Finished THE FIERY CROSS

 

I think for me it is best to read the book first, then see the tv series or movie.  This way, having seen the series first, I am always saying to myself, "Oh, that's why that happened," or, "oh, that made what happened less shocking."  But I am also enjoying everything that wasn't in the series.  Probably 2/3 of this book was not in the series and other parts were only hinted at.  If I read the book first, then I can enjoy the production while criticizing acting, casting, production values, but mostly screenplay.  However, I am enjoying these books very much because they are explaining and broadening my appreciation of the characters I met on the screen.  Absolutely worth the read.

I am about to start reading Dead Man's Chest, another Miss Fisher's Murder Mystery.  These are always fun and compact.

Gave Up On APPETITE FOR LIFE, THE BIOGRAPHY OF JULIA CHILD

 

After reading for five days and not yet being to p 50, I gave up.  It was so boring, I kept finding distractions: card game on my phone, tv, even cleaning (which REALLY shows how bored I was.)  So I have not finished reading it and will not.  I don't do this often.

I have now started book 5 of the Outlander series, The Fiery Cross.  Jumped into this right away.  It is 1770 and stirrings are starting up of unrest in the South Carolina colony.  As Roger and Brianna set about to make their marriage official, Jamie receives orders from the governor to muster as many men as possible to serve under him for the king.

Finished DARKEST JOURNEY

 

As usual, helpful ghosts are, well, helpful, but the crime is solved in the climax when life is in danger.  I love the Missippi river boats, so I just enjoyed the ambiance of the story.  More suspects than usual, several of whom were shocked that they were suspects.  I enjoy these books.

 

Then I read another 50 pages in Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.  Back from Europe, Jonathan spends the first part of the section trying to cure the king of his insanity, then turns to learning to navigate between mirrors, much to the consternation of his wife.

I have now started Appetite For Life, the biography of Julia Child.  I have not yet decided if I will finish it.  The first part is deadly dull, reading like a term paper or a thesis.  I'll give it a bit more of a chance, though.

Finished A TIN TRAIN CHRISTMAS

 

A pleasant little story, though predictable.  All of the books I have read by this author have been sweet and this was a good follow-up to James Rollins preceded by Bone Walker.  Sometimes I just need a break from all the excitement, and I can't think of much better for the purpose than Lageschulte.

I am now about to start another Heather Graham, Krewe of Hunters book, Darkest Journey.  Once again, this book will take me to to Southern Lousianna and the Mississippi, but now aboard a paddle-wheeler.  Fun.  A reminder of Fever Dream by George R.R. Martin.

Finished THE LAST ODYSSEY

 

 

Of course there will be critics that hate this because it is not true science fiction and goes too far overboard, but who cares if you can't label James Rollins' work as science fiction or fantasy (I like science, historical fantasy myself).  I think he did Homer proud and maybe ran him one better.  It was an adventure for sure.

After two very long books I turn to a short story by the author of the Growing Season books that I have been enjoying.  We met Horace Schermann at the beginning of the first book in the series at which time he was 90.  Now we go back in time to the depression when Horace is 6 and his brother Wilbur is 8.  Both boys really want a tin train they have seen in a window, but...it is the depression.

Finished BONE WALKER

 

This was the third in a trilogy and I loved the entire story (Anasazi Mystery).  Of course there are all kinds of theories as to what happened to the Anasazi and probably most are correct.  This speculative story includes many of them.  I love the side by side stories, one among the Anasazi trying to survive and the other set in the present with the archeologists gradually figuring out part of the answer and then the climax tying both together.  Well worth the time spent reading it.  I am kicking myself for never visiting Chaco Canyon while I could still walk.  And I was close...  Just didn't know enough to stop.

I have now started The Last Odyssey by James Rollins (a part of his Sigma Force series.)  Recent archeological finds have discovered the city of Troy (Homer's The Illiad) and have plotted the probably location of ancient Ithaca (the two cities figure as starting and ending points in Homer's Odyssey).  Prior to this scholars have thought of the two books as purely fiction, but, if the cities were real, could more of the stories be real?  That "what if.." leads Rollins (and now me) into another great adventure.

Finished THE ANASTASIA SYNDROME AND OTHER STORIES

 

Marry Higgins Clark at her best.  Unexpected twists.  All of the stories were suspenseful.  And not always a happy ending.

I have now started Bone Walker, the third of the Anasazi Mystery Trilogy by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear.  The plot becomes more and more complicated as the powerful witchery from the Anasazi past enters the present with a beloved archeologist being found dead by ancient means.  The title is the name given to the granddaughter of and by a powerfully incestuous witch from the past.