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1tututhefirst
Well the first quarter was amazing...I managed to finish 53 books--a few clunkers, several really outstanding ones, and a pile of just plain good reads. I'm not sure I'll be continuing at such a blistering pace this quarter, but the old thread was so long, I decided to start a new one for the spring time and 2nd quarter.
The old thread is here with the list of those 52 in the first message. I will be doing the same thing on this thread started with #54.
The old thread is here with the list of those 52 in the first message. I will be doing the same thing on this thread started with #54.
2alcottacre
Welcome to the 2nd quarter! Found you again.
3tututhefirst
Here are the 2nd quarter books finished:
85. Death and Judgment by Donna Leon
84. Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
83. I don't want to join a bookclub by Virginia Ironside
82. A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams
81. Burma Chronicles by Guy DeLisle
80. The Executor by Jesse Kellerman
79. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
78. The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser
77. To Darkness and To Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming
76. The Help by Kathleen Stockett
75. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen
74. The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry
73. The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky
72. On Hallowed Ground by Robert Poole
71. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
70. An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor
69. Sixteen Pleasures by Robert Hellenga
68. Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
67. West with the Night by Beryl Markham
66. Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier
65. "U" is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
64. Brunetti's Cookbook by Roberta Pianaro
63. Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon
62. Blunt Darts by Jeremiah Healy
61. Talking about Detective Fiction by P.D. James
60. Churchillby Paul Johnson
59. Miss Julia Delivers the Goods by Ann B. Ross
58. James Madison: The Founding Father by Robert Allen Rutland
57. An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor
56. Dressed for Death by Donna Leon
55. Man from Saigon by Marti Leimbach
54. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.
53. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.
85. Death and Judgment by Donna Leon
84. Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
83. I don't want to join a bookclub by Virginia Ironside
82. A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams
81. Burma Chronicles by Guy DeLisle
80. The Executor by Jesse Kellerman
79. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
78. The Lumby Lines by Gail Fraser
77. To Darkness and To Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming
76. The Help by Kathleen Stockett
75. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen
74. The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry
73. The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky
72. On Hallowed Ground by Robert Poole
71. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
70. An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor
69. Sixteen Pleasures by Robert Hellenga
68. Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
67. West with the Night by Beryl Markham
66. Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier
65. "U" is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
64. Brunetti's Cookbook by Roberta Pianaro
63. Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon
62. Blunt Darts by Jeremiah Healy
61. Talking about Detective Fiction by P.D. James
60. Churchillby Paul Johnson
59. Miss Julia Delivers the Goods by Ann B. Ross
58. James Madison: The Founding Father by Robert Allen Rutland
57. An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor
56. Dressed for Death by Donna Leon
55. Man from Saigon by Marti Leimbach
54. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.
53. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.
4suslyn
LOL happens to me everytime! So when I start a new thread I immediately reserve all the threads (post msgs) at the top before she can find me :)
Glad to be here with you again.
Glad to be here with you again.
5tututhefirst
53 Cutting for Stone
Author: Abraham Verghese
Format: audio 18 discs (approx 24 hrs), 688 pages trade paperback
Narrator: Sunil Malhotra
Characters: Marion and Shiva Stone
Subject: practice of medicine
Setting: Addis Ababa Ethiopia, New York
Genre: fictional narrative memoir
Source: audio: Public library; print - my own copy
Challenge: Books from my shelves, TBR, audio, support your local library
I can't believe it took me three tries to read this book. Late last autumn, I began listening to the audio, but found it difficult going. It wasn't the accent of the narrator---I found that charming and easy to understand. It wasn't the writing--that was clear and moved along at a good clip. It just seemed that the story didn't hold my interest, and it seemed like it was going to be exceptionally long. Then I got the print copy from the library, and tried reading it. Again, I found myself unable to get past the first 100 or so pages. So I put it aside, vowing to try again later.
Two weeks ago I noticed one of our local libraries was having a group discussion of this next week, so I thought perhaps having some other insights might help me get through it. I dutifully began listening to the audio again thinking I'd be able to pick up where I left off, but found I had to go back to the beginning. (At least, thought I, even if I can't finish it again, I'll be able to participate in some of the chat.)
This time however, after one hour, I was so hooked, I went to Amazon and ordered myself a copy to come next day air. I finished it four days later, having both listened and then re-read the text. I did not want it to end.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Cutting with Stoneis a superbly written, beautifully narrated story of the lives of Marion and Shiva Stone, born identical conjoined twins in a hospital in Ethopia; they were separated at birth. Their mother, who died giving birth, was an Indian Carmelite nun who worked as a surgical nurse at the hospital where they were born. Their father, an Indian born Englishman, Thomas Stone, was the hospital's only surgeon who botched the C-section he was called to perform because the obstetrician was out of town. Dad disappears hours after the birth, unable to deal with a pregnancy he claimed to know nothing about and the death of his beloved Sister Mary Joseph Praise.
The orphaned twins were adopted and raised by two doctors at the hospital, Hema (the obstetrician) and Ghosh (the internist turned surgeon). There was an entire staff of surrogate parents to help in raising the boys. Medicine and its practice, including surgery was normal dinner conversation in the household. It was small wonder both grew to become doctors.
We are involved in the coups and political unrest in Ethiopia during the second half of the 20th century including the arrest and imprisonment of Ghosh, and the twins' later dealings with a rogue army bandit who threatens to kill them; we watch as the humble hospital in Addis Ababa continues to care for a diverse group of patrons, from the emperor's family to the poorest of the poor, with little funding and often crudely fashioned homemade instruments. We are given broad but specific (and sometimes gory) details of medical procedures in language the layman can understand, even though the amount of detail sometimes slows down the story. We watch as the boys mature, learn to dance, quote Shakespeare, and learn the art as well as the science of medicine from their parents. We see one of them fall hopelessly in love and then see one betray the other.
When Marion leaves to go to America, we are made brutally aware of the differences in medical practice in the two countries. It's not that the two countries have doctors of different abilities making the difference, rather it is the difference in resources and expectations that is vibrantly portrayed. Marion's residency in surgery at a hospital in New York eventually brings him face to face with his biological father and ultimately leads to history making and life changing experiences for all the family.
This book is long. It is 18 discs on audio (almost 24 hours of extremely well narrated story read by Sunil Malhotra) and 688 pages in print. It is difficult to do it justice in a review because, although written as a fictional narrative memoir, it is a novel with a spectacular ending that deserves not to be spoiled.
Forget about my abortive initial attempts (blame it on the weather or something) it is a story that is engrossing, exciting, appealing, easy to read and extremely difficult to put down. It is also one that I will want to read again and again. In both its print and its audio versions it is a story not soon to be forgotten. It is simply one of the best books I've ever read.
Author: Abraham Verghese
Format: audio 18 discs (approx 24 hrs), 688 pages trade paperback
Narrator: Sunil Malhotra
Characters: Marion and Shiva Stone
Subject: practice of medicine
Setting: Addis Ababa Ethiopia, New York
Genre: fictional narrative memoir
Source: audio: Public library; print - my own copy
Challenge: Books from my shelves, TBR, audio, support your local library
I can't believe it took me three tries to read this book. Late last autumn, I began listening to the audio, but found it difficult going. It wasn't the accent of the narrator---I found that charming and easy to understand. It wasn't the writing--that was clear and moved along at a good clip. It just seemed that the story didn't hold my interest, and it seemed like it was going to be exceptionally long. Then I got the print copy from the library, and tried reading it. Again, I found myself unable to get past the first 100 or so pages. So I put it aside, vowing to try again later.
Two weeks ago I noticed one of our local libraries was having a group discussion of this next week, so I thought perhaps having some other insights might help me get through it. I dutifully began listening to the audio again thinking I'd be able to pick up where I left off, but found I had to go back to the beginning. (At least, thought I, even if I can't finish it again, I'll be able to participate in some of the chat.)
This time however, after one hour, I was so hooked, I went to Amazon and ordered myself a copy to come next day air. I finished it four days later, having both listened and then re-read the text. I did not want it to end.
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Cutting with Stoneis a superbly written, beautifully narrated story of the lives of Marion and Shiva Stone, born identical conjoined twins in a hospital in Ethopia; they were separated at birth. Their mother, who died giving birth, was an Indian Carmelite nun who worked as a surgical nurse at the hospital where they were born. Their father, an Indian born Englishman, Thomas Stone, was the hospital's only surgeon who botched the C-section he was called to perform because the obstetrician was out of town. Dad disappears hours after the birth, unable to deal with a pregnancy he claimed to know nothing about and the death of his beloved Sister Mary Joseph Praise.
The orphaned twins were adopted and raised by two doctors at the hospital, Hema (the obstetrician) and Ghosh (the internist turned surgeon). There was an entire staff of surrogate parents to help in raising the boys. Medicine and its practice, including surgery was normal dinner conversation in the household. It was small wonder both grew to become doctors.
We are involved in the coups and political unrest in Ethiopia during the second half of the 20th century including the arrest and imprisonment of Ghosh, and the twins' later dealings with a rogue army bandit who threatens to kill them; we watch as the humble hospital in Addis Ababa continues to care for a diverse group of patrons, from the emperor's family to the poorest of the poor, with little funding and often crudely fashioned homemade instruments. We are given broad but specific (and sometimes gory) details of medical procedures in language the layman can understand, even though the amount of detail sometimes slows down the story. We watch as the boys mature, learn to dance, quote Shakespeare, and learn the art as well as the science of medicine from their parents. We see one of them fall hopelessly in love and then see one betray the other.
When Marion leaves to go to America, we are made brutally aware of the differences in medical practice in the two countries. It's not that the two countries have doctors of different abilities making the difference, rather it is the difference in resources and expectations that is vibrantly portrayed. Marion's residency in surgery at a hospital in New York eventually brings him face to face with his biological father and ultimately leads to history making and life changing experiences for all the family.
This book is long. It is 18 discs on audio (almost 24 hours of extremely well narrated story read by Sunil Malhotra) and 688 pages in print. It is difficult to do it justice in a review because, although written as a fictional narrative memoir, it is a novel with a spectacular ending that deserves not to be spoiled.
Forget about my abortive initial attempts (blame it on the weather or something) it is a story that is engrossing, exciting, appealing, easy to read and extremely difficult to put down. It is also one that I will want to read again and again. In both its print and its audio versions it is a story not soon to be forgotten. It is simply one of the best books I've ever read.
6tututhefirst
54 Wolf Hall
Author: Hilary Mantel
Format: 560 pages , audio 18 discs (approx 24 hrs)
Characters: Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII, Ann Boleyn, Cardinal Woolsey
Subject: Thomas Cromwell
Setting: England 1529-1534
Genre: historical fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Support your public library, Audio books
The title of this Man Booker Prize book is a bit misleading. Wolf Hall is the home of the Seymour family, and while they were quite influential in Henry VIII's reign, I don't remember even one scene being set there. Nor was the book about the Seymours. This is the story of Thomas Cromwell, beginning with his abused childhood, through his vagabond but experience-rich youth when he traveled far from England throughout Europe, fighting for the French, learning several languages, and honing his intellectual and accounting skills. It concentrates on the years 1529 through 1534 (about the end of the Boleyn reign.)
After his return to England, Cromwell lands a position in the employ of Cardinal Woolsey. Although he remained loyal and grateful to Woolsey, he managed to distance himself from Woolsey's troubles with Henry by keeping his religious convictions very private--in fact, one is left somewhat unsure even at the end as to what were Cromwell's true beliefs about organized religion. In the meantime, he (Cromwell) is diligent about employing and training young, bright, under-advantaged youths to carry on his work.
Before reading this, I did not have many preconceptions of what made Thomas Cromwell tick. Mantel does a superb job of providing us background for his actions, his motivations and his relationships with some of the most powerful people of the era. His relationship with Thomas More is presented as sympathetic, although I felt an almost repugnance for the More portrayed here. Ann Boleyn also comes off rather negatively, but it is fascinating to see Mantel showing us Ann B and Cromwell using each other to get where they wanted to go. And of course, there is his relationship with Henry himself. Mantel's Cromwell seems to be able to tell H the VIII the blunt truth with considerable impunity, and thus is often recruited by other nobles to be the bearer of not good tidings.
Finally, I was enthralled by the portrayal of Ann's sister Mary Boleyn. Was she gullible, vulnerable and used? Or conniving, sly, and manipulating?
This book is long, but written to move right along. I listened to the audio version which was exceptionally well done by Simon Slater. It is a book where it is sometimes difficult to tell who is actually speaking, and Slater's intonation certainly helps sort that out. The descriptions of living conditions, dress, manners, and customs are all richly elaborated, and Mantel uses just enough vernacular to make it truly authentic without making it difficult to follow. 5 Stars.
Author: Hilary MantelFormat: 560 pages , audio 18 discs (approx 24 hrs)
Characters: Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII, Ann Boleyn, Cardinal Woolsey
Subject: Thomas Cromwell
Setting: England 1529-1534
Genre: historical fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Support your public library, Audio books
The title of this Man Booker Prize book is a bit misleading. Wolf Hall is the home of the Seymour family, and while they were quite influential in Henry VIII's reign, I don't remember even one scene being set there. Nor was the book about the Seymours. This is the story of Thomas Cromwell, beginning with his abused childhood, through his vagabond but experience-rich youth when he traveled far from England throughout Europe, fighting for the French, learning several languages, and honing his intellectual and accounting skills. It concentrates on the years 1529 through 1534 (about the end of the Boleyn reign.)
After his return to England, Cromwell lands a position in the employ of Cardinal Woolsey. Although he remained loyal and grateful to Woolsey, he managed to distance himself from Woolsey's troubles with Henry by keeping his religious convictions very private--in fact, one is left somewhat unsure even at the end as to what were Cromwell's true beliefs about organized religion. In the meantime, he (Cromwell) is diligent about employing and training young, bright, under-advantaged youths to carry on his work.
Before reading this, I did not have many preconceptions of what made Thomas Cromwell tick. Mantel does a superb job of providing us background for his actions, his motivations and his relationships with some of the most powerful people of the era. His relationship with Thomas More is presented as sympathetic, although I felt an almost repugnance for the More portrayed here. Ann Boleyn also comes off rather negatively, but it is fascinating to see Mantel showing us Ann B and Cromwell using each other to get where they wanted to go. And of course, there is his relationship with Henry himself. Mantel's Cromwell seems to be able to tell H the VIII the blunt truth with considerable impunity, and thus is often recruited by other nobles to be the bearer of not good tidings.
Finally, I was enthralled by the portrayal of Ann's sister Mary Boleyn. Was she gullible, vulnerable and used? Or conniving, sly, and manipulating?
This book is long, but written to move right along. I listened to the audio version which was exceptionally well done by Simon Slater. It is a book where it is sometimes difficult to tell who is actually speaking, and Slater's intonation certainly helps sort that out. The descriptions of living conditions, dress, manners, and customs are all richly elaborated, and Mantel uses just enough vernacular to make it truly authentic without making it difficult to follow. 5 Stars.
7alcottacre
#5: Still waiting for the copy I have on hold at the local library.
#6: I am reading that one this month for the TIOLI challenge. I hope I like it as much as everyone else seems to have done.
#6: I am reading that one this month for the TIOLI challenge. I hope I like it as much as everyone else seems to have done.
8souloftherose
Some great reviews! I have added Cutting for Stone to the wishlist, hoping to read Wolf Hall this month.
10sjmccreary
I already have both these books on my wishlist - so glad to see that you enjoyed them. Thanks for the first rate reviews.
11bonniebooks
You're not the first person who didn't like the beginning of Cutting for Stone but then went on to love/like the story. I've just read the first couple of chapters (in the bookstore) and loved it, so I'm thinking I'll be equally enamored with it. Just waiting in line at the library! :-)
12cameling
Well this has given me some hope .... I started reading Cutting for Stone a few weeks ago and gave it up. After your review, I think maybe I should give it another shot.
13tututhefirst
Please---- all of you struggling to read Cutting for Stone - don't give up. I cannot for the life of me figure out why I didn't like it at first, but once it clicked, it was off to the races...If you're an audio book person, listening really helped with the cadence of the dialogue, the unfamiliar terms, and the POV.
Please try again.
Please try again.
14porch_reader
Wow! You've started out April with two of my favorite reads from last year. Great reviews!
16lindapanzo
Fifty-three books in the first quarter is amazing.
I've definitely got to get to Cutting for Stone soon.
I've definitely got to get to Cutting for Stone soon.
17richardderus
Hi Tina...Cutting for Stone is a group read at the local public library...they had to cancel the group meeting because the readers weren't into it, in March, and today I just saw a new date for the group meeting with a little handwritten note in the corner: "See? We told you!"
I was hugely amused.
I was hugely amused.
18tututhefirst
Richard...thanks for the feedback. We had a group discussion earlier this week, and I found it fascinating how 10 different people all came away with different perspectives. Vive La Difference! The most fascinating was the concept that Cutting for Stone was a book about mothers!!! That one I didn't pick up on at all....fathers? yes. Mothers? no.
While mothers certainly played enormous roles in the story, I never got the impression that the book was about them, or their role as mamas. We also spent a chunk of time trying to decide how and why the author came up with the title, and when you're thumbing through 688 pages, looking for one little sentence that one person remembers, that can be frustrating.
Another thing I'll add to the discussion, is that I was the only one who had both read and listened to the book. As I listened to my fellow readers stumbling over place names, people names, and even phrases, I realized how enriched I was by having listened to a good narrator give me the correct pronunciations, inflections, emphasis, and cadence. It really added to the experience of the book. I had that same experience with Alexander McCall Smith's No 1 Ladies' Dectective Agency series---I couldn't read it until I had heard those place and people names, and gotten the cadence of the conversation into my brain.
Anyway, hope you read/listen to the book, join the discussion. As one of the comments on my blog post said: "Verghese is my new gold standard of fiction." Not sure if I'd go quite that far, but he'd sure be on the top 10 list.
While mothers certainly played enormous roles in the story, I never got the impression that the book was about them, or their role as mamas. We also spent a chunk of time trying to decide how and why the author came up with the title, and when you're thumbing through 688 pages, looking for one little sentence that one person remembers, that can be frustrating.
Another thing I'll add to the discussion, is that I was the only one who had both read and listened to the book. As I listened to my fellow readers stumbling over place names, people names, and even phrases, I realized how enriched I was by having listened to a good narrator give me the correct pronunciations, inflections, emphasis, and cadence. It really added to the experience of the book. I had that same experience with Alexander McCall Smith's No 1 Ladies' Dectective Agency series---I couldn't read it until I had heard those place and people names, and gotten the cadence of the conversation into my brain.
Anyway, hope you read/listen to the book, join the discussion. As one of the comments on my blog post said: "Verghese is my new gold standard of fiction." Not sure if I'd go quite that far, but he'd sure be on the top 10 list.
19richardderus
I had never considered that use of audiobooks! I can see that it would make any reader more comfortable with weird and unfamiliar place names to have someone pronounce them for you.
HIGH praise for Verghese! Gold standard --or-- top ten, that's some very exalted territory. I doubt I'll put in another long read soon, though the book is steadily mounting the TBR Tower.
HIGH praise for Verghese! Gold standard --or-- top ten, that's some very exalted territory. I doubt I'll put in another long read soon, though the book is steadily mounting the TBR Tower.
20tututhefirst
55 Man from Saigon
Author: Marti Leimbach
Format: hard copy - 347 pages
Subject: female reporter in vietnam (non-fiction)
Setting: Vietnam late 1960's
Genre: fiction
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewer program
Challenge: ARCs completed
I'm not really sure how to review this book. It's a novel, purportedly a love story? It's set in Vietnam at the height of the Vietnam war and is written by an author who has never been to Vietnam, even after the war. Never served in the military. She indicates that her primary resources are others' writings about their experiences. I guess for fiction it's ok, but I couldn't buy the premise, and I felt she took a story that could have been written in 150-200 pages, and stretched it to 300. I found my eyes glazing over often. The physical descriptions of the jungle are well done; the rest of the descriptions seem to me to be hackneyed re-runs of other's imagery and depictions. The constant back and forth of settings and POV is really disconcerting. I often found I had to stop and figure out where we were and who was talking.
Having read non-fiction stories by several of the actual female reporters who did go to Vietnam, I had a hard time believing or relating to this one. The story is about the experiences of a female reporter who is sent to Vietnam to produce women's interest stories. Susan, the reporter, has an affair with an American reporter, but also forms a working relationship with a young vietnamese photojournalist named Son who uses her hotel bathroom as his darkroom, and sleeps on a pallet in the corner of her hotel room. Her American lover is convinced the Vietnamese is a spy. Susan and Son are captured by Vietcong and held captive for a large portion of the book. It is difficult to determine who Son is, what his actual role and allegiance are and what Susan's feelings are about him. In the end, the reader is left for far too many questions about what the author was trying to say.
I was disappointed.
Author: Marti Leimbach
Format: hard copy - 347 pages
Subject: female reporter in vietnam (non-fiction)
Setting: Vietnam late 1960's
Genre: fiction
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewer program
Challenge: ARCs completed
I'm not really sure how to review this book. It's a novel, purportedly a love story? It's set in Vietnam at the height of the Vietnam war and is written by an author who has never been to Vietnam, even after the war. Never served in the military. She indicates that her primary resources are others' writings about their experiences. I guess for fiction it's ok, but I couldn't buy the premise, and I felt she took a story that could have been written in 150-200 pages, and stretched it to 300. I found my eyes glazing over often. The physical descriptions of the jungle are well done; the rest of the descriptions seem to me to be hackneyed re-runs of other's imagery and depictions. The constant back and forth of settings and POV is really disconcerting. I often found I had to stop and figure out where we were and who was talking.
Having read non-fiction stories by several of the actual female reporters who did go to Vietnam, I had a hard time believing or relating to this one. The story is about the experiences of a female reporter who is sent to Vietnam to produce women's interest stories. Susan, the reporter, has an affair with an American reporter, but also forms a working relationship with a young vietnamese photojournalist named Son who uses her hotel bathroom as his darkroom, and sleeps on a pallet in the corner of her hotel room. Her American lover is convinced the Vietnamese is a spy. Susan and Son are captured by Vietcong and held captive for a large portion of the book. It is difficult to determine who Son is, what his actual role and allegiance are and what Susan's feelings are about him. In the end, the reader is left for far too many questions about what the author was trying to say.
I was disappointed.
21alcottacre
#20: OK, it sounds like I can skip that one. Sorry you did not like it, Tina. I hope you enjoy your next read more.
22tututhefirst
56 Dressed for Death
Author: Donna Leon
Format: audio book (8 discs, 9 hr 45 min) 278 pgs equivalent
Characters: Guido and Paola Brunetti
Subject: murder and crime
Setting: Venice
Series: Commissario Brunetti
Genre: police procedural mystery
Source: public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your Local Library
Another great episode of Commissario Guido Brunetti and his crew as they solve the murder of an alleged transvestite prostitute, and the criminal activities of a large non-profit involved in the murders. This is the 2nd of the series, and in this one we meet the Senorina Electra, Brunetti's secretary and admin assistant extraordinaire. More great scenes of Venice, and the surrounding area. More wonderful tempting descriptions of Italian eating , and a well developed plot with great characters.
I just love these books, but I started in the middle of the series, and have decided to come back and pick up the beginning ones as they become available at the library. You are missing a treat if you've never read them, and an even bigger treat if you don't listen to them. David Colacci does a spectacular narration on the audios.
Author: Donna Leon
Format: audio book (8 discs, 9 hr 45 min) 278 pgs equivalent
Characters: Guido and Paola Brunetti
Subject: murder and crime
Setting: Venice
Series: Commissario Brunetti
Genre: police procedural mystery
Source: public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your Local Library
Another great episode of Commissario Guido Brunetti and his crew as they solve the murder of an alleged transvestite prostitute, and the criminal activities of a large non-profit involved in the murders. This is the 2nd of the series, and in this one we meet the Senorina Electra, Brunetti's secretary and admin assistant extraordinaire. More great scenes of Venice, and the surrounding area. More wonderful tempting descriptions of Italian eating , and a well developed plot with great characters.
I just love these books, but I started in the middle of the series, and have decided to come back and pick up the beginning ones as they become available at the library. You are missing a treat if you've never read them, and an even bigger treat if you don't listen to them. David Colacci does a spectacular narration on the audios.
23tututhefirst
57 An Irish Country Doctor
Author: Patrick Taylor
Format: audio 9 discs (10 hours, 48 minutes, 352 page equivalent
Characters: Dr. Barry Laverty, Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, "Kinky" Kincaid
Subject (non-fiction)
Setting: rural Irish village of Ballybucklebo
Series: Irish Country
Genre: fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your Local Library
This is the first in this really fun series. Think James Herriott without the animals. It's the story of Dr. O'reilly, the curmudgeonly but loveable small town GP who knows everyone and their secrets, and who isn't afraid to use placebos when he thinks they'll solve the problem. He is getting on in years, however, and the workload is increasing, so he advertises for an assistant. Enter Dr. Barry Laverty, fresh from medical school, full of book learning and under-tested people skills. The two strike up an immediate if grudging respect for their different styles, and Dr. L settles in. Like most small GPs of the era (probably mid 70's) the office (or surgery as it is called in Ireland) is co-located with the living quarters, ably presided over by the housekeeper-cook, Kinky Kincaid. The story is one of love, respect for people, and small town life. The adventures of the "Doctors Dear" as Kinky calls them, are heartwarming and just the things for a quick, loving read. If you liked Jan Karon's Mitford series, you'll love these.
They really remind me so much of our family doctor whose office was in the basement of his house where his wife, a nurse, would take phone calls and schedule house calls for him to make between his morning and evening (yes - imagine - he had office hours from 7-9 every nite) office hours. He was known to come at midnite when my dad was on shift work and my mom with 4 small kids (she didn't drive) phoned to say one of us was "poorly".
Real comfort food for the mind and soul.
Author: Patrick Taylor
Format: audio 9 discs (10 hours, 48 minutes, 352 page equivalent
Characters: Dr. Barry Laverty, Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, "Kinky" Kincaid
Subject (non-fiction)
Setting: rural Irish village of Ballybucklebo
Series: Irish Country
Genre: fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your Local Library
This is the first in this really fun series. Think James Herriott without the animals. It's the story of Dr. O'reilly, the curmudgeonly but loveable small town GP who knows everyone and their secrets, and who isn't afraid to use placebos when he thinks they'll solve the problem. He is getting on in years, however, and the workload is increasing, so he advertises for an assistant. Enter Dr. Barry Laverty, fresh from medical school, full of book learning and under-tested people skills. The two strike up an immediate if grudging respect for their different styles, and Dr. L settles in. Like most small GPs of the era (probably mid 70's) the office (or surgery as it is called in Ireland) is co-located with the living quarters, ably presided over by the housekeeper-cook, Kinky Kincaid. The story is one of love, respect for people, and small town life. The adventures of the "Doctors Dear" as Kinky calls them, are heartwarming and just the things for a quick, loving read. If you liked Jan Karon's Mitford series, you'll love these.
They really remind me so much of our family doctor whose office was in the basement of his house where his wife, a nurse, would take phone calls and schedule house calls for him to make between his morning and evening (yes - imagine - he had office hours from 7-9 every nite) office hours. He was known to come at midnite when my dad was on shift work and my mom with 4 small kids (she didn't drive) phoned to say one of us was "poorly".
Real comfort food for the mind and soul.
24alcottacre
#22: That one is next up for me in the series - to date, I have only read the first book, so I am glad to hear that book 2 is good.
#23: My local library has that one. I need to get to it soon. Thanks for the reminder, Tina.
#23: My local library has that one. I need to get to it soon. Thanks for the reminder, Tina.
26tututhefirst
58 James Madison: The Founding Father
Author: Robert Allen Rutland
Format: 12discs (11 hrs 40 min) 287 pg equivalent
Subject: Life and contributions of James Madison
Genre: Biography
Source: public library audio book download
Challenge: US President's Biographies
Several years ago--I think it must have been in the late 70's--I decided I wanted to read a biography of each of the US Presidents in order of their service. I figured that way I could learn about the history and the personalities in an organized fashion. I did fine until I got to Madison. There just didn't seem to be any good solid but readable edition of his life on the shelves in Northern Virginia where I was then living. So I put the whole endeavor on hold. Now I'm back. The US President Challenge has a goal of reading them all before the next election....
This is a well researched, very readable biography of one of our early presidents. Rutland makes the case that Madison is truly "The Founding Father" since he was present and actively involved in all aspects of the nation's birth and early years up to the cementing of the concept of a united group of states acting and being perceived by the world as one nation.
The book dwells mostly on his years when he represented Virginia at the Continental Congress, then served in the House of Representatives during Washington's term. He also served as Secretary of State before becoming the 4th President. His authorship of the majority of the Federalist papers in support of ratification of the constitution was explained with many elucidating quotes to highlight how he felt the nation should progress. At the time of his death, he had the only set of notes surviving from the Continental Congress, notes that have served to enlighten us as to the thinking of the founders as they brought the country to birth.
This was a very interesting and enlightening book about one of the most important and influential presidents we have had, who often gets lost in the shadows of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson.
As I've been doing this US President's Challenge, many of the participants have remarked on how difficult it has been finding a good biography of Madison. This one is bare bones, but does have enough flesh on its bones to give us a decent feel for the man and his accomplishments. It certainly has opened my eyes to see how he fits into the procession of presidents, and will form a good basis for going to the next one in the line. It was especially well done in the audio format I found, holding my interest even through boring workouts on the elliptical
Author: Robert Allen Rutland
Format: 12discs (11 hrs 40 min) 287 pg equivalent
Subject: Life and contributions of James Madison
Genre: Biography
Source: public library audio book download
Challenge: US President's Biographies
Several years ago--I think it must have been in the late 70's--I decided I wanted to read a biography of each of the US Presidents in order of their service. I figured that way I could learn about the history and the personalities in an organized fashion. I did fine until I got to Madison. There just didn't seem to be any good solid but readable edition of his life on the shelves in Northern Virginia where I was then living. So I put the whole endeavor on hold. Now I'm back. The US President Challenge has a goal of reading them all before the next election....
This is a well researched, very readable biography of one of our early presidents. Rutland makes the case that Madison is truly "The Founding Father" since he was present and actively involved in all aspects of the nation's birth and early years up to the cementing of the concept of a united group of states acting and being perceived by the world as one nation.
The book dwells mostly on his years when he represented Virginia at the Continental Congress, then served in the House of Representatives during Washington's term. He also served as Secretary of State before becoming the 4th President. His authorship of the majority of the Federalist papers in support of ratification of the constitution was explained with many elucidating quotes to highlight how he felt the nation should progress. At the time of his death, he had the only set of notes surviving from the Continental Congress, notes that have served to enlighten us as to the thinking of the founders as they brought the country to birth.
This was a very interesting and enlightening book about one of the most important and influential presidents we have had, who often gets lost in the shadows of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson.
As I've been doing this US President's Challenge, many of the participants have remarked on how difficult it has been finding a good biography of Madison. This one is bare bones, but does have enough flesh on its bones to give us a decent feel for the man and his accomplishments. It certainly has opened my eyes to see how he fits into the procession of presidents, and will form a good basis for going to the next one in the line. It was especially well done in the audio format I found, holding my interest even through boring workouts on the elliptical
27richardderus
Wow, Tina, I had no idea Madison was so central to the founding of our country! It sounds like I need to do some catch-up reading, and this might make a good springboard. Thanks!
28jasmyn9
I've felt like I should be more interested in our presidents and even pick up the president's challenge. I just find things that happened long long before them more interesting...like pyramids and ancient Rome. Maybe now that I have my Nook and can pick some of these up for a little bit less I'll be more motivated to learn more about my own country's past.
29suslyn
Well done Tina. I had a kid's bio that focused more on Dolly, but they've been favs of mine for a long time :)
30tututhefirst
Abandoned Book #6:Half Moon: Henry Hudson and the Voyage that Redrew the Map of the New World
Author: Douglas Hunter
Format: 308 pg galley proof
Subject: Maritime exploration and navigation
Setting: 1608, North Atlantic, North America
Genre: non-fiction, history
Source: ARC from publisher Bloomsbury Press
Well every once in awhile, you get a book that is interesting but unreadable. When I find I'm stopping every 2 or 3 minutes to look back or refer to something else, I can't get into a book, and that's not reading---it's schoolwork and I'm done with that!
Don't get me wrong, if you have an extensive background in celestial navigation, and are familiar with ships (particularly 17th century ones) and navigational charts and soundings, this book is probably readable. I'm just not qualified to say that.In principle, I understand everything that Hunter is writing about. I have a degree in math so I passed physics. I served in the Navy, I've passed basic sailing courses, and done some sailing, but this book is not written to be a sit down and enjoy it book for the non-professional. There's a lot to love for the historian, and I tried skimming and skipping parts that did not readily register, but I found I was having to skip too much, make too many references to all the different names I had to jot down to keep the players straight, and was constantly referring to a map so I could see just where the line was for 45 degrees north etc., etc.
I asked my husband, a retired Navy surface ship sea captain and then retired high school history teacher, to read a few passages. He read, looked up, turned the cover and said "Who wrote this?" He was not impressed and suggested I would be better off letting it rest for awhile until I had NOTHING ELSE TO DO.
I read 95 pages. Here's just a sample of what I felt I couldn't deal with anymore. After the latest series of four or more pages of turnings, soundings, sightings, on pg. 90:
with the footnote then elucidating(?)thusly:
At that point I gave up. It's going onto the "give it another look someday" shelf, with my current notes tucked into it. I don't really care how he arrived at that description, although I can understand how Hunter wants to be sure his work and his premises are considered historically accurate. He certainly has researched thoroughly and uses primary sources to the hilt. It is an academic tour de force. I'm just not ready to read at that level. It's a shame it couldn't have been published in a plain English version for those who want the history without having to wrap their brains around all the science.
Author: Douglas Hunter
Format: 308 pg galley proof
Subject: Maritime exploration and navigation
Setting: 1608, North Atlantic, North America
Genre: non-fiction, history
Source: ARC from publisher Bloomsbury Press
Well every once in awhile, you get a book that is interesting but unreadable. When I find I'm stopping every 2 or 3 minutes to look back or refer to something else, I can't get into a book, and that's not reading---it's schoolwork and I'm done with that!
Don't get me wrong, if you have an extensive background in celestial navigation, and are familiar with ships (particularly 17th century ones) and navigational charts and soundings, this book is probably readable. I'm just not qualified to say that.In principle, I understand everything that Hunter is writing about. I have a degree in math so I passed physics. I served in the Navy, I've passed basic sailing courses, and done some sailing, but this book is not written to be a sit down and enjoy it book for the non-professional. There's a lot to love for the historian, and I tried skimming and skipping parts that did not readily register, but I found I was having to skip too much, make too many references to all the different names I had to jot down to keep the players straight, and was constantly referring to a map so I could see just where the line was for 45 degrees north etc., etc.
I asked my husband, a retired Navy surface ship sea captain and then retired high school history teacher, to read a few passages. He read, looked up, turned the cover and said "Who wrote this?" He was not impressed and suggested I would be better off letting it rest for awhile until I had NOTHING ELSE TO DO.
I read 95 pages. Here's just a sample of what I felt I couldn't deal with anymore. After the latest series of four or more pages of turnings, soundings, sightings, on pg. 90:
None of this cartographic confusion would have mattered, had the wind not then turned against Hudson, compelling him to retreat almost due East*
with the footnote then elucidating(?)thusly:
*Juet gave the course as "south-east and by east," which is a bearing of 123 degrees. With his corrections for magnetic variation applied of 17 degrees, we arrive at 106 degrees: 16 degrees southward of east, hence my description "almost due east."
At that point I gave up. It's going onto the "give it another look someday" shelf, with my current notes tucked into it. I don't really care how he arrived at that description, although I can understand how Hunter wants to be sure his work and his premises are considered historically accurate. He certainly has researched thoroughly and uses primary sources to the hilt. It is an academic tour de force. I'm just not ready to read at that level. It's a shame it couldn't have been published in a plain English version for those who want the history without having to wrap their brains around all the science.
31bonniebooks
Well, if you and your husband, with your wealth of knowledge and experience, wanted to give up on this author, I don't have a chance. The author probably should have just put all that information at the back of the book in chapter notes. Still seems like an interesting topic, though.
32alcottacre
I am with Bonnie. Not a prayer of finishing that one, so I am passing on it. Too bad because it sounds like the book could have been very interesting.
33richardderus
*skippidy skip skip skip* past Half Moon Hunter's turgid prose, and a hearty wave of thanks to Tina for sherpa-ing it for the rest of us!
34cyderry
When I saw you had this book I was going to ask you to bring it to me next trip south. I've changed my mind and think you should just leave on that "give it another look someday" shelf. I certainly don't want to be stressing my brain any more than I already am.
35dk_phoenix
Yikes... if both of your with your experience couldn't get through it (and I must say, it certainly sounds like you're the kind of people who should be qualified to read it!), then it must be truly awful. I do love history, so it's a shame to hear it's written at that kind of level. Sometimes I wonder whether scholars who do that think they have something to prove... well bully for them, because it means no one (even the people the book is aimed at) can read it without their brains exploding and "appreciate the author's genius" so to speak.
36tututhefirst
59 Miss Julia Delivers the Goods
Author: Ann B. Ross
Format: 8 discs (10 hrs, approx) 352 page equivalent
Characters: Julia Springer Murdock, Hazel Marie, Mr. Pickens, Lillian
Setting: any small town in North Carolina
Series: : Miss Julia
Genre: : cozy mystery
Source: Public libary
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your public library
Miss Julia is always good for a dose of Southern charm, manners, and lessons on the proper way for a lady to comport herself and butt into everybody's business. In this episode, Miss Hazel Marie finds herself "in the family way" without benefit of the propriety of matrimony. Miss HM has sent Mr. Pickens (her erstwhile suitor) packing, and refuses to have anything to do with him, or to tell him of his impending fatherhood. Oh, and she has to help Sam, the police, and Mr. Pickens the private detective find out who broke into Sam's office and stole the papers he had for the book he was writing.
She is concerned, naturally, about Hazel Marie's reputation in this small town, but HM swears Miss Julia to secrecy. The zany schemes concocted by Hazel Marie, Miss Julia, and the long-suffering maid Lillian, for keeping her 'condition' hidden from the busybodies, and how and what she is going to explain to her son Lloyd, are quite entertaining. The author could have probably chopped 50 pages out of this one without losing anything. Reading this is like eating fudge....one piece is delicious, two is great, but by the time you get to the third piece, you realize you've had about enough. Miss Julia's interference in everyone's life, and Hazel Marie's over-the-top performance as the put-upon (can you say "Woe is ME"?) southern belle got to be a bit much toward the end. If you're a fan of southern cozies, this is one for you. If you prefer your tea unsweetened, this one may need several slices of lemon to tame it.
Author: Ann B. Ross
Format: 8 discs (10 hrs, approx) 352 page equivalent
Characters: Julia Springer Murdock, Hazel Marie, Mr. Pickens, Lillian
Setting: any small town in North Carolina
Series: : Miss Julia
Genre: : cozy mystery
Source: Public libary
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your public library
Miss Julia is always good for a dose of Southern charm, manners, and lessons on the proper way for a lady to comport herself and butt into everybody's business. In this episode, Miss Hazel Marie finds herself "in the family way" without benefit of the propriety of matrimony. Miss HM has sent Mr. Pickens (her erstwhile suitor) packing, and refuses to have anything to do with him, or to tell him of his impending fatherhood. Oh, and she has to help Sam, the police, and Mr. Pickens the private detective find out who broke into Sam's office and stole the papers he had for the book he was writing.
She is concerned, naturally, about Hazel Marie's reputation in this small town, but HM swears Miss Julia to secrecy. The zany schemes concocted by Hazel Marie, Miss Julia, and the long-suffering maid Lillian, for keeping her 'condition' hidden from the busybodies, and how and what she is going to explain to her son Lloyd, are quite entertaining. The author could have probably chopped 50 pages out of this one without losing anything. Reading this is like eating fudge....one piece is delicious, two is great, but by the time you get to the third piece, you realize you've had about enough. Miss Julia's interference in everyone's life, and Hazel Marie's over-the-top performance as the put-upon (can you say "Woe is ME"?) southern belle got to be a bit much toward the end. If you're a fan of southern cozies, this is one for you. If you prefer your tea unsweetened, this one may need several slices of lemon to tame it.
37tututhefirst
60 Churchill
Author: Paul Johnson
Format: audio - 4 discs ( 4 hrs, 40 min) 192 pgs equivalent
Subject: Winston Churchill
Genre: biography
Source: audio book, public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your local library
Paul Johnson is one of my favorite writer/historians. He has the ability to present his material in a manner that is both intelligent and readable. This was a refreshing and short biography of Churchill focusing on his political career.
It is obvious from the beginning that Johnson is a devotee, and he mentions several times that he actually met and spoke with him, but still in all the book is fairly objective.I found the chapter where he discusses Churchill's immense power held during WWII. He poses the question "Did Churchill save Britain?" and the presents 10 reasons why he would answer in the affirmative. The book is worth reading for that chapter alone.
I was fascinated to read that Churchill stood for Parliament under six different 'labels': Conservative, Liberal, Coalition, Constitutionalist, Unionist, and National Conservative. I knew about his service as a journalist, 1st Sea Lord, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, but some other achievements were new to me. I heartily approve of Churchill's answer to the question: "To what do you attribute your success in life?"
This is a well-written and researched biography touching on the high points of the life of a great statesman. It can stand alone or serve as the jumping off point for more in-depth studies. It certainly made me want to pull out a few of Churchill's books sitting on our shelves and read them. He is credited with writing between 8 and 10 million words in his lifetime. I think I'll look for a few thousand to start with.
Author: Paul Johnson
Format: audio - 4 discs ( 4 hrs, 40 min) 192 pgs equivalent
Subject: Winston Churchill
Genre: biography
Source: audio book, public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your local library
Paul Johnson is one of my favorite writer/historians. He has the ability to present his material in a manner that is both intelligent and readable. This was a refreshing and short biography of Churchill focusing on his political career.
It is obvious from the beginning that Johnson is a devotee, and he mentions several times that he actually met and spoke with him, but still in all the book is fairly objective.I found the chapter where he discusses Churchill's immense power held during WWII. He poses the question "Did Churchill save Britain?" and the presents 10 reasons why he would answer in the affirmative. The book is worth reading for that chapter alone.
I was fascinated to read that Churchill stood for Parliament under six different 'labels': Conservative, Liberal, Coalition, Constitutionalist, Unionist, and National Conservative. I knew about his service as a journalist, 1st Sea Lord, and Chancellor of the Exchequer, but some other achievements were new to me. I heartily approve of Churchill's answer to the question: "To what do you attribute your success in life?"
Without pause or hesitation he replied: "Conservation of energy. Never stand up when you can sit down. Never sit down when you can lie down."
This is a well-written and researched biography touching on the high points of the life of a great statesman. It can stand alone or serve as the jumping off point for more in-depth studies. It certainly made me want to pull out a few of Churchill's books sitting on our shelves and read them. He is credited with writing between 8 and 10 million words in his lifetime. I think I'll look for a few thousand to start with.
38suslyn
Oh I love books which whet one's appetite for more. That must be especially pleasing after the Hudson book.
39porch_reader
>36 tututhefirst: - Tina - I read the first two or three of the Miss Julia books. My grandmother loved them, so I'd buy them for her and then read them when she was done. She isn't reading as much anymore, so I have kept up with Miss Julia's escapades, but your review captures the tone of these books perfectly!
40tututhefirst
61 Talking about Detective Fiction
Author: P.D. James
Format: hardback 196 pages
Subject: writing crime fiction
Genre: non-fiction
Source: public library
A short, readable treatise on the history, structure, and importance of detective fiction written by one of the genre's best practitioners. P.D. James, at the age of 90 has more than a few decades of successful crime writing to her credit. In this easy to understand book she reviews what works and why, features the best of the Golden Age of detective fiction --defined as between the two world wars-- and goes on to opine about where the genre is heading in the future.
She gives us quotes from other critics and writers; she explains how she develops her stories; she offers her thoughts on which is more important-setting, plot, or characters. There is a delightful chapter about four of the women who were the stars of the Golden Age-Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh.
In explaining why this is such an important form of the novel, she writes:
She certainly validated my love of the genre when she ended by saying:
Well worth reading for any lover of crime or detective fiction.
Author: P.D. James
Format: hardback 196 pages
Subject: writing crime fiction
Genre: non-fiction
Source: public library
A short, readable treatise on the history, structure, and importance of detective fiction written by one of the genre's best practitioners. P.D. James, at the age of 90 has more than a few decades of successful crime writing to her credit. In this easy to understand book she reviews what works and why, features the best of the Golden Age of detective fiction --defined as between the two world wars-- and goes on to opine about where the genre is heading in the future.
She gives us quotes from other critics and writers; she explains how she develops her stories; she offers her thoughts on which is more important-setting, plot, or characters. There is a delightful chapter about four of the women who were the stars of the Golden Age-Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh.
In explaining why this is such an important form of the novel, she writes:
The classical detective story is the most paradoxical of the popular literary forms. The story has at its heart the crime of murder, often in its most horrific and violent form, yet we read the novels primarily for entertainment, a comforting even cozy relief from the anxieties, problems and irritations of everyday life. (pg. 175)
She certainly validated my love of the genre when she ended by saying:
Our planet has always been a dangerous, violent and mysterious habitation for humankind and we all are adept at creating those pleasures and comforts, large and small, sometimes dangerous and destructive, which offer at least temporary relief from the inevitable tensions and anxieties of contemporary life. A love of detective fiction is certainly among the least harmful. We do not expect popular literature to be great literature, but fiction which provides excitement, mystery and humour also ministers to essential human needs. (pg. 195)
Well worth reading for any lover of crime or detective fiction.
41alcottacre
#36: I have read a couple of the Miss Julia books. I imagine I will get around to that one eventually.
#37: I believe I own that one. I am just going to have to read it!
#40: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I just have to get my hands on a copy.
#37: I believe I own that one. I am just going to have to read it!
#40: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I just have to get my hands on a copy.
42lindapanzo
I keep thinking about reading Talking About Detective Fiction but haven't gotten to it. Now it really must go to the top of the list.
43tututhefirst
62 Blunt Darts
Author: Jeremiah Healy
Format: hardcover 192 pages
Characters: John Francis Cuddy
Subject : search for a missing teenager
Setting: Boston and surrounding towns
Series: John Francis Cuddy
Genre: detective fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Support your local library; Thrillers, Suspense and Mysteries
I read this for a mystery book club discussion. It's a delightful, well-written example of pure detective fiction. As the first one of the genre I read after reading P.D. James' book Talking about Detective Fiction, I really had fun as some of her comments resonated about how such novels are constructed. There are likable characters, believable plot twists, and enough of the Boston setting to make it quite enjoyable.
Basically, John Francis Cuddy, private detective, is hired to find a missing 14 yr old boy, Stephen Kinnington. Stephen's grandmother is the person doing the hiring, as the boy's father, Judge Kinnington seems to want the lid put on the boy's disappearance, does not seem anxious to find him, and everyone in the town is afraid of His Honor.
Cuddy's search lands him in some unfortunate scrapes as the judge's talons reach further and further, but he is determined to find the boy. No spoilers, but it's a quick read, easy to follow, not at all banal example of good detective writing. The widower Cuddy is the kind of lost lamb, educated, loner that every woman wants to make lasgana for. As the first of over a dozen in the series, it has whetted my appetite for more of this gentleman's detecting.
Author: Jeremiah Healy
Format: hardcover 192 pages
Characters: John Francis Cuddy
Subject : search for a missing teenager
Setting: Boston and surrounding towns
Series: John Francis Cuddy
Genre: detective fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Support your local library; Thrillers, Suspense and Mysteries
I read this for a mystery book club discussion. It's a delightful, well-written example of pure detective fiction. As the first one of the genre I read after reading P.D. James' book Talking about Detective Fiction, I really had fun as some of her comments resonated about how such novels are constructed. There are likable characters, believable plot twists, and enough of the Boston setting to make it quite enjoyable.
Basically, John Francis Cuddy, private detective, is hired to find a missing 14 yr old boy, Stephen Kinnington. Stephen's grandmother is the person doing the hiring, as the boy's father, Judge Kinnington seems to want the lid put on the boy's disappearance, does not seem anxious to find him, and everyone in the town is afraid of His Honor.
Cuddy's search lands him in some unfortunate scrapes as the judge's talons reach further and further, but he is determined to find the boy. No spoilers, but it's a quick read, easy to follow, not at all banal example of good detective writing. The widower Cuddy is the kind of lost lamb, educated, loner that every woman wants to make lasgana for. As the first of over a dozen in the series, it has whetted my appetite for more of this gentleman's detecting.
45Carmenere
My oh my, I have got a lot of catching up to do. I've finished your old thread only discover your new one.
You are selecting some great books Tina and I'll be adding some to my wishlist.
Happy to see that you seemed to enjoy Wolf Hall as much as I. Books like that don't come around too often.
You are selecting some great books Tina and I'll be adding some to my wishlist.
Happy to see that you seemed to enjoy Wolf Hall as much as I. Books like that don't come around too often.
46Whisper1
Oh Tina, yours is such a dangerous thread. I've added so many of your reads to the tbr pile. For now, I'm simply stopping in to say hello. I'm peaking at those you read since I was away on vacation.....I'm tip toeing out and will be back to add many...I'm sure.
47Chatterbox
I have been raving about Cutting for Stone since it was published -- a fresh voice and incredible imagination. If you didn't like Marti Leimbach's novel about women reporters in Vietnam, try Tatjana Soli's The Lotus Eaters. It covered similar ground & themes, but I found it much more readable/more vivid.
Bummer about the Henry Hudson book. I'm going to read one sometime this year about the quest for the NW passage called The Man Who Ate His Boots, which includes a lot about the Franklin expedition. Still looking for a good Hudson book, tho I finally found an interesting Champlain one last year.
Bummer about the Henry Hudson book. I'm going to read one sometime this year about the quest for the NW passage called The Man Who Ate His Boots, which includes a lot about the Franklin expedition. Still looking for a good Hudson book, tho I finally found an interesting Champlain one last year.
48tututhefirst
#47--I have Lotus Eaters in the queue for sometime this month...or early May. I wanted to put some space in between it and Man from Saigon so I'd have a fresh perspective.
49alcottacre
#43: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks, Tina!
50LizzieD
I came to echo your praise for Cutting for Stone which I'm reading right now. (Praise! Praise! Sister Mary Joseph Praise!), and stayed to read your reviews of everything else. I'm a real sucker for sea explorers, but I'm not sure that even my appetite could stand up to every change in the wind. Yay for John Cuddy! I own some Donna Leons and will have to move them up Mt. Bookpile.
Thank you, Tina.
Thank you, Tina.
51tututhefirst
63 Death in a Strange Country
Author: Donna Leon
Format: 8 discs (9+ hrs), 304 page equivalent
Characters: Guido & Paola Brunetti, assorted cops and criminals
Subject: murder, corruption
Setting: Venice and environs
Series: Commissario Brunetti
Genre: detective fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your public library
In this episode of the Commissario Brunetti series, Guido Brunetti is called to investigate the body of an American soldier found floating in the canals of Venice. The soldier is stationed at Vicenza, over an hours train ride away. Brunetti feels he is not getting honest answers from the Americans he interviews, and feels he is being rushed to come up with a 'death by mugging' verdict that doesn't seem to fit. At the same time, he is also called to deal with the 'theft' of three priceless paintings from a wealthy business man's palazzo. Eyewitness accounts of the crime don't seem to match the victim's account.
And the plot gets messier and murkier. NO SPOILERS. It's a great mystery, with compassionate, intelligent, educated and urbane characters. Leon gives us an inside look at corruption at all levels of the justice system, as well as poignant vignettes of regional dialects and characters. This series reminds me quite a bit of Leighton Gage's series featuring Inspector Mario Silva. Both Silva and Brunetti are well-educated and almost aristocratic in their thinking, but at the same time entirely sympathetic and caring about all the people on whose behalf they are supposed to be fighting crime. Another detective that comes to mind in this same vein is Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley. The Brunetti series is fast becoming my favorite, and I'm already trying to figure out how I'm going to get to Venice to visit the scene.
My only minus to this particular audio was the narrator. I have listened to several others in this series all done by David Colacci, but this one was done by Anna Fields and while I've been pleased with other books she's read, her voice just didn't do it for me on this one. Brunetti is a macho hunky male, and part of the joy of listening to these has been Colacci's wonderful ability to use Italian dialect and accents for all of Leon's diverse characters. The female voice detracted from the story for me, but it is a measure of Leon's great writing that it didn't deter me from finishing it. I even got in an extra 20 minutes in the pool because I wanted to finish listening to it!
Author: Donna Leon
Format: 8 discs (9+ hrs), 304 page equivalent
Characters: Guido & Paola Brunetti, assorted cops and criminals
Subject: murder, corruption
Setting: Venice and environs
Series: Commissario Brunetti
Genre: detective fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support your public library
In this episode of the Commissario Brunetti series, Guido Brunetti is called to investigate the body of an American soldier found floating in the canals of Venice. The soldier is stationed at Vicenza, over an hours train ride away. Brunetti feels he is not getting honest answers from the Americans he interviews, and feels he is being rushed to come up with a 'death by mugging' verdict that doesn't seem to fit. At the same time, he is also called to deal with the 'theft' of three priceless paintings from a wealthy business man's palazzo. Eyewitness accounts of the crime don't seem to match the victim's account.
And the plot gets messier and murkier. NO SPOILERS. It's a great mystery, with compassionate, intelligent, educated and urbane characters. Leon gives us an inside look at corruption at all levels of the justice system, as well as poignant vignettes of regional dialects and characters. This series reminds me quite a bit of Leighton Gage's series featuring Inspector Mario Silva. Both Silva and Brunetti are well-educated and almost aristocratic in their thinking, but at the same time entirely sympathetic and caring about all the people on whose behalf they are supposed to be fighting crime. Another detective that comes to mind in this same vein is Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley. The Brunetti series is fast becoming my favorite, and I'm already trying to figure out how I'm going to get to Venice to visit the scene.
My only minus to this particular audio was the narrator. I have listened to several others in this series all done by David Colacci, but this one was done by Anna Fields and while I've been pleased with other books she's read, her voice just didn't do it for me on this one. Brunetti is a macho hunky male, and part of the joy of listening to these has been Colacci's wonderful ability to use Italian dialect and accents for all of Leon's diverse characters. The female voice detracted from the story for me, but it is a measure of Leon's great writing that it didn't deter me from finishing it. I even got in an extra 20 minutes in the pool because I wanted to finish listening to it!
52Whisper1
Nine plus hours is a lot of listening. Glad you enjoyed the audio book. It sounds fascinating. I have some of the books in this series. I hope to read them this summer when works slows down substantially.
53Carmenere
Me thinks you enjoy reading/listening to Donna Leon. I'll have to keep a lookout for her.
54sibylline
You do a very thoughtful job reviewing the books you read and I very much like the format!
55tututhefirst
I definitely enjoy Donna Leon -in fact, thanks to my sister cheli (cyderry) I have ordered the Brunetti cookbook which should be arriving from Amazon tomorrow. i have been such a good girl this year - the only two new books I bought were for hubby, and I've only bought one new one and 4 used ones for me, so this was a treat for me. I'll let you all know how wonderful it is when it arrives.
56tututhefirst
Just bragging... here's how I spent my Sunday afternoon while 'ear-reading' my latest audio Cold Sassy Tree. This piece of cross-stitch, which only took me four years, is now going into the framing pile, and I can finally begin to work on the Great Blue Heron I've been dying to get to since Feb 2008. My TBS (to be stitched) pile is not nearly as high as the TBR pile, but if I don't plug along at it, it will never shrink.
58richardderus
*envious sigh*
Sewing, embroidery, weaving...all black art, that's it, black art practiced by witches! I'm tellin' the Salem folks about you!
*gleeful hand-rub* Then I can claim that piece as my reward....
Sewing, embroidery, weaving...all black art, that's it, black art practiced by witches! I'm tellin' the Salem folks about you!
*gleeful hand-rub* Then I can claim that piece as my reward....
59alcottacre
#56: Beautiful, Tina! As a fellow cross stitcher, I am in awe.
60Carmenere
I know where you're coming from Tina as I have a TBFS (To Be finished stiching) since 1994. Your work is beatiful. I hope you have a nice summer home or sun room to display it.
61lindapanzo
Beautiful, Tina.
Have you ever entered anything in the state fair? That's what we always tell my mother, the cross-stitcher, when we go to the WI state fair and see things that aren't as nice as hers.
Have you ever entered anything in the state fair? That's what we always tell my mother, the cross-stitcher, when we go to the WI state fair and see things that aren't as nice as hers.
62suslyn
I have a mess of TBFS, but many date from the 80s. I used to work on them while watching TV or movies. We haven't had tv since 1995 and now we watch movies in the dark (home cinema). *sigh* funny thing is I was thinking about them this morning.
I have one piece I started for a wedding (they celebrated 20 a few years ago!!). And now (again, a few years ago) their house burnt down and they lost everything. So I thought it might be really nice to have this (an actual original wedding present). But I'm still not finished. I'm a mess.
I have one piece I started for a wedding (they celebrated 20 a few years ago!!). And now (again, a few years ago) their house burnt down and they lost everything. So I thought it might be really nice to have this (an actual original wedding present). But I'm still not finished. I'm a mess.
63LizzieD
Sus, I'll see your mess of cross-stitch and raise you needlepoint from the 70's, piles of unfinished sweaters, a crocheted lace tablecloth, and the current ecclesiastical stole for our niece the Episcopal priest! I'm a bigger mess......but, Tutu, the *CST* piece is lovely. And I taught the book once because the school had a classroom set and enjoyed it too.
64bonniebooks
Beautiful cross-stitching. You're persistent and talented! What did you think about Cold Sassy Tree? I would think it was a great book to listen to with the right reader.
65Donna828
>56 tututhefirst:: Only four years to complete that masterpiece? Lovely work. I have a few unfinished pieces that I haven't even looked at in the past four years! Maybe I will take up audiobooks just for this purpose.
I'm having a new granddaughter at the end of September which means the obligatory baby sampler must be undertaken. I have fun doing those!
I'm having a new granddaughter at the end of September which means the obligatory baby sampler must be undertaken. I have fun doing those!
66tututhefirst
Well....I was going to post another picture in support of one way to get your TBS pile reduced, but the post on my blog earlier this year says it all - it's here....and yes it says Unfinished friday....all about stuff waiting to be accomplished. Enjoy.
67BookAngel_a
That is a beautiful piece of stitchery.
I used to cross stitch almost every day, but reading and LT has taken over all my free time.
I really need to do another cross stitch project sometime soon.
I used to cross stitch almost every day, but reading and LT has taken over all my free time.
I really need to do another cross stitch project sometime soon.
68dk_phoenix
I'm like Susan, I used to cross-stitch while watching TV or movies, but now that we have a projector/home theatre in the basement, that's just not an option... so I hardly ever stitch anymore. So many TBS projects!!!
Tina, your piece is fantastic. That's four years of hard work, for sure!
Tina, your piece is fantastic. That's four years of hard work, for sure!
69tymfos
What a beautiful job you did, Tina!
Before my son was born, I was on full bed rest for 3 months, and tried cross-stitching a piece to hang in his nursery. He's almost 14 now, and the stitching is still sitting in the bag half-finished. I'm just not gifted in that sort of thing. How I admire your work!
Before my son was born, I was on full bed rest for 3 months, and tried cross-stitching a piece to hang in his nursery. He's almost 14 now, and the stitching is still sitting in the bag half-finished. I'm just not gifted in that sort of thing. How I admire your work!
70sjmccreary
Tina, that's a beautiful piece. I also use audio books while doing needlework (though nothing as nice as this one, I'm sure). As much as I enjoy the sewing, my mind wanders and I lose interest if I don't give it something of its own to do! The audio book/needlework combination is win-win for me - the TBR pile and the TBS pile both get whittled down and I end up feeling productive and happy!
71LizzieD
Your father's beadwork wallhanging is gorgeous - a real treasure.
Rather than sign up to post on your blog, (please forgive me), I will say that Shadow of the Wind turns into a lot of fun and Cutting for Stone is for me the best of the best this year, maybe of this decade, but I loved The Road Home so much that I hate to move it down to number 2.
Rather than sign up to post on your blog, (please forgive me), I will say that Shadow of the Wind turns into a lot of fun and Cutting for Stone is for me the best of the best this year, maybe of this decade, but I loved The Road Home so much that I hate to move it down to number 2.
72suslyn
Pooh Your blog page won't download for me for some reason. Some other day maybe (I've been before?!!)
Lizzie -- you crack me up!
Lizzie -- you crack me up!
73tututhefirst
64 Brunetti's Cookbook
Author: Roberta Pianaro
Format: 288 pgs
Subject: Food
Genre: cookbook
Source: Amazon online purchase
This is not a beginner's cookbook. There are no pictures of the recipes, nor are the dishes familiar to the majority of Americans raised to believe Italian equals breaded veal parmesan, and ravioli with meatballs. What it does offer is a collection of wonderful northern Italian dishes, featured in the very popular Commissario Brunetti detective series written by Donna Leon. I could read these adventures over and over. Brunetti is one of my favorite fictional characters, and between his wife Paola, his dear, now departed Mama, and all the lovely tratorria in the area, a story of his adventures always includes many scenes of food, eating, and family mealtimes.
There are wonderful essays by Roberta Pianaro about food sources, growing and harvesting, and the changes taking place in the modern city of Venice in which the old markets are being replaced by glass shops, and other tourist attractions The recipes are well presented, well arranged, and definitely have one reaching for the olive oil, the apron, and a glass of wine to begin the cooking adventure.
Each section of recipes includes an except from one of Leon's books featuring not only the food, but the entire philosphy of eating that is the foundation of Italian life: Mangia, mangia, ti fa bene (Eat, eat, it's good for you). It even has the recipe for Brunetti's mother's "Lasagna con cuori di carciofo e prosciutto" (Lasagna with artichoke hearts and Prosciutto).
I certainly will have no trouble following the exhortations with this wonderful guide at my disposal. After paging thru the entire book, and reading the essays, I have at least fifteen bookmarks sticking out virtually screaming "Cook this first!" This is a book for the serious Italian cook, the serious Donna Leon fan, and the serious lover of good seafood and fresh produce.
Now...as an aside, and thank goodness my Mom does not read the LT threads, I was rolling on the floor laughing with tears in my eyes when Donna Leon described her culinary background. Seemed her mother was Irish (so is mine) so great diversity, particularly in the seafood and produce department, was not one of her strengths in the kitchen. I will quote Leon:
Another cooking secret I can now reveal--my lips having been sealed by a vow of silence during her lifetime--is my mother's secret for cooking vegetables...This recipe serves across the board and can be used for any and all vegetables, and it is with great pride that I pass it on to new cooks:
1. Open the can.
2. Pour into a saucepan.
3. Add 100 grams of butter.
4. Boil until contents are reduced to a grey mush, stirring when necessary.
5. Add salt.
6. Serve.
If you substitute "pressure cooker" for "saucepan" in #2, and skip # 3 and #5, you have the reason that my Italian father marched me off to my Brownie troop with instructions to the leader that I was to earn the cooking badge pronto. He then made sure I went weekly to my Italian grandmother to learn how to cook.
In the meantime, tutti a tavola, mangiamo
Author: Roberta Pianaro
Format: 288 pgs
Subject: Food
Genre: cookbook
Source: Amazon online purchase
This is not a beginner's cookbook. There are no pictures of the recipes, nor are the dishes familiar to the majority of Americans raised to believe Italian equals breaded veal parmesan, and ravioli with meatballs. What it does offer is a collection of wonderful northern Italian dishes, featured in the very popular Commissario Brunetti detective series written by Donna Leon. I could read these adventures over and over. Brunetti is one of my favorite fictional characters, and between his wife Paola, his dear, now departed Mama, and all the lovely tratorria in the area, a story of his adventures always includes many scenes of food, eating, and family mealtimes.
There are wonderful essays by Roberta Pianaro about food sources, growing and harvesting, and the changes taking place in the modern city of Venice in which the old markets are being replaced by glass shops, and other tourist attractions The recipes are well presented, well arranged, and definitely have one reaching for the olive oil, the apron, and a glass of wine to begin the cooking adventure.
Each section of recipes includes an except from one of Leon's books featuring not only the food, but the entire philosphy of eating that is the foundation of Italian life: Mangia, mangia, ti fa bene (Eat, eat, it's good for you). It even has the recipe for Brunetti's mother's "Lasagna con cuori di carciofo e prosciutto" (Lasagna with artichoke hearts and Prosciutto).
I certainly will have no trouble following the exhortations with this wonderful guide at my disposal. After paging thru the entire book, and reading the essays, I have at least fifteen bookmarks sticking out virtually screaming "Cook this first!" This is a book for the serious Italian cook, the serious Donna Leon fan, and the serious lover of good seafood and fresh produce.
Now...as an aside, and thank goodness my Mom does not read the LT threads, I was rolling on the floor laughing with tears in my eyes when Donna Leon described her culinary background. Seemed her mother was Irish (so is mine) so great diversity, particularly in the seafood and produce department, was not one of her strengths in the kitchen. I will quote Leon:
Another cooking secret I can now reveal--my lips having been sealed by a vow of silence during her lifetime--is my mother's secret for cooking vegetables...This recipe serves across the board and can be used for any and all vegetables, and it is with great pride that I pass it on to new cooks:
1. Open the can.
2. Pour into a saucepan.
3. Add 100 grams of butter.
4. Boil until contents are reduced to a grey mush, stirring when necessary.
5. Add salt.
6. Serve.
If you substitute "pressure cooker" for "saucepan" in #2, and skip # 3 and #5, you have the reason that my Italian father marched me off to my Brownie troop with instructions to the leader that I was to earn the cooking badge pronto. He then made sure I went weekly to my Italian grandmother to learn how to cook.
In the meantime, tutti a tavola, mangiamo
74cyderry
I can't breathe I am laughing so hard - that really is MOM.
ETA - I'm glad you liked the book.
ETA - I'm glad you liked the book.
75alcottacre
#73: I have that one on the way and boy, am I excited about it!
76TadAD
>73 tututhefirst:: That sounds like a fun cookbook. I've been working my way through Italy: A Culinary Journey. It has the best tomato soup recipe I've tried in a while.
77mamzel
My husband gave me a copy of The Silver Spoon when it came out several years ago. You all have inspired me to get into it and try some real Italian receipes!
78tututhefirst
65 "U" is for Undertow Sue Grafton
66 Falling Angels Tracy Chevalier
67 West with the Night Beryl Markham
68 Cold Sassy Tree Olive Anne Burns
I'm getting way behind on reviews, I have three book clubs meeting in the next 10 days, but since this thread is my master reading list, I have to post these here so I don't lose track. Reviews will be posted by the end of the week.
Just a hint....get thee to a library and find West with the Night!!
66 Falling Angels Tracy Chevalier
67 West with the Night Beryl Markham
68 Cold Sassy Tree Olive Anne Burns
I'm getting way behind on reviews, I have three book clubs meeting in the next 10 days, but since this thread is my master reading list, I have to post these here so I don't lose track. Reviews will be posted by the end of the week.
Just a hint....get thee to a library and find West with the Night!!
79tututhefirst
65 "U" is for Undertow
Author: Sue Grafton
Format: audio - 11 discs (14 hrs), 403 pg equivalent
Narrator: Judy Kaye
Subject: private detective working cold case
Setting: Santa Teresa California (fictional town)
Series: Kinsey Milhone private detective (Aka Sue Grafton alphabet mysteries)
Genre: detective fiction
Source: public library audio download
Challenge:Support your local library, audio books
I hadn't read a Sue Grafton in several years and was pleasantly surprised by the well-crafted story in this one. Kinsey Milhone, a divorced, living alone private investigator, is confronted with a cold case and a possible material witness when the police aren't quite sure it's worth pursuing - yet. By weaving together the back stories of the major players in the crime with the current search for what really happened, Grafton gives us a more complex mystery than some of the earlier ones in the series.
All the regulars are still present-landlord Henry, bistro proprietress Rosie, and detective Chaney Phillips; Kinsey still lives over Henry's garage, still runs most mornings, still eats quarter-pounders with cheese, and still grouses about life in general but wouldn't change a lick of it.
Essentially (NO SPOILERS), this is the story of a young man who 'remembers' seeing what he believes to have been the burial of a kidnapped but never found young girl--of course he saw this on his 6th birthday and he's now 18! No wonder the police aren't sure they want to believe him. Kinsey helps him sort through the memories, and goes on---of course---to unearth and solve the case. Nuf said. A great read.
Author: Sue Grafton
Format: audio - 11 discs (14 hrs), 403 pg equivalent
Narrator: Judy Kaye
Subject: private detective working cold case
Setting: Santa Teresa California (fictional town)
Series: Kinsey Milhone private detective (Aka Sue Grafton alphabet mysteries)
Genre: detective fiction
Source: public library audio download
Challenge:Support your local library, audio books
I hadn't read a Sue Grafton in several years and was pleasantly surprised by the well-crafted story in this one. Kinsey Milhone, a divorced, living alone private investigator, is confronted with a cold case and a possible material witness when the police aren't quite sure it's worth pursuing - yet. By weaving together the back stories of the major players in the crime with the current search for what really happened, Grafton gives us a more complex mystery than some of the earlier ones in the series.
All the regulars are still present-landlord Henry, bistro proprietress Rosie, and detective Chaney Phillips; Kinsey still lives over Henry's garage, still runs most mornings, still eats quarter-pounders with cheese, and still grouses about life in general but wouldn't change a lick of it.
Essentially (NO SPOILERS), this is the story of a young man who 'remembers' seeing what he believes to have been the burial of a kidnapped but never found young girl--of course he saw this on his 6th birthday and he's now 18! No wonder the police aren't sure they want to believe him. Kinsey helps him sort through the memories, and goes on---of course---to unearth and solve the case. Nuf said. A great read.
81tututhefirst
66 Falling Angels
Author: Tracy Chevalier
Format: 7 audio discs; 416 pgs equivalent
Narrator: Anne Toomey
Characters: The Coleman Family, The Waterhouse Family, Jenny Whitby, Simon Field
Subject: women's roles
Setting: Edwardian England
Genre: fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Support Your local library; Audio books
This novel (a New York Times Bestseller in 2001) is a sweeping period piece of the stratified society of London in the early 1900's, just as Queen Victoria dies, and the Edwardian age is ushered in. Set against a backdrop of the Women's Suffrage movement, it is essentially the story of two young girls (in today's parlance they'd be BFFs) who live next door to each other. The story is eloquently told from the voices of nine different characters, with additional ample views of three others. Ordinarily, that would be about 8 points of view too many, but Chevalier makes it work in a glorious way. We watch as time goes by for:
Maud Coleman - the only child of Kitty and Richard, serious, intelligent, and subconsciously understanding that many of the rules of Victorian England are essentially meaningless and best left behind. She longs for a friend and finds one in
Lavinia (Vinnie) Waterhouse - the devil may care (but only if carefully acted out within the rules of proper society) oldest child of Gertrude and Albert. Lavinia even writes a 'book' about the proper way for a lady to get through formal mourning. That section alone is a treasure. She also longs for a friend (while trying desperately to shed herself of her hanging on younger--but much wiser--sister Ivy May.) Maud and Lavinia meet in the cemetery where they discover their family graves are next to each other. Together Maud and Vinnie spend many an afternoon scampering through the graveyard where they make the acquaintance of
Simon Field - the young gravedigger who, with his father, spends his life watching the comings and going of all levels of society and gains the wisdom to see that in the end, everybody ends up under the ground. Simon gives us (and the girls) a grounding in reality, and is able to go where the 'proper ladies' can't. He sees much, hears much, knows much, and manages to keep most of it to himself, until secrets need to be shared.
Kitty Coleman - the restless and disenchanted wife of Richard, mother of Maud. She was traumatized by childbirth, and further shocked to the core of her being when, during a New Year's house party, her husband engages in, and insists that she does also, what is today known as 'wife swapping'. Her withdrawal from him (and from life in general) is brutal and substantial. Only later will she recover and join the Women's Suffrage movement, risking all to play out her desire for personal freedom.
Richard Coleman - a proper English gentleman of the era. He knows nothing about anything going on in his household (that is a woman's domain) and cares only for cricket, star-gazing at the local observatory, and doing exactly what he is told to do by his mother...
Edith Coleman - a grand dame of staggering (and perhaps swaggering?) mien....she causes her son, her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter to kow-tow to whatever she says is 'proper' and refuses to hear of any other way of doing things. Even the Coleman's cook threatens to quit whenever Edith appears on the doorstep. Her most egregious act comes when she decides (over the objections of Kitty and Maud and Mrs. Baker the cook) to dismiss
Jenny Whitby - the maid. Jenny's story gives us the other side of the coin. Young girl with no education, no dowry, no prospects, living in poverty who comes to the big city to go 'into service' in exchange for room, board, and a few coins to send home to her starving family. No SPOILERS, but her story is central.
Gertrude and Arthur Waterhouse - the gentle couple who live next door to the Colemans. Their financial circumstances are not as good as (nor would Edith Coleman allow that their blood lines are either) their neighbors. Gertrude tries to follow society's dictates, tries to keep a rein on Vinnie - but can't help spoiling her--and secretly detests the Colemans and what they stand for. Arthur is simply grateful to be able to play cricket with Richard on Sunday afternoon, and happy that his wife and daughters have suitable family companions in the ladies next door.
When all these stories are spun together in the setting of the cemetery with the Suffrage Movement providing drama and excitement, and the Cemetery "Guvner" John Jackson providing a humanizing and humane persona, it is a riveting and poignant story. What happens to these women and how their actions influence and impact one another is in many ways the universal story of sisterhood, in other ways the never-ending story of sin and a chance for redemption. Whether redemption occurs is left to the reader to discover.
Author: Tracy Chevalier
Format: 7 audio discs; 416 pgs equivalent
Narrator: Anne Toomey
Characters: The Coleman Family, The Waterhouse Family, Jenny Whitby, Simon Field
Subject: women's roles
Setting: Edwardian England
Genre: fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Support Your local library; Audio books
This novel (a New York Times Bestseller in 2001) is a sweeping period piece of the stratified society of London in the early 1900's, just as Queen Victoria dies, and the Edwardian age is ushered in. Set against a backdrop of the Women's Suffrage movement, it is essentially the story of two young girls (in today's parlance they'd be BFFs) who live next door to each other. The story is eloquently told from the voices of nine different characters, with additional ample views of three others. Ordinarily, that would be about 8 points of view too many, but Chevalier makes it work in a glorious way. We watch as time goes by for:
Maud Coleman - the only child of Kitty and Richard, serious, intelligent, and subconsciously understanding that many of the rules of Victorian England are essentially meaningless and best left behind. She longs for a friend and finds one in
Lavinia (Vinnie) Waterhouse - the devil may care (but only if carefully acted out within the rules of proper society) oldest child of Gertrude and Albert. Lavinia even writes a 'book' about the proper way for a lady to get through formal mourning. That section alone is a treasure. She also longs for a friend (while trying desperately to shed herself of her hanging on younger--but much wiser--sister Ivy May.) Maud and Lavinia meet in the cemetery where they discover their family graves are next to each other. Together Maud and Vinnie spend many an afternoon scampering through the graveyard where they make the acquaintance of
Simon Field - the young gravedigger who, with his father, spends his life watching the comings and going of all levels of society and gains the wisdom to see that in the end, everybody ends up under the ground. Simon gives us (and the girls) a grounding in reality, and is able to go where the 'proper ladies' can't. He sees much, hears much, knows much, and manages to keep most of it to himself, until secrets need to be shared.
Kitty Coleman - the restless and disenchanted wife of Richard, mother of Maud. She was traumatized by childbirth, and further shocked to the core of her being when, during a New Year's house party, her husband engages in, and insists that she does also, what is today known as 'wife swapping'. Her withdrawal from him (and from life in general) is brutal and substantial. Only later will she recover and join the Women's Suffrage movement, risking all to play out her desire for personal freedom.
Richard Coleman - a proper English gentleman of the era. He knows nothing about anything going on in his household (that is a woman's domain) and cares only for cricket, star-gazing at the local observatory, and doing exactly what he is told to do by his mother...
Edith Coleman - a grand dame of staggering (and perhaps swaggering?) mien....she causes her son, her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter to kow-tow to whatever she says is 'proper' and refuses to hear of any other way of doing things. Even the Coleman's cook threatens to quit whenever Edith appears on the doorstep. Her most egregious act comes when she decides (over the objections of Kitty and Maud and Mrs. Baker the cook) to dismiss
Jenny Whitby - the maid. Jenny's story gives us the other side of the coin. Young girl with no education, no dowry, no prospects, living in poverty who comes to the big city to go 'into service' in exchange for room, board, and a few coins to send home to her starving family. No SPOILERS, but her story is central.
Gertrude and Arthur Waterhouse - the gentle couple who live next door to the Colemans. Their financial circumstances are not as good as (nor would Edith Coleman allow that their blood lines are either) their neighbors. Gertrude tries to follow society's dictates, tries to keep a rein on Vinnie - but can't help spoiling her--and secretly detests the Colemans and what they stand for. Arthur is simply grateful to be able to play cricket with Richard on Sunday afternoon, and happy that his wife and daughters have suitable family companions in the ladies next door.
When all these stories are spun together in the setting of the cemetery with the Suffrage Movement providing drama and excitement, and the Cemetery "Guvner" John Jackson providing a humanizing and humane persona, it is a riveting and poignant story. What happens to these women and how their actions influence and impact one another is in many ways the universal story of sisterhood, in other ways the never-ending story of sin and a chance for redemption. Whether redemption occurs is left to the reader to discover.
82tututhefirst
67 West with the Night
Author: Beryl Markham
Format: trade paperback 296 pages
Setting: British East Africa (1920-1940)
Genre: Memoir
Source: originally from library, but personal copy bought from Amazon
Challenge: Support your local Library
An amazing memoir written by a pioneering aviatrix about her early life in British East Africa (now Kenya) as a farmer's daughter, race horse trainer, and eventually, bush pilot delivering mail, supplies, and ferrying people across the uncharted territory of eastern Africa. She was the first person, male or female to fly solo from London to America going from east to west. Her mother left her with her father in Africa to return to England. "Baru" as she was called by the natives, worked with her father, living in mud huts, then later her own wood cottage, reading at night by oil lamp. There is no mention in the book of any nanny, governess, or tutor. She appears to be entirely self-taught, a concept making this book all the more exceptional.
Her exquisite prose makes the book. The story is exciting and interesting, almost unbelievable (I suppose teen aged white women could go hunting lions accompanied only by African tribesman and equipped only with a spear!) but told with such clear and image-evoking words that the reader just sinks into this book. It is a book to be savored, read slowly, marked up, and read again. And if it's first read as a library book, it is one to run out and purchase to have to look back at.
I found myself breathless and stopped dumb in my reading tracks at points, having to put the book down, and then read and re-read passages. My library copy is full of little yellow stickies to mark such passages as:
Her imagery, particularly when relating treks through African jungles and deserts is spellbinding:
Even Ernest Hemingway, who at some point crossed paths with Ms. Markham, remarks on the back cover:
Who am I to argue with Hemingway?
Author: Beryl Markham
Format: trade paperback 296 pages
Setting: British East Africa (1920-1940)
Genre: Memoir
Source: originally from library, but personal copy bought from Amazon
Challenge: Support your local Library
An amazing memoir written by a pioneering aviatrix about her early life in British East Africa (now Kenya) as a farmer's daughter, race horse trainer, and eventually, bush pilot delivering mail, supplies, and ferrying people across the uncharted territory of eastern Africa. She was the first person, male or female to fly solo from London to America going from east to west. Her mother left her with her father in Africa to return to England. "Baru" as she was called by the natives, worked with her father, living in mud huts, then later her own wood cottage, reading at night by oil lamp. There is no mention in the book of any nanny, governess, or tutor. She appears to be entirely self-taught, a concept making this book all the more exceptional.
Her exquisite prose makes the book. The story is exciting and interesting, almost unbelievable (I suppose teen aged white women could go hunting lions accompanied only by African tribesman and equipped only with a spear!) but told with such clear and image-evoking words that the reader just sinks into this book. It is a book to be savored, read slowly, marked up, and read again. And if it's first read as a library book, it is one to run out and purchase to have to look back at.
I found myself breathless and stopped dumb in my reading tracks at points, having to put the book down, and then read and re-read passages. My library copy is full of little yellow stickies to mark such passages as:
(speaking of a 'pet' lion kept by her father's farmhands): "He spent his waking hours..wandering through Elkingtons' fields and pastures like an affable, if apostrophic, emperor, a-stroll in the gardens of his court."
"One day the stars will be as familiar to each man as the landmarks, the curves, and the hills on the road that leads to his door, and one day this will be an airborne life. But by then men will have forgotten how to fly; they will be passengers on machines whose conductors are carefully promoted to a familiarity with labelled buttons, and in whose minds knowledge of the sky and the wind and the way of weather will be extraneous as passing fictions." (this book was written in 1942, and she was relating this as she spoke of her early flying lessons around 1925-30.)
Her imagery, particularly when relating treks through African jungles and deserts is spellbinding:
"You could expect many things of God at night when the campfire burned before the tents. You could look through and beyond the veils of scarlet and see shadows of the world as God first made it and the hear the voices of the beasts He put there. It was a world as old as Time....When the low stars shone over it and the moon clothed it in silver fog, it was the way the firmament must have been when the waters had gone and the night of the Fifth Day had fallen on creatures still bewildered by the wonder of their being."
Even Ernest Hemingway, who at some point crossed paths with Ms. Markham, remarks on the back cover:
"...she has written so well, and marvelously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer. I felt that I was simply a carpenter with words, picking up whatever was furnished on the job and nailing them together and sometimes making an okay pig pen. But she can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers...I wish you would get it and read it because it is really a bloody wonderful book."
Who am I to argue with Hemingway?
83tututhefirst
68 Cold Sassy Tree
Author: Olive Ann Burns
Narrator: Tom Parker
Format: discs (12 hrs,55 mins); 400 pages equivalent
Characters: Mr. Blakesley, Miss Love Simpson, Will Tweety
Subject: life in small town Georgia
Setting: early 1900s, fictional Georgia Town "Cold Sassy"
Genre: Fiction
Source: public library audio download
Challenge: Support your local library; audio books
This is often described as a coming of age novel, and is billed as young adult lit. It is actually a very sensitively written story set in Cold Sassy Georgia in 1906 and 1907. It is as appealing to adults as to high schoolers. The main character E. Rucker Blakesly scandalizes the town by marrying the milliner who works in his general store a scant three weeks after burying his first wife Miss Mattie Lou.
Told from the viewpoint of his grandson, Will Tweedy, we see how the young second wife Love Simpson is shunned by Blakesly's two grown daughters Looma and Mary Willis, and how young Will is taken into Love's confidence when she claims that she is only a housekeeper to his grandpa, and it is a marriage in name only.
As time passes, we see southern culture at its best and worst. The townsfolk are given ample opportunity for greatness and meanness. Grandpa opens a car dealership in addition to his general store, Will Tweedy learns to drive, and along the way discovers girls. Olive Ann Burns gives us a loving picture of small town life, and leads us through an exquisite story of love, forgiveness and hope.
This is one of those fortuitous finds recommended by one of my fellow staff members at the local library. She is another audio book fan, and focuses a lot on material for our school age, and teen age readers. She knows me well enough to say "Tina, you will love this--you must download it and read it." I'm so glad I listened to her. She was right. The audio was absolutely delightful, but I'm sure it would be just as entertaining and uplifting in print.
Author: Olive Ann Burns
Narrator: Tom Parker
Format: discs (12 hrs,55 mins); 400 pages equivalent
Characters: Mr. Blakesley, Miss Love Simpson, Will Tweety
Subject: life in small town Georgia
Setting: early 1900s, fictional Georgia Town "Cold Sassy"
Genre: Fiction
Source: public library audio download
Challenge: Support your local library; audio books
This is often described as a coming of age novel, and is billed as young adult lit. It is actually a very sensitively written story set in Cold Sassy Georgia in 1906 and 1907. It is as appealing to adults as to high schoolers. The main character E. Rucker Blakesly scandalizes the town by marrying the milliner who works in his general store a scant three weeks after burying his first wife Miss Mattie Lou.
Told from the viewpoint of his grandson, Will Tweedy, we see how the young second wife Love Simpson is shunned by Blakesly's two grown daughters Looma and Mary Willis, and how young Will is taken into Love's confidence when she claims that she is only a housekeeper to his grandpa, and it is a marriage in name only.
As time passes, we see southern culture at its best and worst. The townsfolk are given ample opportunity for greatness and meanness. Grandpa opens a car dealership in addition to his general store, Will Tweedy learns to drive, and along the way discovers girls. Olive Ann Burns gives us a loving picture of small town life, and leads us through an exquisite story of love, forgiveness and hope.
This is one of those fortuitous finds recommended by one of my fellow staff members at the local library. She is another audio book fan, and focuses a lot on material for our school age, and teen age readers. She knows me well enough to say "Tina, you will love this--you must download it and read it." I'm so glad I listened to her. She was right. The audio was absolutely delightful, but I'm sure it would be just as entertaining and uplifting in print.
84womansheart
Now, Tina I have you starred and will give keeping up with you posts here my best effort. I really apreciate the format of having your reading sorted out into quarters of the year. Good idea.
You are always welcome to visit me, too. I am mostly posting, for the time being on this page:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/81298 (Twenty-five book challenge for 2010)
I really love going to my friends threads to read what they are reading/have read.
See you here and there.
With love,
Ruth/womansheart
You are always welcome to visit me, too. I am mostly posting, for the time being on this page:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/81298 (Twenty-five book challenge for 2010)
I really love going to my friends threads to read what they are reading/have read.
See you here and there.
With love,
Ruth/womansheart
86Whisper1
Tina
Oh, how I love the book West With the Night. It is marvelous! I read this years ago after seeing the movie Out of Africa. Since then, I've read just about anything I can get my hands on regarding Beryl Markahm, Dennys Finch Hatton, Isak Dinesen Lord Delamere and Bror Blixen.
In case you haven't read these, here are some recommendations:
http://www.librarything.com/work/960411/book/25743443
http://www.librarything.com/work/521805/book/25743430
http://www.librarything.com/work/80611/book/25868812
http://www.librarything.com/work/653540/book/25743210
http://www.librarything.com/work/460789/book/36011203
http://www.librarything.com/work/3004100/book/36056151
http://www.librarything.com/work/80609/book/25719339
http://www.librarything.com/work/23680/book/25718766
Oh, how I love the book West With the Night. It is marvelous! I read this years ago after seeing the movie Out of Africa. Since then, I've read just about anything I can get my hands on regarding Beryl Markahm, Dennys Finch Hatton, Isak Dinesen Lord Delamere and Bror Blixen.
In case you haven't read these, here are some recommendations:
http://www.librarything.com/work/960411/book/25743443
http://www.librarything.com/work/521805/book/25743430
http://www.librarything.com/work/80611/book/25868812
http://www.librarything.com/work/653540/book/25743210
http://www.librarything.com/work/460789/book/36011203
http://www.librarything.com/work/3004100/book/36056151
http://www.librarything.com/work/80609/book/25719339
http://www.librarything.com/work/23680/book/25718766
87tututhefirst
Oh Linda.....thanks so much for the recommendations. I'm dying to read other biographies about her. I tried hard to keep the Wikipedia factoids out of my review since nowhere in her book does she talk about her three marriages, her affair with the Duke of Gloucester, and numerous other adventures.
In fact, I found it really amusing that in the Hemingway quote--which is from a letter he wrote--the author left out the phrase "But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch."
In fact, I found it really amusing that in the Hemingway quote--which is from a letter he wrote--the author left out the phrase "But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch."
88bonniebooks
West with the Night was the most satisfying read I've ever taken on a vacation, so I'm always recommending it to my friends as "a good Summer Read," but, of course, it would be wonderful anytime. Coincidentally, I read Cold Sassy Tree while on a vacation too.
89Whisper1
I believe there was some controversy/doubt that Beryl Markham actually penned her book. Nevertheless, her life was quite fascinating. Thanks for the additional Hemmingway phrase.
90tututhefirst
The thing I found most interesting about both West with the Night and Cold Sassy Tree is that I would NEVER have found those on my own. The Markham book was this month's read for the senior group that meets next Monday, and as i said, my fellow 'liberry lady' almost forced Olive Ann Burns on me threatening to lock the door until I downloaded. So glad for both those choices.
Tonite we have mystery book club and I would never have found Jeremiah Healy (see msg.43) w/o them, and next week I have a group reading Sixteen Pleasures -which I MUST get to tomorrow as i have only one week to get that one read.
So ---w/o all my reading friends, I might well maybe...... have a shot at clearing out TBR shelves, but I'll just have to lock myself in a room, go nowhere, not logon to LT, etc etc etc.....How much fun is that? NOT
Tonite we have mystery book club and I would never have found Jeremiah Healy (see msg.43) w/o them, and next week I have a group reading Sixteen Pleasures -which I MUST get to tomorrow as i have only one week to get that one read.
So ---w/o all my reading friends, I might well maybe...... have a shot at clearing out TBR shelves, but I'll just have to lock myself in a room, go nowhere, not logon to LT, etc etc etc.....How much fun is that? NOT
91lindapanzo
I'll be curious to hear what you think about Sixteen Pleasures. Hellenga was my sister's English prof at Knox College.
92alcottacre
I loved West with the Night when I read it a couple of years ago. I am glad that you enjoyed it too.
I will have to add Cold Sassy Tree to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation of that one.
I will have to add Cold Sassy Tree to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation of that one.
93cushlareads
I've just caught up on your last 70 messages and I'm not going to get behind again!
The Madison and Churchill have both gone onto my wishlist, and I am already a Donna Leon fan - but I'm stalled because I'm trying to read the 2nd one in German, and it's just not the same... but I don't want to quit. I loved Death at La Fenice and for once I'm going to go in order. (The cookbook looks great!)
And that cross stitch is beautiful. Once, in a life before kids, I did a couple of very easy ones and loved it. One day I will get back to being craft-y!
The Madison and Churchill have both gone onto my wishlist, and I am already a Donna Leon fan - but I'm stalled because I'm trying to read the 2nd one in German, and it's just not the same... but I don't want to quit. I loved Death at La Fenice and for once I'm going to go in order. (The cookbook looks great!)
And that cross stitch is beautiful. Once, in a life before kids, I did a couple of very easy ones and loved it. One day I will get back to being craft-y!
94tututhefirst
April Wrap Up
Well we didn't get too many april showers here this year, but we are having a gloriously early spring. April was a fairly light but eclectic reading month for me. Here's the breakdown of the 15 books I completed:
As you can see, I'm trying to remember my Excel training, and my graphing leaves a bit to be desired. I'm just a person who often sees things better when they're pictures rather than just listing numbers, but for those of you who prefer just the facts, they are
Audio 10
Print 5
```````````````
Fiction 10 (4 mysteries)
Non-fiction 5
``````````````````````
Borrowed from library 11
Gifts from publishers/authors 1
From my own shelves 3
With the exception of books for my three book clubs, May and June are going to be spent almost exclusively reading ARCs and contest wins. I have a shelf full of great ones that are really beginning to weigh on my conscience, so before I go off reading anybody else's wonderful current suggestions, I'm going to clear out the backlog. I've been really good these past 4-5 weeks and only requested/accepted 3-4 new ones. With warm weather coming up, I'll want to spend more time outside.
At least since I'll be out of town for a chunk of May, I won't have the temptation to load up on library books, although my MP3 will definitely be loaded with audios. However, I will be visiting my sister Cheli (cyderry) and we will be doing our semi-annual swap of books between our two libraries. At least we don't have due dates. We don't give up the books until we've first read them ourselves, so it's not so painful.
The Best of the Month is a tie between Cutting for Stone and Wolf Hall not only for fiction, but also for the best audios. West with the Night wins for non-fiction.
Well we didn't get too many april showers here this year, but we are having a gloriously early spring. April was a fairly light but eclectic reading month for me. Here's the breakdown of the 15 books I completed:
As you can see, I'm trying to remember my Excel training, and my graphing leaves a bit to be desired. I'm just a person who often sees things better when they're pictures rather than just listing numbers, but for those of you who prefer just the facts, they are
Audio 10
Print 5
```````````````
Fiction 10 (4 mysteries)
Non-fiction 5
``````````````````````
Borrowed from library 11
Gifts from publishers/authors 1
From my own shelves 3
With the exception of books for my three book clubs, May and June are going to be spent almost exclusively reading ARCs and contest wins. I have a shelf full of great ones that are really beginning to weigh on my conscience, so before I go off reading anybody else's wonderful current suggestions, I'm going to clear out the backlog. I've been really good these past 4-5 weeks and only requested/accepted 3-4 new ones. With warm weather coming up, I'll want to spend more time outside.
At least since I'll be out of town for a chunk of May, I won't have the temptation to load up on library books, although my MP3 will definitely be loaded with audios. However, I will be visiting my sister Cheli (cyderry) and we will be doing our semi-annual swap of books between our two libraries. At least we don't have due dates. We don't give up the books until we've first read them ourselves, so it's not so painful.
The Best of the Month is a tie between Cutting for Stone and Wolf Hall not only for fiction, but also for the best audios. West with the Night wins for non-fiction.
95bonniebooks
The graphs are great! Visuals are such a powerful way to transmit information quickly. Love 'em. Ooh! Your book swap sounds great too. Have a great trip!
96alcottacre
I am with Bonnie - the book swap sounds great. Too bad my sister is not a reader.
97bonniebooks
I'm sure there are tons of LT-ers who would volunteer to be your "sister," Stasia! Anybody trading with you would likely come out ahead. :-)
98alcottacre
#97: Thanks for that, Bonnie. I forgot you and I are already rather 'honorarily' related :)
99Carmenere
Good for you Tina. I'm glad to see you are keeping your Excel skills active. It is something I ought to do too but I'm just too dog gone lazy.
100tututhefirst
69 Sixteen Pleasures by Robert Hellenga.
Author: Robert Hellenga
Format: trade paperback, 384 pgs
Subject: restoration of rare books; romance in Italy
Setting: Florence Italy 1966
Genre:fiction
Source: borrowed from a friend
I'm not sure yet how I feel about this book. I read it for a book discussion group that will meet later this week, and I'm curious to see how this group related to this fictional account of a young American book conservator who goes off to Florence in 1966 to help restore books damaged in the great flood. The parts having to do with the city and the techniques of restoration I found fascinating. But the parts about the romance....
hmmmm....
Margot, the heroine discovers a volume of illustrated love poems showing what are generally regarded as pornographic sketches of the 16 pleasures referred to in the poetry. The book is bound within a prayerbook and is on the shelves of the convent where she is boarding. The Abbess asks her to restore it and then see if she can sell it without the bishop knowing since his Eminence would then take away the book and either destroy it, or sell it and keep the money.
Margot meets an urbane romantic Italian (natch!) although to me he is the typical bodice ripping Italian stud.. they embark on a romance while restoring the book, and trying out the 16 pleasures themselves. The blurb calls this an erotic book about an erotic book. Using my limited Italian, I'll wave my hand side to side up and down, and say mezzo, mezzo Not all that erotic, and I'm really not sure I care for the ending. It was worth reading for the memories of Florence and the info about how the books were saved.
Author: Robert Hellenga
Format: trade paperback, 384 pgs
Subject: restoration of rare books; romance in Italy
Setting: Florence Italy 1966
Genre:fiction
Source: borrowed from a friend
I'm not sure yet how I feel about this book. I read it for a book discussion group that will meet later this week, and I'm curious to see how this group related to this fictional account of a young American book conservator who goes off to Florence in 1966 to help restore books damaged in the great flood. The parts having to do with the city and the techniques of restoration I found fascinating. But the parts about the romance....
hmmmm....
Margot, the heroine discovers a volume of illustrated love poems showing what are generally regarded as pornographic sketches of the 16 pleasures referred to in the poetry. The book is bound within a prayerbook and is on the shelves of the convent where she is boarding. The Abbess asks her to restore it and then see if she can sell it without the bishop knowing since his Eminence would then take away the book and either destroy it, or sell it and keep the money.
Margot meets an urbane romantic Italian (natch!) although to me he is the typical bodice ripping Italian stud.. they embark on a romance while restoring the book, and trying out the 16 pleasures themselves. The blurb calls this an erotic book about an erotic book. Using my limited Italian, I'll wave my hand side to side up and down, and say mezzo, mezzo Not all that erotic, and I'm really not sure I care for the ending. It was worth reading for the memories of Florence and the info about how the books were saved.
101lindapanzo
Thanks for your comments about the Hellenga book, Tina. My LT Santa last year got me a book about the flood/art disaster in Florence.
I think the art restoration part would be the part of greater interest to me as well.
I think the art restoration part would be the part of greater interest to me as well.
102tututhefirst
70 An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor
Another sweet audio to while away the time while needleing and swimming. More adventures of Drs. Laverty and O'Reilly depicting the Irish charm working to solve all the problems of the world in the mystical village of Ballybuckleboo in Northern Ireland. Romance, trauma, a little suspense, and general bonhommie make this series a warm and welcoming break from serious stuff--like a good evening spent in a pub with friends. I love every one of these characters and know I'll be listening to these audios again and again. I also have An Irish Country Girl in print sitting here from the library...it's the book devoted to the housekeeper Kinky.
Another sweet audio to while away the time while needleing and swimming. More adventures of Drs. Laverty and O'Reilly depicting the Irish charm working to solve all the problems of the world in the mystical village of Ballybuckleboo in Northern Ireland. Romance, trauma, a little suspense, and general bonhommie make this series a warm and welcoming break from serious stuff--like a good evening spent in a pub with friends. I love every one of these characters and know I'll be listening to these audios again and again. I also have An Irish Country Girl in print sitting here from the library...it's the book devoted to the housekeeper Kinky.
103suslyn
I can input data into Excel, occassionally succeed with a formula and that's it. I'm impressed
104lindapanzo
#102, I've read the first two and loved them. Hope to read An Irish Country Christmas soon.
Funny but I'd recommended them to a friend who is Irish American. She just called to say that she read two in the past week but had been very confused as to when the mystery would happen. Apparently, I've recommended only mysteries to her and she assumed that these were mysteries, too.
Funny but I'd recommended them to a friend who is Irish American. She just called to say that she read two in the past week but had been very confused as to when the mystery would happen. Apparently, I've recommended only mysteries to her and she assumed that these were mysteries, too.
105Eat_Read_Knit
#100 I think I liked Sixteen Pleasures a bit more than you did, Tina, but I agree that its primary attraction is reading about Florence and book conservation, and it's not even remotely erotic.
106tututhefirst
Oh caty....I didn't mean to sound negative, I just have to learn to stop reading the book covers because they often mislead....
I'm really looking forward to the group discussion Wednesday evening, and will post here if there is anything interesting.
Speaking of book discussions, today the seniors group met to discuss West with the Night. Seems the ladies had done some research into Ms. Markham's life and got "the rest of the story." Nowhere in this memoir (which turns out to have been mostly ghost written by one of her three husbands) does she mention her marriages, her child, or any of her other affaires.....probably because it appears they were too numerous to count. She was reported to have been paid off by a member of the British royal family to stay away from the Dukes of Gloucester and York, and had some kinda fling with WIndsor too. I must get one of the biographies written by more objective authors to fill out my understanding of this woman.
One of the ladies there today kept saying "yes, but she set that record, and that's what counted!" She was almost putting her hands up to her ears like she didn't want the heroine's image to be spoiled. Quite a fascinating discussion...
I'm really looking forward to the group discussion Wednesday evening, and will post here if there is anything interesting.
Speaking of book discussions, today the seniors group met to discuss West with the Night. Seems the ladies had done some research into Ms. Markham's life and got "the rest of the story." Nowhere in this memoir (which turns out to have been mostly ghost written by one of her three husbands) does she mention her marriages, her child, or any of her other affaires.....probably because it appears they were too numerous to count. She was reported to have been paid off by a member of the British royal family to stay away from the Dukes of Gloucester and York, and had some kinda fling with WIndsor too. I must get one of the biographies written by more objective authors to fill out my understanding of this woman.
One of the ladies there today kept saying "yes, but she set that record, and that's what counted!" She was almost putting her hands up to her ears like she didn't want the heroine's image to be spoiled. Quite a fascinating discussion...
107Eat_Read_Knit
#106 You didn't sound negative - you just sounded as if you'd be likely to rate it at about a 3/5 rather than 4.5/5 like I did. I agree with you about the cover on that one, though: it's definitely misleading.
108sibylline
I never could quite figure out what didn't work for me with 16 Pleasures, but it didn't. I never really cared about any of the characters. That's all I can remember. I kept thinking I would get more engaged, but I never did.
109Carmenere
Hi Tina! Just wanted you to know you were on my mind today while I perused the selection of books at my local library booksale. I found and purchased A Sea of Troubles by Donna Leon. I won't be getting to it any time soon, but had to tell you that you do have an influence on me.
110tututhefirst
Sea of Troubles is one I haven't read yet...in fact there are 13 of the 19 I have not yet had the pleasure of reading. Lots of fun to look forward to...
111tututhefirst
Abandoned Book: Langata Rules: Pirates at Lat 10
I probably should have noticed the BIG CLUE when I added this book to my library---I'm the only owner out of the over 1 million members.
I got this from the publisher (can't remember whether I asked or they offered) to do an ARC. Here's the review I promised NOT to post on my blog. I have offered the publisher the option of a contest giveaway. I also posted just a few words on the book itself and gave it 1/2 star.
I was looking forward to reading this because the subject is not only timely, but of great interest to both my husband (a retired Navy ship captain) and myself. In fact, he snatched it from the incoming mail the day it arrived. After 4 days, he handed it to me with nary a comment, and asked when I planned to read it. Although it was about 4th in my queue, I could tell he was anxious for my reaction. I read between 150-200 books a year, and the majority are not brain candy. He is a serious reader (and retired HS history teacher after his stint in the Navy) and knows a good book when he sees it as well as I do. So I put aside my current read, and got right down to it. After almost 2 hours, I can truthfully say:
This is NOT a good book. I drudged through as much as I could. I read the foreword (more on that in a minute). I read the first 50 or so pages (and that took almost an hour because I kept having to go back and re-read large chunks to see what I wasn't 'getting.' I flipped through some more, and then, in pure exasperation (with a modicum of hope for redemption?) read the last 20 pages. I can sum this up by saying:
- Disjointed story- a very complicated plot line that is extremely hard to latch onto and follow.
- Too many characters with too little connection at the beginning to catch the reader
- A political diatribe masquerading as a novel
I make it a policy not to read other's reviews before I read a book I've agreed to review. I read them afterward, and although all but one are 5 stars (nobody gets all 5 star review--so they put in a 4 star) I think the reviews on Amazon must be from friends or associates who wanted to say something nice. They all did agree that it took a while to get into, and while I'm more than used to taking a while to get into a book, and reading books with many characters who don't seem related, this one is entirely too disjointed for me to want to invest any more time in.
Incidentally, hubbies review was a simple one-word : HORRIBLE.
I especially disliked the foreword: Written by U.S. Representative Adam Smith, who is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats, it is a treatise on the current world political situation that is feeding the growth of the pirate problem, and what nations can and should do about it. OK….that's nice, but not as an introduction to a novel that is written as a suspense thriller. It really confused me and did not contribute to my ability to get into the book. It might have worked as an epilogue, but at the end of this publication we are presented with an explanation of the Fabric of Life Foundation, who will receive a share of the profits (should there be any) from this book. Is that supposed to make me the reader more anxious to buy this?
On a positive note, the type font is really a nice one that I found easy on the eyes (something I always look for) and the amount of white space is also conducive to easy reading. But…..the non-justified margins, and continuing dialogue changes rendered the good font useless.
To sum up, this is a book in need of a good editor, a map of the area in question, a much stronger and focused opening, a title that means something, and a decision on the part of both the author and the publisher about its genre. Is it supposed to be a non-fiction expose of the pirate problem, or a thriller suspense novel? There are authors who might be able to pull off both in one volume, but in my opinion, Miller isn't the one.
As Mrs. Lincoln might have said: "Other than that, the play wasn't half-bad."
ETA: I searched WorldCAT= and there does not appear to be even one library that has it. Nuf said.
I probably should have noticed the BIG CLUE when I added this book to my library---I'm the only owner out of the over 1 million members.
I got this from the publisher (can't remember whether I asked or they offered) to do an ARC. Here's the review I promised NOT to post on my blog. I have offered the publisher the option of a contest giveaway. I also posted just a few words on the book itself and gave it 1/2 star.
I was looking forward to reading this because the subject is not only timely, but of great interest to both my husband (a retired Navy ship captain) and myself. In fact, he snatched it from the incoming mail the day it arrived. After 4 days, he handed it to me with nary a comment, and asked when I planned to read it. Although it was about 4th in my queue, I could tell he was anxious for my reaction. I read between 150-200 books a year, and the majority are not brain candy. He is a serious reader (and retired HS history teacher after his stint in the Navy) and knows a good book when he sees it as well as I do. So I put aside my current read, and got right down to it. After almost 2 hours, I can truthfully say:
This is NOT a good book. I drudged through as much as I could. I read the foreword (more on that in a minute). I read the first 50 or so pages (and that took almost an hour because I kept having to go back and re-read large chunks to see what I wasn't 'getting.' I flipped through some more, and then, in pure exasperation (with a modicum of hope for redemption?) read the last 20 pages. I can sum this up by saying:
- Disjointed story- a very complicated plot line that is extremely hard to latch onto and follow.
- Too many characters with too little connection at the beginning to catch the reader
- A political diatribe masquerading as a novel
I make it a policy not to read other's reviews before I read a book I've agreed to review. I read them afterward, and although all but one are 5 stars (nobody gets all 5 star review--so they put in a 4 star) I think the reviews on Amazon must be from friends or associates who wanted to say something nice. They all did agree that it took a while to get into, and while I'm more than used to taking a while to get into a book, and reading books with many characters who don't seem related, this one is entirely too disjointed for me to want to invest any more time in.
Incidentally, hubbies review was a simple one-word : HORRIBLE.
I especially disliked the foreword: Written by U.S. Representative Adam Smith, who is the Chair of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats, it is a treatise on the current world political situation that is feeding the growth of the pirate problem, and what nations can and should do about it. OK….that's nice, but not as an introduction to a novel that is written as a suspense thriller. It really confused me and did not contribute to my ability to get into the book. It might have worked as an epilogue, but at the end of this publication we are presented with an explanation of the Fabric of Life Foundation, who will receive a share of the profits (should there be any) from this book. Is that supposed to make me the reader more anxious to buy this?
On a positive note, the type font is really a nice one that I found easy on the eyes (something I always look for) and the amount of white space is also conducive to easy reading. But…..the non-justified margins, and continuing dialogue changes rendered the good font useless.
To sum up, this is a book in need of a good editor, a map of the area in question, a much stronger and focused opening, a title that means something, and a decision on the part of both the author and the publisher about its genre. Is it supposed to be a non-fiction expose of the pirate problem, or a thriller suspense novel? There are authors who might be able to pull off both in one volume, but in my opinion, Miller isn't the one.
As Mrs. Lincoln might have said: "Other than that, the play wasn't half-bad."
ETA: I searched WorldCAT= and there does not appear to be even one library that has it. Nuf said.
112profilerSR
It doesn't sound as if the book was worth your excellent negative review! Enlightening and interesting comments.
113alcottacre
#111: Well, I can add that one to my 'Do Not Read' list! I hope you enjoy your next book more, Tina.
114tututhefirst
70 An Irish Country Village
Another sweet almost syrupy but delightful episode in the lives of Drs. Laverty and O'Reilly. The two continue their good works not just medically, but in almost every aspect of village life. Barry and Patricia continue their courtship, Kinky continues to cook, Arthur Guiness the dog continues to attack Barry's leg. It's perfect lite, feel good, happily every after brain candy that I can't help but love.
John Keating's gorgeous Irish accent really makes this for me. I could work out in the pool for hours just listening to him read the different voices. The end of the audio had an interview with Patrick Taylor in which he sets out his philosophy for the book and how he comes up with the stories in it. I think he summed it up perfectly when he was asked:
"Is there a real village called Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland?" He replied, "Is there a real Brigadoon?"
I currently have the next two in the series waiting for my listening pleasure whenever I want to be refreshed, and renewed.
Another sweet almost syrupy but delightful episode in the lives of Drs. Laverty and O'Reilly. The two continue their good works not just medically, but in almost every aspect of village life. Barry and Patricia continue their courtship, Kinky continues to cook, Arthur Guiness the dog continues to attack Barry's leg. It's perfect lite, feel good, happily every after brain candy that I can't help but love.
John Keating's gorgeous Irish accent really makes this for me. I could work out in the pool for hours just listening to him read the different voices. The end of the audio had an interview with Patrick Taylor in which he sets out his philosophy for the book and how he comes up with the stories in it. I think he summed it up perfectly when he was asked:
"Is there a real village called Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland?" He replied, "Is there a real Brigadoon?"
I currently have the next two in the series waiting for my listening pleasure whenever I want to be refreshed, and renewed.
115tututhefirst
71 Gods in Alabama
Author: Joshilyn Jackson
Narrator: Catherine Tabor
Format: audio - 8 hrs; 320 pgs equivalent
Subject: small town southern life,
Setting: Chicago, small town Alabama
Genre: mystery and narrative fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support Your Local Library
A real surprise. I can't remember who recommended this, but I'm glad I picked it up. As an audio book, this was quite enjoyable. I did not realize that there is quite a mystery built into the story. It's not a detective or police procedural, rather the mystery lies in unearthing the secret past life of the main character Arleen Fleet (Leenie) who left Alabama upon graduation from high school having promised God: 1. Never to lie again. 2 Never to fornicate again, and 3. Never to return to Alabama.
When an old school mate tracks her down in Chicago, Arleen realizes she must return to Alabama to face her demons. She takes her boyfriend Burr with her and together they backtrack through the minds and reminiscences of Arleen, her Aunt Florence, and her Cousin Charlene to reconstruct what caused Leenie to leave in the first place.
There are howlingly funny scenes, poignant scenes of teenage angst, and well-written dialogue to keep the story flowing well. The narrator, Kathryn Tabor does an excellent job with the accent and dialect of the region. This is the third "southern" fiction I've read recently (the others being "Miss Julia" and "Cold Sassy Tree") It was also the best of the three.
Author: Joshilyn Jackson
Narrator: Catherine Tabor
Format: audio - 8 hrs; 320 pgs equivalent
Subject: small town southern life,
Setting: Chicago, small town Alabama
Genre: mystery and narrative fiction
Source: public library
Challenge: Audio Books, Support Your Local Library
A real surprise. I can't remember who recommended this, but I'm glad I picked it up. As an audio book, this was quite enjoyable. I did not realize that there is quite a mystery built into the story. It's not a detective or police procedural, rather the mystery lies in unearthing the secret past life of the main character Arleen Fleet (Leenie) who left Alabama upon graduation from high school having promised God: 1. Never to lie again. 2 Never to fornicate again, and 3. Never to return to Alabama.
When an old school mate tracks her down in Chicago, Arleen realizes she must return to Alabama to face her demons. She takes her boyfriend Burr with her and together they backtrack through the minds and reminiscences of Arleen, her Aunt Florence, and her Cousin Charlene to reconstruct what caused Leenie to leave in the first place.
There are howlingly funny scenes, poignant scenes of teenage angst, and well-written dialogue to keep the story flowing well. The narrator, Kathryn Tabor does an excellent job with the accent and dialect of the region. This is the third "southern" fiction I've read recently (the others being "Miss Julia" and "Cold Sassy Tree") It was also the best of the three.
116suslyn
Well the best of the three is a rec indeed as I've heard good things about the others. Glad for you
118profilerSR
> 115 I'm adding this to the wishNotebook. I had wondered about this one and it sounds very entertaining.
119Whisper1
Tina
Beryl Markham was indeed a very controversial person. I enjoy your description of your book club discussion.
Beryl Markham was indeed a very controversial person. I enjoy your description of your book club discussion.
120alcottacre
#115: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation and review!
121tututhefirst
72 On Hallowed Ground by Robert Poole.
The Story of Arlington National Cemetery
Author: Robert Poole
Format: Hardcover =339 pgs including 68 pages appendices and notes
Subject:history of Arlington National Cemetery
Genre: non-ficton
Source: public library
Challenge:Support your public library
As a veteran of the US Navy, married to another Navy veteran (and retiree), I went out of my way to track this book down. Both of us are at a point in our lives where the subject of funerals comes up often, and we have attended dozens of funerals at Arlington to honor friends and shipmates. One of our biggest questions has always been "where do we want to be buried?" My children both live within 10 miles of Arlington, and until we moved to Maine 6 years ago, I literally drove past rows and rows of graves on my way to work in Arlington every morning for 16 years. While I don't qualify for burial on my own (I didn't do enough time to retire), my husband does, so I rate burial there as his spouse. But we both had sort of taken it off the short list because it seemed so big and impersonal. In fact, my husband used to work in the Navy Annex building up the hill from the Pentagon and overlooking the cemetery, and then later at the Pentagon, and says he's not sure he wants to spend eternity in site of his old offices. It is a beautiful, quiet, well-maintained park like space to stroll through, but stay there forever? Hmmmm...
After reading Robert Poole's excellent story of the history, the sentiments, the politics, and the rich heritage of this glorious site, it's at least back in consideration. Read the full review
Many thanks to all of you who recommended this one--it is definitely a winner and one of my few 5 stars. edited to correct spelling
The Story of Arlington National Cemetery
Author: Robert Poole
Format: Hardcover =339 pgs including 68 pages appendices and notes
Subject:history of Arlington National Cemetery
Genre: non-ficton
Source: public library
Challenge:Support your public library
As a veteran of the US Navy, married to another Navy veteran (and retiree), I went out of my way to track this book down. Both of us are at a point in our lives where the subject of funerals comes up often, and we have attended dozens of funerals at Arlington to honor friends and shipmates. One of our biggest questions has always been "where do we want to be buried?" My children both live within 10 miles of Arlington, and until we moved to Maine 6 years ago, I literally drove past rows and rows of graves on my way to work in Arlington every morning for 16 years. While I don't qualify for burial on my own (I didn't do enough time to retire), my husband does, so I rate burial there as his spouse. But we both had sort of taken it off the short list because it seemed so big and impersonal. In fact, my husband used to work in the Navy Annex building up the hill from the Pentagon and overlooking the cemetery, and then later at the Pentagon, and says he's not sure he wants to spend eternity in site of his old offices. It is a beautiful, quiet, well-maintained park like space to stroll through, but stay there forever? Hmmmm...
After reading Robert Poole's excellent story of the history, the sentiments, the politics, and the rich heritage of this glorious site, it's at least back in consideration. Read the full review
Many thanks to all of you who recommended this one--it is definitely a winner and one of my few 5 stars. edited to correct spelling
123lindapanzo
Thumbs up from me, too. It was already on the tbr pile but now, it's been moved to the top of the pile.
124profilerSR
Excellent review of On Hallowed Ground. It's already on my list or I would add it again!!
125alcottacre
#121: Glad you liked that one, Tina! It is on my memorable reads list for this year.
128richardderus
Many happy returns of the day, Tina!
129porch_reader
Happy Birthday, Tina! I hope that it's a great one.
132lindapanzo
Happy Birthday, Tina!!
133tututhefirst
Thanks guys--I had a good one--worked in the library (and managed to escape w/o bringing home any more books to add to the TBR pile), finished Food of a Younger Land a fun book - review up later tonight or tomorrow, worked out in the pool (got a whole disc of Irish Country Christmas listened to ---don't get excited--I'm just trying to do the whole series in order, and want to get to his new one about Kinky.
Then hubbie cooked dinner and now I'm watching the Red Sox once again try to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. SIGH.............
Now I have to get to my last ER book (but not tonite) and I'll feel like I'm catching up. It's been delightful to hear from all of you --this is the best group on LT. SALUT!
Then hubbie cooked dinner and now I'm watching the Red Sox once again try to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. SIGH.............
Now I have to get to my last ER book (but not tonite) and I'll feel like I'm catching up. It's been delightful to hear from all of you --this is the best group on LT. SALUT!
134Whisper1
Happy Birthday. I apologize for not posting this. Usually I'm right on top of birthdays, but the end of semester has caught up with me.
I'm glad you had a great day!
I'm glad you had a great day!
135tututhefirst
73 The Food of a Younger Land
The Food of a Younger Land
"A Portrait of American Food -before the national highway system, before chain restaurants, and before frozen food, when the nation's food was seasonal, regional, and traditional -- from the lost WPA Files.
Author: Mark Kurlansky
Format: hardback 388 pages
Subject: food, recipes, social customs
Genre: non-fiction, collation
Source: public library
Challenge:Support Your Local Library
During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration (WPA) created the Federal Writer's Program (FWP) to provide work for unemployed authors. There were a number of projects that evolved, including a series of guidebooks for the different states. Late in the 30's, the "America Eats" project began. There were actually a series of projects in different sections of the country, which were intended to be combined in one huge report. WWII intervened, and the reports from individual writers were never collated or published.
Enter Mark Kurlansky, researcher extraordinaire. He has taken the long abandoned manuscripts, culled out the best and put them together in this delightful look at how our parents and grandparents ate.
The book is divided into the original five geographic sections envisioned by the FWP. Each section features representative essays, stories, recipes, anecdotes, reports of festivals and church suppers, along with photographs and drawings. I started this book as an audio, which while well done, did not lend itself to savoring all the information, so I borrowed a print edition from the local library. It is such a fun read, that it is now on my wishlist to purchase so that I can add it to my food collection. It is part history, part social memoir, and part cookbook. All of it interesting and enticing. Some of my favorites include
From the Northeast:
- the North Whitefield Maine Game Supper,
- the almost infinite discussion of the variations of clam chowder,
- the glorious reminiscences of the New York Automat (complete with 5 page glossary of slang and jargon for short order cooks in New York);
- the "Italian Feed" in Vermont;
From the South:
- recipes for possum, squirrel, rabbit, rattlesnake and chitterlings;
- a good recipe for crab imperial (an outstanding and scrumptious chesapeake bay dish well remembered from MY youth--it was THE dish for banquets, weddings, and any big celebration--no girl left home in Maryland without knowing how to make it).
- The introduction to Mississippi food written by Eudora Welty is one of her earliest works and representative of the kind of work the FWP engendered.
From the Middle West:
- recipes and stories about food favored by various Indian tribes such as buffalo tongue as a delicacy favored by the Sioux (who incidentally never used salt until they were introduced to it by white men in the early 1900's);
- the Lutefisk favored by the Scandanavians who settled in the Great Lakes region;
- recipes from the cooks serving the vast lumberjack camps in Michigan---
From the Far west
- there were numerous recipes and essays about salmon, smelts, clams, Montana Beaver Tail, and Washington Wildcat parties.
- This fascinating section also included a list of Colorado superstitions (pg. 296) of which my favorite is #12: " You will receive mail from the direction in which your pie is pointing, when it is set down at your place at the table."
- The recipe for Depression Cake is almost identical to one I inherited from my gram (via my mom) which is known in our family as "YUM YUM Cake"--I still make it every Christmas.
- And the essay by Claire Warner Churchill entitled "An Oregon Protest Against Mashed Potatoes" had me rolling on the floor.
The Southwest section was the shortest--for some reason the WPA lumped only Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Southern California into this section. Most of the recipes were heavily influenced by the Spanish American presence so prevalent in that area.
- Don Dolan contributed an essay entitled " A Los Angeles Sandwich called a Taco."
- There were also several essays and discussions of the food (and customs) of the Choctaw and Hopi Indian tribes, and
- A story about Oklahoma prairie oysters (aka the results of 'cattle neutering'.)
The book concludes with lists of cookbooks available during the era, and a current bibliography for more up-to-date resources. This is a tour de force. Kurlansky has done a yeoman job of taking a ton of material and getting it down to a manageable and enjoyable volume. A great read for anyone interested in social history and food.
The Food of a Younger Land
"A Portrait of American Food -before the national highway system, before chain restaurants, and before frozen food, when the nation's food was seasonal, regional, and traditional -- from the lost WPA Files.
Author: Mark Kurlansky
Format: hardback 388 pages
Subject: food, recipes, social customs
Genre: non-fiction, collation
Source: public library
Challenge:Support Your Local Library
During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration (WPA) created the Federal Writer's Program (FWP) to provide work for unemployed authors. There were a number of projects that evolved, including a series of guidebooks for the different states. Late in the 30's, the "America Eats" project began. There were actually a series of projects in different sections of the country, which were intended to be combined in one huge report. WWII intervened, and the reports from individual writers were never collated or published.
Enter Mark Kurlansky, researcher extraordinaire. He has taken the long abandoned manuscripts, culled out the best and put them together in this delightful look at how our parents and grandparents ate.
The book is divided into the original five geographic sections envisioned by the FWP. Each section features representative essays, stories, recipes, anecdotes, reports of festivals and church suppers, along with photographs and drawings. I started this book as an audio, which while well done, did not lend itself to savoring all the information, so I borrowed a print edition from the local library. It is such a fun read, that it is now on my wishlist to purchase so that I can add it to my food collection. It is part history, part social memoir, and part cookbook. All of it interesting and enticing. Some of my favorites include
From the Northeast:
- the North Whitefield Maine Game Supper,
- the almost infinite discussion of the variations of clam chowder,
- the glorious reminiscences of the New York Automat (complete with 5 page glossary of slang and jargon for short order cooks in New York);
- the "Italian Feed" in Vermont;
From the South:
- recipes for possum, squirrel, rabbit, rattlesnake and chitterlings;
- a good recipe for crab imperial (an outstanding and scrumptious chesapeake bay dish well remembered from MY youth--it was THE dish for banquets, weddings, and any big celebration--no girl left home in Maryland without knowing how to make it).
- The introduction to Mississippi food written by Eudora Welty is one of her earliest works and representative of the kind of work the FWP engendered.
From the Middle West:
- recipes and stories about food favored by various Indian tribes such as buffalo tongue as a delicacy favored by the Sioux (who incidentally never used salt until they were introduced to it by white men in the early 1900's);
- the Lutefisk favored by the Scandanavians who settled in the Great Lakes region;
- recipes from the cooks serving the vast lumberjack camps in Michigan---
"At night they came into camp stamping with cold and grim with hunger. In the cookhouse the long tables were loaded with food; smoking platters of fresh mush, bowls of mashed potatoes, piles of pancakes and pitchers of corn syrup, kettles of rich brown beans, pans of prunes, dried peaches, rice puddings, rows of apple pies." pg. 269.
From the Far west
"The life of these people is not entirely one monotonous round of fried beans, baked beans, boiled beans, and just beans,varied only by an occasional jack rabbit or two...";
- there were numerous recipes and essays about salmon, smelts, clams, Montana Beaver Tail, and Washington Wildcat parties.
- This fascinating section also included a list of Colorado superstitions (pg. 296) of which my favorite is #12: " You will receive mail from the direction in which your pie is pointing, when it is set down at your place at the table."
- The recipe for Depression Cake is almost identical to one I inherited from my gram (via my mom) which is known in our family as "YUM YUM Cake"--I still make it every Christmas.
- And the essay by Claire Warner Churchill entitled "An Oregon Protest Against Mashed Potatoes" had me rolling on the floor.
The Southwest section was the shortest--for some reason the WPA lumped only Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Southern California into this section. Most of the recipes were heavily influenced by the Spanish American presence so prevalent in that area.
- Don Dolan contributed an essay entitled " A Los Angeles Sandwich called a Taco."
- There were also several essays and discussions of the food (and customs) of the Choctaw and Hopi Indian tribes, and
- A story about Oklahoma prairie oysters (aka the results of 'cattle neutering'.)
The book concludes with lists of cookbooks available during the era, and a current bibliography for more up-to-date resources. This is a tour de force. Kurlansky has done a yeoman job of taking a ton of material and getting it down to a manageable and enjoyable volume. A great read for anyone interested in social history and food.
136tymfos
Happy Birthday!
Great review of On Hallowed Ground, which was probaly one of the best books I read last year! (I gave you a thumb!)
Your last review made me hungry, though.
Great review of On Hallowed Ground, which was probaly one of the best books I read last year! (I gave you a thumb!)
Your last review made me hungry, though.
137Donna828
I'm late doing my "rounds" today. It sounds like you had a happy and productive birthday.
The best part? "Then hubbie cooked dinner..." Did he bake you a cake?
The best part? "Then hubbie cooked dinner..." Did he bake you a cake?
138tututhefirst
No he didn't bake a cake---neither of us needs all those calories, so we indulged in some fresh strawberries with a scoop of homemade icecream from our favorite ice cream stand down the road.....they're only open in the summer. In fact we joke that they usually open right around my birthday, so we always celebrate by going and getting some of their absolutely delicious hand scooped hand packed yummie creamy......ok I'll stop!!!
Oh and he gave me a cookbook for my birthday ---Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats--A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners (A 30-Minute Meal Cookbook) - I'm a big Rachael fan, and he picked this out because he liked some of the recipes. Works for me..I'd just as soon cook what he likes too.
Oh and he gave me a cookbook for my birthday ---Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats--A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners (A 30-Minute Meal Cookbook) - I'm a big Rachael fan, and he picked this out because he liked some of the recipes. Works for me..I'd just as soon cook what he likes too.
139alcottacre
#135: As a Mark Kurlansky fan, that one looks like a must read for me. Thanks for the review and recommendation, Tina!
140Whisper1
Tina
How is the weather in your part of Maine? We haven't vacationed in Maine in a few years and I hope we are able to get up to Princeton this summer. I miss your lovely state.
How is the weather in your part of Maine? We haven't vacationed in Maine in a few years and I hope we are able to get up to Princeton this summer. I miss your lovely state.
141Donna828
>138 tututhefirst:: Actually, the strawberries and ice cream sounds much better than gooey cake. I'm also a fan of 30-minute meals. More time for reading!
142JanetinLondon
#135 - you made that book sound so great, I'll just have to read it. thanks.
143richardderus
I'm not much of a fan of Rachael Ray's talk show, but I love her 30-minute meals. I've often made things she's made when it's auntie and me. Her technique is so simple and her ingredients are yummy!
144sibylline
The Italian Feed in Vermont -- was that from the marble cutters in Rutland?
Of course the classic Vermont recipe is this, said in a proper yankee accent:
You take a hunk of cheddah cheese...........
Of course the classic Vermont recipe is this, said in a proper yankee accent:
You take a hunk of cheddah cheese...........
145tututhefirst
Yes Lucy---the Italian feed did originate with the marble cutters in Rutland. I found it really fascinating to read about all the various ethnic influences throughout the country. Like I said, I'm on the lookout for this one when next we head to the big city.
146cushlareads
A late happy birthday from me!
The Food of a Younger Land sounds good - I really enjoyed his A Basque History of the World a few years ago.
The Food of a Younger Land sounds good - I really enjoyed his A Basque History of the World a few years ago.
147tututhefirst
74 the map of true places
Author: Brunonia Barry
Format: galley proof -406 pages
Characters: Zee, Finch, Melville, Hawk
Subject: Dealing with mental illness , Parkinson's disease
Setting: Salem Massachusetts
Genre: literary fiction
Source: LibraryThing.com Early Review program
Challenge: ARC Completed
This could have been a really depressing book. After all the subjects are suicide, bi-polar disorder, Parkinson's disease, betrayal, and depression. Instead of leaving the reader reaching for the Prozac bottle however, the story ends leaving the reader uplifted.
It is a great story about a story (is it true or is it a fairy tale?), and about a young woman's search for herself, her mother, and her future. Zee Finch is a pyschologist whose patient Lilly (a young woman close to her age) jumps off a bridge when she should have been at her appointment with Zee. Since Lilly reminds Zee of her own mother (the original story-teller) whose bi-polar disease caused her to commit suicide when Zee was 13, our heroine is doubly bummed. Is she mixing up the two women in her own mind? In addition, her fiance is pressuring her to make plans for their scheduled wedding and Zee seems unable to make any decisions. She's not even sure she wants to get married.
She instead chooses to go home to see her father, whom everyone calls "Finch," a noted Hawthorne scholar who lives directly across the street from Hawthorne's house in Salem. Finch suffers from Parkinson's disease, and it becomes immediately evident to Zee that his condition has dramatically worsened since she last saw him. Her patients back in Boston are shifted to others in the practice while she deals with the mountain of issues associated with caring for an aging and ill parent who daily becomes more demented. The rest of the story that follows is touching and to tell it here would ruin an excellent read. The short chapters, the crisp prose, the outstanding dialogue, the building suspense surrounding several characters, all lend themselves to keeping the reader awake long past bedtime to find out how it ends.
I almost wish this book didn't have an epilogue. Although the story's ending is quite well-done, the epilogue seems to have been written to answer all the questions a non-dreamy reader might have about "what happened after that?" Instead of leaving us with a delightful suspicion and willing to use our own imagination to write several different scenarios of what might have been, the author seems intent upon tying up every last string so everything can be shoved neatly into one secure package. Still in all, it is a book worth savoring.
If you're looking for a good vacation fiction read with some romance, some suspense, and a well written story, you won't go wrong with this one.
Author: Brunonia Barry
Format: galley proof -406 pages
Characters: Zee, Finch, Melville, Hawk
Subject: Dealing with mental illness , Parkinson's disease
Setting: Salem Massachusetts
Genre: literary fiction
Source: LibraryThing.com Early Review program
Challenge: ARC Completed
This could have been a really depressing book. After all the subjects are suicide, bi-polar disorder, Parkinson's disease, betrayal, and depression. Instead of leaving the reader reaching for the Prozac bottle however, the story ends leaving the reader uplifted.
It is a great story about a story (is it true or is it a fairy tale?), and about a young woman's search for herself, her mother, and her future. Zee Finch is a pyschologist whose patient Lilly (a young woman close to her age) jumps off a bridge when she should have been at her appointment with Zee. Since Lilly reminds Zee of her own mother (the original story-teller) whose bi-polar disease caused her to commit suicide when Zee was 13, our heroine is doubly bummed. Is she mixing up the two women in her own mind? In addition, her fiance is pressuring her to make plans for their scheduled wedding and Zee seems unable to make any decisions. She's not even sure she wants to get married.
She instead chooses to go home to see her father, whom everyone calls "Finch," a noted Hawthorne scholar who lives directly across the street from Hawthorne's house in Salem. Finch suffers from Parkinson's disease, and it becomes immediately evident to Zee that his condition has dramatically worsened since she last saw him. Her patients back in Boston are shifted to others in the practice while she deals with the mountain of issues associated with caring for an aging and ill parent who daily becomes more demented. The rest of the story that follows is touching and to tell it here would ruin an excellent read. The short chapters, the crisp prose, the outstanding dialogue, the building suspense surrounding several characters, all lend themselves to keeping the reader awake long past bedtime to find out how it ends.
I almost wish this book didn't have an epilogue. Although the story's ending is quite well-done, the epilogue seems to have been written to answer all the questions a non-dreamy reader might have about "what happened after that?" Instead of leaving us with a delightful suspicion and willing to use our own imagination to write several different scenarios of what might have been, the author seems intent upon tying up every last string so everything can be shoved neatly into one secure package. Still in all, it is a book worth savoring.
If you're looking for a good vacation fiction read with some romance, some suspense, and a well written story, you won't go wrong with this one.
148richardderus
Thanks for this review, Tina! I've thumbs-upped you, it was clear and concise (qualities too rare in this world).
149profilerSR
> 147 the map of true places sounds really intriguing. I am adding it to my list. Excellent comments!!!
150cameling
Well your review has certainly captured my interest, Tina. On to the obese wish list it goes.
151JanetinLondon
Great review of The Map of True Places. To be honest, it's not my sort of book, so I'm not going to read it, but your review was such a good description, I almost feel as if I have! Thumbs up from me.
153alcottacre
#147: I already have that one in the BlackHole due to Kath's review, but I really must bump it up. Catey got an ARC of the book, so I am going to steal it - do not tell her though :)
154Carmenere
I missed the mark again! Happy very belated birthday, Tina!!!! I've neglected posts for so long, now I'm trying to catch up.
155sibylline
Great review. Interesting synchronicity -- there's been some mention of Salem and The House of the Seven Gables recently on some other thread.....
156tututhefirst
#154....thanks for the wishes...I actually usually celebrate the whole month long because it's our time to come South from Maine to visit family...so we make the rounds, do the birthdays (there are three fam bdays in May) and mother's day, and 2 sister's anniversaries too. Lots of partying and hugging. If you need more details, they're on Tutu's Two Cents
157suslyn
Lovely review on The Map of True Places! Makes me wish for a library... again LOL
But I'd rather have a marriage! (ETA that's part of the price, and one I'm willing to pay. Even if I do grouse a bit (or, okay, a lot) about it!)
But I'd rather have a marriage! (ETA that's part of the price, and one I'm willing to pay. Even if I do grouse a bit (or, okay, a lot) about it!)
158cyderry
I'm the lucky one - in got this in the great spring book exchange when Tina came to visit yesterday!
159suslyn
>158 cyderry: That does sound good!!
160souloftherose
#147 Another great review and another addition to the wishlist!
161tututhefirst
TA DA!!! Challenge Finished!!!!
#75 Mennonite in a Little Black Dress
Now that we're back home, I can settle down and catch up on reading. I really didn't get much done while we were on the road. I did finish this, although it took me a while. I kept going back to listen to parts again, thinking I had missed something, but I think it's just the way the book was written.
Author: Rhoda Janzen
Narrator: Hilary Huber
Format: audio 8:15, 272 page equivalent
Subject: life as a non-practicing Mennonite
Genre: memoir
Source: public library audio download
Challenge: Support Your Local Library; audio books
It's uproariously funny in parts,--almost bawdy, and not at all what I was expecting. I can't figure out what the point was. It's just a rambling series of autobiographical reflections about the life of a 43 yr old college professor whose atheist husband of 15 years leaves her for a guy named Bob he met on gay.com. She certainly has a rather sarcastic, smart-A viewpoint, and I enjoyed that.
She tells us about a car accident, her going home to recuperate with her parents, which leads to vignettes about growing up 'in the community', her mother's champion flatulence, the advise she gets from everyone about coping with her suddenly single state, but nothing seems to tie together. Worth reading, but don't expect the definitive treatise on anything.
#75 Mennonite in a Little Black Dress
Now that we're back home, I can settle down and catch up on reading. I really didn't get much done while we were on the road. I did finish this, although it took me a while. I kept going back to listen to parts again, thinking I had missed something, but I think it's just the way the book was written.
Author: Rhoda Janzen
Narrator: Hilary Huber
Format: audio 8:15, 272 page equivalent
Subject: life as a non-practicing Mennonite
Genre: memoir
Source: public library audio download
Challenge: Support Your Local Library; audio books
It's uproariously funny in parts,--almost bawdy, and not at all what I was expecting. I can't figure out what the point was. It's just a rambling series of autobiographical reflections about the life of a 43 yr old college professor whose atheist husband of 15 years leaves her for a guy named Bob he met on gay.com. She certainly has a rather sarcastic, smart-A viewpoint, and I enjoyed that.
She tells us about a car accident, her going home to recuperate with her parents, which leads to vignettes about growing up 'in the community', her mother's champion flatulence, the advise she gets from everyone about coping with her suddenly single state, but nothing seems to tie together. Worth reading, but don't expect the definitive treatise on anything.
166profilerSR
Congratulations on meeting the challenge!!!!!
167lindapanzo
Congrats, Tina, on reaching 75 books!! Are you planning to do it again?
168tututhefirst
Definitely continuing on.. I should be able to get a 2nd 75 done by the end of the year. You all are such enablers, it's hard not to stay focused. I do expect the pace to slow a bit--I'm physically feeling much stronger than past summers, so I hope to spend more time in the garden, and working on those 65 boxes in the attic (mostly books!!) to uncover and catalog those treasures. I've also been appointed acting librarian for our town, so I'll be doing a lot with books, but maybe not so much actual reading.
I've got 19 ARCs sitting here, so those will be the focus of my reading for the next couple months. I'm looking forward to seeing what goes into everyone's beach/vacation bags now that it's getting warm---even our coastal town is at 81 today--unheard of for May on coastal Maine.
I've got 19 ARCs sitting here, so those will be the focus of my reading for the next couple months. I'm looking forward to seeing what goes into everyone's beach/vacation bags now that it's getting warm---even our coastal town is at 81 today--unheard of for May on coastal Maine.
170sibylline
Way to go, Tina! We'll be neighbors, soon, me on the the 'west coast' of New England and you down east. We're moving back to VT for good in about three weeks.... I get flutters when I think about it..... OK so I won't think about it. I lurk on yr thread and thought I should poke my head up out of my burrow and say hi. Between my mom and m-in-law I inherited so many books.... I did manage to catalog the children's books from my m-in-law, but that's as far as I've gotten.... Before we move I still want to get all the books in the shelves in the living room in here, which is about like saying I might build a porch next week.
171Donna828
Tina, 65 boxes of (mostly) books in the attic sounds like a labor of love...not so sure about the 19 ARCs you have lined up to read. I suppose it depends on what they are.
Congrats on achieving the 75 mark!
Congrats on achieving the 75 mark!
173tututhefirst
Abandoned book: Emma
Author: Jane Austen
Format:Hard cover and audio
Characters: Emma and a host of chattering females
Subject: Marriage; female friendship
Genre: Fiction
Source: My own shelves, public library
Well this one is going back onto the shelves, and back to the library. One of my book clubs picked this one to fill the 'classics' genre for this month's book. (Our discussion is scheduled for next wednesday). I tried and tried and tried to read this. I tried three different editions (with three different fonts), and the audio, and the Netflix PBS version.
And the bottom line is that I am not interested in whether Emma finds a husband, I cannot stand the superfluous words babbling, bubbling, and burping from lengthy paragraph to lengthy paragraph. I didn't like the premise, I didn't like the characters, and the plot line drove me nutso.
I realize for some it is considered a "classic" - great literature. I had a very classic traditional education, and have a master's degree in library science, but this type of writing--not just this book itself---does exactly ZERO for me. My life is too short, there are too many good books to read, and I'll just have to save Ms. Austen for that TBR pile in the next life.
Can you tell I was a math major?
`````````````````
I am having better luck with the other book club choice: A Separate Country by Robert Hicks, although I'm glad that group is not as 'intellectually rigorous' as the Emma group. I'm not sure I want to go into great analytics of all the historical and social dynamics that are playing out in this one.
I am also listening to ---and thoroughly enjoying The Help It is turning out to be one of the best reads this year. I should have it finished by tomorrow nite.
The trip really took the reading starch out of my sails.....and with this new endeavor (being the acting volunteer library director in our town) I'm finding my reading time really cut down, and my patience with crap going to straightline. Hope you all have a great holiday weekend.
Author: Jane Austen
Format:Hard cover and audio
Characters: Emma and a host of chattering females
Subject: Marriage; female friendship
Genre: Fiction
Source: My own shelves, public library
Well this one is going back onto the shelves, and back to the library. One of my book clubs picked this one to fill the 'classics' genre for this month's book. (Our discussion is scheduled for next wednesday). I tried and tried and tried to read this. I tried three different editions (with three different fonts), and the audio, and the Netflix PBS version.
And the bottom line is that I am not interested in whether Emma finds a husband, I cannot stand the superfluous words babbling, bubbling, and burping from lengthy paragraph to lengthy paragraph. I didn't like the premise, I didn't like the characters, and the plot line drove me nutso.
I realize for some it is considered a "classic" - great literature. I had a very classic traditional education, and have a master's degree in library science, but this type of writing--not just this book itself---does exactly ZERO for me. My life is too short, there are too many good books to read, and I'll just have to save Ms. Austen for that TBR pile in the next life.
Can you tell I was a math major?
`````````````````
I am having better luck with the other book club choice: A Separate Country by Robert Hicks, although I'm glad that group is not as 'intellectually rigorous' as the Emma group. I'm not sure I want to go into great analytics of all the historical and social dynamics that are playing out in this one.
I am also listening to ---and thoroughly enjoying The Help It is turning out to be one of the best reads this year. I should have it finished by tomorrow nite.
The trip really took the reading starch out of my sails.....and with this new endeavor (being the acting volunteer library director in our town) I'm finding my reading time really cut down, and my patience with crap going to straightline. Hope you all have a great holiday weekend.
174alcottacre
Sorry you did not like Emma, Tina, but it looks as though you have a couple of other good reads lined up!
175cyderry
A Separate Country group read for HRBG starts next week but you'll be finished, I'm sure. You might want to drop in anyway.
ETA I understand about Emma - this is the problem that I have with a lot of "CLassics".
ETA I understand about Emma - this is the problem that I have with a lot of "CLassics".
176tututhefirst
76 The Help
Author: Kathleen Stockett
Format: audio 18 hr, 464 pages equivalent
Characters: "Skeeter" Phelan, Minnie, Aibileen, Hilly Holbrook
Subject: racial discrimination, social mores, civil rights movement
Setting: Jackson Mississippi
Genre: fiction
Source: public library audio download
Challenge: Support your public library; Audio books
A good book can be defined as one that is easy to read with a great ending. A great book is one that is so engrossing, with characters so real that the reader is left with an empty feeling when the book ends. I just didn't want it to be over. I want more. I want these people to tell me what happens next.
Often I run like crazy in the opposite direction when I see a book getting rave reviews from everybody. I put off reading this one, in spite of everyone telling me I HAD TO READ this. This time, everybody was right. I have now joined the ranks of all those who are convinced this is one of the best books written in the past year.
Set in the Mississippi of the mid 1960's as the civil rights movement was happening, the book tells the story of black women who served as "the help" in white households in Jackson MS. A recent college graduate, white girl Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan wants to be a journalist, but the only job she can find is writing the housekeeping advice column in the local paper. Raised in a household with "help", she has no idea how to answer the questions, and turns to one of her friend's maids, Aibileen, to get the answers. In the meantime, she serves as the newsletter editor for the local Junior League, where her membership brings her into contact with the prevalent and open racial and class prejudice of the era.
Her relationship with Aibileen, coupled with her rising frustration with the stereotyped role her parents and friends expect of her, leads her to seek an outlet in writing. She is encouraged by a New York editor, who suggests that she write stories of the maids and their families and submit it as a book. In a world where black women working in white houses are forced to use separate bathrooms (many of them outside), where they are taught from early girlhood to never question or talk back to whites, where they never sit with whites, keep their dishes separately, work long hours at less than minimum wage with no Social Security or other benefits, and count them selves lucky to get a $10 bonus or hand-me-down dress at Christmas, and where a white woman's word against them (whether true or not) can land them in jail, getting these maids to share their stories with her is the hardest part of Skeeter's endeavor.
The story is told by Aibileen, by her friend Minnie, and by Skeeter. Each has her own secrets, her own hopes, her own fears. They all live and work in the same circle of people, and know many of each other's secrets. Skeeter must deal with an "on again, off again" relationship with the State Senator's son, a mother who is very ill but very intent on her daughter's following all the prescribed social norms, a best friend who turns out to be a truly bigoted tyrant, and a deadline for her book that looks to be impossible.
Aibileen must encourage all the other maids, keep her own secrets and several from other maids, and still meet with Skeeter to help her record and capture the stories. Minnie, the third point of view, is a wonderfully vibrant character with a true 'smart-ass' sense of humor, a tendency to mouth off and get herself fired, and, who, for most of the book, works for a white woman Celia who is despised as "poh white trash" by all the other Junior Leaguers. Minnie is torn between staying out of Celia's business and mentoring her in proper white woman behavior. The relationship that develops between these two is so well-written that you find yourself rooting for both of them.
The tension builds as Skeeter writes the stories, changing the names and the town, and assures them that it will be published anonymously, while the maids worry what will happen if their white families ever realize who they really are, and what is being said about them publicly.
The book is incredibly well written, and the audio reading is rich with dialect and accents. It has truly believable characters, a range of issues related to the overall racial and class dynamic, and a plot that builds one step at a time holding the reader's attention from the beginning. It flows so well that it is impossible to put it down. One of my few five star reads this year.
Author: Kathleen Stockett
Format: audio 18 hr, 464 pages equivalent
Characters: "Skeeter" Phelan, Minnie, Aibileen, Hilly Holbrook
Subject: racial discrimination, social mores, civil rights movement
Setting: Jackson Mississippi
Genre: fiction
Source: public library audio download
Challenge: Support your public library; Audio books
A good book can be defined as one that is easy to read with a great ending. A great book is one that is so engrossing, with characters so real that the reader is left with an empty feeling when the book ends. I just didn't want it to be over. I want more. I want these people to tell me what happens next.
Often I run like crazy in the opposite direction when I see a book getting rave reviews from everybody. I put off reading this one, in spite of everyone telling me I HAD TO READ this. This time, everybody was right. I have now joined the ranks of all those who are convinced this is one of the best books written in the past year.
Set in the Mississippi of the mid 1960's as the civil rights movement was happening, the book tells the story of black women who served as "the help" in white households in Jackson MS. A recent college graduate, white girl Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan wants to be a journalist, but the only job she can find is writing the housekeeping advice column in the local paper. Raised in a household with "help", she has no idea how to answer the questions, and turns to one of her friend's maids, Aibileen, to get the answers. In the meantime, she serves as the newsletter editor for the local Junior League, where her membership brings her into contact with the prevalent and open racial and class prejudice of the era.
Her relationship with Aibileen, coupled with her rising frustration with the stereotyped role her parents and friends expect of her, leads her to seek an outlet in writing. She is encouraged by a New York editor, who suggests that she write stories of the maids and their families and submit it as a book. In a world where black women working in white houses are forced to use separate bathrooms (many of them outside), where they are taught from early girlhood to never question or talk back to whites, where they never sit with whites, keep their dishes separately, work long hours at less than minimum wage with no Social Security or other benefits, and count them selves lucky to get a $10 bonus or hand-me-down dress at Christmas, and where a white woman's word against them (whether true or not) can land them in jail, getting these maids to share their stories with her is the hardest part of Skeeter's endeavor.
The story is told by Aibileen, by her friend Minnie, and by Skeeter. Each has her own secrets, her own hopes, her own fears. They all live and work in the same circle of people, and know many of each other's secrets. Skeeter must deal with an "on again, off again" relationship with the State Senator's son, a mother who is very ill but very intent on her daughter's following all the prescribed social norms, a best friend who turns out to be a truly bigoted tyrant, and a deadline for her book that looks to be impossible.
Aibileen must encourage all the other maids, keep her own secrets and several from other maids, and still meet with Skeeter to help her record and capture the stories. Minnie, the third point of view, is a wonderfully vibrant character with a true 'smart-ass' sense of humor, a tendency to mouth off and get herself fired, and, who, for most of the book, works for a white woman Celia who is despised as "poh white trash" by all the other Junior Leaguers. Minnie is torn between staying out of Celia's business and mentoring her in proper white woman behavior. The relationship that develops between these two is so well-written that you find yourself rooting for both of them.
The tension builds as Skeeter writes the stories, changing the names and the town, and assures them that it will be published anonymously, while the maids worry what will happen if their white families ever realize who they really are, and what is being said about them publicly.
The book is incredibly well written, and the audio reading is rich with dialect and accents. It has truly believable characters, a range of issues related to the overall racial and class dynamic, and a plot that builds one step at a time holding the reader's attention from the beginning. It flows so well that it is impossible to put it down. One of my few five star reads this year.
177alcottacre
#176: I have that one on my list to get to some time this year. I am glad you enjoyed it, Tina!
178Whisper1
Tina
Good luck with the boxes of books to re-discover. I haven't read The Help yet, but I've heard so many great things about the book. Thanks for your excellent review.
Good luck with the boxes of books to re-discover. I haven't read The Help yet, but I've heard so many great things about the book. Thanks for your excellent review.
179bonniebooks
I read The Help in bits and pieces at the various book stores I visited, then bought the book as soon as I found a good used copy. I'm waiting for my tbr pile to get whittled down a bit more, but am really looking forward to reading it again. The audiobook sounds great too!
180tututhefirst
The May wrap up is a bit scanty ==spent tons of time visiting my family, and that was as important as burying my nose (or ears) in a book.
I read Four:
Sixteen Pleasures
Food of a Younger Land
On Hallowed Ground ---best of the month non-fiction
Map of true places
I 'ear-read' four:
The Help --best of the month fiction and audio
Mennonite in a little black dress
Gods in Alabama
Irish country Village
As you can see, my audios tend to be comfort reads....I have a pile stacked up on the MP3 (34 of them) waiting my listening pleasure.
I've designated June and July as "Catch up with ARCs" months so, except for books for book clubs --A Separate Country, and a Nancy Pickard mystery--, I'll be concentrating on my current USPS bioThe Last Founding Father: James Monroe and these ARCs for June:
The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw
A Dog About Town by J.F.Englert
The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Sol
Exit Music by Ian Rankin
The Executor by Jesse Kellerman
Happy Hour by Michele Scott
The Last Surgeon by Michael Palmer (the man was nice enough to send me an autographed copy - you'd think I could get to it!!!)
The library director job has me running around a bit too, so let's all say a prayer of thanks that I married a true prince who does not mind running a vacuum cleaner, and who doesn't notice finger prints on door frames. Life in Maine.....let's kick back and enjoy it!
I read Four:
Sixteen Pleasures
Food of a Younger Land
On Hallowed Ground ---best of the month non-fiction
Map of true places
I 'ear-read' four:
The Help --best of the month fiction and audio
Mennonite in a little black dress
Gods in Alabama
Irish country Village
As you can see, my audios tend to be comfort reads....I have a pile stacked up on the MP3 (34 of them) waiting my listening pleasure.
I've designated June and July as "Catch up with ARCs" months so, except for books for book clubs --A Separate Country, and a Nancy Pickard mystery--, I'll be concentrating on my current USPS bioThe Last Founding Father: James Monroe and these ARCs for June:
The Swimming Pool by Holly LeCraw
A Dog About Town by J.F.Englert
The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Sol
Exit Music by Ian Rankin
The Executor by Jesse Kellerman
Happy Hour by Michele Scott
The Last Surgeon by Michael Palmer (the man was nice enough to send me an autographed copy - you'd think I could get to it!!!)
The library director job has me running around a bit too, so let's all say a prayer of thanks that I married a true prince who does not mind running a vacuum cleaner, and who doesn't notice finger prints on door frames. Life in Maine.....let's kick back and enjoy it!
181alcottacre
#180: Life in Maine.....let's kick back and enjoy it!
I would - except I do not live in Maine. Believe me, I wish I did.
I would - except I do not live in Maine. Believe me, I wish I did.
182profilerSR
> 176 I was thinking of reading The Help for Orange July and your review bumped it right up there into the winner's spot. Great comments: I'm really looking forward to it.
183sjmccreary
Often I run like crazy in the opposite direction when I see a book getting rave reviews from everybody. I put off reading this one, in spite of everyone telling me I HAD TO READ this.
I've had the exact same reaction to this book. I guess I really DO need to read it sooner than later.
I've had the exact same reaction to this book. I guess I really DO need to read it sooner than later.
184Whisper1
Tina
Life in Maine seems ideal and wonderful. I hope that have time to enjoy the beauty.
I also hope you are enjoying the library director job. That sounds fun!
Life in Maine seems ideal and wonderful. I hope that have time to enjoy the beauty.
I also hope you are enjoying the library director job. That sounds fun!
185richardderus
>173 tututhefirst: And the bottom line is that I am not interested in whether Emma finds a husband, I cannot stand the superfluous words babbling, bubbling, and burping from lengthy paragraph to lengthy paragraph. I didn't like the premise, I didn't like the characters, and the plot line drove me nutso.
Tina...will you marry me? We'll find some way to explain to your husband, my wife, and my boyfriend, that the union of Austenophobes is too powerful a bond to be denied.
Come to think of it, my wife will join us, she abhors Austen for those same reasons!
Tina...will you marry me? We'll find some way to explain to your husband, my wife, and my boyfriend, that the union of Austenophobes is too powerful a bond to be denied.
Come to think of it, my wife will join us, she abhors Austen for those same reasons!
186sibylline
My spousie feels that way about James. I could probably reduce him to a stammering idiot simply by forcing him to listen to portions of The Golden Bowl being read aloud.
187richardderus
Oddly, The Divine Miss is a Jamesian from the get-go. She's not as wild about the novels as she is about the stories, but get her going on The Aspern Papers sometime...it's a solid half-hour of erudite analysis. Austen can reduce her to screaming incoherence, though. When I *really* need to win a fight, I start reading Pride and Prejudice to her. Works every time.
188tututhefirst
Oh Be Still mah beatin heart! A proposal from the divine Richard! Darling, I couldn't possibly accept and disappoint all your other devoted (and perhaps secret?) followers....besides I'm a demanding spouse: Mine can tell you the requirements include not only the ability to discuss books together, but you'd have to vacuum, cut and split wood, scoop the litter box, bring me flowers every day, make the coffee every morning before I get out of bed, clean the bathrooms, and the list goes on and on. No wonder I've renewed his contract annually for the past 42 years! He laughed when I told him of your gallant offer....said you were obviously nuts to even think about marrying me.
And what on earth would Stasia think?
Just keep feeding us your wonderfully astute comments. We love you.
And what on earth would Stasia think?
Just keep feeding us your wonderfully astute comments. We love you.
189alcottacre
Stasia wants to know why she never gets marriage proposals from Richard! I am jealous :)
190cyderry
Richard, I am glad to see that others appreciate my sister's wisdom however, even if she had accepted your proposal, I would have to stand in your way because I could not allow her to join in a union that obviously does not take her tremendous talents into consideration and place her front and center above all others.
Knowing of your yearnings for Stasia and others here, I just will not allow it.
Knowing of your yearnings for Stasia and others here, I just will not allow it.
191richardderus
>188 tututhefirst: Oh dear...well, I can discuss books, make coffee, and bring the flowers, but the cleaning service needs to do the rest...and the cat(s) might make good kindling or something. *dejected sigh* I shall mope away, sadder for my loss.
>189 alcottacre: Why do I not propose to Stasia? One word: FEAR! Quake-in-the-boots, sweat-on-the-palms TERROR!
Live in **SHERMAN**?!?
*flees in utter abject nosebleed-inducing fear*
>189 alcottacre: Why do I not propose to Stasia? One word: FEAR! Quake-in-the-boots, sweat-on-the-palms TERROR!
Live in **SHERMAN**?!?
*flees in utter abject nosebleed-inducing fear*
192alcottacre
#191: Shoot, I do not expect you to move here! I was planning on living up there (my existing husband notwithstanding, lol.)
193richardderus
>192 alcottacre: Oh! Well, in that case, c'mon up, house is plenty big enough.
194tututhefirst
77 Brava Valentine
Blame it on my fellow staffers at the library who have been all over me that I've never read anything by Adriana Trigiani. Now I have, and although it isn't something I'm gonna o'd on, I must admit I enjoyed it. It was a great break from trying to read Emma, from slogging through my other book club have-to's, and a deliciously done audio. I mean, sorry Richard, but I think Gian-Carlo can come and put his loafers under my sofa anytime he wants. I'll post a full review later, but this is fluff with a bit of crunch to it, and I'm going to have to go back and get the prequel to this one Very Valentine lined up for my next reading funk.
Lots of fun, and if you're looking for a good, not too steamy, but lip-smacking romance for the summer, try this one.
Blame it on my fellow staffers at the library who have been all over me that I've never read anything by Adriana Trigiani. Now I have, and although it isn't something I'm gonna o'd on, I must admit I enjoyed it. It was a great break from trying to read Emma, from slogging through my other book club have-to's, and a deliciously done audio. I mean, sorry Richard, but I think Gian-Carlo can come and put his loafers under my sofa anytime he wants. I'll post a full review later, but this is fluff with a bit of crunch to it, and I'm going to have to go back and get the prequel to this one Very Valentine lined up for my next reading funk.
Lots of fun, and if you're looking for a good, not too steamy, but lip-smacking romance for the summer, try this one.
195alcottacre
#193: Give me a couple of days. It will take a bit to pack all the books :)
196richardderus
>194 tututhefirst: La Trigiani isn't on my list of prose models, but I enjoy her books. Gian Carlo can kick his pumps under my bed any time, too.
>195 alcottacre: *orders more shelving built*
>195 alcottacre: *orders more shelving built*
197alcottacre
#196: I would marry you just for the shelves!
198tututhefirst
Pimping my blog a bit, but really doing some more promo of a terrific book I read back in March The Poacher's Son (my review is on the 1st thread). we had a book signing here in Maine (two towns up the road) and I got to meet and chat with the author Paul Doiron.
Meet the author is here if you're interested.
edited to remove bad html.....sigh
Meet the author is here if you're interested.
edited to remove bad html.....sigh
199tututhefirst
77 To Darkness and To Death
A Rev. Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery
Author: Julia Spencer- Fleming
Format: audio - 14 hrs; 370 page equivalent
Characters: Clare Ferguson, Russ Van Alstyn
Subject: Murder, big business takeover of wilderness
Setting: Upstate New York
Series: Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyn mysteries
Genre: police/amateur detective
Source: public library
Challenge: SYLL, Audio, Thrillers and Suspense
Ingredients: Ex Army helicopter pilot now Episcopal priest (oh yeah- she's female); retired Army MP, now Police chief, lots of illicit romantic tension, no sex, a couple of Forrest Gump level criminals ("stupid is as stupid does"), a small town very professional police force, a giant conglomerate taking over bazillions of acres of pristine woodlands, a flawed recluse harboring a grudge, a priggish British suitor, a pompous Episcopalian deacon, several disenchanted businessmen watching their life dreams disappear under the onslaught of 'progress', loggers, mill-workers, and do-gooders.
Spencer-Fleming's ongoing series continues to build the romance between Rev. Clare Ferguson and Police Chief Van Alstyn, this time giving us more of a glimpse of the Chief's wife Linda. The story opens with a reported missing person, and Clare's being called out on the search and rescue mission (she wants to keep her Army skills honed). The ensuing tangled story that emerges from the results of the impending sale of acres of property by the Van der Hoeven family has many subplots. The criminal characters are run-of-the mill criminals...they're ordinary townspeople who have not learned to deal with their emotions, their greed, and their longing to keep things from changing. I did think Spencer-Fleming went a little over the edge though on some of the scenes. I mean really! How stupid can people be and still be believable?
I enjoy this series, and plan to spend several hours this summer reading #3, which I skipped because it wasn't available at the library, and then 5, 6 and 7. Like a good soap opera, they hook you into continuing so you can see what happens to the star-struck lovers. Worth a read.
A Rev. Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery
Author: Julia Spencer- Fleming
Format: audio - 14 hrs; 370 page equivalent
Characters: Clare Ferguson, Russ Van Alstyn
Subject: Murder, big business takeover of wilderness
Setting: Upstate New York
Series: Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyn mysteries
Genre: police/amateur detective
Source: public library
Challenge: SYLL, Audio, Thrillers and Suspense
Ingredients: Ex Army helicopter pilot now Episcopal priest (oh yeah- she's female); retired Army MP, now Police chief, lots of illicit romantic tension, no sex, a couple of Forrest Gump level criminals ("stupid is as stupid does"), a small town very professional police force, a giant conglomerate taking over bazillions of acres of pristine woodlands, a flawed recluse harboring a grudge, a priggish British suitor, a pompous Episcopalian deacon, several disenchanted businessmen watching their life dreams disappear under the onslaught of 'progress', loggers, mill-workers, and do-gooders.
Spencer-Fleming's ongoing series continues to build the romance between Rev. Clare Ferguson and Police Chief Van Alstyn, this time giving us more of a glimpse of the Chief's wife Linda. The story opens with a reported missing person, and Clare's being called out on the search and rescue mission (she wants to keep her Army skills honed). The ensuing tangled story that emerges from the results of the impending sale of acres of property by the Van der Hoeven family has many subplots. The criminal characters are run-of-the mill criminals...they're ordinary townspeople who have not learned to deal with their emotions, their greed, and their longing to keep things from changing. I did think Spencer-Fleming went a little over the edge though on some of the scenes. I mean really! How stupid can people be and still be believable?
I enjoy this series, and plan to spend several hours this summer reading #3, which I skipped because it wasn't available at the library, and then 5, 6 and 7. Like a good soap opera, they hook you into continuing so you can see what happens to the star-struck lovers. Worth a read.
200tututhefirst
Abandoned book: A Separate Country
Author: Robert Hicks
Format: hard copy 432 pgs
Characters: Eli Griffin, John Bell Hood, Anna Marie Hennen Hood
Subject: I WISH I KNEW!!!
Setting: New Orleans post civil war
Genre: Historical (?) Fiction
Source: My own shelves (won in a contest last year)
Challenge: Read from my Shelves
I really wanted to like this book....the cover is appealing, I love New Orleans, and I generally like historical fiction. I had seen several reviews which indicated that this one took a while to 'get into' so I gave it 180 pages!!! I'm officially declaring it over, done, not to my liking. Supposedly it is the story of General John Bell Hood, one of the most controversial Confederate generals, and of his wife Anna Marie, as told by their memoirs. I found their search for justification and redemption BORING to say the least.
The Highly Rated Book Group is discussing this online right now. I certainly hope they enjoy it more than I did. We are scheduled to discuss this one at our senior center book group on Monday, at which time I will have to eat crow and apologize for ever suggesting this ponderous package of pages.
Author: Robert Hicks
Format: hard copy 432 pgs
Characters: Eli Griffin, John Bell Hood, Anna Marie Hennen Hood
Subject: I WISH I KNEW!!!
Setting: New Orleans post civil war
Genre: Historical (?) Fiction
Source: My own shelves (won in a contest last year)
Challenge: Read from my Shelves
I really wanted to like this book....the cover is appealing, I love New Orleans, and I generally like historical fiction. I had seen several reviews which indicated that this one took a while to 'get into' so I gave it 180 pages!!! I'm officially declaring it over, done, not to my liking. Supposedly it is the story of General John Bell Hood, one of the most controversial Confederate generals, and of his wife Anna Marie, as told by their memoirs. I found their search for justification and redemption BORING to say the least.
The Highly Rated Book Group is discussing this online right now. I certainly hope they enjoy it more than I did. We are scheduled to discuss this one at our senior center book group on Monday, at which time I will have to eat crow and apologize for ever suggesting this ponderous package of pages.
201richardderus
You see now why I skipped out on that group read...looked like the dog's breakfast to me. I were right. Nyah.
"Ponderous package of pages" makes the alliterative grade, too.
"Ponderous package of pages" makes the alliterative grade, too.
202alcottacre
#199: I like that series too, Tina. I am glad you do as well.
#200: I had that one in the BlackHole. Sounds like I can just take it back out again!
#200: I had that one in the BlackHole. Sounds like I can just take it back out again!
203tymfos
Belated congrats on reaching (and surpassing) #75!
I, too, really enjoy the Spencer-Fleming books! I think you summed that one up pretty well.
And I just cannot get into Jane Austen at all. I tried Pride & Prejudice and quit early on. All those society people and their romances and contrivances just don't appeal to me at all.
I, too, really enjoy the Spencer-Fleming books! I think you summed that one up pretty well.
And I just cannot get into Jane Austen at all. I tried Pride & Prejudice and quit early on. All those society people and their romances and contrivances just don't appeal to me at all.
204tututhefirst
78 The Lumby Lines
Author: Gail Fraser
Format: trade paperback, 336 pages
Characters: Mark and Pam Walker
Subject: Being 'from away' in a small town
Setting: Small town in the Northwest
Series: The Lumby Series
Genre: cozy fiction
Source: borrowed from my sister
Published several years ago, I borrowed this one from my sister last month, and picked it up to have something quick and fun to help me get over my reading funk. It's a nice cozy story of a town in the Northwest but it could be anyway, sort of a Three Pines meets Mitford without the mystery story plots, murders, or detectives. Just ordinary people, living ordinary lives, dealing with the everyday emotions and dreams of everyman.
Well.....not exactly...
*How many of us have the bazillions of dollars to drop what we're doing, move cross country and buy and restore a burned down monastery, orchard, and all the assortment of out buildings that go with it?
*How many of us have our own architect we can persuade to leave it all and come with us?
*How many of us have mud (or other detritis) that turns to roses no matter what?
*How many of us have our own plastic pink flamingo in the front yard, who magically changes his outfits almost daily to fit the occasion? Richard - are you listening?
I live in a small town, and most of these people are very real, but I wish the author had focused more on the townspeople instead of the newcomers. I'd like to get to know them better. And while the issues faced by these people "from away" seem anything but everyday, the townspeople are genuine, and it is they who give the story its charm. It's humorous, fun, warm and fuzzy and has lots of room to grow since this appears to be the first of a series. If you live in a small town, you will recognize the setting, the people, the problems. If you don't, you can dream that this is the place you'd want to live if you had your druthers. Perfectly charming, easily readable.
Author: Gail Fraser
Format: trade paperback, 336 pages
Characters: Mark and Pam Walker
Subject: Being 'from away' in a small town
Setting: Small town in the Northwest
Series: The Lumby Series
Genre: cozy fiction
Source: borrowed from my sister
Published several years ago, I borrowed this one from my sister last month, and picked it up to have something quick and fun to help me get over my reading funk. It's a nice cozy story of a town in the Northwest but it could be anyway, sort of a Three Pines meets Mitford without the mystery story plots, murders, or detectives. Just ordinary people, living ordinary lives, dealing with the everyday emotions and dreams of everyman.
Well.....not exactly...
*How many of us have the bazillions of dollars to drop what we're doing, move cross country and buy and restore a burned down monastery, orchard, and all the assortment of out buildings that go with it?
*How many of us have our own architect we can persuade to leave it all and come with us?
*How many of us have mud (or other detritis) that turns to roses no matter what?
*How many of us have our own plastic pink flamingo in the front yard, who magically changes his outfits almost daily to fit the occasion? Richard - are you listening?
I live in a small town, and most of these people are very real, but I wish the author had focused more on the townspeople instead of the newcomers. I'd like to get to know them better. And while the issues faced by these people "from away" seem anything but everyday, the townspeople are genuine, and it is they who give the story its charm. It's humorous, fun, warm and fuzzy and has lots of room to grow since this appears to be the first of a series. If you live in a small town, you will recognize the setting, the people, the problems. If you don't, you can dream that this is the place you'd want to live if you had your druthers. Perfectly charming, easily readable.
205alcottacre
#204: I picked that one up at the library to read based on Cheli's recommendation. I will keep your comments in mind while I am reading it.
206sibylline
I remember someone saying to me, "Every small town has its millionaire and its Big House." -- The little village we are moving back to, in fact, has one -- a huge old farmhouse (getting bigger all the time) and large property that has since the 80's been in the hands of a big pharma heir, a Texan couple with big $ and at present a person I haven't yet met with some sort of inherited fortune who is experimenting with various agricultural and alternative energy things...... Anyway, there's always a funny dynamic between whoever is living there and everyone else -- my favorite was when someone from 'up there' tried to bury an entire mobile home without a permit!
207Chatterbox
#206 -- which begs the question of why anyone would want/need to do that at all, permit or no permit??? :-)
208sjmccreary
#207 Tornado shelter?
209richardderus
>204 tututhefirst: *aaargh* Ya got me...I need to read this book now. Drat you, Tina!
210tututhefirst
Richard - I suspect you will ADORE the monks--did I mention the monks? and You will covet (as in at least mortal sin level) HANK. I say no more, my lips are sealed.
211cyderry
Okay, Tina,
I've got the next 4 in the series. The fifth is an ARC so I'm going to have to get to these this summer.
I agree that the author did center on the newcomers but I figured it was so she could gently inch us into the town from strangers POV and slowly reveal all the special people one at a time.
I've got the next 4 in the series. The fifth is an ARC so I'm going to have to get to these this summer.
I agree that the author did center on the newcomers but I figured it was so she could gently inch us into the town from strangers POV and slowly reveal all the special people one at a time.
212sibylline
>207 Chatterbox: I think it was the "Because I can" mentality operating? Not unlike the dudes you write about, you know, 'who me? the rules don't apply to me, do they!?"! --- In fact, I don't think you can legally bury a mobile home, at least not in the state of VT -- you have to take it or have it taken away to.... wherever..... I have no idea never having disposed of a mobile home! Once we took an old mouse-infested tent-camper to a metal salvage yard and they hemmed and hawed and took it in the end...... phew.
213richardderus
I got a book delivery today (gasp, the shock) and in it was The Lumby Lines, recommended by Our Hostess, the Illustious Tina. Delivery time 3pm, and now I'm about 80pp in. Read this one, Mitfordian/Harmonyite lovers, it's just about the most fun I've had with my clothes on in ages!
214cyderry
Wait a minute, I was the one who gave it to her!
So far this is my favorite read of the year, but I have the next 4 in the series ready to go, so that could change. I'm glad that you are enjoying it, Richard. Don't you just want Hank to hang out in your yard too?
So far this is my favorite read of the year, but I have the next 4 in the series ready to go, so that could change. I'm glad that you are enjoying it, Richard. Don't you just want Hank to hang out in your yard too?
215tututhefirst
Detect I some baby sisterly jealousy here? WAHHHHHHHH she forgets I was the one who recommended it to her having seen it reviewed and recommended in some of my pre-pub reviewer info from the publisher. I was just pleased that she plunked out the $$$ so I didn't have too.
216cyderry
I got it as a ARC. I don't recall you telling me about it.b That's why I got the 5th one as an ARC too.
217richardderus
Girls! Girls! Sibling rivalry not necessary! The glory is large, plenty to go around, and goodness yes I want Hank to hang around, Cheli!
I suspect that there needs to be a superhighway built between Lumby and Three Pines.
I suspect that there needs to be a superhighway built between Lumby and Three Pines.
218alcottacre
#217: I think we should just be able to teleport to both Lumbly and Three Pines myself.
219richardderus
>218 alcottacre: I understand that Stephen Hawking says it's actually possible for us to travel across multiple time-lines, and that for all possible events, there is a timeline where it's true...so let the search begin!
220alcottacre
#219: I cannot go timeline searching today unfortunately, Richard. How about tomorrow?
221richardderus
Let me check the calendar...oh wait...that's the shopping day for The Divine Miss's party this Sunday, can't. Let's compare schedules next week.
222alcottacre
OK! You're on.
223porch_reader
I got a box with The Lumby Lines in it yesterday too! I had ordered a few books for the kids as a "last day of school" present, and I couldn't resist throwing this one in. Thanks to both Tina and Cheli for recommending it! The Mitford books are my ultimate comfort reads, so I think I'll like Lumby too.
224klobrien2
Hi, Tina! (I'm new to your thread, but I think that's your name)
I'm trying to catch up with more of the 75-bookers, and I just finished your lastest thread. Lots of good books here! I am managing to get away with just one added to my list -- An Irish Country Doctor. It sounds charming. Thanks!
Karen O.
I'm trying to catch up with more of the 75-bookers, and I just finished your lastest thread. Lots of good books here! I am managing to get away with just one added to my list -- An Irish Country Doctor. It sounds charming. Thanks!
Karen O.
225tututhefirst
Welcome Karen...I hope you will love Irish Country Doctor. I certainly think it is one of the most enjoyable reads of the year, and one I know I want to own and read (or listen to) over and over. Like watching M.A.S.H. re-runs, it doesn't matter how often you see them, they're always heart-warming.
Edited to add: I've just found your thread, and have some catching up to do there, but you have a great list of reads - I'm afraid my TBR pile is getting another cart load added.
Edited to add: I've just found your thread, and have some catching up to do there, but you have a great list of reads - I'm afraid my TBR pile is getting another cart load added.
226tututhefirst
79 The Secret Scripture
Author:Sebastian Barry
Format: audio 9 hrs, 45 min; 320 pgs equivalent
Characters: Roseann Clear McNulty, Dr. Grene
Subject: Mental Illness, Catholic Church,
Setting: Sligo Ireland 1930 to present
Genre: fiction
Source: public library audio download
Challenge:SYLL, Audio books
A powerful, incredible book. Set in an insane asylum, the Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital in Sligo Ireland, this is the story of one of its patients, 100 year old Roseann McNulty and her psychiatrist Dr. Grene. The hospital is slated for demolition shortly, and Dr. Grene must evaluate his patients to see if they should be moved to another institution or can be 'turned loose' into Society. Unbeknownst to the other, each is keeping a diary, writing a scripture if you will. Hers is the story of her life, as she remembers it, and it appears she has not previously shared this information with any of the staff. The good doctor, on the other hand, while struggling with grief for his recently deceased wife, feels a great fondness for Roseann, and tries gently to come to an understanding of how she came to be there, since she seems perfectly sane to him. Naturally, he feels a great reluctance to turn out a 100 year old woman who has no place to go, and seemingly no living relatives. In the meantime, his discovery of a document written by a priest who knew Roseann, which paints a very different picture from what she seems to be telling him (and the reader in her secret diary) adds to his dilemma and helps build the tension.
As they both struggle through the story of Ireland's politics and religious wars and the iron grip the Catholic Church held on the morals of the town, as they review and remember long lost family members and events in their past, their stories-hers working from the start, his working backward--come to an explosive and (for me) unexpected conclusion at the very end of the book.
This is an exquisite, elegant story of love, betrayal, treachery, secrets kept, secrets revealed, secrets misunderstood, and the ultimate goodness of a few people who persist in goodness to bring the story to its incredible climax. I really didn't see it coming, which made it all the more satisfying. It's difficult to say much more without spoiling a beautiful story. Just put this one on the TBR pile y'all - it won't disappoint.
Sebastian Barry is a two time nominee for the Man Booker Prize.
Author:Sebastian Barry
Format: audio 9 hrs, 45 min; 320 pgs equivalent
Characters: Roseann Clear McNulty, Dr. Grene
Subject: Mental Illness, Catholic Church,
Setting: Sligo Ireland 1930 to present
Genre: fiction
Source: public library audio download
Challenge:SYLL, Audio books
A powerful, incredible book. Set in an insane asylum, the Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital in Sligo Ireland, this is the story of one of its patients, 100 year old Roseann McNulty and her psychiatrist Dr. Grene. The hospital is slated for demolition shortly, and Dr. Grene must evaluate his patients to see if they should be moved to another institution or can be 'turned loose' into Society. Unbeknownst to the other, each is keeping a diary, writing a scripture if you will. Hers is the story of her life, as she remembers it, and it appears she has not previously shared this information with any of the staff. The good doctor, on the other hand, while struggling with grief for his recently deceased wife, feels a great fondness for Roseann, and tries gently to come to an understanding of how she came to be there, since she seems perfectly sane to him. Naturally, he feels a great reluctance to turn out a 100 year old woman who has no place to go, and seemingly no living relatives. In the meantime, his discovery of a document written by a priest who knew Roseann, which paints a very different picture from what she seems to be telling him (and the reader in her secret diary) adds to his dilemma and helps build the tension.
As they both struggle through the story of Ireland's politics and religious wars and the iron grip the Catholic Church held on the morals of the town, as they review and remember long lost family members and events in their past, their stories-hers working from the start, his working backward--come to an explosive and (for me) unexpected conclusion at the very end of the book.
This is an exquisite, elegant story of love, betrayal, treachery, secrets kept, secrets revealed, secrets misunderstood, and the ultimate goodness of a few people who persist in goodness to bring the story to its incredible climax. I really didn't see it coming, which made it all the more satisfying. It's difficult to say much more without spoiling a beautiful story. Just put this one on the TBR pile y'all - it won't disappoint.
Sebastian Barry is a two time nominee for the Man Booker Prize.
227TadAD
I've got both The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty and A Long Long Way by Barry sitting on my shelf waiting, but I haven't read anything by him, yet. Have you read either of those?
228tututhefirst
#227- haven't read either of Barry's earlier ones, but they are now on my radar screen based on this one.
229tututhefirst
80 The Executor
Author: Jesse Kellerman
Format: unproofed galley, 343 pages
Subject: philosophy, greed, lonelines
Setting: Boston
Genre: suspense novel
Source: ARC from publisher
Challenge: ARC to complete
The blurb says: Things aren't going well for Joseph Geist. He's broke. His graduate school advisor won't talk to him. And his girlfriend has kicked him out of her apartment, leaving him homeless and alone. It's a tough spot for a philosopher to be in, and he's ready to give up all hope of happiness when an ad in the local paper catches his eye. 'Conversationalist wanted', it reads. Which sounds perfect to Joseph. After all, he's never done anything in his life except talk. And the woman behind the ad turns out to be the perfect employer: brilliant, generous, and willing to pay him for making conversation. Before long, Joseph has moved in with her, and has begun to feel very comfortable in her big, beautiful house. So comfortable, in fact, that he would do anything to stay there?
Jesse Kellerman writes in clear, crisp prose that gives us an immediate picture of Joseph Geist the protagonist in this thriller. This is a very difficult book to review without spoiling. The philosophical discussions the protagonist has with the woman, and with his girlfriend, and above all with himself, are often almost convoluted. Through them we see a tortured, insecure person who has never managed to accomplish anything in his life except to get out of the mid-West and into Harvard where he has wallowed for 8 years. The conversations are so pompous at times that I actually had to resort to a dictionary. The book has a back cover that says “A masterly inventive thriller from a remarkably assured young writer.”
There are 343 pages in my copy. At page 240, I was still waiting for the thriller part to kick in.
Then it did, and I haven’t been on a roller-coaster that exciting or terrifying in my life. It is a spectacular story, told so well that even when things are slowly building, you feel the tension, you sense that something is going to happen, you posit several different scenes, and then BAM! Nothing like I expected, but definitely heart-hammering, page–turning good. The author brings the story to a clean concise denouement that leaves the reader with a sense of justice and sadness.
It could have been, and I suppose in many ways it is, a depressing and sad book. But it is so well written that I came away only saying WOW, what a great story.
Author: Jesse Kellerman
Format: unproofed galley, 343 pages
Subject: philosophy, greed, lonelines
Setting: Boston
Genre: suspense novel
Source: ARC from publisher
Challenge: ARC to complete
The blurb says: Things aren't going well for Joseph Geist. He's broke. His graduate school advisor won't talk to him. And his girlfriend has kicked him out of her apartment, leaving him homeless and alone. It's a tough spot for a philosopher to be in, and he's ready to give up all hope of happiness when an ad in the local paper catches his eye. 'Conversationalist wanted', it reads. Which sounds perfect to Joseph. After all, he's never done anything in his life except talk. And the woman behind the ad turns out to be the perfect employer: brilliant, generous, and willing to pay him for making conversation. Before long, Joseph has moved in with her, and has begun to feel very comfortable in her big, beautiful house. So comfortable, in fact, that he would do anything to stay there?
Jesse Kellerman writes in clear, crisp prose that gives us an immediate picture of Joseph Geist the protagonist in this thriller. This is a very difficult book to review without spoiling. The philosophical discussions the protagonist has with the woman, and with his girlfriend, and above all with himself, are often almost convoluted. Through them we see a tortured, insecure person who has never managed to accomplish anything in his life except to get out of the mid-West and into Harvard where he has wallowed for 8 years. The conversations are so pompous at times that I actually had to resort to a dictionary. The book has a back cover that says “A masterly inventive thriller from a remarkably assured young writer.”
There are 343 pages in my copy. At page 240, I was still waiting for the thriller part to kick in.
Then it did, and I haven’t been on a roller-coaster that exciting or terrifying in my life. It is a spectacular story, told so well that even when things are slowly building, you feel the tension, you sense that something is going to happen, you posit several different scenes, and then BAM! Nothing like I expected, but definitely heart-hammering, page–turning good. The author brings the story to a clean concise denouement that leaves the reader with a sense of justice and sadness.
It could have been, and I suppose in many ways it is, a depressing and sad book. But it is so well written that I came away only saying WOW, what a great story.
230tututhefirst
81 Burma Chronicles
Author: Guy Delisle
Format: 208 pgs
Subject: Life in Burma (Myanmar)
Setting: Myanmar
Genre: Graphic Novel
Source: Public Library
Challenge: Support your Local Library
My first graphic novel…and I was impressed.Through the medium of black and white cartoons, the author tells the story of his family’s sojourn in the country of Myanmar (we used to call it Burma) in Southeast Asia. His French wife is a member of the Medecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and they take their young son on a journey throughout the country.
With limited electricity (often only 2 hours a day), tightly controlled access to many areas, particularly anywhere close to the house where Nobel Prize winning peace activist Aung San Suu Kyi lives, DeLisle tries to continue his work as an illustrator- writer while searching for adequate housing, learning to navigate the baby stroller among the motorcycles, and trying to make sense of a culture that is very different from his native Canada. There are short vignettes of visits to local markets and restaurants, a sojourn in a Buddhist facility to learn to mediate, starting up classes in illustrations for locals. A wonderful story of foreigners trying to fit it, and the struggles they have.
Having lived overseas for several years, I could definitely relate to some of his quandaries, and found myself laughing out loud at some of them. For instance, men are not normally accepted as stroller pushing care-givers. DeLisle’s adventures in play-groups are quite funny. I remember well the stares, followed by hisses, my husband used to get when he would take our son (then about 8 mos old) out for a stroll to the local Japanese market.
While not a novel in the fictional sense of the word, the graphic format is stunning. I’m not sure I could read consistently only in this format, but the simple black and white illustrations bring the starkness of the life in Myanmar into startlingly clear view. I have glanced at other graphic publications but found them confusing, blaring, and assaulting to my senses. This does none of that, and is a surprisingly easy to read story of what is currently happening in that that area of the world.
I can certainly see how social studies teachers could make great use of a format like this to encourage young readers to get their world studies very easily completed.
Author: Guy Delisle
Format: 208 pgs
Subject: Life in Burma (Myanmar)
Setting: Myanmar
Genre: Graphic Novel
Source: Public Library
Challenge: Support your Local Library
My first graphic novel…and I was impressed.Through the medium of black and white cartoons, the author tells the story of his family’s sojourn in the country of Myanmar (we used to call it Burma) in Southeast Asia. His French wife is a member of the Medecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and they take their young son on a journey throughout the country.
With limited electricity (often only 2 hours a day), tightly controlled access to many areas, particularly anywhere close to the house where Nobel Prize winning peace activist Aung San Suu Kyi lives, DeLisle tries to continue his work as an illustrator- writer while searching for adequate housing, learning to navigate the baby stroller among the motorcycles, and trying to make sense of a culture that is very different from his native Canada. There are short vignettes of visits to local markets and restaurants, a sojourn in a Buddhist facility to learn to mediate, starting up classes in illustrations for locals. A wonderful story of foreigners trying to fit it, and the struggles they have.
Having lived overseas for several years, I could definitely relate to some of his quandaries, and found myself laughing out loud at some of them. For instance, men are not normally accepted as stroller pushing care-givers. DeLisle’s adventures in play-groups are quite funny. I remember well the stares, followed by hisses, my husband used to get when he would take our son (then about 8 mos old) out for a stroll to the local Japanese market.
While not a novel in the fictional sense of the word, the graphic format is stunning. I’m not sure I could read consistently only in this format, but the simple black and white illustrations bring the starkness of the life in Myanmar into startlingly clear view. I have glanced at other graphic publications but found them confusing, blaring, and assaulting to my senses. This does none of that, and is a surprisingly easy to read story of what is currently happening in that that area of the world.
I can certainly see how social studies teachers could make great use of a format like this to encourage young readers to get their world studies very easily completed.
231tututhefirst
I can report that I'm finally over my reading funk and have had an exceptionally great week. Friday, we had our quarterly Mid-Coast Maine librarians meeting - this time out on one of the islands. There is nothing as head-clearing as a brisk breeze on a ferry boat crossing Penobscot Bay, and as you can see, you sure can't beat the scenery.
One of our favorite parts of these meetings is going around the room and reporting on what we personally are reading. I get so many great suggestions from this group, I need to start a whole separate wishlist just for them.
Here are a few I've put on my wishlist:
*Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
*Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
*The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
*The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald
*The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Phillip Pullman
*Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (I'm in the queue at the library- maybe by the end of the summer!)
This week I'm planning to read:
The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant (recommended by a friend = the author graduated from the same high school as my son).
A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams (an ARC I received from the author).
No I Don't want to Join a Book Club: Diary of a sixtieth year by Virginia Ironside (recommended by Cheli who never steers me wrong)
Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming (another Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyn mystery) - I can't stop reading this series, so I may as well keep going til I catch up.
I have one more review to post, from this week's reading - The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin. I enjoyed the first one Mistress of the Art of Death so much and the sequel did not disappoint. I have the next one (title escapes me at the moment) on the shelf to read when I'm in the mood.
One of our favorite parts of these meetings is going around the room and reporting on what we personally are reading. I get so many great suggestions from this group, I need to start a whole separate wishlist just for them.
Here are a few I've put on my wishlist:
*Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
*Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
*The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst
*The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald
*The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Phillip Pullman
*Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann (I'm in the queue at the library- maybe by the end of the summer!)
This week I'm planning to read:
The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant (recommended by a friend = the author graduated from the same high school as my son).
A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams (an ARC I received from the author).
No I Don't want to Join a Book Club: Diary of a sixtieth year by Virginia Ironside (recommended by Cheli who never steers me wrong)
Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming (another Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyn mystery) - I can't stop reading this series, so I may as well keep going til I catch up.
I have one more review to post, from this week's reading - The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin. I enjoyed the first one Mistress of the Art of Death so much and the sequel did not disappoint. I have the next one (title escapes me at the moment) on the shelf to read when I'm in the mood.
232cyderry
Third book is Grave Goods. Ariana Franklin has a new MOAD book due out this year - supposed to be called A Murderous Procession.
Could you please put The Executor on the pile for the next great book exchange?
Could you please put The Executor on the pile for the next great book exchange?
233alcottacre
#231: Love that scenery! Is that a lighthouse in the picture? I would go there just to see it, if that is what it is.
234JanetinLondon
Great reviews of The Executor and Burma Chronicles. Both are going straight onto my list.
235chinquapin
Burma Chronicles sounds very interesting. I think that I am going to try and find it. Thanks for the excellent review.
236Donna828
>229 tututhefirst:: I don't often read thrillers, but you made The Executor sound enticing. It might fit into my summer of reading books out of my comfort zone.
>231 tututhefirst:: Absolutely beautiful. Lucky you to have such a great place to meet...and you got some great recommendations for reading.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments on The Secret Scripture upthread. It was in my Top Ten of 2008. I've been looking for a nice used copy since then for my permanent collection.
>231 tututhefirst:: Absolutely beautiful. Lucky you to have such a great place to meet...and you got some great recommendations for reading.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments on The Secret Scripture upthread. It was in my Top Ten of 2008. I've been looking for a nice used copy since then for my permanent collection.
237LizzieD
Got to have The Executor, doggone it; got to have it! And I am on the list for The Secret Scripture at pbs and should have it in a couple of months. I'm glad that I'll spend a precious credit wisely.
Edited to fix the name of the book. duh
Edited to fix the name of the book. duh
238sjmccreary
When you come out of a reading funk, you really go all out! These books look great. I've added The Secret Scripture (thumbs up) and The Executor to the wishlist. Burma Chronicles actually sounds interesting, but I'm just not ready to try graphic novels yet. You've come closer than anyone else to really tempting me, though.
239richardderus
Ah, the reviews are as cogent and zingy as usual, dear Tina, and the scenery is enviable. Good wishlist, too!
My congratulations on breaking the book funk.
xo
My congratulations on breaking the book funk.
xo
240lindapanzo
Wow--amazing scenery!!
241bonniebooks
>230 tututhefirst:: Ooh, the Burma Chronicles sounds really good. Love the pic too. Fun to see through the eyes of another LT-er. Wouldn't that be a good thread? Where LT-ers download pics of what they see out their window?
242tututhefirst
Yes Stasia (and all else who wondered) it is a lighthouse - The Grindle Point Lighthouse to be exact - it sits right at the ferry landing on Islesboro ME (home to such moneyed ones as John Travolta, Kirsti Alley, and others who keep their privacy well guarded). The library is a gem. They have the only decent internet connection and when the summer population swells to 3000+ (from 400 hearty year rounders) laptop room at the library, is "sit on any bare space you can find on the floor"
There is no cable TV, basically only dial-up, gas is about $4/gallon, no ATMS, no restaurant, but scenery that would knock off your socks, and a library that is the heart and soul of the community. In the winter, they serve hot chocolate on Sunday afternoons so residents can come sit by the fireplace (yes ---they even have a fireplace) and read the SUnday papers in "days gone by" luxury. As close to heaven as I can get on earth.
BTW - The ferry ride is $27 for car and driver, so it keeps out the gawkers quite well.
for more on the lighthouse go to http://www.lighthouse.cc/grindle/
see you didn't know you'd get travel tips too by tuning to Tutu!
There is no cable TV, basically only dial-up, gas is about $4/gallon, no ATMS, no restaurant, but scenery that would knock off your socks, and a library that is the heart and soul of the community. In the winter, they serve hot chocolate on Sunday afternoons so residents can come sit by the fireplace (yes ---they even have a fireplace) and read the SUnday papers in "days gone by" luxury. As close to heaven as I can get on earth.
BTW - The ferry ride is $27 for car and driver, so it keeps out the gawkers quite well.
for more on the lighthouse go to http://www.lighthouse.cc/grindle/
see you didn't know you'd get travel tips too by tuning to Tutu!
243profilerSR
I loved your review of The Secret Scripture. It brought back my fond memories of the book.
I had been wondering about Jesse Kellerman who has famous mystery/thriller writing parents. I adore Faye Kellerman but am not so fond of Jonathan Kellerman. I will have to give his books a try.
I had been wondering about Jesse Kellerman who has famous mystery/thriller writing parents. I adore Faye Kellerman but am not so fond of Jonathan Kellerman. I will have to give his books a try.
244alcottacre
#242: OK, if I cannot move to Denmark (for the libraries), I will move to Maine for the scenery!
Thanks for the link, Tina. I will check it out.
Thanks for the link, Tina. I will check it out.
245tymfos
My, my! Wonderful reviews, wonderful scenery. Who could ask for more from a thread??? ;)
I'm adding a couple to my wishlist -- Secret Scripture, which our public library has, and The Executor, which county library just got. Also, thanks for reminding me of Ariana Franklin -- I loved Mistress of the Art of Death, I'll have to try The Serpent's Tale, from the county library, too.
I'm adding a couple to my wishlist -- Secret Scripture, which our public library has, and The Executor, which county library just got. Also, thanks for reminding me of Ariana Franklin -- I loved Mistress of the Art of Death, I'll have to try The Serpent's Tale, from the county library, too.
246tututhefirst
Light week...weather too gorgeous...plus spent a whole day canning yesterday- rhubarb chutney and strawberry preserves. I did manage to finish books 82-84 and will post comments/reviews this week.
I gave up for now on The Wettest County in the World a book I was rooting for because the author is from our old hometown Alexandria VA. It just wasn't grabbing me, but it's not a bad book. Subject matter (bootlegging) just wasn't at the top of my list at the moment, particularly since my rheumatologist just added another med to my regime which also screams NO BOOZE!!
I've got three book clubs coming up and several ARCs that are screaming read me read me (summer beach settings in coastal Maine, etc). And I want to start to think about a 2nd qtr wrap before this thread gets too way out of control.
A more detailed story of weekly reading is on my Sunday Salon post on Tutu's Two Cents.
I gave up for now on The Wettest County in the World a book I was rooting for because the author is from our old hometown Alexandria VA. It just wasn't grabbing me, but it's not a bad book. Subject matter (bootlegging) just wasn't at the top of my list at the moment, particularly since my rheumatologist just added another med to my regime which also screams NO BOOZE!!
I've got three book clubs coming up and several ARCs that are screaming read me read me (summer beach settings in coastal Maine, etc). And I want to start to think about a 2nd qtr wrap before this thread gets too way out of control.
A more detailed story of weekly reading is on my Sunday Salon post on Tutu's Two Cents.
247tututhefirst
82 A Killer Plot
Author: Ellery Adams
Format: Advanced galley, 320 pages
Characters: Olivia Limoges, Havilland the dog, Bayside Book Writers
Subject: murder, writing
Setting: Outer Banks of North Carolina
Series: Books by the Bay Mysteries
Genre: cozy mystery
Source: ARC from author
Challenge: ARCs completed
What a combo! Take an elegant but mysterious single wealthy female Olivia Limoges owner of an adorable intelligent well mannered dog named Havilland, living on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Add an intelligent, sympatico, charming eligible police chief. Mix in small town atmosphere, great food served in several locations, a group of would be writers, and a murderer who writes Haiku! This one is delightful. Billed as the beginning of a new series (Books by the Bay Mysteries) written by the popular J.B. Stanley under the pseudonym Ellery Adams, the reader is instantly in love with the characters and the setting, and becomes wrapped up in the town's dilemma: should they approve the sale of a popular but run down park to a conglomerate owned by a native son who made big bucks and moved away, even though it means moving several old graves to a non-descript setting across town?
When a visiting journalist, intent on digging up dirt on the would be owners is found murdered in a dark alley, and the only clue is a strange Haiku spray painted at the site, the local writers group (which the victim belonged to) led by Olivia, sets out to help the chief interpret the Haiku and find the murderer. The reader will have to read the rest of the story.
There are several other delightful characters who- in this first volume-are given just enough personality for us to want to get to know more. And in addition to the chief, the new book store owner also appears to offer possibilities for some romance in addition to the mysteries to come. Did I mention the cover alone would make me buy it. Too bad my ARC has a plain orange wrapper!!
Many thanks to Ellery Adams for sending me an advance copy to review.
Author: Ellery Adams
Format: Advanced galley, 320 pages
Characters: Olivia Limoges, Havilland the dog, Bayside Book Writers
Subject: murder, writing
Setting: Outer Banks of North Carolina
Series: Books by the Bay Mysteries
Genre: cozy mystery
Source: ARC from author
Challenge: ARCs completed
What a combo! Take an elegant but mysterious single wealthy female Olivia Limoges owner of an adorable intelligent well mannered dog named Havilland, living on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Add an intelligent, sympatico, charming eligible police chief. Mix in small town atmosphere, great food served in several locations, a group of would be writers, and a murderer who writes Haiku! This one is delightful. Billed as the beginning of a new series (Books by the Bay Mysteries) written by the popular J.B. Stanley under the pseudonym Ellery Adams, the reader is instantly in love with the characters and the setting, and becomes wrapped up in the town's dilemma: should they approve the sale of a popular but run down park to a conglomerate owned by a native son who made big bucks and moved away, even though it means moving several old graves to a non-descript setting across town?
When a visiting journalist, intent on digging up dirt on the would be owners is found murdered in a dark alley, and the only clue is a strange Haiku spray painted at the site, the local writers group (which the victim belonged to) led by Olivia, sets out to help the chief interpret the Haiku and find the murderer. The reader will have to read the rest of the story.
There are several other delightful characters who- in this first volume-are given just enough personality for us to want to get to know more. And in addition to the chief, the new book store owner also appears to offer possibilities for some romance in addition to the mysteries to come. Did I mention the cover alone would make me buy it. Too bad my ARC has a plain orange wrapper!!
Many thanks to Ellery Adams for sending me an advance copy to review.
248lindapanzo
I've had my eye on this one. Definitely moves up towards the top of the TBR pile.
249tututhefirst
83 No! I Don't want to Join a bookclub...the diary of a 60th year
Author: Virginia Ironside
Format: audio - 8 1/2 hours; 256 pgs paperback ( I started reading, ended up listening)
Characters: Mary Sharp
Subject: turning 60
Setting: Somewhere in England
Genre: fiction written as diary entries
Source: public library
Challenge: Support Your Local Library
Get over it Mary! As I mentioned earlier this week,if this one hadn't been on audio with an exceptional narrator, I'd have thrown it across the room yelling "you're not old!" I started reading the paperback at the library where I work, after my sister (who is considerably younger than I) had mentioned she had read it, and gave it a mezzo-mezzo review. So I thought, well maybe I'll be more enthused if I listen to it. NOT.
This is supposedly the diary of a curmudgeonly retired teacher who is turning 60 and who has decided that at 60, life is over. Now that she's retired, she's determined to put her brain into idle, and do nothing. Except that makes her miserable. She has no desire to read, learn a language, take trips, have sex, go to the doctors, etc etc etc. When her son announces she is to become a grannie, she professes to be delighted. But....other people have grandchildren too, and they have lives and they don't go around moaning about how no one takes them seriously now that they've gotten "OLD" --for pete's sake, she just turned 60! She seems quite happy to embrace the trappings of being old (free prescriptions, free public transportation REMEMBER IT"S SET IN GREAT BRITAIN), she's delighted to be a grandmother, and does a pretty admirable job at that, but she sounds so whiney trying to convince us she's happy.
The book is at it's best when she describes her relationship with Hughie, a dear friend who is dying of lung cancer. As she goes through the grieving and letting go process with Hughie's partner Jamie, she comes to a gentle acceptance that helps Jamie do the same. It is at its funniest when she describes some of her adventures in dealing with new-fangled baby items that did not exist when she was a young mother. The celebrated Brit humor can leave the reader gasping for breath from laughing. It's worth a read, but not worth spending hard earned dollars. Look for it at the library if you're having aging issues. Otherwise, you're probably better off watching someone like Dame Judy Dench in some of her great Brit Com on netflix.
Author: Virginia Ironside
Format: audio - 8 1/2 hours; 256 pgs paperback ( I started reading, ended up listening)
Characters: Mary Sharp
Subject: turning 60
Setting: Somewhere in England
Genre: fiction written as diary entries
Source: public library
Challenge: Support Your Local Library
Get over it Mary! As I mentioned earlier this week,if this one hadn't been on audio with an exceptional narrator, I'd have thrown it across the room yelling "you're not old!" I started reading the paperback at the library where I work, after my sister (who is considerably younger than I) had mentioned she had read it, and gave it a mezzo-mezzo review. So I thought, well maybe I'll be more enthused if I listen to it. NOT.
This is supposedly the diary of a curmudgeonly retired teacher who is turning 60 and who has decided that at 60, life is over. Now that she's retired, she's determined to put her brain into idle, and do nothing. Except that makes her miserable. She has no desire to read, learn a language, take trips, have sex, go to the doctors, etc etc etc. When her son announces she is to become a grannie, she professes to be delighted. But....other people have grandchildren too, and they have lives and they don't go around moaning about how no one takes them seriously now that they've gotten "OLD" --for pete's sake, she just turned 60! She seems quite happy to embrace the trappings of being old (free prescriptions, free public transportation REMEMBER IT"S SET IN GREAT BRITAIN), she's delighted to be a grandmother, and does a pretty admirable job at that, but she sounds so whiney trying to convince us she's happy.
The book is at it's best when she describes her relationship with Hughie, a dear friend who is dying of lung cancer. As she goes through the grieving and letting go process with Hughie's partner Jamie, she comes to a gentle acceptance that helps Jamie do the same. It is at its funniest when she describes some of her adventures in dealing with new-fangled baby items that did not exist when she was a young mother. The celebrated Brit humor can leave the reader gasping for breath from laughing. It's worth a read, but not worth spending hard earned dollars. Look for it at the library if you're having aging issues. Otherwise, you're probably better off watching someone like Dame Judy Dench in some of her great Brit Com on netflix.
250profilerSR
> 249 Your comments had me laughing, but I think I'll wait a couple of decades before reading the book!
Okay, 15 years, but who's counting!!!!
Okay, 15 years, but who's counting!!!!
251cyderry
Please put A Killer Plot on my pile.
252cyderry
I think No, I don't want is different depending on which side of 60 you are sitting at. Maybe because I haven't gotten there yet, I could sympathize more.
253alcottacre
#247: A Killer Plot looks like one I would enjoy, so I am putting it in the BlackHole. Thanks, Tina!
254tututhefirst
84 Out of the Deep I Cry
Author: Julia Spencer-Fleming
Format: audio (15 hours), 336 pgs equivalent
Characters: Clare Fergusson, Russ Van Alstyn
Subject: murder, prohibition
Setting: upstate New York
Series:Clare Fergusson, Russ Van Alstyn mysteries
Genre: police procedural/amateur detective mystery
Source: audio book from public library
Challenge: Support Your Local Library; Audio books
I love this series...Two stories, a "Then" and a "Now" are intertwined as the reader listens to first one and then the other throughout the book. At first, the reader wonders what one has to do with the other, but the back-fill quickly becomes apparent, and also becomes a mystery all its own.
This is #3 in the continuing saga of Clare Ferguson, Episcopal priest and Russ Van Alstyn, the married (not to her) Chief of Police, and the romance is heating up. Clare and Russ now have gotten a tad bit physical, but also a bit more pragmatic about the hopelessness of their relationship. In this episode, Clare is trying to trace the provenance of a huge chunk of money being donated to fix the church's roof, while she helps look for the local clinic doctor who has disappeared.
In the meantime, the back story is filling in and leading toward both the money and the doctor. The plot twists in this one are serpentine, but delightful. Without doing spoilers, I will warn that if like me, you are claustrophobic, you might want to read (or listen) to this one in the day time in a big airy well-lit room. The climax is a scary stunner. Regular readers will delight in the ongoing adventures, while newcomers will have no trouble picking right up.
Author: Julia Spencer-Fleming
Format: audio (15 hours), 336 pgs equivalent
Characters: Clare Fergusson, Russ Van Alstyn
Subject: murder, prohibition
Setting: upstate New York
Series:Clare Fergusson, Russ Van Alstyn mysteries
Genre: police procedural/amateur detective mystery
Source: audio book from public library
Challenge: Support Your Local Library; Audio books
I love this series...Two stories, a "Then" and a "Now" are intertwined as the reader listens to first one and then the other throughout the book. At first, the reader wonders what one has to do with the other, but the back-fill quickly becomes apparent, and also becomes a mystery all its own.
This is #3 in the continuing saga of Clare Ferguson, Episcopal priest and Russ Van Alstyn, the married (not to her) Chief of Police, and the romance is heating up. Clare and Russ now have gotten a tad bit physical, but also a bit more pragmatic about the hopelessness of their relationship. In this episode, Clare is trying to trace the provenance of a huge chunk of money being donated to fix the church's roof, while she helps look for the local clinic doctor who has disappeared.
In the meantime, the back story is filling in and leading toward both the money and the doctor. The plot twists in this one are serpentine, but delightful. Without doing spoilers, I will warn that if like me, you are claustrophobic, you might want to read (or listen) to this one in the day time in a big airy well-lit room. The climax is a scary stunner. Regular readers will delight in the ongoing adventures, while newcomers will have no trouble picking right up.
255sjmccreary
#254 I think this is my favorite book in the series. Glad to hear that you're enjoying it. I'm tempted to try a series review before the new book comes out, but I'm not sure there's time.
256tututhefirst
85 I.O.U
Author: Nancy Pickard
Format:Hardback 207 pgs
Subject: mental illness, small town coverup
Setting: fictional town of Port Fred Massachusetts
Series: Jenny Crain mysteries
Genre: mystery-amateur detective
Source: public library
Challenge: Support Your Local Library
I read this one for our monthly Mystery Book Club. Pickard is a new author for me, and I found her writing crisp, easy to read, and believable. This is #7 of the series (the only one the library had available), but I definitely intend to track down some of the earlier episodes.
Jenny Crain, Exec Director of a non-profit in her small town is dealing with her mother's death, trying to uncover the real reason mom spent years in a mental institution. As she asks questions, she becomes more and more puzzled about the reactions she gets from townspeople, including the members of her own board. Several incidents cause her to fear that someone is out to do her physical harm. Discouraged by her sister from further searching, but egged on by her friend - who happens to be her psychiatrist, and encouraged by her husband- who happens to be a police detective, she works to uncover the mystery of why her mother became ill, and why no one wants to talk about it.
The inter-family dynamics, particularly with her no-good father and his second wife, make it particularly interesting. I especially like the relationship between Jenny and her husband. Both have professional lives separate from each other, but their mutual respect and support brings a richness to both of them, that many couples can only dream about.
Definitely worth going back to read some of the previous ones in the series (this is #7)
Author: Nancy Pickard
Format:Hardback 207 pgs
Subject: mental illness, small town coverup
Setting: fictional town of Port Fred Massachusetts
Series: Jenny Crain mysteries
Genre: mystery-amateur detective
Source: public library
Challenge: Support Your Local Library
I read this one for our monthly Mystery Book Club. Pickard is a new author for me, and I found her writing crisp, easy to read, and believable. This is #7 of the series (the only one the library had available), but I definitely intend to track down some of the earlier episodes.
Jenny Crain, Exec Director of a non-profit in her small town is dealing with her mother's death, trying to uncover the real reason mom spent years in a mental institution. As she asks questions, she becomes more and more puzzled about the reactions she gets from townspeople, including the members of her own board. Several incidents cause her to fear that someone is out to do her physical harm. Discouraged by her sister from further searching, but egged on by her friend - who happens to be her psychiatrist, and encouraged by her husband- who happens to be a police detective, she works to uncover the mystery of why her mother became ill, and why no one wants to talk about it.
The inter-family dynamics, particularly with her no-good father and his second wife, make it particularly interesting. I especially like the relationship between Jenny and her husband. Both have professional lives separate from each other, but their mutual respect and support brings a richness to both of them, that many couples can only dream about.
Definitely worth going back to read some of the previous ones in the series (this is #7)
257tututhefirst
Sandy - I think the new Spencer-Fleming was supposed to be out by now, but I don't see it even in the projected releases yet. usually Amazon posts those months ahead of time for pre-orders. So you might have time yet to re-read. At least, you'd have fun trying!
258gennyt
Finally found your thread Tina, and just stopping by to say hello. Look forward to following your reading now that I've got you starred.
259sjmccreary
#257 I thought it was due out in June - any day now - but when I checked the library just now, it said One Was a Soldier is coming April 13, 2010. I just read the first book again not long ago, so I'm going to go ahead and order #2. Maybe I'll get through all of them before "April"!
260richardderus
Hi Tina! I dodged 'em all this time, nyah nyah!
Of course, I *could* go into Thread Angel mode now, and mention that your dial-up brethren and sistern find your over-250-post thread hard to wait for as it loads, and thereby encourage your good netizenship to start a new thread...but I think you'd ignore me....
Of course, I *could* go into Thread Angel mode now, and mention that your dial-up brethren and sistern find your over-250-post thread hard to wait for as it loads, and thereby encourage your good netizenship to start a new thread...but I think you'd ignore me....
261tututhefirst
Richard my dear, I am quite aware of the ponderousness of my thread. I was hoping that I could eek it out through next week, do a 2nd qtr wrap, and begin anew for the 3rd qtr on July 1. but I guess I'll have to break down here and do one over the weekend. No time until then my lovely friends, so my apologies and begging forgiveness in advance.
263cyderry
Sandy/Tina - FYI
Fantastic Fiction has One Was a Soldier as coming out in April 2011.
Fantastic Fiction has One Was a Soldier as coming out in April 2011.
264sjmccreary
#263 Well, that's disappointing. I've been expecting it any day now. Darn. I guess there's time to re-read the whole series after all, isn't there?
265nancyewhite
>>230 tututhefirst:. I read Guy Delisle's Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea and enjoyed it very much. I had The Burma Chronicles home from the library once but didn't get it read.
I too love the Julia Spencer Fleming series. Nothing like a great female lead character and a well-written mystery.
I too love the Julia Spencer Fleming series. Nothing like a great female lead character and a well-written mystery.
266tututhefirst
Drum Roll Please. Couldn't make to third quarter. Decided to celebrate the summer Solstice by making new thread :Tutu's Summer reading-#3 for 2010
