How are you? Did you survive last week? I hope you’re doing okay. I’m always willing to listen.
Here’s the other question. What are you reading? I’m reading Rick Bragg’s new collection, Where I Come From: Stories from the Deep South. Rick Bragg and Craig Johnson are my two favorite storytellers in person. Because I’ve heard both of them speak and tell stories, I hear their voices when I read their books. I don’t need to listen to an audiobook. I can “hear” them.
I’ve only read thirty-six pages in the book. Bragg has already written about fishing, New Orleans in August, and fire ants. In “The Mean Season”, his essay about New Orleans, he says, “Then find yourself a cool, dark place to wait out the hottest part of the day – only to realize you might be there until October.” I’m just at the chapter called “We Will Never See Their Like Again”. The first essay, “The Great Conroy”, sent me down the hall at work to tell my best friend that Rick Bragg wrote a tribute to Pat Conroy.
I’ll review this book when I’m finished. I know there will be so many essays I wish I could mention. I love Rick Bragg’s stories.
I’ve actually met Rick Bragg a couple times, but it’s the meeting in 2004 that I treasure. He appeared at the Lee County Reading Festival in Ft. Myers, Florida when I was chair of the Authors’ Programming. I was his escort that day, and my husband escorted historian Douglas Brinkley. Rick Bragg spent time with every person who stood in line to get a book autographed, and gave them his attention as if they were the only person in the world. It’s no wonder he can tell stories. He listens as well as he writes.
Jim and I had lunch with Bragg and Douglas Brinkley. I don’t think either of us said a word because we were just in awe as we listened to them talk about New Orleans, publishing, and other topics. But, more than anything, I remember Rick Bragg’s kindness to fans that weekend.
So, I’m reading a book that brings back memories of the author. But, it’s also a book that just stirs memories, even though I never lived in the Deep South. (Southwestern Florida is not the South.) What are you reading this week?
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| Douglas Brinkley and Rick Bragg |
The book sounds great – I remember really liking Bragg's first book – and I loved the story. It's always good to hear about authors who appreciate their readers, not to mention treat them nicely. As a big Pat Conroy fan too, I will definitely look for this one. (OK – I was able to reserve the ebook copy from the library.)
We are still the same – mostly staying in or going to the store. But since we had an amazing week of weather – six straight days in the 70s in New York in November doesn't happen that often – we took advantage and ate (outdoors, I must mention) in restaurants three straight days. It may well be the last time until Spring and the vaccine (fingers crossed).
Books. Read the previously mentioned MANTEL PIECES by Hilary Mantel, mostly reviews from the London Review of Books. I like her writing style and enjoyed her few personal stories.
As with her previous book, I really enjoyed Val McDermid's STILL LIFE the closer I got to the end.
I read the latest K-9 book about Mattie Cobb and Robo, HANGING FALLS. This was better than the last one, as Mattie finally gets to meet the sister and grandmother she doesn't remember.
Still reading the Fitzgerald short stories, and have started the collection of Erle Stanley Gardner stories about Robin Hood-like crook Lester Leith (more when I finish, but I must admit I am not enjoying the character as much this time). And now (at a friend's recommendation) I have started Daniel Woodrell's collection of Ozark tales, THE OUTLAW ALBUM.
Currently reading an excellent first mystery, BLACKTOP WASTELAND by S. A. Cosby, a noirish tale about Beauregard "Bug" Montage, the best driver around, who has given up driving for crooks to be an honest mechanic and husband and father. But he needs money for his business and family, so when he gets offered big bucks to plan and drive a getaway car, he can't turn it down. It is set in southern Virginia (so far), and unusual for the field in that Bug is black. Definitely recommended.
On the way to the library: the new Michael Connelly.
Hello Lesa and everyone else,
I have just finished Flambards, which I quite enjoyed but did feel could have been better developed. I would have liked more information about Christina's daily life at Flambards, and a bit less about horses – but I appreciate it was probably written to appeal to horse-mad girls, and I do remember being obsessed with books like Jill and Her Ponies when I was young (it was certainly the nearest I was ever going to get to riding!)
I'm about to start Fannie Flagg's Redbird Christmas. I know nothing about it but I have a nice hardback copy that I must have picked up somewhere, and many people seem to like it. I'm not about to read Christmas books only, but I do have my little stack prepared – I was surprised how many I had actually. Has anyone else read Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm, or Christmas Holiday by Somerset Maugham?
Otherwise I am pottering on much as usual, though greatly cheered by recent positive news! Also my youngest daughter will now probably be able to come home for Christmas, as the government is working out a plan to allow students to do this safely if they wish to (it involves double testing before they leave, and an earlier than usual end to in person teaching so that they can get away in the early part of December.) Unfortunately this has not pleased my elder daughter, who can't really come home from London, but such is the situation we find ourselves in!
I had a fabulous walk with my friend Nancy at the Loch of Skene on Monday. We came upon some ruined buildings but could find nothing about them on the estate website. Now Nancy has dug out a book by a local man, who painstakingly catalogued all the ruins and monuments in the parish, so i am really looking forward to borrowing that.
Lesa, that book you talk about sounds great. I always find writing about the south so interesting, it is such a different world from mine. I will see if it is available here. Yesterday I actually recorded a film from the Sony Christmas Channel – this I have resisted so far as they all have only one or 2 stars, but the one I chose is 'Christmas on the Bayou' and it was the Bayou bit that attracted me. I think it's probably a very predictable romance, but sometimes I appreciate one of those!
I have started watching the DVD of The Cazalets, having read Elizabeth Jane Howard's series more than once. The TV programmes (of which the DVD is made up) did not get great reviews, but so far I am enjoying them. Hugh Bonneville plays Hugh, the nicest of the three Cazalet sons, and i can watch him in anything. Paul Rhys, who was Stringham in my beloved A Dance to the Music of Time adaptation, plays the youngest son, Rupert, and he is also great. I'm not sure who the actor is playing the oldest son, Edward, but he is certainly bringing out all of Edward's vices – Edward is a serial philanderer and even comes on to his own 16 year old daughter when her mother is away. Yuk. Lots of period detail (it starts between the wars, and they have just celebrated Neville Chamberlain announcing 'Peace with Honour' – which as we all know, lasted approximately 5 milliseconds before the famous radio broadcast informing the public that 'This country is at war with Germany.'
The sun has come out, it's 1pm here, so after lunch I think I must get myself down to the river with Fannie Flagg, but before I shut up, Jeff, I wanted to apologise for not replying to your post about Suffolk last week. I have visited some of the towns you mention – Southwold, which has always been very posh, and also Aldeburgh, home of the music festival. Suffolk has always been rather 'old money' – very restrained and polite – but it's so long since I've been there now that I don't know if it has changed. My daughter and her partner stayed on the Norfolk coast at Sheringham recently and very much enjoyed it.
Hope everyone is OK,
Rosemary
Good morning,
Like Jeff, we had six days in the 70s here in NJ. We were able to eat lunch on our porch and did eat lunch outdoors at a restaurant one day. We’re still doing exercise classes on Zoom which I actually prefer during the winter since we don’t have to go out in the dark and cold to drive to class. Otherwise we’re pretty much hunkered down except for trips to get groceries and the library.
This week I caught up on some of the cozy mystery ARCs I needed to read. Two I really liked and two were just OK.
THE ONE POISON PIE by Lynn Cahoon and BERRIED MOTIVES by Peg Cochran were the ones that were just OK. Very standard cozy mysteries.
MURDER IN THE CHRISTMAS TREE LOT by Judith Gonda Is a Christmas mystery set in California which was different.
CHRISTMAS CLOCHES AND CORPSES by Gayle Leeson has a fun ghost and I like that she writes senior characters with spunk
My one non ARC book was SUCKER PUNCH by Kristen Painter which I really liked. The NJ vampires go to war with the New York City fae to rescue a hostage.
Rosemary, I believe it was theater actor Stephen Dillane in THE CAZALETS, more recently in THE TUNNEL (where he was also a philanderer), but also known here for playing Thomas Jefferson in JOHN ADAMS. I still have the books unread on my shelf.
I am a huge fan of A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME. I have it saved to watch on Amazon Prime, and I have the books (which they issued in four paperbacks of three books each) waiting to be reread – some day.
Like you, Jeff, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that vaccine. Wasn't the weather gorgeous last week? I don't blame you for trying to enjoy dinner at restaurants while you can. I suspect it's going to be a long winter without family holidays and time spent together as well as no restaurants, plays, etc.
So good to hear Blacktop Wasteland is living up to expectations. I suspect it's not my type of book, though.
I did like Hanging Falls.
Oh, Rosemary – Fannie Flagg! My friend, Donna, loves her books, every one of them. Did you know Fannie Flagg is dyslexic? One more reason to admire an author who can work with that yet still write books.
I was one of those horse-mad girls as well. That's a love I shared with my grandfather, who I adored. My grandfather, father & I went to harness-races a few times together & I was so impressed that Grandpa knew the drivers.
The South, especially Rick Bragg's south, is a different world than many of us live in. If you can't find this book by him, his most popular books here are All Over But the Shoutin' and Ava's Man. It's a look at the type of upbringing the author had. Those are books about his family.
I'm sure your oldest daughter isn't happy that she can't come home for Christmas. Covid is doing a nasty job on family gatherings this year. Hopefully, we'll have a vaccine and next year's holidays will be better.
Sandy, I think we all celebrated that last week of gorgeous weather. I think we all appreciated it a little more this year. I like the sound of Christmas Cloches and Corpses. I'll have to look for that one.
This week I only finished one book-THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES by Alix E. Harrow. I found it an interesting take on fairytales with a feminist twist. I didn't enjoy it as much as THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY but it was very good.
Now I am reading A DEATH LONG OVERDUE by Eva Gates.
Happy Reading!
Happy Reading to you as well, Sharon. I still need to get to The Ten Thousand Doors of January. It's on my TBR list. (I have a list as well as all those piles.)
I am really enjoying the cooler weather–so glad I put my winter blanket on my bed last week! I'm also glad I got a new Keurig to replace my ailing one–hot apple cider, hot chocolate, and cappuccinos are delightful. My county might be going backward to a more restrictive tier this week, but county government is appealing. Most of the new cases are coming from South Lake Tahoe, which is not that close. The only real effect I'll see is that restaurants will go back to 25% rather than 50% inside attendance.
I read Juliet Blackwell's LETTERS FROM PARIS for a book club, and I'm glad I suggested it (I've had the book for a while). Claire is dissatisfied with her lucrative software job in Chicago and journeys back home to Louisiana when she hears her beloved grandmother's health is worsening. Mammaw encourages her to take a trip to Paris to discover the origin of a beautiful but broken death mask that has inspired Claire since her childhood, and Claire reluctantly does so. She quickly finds the studio where the sculpture of "L'Inconnue" was made, where she becomes a temporary shop assistant to the studio's prickly mask-maker. In a parallel story, young Sabine has to become an artist's model in turn-of-the-century Paris in order to survive. And yes, the stories are ultimately connected. Beautiful descriptions immerse the reader in Paris in two timelines.
In CRAZY STUPID ROMANCE by Lissa Kay Adams, third in the entertaining Bromance Book Club series, Noah has a hankering to turn his relationship with long-term best friend Alexis into something more, but he is not willing to risk ruining their friendship if she doesn't feel the same way. His friend Mack forces him to join the book club to get some "expert" advice from the guys. Subplots: Alexis has stood up to a serial sexual harasser in the past and now runs a cat cafe for other victimized women, plus she is approached by a sister she didn't know she had to possibly donate a kidney to a father she has never met. Noah has gotten into some trouble in the past as a hacker and now runs a cybersecurity consulting firm. These modern romances are fun, with a bit more substance than some.
Although I often enjoy Lisa Jewell books, I couldn't get past 90 pages in INVISIBLE GIRL. The story was too bleak, and I didn't find anyone to root for. Sorry, Lisa.
CHRISTMAS AT THE ISLAND HOTEL by Jenny Colgan was the antidote! I so enjoy spending time with characters from a couple of Colgan's previous books set on the Scottish island of Mure–as always, her writing is comfort reading for me. Flora is on a reluctant maternity leave after she and boyfriend Joel have their first child. Her brother Fintan, who is turning his late husband's mansion into an upscale hotel, isn't enjoying the process and pines for Colton. Gaspard is a nightmare of a chef in the hotel's restaurant who nevertheless puts out exquisite food. Konstantin, the son of a prominent Norwegian duke, has been banished to work in the kitchen–incognito–as a lowly pot boy with no phone and little money, while Isla had to leave her job and her best friend in Flora's cafe to become the junior kitchen manager at the hotel. Five-year-old Agot, Flora's niece, is, as usual, hilarious. And, of course, it's almost Christmas and the new hotel will be opening at last. Thank goodness Colgan is so prolific!
I forgot to mention that I am starting Fannie Flagg's latest today. Count me in as a reader who looks forward to each of her books!
Still alive and kicking. Work is driving me to yell at my computer monitors, which is probably better for my long term employment than actually yelling at my bosses, which is what I really want to do.
I'm relaxing with SWIFT EDGE by Laura DiSilverio. I read the first in this series years ago and enjoyed it, but am finally pulling the second of my TBR mountain range. It's enjoyable as well.
Mornin', all!
What a terrific story, Lesa! I too love Rick Bragg, but I've never had lunch with him! I look forward to reading this book.
I read only one book this past week. My lack of interest continues, sadly. I read an ARC of Michael Koryta's Never Far Away. Next up is Anthony Horowitz' Moonflower Murders.
Margie, I love the Juliet Blackwell book you mentioned. I love her books about Paris! And I assassinated you said about the Lisa Jewell book.
When I assassinated?!?! Whaaat? Hahaha! Make that "I agree"
I'm looking forward to the Colgan book, Margie. I have it at home. It's good to know it lived up to your expectations! (Unlike Lisa Jewell's books.)
You're probably right, Mark, that it's better to yell at the computers than your bosses. I'm sorry that work is such a mess. I'm glad books are still providing you with some relief.
Kaye, I know what you're thinking! Hahaha!
Rick Bragg is just as kind as you would expect. Maybe this book will help you over that reading hump. I'm sorry that nothing is working.
Jeff – we must be kindred spirits!
I read all of the Dance to the Music of Time books some years ago (I also have them in four books of four), and I would like to re-read them if`I didn’t t have so much else to read first! I thought the TV adaptation was absolutely first class so I’ll be interested to hear what you think of it. Simon Russell Beale is superlative as Widmerpol but all of the actors are excellent. Miranda Richardson is perfect as Pamela.
Thank you for thei information about the actor who plays Edward Cazalet. I can also recommend the Cazalet books, I love them. They are easy to read and well written. I’ve also heard them read on the radio, think it was by someone like Phyllis Hogan, who read them very well.
The tiers keep changing colors, but my life remains the same.
I read:
Downtown by Ed McBain; a Floridian goes to New York City, gets scammed out of all his money and credit cards within minutes, then teams up with a Chinese woman to clear himself from a murder charge. This sort of premise was very popular during the 80's, but has faded away. Maybe we perceive cities in a different way than back then.
Doubleshot by Raymond Benson; A former matador has a plan to wrest Gibraltar from the British. An evil group uses the opportunity to try to take out Bond. Not great. More a movie starring Ken Clark than Sean Connery.
Song of the Lion by Anne Hillerman; Officer Manuelito is at a basketball game when a lawyer's car explodes. After that, mostly padding.
Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke; There's no murder. Hannah and Co. help an amnesiac recover his memory. Mostly padding and recipes. Maybe Fluke should get herself a co-writer.
Glen, I'm giving away a copy of Christmas Cupcake Murder tomorrow. I won't use your summary. (grin)
Like you, I'm a huge fan of Bragg. He's a born storyteller, but what I find most attractive about his work is the the obvious affection he has for the people he writes about. They may be quirky or difficult or just downright mean, but Bragg seems to appreciate the uniqueness of each person.
I've just started re-reading one of my favorite books–A Broom of One's Own by Nancy Peacock. No, not about witches. It's a memoir about Peacock's life as a cleaning lady after the publication of her acclaimed first novel.