December 2018 Wrap Up

Books Read:
Private Enterprise by Angela Thirkell  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Silent Nights edited by Martin Edwars  5/5 stars  (my review here)

Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories edited by Martin Edwards  5/5 stars  (my review here)


Audio Books Completed:
Gunpowder Plot by Carola Dunn  3/5 stars
While Daisy is visiting her friend, Gwen, Gwen's father and a visitor are found dead.  Daisy's husband is called to investigate, with Daisy assisting.  I knew from the time of the murder who and why, and how it would end. There was very little detecting that went on -- it was mainly waiting for the culprit to confess.  The breezy, fun style made it possible for me to finish, though, despite the lack of surprise.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt   4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Last Woman in His Life by Ellery Queen  3/5 stars
In this 1970 mystery, a millionaire friend of Ellery's is murdered and the three ex-wives are suspects.  This dated novel was not fully believable, but still was mostly entertaining.

The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon  4/5 stars  (my review here)

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore  5/5 stars  (my review here)

The Ex-Wife by Jen Ryder  2/5 stars  (my review here)


Did Not Finish:
Owl's Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews
This book was so slow.  It took forever to get through the opening (dull as ditch water) yard sale to the murder, then there was an agonizingly long amount of time spent eavesdropping in a dumb waiter.  At that ridiculousness, I gave up.  I'm extra disappointed because there are 25 books in this series, and I'm always looking for new mystery authors.

Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners by Gretchen Anthony
This novel is told in three voices, one of which I actively disliked.  I made it three hours into the audio book, and while I was interested in the rest of the story, my dislike for Richard was too strong for me to finish.

Stats for 2019:
I read 36 books and listened to 57 audio books this year.  According to my Goodreads stats, I read 9,184 pages. My shortest book was 84 pages, my longest was 688 pages. I read a good deal more last year, but listened to close to the same amount of audio books.

The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories

The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories
Martin Edwards, editor
5/5 stars


This anthology of Christmas mysteries, published by British Crime Classics, is completely enjoyable. There are stories by both well known and currently obscure crime writers, from the Golden Age and slightly later. The collection is has a variety of stories, with murder, blackmail, theft, suspense, deathbed confessions, and the supernatural represented. While none were exceptional, all were solidly good, and I discovered several authors whose novels I now plan to read.

The stories are as follows:
"A Christmas Tragedy" by Baroness Orczy  4/5 stars
"By the Sword" by Selwyn Jepson  4/5 stars
"The Christmas Card Crime" by Donald Stuart  4/5 stars
"The Motive" by Ronald Knox  4/5 stars
"Blind Man's Hood" by Carter Dickson  4/5 stars
"Paul Temple's White Christmas" by Francis Durbridge  3/5 stars
"Sister Bessie" or "Your Old Leech" by Cyril Hare  4/5 stars
"A Bit of Wire Pulling" by E.C.R. Lorac  4/5 stars
"Pattern of Revenge" by John Bude  3/5 stars
"Crime at Lark Cottage" by John Bingham  4/5 stars
"'Twixt the Cup and the Lip" by Julian Symons  4/5 stars

The variety of the stories and authors is definitely worth five stars.  The stories themselves average to four, bringing the book's rating to four and a half stars.  I rounded it up to five.

The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder

The Ex-Wife: a Nail Biting Gripping Psychological Thriller
Jess Ryder
2018
2/5 stars

After a brief affair with rich, married Nick, Natasha finds herself in a perfect life as his wife and mother to their daughter, Emily.  The only flaw in Natasha's beautiful new world is Nick's ex-wife, Jen, who haunts them and seems determined to win him back.  However, it turns out that Jen was the least of her worries, and that Nick was not the man Natasha had imagined.  She finds herself in a nightmare, with her beloved daughter at the apex, and uncertain who in her life can be trusted.

For a novel that proclaims itself to be "a nail biting gripping psychological thriller", the Ex-Wife turned out to be a bit of a yawn.  It had great potential, and there were a few surprises early on that kept me listening when I was about to give up on it.  However, nothing gripping happened, and though there were some twists and turns, it just fizzled out in the end.  I would certainly not read another "thriller" by Ryder.

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

A Dirty Job
Christopher Moore
2006
5/5 stars

This review was originally written February 28, 2006, after reading the ARC.  I have reread it prior to reading the sequel.  Twelve years later, I have a slightly different sense of humor, and I would only give it four stars now.  I am, however, keeping the original rating. 

Charlie Asher is a nice, likable and (except for his exceptionally over-worked imagination, common in a "Beta Male") normal guy. At least he was normal, until the day he accidentally walked in on Death--well actually, one of his minions, the dapper and cool Minty Fresh--and finds himself as one of Death's Little Helpers as well, collecting the souls from the newly departed and saving these souls from unscrupulous use by a set of female demons and their wicked lord. Once Charlie gets the hang of it, he finds out that it's not such a bad job, makes him a decent living and gives him plenty of time with his daughter Sophie. There's just one flaw. . . it seems that the Sewer Harpies (as Charlie comes to call the female demons) are growing stronger. So strong in fact, that there will be no other course of action than a ferocious battle for the world, between the forces of good and evil.

Charlie is alternatively helped and hindered on his path by the sort of wonderful characters only Moore could create. There's Lily, the wise-cracking teenaged Goth and "creepiness child prodigy" (who quickly became my favorite), and Ray, an ex-police officer searching for love on Asian dating sites. Charlie's sister Jane -the Alpha Male that Charlie isn't- gives Charlie strength and love--all the while looking better in his suits than he does. Even Charlie's daughter Sophie, who grows up before our eyes, has some odd tendencies--bad luck with pets, one very dangerous word, her own personal hounds from hell, and the typical child's memory for things that one was not supposed to hear in the first place. Of course, one couldn't expect her to be completely normal, given her father (who was convinced he saw a tail on her six-month sonogram) and the influence of her unintentional hilarious babysitters, Mrs. Korjev (and her bears) and Mrs. Ling (and her wok). Even Charlie's enemies are wonderful; I adored the Sewer Harpies with their bickering, evil ways, puppet shows and continually amusing antics. In addition, Moore throws in a few return characters from other books which was a thrill for the Moore fan. I was especially glad to see the Emperor again.

Charlie's experiences as a soul collector are both funny and touching. As is so often the case with Mr. Moore, a surprising tenderness turned up on some scenes. There is one scene in particular (the cheese scene--read it and you'll agree with me), that made me step back and say, "Wow! I need to be sure I appreciate life to the fullest!". Terminal illness, hospice care, nurses, and death all received a reverential treatment at his hands--while still being funny in that twisted Moore way.

A Dirty Job has overtaken Lamb as my favorite Christopher Moore novel and rates a full five stars. Pick it up and join Charlie the life of death. It's a dirty job, sure, but somebody's gotta do it!

Note on the audio book: Fisher Stevens is a better than average narrator, but some of his voices were too similar, and his Irish pronunciation wasn't perfect.

Murder for Christmas by Francis Duncan

Murder for Christmas
Francis Duncan
1949
4/5 stars

Retired tobacconist Mordecai Tremaine is invited to a Christmas house party by a man he doesn't know well.  He chooses to go, because of the intriguing postscript stating that "something was wrong" in the household.  That something was most definitely wrong was proven when a dead Father Christmas was discovered under the tree on Christmas Eve.  Mordecai uses his sharp eye and keen reasoning to investigate his fellow house guests to determine the motive and method of the crime.

This was a delightful mystery, with an engaging protagonist and a well imagined cast of characters.  The mystery itself was intelligent, believable, and nicely plotted.  Duncan's writing wasn't perfect; there were repeated phrases and the occasional awkward sentence.  Despite that, I would most definitely recommend this nearly forgotten Golden Age mystery.  I will most certainly be reading more of Mordecai's adventures.

The Christmas Hirelings by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

The Christmas Hirelings
Mary Elizabeth Braddon
1894
4/5 stars

Sir John Penlyon is prepared to spend his usual dull Christmas, but his friend, Danby, persuades him that children are needed to make the holidays bright again.  With Sir John's agreement, Danby hires three siblings for the festive season, one of which steals Sir John's heart and teaches him to love again.

This charming Victorian novel is predictable, but completely enjoyable.  The book is well-written and engaging, with believable characters and scenario. It's easy to see why Braddon was an extremely popular novelist of her day.  This is a feel-good Christmas story that, while short, is fully entertaining.

Note on the audio book:  Richard Armitage is excellent when narrating and when voicing adults.  His portrayal of children, however, is not convincing.  

Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries

Silent Nights: Christmas Mysteries
edited by Martin Edwards
5/5 stars

This anthology by British Crime Classics is a fun read.  There are stories by both well known and currently obscure crime writers, from the Victorian age to the Golden Age, and slightly later.  The collection is has a variety of stories, with murder, theft, and suspense represented.  Some are not as mysterious as others, but all were entertaining.  I discovered several authors whose novels I now plan to read.

The stories are as follows:
"The Blue Carbuncle" by Arthur Conan Doyle  5/5 stars
"Parlour Tricks" by Ralph Plummer  3/5 stars
"A Happy Solution" by Raymond Allen  3/5 stars
"The Flying Stars" by G. K. Chesterton  4/5 stars
"Stuffing" by Edgar Wallace  4/5 stars
"The Unknown Murderer" by H.C. Bailey  4/5 stars
"The Absconding Treasurer" by J. Jefferson Farjeon  3/5 stars
"The Necklace of Pearls" by Dorothy L. Sayers  5/5 stars
"The Case is Altered" by Margery Allingham  4/5 stars
"Waxworks" by Ethel Lina White  5/5 stars
"Cambric Tea" by Marjorie Bowen 4/5 stars
"The Chinese Apple" by Joseph Shearing  4/5 stars
"A Problem in White" by Nicholas Blake  4/5 stars
"The Name on the Window" by Edmund Crispin  4/5 stars
"Beef for Christmas" by Leo Bruce  4/5 stars

The variety of the collection is definitely five stars.  The average of the stories is four stars, giving the book a total of four and a half stars, so I rounded it off to five stars.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

The Goldfinch
Donna Tartt
2013
4/5 stars

In this Pulitzer Prize winner, Theo experiences a life-altering tragedy at aged thirteen.  What follows is years of being a victim to bad choices, both his own and those thrust on him.  Told retrospectively, it follows Theo from a happy life in NYC, to a miserable existence in Las Vegas, back to NYC where he becomes involved in shady antique deals and, eventually, the dangerous world of art theft.  The one link to all facets of Theo's life is a painting, the Goldfinch, which was his mother's favorite, and spurs him to make many of his unwise decisions.

This is, foremost, a depressing book, and not one I enjoyed reading.  Despite that, the story was compelling and I had to continue, had to know if Theo would find any hope in the end.  Tartt's strength is in her ability to write details and make a situation uncomfortably real.  That said, there were times when incidents took too long to develop or finish.  It's not a pleasant reading experience, and at nearly 800 pages (32 hours, 24 minutes for the audio book), one must look on the Goldfinch as a commitment.  I was not fully satisfied with the ending, nor did I feel that I had benefited in anyway by reading  this novel; though I have given it a four star rating, it's not a book I would recommend.  Nonetheless, I was impressed enough by Tartt to want to read her other novels.


Note on the audio book: David Pittu was an incredible narrator, with distinguishable voices and excellent emotions.  

Private Enterprise by Angela Thirkell

Private Enterprise
Angela Thirkell
1947
4/5 stars
Continuing the Barsetshire series, this lightly romantic novel takes place shortly after the end of WWII, with the county residents still trying to adapt.  Peggy Arbuthnot, a young widow, and her sister-in-law Effie, move to Southbridge and together create quite a stir among the eligible men and the match-makers.

As is usual with Thirkell, this is a witty and often snarky book, poking gentle fun at her characters, but writing them well.  It has a satisfying ending, and despite a few almost shocking dated comments, is a pleasure to read -- all 463 pages.

November 2018 Wrap Up

Books Read:
The Four Graces by D. E. Stevenson  4/5 stars
This gentle, lightly romantic novel follows several months in the lives of the four Grace sisters living in a village during WWII.  Stevenson writes with charm and warmth, makes her characters believable, and leaves the reader feeling satisfied at the end.

I've been spending more of my spare time working word puzzles than reading this month.

Audio Books Completed:
Death in Holy Orders by P. D. James  4/5 stars
Dalgleish happens to be on the scene when an Archdeacon is murdered in a theological college.  This is, as is usual with James, a highly intelligent, well-plotted mystery with a satisfying conclusion.  This was a reread for me, and I enjoyed it just as much as before.

A Test of Wills by Charles Todd  3/5 stars
Inspector Ian Rutledge, carrying the scars of WWI with him, investigates a murder in a rural village.  This is the first of the Rutledge mysteries, and did an excellent job of introducing him.  The novel was well-written and attention-holding, and the solution quite a good one.  However, not enough information was given in advance so that the reader could solve along with Rutledge, which was frustrating.  I  do look forward to continuing the series, though.

Mort by Terry Pratchett  4/5 stars
I decided to reread the Discworld series, and started with Mort, the fourth book.  In this novel, Death decides to take an apprentice, with the most unexpected outcomes.  As is typical of Pratchett, this is witty, funny, and a delight to read.

They Do It With Mirrors by Agatha Christie  5/5 stars
In this near perfect mystery, Miss Marple is on the scene when the step-son of a friend is murdered.  It is cleverly written, makes sense, and is plausible.  This is definitely one of Christie's best.

My reason for finishing so few audio books this month is that I am half-way through the 32 hours of the Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.

Did Not Finish
Murder at the 42nd Street Library by Con Lehane
At about 30 minutes into the audio book, I wasn't finding it credible or very interesting.  The writing didn't feel polished.  It was obvious from early on that the author had little knowledge of basic police procedures, as well.   I may have missed out on a gem, but Goodreads reviews suggest I am spot on in my quick decision.

Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon
The main character's is an African-American violinist, named Gethsemane.  I wasn't impressed from the beginning--it was flat and characterless--and after less than hour, I was unchanged except to be tired of hearing her name over and over again.  Others disagree with me, as this has good reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, and won a debut novel award, so take this as the opinion it is.

October 2018 Wrap Up

I spent more time cross-stitching and working word puzzles than I did reading this month, as my list shows!

Books Read:
The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen  3/5 stars  (my review here)

Audio Books Completed:
Jane Austen at Home: A Biography by Lucy Worsley  4/5 stars
This biography focuses on Austen's various homes, and the importance of the idea of home to her.  It also emphasizes her sense of humor and relates the importance of the women in her life.  It is a comprehensive biography, but the prose is not lively enough to make it an engaging read.

Diamond Dust by Peter Lovesey  5/5 stars
Murder comes too close to home for Peter Diamond, and he finds himself both a suspect, and a vigilante investigator.  This is the best of the series so far (I'm reading them in order).  It was well-written, believable, and engrossing.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce  5/5 stars (my review here)

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey by Rachel Joyce  4/5 stars (my review here)

Malice in Wonderland by Nicholas Blake  4/5 stars
Nigel Strangeways is called in to investigate a series of increasingly worrisome practical jokes that threaten to ruin the reputation of the vacation retreat of Wonderland.  This was a fun, generally believable, and intelligently written Golden Age mystery.

The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle  4/5 stars
While not as good as the short stories, it's still a mostly satisfying Holmes mystery.

Did Not Finish:
O, Jerusalem by Laurie R. King
This Russell and Holmes novel returns to the early days of their partnership, to expand on an adventure briefly mentioned in the first of the series, the Beekeeper's Apprentice.  It is a spy novel taking place in post WWI Palestine, and after listening for about an hour, I just wasn't interested enough to finish it.  While I love mysteries, I don't care for spy thrillers.  I'll definitely continue with the next in the series, though.

The Smiler with the Knife by Nicholas Blake
I have liked what I have read of the Nigel Strangeways mysteries, and this one began well.  It then became a national security/domestic espionage story, and (as I said above) I just don't care for this sub-genre.

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle
This audio book was read by the author.  I made it less than five minutes before I had to stop.  Serle is a terrible narrator.  Just horrible.  I can't believe that this production was released!  I'm still interested in the book, and may pick it up another time.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
In this YA book, the descendants of Holmes and Watson meet at school, become friends, and solve a mystery together. The premise was cute, and the execution seemed to be good for as much as I read, but it was too YA for me.  Plus, instead of enjoying it, I was made to just want to read the real thing.

Pride by Ibi Zaboi  my review here

October 2018 OwlCrate

I got this month's OwlCrate, as I was intrigued by the subject, Lost in the Library, and by the promise of a Pride and Prejudice retelling.  

The crate contained two books, Pride by Ibi Zaboi (see my review here), and Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa. 

Also included were a packet of tea and an infuser, book socks with "book nerd" on the soles, an original print of the Mirror of Erised, and a canvas clutch big enough to hold a book. 

While I liked the items in the crate, especially as they were not fandom-based except the Harry Potter print, I was disappointed with the books.  Pride I found impossible to finish, and Shadow of the Fox does not appeal to me at this time (though I may be in the mood for YA fantasy at a later date).  I also did not like the books in the last few OwlCrates I got last year, so I doubt I will order another; it seems our book tastes do not coincide any more.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Pride
Ibi Zoboi
2018
Did Not Finish

In this Pride and Prejudice retelling, Zuri and her four sisters live in a Brooklyn hood.  Zuri watches in disgust as the rich Darcy family refurbish the house across from her apartment block.  When they move in, Zuri's older sister Janae and the oldest Darcy brother take an instant liking to each other, to Zuri's consternation.  She and the other Darcy boy, Darius, find themselves thrown together, but she considers him snobbish and can't stand to be around him.

I really wanted to like this book, since it's a Pride and Prejudice remix.  Sadly, while the writing was mostly good and the nods to the original clever, Zuri has a chip on her shoulder the size of her hood which makes her completely unlikable, and the book an unpleasant read.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy 
Rachel Joyce
2014
4/5 stars

This, the companion book to the Unexpected Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, is Queenie's side of their story.  She has a secret that she must share with Harold, to ease her mind before she dies. Writing a letter to Harold as she waits for his visit, Queenie discusses her relationship with Harold and his family, and various bits of her past, as well as slowly revealing the secret.   Queenie also introduces other residents of the hospice in touching vignettes.  Events that were not fully explained in Harold Fry are filled in excellently and believably.  The prose is generally beautiful, the characters surprisingly real, and, while it seems predictable and mundane at first, the secret develops into a complex plot. Though it lacks the charm of Joyce's first novel, Queenie Hennessy is moving, well-written, and engrossing; it will linger in the mind for days after reading. 

Note: this book must only be read after reading the Unexpected Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen

The Last September
Elizabeth Bowen
1929
3/5 stars

Set against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, the Last September is a novel of an upper class Irish family reacting to the unsettled times.  While shots are being fired in other areas, they are having tennis parties, teas, and dances with the British troops.  It is also a coming of age story, of a sort, as Lois, the young woman of the house, experiences what might be love for the first time.

This satirical novel of manners is has beautiful prose that is often poetic.  Unfortunately, the story is slow moving and sometimes unwieldy, making it a difficult read at times.  The characters, while well drawn, aren't easy to connect with, and the plot is not gripping.  When the ending comes, it comes too late to provide an emotional punch.  For a short novel, it took entirely too long to read, and does not come recommended.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Rachel Joyce
2012
5/5 stars

"Everybody's the same but also unique."  Harold Fry

Harold Fry receives a letter from a former colleague, Queenie Hennissy, informing him that she is dying of cancer.  Overwhelmed by emotions, he decides that rather than write to her, he'll visit her in person, by walking the six hundred miles to her hospice.  He convinces himself that as long as he walks, Queenie will live.  Armed with nothing more than his wallet, a light coat, and yachting shoes, Harold sets out on a journey that will change his life.

This beautifully written novel is about second chances, hope, and self discovery.  Joyce writes a believable tale that is not overly sentimental, while still being emotional.  Harold, and his wife Maureen, are sympathetic characters that the reader will come to care about and cheer for as the novel progresses.  This is a complex story, that is never too lighthearted, nor too serious, but walks nicely in between.

This is a reread for me.

September 2018 Wrap-Up

Books Read:
Seaview House by Elizabeth Fair  4/5 stars
Another charming, well-written, lightly romantic, English village novel; highly enjoyable.

Miss Buncle Married by D.E. Stevenson  4/5 stars
This follow up to Miss Buncle's Book (my review here) is a delightful, cheerful, enjoyable read.

Olivia in India by O. Douglas   3/5 stars  (my review here)

The Two Mrs. Abbotts  by D.E. Stevenson  4/5 stars
This is the final of the Miss Buncle books, and like the first two, it is charming, fun, and well-written.  I'm sad that there are no more books about Miss Buncle and her community.

Peace Breaks Out by Angela Thirkell  4/5 stars
This fifteenth in Thirkell's Baresetshire Chronicles is just as good as the previous volumes.  In this one, WWII comes to an end, and the characters have to adjust to the lack of war, and find peace time most difficult.  It's witty and snarky, lightly romantic, and fully satisfying to read.

Audio Books Completed:
Shades of Milk and Honey by  Mary Robinette Kowal  3/5 stars (my review here)

The Whole Art of Detection by Lyndsay Faye  4/5 stars
This "continuation" of the Sherlock Holmes stories has all the flavor of the original, but the mysteries are not as believable or as intricate as Dolye's.  Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read for the dialogues between Holmes and Watson alone.

The Moving Finger by Agatha Christie  4/5 stars
As with most all of Christie's mysteries, this one was entertaining and intelligent.

Calamity Town by Ellery Queen  4/5 stars
While one important point of the mystery was not quite credible, the rest of the story was interesting and, if not riveting, was still a good read.

Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie  4/5 stars
In this stand-alone mystery, Jack Argyle is found guilty of the murder of his mother, but two years later his alibi is verified.  Now the rest of his family are under suspicion, and the true killer will not hesitate to kill again to remain unidentified. This is one of my favorite Christie mysteries: it is intelligent, well-written, and believable.  I highly recommend it.

The Accusers by Lindsey Davis   3/5 stars  (my review here)

Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie  5/5 stars
This is a well-written, credible, and highly entertaining mystery.  I highly recommend it.

The Accusers by Lindsey Davis

The Accusers
Lindsey Davis
2003
3/5

This is the fifteenth in the Marcus Didius Falco mystery series.  I read it first in June 2017.   In my original review, I said:

In this not-particularly-memorable mystery, Falco is hired to prove that a suicide was actually a murder. As usual, the historical details are fascinating, and the wit makes the book; for some reason, though, this one wasn't as charming or engaging as previous volumes of the series.

I can now verify the forgettableness of this novel.  I was eight hours into the ten hour audiobook before I realized that I had read it before.  I would only recommend this one to those readers who are working through the series in order, and then more for the personal details than the story.

Olivia in India by O. Douglas

Olivia in India
O. Douglas 
(pen name of Anna Masterton Buchan)
1912
3/5 stars

Olivia, a young Scotswoman, takes a trip to India to visit her brother, who is a civil servant.  This epistolary novel follows Olivia's ocean voyage to India, her stay in Calcutta, and her visits to outlying posts.  The style is breezy and charming, and the reader gets to know the characters of Olivia and her brother well.  Buchan is quite good at fleshing out minor characters as well, and as a character study, the book is entertaining.  However, there is very little plot to the book; it's main purpose seems to be not to tell a story as to acquaint British readers with the wonders of India, which she does do well.  This lack of plot, though, severely detracts from the novel, making it only an average read.

This book is free on Project Gutenberg.

A Nun in the Closet by Dorothy Gilman

A Nun in the Closet
Dorothy Gilman
1975
3/5 stars

When the Order of St. Tabitha inherits an estate, Sisters John and Hyacinth are sent to inspect it and take inventory.  What they find is a wounded man asking for sanctuary, a suitcase full of money, and multiple jars of sugar in the pantry.  They increase their knowledge of the world with hippies, migrant workers, and the mafia in the adventure of a lifetime.

Gilman's prose is strong and full of enthusiasm.  The characters of Sisters John and Hyacinth were charming and fully enjoyable, with the minor characters being stereotypical.  There was a good deal of social commentary that was so dated as to be boring.  The plot starts of with great promise, but deteriorates toward the end into an unbelievable farce.  It's not that the book was bad, but it's not one I'd recommend or read again.

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Shades of Milk and Honey
Mary Robinette Kowal
2010
3/5 stars

This Regency romance takes place in an alternate universe where magic (glamour) is used.  Jane, an accomplished glamourist, becomes embroiled in the love affair of her sister, while accidentally finding a romance of her own.

Kowal borrows liberally from Jane Austen, but the type of magic she has imagined is quite unique.  The plot is interesting, and was extremely promising, but it lacked that spark that makes a book engrossing.  This is a series, and I certainly won't continue it.

A note on the audio book: The author narrates this novel, and her fake English accent is truly nerve-grating at times.

August 2018 Wrap Up

Books Read:
Miss Bunting by Angela Thirkell  4/5 stars
Another humorous, snarky, yet gentle, novel by Thirkell.  This one had a shade too much snobbism, but was still a good read.

Georgette Heyer's Regency World by Jennifer Kloesters  5/5 stars  (my review here)

Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson  4/5 stars  (my review here)


Audio Books Completed:
London: A Short History of the Greatest City in the Western World  (The Great Courses) by Robert Bucholz, D. Phil  5/5 stars
Not actually an audio book, this is a twelve hour course on the history of London.  It was a fascinating course, and Dr. Bucholz was an engaging speaker.

The Vault by Peter Lovesey  4/5 stars
Diamond investigates bones found in a vault, as well as a murder which may have Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at the bottom of it.  I thoroughly enjoy Diamond's personality, and Lovesey's clever mysteries.  This one was well thought out, and good through to the ending.

The Tales of Max Carrados by Ernest Bramah  3/5 stars
These Edwardian tales of a blind detective require great suspension of belief, and coincidence plays a large part in most.

Off With His Head by Ngaio Marsh  4/5 stars
This Inspector Alleyn mystery is intelligent and well plotted, as are all of Marsh's novels.

Sleep No More by P.D. James   5/5 stars
This is a selection of six murder-related short stories that are as near to perfection as one can come.

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle  3/5 stars
This first novel introduces Holmes, and is not as well-written or as believable as the later novels.  Still a fun read, though.

The Case of William Smith by Patricia Wentworth  3/5 stars
This mystery hangs too much on coincidence to be credible, but was still mostly enjoyable.

Did Not Finish:
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
I made it 14 minutes into the audio book, and was intrigued, but the author narrates this herself and is truly terrible.  I may try to read it at some further point.

Pretty Girls Dancing by Kylie Brant
A thriller about a kidnapped girl, well written as far as I got, but too many emotional triggers for me to read it with comfort.

A Casualty of War by Charles Todd
I have enjoyed all the Bess Crawford mysteries up till now.  I listened to eight hours of the audio book and, with three hours to go, just couldn't continue.  It was obvious where the plot was going, and it was taking entirely too long to get there.

Miss Buncle's Book

Miss Buncle's Book
D.E. Stevenson
1934
4/5 stars

Barbara Buncle's income has diminished to a worrisome point, so in an attempt to earn money she writes a novel under the pen name of John Smith.  Not having a vast imagination, Barbara writes of what she knows: the people in her village.  It becomes a best seller and her neighbors are in a fury over the depictions of themselves, seeking to unmask the anonymous author.  At the same time, the book affects some villagers--even Barbara herself--in a positive way that she would never have suspected.

This charming novel is well-written, entertaining, and amusing.  The plot was believable and engrossing.  Stevenson's wit is intelligent, and sometimes sarcastic, but always genuinely funny.  While being a gentle book, it's not overly sweet.  I enjoyed it enough that I will most definitely read more of Mrs. Stevenson's novels.

Georgette Heyer's Regency World

Georgette Heyer's Regency World
Jennifer Kloester
2010
5/5 stars

Kloester gives a detailed look at the culture of the upper class society during the British Regency period.  A Heyer fan, she gives instances of where Heyer used the information in her novels.  Despite this focus, it is a great resourcd for anyone who loves the Regency world, not just fans of Heyer's novels.  Kloester writes well and is accessible to the layman, not just history buffs.

The book presents a wealth of varied information.  Just for example, there are lists of important people, Regency cant, books referenced in Heyer's works, as well as facts on the newspapers of the time, explanations of how the mail worked, and descriptions of the Regent's Royal Pavilion. She also gives an extensive list of resources for further study.

Overall, this is an excellent work on Regency society life, and well worth a read for any interested in that period.  I highly recommend it.

July 2018 Wrap Up

Books Read:
The Native Heath by Elizabeth Fair  4/5 stars
The third of Fair's charming, sometimes snarky novels sees widowed Julia returning to the village she visited regularly as a child, and becoming involved in the lives of some of her neighbors.  Witty and thoroughly enjoyable, the Native Heath is well-written with believable characters.

The Headmistress by Angela Thirkell  4/5 stars
Thirkell continues her Barsetshire series with this 1945 novel.  As with all of her novels, it is witty and charming, and quite well written.

Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer  4/5 stars
I'm currently reading a nonfiction book about the Regency world, and it caused me to crave one of Heyer's excellent novels.  I am not a fan of romance, but I am certainly a fan of Heyer.

Audio Books Completed:
My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni   3/5 stars  (my review here)

Fall of a Philanderer by Carola Dunn  3/5 stars
Daisy and her husband find the body of a man dashed on the cliffs while  on vacation and investigate the murder.  Another average mystery from Dunn; enjoyable but not memorable.

Unconditional Surrender by Evelyn Waugh  4/5 stars
The third in the tragi-comedic "Sword of Honor" trilogy is, as I said about the two previous volumes, a good read thanks to the strong writing, understated humor and masterful satire.

The Yellow Mask by Wilkie Collins  2/5 stars
This is a short Victorian romantic thriller, hampered by it's brevity and hence a lack of detail, and overall not fully satisfying.

The Moor by Laurie R. King  4/5 stars
Thoroughly enjoyable Russell/Holmes mystery.  King has a good idea of Holmes, and keeps his attitude consistent with canon.

My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni

My Sister's Grave 
Robert Dugoni
3/5 stars

Tracy Crosswhite's sister disappeared twenty  years ago.  A man was convicted of her murder, even though a body was never found.  Now, her body is discovered by hunters, giving new evidence that the conviction may have been incorrect.  Tracy, a homicide detective, is determined to find the answer.

This novel effectively uses backstory alternating with the current story to bring the reader into the plot.  The characters are well-developed and most motivations believable.  However, the book is just too long; it drags in the middle, and the ending is tediously extended.  In addition, while there is suspense, the solution to the mystery itself is apparent before the denouement. This is by no means a bad book, but it isn't better than average.

June 2018 Wrap Up

Books Read:
Measure for Measure  by William Shakespeare  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Heat and Dust  by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala  3/5 stars
This novel simultaneously tells the story of Olivia, living in India during the 1920s, and an unnamed woman, who comes to India some forty years later, trying to piece together Olivia's life from her letters.  It goes back and forth between the third person narrative of Olivia's life, and the first person narrator who details both her current life in India and her search for Olivia's past.  Jhabvala is a fine writer, and her prose is excellent.  The stories didn't flow together as well as expected, however, and neither was engrossing.

Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Audio Books Completed:
Decline and Fall  by Evelyn Waugh  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Spotlight  by Patricia Wentworth  3/5 stars
A blackmailer is murdered during a house party, and Miss Silver helps the police with the investigation.  This follows Wentworth's standard formula (young girl becomes involved in a police investigation, seeks Miss Silver's help, and finds love in the end), but is still a relatively good mystery.  The murder itself, though, wasn't fully credible, lowering the rating.

You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson  4/5 stars
Sophie is awakened in the middle of the night by an intruder with a letter that is to be opened at her birthday party the following night; if she doesn't, her family will be hurt.  This psychological thriller drags a little about three-quarters of the way through, but other than that it is a stressful, intense read that will keep the reader guessing.

Men at Arms by Evelyn Waugh  4/5 stars
The first of Waugh's "Sword of Honor" trilogy, Men at Arms follows Guy Crouchback as he attempts to join the Army at the beginning of WWII.  While a serious novel, Waugh's understated humor and masterful satire make this a good read.

Silent Child by Sarah A. Denzil  4/5 stars  (my review here)

I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll  4/5 stars  (my review here)

Officers and Gentlemen by Evelyn Waugh  4/5 stars
In this second of the "Sword of Honor" trilogy, Guy Crouchback is assigned to a commando unit, then is involved with the messy retreat after the Battle of Crete.  (See Men at Arms above.)

Did Not Finish:
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
Lawson's memoir did not resonate with me like her five star book about mental illness (Furiously Happy).  It was funny in parts, but some bits that were intended to be humorous just didn't work for me.

I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll

I Am Watching You
Teresa Driscoll
2017
4/5 stars

Ella witnesses two fresh-from-prison men chatting up two teenaged girls, thinks about stepping in, but doesn't.  When one of the girls, Anna, goes missing, Ella blames herself.  A year later, Ella begins to receive threatening postcards from someone else who blames her.  In the meantime, Anna's family issues another appeal for help, and this time new witnesses step forward, involving Anna's family and friends, showing that they all had something to lie about during the investigation.

While one of the premises of the story is flimsy, the rest of the plot is strong.  Driscoll is a fine writer, neatly combining thrills with every day occurrences.  The slow way that the backstory was shared was particularly effective.  Overall, with the one flaw, it's a suspense novel that is a solidly good read.

A note on the audiobook: Elizabeth Knowelden is an excellent narrator, with varied voices and well-expressed emotions.

Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves

Goodbye to All That
Robert Graves
1929, updated 1957
Everyman's Library Contemporary Classics Series
4/5 stars

This autobiography tells briefly of Graves' early life, in depth about his experiences in World War I, and then quickly covers the ten years following the War, when he wrote the book.  He writes frankly about the War, sharing the tragedies, stupidities, and horrors of trench warfare.  His prose is engaging, drawing the reader into the events.  While the War episodes are the most absorbing, it was still interesting to read about the before and after years.  It will appeal most to those researching WWI, but the average reader will also find it fascinating as the documentation of the formative years of a famous author.

Note: This edition was updated by Graves in 1957, and according to the Introduction, some changes were made.

Silent Child by Sarah A. Denzil

Silent Child
Sarah A. Denzil 
2017
4/5 stars

Emma's six-year-old son Aiden, is drowned in a flood, his body never recovered.  Shockingly, ten years later, he stumbles out of the woods, mute from the trauma of a decade of abuse.  With Aiden not talking, Emma suspects everyone of the heinous crime, and her life becomes a mess of fear and doubt, distrusting those closest to her.

This thriller is tense and stressful, and completely compelling.  The reader is gripped from early on, and the first-person narration adds to the experience.  Denzil is a talented writer, and Silent Child is hard to put down, giving multiple surprises and twists, and delivering a satisfying ending. 

A note on the audiobook: Joanne Froggart is a masterful narrator, who delivers a stunning, emotional performance.

Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare

Isabella by Francis William Topham (1888)

Measure for Measure
William Shakespeare
c. 1603-04
4/5 stars

Antonio, left in charge by the Duke of Vienna, resurrects an old law that makes fornication punishible by death, and arrests Claudio under said law.  Claudio's sister, Isabella (a novice nun), comes to Antonio to plead for her brother's life.  Antonio becomes obsessed with her, and offers her Claudio's life for her virginity.

This play discusses corrupt government, attitudes toward sex and morality, and mercy versus judgement.  Antonio has an excellent soliloquy in which he turns from an upright man into a man consumed with lust.  The ending makes everything come right, but leaves the viewer wondering if it is really a happy ending.


Read for the Classics Club.

Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh

Decline and Fall

Waugh

Evelyn Waugh
1928
4/5 stars

Paul Pennyfeather is, by no fault of his own, sent down from Oxford for indecent behavior.  His only recourse is to get a job teaching at a less-than-prestigious boarding school.  While there, he meets the widowed mother of a student, Margot Beste-Chetwynde, with whom he falls in love.  This starts a chain of events leading to his decline and fall.

This, Waugh's first published novel, shows him already a master of  black humor, satire, and the absurd.  The plot is unpredictable, the prose excellent, and the entire book truly funny.  While it's not perfection, it is a great, quick read that will have the reader laughing out loud.

May 2018 Wrap Up

Books Read:
Dangerous Mystic by Joel F. Harrington   5/5 stars  (my review here)

If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino    3/5 stars (my review here)

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare   4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson  4/5 stars  (my review here)

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare  1/5 stars  (my discussion here)

The Householder by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala   5/5 stars  (my review here)

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare  4/5 stars  (my review here)

du Maurier

Audio Books Completed:
The Scapegoat by Daphne du Maurier    4/5 stars
John and Jean meet and are struck by their identical looks.  Jean takes the other's identity, leaving John to deal with the Frenchman's demanding family.  This is a well-executed, gripping novel that makes the reader eager to read on.  Du Maurier's ability to write natural, believable people and their reactions to extraordinary circumstances is excellent.

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym    5/5 stars
In this sometimes charming, sometimes snarky novel, Pym explores a few months in the life of Mildred Lathbury, one of the "excellent women": thirty-something genteel spinsters who do good works in the parish or neighborhood.  Pym's ability to create comic characters and situations, as well as the everyday, is exceptional.

A History of India by Michael H. Fisher, Ph.D.  (The Great Courses)  5/5 stars
This is not an actual book, but is a 18 1/2 hour course on the history of India from earliest known times up to current day.  The course is well prepared and interesting, and Dr. Fisher, while sometimes halting, is generally a good lecturer.

Great World Religions: Hinduism by Mark Muesse, Ph. D (The Great Courses)  5/5 stars
This is not a book, but a 6 hour series of lectures on the theology of Hinduism and it's 5000 year history.  I was expecting more about the actual practices and more stories about the deities than it contains, but was not disappointed by the overall quality of the course.  Dr. Muesse was an enthusiastic and informative lecturer.

The Case of the Love Commandos by Tarquin Hall 4/5 stars
In this fun and complicated mystery, Vish Puri is asked to help locate the kidnapped Dalit finance of a high-caste woman, and in so doing becomes involved in murder, politics, and caste.  In the meantime, Mummy is convinced she has spotted a criminal on her pilgrimage, and is making a nuisance of herself with the local police.  Hall's prose is well-written and engaging, the characters are believable, and the situations, while far-fetched at times, are intriguing.

Did Not Finish:
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
There is nothing wrong with this semi-autobiographical book; Durrell writes engagingly and the narrator of the audio book was fantastic.  The problem is with me--the topic, zoology in Greece during the 1930s, just couldn't hold my attention.

The Merchant of Venice

Edmund Kean as Shylock

The Merchant of Venice
William Shakespeare
4/5 stars


Antonio takes out a loan from money-lender Shylock for his friend Bassanio, promising a pound of flesh if he can't repay.  When disaster strikes and Antonio looses everything, Shylock is determined to make him pay in full.  Bassanio's new wife, Portia, dons male garb and takes on the role as lawyer, to teach Shylock mercy.

With some of the most famous lines in Shakespeare, and a strong female character, this play is entertaining, and sometimes moving, though not as humorous as one would expect for a "comedy". The multiple subplots tie up nicely iwith a satisfying conclusion. The view of Judaism does not sit well with the modern mind, but other than that, The Merchant of Venice is an enjoyable experience.




Read for the Classics Club.

The Householder by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

The Householder
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
1960
5/5 stars

Prem, recently married, is finding life hard as a husband and working man, and longs for the days when he was a still a student living with his parents.  In this coming-of-age tale, the reader watches as Prem slowly moves away from child mentality to that of an adult householder, falls in love with his wife, and begins to find his place in the world.

Jhabvala's exquisite prose balances between witty and poignant.  The voice of Prem is so beautifully written that the reader feels invested in his life.  The Householder is perceptive and insightful, and flows easily from one incident to the next, giving the reader a glimpse of life in India in the late 1950s, and a complete view into the mind of a boy becoming a man.  I highly recommend this comic, yet serious, novel.

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

The Shrew Katherina by Edward Robert Hughes (1898)

The Taming of the Shrew
William Shakespeare
c. between 1590 and 1592
1/5 stars


Baptista Minola of Padua has two lovely daughters: Katherina and Bianca.  Bianca has many suitors, being retiring and maidenly.  Katherina, on the other hand, is a shrew, short of temper and sharp of tongue. Baptisa vows that he will not allow Bianca to marry until her older sister has.

Petruchio comes to Padua, intent on finding a rich wife. Katherina is just such a prospect, and he quickly arranges with Baptista to marry her, and then sets about to tame her.

I tried to view this play through 16th century eyes, rather than 21st century sensibilities, and to take into account that it is a farce, but I still did not care for it.  I even watched a version (my review here), hoping that seeing it staged would make it better, but to no avail.

To begin with, it starts as a play within a play, but that subplot is dropped immediately and never mentioned again.  Then, the humor, even ignoring it's outdated-ness, does not appeal to me.

Also, there is Kate herself; a such termagant is hard to pity.  Petruchio is not a character with whom one can sympathize, either, and is certainly not a hero to be admired. Next, we have the actual taming, psychologically cruel and degrading, which no one deserves, however much a shrew.

The bottom line is that I found nothing enjoyable about the play, and I'm surprised that it continues to be performed.

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson

The Bookshop of Yesterdays
Amy Meyerson
anticipated publication date: June 2018
4/5 stars

Miranda Brooks shared a special relationship with her uncle Billy, who would make special scavenger hunts as treats for her.  On her twelfth birthday, however, Billy and Miranda's mother argued, and Miranda never saw Billy again.  Now, as an adult, Miranda learns that Billy has died and left her his bookshop.  Shortly after this, she receives a clue from him, leading her on another adventure, this time of books, family, and self-discovery.

This debut novel is well written and polished.  The story is engaging, and sometimes surprising; solving the clues with Miranda is fun.  The premise isn't fully believable, however, and the book lacks an emotional punch.  It's still an enjoyable read, especially for book lovers, but not one that will linger in the memory.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Scene from Twelfth Night, by Francis Wheatley 

Twelfth Night, or What You Will
William Shakespeare
c. 1602
4/5 stars

This is a tale of twins, Viola and Sebastian, who are separated by a shipwreck. Viola disguises herself as a man (Cesario) and becomes an attendant to Duke Orsino, with whom she falls in love. He loves Olivia, who in turn falls in love with Cesario.  The plot is further complicated when Malvolio, Olivia's steward, is tricked into believing that she is in love with him.

The plot is convoluted but engaging, and it is generally amusing; however many aspects would have benefited from more attention.  My main problem is that Shakespeare created too many subplots that required tying up, and, needing to end the play at a certain amount of hours, he threw everything at the audience in the last scene and made, to my mind, a weak ending.

(Read for the Classics Club; about the Classics Club)

If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino

If on a winter's night a traveler
Italo Calvino
1979
3/5 stars

This sometimes playful, sometimes pretentious novel is a study of readers and reading.  The protagonist, a second person male "you" (sometimes referred to as "Reader"), buys the new novel by Italo Calvino, reads the first chapter, then finds that the printers have made a mistake, and the rest of the book is not there.  His later choices of reading material also cut off at crucial points, making him seek out the publisher and attempt to uncover a conspiracy.

In this postmodern classic, Calvino adopts a different style for each of the ten interrupted novels, and for the most part is quite successful.  His general style of prose (when talking to "you") is engaging.  Sadly, If on a winter's night a traveler is an uneven work, with parts that are brilliant and parts one has to push oneself to read.  I'm glad to have experienced it, but equally glad to be finished.

Dangerous Mystic by Joel F. Harrington

Dangerous Mystic: Meister Eckhart's Path to the God Within
Joel F. Harrington
2018
5/5 stars

Harrington presents a biography of Medieval mystic, Eckhart, set in historical context.  This is an easily readable scholarly work which shares some of Eckhart's teaching in addition to his life.  The reader is left with a full idea of who Eckhart was and why he is influencing thinkers today.

April 2018 Wrap Up

Books Read:
Landscape in Sunlight by Elizabeth Fair  4/5 stars
Fair's gentle, amusing, perceptive novel follows the residents of Little Mallin for the few months leading up to the church's Festival (known by many as "the Day").  Fair's characters breathe and her locations become visible to the reader.  The plot is light and fun, with a great deal of human nature thrown in.

By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham  4/5 stars  (my review here)

An Artist of the Floating World  by Kazuo Ishiguro 4/5 stars (my review here)

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran 5/5 stars  (my discussion here)

Audio Books Completed:
A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King  3/5 stars
The third in the Russell/Holmes series, a Letter of Mary sees them investigating the death of a female amateur archaeologist.  The writing has improved greatly with this novel, and I was completely entertained until the somewhat down-letting denouement.  I still plan to continue with the series, because I genuinely like the Russell/Holmes characters and partnership.


Food: A Cultural Culinary History (The Great Courses) by Professor Ken Albala Ph.D. Columbia University  5/5 stars
This is not an actual book, but an 18 hour course of lectures regarding the history of food.  It is fascinating and informative, giving historical background in addition to the actual gastronomy history.  Dr. Albala presents his information well, and is easy to understand.  The course was truly worth listening to, and provided food for thought.

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan  3/5 stars  (my review here)
A note on the audio book: don't.  Just don't.  The reader is terrible, making all male characters speak in a hesitating. one. word. at. a. time. pattern.  It was really hard to get past that, and I nearly quit the book on several occasions.

A Certain Justice by P.D. James 5/5 stars
When a criminal lawyer is found murdered in her chambers, Dalgliesh is called to the case.  James is a master story teller, and the disconcerting ending makes this one of her best.

The Best Friend by Shalini Boland 3/5 stars
When Louisa's young son starts a new school, she finds a best friend in one of the other mothers, Darcy.  The friendship is wonderful to begin with, until Darcy begins to take over Louisa's life.  This is a well-written, mostly believable thriller.  Boland creates an atmosphere of unease from early on.  Despite it's good points, it wasn't enthralling for me, though other readers may find it so.

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

The Prophet 
Kahlil Gibran
1923
5/5 stars

Not a book that can be lightly reviewed, the Prophet's poetic prose gives Gibran's mystical views of  varied aspects of the human condition, such as death, love, beauty, work, pain, and laws.  It is a moving, thought-provoking work that will leave the reader both enlightened and confused.

I usually discuss the classics I read, how it made me feel, what it made me think.  Reading the Prophet is a highly personal experience, though, and I find myself reluctant to share.

My copy; notice all the marked passages.

Read for my Classics Club challenge.