Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic (and trying to catch up scheduling reviews)

We have just returned home from the country where family gathered after Christmas.  Three or four days at the cabin with those who couldn't make it up for Christmas Day has left me tired and lazy, but I still need to finish reviewing books from 2017 and find slots within 2 or 3 weeks of publication to schedule a few more reviews.

While in the country, I took frequent breaks from the festivities and fireside chats with friends and family to read and relax.   

I had requested Resurrection Bay from NetGalley because I just saw the author's name and was thinking it was the follow up to a book I read in 2016.  Duh.  It was the same book with a new cover, I'd just forgotten the title and since Resurrection Bay was also the town the protagonist came from,  I was hoping for a sequel.  I don't usually reread books, but I decided to reread this one because I'd already read the other books I'd downloaded. 

 It was even better the second time!

Below is my original review, and I can only add that it is an excellent crime novel with well-developed characters:

Resurrection Bay, Emma Viskic's debut crime novel, is set in Australia.  

What I liked:  the setting -- in both Melbourne and the small coastal town of Resurrection Bay; a protagonist who is profoundly deaf and struggles to understand what others are saying; his ex-wife and her Koori family who give some insight into the struggle of native aboriginal peoples.

There are some humorous moments in this dark novel--but make no mistake, there is a lot of violence.  The story begins with the murder of Caleb Zelic's friend Gary, who was aiding Caleb in an investigation into warehouse robberies.  His partner Frankie is a 57-year-old former member of the police force and an alcoholic who has been clean for several years, but Caleb wonders how trustworthy she is after finding a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Caleb's information is often faulty because he must rely more on reading lips than on his hearing aids, and anyone who is not directly facing him causes gaps and misunderstandings in what is said. Caleb's problems are exacerbated by his unwillingness to admit to his disability; his attempts to appear "normal" cause additional problems when he refuses to ask people to repeat themselves or he appears to be ignoring people who talk to him.

An intriguing novel that sets a fast pace, Resurrection Bay has an original protagonist who is flawed more by his pride than by his deafness.  This is a case of who, as well as why.  The novel has plenty of tension with a mysterious villain, secrets and betrayals, and the uncertainty of who is to be trusted.

NetGalley/Echo Publishing/Pushkin Press in US and UK

Crime.  Sept. 1, 2016.  Print length:  231 pages.


The original publication was in 2016, so you shouldn't really have to wait for the new publication date next month.  Check your library, too.  :)

I like the new cover, too.  The original cover seems to depict Melbourne and the new cover, Resurrection Bay.  I like both. If you missed this book the first time around, give Emma Viskic's Resurrection Bay a try.  You'll be glad you did.

Hey, Ho!  I just downloaded the sequel.  What perfect timing--everything from the first novel is fresh on my mind!

September Stirrings

I  had Mila and Max visiting for the past week.  The schools in Baton Rouge won't reopen until after Labor Day, so M & M came for a visit.  Board games, a trip to the trampoline park, and electronic devices  helped keep things busy around here.  Erin and Brandon came up for Labor Day Weekend and are staying at the camp.  We go down during the day and come back at night.  

My snail mail and mail art obsession continues, 

and I have fun creating envelopes and postcards.  

postcard

postcard

Hard to believe this long, hot summer is over.  Although it remains hot, the light and shadows have changed, and fall is on the way.  Our seasons here in the South are less defined than they are in cooler climates, but we still appreciate the small changes that indicate the changes from one season to another.  Right now our temperatures are in the low 90's--and much appreciated.  

I've zipped through some great historical novels lately by Ann Swinfen--The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez.  The Secret World of Christoval Alvarez, the first in the series, involves The Babington Plot that led to Mary, Queen of Scots' downfall.   All of the books were available through Kindle Unlimited, and I greedily made my way through the series.  I thoroughtly enjoyed the way Swinfen was able to make me feel as if  I were there with Christoval (or Kit), a young physician with secrets, trying to negotiate the intricacies of Sir Francis Walsingham's intelligence service.  

The books all involve Kit's desire to continue work as a physician, intertwined with the important events that occur during the latter part of Elizabeth's reign.   While it is fascinating to read about the real people and events in these well-researched books, Swinfen also throws in many little known facts and oddities throughout the series.   For example, there is a reference to "Winchester geese" that I wondered about and after Googling it discovered that it was a term for prostitutes.  

Edgar Loves Books

Well, in truth, he loves bags.  Plastic, cloth, or paper bags; they are all exciting adventures for Edgar.  Since this bag doesn't make any noise (paper bags are excellent for sound effects, cloth bags, not so much), he seems to find the atmosphere comforting.

 Obviously, I made it to the library yesterday, paid my fine, and checked out a few books.  Provided Edgar with a new activity.

   Edgar's choice is evident.  He is a discriminating fellow, after all.

I put the bag on the floor because I'd also been to the grocery store.  By the time I'd finished putting the groceries away, I was too exhausted to do anything else but read.  :)

The cold is much better, but still provides an excellent excuse to retreat to my reading chair with a cuppa and a cat.

Be Glad Your Nose Is On Your Face by Jack Prelutsky

 I had Bryce Eleanor for 6 days, from Thursday night until Wednesday afternoon.  It was great fun, and we played and read.  The last few days, however, she developed a summer cold and went through the tissues like mad. 

It didn't bother her most of the time, and she was cheerful and playful in spite of it.  

I'd ordered 3 poetry books by Jack Prelutsky to have on hand for the grandkids.  Be Glad Your Nose Is On Your Face is the one I got down for this visit, and we both enjoyed it thoroughly.  

Both Prelutsky and B.E. have a thing about spaghetti, so poems that featured spaghetti were favorites. 

I like that Prelutsky uses big words frequently; his poems are written for children, but they are certainly not condescending.

 Of course, this one says it is perfect for ages 7-11, and B.E. is only three.  Nevertheless the charming illustrations and rhymes kept her fascinated whether she understood everything or not.

The marvelous illustrations are by Brandon Dorman  and go well with Prelutsky's funny and fanciful words.  In 2006, Prelutsky became the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate, a well-deserved honor.

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After Amelia and Chris returned from New Hampshire and Boston and picked up their happy daughter (bringing at least a half dozen new books), I settled in to a quiet house again.

But by Thursday night, I realized that I'd contracted B.E.'s cold.  She was so sweet and cheerful.  I was a miserable, grumpy, whining, self-pitying mess.  By Saturday, I couldn't even read to comfort myself.  Just whine, take meds, and try to sleep.  This morning, I've decided to live.  

And I'm going to catch up reviews.  Yes.

Wedding Over, Back to Reading

Our niece got married this weekend at Hemingbough in St. Francisville, and we had a full agenda of grandkids, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc.  It was a beautiful wedding, and Megan and Drew make a beautiful couple.

 Some pizza Friday evening.

 Fee and Max above.  Mila and Bryce Eleanor below.

 

Father and Daughter Dance.

 There were acres of azaleas at the height of their beauty--a magical setting.

We were exhausted when we got home yesterday afternoon. I have lots of laundry, etc., to do, then I will be reviewing and reading. 

This wonderful post about learning courage from fairy tales and books by Jennifer of The Lion's Whiskers reminded me of the importance of reading as both a child and an adult.  (Found via The Drawing Board blog).

Have just a few more reviews to catch up on and a nice stack of ARCs from Algonquin Books to settle into.  I limited my library books this week because I have so many books already in the stacks.

I had so much fun decorating for Valentine's Day this year that I've been working on St. Patrick's Day.  First, I went through all my green depression glass and other items, then I started crafting.  So far:  a St. Pat's garland, an Irish Lass from an old bottle opener, a tassel from fabric strips and a wine cork, a subway art print in a frame, a dish towel with an Irish label and raw edge ruffle, a St. Pat fabric label onto linen for a little sign.  Fun!

I

I'm adding pictures to my other blog as I finish different items.

Just finished:  The Bomber Boys:  Heroes Who Flew the B-17s in World War II.  I really enjoyed this for personal reasons; my father was a navigator on a B-17, but he never talked much about the war.  The stories of the various airmen who were interviewed gave me an insight into the Flying Fortress crews and their experiences.  There is also a nice bibliography that I'll look into later.

Amelia is hosting her annual Oscar Party tonight so after Fee and I had lunch at Byronz, we went and picked up Bryce Eleanor.  We went to the park before coming home; it was windy and overcast, but nice and warm.

Tuesday

I have several books to review, just have to make myself write them.  Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are merrily preparing for Christmas.

Our Thanksgiving was full of family, fun, and food.  Children and grandchildren gathered for a nice long weekend of activities.  The girls took the kids to see Tangled, which they all loved, there was roller skating, playing with blocks, making Christmas cards, etc.  More pictures over at Bayou Quilts.

Mila and Max loved making their cards; there was plenty of glitter and lots of sequins and some images from The Graphics Fairy...

Yesterday, I cleaned a little and relaxed a lot.  My morning practice had slipped during the long weekend, but I went to yoga last night to work out some of the kinks.  Today, I should feel like accomplishing something, but I'm still feeling pretty lazy.

I AM going to begin writing some reviews, though.  I really am.

Labor Day Weekend at the Camp

Kids everywhere...so much fun! 

How To Talks So Kids Will Listen... (by Faber & Mazlish)

Faber, Adele, and Elaine Mazlish.  How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk.

If you have kids, teach kids, or deal with them on a regular basis, this book has practical application for you.

I wish I'd had this when my kids were young and even when teaching seniors.  Down to earth advice, skills, and techniques for opening communication and improving behavior (on the part of both adult and child).

Highly recommended.

Nonfiction.  Parenting/Communication.  1999.  304 pages.

And so it goes

Our father, Laddie McDowell, died last week after a long struggle with Alzheimer's and other attendant health problems.  It was a release, and we can't regret his final easing from this world.  I wrote about it on Bayou Quilts and hope to have communicated a celebration of his life, rather than just a sense of grief.  Strange, though, the contradictory feeling of weight and absence the loss of a loved one creates.   Even when the loved one has been lost in a dreadful disease for several years....
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I'm going to try to write reviews of all the books that have been piling up.  Yesterday, I managed one--so only about 9 more to get done.

Checking In

I haven't posted in some time and have had very little time lately for reading, commenting, or even cleaning house.

It seems like one thing after another has interfered with all of the above.

The most recent and most serious is that my youngest daughter, Amelia, has been ill. The spinal tap indicated meningitis, and she was hospitalized for five days. She's had a CT scan and an MRI, in addition to the lumbar puncture. Each day was a new series of blood cultures. Finally, the doctors were certain it was not bacterial meningitis (the deadly, scary one). Her headache, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light have been improving. And she finally quit throwing up.

Chris, her husband, and I have switched off staying with her and caring for Bryce Eleanor. Amelia is still sick and weak, but feeling much better than when she went in. Chris had already taken her to the emergency room once. Then I took her back, worried about dehydration, and the ER doctor wasted no time in ordering all the tests as soon as he heard the symptoms.

September hasn't been a great month this year, but things are looking up now. All of the doctors were great and so were the nurses, for which we are truly grateful.

So... reading. I have had several books in progress, but have mostly been reading and re-reading yoga books when time allows. For some reason, neither August nor September saw any where near my normal amount of reading and not just because of the string of difficulties that have filled the last two months. I've been in one of those kind of dry spells regarding reading lately.

Right now, I'm thinking about mysteries and fantasy and adventure. My comfort reads. :) Autumn is a fine month for reading, and I expect to do some catching up in October!

July 4th and Off to Austin

We had a great deal of fun over the long 4th of July weekend. Lots of people in and out over 4 days. The kids were all great and had a ball playing in the large pool Fee bought for them. There was also a blow-up slide that was a real hit!

Some folks were only there Friday night, others only Saturday. I came home Sunday afternoon, but Erin, Mila, Max, Rhodes, and Fee stayed until Mon.

Now, I'm here in Austin, TX. Wednesday, it was 106; yesterday, 105. Have to admit, though, that with the lower humidity than at home and frequent breezes, it doesn't feel as miserable as Shreveport/Bossier weather. Sweat dries here.

I scheduled my most recent reviews before I left, so I won't have to worry about reviewing A Darker Domain by Val McDermid or Find Me by Carol O'Connell. I also have a couple of drafts in progress.
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Saturday

Orientation for the Hatha Yoga Intensive was Friday from 5:30 - 8:30. Classes today were from 8:00 - 6:30. Exhausting, exhilarating. There are 20 participants, and they have all been very nice--which is great given the amount of time we will be spending together for the next 30 days!

I did bring some review copies to read:

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (which is wonderful so far)
Conversations with Richard Bandler by Owen Fitzpatrick
The Book of Rapture by Nikki Gemmell
God is an Englishman and
To Serve Them All My Days - classics by R.F. Delderfield that Sourcebooks is re-publishing and want reviewed for a Blog Tour in September.

Now, I don't know how much time I'll actually have to do much besides study and practice!

I'm Back

Oh, without notice I am "unlocked"!! -- of course, it was without notice that I was "locked." Never-the-less, I'm no longer considered a spammer. Hope everyone else is back in production.


Here is a book that I've put on my wish list: A Summer of Hummingbirds: Love, Art, and Scandal in the Intersecting Worlds of Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, & Martin Johnson Head. Sounds Delicious!



I'm still not reading, however, things are pretty stalled on that front. Well, except for this sort of thing... This week I have been busy with all sorts of activities with granddaughter Mila and my niece and nephew, Maggie and Matthew.
I've heard an awful lot of "Jenny Claire! Jenny Claire" and "Excuse me, Jenny Claire, but can I...." We've been having a wonderful time with art and craft and books and Sci Port and fountains. Jenny Claire will need a few days to recover by the time Miss Mila goes home! I'm not used to so much activity and so much fun!

Back Home

We had a wonderful trip, and I both hated to leave and was eager to get home. After getting home, things have been hectic for everyone- all 17 family members. Back to a normal life, and trying to catch up with everything that had continued at a regular pace while we were on beach time, and to cooperating with the clock after that time of no alarm clocks or watches...

I've been trying to catch up on emails and comments, but am still in the process. So easy to get sidetracked by this clever little time-consuming bit of technology; I check an email or comment and check that blog and then follow the links and, in a flash, I've forgotten that I've other things that need to be done.

Here is one recent digression -- I spent a good deal of time looking at info about book clubs and scrolling down looking at book titles. LisaMM at Books on the Brain has some tips about all things book club and has lots of suggestions from commenters and guest bloggers. If I decide to try organizing another book club, I will make use of this great resource. Check it out.

I have about 6 books to review and will get to them as soon as I get caught up on everything else. I hope! Especially since some of them were excellent!

My new lap top organization is confusing and trying to get my pictures uploaded is another chore that I've been wrestling with for a while. Right now, must get back to the real world for a while and more chores and errands that hang over me like a black cloud.

Books and Gardens

Some garden pictures on a rainy day.


I've been trying to spend some time reading blogs, and I'm gradually getting around, but it is slow going since I've not had as much computer time lately. And everywhere I visit, I have to stop and add new books to the TBR list.

Last week I ended up in Baton Rouge for a visit to my daughter and to keep a feverish grandchild. He wasn't down long! Bounced right back. In the end I had a nice visit with both grandkids and with my daughter, a trip to Lowe's and some storage cabinet assembly, and a trip to Whole Foods- supermarket of dreams!

Then on Saturday, Amelia and Chris brought Bryce Eleanor for me to keep. She is so much fun - she laughs and waves her arms or sleeps. Sunday, I took her down to the country, and Chris took her home late Sunday afternoon after he worked all day putting in a stereo system in the cabin. Amelia didn't plan on him being gone that long and kept texting: Where is my baby? And my fried chicken? And I still have the stroller in the trunk of my car!

I've not been doing a very good job keeping up with either of my own blogs lately. If I make a post to Bayou Quilts, then I don't find time to post here. Maybe because I'm behind on reviews again.

Need to review: Assassins at Osprey, The Fault Tree, The Pandora Prescription (library books), and The Girl with No Shadow (many thanks to Anna at FSB for this ARC that I really enjoyed).

In progress a bunch of ARC's: The Mindful Woman (still), The Forgery of Venus, The Philosopher's Apprentice, and Moving Forward.

And the winners are...

Whew! When I got home from yoga last night, I went straight to work on the yoga bag, I started a couple of hours before class. Time flew and the drawing slipped my mind. This morning, the names were cut apart, folded up and put in two different piles. Then eyes closed, I drew two names: Jenny and iliana.

The Sonambulist goes to Jenny, and Nameless Night goes to iliana. I will need your snail mail addresses and will try to get the books out by Friday. Les, I'll get In An Instant out at the same time. That makes 3 books that will leave my book-cluttered house and find new readers!

My thanks to Christine Casccio at Harper Collins for review copies of The Sonambulist and Nameless Night and to Anna at FSB for In An Instant, which I will review later today so I can get in the mail (I've already reviewed the other two).

Strangely, although my husband has never complained about the over-flowing book shelves or the stacks of books on every available surface, when he got home last night, he had some plans for the new addition we've been discussing (we'll be adding a master bedroom/bath...at some point).
"And here, see, these two walls will be book shelves and cabinets! What do you think?"

Uh, I think that will be great! I also like that he says, "And we can also add shelving and cabinets in your sewing room while we're at it."

Sooo...right now, I love this man. We will see how I feel when, and if, this project ever gets started.

Right now, I'm looking forward to a visit this weekend from our daughter and grandchildren, Mila and Max. Which means, I have to get all the stuff off the bed in Erin's room. We will also be keeping baby Bryce on Saturday night, so there will be a full house this weekend. ~I have a 5 shelf bookcase in the foyer area that contains children's books and toys, but they will soon be all over the house again.~

Catching Up

Bryce Eleanor was released into her parents' custody on Saturday. She is quite happily making her presence known in her new household where she is observed by her parents and the three doggy friends who are eager to know her.
Doesn't she look as if she is from another century in her little mob cap?

I'm still trying to catch up on blogs and comments and emails and reviews and wrapping presents and Fee's Solstice gifts ... and so on and on. Thanks again to all of you who have sent your kind comments and well-wishes!

One review down and another in process. Three other books started.

I've been having a fine (and sometimes hectic) time preparing the gifts for Fee's birthday/Solstice. His birthday is December 22 and always coincides closely with the Solstice. I've managed a gift every day through the past 17 days; each is accompanied by a quote. We are fast approaching the 22nd--Whew! Here and here are some of the gifts which I've been posting on Bayou Quilts.

Pictures

I know, I know. The proud grandparent syndrome. Can't help myself. Here are some pictures of the new parents with baby Bryce. Thanks again to all of you for your comments and congratulations! I really appreciate all the good wishes and kind thoughts and will spare you the necessity of commenting on another baby post.

The Book Is in the Mail

Dark Orpheus, the book is now on its way to Singapore!

Finished Kept on Dec. 4 and waited to review it because it needed a bit of time to settle in.
Now, I've zipped through two more mysteries: The Chinese Alchemist by Lyn Hamilton and The Indian Bride by Karin Fossum. Enjoyed them both and will review them soon. Sam at Bookchase has enjoyed several of Fossum's inspector Sejer mysteries, and I can understand why.

Sent Season Two of Rosemary & Thyme back to Netflix, and Season Three will be here by Wednesday. So much fun.

Tomorrow morning, we will be grandparents for the third time when Bryce enters the world. I've finished her quilt and several little onesie outfits. Amelia and Chris will get to the hospital at 5:30, and they will start the drip around 8:30. Ready or not, here she comes! I have books to take for the waiting, but from past experience, it is hard to read when waiting for a new baby.

Too much going on to settle in on reading...

Amelia's shower was a lot of fun. The pictures are here on my other blog. The weekend was packed with activity, and until today, this entire week has been hectic. Today, I'm playing with my new toy, a needle felting machine called an embellisher.

I've received a couple more ARCs, but I have several books going at the moment, so they will have to wait. One is On Borrowed Wings by Chandra Prasad (love the cover) and the other is February Flowers by Fan Wu (another nice cover).


Also have a couple of reviews to write, but I'm still not spending much time reading. I know this trend away from reading will probably end soon, but right now, there are so many other things to do!