Will anything make you feel as if you dropped in for Thursdays at Lesa’s more than a family photo? Thank you to all of you for picking up the slack last week, and for wishing me safe travels. I went home to northcentral Ohio for one of those landmark birthdays for my mother. My sisters came in as well, and we spent a relaxing fun week together, enjoying each other’s company, and visits with other family members. Here’s a photo of my Mom, sisters, and me on my mother’s birthday.
Now, you know what I did last week. I did check in to see what everyone was reading while I was gone.
This week, I’m reading Old Ireland in Colour by John Breslin & Sarah-Anne Buckley. He’s a scientist who colorized 125 years of photography in Ireland. She’s a historian. Together, they compiled a gorgeous book that covers the history, society, culture, scenery and people of Ireland. There’s so much I could say about the importance of women as photographers during this period, and about the section I’ve read, but I’ll save it for the actual book review. With my love of Ireland, I find this a beautiful book.
What about you? How was the last week? What have you been reading?
It’s hot here, and getting hotter.
This week I read:
A Glint in her Ice by Janice Detrie; A hopelessly romantic professor goes on a river cruise to propose to his sweetheart, and gets involved trying to solve robberies. I would have thrown some folks overboard.
A Swim for the Dying by Todd Rhoda; A logo designer goes home to her small Long Island town, and gets embroiled in a hotel controversy, and some very improbable murders.
Sherlock Holmes in Dallas by Edmund Aubrey; It’s tough to write bad Holmes, but this certainly qualifies, as Holmes tackles the JFK assassination.
Help I am Being Held Prisoner by Donald Westlake; a practical joker goes to prison ( a good place for his kind, if you ask me) and gets involved in a bank robbery. Westlake possibly wrote some bad books, but I’ve never encountered one.
At least you had Westlake, Glen, to help you through the lesser books.
I like Holmes pastiches, if they are good. Thanks for the warning about the Aubrey.
I’m glad you had a good trip. We’re trying to arrange a couple of days during the summer where my cousins can visit my mom.
This week I read
SAM HOUSTON & THE ALAMO AVENGERS by Brian Kilmeade. It was on the free shelf at the library and was interesting since they don’t teach Texas history in NJ.
FATE INTERRUPTED by Elizabeth Hunter. A paranormal mystery/romance about three women with psychic powers who are searching for missing grapevines. It get’s more serious when one of them has a vision of a murder.
JACKPOT by Stuart Woods and Bryon Quertermous. This is the 5th Teddy Fay book and not as good as the others. The other books were written with Parnell Hall and the main character doesn’t feel right in this one.
I’m currently reading GEORGE by Kate Danley. A not very bright boy becomes squire to an incompetent knight and after the knight is killed by an ogre decides to take over the knight’s identity, forgetting that they are going to expect him to slay monsters.
Sandy, I hope you can have that family visit. They mean so much.
Well, George certainly sounds a little different. As to Jackpot, don’t you hate it when a series doesn’t sound right when they switch authors?
Thanks for sharing photos of your trip, Lesa – What a happy group of women!
I’m having a hard time finding anything to read, so have spent the week re-reading.
After finishing Helen Hooven Santmyer’s “. . . And Ladies of the Club” I’ve pulled out a few old Anne River Siddons novels and am thoroughly enjoying them. Southern Gothic at its best.
Sorry that there just isn’t anything that suits your reading taste at the moment, Kaye. Sometimes, it’s just nice to read old favorites.
We had a wonderful time together, as you can tell by that photo, taken on Mom’s birthday.
Sending hugs!
Loved Summer Seekers. Reading outside my normal genre today…”brat: an 80s story.
I saw Brat on your table, Carol Jeanne. It was so good to see you while I was home!
Nice picture. Glad you had a fun trip. We went from four days over 90 to four days at or below 70 (which I preferred!) to a beautiful upper 70s.
Let’s see. What did I read? First, finished the excellent CITY OF DARK CORNERS by Jon Talton last Thursday. Probably his best book so far. Then read Nathan Englander’s first collection of short stories, FOR THE RELIEF OF UNBEARABLE URGES. The title story concerns a Hasidic man in Jerusalem who goes to his Rabbi when his wife will no longer sleep with him. The Rabbi gives him permission to go to a prostitute. Interesting. Finished the 450 page FIRST RESPONDER: Life, Death and Love on New York City’s Front Lines by Jennifer Murphy. The second half covers the pandemic, where Murphy, like so many others, seems to have burned out. Good book.
Jackie read Chloe Neill’s SHADOWED STEEL (Chicagoland Vampire series) and is currently reading Christine Feehan’s SHADOW STORM, latest in her Shadow series. She has half a dozen series going and Jackie reads them all.
My current reading:
I’ve already mentioned Rodrigues Ottolengui’s 1898 collection of stories about amateur and professional detectives, FINAL PROOF, which is good but uneven. Some of the jewel theft stories are just silly. Also reading the first collection of Christopher Fowler’s Peculiar Crimes Unit, LONDON’S FINEST. And I am about to start THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES OF THE LAST 100 YEARS (2015), 40 stories, edited by Lorrie Moore.
Non fiction: something I read had a mention of a book I didn’t know by a favorite author, Pete Hamill’s DOWNTOWN: My Manhattan, and I am really enjoying it. Hamill was a terrific journalist who also wrote fiction and non fiction. This is true stuff about “his” New York. To Hamill, “Downtown” covered the area from The Battery to Times Square, and when he writes as entertainingly as he does here, how can we object. I’ve already learned much about Lower Broadway and several buildings and parks and other places that no longer exist.
Mystery: SKIM DEEP by Max Allan Collins. He revived Nolan, his first written series character (originally published BAIT MONEY, the first, in 1981), a professional thief modeled about Donald Westlake/Richard Stark’s similarly one-named Parker. Nolan has a sidekick, a young comic book fan/artist he mentored named Jon. Here he brings back Nolan, now retired from thieving and running a successful restaurant in a strip mall in the Quad Cities are of Illinois and Iowa. But as Al Pacino found out in GODFATHER Part 3, “Every time I think I’m out, they pull me back in.” Nolan’s past keeps cropping up, as someone always wants revenge. It is a short, fast read as usual with Collins, not deep but easy to take.
I’m glad you enjoyed Jon Talton’s book as much as I did, Jeff! I thought it was excellent. Pete Hamill’s book sounds interesting. I don’t know NYC in the way either of you do, but the book sounds enticing. It surprises me, though, that you didn’t know about it. I know how much you liked his writing.
Good for Jackie! She reads for character, doesn’t she? Anyone who reads as many series as she does must return to them because of the characters.
Nolan’s sidekick almost sounds as if he was a young Max.
Some examples: the offices of Cunard and other cruise ship lines were on lower Broadway. Apparently, what was the Cunard office still has the high ceilings and beautiful decorations. (I would have to go back and look up the address, but it was something like 25 or 50 Broadway.) At the very bottom of Broadway (where our express bus turns right towards the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel) is a Citibank office (1 Broadway), but it used to be a cruise ship’s office and the doorways on Battery Place where you went to get your tickets still say First Class, etc. On the West Side below Canal Street used to be a locked park – St. John’s Park – like the residential squares in London (and later, further uptown in New York). It was owned by the British Crown, deeded to Trinity Church (Wall Street), who leased the land. It was eventually bought up by Cornelius Vanderbilt and torn down to use for his railroads’ freight depot. Later it was razed totally for the entrance/exit when they built the Holland Tunnel.
Those are some of the things I didn’t know that I learned in the Hamill book.
Just checked. 25 Broadway is indeed The Cunard Building.
Oh, I love those bits of history, Jeff.
Jeff, I’m a real fan of the Nolan series. I remember the first time I tried it, I didn’t really get it. It was only after I was able to understand the whole generation gap theme that pervades the novel that I really enjoyed it.
What a lovely picture, Lesa! Thanks for sharing it with us. Glad you had a wonderful trip.
I have had a bit of a frustrating week having started two books that I chose not to continue.
But, I was able to read the first in a new cozy series by Dana Mentink – Pint of No Return – Trinidad Jones is in the process of opening an ice cream shop in the town of Upper Sprocket, Oregon. Unfortunately, just days before she is scheduled to open, the owner of the shop next door is murdered and Trinidad discovers the body. To complicate matters, the Chief of Police is sister to her ex-husband. There are some great characters in this one including a dog who failed his emotional support training. A good start to a promising new series.
I am currently reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie and loving it.
Our weather is cooler than it was, but still very dry.
We will be celebrating a birthday over the weekend and will have my mom and mother-in-law here for a visit. It will be great to see family.
Have a good weekend!
Enjoy the visit with family, Gretchen. It was so great to be with mine.
Oh, I liked Pint of No Return, and I loved the dog. You’re right. It’s a good start. I hope Dana Mentink’s series makes it.
I’m not much of a cozy reader, but living in Oregon and liking ice cream (a lot), I’ll give it a try.
You’ll have to let us know if it works for you, Richard.
I’m reading The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan. This is women’s fiction and the tone so far is beach read fun. I’m keeping my fingers crossed because I needed a light read this week. It’s very hot in Colorado and the air quality is not good. That keeps me inside.
My cousin said she loved it, Patricia. Enjoy!
I am curently reading Arsenic and Adobo by Mia Manansala and listening to Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis. I am enjoying both books.
Next week I will be going on vacation to the New Jersey shore (known around these parts as “the shore”). So I hope to get a lot of reading done. I have Northern Spy by Flynn Berry and Under the Southern Sky
by Kristy Woodson Harvey lined up. I am looking forward to reading both. Lesa, have you read Northern Spy? It sounds like it would be right up your alley. Mystery set in Ireland.
Have a wonderful week!
Kathleen, I’m from the Philadelphia area originally, and I used to love to go to “the shore.” Our choice was Ocean City, NJ. Which shore do you frequent?
Long Beach Island. New Jersey has some of the nicest beaches.
I agree, Kathleen. I actually own a copy of Northern Spy, but I haven’t had a chance to read it. I thought it sounded like something I would enjoy. Oh, I thought Arsenic and Adobo was a fun debut.
Hello, everyone. It’s very hot here today (will be over 100) so I’m choosing not to walk with my group this morning. I’ve enjoyed getting out to a couple of “in-person” social events this week, though. I apologize in advance for the length of my post today. I’ve been reading and posting reviews on Goodreads like crazy, also trying to attract some ARCs from NetGalley, but they tell me I’m not influential enough. I already knew that (I’m not a professional reviewer, duh), but I’m still envious and might keep trying. I keep updating my bio–hey, I’m now on two mystery readers’ reviewer teams, hurray!
THE RESTORATION OF CELIA FAIRCHILD is the first book I have read by Marie Bostwick, and I was impressed. I loved this story with the popular theme of building a new family after losing one’s own biological one. Celia is known to many fans as Dear Calpurnia, a much loved advice columnist. But now the company that employed her has been acquired, leaving Celia without a job and no longer legally able to use the Dear Calpurnia name. Her love life isn’t in good shape either, following a divorce, and her dream of having a child seems impossible. So Celia decides to use her severance check to fix up and sell a house left to her in her home town by her estranged Aunt Calpurnia (the inspiration for her pseudonym) until she sees it in person–It’s a massive money pit, and her aunt was a hoarder. But she slowly and unexpectedly builds a group of supporters, including a former friend, a mentally disabled cousin, some prickly neighbors, and a pair of mismatched brothers–one an ex-con and one an attorney–who lead Celia to feel that her dreams may not be out of reach after all. And writing a journal of letters to her would-be future daughter makes her fall in love with writing again. The story brought me to tears more than once–both happy and sad. I thought the character of one of the brothers could have been better developed, but other supporting characters were more fleshed out and interesting. There is definitely enough substance for a follow-on, and even a series.
HOW Y’ALL DOING is by Leslie Jordan. You may not recognize his name, but you’ve seen him as a comic actor in TV shows for decades. Currently he’s a regular on Mayim Bialik’s new show, Call Me Kat, and he won an Emmy for his role on Will and Grace. He’s easily recognizable–barely 5 feet tall with a southern (Tennessee) drawl. I first saw him in the 90s on a 2-season series called Hearts Afire with John Ritter and Markie Post. This is a short book that reads just like Leslie talks. He writes about the challenges of growing up gay, not to mention some forays into addiction territory. More often, however, he oozes personality and enthusiasm as he recounts his experiences in show business, his lifelong love of horses (he’s determined to have a pony farm one day), the stories he tells (and can’t help embellishing) during his one-man show, and his delight in being recognized by fans. It’s a mostly light-hearted, entertaining book that won’t take up too much of your time.
If you are a history buff with a particular interest in women’s rights, you may find THE WOMEN’S MARCH by Jennifer Chiaveriini fascinating. It’s more of a narrative about the struggle for women’s suffrage in early 20th century United States than a plotted story. The author focuses on three real-life women who advocated for women’s right to vote. Although she was from a Quaker family, Alice Paul had joined the Pankhursts’ military suffragists in England and been treated brutally in prison for her efforts. Returning to the US, she became highly educated and ultimately caught the eye of national organizers. Ida Bell Wells-Barnett and her husband came from slavery backgrounds. She co-founded the Negro Fellowship League and found herself advocating for both women’s rights and racial equality. Maud Malone was a librarian who fearlessly challenged politicians to state publicly where they stood on women’s suffrage. I felt it read took much like a history book, but I can see where others may really enjoy it. I received this book from The Book Club Girls Facebook group through NetGalley. It will be released in late July.
In THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz, Jake is struggling to live up to the hype of his first book, which had garnered more acclaim than the usual debut novel. He’s teaching at a third-rate MFA program when he encounters an obnoxious student, Evan, who is certain his WIP will be an Oprah Book Club selection and optioned for a movie. Evan’s 8-page writing sample shows he has talent, and when he reluctantly reveals the plot, Jake is blown away. But several years later, Jake hasn’t heard about Evan’s book being published, and he subsequently finds Evan’s obituary. So, Jake thinks, why shouldn’t I write my own book based on Evan’s plot? This is a psychological thriller, so you won’t be surprised to learn that Evan lives to rue the day he made that decision. Like most thrillers, the characters are largely unlikeable, but I was intrigued enough to read to the end.
The high-concept plot of the latest Christina Lauren novel, The SOULMATE EQUATION, centers on a pre-IPO company called GeneticAlly, which matches would-be daters using their DNA. Jess is a statistics consultant who is single mom to a precocious 7-year-old daughter. She and her best friend Fizzy, a romance novelist, run their careers from a local coffee shop, where an attractive but remote man orders at the same time every day. He, of course, turns out to be Dr. River Pena, who conceived GeneticAlly’s product. He eventually convinces the women to take the spit test, and Jess finds a rare diamond-level match . . . with River. Really? There are some conflicts to their relationship, which come very late in the book, but there’s a satisfying ending. Very gimmicky, but I found the book to be a pleasant change from some of the more serious books I’ve been reading.
I’m enjoying David Rosenfelt’s new series, The K-Team, which features Corey and his dog Simon (both recently retired police officers), former cop/now PI Laurie, and PI/bodyguard Marcus (a man of great bulk and few words). ANIMAL INSTINCT is the second in the series. Corey was upset a year or so ago when, as a police officer, he couldn’t do much for a woman injured in a domestic dispute–she wouldn’t press charges. Now she’s dead, and Corey feels responsible. This leads the team into an intricate maze of lies, multiple suspects, and danger. The sometimes illegal ways the team gets information and the multiple suspects who end up being killed or injured in the process of the investigation bothers me, but the plot is interesting and the courtroom scenes excellent. Laurie’s husband, Andy, the protagonist of Rosenfelt’s other series, plays a big role in this story, as he takes on Corey’s case when he is accused of one of the murders.
Good luck with your NetGalley attempts, Margie. I think you’d be a great candidate for it because you do excellent reviews here, but I have no say.
I love the sound of The Restoration of Celia Fairchild. I read a number of Marie Bostwick’s Cobbled Court Quilt books, and my mother really liked them. I’m going to have to tell her about this book. Thank you for the recommendation!
I think I liked The Soulmate Equation much more than you did, but it fit my mood at the time. I wasn’t impressed with Lauren’s last two books. And, I really liked the characters in this one.
Margie, “you’re not influential enough” sounds like an insult, and is certainly a snub. If that’s how they are, you don’t need them!
Margie, try reviewing some of the Read Now books on Netgalley. Those don’t require approval. Also try some of the smaller publishers- they may be more willing to approve you.
Thank you for the suggestions, Sandy. I did review one of the Read Now books, but I don’t currently see any that are of interest. Once I download it, it negatively affects my review percentage until I post my review, so I have to read and review it quickly. That’s fine it if’s a good book! But I never thought of looking for small publishers–great idea!
I read Before She Disappear by Lisa Gardner – she is one of my favorite authors and this one was different but still very good. The main character looks for missing people. Glad you had a good trip and I’m jealous that you have sisters – I always wanted one!
Thank you, Donna! It’s wonderful to have sisters, so I’m sorry you don’t have any.
I’m glad a favorite author didn’t disappoint!
I agree – I don’t have sisters or brothers, and it’s not a good thing in my opinion. I wouldn’t say my daughters are very close, but at least they will have one another when we are in our dotage. My husband isn’t that close to his sisters, but when their parents were ailing and then passed away, I noticed how they were at least all able to talk to one another and share the difficult decisions.
I know. We’ll always have our memories to share as sisters.
So happy you had a great visit, Lesa! As my family would say, that picture is for the top of the TV (of course back when we had TVs you could display pictures on). Next week we are finally making the trip to see our daughter’s family. First visit since November 2019. We are all fully vaccinated and I cannot wait.
My reading this week consisted of 2 clunkers both of which I wish I would have abandoned.
TWICE SHY by Sarah Hogel. I knew I was in trouble when Maybell went to her AU (alternate universe) cafe to escape her life. When the extremely anxiety ridden gardener she inherits her great aunt’s house with tries to replicate for real, I nearly threw the book out the window. It had a couple of good moments but definitely not for me.
The other disappointment was THE ROAD TRIP by Beth O’Leary. I loved her other books. This one not so much. I never really could figure out why Addie and Dylan fell in love beside the intense physical attraction. And I also could not figure out why Addie would put up with Dylan’s overly obnoxious friend, Marcus. It became tedious to the point that I felt I was crammed in the car with the other 5 passengers on the never ending trip to Scotland for a wedding. Ugh. Just Ugh.
Hopefully, the next book on my stack will be better.
Happy Reading!
Oh, Sharon. I hope your next book is better, too. Don’t you hate it when a favorite author disappoints? I understand why you stuck with the book, though, hoping it would get better.
Thank you! We loved our time together. I’m glad you’re getting the chance to see family next week.
Oh, no! I, too, loved Beth O’Leary’s last two books, and I was hoping The Road Trip would be just as good. Now I’m not so bummed that my library doesn’t seem to have it. I did request the ebook from one of my old libraries, but I won’t expect much. Thank you for lowering my expectations!
I hope you have a wonderful trip to see the family, Sharon. That’s such a long wait. I am blessed to be living (now) 10 minutes from my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, and a 2-hour drive from my other son. Enjoy!
Should be finishing up FRAMED AND FROSTED by Kim Davis today. I’m really enjoying it so far. Trying to stay cool since it it is already on it’s way to triple digits again, and it’s only 9:15 for me.
Sounds like California is really hit by the heat right now, Mark. Hopefully, the book has a cooling atmosphere.
Hi Lesa
I loved your photos and I am so glad you all had such a good time together – you can tell from the pictures how much you enjoy one another’s company.
I have had two wonderful walks at the Dunecht estate this week. The first was on Saturday evening, when it is much quieter. We saw no-one else walking, and the bird song and the views were just spectacular. The second was on Monday with my friend Nancy, back from her holidays on Arran and Islay – again, the estate was remarkably quiet and we had a great catch-up. She reported that quite a few tourist businesses on Islay were still closed, with several hotels only opening their bars and restaurants to residents. They did have find a few places open, and of course one doesn’t go to a relatively small island like Islay and expect a seething metropolis – they did some good walks, found an ancient hill fort, and a ruined church in the graveyard of which Nancy was able to find the headstone for the grandmother of one of her friends. The friend lives in New Zealand, so she will be so pleased to hear about this.
I am up against it a bit today, as I need to get two articles to The Edinburgh Reporter editor by tomorrow for her printed edition (mostly it’s online) but I am away to Edinburgh early tomorrow morning, so it all has to be done by tonight.
The first one is an author new to me, Torquil MacLeod. Although I had never heard of him, his latest book is the eighth in a series set in Malmo, Sweden. Torquil is not Swedish but Scottish and originally from Skye – though I discovered in the course of my research that from the 8th to the 15th centuries parts of NW Scotland and the Islands were known as Scandinavian Scotland, as they had been colonied by Norsemen and Vikings. That’s how Torquil got his name. However, he started writing his Malmo books when his son went to live there. Torquil and his wife visited frequently and he got friendly with two police detectives. In 2000 he decided to give up his job as an advertising copywriter and become a full time author, and his Inspector Anita Sundstrom books have been very popular.
This one follows two plot lines. Anita, who has left the police as she can’t work with the woman who has become her boss, is asked by a dying woman to find some Dutch Old Masters that were stolen from her great grandfather’s home in Budapest in 1944. This leads to a story all about the Nazis’ mass appropriation of art and artefacts from mainly Jewish collectors. Many have never been returned to their legal owners. At the same time, Anita’s old police colleagues are investigating the murder of a private detective. When they find out that he had changed his name, and was actually the son of Polish Jews who fled to Sweden, they have to work out if his death is connected to his work – an unhappy spouse or lover for perhaps? – or has a more sinister cause. Antisemitism is on the rise in modern Sweden; Malmo is about to host a conference of academics and wealthy philanthropists who oppose extremism and far right politics. When a second murder happens, and the victim is also Jewish – though with no apparent link to the first one – the police need to find out what is going on and why, before there are more deaths – and before the conference is threatened. Gradually the two plots start to converge.
I am enjoying this book (haven’t quite finished) much more than i thought I would, and I’d definitely read more of this series. In this story there is a lot about what went on in the war – eg about Hermann Goring’s vast, largely stolen, art collection, first housed at his hunting lodge, Carinhall, then moved to Berchtesgaden in April 1945 just before Goring had the lodge blown up – the Red Army were by then advancing, and he did not want his memorial to his beloved first wife to fall into Russian hands. I didn’t know anything about this at all, and I was impressed by the way in which Torquil Macleod managed to bring in the history without making it read like a textbook.
I’ve also been listening to an Agatha Christie on BBC Sounds – Murder is Easy. It was a bit unusual and did not feature Poirot, Miss Marple or even Tuppence and Tommy (thank goodness…) It’s about a man called Luke Fitzwilliam who meets an elderly lady, Lavinia Pinkerton, on a train to London. She is going to Scotland Yard to tell them about the murders that are happening in her quiet village – one that is known for having been the home of witches in the past. Miss Pinkerton says she knows they are murders, and she knows who the murderer is, but each death has been passed off as accidental. Before she can report her suspicions, Miss P is run over and killed. Luke and one of thevillage inhabitants, Bridget Conway, join forces (in more ways than one, as she is engaged to a much older man – one of the suspects – but soon falls in love with Luke instead) to find the murderer. I thought it was one of Christie’s better efforts, but that might have been largely because Luke was played by Patrick Baladi, who’s a great actor, and who brought just the right amount of subtle, arch humour to the part.
Also on Sounds, I am listening to The Dry by Jane Harper. I have the book but haven’t yet read it. It is about a detective, Aaron Falk, returnng from Melbourne to his home town for the funeral of his childhood friend, Luke Hadler. Luke has been found dead in his truck, with a gun in his mouth, At his nearby home, his wife and son have been shot dead, though their baby daughter is unharmed. There has been no rain in the town for two years; farmers are going bust, everyone is on edge. It is initially assumed that Luke shot his family, then himself, but his parents and friends don’t believe it; neither does Falk. Together with the local policeman (and I really like how this man is seen as a valued ally rather than the usual incompetent idiot who needs city help to do his job) Falk starts to investigate. But of course, everyone in the town has secrets, and that includes Falk and Hadler, who have a very dangerous one from 20 years ago.
I an engrossed by this excellent story – not only the plot, which is gripping, but also the sense of heat, dust and despair that Harper manages to convey. The town is like a powder keg; the tension is palpable.
I can’t remember if I mentioned Janie Bolitho’s Betrayed in Cornwall last week? This is the fourth outing for widowed artist and amateur sleuth Rose Trevelyan, and I enjoyed it more than I have the others. I felt the characters were much more developed, and although the mystery fizzled out a bit at the end, the book conveyed small town life, and the tensions within it, well. The arrival of Rose’s parents, and the continuing chemistry between Rose and Jack (who are no longer together) added to the story.
Having reached the end of The Crown for now, we decided to watch the DVD of The Thick of It. I had seen it before but my husband hadn’t. It was made in the early 2000s and features the brilliant Peter Capaldi as chief spin doctor to an unseen Prime Minister. The main characters are the civil servants and PR people around the PM. Capaldi, whose character can only have been based on Alistair Campbell, spin doctor to our last Labour PM, Tony Blair, is perfect in the role, but they are all good and extremely funny. However, we did note that, while the more recently made (and largely made for US TV) Crown has numerous trigger warnings at the beginning of every episode (and then, as my disappointed husband says, ‘nothing like that ever happens…’), The Thick of It, in which every second word is the F word, and Capaldi/Campbell shouts, bullies and sacks 24 hours a day, has no warnings at all. How times change. I’m not sure I would recommend this series to people in America; the language is very strong indeed, and the humour might be particularly British, I’m not sure. We’re enjoying it anyway. I noted that Georgie Glen, the actress who plays the very proper Miss Higgins in Call the Midwife, appeared in in last night’s episode of The Thick of It as a much younger (of course) secretary. She also turns up in The Crown as Diana’s grandmother, Lady Fermoy. A very versatile actress.
Now I am off to the river for a pre-dinner stroll. I’ve just been watering the garden, and once again, in an effort to water my hanging baskets, I managed to water myself…. it’s a busy time in the garden, with everything flowering at once, and lots of birds visiting the feeders. Just now I saw a huge bee inspecting my azalea; I hope he found what he was looking for.
Have a good week all. My youngest daughter Madeleine is coming to stay on Tuesday, and we are hoping – at last – to visit the Aberdeen Art Gallery, which had a multi-million pound makeover a couple of years ago and then promptly had to shut thanks to Covid. I think they have an exhibition about Joan Eardley, who lived at Catterline, a tiny fishing village south of Aberdeen, for most of her life, and painted the sea and the countryside all around her. (Before that she painted street children in Glasgow, and these are some of her most famous works.)
I hope you make your deadline, Rosemary!
Well, Torquil MacLeod’s background may explain a quarter of my own ancestry, the part that I really don’t know. I have a lot of connections for the English/French/German that is 75%. But, according to DNA and Ancestry, there’s 13% from Scotland and 12% from Sweden. Interesting information. That series sounds good, too.
Here’s something else interesting about that series. I could get the first Anita Sundstrom mystery for 99 cents for Kindle, which I did; $14.95 in paperback from Amazon, or $203.53 in hardcover. I passed on that last edition.
If I hadn’t just picked up the book Margie recommended by Marie Bostwick, I’d go get Murder is Easy. It’s on my list now, though.
Thank you, Rosemary, for the interesting “Letter from Scotland” even when you’re on deadline.
I hope you enjoy your visit with your daughter as much as I enjoyed my family visit!
Good grief Lesa! $203!! I enjoyed the one I read, but not *that* much! Amazon really is quite ridiculous with some of its pricing. I often find things cheaper on ebay now.
I’m guessing it’s out-of-print in hardcover here, Rosemary, and someone thinks they can ask that amount. They’ll never get it from me!
I thought The Dry was an excellent book. I could feel the heat and the drought as I read it.
She’s such an excellent writer, and does such a great job with making you experience the surroundings.
It’s warming up after a delightful two days of cool, refreshing rain at the beginning of the week. The Roses are loving the heat, though when it passes 85 I’m not happy, and the Dahlias are covered with buds. It’s a great time to get into the garden in the morning after coffee, then relax with a book and cool drink in the afternoon. What books, you ask?
The Readers’ Room by Antoine Laurain was very enjoyable indeed. This is an author I like a lot. This one takes place in a publishing house and I learned about the process.
I finished Salt Lane by William Shaw, the book which follows The Birdwatcher, and found the irascible main character, Detective Sergeant Alexandria Cupidi, irritating but compelling. Interesting plot. The next book in the series, Deadland, isn’t available in the nearby libraries, so I may order a paperback. I haven’t decided.
The Vanishing Museum On the Rue Mistral by M.L. Longworth came from the library, along with some others. It’s set in Aix, France, so I’m completely at sea as to geography, and my French is very spotty at best, but there are interesting characters and the disappearance of the entire contents of a small museum is an original plot element, certainly. There’s a lot of food and socializing and not a lot of crime solving, but after a murder things are picking up. I’ll finish it today.
All in all, a good week for books, garden, weather, everything. Hope yours was as nice.
Oh, good, Richard. It sounds as if you have the perfect day sorted out, ending with books. You are so right about The Vanishing Museum – lots of food and socializing.
Great picture of the family!
Thank you, Bonnie!
Oh my goodness, what a lovely picture of your family. Your mom looks very young.
Last week was my husband’s first week of retirement and we went out somewhere several days. Nothing special, first to a bookstore, one day to a plant nursery, a grocery store visit, and one day we bought my husband a new laptop at Costco. It was a combination of feeling more relaxed about going out (still masked of course) and my husband having all that free time.
I finished reading THE TRAVELERS by Chris Pavone. I did enjoy it a lot, just not as much as his two previous books, THE EXPATS and THE ACCIDENT. It was my kind of read.
Last night I finished THREE STATIONS by Martin Cruz Smith. It was a nice, short read, and I am glad I finally got back to the Arkady Renko series.
I agree that your mom looks younger than her age! Sounds clichéd, but I thought the photo was all sisters. I have four sisters, with a nineteen year age difference, so I might be biased.
This week has flown past, but I did manage a couple interesting reads.
The Book Artist, a murder mystery set in Paris with a Montmarte museum exhibit featuring sculptures made of books. This is #8 in the Hugo Marston series. I don’t know that I’ve seen the series mentioned here, but quite enjoyable. The main character is a former FBI profiler currently head of security at the US Embassy in Paris. The author, Mark Pryor, is a native of England, now a lawyer in Austin, TX.
The other was Anne Hillerman’s latest, Stargazer, that was mentioned here previously. The sixth in her series based on the Tony Hillerman series. I think the characters are her strong point, but doesn’t quite capture the location as well as the original.
Temperatures might reach 100 over the next couple days due to the heat wave in the western states. Smoke from the large wildfires in AZ might actually lower it a few degrees. A wildfire started yesterday afternoon at the south end town, closing the highway to Carson City for several hours. Fortunately contained quickly at just a few hundred acres and no homes lost.
Thank you! I’ll have to pass on the kind comments to my mother, M.M. & Tracy.
Kaye, who comments here, loves the Hugo Marston books. I have to admit I haven’t read them, although I think I’d really like them. Time! I just need more time!
Stay inside, and stay safe!
Good for you getting out, and congratulations on a week of spousal retirement. I’m guessing you saw my comments on SALT LANE above. I’ve ordered DEADLAND.
Rick, you are going to be way ahead of me on the D.S. Cupidi series. I will be ordering a copy of SALT LANE soon.
Barbara is reading, and liking, it now, Tracy.
Thank you, Tracy! I hope you and your husband continue to enjoy your more relaxed time together!
And, you still have time to read, and to share it here. Thank you!
I love the picture of your family!!!! Only one of my brothers and my cousins are living, and they are scattered from Alaska to Maine. We want to have a trip and go almost anywhere but I have to find out if I need surgery on my left knee first.
I finished I Wish You all the Best. It is a fictional story written about a non-binary person and written by one, Mason Deaver. It is the only book on the subject that I have ever read, and it is a deeply personal story. I bought because I read a second book by them and I wanted to understand what living a non-binary life is like. I applaud him for their courage for writing. I am learning to
use the correct pronouns for the first time and now getting it why they are so important to him.
I have also start The Summer of ’69 by Elin Hidenbrand on audiobook. I have only listened to two discs so far. I have trouble reading about people who are very rich, I am going to have to think about that! Also, it is difficult to go back to a time that I lived through but don’t understand. Another toughie to figure out.
It is about 97 here and will be a very hot and bad air quality summer. My appointments start up again next week and I wonder about getting through them with a painful knee.
I have entered for the book you are reading, Lesa. If I cannot win it, I will try to find it in a library later on.
Margie, I have also entered for the Women’s March and I would love to read it.
Thank you, Carolee. I do know how fortunate I am to have a close-knit family. I really only grew to appreciate that in the last 10 years or so.
Good for you for trying to learn to use the correct pronouns when none of us grew up with that terminology.
Take care of yourself with the bad air quality, and your knee.
Carolee, my favorite part of The Women’s March was the latter part of the book, where the actual march was detailed–very interesting. I hope you enjoy it.
Lovely picture, Lesa! I am currently reading Her Dark Lies by JT Ellison and for my book club, The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin . On audio I am listening to The Dead Husband by Carter Wilson.
Thank you, Katherine! I haven’t read one of JT Ellison’s books in quite a while, but she writes exciting books.