December was a good month for reading, with a variety of material and subject matter. A god way to end the year. An unconscious theme--mysteries set in the past.
The Coloring Crook by Krista Davis Silly premise to me, a bookstore with a coloring group that meets regularly like the archetypal book group. It seems to me a blatant attempt to cash in on the current rage for adult coloring books. And the cosy genre has its fill of niche groups-book groups, knitting groups, cooking groups, traveling groups, so why not a group of coloring book aficionados? The mystery was okay, a little too easy for me to figure out too early in the novel, but the characters were likable (hooray for a sisterly relationship where the sisters love each other but can also annoy each other), both main characters and secondary characters. And hooray for a nice, adult, romantic relationship proceeding at a normal pace. The setting--Georgetown--is great: urban, old, yet full of history and quirky. The resolution was bit too pat, but I enjoyed the book and it was a fast read. A pleasant diversion the reader doesn't have to invest too much in to enjoy. (Net Galley)
A Shot in the Dark by Lynne Truss Delightful, funny mystery set in 1950s England by a fine writer. I would have liked to have had a better sense of Brighton, but the pace of the novel was fast. Every character was clearly and deftly defined, in just a few brief words, so that even the unlikable ones were interesting and one felt a little sad at their comeuppance. The twists and turns of the book are rapid; it's been a long time since I was surprised in a mystery novel, but this one got me. Well written, with a surprising ending, funny characters, and funny situations. I will definitely keep my eye out for future mysteries by Ms. Truss. (Net Galley)
They Found Him Dead by Georgette Heyer The only period mystery actually written in the past, a reissue of a novel by the romance author originally published in 1937. An English country house murder after a gala birthday party, with suspects abounding, young love, an irrepressible boy who complicates the romance, complicates the mystery, and helps bring the murderer to justice, quirky characters, sympathetic characters, and an escape to the genteel past where murderers were polite if diabolical. I love reading the Heyer Hannasyde mysteries, and am happy to have all them in reissued versions, both paper and digital. Perfect escapism. (Net Galley)
The Lacemaker's Secret by Kathleen Ernst Set in the 1980s, before cell phones and Netflix and Greek yogurt, Ernst's series revolves around Chloe, an historian who works in the upper midwest, and travels to different museums and locations for research or to help set exhibits. I like the unusual setting of the series, and its time frame means that some aspects can be simpler (people did seem nicer and less harried in the 1980s, which I remember well), and the lack of modern technology means that suspense can be ratcheted up in little ways that cell phones and the Internet would not allow. The simultaneous story lines can be a bit much, and I found myself starting to dislike the constant flipping back and forth between the stories, but it is handled deftly overall. (Net Galley)
Delicate Crochet by Sharon Silverman Lacy crochet patterns, nicely illustrated, but no charts were included in the advanced reader's copy I reviewed, despite the inclusion of a section on how to read charts. I would have liked to see more daring patterns, rather than the standard crochet pattern types, but the inclusion of Tunisian crochet makes the book stand out. (Net Galley)
On Thomas Merton by Mary Gordon I remember selling Thomas Merton books regularly when I worked in the bookstore, so thought that int his holiday season, some religious reading might not be amiss. Merton is a fascinating man who has been the subject of much research. For newcomers to his faith and philosophy, like me, I cannot recommend this book. There are extensive quotations from his journals that allow the reader to get a sense of his writing style and thoughts, but the author's interpretations were lacking and presumed the reader came with an introduction to Merton already to hand.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Middle Sister's November Reads
November seemed to fly by, so I didn't get as much read as I had wanted. I hope, with some time off over the holidays, to read to my heart's desire.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery My book group's read this month. I hadn't read this book in about 40 years, but I had read it several times as a child, and loved it, of course. We are all Anne--we feel like we don't belong, we day dream, we just want love and beauty and peace. I am happy to report that Anne of Green Gables is just as wonderful as an adult as it was as a child. Except that now I sympathized with Mrs. Lynde, which I never did as a child. Not all beloved children's books survive an adult rereading, but this one did. And I still want to be Anne when I grow up, and I'm still waiting for my Gilbert. Highly recommended (Library ebook)
Miss Seeton Flies High by Hamilton Crane Another old book being reissued as a ebook. I've always enjoyed Miss Seeton. She's another elderly, English spinster sleuth, but she's not as well known as Miss Marple or Miss Silver, which is a shame. Miss Seeton is unlike her compatriots in that she's a little less judgmental and she's also a working sleuth, on retainer with Scotland Yard. The Seeton hook is that she's a retired art teacher, and in her sketches are her subconscious observations or intuitions that lead Scotland Yard to solve the mystery. In Flies High, drug runners and a kidnapped heir are confounded by King Arthur and New Agers, but Miss Seeton gets to take a balloon ride and solve the case. Recommended (Net Galley)
Ghost by Jason Reynolds I heard Mr. Reynolds interviewed on television recently and was very impressed with his thinking, philosophy, and erudition, so determined to read Ghost. I am so glad I did. It was wonderful, and absolutely worthy of the National Book Award nomination. Adult or child, this is is a heartwarming and inspiring story. Highly recommended
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery My book group's read this month. I hadn't read this book in about 40 years, but I had read it several times as a child, and loved it, of course. We are all Anne--we feel like we don't belong, we day dream, we just want love and beauty and peace. I am happy to report that Anne of Green Gables is just as wonderful as an adult as it was as a child. Except that now I sympathized with Mrs. Lynde, which I never did as a child. Not all beloved children's books survive an adult rereading, but this one did. And I still want to be Anne when I grow up, and I'm still waiting for my Gilbert. Highly recommended (Library ebook)
Miss Seeton Flies High by Hamilton Crane Another old book being reissued as a ebook. I've always enjoyed Miss Seeton. She's another elderly, English spinster sleuth, but she's not as well known as Miss Marple or Miss Silver, which is a shame. Miss Seeton is unlike her compatriots in that she's a little less judgmental and she's also a working sleuth, on retainer with Scotland Yard. The Seeton hook is that she's a retired art teacher, and in her sketches are her subconscious observations or intuitions that lead Scotland Yard to solve the mystery. In Flies High, drug runners and a kidnapped heir are confounded by King Arthur and New Agers, but Miss Seeton gets to take a balloon ride and solve the case. Recommended (Net Galley)
Ghost by Jason Reynolds I heard Mr. Reynolds interviewed on television recently and was very impressed with his thinking, philosophy, and erudition, so determined to read Ghost. I am so glad I did. It was wonderful, and absolutely worthy of the National Book Award nomination. Adult or child, this is is a heartwarming and inspiring story. Highly recommended
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Middle Sister's October Reads
Wow, did I get a lot read in October! Here are four more books I read this month, both fiction and nonfiction, including one of the best books I've read in years.
The Knitter's Dictionary by Kate Atherly Atherly is an editor of the online knitting magazine Knitty, which I love and was part of the reason I wanted to review this book. The book is exactly what the title says, an alphabetical dictionary of knitting which should be a welcome reference to many. The field is crowded as there are many such books out there, but this one does provide some benefits other, older books may not: the writing style is conversational, and references are made to things new knitters will probably already be aware of (e.g., the knitting and social media site Ravelry; popular designers such as Amy Herzog). The line drawings are large and clear. My one complaint? The usual knitter dismissiveness of acrylic yarn (which many charity organizations require their donated knit and crochet items be made from) was irritating. Acrylic yarn has its uses and is budget friendly, and it irks me when these self-styled encyclopedias of knitting dismiss it. Otherwise, this is a useful book for new knitters, and for those who want clear explanations of more advanced techniques such as kitchener stitch. Recommended (Net Galley)
Charlie Chan Carries On by Earl Derr Biggers The Charlie Chan series disappeared from publication for several decades, dismissed because of the racist depictions of Chinese people, including Chan himself. While he's portrayed as smart and honorable, a far superior detective to all around him, some found objectionable that his dialogue was not perfect English and he's been descried as subservient and a stereotype. This was my first exposure to printed Charlie, and my honest opinion, as the daughter of an immigrant, was that while he 'sounded' like a stereotype, lots of the people I grew up around spoke imperfect stilted English, very similarly to Charlie. We weren't told in this story how long Charlie has been in Hawaii, so I decided that like many of the people I knew, he grew up in China and learned English as an adult and thus his stilted style of speaking. The warm regard and very clear appreciation of Charlie's skill by Scotland Yard's Inspector Duff belied any internal racism. The story itself was well written and the pace was maintained. The round the world mystery was unique and interesting, and I enjoyed the book, and the ending, very much. Imperfect by today's standards re: characterization, the writing and plot stand up well. Recommended (audio book)
Murder at the Mill by M. B. Shaw Set in the wintry English countryside, this book opens with the murder, and then backtracks for a large part of the middle section to set up the murder. I have mixed feelings about this book. I didn't like the main character, Iris, even though I tried to be sympathetic to her personal crises, and I need to like my main characters. I loved how Lorcan was depicted and treated by his family and the book, and how the complicated family relationship was described. I loved the setting. But the mystery wasn't mysterious--I spied the murderer as soon as they appeared, and also nailed the issues behind several of the characters. Iris has changed a lot over the course of the novel, however, and has emerged a stronger person, so if this is a series, I might give the second one a chance. I'm going to recommend the book, although I'd probably give it a B/C borderline grade. (Net Galley)
Spying onWhales by Nick Pyenson It was a lark that I chose to read this book. I like to intersperse nonfiction after every few novels, and although I have no great affinity for whales or the ocean (in fact, I'm a horrible swimmer), I thought "Why not? I love nature and I love sitting by the ocean and I know nothing about whales." I am so glad I did. I loved this book! It was incredibly informative and very well written. Organized logically, it presented scientific and historical data in an easy, breezy manner. I read the entire book in 4 days. I learned so much, I recommended it when I was only halfway done, and I was sorry when it was over. It is the perfect example of how scientists can and should present science and data in easily digestible, understandable, and, importantly, entertaining ways to a public audience. Kudos, Dr. Pyenson. This isn't an easy accomplishment and he nailed it. Highly recommended. (Net Galley)
The Knitter's Dictionary by Kate Atherly Atherly is an editor of the online knitting magazine Knitty, which I love and was part of the reason I wanted to review this book. The book is exactly what the title says, an alphabetical dictionary of knitting which should be a welcome reference to many. The field is crowded as there are many such books out there, but this one does provide some benefits other, older books may not: the writing style is conversational, and references are made to things new knitters will probably already be aware of (e.g., the knitting and social media site Ravelry; popular designers such as Amy Herzog). The line drawings are large and clear. My one complaint? The usual knitter dismissiveness of acrylic yarn (which many charity organizations require their donated knit and crochet items be made from) was irritating. Acrylic yarn has its uses and is budget friendly, and it irks me when these self-styled encyclopedias of knitting dismiss it. Otherwise, this is a useful book for new knitters, and for those who want clear explanations of more advanced techniques such as kitchener stitch. Recommended (Net Galley)
Charlie Chan Carries On by Earl Derr Biggers The Charlie Chan series disappeared from publication for several decades, dismissed because of the racist depictions of Chinese people, including Chan himself. While he's portrayed as smart and honorable, a far superior detective to all around him, some found objectionable that his dialogue was not perfect English and he's been descried as subservient and a stereotype. This was my first exposure to printed Charlie, and my honest opinion, as the daughter of an immigrant, was that while he 'sounded' like a stereotype, lots of the people I grew up around spoke imperfect stilted English, very similarly to Charlie. We weren't told in this story how long Charlie has been in Hawaii, so I decided that like many of the people I knew, he grew up in China and learned English as an adult and thus his stilted style of speaking. The warm regard and very clear appreciation of Charlie's skill by Scotland Yard's Inspector Duff belied any internal racism. The story itself was well written and the pace was maintained. The round the world mystery was unique and interesting, and I enjoyed the book, and the ending, very much. Imperfect by today's standards re: characterization, the writing and plot stand up well. Recommended (audio book)
Murder at the Mill by M. B. Shaw Set in the wintry English countryside, this book opens with the murder, and then backtracks for a large part of the middle section to set up the murder. I have mixed feelings about this book. I didn't like the main character, Iris, even though I tried to be sympathetic to her personal crises, and I need to like my main characters. I loved how Lorcan was depicted and treated by his family and the book, and how the complicated family relationship was described. I loved the setting. But the mystery wasn't mysterious--I spied the murderer as soon as they appeared, and also nailed the issues behind several of the characters. Iris has changed a lot over the course of the novel, however, and has emerged a stronger person, so if this is a series, I might give the second one a chance. I'm going to recommend the book, although I'd probably give it a B/C borderline grade. (Net Galley)
Spying onWhales by Nick Pyenson It was a lark that I chose to read this book. I like to intersperse nonfiction after every few novels, and although I have no great affinity for whales or the ocean (in fact, I'm a horrible swimmer), I thought "Why not? I love nature and I love sitting by the ocean and I know nothing about whales." I am so glad I did. I loved this book! It was incredibly informative and very well written. Organized logically, it presented scientific and historical data in an easy, breezy manner. I read the entire book in 4 days. I learned so much, I recommended it when I was only halfway done, and I was sorry when it was over. It is the perfect example of how scientists can and should present science and data in easily digestible, understandable, and, importantly, entertaining ways to a public audience. Kudos, Dr. Pyenson. This isn't an easy accomplishment and he nailed it. Highly recommended. (Net Galley)
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Middle Sister's Mid-Month Review
Deadly Camargue by Cay Rademacher A German-born author who lives in France, Rademacher's many books are just now starting to be translated into English. In this novel, the main character is Roger Blanc, a policeman who has left his urban job for one in a small town in Provence. Great, I thought--Provence! I've read Peter Mayle and enjoyed his books, I know what Provence is like and a mystery there sounds great. But Rademacher's Provence is just as hot and dusty as where I live, and reminds me of southern Spain, complete with bullfighting. I enjoyed the novel. The setting was well described and atmospheric, from the dry, flat plain to the storm that rages through the denouement. But as much as I liked the setting, I didn't really like the characters, including Roger (although I did like Fabienne, the lesbian computer genius). I'm not a big fan of melancholy and self-pity, and Roger's mourning the end of his marriage and his disaffected relationship with his children, his puppy-like devotion to and affair with Aveline, simultaneous with his half-regretful musings at losing Genevieve, were boring. The mid-life crises are just not interesting to me. Rather than conflicted, he came across as self-absorbed and at the same time, passive and inactive--unable to divorce his wife, unable to leave Aveline who will not leave her husband, unable to pursue a relationship with his neighbor--this kind of paralysis came across poorly and is not what I look for in main character. I like a character I can identify with in a least some small way, and I couldn't discover anything that I identified with in Roger. I found his situation more annoying that sympathetic. The conclusion was not satisfying in the traditional way many readers prefer, and it was my favorite part of the book. Some like to see our murderers get their comeuppance, but I thought the ending was realistic and believable. Rademacher's writing style appears, via translation, smooth, and the pace was adequate. Despite this, I doubt I'll read another because I don't really like Roger. But I'm glad that European authors are being translated for American readers, and many will delight in finding a new author with dozens of novels for them to read. (Net Galley)
Blue Murder by Colin Watson Originally published in England in 1979, Blue Murder is another in a series of mysteries set in the fictional town of Flaxborough. Inspector Purbright is quickly becoming one of my favorite series characters. He has a dry sense of humor, and while he takes his job very seriously, he recognizes that sometimes the life swirling around him deserves nothing more than an eye roll. The townspeople are quirky, as all fictional English small town residents are, and despite the high murder rate, yea, I'd enjoy living there. In this particular entry, Flaxborough is invaded by a news crew trying to ferret out which locals performed in a pornographic film found overseas, and the threat of the scandal results in murder. I loved the book--the mystery within the mystery; the two murders solved, albeit decades apart in time; the eccentric characters like Barrington Hoole; everything. I am so glad that these are being reissued. Recommended for those who love mysteries reminiscent of the Golden Age and set in England and all cosy lovers everywhere. (Net Galley)
Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott Okay, a mystery set in a mystery bookstore--should be my perfect read, right? Wrong. There were too many unrealistic aspects large and small. Do you know how many books can be ruined by clients sitting and reading in comfy chairs and spilling the free coffee; and why would they buy the book when they can read it in the comfy chair for free? And the unrealistic time line--3 months to inherit a massive fortune, a huge house, and open a bookstore? C'mon. Every small unrealistic statement derails the flow of a story--even hardwired smoke detectors have back-up batteries, so the fire in Addie's kitchen is unrealistic, but when you need a plot device, who cares about accuracy? Now these may seem like small things that an be overlooked, but when every relationship in the book accelerates at lightning speed, the constant lack of realism becomes very noticeable and annoying: instant best friends with the store owner next door; instant intimacy with said store owner's police chief brother, all the while Addie simultaneously denies being attracted to him and flirts outrageously with him. These relationships read as if written by a high schooler with no experience of a real romance. Although the bare bones of the story were good, the execution was middling. (Net Galley)
Blue Murder by Colin Watson Originally published in England in 1979, Blue Murder is another in a series of mysteries set in the fictional town of Flaxborough. Inspector Purbright is quickly becoming one of my favorite series characters. He has a dry sense of humor, and while he takes his job very seriously, he recognizes that sometimes the life swirling around him deserves nothing more than an eye roll. The townspeople are quirky, as all fictional English small town residents are, and despite the high murder rate, yea, I'd enjoy living there. In this particular entry, Flaxborough is invaded by a news crew trying to ferret out which locals performed in a pornographic film found overseas, and the threat of the scandal results in murder. I loved the book--the mystery within the mystery; the two murders solved, albeit decades apart in time; the eccentric characters like Barrington Hoole; everything. I am so glad that these are being reissued. Recommended for those who love mysteries reminiscent of the Golden Age and set in England and all cosy lovers everywhere. (Net Galley)
Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott Okay, a mystery set in a mystery bookstore--should be my perfect read, right? Wrong. There were too many unrealistic aspects large and small. Do you know how many books can be ruined by clients sitting and reading in comfy chairs and spilling the free coffee; and why would they buy the book when they can read it in the comfy chair for free? And the unrealistic time line--3 months to inherit a massive fortune, a huge house, and open a bookstore? C'mon. Every small unrealistic statement derails the flow of a story--even hardwired smoke detectors have back-up batteries, so the fire in Addie's kitchen is unrealistic, but when you need a plot device, who cares about accuracy? Now these may seem like small things that an be overlooked, but when every relationship in the book accelerates at lightning speed, the constant lack of realism becomes very noticeable and annoying: instant best friends with the store owner next door; instant intimacy with said store owner's police chief brother, all the while Addie simultaneously denies being attracted to him and flirts outrageously with him. These relationships read as if written by a high schooler with no experience of a real romance. Although the bare bones of the story were good, the execution was middling. (Net Galley)
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Middle Sister's September Reads
Halloween chills were the highlight of the September books, and what a find Sheridan Le Fanu was.
Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay The series was called A Library Lover's Mystery, but I misunderstood this. Less about books and mystery and all about the love, this cosy mystery was really a romance disguised as a mystery. I like to listen to audio books while cleaning and gardening, and my local public library has a fair selection to download. Part of my dismay with this book may have been the audio itself--the reader tried to to distinguish a large set of characters with too many distinctive voices, and I'm not convinced she didn't sometimes slip up and confuse some of the characters' voices. Several of her women, like Violet, sounded like men and her English accent (the male victim) was terrible. But I give the author props for two reasons: the police were portrayed as actual professionals, competent at their jobs (and our amateur detective did get a gentle comeuppance that her brilliant deduction had actually occurred to the police long before it occurred to her), and the surprise ending. Still, way too much romance between Lindsey and Robbie and Lindsey and her ex, Mike. Recommended for those who really just want to read a romance. (audio book)
In a Glass Darkly by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu My book group's selection for September/October, this collection of 5 short stories was fantastic! Three short stories were spooky and mysterious; the fourth was more of a 'classic' mystery before there was such a genre, but with a Vincent Price horror movie spin; and the final, longer novella, Carmilla, that has been said to have served as the inspiration for Dracula. It was interesting to observe the author switch from the viewpoint of Richard Beckett, a 20-somthing man, in The Room in the Dragon Volant, to Laura, a teenage girl in Carmilla, as point of view and main characters. I loved the creepiness and mysterious insinuation of the first three short stories, where you are never sure exactly what happened--something metaphysical or otherworldly, or something indeed explainable, and where the mysteries weren't solved. Dragon Volant was more of a straightforward mystery, which is really obvious to the modern reader, but I can image one hundred years ago, this story was shocking. But perhaps the most shocking, and perhaps the reason Le Fanu is not well known today, is epitomized by Carmilla. The story is very sexual and not even subtle about the lesbian attraction, which would probably have shocked Victorian readers but which to this reader seemed very modern. Recommended to horror fans who are interested in the evolution of the genre, and anyone looking for a unique Halloween chiller. (Kindle version)
The Vikings: From Odin to Christ by Martyn Whittock and Hannah Whittock I remember a long-ago archaeology class that did not devote much time to the Vikings much to my dismay, because I thought that topic was fascinating. Fair disclosure, the book has clearly been inspired by the popularity of a cable TV fictional drama called The Vikings. I was hoping for a more in-depth, historic, and scientific treatise on the Vikings and their expansion, and their adoption of Christianity. But the book, while covering the entirety of this span of Viking history, is very shallow and just provides a brief history of the culture. The authors clearly knew the sheer number of named Vikings would be confusing to the average reader, so they included a timeline at the beginning that outlines activities and actors; a map; and a list of key people. What they didn't provide were illustrations, and this is particularly pertinent to the entire middle of the book, where lengthy discussions of Viking art and its embrace of Christian elements, and vice versa, are described, and presumably well-known artifacts referenced repeatedly. But without a few photos, this reader was left dissatisfied with the entire material culture discussion. A bit dry and best only for a brief intro to Viking history. Anyone with a real desire to delve into Viking history should look for more academic publications. (NetGalley)
Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay The series was called A Library Lover's Mystery, but I misunderstood this. Less about books and mystery and all about the love, this cosy mystery was really a romance disguised as a mystery. I like to listen to audio books while cleaning and gardening, and my local public library has a fair selection to download. Part of my dismay with this book may have been the audio itself--the reader tried to to distinguish a large set of characters with too many distinctive voices, and I'm not convinced she didn't sometimes slip up and confuse some of the characters' voices. Several of her women, like Violet, sounded like men and her English accent (the male victim) was terrible. But I give the author props for two reasons: the police were portrayed as actual professionals, competent at their jobs (and our amateur detective did get a gentle comeuppance that her brilliant deduction had actually occurred to the police long before it occurred to her), and the surprise ending. Still, way too much romance between Lindsey and Robbie and Lindsey and her ex, Mike. Recommended for those who really just want to read a romance. (audio book)
In a Glass Darkly by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu My book group's selection for September/October, this collection of 5 short stories was fantastic! Three short stories were spooky and mysterious; the fourth was more of a 'classic' mystery before there was such a genre, but with a Vincent Price horror movie spin; and the final, longer novella, Carmilla, that has been said to have served as the inspiration for Dracula. It was interesting to observe the author switch from the viewpoint of Richard Beckett, a 20-somthing man, in The Room in the Dragon Volant, to Laura, a teenage girl in Carmilla, as point of view and main characters. I loved the creepiness and mysterious insinuation of the first three short stories, where you are never sure exactly what happened--something metaphysical or otherworldly, or something indeed explainable, and where the mysteries weren't solved. Dragon Volant was more of a straightforward mystery, which is really obvious to the modern reader, but I can image one hundred years ago, this story was shocking. But perhaps the most shocking, and perhaps the reason Le Fanu is not well known today, is epitomized by Carmilla. The story is very sexual and not even subtle about the lesbian attraction, which would probably have shocked Victorian readers but which to this reader seemed very modern. Recommended to horror fans who are interested in the evolution of the genre, and anyone looking for a unique Halloween chiller. (Kindle version)
The Vikings: From Odin to Christ by Martyn Whittock and Hannah Whittock I remember a long-ago archaeology class that did not devote much time to the Vikings much to my dismay, because I thought that topic was fascinating. Fair disclosure, the book has clearly been inspired by the popularity of a cable TV fictional drama called The Vikings. I was hoping for a more in-depth, historic, and scientific treatise on the Vikings and their expansion, and their adoption of Christianity. But the book, while covering the entirety of this span of Viking history, is very shallow and just provides a brief history of the culture. The authors clearly knew the sheer number of named Vikings would be confusing to the average reader, so they included a timeline at the beginning that outlines activities and actors; a map; and a list of key people. What they didn't provide were illustrations, and this is particularly pertinent to the entire middle of the book, where lengthy discussions of Viking art and its embrace of Christian elements, and vice versa, are described, and presumably well-known artifacts referenced repeatedly. But without a few photos, this reader was left dissatisfied with the entire material culture discussion. A bit dry and best only for a brief intro to Viking history. Anyone with a real desire to delve into Viking history should look for more academic publications. (NetGalley)
Friday, September 21, 2018
Middle Sister's Mid-Month Review
Happy September, everyone! Another plane trip meant a lot of time for reading (and how I love my Kindle Voyage with its lit screen for reading at night and on airplanes).
What It's Like to Be a Dog and Other Adventures in Animal Neuroscience by Gregory Berns A couple of years ago, I read an article in the New York Times about a researcher who had trained dogs to lie completely still in an MRI machine so he could do functional MRI (fMRI) scans on their brains. Of course, I was fascinated and couldn't wait for more information to be published. This book relates how Dr. Berns and his associates taught a small coterie of dogs to lie still and accept the MRI tube, as well the tests and the results. He also discusses fMRI brain scans of other mammals that he's undertaken, notably several dolphin species and the extinct Tasmanian tiger (the thylacine). Absolutely fascinating, especially the section on the thylacine. But I'd have to disagree with the title--just because canine and human brains may process information apparently the same way in the same cranial anatomy doesn't mean that I know what a dog feels when it sees the same image that I do. All of this is very valuable science, and it underscores how arrogant humans have been for a long time, assuming they were the only sentient beings who could think and process information. But I still don't know what it's like to be one of my dogs and live their life and experience their world, much as I'd like to. Excellent, well written and very readable, even for non-scientists (there's not much jargon), with a tantalizing philosophical question at the end. I'd recommend it to dog lovers and anyone interested in science and nature. (NetGalley)
Catch Me if Yukon by Maddy Hunter The next in the Passport to Peril series, wherein Emily, her husband Etienne, and their merry band of senior globe trotters get embroiled in yet another murder mystery. In Catch Me if Yukon, the travelers are on a scenic trip to Alaska (not the Yukon, despite the title), and their number has been expanded by the addition of a book group. When one of their members dies under somewhat mysterious circumstances, the entire group is under suspicion. Matters are not helped when Emily's father posts a photo with an image that could be, might be, is interpreted as and voraciously shared around the Internet as--Bigfoot. The seniors' addiction to their smartphones was funny but may have been overplayed just a little. The group is always fun to visit with, and Hunter's style is light and breezy. A perfect airplane read. Recommended to cosy mystery lovers who enjoy funny mysteries. (Net Galley)
What It's Like to Be a Dog and Other Adventures in Animal Neuroscience by Gregory Berns A couple of years ago, I read an article in the New York Times about a researcher who had trained dogs to lie completely still in an MRI machine so he could do functional MRI (fMRI) scans on their brains. Of course, I was fascinated and couldn't wait for more information to be published. This book relates how Dr. Berns and his associates taught a small coterie of dogs to lie still and accept the MRI tube, as well the tests and the results. He also discusses fMRI brain scans of other mammals that he's undertaken, notably several dolphin species and the extinct Tasmanian tiger (the thylacine). Absolutely fascinating, especially the section on the thylacine. But I'd have to disagree with the title--just because canine and human brains may process information apparently the same way in the same cranial anatomy doesn't mean that I know what a dog feels when it sees the same image that I do. All of this is very valuable science, and it underscores how arrogant humans have been for a long time, assuming they were the only sentient beings who could think and process information. But I still don't know what it's like to be one of my dogs and live their life and experience their world, much as I'd like to. Excellent, well written and very readable, even for non-scientists (there's not much jargon), with a tantalizing philosophical question at the end. I'd recommend it to dog lovers and anyone interested in science and nature. (NetGalley)
Catch Me if Yukon by Maddy Hunter The next in the Passport to Peril series, wherein Emily, her husband Etienne, and their merry band of senior globe trotters get embroiled in yet another murder mystery. In Catch Me if Yukon, the travelers are on a scenic trip to Alaska (not the Yukon, despite the title), and their number has been expanded by the addition of a book group. When one of their members dies under somewhat mysterious circumstances, the entire group is under suspicion. Matters are not helped when Emily's father posts a photo with an image that could be, might be, is interpreted as and voraciously shared around the Internet as--Bigfoot. The seniors' addiction to their smartphones was funny but may have been overplayed just a little. The group is always fun to visit with, and Hunter's style is light and breezy. A perfect airplane read. Recommended to cosy mystery lovers who enjoy funny mysteries. (Net Galley)
Friday, August 31, 2018
Middle Sister's August "Dog Days of Summer" Books
This month I decided to visit Edinburgh through my books, and both fictional trips were wildly successful and enjoyed very much.
A Question of Blood by Ian Rankin (Rebus book no.14) I'd never read an Ian Rankin novel before, because I generally don't like police procedurals. Luckily I'm the kind of person who can force herself to do something because it's good for me, and so I decided to step outside my usual genres and try one. I'm so glad I gave a Rebus mystery a try. I loved it! The entire bool was excellent--well written, exciting, with a great pace, interesting, well-developed characters (even the secondary and tertiary characters), and enough backstory to not be lost even if the reader is starting on book 14. I felt a real sense of the underbelly of Edinburgh without it being so grim as to turn a noir or police procedural newby off. There was just one formatting issue on Kindle (p.317, Claver-house hyphenated when not needed). Recommended highly.
Conan Doyle for the Defense by Margalit Fox One of the best books I've read all year! I knew from "Arthur and George," broadcast on PBS several years ago and based on a book by the same name, that Arthur Conan Doyle had taken on some real life cases of police negligence. Margalit Fox details another case Doyle turned his expert Sherlockian eye on--the mysterious death of a wealthy and cantankerous Edinburgh spinster. Scrupulously researched, and written with the same wonderful flair for evocative narrative nonfiction that she evinced when she used to write for the New York Times. I enjoyed the book so much I was sad when it was over. Excellent and highly recommended to ystery lovers and true crime aficionados alike.
Bloodstains with Bronte by Katherine Bolger Hyde A middle-aged heroine living in the Pacific northwest has inherited her aunt's rambling house and decides to turn it into a write's retreat with rooms named after authors. What's not to love? A lot, it turns out. My concern is the main character. Emily is supposed to be an earthy, maternal, well-rounded individual. She came across as needy and immature and incredibly annoying. First, the author tells us over and over that she feels like Katie, the main murder suspect, is like a daughter to her, but they've only known each other a few months, and while Katie seems to respect and feel affectionately towards Emily, it is most definitely not a mother-daughter relationship. Emily's reaction to Luke's investigation of Katie is so resoundingly immature and naive and callous that I would have dumped her right then and there. Katie is found over the dead body, the murder weapon in her hand--of course the sheriff is going to investigate her. But Emily's reaction? "For a minute she wished she and Luke were sleeping together so she could deny him her bed as punishment." What the heck??? What kind of woman is this? Cold and judgmental describe her impression of everyone who doesn't meet her standards: the doctor is gruff and loud, so doesn't have a good bedside manner and therefore could not possibly be a good doctor. As for her former position at a small college, well, "the occasional student did commit suicide..." doesn't actually elicit any compassion from Emily. Then Emily willfully obstructs justice, lying to the sheriff and hiding information from him. Later, she decides that she needs to interview suspects just because she doesn't, I guess, think Luke would have done that or done it adequately--I'm not sure which was her motivation because by that point, I disliked Emily intensely. And this knitter was aghast by the piece Beanie was knitting--yellow yarn, followed by a section with deep purple tweed, then a section in green and black eyelash yarn, and then a section in fine pale blue mohair? My eyes, my eyes!! (Not to mention the difference in the yarn thicknesses would probably have made the entire piece a shapeless blob). Ms. Hyde is clearly not a knitter, and I think just threw this in because knitting is so popular these days and there are several knitting-centered mystery series. I could go on and on ("without a husband to support her through it all..." "even Emily's role as adoptive grandmother would have to be shared...") but I'll stop. Immature, whiny, self-righteous, judgmental. Nope, not reading another on in this series. And not recommended.
Death by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge Liz has fled her glamorous, successful life in New York City after a scandal that landed her on the front pages and returned to the hotel where she grew up to lick her wounds and restart her writing career. The hotel is inhabited by quirky long-term residents that we're supposed to find endearing (I didn't). The death of a wealthy and obnoxious visitor exposes secrets hidden by the other residents while allowing Liz to think about something other than herself and her past. Honestly, her whining about her past was starting to get on my nerves so I was glad when the author had her stop doing that as frequently as she did in the first part of the book. Ryan is another juvenile romantic lead (similar in that sense to Luke and Emily in the Hyde novel reviewed above)--she hates him and they bicker and then, without much reason and instantly over one page, she finds him very attractive and starts having romantic feelings for him and suddenly he's a hero, not a pest. Sheesh. Mystery authors, most of you are terrible at writing a realistic romance, so just don't. And the last ditch effort by the author to tie things together in the last chapter was very unsatisfying. Oh, and Liz, the main screen on your cell phone, that you were carrying, could function as a flashlight of sorts, and yes, librarians are usually at the front end of tech adoption because they have to be to help their patrons and because most of them are not blue-haired old ladies living in some book-lined tower. And Ms. Bridge, ever hear of doctor-patient confidentiality? Oh, and one more thing--the constant references to real pop culture, like 1970s television shows that Aunt Amelia supposedly worked on--I believe copyright violations could be going on here, so you might want to look into that or at the least, tone it down because it got annoying after a while.
An Edible History of Humanity by Tom Standage (read by George K. Wilson) Fun, interesting, and wide-ranging look at the foods humanity has depended on, and how they (and their availability, their trade, etc.) have affected the course of human civilization and adaptation. The anthropologist in me loved the book. My only gripe is that I wasn't 100% enamored with the narrator. Nonetheless, highly recommended.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Middle Sister's July Reads
July has been a long, hot, dry month, so I tried top ick books set in the winter to escape.
Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert This is the second book set in the Blue Ridge Library in fictional Taylorsford, where residents are gearing up for the annual Heritage Festival. Amy, local librarian, stumbles across the body of a well known local artist when she arrives at the artist's studio to pick up a donated item for the festival. Amy is drawn in the international art world and art forgeries. On her personal front, her boyfriend is out of town dancing with his ex-partner and her aunt is embarking on a romance with an art forgery expert called in as a subject matter expert. The book was well-paced, and while the romance was a little saccharine, it didn't overwhelm the mystery. I was a little irritated when Amy locked the front door of her house at a crucial moment and it was clearly contrived as a plot device. More irritations: the author used the phrase "bubble of laughter" to describe Amy's inappropriate reaction to stress at least three times, and Amy "shoved her fist to her mouth to stifle a burst of nervous laughter" several times as well. I rolled my eyes every time Amy did one of these actions. But the book was pleasant summer time reading, and did take place partly in December. I'd grade it a C, with a possibility to move up to a B if Amy can lose some of her annoying habits. (Net Galley)
Walden by Henry David Thoreau My book group's summer read was actually a choice of one of two titles, and I chose this one (principally because it was my suggestion). The second part of the book takes place in autumn and winter, and I felt the beautiful winterscape of Walden Pond in his prose. There is nothing I could say that hasn't been more cogently said by a real critique, so all I'll say is that I loved it.
Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert This is the second book set in the Blue Ridge Library in fictional Taylorsford, where residents are gearing up for the annual Heritage Festival. Amy, local librarian, stumbles across the body of a well known local artist when she arrives at the artist's studio to pick up a donated item for the festival. Amy is drawn in the international art world and art forgeries. On her personal front, her boyfriend is out of town dancing with his ex-partner and her aunt is embarking on a romance with an art forgery expert called in as a subject matter expert. The book was well-paced, and while the romance was a little saccharine, it didn't overwhelm the mystery. I was a little irritated when Amy locked the front door of her house at a crucial moment and it was clearly contrived as a plot device. More irritations: the author used the phrase "bubble of laughter" to describe Amy's inappropriate reaction to stress at least three times, and Amy "shoved her fist to her mouth to stifle a burst of nervous laughter" several times as well. I rolled my eyes every time Amy did one of these actions. But the book was pleasant summer time reading, and did take place partly in December. I'd grade it a C, with a possibility to move up to a B if Amy can lose some of her annoying habits. (Net Galley)
Walden by Henry David Thoreau My book group's summer read was actually a choice of one of two titles, and I chose this one (principally because it was my suggestion). The second part of the book takes place in autumn and winter, and I felt the beautiful winterscape of Walden Pond in his prose. There is nothing I could say that hasn't been more cogently said by a real critique, so all I'll say is that I loved it.
Friday, July 6, 2018
Middle Sister's June Reads
It is hot in the desert, so during these dog days of summer, naturally, one of my July books had to have a dog or a cat involved.
Picks and Chews by Linda O. Johnston Cute idea but with a little too much scattered behavior that read as unreal. I could totally buy Carrie working only part time as a vet tech, as most of the techs at my vet work part time (with a couple of full timers) and a couple work for two different hospitals so they can have full time work. I didn't buy her working part time as a vet tech and running not one but two bakery businesses on the side. Despite being told that she arose early to go get the baking done before the people and dog bakeries open, I just was incredulous that Carrie was falling asleep behind the wheel of her car or over dinner with her hunky vet boyfriend--and I found that perfection a little irritating. I've always worked at least two jobs and I'm tired all the time; c'mon, Carrie, admit you're tired, we get it, we will like you more for your confession. I loved some of the secondary characters, but thought the portrayal of Raela was a little over the top. As a long time volunteer with several dog-related and other charities, the community outpouring of support at the fundraisers was a little too unrealistic and again, too perfect. But it's an easy summer read, with generally genial characters, and what more can a reader ask when the temperatures are in the triple digits? (NetGalley)
The Marmalade Murders by Elizabeth J. Duncan I had read a Penny Brannigan mystery before and enjoyed everything about it--the setting (a small hamlet in Wales), the protagonist (Penny, a middle-aged salon owner who is effortlessly elegant), and the plot, so was eager to visit the series again. Penny was a little more irritating this time in her perfection (geez, it must be the heat, or maybe authors think readers don't want a main character whose hair is sometimes a mess and who runs out without makeup on because she overslept?). A couple of the supporting characters were also a bit more irritating (Mrs. Lloyd is one), but the overall tone had remained the same. This brief glimpse into a Welsh agricultural show will be familiar to anyone who has been to a county fair, and the jealousies surrounding who wins and who doesn't are all too familiar. Kudos to the author for inserting a twist in the form of the return of a former resident who is not quite the person who left. I would have enjoyed that plot twist a little more if there had been at least one negative response to the circumstances surrounding the return of the native, as everything was a little too utopian and politically correct, but that's a pretty minor quibble. All in all, another easy summer read with pleasant characters and, yes, a black labrador retriever. (Net Galley)
Hiss and Hers by M.C. Beaton I've never even tried to keep up with M.C. Beaton's series--just too prolific an author. But watching the Acorn TC Agatha Raisin series 1 on television made me want to catch up with Agatha, and I grabbed this recent title. Aggie's come a long way since I last visited with her: a marriage and divorce, and starting up a private detective agency. I wasn't overly impressed with Agatha the professional, to be honest, and thought the wider supporting cast, while accomplishing the task of giving us some likable main characters to sympathize with (I know one person who cannot stand Agatha Raisin one bit and refuses to read the series), diffuses the action, and at times I can see where there might be too many cooks and not enough Bill Wong. (audiobook)
My book group selection for May and June was Waverly by Sir Walter Scott. I have enjoyed several of his books, but have to admit that I got no further than halfway through this very long novel. While I did like Edward Waverly and his adventures enough, the book is just too long with too much thick description, dialogue written in early 19th century Gaelic, and entire French paragraphs that I cannot translate for this heat. Sorry, group; I may keep plugging away at this for the rest of the year as I am learning a lot about the Jacobite rebellion.
Picks and Chews by Linda O. Johnston Cute idea but with a little too much scattered behavior that read as unreal. I could totally buy Carrie working only part time as a vet tech, as most of the techs at my vet work part time (with a couple of full timers) and a couple work for two different hospitals so they can have full time work. I didn't buy her working part time as a vet tech and running not one but two bakery businesses on the side. Despite being told that she arose early to go get the baking done before the people and dog bakeries open, I just was incredulous that Carrie was falling asleep behind the wheel of her car or over dinner with her hunky vet boyfriend--and I found that perfection a little irritating. I've always worked at least two jobs and I'm tired all the time; c'mon, Carrie, admit you're tired, we get it, we will like you more for your confession. I loved some of the secondary characters, but thought the portrayal of Raela was a little over the top. As a long time volunteer with several dog-related and other charities, the community outpouring of support at the fundraisers was a little too unrealistic and again, too perfect. But it's an easy summer read, with generally genial characters, and what more can a reader ask when the temperatures are in the triple digits? (NetGalley)
The Marmalade Murders by Elizabeth J. Duncan I had read a Penny Brannigan mystery before and enjoyed everything about it--the setting (a small hamlet in Wales), the protagonist (Penny, a middle-aged salon owner who is effortlessly elegant), and the plot, so was eager to visit the series again. Penny was a little more irritating this time in her perfection (geez, it must be the heat, or maybe authors think readers don't want a main character whose hair is sometimes a mess and who runs out without makeup on because she overslept?). A couple of the supporting characters were also a bit more irritating (Mrs. Lloyd is one), but the overall tone had remained the same. This brief glimpse into a Welsh agricultural show will be familiar to anyone who has been to a county fair, and the jealousies surrounding who wins and who doesn't are all too familiar. Kudos to the author for inserting a twist in the form of the return of a former resident who is not quite the person who left. I would have enjoyed that plot twist a little more if there had been at least one negative response to the circumstances surrounding the return of the native, as everything was a little too utopian and politically correct, but that's a pretty minor quibble. All in all, another easy summer read with pleasant characters and, yes, a black labrador retriever. (Net Galley)
Hiss and Hers by M.C. Beaton I've never even tried to keep up with M.C. Beaton's series--just too prolific an author. But watching the Acorn TC Agatha Raisin series 1 on television made me want to catch up with Agatha, and I grabbed this recent title. Aggie's come a long way since I last visited with her: a marriage and divorce, and starting up a private detective agency. I wasn't overly impressed with Agatha the professional, to be honest, and thought the wider supporting cast, while accomplishing the task of giving us some likable main characters to sympathize with (I know one person who cannot stand Agatha Raisin one bit and refuses to read the series), diffuses the action, and at times I can see where there might be too many cooks and not enough Bill Wong. (audiobook)
My book group selection for May and June was Waverly by Sir Walter Scott. I have enjoyed several of his books, but have to admit that I got no further than halfway through this very long novel. While I did like Edward Waverly and his adventures enough, the book is just too long with too much thick description, dialogue written in early 19th century Gaelic, and entire French paragraphs that I cannot translate for this heat. Sorry, group; I may keep plugging away at this for the rest of the year as I am learning a lot about the Jacobite rebellion.
Monday, June 11, 2018
Middle Sister's Mid-Month Review
Lots of travel time this month, so lots of time to catch up on reading.
Edgar Allen Poe and the Jewel of Peru by Karen Lee Street Last month I complained about historical books that fail, that transplant 20th and 21st century characters and ideas and social mores into the past, covered with a veneer of pseudo-historicity. I'd read several that fell victim to this idea of what a historical novel should be and I disliked them intensely. This novel is the exact opposite, and succeeds brilliantly where they failed. Edgar Allen Poe and the Jewel of Peru is a perfect example of what a historical novel should be. Ms. Street has undertaken a lot of research on Edgar Allen Poe and the geographical setting to create a brilliant representation of 19th century Philadelphia. She has also created an interesting, unique, and well-written mystery replete with sharply delineated characters and images. Edgar, Sissy, and Muddy, their relationships, and mid-century Philly are carefully constructed. I read the entire book at one go on an airplane, but I would have stayed up late several nights to read this. I truly hope there are more Edgar Allen Poe mysteries to come, and this is one series I would love. Highly recommended/A+
Hopjoy Was Here by Colin Watson Digital reissue of a classic police procedural originally published in 1962. While there are a couple of scenes that induced groans (Ross' seduction, for example, read like a James Bond farce), the book is a clever, well written, and well-paced mystery with enough surprising twists and turns to keep any reader entertained. Character development was not an important part of mysteries in the first half of the twentieth century, so modern readers used to internal dialogues and angst may be disappointed, but the characters are sufficiently fleshed out to allow the reader to sympathize with them. Although characterized as a police procedural, this is not a McBain-type police novel, but rather an English country murder in which the detectives are not the standard amateurs but police and government agents. Clever and enjoyable and a very fast read. Recommended/A
Edgar Allen Poe and the Jewel of Peru by Karen Lee Street Last month I complained about historical books that fail, that transplant 20th and 21st century characters and ideas and social mores into the past, covered with a veneer of pseudo-historicity. I'd read several that fell victim to this idea of what a historical novel should be and I disliked them intensely. This novel is the exact opposite, and succeeds brilliantly where they failed. Edgar Allen Poe and the Jewel of Peru is a perfect example of what a historical novel should be. Ms. Street has undertaken a lot of research on Edgar Allen Poe and the geographical setting to create a brilliant representation of 19th century Philadelphia. She has also created an interesting, unique, and well-written mystery replete with sharply delineated characters and images. Edgar, Sissy, and Muddy, their relationships, and mid-century Philly are carefully constructed. I read the entire book at one go on an airplane, but I would have stayed up late several nights to read this. I truly hope there are more Edgar Allen Poe mysteries to come, and this is one series I would love. Highly recommended/A+
Hopjoy Was Here by Colin Watson Digital reissue of a classic police procedural originally published in 1962. While there are a couple of scenes that induced groans (Ross' seduction, for example, read like a James Bond farce), the book is a clever, well written, and well-paced mystery with enough surprising twists and turns to keep any reader entertained. Character development was not an important part of mysteries in the first half of the twentieth century, so modern readers used to internal dialogues and angst may be disappointed, but the characters are sufficiently fleshed out to allow the reader to sympathize with them. Although characterized as a police procedural, this is not a McBain-type police novel, but rather an English country murder in which the detectives are not the standard amateurs but police and government agents. Clever and enjoyable and a very fast read. Recommended/A
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Middle Sister's May Reads
May heats up quickly and unapologetically here in the desert, which gives me the perfect excuse to crank the swamp cooler down, close the drapes to keep the scorching sun out, and settle down on the couch with a book and iced tea.
Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart Knitting, New Jersey, a middle aged protagonist--this book was written for me, I thought. Pamela, widowed copyright editor for a knitting magazine, is enjoying late fall: her daughter is coming from college for Thanksgiving, she has a new neighbor who has piqued her curiosity (and her ire), and she's invited a colleague of her late husband to her knitting group's next meeting, which she is hosting in her spotless house. Too bad the night is marred by a murder, and the victim is found under Pamela's bush. Pamela and her neighbor find themselves sleuthing to solve the mystery before Pamela becomes the next victim. The suburban NJ town was very familiar and delightful to visit, although very much gentrified and yuppified and millenialified (a terrible word, I know, but how else to describe a lifestyle where Pamela gets to work from home, make daily visits to the perfect, eco-friendly co-op which only carries locally sourced, non-GMO, certified fair trade items that are reasonably priced?). Part of me found Pamela too good to be true (she keeps her large house effortlessly perfect) but also annoying (she admits that she rewrote articles she's editing after "she just decided what she wanted it to mean and rewrote accordingly." AUGH!!!! If I had had an editor like that, wait, I did--and I complained mightily.), especially her irritation with her neighbor and her jumping to conclusions which invariably turned out to be wrong. The mystery is not too hard to figure out, but also isn't far-fetched, and the clues are subtle but present so readers who like to solve the murder can. I enjoyed the book, and while I'd like to see Pamela not be so perfect, it was a restful visit to a town similar to my old home town in NJ and a quick read, so I'd recommend this as one of the better knitting subgenre cozies currently in print. Unlike a lot of those, you can tell this author probably does know how to knit.
Murder in Belgravia by Lynn Brittney Historical mystery set in England during WWI that makes the mistake so many genre writers make--trying to make the characters 21st century enough to satisfy modern readers while using a historic period to provide atmosphere, technical challenges to the art of detection, and a suitably exotic location and time. It's a good thing this was a quick read, because if it had not been, I'd have been tired of how egalitarian and politically correct (a term I hate but which is perfect for this situation) everyone in the book was and given up on it halfway. There is no one central character, but rather 4 main characters (a female doctor, a female lawyer, a male detective, and a male veteran now policeman) who join forces as an unorthodox and unofficial Scotland Yard team to deal with crime in a London overrun by working women of all kinds, injured soldiers, and gangs. Of course there is a love triangle (she loves him but he loves someone else, who turned him down to marry another who has died in the war). Of course no one bats an eye that these people, largely strangers, set up a house in which to live together and work out of, chaperoned by one's titled mother who is delighted to hobnob with charwomen and prostitutes and only faintly horrified when she learns of the existence of boy prostitutes and who is willing to clean dishes and act completely unlike a titled Lady. Sure. I'll probably pass on any future entries in this series; everyone is too modern in their mannerisms and outlooks, too pc--even the gang leaders. Unbelievable.
Cherringham--A Dinner to Die For by Neil Richards and Matthew Costello Super fast, superficial read. Retired New York cop moves to perfect English village, where everyone is handsome, nice, and able to live very comfortable lives without any means of support. This perfect village is lucky enough to have two, not one but two, top notch restaurants; that is, until it looks like the owner of one is trying to destroy the other. Is he being set up, or is revenge for past indiscretions in their convoluted former lives the reason? Again, slightly annoying characters--Jack the cop who lives on a boat and can whip up gourmet meals in a tiny kitchen and make the perfect martini, and Sarah who may or may not be interested romantically in him but sure spends a lot of time with him if she's not. It's never a good thing when both protagonists grate on your nerves every so slightly. The mystery was okay, the solution okay, the setting okay, the format annoying. Every sentence is its own paragraph. Please. I.e.:
Or-
Something else?
Anna smile at the two of them.
"You'd better go," said Sarah.
A smile from her as she nodded; dinner and post-mortems to come.
Ugh. Spare me. Hate this style with a passion.
My goodness, is it the heat that is making me cranky or were the books that annoying this month?
Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart Knitting, New Jersey, a middle aged protagonist--this book was written for me, I thought. Pamela, widowed copyright editor for a knitting magazine, is enjoying late fall: her daughter is coming from college for Thanksgiving, she has a new neighbor who has piqued her curiosity (and her ire), and she's invited a colleague of her late husband to her knitting group's next meeting, which she is hosting in her spotless house. Too bad the night is marred by a murder, and the victim is found under Pamela's bush. Pamela and her neighbor find themselves sleuthing to solve the mystery before Pamela becomes the next victim. The suburban NJ town was very familiar and delightful to visit, although very much gentrified and yuppified and millenialified (a terrible word, I know, but how else to describe a lifestyle where Pamela gets to work from home, make daily visits to the perfect, eco-friendly co-op which only carries locally sourced, non-GMO, certified fair trade items that are reasonably priced?). Part of me found Pamela too good to be true (she keeps her large house effortlessly perfect) but also annoying (she admits that she rewrote articles she's editing after "she just decided what she wanted it to mean and rewrote accordingly." AUGH!!!! If I had had an editor like that, wait, I did--and I complained mightily.), especially her irritation with her neighbor and her jumping to conclusions which invariably turned out to be wrong. The mystery is not too hard to figure out, but also isn't far-fetched, and the clues are subtle but present so readers who like to solve the murder can. I enjoyed the book, and while I'd like to see Pamela not be so perfect, it was a restful visit to a town similar to my old home town in NJ and a quick read, so I'd recommend this as one of the better knitting subgenre cozies currently in print. Unlike a lot of those, you can tell this author probably does know how to knit.
Murder in Belgravia by Lynn Brittney Historical mystery set in England during WWI that makes the mistake so many genre writers make--trying to make the characters 21st century enough to satisfy modern readers while using a historic period to provide atmosphere, technical challenges to the art of detection, and a suitably exotic location and time. It's a good thing this was a quick read, because if it had not been, I'd have been tired of how egalitarian and politically correct (a term I hate but which is perfect for this situation) everyone in the book was and given up on it halfway. There is no one central character, but rather 4 main characters (a female doctor, a female lawyer, a male detective, and a male veteran now policeman) who join forces as an unorthodox and unofficial Scotland Yard team to deal with crime in a London overrun by working women of all kinds, injured soldiers, and gangs. Of course there is a love triangle (she loves him but he loves someone else, who turned him down to marry another who has died in the war). Of course no one bats an eye that these people, largely strangers, set up a house in which to live together and work out of, chaperoned by one's titled mother who is delighted to hobnob with charwomen and prostitutes and only faintly horrified when she learns of the existence of boy prostitutes and who is willing to clean dishes and act completely unlike a titled Lady. Sure. I'll probably pass on any future entries in this series; everyone is too modern in their mannerisms and outlooks, too pc--even the gang leaders. Unbelievable.
Cherringham--A Dinner to Die For by Neil Richards and Matthew Costello Super fast, superficial read. Retired New York cop moves to perfect English village, where everyone is handsome, nice, and able to live very comfortable lives without any means of support. This perfect village is lucky enough to have two, not one but two, top notch restaurants; that is, until it looks like the owner of one is trying to destroy the other. Is he being set up, or is revenge for past indiscretions in their convoluted former lives the reason? Again, slightly annoying characters--Jack the cop who lives on a boat and can whip up gourmet meals in a tiny kitchen and make the perfect martini, and Sarah who may or may not be interested romantically in him but sure spends a lot of time with him if she's not. It's never a good thing when both protagonists grate on your nerves every so slightly. The mystery was okay, the solution okay, the setting okay, the format annoying. Every sentence is its own paragraph. Please. I.e.:
Or-
Something else?
Anna smile at the two of them.
"You'd better go," said Sarah.
A smile from her as she nodded; dinner and post-mortems to come.
Ugh. Spare me. Hate this style with a passion.
My goodness, is it the heat that is making me cranky or were the books that annoying this month?
Monday, April 30, 2018
Middle Sister's April Reads
Happy spring! Not much reading done this month because of lots of extracurricular activities, but I did try a partial theme: books.
Read and Gone by Allison Brook I should have saved this book for next Christmas, since it takes place at that time of the year. The series is called the Haunted Library because of the presence of a resident ghost, visible only to two people, one of whom is our amateur detective, Carrie. Carrie's father is a jewel thief, and he re-enters her life just when all is going well--great job, new boyfriend, caring friends. When his partner in crime is murdered, Carrie decides to find the jewels and clear her father's name--of at least this particular crime. I wasn't overwhelmed by the mystery. I'm not a fan of paranormal mysteries (so really, why do I keep trying this subgenre? I love the movie The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and I guess I keep hoping one of these books will live up to that excellence.), and the fact that Eveyln's clothes and hairs kept changing every time she re-appeared distracted me. Shops and salons in the afterlife? Maybe those are her idea of heaven. Some editing issues and typos were distracting, but I can read around those if I find the story interesting enough. But my lack of sympathy or interest in Carrie ratcheted upwards when in Chapter 10, we read: "'He must have been in his mid-sixites, the age I am now.' That is old, I thought." Really, Carrie? Hmm, wonder what the average or median age of cosy mystery readers is? Most egregious editing issue: we are told Morgan is a resident at the Hopewell Home for Seniors in Bantam at location 994 in Chapter 10. At location 1228, Chapter 12, we read "Carlton Manor Nursing Home, where Evelyn's friend Morgan Fuller was residing." What? And her job in P&E is never defined until near the end of the book. There were a lot of little inconsistencies (how could she tell the color of the car in the dark? Why would Morgan trust a complete stranger like Carrie with $200,000? What chorus has only 2 rehearsals before a Christmas concert, one the morning of the event? What hospital allows a concussion patient the option of a wheelchair ride to the car--in every hospital I know, there's no choice--you take a wheelchair to the curb.) and a lot of repetition of verbs (Carrie giggled excessively in Chapter 27, even at things that were not giggleable.) and even some subtle racism (why is the Indian doctor the only person in the entire book whose racial or ethnic or cultural heritage is specifically mentioned?). Carrie's romance, and the book and mystery, were naive and somewhat juvenile; the style fairly bland; and a good editor clearly needed. And no librarian would dismiss someone's fines, just because "It's a Christmas present to you." The city or county government would have that person under investigation for fraud instantly. Unless you really feel compelled to read every book that every takes place in a library, or with a ghost, or has a cat, I recommend you pass on this book. I'd give this one a C-/D+, and only because I didn't throw the book across the room.
Lost Books and Old Bones by Paige Shelton This title is part of the Scottish Bookshop series. American Delaney lives in Edinburgh, works at a bookstore with a secret, unusual, and somewhat creepy 'treasure room,' and has fallen in love. Naturally, dead bodies keep popping up. Naturally, they just happen to be people she knows. Naturally, this secret room just happens to hold clues to the mystery. Tying this mystery to the real history of Burke and Hare, early 19th century bodysnatchers in Edinburgh, was a interesting slant, albeit not handled extremely well. The connections seemed forced and artificial. Although not paranormal, Delaney has 'bookish voices' that spout quotations that are relevant to her search for the killer's identity. Minor typos (missing 'the' at location 803 and time misspelt at location 2385, for example) and inconsistent use of "tae" for "to" in the Scottish characters' dialogue (which itself was annoying; first, that every Scottish person said this, and second, that sometimes within the very same sentence, they used tae and to together, which makes the reader wonder about how they are talking rather than what the character is saying and what it means for the plot). Most annoying: every time Tom, Delaney's boyfriend, reappears after an absence, she calls him "my pub owner." Och, I was ready tae yell "You're a wee scunner!" at Delaney every time I read that phrase. Also annoying: this is third book in the series, and i've not read the first two, and allusions such as that at location 2240 in Chapter 19 to "a few ghosts I'd met last Christmas" without a little explanation were irritating (there are lots of writers who seamlessly makes these kinds of allusions and provide enough information for first-time series readers; it's not that hard to accomplish). I was most irritated that both Delaney and Carrie, from the other mystery read this month, thought the police were incompetent and not following every lead, made public things that had specifically not been made public by the police but which they sure felt comfortable telling everyone they met, and generally just acting like ninnies rather than innocents drawn into murderous circumstances. Maybe it's time for some non-fiction to cleanse my palette. I'd give this one a C, based more on the historical research into Burke and Hare than for any other reason.
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix Published in 1865, this mystery was selected by my book group for our March/April read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Julian Symons has argued that this is the first modern detective novel, and I'd have to agree. The style and presentation were modern, the prose fairly clean and not very flowery or ornate, and while the subject of mesmerism is dated, it's handled very deftly and scientifically. While investigating the death of a young woman and the suicide of her husband, our detective uncovers a mystery that began years before, thousands of miles away, and through diligent interviews, diary entries, analytical reports, maps, and other modern devices, leads the reader to an inescapable yet unprovable theory. Or was it unprovable? Absolutely delightful, and a must-read for genre lovers.
Read and Gone by Allison Brook I should have saved this book for next Christmas, since it takes place at that time of the year. The series is called the Haunted Library because of the presence of a resident ghost, visible only to two people, one of whom is our amateur detective, Carrie. Carrie's father is a jewel thief, and he re-enters her life just when all is going well--great job, new boyfriend, caring friends. When his partner in crime is murdered, Carrie decides to find the jewels and clear her father's name--of at least this particular crime. I wasn't overwhelmed by the mystery. I'm not a fan of paranormal mysteries (so really, why do I keep trying this subgenre? I love the movie The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and I guess I keep hoping one of these books will live up to that excellence.), and the fact that Eveyln's clothes and hairs kept changing every time she re-appeared distracted me. Shops and salons in the afterlife? Maybe those are her idea of heaven. Some editing issues and typos were distracting, but I can read around those if I find the story interesting enough. But my lack of sympathy or interest in Carrie ratcheted upwards when in Chapter 10, we read: "'He must have been in his mid-sixites, the age I am now.' That is old, I thought." Really, Carrie? Hmm, wonder what the average or median age of cosy mystery readers is? Most egregious editing issue: we are told Morgan is a resident at the Hopewell Home for Seniors in Bantam at location 994 in Chapter 10. At location 1228, Chapter 12, we read "Carlton Manor Nursing Home, where Evelyn's friend Morgan Fuller was residing." What? And her job in P&E is never defined until near the end of the book. There were a lot of little inconsistencies (how could she tell the color of the car in the dark? Why would Morgan trust a complete stranger like Carrie with $200,000? What chorus has only 2 rehearsals before a Christmas concert, one the morning of the event? What hospital allows a concussion patient the option of a wheelchair ride to the car--in every hospital I know, there's no choice--you take a wheelchair to the curb.) and a lot of repetition of verbs (Carrie giggled excessively in Chapter 27, even at things that were not giggleable.) and even some subtle racism (why is the Indian doctor the only person in the entire book whose racial or ethnic or cultural heritage is specifically mentioned?). Carrie's romance, and the book and mystery, were naive and somewhat juvenile; the style fairly bland; and a good editor clearly needed. And no librarian would dismiss someone's fines, just because "It's a Christmas present to you." The city or county government would have that person under investigation for fraud instantly. Unless you really feel compelled to read every book that every takes place in a library, or with a ghost, or has a cat, I recommend you pass on this book. I'd give this one a C-/D+, and only because I didn't throw the book across the room.
Lost Books and Old Bones by Paige Shelton This title is part of the Scottish Bookshop series. American Delaney lives in Edinburgh, works at a bookstore with a secret, unusual, and somewhat creepy 'treasure room,' and has fallen in love. Naturally, dead bodies keep popping up. Naturally, they just happen to be people she knows. Naturally, this secret room just happens to hold clues to the mystery. Tying this mystery to the real history of Burke and Hare, early 19th century bodysnatchers in Edinburgh, was a interesting slant, albeit not handled extremely well. The connections seemed forced and artificial. Although not paranormal, Delaney has 'bookish voices' that spout quotations that are relevant to her search for the killer's identity. Minor typos (missing 'the' at location 803 and time misspelt at location 2385, for example) and inconsistent use of "tae" for "to" in the Scottish characters' dialogue (which itself was annoying; first, that every Scottish person said this, and second, that sometimes within the very same sentence, they used tae and to together, which makes the reader wonder about how they are talking rather than what the character is saying and what it means for the plot). Most annoying: every time Tom, Delaney's boyfriend, reappears after an absence, she calls him "my pub owner." Och, I was ready tae yell "You're a wee scunner!" at Delaney every time I read that phrase. Also annoying: this is third book in the series, and i've not read the first two, and allusions such as that at location 2240 in Chapter 19 to "a few ghosts I'd met last Christmas" without a little explanation were irritating (there are lots of writers who seamlessly makes these kinds of allusions and provide enough information for first-time series readers; it's not that hard to accomplish). I was most irritated that both Delaney and Carrie, from the other mystery read this month, thought the police were incompetent and not following every lead, made public things that had specifically not been made public by the police but which they sure felt comfortable telling everyone they met, and generally just acting like ninnies rather than innocents drawn into murderous circumstances. Maybe it's time for some non-fiction to cleanse my palette. I'd give this one a C, based more on the historical research into Burke and Hare than for any other reason.
The Notting Hill Mystery by Charles Felix Published in 1865, this mystery was selected by my book group for our March/April read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Julian Symons has argued that this is the first modern detective novel, and I'd have to agree. The style and presentation were modern, the prose fairly clean and not very flowery or ornate, and while the subject of mesmerism is dated, it's handled very deftly and scientifically. While investigating the death of a young woman and the suicide of her husband, our detective uncovers a mystery that began years before, thousands of miles away, and through diligent interviews, diary entries, analytical reports, maps, and other modern devices, leads the reader to an inescapable yet unprovable theory. Or was it unprovable? Absolutely delightful, and a must-read for genre lovers.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Middle Sister's March Reads
The Trouble with Harriet by Dorothy Cannell Originally published in 1999, an electronic version of this entry in the Ellie Haskell mystery series was recently released. When Ellie first appeared in the 1980s, she was a mystery series anomaly--a pudgy, rather plain woman, an ordinary heroine to whom genre characters could easily relate. Written with a not-so-subtle wink towards romance novels and some hilarious, intentionally flowery prose, I loved the series. I don't remember reading this when first published, so I happily revisited Ellie and Ben and Merlin's Court, especially delighted with the title since The Trouble with Harry may be my favorite Shirley MacLaine movie. Ellie's long-lost father arrives unexpectedly at Merlin's Court with the ashes of his lady love, and in the spirit of the movie, her ashes keep disappearing. Not my favorite entry in the series, but I did enjoy the peeks into Ellie's history before she became Our Heroine, and it holds up remarkably well despite the lack of modern technology that often glares in reissued novels. And no typos or other mistakes as the story was moved to a digital format--hooray! Recommended
A March to Remember by Anna Loan-Wilsey I had to read a book with March in the title in March, right? This march, however, refers to an historical 1894 march by unemployed men on Washington D.C., and sets a murder mystery in and around both those observing the march and those participating in it. The historical aspect was very interesting, as this was an episode of American history I'd never heard of. The topic was very timely given the current economic and political climate in the US. The books appears well researched, in terms of of both the march and the capital of 1894 (appears because I didn't do more than a cursory investigation of Coxey's March myself). Hattie Davish, the main character, is intriguing because she's a working woman (a typist and secretary) at a time when most of these would have been men. I appreciated her sensitivity to the Washington prostitutes and her self-realization that with out a job, she'd be int he same situation as them. However, I found a few parts of the story contrived (her future sister-in-law happens to be friends with the wife of an important government official who happens to have a personal interest in helping the 'fallen women,' the interest of the First Lady in Hattie's personal affairs, etc) and the attitudes of a surprisingly large number of characters astonishingly late 20th century. I know modern cosy readers don't want to be annoyed or embarrassed or aghast by the attitudes of their amateur detectives, but this was veering slightly towards a steam punk-like fictional re-imaging. Hattie's fiancee was Mr. Twentieth Century Sensitive Guy, almost too good to be true. But all in all, it was a quick read, with an interesting historical hook that sub-genre devotees should find very appealing.
A March to Remember by Anna Loan-Wilsey I had to read a book with March in the title in March, right? This march, however, refers to an historical 1894 march by unemployed men on Washington D.C., and sets a murder mystery in and around both those observing the march and those participating in it. The historical aspect was very interesting, as this was an episode of American history I'd never heard of. The topic was very timely given the current economic and political climate in the US. The books appears well researched, in terms of of both the march and the capital of 1894 (appears because I didn't do more than a cursory investigation of Coxey's March myself). Hattie Davish, the main character, is intriguing because she's a working woman (a typist and secretary) at a time when most of these would have been men. I appreciated her sensitivity to the Washington prostitutes and her self-realization that with out a job, she'd be int he same situation as them. However, I found a few parts of the story contrived (her future sister-in-law happens to be friends with the wife of an important government official who happens to have a personal interest in helping the 'fallen women,' the interest of the First Lady in Hattie's personal affairs, etc) and the attitudes of a surprisingly large number of characters astonishingly late 20th century. I know modern cosy readers don't want to be annoyed or embarrassed or aghast by the attitudes of their amateur detectives, but this was veering slightly towards a steam punk-like fictional re-imaging. Hattie's fiancee was Mr. Twentieth Century Sensitive Guy, almost too good to be true. But all in all, it was a quick read, with an interesting historical hook that sub-genre devotees should find very appealing.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Middle Sister's February Reads
Hello, Gentle Readers, February was a fairly good month as far as books go (and I was able to catch up with a couple of magazine subscriptions that were stacking up, too, yea).
The Plot is Murder by V. M. Burns (Mystery Bookshop No. 1) The Plot Is Murder is the first entry in a new series set in a Michigan mystery bookstore. Sam Washington's husband has died, and she has decided to pursue the dream they were working towards together--to open a mystery bookstore. A unique twist to this series is that Sam has always wanted to write a mystery, and she has started to do so to help her through her grief. Sections from her book are included between chapters. I really enjoyed this book. Sam is a likable character, as is her supporting cast, e.g., Dawson, the former student now college football player who becomes her first employee, her Nana Jo, and her sister Jenna, an energetic attorney. Nana Jo's Golden Girl-esque friends supply a lot of humor, but are very one-dimensional and could easily start to irritate if they remain as cliched as they are portrayed in this novel. But Dawson, wannabe chef, makes up for them, and I'd love to see more of him. The mystery was okay, the pace pretty good, and the setting described well enough that even though I've never been to Michigan, I felt it to be familiar. I look forward to seeing how this series develops.
Alpha Alpine by Mary Daheim The 26th Emma Lord mystery comes after a hiatus of a couple of years in the series set in a small town in the Pacific northwest. I've read several, although not in order, and certainly not all of them, but enough to remember each time I visit Alpine the main characters who populate the small town. Maybe it would be best to read these in order, as Emma's life and those of her friends and family and fellow Alpiners change over the series. The town and its characters always feel familiar to me, and Daheim provides enough background that each can be read as a standalone or out of order. In this entry, several young women are killed, and Emma and Milo have to determine if there's a serial killer amongst their neighbors while they deal with an unexpected visit by Milo's brother and sister-in-law. I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I have other Alpine stories in the past, and I'm not sure if that's because the series is starting to sputter.
Murder in Thistlecross by Amy M. Reade Amy Reade has been compared to Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt, two authors whose novels I loved when in high school. Eilidh moved to Wales to rebuild her life by working as the estate manager for a friend of her family, and this scenario, plus the isolated setting and brooding, lonely atmosphere, definitely evoke Whitney and Holt. But I wasn't as drawn into Thistlecross as I always was into Whitney's novels. The inclusion of discussion questions at the end indicate that the author and publisher think the book would make suitable book group material, and it might, especially given the twist ending. Like the gothics of old, Reade does provide a definitive, happy ending for our heroine, which is no surprise to anyone familiar with the genre. I did appreciate the true to real life history created for Eilidh--the depression after her marriage collapsed and after the murders are solved, but found other plot twists unrealistic--Griff suddenly has enough money to buy the horses and a farm after the events of the murders. But overall a reasonably good book, well-paced, with a very atmospheric setting.
The Plot is Murder by V. M. Burns (Mystery Bookshop No. 1) The Plot Is Murder is the first entry in a new series set in a Michigan mystery bookstore. Sam Washington's husband has died, and she has decided to pursue the dream they were working towards together--to open a mystery bookstore. A unique twist to this series is that Sam has always wanted to write a mystery, and she has started to do so to help her through her grief. Sections from her book are included between chapters. I really enjoyed this book. Sam is a likable character, as is her supporting cast, e.g., Dawson, the former student now college football player who becomes her first employee, her Nana Jo, and her sister Jenna, an energetic attorney. Nana Jo's Golden Girl-esque friends supply a lot of humor, but are very one-dimensional and could easily start to irritate if they remain as cliched as they are portrayed in this novel. But Dawson, wannabe chef, makes up for them, and I'd love to see more of him. The mystery was okay, the pace pretty good, and the setting described well enough that even though I've never been to Michigan, I felt it to be familiar. I look forward to seeing how this series develops.
Alpha Alpine by Mary Daheim The 26th Emma Lord mystery comes after a hiatus of a couple of years in the series set in a small town in the Pacific northwest. I've read several, although not in order, and certainly not all of them, but enough to remember each time I visit Alpine the main characters who populate the small town. Maybe it would be best to read these in order, as Emma's life and those of her friends and family and fellow Alpiners change over the series. The town and its characters always feel familiar to me, and Daheim provides enough background that each can be read as a standalone or out of order. In this entry, several young women are killed, and Emma and Milo have to determine if there's a serial killer amongst their neighbors while they deal with an unexpected visit by Milo's brother and sister-in-law. I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I have other Alpine stories in the past, and I'm not sure if that's because the series is starting to sputter.
Murder in Thistlecross by Amy M. Reade Amy Reade has been compared to Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt, two authors whose novels I loved when in high school. Eilidh moved to Wales to rebuild her life by working as the estate manager for a friend of her family, and this scenario, plus the isolated setting and brooding, lonely atmosphere, definitely evoke Whitney and Holt. But I wasn't as drawn into Thistlecross as I always was into Whitney's novels. The inclusion of discussion questions at the end indicate that the author and publisher think the book would make suitable book group material, and it might, especially given the twist ending. Like the gothics of old, Reade does provide a definitive, happy ending for our heroine, which is no surprise to anyone familiar with the genre. I did appreciate the true to real life history created for Eilidh--the depression after her marriage collapsed and after the murders are solved, but found other plot twists unrealistic--Griff suddenly has enough money to buy the horses and a farm after the events of the murders. But overall a reasonably good book, well-paced, with a very atmospheric setting.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Middle Sister's January Reads
January 2018 started with a newly published book reviewed in the New York Times and followed that with the first in a highly successful series. 2018 looks to be a good year for reading!
The Written World by Martin Puchner Smoothly written summary of how reading (not writing) has changed human civilization. While the effect of writing on human culture is a given. reading has perhaps not been studied as much, and reading, just like writing, can be subversive, clandestine, and rebellious. While the New York Times made this sound like an academic treatise, I found that while much historical research had been done by the author, it doesn't fall within my definition of academic. There are chapter notes, but without footnotes, it was painstaking to check interesting facts or anecdotes. Nicely illustrated, with good examples from around the world and through time.
Tombstone Courage by J. A. Jance It's pretty much impossible to live in Arizona, be a mystery lover, and not have read J. A. Jance. And while I have read several, I hd never read the first Joanna Brady mystery. My library recently acquired audiobooks of the series, so I went completely against my natural inclination to jump willy-nilly into a series, and listened to the first. It's easy to see why the series has been a hit from the beginning, but I must protest the narrator. She used a riff on a faux Southern accent for the Arizonans, and I can assure after having lived here 30 years, native Arizonans do not sound southern. And she mispronounced Chiricahua, but I guess I can't hold that against 'foreigners."
The Cat of the Baskervilles by Vicki Delaney Cute idea for a series--an expatriate Londoner operates a Cape Cod bookstore dedicated to all things Sherlock Holmes (clearly riding the wave of the popularity of the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock). So many things that I would love--the location on Cape Cod, the setting in a mystery bookstore, and I wouldn't call myself an Anglophile but I've been to England and I love old English mystery series. But yet again, the author has the amateur detective snatch a piece of evidence from the crime scene and not tell the police about it--argh! I absolutely hate it when authors do this, give the main character the snobbish presumption that they know better than the professionals. Our Heroine, Gemma, makes several comments throughout the story that were a tad arrogant and put me off the character. In fact, Our Heroine actually muses, with regard to the detective investigating the murder, "She didn't like me and she didn't trust me, and I didn't fully understand why." Hello? You stole evidence from a crime scene, and I'll bet it's not the first time you have done that, Gemma; why would she like you? And when the police detective Gemma is romantically attracted to tell her that Det. Estrada is a a good police officer, Gemma muses that "I had yet to be convinced of that." Hmm, second-guessing the love interest? Not a good start for a romance. The dog trainer in my cringed when reading about her friend's "rambunctious six-week-old cocker spaniel;" puppies are generally only just getting weaned completely by 7-8 weeks, so a 6-week-old pup shouldn't be in its new home. Slipshod facts like that, so easy to check on the Internet, bother me. I found myself only tolerating Gemma for the sake of the bookstore on the Cape, and frankly that's not enough for me to pursue the series. I'd give this one a C--the setting on Cape Cod and in the bookstore is promising, the mystery and the whodunnit were solid enough (although the reason for the murder was a little unrealistic in my opinion, but that's not too much of an issue for me), but the main character grew more and more grating.
The Written World by Martin Puchner Smoothly written summary of how reading (not writing) has changed human civilization. While the effect of writing on human culture is a given. reading has perhaps not been studied as much, and reading, just like writing, can be subversive, clandestine, and rebellious. While the New York Times made this sound like an academic treatise, I found that while much historical research had been done by the author, it doesn't fall within my definition of academic. There are chapter notes, but without footnotes, it was painstaking to check interesting facts or anecdotes. Nicely illustrated, with good examples from around the world and through time.
Tombstone Courage by J. A. Jance It's pretty much impossible to live in Arizona, be a mystery lover, and not have read J. A. Jance. And while I have read several, I hd never read the first Joanna Brady mystery. My library recently acquired audiobooks of the series, so I went completely against my natural inclination to jump willy-nilly into a series, and listened to the first. It's easy to see why the series has been a hit from the beginning, but I must protest the narrator. She used a riff on a faux Southern accent for the Arizonans, and I can assure after having lived here 30 years, native Arizonans do not sound southern. And she mispronounced Chiricahua, but I guess I can't hold that against 'foreigners."
The Cat of the Baskervilles by Vicki Delaney Cute idea for a series--an expatriate Londoner operates a Cape Cod bookstore dedicated to all things Sherlock Holmes (clearly riding the wave of the popularity of the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock). So many things that I would love--the location on Cape Cod, the setting in a mystery bookstore, and I wouldn't call myself an Anglophile but I've been to England and I love old English mystery series. But yet again, the author has the amateur detective snatch a piece of evidence from the crime scene and not tell the police about it--argh! I absolutely hate it when authors do this, give the main character the snobbish presumption that they know better than the professionals. Our Heroine, Gemma, makes several comments throughout the story that were a tad arrogant and put me off the character. In fact, Our Heroine actually muses, with regard to the detective investigating the murder, "She didn't like me and she didn't trust me, and I didn't fully understand why." Hello? You stole evidence from a crime scene, and I'll bet it's not the first time you have done that, Gemma; why would she like you? And when the police detective Gemma is romantically attracted to tell her that Det. Estrada is a a good police officer, Gemma muses that "I had yet to be convinced of that." Hmm, second-guessing the love interest? Not a good start for a romance. The dog trainer in my cringed when reading about her friend's "rambunctious six-week-old cocker spaniel;" puppies are generally only just getting weaned completely by 7-8 weeks, so a 6-week-old pup shouldn't be in its new home. Slipshod facts like that, so easy to check on the Internet, bother me. I found myself only tolerating Gemma for the sake of the bookstore on the Cape, and frankly that's not enough for me to pursue the series. I'd give this one a C--the setting on Cape Cod and in the bookstore is promising, the mystery and the whodunnit were solid enough (although the reason for the murder was a little unrealistic in my opinion, but that's not too much of an issue for me), but the main character grew more and more grating.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
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