Let’s talk weather, what you’re doing, and what you’re reading. I think summer is having its final gasp here. It’s sunny, with temperatures in the nineties. I like fall, but I like my electric bills before I turn on the heat late in the fall. I don’t use the air as much as I use heat.
It’s been a lazy week here, after Linda and I made a trip to Newark one afternoon. We went to see the Budweiser Clydesdales, but we took the time to enjoy a farmers’ market, a used bookstore with two cats (Edgar Allan Paws and Margaret Catwood), and had dinner before the Clydesdales were in a small parade around the courthouse square. It had been years since I saw them in a parade. It was certainly worth the half hour trip to Newark. We had so much fun.
My favorite picture is below. Love this horse, who was a real ham.
Then, on a quiet day yesterday, I bought tickets to three shows at different theaters. It must have been Margie’s influence with her Drama Queens expeditions. You’ll be hearing about these shows for the next seven months. I’m going to see Pride and Prejudice at Otterbein University in October. Linda and I have tickets to Come From Away (again) at a library theater in Lithopolis. Then, we’re going to see Into the Woods at Otterbein in April. I appreciate the opportunities for theater here. That doesn’t even include our tickets for the Broadway in Columbus series.
Let’s talk books, if I didn’t overwhelm you with forthcoming books the last couple days with the Treasures posts. I’m reading The Three Graces of Pearl Street by Elizabeth Wellington Rollins. It’s the story of three generations of Italian American women in a neighborhood north of Manhattan. Graziella, the matriarch, is ninety-six years old, an ex-nun who rules her world. Grace is a psychologist who teaches. She may be good at her job, but life is failing her. And, the youngest, Ella, dropped out of MIT two weeks before graduation. She’s an environmental activist, who has no direction in life. With changes in their lives, it’s the first time the three women have lived under the same roof in years.
What about you? What did you do this week? What are you reading?
David loved your Clydesdale pictures Lesa! Clydesdales are far and away his favourite horses.
Today it’s been bucketing down rain here. but we haven’t had rain for such a long time that it seemed a novelty rather than a reminder of what nearly every day will be like come fall and winter.
A busy week, mostly for David who has taken our grandson out for his first three driving lessons. The first one consisted of going to an empty parking lot, an excellent place for a brand new driver. He could learn the basics in a safe place and by day three he was out on some quieter roads and doing well. Both of them are having fun!
Then twice we’ve gone upstairs to our new neighbour’s and David’s been hanging her artwork for her – eight pictures the first time, and another six today. David does the work, and the neighbour and I chat while giving him instructions. He lost patience with me part way through the proceedings because apparently I do not hold a tape measure correctly.
Books:
LOST AND NEVER FOUND by Simon Mason (Bk 3 in the DI Ryan Wilkins mystery series)
I love this series. The mysteries themselves are twisty and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out you find out you’ve cleverly been led astray and have not been on the right track at all.
In this one, a troubled celebrity named Zara Fanshawe calls Emergency Services in the wee hours of the morning. Upon investigating, her Rolls Royce is found crashed and abandoned in a seedy part of London, but there’s no sign of Zara. She’s disappeared. Given that she’s a celebrity, the press is going wild and the police want the case closed as quickly as possible. But it’s convoluted and the more they dig around, the more complicated it all gets – involving all levels of society right from the homeless, through the working class, all the way up to society’s elite.
What makes this series stand out for me is that it’s just as much about Detective Inspectors Ray Wilkins and Ryan Wilkins themselves as it is about the cases. The two inspectors are the total opposite of each other – one posh, smooth, by-the-book, ‘Oxford-educated’ and the other ‘trailer park educated’, operating by following his instincts whenever and wherever they take him, and is quick to take offence and get angry. And yet both of them are so ‘human’ – they’re both vulnerable in their own way, they both have personal problems they’re dealing with. They struggle to work together as neither understands where the other is coming from and yet they both contribute equally to the solving of cases although using vastly different methods. Weirdly, they make a good team.
Great series.
THE KING’S WITCHES by Kate Foster
(Someone here at Lesa’s talked of this book before; apologies as I don’t remember who it was.)
Historical fiction inspired by the real-life North Berwick (Scotland) witch trials during the 16th century. Told from the points of view of three main characters, with plenty of other characters along for the ride. Each of these three have gone through, or are going through, a personal crisis and all three are harbouring a secret of their own– which is only made more dire because of the increasingly more frequent witch hunts taking place.
Anna, Princess of Denmark, is only 17 years old and politically bound to marry the king of Scotland in order to forge an alliance between Scotland and Denmark. She is currently betrothed to King James VI in a tradition known as handfasting, wherein the couple live as though married for a year and a day, at which time it will be determined whether she has proved herself worthy of being married to the man in question. Anna feels nothing for King James but it is her duty to not fail the handfasting period.
Kirsten, lady’s maid to Anna, has her own reasons why she doesn’t want Anna to fail, and why she’s keen to be in Scotland.
Jura is a young woman in Scotland down on her luck who has secured a housemaid’s position in the Kincaid household, but that turns out to be a dangerous situation and she is forced to flee. She ends up in peril because her gifts as a healer bring her to the attention of those men in power who are hunting witches.
On their way to Scotland the fiercest storm ever seen besets the boats carrying Anna and Kirsten to Scotland, and many do not survive the journey. Meanwhile, King James is becoming more and more obsessed and panicked about witches and is convinced his brother is in league with the devil to overthrow his rule of Scotland.
A book worth reading, not only for the glimpses into the lives of women at that time, but also for the horrifying / fascinating sections detailing the so-called ‘confessions’ of accused witches and the gruesome tortures they went through to get them to admit to all manner of untrue acts.
I was appalled to see in the historical notes that over a period of just over three years 40,000 – 60,000 (!) people were killed because they were suspected of practising witchcraft. I had no idea.
Lindy, I wish David had taught me to drive. We had driver training in high school and the first day our instructor took us out on a busy highway.
I so agree Sandy! My mother couldn’t drive and we didn’t have a car, so for me it was the driving school or nothing. I was hopeless, and although i did eventually pass the driving test, I’ve never enjoyed driving. I’m so glad we live on two good bus routes and have a big train station in the city centre.
Also our petrol continues to hover around $10 a gallon, so a free bus pass (to which anyone over 60 in Scotland is entitled) is such a bonus.
Lindy, I’m glad your new upstairs neighbors are such a satisfying change from the previous ones – even if it’s more work for David.
Lindy, your comments reminded me of my father teaching me how to drive many, many years ago. We went to a quiet street behind the high school. Coincidentally, where we live now is a quiet area (near a high school), and every day you see at least two or three cars from a driving school with kids(mostly) learning how to parallel park and make a u-turn.
Lindy, I love those Clydesdale pictures. We enjoyed seeing them, and the route was so small, they circled the square three times, and then posed for photos. I love that lead horse. Even when he was just standing there, he posed. I’m happy David enjoyed them!
I have to look for those books by Simon Mason. They sound good. Thank you!
Hi Lindy
It was probably me who mentioned The King’s Witches, as I remember reviewing it for the publisher.
The persecution of witches was a truly appalling period in British history, and one which has only really been investigated quite recently. It was, of course, all about ‘othering’, and the fear (James VI was immensely superstitious) of anything – and particularly any woman – who didn’t tow the line and do as she was told. Unfortunately there are far too many parallels in today’s world.
I was driving a tractor as soon as I could reach the pedals, so it feels like I always knew how to drive.
It’s quarter end close at work. (slightly off fiscal year) Last Friday was a disaster, but this week has been going better. At least so far. I’ll be diving into the extra reporting tomorrow and Friday with the goal to finish it all by end of day Friday. That’s a bit ambitious, so we will see how it goes.
And our weather has really cooled off. We are in the mid-80’s, which is almost 20 degrees cooler than we’ve been. I went for a run before work this morning, and it was actually chilly.
Reading wise, I’m just over half way into THICKER THAN WATER, the sixth Laurel Highlands Mystery from Liz Milliron. This one features the body of a collage aged woman in a shack. I’m really enjoying it and can’t wait to see how it wraps up. That will probably be Friday, but only because I am some stuff going on after work tomorrow. Otherwise, I’d finish it tomorrow evening.
That week again, Mark. I’m happy you at least have something after work today to make up for the frantic schedule at work. And, you have a good mystery for escape when you have time. Good luck tomorrow!
I should check this author’s books. We used to live in the Laurel Highlands in Fayette County. I really like books that refrence places I am familiar with.
I definitely recommend the series, Diane. The first official novel is Root of All Evil, but there is a prequel short story collection called Murder Most Scenic.
Oh this horses – magnificent!!
What I’m reading….
While on the subject of well-drawn Manhattan based characters, I just finished Suburban Dicks and now I’ve started the 2nd (and sadly last) in the series The Self Made Widow by Fabian Nicieza.
Both are hysterically and diabolically funny and very well plotted – especially if you’ve spent any time in an East Windsor New Jersey mall.
Our heroine is definitely not a Jersey Shore housewife – thought she finds herself cast as one and has hung with the best of them. Rather she is a very intelligent, 7 months heavily pregnant unfulfilled housewife who definitely deserves better.
Both books star two incredibly likeable–and unlikely–sleuths investigating murders that ultimately reveal the dark underbelly of a suburban marriage.
The characters are relatable. The humour is as sarcastic as you would expect from someone who grew up in Manhattan and has solved quite a few murders before finding herself in the a petrol station in Southern Jersey picking up her cheating husbands dry-cleaning.
The plot develops over the two books and I so wish there was a third but no. The author – Fabian Nicieza – who is the co-creator of Deadpool and has worked on Marvel titles such as X-Men, X-Force, New Warriors, and Robin has gone back to his first love – comics.
Susan, thank you so much! I loved Nicieza’s SUBURBAN DICKS (I told Jackie to read it too and she agreed) but had no idea there was a second book. Will definitely read it.
Enjoy – I check ever so often – just in case – but there really are only two.
A family member lived in East Windsor before moving to one of the Hopes so I was really interested in how well a murder or two slipped into the township
They set me off reading the Pete Fernandez Miami Mystery series written by another comic book creator Alex Segura. Another great series. There are only 5 and they are very noir – he also wrote a stand alone – Secret Identity. I read this too- but missed Pete.
I’m glad people are enjoying the pictures of the horses, Susan.
Don’t you hate it when a favorite series ends, and there doesn’t appear to be another one on the horizon? Nicieza is probably making much more money from Deadpool.
True – but I wonder if Dicks was a pilot fot another comic or if that’s the only reason authors write.
The Deadpool court case was so interesting.
I too have read Suburban Dicks and liked it and like Jeff, I didn’t know there was a second book. But I do now. Thanks.
Good morning!
Thanks for sharing the pictures of the beautiful Clydesdales! Luciano is finishing up another week of radiation today. The radiation department is also taking Labor Day off, so he will have a long weekend. We are all going to meet in Detroit, where there are a series of outdoor jazz concerts along the riverfront. I am reading Corpse Road by David J. Gatward. This is the 3rd book in the Harry Grimm series set in the Yorkshire Dales.
Rosemary, you were asking about children’s books earlier. We started reading The Little Blue Truck series by Alice Schertle to him when he was a few months old. They feature a truck, Little Blue, and his animal friends. He will be 3 in 2 weeks and they are still his favorite books. A new title just came out, so he will get that for his birthday!
Jennifer, Thank you for keeping us in the loop for Luciano. I’m sure he’s ready for a long weekend.
I hope you have as much fun at the jazz concerts as we did at the Clydesdale event!
I’m sure Rosemary will be reading all the remarks, so she’ll see the post about The Little Blue Truck. I wish I’d known about the series earlier. Thank you!
Hi Jennifer
Thanks so much for this recommendation (I’ve only just got back from town, so apologies for the delay). I will add this to my list for Flynn, it’s always so good to know what other children have enjoyed.
I do hope Luciano enjoys his long weekend off, and that you all have a lovely time in Detroit. The daughter of a friend of mine moved there for work last year. Until then I think we had all thought of Detroit as a big industrial city, but Rose is loving all the countryside around it and had joined up for walking groups and other activities. Her Mum has visited twice and says it’s a great place to live. The only problem they have is that Rose’s husband is *still* waiting for a work permit, so he is still in England, but they are hoping things will be resolved in a couple of months.
A local museum has a number of James Audubon’s songbird prints on exhibit so we went to see that last Saturday. Otherwise it’s pretty much rained all week.
I read The Launch Part by Lauren Forry. A murder mystery that takes place in a luxury hotel on the moon. The guests are there for the grand opening but the staff are all missing. I enjoyed the first half of the book but the second half dragged.
I’m currently reading Before We Say Goodbye by Oshikazu Kawaguchi, book 4 in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. More stories of people who travel to a cafe in order to revisit the past, but they have to drink their coffee before it gets cold or they will take the place of the cafe ghost. I’m enjoying it and have two more books left in the series.
Should be The Launch Party
Well, the premise of The Launch Party sounds interesting, Sandy. I’m sorry the book didn’t really work for you. I hate it when I invest time in a book, and then it’s just ho-hum.
That sounds like an interesting book, Lesa! And the parade with the horses – what fun! RE: weather – it has rained a lot this week and the humidity has departed – yippee! As mentioned last week, I had our furnace ducts cleaned on Tuesday – it was a very noisy 3 hours but I am happy to have it done. Today I have a women’s group luncheon to attend and my husband, who has been on a business trip, comes home. A good day ahead!
This past week I read:
– The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts – #5 in the Marlowe Murder Club. Another fun book with Judith, Becks, and Suzie running amok trying to solve the mystery of who murdered two local celebrities. Don’t look too hard at how Becks and Suzie have the time to devote this endeavor and just enjoy the ride. This book also revealed more about Judith’s past marriage when the bastard daughter of her deceased husband shows up accusing Judith of murdering her father 20 years earlier. It seemed for a while that Judith was truly off her game trying to set the record straight, but of course, not to worry!
-A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle Cullen. Harry is a widower who recently took a spill and is having to relearn how to walk due to a fractured hip. Enter Emma, his new caregiver, to assist with his recovery. A twenty-something young lady, she is trying to find a new career path, after giving up a job in critical care. She is recently engaged to a childhood friend who has come back into her life and swept her off of her feet. But said feet are getting cold when her fiance moves too fast with upending her world, including a move to a different city. Somewhat to distract her from her personal life woes, Emma finds herself getting sucked into helping Harry discover who murdered one of his condo association residents. Personal injuries refuse to slow down this dynamic duo in their relentless, and unappreciated, amateur attempts to assist the police. At times touching, and never dull, I would definitely read the next installment in this series.
A luncheon, and your husband’s return, along with rainy weather. It does sound like a good day, Mary. I hope everyone who needs rain gets it, but not the flooding type of rain we had last month.
It sounds as if it’s been a satisfying book week. And, so far, my book is interesting. I’ve read a hundred pages, and that’s more than I give a book if I’m not enjoying it.
Mary, I thought A Field Guide to Murder was very good! I have the second one in the series on pre-order; it will be out soon! (A Field Guide to Death and Deceit)
I agree, Lindy, I think it will be good – you’ll probably read it before me, so will look forward to your review!
Years ago, when I worked in Yosemite NP, there were two mules in the high country pack train from clydesdale stock. Just huge in comparison to others, but quite gentle. It’s unseasonably cool here this week, 38 degrees one night. And I’m so not ready for winter.
The recent wildfires (5!) seemed they would never end; two fatalities, nearly 100 homes lost and well over 100,000 acres burned. In just the last fire, animal services assisted evacuating 314 animals where the owner was not able to do so.
All that was not particularly conducive to reading. I started & DNF several books and knew I needed some comfort reading. Lesa, you started me on the path with your mention of Five Little Pigs two weeks ago, so Christie it was. I read MURDER IS EASY, published in 1939 as Easy to Kill in the US. Christie’s Superintendent Battle has a cameo appearance, but it’s really a non-series story featuring Luke Fitzwilliam, an ex-police officer. THE MURDER ON THE LINKS, the second Hercule Poirot Mystery. And THE AFFAIR AT THE BUNGALOW, a Miss Marple’s short story. I’d forgotten about Marple’s The Tuesday Night Club series. It was originally part of an anthology titled Thirteen Problems in 1932.
And a bit of cotton-candy reading. THE EX-GIRLFRIEND MURDER CLUB by Gloria Chao. Fast-paced, funny, and full of wild shenanigans. A murder mystery, three women dating the same man band together to get revenge, but when they discover his body, they’ll need to solve his murder
The sheriff’s office arrested a “suspected” arsonist earlier this week when he was seen lighting a fire within sight of the county emergency management facility. Hopefully, things will get back to normal now.
Oh, MM. Those fires are so tragic, with the loss of lives and land. I hope it does get back to normal. And, I hope that arsonist was caught. Arson is a crime that is just beyond my comprehension.
I’m happy that Agatha Christie was the right escape for you. I know what it’s like to be stressed and worrying, and nothing heavy works to read. When I went through that while I was waiting to hear about a job I wanted, I read Nancy Drew books.
I meant to comment, MM, about the two mules who were from Clydesdale stock, but larger than other mules. I bet they were!
Lesa, loved the pictures. Who doesn’t love the Clydesdales? It reminds me of when we went to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna 50 years ago.
Good choice of shows. We saw the original production of INTO THE WOODS in 1987, and of course we’ve seen (and) loved COME FROM AWAY.
Books, then. After FOURTH WING (“fabulous”), Jackie is reading the second of Tess Gerritsen’s Maine-set series about friends who are retired CIA agents, THE SUMMER GUESTS. She likes it. She has a second Jenn McKinlay book up next, and the second Rebecca Yarros.
I seem to be buying more books (Jack Ritchie’s short stories, Dervla McTiernan’s THE UNQUIET GRAVE, Robert Boswell’s DANCING IN THE MOVIES) or taking out library books (Caitlin Mullin’s HEATHER, Roshan Gunasekera’s THE MIDNIGHT TAXI) than reading them.
I’m currently reading GOLDEN AGE SUSPENSE STORIES, edited by Otto Penzler, with stories by Cornell Woolrich, Stanley Elln, Hugh Pentecost, Q. Patrick among others. Good stuff. I read 49 stories last month, about average for the year, and I’m over 400 for the year.
Despite my expectations last week, the book I read first was Ellery Lloyd’s time travel mystery, TIME TO BURN. Lloyd is a pseudonym for a British husband and wife team. It’s the near future and time travel is not only possible but legal, if highly regulated, to the point where only the very rich can afford it. A group of four tourists – a very rich real estate guy and his girlfriend, hus son and daughter in law- travel with the guide to 1941 London, during the Blitz. Zillionaire Inigo Frank, who has “discovered” time travel , has everything carefully planned, yet things go wrong, and one person is left behind. We quickly discover there is more going on than we knew, both in the past and present. One of the key rules of most time travel fiction is to disturb the past as little as possible, do not do anything that might change the present, but what if the whole reason you went back was to deliberately change things? For one example of this, see Stephen King’s 11/22/63. This is another, a fast and entertaining read that had me reading furiously to the end.
The other books was Tim Sullivan’s latest George Cross book, THE TAILOR, which Lesa already reviewed. I’ll say no more until I finish it.
You’re right, Jeff. The Clydesdales are gorgeous. As my sister says, the best advertisements ever. We went to see them, and I took pictures of the wagon, and neither of us drink beer. I would love to see the Lippizan horses. One of my favorite Phyllis A. Whitney books, Airs Above the Ground, featured them.
I get it. I have way more library books home than I’ll ever read. I’m taking seven back today, and have eight to pick up. (sigh) And, like you, I usually spend my mornings playing a puzzle game.
I have Fourth Wing home, but I don’t know if I’ll get to it this time around. Tell Jackie I appreciate her comment, though.
It’s Yosha Gunasekera, not Roshan
I hate autocorrect.
Oh, those Clydesdales are so magnificent looking. It’s on my bucket list to get to go to the ranch in Missouri to see them.
False fall has hit Idaho. It’s raining today and we’re supposed to have a cool Labor Day weekend. I’m hoping the rain ceases for some of the weekend so I can get some yardwork done. Our neighbors’ English ivy is crawling over our fence, and we need to hack it back before winter. Don’t ever plant the stuff. It is an invasive weed in my opinion. Looks pretty but does a lot of damage to the side of your house.
Last weekend, I went on a road trip up to north Idaho for a meeting. The building it was in was interesting. Bathrooms were in the basement and the meeting room was three flights of stairs up, no elevators and no handrails. Most of the people attending were in their 70s/80s and really struggled with the stairs. It makes you wonder what the organizers were thinking.
My reading was slow this week with all the driving I had to do. I’m in the middle of S.J. Bennet’s latest book – Death on the Royal Yacht. The Queen is on a tour of the West Indies’ islands and her new diary secretary turns up dead. The ship’s doctor determines it was an overdose but everything points to murder.
I can see why that’s on your bucket list, Bev. They’re beautiful animals.
You’re right. I would have had a terrible time with the stairs with no hand rails. I tell my sister, I don’t have any problem going down, but it takes me forever to go up stairs.I’m short and chunky, and not built for stairs.
I put the SJ Bennett on hold at the library. I was too late to request it on NetGalley. I like that series.
Thanks for the tip about the SJ Bennett book! I really like those. I hope the weather works out for you this weekend.
I’m Not the Only Murder in my retirement home….
Fun , clever read. Don’t know if I liked the ending. Dear Debbie was certainly a surprise too! Liked it.
I started I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home, Carol Jeanne, and just couldn’t get into it. I’m glad I didn’t since you didn’t like the ending.
Good morning! Those Clydesdales are lovely. If I can’t see them in person, I hope they will make appearances on TV. The weather here for the past few days has been a nice respite from the heat–in the seventies! I hope it continues, but I see we are still due for some nineties days coming up. I’m glad you are enjoying that book, Lesa, as I did. Nothing eventful going on this week, just two days of miserable scores playing cards. The camaraderie is worth it, though. I’m finding right now that the TV I enjoy is heating up, taking some time away from my reading hours. My son Nick and I are enjoying the new season of Ted Lasso (love that series) and the outrageous Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, a quirky spinoff from The Big Bang Theory, starring some of that series’ supporting characters. Coming up are new seasons of Dancing With the Stars and The Traitors (US), and I’m enjoying the second season of Leanne. Somehow, I managed to read three books this week, and 13 total for the month, which I haven’t reached for a while.
After enjoying the conversation between Judi Dench and fellow actor Brenda O’Hea in their last collaboration, Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent (2024), I was thrilled to learn about their newest extended conversation, IS IT TOO LATE TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT? This time around, the focus is less on Dame Judi’s experience as a Shakespearean actor and more on the many aspects of this 91-year-old’s life, family, friends, and career. Chapters cover such diverse areas as animals (her pets–currently a talking parrot–and animals working on her sets), the challenges of playing real people and of performing in musicals when, she confesses, she can’t sing, superstitions and dressing room rituals, faith, travel, aging, gardens and trees, and the rules of comedy. I love the idea that Judi plants a special tree on her property in memory of each dear friend she has lost, many of whose names you will recognize. And I thoroughly enjoyed her behind-the-scenes anecdotes and her musings on a wide variety of subjects. Judi’s career has encompassed TV, movies (including an Oscar-winning performance and eight Bond films playing M), voiceovers, and–her favorite–theater. Although of short stature, Dame Judi is a towering figure in the acting world. At the same time, she comes across as unpretentious, irreverent, and somewhat of a prankster And I share her her pet peeves–intrusive cell phones and bad grammar. She is an original. Just don’t call her a “national treasure”! (November)
Another show biz book! As a big fan of the sitcom Frasier, I was delighted to see that Jane Leeves, who played Frasier’s father’s caregiver Daphne Moon for all 11 award-winning seasons, has written a memoir titled DAPHNE AND Me, together with her daughter. Originally from England and wanting nothing so much as a career as a ballerina, Jane had to switch gears after an injury when she was 16. Moving to London at 18, she started to get small dance jobs on stage and in music videos, then strictly acting jobs, notably on comedian Benny Hill’s sketch comic TV show, before trying for an acting career in Los Angeles. She had some success with guest star and recurring roles on such shows as Murphy Brown and Seinfeld before lucking into the pilot of Frasier, which changed her life when it debuted in 1993. Although regularly suffering from imposter syndrome, Jane was fortunate to work with James Burrows, one of the most sought-after comedy TV showrunners, who regularly had actors and writers working together, treating them all with respect. While Lisa Kudrow was originally hired to play Roz, she was quickly replaced by Peri Gilpin, and an amazing cast came together–Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney. And, of course,Eddie, the quirky Jack Russell terrier that won viewers’ hearts despite–or because of–his naughty antics. The chapter describing how Moose (playing Eddie) got the part, thanks to his creative trainer and his amazing “acting” ability, is especially fun to read. Jane’s description of a typical episode week–from the table read on Wednesday to show day the following Tuesday, is something I haven’t seen in other show biz memoirs, and quite fascinating. Other topics she covers include her personal life and family, the evolving relationship of Daphne and Niles over the years, details about certain memorable episodes, awards shows, talk shows, the cast’s love of interacting in their Green Room, and the shocking death of co-creator and writer David Angell and his wife on one of the crashing planes on 9/11. This is a lovely memoir, revealing the personality of the down-to-earth author, taking me on a delightful trip down memory lane, and spurring me to look for streaming reruns that I can visit once again. (October)
THEO OF GOLDEN is Allen Levi’s debut novel that has moved many of its readers, based on user reviews. At the center of the story is 86-year-old Theo, originally from Portugal, who moves from New York to the small town of Golden, Georgia for reasons that are unrevealed until late in the book. He prefers to keep his last name private but nevertheless decides to trust another elderly man, a consultant who agrees to take him on as a client and rents him the building’s palatial top-floor apartment, which has long been empty. Theo wastes no time in familiarizing himself with the town, introducing himself to the Vietnam vet who owns the bookstore and to the proprietor of a cafe where he first notices a wall of arresting pencil portraits–92 of them. Theo quickly makes it his goal to gradually purchase each portrait, find the person with that face with the help of the consulting company, and “bestow” the drawing, free of charge, on the rightful owner, meeting each one individually on a park bench by the water with a handwritten letter of explanation. In the process, he learns that some of the people have difficult problems they cannot resolve alone, and Theo uses the large monetary deposit he has given the consultant to find ways to support them. Throughout the book, we learn more about the locals who find themselves in Theo’s inner circle of friends. I especially enjoyed seeing how these people begin to flourish, feeling at last that someone sees them clearly, appreciates them, and finds them worthy of special attention, and how Theo himself benefits from their interactions. The only issues I have with the book are the final chapters–the author’s choices feel too extreme. But I enjoyed finding out at last about Theo’s life and true identity. I especially relished the epilogue, with one reservation–I couldn’t find anything indicating how much time had elapsed since the previous chapters, which I would have appreciated. Overall, I’m glad I finally caught up with Theo of Golden.
Reading Progress
Finished Reading Add a date
July 2, 2026 – Shelved (Kindle Edition)
Started Reading Add a date (Kindle E
Sorry, I forgot to delete the publisher info after my Theo of Golden review.
Margie, Sometimes, I only watch the Super Bowl to see the Clydesdale commercials.
I have that Judi Dench book from NetGalley. It sounds as if it’s even more fun than the Shakespeare one because it’s more personal. I’m looking forward to it.
And, I “bought” Theo of Golden for my Kindle, which means I have no idea when I’ll get around to it. So many other books to read!
Yes, I think I had more fun with this Judi Dench book, although I enjoyed the Shakespeare one as well. As for Theo of Golden, I bought it on Kindle months ago but waited to read it until it was a book club selection. Next week we will discuss at book club!
There seem to be a lot of show biz memoirs that I want to read right now. I already read the ones by Judi Dench and Jane Leeves, and just now I was offered a widget for a new book about the Young Sheldon series, which Nick and I watched religiously together. It’s by the same author who wrote the book about The Big BangTheory, so I know I will love it. I’m trying so hard not to add books to my NG shelf, but the other day I requested three (!) and already got one. October seems an especially busy month for releases (many of which are Christmas books)..
Margie, thanks for mentioning the Judi Dench book. I loved her bok on playing Shakespeare. I’m a huge fan. We first saw her on stage in London in 1974 in the musical adaptation of THE GOOD COMPANIONS. As she admits, she’s no singer (though she was infinitely better than co-star John Mills), but she was terrific, as she was a few years later in my favorite Shakespeare comedy, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. We’re currently re-watching her series AS TIME GOES BY.
Oh, the Clydesdales! ❤❤❤
Beautiful, Lesa.
i love food writers Ruth Reichl and Laurie Colvin and sometimes an essay is “just right.”
PANTRY by Am Bloom ticks all the right boxes.
Description from NetGalley
New York Times bestselling novelist and essayist Amy Bloom weaves together stories and recipes in a celebration of the pleasures of the kitchen, where perfection is beside the point, generosity is everything, and great meals can come at the best and worst times.
pantry
n. a small room or closet in which food, dishes, and utensils are kept
v. to grab someone with whom you very much wish to converse and drag them into a pantry
Amy Bloom writes about food the way she writes about all things: with wit, warmth, insight and tenderness for life’s complications, troubles, and simple joys.
Lasagna cooked at dawn to woo a lover with an Italian mother. A pot of cheesy rice to comfort people worn out by winter or by life. A crispy latke pile to herald the humble feast of Chanukah. Sumptuous sticky buns baked by the Yeast God of South Dakota himself.
In Pantry, part memoir, part kitchen companion, part love letter, Bloom celebrates foods that bring meaning and joy to life, from the humble to the decadent, and pays homage to the magic that comes from a simple meal, made with care and shared with others. In seventeen pieces of short nonfiction with accompanying recipes and beautiful illustrations, we are introduced to the meals that resonate throughout her life, from a childhood love of the simple magic made in the kitchen to dishes cooked for boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, children—all possible versions of family. You are invited into the kitchen of this gifted storyteller sharing the indelible ways in which food punctuates and illuminates her life. For Bloom, feeding the people she loves is happiness, and there’s always a seat at her table.
Thank you, Kaye!
And, Pantry sounds good. You’re right. Sometimes, food essays are just comfort reading. I’ll have to look for it. Thank you!
Thank you, Kaye!
I put this on my list.
I love books about food! We had a pantry when I was a child – these days it would be seen as a luxury – the only person I’ve heard of who still has one is Nigella Lawson.
For so many people, comfort food is tied up with what they ate as a child, and many are particularly nostalgic about their grandmother’s cooking. I’m sorry to say one of my grandmothers used to dish up almost inedible meat and overcooked vegetables, and the other never cooked a thing. She survived on raw eggs beaten in a cup and often livened up with brandy. She lived to what was then the good age of 75.
I’ll look for this book, thanks Kaye.
We saw the Clydesdale’s when we visited Grant’s Farm in St. Louis. They really are magnificent.
How fun you and sister got to see them in Newark.
This Sunday we went to see Crazy for You at the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater. The singing and dancing were outstanding. A week from Saturday we will be seeing Come from Away at the Lincolnshire Marriott Theater near my daughter in Buffalo Grove. We are taking our grandson and are very much looking forward to it.
Our weather here has been miserably hot again with the feel like temperatures over 100 degrees, it just takes your breath away to step outside.
Two books for me this. Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan was lots of fun. I think it’s been reviewed here several times. The premise itself was pretty silly with socially awkward rich man Stewart paying single mom Dolly $10,000 to pretend to be his date at functions. There were a couple of times I nearly rolled my eyes right out of my head over some situations, but I liked Dolly, Stewart and her son Gus. It was the perfect summer read.
Next, I read Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson. This was another bring your favorite book boyfriend to life plot. This time it was Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. I thought she did a good job with it but then it just ended abruptly. If you are looking for something light and fluffy to escape the nastiness of our world, I would recommend this one.
Happy Reading!
My friend, Donna, saw them at the farm, too, Sharon. I’m envious that you both got to see them up close. There was security around them in Newark.
I like reading about the shows you’ve seen or will see. Have you seen Come From Away? I know it’s a favorite for Jeff, Margie, and me, as well as some others. I’ve seen it multiple times. It’s such a feel good show, one that we really need nowadays.
I want to read Dolly All the Time, but I keep taking it back to the library unread because I have others and people are waiting for that one. Some day!
My friend and I have just bought tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar. I am pretty sure I saw it in London when it first came out.
I loved Come From Away and would gladly see it again. The other show I’d like to see at least once more is ABBA Voyage, though this time I’d get standing tickets so that I could dance all through it and not just at the end!
Rosemary, I think you like dancing as much as my friend, Donna, does. I asked her one day if she could only listen to one song for the rest of her life (not continuously, just whenever she wanted music), what would it be. She answered Nathan Carter’s Dance with Everybody. And, I’ve seen her dance to it when we watched the video.
I have not seen Come From Away. I think it going to be special to see it on the 25th anniversary weekend. My neighbor says the Broadway version is streaming on Apple TV
We have season tickets the Incline theater. It is considered community theater but the actors get paid a small stipend. You really do have to drive up a steep incline to get there but the view of the Ohio River and Cincinnati skyline is beautiful.
I think you would like Dolly All the Time.
I’ve seen the filmed version of Come from Away, Sharon. It’s terrific because it’s the cast I saw several times on Broadway. The entire cast is great, but I loved Jenn Collela as the pilot. She has a gorgeous voice for her solo, Me and the Sky.
I love it when theater lovers have season tickets to any theater!
I’ll read Dolly All the Time sometime. I think I’d like it, too.
I stayed up to write this last night as I knew I had to go out early this morning. And need I tell you it was only when I was on the bus on my way into town that I remembered I hadn’t posted it. Hey ho – here it is, anyway…
Good morning everyone, from an already autumnal Aberdeen.
The temperatures have dropped here, and while we have still had some lovely sunny days, it doesn’t feel like summer anymore (which is fine by me.) Here in northern Scotland we’ve had some much-needed rain too, though the Dee is still exceptionally low. The herons are back on the river banks, so I presume the water is deep enough, and flowing fast enough, for some fishing.
I didn’t get the chance to participate here last week, but I did have some fun days. On Monday I took myself down to Dundee on the bus. As soon as I arrived I visited my favourite café for a coffee and a delicious rock cake, then I walked on to the Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art to see their Masters exhibition. I enjoyed seeing the students’ work, and I also had a great chat with the lady running the desk – she, like me, had been a lawyer, and again like me was only too keen to give it up. Now that her children are older she has returned to college and is in the third year of a degree in Fine Art. She thoroughly recommended going back to study if you can.
I also went to the McManus Museum (owned by the city) to see an exhibition of costumes from film and TV, with information about the various designers. On the way back to the bus station I couldn’t resist a browse round some of Dundee’s excellent charity shops, and at my favourite one (the Red Cross) I found some bargains – a Seasalt dress for just £3 and a Next jumpsuit, also £3. The staff in this shop are so friendly and welcoming, I always enjoy a chat with them while I am there.
When I got to the bus station the direct bus was nowhere to be seen, so I decided to try the Stagecoach service that takes the coast road to Aberdeen. I knew it would be slower, but I hadn’t appreciated quite how slow ! Nevertheless, it was a beautiful sunny evening and I had nothing special to get back for, so I really enjoyed the views of the sea on one side and the golden fields stacked with hay bales on the other. This bus goes into many of the small fishing villages, so the passengers are quite different from those who take the motorway service; people are often travelling short distances, and meet friends on the bus – it’s all very local and jolly.
So all in all I had a great day out.
I had several good walks last week, and on Thursday evening I attended a poetry night at Books & Beans, a café in the city centre. The format seemed to be that a few poets are listed as the ‘key’ performers, but anyone else can sign up for an on-the-night slot. I was so impressed with the skill and imagination of every poet; some were funny, some serious, some had been performing all their lives, others were trying out for the first time. I admired their courage, though the group was very supportive and appreciative. I had gone because my friend Lucy, the Doric poet, was there, and I think I’ll go again next time.
On Friday my friend Karen and I decided it was just too dreich to go for a walk, so instead we met at the university library and visited an exhibition curated by the art history students. It consisted of items from the university’s Linklater collection. Eric Linklater was a previous chancellor of the university; he and his wife collected art, and on his death the family donated many items. They were especially keen on the Scottish Colourists like Samuel Peploe and ?John? Fergusson.
And I finally found out what Ekphrastic poetry means – apparently it’s a response to a work of visual art. The WayWord festival, which is student-led and takes place next month, is running a competition for Ekphrastic poems inspired by works in the exhibition – I sent the details to my daughter Madeleine and to my surprise she decided to enter, so I am excited to see if she has any success. I couldn’t write a poem to save my life, so I admire anyone who can.
This week was supposed to be a bit quieter, but needless to say it’s not worked out that way! Today we had our Memories of Scotland afternoon at our local library, which this time was very well attended. This month Ewen had prepared ‘a Walk down Union Street’ (the main street in the city), and had dug up all sorts of interesting stories about the buildings, the people, and events that had taken place there over the years. Some of the older people who came along had grown up in Aberdeen and had great memories of it. It’s such an enjoyable afternoon, not only because the presentation is so interesting but also because it provides such good social interaction; we all have a cup of tea and a good laugh.
Tomorrow I am going to a workshop about sleep! It is being facilitated by a new wellbeing group working alongside the council, so I thought I might as well give it a go – anything that might give me more sleep is definitely worth a try. I rarely get more than 5 hours, even on a good night, and often it’s less. So many of my friends have similar issues and between us we feel we have tried just about everything – maybe this will give us some new ideas.
Books! Yes, for once I have actually read some.
I finished Molly Clavering’s RESULT OF THE FINALS and am now scouring charity shop shelves to see if I can find any more of this author’s work. My library doesn’t have anything else, and my only other option is to buy Dean Street Press’s new editions, which are lovely but expensive. Clavering wrote many books in the mid-20th century; this one was about some farming families living around a valley in the Scottish Borders. It’s a fairly light story, mainly about relationships and families, but so beautifully written, and the characters so well drawn, that I just loved every page.
I then read Graham Greene’s STAMBOUL TRAIN, which I requested from the library store after reading an article about it in SLIGHTLY FOXED. I have to say I don’t think it was one of Greene’s best (I believe he also took that view.) It’s about a group of people travelling from London to Istanbul (then called Constantinople) on the Orient Express – but it’s not the luxury train of Hercule Poirot’s day! It’s cold, uncomfortable (unless you’re very rich) and interrupted at every border by the police, demanding to see everyone’s papers.
The passengers include an impoverished dancer, a Balkan revolutionary who has been masquerading as a schoolteacher in rural England, a rich merchant who trades in dried fruit, a journalist, a ‘kept woman’, a minister and a murderer. The main problem I had with the book was that it seemed more like a jumble of various people’s stories with no real connection – plot was very thin on the ground. It was also far too long. What redeemed it was Greene’s superlative writing style; his descriptions are so vivid, you really do feel as though you are walking across the rain-soaked docks at Ostend or watching the snow piling up against the pine trees in some remote part of Eastern Europe.
I also read CHASING THE CLOUDS AWAY, Debbie Macomber’s latest romance. Hmm. Believe it or not, I can quite happily suspend disbelief to enjoy a good love story, but this one just didn’t do it for me. It’s about a very wealthy banker, self-centered and work obsessed, who has a chance meeting with a girl from a financially strapped family, immediately falls in love with her and changes into a wonderful, empathetic, generous do-gooder.
Maisie was just far too perfect, her family was far too Little House on the Prairie for me, and Chase (Chase! Is that a common name in the US?) had such an unbelievable overnight transformation that I just couldn’t engage with either of them. I have enjoyed many of Macomber’s books when I’ve wanted something light and predictable, but Chasing the Clouds Away felt too formulaic by far. Even though romance has its tropes, I still think characters need to be developed beyond complete stereotypes. The dialogue here was clunky, and there just wasn’t enough to this story to maintain momentum for 300 pages.
We were also constantly fed the premise that faith and being a Good Person will make life come right in the end – whereas what actually made the family’s life (and the romance) come right in the end was – of course – money.
Now I am about to start Simon Brett’s MAJOR BRICKET AND THE BODY IN THE BELL TOWER. I’ve not read anything in this particular series before, but Simon Brett has never let me down so far.
I was in one of the charity shops in the city yesterday and saw some books by Susan Howatch. I’ve read several instalments of her Starbridge series (set in a cathedral in a fictional city in the west of England) but of course I couldn’t remember which ones, so when I came home I decided to go through my shelves and note which books I am missing for any series that I know I like. Then when I see what might be a missing volume in a charity shop, I can snap it up – and I can (hopefully!) also stop buying duplicates. So that’s what I’ve been doing, ie indulging in yet another nerdy book thing when I really should’ve been sorting our the study. I enjoyed it though! And tomorrow I’ll go back and buy the missing Susan Howatch (unless somebody else has had the audacity to get there before me…) [Update: they hadn’t! And somehow another five books just slipped into my hands. I only paid £6.50 ($9 I think) for all six – and fortunately when I came home David was out, so I have already added them to my bookshelves…]
I hope everyone has a great week. Tomorrow I am off to the seaside town of Stonehaven to have lunch with a friend. No wonder I get nothing else done…
Yes, Rosemary, I can understand why you don’t get as much done as you would like to, or as much read as you want. That’s because you have a life! It’s so much fun to read about your art adventures, the cafes and charity shops. I think it’s funny that you sneaked those books onto the shelves while David was out. He’ll never know! I’m sure he doesn’t check to see what books you have by various authors.
I really only go to theaters and bookstores. Once in a while, Linda finds another adventure for us. We’re doing a two hour walking tour of a cemetery toward the end of October. She’s the one who saw that the Clydesdales were going to be in Newark, and planned the rest of the trip.
You’re right The Three Graces is promising. I’ll let everyone know!
I love cemetery tours, gravestones are SO interesting. Looking forward to hearing about your visit, and well done Linda for finding it!
Always love your updates! And today you taught me a new word – “ dreich”. With have a lot of those days too!
Loved reading about your day in Dundee, Rosemary. And I also am happy when I successfully sneak more books onto the bookshelves without my David being any the wiser. Makes things much less complicated, with no explanations, excuses, justifications, etc. required.
And Lesa, I almost forgot to say, I love those photos. That sounds just like my idea of a good day out. The Three Graces of Pearl Street sounds promising too.
Temps have plummeted here, and it may rain today. Usually this happens in a couple of weeks, so it’s a bit early, but everyone is blaming El Nino.
I went to an Indonesian function on Saturday. I had no idea what was going on most of the time, and wandered aimlessly like the other clueless Americans that got dragged here by their significant others. They had a raffle. The grand prize was a trip to Bali, but I won a dutch oven.
This week I read:
The Devil in Velvet by John Dickson Carr; A guy sells his soul to the devil in order to go back to Restoration era England and solve a mystery. I wouldn’t have lasted 5 minutes trying to talk like that. Very well done. A time travel book that didn’t give me a headache.
Shooting at Loons by Margaret Maron; A renaissance weekend attending judge visits the Carolina sea islands. The ancient ways are dying, thanks to people like her. She finds a body in a clam hunting area, then seems surprised the law might actually apply to her. Very 90’s, and not really in a good way.
Masks, Mingling and Murder by Trent Miller; A cozy written by a guy who apparently doesn’t like cozies. Most of the people talk like Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2, and that gets tiresome very quickly.
Crime Rangoon by Vivien Chien; The bookstore at The Asia Village is holding a book signing. Lana Lee is in charge. The author is soon found murdered in the aisles, holding one of her books. Just like happened in her latest novel! Lana Lee investigates. It feels like the author lost control of the book, and didn’t know what she was really going for here. Too bad.
Meg by Steve Alten; After I rewatched the movie, with Jason Statham, I figured I’d read the book. It’s very different, but I hesitate to say better. This is a book that should have been made into a movie in the 90’s, when it was written, starring someone like Bill Pullman or Liam Neeson. It’s got the whole midlife crisis, flawed hero thing that was so popular at that time. Anyway, it’s about a gigantic shark, large enough to eat whales, that escapes the Marianas Trench for the open ocean. Uh-oh. The Titanic probably wasn’t a big enough boat.
That’s funny, Glen, as you said you were wandering aimlessly at the Indonesian event.
I went through a phase when I read a lot of John Dickson Carr. I know I read that one. But, I was in high school, so I know I didn’t appreciate everything. But, I liked his books.
We had very hot weather in the last week in August, which affected my energy very much, but since September started things have cooled off a bit. London the cat is happier also because he seemed affected by the heat too.
I love the photos of the Clydesdales, and I would love to see them in person. That sounds like a lovely excursion, especially the bookstore.
Glen has been reading some very interesting books lately. First, he read THE SECRET LIFE OF A CEMETERY by Benoit Gallot, which is about the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris. It is broken up into chapters about the author’s experiences as the curator of the cemetery. Glen’s favorite chapter was about the birds there.
Now he is reading THE ELIZABETHANS AT HOME by Elizabeth Burton. It is part of a series of books, now out of print, and he owns four of them. The other one he has read was THE EARLY TUDORS AT HOME, 1485-1558. He said that the writing is very good in those books, not dry at all. Those books are about historic periods that I am interested in also, so I hope to read them myself.
I have read two books recently. I read FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley, for my Classics Club list. Unfortunately I did not enjoy it as much as I expected. I cannot exactly explain why. For me it read more like a travelogue, with long (and beautiful) descriptions of the places that Dr. Frankenstein or his creation visited, with a lot of angst intermixed. I had no sympathy for Frankenstein at all. However, I have read many reviews that rate the book highly so I am sure I was missing something, and I probably would like it better on a second read. But I really don’t want to do that.
So my most recent read, DEATH OF A DUDE, by Rex Stout, was much better. A lot of fun, full of humor, and a great mystery. (Not all books in the Nero Wolfe series are like that; some are much more serious.) Archie is at a ranch in Montana owned by his good friend Lily Rowan, and Wolfe joins him when a murder takes place. I had forgotten who the murderer was and why, even though I had read the book several times before. This book was published in 1969, very close to the end of the series, and has a more modern feel than the earlier ones.
I hope everyone is enjoying their reading.
I’m glad the weather has been more accommodating for you and London, Tracy. Humid weather, not just hot weather, saps me.
I recognize that series that Glen is reading, probably from an earlier comment about the Early Tudor book.
It’s been years since I read Rex Stout books. Like John Dickson Carr, I read the books in high school. I liked both series.
This week I have been mostly sticking with the Gilded Newport mysteries (currently on #6). I like the way the author brings in other social issues and does not just focus on the lifestyles and stories of the very wealthy. Reading these books help me relax, which is nice.
On the other hand, I started a really gripping book recently that I read about in the New York Times. The protagonist of HEATHER by Caitlin Mullen is Callie, a police officer who leaves her successful career in the narcotics division in North Jersey to return to her little town in the Pine Barrens as the chief of police. It is not a comfortable move, because of both resistance to her leadership from bros on the force and her worry for her best friend, badly injured by a drunk driver. I am only a little ways in, but it is clear there are all kinds of mysteries and buried secrets trying to come out in this town. If anyone has read it, let me know what you think!
Trisha, haven’t read it yet, but I just picked HEATHER up at the library. I’ve always found the Jersey Pine Barrens to be fascinating – so close to New York and Philadelphia and Atlantic City, but si isolated. I’ve read a number of books set in and around the area.
We all need some escape books, ones that let us relax, Trisha. What a contrast with Heather!