Thursday, March 28, 2024

Finished MURDER IN AN ENGLISH VILLAGE

 


I must say most of what I like about this book is the variety of characters (I love that also about the tv show Midsomer Murders.)  This one also, set just after the end of WWI, brings up classism pretty strongly.  Enjoyable, liesurely read.  

I have now begun Follow the Angels Follow the Doves, a fictionalized biography of Bass Reeves (black US Marshal born into slavery in Oklahoma.)  This is a trilogy of books.  This first book deals with the raising of this young slave, favored by his master, but carefully taught to be wary by his mother.



Wednesday, March 20, 2024

After finishing 50 more pages of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL, I started a new mystery.

 


These pages were mostly dealing with Jonathan and Mr. Norrell's relationship, which is kind of love/hate.  The book continues to amuse.

I have now started Murder in an English Village (A Beryl and Edwina Mystery).  One of my Goodreads friends was reading it and I thought it sounded interesting, so I bought it.  Our two heroines couldn't be more different, but they are great friends and work very well together, though a bit shocked by each other.  So far the book has been fun.




Saturday, March 16, 2024

FINALLY Finished WOLF HALL

 


Several times, I asked myself, "Why am I finishing this."  It wasn't boring...it was at times incomprehensible, however.  The author's way of punctuating dialogue is, shall we say, creative.  Which can be confusing.  She often uses "he" with no anticedent.  It took me the longest time to realize that was when she referred to Thomas Cromwell.  Since he was in every scene and was the obviously main character, I was just supposed to realize that "he" was Cromwell.  Imagery was beautiful.  This is a novelized explanation of what may have happened during England's transition, with Henry VIII, from Catholicism to Anglican, caused by the king's need for an heir (a male heir...he already had a female one.)  So the plot was fascinating.

I will now be returning to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.



Thursday, February 22, 2024

Finished BREAKING ANCHOR

 


A seventeen year old boy must keep his family's sailboat away from very diligent pursuit.  It was only about his trip, but was exciting and enough science to make it sci-fi.  Loved it as I have every Henry Melton book I have read.

I have now started Wolf Hall, the first book in a trilogy about Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII.  Of course, all I have read is his mistreatment as a boy by his father and his excaping his home at age 14 (started with a bang.)




Saturday, February 17, 2024

Finished BUFFALO BILL'S DEAD NOW

 


I like these narratives of two stories, one in the present and one in the past.  Why did it take over 100 years to discover Chief Black Heart's headress, beaded vest, and other paraphenalia in a safe under a house in Germany?  And where are these same items now after being brought back to Wind River.  Father John and Vicky Holden are on the case.  

I am now about to start another Henry Melton YA Science Fiction story.  I love his stories because they make me think and I believe they most likely make young people think as well.



Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Finished KITCHEN PRIVILEGES, A MEMOIR.

 


Very readable, she starts with earliest memories, and we learn that she and her family, through no fault of love, had a really hard time with illnesses and deaths.  She takes us through her first two books sold when her life went from a struggle to comfortable and more.  She raised 5 children, much of their childhoods she was raising them alone.  Fascinating story.

I have now begun Buffalo Bill's Dead Now (A Wind River Mystery).  This appears to be the 16th book in the series and it looks like I have read all 15 leading to it.  A generous benefactor (or perhaps a contrite benefactor) bought a collection of artifacts belonging to a Chief Black Heart who toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show to donate to the mission's museum.  But, all that arrives is empty boxes. 





Monday, February 12, 2024

Finished DEATHSTALKER

 


I really enjoyed the action of this book, the really quirky characters (if made into a movie this would be a riot to costume!), and the environment....pick a world, any kind of world.  This series will have absolutely no limitations.  Now, what is it?  Science fiction...no, not enough science.  How about scientish action fantasy?  Just ordered more books in this series.

I have now started Kitchen Privileges, A Memoir by Mary Higgins Clark.  Not surprisingly, it is very readable optimistic poinance.  She does not take her world too seriously...at least not from the age she writes this book.