June is the hottest month here in the desert, and I usually start reading books that take place somewhere temperate or even downright cold, or in winter, or near water. This month I traveled to another desert in El Kaliouby's autobiography and the hot and humid Panamanian jungle--what was I thinking? Must read some Christmas books in July.
Girl Decoded by Rana El Kaliouby Girl Decoded is an interesting autobiography on many levels: that of a woman in tech and coding, two industries notable for the lack of women throughout their ranks; brains behind and later CEO of a tech start up (see earlier comment about lack of women in tech--they are even fewer in tech start ups); a naturalized American born and raised in Egypt, in a culture where educated women face serious dead ends to any ambition. I first became aware of El Kaliouby when she hosted Nova Now on PBS, and I knew from that program that she worked on emotional AI. I've always wondered how emotional AI works--how do you even approach a subject as complex as human emotion and break it down to be able to code it and program it? So that was the carrot that hooked me, and the book does a good job of describing how exactly she worked at facial recognition of emotion for her dissertation and then for commercial purposes. She also does a great job talking about her childhood and thirst for education and provides very brief glimpses into the life of a prosperous, educated Egyptian family. The book failed, in my opinion, in just one part--the personal transformation that led to the end of her marriage and her cleaving from some of her cultural heritage. She may not want to reveal all the details of her marriage, after all, her children could read the book. She may naturally be too reticent to reveal that part of her. But the anthropologist in me was most fascinated by the clash of cultures and that's where I felt the book didn't go into enough depth and introspection. But overall an interesting biography, well written, with enough tech to inspire women techies and not too much tech to turn off other readers. Recommended. Net Galley
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell Clearly I've been on Revolutionary War kick these past two years. It's my favorite period of American history, and there have been so many good books published about it recently. I love Sarah Vowell (oh, how i miss her New York Times columns), and the chance to listen to her read her own book about the revolution? Not to be passed. The book's impetus was seeing a little girl's dress in a small museum with the placard that it was worn when Lafayette visited during the 1830s. That intrigued Ms. Vowell, and started her on her journey to learn more about why that visit merited saving the dress, why Lafayette was so admired, and deep into Revolutionary War history and ultimately to this book. To hear it read in her own voice made it even more delightful. It's the perfect blend of history and humor. Highly recommended.
In the Shadow of the Glacier by Vicki Delany I'd read a review of the series in Mystery Reader's Journal a year or so ago, and it had piqued my curiosity enough that when I saw the audiobook on my library's website, I borrowed it. Molly )Midnight) Smith is a brand new cop in a small town in Canada, and this book explores her transition from private citizen to police officer in a town where everyone knows her name and remembers her as a child. I enjoyed the book although I was a bit disappointed in how the murder mystery was resolved. It seemed a tad abrupt and the red herrings were so overemphasized that it felt like the author wasn't giving her readers a fair chance to solve the mystery along with Molly. The repeated misogyny and very overt violence against women were realistic but I felt battered over the head with it. I really liked Molly's hippie parents and the secondary characters, especially Winters, so much so that I already have another one in my queue. Recommended.
The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon I loved Nancy Drew, the Dana Girls, Kay Tracey, the Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden, etc. when I was growing up. But my fairly traditional family never thought to give me Hardy Boys books to read, and I never thought to try them myself. My library keeps all the mystery audiobooks in one folder, adult and juvenile, so when I saw the first Hardy Boys book on the list, I had to listen to it. And what fun it was. So innocent, but still a bit harsher than Nancy's adventures were--I don't remember anyone actually dying in Nancy's books, and here the suspect dies of accidental injuries. This reading included some mysterious music and noises, such as cracking twigs and barking dogs, that absolutely added to the ambience of the listen. It was a short, 3-hour journey to my childhood, and I had a blast. The adult me reprimanded the boys sometimes, but little girl me wished I could share their adventures. Perfect summer listen for grown up Hardy Boys fans or new young ones. This would be an ideal companion on a road trip. Highly recommended.
The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914 by David McCullough Newly available as a digital audiobook, this is an early David McCullough, published in 1977. Characterized by McCullough's exhaustive research and command of thousands of facts, dozens of people, and evocative reconstruction of time and place, this very thick book and very long audiobook is very suitable for readers who like American history. But McCullough begins in 1870 and the first third of the book focuses on the French, flush with their success building the Suez Canal, began thinking of a canal to join the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. I just wish I'd had access to the photos and maps the book has. However, I was very distracted by the audio, which was so clear on my iPhone that I could hear the moist mouth noises of the reader, which nearly made me stop reading after just the first chapter. Recommended, but only as hardcover or trade paperback for the illustrations.
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Middle Sister's May Reads
Overall, May was a good reading month, beginning with some excellent mysteries and an interesting non-fiction history, but unfortunately, the holiday weekend at the end of the month was soured by bacb-to-back less than stellar mysteries. Ah well, those are not bad odds in the book department.
Death on Tuckernuck by Francine Mathews I originally wanted to read this book for several reasons: I've always wanted to visit Cape Cod and Nantucket and the surrounding area; stories near water become very appealing as the hot, dry, desert summer descends on me here at home and my yearly hankering to escape to a lake or ocean overwhelms me; and cheesily, I liked the cover. I loved the book! In fact, I read over half of it in one long reading session because I didn't want to put it down. Very fast paced and well-written, I was swept up into the many storylines of several Nantucket residents facing a Category 3 hurricane bearing down on their island and disrupting their lives, for some of them, permanently. The majority of the book takes place in the 24-hours of the hurricane's direct onslaught, and switches between the viewpoints of 4 or 5 main characters. Generally I am not a fan of multiple POVs, because many authors have trouble juggling several storylines, but Mathews did a superb job of not dropping any of the story lines nor lingering too long on any. Perfect summertime escapism, Maybe not if you're planning a fall vacation on Nantucket, however. Highly recommended.
Fire in the Thatch by E. C. R. Lorac Poisoned Pen Press began publishing a series called British Library Crime Classics, with introductions by Martin Edwards, several years ago. Long out-of-print British mysteries are reintroduced, with gorgeous covers, to an eager audience--I am one of them--that has discovered, through the wonders of the Internet, a number of OOP authors. Fire in the Thatch, originally published in 1946 and taking place just shortly before that date, is a thoroughly wonderful example of the lost mystery gems in the imprint. Fire in the Thatch takes place in Devon, England, where a war hero has rented a ramshackle thatched cottage, located in a remote village, that he intends to restore. A tragic accident follows, an accident that someone believes was not accidental at all, and Scotland Yard is called in. I loved this book! It's superbly well written, with great attention to detail, an atmospheric sense of place and time that made me feel I was there, and believable characters, some nice, some not nice. Ms. St. Cyres, Nicholas Vaughan, Inspector Macdonald, and respectful recreations of charming yet quirky Devon natives were all well drawn. The mystery is intriguing, and carefully spun out so that the reader, if they try, may guess what happened. I am eager to read more by Lorac, and find more new favorite authors through Poisoned Pen's BLCC imprint. Perfect summer reading. Highly recommended.
Still Life by Louise Penny I have heard for years how wonderful the Inspector Gamache series was, so when the first in the series became available at the library, I grabbed it. And it was worth it. Armand Gamache is not flashy, he's not heroic; he's a middle aged, happily married, quiet man who listens and notices. In Still Life, Jane Neal, a nice, quiet woman whom everyone in the village of Three Pines likes, is murdered with an arrow. Why would anyone want to kill someone everyone agrees was a nice person? What is simmering below the convivial relationships between her friends and neighbors? I really liked Gamache, and I really liked his supporting cast, especially Jean Guy Beauvoir, Gamache's partner and second. A divisive character was Yvette Nichol, on her first case with the Inspector. I sympathized because everyone knows what it's like to start a new job, and not know what is expected of you, what to do and when, how to read your new coworkers. But Yvette was so obtuse and unable to understand the people around her (a difficult place for a police professional) that at times she was exasperating and unlikeable. I thought perhaps she was on the autism spectrum. Some of her internal dialogue was so clueless and arrogant that at other times I thought she was just a jerk. I've since read that the author has said she identifies with Yvette. Perhaps thats why the series and characters are so nuanced. A wonderful start to the series, and now I can't wait to read more. Well written, deft handling of a large number of characters, each individual and never losing their voice, tight control of all the storylines--I can't praise this book enough. Highly recommended.
Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal Second in the series. Maggie Hope has finished her job with Winston Churchill and tried to join MI5. She's done well with the intellectual part of training but has failed at the physical tests, so she's recruited to go to Windsor Castle under the pretext of teaching young Princess Elizabeth mathematics as there is a suspicion a German spy has infiltrated the king's household. I listened to the audiobook of this title, and confess I was really irritated by the narrator's choice of voice for Maggie. Maggie is British but was raised in America and has an American accent. The narrator gives her a high, little girl voice I found really distracting and iannoying. A couple of the coincidences that the story relies on are visible a mile away, although I appreciated the author trying to grapple with headier aspects of World War II, such as how injured soldiers dealt with what we now call PTSD and conflicting loyalties. I don't like the dark turn the series seems to be making, and the emergence of an unnecessary love triangle detracts from the story on serval levels. Let a woman whose love disappears in action go through the loss and bewilderment--tens of thousands of women experienced that. A far fewer number had their loves turn out to be alive behind enemy lines. The addition of that story line is going to make it hard for the author to keep everything moving smoothly, without a feeling of complete disconnection between plots, in future books. Yes, life was disconnected during World War II, but I don't think the author has the skill to make this work. She may be trying to create a more sophisticated subgenre, but it's not what I look for in a 350-page cosy, historical mystery (and that's how these are marketed). And frankly, I found Princess Elizabeth's relationship with the much older Prince Philip kind of creepy. Enjoyable enough but I suspect this will be my last Maggie Hope novel.
The Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stuart I thought the basis for the story had great promise: Princess Alexandrina is the the daughter of the Maharaja of Prindur, whose principality is now under British rule in India. They have moved to England, where they inhabit a world in between--they are not commoners because they are royalty, but they are foreign and therefore suspicious and unaccepted. However, the execution of the book left me unsatisfied. In this second book in the series, Alexandrina, whose nickname is Mink (why is never explained in the book), is bereft when her father dies unexpectedly and she discovers that he has left massive debts she must pay off. She accepts an invitation from Queen Victoria to live at Hampton Court Palace, rumored to be haunted but inhabited by quirky, decidedly live people--until one is murdered. My dissatisfaction with the book stems largely from Mink just not acting as a Victorian-era princess, even one flat broke and foreign, would. She's very open and friendly with her maid (and really, poor Pooki can singlehandedly run the entire household--cook, maid, lady's maid, washing, scrubbing the house, cleaning Mink's clothes by hand, buying the food, and doing a little investigating?) and with others (She just goes up to the keeper of the maze and interacts so informally and familiarly with him, even going to his house unannounced and sitting down with him for a cup of tea? Really?) in a way that a twenty-first century woman might act, but probably not a twenty-first century princess, much less a Victorian-era princess. And what romance with the doctor is there other than Pooki's pronouncement that Mink is attracted to him? I saw no evidence from Mink's behavior or her thoughts that she was interested in the doctor. I wanted to like the book because of the unusual premise. I didn't.
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman I re-read this favorite for an article I was writing, and was reminded why I find Mrs. Pollifax so endearing. She's not spunky--she's just sensible and active and wants more than life as a widow in suburban New Jersey offers. She's kind and thoughtful and smart, and while maybe a bit naive in this, her first CIA assignment, she's cognizant that there are nuances to spying that she doesn't understand. When faced with grim realities, does what she must to survive, yet remains true to herself. Even though the story (originally published more than 40 years ago) is dated (no cell phones, Communists are the evil enemy, no 24/7 news, no sophisticated digital and electronic spy methods), it was just as enjoyable and gripping as it was when I first read it about 35 years ago. Mrs. Pollifax deserves to be as well known as Miss Marple, Miss Seeton, Miss Silver, and the other elderly female sleuths. Highly recommended
The Templars by Dan Jones Exhaustive history of the Knights Templar--their origin, their history, and their modern legacy. Jones has undertaken extensive research to document the real history of the Knights Templar, the various houses and chapters, and their role in the various Crusades. A very large cast of Templars, kings, and sultans and their exploits and contact and impact on European and Muslim history are recounted. Their rise and downfall, successes and losses, torture and betrayal are presented in almost excruciating detail. Mr. Jones ends the book with a rumination on why the Knight Templars resonate in modern society and appear in so many recent books and movies. The juxtapostion of this book, which included discussion of the expansion of Islam in the Near East and Spain, which I read right after last month's history of Nile exploration and it's brief discussion of expansion of Islam in Africa, was very interesting. Highly recommended for history buffs.
Death on Tuckernuck by Francine Mathews I originally wanted to read this book for several reasons: I've always wanted to visit Cape Cod and Nantucket and the surrounding area; stories near water become very appealing as the hot, dry, desert summer descends on me here at home and my yearly hankering to escape to a lake or ocean overwhelms me; and cheesily, I liked the cover. I loved the book! In fact, I read over half of it in one long reading session because I didn't want to put it down. Very fast paced and well-written, I was swept up into the many storylines of several Nantucket residents facing a Category 3 hurricane bearing down on their island and disrupting their lives, for some of them, permanently. The majority of the book takes place in the 24-hours of the hurricane's direct onslaught, and switches between the viewpoints of 4 or 5 main characters. Generally I am not a fan of multiple POVs, because many authors have trouble juggling several storylines, but Mathews did a superb job of not dropping any of the story lines nor lingering too long on any. Perfect summertime escapism, Maybe not if you're planning a fall vacation on Nantucket, however. Highly recommended.
Fire in the Thatch by E. C. R. Lorac Poisoned Pen Press began publishing a series called British Library Crime Classics, with introductions by Martin Edwards, several years ago. Long out-of-print British mysteries are reintroduced, with gorgeous covers, to an eager audience--I am one of them--that has discovered, through the wonders of the Internet, a number of OOP authors. Fire in the Thatch, originally published in 1946 and taking place just shortly before that date, is a thoroughly wonderful example of the lost mystery gems in the imprint. Fire in the Thatch takes place in Devon, England, where a war hero has rented a ramshackle thatched cottage, located in a remote village, that he intends to restore. A tragic accident follows, an accident that someone believes was not accidental at all, and Scotland Yard is called in. I loved this book! It's superbly well written, with great attention to detail, an atmospheric sense of place and time that made me feel I was there, and believable characters, some nice, some not nice. Ms. St. Cyres, Nicholas Vaughan, Inspector Macdonald, and respectful recreations of charming yet quirky Devon natives were all well drawn. The mystery is intriguing, and carefully spun out so that the reader, if they try, may guess what happened. I am eager to read more by Lorac, and find more new favorite authors through Poisoned Pen's BLCC imprint. Perfect summer reading. Highly recommended.
Still Life by Louise Penny I have heard for years how wonderful the Inspector Gamache series was, so when the first in the series became available at the library, I grabbed it. And it was worth it. Armand Gamache is not flashy, he's not heroic; he's a middle aged, happily married, quiet man who listens and notices. In Still Life, Jane Neal, a nice, quiet woman whom everyone in the village of Three Pines likes, is murdered with an arrow. Why would anyone want to kill someone everyone agrees was a nice person? What is simmering below the convivial relationships between her friends and neighbors? I really liked Gamache, and I really liked his supporting cast, especially Jean Guy Beauvoir, Gamache's partner and second. A divisive character was Yvette Nichol, on her first case with the Inspector. I sympathized because everyone knows what it's like to start a new job, and not know what is expected of you, what to do and when, how to read your new coworkers. But Yvette was so obtuse and unable to understand the people around her (a difficult place for a police professional) that at times she was exasperating and unlikeable. I thought perhaps she was on the autism spectrum. Some of her internal dialogue was so clueless and arrogant that at other times I thought she was just a jerk. I've since read that the author has said she identifies with Yvette. Perhaps thats why the series and characters are so nuanced. A wonderful start to the series, and now I can't wait to read more. Well written, deft handling of a large number of characters, each individual and never losing their voice, tight control of all the storylines--I can't praise this book enough. Highly recommended.
Princess Elizabeth's Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal Second in the series. Maggie Hope has finished her job with Winston Churchill and tried to join MI5. She's done well with the intellectual part of training but has failed at the physical tests, so she's recruited to go to Windsor Castle under the pretext of teaching young Princess Elizabeth mathematics as there is a suspicion a German spy has infiltrated the king's household. I listened to the audiobook of this title, and confess I was really irritated by the narrator's choice of voice for Maggie. Maggie is British but was raised in America and has an American accent. The narrator gives her a high, little girl voice I found really distracting and iannoying. A couple of the coincidences that the story relies on are visible a mile away, although I appreciated the author trying to grapple with headier aspects of World War II, such as how injured soldiers dealt with what we now call PTSD and conflicting loyalties. I don't like the dark turn the series seems to be making, and the emergence of an unnecessary love triangle detracts from the story on serval levels. Let a woman whose love disappears in action go through the loss and bewilderment--tens of thousands of women experienced that. A far fewer number had their loves turn out to be alive behind enemy lines. The addition of that story line is going to make it hard for the author to keep everything moving smoothly, without a feeling of complete disconnection between plots, in future books. Yes, life was disconnected during World War II, but I don't think the author has the skill to make this work. She may be trying to create a more sophisticated subgenre, but it's not what I look for in a 350-page cosy, historical mystery (and that's how these are marketed). And frankly, I found Princess Elizabeth's relationship with the much older Prince Philip kind of creepy. Enjoyable enough but I suspect this will be my last Maggie Hope novel.
The Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stuart I thought the basis for the story had great promise: Princess Alexandrina is the the daughter of the Maharaja of Prindur, whose principality is now under British rule in India. They have moved to England, where they inhabit a world in between--they are not commoners because they are royalty, but they are foreign and therefore suspicious and unaccepted. However, the execution of the book left me unsatisfied. In this second book in the series, Alexandrina, whose nickname is Mink (why is never explained in the book), is bereft when her father dies unexpectedly and she discovers that he has left massive debts she must pay off. She accepts an invitation from Queen Victoria to live at Hampton Court Palace, rumored to be haunted but inhabited by quirky, decidedly live people--until one is murdered. My dissatisfaction with the book stems largely from Mink just not acting as a Victorian-era princess, even one flat broke and foreign, would. She's very open and friendly with her maid (and really, poor Pooki can singlehandedly run the entire household--cook, maid, lady's maid, washing, scrubbing the house, cleaning Mink's clothes by hand, buying the food, and doing a little investigating?) and with others (She just goes up to the keeper of the maze and interacts so informally and familiarly with him, even going to his house unannounced and sitting down with him for a cup of tea? Really?) in a way that a twenty-first century woman might act, but probably not a twenty-first century princess, much less a Victorian-era princess. And what romance with the doctor is there other than Pooki's pronouncement that Mink is attracted to him? I saw no evidence from Mink's behavior or her thoughts that she was interested in the doctor. I wanted to like the book because of the unusual premise. I didn't.
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman I re-read this favorite for an article I was writing, and was reminded why I find Mrs. Pollifax so endearing. She's not spunky--she's just sensible and active and wants more than life as a widow in suburban New Jersey offers. She's kind and thoughtful and smart, and while maybe a bit naive in this, her first CIA assignment, she's cognizant that there are nuances to spying that she doesn't understand. When faced with grim realities, does what she must to survive, yet remains true to herself. Even though the story (originally published more than 40 years ago) is dated (no cell phones, Communists are the evil enemy, no 24/7 news, no sophisticated digital and electronic spy methods), it was just as enjoyable and gripping as it was when I first read it about 35 years ago. Mrs. Pollifax deserves to be as well known as Miss Marple, Miss Seeton, Miss Silver, and the other elderly female sleuths. Highly recommended
The Templars by Dan Jones Exhaustive history of the Knights Templar--their origin, their history, and their modern legacy. Jones has undertaken extensive research to document the real history of the Knights Templar, the various houses and chapters, and their role in the various Crusades. A very large cast of Templars, kings, and sultans and their exploits and contact and impact on European and Muslim history are recounted. Their rise and downfall, successes and losses, torture and betrayal are presented in almost excruciating detail. Mr. Jones ends the book with a rumination on why the Knight Templars resonate in modern society and appear in so many recent books and movies. The juxtapostion of this book, which included discussion of the expansion of Islam in the Near East and Spain, which I read right after last month's history of Nile exploration and it's brief discussion of expansion of Islam in Africa, was very interesting. Highly recommended for history buffs.
Middle Sister's April Reads
April was the month of non-fiction. With COVID-19 stay-at-home directives, a full month of working from home (now in week 8), the inability to go anywhere and do anything outside except walk my dog and weed the garden, you'd think I would have wanted to read cheesy mysteries that would allow me to escape. But no, I had a hankering for non-fiction, with a smidgen of mystery thrown in, and got to travel to Egypt and the upper and lower Nile, and popped all over the world to see what everyne was doing in the year 1000.
Death at the Mariner's Hotel by Betty Rowlands Sukey Reynolds is a brand new police constable in this entry in the series, and she's teamed with someone who consistently treats her as just any other brand new constable (which Sukey doesn't say but her actions and thoughts clearly reveal how much she dislikes this treatment). And she makes some rookie mistakes you'd think a former scene of the crime officer would not. Some of these she gets called out for, but others slip by and for me, anyway, colored my reading of the story--for instance, Sukey allowed the nurse to collect the syringe from Gasspar's hospital room instead of collecting the evidence herself. Naturally my suspicious mind thought "What if the nurse is in cahoots with the killer? Will she turn over the real syringe or substitute another one?" Sukey didn't even go in with her to observe the nurse collecting the evidence for an assault or attempted murder. Very amateur hour for both Sukey and the author. I like this series despite blunders like this. Sukey is usually relatable, her life story and the secondary characters who surround her are believable, and the writing is general is good. If you're looking for a new police procedural (bear above amateurish mistakes in mind) or a series with a fairly strong feminine lead, or just a modern English almost-cozy series, you will like Sukey. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sukey show up as an ITV series someday. Recommended
The Year 1000 by Valerie Hansen Although publication of this book in 2000 would have made more sense, The Year 1000 is an ambitious attempt to demonstrate that the 21st century globalized society we are living in today has very real antecedents in prehistory. Hansen seems surprised by the extent of long-distance interaction in some areas of the globe in the past. She begins with the exploration of North America by the Vikings and proceeds on to long distance trade networks in Central America, the Silk Road, Asia, Africa, and everywhere else where archaeologists have demonstrated extensive trade networks existed. And that's probably why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I expected to: archaeologists have known for decades that prehistoric peoples traded extensively. Would Hansen be surprised to learn that Paleoindians moved obsidian around North America across hundreds and hundreds of miles? Perhaps not globalization in the more capitalistic definition she clearly uses as her basis, but ancient peoples were very much aware of other ancient peoples and societies, even at quite a remove in some cases. This is not new information to students of prehistory, although perhaps to the general public it is. I can't speak to the veracity of her sources, but I do have some particular concerns. I knew one of her sources, the late Mike Coe, personally, and read quite of bit of Mary Miller's published work (I even used one of her books as a supplemental text in a class I taught years ago), and I can assure you that most archaeologists who have worked at or visited Chichen Itza or studied the Maya do not think that the blonde, light-skinned people in the mural in the Temple of the Warriors might be Viking warriors. And she makes similar mistakes in other areas I know very well; for example, she mistakenly calls southwest kivas 'storage rooms.' They are ritual architecture which yes, may have also stored some seed used each year to start the annual planting rituals, but to call them storage rooms misses their main purpose by a mile. She refers to a prolonged period of drought in the Maya area but doesn't tell us what evidence suggests such a drought occurred (I know there are some pollen cores from Lake Peten Itza that suggest that, but there are hundreds of km between the lake and Chichen Itza, the site she's discussing at this point in the book). I don't know enough about the archaeology and prehistory of the rest of the world to feel comfortable voicing some of my issues with her reconstructions, but I found myself scribbling lots of questions marks in the margins. While I really wanted to like the book, because I liked the idea behind it, I hesitate to recommend it. There were just too many question marks in the margins.
The Explorers of the Nile by Tim Jeal Excellent, thorough, and riveting account of the history of European explorations for the source of the Nile, beginning in the mid nineteenth century. This exhaustive history not only delves into the back stories of the famous explorers (Stanley, Livingstone, Burton) but others, not famous, who should be (Speke), but deftly and thoroughly traces their connections to colonialism, the rise of independent states, and modern-day problems and triumphs in 21st-century Africa. I listened to the book, and it was excellently read and produced, but I sorely missed tracing journeys on maps and seeing the faces of the explorers themselves. Strong kudos to Jeal for exhaustively researching his material, including the original sources, many of them unpublished diaries and accounts, that put light to the myths that surround some of the players. In particular, I was amazed to listen to the biographies he was able to piece together about the Africans who served as guides and porters, who carried the expeditions literally on their shoulders, many of whom died for what must have been to them a crazy undertaking. Highly recommended.
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Four years ago I started working in a field where the Meyers-Briggs, Strengthfinders, and other personality trait tests are well known and frequently discussed. When I saw this book, I thought, "Well, tendencies are perhaps not as immutable as personality traits, so let's see how this schema arranges people." And was floored when I recognized almost every single tendency that defines the upholder in myself. The other tendencies are questioners, obligers, and rebels, and while I saw some of me in the questioner and obliger, I have no rebel tendencies at all. Not a surprise to me at all. It was interesting to think of family and friends in light of this framework, but I'm pretty sure I will not actualize her recommendations on dealing with the other tendencies. They should just do it because. Recommended
Death at the Mariner's Hotel by Betty Rowlands Sukey Reynolds is a brand new police constable in this entry in the series, and she's teamed with someone who consistently treats her as just any other brand new constable (which Sukey doesn't say but her actions and thoughts clearly reveal how much she dislikes this treatment). And she makes some rookie mistakes you'd think a former scene of the crime officer would not. Some of these she gets called out for, but others slip by and for me, anyway, colored my reading of the story--for instance, Sukey allowed the nurse to collect the syringe from Gasspar's hospital room instead of collecting the evidence herself. Naturally my suspicious mind thought "What if the nurse is in cahoots with the killer? Will she turn over the real syringe or substitute another one?" Sukey didn't even go in with her to observe the nurse collecting the evidence for an assault or attempted murder. Very amateur hour for both Sukey and the author. I like this series despite blunders like this. Sukey is usually relatable, her life story and the secondary characters who surround her are believable, and the writing is general is good. If you're looking for a new police procedural (bear above amateurish mistakes in mind) or a series with a fairly strong feminine lead, or just a modern English almost-cozy series, you will like Sukey. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sukey show up as an ITV series someday. Recommended
The Year 1000 by Valerie Hansen Although publication of this book in 2000 would have made more sense, The Year 1000 is an ambitious attempt to demonstrate that the 21st century globalized society we are living in today has very real antecedents in prehistory. Hansen seems surprised by the extent of long-distance interaction in some areas of the globe in the past. She begins with the exploration of North America by the Vikings and proceeds on to long distance trade networks in Central America, the Silk Road, Asia, Africa, and everywhere else where archaeologists have demonstrated extensive trade networks existed. And that's probably why I didn't enjoy this book as much as I expected to: archaeologists have known for decades that prehistoric peoples traded extensively. Would Hansen be surprised to learn that Paleoindians moved obsidian around North America across hundreds and hundreds of miles? Perhaps not globalization in the more capitalistic definition she clearly uses as her basis, but ancient peoples were very much aware of other ancient peoples and societies, even at quite a remove in some cases. This is not new information to students of prehistory, although perhaps to the general public it is. I can't speak to the veracity of her sources, but I do have some particular concerns. I knew one of her sources, the late Mike Coe, personally, and read quite of bit of Mary Miller's published work (I even used one of her books as a supplemental text in a class I taught years ago), and I can assure you that most archaeologists who have worked at or visited Chichen Itza or studied the Maya do not think that the blonde, light-skinned people in the mural in the Temple of the Warriors might be Viking warriors. And she makes similar mistakes in other areas I know very well; for example, she mistakenly calls southwest kivas 'storage rooms.' They are ritual architecture which yes, may have also stored some seed used each year to start the annual planting rituals, but to call them storage rooms misses their main purpose by a mile. She refers to a prolonged period of drought in the Maya area but doesn't tell us what evidence suggests such a drought occurred (I know there are some pollen cores from Lake Peten Itza that suggest that, but there are hundreds of km between the lake and Chichen Itza, the site she's discussing at this point in the book). I don't know enough about the archaeology and prehistory of the rest of the world to feel comfortable voicing some of my issues with her reconstructions, but I found myself scribbling lots of questions marks in the margins. While I really wanted to like the book, because I liked the idea behind it, I hesitate to recommend it. There were just too many question marks in the margins.
The Explorers of the Nile by Tim Jeal Excellent, thorough, and riveting account of the history of European explorations for the source of the Nile, beginning in the mid nineteenth century. This exhaustive history not only delves into the back stories of the famous explorers (Stanley, Livingstone, Burton) but others, not famous, who should be (Speke), but deftly and thoroughly traces their connections to colonialism, the rise of independent states, and modern-day problems and triumphs in 21st-century Africa. I listened to the book, and it was excellently read and produced, but I sorely missed tracing journeys on maps and seeing the faces of the explorers themselves. Strong kudos to Jeal for exhaustively researching his material, including the original sources, many of them unpublished diaries and accounts, that put light to the myths that surround some of the players. In particular, I was amazed to listen to the biographies he was able to piece together about the Africans who served as guides and porters, who carried the expeditions literally on their shoulders, many of whom died for what must have been to them a crazy undertaking. Highly recommended.
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin Four years ago I started working in a field where the Meyers-Briggs, Strengthfinders, and other personality trait tests are well known and frequently discussed. When I saw this book, I thought, "Well, tendencies are perhaps not as immutable as personality traits, so let's see how this schema arranges people." And was floored when I recognized almost every single tendency that defines the upholder in myself. The other tendencies are questioners, obligers, and rebels, and while I saw some of me in the questioner and obliger, I have no rebel tendencies at all. Not a surprise to me at all. It was interesting to think of family and friends in light of this framework, but I'm pretty sure I will not actualize her recommendations on dealing with the other tendencies. They should just do it because. Recommended
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Middle Sister's March Reads
March madness usually refers to the college basketball playoffs, but the COVID-19 outbreak has been ongoing for three weeks as I write this. Working from home has cut into my audiobook commuting time, and I'm trying to read some of the teetering piles of magazines all over my house. But I did get some reading done.
In the Hurricane's Eye by Nathaniel Philbrick Somehow it seems appropriate to me to continue reading about the Revolutionary War, the social, political, and economic milieux, the sacrifices made by Americans (of course, they were colonists then) for a greater good they believed it, a greater good that nearly slipped away. The book focuses on Yorktown, and all the events that lead up to this decisive battle. Mr. Philbrick focuses on naval battles, although land battles are detailed, especially those near Yorktown. The author doesn't shy away from the fact that many of the Founding Fathers owned slaves, and some reviewers have opined he spent too much time on this, and presented too unflattering a picture of George Washington, slave owner. But sometimes it is necessary to be reminded that even those who do great good, who make huge sacrifices, are not perfect and may, in fact, have sides to them that are unpleasant to others and to history. Excellent book, well written, well researched, dynamic descriptions of battles, and a very well read audiobook; recommended.
Plum Tea Crazy by Laura Childs Well, Charleston is set to go the way of Cabot Cove--a much higher homicide rate than any very big city, and if you meet Theodosia anywhere, run, run far away. Doesn't matter, I still enjoy this series because I love tea, and am fond of the characters. First, what I didn't like about this entry in the tea shop mystery series: as soon as she encounters the murder victim, Thoe moves the body so she can get a better look at what may have caused the death. What? Have all these murders and talking to Tidwell taught her nothing? It's not like there was any chance the victim was still alive. Nope, it was prurient curiosity. Then, the police just let the witnesses stand there while they removed the body from where it was, and it wouldn't have been pretty. What? Then, in Chapter 6, Theo goes blabbering information that the police hadn't released yet--probably because they were holding that info back. Nice way to ruin the investigation, Theo. And then Theo just ignores the crime scene tape and enters a restricted area, instantly contaminating it. "No matter; Theodosia just ducked underneath." What?? Then new neighbor Alexis shares exactly how much money she made at the grand opening of her shop with Theo. Really? Because a 10-minute conversation instantly makes one privy to that kind of personal info. And telling your new policeman boyfriend Riley that his not sharing police information with you is "just plain silly?" Theo, I'm not liking your attitude at all. You're too good for her, Riley. There were some other annoying scenes and dialogues (cultural appropriation; has the author ever been to a cat show?), but I'm going to stop with BAM BAM BAM! There were at least 3 capitalized banging scenes in the book, and they were to quote Theo, just plain silly. I know, it sounds like I hate the series. I'm picking on it because I don't think these things would have happened in earlier books. Childs is writing so many series now, and publishing them so quickly, that quality and established character traits are falling by the wayside. Charleston and the Indigo Tea Shop are still fun places to visit, but just like visiting family, things start to get on your nerves after a while. Recommended, but this is a weak entry in the series because of these faults.
Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt A mystery with dogs (one a golden retriever) in Paterson, NJ? I had to read it. I love dogs, I have golden retrievers, my grandfather worked in Paterson 90 years ago, I've been to many of the places the author mentions, like Little Falls. This is the first book by Rosenfelt I've read and unfortunately, I won't read another. The first person snark and attitude of the main character just became so repetitive and annoying, and remember, I'm from Jersey. I grew up there. I know Jersey. If this is how he presents us to the outside world, no wonder people make fun of us. I found, after dozens of chapters, a sudden and very short switch in point of view to be very disconcerting. And the blatant 'I'm reading David Rosenfelt, he's a great author' line--didn't come across to me as funny, but self-promoting and today's post's favorite word, annoying. But I'd love to find a fruit stand that has sweet cantaloupes so heavy they set the front seat belt sensor off--that's some melon! Recommended only to his fans and folks who feel they have to read any book about New Jersey
In the Hurricane's Eye by Nathaniel Philbrick Somehow it seems appropriate to me to continue reading about the Revolutionary War, the social, political, and economic milieux, the sacrifices made by Americans (of course, they were colonists then) for a greater good they believed it, a greater good that nearly slipped away. The book focuses on Yorktown, and all the events that lead up to this decisive battle. Mr. Philbrick focuses on naval battles, although land battles are detailed, especially those near Yorktown. The author doesn't shy away from the fact that many of the Founding Fathers owned slaves, and some reviewers have opined he spent too much time on this, and presented too unflattering a picture of George Washington, slave owner. But sometimes it is necessary to be reminded that even those who do great good, who make huge sacrifices, are not perfect and may, in fact, have sides to them that are unpleasant to others and to history. Excellent book, well written, well researched, dynamic descriptions of battles, and a very well read audiobook; recommended.
Plum Tea Crazy by Laura Childs Well, Charleston is set to go the way of Cabot Cove--a much higher homicide rate than any very big city, and if you meet Theodosia anywhere, run, run far away. Doesn't matter, I still enjoy this series because I love tea, and am fond of the characters. First, what I didn't like about this entry in the tea shop mystery series: as soon as she encounters the murder victim, Thoe moves the body so she can get a better look at what may have caused the death. What? Have all these murders and talking to Tidwell taught her nothing? It's not like there was any chance the victim was still alive. Nope, it was prurient curiosity. Then, the police just let the witnesses stand there while they removed the body from where it was, and it wouldn't have been pretty. What? Then, in Chapter 6, Theo goes blabbering information that the police hadn't released yet--probably because they were holding that info back. Nice way to ruin the investigation, Theo. And then Theo just ignores the crime scene tape and enters a restricted area, instantly contaminating it. "No matter; Theodosia just ducked underneath." What?? Then new neighbor Alexis shares exactly how much money she made at the grand opening of her shop with Theo. Really? Because a 10-minute conversation instantly makes one privy to that kind of personal info. And telling your new policeman boyfriend Riley that his not sharing police information with you is "just plain silly?" Theo, I'm not liking your attitude at all. You're too good for her, Riley. There were some other annoying scenes and dialogues (cultural appropriation; has the author ever been to a cat show?), but I'm going to stop with BAM BAM BAM! There were at least 3 capitalized banging scenes in the book, and they were to quote Theo, just plain silly. I know, it sounds like I hate the series. I'm picking on it because I don't think these things would have happened in earlier books. Childs is writing so many series now, and publishing them so quickly, that quality and established character traits are falling by the wayside. Charleston and the Indigo Tea Shop are still fun places to visit, but just like visiting family, things start to get on your nerves after a while. Recommended, but this is a weak entry in the series because of these faults.
Dachshund Through the Snow by David Rosenfelt A mystery with dogs (one a golden retriever) in Paterson, NJ? I had to read it. I love dogs, I have golden retrievers, my grandfather worked in Paterson 90 years ago, I've been to many of the places the author mentions, like Little Falls. This is the first book by Rosenfelt I've read and unfortunately, I won't read another. The first person snark and attitude of the main character just became so repetitive and annoying, and remember, I'm from Jersey. I grew up there. I know Jersey. If this is how he presents us to the outside world, no wonder people make fun of us. I found, after dozens of chapters, a sudden and very short switch in point of view to be very disconcerting. And the blatant 'I'm reading David Rosenfelt, he's a great author' line--didn't come across to me as funny, but self-promoting and today's post's favorite word, annoying. But I'd love to find a fruit stand that has sweet cantaloupes so heavy they set the front seat belt sensor off--that's some melon! Recommended only to his fans and folks who feel they have to read any book about New Jersey
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Middle Sister's February Reads
Short month (Leap Day notwithstanding), short list of books.
Shawls, Wraps, and Scarves by Louisa Harding Prominent knitwear designer Louise Harding, who also makes lovely yarn, has a new book of shawls and neckwear, and I love it. There are at least 5 shawls and 3 scarves that I want to make from this lovely compilation of new patterns. Well illustrated with dreamy photos, I will admit I was surprised that no charts were included. I can only follow simple charts myself, so I was pleased that the patterns were written out, but I would have expected to see both. Lovers of knit shawls and laceweight yarn, who dream of wafting through a beautiful countryside (yup, I live in a dry, brown desert, really) will enjoy the book. Recommended.
Molded 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton Of course I had to read this book--it takes place in Sun City, Arizona. The senior community lifestyle, real towns like Punkin Center, and a fair pace characterize the book (even though she calls Payson a city and there's no way that Payson could be called a city, with its population of 15,000; and I don't think there are Joshua trees anywhere near Payson.). The main character, Sophie Kimball, is someone I should like (in her forties, caring for a strong-willed and independent mother), I suspected right away that I wouldn't like her as much as I should when we are introduced to her as Phee. Yup, everyone calls her Phee. But I didn't like it, in fact, it irritated me to no end. As soon as Phee starts helping her investigator boyfriend and investigator boss look into the murder of an octogenarian, she and her mother come up with "a theory I was sure the deputies as well as Nate and Marshall hadn't considered." I truly hate it when the amateur detective thinks the police or professionals are stupid, I really do. That attitude makes me hate the amateur detective in their smugness. Also lazy is making up a patently ridiculous reason to get the amateur involved in the case; Nate and Marshall are asked by the Sheriff's Department to interview residents of the senior community because they are understaffed. I hope no one at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department reads this book; what a slam to them (and having the sheriff's department not conduct a thorough search of the victim's apartment is just silly). Eaton's and therefore Phee's disrespect of crime-fighting professionals is clear in this sentence: "As for the forensic lab at the sheriff's department, the'd take their own sweet time [processing samples from the crime scene]." Nope, they'd be professional and process things as they came in. The entire story was convoluted and unbelievable. Skip this series. Not recommended.
Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff Excellently written and meticulously researched recounting of the crash of three planes in Greenland during World War II and the heroic attempts to rescue the trapped airmen. Zuckoff mirrors this with a modern-day search to find one of the crashed planes, now buried under dozens of feet of ice. He becomes a character in his own when he invests his own money in the search for the Coast Guard plane. Although I read his previous book, this one I listened to, read by the author, and he does a great job. Riveting, exciting, and so far the best book I've read this year. (And imagine my delight: after 'meeting' Bernt Balchen in this book, I encountered him in the the very next book I read, by Bill Bryson--but that's for next month). Highly recommended.
Shawls, Wraps, and Scarves by Louisa Harding Prominent knitwear designer Louise Harding, who also makes lovely yarn, has a new book of shawls and neckwear, and I love it. There are at least 5 shawls and 3 scarves that I want to make from this lovely compilation of new patterns. Well illustrated with dreamy photos, I will admit I was surprised that no charts were included. I can only follow simple charts myself, so I was pleased that the patterns were written out, but I would have expected to see both. Lovers of knit shawls and laceweight yarn, who dream of wafting through a beautiful countryside (yup, I live in a dry, brown desert, really) will enjoy the book. Recommended.
Molded 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton Of course I had to read this book--it takes place in Sun City, Arizona. The senior community lifestyle, real towns like Punkin Center, and a fair pace characterize the book (even though she calls Payson a city and there's no way that Payson could be called a city, with its population of 15,000; and I don't think there are Joshua trees anywhere near Payson.). The main character, Sophie Kimball, is someone I should like (in her forties, caring for a strong-willed and independent mother), I suspected right away that I wouldn't like her as much as I should when we are introduced to her as Phee. Yup, everyone calls her Phee. But I didn't like it, in fact, it irritated me to no end. As soon as Phee starts helping her investigator boyfriend and investigator boss look into the murder of an octogenarian, she and her mother come up with "a theory I was sure the deputies as well as Nate and Marshall hadn't considered." I truly hate it when the amateur detective thinks the police or professionals are stupid, I really do. That attitude makes me hate the amateur detective in their smugness. Also lazy is making up a patently ridiculous reason to get the amateur involved in the case; Nate and Marshall are asked by the Sheriff's Department to interview residents of the senior community because they are understaffed. I hope no one at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department reads this book; what a slam to them (and having the sheriff's department not conduct a thorough search of the victim's apartment is just silly). Eaton's and therefore Phee's disrespect of crime-fighting professionals is clear in this sentence: "As for the forensic lab at the sheriff's department, the'd take their own sweet time [processing samples from the crime scene]." Nope, they'd be professional and process things as they came in. The entire story was convoluted and unbelievable. Skip this series. Not recommended.
Frozen in Time by Mitchell Zuckoff Excellently written and meticulously researched recounting of the crash of three planes in Greenland during World War II and the heroic attempts to rescue the trapped airmen. Zuckoff mirrors this with a modern-day search to find one of the crashed planes, now buried under dozens of feet of ice. He becomes a character in his own when he invests his own money in the search for the Coast Guard plane. Although I read his previous book, this one I listened to, read by the author, and he does a great job. Riveting, exciting, and so far the best book I've read this year. (And imagine my delight: after 'meeting' Bernt Balchen in this book, I encountered him in the the very next book I read, by Bill Bryson--but that's for next month). Highly recommended.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Middle Sister's January 2020 Reads
Happy New Year! Jan. 12 will be 10 years since BookTeaCatDog was begun!! I may be the only sister left still posting (I hope I can get the others back one day), but I have enjoyed the blog tremendously, exploring themes through my monthly reading, finding new authors, revisiting old favorites. Here's to another 10 years!
I'm hoping to get more reading done this year. Last year's total was 48 books. I am not sure I can ever reach one book a week (until I retire, that is). There was a lot of reading in hospital visits and listening to books in transit to these hospital visits that I won't do this year (I hope and pray), so no holding me to that unofficial goal. And now, on to the books which began 2020.
I'm hoping to get more reading done this year. Last year's total was 48 books. I am not sure I can ever reach one book a week (until I retire, that is). There was a lot of reading in hospital visits and listening to books in transit to these hospital visits that I won't do this year (I hope and pray), so no holding me to that unofficial goal. And now, on to the books which began 2020.
Borrower of the Night by Barbara Michaels Barbara Michaels and her other persona, Elizabeth Peters, is/are one of my favorite authors, and I've read just about everything she's written. Her older audio books are being re-released, and so I've had the pleasure of listening to several. Borrower introduces Vicky Bliss, historian, who appears in several light-hearted novels. Vicky predates Amelia Peabody, and is Ms. Michaels' first attempts at combining humor with her trademark romance and mystery. There are no light Gothic elements in the Vicky Bliss books, another trademark of Ms. Michaels' stand alones. We meet Vicky in all her amazonian, blonde, intellectual glory here, and she's strong and slightly sarcastic and searching for a religious wooden sculpture in Bavaria. If you haven't met Vicky Bliss yet, I recommend starting with Borrower. They do build slightly on each other, but each is a hilarious romp on their own. Great audio reading by Barbara Rosenblatt, but it is not a re-reading of the book, just a digital version of the much older cassette tapes. Highly Recommended.
'Round the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne Read for my book group. I've seen the classic David Niven movie several times, so I was curious when my book group offered this as a January choice, to see how well the movie tracked the book. Very well indeed. Yes, the book overtly smacks of colonialism in parts, but it's not nearly as bad as other books of its era. We had read War of the Worlds a few years ago, and the contrast with 'Round the World was startling: industrial and technological progress are celebrated here, while War argues that our technology won't save us and offers a far darker and scarier journey. It has made me curious to research where Verne was in his life when he wrote these two novels, and what was happening personally and in society at large that resulted in two such different books. Recommended.
The Brothers of Baker Street by Michael Robertson I'd not read the first book in the series, The Baker Street Letters, but was intrigued by the idea: two barrister brothers rent space in Baker Street, London, and start receiving mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes. London's famous Black Cab drivers are ready to revolt, as one of their own has been charged with the murder of a fare (which they staunchly insist their code of honour would never allow), and the city's transportation authorities are weighing whether to require all cabs, including the Black Cabs, to use satellite navigation systems. Reggie defends the accused cabbie, and in the midst of that case receives a letter from someone claiming to be the descendent of Professor Moriarty, Holmes' nemesis. Reggie's unrequited love interest, Laura, is becoming more seriously involved with Lord Buxton, whose newspaper is making Reggie's professional life a disaster with its scandalous headlines. I enjoyed the book, and despite what seemed like a couple of coincidences too many, the mystery as well. I will have to track down the first book to read the brothers' backstory. Recommended.
The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett Last year, I watched the movie and read the book for several pairings. Nick and Nora Charles as played by William Powell and Myrna Loy are always a delight to watch, and I've seen the movie several times, so when I had the chance to read the book, I was intrigued. In this case, Hollywood did a number on the original, carving out huge swaths of the story that would never have made it past the censors of the time, and also condensing the story to fit within a less-than-two-hour timeframe. The women in the book were all very shallow and silly and less than one dimension, if that's even possible; Hammett clearly wrote for men. Nick and Nora are far more engaging and equal in the movie than in the book. Perhaps most shockingly, Asta is a female in the book! I don't think the book has aged very well, but it considered a classic, so the mystery lover in me is glad I've read it. And I'll never read it again. Though I will watch Nick and Nora and delight in ditzier Hollywood version of the story.
Women in Aviation by Julian Hale Much too short a recitation of some of the famous names in British aviation history. Mr. Hale summarizes the lives of a dozen or so female aviation pioneers with less detail than, and with writing as dry as, a Wikipedia entry. The photos were great, but I'd have liked much more detail on the women, their adventures, and what happened to them after they gave up flying. As a primer to the topic, it's useful, but the lack of research makes this a lackluster history. NetGalley
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Middle Sister's December Reads
December was a great month for books, both read and listened to, and, of course, I tried to read some holiday books. Because murder is best when it's fraught with holiday family tension and indulgent food.
Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves The fifth Jake Tiptree mystery, originally published in 2001. The book starts off with a bit of a bang--Jake and Ellie find Faye Anne's kitchen, and FayeAnne herself, covered in blood, but the mystery, and the murder, are not that simple. There's only a smattering of house improvement asides in this novel, which is good (after all, you can't do much housework during the winter in Maine). The story does show a little of its age (with references to early cell phones), there were parts that disappointed me, and it was easy to figure out the whodunnit, but the depiction of hard-working people in Maine, the winter storm, the fear when a boat goes missing are all well done.
Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie Originally published in 1938, Hercule Poirot is enjoying a holiday dinner when he is drawn into the murder of a family patriarch, who thought summoning all his far-flung children home for the holidays would be a good idea. Gentle reader, we know that never is. The wonderful thing about re-reading old favorites at my age is that I don't remember the plots anymore, so hooray, it was a murderous visit with a familiar detective friend.
The Anatomist's Apprentice by Tessa Harris This was my first Thomas Silkstone mystery. Set in 1780 England, Thomas is an American surgeon who is fascinated by, and a student of, anatomy at a time when medicine's understanding of the human body was minimal. I enjoyed the mystery, although I think it was a little long in the middle, and while there were a few twists that surprised me, I did guess the ending. That did not take away from my enjoyment of the book at all, however. The physical descriptions were detailed and sometimes a little gross, so readers with sensitive stomachs, beware, and the romance I found a little implausible. At times I found myself yelling "Don't do it! Don't do it!" so a modern reader may feel a little superior. I enjoyed the book despite the rotting bodies and will definitely read further in the series.
The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories by Martin Edwards A collection of golden age novellas with a Christmas theme republished by British Library Crime Classics. A gunshot at a holiday party, a perfect jewel heist, a train stranded by a blizzard--all were well written, atmospheric, and very enjoyable. I'm so happy with this British Library Crime Classics line; it has introduced me to several authors who should never have been forgotten and who I am so glad I was able to read in this volume edited by Martin Edwards, such as Donald Stuart, John Bingham, and Selwyn Jepson. The perfect short story collection for a brief respite during the holiday madness, best enjoyed with a cup of tea.
A Christmas Visitor by Anne Perry Henry Rathbone goes to visit the home of his goddaughter for Christmas, only to be informed that her husband has died. Henry does not think his death was natural, and he sets out to understand why Judah was out walking in the dark, cold, wet night in which he died. Judah's family had been threatened by a claimant to their estate with whom Judah had a dark history, and his vitriol is just the most obvious threat and the most obvious suspect Henry must investigate.
High Stakes by Dick Francis I've never read a Dick Francis novel, and I know there are a lot of them, so in my search for new series to follow, I thought I'd give him a try despite my complete lack of interest in horse racing. I'm happy to report that although there is a lot of horse and horse racing talk, they don't dominate the book. Originally published in 1975, the book unfortunately does have some passages that don't age well (pardon my paraphrase, but our main character really does muse to himself that "You could always tell a virgin by her eyes..."--!). The story itself is ingenious and it was fast-paced, but I wonder how popular the series would be if it was starting now. The plights of very well-to-do race horse owners in a time when horse racing has dropped precipitously in popularity would not not make them the best sellers I remember they were when I worked in the bookstore all those years ago.
What I Lick Before Your Face by Jamie Coleman Beautiful, heartstring-tugging photos of dogs, haiku dedicated to the dog's perspective--what's not to love? Some of these were hilarious, and I read a few out loud to the vet tech while my dog was having an acupuncture treatment. She and I both laughed. Dudley would not let on if they were accurate portrayals of the dog's perspective. A great gift for the dog lover in your life.
Classic Krakauer by Jon Krakauer Wonderful compilation of magazine articles published over the past 20 or 25 years. The variety of subjects are strung together by the taut and yes, almost lyrical writing of Krakauer, although some also share a tragedy, as you'd expect of him. The book is a wonderful example of his clear and pristine writing.
Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves The fifth Jake Tiptree mystery, originally published in 2001. The book starts off with a bit of a bang--Jake and Ellie find Faye Anne's kitchen, and FayeAnne herself, covered in blood, but the mystery, and the murder, are not that simple. There's only a smattering of house improvement asides in this novel, which is good (after all, you can't do much housework during the winter in Maine). The story does show a little of its age (with references to early cell phones), there were parts that disappointed me, and it was easy to figure out the whodunnit, but the depiction of hard-working people in Maine, the winter storm, the fear when a boat goes missing are all well done.
Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie Originally published in 1938, Hercule Poirot is enjoying a holiday dinner when he is drawn into the murder of a family patriarch, who thought summoning all his far-flung children home for the holidays would be a good idea. Gentle reader, we know that never is. The wonderful thing about re-reading old favorites at my age is that I don't remember the plots anymore, so hooray, it was a murderous visit with a familiar detective friend.
The Anatomist's Apprentice by Tessa Harris This was my first Thomas Silkstone mystery. Set in 1780 England, Thomas is an American surgeon who is fascinated by, and a student of, anatomy at a time when medicine's understanding of the human body was minimal. I enjoyed the mystery, although I think it was a little long in the middle, and while there were a few twists that surprised me, I did guess the ending. That did not take away from my enjoyment of the book at all, however. The physical descriptions were detailed and sometimes a little gross, so readers with sensitive stomachs, beware, and the romance I found a little implausible. At times I found myself yelling "Don't do it! Don't do it!" so a modern reader may feel a little superior. I enjoyed the book despite the rotting bodies and will definitely read further in the series.
The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories by Martin Edwards A collection of golden age novellas with a Christmas theme republished by British Library Crime Classics. A gunshot at a holiday party, a perfect jewel heist, a train stranded by a blizzard--all were well written, atmospheric, and very enjoyable. I'm so happy with this British Library Crime Classics line; it has introduced me to several authors who should never have been forgotten and who I am so glad I was able to read in this volume edited by Martin Edwards, such as Donald Stuart, John Bingham, and Selwyn Jepson. The perfect short story collection for a brief respite during the holiday madness, best enjoyed with a cup of tea.
A Christmas Visitor by Anne Perry Henry Rathbone goes to visit the home of his goddaughter for Christmas, only to be informed that her husband has died. Henry does not think his death was natural, and he sets out to understand why Judah was out walking in the dark, cold, wet night in which he died. Judah's family had been threatened by a claimant to their estate with whom Judah had a dark history, and his vitriol is just the most obvious threat and the most obvious suspect Henry must investigate.
High Stakes by Dick Francis I've never read a Dick Francis novel, and I know there are a lot of them, so in my search for new series to follow, I thought I'd give him a try despite my complete lack of interest in horse racing. I'm happy to report that although there is a lot of horse and horse racing talk, they don't dominate the book. Originally published in 1975, the book unfortunately does have some passages that don't age well (pardon my paraphrase, but our main character really does muse to himself that "You could always tell a virgin by her eyes..."--!). The story itself is ingenious and it was fast-paced, but I wonder how popular the series would be if it was starting now. The plights of very well-to-do race horse owners in a time when horse racing has dropped precipitously in popularity would not not make them the best sellers I remember they were when I worked in the bookstore all those years ago.
What I Lick Before Your Face by Jamie Coleman Beautiful, heartstring-tugging photos of dogs, haiku dedicated to the dog's perspective--what's not to love? Some of these were hilarious, and I read a few out loud to the vet tech while my dog was having an acupuncture treatment. She and I both laughed. Dudley would not let on if they were accurate portrayals of the dog's perspective. A great gift for the dog lover in your life.
Classic Krakauer by Jon Krakauer Wonderful compilation of magazine articles published over the past 20 or 25 years. The variety of subjects are strung together by the taut and yes, almost lyrical writing of Krakauer, although some also share a tragedy, as you'd expect of him. The book is a wonderful example of his clear and pristine writing.
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