How are you this week? I think we’ve all had a week or so to breathe and get back to what is normal routine during a pandemic, although I’m writing this before the snow was to hit on Wednesday. We certainly aren’t supposed to get what the rest of the country has. We’re to get only one to two inches, but that’s more than enough for me. We haven’t had any accumulation of snow since November 2019.
Let’s talk about something more pleasant than snow. What are you reading this week? I just finished Robert B. Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me, the latest Spenser novel by Ace Atkins. I read every Spenser novel that Parker wrote, including a juvenile one. I’ll admit for the last few years, there was little mystery plot. I read them for the voices of Spenser and Hawk. But, when I read the first one that Ace Atkins wrote after Parker’s death, I was disappointed. The voice wasn’t right.
Eight books later, I decided to try again because I liked the synopsis of this book. And, Atkins has the voice right now. The villains in Robert B. Parker’s Someone to Watch Over Me sound suspiciously like Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. A billionaire and his girlfriend recruit and groom underage girls to please wealthy old men. I’m reviewing the book on Saturday, so that’s really all I’ll say today. But, it’s nice to have the Spenser and Hawk that I remember, although Atkins is honest that the two are aging.
What about you? What are you reading this week? Let’s chat.
I’ve not read anything by Robert B. Parker, but you sure made me curious! I’m reading Morning Star by Pierce Brown and Kids of Appetite by David Arnold. I’m enjoying both books so far!
Esthor, Start at the beginning with The Godwulf Manuscript, if you can. Your public library can probably get you a copy.
I know what you mean about snow. I just want the weather people to get it right. They tried to scare us for days about snow, then we got 0.1 inches. That’s right, a tenth of an inch. Now we have the Polar Vortex coming, and there might be more snow behind it. Good thing we have food in the house and more than enough books! Off topic, perhaps, but it is so nice waking up and not having to worry about what insane tweets came out overnight, isn’t it? And people who have a clue about running a country? But I digress.
Jackie finished the Nora Roberts book (The Awakening) , which she liked a lot. But now she is upset about having to wait until November for the next one.
I’m still reading short stories (closing in on 100 in January!) and non fiction. I finished the previously mentioned Jewish Noir – good but not great, then Ex-Libris – which proved Michiko Kakutani and I have different tastes, for the most part – and finally The Subway Chronicles, about various New Yorkers’ (native and otherwise) experiences on the subway. The highlight of the book for me was the long chapter by Stan Fischler, who has written dozens of books about his two areas of expertise – ice hockey (most of the books) and the subway. He starts with a trip to Coney Island when he was 4 in 1936 (he is 88 now) and talks about what lines he took from his Brooklyn home to get there, and to Ebbets Field and other sporting venues. His enthusiasm is infectious.
One great thing reading leads to is more reading. When reading Lawrence Block’s Hunting Buffalo With Bent Nails – and I must say that I find Block more in sync with my reading tastes than Kakutani – I read his piece introducing Lawrence S. Ritter’s East Side, West Side: Tales of New York Sporting Life, 1910=1960 (1998). Now Ritter wrote one of the great books about baseball, The Glory of Their Times, an oral history about the early history of baseball by players who were still alive to talk about it in the early 1960s, like Sam Crawford, Goose Goslin, Rube Marquard, and Hank Greenberg. The talk about the parks, about Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth, etc. Since my library didn’t have the book, I looked online and found a nice copy for $3.80! (It was originally priced at $34.95.) It is a 200 page 8 1/2 x 11″ book with over 200 illustrations, covering not only Ebbets Field, Yankee Stadium, and the Polo Grounds, but all versions of Madison Square Garden, various boxing arenas, restaurants run by sports legends like Jack Dempsey and Sugar Ray Robinson, and other associated and long gone (but not totally forgotten) places. Block’s foreword is like his subway piece and another I’ve read by him – his first visit to New York as a child with his father, his first ride on the subway, etc.
Current short story collections: Ron Goulart’s 1971 science fiction stories, What Became of Screwloose? and Other Inquiries, and Phil Klay’s collection of Iraq war stories, Redeployment, which is very good.
Fortunately, we had nothing on the roads this morning, Jeff. Maybe 1/2 an inch on the grass near where I live – maybe. Oh, well. I got to work from home yesterday afternoon, which was nice.
I totally agree. It’s nice to get up in the morning and not worry whether we went to war overnight over a tweet.
East Side, West Side sounds like an interesting book. And, what a bargain! You can’t beat that.
And, tell Jackie I said, “I KNOW!”
Weather forecasters have all the cool predicting toys but hardly ever seem to get it right in Columbus. But then again it is such a large metropolitan area I guess I can understand. Today areas like Chillicothe and down to Athens are under snow emergencies and my corner is only overcast and cold. I am just grateful we haven’t had much snow to shovel nor any prolonged periods of below freezing temperatures so far this winter.
This week I finished HER LAST Flight by Beatriz Williams. Despite the author saying the contrary, it read like a retelling of the Amelia Earhart mystery. I figured out the twist fairly early on. I enjoyed it but didn’t think it was that special.
Last night I finished THE RIGHT SORT OF MAN by Allison Montclair. A mystery that takes place in post WWII England. Unlikely partners Iris Sparks and Lady Gwendolyn Bainbridge start up a marriage bureau. One of their first clients is found murdered and the man they matched up with is arrested. It is up to Sparks and Gwen to uncover the real murderer and save their fledgling business. I loved this debut so much, I will be picking up the second in the series at the library Saturday.
I agree it is a shame so many books continue after authors’ deaths as if they are still writing them. V. C. Andrews comes to mind as a big one.
Happy Reading!
Sharon, I’m glad you liked the Montclair book, and I don’t think you will be disappointed with the second!
You both know that Montclair has a third book coming out, don’t you? A Rogue’s Company is due out June 8.
Good morning. The voice not sounding right when a new author took over the series reminds me of the Miss Seeton books. After Heron Carvic died they tried two different authors and neither one got the characters right.
This week I read a mix of mysteries and non fiction.
FRUIT BASKETS AND HOLIDAY CASKETS by Gayle Leeson. I’m trying to catch up on her Down South Cafe series. She’s always been a dependable author for me, I like her characters and her writing style.
SHUCKED APART by Barbara Ross. I’ve enjoyed most of the Maine Clambake series but this one didn’t work for me. The main character, Julia, always gets hurt or threatened solving the mysteries so the idea that her boyfriend would talk her into investigating a crime in another town for someone she doesn’t know rubbed me the wrong way.
CALLED AGAIN: A STORY OF LOVE AND TRIUMPH by Jennifer Pharrell Davis. A memoir by the woman who set the overall record for a supported through hike of the Appalachian Trail. What she did was amazing but I don’t know how her husband didn’t strangle her along the way.
THE DIRTY LIFE: ON FOOD, FARMING & LOVE by Kristin Kimble. A journalist with no farming experience falls in love with an organic farmer and they rehab a neglected farm in upstate NY. After reading this, I’ll stick to my vegetable garden.
MY ORGANIC LIFE by Nora Pouillon. A woman who grew up in Austria during WWII moves to the United States, learns to cook, and eventually opens a successful organic restaurant in Washington DC. Not my favorite of the memoirs that I’ve read.
Sandy, I really don’t understand why they have to continue mystery series. When the author is dead, that’s the end. So smart of Sue Grafton to ask her family not to allow the Alphabet series to continue. However, I think families just get greedy.
I think you’ve been taking lessons from Glen as to how to write your comments. I loved your concluding sentences.
Good morning all! We haven’t had any snow since last weekend, but it sounds like some is coming. We have had lots of sun this week, which has also meant colder temperatures. But that is to be expected in Wisconsin in January.
Jeff – The Subway Chronicles sounds fascinating. I love stories about real life experiences in certain locations. I think this is why I enjoy reading fiction by authors who are able to incorporate a wonderful sense of place into the stories they write.
This week I read:
Don’t Keep Silent by Elizabeth Goddard – Investigative journalist, Rae Burke, has been asked to help her brother find his missing wife. When she joins forces with former DEA agent, Liam McKade in the Wyoming wilderness, things get interesting.
I am currently reading:
Wed, Read & Dead by V. M. Burns – This is the fourth book in the Mystery Bookshop series. The main character’s mother is getting married and her awful wedding planner is murdered. The characters keep me coming back, as does the humor.
I am also attempting to read a poem a day from One Hundred and One Famous Poems.
Have a great weekend!
Gretchen, I like V.M. Burns’ series because of the novel the character is writing!
I agree Lesa, that is a fun twist!
No snow in my Northern California town, but a couple of days of non-stop rain and high wind gusts. I had to wait till this morning to put out the trash cans because I was afraid they would blow away overnight! Still raining, but . . . we always say “we need the rain’ in California.
CAT ME IF YOU CAN by MIranda James is another enjoyable, low-key installment in the Cat in the Stacks Mystery series. Charlie and his fiancee, Helen Louise, travel to Asheville, NC along with Charlie’s cat, Diesel, to join other members of their mystery reader’s club for a week of book talk at a hotel. But, as always, murders seem to follow Charlie around. First it’s a banker who is not part of the club but who followed his former girlfriend to Asheville, then another murder and an attempted murder. It’s a “locked room” mystery, where we’re pretty sure the murderer will turn out to be a member of the club, and it ends with a “reveal” in the company of all of the members. The fun of it is spending time with the familiar characters.
In Stephen Spotswood’s FORTUNE FAVORS THE DEAD, Willowjean (Will) Parker has spent the past few years traveling with a circus and filling many circus roles, after leaving her brutal father at age 15. Earning a few extra dollars doing security work, she encounters famed female NY private investigator Lillian Pentecost, who is impressed with her skills and hires and trains her as her assistant. Lillian has MS and knows she needs some help with her practice. Having acquired her own PI license, Will joins “Ms. P.” in an investigation into the death of the socialite wife of a prominent entrepreneur. She was fatally bashed in the head with a crystal ball, the property of a self-proclaimed clairvoyant who had just given a séance at a party at the family’s mansion. The woman’s husband had committed suicide a year earlier in the same room, the same chair. The couple’s twin daughter and son, age 20, and their godfather, also employed by the family’s company, are trying to make sense of the tragedy. I absolutely love the two protagonists, who are quirky and make a great team. It isn’t a particularly complicated plot, although it is engaging. I also enjoyed the setting in 1945 New York and the first-person narration by young, street-smart Will. This is the author’s debut and, I believe, the first in a series.
I’ve don’t think I’ve ever read a Nora Roberts book, at least in the past 15 years that I’ve been recording my reads. But based on Lesa’s review and others, I gave THE AWAKENING a try. I have to say that for the first third or so, I was absolutely entranced. Then it went into territory that’s outside of my wheelhouse, but I was still intrigued. Breen’s always been denigrated by her mother and settled into a boring job teaching middle school. When she finds out she actually has a huge bank account she wasn’t aware of, she quits her job and flies to Ireland to seek out the father she barely knew. One day she discovers a portal into an alternate world, where it turns out she has a history she doesn’t remember. At the same time, she starts on a career she never expected. I’m not a fan of mythical battles, but there weren’t many in this book so I stuck it out. What happened in the very last sentence of the book made it a sure thing I’ll look for the next book in the series. I hope it’s not just one extended battle!
Margie, I hope it isn’t one extended battle, either, in the second book. The Awakening was my favorite book of the year. I think there may be some interesting developments in book 2. I think Marcus is in for a shock since he never saw this coming, but I expect it will be a world where he thrives. I loved Marcus, along with several of the other characters.
Fortune Favors the Dead is on my someday pile. I’m glad you liked it!
Yes–right on, Marcus!
Actually, I think it’s Marco, not Marcus, but I didn’t catch it before.
It’s been so long since I read it that I didn’t remember, Margie. Donna read it recently, and referred to him as Marcus, so I just went with that. Thanks for the correction. Even when I didn’t remember his name (and, that’s what I usually forget it books), I loved him.
Margie, my wife has read over 100 Nora Roberts books and recommends you try the MacGregor series or the Chesapeake Bay series if you don’t like fantasy (she does). Or the Stanislaskis.
Oh, I loved the MacGregor series. Those were my first Nora Roberts books.
Thank you, Jeff, and please thank your wife for me.! Nora has so many books that I wasn’t sure where to start.
Good morning! Here in Michigan we finally did receive 3 inches of snow. We have had several “snow storms” forecast, but this is the first time in recent memory that we had measurable snow. Not sure that it qualifies for a snow storm though! Another one is forecast for Saturday night, so we shall see. We have books and chocolate, so are well prepared.
In fiction this week, I read THE LOST VINTAGE BY ANN MAH. I enjoyed the setting, but found the book to be a bit disappointing after seeing the stellar reviews it received. I enjoyed VANISHING GIRLS by Lesa Regan. It took me a while to get used to the protagonist, but I really enjoyed the book and plan to read the next in the series. I just finished THE RAGMAN’S MEMORY by Archer Mayor, which I loved. The plots continue to be interesting and am thoroughly vested in the characters.
As far as nonfiction, I am reading FREEDOM NATIONAL by James Oakes. Have a feeling this one will go on my list of favorites of the year.
Have a good weekend!
Good morning, Jennifer. I’m grateful we didn’t get the snow that was predicted. Roads were fine this morning. Because I have to drive to work, I hate that kind of iffy weather. Books and chocolate is good preparation!
Now, I’m going to have to look up Freedom National to see what it’s about since you’re liking it so much.
No snow here, but no hail either which was flung down by the Sky God across various areas before dawn the other morning.
Have not read the last few days as I was working on the various reviews up this week on the blog and several for Saturdays to come that Scott had written.
Yay! No hail. I know, Kevin. Some days, it’s all I can do to keep the two blogs going, and I can’t read.
Finishing Facing The Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti, then need to review it for LibraryThing.com ana then will start Do No Harm by Christina McDonalad-received from Goodreads. LOL I keep winning books about women in horrible situations. Getting emotional fatigue from my books. Have enough from the news, trying to get a co-vid 19 vaccine. Just received my new place in line. I moved up by 200 people. That seems slow.
We are in a good weather phase- in the 60s, our local hospitals are running out of beds. Having bad time controlling myBP.
Carol, Take care of yourself. As someone who has high blood pressure, I hate to hear that you’re having a hard time with it right now. Maybe you need to move on from those books that are about horrible situations for women. Sending hugs.
We had snow on Monday here in So Cal. Not even enough to call a dusting since it melted as soon as it hit the ground, but I did seem some white flakes for a few seconds on my windshield before they melted. (I was driving to get my allergy shots at the time.) It’s supposed to pour this evening. 1.5 inches between 4 PM and midnight. Since I don’t have to go anywhere, I can’t wait!
It might entice me to curl up and finish The Thursday Murder Club. I expect to be to the point where it will be a toss up whether I should finish it after work or not. We will see how I am feeling. I’m definitely enjoying the book. I’m not finding it as funny as some seem to. I feel like it is trying to be clever, but the fact that it is pointing out how clever it is makes it not as clever as it could be. Make sense? Anyway, I am enjoying it and anxious to find out what is going on.
That does make sense, Mark. I’ve read books like that. They’re not always fun. As Margie said, California always needs the rain. I hope you enjoy the rest of the book.
Lesa – In a bit of a departure from my usual hard-boiled reading, I am into Thomas Rick’s FIRST PRINCIPLES. It is about our first four presidents, focusing on their educations, how the Greeks and Romans they read and the people who taught them in school prepared them to oppose British rule and establish a new form of government. It is a terrific book and lively writing by the former Washington Post reporter.
Elgin, I would have had a tough time of it, but I wish our education system was still that good. I’m appalled sometimes when I watch Jeopardy at the lack of knowledge about history and the Presidents. Last night, no one knew Ulysses S. Grant as the President whose autobiography was dedicated to the armed forces, even though they gave the year. (sigh) I’m always grateful to a high school English teacher for my knowledge of Greek drama. First Principles sounds interesting.
We got a third inch on Tuesday, then just low 30s damp and rain since. Reading? Tried The Thursday Murder Club, but, though many others liked it a lot, and it’s nomination for an Edgar, it just didn’t grab me, and I sent it back to the library unfinished. I did enjoy E.B. White on Dogs, letters and essays by White on dogs and many other topics. Edited by his daughter Margaret White. I always enjoy reading this New Yorker author. Now I’ve started To Sleep In A Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini, which is huge at about 900 pages of thin pages, narrow margins, smallish print. It’s his first SF novel after several fantasy books, but so big! I hope to finish it, but the library only gives me 3 weeks and others are waiting.
As much as I enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club, Richard, I know every book isn’t for everyone. An early reader said it was a little too British. They didn’t always get the humor. A little slow for others.
The E.B. White sounds good. When I get into reading something, essays and letters seem to work for me. That’s what I turn to.
Good luck with the Paolini, especially trying to read it in 3 weeks. I’ve had to take books back to the library, and put myself back on the waiting list.
I’m sitting here looking out the window at snow covered trees and loving it. We’ve had more snow already this year than we had the entire past two years. Yes I love it. But I admit, being retired and not having to go anywhere does make a difference. So, stay safe!
I’m seeing several books here that y’all are reading that I’ve read and loved – The Awakening by Nora Roberts is at the top of the list. I am such a Nora Roberts fan, I read everything she writes as soon as it comes out if I haven’t been able to read an ARC. Including those she writes as J.D. Robb.
I agree with let dead writers’ mystery series lie. The early Spenser books were very special and that magic will never be duplicated. Spenser and Hawk together – always a treat!
My reading stalled badly for several weeks, but now that there are grown-ups in the White House again I find I’m able to read novels again, and this is what I’ve read recently:
Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch (ARC)
The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron (ARC)
Birds of a Feather by Lise McClendon – A fun series I enjoy lots.
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin (ARC) * LOVED this!
Happy Reading!
Except for the love of snow, Kaye, you and I could not agree more. (smile) So happy to hear you loved The Last Bookshop in London. I’m looking forward to that one.
Yes! Grown-ups in the White House & capable adults being added to various federal governmental posts and offices. It feels good.
I am enjoying the conversation here. I had a number of books requested through Overdrive or our library, recommended by others, and three came in this week: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, The Nickel Boys by Colin Whitehead, A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell. These are all good, but I’m not in the mood to be so serious. A few of the books discussed here are appealing, so off I go to the library catalog.
We have had our share of snow this month in our corner of southern Wisconsin, with an additional 7 inches on our driveway Tuesday morning, so today we spent some time raking snow off the roof. More is forecast for Saturday night.
Reading does depend so much on mood, doesn’t it, Nancy? I hope you find them in your library!
Oh, raking snow off the roof. That does not sound like fun. I’m just not a cold weather person. I’m sure you’re used to it, though, living in southern Wisconsin. Be careful!
We got some pretty good rain here, but we’re still below average for the year. The power went out a couple of time, but it wasn’t freezing, so it wasn’t too bad.
Sandy, I won Shucked Apart recently in a goodreads drawing! I should get to it soon.
I read:
Tarzan: Battle of Pellucidar by Win Scott Eckert; Tarzan is a guest star in his own series as his granddaughter rides pterosaurs and fights nazis.
Skelgill: Murder on the Lake; Skelgill is fishing during a storm, when he spot s woman looking for help on an island. A man has died mysteriously on a writers’ retreat in an isolated mansion. Just when you think you’re in Agatha Christie territory…Bam! you’re in London for a police porcedural. Bait and switch. Not bad if you don’t get whiplash.
The Empires Tour; A 69 year old man with cancer goes to Europe, where he explores seats of empires, from ruins of Bronze Age Greece to Paris and Vienna. Spends a lot of time castigating tourists.
The Perfect 10; A West Pointer who plays polo is recruited when a world famous polo player is murdered in a Key West hotel. The only polo players I’ve ever heard of are princes of England. It’s not like they show polo on ESPN. Reads like it was translated from a foreign language, even though it was written in English by an American.
Spying in High Heels; There’s no spying. Instead someone’s boyfriend disappears in the face of litigation. Our hot mess of a sleuth starts poking around, and finds murder and treachery, and the usual supercop hottie who totally has a thing for her.
That last one got me, Glen, when you said there’s no spying. Someone at the publisher’s must have come up with the title, someone who didn’t read the book. When’s the last time you read a book that you would recommend, and what was it? These just don’t sound great.
I believe it was just a couple of weeks ago, I recommended some books: Skim Deep, Goodbye to Dork City, and Exploration.
And, of course, you had your Favorites list recently, too. Thank you, again, Glen.
Hi Lesa – I’m late to the party again,
I’m reading Spam Tomorrow, Verily Anderson’s memoir of her childhood and her early married life in London during wartime. I remembered Verily from the stories she used to write about Brownies (junior Girl Guides), which I used to borrow from the library when I was in primary school. I had no idea how immensely posh she was, though I knew she was a family friend of Joyce Grenfell, who was herself almost part of the English aristocracy and the niece of Nancy Astor.
Verily was one of the many children of a vicar and his wife. In the book she likes to imply that they had no money – but everything is relative! They lived in a large country vicarage with a huge garden, and had quite a lot of paid help. When Verily worked in London before her marriage, her mother used to come up bearing bunches of grapes from their hothouse. All of the children were sent to expensive boarding schools, and from there Verily went to finishing school in Paris. Most of her father’s relations had titles, and just about everyone Verily knew in London was a cousin, uncle, aunt, etc – all of whom, in addition to large flats in smart areas like Belgravia and Chelsea, also owned – or their families owned – huge country estates to which Verily was regularly invited for ‘weekends’, shooting parties and so on. Although she tried a number of fairly menial jobs (one was designing wrappers for toffees) she abandoned each and every one of them when any social event reared its head, simply not turning up if she’d been asked up to Scotland for the grouse or to Brittany for a beach holiday.
She’s a good writer, and a very jolly person, but I do feel her version of ‘poor’ was somewhat unusual! I’ve just got to the chapter about the birth of her first child (for which she spent a pre-natal month in a nursing home in the countryside) after which she, her husband and their new baby moved out of Berkeley Square (London – as in ‘a nightingale sang’) to a lovely little house in a village, that a cousin just happened to have spare – the minimal rent including daily help and a gardener.
I’m also still reading two books about the local history of this part of Aberdeenshire, and these are both very interesting. I’ve just learned that, in the early 1900s, 9% of school teachers in England had university degrees – but in Upper Deeside (which is still a fairly remote place) it was 48%. This, as the author points out, may be impressive, but is not an excuse for the violence often inflicted on children – one girl remembered being literally one minute late to school after a walk of several miles, and for this being beaten across her knuckles so badly that the doctor her mother took her to feared she would get gangrene.
I’m also listening to the audiobook of Anna Karenina, and so far just about keeping up with all the Russian names.
Although most of the ice has finally gone, we have rain and sleet here so I don’t think I’ll be going far tomorrow. I was down at the river early today with my friend for a walk, but even then the weather could have best been described as dreich.
I hope everyone s having a good week.
Rosemary, I think you’re right. Everything’s relative. I never heard of Verily Anderson, but I certainly wouldn’t have described her life as impoverished. Interesting, maybe, but not impoverished. In comparison to others in her circle, though, maybe so. Your local history sounds interesting. But, I can’t imagine being one of those children.
Be careful and stay safe in that weather.
Reading another Hercule Poirot book right now, After the Funeral. Enjoying it very much.
Before that I finished Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian, which I had been reading at a slow pace, one chapter a week. But I had to give up on that and finish the book. Not at all my usual reading, but that made it very interesting. I will continue to the next book soonish.
My short story reading this week was from Tales for a Stormy Night by Dorothy Salisbury Davis. I have not read any novels by her, only short stories, which are dark psychological suspense.
In Santa Barbara right now we are having heavy rain and it is very welcome. Although I had a medical appointment yesterday and another tomorrow and it is not fun to go out in the rain.
I know what you mean, Tracy. Even when it’s a warm rain, I don’t like driving in heavy rain.
I never went on to read the second in Patrick O’Brian’s series, but Master and Commander was interesting. You’re right.
Sounds as if you needed a change with Hercule Poirot!
Well I am so late to reading all of your comments this week. I look forward to it every week but I am usually one to be more of a lurker rather than a commentator.
In the Phoenix area we are getting our second major storm of the week. The commute must be a bear as it is pouring now but I feel safe and snug and warm so won’t complain. (In AZ we don’t complain about any rain or snow!!) Flagstaff and other northern AZ areas received over 40 inches of snow this week and my sister who lives in the White Mountains said they had over 26 inches on her back patio! Not your typical Arizona winter!
Reading has been a solace this last bit – I read 3 books for an Artic/Antarctica challenge – Tisha by Robert Specht, and Anne Howe Purdy – a memoir of Anne’s life as a teacher in Chicken, Alaska in the late 1920’s. What a hard life and a time of rampant racism towards the Indigenous peoples there. I did enjoy the book but I think my feet were cold the whole time I read!
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing – Holy cow! Still today this would be an unbelievable feat. I watched a few videos of Antarctica and then participated in an author presentation about the area which really made this come to life.
Finally I lightened it up with How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior – it was the perfect sort of book to do that with a curmudgeonly main character and loads of penguins! Another author visit with Dyan deNapoli was a highlight. (What a fun result of being shutdown due to a pandemic – – author interviews and visits through Zoom all over the Internet!!)
Now I have books in my ear buds and lots on the nightstand and I am testing out a few to see which one comes next! We got our second Covid-19 shots today and they told us to expect flulike side effects this go round. BUT we are still so excited to be making such positive steps. It feels so proactive, even though our arms hurt like the dickens this time!
Stay safe and well friends.
Gaye, It’s good to hear from you, even though you might be late.
First, as a former Mariciopa County resident, I enjoy hearing about the weather there. I have to say, I never complained about the heat, either, because I just hate cold weather. My hands are cracked and dry here, which they never were in Arizona. Badly cracked, so they hurt. I miss Arizona this time of year.
I’m so happy reading has been a solace, but I’m cold just reading about those books!
Your second shots, though! That’s great. I hope you do get side effects, but, as you said, it’s good to get those shots.
You stay safe, too!