So long and thanks for all the laughs....
Get Real by Donald E. Westlake
Final book in the Dortmunder series
It was with great trepidation that I started reading this book. Donald E. Westlake passed away on New Years Eve, and when I heard the news I burst into tears thinking, no more Dortmunder! Then I read about this book coming out and while I was happy to at least have one more Dortmunder novel to read, my heart is heavy.
During a taxi ride - Murch's mom talks to a fare about her son and his friends who steal for a living. The fare, Doug Fairkeep, is a producer for reality-show company, Get Real, and is always looking for a new concept. He tracks down Murch who recruits Dortmunder for a heist /aka reality TV show. Kelp, Tiny and the Kid are brought in too as you have to have 5 guys to make a crew. Doug throws his own people into the mix by adding actors to the crew - Roger, fulltime actor who also can climb walls like Spiderman and Darlene - who was brought in from another reality show as a possible love interest. There is Marcy who "writes what is going to happen" and Babe - Doug's boss, who every time he comes on set says "I'm shutting this down!".
Naturally, the gang has to make this gig pay more than what's offered, as much for the fun of it as for the extra cash. While Get Real helps them map out a robbery, the boys are mapping out the real robbery—of some of the company's hidden assets. See Get Real is owned by Monopole that is owned by TUI and so on and so on. So the building that Get Real uses has other purposes that make Dortmunder nad the gang real curious. There is money somewhere in the building and they are going to get it. The thinking is that Get Real can hardly come after them to retrieve cash that it can't admit that it has. The game plan changes nearly hourly, and the outcome is anything but certain.
I laughed, I cried as I said "goodbye' to one of my favorite mystery writers and realy one of greatest writers of the 20th Century. There is no one like him.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
White Hot by Sandra Brown
Sayre Lynch returns to Destiny, La., for her brother Danny's funeral. Estranged from her family for the past 10 years, Sayre arrives in town believing Danny committed suicide, but after a surprise encounter at the cemetery and a disquieting interview with the sheriff's deputy determines that someone murdered her brother. She seaks to find out who would have killed her well liked little brother, the answer may be her own family!
Sayre is the middle child of Huff Hoyle, powerful owner of the local foundary. 10 years ago she left Destiny determined never to return and now lives in San Francisco as a interior decorator. Ater meeting Danny's fiance she decides to stay to investigate her brother's last days, as well as confront her father and big brother, Chris. This dynamic duo run the foundry that provides most of the town's jobs and all its corruption. Everywhere she goes, Sayre crosses paths with Huff's handsome lawyer henchman, Beck Merchant, whom she finds irresistible although he represents everything she despises.
We see several storylines as we learn more about Huff, her father and other people who live in Destiny. This is a romance and it is Sandra Brown so lots of sexual tension between her and Beck. I know that Sandra Brown is a big name in the romance fiction world but this was my first experience actually reading one of her books and it was ok. Nothing earth shattering but I can see why she has a big fan base. She has a way of mixing the family saga up.
Sayre Lynch returns to Destiny, La., for her brother Danny's funeral. Estranged from her family for the past 10 years, Sayre arrives in town believing Danny committed suicide, but after a surprise encounter at the cemetery and a disquieting interview with the sheriff's deputy determines that someone murdered her brother. She seaks to find out who would have killed her well liked little brother, the answer may be her own family!
Sayre is the middle child of Huff Hoyle, powerful owner of the local foundary. 10 years ago she left Destiny determined never to return and now lives in San Francisco as a interior decorator. Ater meeting Danny's fiance she decides to stay to investigate her brother's last days, as well as confront her father and big brother, Chris. This dynamic duo run the foundry that provides most of the town's jobs and all its corruption. Everywhere she goes, Sayre crosses paths with Huff's handsome lawyer henchman, Beck Merchant, whom she finds irresistible although he represents everything she despises.
We see several storylines as we learn more about Huff, her father and other people who live in Destiny. This is a romance and it is Sandra Brown so lots of sexual tension between her and Beck. I know that Sandra Brown is a big name in the romance fiction world but this was my first experience actually reading one of her books and it was ok. Nothing earth shattering but I can see why she has a big fan base. She has a way of mixing the family saga up.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas
Commissaire Adamsberg Mystery
Newly transferred from his home in the Pyrenees to Paris, 45-year-old Adamsberg arrives with a reputation for solving big cases, though his diffident manner doesn't impress his colleague and foil, Adrien Danglard. A solitary man drawing blue chalk circles at night around stray objects in Paris streets manages to create a media sensation, but Adamsberg senses evil behind the act. When the corpse of a woman is found encircled in chalk, he's proven right. Adamsberg's indirect approach, his ability to sense cruelty and to let solutions percolate to the surface make him one of the more intriguing police detectives in a long time.
I really enjoyed this book and am so glad that they finally translated it into English. The rest of the series have been translated except for this one. Go figure!?! This book reminds me of Hercule Poirot in some ways as it is much more cerebral feel than the police procedural it is portrayed. The outside characters are interesting and I found myself thinking about them after I finished the book. Danglard - a single father raising two sets of twins! You get a little bit of his home life and it really intrigued me and made wish there was more info about his life.
Funny story about how I got this book. I read about this series and it mentioned that this was the first book but it was the 6th one translated and came out June 30, 2009. So of course my local library does not own it. Since I was attending the American Library Association in Chicago in July I hunted down the Penguin publisher's book and they had one copy left and let me buy it for $5. Since it is an oversized paperback worth $14, I scored a deal! Then while I was waiting in line to win something at the Demco book they covered the cover with that stiff plastic so it is almost like a hardback now.
Commissaire Adamsberg Mystery
Newly transferred from his home in the Pyrenees to Paris, 45-year-old Adamsberg arrives with a reputation for solving big cases, though his diffident manner doesn't impress his colleague and foil, Adrien Danglard. A solitary man drawing blue chalk circles at night around stray objects in Paris streets manages to create a media sensation, but Adamsberg senses evil behind the act. When the corpse of a woman is found encircled in chalk, he's proven right. Adamsberg's indirect approach, his ability to sense cruelty and to let solutions percolate to the surface make him one of the more intriguing police detectives in a long time.
I really enjoyed this book and am so glad that they finally translated it into English. The rest of the series have been translated except for this one. Go figure!?! This book reminds me of Hercule Poirot in some ways as it is much more cerebral feel than the police procedural it is portrayed. The outside characters are interesting and I found myself thinking about them after I finished the book. Danglard - a single father raising two sets of twins! You get a little bit of his home life and it really intrigued me and made wish there was more info about his life.
Funny story about how I got this book. I read about this series and it mentioned that this was the first book but it was the 6th one translated and came out June 30, 2009. So of course my local library does not own it. Since I was attending the American Library Association in Chicago in July I hunted down the Penguin publisher's book and they had one copy left and let me buy it for $5. Since it is an oversized paperback worth $14, I scored a deal! Then while I was waiting in line to win something at the Demco book they covered the cover with that stiff plastic so it is almost like a hardback now.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
Book 15 in the Stephanie Plum series
It's hot and summertime in Trenton, NJ. Stephanie has recently broken up again with Morelli and is done with men. She's ready to throw herself back into being a bounty hunter. But then Lula inadvertently witnesses the beheading of culinary TV star Stanley Chipotle in a Trenton, N.J., alley. Stephanie convensinces Lula to call Morelli, who reluctantly takes the case. When the Chipotle bar-b-q sauce company offers a reward of 1 million dollors, Lula, with the help of Grandma Mazur, enters the same barbequing competition Chipotle was in town to promote, hoping to lure the murderers out of hiding. Ranger has recruited Stephanie to help solve a series of break-ins at properties under the protection of Rangeman Security.
There are 3 car fires and one house bombing so the stakes are rising. Most of this story focuses on Stephanie and her men. I miss some of the other characters but enjoyed that there were fewer characters this book.
This is a book to read over a weekend of during a plane ride and it still makes me laugh outloud. I'll keep reading a Stephanie Plum book as often as Evanovich keeps writing them.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
The story is set in New Orleans in the early 1960s. The story revolves around Ignatius J. Reilly, an odd, educated but slothful man still living with his mother at age 30 in the city's Uptown neighborhood. During an outing with is mother is almost arrested and during their escape they hide out in a bar/strip club. After a few drinks his mother runs her car into a building. When they get the bill for $20,000 Mrs. Irene Reilly insists Ignatius get a job to help pay for damages. In his quest for employment he has various adventures with colorful French Quarter characters. He nemesis is Mryna Minkoff, who through correspondence both try to impress one another by starting riots and various other altercations with various religious, ethnic and sexual orientation groups.
We see other sides of the story by various characters Ignatius encounters during his quest.
Lana Lee owns the strip club/bar in French Quarter, where Ignatius and his mother hide out in. She hires Burma Jones for under minimum wage and he plans his revenge by enticing Ignatius back into the bar. We meet Jones in the first few chapters when Claude Robichaux meets him in the local jail.
The first job that Ignatius gets is at Levy Pants own by Gus Levy and his wife Mrs. Levy. Gus and his wife live a life in which they absolutely hate each other but love their wealth and status more. Their life is at a totally different level of living, yet are they any better than Ignatius? I love how we get these detail descriptions of the luxury of Levy and his wife. Mrs. Levy has also made it her pet project to protect Miss Trixie, a very elderly senial woman who only wants to retire from Levy Pants.
Some of the funniest scenes are when Ignatius is at the movies and screams out his displeasure of how the acting or storyline is going. It is absolutely hilarious. He also has this habit of screaming "Oh, my God!" when he can't believe what he is hearing and/or seeing.
During the first part of the book, Irene Riley seems like a flat, screechy drunk of a mother. But as she evolves and makes relationships with other she becomes a person who wants her own identity and is tired of living her life for her son who will never leave. She finds herself a boyfriend, Claude Robichaux, a much older Jewish man who is constantly on the look out for communists. Claude is introduced in the first few pages of the book when he is arrested instead of Ignatius by a local policemen, Angelo Mancuso. Poor Angelo, after making several wrong arrests, the sergeant in charge gets fed up with him, and in punishment Angelo is reduced to wearing ridiculous disguises, and spending time in the bus station toilets in order to arrest "suspicious characters". He ends up saving the day by busting a pornography ring.
Sad but interesting side note:
The author, John Kennedy Toole, was born in New Orleans in 1937. He received a master's degree in English from Columbia University and taught at Hunter College and at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He wrote A Confederacy of Dunces in the early sixties and tried unsuccessfully to get the novel published; depressed, at least in part by his failure to place the book, he committed suicide in 1969. It was only through the tenacity of his mother that her son's book was eventually published and found the audience it deserved. His long-suppressed novel The Neon Bible, written when he was only sixteen, was eventually published as well. A Confederacy of Dunces won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
I actually listened to this on CD while driving around and found myself laughing outloud. I did have to be in the mood for it so it took me awhile to get into it. I did enjoy the reader as he did a good job with all the accents.
The story is set in New Orleans in the early 1960s. The story revolves around Ignatius J. Reilly, an odd, educated but slothful man still living with his mother at age 30 in the city's Uptown neighborhood. During an outing with is mother is almost arrested and during their escape they hide out in a bar/strip club. After a few drinks his mother runs her car into a building. When they get the bill for $20,000 Mrs. Irene Reilly insists Ignatius get a job to help pay for damages. In his quest for employment he has various adventures with colorful French Quarter characters. He nemesis is Mryna Minkoff, who through correspondence both try to impress one another by starting riots and various other altercations with various religious, ethnic and sexual orientation groups.
We see other sides of the story by various characters Ignatius encounters during his quest.
Lana Lee owns the strip club/bar in French Quarter, where Ignatius and his mother hide out in. She hires Burma Jones for under minimum wage and he plans his revenge by enticing Ignatius back into the bar. We meet Jones in the first few chapters when Claude Robichaux meets him in the local jail.
The first job that Ignatius gets is at Levy Pants own by Gus Levy and his wife Mrs. Levy. Gus and his wife live a life in which they absolutely hate each other but love their wealth and status more. Their life is at a totally different level of living, yet are they any better than Ignatius? I love how we get these detail descriptions of the luxury of Levy and his wife. Mrs. Levy has also made it her pet project to protect Miss Trixie, a very elderly senial woman who only wants to retire from Levy Pants.
Some of the funniest scenes are when Ignatius is at the movies and screams out his displeasure of how the acting or storyline is going. It is absolutely hilarious. He also has this habit of screaming "Oh, my God!" when he can't believe what he is hearing and/or seeing.
During the first part of the book, Irene Riley seems like a flat, screechy drunk of a mother. But as she evolves and makes relationships with other she becomes a person who wants her own identity and is tired of living her life for her son who will never leave. She finds herself a boyfriend, Claude Robichaux, a much older Jewish man who is constantly on the look out for communists. Claude is introduced in the first few pages of the book when he is arrested instead of Ignatius by a local policemen, Angelo Mancuso. Poor Angelo, after making several wrong arrests, the sergeant in charge gets fed up with him, and in punishment Angelo is reduced to wearing ridiculous disguises, and spending time in the bus station toilets in order to arrest "suspicious characters". He ends up saving the day by busting a pornography ring.
Sad but interesting side note:
The author, John Kennedy Toole, was born in New Orleans in 1937. He received a master's degree in English from Columbia University and taught at Hunter College and at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He wrote A Confederacy of Dunces in the early sixties and tried unsuccessfully to get the novel published; depressed, at least in part by his failure to place the book, he committed suicide in 1969. It was only through the tenacity of his mother that her son's book was eventually published and found the audience it deserved. His long-suppressed novel The Neon Bible, written when he was only sixteen, was eventually published as well. A Confederacy of Dunces won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
I actually listened to this on CD while driving around and found myself laughing outloud. I did have to be in the mood for it so it took me awhile to get into it. I did enjoy the reader as he did a good job with all the accents.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Trouble of Fools by Linda Barnes
Carlotta Carlyle Mysteries
This book introduces us to Carlotta Carlyle, a red-haired, 6 foot-1 inch tall and size 11 shoe wearing ex-cabbie, ex-policewoman, now private investigator in Boston. She has inherited her Aunt's house and rents out the upper floor but hasn't changed much so it still looks like an old lady lives there. Her companions are TC (Thomas C. as in Cat), an inherited parrot named Emma Goldman and her best friend is Paolina, her 10-year-old "Little Sister", who lives in the projects. It is her weekly visits with her and her local volleyball games that help pass the time as she hasn't had much luck as a PI yet.
So she isn't too chosey when an elderly Irish woman hires her to find her brother, Eugene, who has vanished from their home. He left his taxi standing empty weeks before but no one except his sister seem concerned. His cabbie cronies and the police think he has flown the coop to live in the old country aka Ireland. But Carlotta's interest is peaked when she finds the battered body of the sister along with a trashed house. After taking her to the hospital she finds a mysterious cache of $13,000 hidden in the attic. Eugene's cronies, who, like himself, are drivers for a taxi fleet are secret sympathizers with the Irish cause, and seem to be involved with a scheme in support of the IRA. Having once worked for the cab company herself, Carlotta hires on again to monitor their activities, an action that eventually sets her at odds with a major drug ring, the FBI and a certain Mafia-connected former lover.
There are some other subplots that all tie up at the end to make this a very satisfying vacation read. You get this great flavor of Boston as she drives around the city plus she loves to play the blues and read poetry. I'm looking forward to see how this series develops.
Carlotta Carlyle Mysteries
This book introduces us to Carlotta Carlyle, a red-haired, 6 foot-1 inch tall and size 11 shoe wearing ex-cabbie, ex-policewoman, now private investigator in Boston. She has inherited her Aunt's house and rents out the upper floor but hasn't changed much so it still looks like an old lady lives there. Her companions are TC (Thomas C. as in Cat), an inherited parrot named Emma Goldman and her best friend is Paolina, her 10-year-old "Little Sister", who lives in the projects. It is her weekly visits with her and her local volleyball games that help pass the time as she hasn't had much luck as a PI yet.
So she isn't too chosey when an elderly Irish woman hires her to find her brother, Eugene, who has vanished from their home. He left his taxi standing empty weeks before but no one except his sister seem concerned. His cabbie cronies and the police think he has flown the coop to live in the old country aka Ireland. But Carlotta's interest is peaked when she finds the battered body of the sister along with a trashed house. After taking her to the hospital she finds a mysterious cache of $13,000 hidden in the attic. Eugene's cronies, who, like himself, are drivers for a taxi fleet are secret sympathizers with the Irish cause, and seem to be involved with a scheme in support of the IRA. Having once worked for the cab company herself, Carlotta hires on again to monitor their activities, an action that eventually sets her at odds with a major drug ring, the FBI and a certain Mafia-connected former lover.
There are some other subplots that all tie up at the end to make this a very satisfying vacation read. You get this great flavor of Boston as she drives around the city plus she loves to play the blues and read poetry. I'm looking forward to see how this series develops.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Gardens of Covington by Joan A. Medlicott
2nd in the Ladies of Covington series
Amelia, Grace and Hannah are happily living in their beautiful old farmhouse in the foothills of North Carolina, but when developers threaten to turn Cove Road into a condo haven, all 3 worry what will their future will be. Grace and her lover, Bob, are busy preparing to open a tearoom. Both have to deal with Bob's son, Russell, who has fallen in love but not thought about how his young son would react. Amelia's photography talent continues to bloom and in a fender-bender she meets the man of her dreams, but the new romance isn't all sweetness and light. Her housemates quickly determine his mean side while Amelia senses it but allows his smooth ways and glitzy gifts to blind her to his true nature. She starts to neglect her friend Mike and her photography. Hannah has troubles of her own as she trys to rally the community to save the valley, and at first she has their support but when she tries to stop a local from selling his farm to developers "it's Yankee go home!". But during this she befriends an ill and lonely woman at the farm next door. Sadly Mrs. Maxwell dies before all three ladies can meet her. Grace continues her friendship with one of the very elderly local old maids who decides to marry one of the local old men nicknamed "old Man". National News gets involved as they come to cover the wedding, it's never dull ds
Times goes by, Grace loves the tearoom and her relationship with Bob, but worries about what to tell him regarding his request to build a cabin on the women's property. Russell and his son Tyler finally come to terms with his new love and finally decide it's ok for Dad to get married or "hitched" as the locals say. Grace's son Roger and his partner offer to decorate for the wedding and come out a few weeks before the wedding to get everything ready. Grace has to deal with all this plus the bride's mother. Throw in some flooding and you have a grand old read. Entertaining and not terribly taxing to read I enjoy catching up with the Ladies of Covington.
More in the series
From the Heart of Covington
Spirit of Covington
At Home in Covington
Christmas in Covington
Two Days after the Wedding
An Unexpected Family
Promises of Change
2nd in the Ladies of Covington series
Amelia, Grace and Hannah are happily living in their beautiful old farmhouse in the foothills of North Carolina, but when developers threaten to turn Cove Road into a condo haven, all 3 worry what will their future will be. Grace and her lover, Bob, are busy preparing to open a tearoom. Both have to deal with Bob's son, Russell, who has fallen in love but not thought about how his young son would react. Amelia's photography talent continues to bloom and in a fender-bender she meets the man of her dreams, but the new romance isn't all sweetness and light. Her housemates quickly determine his mean side while Amelia senses it but allows his smooth ways and glitzy gifts to blind her to his true nature. She starts to neglect her friend Mike and her photography. Hannah has troubles of her own as she trys to rally the community to save the valley, and at first she has their support but when she tries to stop a local from selling his farm to developers "it's Yankee go home!". But during this she befriends an ill and lonely woman at the farm next door. Sadly Mrs. Maxwell dies before all three ladies can meet her. Grace continues her friendship with one of the very elderly local old maids who decides to marry one of the local old men nicknamed "old Man". National News gets involved as they come to cover the wedding, it's never dull ds
Times goes by, Grace loves the tearoom and her relationship with Bob, but worries about what to tell him regarding his request to build a cabin on the women's property. Russell and his son Tyler finally come to terms with his new love and finally decide it's ok for Dad to get married or "hitched" as the locals say. Grace's son Roger and his partner offer to decorate for the wedding and come out a few weeks before the wedding to get everything ready. Grace has to deal with all this plus the bride's mother. Throw in some flooding and you have a grand old read. Entertaining and not terribly taxing to read I enjoy catching up with the Ladies of Covington.
More in the series
From the Heart of Covington
Spirit of Covington
At Home in Covington
Christmas in Covington
Two Days after the Wedding
An Unexpected Family
Promises of Change
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Truth or Dare by Jayne Ann Krentz
Book 2 in the Whispering Springs series
Zoe Luce, psychic interior decorator, has finally settled down to domestic life in Whispering Springs, Ariz., with private investigator Ethan Truax. They are now working to create a successful marriage, but events in their pasts keep interfering with their hopes for wedded bliss. Ethan is still haunted by his brother's murder and his own pursuit of justice in that case, so part of him expects Zoe to dump him, just as his previous three wives did. Zoe is plagued by memories of her imprisonment in a private psychiatric sanatorium, as she unexpectedly encounters psychic "spider webs" clinging to several places she has recently visited. As Ethan and Zoe struggle with their pasts, both become caught up in the dilemma of Zoe's friend, Arcadia, who fears that her ex-husband has returned from the dead to settle an old score.
Both have started their businesses - Ethan a private detective agency and Zoe her own interior design business. Since I have not read the previous book I'm assuming that their various friends came with them so they have their gang to hang out with. The characters were a bit flat and the mystery of who is creating the "spider webs" leads to a disappointing conclusion. It was an OK book but sadly does not make we want to read more of these characters. Book 1 is Light in Shadow. I have really enjoyed other books by Jayne Ann Krentz but this just didn't do much for me.
Book 2 in the Whispering Springs series
Zoe Luce, psychic interior decorator, has finally settled down to domestic life in Whispering Springs, Ariz., with private investigator Ethan Truax. They are now working to create a successful marriage, but events in their pasts keep interfering with their hopes for wedded bliss. Ethan is still haunted by his brother's murder and his own pursuit of justice in that case, so part of him expects Zoe to dump him, just as his previous three wives did. Zoe is plagued by memories of her imprisonment in a private psychiatric sanatorium, as she unexpectedly encounters psychic "spider webs" clinging to several places she has recently visited. As Ethan and Zoe struggle with their pasts, both become caught up in the dilemma of Zoe's friend, Arcadia, who fears that her ex-husband has returned from the dead to settle an old score.
Both have started their businesses - Ethan a private detective agency and Zoe her own interior design business. Since I have not read the previous book I'm assuming that their various friends came with them so they have their gang to hang out with. The characters were a bit flat and the mystery of who is creating the "spider webs" leads to a disappointing conclusion. It was an OK book but sadly does not make we want to read more of these characters. Book 1 is Light in Shadow. I have really enjoyed other books by Jayne Ann Krentz but this just didn't do much for me.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Isn't it Romantic by Ron Hanen
Natalie Clairvaux, a Paris librarian specializing in Americana at the Bibliotheque Nationale, embarks on a grassroots "See America" bus tour of out-of-the-way U.S. landmarks in an effort to escape the unwanted attentions of her philandering fiance, Pierre Smith, scion of a family of French wine sellers. Maddened by her unexplained disappearance, Pierre tracks her down and catches up with her tour group in Omaha. The quarreling couple abandons the tour at a tiny crossroads outside of Seldom, Nebrask, (pop. 395), on Wednesday, agreeing that Natalie will reach a decision about their wedding by noon on Saturday.
The book takes an almost Northern Exposure turn as the townfolk announce that the couple will be elected king and queen of an annual local festival honoring a Frenchman who founded the town. Of course all manner of rather predictable fun and games begins. No hankypanky before marriage so Pierre is quartered with Owen Nelson. Owen is the local mechanic and his penchant for wine making is second only to his obsession with Cornhusker football. Natalie is moved into a women only boarding house. Natalie soon becomes captivated by handsome Dick Tupper, a 50-year-old rancher. And, true to form, womanizing Pierre starts hitting on Iona Christiansen, a comely waitress at the local cafe.
This is a very light book only scattered with sarcastic whitisms of French phrases that the locals think are just too cute. The locals plan a wedding between the couple but each find themselves torn between what is love and what is just new and different. It is quite the contrast as most people go to Paris to find something new and different and here we have these Parisians come to Nebraska to show us it with fresh eyes. I won't say this was the best book I ever read but very sweet.
Natalie Clairvaux, a Paris librarian specializing in Americana at the Bibliotheque Nationale, embarks on a grassroots "See America" bus tour of out-of-the-way U.S. landmarks in an effort to escape the unwanted attentions of her philandering fiance, Pierre Smith, scion of a family of French wine sellers. Maddened by her unexplained disappearance, Pierre tracks her down and catches up with her tour group in Omaha. The quarreling couple abandons the tour at a tiny crossroads outside of Seldom, Nebrask, (pop. 395), on Wednesday, agreeing that Natalie will reach a decision about their wedding by noon on Saturday.
The book takes an almost Northern Exposure turn as the townfolk announce that the couple will be elected king and queen of an annual local festival honoring a Frenchman who founded the town. Of course all manner of rather predictable fun and games begins. No hankypanky before marriage so Pierre is quartered with Owen Nelson. Owen is the local mechanic and his penchant for wine making is second only to his obsession with Cornhusker football. Natalie is moved into a women only boarding house. Natalie soon becomes captivated by handsome Dick Tupper, a 50-year-old rancher. And, true to form, womanizing Pierre starts hitting on Iona Christiansen, a comely waitress at the local cafe.
This is a very light book only scattered with sarcastic whitisms of French phrases that the locals think are just too cute. The locals plan a wedding between the couple but each find themselves torn between what is love and what is just new and different. It is quite the contrast as most people go to Paris to find something new and different and here we have these Parisians come to Nebraska to show us it with fresh eyes. I won't say this was the best book I ever read but very sweet.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Live Bait by P.J. Tracy
2nd title in Monkeewrench series.
Elderly Jews are being murdered in Minneapolis, and detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth work to solve the case. On the surface it appears to be some kind of crazy serial killer who is going after old people. But as they delve into the details in the victims lives it becomes apparent that the people who were being killed have more in common than what meets the eye.
We also have the original characters from the Monkeewrench crew in the story but in a much more background mode.
While the mystery was not as good, the storyline and development of the police detectives are excellent as always. Plus we see more develop between Leo and Grace.
Book five comes out in a few months so I'm re-reading this as it's been a few years. Can't wait!
2nd title in Monkeewrench series.
Elderly Jews are being murdered in Minneapolis, and detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth work to solve the case. On the surface it appears to be some kind of crazy serial killer who is going after old people. But as they delve into the details in the victims lives it becomes apparent that the people who were being killed have more in common than what meets the eye.
We also have the original characters from the Monkeewrench crew in the story but in a much more background mode.
While the mystery was not as good, the storyline and development of the police detectives are excellent as always. Plus we see more develop between Leo and Grace.
Book five comes out in a few months so I'm re-reading this as it's been a few years. Can't wait!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sewing Circles of Herat: A Personal Voyage Through Afghanistan by Christina Lamb
Former British journalist Christina Lamb return to Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks to observe the land and its people firsthand. Because of her previous experiences in Afghanistan she is able to interview locals, Afghan warlords, former members of the Taliban and other influential personalities ignored by the Western media. Lamb paints a vivid picture of Taliban rule and offers a broader sense of life devastated by two decades of war. Her well-written and moving account also reveals the heroism of the Afghans, who not only survived but also resisted their Soviet occupiers; clandestine literary circles and art preservation techniques, for example, helped Afghans salvage their education and history from total destruction.
It offers a very interesting perspective and one I did not expect to have. I think for the first time there is a face on the people of this wartorn country and I can't help but feel empathy for a country that will never be the same again. The photos are truly amazing as there are photos she took during her time there in the 1990's and post-911. Such destruction and so much history and literature lost forever. Personally I am not a non-fiction reader but I found this book fascinating.
Former British journalist Christina Lamb return to Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks to observe the land and its people firsthand. Because of her previous experiences in Afghanistan she is able to interview locals, Afghan warlords, former members of the Taliban and other influential personalities ignored by the Western media. Lamb paints a vivid picture of Taliban rule and offers a broader sense of life devastated by two decades of war. Her well-written and moving account also reveals the heroism of the Afghans, who not only survived but also resisted their Soviet occupiers; clandestine literary circles and art preservation techniques, for example, helped Afghans salvage their education and history from total destruction.
It offers a very interesting perspective and one I did not expect to have. I think for the first time there is a face on the people of this wartorn country and I can't help but feel empathy for a country that will never be the same again. The photos are truly amazing as there are photos she took during her time there in the 1990's and post-911. Such destruction and so much history and literature lost forever. Personally I am not a non-fiction reader but I found this book fascinating.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka
Told from the point of view of the youngest daughter, Nadezhda, this family saga is set in London. During one of their many phone conversations, her 84 year old father announces he intends to marry a blonde, big-breasted 36 year old Ukrainian woman. He met her at the local Ukrainian Social Club in the English town where he lives, just north of London. It is clear to Nadezhda and her sister, Vera, that the femme fatale Valentina is only after Western luxuries—certainly not genuine love of any kind. Smitten with saving two Ukrainian lives, their father forges ahead to help Valentina settle in England, spending what little pension he has buying her cars and household appliances and even financing her cosmetic surgery.
In the meantime, Nadezhda, a socialist, and Vera, a proud capitalist, confront the longstanding ill will between them as they try to save their father from his folly. As time goes Nadezhda, starts to feel differently about Valentina and wants to discover who she is. Nadezhda has never known much about her parents' history, starts asking questions and actually listening to the stories her father tells her. She starts to piece it together with her sister and learns that there is more to her father than she once believed. The story alternates with narrative from her father's book "Short History of Tractors" which she helps him translate into English.
I listened to most of this on CD until I put the final CD in to discover it was a repeat of the previous CD. So I had to finish it in print. I really enjoyed this story but found myself getting fixated on the time frame. Initially I thought it took place in current times but then when Nadezhda talked about her birth being in the 1940's and she was 48 I knew I was a bit off. The conversations between the daughters and their father were fascinating. The fights between Valentina and their father were hysterical as both get their English confused. You get a real feel for the Ukrainian immigrants who settled in the UK during the war. I did skim over the tractor history though, it was a bit much.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos
Set in the fictional town of Emlyn Springs, a Welsh Town in Southeastern Nebraska. We explore the life of the Jones family. Much of the story is told in the voice of Hope Jones as she meets and falls in love with Llewelyn Jones and after going with him to attend a relative's funeral falls in love with Emlyn Springs his hometown. The couple marry in the early 1960's and settle down in Emlyn Springs. It is a town that honors all their Welsh traditions and has many traditions such as singing for funerals and the Little Miss Emlyn Springs competition in which the winner wins a carved chair. Llwellyn becomes the town Doctor and Hope a stay at home mom, who suffers several miscarriages before giving birth to 3 children. We also discover that she suffers from MS which her husband keeps from her until she becomes pregnant with their 3rd child. While Hope loves Emlyn Springs for it's rich history and tradition she is also stifled of her independence and has trouble making friends. She develops a friendship with her husband's nurse, Alvina "Viney" Closs , a widowed at a very young age many years ago.
Much of the story swings between Hope's diary of her marriage and current day. We see how the 3 children are affected by the death of their mother in the 1978 tornado, especially since her body was never found. Current day brings the Jones children together for their father's funeral after he's killed by a lightning strike. Larken, the oldest, is an overweight professor at University of Nebraska and is beset by fear of flying; son Gaelan, is a television weatherman and focused more on weight lifting than developing relationships and has too many women in his life; while the youngest, Bonnie, who stays in Emlyn Springs working odd jobs - she is almost like the Pied Piper as the children of Emlyn Springs follow her everywhere. Bonnie is also known as "Flying Girl" she survives the tornado that kills her mother - discovered in a tree still atop her bicycle. We learn more about Viney - nurse and eventual lover to Llewelyn. While they were together for over 25 years Viney discovers that she doesn't know Lleweyn at all. Together they have lived in her house under a strict exercise and vegan lifestyle. When she goes to clear out his house (the family house) it is full of junk food, alcohol and meat! This complicated relationship is slowly unveiled through flashbacks and Hope's diary entries.
This is a very complicated story and at times found myself wanting to tell the adult children to snap out of it. All 3 are stuck in some way, Larken with her compulsion to eat, Gaelan with only sleeping around without ever developing a relationship and Bonnie is stuck on nostalgia as she canvas's the town looking for things to collect that might connect her with their mother. None are challenging themselves and just do what needs to be done to get by.
I have been finding the descriptions of small town life fascinating as all 3 have to come to terms with loss and find their place in the world. Since I grew up in Omaha, NE I was intrigued to see how the author wrote about this region. There are two tornado sequences and are portrayed more romantically than what really happens but made for a good story. I had to suspend some sense of disbelief during these sequences.
Set in the fictional town of Emlyn Springs, a Welsh Town in Southeastern Nebraska. We explore the life of the Jones family. Much of the story is told in the voice of Hope Jones as she meets and falls in love with Llewelyn Jones and after going with him to attend a relative's funeral falls in love with Emlyn Springs his hometown. The couple marry in the early 1960's and settle down in Emlyn Springs. It is a town that honors all their Welsh traditions and has many traditions such as singing for funerals and the Little Miss Emlyn Springs competition in which the winner wins a carved chair. Llwellyn becomes the town Doctor and Hope a stay at home mom, who suffers several miscarriages before giving birth to 3 children. We also discover that she suffers from MS which her husband keeps from her until she becomes pregnant with their 3rd child. While Hope loves Emlyn Springs for it's rich history and tradition she is also stifled of her independence and has trouble making friends. She develops a friendship with her husband's nurse, Alvina "Viney" Closs , a widowed at a very young age many years ago.
Much of the story swings between Hope's diary of her marriage and current day. We see how the 3 children are affected by the death of their mother in the 1978 tornado, especially since her body was never found. Current day brings the Jones children together for their father's funeral after he's killed by a lightning strike. Larken, the oldest, is an overweight professor at University of Nebraska and is beset by fear of flying; son Gaelan, is a television weatherman and focused more on weight lifting than developing relationships and has too many women in his life; while the youngest, Bonnie, who stays in Emlyn Springs working odd jobs - she is almost like the Pied Piper as the children of Emlyn Springs follow her everywhere. Bonnie is also known as "Flying Girl" she survives the tornado that kills her mother - discovered in a tree still atop her bicycle. We learn more about Viney - nurse and eventual lover to Llewelyn. While they were together for over 25 years Viney discovers that she doesn't know Lleweyn at all. Together they have lived in her house under a strict exercise and vegan lifestyle. When she goes to clear out his house (the family house) it is full of junk food, alcohol and meat! This complicated relationship is slowly unveiled through flashbacks and Hope's diary entries.
This is a very complicated story and at times found myself wanting to tell the adult children to snap out of it. All 3 are stuck in some way, Larken with her compulsion to eat, Gaelan with only sleeping around without ever developing a relationship and Bonnie is stuck on nostalgia as she canvas's the town looking for things to collect that might connect her with their mother. None are challenging themselves and just do what needs to be done to get by.
I have been finding the descriptions of small town life fascinating as all 3 have to come to terms with loss and find their place in the world. Since I grew up in Omaha, NE I was intrigued to see how the author wrote about this region. There are two tornado sequences and are portrayed more romantically than what really happens but made for a good story. I had to suspend some sense of disbelief during these sequences.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Pyramid and and four other Kurt Wallander mysteries by Henning Mankell
Includes:
Wallander’s First Case
Man with the Mask
Man on the Beach
Death of the Photography
Pyramid
The five stories feature early versions of Kurt Wallander's early life as a policeman as well as paint evocative portraits of contemporary Swedish society. We get the background of how Wallander becomes a homicide detective when his neighbour is found dead in Wallander's First Case. In Man with the Mask, Wallander checks on an store on Christmas eve disrupting an attempted burglary. An unremarkable businessman is poisoned in The Man on the Beach but—in typical Mankell fashion—the case is larger, more complex and more interesting than it first appears. In, The Death of the Photographer, Simon Lamberg takes studio portraits of weddings and children, but a couple of nights each week, he uses his darkroom to distort published photographs of politicians and newsworthy people for a macabre personal scrapbook. It's a bizarre hobby, but the cause of Lamberg's brutal, apparently senseless death is an even stranger puzzle. We also see development between Wallander and his father in the Pyramid, more of a novella and the final part of the collection. All of these story help establish the melancholy Wallander seems to suffer from.
This was my first exposure to the series but I did watch some of the PBS Masterpiece Theater starring Kenneth Branagh. These are not light mysteries but I definitely enjoyed getting a taste of this series and look forward to reading more.
Includes:
Wallander’s First Case
Man with the Mask
Man on the Beach
Death of the Photography
Pyramid
The five stories feature early versions of Kurt Wallander's early life as a policeman as well as paint evocative portraits of contemporary Swedish society. We get the background of how Wallander becomes a homicide detective when his neighbour is found dead in Wallander's First Case. In Man with the Mask, Wallander checks on an store on Christmas eve disrupting an attempted burglary. An unremarkable businessman is poisoned in The Man on the Beach but—in typical Mankell fashion—the case is larger, more complex and more interesting than it first appears. In, The Death of the Photographer, Simon Lamberg takes studio portraits of weddings and children, but a couple of nights each week, he uses his darkroom to distort published photographs of politicians and newsworthy people for a macabre personal scrapbook. It's a bizarre hobby, but the cause of Lamberg's brutal, apparently senseless death is an even stranger puzzle. We also see development between Wallander and his father in the Pyramid, more of a novella and the final part of the collection. All of these story help establish the melancholy Wallander seems to suffer from.
This was my first exposure to the series but I did watch some of the PBS Masterpiece Theater starring Kenneth Branagh. These are not light mysteries but I definitely enjoyed getting a taste of this series and look forward to reading more.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together
Book 4 in the Scott Pilgrim Graphic novel series.
It's summertime, but who can relax? Scott and Ramona continue to evolve as they wrestle with the L word (Love not lesbian - though Scott keeps hoping). Plus Ramona starts invading his dreams. Scott's band gets a chance to record their music but Scott isn't even really aware or even involved with it. Scott does notice that he is being stalked by a mysterious swordsman but he seems a bit old to be one of the Evil Exes. Plus their is Ramona's mysterious college roommate.
In typical Scott confusion, he comes home to discover that he doesn't have a place to live so if he crashes with Ramona will that change their relationship? The main complication in Scott's life is Julie, a high school might-have-been-girlfriend. Cute Julie keeps showering him with attention, forcing him to deal with his feelings for Ramona. Typical slacker humor, though it is certainly fun to see Scott get a job and become responsible.
It makes for a fun, casual read.
Book 4 in the Scott Pilgrim Graphic novel series.
It's summertime, but who can relax? Scott and Ramona continue to evolve as they wrestle with the L word (Love not lesbian - though Scott keeps hoping). Plus Ramona starts invading his dreams. Scott's band gets a chance to record their music but Scott isn't even really aware or even involved with it. Scott does notice that he is being stalked by a mysterious swordsman but he seems a bit old to be one of the Evil Exes. Plus their is Ramona's mysterious college roommate.
In typical Scott confusion, he comes home to discover that he doesn't have a place to live so if he crashes with Ramona will that change their relationship? The main complication in Scott's life is Julie, a high school might-have-been-girlfriend. Cute Julie keeps showering him with attention, forcing him to deal with his feelings for Ramona. Typical slacker humor, though it is certainly fun to see Scott get a job and become responsible.
It makes for a fun, casual read.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Paper Marriage by Susan Kay Law
Twelve years ago, John McCrary was in a terrible car accident that left him comatose. His wife Ann had him placed in Cedar Ridge where he has lived ever since in a vegetative state. Ann believes in her wedding vows, for better and for worse. Since John's life has been placed on pause so has hers. But she still visits him every evening bringing her therapy dog Cleo and homemade goodies for the staff to insure he receives proper care at the nursing home. Her mother-in-law Mary is there diligently everyday waiting for a miracle to occur. While Ann has this constant reminder of her life that might have been she still lives in their house and keeps their business going. Cooking is what keeps her going as she suffers from insomnia and often cooking is the only way she can feel like she has a place in the world. Her world is on hold while everyone keeps living.
Meanwhile Ann's neighbor Mrs. Hillerman is moved into assisted living, and overnight her house was sold to former baseball star Tom Nash. He moves in almost immediately to get ready for his angry purple haired sixteen years old daughter Mer to come live with him. He's hired an interior decorator to create the perfect suburban home. He is clueless about life in the suburban jungle and what to do with a teen girl, whose has basically raised herself. Tom never married Mer's mother and has never really spent any time with her. So he has some years to make up for. He wants to do the right thing but is at a loss as to how to develop a relationship with his daughter.
Tom decides to get Mer a dog who promptly digs under the fence and gets Ann's dog pregnant. Ann befriends Mer and starts teaching her how to cook. Ann is definitely attracted to Tom but takes her vows to her husband seriously. Maybe too seriously if she listens to her mom or not seriously enough if she listens to her mother-in-law. But circumstances force Ann to look inside herself to find the right path.
I read about this on an email update I receive from Phoenix PL, this book was one of the 2008's best romances of the year. I can see why as the storyline is unique and not your typical romance. Yes there is sex but it is not graphically described and there are serious consequences because of it. This is a very believable story and offers a fun storyline to make this a good book for a vacation or something to read over a long weekend.
Twelve years ago, John McCrary was in a terrible car accident that left him comatose. His wife Ann had him placed in Cedar Ridge where he has lived ever since in a vegetative state. Ann believes in her wedding vows, for better and for worse. Since John's life has been placed on pause so has hers. But she still visits him every evening bringing her therapy dog Cleo and homemade goodies for the staff to insure he receives proper care at the nursing home. Her mother-in-law Mary is there diligently everyday waiting for a miracle to occur. While Ann has this constant reminder of her life that might have been she still lives in their house and keeps their business going. Cooking is what keeps her going as she suffers from insomnia and often cooking is the only way she can feel like she has a place in the world. Her world is on hold while everyone keeps living.
Meanwhile Ann's neighbor Mrs. Hillerman is moved into assisted living, and overnight her house was sold to former baseball star Tom Nash. He moves in almost immediately to get ready for his angry purple haired sixteen years old daughter Mer to come live with him. He's hired an interior decorator to create the perfect suburban home. He is clueless about life in the suburban jungle and what to do with a teen girl, whose has basically raised herself. Tom never married Mer's mother and has never really spent any time with her. So he has some years to make up for. He wants to do the right thing but is at a loss as to how to develop a relationship with his daughter.
Tom decides to get Mer a dog who promptly digs under the fence and gets Ann's dog pregnant. Ann befriends Mer and starts teaching her how to cook. Ann is definitely attracted to Tom but takes her vows to her husband seriously. Maybe too seriously if she listens to her mom or not seriously enough if she listens to her mother-in-law. But circumstances force Ann to look inside herself to find the right path.
I read about this on an email update I receive from Phoenix PL, this book was one of the 2008's best romances of the year. I can see why as the storyline is unique and not your typical romance. Yes there is sex but it is not graphically described and there are serious consequences because of it. This is a very believable story and offers a fun storyline to make this a good book for a vacation or something to read over a long weekend.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
Introduces Myron Bolitar.
Myron Bolitar is a former basketball player who worked briefly (in an undefined capacity) for the FBI before becoming a sports agent. He is also a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. His secretary/ assistant Esperanza is an ex-pro wrestler. Partner and best friend is Win (short for Windsor Horne Lockwood III) who is hard to figure out as Myron keeps refering to Win as the accountant yet he is also a cold-blooded killer who uses dimdims bullets in his gun. He shoots first before even thinking of asking questions. So it was a bit disconcerting when that part of his character was introduced.
Myron has just landed his first big client, top rookie prospect quarterback Christian Steele. Everything is going fine until Kathy, Christian's assumed-to-be-murdered ex-girlfriend, calls him on the phone. It's all downhill from there, as Myron and his associates are thrust into the dark world of the sports business. We see lots of mafia influence and while Myron seems to be in the thick of it himself he is in it for the players.
I enjoyed aspects of this book but other parts were kind of convenient and crazy and I kept saying "What?". I will try the next one to see if we get a bit more depth to the characters as so far all are pretty flat. So at this point I'm pretty ambiviant about this series so far but am willing to read another before I say I like or dislike it.
Introduces Myron Bolitar.
Myron Bolitar is a former basketball player who worked briefly (in an undefined capacity) for the FBI before becoming a sports agent. He is also a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. His secretary/ assistant Esperanza is an ex-pro wrestler. Partner and best friend is Win (short for Windsor Horne Lockwood III) who is hard to figure out as Myron keeps refering to Win as the accountant yet he is also a cold-blooded killer who uses dimdims bullets in his gun. He shoots first before even thinking of asking questions. So it was a bit disconcerting when that part of his character was introduced.
Myron has just landed his first big client, top rookie prospect quarterback Christian Steele. Everything is going fine until Kathy, Christian's assumed-to-be-murdered ex-girlfriend, calls him on the phone. It's all downhill from there, as Myron and his associates are thrust into the dark world of the sports business. We see lots of mafia influence and while Myron seems to be in the thick of it himself he is in it for the players.
I enjoyed aspects of this book but other parts were kind of convenient and crazy and I kept saying "What?". I will try the next one to see if we get a bit more depth to the characters as so far all are pretty flat. So at this point I'm pretty ambiviant about this series so far but am willing to read another before I say I like or dislike it.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Tourist by Olen Steinhauer
Milo Weaver used to be a tourist, one of the CIA's special field agents without a home or a name. Six years after leaving that career, Milo has found a certain amount of satisfaction as a husband and a father and with a desk job at the CIA's New York headquarters. The arrest of an international hit man and a meeting with a former colleague yank Milo back into his old role, from which retirement is never really possible.
We see a man who has been driven by paranoia, and secrecy his entire life. There are numerous flashbacks which help explain his current delimmas as he learns to keep secrets from his mother as a young child to only telling some of the truth to get by. It was a really facinating read as I love spy novels and enjoyed experiencing this other side to it.
Looking at the author's website it appears that this will be 1st in a trilogy and George Clooney has purchased the movie rights to make and star in the movie based on this book. Hmmm....
Milo Weaver used to be a tourist, one of the CIA's special field agents without a home or a name. Six years after leaving that career, Milo has found a certain amount of satisfaction as a husband and a father and with a desk job at the CIA's New York headquarters. The arrest of an international hit man and a meeting with a former colleague yank Milo back into his old role, from which retirement is never really possible.
We see a man who has been driven by paranoia, and secrecy his entire life. There are numerous flashbacks which help explain his current delimmas as he learns to keep secrets from his mother as a young child to only telling some of the truth to get by. It was a really facinating read as I love spy novels and enjoyed experiencing this other side to it.
Looking at the author's website it appears that this will be 1st in a trilogy and George Clooney has purchased the movie rights to make and star in the movie based on this book. Hmmm....
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith
Book 10 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series
Mma Ramotswe, is in mourning over her old tiny white van. The beloved vehicle is making terrible noises and is probably headed for the junk heap. The idea of parting from the van that has been an important part of her life for so long is breaking Mma Ramotswe's heart.
Meanwhile, the prickly and outspoken Grace Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's assistant, has troubles of her own. Her arch enemy, the glamorous and scheming Violet Sephotho, has landed a sales job in the Double Comfort Furniture Shop, whose owner is Phuti Radiphuti, Grace's fiancé. It is obvious to the furious Mma Makutsi that Violet is determined to steal Phuti away from her.
While this book doesn't have as many mysteries to solve there is the case they are hired for by Mr. Leungo Molofololo, the owner of a losing football team, to find out why his formerly successful Kalahari Swoopers are suddenly doing so badly. So there is much time spent, traveling around and having tea and interviewing the various team members. Mma Ramotswe even goes to her first football game, taking her foster son, Puso who ends up helping her solve the case in the end. This book has a much more nostalgic feel as she tries to imagine her life without her white van, her husband and their foster children and even with out Grace and the apprentices.
It is such a satisfying read that I'm sad now that I've finished it. Perhaps this summer I'll go back and re-read all again. It's like visiting old friends. I've just started watching the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency on HBO and really enjoying it as well.
Book 10 in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series
Mma Ramotswe, is in mourning over her old tiny white van. The beloved vehicle is making terrible noises and is probably headed for the junk heap. The idea of parting from the van that has been an important part of her life for so long is breaking Mma Ramotswe's heart.
Meanwhile, the prickly and outspoken Grace Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's assistant, has troubles of her own. Her arch enemy, the glamorous and scheming Violet Sephotho, has landed a sales job in the Double Comfort Furniture Shop, whose owner is Phuti Radiphuti, Grace's fiancé. It is obvious to the furious Mma Makutsi that Violet is determined to steal Phuti away from her.
While this book doesn't have as many mysteries to solve there is the case they are hired for by Mr. Leungo Molofololo, the owner of a losing football team, to find out why his formerly successful Kalahari Swoopers are suddenly doing so badly. So there is much time spent, traveling around and having tea and interviewing the various team members. Mma Ramotswe even goes to her first football game, taking her foster son, Puso who ends up helping her solve the case in the end. This book has a much more nostalgic feel as she tries to imagine her life without her white van, her husband and their foster children and even with out Grace and the apprentices.
It is such a satisfying read that I'm sad now that I've finished it. Perhaps this summer I'll go back and re-read all again. It's like visiting old friends. I've just started watching the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency on HBO and really enjoying it as well.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Keeping It Real by Justina Robson
Quantum Gravity, Book 1
The world changed in 2015, when the Quantum Bomb tore a hole in the fabric of reality and opened doors to other dimensions, Otopia (Earth) including Alfheim and several other dimensions where there are elves, fairies, demons, the dead, and elementals. Jump ahead to 2021 to where the story starts, when undercover agent Lila Black, part human and part combat machine, is hired as a bodyguard for an elven rock star. She finds herself getting emotionally involved with the lead singer, Zal, who is like no elf she has ever met. She discovers that he has gone over to the demons and there is a price on his head as the Elves want him dead.
I've been reading reviews about this series and thought it sounded intriguing. Maybe I'm getting too old but I found myself skipping ahead as I got kind of bored once she entered the Alfheim world. I enjoyed parts of the book especially the sections on how she became a cyborg and her relationships with the elves. I found some parts so vague that I didn't know what was happening, I think that there is potential here but it was just flittery for me that I just couldn't concentrate on it to appreciate the story.
Quantum Gravity, Book 1
The world changed in 2015, when the Quantum Bomb tore a hole in the fabric of reality and opened doors to other dimensions, Otopia (Earth) including Alfheim and several other dimensions where there are elves, fairies, demons, the dead, and elementals. Jump ahead to 2021 to where the story starts, when undercover agent Lila Black, part human and part combat machine, is hired as a bodyguard for an elven rock star. She finds herself getting emotionally involved with the lead singer, Zal, who is like no elf she has ever met. She discovers that he has gone over to the demons and there is a price on his head as the Elves want him dead.
I've been reading reviews about this series and thought it sounded intriguing. Maybe I'm getting too old but I found myself skipping ahead as I got kind of bored once she entered the Alfheim world. I enjoyed parts of the book especially the sections on how she became a cyborg and her relationships with the elves. I found some parts so vague that I didn't know what was happening, I think that there is potential here but it was just flittery for me that I just couldn't concentrate on it to appreciate the story.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)