What are you reading this week? Naturally, I’m reading mysteries on deadline, but I have a four day weekend coming up, so I’ll get them all read. Because I’m reading mysteries, I looked through my nonfiction books to find something else. I’m actually re-reading a book this week, which I seldom do.
Nine years ago, I read Roger Rosenblatt’s “family story”, Making Toast. It wasn’t an easy read then, but I’m looking at it from a different perspective now. Rosenblatt’s book is the story of his anger after his thirty-eight year old daughter, Amy, died unexpectedly. He and his wife, Ginny, moved in with their son-in-law to help take care of the three children. It’s a story of loss and emotion, and grandparents stepping in to take a different role in their grandchildren’s lives. Nine years ago, I read that book just four months after my husband’s death. I commented at the time that sometimes you do get through days by doing simple tasks, Making Toast.
I had actually forgotten that I’d read this book at the time. Sometimes, it’s good to re-read at a later date. I won’t be reviewing it a second time, but it’s interesting to look back and see what I wrote then. Different time. Different mood.
So, tell us what you’re reading this week. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
I am reading Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert. Her new book
Past Due For Murder comes out in February and I wanted to make sure I had read book #2 before the new one comes out.
Shelved Under Murder was very good, Deb.
Interesting, Lesa. I think I will look for that book.
Currently reading another recommended first (British) mystery, Kaz Frear's SWEET LITTLE LIES. The narrator, DC Cat Kinsella, is on a Murder Squad investigating a murdered woman whose body was dumped in their area. But things take a turn (for this reader, at least) when she withholds information from her bosses that would surely get her removed from the case, first that her sketchy father's pub is nearby, and then something much more serious. I'll be curious to see how this one ends up. It is well written and an interesting mystery.
I'm also reading a Crippen & Landru collection, William Brittain's THE MAN WHO READ MYSTERIES, with all "The Man Who" stories (making clever use of Rex Stout, John Dickson Carr, Ellery Queen, and others) and 11 of his Mr. Strang (a biology teacher) stories. I am also reading WEST OF GUAM, Raoul Whitfield's complete collection of his PI Jo Gar stories, set mostly in Manila. Very atmospheric.
I finished:
Crab Cakes, Killers and a Kaftan ( book6) by Sherri Bryan
Mince Pies, Mistetoe and Murder (book 7) by Sherri Bryan
Doughnuts, Diamonds and Dead Men (book 8) by Sherri Bryan ~~ I have enjoyed this series.
Pacific Homicide (book 1) by Patricia Smiley ~~ I really enjoyed this book. I will the others in this series.
I am reading:
Bread, Dead and Wed ( book 9) by Sherri Bryan
Deciding on which other book I would like to start today.
I have Kaz Frear's book on my list too. Good to hear what you think, Jeffrey. I just finished listening to Liane Moriarty's newest, NINE PERFECT STRANGERS. That book has gotten mixed reviews, but I ended up liking it more than I thought I would when I was only about 1/3 in. I'm currently reading Sarah Bailey's 2nd Gemma Woodstock book, INTO THE NIGHT, and so far so good. I love the Australian setting, though I don't think it plays as much of a part as it did in the first book.
I'm reading THE ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST by Gigi Pandian and WHO IS VERA KELLY by Rosalie Knecht. Not far into either book but good so far. I'm reading THE ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST on my kindle app. This year I'm trying to read more with my book apps. 🙂
I finished HARRY'S TREES by Jon Cohen. I told my daughter to run not walk to her library and check it out. I loved it! It is a book about grief and overcoming it in the most unique way. Nine year old Oriana's father died unexpectedly. She copes by turning to the library and fairy tale books. Her path intersects in the forest with Harry, a forest service analyst, who also lost his wife unexpectedly. With the help of a one of a kind fairy tale provided by the town librarian, Oriana decides Harry is the one who will make things right for the both of them to move on. I laughed at times reading this and at the end got a little teary eyed with the librarian. This was so much more than a story of grief. It was about a town and trees and greed and hope and love. I thought it was just wonderful. Plus there was the bonus of Harry being a graduate of Ohio State so there were many familiar references to streets and places in Columbus where I live.
Now I am almost finished with THE RED ADDRESS BOOK by Sofia Lundquist. It is about a 96 year old Swedish woman reminiscing about her life through entries in her address book. It is good but not all that special. I can't help wonder if I am not making a connection with the characters because it is a translation.
A pile of cozy mysteries up next for the upcoming winter storm weekend. Stay safe if you will affected.
Happy Reading!
I finished SLAY IN CHARACTER by Lynn Cahoon
THE SLAVE MARKET OF MUKAR by Lee Falk (book 2 in his Phantom series)
THE INN AT HOLIDAY BAY: BOXES IN THE BASEMENT by Kathi Daley. Not one of my favorite books by her
YULE BE DEAD by Lorraine Bartlett
I’m currently reading a fantasy book, WITCHMARK by C. L. Polk about families with magical gifts in a world that’s sort of like Edwardian England. So far I’m enjoying it.
Thank you, Sharon, for the review of HARRY'S TREES. I saw it on the library shelf and will look for it again. I'm going through some grief of my own right now, and it sounds like this book may be helpful.
I finished EJ Copperman's BIRD BATH AND BEYOND and enjoyed it more than the first in the series. Animal agent and lawyer Kay Powell gets more than she bargains for when she agrees to be with parrot Barney on a TV set as a sub for Barney's ailing owner/trainer. When the featured actor is killed while Barney was in the dressing room with him, the police think the parrot can somehow help them solve the case. The plot is convoluted enough to be interesting, and there is a lot of Copperman's snarky humor to liven things up.
NATE EXPECTATIONS by Tim Federle is third in an entertaining series about a young boy whose goal is to be in Broadway musicals. In this story, "ET: The Musical" has just closed on Broadway, so understudy-for-Elliott and ensemble member Nate has to go back home to PA and to high school, where he finds he is slightly less of a target than he was in middle school. In response to an English assignment to come up with a non-traditional book report of Great Expectations, Nate and his best friend, Libby, decide to create a musical based on the book, which Nate will direct and Libby will cast with fellow students. Add that to Nate's burgeoning realization that he is gay, and you have the ingredients for an engaging book. Federle, who also wrote the animated movie, "Ferdinand," and the musical adaptation of TUCK EVERLASTING can do no wrong in my eyes.
In THE WISDOM OF SALLY RED SHOES by Ruth Hogan, Sally is an eccentric elderly woman Masha meets on her frequent trips to the cemetery. Masha's joy for life was cut short by a family tragedy years ago, and Sally inspires her to start living again with sentiments such as this one, which really resonated with me: "When the music stops for someone you love, you don't stop dancing. You dance for them as well." Not a sequel to Hogan's superior THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS, one of my 2017 favorites, this book again features the author's unmatched mastery of description, original characters, and insightful prose.
Last night, I finished PRUNING THE DEAD by Julia Henry. It could have been a little tighter, but I enjoyed it overall.
Today, I’ll be starting THE GUN ALSO RISES by Sherry Harris. I love this series, so I’m really looking forward to it.
I read some children's books including Freed the Cheetah and Kathy's bike was Wonderfully Strange. Pretty much the same stuff I read at age six.
Optical Delusions in Deadwood by Ann Charles; Supposed to be a paranormal cozy, but there isn't much paranormal. Mostly just pining away for Doc. Got tedious.
The Window Trail: A Big Bend Country mystery; An English professor finds the dead body of a colleague on a huge ranch. She and the handsome sheriff investigate. A novel that doesn't know how to end.
Killers of the Flower Moon; I know, last year's book, but I finally got to it. One of the most chilling true crime books I've ever read.
I read a Baron novel and a Toff novel by John Creasey; These are all about the same. I didn't believe he sold so many books until I realized I'd read something like 35 of them.
White Ninja by Eric Van Lustbader; Lustbader's never been the same since he stopped writing all the sleazy stuff like this.
Flashback by Ted Wood; Canadian K-9 officer, and sensitive 90's kind of guy finds a body in the trunk of a car. Pretty dull.
Oh, I'm so disappointed that you didn't like The Red Address Book, Sharon. I've been waiting for it! We don't have it yet. I'll be interested to see if I feel the same way because of the translation. I read another one recently that was translated, and fell flat for me.
But, I'm going to look for Hogan's book, Margie. That one sounds good. Thank you!
Thank you, everyone. I read all your comments about what you're reading. I always feel as if I'm catching up with friends. Thank you.
I am reading Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz and An Anonymous Girl by Hendricks and Pekkanen in print. I am listening to Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco on audio. On ebook its a novella called Twelve (Naturals series) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I have book club this Tuesday so I need to finish up The Church at the Fork in the Road by Jasper Barber (local author).
Have a great weekend Lesa!
Missed posting a couple of times.
I in the midst of finishing Trailblazer by Dorothy Butler Gillam, about the first female African American reporter at the Washington Post. I having trouble reading it because the print is so faint. But personal story shines through.
Reading The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson. It reminds of the Little Prince in a way and I love it.
Also reading The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick and I am loving it. I am now hooked on her books!
I've just finished The Moroccan Girl by Charles Cumming. I will be starting In Miniature: How Small Things Illuminate the World by Simon Garfield.