isn’t it nice to get away once in a while?
Lesa, I saw the pictures of Columbus on the news. It was pretty bad in Cincinnati as well, but my corner only saw rain over 3″. Lots of downed trees and power outages with more rain predicted for this afternoon and Friday. I was glad I was able to stay inside. It has been a crazy summer.
I liked both of my books this week. Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser was not your typical sanitized Cinderella story. This one was told from the perspective of the stepmother, Ethelreda Tremaine. It more is a story of a mother’s love and the lives of women during the time. it is rather dark but very good.
My second book was on the other end of the spectrum-light and fluffy but the right book for the rainy days. In Missed Connections by Aimie K Runyan, Sabrina Sorensen is a single 37-year-old recently let go from her GM job at a restaurant in Paris. She returns to Solvang for her sister’s engagement party and is ganged up by her mother for not being married nor having a settled career. She decides to escape and ends up at the Burbank Airport with no idea where to go. The ticket agent takes her to a special lounge and explains she has the ability to allow Sabrina to revisit some of her past choices. I enjoyed the magical realism aspects of this one and the inside look at the business of Michelin starred restaurant. I loved this one and read it in a day.
We’ve been watching The Chelsea Detective on Britbox and are looking forward to Professor T on PBS Passport in between baseball games.
Happy Reading!
Sharon, I’m glad you only got the tail end of our storms. We’re supposed to have a break today before more rainy weather tomorrow. I’m hoping it isn’t as bad as it was earlier this week.
Missed Connection sounds very good. I just don’t understand mothers in books who nag their children about getting married. I was married for 26 years, but I’m very content now living alone. Of course, I’m avoiding the point that it was a fluffy book. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Good morning, all.
1. Pippin. We saw this 50 odd years ago, and frankly, weren’t that impressed, other than the Bob Fosse direction and choreography.
2. Derecho. Yes, they do talk about it here, and describe it as strong “straight line” winds, as opposed to the rotation you get with 🌪.
3. Weather has been warm to very warm – unfortunately, the hottest and most humid day was Saturday, when we went to the theater. (We were very disappointed in the show, by the way, plus two of the main characters were low talkers, to the extent where Jackie complained at intermission. ) We have caught up with the rain deficit. Luckily, our neighborhood has not had extreme weather.
Books. I think Jackie was reading Cindy Dees’s DOUBLE TAP last week. This week she’s reading the first in a K-9 series recommended by Margaret Mizushima in her newsletter, Kathleen Donnelly ‘s CHASING JUSTICE, the first of five books (so far) set in Colorado (like Mizushima’s series). She called it “very suspenseful” and likes it so far. I’ll read it after I finish my current books.
I read (as mentioned last time) the fourth Dez Limerick book, STORM WARNING. Dez is a great character and always worth reading, though you need to start with the first book, THE GATEKEEPER. (After that, book three was my favorite. )
I’ve never read Sigrid Nunez’s novels (though a friend recommended THE FRIEND, speaking of dog books), but now I’ve read her Collected Stories, IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU. I liked it, with one creepy exception.
Susin Nielsen’s SNAP is not my usual fare, but I’m glad I heard about it. It’s set in Lindy’s neck of the woods, Vancouver and its suburbs.
Several years ago, we watched a British tv series called THE OUTLAWS. Seven people (I believe) with little in common run afoul of the law and are assigned to the same community service, where they bond. (The first series was the best. ) SNAP immediately brought it to mind, even though the book (unlike the tv series) is not a crime story. Three very different characters – Frances (55), Geraint (41) and Parker (23) all “snap” (with provocation, it must be said) and run afoul of the law. They end up doing garbage pickup for their community service and, unlikely though it may seem, they really do bond and become friendly. Frances’s husband recently dumped her unceremoniously after nearly 25 years of marriage, something she didn’t see coming. She (like the author) is a successful writer of children’s and YA books. Geraint caught his wife and his boss in flagrante. And Parker snapped after a gross sexual attack at work.
This is very much worth reading to see how they change and bond. Nielsen is a successful author and the creator of the Canadian TV series FAMILY LAW (which we just discovered), which has run for four series. A thirtyish woman, a drunk, has to not only go to rehab and AA meetings, but work for her estranged father’s law firm alongside her two half-siblings.
Current reading: I went back to finish the new Longmire book, THE BROTHERS MCKAY by Craig Johnson.
I was impressed with the production I saw on Broadway, Jeff, but, I’ll admit, it’s the dancing I really enjoy. My sister loves the music, but, as you said, it’s not my favorite show.
I’m sorry your show wasn’t great, especially since you had to sit in the heat to see it.
Hmm. I’m not sure which Dez Limerick novel I like the best.
Well, you’re finishing The Brothers McKay, but it isn’t Craig’s best book.
Wel, he had the idea of adapting The Brothers Karamazov to Wyoming, I guess, so had to make it fit.
My blog didn’t recognize MM Jones today, probably because she isn’t at home. And, not for a good reason. I’m sorry, MM, and I hope you get home soon. She did ask me to post this for her.
Bad news here this week. A massive wildfire (Bug) started locally Saturday afternoon. By Monday afternoon, the entire valley I call home was under mandatory evacuations. We were packed and as ready as one can be. Fortunately, my sister lives just a couple hours away and we have a safe place to wait. The fire flared up again last night, so I haven’t been home in days. As of last night, the positive news is the fire didn’t reach the valley floor where I’m at. And I did manage to return my library loans before I left Reno. And complete two books.
I listened to a delightful audio, MURDER AT MELROSE COURT Court by Karen Baugh Menuhin (narrated by Sam Dewhurst-Phillips) Book 1 in the Heathcliff Lennox series.
A 1920s Christmas Country House Murder Mystery.
But then the murders begin and it snows and it all becomes very complicated….
“Nora sits with a cup of tea before her strong enough for a mouse to skate on…”
In this second book, former nun Nora Breen investigates supernatural deaths after a medium’s séance goes wrong, racing to save Detective Rideout from becoming the sixth victim. MURDER IN THE SPIRIT LOUNGE by Jess Kidd. Fun, puzzle-like mystery.
Hoping for good news today.
Good morning. On you recommendation, I finished caught up with the George Cross series by Tim Sullivan, and am waiting for The Tailor to be available at our library. Now I’m reading A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz. I’m fascinated by books in which the author inserts himself in the story, and this is definitely the best in the Hawthorne series. It is set in Hastings, where a film crew is working on a movie based on the 1st Hawthorne novel. Horowitz and Hawthorne are soon caught up in a murder investigation involving the cast of the movie, and also review one of Hawthorne’s first cases in Yorkshire. It’s a fast paced, intriguing book.
Thank you, Mary Ann! Tim Sullivan is one of my better recommendations in recent years. I’m glad you’re enjoying the series!
I’ve been off and on with the Hawthorne series. I’ll have to look for that one since you say it’s the best in the series. Thanks!
Hi all,
I’m a silent follower of Lesa’s but not generally a reviewer of books. And although I am not a reader of lots of romance books I do occationally dip into them when I am in need of escaping from my current life. (Caregiver to a husband with dementia.)
I’d like to put a word in for an auther I discovered some time ago, not sure now how I discovered her, maybe here?, all of whose work I have now read. Her name is Mhairi FcFarlane and she has written eight books, romance type which seem to fucus on the different social difficulties of mid-thirties aged women finding true love in this day and age. And although I am far past in age of her protaganists, she draws me in with her stories.
I do have to say she is a British writer and very into British culture, a lot of which goes a bit over my head, but is generally understandable. And even if I do miss the exact point I get the idea of what she is saying. Her story lines are often complicated but usually surprising and I just cannot get enough of her. I love the relationships her women have with their friends and how they support each other.
Just finished “Mad about You”, a story about a young women who has been in an emotionally abusive relationship and is trying to move on. And I have my name on the Amazon list for her next book.
I love your book recommendations. You all keep me trying new authers, lots of which become favorites. Thank you.
Hi, Diane. I’m glad you find this spot a respite at times. I’m glad you’re reading our comments on Thursdays, as well as the blog when you have time.
Thank you! Like you, I’m well past my thirties, but I appreciate stories of women that age. So many books featuring women in their twenties show immature women who haven’t yet lived. I appreciate books with characters who have dealt with a little life. I’m going to have to look for Mhairi McFarlain. Thank you.
A deracho storm is entirely new to me. And also to Glen. So we learned something new this week. And our weather has been very tame in comparison.
Glen recently started reading THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER by Tom Clancy. He is enjoying it and says it has much more plot and detail than the film adaptation. (I read the book years ago but all I remember is that I really liked it.) We have watched the film many times.
I am reading MORTMAIN HALL by Martin Edwards. It is the 2nd book in the Rachel Savernake mystery series. I am enjoying it but it is the kind of mystery that you have to pay a lot of attention to, so it is slow going for me.
I hadn’t heard that term either, Tracy, until the author Linda Castillo mentioned it in conjunction with Ohio’s weather. Now, it’s been in the news.
I need to try that series by Martin Edwards sometime. Thanks for letting me know it’s for when I have some time.
It was hot until yesterday. I’m hoping this isn’t some kind of rope a dope, where just when we least expect it, it’s 110 degrees again.
Jollibee’s opened a new restaurant where my niece lives. She was all excited about it, so we went to the grand opening. The line was very long, and stayed long the whole time we were there, like a Disney ride. It was around 108 degrees. Luckily, it only took about half an hour to get in. I was surprised no one passed out. My niece enjoyed the food and the experience, so it was worth it. I think I lost five pounds.
This week I read:
Save The Patriots! by Abby Reilly; The loyalists are hiding coded messages in a tree, and The patriots have to decode the messages to save the day. Pretty good for kids probably under twelve, so they break the codes, but it won’t be too easy.
The Ragman’s Son by Kirk Douglas; The autobiograph of the actor. Douglas isn’t really one of my favorites, but he stayed in the picture a long time, and never became a tool, unlike his son, Michael.
Purrs ad Peril by Jinty James; Almost all of the usual cozy tropes, except this time the victim isn’t obnoxious. Not a bad set up, with really two sleuths, and an unusual cat. The usual incompetent supercop isn’t too annoying, so that’s a plus.
Make it through August, Glen, and maybe it won’t be so bad. Good luck!
My least favorite cozy trope is when the sleuth owns a business, and leaves it all the time to go investigate. At least some authors have found a way around it with a sleuth who has a co-owner or works part time.
Save the Patriots does sound like a fun book for your group.
Glen, Purrs and Peril sounds entertaining, but do I want to start a series that has 23 books in it?!
If it’s lasted 23 books, it must have something going for it!
Hi, Lesa and friends! It’s been hot and occasionally stormy where I live, which has helped a bit in the drought. I am amazed at Rosemary’s comment about 75 feeling hot. These days I am thrilled when the temperature goes down to 75 degrees! One of the great joys of summer is sleeping with the windows open. My new place is super-quiet since I live near an Audubon preserve. During the night we hear summer insects and some frogs, at least until the birds start up.
This week I read a super-interesting book by Nnedi Okorafor, DEATH OF THE AUTHOR. It is about the power of storytelling in our lives and as a part of our humanity. There are parallel stories about a Nigerian-American author and her wildly successful post-apocalyptic sci-fi book called Rusted Robots. Both stories were really compelling.
The other excitement of this week (besides writing up the introduction of my DMin project) is that my son leaves tomorrow for a semester in Sweden. We are going to go for a walk this afternoon.
I love the sound (or lack of sound) at your new place, Trisha. It sounds beautiful. I would love to see the variety of birds there.
I hope your son enjoys his semester in Sweden. I had a niece and nephew do semesters in Europe, and they relished the chance to travel from their home bases.
I love the sound of frogs at night Trisha! We once lived at the edge of a golf course and we were lucky enough to be able to hear them croaking away, from a pond in the golf course as we were falling asleep. Pure bliss.
I’m not sure why, but I didn’t receive an email today. AND I’ve been gone all day, and just realized now that I hadn’t seen an email and haven’t written. So glad that you survived the dangerous storms, Lesa! The power of nature is indeed humbling.
I’m thrilled to have finally read The Murder Show by Matt Goldman. I am such a Nils Shapiro fan and he did show up in this book for a brief moment. Ethan is the writer for the Murder Show, which bases its content on real life content. Back home in Minnesota, while a writer’s strike is going on, his HS girlfriend, now a cop, strikes up their old friendship and convinces Ethan to investigate the death of their HS friend, which occurred 20 years ago. Ethan and Ro were accompanying their friend Ricky on that fateful day. His car broke down and Ricky went for help, while the couple stayed behind and made out in the car. Eventually they realized that Ricky should have returned and they go in search of him. He is found dead on the side of the road. His death is ruled a hit-and-run. Ro never believed this and in her current job she has found a number of similar cases to Ricky’s. She believes that all of these kids were dealing drugs. Ethan and Ro get too close to the truth and people start taking shots at them. More people are murdered. The perpetrator is brought to justice by the end of the book. Hoping that there is another book – either in this series or in the Nils Shapiro series. Ro works in the precinct where Nils wife, Gabriella, is chief of police, and her life was hanging in peril, with no closure at the end of the book. So I’m thinking that it’s likely!
I also read The Library by Bella Osborne. Teenage Tom is leading a very unhappy life. His mother died, his dad is an alcoholic, and nobody is really care for him. Maggie, a senior lady, is equally alone, living on her farm with nobody to talk to but the sheep. Tom and Maggie meet up at their local Library, and through the unified goal of saving their branch from closing, they strike up a close friendship and help each other to thrive. A real feel-good book!
Well, Mary, I have no idea why you didn’t receive the blog in email, but I hope it picks up again.
Did you read Dark Humor? It’s in the Nils Shapiro series. And, you’ll be pleased to know there’s a new one “supposed to be” out in November. However, I’m not sure because Amazon doesn’t have it listed, and I’ve seen the title as both Cold Blade and Cold Secret. Goldman’s webpage doesn’t have it listed yet. He still has Dark Humor up. We’ll see what happens.
I did read Dark Humor. But now I”m confused. In Dark Humor, Gabriella had been dead two years. But in The Murder Show she is very much alive, right? So the setting in The Murder Show is earlier than Dark Humor? It’s been a long day, so hopefully I’m getting this right! I will look forward to another book for sure!
Just looked up the publication dates and The Murder Show was published before Dark Humor. I’ve got my storyline straight now!
Using Trump logic, if you replace one of the Es with a W in “Derecho,” and then mix up the letters you get “Chowder.” Then it does not sound so bad.
Well, that definitely is a logic I wouldn’t think about, Jerry. But, I don’t get any of the logic coming out of D.C. nowadays.