Middle Sister's October Reads

October was a grab bag of fiction, nonfiction, science, young adult, cookbooks, mystery--a smorgasbord of reading. 

Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket This is the first in the latest Lemony Snicket series, All the Wrong Questions. I really enjoyed his other books, although I haven't finished the Series of Unfortunate Events. This series is a prelude to Unfortunate Events, but I felt as if I had stumbled into the series without having read the first 3 chapters. The allusions to people who are important, people who will figure prominently in the future, half stories or events not explained--I wound up listening to the first 7 chapters twice to make sure I hadn't missed some things. I live these as they portray children as smart and competent and brave, but I also got a little tired at the lack of resolution of so many story lines. There's no end; the plots are largely unresolved. I only like one or two cliffhangers--I don't want the entire book to be a cliffhanger, whether it's an adult book or a children's book. Having complained about that, though, let me add that this is, as always, very well written (as all the Lemony Snicket books are) and I love the alternate universe they are set in. I just wish one or two of the mysteries would be solved so we;d be excited for the next book, not frustrated by this one. Of course, I'm 40 years older than most readers of the series, so take my complains with a hefty grain of salt. Recommended.

What It's Like to Be a Bird by David Sibley My Sibley bird book is one of my two birding Bibles. David Sibley may be the greatest living ornithologist of our day, but this book is not a guide book. Rather, it's a collection of essays and beautiful watercolor illustrations of birds that will delight the lifelisters you know as well as those wanting to start birding as a new hobby. The illustrations are amazing, and the layout is clean and crisp and delightful. The facts and tidbits may be familiar to serious birders, but I am probably the world's worst birder, so even though I knew many of these facts, I enjoyed reading them again, often in conjunction with an illustration that made it clearer and more informative. I loved it so much I hope someone gets me the hardcover for Christmas this year. Highly Recommended. Net Galley

The Hidden Life of Ice by Marco Tedesco If it seems like I've been reading a lot of books about Greenland and the Arctic, that's because I have been. It was a very long, record-setting hot summer here in the desert, so I tried to escape it as much as I could through my reading. It's mid-October and this will be the first week since April (maybe even March--it's all one long, hot, burning, oven-like blur) that our temperature hasn't been in the 90s*F, but that hasn't stopped my curiosity re: science and exploration in this extreme landscape. Tedesco's book outlines the glacial lake experiments he undertakes, but devote much more time to explaining the changes that have taken place in the glacial and arctic environment, to the detriment of those fragile ecosystems. The description of the scientific experiments he undertakes in Greenland are narrated over just one day, which gives his books a unique narrative structure. He ends the book with a dire warning about arctic tourism and climate change, which I hope we as a society listen to. Well written, with almost lyrical descriptions of the austere and beautiful landscape he works in, the exact opposite of the lush, tropical landscape in which I did my science, which may be part of its appeal to me. Beautiful photos. Recommended. Net Galley

A Deadly Chapter by Essie Lang I had read one book written by this author with her other series character, and while I didn't like that book, I am a sucker for anything bookstore-related and thought I'd giver her a second chance to see if her authorial skills had improved. Verdict: only somewhat. The premise is intriguing: Shelby Cox runs a small bookstore and gift shop owned by her aunt on an island near what is clearly New York state's Adirondack Park, where a converted castle draws tourists by ferry. This is the fourth inthe series, and I did not read the others, but there was enough backstory provided that the reader didn't feel lost. However, Shelby's insistence on investigating the murder is hollow: she repeatedly tells everyone--her aunt, her boyfriend, the sheriff--that she is not going to investigate the murder, even though the body was found next to her houseboat and even though the victim's daughter asks for her help. "Well, it's no surprise that Chief Stone wants to be out of it but, after all, I talked to the guy and found his body." Does she turn over evidence to Chief Stone--no, she decides to pursue it, potentially jeopardizing the entire investigation. This is just lazy writing, when the author can't think of an ingenious way to keep the amateur detective involved in the mystery, and resorts to their withholding evidence and just being nosy. Other elements that rang false: no one plans a literary event "a little over a month away" and expects to be able to get authors, caterers, etc. lined up. And there are also some weird inconsistencies, such as: "'And I certainly do have lots of books for you to look at." She led the way to the small section..." Shelby spends almost as much time considering a return to Boston as she does the murder. She laments many times through the book that she had no friends, no life, etc., in Boston, and was terribly unhappy there, unlike her new home in Alex Bay. But then we read she "found herself slipping back into her old ways, not wanting to share her feelings, and not being used to anyone asking about her or her well-being..." So it seems like her lack of friends and support in Boston was her own fault, and not the cold, closed city. There's just too much going on in this book: the murder, her relationship with Zack at a turning point, her mother re-entering her life and wanting a relationship. Yes, sometimes life pours things on you one after the other or all together but I've been dealing with that in my own life and don't want that turbulence in a book I'm using to escape from my own overwhelming-at-times life. The murderer was easily identified quite early in the book, without even trying to do that. Ultimately, I didn't like Shelby at all, although I really liked her aunt and would prefer her to be the amateur detective. Only suitable for folks who have to read anything that includes a bookstore or is located in New York state, otherwise, not recommended. Net Galley

Blueberry Love by Cynthia Graubert One of my favorite fruits is the beautiful blueberry. I will eat it in any form. I yearn to go to Maine during blueberry season, pick them till I can't lift the pails (or my arms!), and then stuff my luggage with as much as I can. This recipe book was written for me. Gorgeous photography, mouth-watering recipes! I want to make them all. Really. I must make them all. I will make them all. Incidentals I loved about this book: the author fearlessly tells people not to worry, unless the recipe says otherwise, frozen berries will work, and she also used a hand mixer (so many recipes assume we all live in houses with miles of counter space for all the gadgets, including a stand mixer. I live in a 70+-year-old house with about 2 feet of counter space.). And she may have found the one reason on the planet I can think of for using an instant pot. If you love baking desserts, or love blueberries and are looking for some salad and chicken recipes that incorporate this small but mighty deliciousness, you will love this book. Highly recommended. Net Galley

Murder with Oolong Tea by Karen Rose Smith Just like I'm a sucker for mysteries set in bookstores, I'm a sucker for mysteries with a tea theme. However, I think I'll be passing this series by. Daisy and her aunt Iris own a tea shop, and Daisy finds herself involved in various mysteries that plague her small, quiet community in Amish country. Unlike other tea-themed series, Smith's tea knowledge seems pretty limited; the only reason the title involves oolong is that it is the tea that Daisy drinks over and over and over and over. No one is killed by the oolong. Daisy can only make four items to go along with tea: snickerdoodles, blueberry coffee cake, lemon tea cakes, and sugar cookies. Over the course of the book, she makes these over and over and offers them to patrons and family alike. Blueberry coffee is one of my favorites and I make a mean one myself, but if I owned a tea room, I'd expand the menu a little beyond these four. Goodness, make a scone! They're not hard. One of the reasons I disliked this mystery is that there is simply too much going on--the murder, Daisy's younger daughter has befriended a troubled teen who comes to stay with them for several weeks (coincidentally, her grandmother lives right next door to the murder victim), Daisy and her boyfriend have a terrible row when she tries to push him to address a major issue in his life; her older daughter and her husband are experiencing financial problems, then there's the drama that emerges in the victim's life. It's all too much. By the time we got to Daisy ruminating on her formally strained relationship with her mother that is now much more solid, I literally said out loud "Oh, for crying out loud!" In an attempt to make Daisy Everywoman, the author has just succeeded in trying the reader's patience. The mystery was very easy to figure out. The victim was 5'7" and maybe 110 lbs and they wonder who could have strangled her. Anyone--that woman was emaciated! So we should have had a harder time since there were no physical limitations that could eliminate a suspect. I'm 5'7 and I weighed 110 lbs in 4th grade. And yes, there was a lot of Daisy denying that she was getting involved in the murder and then two paragraphs later, running over to interview a suspect she's sure the police have not interviewed because,,,,she wants to, or finding out something she should tell the police about but deciding not to because, I guess, since she's Super Everywoman, she knows better. For example: "Tatum didn't seem to hold any bitterness or resentment. But was she telling Daisy the whole story? On the other hand, had Althea plagiarized someone else who also had Tatum's drive and knowledge of social media and the Internet?That was an answer the police should explore, but would they?" (Chapter 7, location1263).   No they don't, because Daisy doesn't tell them about this, nor does anyone else who knows about this incident, at least for a while. And I'm going to reveal it: one suspect is identified because he was the only person named William attending a conference of a couple of hundred people. It's the third most popular boy's name in the US. Really, only one William? Totally unbelievable and lazy writing to make this an important piece of sleuthing. Not really bad, but very bland and uninteresting with a boring writing style (see above quote, or weird word choices like the tea garden was "supremely busy," location 2261--you can't use supreme as an adverb here; it just doesn't work). Without either a character that I really like or a mystery that I can't figure out, there's no reason to recommend this. There are others in the series, and perhaps they are better than this one, but honestly, I'm not going to bother to find out. Net Galley

Middle Sister's November Reads

Happy Thanksgiving, gentle readers! This is my favorite holiday, and what better way to spend part of it than reading? Here's what I read this month of turkey, pie, and thinking about how lucky we are.

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louise May Alcott My book group decided to read holiday-themed children's books for November and December, and I started it off by reading this little gem (my suggestion). A lovely, feel-good story, complete with apple slump recipe. Although a fan of Alcott, I'd never read any of her children's work, so I was delighted to read this. Perfect holiday reading, not smarmy or old-fashioned at all.

They Came for Freedom by Jay Milbrandt Colonial history is my favorite period to read about, and a new book about the Pilgrims and Puritans, European expansion in the New World, and my favorite holiday caught my eye. Milbrandt proposed looking at the settlement of Plimouth (the correct spelling, I learned) from a religious point of view, and I'm not a reader put off by religious content unless it's overtly preachy and proselytizing. Milbrandt does a good job explaining exactly the history of the religious separatists who fled to what they thought was the northern end of the Virginia Territory. I was especially interested to read more about Squanto and Massasoit and their lives. However, Milbrandt began the book at the end, with Governor Bradford writing the history of Plimouth Plantation and lamenting the dissolution of the colony by the younger members.When we finally get to the last chapter, this dissolution is given short shrift. Bradford, Brewster, and the important figures die and then, within paragraphs, we read that Plimouth dissolved as a community. It did not feel like the execution of the book's theme lived up to the exposition. Details that irked: the statement that in the local Native American culture, "Royal lineages held top honors, followed by nobility" (Location 605). Native American society was not organized like European monarchies. It was tribal, with leaders achieving power by their own merit. There was no such thing as royalty or a nobility. And while his later discussions of Native American culture do not allude to this mischaracterization, the anthropologist in me could not forget he wrote it. The editor in me could not overlook several typos, such as missing hyphens. But this is quickly read, well researched addition to the history of America.

Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith  How could I not read this book? There was a big white dog on the cover. I'd never read a Caprice de Luca mystery, but that's never stopped me; I'm no adherent to the idea that series must be read in order. I admit I rolled my eyes at the name Caprice (does the author know what the word means? A sudden change of mood, foible, quirk, etc. Not something I'd want to be named after.). But when I've written several notes to myself by Chapter 2 that start with "Really?" I'm not hopeful for the rest of the novel. And I rolled my eyes at her job. House stager? A guest list for an open house? So not my thing, but the idea that her sister would cook entire meals so people who come to the open house can walk around eating entire meals and making a mess--I can't imagine this. I have heard of baking cookies so the scent of vanilla hangs around, since people think that's homey, but a full course meal? I got tired of references to how Caprice and Grant were waiting to marry for Grant's annulment to be finalized (which can take years), how they were refraining from sex until they got married (they may be waiting a long time), all of which is designed to show us how spiritual and better than the reader they are (at least, that's how it comes across, regardless of the author's intent). However, if the de Lucas are as traditional and conservative Catholic family as this implies, that would mean Grant was still married in the eyes of the church and she was dating, engaged to, and kissing a married man. Which kind of sounds like adultery to me. A great deal of time is spent with various dogs in the book, but the author must not be a dog person in real life because dog people would never use the word cage for a dog crate. By the time I got to the sentences "There was a schedule and everyone adhered to it. This was an important part of community service,"  and "Hugging as a family was an integral part of the De Luca legacy," and my personal favorite, "Conversation ran around the table and leapt across it" (location 501), my notes had deteriorated to "puhleaze!" (the only way to indicate rolling eyes on a Kindle, which happily does not have emojis). Then Caprice said "That's probably why Brett hasn't called me in yet." Brett is the investigating police officer. She is a house stager, not a police consultant, and you know how I am annoyed by amateur detectives who think they are better than the police.  And pews are empty, not open, if there is no one seated in them. There were multiple other irritations big and small, but I'll stop here. The mystery was passable but cliched--a likable family man playing Santa Claus is murdered, and his secret life (naturally that's the explanation) emerges. The murderer is easily identified early in the book. I grew up around loud, large, boisterous Italian families, and you'd think I would have found the de Lucas appealing, but I found them actually a little annoying. No one fights or argues at a holiday? Not realistic at all, in my experience. As a character ,Caprice was shallow, saccharine, immature (she's excited at the thought of getting married, but doesn't want to move out of her house, doesn't want to talk about whether they will have children?), and not particularly likable. While other reviews of the series I've stumbled across say this is just a weak entry in an otherwise enjoyable cosy series, I won't be reading any.