You know me. I tend to bounce around, picking something up and trying it, coming back to it later. That’s how I do a lot of reading, other than when I’m reading for a review. Right now, I’m sampling a new book called American Theatre Wing: An Oral History: 100 Years, 100 Voices, 10 Million Miracles edited by Patrick Pacheco. It’s a beautiful book with historical photos and gorgeous contemporary ones. It’s about the 100 years of contributions made to the theatre world by a group that was originally started by playwright Rachel Crothers and six others in 1917, in partnership with the British Stage Women’s War Relief. At the time I’m writing this post, I’ve only read the introduction written by Angela Lansbury. She was one of the beneficiaries of the joint group because the American group took in the children of English actors during the war, and she and her brothers were some of those children. You all know how much I love theatre. I’m going to enjoy browsing through this book.
What are you reading or listening to this week? I hope you’re enjoying something! Please share.
My boyfriend picked the audio book for a car trip we took. He chose CALICO JOE by John Grisham a baseball book. My boyfriend really liked it but I though it was just OK.
I also read three books. It’s been hot here so I’ve been in the mood for lighter books.
MONEY SHOT by Stuart Woods. I’m not usually a fan of his books but this was the second Teddy Fey book and I like Teddy.
TO CATCH A WITCH by Heather Blake which is one of my favorite cozy series.
THE DETECTIVE WINS THE WITCH by Kristen Painter, the latest in her Nocturne Falls series. I didn’t think it was quite as good as the previous books in the series but I still enjoyed it.
Right now I’m halfway through PURRDER SHE WROTE by Cate Conte which is just an OK read. It’s one of those books I won’t really remember six months from now.
I have been mostly reading – surprise! – short stories, I get so many collections in that I jump from one to another. I've been reading one story per day (doling them out) in CHALLENGE THE IMPOSSIBLE, the final collection of Ed Hoch's Dr. Sam Hawthorne stories, this group set during World War II. Also a story a day in Mary Robinette Kowal's interesting (though far from my usual cup of tea) WORD PUPPETS. But mostly I'm reading TEN YEAR STRETCH (ed. Martin Edwards & Adrian Muller), reading half a dozen of the stories yesterday. Also, the books are piling up here so I am trying to read these more quickly so I can get to the others, including two more ebook downloads from the library and a couple of things I need to pick up today. And, naturally, I see interesting sounding books on Amazon and various blogs daily. And then we'll be going away from a week next Wednesday, to Bouchercon in St. Petersburg (a last minute decision), which will cut down on reading time even more.
*sigh*
I did read WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, Gail Collins's entry in The American Presidents series of short biographies, which was more interesting than you might think. He was Governor of Indiana Territory (which included a much larger area than just the state) for twelve years, 1800-1812, and purchased (at bargain price, mostly) huge tracts of land for the United States from various Indian tribes.
Lastly, we had a nice time in a surprisingly temperate Washington, D.C. (especially given how hot this summer has been) this past weekend. It was the first visit (at least, as far as I can remember) to the National Portrait Gallery, which was fun.
I finished FOUR FUNERALS AND MAYBE A WEDDING by Rhys Bowen on Tuesday. I enjoyed it more than the last couple of the books in this series. But I think I am going to leave Georgie and Darcy to their happy ever after and not continue on if there is another one.
Now I am reading A LADY'S GUIDE TO ETIQUETTE AND MURDER by Dianne Freeman. A third of the way through I am finding it delightful.
Happy Reading.
I'm just about to start reading Tear Me Apart by JT Ellison (a favorite). And I'm almost done listening to A Crime Of Passion by Scott Pratt.
I finished reading:
Desert Lost ( book 6 ) by Betty Webb
Now reading:
Desert Wind by Betty Webb
Purrfect Murder ( book 1 ) by Nic Saint
Such joy from reading books.
📚📚📚☕️
Sandy, I read Calico Joe at one time or another. And, that one is one I don't really remember. I like your comment about Purdder. Nice way of phrasing it.
Jeff! I always enjoyed the National Portrait Gallery. I wonder why Harrison got bargain prices from the tribes. (hmmm.)
Sharon! I'm so happy you're enjoying A Lady's Guide…I liked the beginning, but, as you said, by halfway through it was delightful.
I hope you enjoy JT Ellison's book, Lori. I like JT.
Lesa has already reviewed Broken Places by Tracy Clark, and I agree it is a solid debut in the author's Chicago Mystery series. An inept fellow cop gets Cass Raines shot and a young perp killed, so she decides to abandon the police force for a PI career. After her mother died and her father abandoned her, Cass was raised by her grandparents and a father figure–her local parish priest. When he is killed and the same inept cop rules it a suicide, Cass makes it her mission to find out what really happened and bring the culprits to justice, with the help of a ragtag band of friends and supporters.
In Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pierce, Emmy's first job in journalism turns out to be typist for an elderly advice columnist for a failing women's magazine. But since Mrs. Bird refuses to answer any letters that include "Unpleasantness," meaning pretty much everything surrounding relationships, Emmy starts secretly taking things into her own hands, hoping her employer won't discover what she is doing. Set against the background of World War II in London, when bombing raids are frequent and potentially dangerous to life and limb, this is an engaging story about one young woman and her friends, trying to live as normal a life as possible while supporting their country's war effort. I enjoyed this quick read.
Books where one of the characters does something so irresponsible (and unnecessary) that it threatens to ruin his life and those of his loved ones are among my least favorite, and that's what Our House by Louise Candlish became for me. The premise was promising–wife comes home from a trip to find another family moving into her house and her children missing. The story is told in alternating perspectives (hers and her husband's), which was somewhat engaging, but I found the plot too annoying to make it past the middle. I'd heard there was a twist at the end so I read the last 20 pages as well, and that was enough for me. Just not my cup of tea.
I'm reading In dust and Ashes by Anne Holt a new Norwegian mystery writer for me and I'm enjoying it. According to the cover she is Norways bestselling female crime writer. I love reading mysteries taking place in different countries.
Finishing up The Ambassador’s Wife by Jake Needham. I am enjoying it. Inspector Tay is a very interesting character and the Singapore setting adds another layer. Next up is Trust Me. Happy Labor Day Weekend reading.
Charlotte, I love it when I hear that people share that same joy in reading that I do. Hugs!
Margie, I have Dear Mrs. Bird, and never had a chance to start it. I needs to get back to it. I'm glad you enjoyed Broken Places.
I haven't read Anne Holt's books, yet, Donna. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
I haven't had a lot of time for reading lately… books or blogs!
I got to Emoji by Blair Howard, about a serial killer who goes by an emoji as a sobriquet, kind of like the singer Prince and his symbol.
Jasmine by Blair Howard; The first in the Kate Gazzara spin off. A decent but cliched police procedural.
Sharpe;'s Company by Bernard Cornwell; Sharpe continues his quest for the captaincy, his biggest foes being his own army.
I hope you've been busy and it's been good, Glen. Thanks for finding time to tell us what you're reading!
There is no rhyme or reason to my reading these days. 🙂 My current read is Marigolds and Murder by London Lovett. Before that was The Girl in the Empty Dress by Lise McClendon and The Jefferson Legacy by Nick Thacker.
Finished All the Things That Could Go Wrong by stewart Foster. Love it.
Reading Invisible by stephen Foster. Got a little bogged down in it with her social life. Will be starting It Was't Me by Dana Allison Levy. Another YA book. Bigger print. Yay! Having trouble with the letter "s" on my computer!
I just started Crime and Punctuation by Kaitlyn Dunnett, Ia'm almost finished Anne Hillerman's 4th book – a bit more convoluted that the first 3…and I just started Safe and Sound by Fern Michaels. I'm glad someone enjoyed Mrs. Bird, I just could not get far enough into it and quit.
Just finished Silas House’s Southermost. One of the best books I’ve read in a long, long time. Now I’ve started George and Lizzie by Nancy Pearl.
Too many appointments and not enough time to read. Finished A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner. It was perfect for me. A lovely scarf ties together two stories, one 911 tale and another of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. A lot to think about and very satisfying!
Almost finished with Rebecca The ShowStopper, a YA mystery with Mt. Ziegfield and Oscar Hammerstein and unfriendly relationship between the two. Loving it.
Will need to read and review a short Christas for an author friend after that. Also I will be listening to The Storyteller by Jodi Picuult tomorrow morning.
Reading Beauty in Broken Place by Allison Pataki. Great book so far and have four books coming in the mail for reviews!