Finished LIGHTS OUT TONIGHT

Because you always know these books are going to have a happy ending for the central character, I become intrigued guessing what will happen to supporting characters that I like.  The characterization of selling and using marijuana as criminal was dated...if that were changed cocaine or even opiates, the book would be more up to date.  I found myself caring about Meg and hoping she came out ok.  There are several shady characters in the book providing a number of red herrings to eliminate.

I have now started The Thunder Keeper by Margaret Coel.  Is this really the seventh book in this Wind River series?  I have read 6 of these books already?  And have enjoyed every one of them.  Very real murder mysteries are solved by Father O'Malley, a Catholic priest, and Vicki Holden, a lawyer mostly involved in cases that have something to do with Indian rights.  But now, Vicki has left the area and is working in the big city and Father has heard a frightening confession that he can't tell anyone about...

Finished THE FAIRY PRINCE

I taught 7th and 8th graders for 34 years.  I enjoyed reading with them and greatly enjoyed their literature.  But, it seems that what I was reading them had more than teenage angst, self-centeredness, and stupid disastrous decisions.  Maybe not.  But now, I'm way too old to put up with it.



Once upon a time, I was able to read the books I bought for my nieces and nephews aloud to them.  But that time was short lived.  Now I am so far away from everyone and shop on line, so can't read all the wonderful sounding new books I send.  This one I got for my cleaning team (house elves) who have a 5 year old daughter.  The book made me giggle and smile.  It does not have the play with rhymes and repetition I love for young children, but it does include lots of silly things to do with their grandparents.

I have now started Lights Out Tonight, by Mary Jane Clark, #9 in her Key News series.  This time, a theatrical and movie reviewer is working on a story which is intended to explore an actress, a local summer stock playhouse, and a specific play.  She is unintentionally getting up close and personal with a sociopath.  Perhaps more than one...

Finished ODDS ON MISS SEETON

Miss Seeton carries an umbrella and, since she is a retired teacher, when she sees anyone doing something wrong, she is quite likely to poke them with it.  We now learn she may not be totally dependent on the umbrella, especially when a young person she likes may be in danger.

I am now about to start The Faerie Prince by Rachel Morgan.  It is the second book in the Creepy Hollow series.  I bought this by mistake.  I got the first two books in the series because I thought they would be similar to The Hollows series by Kimberly Harrison.  You see, Rachel Morgan was the heroine in that series, and I got confused.  I was not really impressed by the first book in the series.  If this isn't better, I'll stop reading the series.

Finished HIT LIST

We are visited by Harlequin again, but now they are killing red weretigers in an effort to lure Anita away from St. Louis and the protection of her men.  Satisfying book.

I have now started Odds on Miss Seeton, by Herron Carvic, another of the Miss Seeton mysteries.   Our retired art teacher is now called on to go and gamble at an establishment the police fear has fallen into the hands of the mob.  She needs only to study a certain man's face and, upon returning, draw his likeness. since cameras are not allowed in the casino.  Of course, it won't be so easy...

Finished THE BOOK OF CHRISTMAS in the ENCHANTED WORLD series

Another well done and beautifully illustrated book.  This recounts the biblical descriptions of Christ's birth and then shows how ancient winter solstice or mid-winter celebrations were modified to become Christmas customs.  It includes a magnificently illustrated retelling of The Nutcracker, but ends much more darkly than I'd ever seen.

I am now about to start Magical Justice in The Enchanted World series. 

Finished FOUR SWANS

TR was anxious for me to read this because there was something really important in it that wasn't in the TV show.  But, the only thing was the four swans, and he had told me about that when he was reading it....  It is a good book, but with only a few exceptions, the TV production was pretty true to it.

I have now barely started Hit List, another in the Anita Blake series.  It now appears that the Harlequin have gone on a killing spree deliberately to lure her away from her support system in St. Louis, where they will have an easier time kidnapping or killing her.

Finished THE GIRL WHO TAKES AN EYE FOR AN EYE

Really masterfully written.  It started in conflict, but, I swear the climax started a quarter of the way in and just grew from there keeping me at the edge of my seat.  Whew.

I have now started book #6 in the Poldark series, The Four Swans.  I have already read #7, The Angry Tide, because although TR had and read The Four Swans, I could not find it anywhere.  So, I had to order it again.  I thought I could just skip it because I'd been watching the TV series, but he was adamant that important things happen in this book that weren't on TV.  So, I'm reading it.  It has started with George's suspicions about Valentine not really being his son and has continued with his confiding in Elizabeth about his political ambitions.

Finished THE CURSED

Yes, the plots of these Krewe of Hunters books are fairly predictable, although we don't know how or how much the ghosts will help solve the mystery.  What we do know is that there will be romance, ghosts, and a US location that will be lovingly depicted.  What's not to like?

I have now started The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye by David Lagercrantz, a Lisbeth Salander novel.  It starts with Lisbeth in prison for kidnapping (an Autistic child who was marked for death).  Because she saved his life and protected him, it was only for a couple months, but....?

Finished WIZARDS AND WITCHES

Another beautifully illustrated book in the Enchanted World series.  This includes everything from Medieval scientists (Francis Bacon) to evil witches (Baba Yaga), from ancient wizards capable of controlling all of nature to old women growing poisons in their gardens.



I have now started The Book of Christmas of The Enchanted World series.  It is just a coincidence--this book was next on my Enchanted World shelf.   It begins with the traditional Christmas story--Mary and Joseph headed for the city of David to be taxed.

I have now made some progress in War and Peace--50 pages.  It has started at the parties and homes of ruling class Russia, amid speculation about Napoleon's next moves, his predicted success or failure and some people preparing to join the military.



I am now about to begin another Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters novel, The Cursed.  I enjoy these mysteries in which ghosts help to catch the murderers.  This one will be set in Key West--another place I have visited.

Finished WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES

This unlikely story of the Holocaust is actually based on truth.  A large family actually survives.  This novelized retelling shows us how.  The author is the granddaughter of one of the survivors.  How did they survive?  They were very well off at the beginning, but that only really explains maybe one year of survival.  After that, determination, courage, skill, all caused by they love they had for each other gave them so much to live for.  I kept saying, this couldn't be true.  But essentially, it is.  A couple names were changed, dialogue added, but it happened.  It happened!

I have now started War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.  I know, I know.  Lord only knows how many  years it will take and if I'll even finish before I die.  I will work in 50 pages at a time between my other books as I did with Les Miserables and am doing with Alexander Hamilton.  The book was in my new mobile when I bought it along with Les Miserables.  I'd already read the latter, but not War and Peace, so I took it as a sign that I should read it.  It has started in the drawing rooms and parties of the rich.  The topic of discussion is of Napoleon and the prospect of war.  Some seem to think if you ignore it--opt out--it will go away.  Others believe that Russia is honor bound to step in and become Europe's stabilizing factor.

Finished THE JUDAS STRAIN

These books just keep getting better.  The action starts on the first page and lets up only a bit occasionally to explain the science, thinking to unlock a code, or phenomenon.  This contagious disease is terrify and the action divides into several people and places to solve a mystery and come up with a cure before it is shopped to terrorist groups around the globe.  The books looks really long when I start, but it is so exciting, I just whip through.

I have now started We Were the Lucky Ones, by Georgia Hunter.  Though this is a novel, the author has done a lot of research on how her grandfather survived the Holocaust and how the rest of his family fared.  This novel is the beneficiary of that research.

Finished THE SPIRIT WOMAN

Another satisfying mystery by Margaret Coel.  The Sacajawea tie-in gave it an interesting extra aspect.  Of course I knew who the perpetrator was early (not many suspects) and was almost more on edge because of Father John's impending departure.  Now that was scary--I want more books.

I have now started The Judas Strain, #4 in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins.  These international thrillers center around of group of people with strike force military training and experience who also have achieved doctoral level knowledge in various scientific, technological, or mathmatical specialities.  They solve terrorist and terrifying problems everywhere.  Now they have a plague in the Indian Ocean, an intriguing code showing up at the Vatican, and an old enemy asking for help.

Finished ALL DRESSED IN WHITE

This is another book in the authors' Under Suspicion series.  Cold cases are brought up again in a documentary format allowing each player to explain what happened from their point of view.  In this case a bride disappeared one day before her wedding from the wedding venue.  The show hopes to discover what happened to her.

I have now moved on to The Spirit Woman, another Wind River Reservation Mystery.  Set on an Arapaho and Shoshone reservation, the main mystery solvers in these books is the priest of the reservation church, Father O'Malley, and an Arapaho lawyer, Vicki Holden.  Twenty years ago, a woman researching the tie between the reservation and Sacajawea disappeared while out walking.  Now a friend of Vicki's wants to complete her research.  I enjoy this series.

Finished NIGHT SHIFT

This was the third and last book in the Midnight, Texas series and I am very sorry to see it go.  A new character was introduced in this and we learned more about Teacher and Madonna.  All ongoing plots have been tied up, but I want more.  I want to see how Sylvester and Manfred's relationship continue.  I want to see more about Quinn's relationship with the rest of the town.  And I really like all the characters.  I just want more!

I have now just barely started All Dressed in White, #3 in the Under Suspicion by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke.  Under Suspicion is a television news show in which all players/ suspects in a murder are gathered together and act out all of the events leading up to the event in hopes of uncovering the guilty.  At this point, there is not murder yet, just a disappearance.

Finished THE CASTLEMAINE MURDERS

Another packed mystery by Kerry Greenwood.  This had two mysteries, both impossibly cold cases with a modern element for action, artfully fit into 235 pages which even included a festive, satisfying ending.  Love these books.

I am now about to start Nightshift, #3 in the Midnight trilogy by Charlaine Harris.  This is the last book of the trilogy, so I'll be feeling bereft of a favorite series when I finish...but now, on to reading.

Finished A DENSITY OF SOULS

This story of bullying, homophobia, lust, power, and love greatly effected me.  It is certainly true that if you seek to oppress and hurt someone just because they are different from you or because you are unwilling to face the truth about yourself, the monster you create will be you.

I have now started The Castlemaine Murders, a Phryne Fisher Mystery (#13).  Going on a ride at Luna Park, a nearby amusement park, Phryne finds a mummy encased to look like the fake remnants of a cowboy.  It turns out to be 70 years old, murdered and deliberately mummified.  Once our heroine decides to look into where it came from, someone starts threatening her to stop.  Of course, when did that ever stop Phryne?

Finished LIE DOWN WITH LIONS

My first assessment of this book, that it was set in the late 1990's or at the turn of the century (prior to 9/11) was a conclusion jumped to when I had just barely started.  No, it was set in the early 80's in Afghanistan during the Russian invasion.  It involves a tale of two spies, one for the CIA and one for Russia, with a good caring nurse stuck in the middle.  It is a tale of romance and betrayal.  But more than that, it is a thriller which begins rapidly and moves up from there.  I really enjoyed it.

I am now reading A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice.  Since I had read a novel by Chris and his mother, which had seemed pretty much a continuing with her themes, I expected this to be about supernatural creatures as well.  But, in the prologue of the book, Chris tells the reader that "if that is what you think, you've got the wrong Rice."  💪  Though also set in New Orleans, this centers on bullying, especially of gays.  It is chronicling the effects of such bullying on the gays, but also on the bully.  I once told my students that if you seek to abuse others, the monster you will create is you!  Chris seems to agree with me...

Finished BECOMING Michelle Obama

Most celebrity autobiographies are pretty fast reads...  Of course, this is not a celebrity autobiography per se.  At least, her celebrity came through politics.  And this book is needed.  She represents some big "firsts."  It is complete through the last day as first lady and is much longer and more detailed than I had expected, but it is easily read and understood (as compared to AUDACITY OF HOPE by her husband.)  So many things in this book made me long for the "good old days," although I'm fairly certain Michelle does not feel the same.  I do hope she continues her initiatives and her optimism.

I have now started Ken Follett's Lie Down with Lions.  Set in post 9/11 Paris which is dealing with terrorism, we are introduced to two spies--one in the CIA and another being groomed by the KGB; both seem reasonably likeable.  And the danger of their lives looms momentarily...





I have also completed Fairies and Elves.  The scope of this book includes pixies, elves, witches, and all manner of magical creatures. It is full of stories mostly from Europe beautifully illustrated, some with friendly helpful fairies and others with vengeful spirits.  Some even include mixed love affairs and marriages, all of which seem, invariably, to end in heartbreak, often for both members of the couple.

My new bathroom book is Wizards and Witches, which I am about to start.  There seems to be some overlap with Fairies since that book did include some of the witches of Avelon..  But, in these nebulous worlds of legend, I suppose that is bound to happen.

Finished ORIGIN by Dan Brown

Whew!  Another roller coaster ride that ended (at least the thriller part) entirely differently than I expected. It also, as usual, provided food for thought.  As with all of this author's books, it is a thriller that stimulates the mind as well as the adrenalin.  I loved it.

I am now about to start Becoming by Michelle Obama  (or perhaps it is Becoming Michelle Obama.  It is a clever title for that reason.  In my experience, every human being encounters adversity.  Every female human being encounters more adversity.  And if you are a member of a minority in this country and female, well, you have a STORY TO TELL.  I want to read hers.

Finished JO'S BOYS

But before Jo"s Boys, I read another 100 pages of Alexander Hamilton.  In this section, the government becomes a divided camp between Hamiltonians (advocating a strong central government) and Jeffersonians (advocating states rights).  The president has consistently agreed with Hamilton and no major problem has come up because everyone loves and respects Washington.  However, what will happen when Washington is no longer President?



In modern times and at my ages, this reads slow and goody-goody, but I still was glad to learn what happened to the family as the children grew into adulthood.  And that part I enjoyed.

I have now begun reading Origin by Dan Brown.  At the point I am, Robert Langdon is heading into a meeting in which the speaker is sure what he will say will shake up and change the world's religions, but a religious leader is also walking in to create what is hinted to be a violent surprise.

Finished RAGTIME

Although this is a novel, it reads like non-fiction.  At first I had trouble with the mention of historical figures as a part of the story and the non-fiction feel, but I found myself getting into it.  If I were teaching it, I'd use much of it as examples of irony.

I have now gone back to Alexander Hamilton.  As I picked it up, he was having an affair the circumstances of which make one wonder just how smart he was...  This affair's consequences would come back to haunt him.

Finished FREE U'TANSE

Having read this book after Secrets of the U'tanse, which came chronologically first, this felt a lot like de'j'vue.  But I did learn where some of the characters I met before came from and why some of the subjects were being discussed.  In this, one of the owners of a slave home has decided to get rid of all his slaves, one way or the other...Can they be rescued before they are obliterated?  As usual, I enjoyed this book along with all of Henry Melton's books.

I have now started Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow.  This has started differently from any novel I can remember.  It reads like non-fiction.  It is interesting, but I haven't picked up a lot of story yet.