PGMCC explores the Biblioverse in 2026: instalment Four

Books completed in 2026

Title; Author; Start/end date; Number of pages
The Green Man's Holiday by Juliet E. McKenna, 29/12/2025 - 01/01/2026, 322 Pages
Christmas Ghost Stories edited by A. R. Wells 04/01/2026 - 14/01/2026 249 Pages
Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard 25/12/2025 - 12/01/2026 297 Pages
Tradecraft: Writers on John Le Carré edited by Federico Varese 09/01/2026 - 172 Pages
The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg 15/01/2026 - 06/02/2026 267 Pages
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson 20/01/2026 - 27/01/2026 526 Pages
Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett 26/01/2026 - 31/01/2026 288 Pages
Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson 03/02/2026 - 22/02/2026 454 Pages
Everyone this Christmas has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson 16/02/2026- 20/02/2026 240 Pages
The Immaculate Deception by Ian Pears 23/02/2026 - 26/02/2026 213 Pages
When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson 27/02/2026 - 06/03/2026 497 Pages
A Flutter of Wings by Mervyn Wall 27/02/2026 - 219 Pages
All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles 03/03/2026 - 10/03/20/2026 352 Pages
The Riverside Villas Murder by Kingsley Amis 10/03/2026 - 12/03/2026 224 Pages
Big Steal by Caimh McDonnell 16/03/2026 - 23/03/2026 348 Pages
Outline by Rachel Cusk 13/03/2026 - 15/03/2026 258 Pages
Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkins 25/03/2026 - 04/04/2026 480 Pages
Christine Falls by Benjamin Black/John Banville 03/04/2026 - 09/04/2026 400 Pages 54% DNF
Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope ? - 608 Pages
Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie 10/04/2026 - 17/04/2026 160 Pages
Trip to the Moon: Understanding the True Power of Story by John Yorke 11/04/2026 - 01/05/2026 466 Pages
This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum 03/05/2026 - 07/05/2026 369 Pages
Solace House by Will Maclean 10/05/2026 - 26/05/2026 565 Pages
A Night of Strange Dreams by SF Russell 01/05/2026 - 06/05/2026 ? Pages
Platform Decay by Martha Wells 26/05/2026 - ? Pages
The Castle of Ollada by Francis Lathom 29/05/2026 - 31/05/2026 192 Pages
Compulsory by Martha Wells 02/06/2026 - 02/06/2026 8 Pages
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré 03/05/2026 - 09/06/2026 416 Pages
The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji 08/06/2026 - 13/06/2026. 286 Pages
Sufferance by Charles Palliser 13/06/2026 - 17/06/2026 204 Pages
Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis 18/06/2026 - 22/06/2026 327 Pages
Beasts with Five Fingers: Strange Tales of Disembodied Hands by Brian J. Showers (Ed.) 18/06/2026 - 282 Pages
Big Sky by Kate Atkinson 23/06/2026 - 28/06/2026 476 Pages
Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson 29/06/2026 - 04/07/2026 346 Pages
The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty 05/07/2026 - 481 Pages

This is the second year in a row I have discovered a new Fred Vargas murder mystery that is not yet available in English. Of course I had to grab it and bring it home. I have just added it to my catalogue and apropos a discussion on @jillmwo's thread it is the 3,007th book added to my library.

It translates, according to my best Goodlese, to "A Single Glow/Light/Glimmer". (Now I understand the difficulties of translation.)

I am late in producing a review of S. F. Russell's excellent collection of stories to keep you awake at night, A Night of Strange Dreams. I recommend this to anyone interested in tales of the weird and spooky.

>3 pgmcc: I am very happy to see that you liked it. Yay :)

And happy new thread!

>3 pgmcc: A lot of potential there, I'd say!

>4 Alexandra_book_life:
I thought it excellent. The writing was very good. The stories varied. He obviously knows a lot about working in an office environment, supply chain management, and pest control.

One of the things that struck me was the diversity of sub-genres in the collection. This made it a wonderful collection to read as one was not reading the same story over and over again. It is not a collection that would be difficult to read in one sitting. I did it in two and was still hungry for more.

>5 Alexandra_book_life: Thank you.

>6 clamairy:
Yes indeed. I was impressed.

Happy new thread!

>8 pgmcc: Impressed and relieved! LOL

Happy new thread!

>3 pgmcc: Happy new thread!

This review has me intrigued.

Happy new thread!

Thank you all for your happy new thread messages.

I finished reading The Castle of Ollada yesterday and this morning I started reading Venus of Empire a biography of Pauline Bonepart, Napolean’s sister. The author is Flora Fraser, an English biographer.

The Castle of Ollada was very interesting, a Gothic story with an Agatha Christie style denouement.

>14 pgmcc: Getting to Castle soon, but I have three book groups in the next 9 days and I can't quite squeeze in a fourth title, given the pressure of finishing Death of an Author, Dead in the Frame, and the final 150 pages of Pride and Pleasure. Meanwhile, if I haven't already wished you a happy new thread (and it appears I haven't), please accept my warmest wishes for many new and exciting reading experiences and lots of good conversation.

>15 jillmwo:
Merci beaucoup , madame.

Today we visited the Chateau de Chambord. This chateau always reminds me of Ghromenghast, especially when I am on its rooftop level.

.

>17 pgmcc: Just lovely!
Hey, doesn't my favorite black raspberry liqueur come from that area? I guess you are not allowed to partake of that anymore either. :o(

Chambord also has dragons and a pair of helix staircases.

>19 clamairy:
Hmmmmm! Raspberries are good for me. I may have to do a little more research. :-)

While I am a keen enthusiast of John Le Carré's work I have to confess, that while I have read most of his novels I have not, until now, read the Karla trilogy. My introduction to Le Carré was the Alec Guinness series of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a series I have watched many times and will watch many more times. Between this series and the sequel, Smiley's People, the stories of the three novels, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley's People were covered, so I knew what the stories were and never got around to reading the books. To day I took steps to remedy that situation and have started reading Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

>22 clamairy:
Nice looking bottle. Thank you for setting me on the path of alcoholic stupor.

>17 pgmcc: oh wow! I can definitely see the Gormenghast in it!

>17 pgmcc: Is it my imagination or does the Chateaux lack seating? A table or two outside, but not inside? Hard on the tourists, even if one assumes they're gazing in rapt amazement. (I would certainly be in awe.)

>17 pgmcc: >18 pgmcc: >20 pgmcc: Great pictures, thank you! Did you procure a dragon?

>23 pgmcc: That book came up on Jeopardy tonight and it reminded me that I need to pick that one up.

>25 Tane:
I have been there about six times and love it. Once I get to the roof level the Gormenghast feel just gets stronger and stronger. Every turn you take reveals another awe inspiring roofscape.

>17 pgmcc:
There is some seating inside but not a lot. My wife had to sit down a few times as we ascended Leonardo’s spiral staircase. We found benches at each floor level.

>27 Karlstar:
Unfortunately I did not. I did considered it but failed to take the fatal step.

I have enjoyed all the Le Carré novels I have read and am enjoying this one.

>17 pgmcc: What an amazing piece of architecture! I am currently reading Titus Groan and have just reached the part where Steerpike has escaped lock-up and is now wandering the extensive rooftops of Gormenghast. Your photos look very much as I have been picturing the roofscape in my mind while reading this section of the book.

>17 pgmcc: Oh wow! That is a gorgeous building!

>29 ScoLgo:
That is the exact part of the book that I am reminded of when I go to Chambord. I really enjoyed that second book in the trilogy.

>30 catzteach:
Isn’t it just.

>17 pgmcc: Oh my! I can totally envision this as Gormenghast!

What an intriguing place.

>29 ScoLgo: Exactly! The rooftop is part of the story! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Should your heading at the top say 2026?

>33 Meredy:
Your question confused me until I realised you were referring to the top of >1 pgmcc: rather than the top of the thread.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Have you recovered from your massive Russian read?

>32 terriks:
I am tempted to start a reread. It is the first story that taught me the importance and power of characterisation. I was absolutely in love with the way teachers in the second book were described and portrayed. The doctor was another well loved character.

>35 pgmcc: Funny you should say that. I never finished the trilogy: Titus Alone is still unread and waiting on the shelves. We moved across country just when I finished Gormenghast and I had very little reading time for awhile.

By the time we were all settled in (including all books unpacked and bookcases in order), I had the thought it would be more rewarding to start over again.

(I agree with you about the teachers in book 2. And of course, the doctor. Just amazing characters and beautiful prose. I also freely admit that part of my foot-dragging is knowing that when it's over, it's all done - there will be no more from this gifted writer.)

You know, all this conversation about Mervyn Peake made me look him up in Wikipedia. (My immediate question was whether or not he had spent much time in France. Insofar as I can tell, he did not.)

However, when you read about his experiences in World War II (under the subhead of Enlistment), your heart just goes out to the man. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mervyn_Peake

>36 terriks:
I understand that Peake's illness affected him while writing Titua Alone and it is not as good a read as the first two.

>37 jillmwo:
I wondered if he had ever seen Chambord or a picture of it. I could see it triggering someone's imagination to write something about a big castle with a fairtale rooftop.

He did work, live and write on The Channel Islands for a while. The Channel Islands are just off the French coast, but when he was living there it would still have been a couple of days travel for him to get to Chambord if he managed to get to the French coast.

ETA: I see he did get to France in 1945.

Today is Fred Vargas’s birthday. She is the author of the murder mysteries I enjoy.

>38 pgmcc: "I understand that Peake's illness affected him while writing Titua Alone and it is not as good a read as the first two."

I've read this, as well. Yet another reason not to rush it. The whole thing (his illness, the decline) is heartbreaking. Still.... what a talent!

>17 pgmcc: Beautiful! Thank you for taking me there.

>40 terriks:
I read Titus Alone and felt I was reading it more for completeness rather than total enjoyment. There was a spark missing that was present in the first two volumes. I am glad I read it and will read it as part of any reread, but I did find it a bit sad seeing how Peake’s illness had affected his reading.

>41 Alexandra_book_life:
It was my pleasure to share these photographs. I am delighted that people like them. Chambord is quite a magical place.

I have just finished Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. A fascinating read. Quite a strange read as I was very familiar with the story from having watched the screen adaptations so many times. It was interesting to compare how the story had been amended in the making of the McGuinness series and the Oldman film version. Little changes of order or putting one book character’s words in a different scene. Nothing that changed the core story or disturbed the atmosphere.

Starting to read The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji and translated by Ho-Ling Wong.

>44 pgmcc: That one has an excellent set-up. I'll look forward to how you rate the resolution.

>45 jillmwo:
I was thinking of you as I picked it up and started to read it. You can interpret that in many different ways. :-)

>46 pgmcc: You can interpret that in many different ways

I shall spend time this afternoon, wondering whether I've been skewered in some fashion. (BTW, note that once again, I've had to correct your spelling. You were missing the letter "y" in ways...)

>47 jillmwo:
Thank you for your correction.

To save you stress you can rest assured the reason for my thinking of you was not your penchant for poisons, nor any thoughts on my part of doing you any harm. It was merely that you had mentioned this book when I posted that I had just acquired copies of two other novels by this author. As it happened I had already taken possession of this title some time ago.

I agree with your comments about the set-up. Quite “meta” in a way.

I am obviously a hybrid reader with regards technology. While reading my physical copy of The Labyrinth House Murders I tapped the right hand side of page 63 and was surprised it did not move on to page 64.

By the way, I am enjoying the book so far. As with every Japanese book it takes care to get familiar with the names. There is a useful list of characters at the start of the book and the characters are introduced at a nice pace.

The first death has occurred.

>49 pgmcc: I don't read paper enough to have had that tapping experience, but I have heard many people say they have done the same. You are not alone!

>49 pgmcc: and >50 clamairy:. You know, quite seriously, some of that tapping is perhaps unthinkingly automatic, but I wonder if it also doesn't have something to do with the size or binding of the print copy that you're reading. If both hands have to work to hold or handle a large or heavy hardback, I don't think the tapping would be as frequent an impulse.

>50 clamairy: & >51 jillmwo:
Previously I have glanced at the top of a physical book page to see what time it was.

>49 pgmcc: You are not alone :D

>53 Alexandra_book_life:
It is comforting to know I am not the only lunatic in the asylum. Bwahahahah…

I just finished The Labyrinth House Murders and have comments to make. They will have to wait. I am bring beckoned to go grocery shopping.

>

My review is attached to this post. I do, however, have a few other comments about this book.

I would rather people not read the rest of this post until having read the book as spoilers are clearly mentioned.

Things I was not happy with and that I think justify the claim that the author was being less than fair to the reader.

I suspected the murderer was someone who knew the house well. That led me to believe it was either Miyagaki Yotaro or his secretary, Ino Mitsuo. When it was mentioned that Samejima Tomoo had spent a summer in the house I thought they would be familiar with the house and any secret passages.

Not having read the Decagon House Murders I was not familiar with Shimada Kiyoshi as the detective who would be solving the murder and did think they could possibly be the murderer, especially as he had become a friend of Miyagaki by some means that was never clearly defined.

I felt it obvious that there some some form of secret passages in the house given its peculiar design and the nature of the architect and also the interests of the owner who commissioned its construction. This was hinted at a few times in the story, but it still felt a little like a bending, if not cracking, of the rules of fair play in a murder mystery novel. I was kicking myself when the mirrors were revealed as the entrances to the tunnels as they were mentioned every time a new room was described. I should have cottoned on to that right away.

An unacknowledged relationship was at the heart of the final solution to the crime and this could only have been inferred when one had already taken a leap of imagination and jumped over the key hidden secret in the story, i.e. that Samejima Tomoo was a woman. I did fall into the author’s trap and thought this character was a man. The author was very skilful in how they hid this fact in full sight.

The resolution of the identification of the murderer as a woman was at fault. First off, using Samejima’s period as a point in the story was a bit off, but secondly, if they had already killed Suzaki by strangling him then his heart would have stopped pumping and chopping off his head would not result in the massive outpouring of blood described and which was necessary to cover the evidence.

>45 jillmwo:
My views on the resolution are in post >56 pgmcc: and are behind a spoiler mask. i suspect you might agree with me on some of the points I raise. Either that or you will totally dismiss my views as those of a crazy man lounging in the 31C heat beside a body of water in central France. By the way, lunch today was a break from French cuisine; I had sushi. I still had some red wine. I am not a great fan of Saki.

>57 pgmcc: I agree with your assessment of The Labyrinth House. I think I may also have given it 3 and 1/2 stars. (OTOH, in my controversial view, sushi is apt to kill you and I would counsel against it. Fish should be cooked.)

>58 jillmwo:
One has to live dangerously to enjoy the excitement of the moment. Also, it is so delicious.

We have a rodent infestation at our secret base.

This evening I am starting to read Sufferance by Charles Palliser. I have read several of Palliser's books and enjoyed them all. I was of the mistaken belief that the author had passed and about a year ago realised he was still with us and that there were some of his works I have not read. This is one of those works.

>61 pgmcc: What a happy surprise, am I right?

>58 jillmwo: I'm with Peter. Some fish is much more delicatable when it's raw, especially when washed down with the alcohol of your choice. I mostly drink sake with my sushi, but I've been known to enjoy some good plum wine with it as well.

>62 clamairy: and >57 pgmcc: Well, now I shall be worrying about the two of you all the time. "Honestly, officer, it wasn't me that mishandled the fish. I warned them both that eating sushi would lead to no good end."

>60 pgmcc: Honestly, that looks like Topo Gigo to me. But he was Italian, wasn't he? What name does the mouse have there in France. (I don't mean the noun for mouse in French; I mean what's the name of that particular character....)

>62 clamairy:
You are correct. I am on page 53 and am enjoying the story. It is about a family that takes in a girl whose parents are away and she has been left in the very wealthy family home with a servant to look after her. This is during a time when the country has been invaded by an enemy and laws are being introduced regarding the community the girl belongs to. It does not mention the obvious allusion by name but it is clear what is happening in the country. The story is told from the viewpoint of the father of the family that has taken the girl in. He starts the book by saying he wants to tell how taking the girl into their home led to terrible consequences.

Regarding sushi, I only had regular wine to wash down my meal. That did not diminish my enjoyment.

>63 jillmwo:
Your concern is considered most caring. You are totally blameless regarding any disasters we suffer from eating sushi. You can totally state without fear of contradiction, "I told them. I told them. I told them. I did not sit there doing nothing. I told them."

The village authorities call him "Max". He attracts many young children for photographs and he leads some of the younger children's assualt course training activities.

>58 jillmwo: I'm also on the 'fish should be cooked' team. My sister the hospital lab manager mutters about parasites and worms every time the topic of raw fish comes up.

>66 Karlstar: Thank you for your support. It is good to know I am not alone.

>49 pgmcc:, >50 clamairy: I normally read physical books, but I've relied heavily on my Paperwhite this year. The other day, I attempted to turn a page instead of tapping it. Muscle memory is funny.

I've also been known to highlight words on a physical book's page in an attempt to bring up the definition. :)

>68 libraryperilous:
I feel I have found my tribe.

I finished reading Sufferance by Charles Palliser today. It was an engrossing read and I felt challenged when I finished it.

>49 pgmcc:,>50 clamairy: , >68 libraryperilous: I have been known to tap my work laptop screen, especially if I’ve been on my iPad right before using it.

>71 catzteach:
You have reminded me of a session I attended back in the days when touch screen iPads had arrived and there were some children’s games on them. The session was presented by a high ranking IBM manager on a visit from the USA who was talking about technological progress. He told the story of his having a big screen TV installed. (In those days a 45 inch screen would be considered a big screen TV). His five year old grandson visited the house and the proud owner of the new electronic wonder wanted to show off his new toy to his grandson. He switched on the TV and brought up a children’s programme. His grandson approached the screen, ran his fingertips across the screen and declared, “It doesn’t work!”

I have started reading Spitting Gold, a BB from @catzteach. It is proving engrossing. The characters are solid and the story rolls along nicely.

By the way, Grace Curtis's latest novel, Heaven's Graveyard, has arrived on my kindle. I really enjoyed her Floating Hotel. I expect great things.

>74 pgmcc: I am very very curious to see what you will think of it! (Fingers crossed, too.)

>75 Alexandra_book_life:
So am I. I intended reading it today but by accident I started reading Spitting Gold. The two of them were side by side on my Kindle. I was half way through chapter one when I realised I was reading a different book. :-) I am injoying Spitting Gold. It is very well written and I am liking the characters.

>76 pgmcc: Started reading a book by accident? I want to do this too, it sounds fun :) I am glad you are enjoying your accidental book.

>72 pgmcc: Haha! It’s like those cartoon drawing where the adult is telling the child that a physical book is like a tablet but you don’t run out of battery. :)

>73 pgmcc: I’m so glad you are enjoying Spitting Gold!

>74 pgmcc: I have Floating Hotel on my Kindle. Got it after you mentioned it. Haven’t read it, though. Can’t wait to see what you think of her latest. The next BB maybe?

>77 Alexandra_book_life:
My accidental read was excellent.

>78 catzteach:
Thank you so much for firing this BB at me. It is a great read. She had me guessing what was going to happen right up to the end.

A review will follow, but for now I am saying I really enjoyed Spitting Gold, a BB from @catzteach, to whom I am very grateful.

>81 pgmcc: So glad you liked it! That cover is different than the cover of the book I read. I love your description of it.

Peter, I hope you are staying cool during the heatwave in France. London is unbearable but it's even hotter where you are.

>81 pgmcc:. I truly, truly do not need to add another title to my TBR list. Just sayin'. OTOH, I feel I might need to evaluate this one for inclusion.

>82 catzteach:
It was a treat to read. I loved the way it was crafted and executed.

>83 Sakerfalcon:
43 in the shade on our veranda. We get out in the morning to get bread etc., then stay in the air con reading (and dozing off). I am delighted at the opportunity to read more. All-in-all we are doing fine, thank you for asking. We do not have to go out and work all day. You look after yourself. We can choose to not go out. You still have to commute in that heat. Keep well.

>84 jillmwo:
As you would say, Bwahahahahahahah…

I have started reading Big Sky by Kate Atkinson. It is the fifth Jackson Brodie novel leaving me only Death at the Sign of the Rook to read in the series. Then I will be watching for a seventh story to be published.

>86 pgmcc: I hope you enjoy it! I have my fingers crossed that she keeps going.

>87 clamairy:
As do I.

>88 pgmcc: >87 clamairy: As do I! I'm deliberately dragging my feet on this series because I don't want to see the end coming closer.

>85 pgmcc:. I'm glad you're coping so nicely during this heat wave. Hopefully it will break soon - all of Europe seems trapped under this heat dome.

>81 pgmcc: Great review! I don’t need another book on my TBR pile either, but can't seem to dodge these BBs.

>82 catzteach: Your aim widened with this one! ;)

>82 catzteach:
It was a kindle version I read. I think the cover that came through on my kindle was different from the one on screen when I ordered it. Ebooks can be so fickle. :-)

I am glad you like my description.

>90 pgmcc: That happens. I will buy a book for Kindle and then not open it for a few years, and the cover that shows up on my Kindle is sometimes different from the one it had when I bought it.

>82 catzteach: >90 pgmcc: >91 clamairy:. I believe that the current strategy in trade publishing is different covers for different geographic regions on initial release date and then new covers for subsequent use in backlist promotion in an online environment or for paperback release. Let's continue to keep those book designers actively employed! (I don't want to fuel the ugly or bizarre covers thread more than absolutely necessary.)

>92 jillmwo: I believe that the current strategy in trade publishing is different covers for different geographic regions on initial release date
There are times when I've gone out of my way to acquire the US edition because I prefer that cover to the UK one.

People here will understand that it is my mission in life to acquire books, to save them from their retail prisions of course. Well, that being the case you will be deligthed to know I save two books, on today and the other yesterday.

While browsing the books in the Auchan supermarket in Blois (I am always on the look out for distressed books pleading to be rescued) I came across a book by Evelyn Clarke entitled, "Une histoire qui finit mal". This translates to English as, "A Story that Ends Badly". I was immediately intrigued. Reading the French summary I could understand that it was a book I needed to rescue. However, my French is not fully up to the speed I would require it to be if I was to read this book any time soon. So, I ordered the English versionn on Kindle. My only slight disappointment is that the title of the English version is The Ending Writes Itself. I think "A Story the Ends Badly" is a much more interesting and intriguing title.

Today I was notified of a delivery at my home. It is Shannon Chakrabory's The Tapestry of Fate.

>94 pgmcc: Well, I am so glad to know such charitable efforts as these are continuing. A warehouse is a terrible housing for a sweet and innocent volume. Did the Chakraborty book arrive at your "home" home or there at the French chateau? (Translation: How soon are you apt to be able to begin reading it?)

>94 pgmcc: Rescuing books is a noble thing. I applaud your efforts!

>94 pgmcc: It's a tough job, but someone (many of us, I think) need to do it! I hope you are staying cool and enjoying all of the book piles!

>95 jillmwo:
It is in Dublin. I will be there tomorrow week, 4th. I will report for you when I get it read.

>96 Alexandra_book_life:
I try my best.

>97 clamairy:
I struggle on.
:-)

>94 pgmcc: Congrats on your new acquisitions!

>94 pgmcc: The new book looks lovely!

>94 pgmcc: Your personal book-saving mission is understood and applauded, Monsieur!

>101 Karlstar:
Thank you.

>102 catzteach:
I does. I am looking forward to reading it.

>103 terriks:
I do my little best.

Our heat wave has ended with a big storm and plenty of rain. Now enjoying low 20s instead of mid-40s.

>105 pgmcc: It must feel great! Enjoy!

>106 terriks:
It does. We had a very pleasant meeting with friends at the local tabac this morning. Six of us sitting under a large parasol sipping coffee and eating croissants. This afternoon my wife and I visited a local winery to get six bottles of a lovely wine that a local restauranteur introduced us to. It is very nice. We might even indulge in a glass or two this evening with dinner.

Reading Update:

I have finished Big Sky by Kate Atkinson. (Touchstones insist on linking to The Big Sky by A. B. Guthrie, Jr. rather than the correct book.) This is the fifth novel in her Jackson Brodie series and I will be providing a review shortly. Enough for me to say that I enjoyed it and am keen to read the sixth book in the series. Sorry that it is the last one so far. Hopefully Atkinson will continue writing these books.

I have started reading Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson. His first two books were very funny. The third one was good but not as good as the first two. Hopefully this one, his fourth, will be a return to form.

>107 pgmcc: Better weather, friends, wine, good books. This is wonderful :)

>108 Alexandra_book_life:
It don't get much better than this!

>105 pgmcc: Oh good, glad to hear it! How did you manage to send the hot weather here?

>111 Karlstar:
Thank you. It is quite a relief.

Regarding how we sent it you, well, the process is classified but I can tell you it involved bottling the sunshine and transporting the bottles to a secret location in the Mid-West where they were smashed to the sound of kettle drums imitating rumbling thunder.

>111 Karlstar: and >112 pgmcc:. No. Do neither of you keep up with events on General Hospital? All of this is undoubtedly due to the global weather machine that is controlled by the evil (if swooney) criminal mastermind, Stefano.

>110 pgmcc: So glad you enjoyed the Atkinson. The series is a blast. Not quite Pratchett funny, but then it is slightly more realistic.

>113 jillmwo:
I have to say that had escaped me.

>114 clamairy:
I really enjoy the humour. It is so pinpoint accurate.

>107 pgmcc: I am looking forward to getting into the Jackson Brodie series.

How is the latest Stevenson book? I was supposed to go see him a few months ago, but life had other plans and I was unable to attend.

>116 catzteach:
I remember your commenting at the time of your planned attendance at his event. I have just finished his forward and chapter one. It is hard to be definitive about it yet. He is setting it up and obviously trying to bamboozle the reading. We shall see how it goes.

>110 pgmcc: Oh, yay! I'm happy to read another rave review for the Jackson Brodie series. It adds to my anticipation.

I think a lot of us are hoping she might yet have a few more to tell.

>107 pgmcc: This sounds more like it! Coffee and croissants, then making a wine purchase.

I love it when an ordered bottle ends up being something special, and it's not hard to find. Over the years my husband and I have had many wonderful conversations about wines from various restaurant staff. When you buy it later, it only adds to the nice memory of the restaurant and its people. Just another aspect of our appreciation of wine, food, and travel. :)

>113 jillmwo: *chortle*

>112 pgmcc: I have to remember that process the next time we need it here, or in my game world, either one. Because everything is music related - was Katrina or the Waves involved?

>113 jillmwo: I was not aware I needed to keep up with that source of information. Is that the one that Rick Springfield used to be on?

@catzteach, I am sitting in the garden reading Everyone in this Bank is a Thief and am laughing out loud. I think that is the reassurance you were hoping for.
:-)

>120 Karlstar: Apparently so. I had to check Wikipedia and one or two other sources before I believed it. (Please note I literally have not watched a soap since the '70's. When I made the cultural reference to the weather machine and the evil Stefano, I had in mind the movie Legally Blonde when Elle Woods makes a video as part of her application to Harvard Law.)

>121 pgmcc:. That's an excellent indicator.

>122 jillmwo: I guess I dredged that tidbit of trivia out of my brain somehow. I only know him from his music career.

>121 pgmcc: Very much, yes. :)

>120 Karlstar: and >122 jillmwo: I was a teenager in the 80s and faithfully watch General Hospital in the summertimes. I wonder if it’s still on.

>124 catzteach: I believe it is still on the air.

>124 catzteach: I watched it in the late 70s during the Luke & Laura phase. We would gather in the lounge of my college dorm to watch when we could.

There is a new tax being implemented tomorrow, 1st July in the EU. Any item under €150 value arriving into the EU from a non-EU country has to date been exempt of any additional duties other than VAT (Value Added Tax; similar to US Sales Tax). From 1st July iach item will be charged €3 plus VAT. This is to combat cheap imports such as fast fashion items that are non-sustainable from an environmental viewpoint, and also to even up the level of competition experienced by local producers and suppliers. I see this as a good thing for local bookshops. It will bring the on-line prices closer to the local shop prices and give the local shops a boost.

It also means that anyone in Ireland buying goods on Amazon UK will be charged an extra €3 per item plus VAT. This will help more than just the local book shops. We shall see how this all works. It makes it easier for someone to avoid supporting Amazon.

>127 pgmcc: The cheap goods thing is a real problem. Some of the clothing items are so bad they are practically disposable. I hope the new tax helps as expected.

>128 clamairy:
It is causing significant waste problems throughout the world. People have been ordering multiple items and sending back the ones they do not like. That is an ecological disaster in itself. Now the extra charge can hopefully make people think about what they are buying. Also, if they return something the €3 charge is not refundable. I see some readjustment happening around on-line commerce.

One loophole has been pointed out but I am not sure if it is real or not. It has been suggested that the big organisations, particularly those selling loads of cheap clothes items, will amalgamate their orders and import them to the EU under the normal charges for high value shipments and then disassemble the load and distribute the smaller parcels from within the EU thereby bypassing the €3 charge on the end customer. If this is the case then the charge will hit small enterprises supplying items to the EU. I can only hope that the legislation has been constructed to close this loophole.

>129 pgmcc: Yes, I hope they manage to keep that loophole closed!

I finished Everyone in This Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson.

We are home safe and sound, and The Tapestry of Fate has fallen into my grubby little hands. I hope to start it tomorrow so that I can report back my experiences with this book.

>132 pgmcc: Glad you made it home safely - and a new book, to boot! Good times. :)

>132 pgmcc: Good news all around :)

I have started reading The Tapestry of Fate. I will be reading it carefully as it is a nice hardback edition, so no reading it in bed or at the breakfast table where it might get food or drink on it. The dust-jacket is stored away carefully to keep it clean.

Today was a special day for me. I got to meet up with my best friend from college, someone I have not met face-to-face in about twenty years and who I had lost contact with in recent years.. He and his wife are holidaying in Ireland and we managed to meet them for lunch. It was a very special moment. I just had to share this.

>136 pgmcc: Now, that's the kind of warm fuzzy story that we like. Reconnecting is important.

>136 pgmcc: I'm glad you were able to reconnect and meet.

>136 pgmcc: Oh, how wonderful! I am very happy for you :)

>136 pgmcc: This is wonderful to hear! It's so good to be able to meet up with old friends, especially after losing touch.

>136 pgmcc: That's lovely :) I'm very happy for you.

>137 jillmwo: >138 Karlstar: >139 Alexandra_book_life: >140 Sakerfalcon: >141 Narilka:

Thank you, all. It was great to see my friend and his wife after so long.

>136 pgmcc: That sounds wonderful. I'm so happy you were able to reconnect.