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. 

Books in the Mail & Once Upon a Time

When I took this picture, the top three were in progress; now, I've finished The Tapestry of Love and What You Can See in the Dark.  Slowly working on The Mighty Eighth, reading When Tito Loved Clara and The Gift by Hafiz. 

About to begin reading The Shadow Hunt in a buddy read with Kailana because Carl has announced the Once Upon a Time Challenge!  Yes, this yearly delight is on target, and I've got lots of books in mind (see previous post) and am taking notes when other bloggers mention their choices. 

 I've been busy in the yard and crafting, but must find time to catch up on reviews.  Finding time to read isn't a problem, but I do need to finish  When Tito Loved Clara-- The Mighty Eighth and The Gift can be read in small increments here and there.  I will be devoting my reading to Once Upon a Time for a while.

This weekend will be busy as we will be out of town for my niece's wedding.  Next weekend, I'm really hoping to make a trip to Canton, TX for their HUGE flea market.

Once Upon a Time Possibilities

My copies of Katherine Langrish's The Shadow Hunt and West of the Moon have arrived.  They will be my first reads for Carl's annual Once Upon a Time challenge (he hasn't posted the info yet).  Kelly (The Written World) will be reading The Shadow Hunt at the same time.

Other books under consideration:

Darling Jim by Christian Moerk (via Buttery Books) is a mixture of myth and modern mystery.  Castle of Shadows by Ellen Renner and The Museum of Mary Child by Cassandra Golds, and many other great possibilities (via Seven Miles of Steel Thistles).

And since I loved  Except the Queen by Jane Yolen and Midori Snyder, both authors are on my list.  

I could only wish that Megan Whalen Turner had a new installment, but will have to wait for the next in the The Queen's Thief series.  I also love Shannon Hale's books and have Repunzel's Revenge on my list.

Most of the above are YA or children's lit, but I love them, and I have grandchildren who will also love them.  Still, I need to have some that are adult fairy tale/ fantasy as well, including non-fiction.

Maybe a re-read of Mirror, Mirror on the Wall:  Women Writers Explore Their Favorite Fairy Tales -- which was excellent.

I have such a stack in my TBR pile, but some of them will just have to give way for fantasy and the Once Upon a Time challenge.

Once Upon  by Jane Yolen  © 2007

Once Upon A Time

there was a Wolf,

but not a Wolf,

an Other,

whose mother

and father were others,

who looked not like us,

Republican or Dem

in other words--

Them.

They were forest dwellers,

child sellers,

meat eaters,

wife beaters,

idol makers

oath breakers—

in other words, Wolf.

So Happy Ever After means

we kill the Wolf,

spill his blood,

knock him out,

bury him in mud,

make him dance

in red hot shoes.

For us to win

The Wolf must lose.

Are you planning to participate in the Once Upon a Time challenge?  What titles do you suggest?

The Ingram Interview by K.B. Dixon

The Ingram Interview is described as "unrepentantly quirky."  I can't disagree; it is also very funny--wryly, tongue-in-cheek funny.  

The novel is in the form of  q & a sessions with Daniel Ingram, a retired English professor who tells the interviewer (never named) in the first session that he is in "'a continued care facility.'  It is a crossbred thing (like a jackalope or a tangelo)--half hospital, half hotel."  He is there because he has suffered an apparent heart attack.

 He describes Fairview: 

"Let's just say it is not an un-nice place.  A little small perhaps and banally decorated in beiges and muted mauves--it offers a full set of amenities.  There is a pleasant dining room, a staff of medical professionals, weekly housekeeping and laundry services, art classes, exercise classes, craft classes--etc., etc., etc.,  It also offers a guarantee that my uniqueness will be honored and that I will be respected for the special individual I am."

While his description is accurate and amusing as far as attempts to make assisted care facilities more home-like, the last line is most intriguing.  Promises that guarantee to honor uniqueness and specialness have achieved such a degree of political correctness as to sound  priggish, unctuous, empty, and insincere.  I have no doubt that Daniel uttered the words without emphasis, but that he thought them b-s.

And as we soon discover, Daniel is about to be asked to find another place to live because he is depressing other residents.  Daniel is quietly satiric; the situation is amusingly ironic.

There is no great plot.  The interviewer asks Daniel questions and follows him through his move to his next temporary stay with a former student, and on to another assisted living facility.  Daniel answers questions--about the people he knows, his attempts at writing a memoir, his hope of re-uniting with his wife, his former student's process of making a film,  and so on.  Very documentary style.

What is amusing is the understated, phlegmatic responses Daniel gives, which reveal a witty almost sotto vocce feel.  They can be taken at face value, as they are factual, but they leave me with a feeling that Daniel takes quiet pleasure in inserting  ambivalence into his remarks.  

Mind you, Daniel is only 62 years old and a former college professor.  He is often surrounded by individuals who are older, less educated, or like his former student and his girlfriend--much younger.  He is  not among his peers, although he never appears to be terribly uncomfortable.  He is never harsh or mean, and his aim is often at his own habits and behavior.

A very short book, but one that I found made me smile.  (I've been pretty lucky in the last few books.)

 Thanks again, Nancy, for sharing this one!

---
I'm adding a link to  Nan's review (Letter's From a Hill Farm).

Fiction.  Contemporary.  2011.  121 pages.

West of Here by Jonathan Evison

I finished West of Here a couple of weeks ago, and it is time to stop delaying my review.  Why have I delayed?  I loved the book, but I've not been able to adequately resolve my reasons for loving it.

I loved the characters.  All 42 of them.  Was I ever confused with such a large number of characters (even if some were relatively minor)?  No.  Not really.  Each character was unique--in personality, in purpose, in connection to his or her own place in time and storyline.  In the same way that most of us can name all the members of our families, including aunts, uncles, cousins; and close friends, their spouses, and children; and co-workers, these characters just take their places in our consciousness.  Teachers, think of teaching high school, 5 classes with 30 kids per class.  Confusing?  Only initially when you have 120 kids to learn all at once.

I loved the way the two time periods connected, the branch-like stories that sprouted from the same tree.  The desire to conquer the wilderness, the concern for the environment, the greed, the idealism, the personal discoveries, the triumphs and defeats, the wanderings both literal and metaphorical...thematic material a-plenty.

It is an unusual book.  I can't easily slip it into any genre that it doesn't resist a little.  

Evison has a talent for making you identify with such a wide range of characters, all with flaws and some with major moral fissures.  He also has the ability to conjure up communities in time periods over 100 years apart, from the origins of the fictitious Port Bonita in the 1890's to the contemporary town and inhabitants and to provide a breadth and depth that give the reader the sense of "knowing" the town in both incarnations.

What about the plot?  Which plot?  

It IS long, and I think it is will be one of those novels that you either love or hate--strong emotions one way or the other.  Wish I could be more succinct, more efficient in my description of the book, but the book is so NOT one thing.  Kind of like looking at a kaleidoscope and describing it.


The book was an ARC from Algonquin.  One that I'm not only happy to have received, but happy to be able to say I thoroughly enjoyed.


Fiction.  Historical and Contemporary.  2011.  480 pages.

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

What a tiny treasure is The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating!  This is a memoir that has formerly active Elisabeth Bailey confined to bed without even the energy to sit up for any length of time.  Initially, the doctors don't know the cause of her illness, but what began with flulike symptoms turned into a "systemic paralysis-like weakness with life-threatening complications."

Bailey doesn't allow the book to be list of symptoms or complaints, but rather an emotional and spiritual journey.  Observing the tiny snail, which is about all that she can do, keeps her mind active and curious.  The snail, with its slow deliberate pace becomes both the perfect companion and metaphor.

One morning, Bailey notices a square hole in a scrap of paper; each morning revealed more square holes.  When the snail chewed a hole in a letter she had written, she began drawing arrows to the holes in her communications with the outside world with the note:  "Eaten by my snail."

Then she put some withered blossoms out for the snail.  In the evening, the snail awoke and began its exploration.  After investigating the blossoms, it began eating a petal:

"I listened carefully.  I could hear it eating.  The sound was of someone very small munching celery.  I watched, transfixed, as over the course of an hour the snail meticulously ate an entire purple petal for dinner.


The tiny, intimate sound of the snail's eating gave me a distinct feeling of companionship and shared space."

I loved this short book.  I learned more about gastropods and the habits and sex lives of the Neohelix albolabris than I ever expected to know.  I learned more about patience and close observation than I'd ever thought about.  And about courage and perseverance...

The quotes the author uses from poets, scientists, and naturalists are so well-chosen, so apt:

"My wide wake shines, now it is growing dark.
I leave a lively opalescent ribbon:  I know this."   
                                                          - Elizabeth Bishop, form "Giant Snail," 1969

"at my feet

when did you get here?

snail"

                          -Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)

"The [snail's] tentacles are as expressive as a mule's ears, giving an appearance of listless enjoyment when they hang down, and an immense alertness if they are rigid, as happens when the snail is on a march."
                    - Ernest Ingersoll, "In a Snailery," 1881

What a lovely, lovely little book this is.  Maybe my favorite of the year, and certainly one that I will include in all-time favorites.  I can't even explain why this tiny book touched me with such emphasis.

Nonfiction.  Memoir/ Natural Science.  2010.  178 pages + an excellent bibliography.

The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld

Rubenfeld's The Death Instinct is an historical mystery.  I have delayed so long in reviewing this that I've kind of lost whatever thoughts were on my mind at the time.

From Booklist:  

The destruction of the World Trade Center was not New York’s first terrorist attack. In 1920, a bomb blast on Wall Street sent cars tumbling and bodies flying. Rubenfeld’s novel, opening with the explosion, has the feel of a historical mystery. A cop and his sidekick are on the scene at once. The investigation begins. A witness to the explosion recalls seeing something that didn’t belong but can’t recall it. Thriller under way? Well, not exactly. Suddenly we’re into a 30-page World War I flashback. Then we visit Vienna for tea with Doctor Freud. We learn of Marie Curie’s work with radium. The sidekick has a rocky time with his love life, and we learn all about it. This fat book is heir to Caleb Carr’s The Alienist, using the detective format as a chance to wander in the past. Rubenfeld ends with an explanation of the 1920 attack that finds parallels to 9/11. The leads are witty, and the prose is elegant. But readers should prepare to wallow in the book and take it slowly. --Don Crinklaw

Freud was featured in Rubenfeld's first novel (An Interpretation of Murder), which is not surprising as  Freud was the subject of Rubenfeld's undergraduate thesis.  The setting is  New York in both novels, but the time period and characters (with the exception of Freud) are different.

What I liked were the historical tidbits--about the Wall Street bombing, about Freud and his practice, about Marie Curie, and about the careless use of radium. (The individuals and events are worthy of further research, and somewhere, I jotted down questions concerning them.  Too lazy to get up and go find the questions, but they will serve for later online research.)

On the other hand, the characters weren't as interesting as those in An Interpretation of Murder, and the plot failed to engage.  Thin?  I don't know why, but this is what occurs to me in thinking about the book.

I liked An Interpretation of Murder much better (reviewed here).

Adding some other opinions:  Man of la Books,  Philobiblos, Mocking Hill Cottage,

Fiction.  Mystery/Historical Fiction.  2011.  464 pages.

The Bomber Boys by Travis Ayres

The Bomber Boys:  Heroes Who Flew the B17s in World War II was an informative and personal look into the lives of five crews that flew B-17s during WWII.

At first, I wasn't sure that I'd like it (Ayres is not a professional writer), but the more I read, the more involved I became.

Laddie (my father) was a navigator on B17s; his pilot was Tom Landry (which meant free tickets to the Dallas Cowboys games during Landry's head coach days).  When we were rummaging through Laddie's war trunk, we found his Air Medal, his Distinguished Flying Cross, and his Lucky Bastard Certificate.

Although he never talked much about the war, he was an engineering student at LSU when Pearl Harbor was bombed.   He drove to Barksdale to enlist because he wanted to fly.  One brother joined the Navy, and the other joined the Army.  

The more I read, the more I enjoyed the stories of the young aviators and their crews.

More to be read on this subject.  Next up: 
The Mighty Eighth: The Air War in Europe as Told by the Men Who Fought It 

Nonfiction.  History/ WWII.  2005.  262 pages + bibliography.

All Over the Map

Even though I have a stack of good books to read, I sometimes just can't keep myself from ordering some that seem more insistent.  


Here are some that I've ordered recently:

The Gift by Hafiz (Stefanie's recent post pushed me into finally ordering!)

The Mighty Eighth:  The Air War in Europe as Told by Men Who Fought It by Gerald Astor  (my recent reading of The Bomber Boys - not yet reviewed- encouraged me to discover more)

The Shadow Hunt and West of the Moon by Katherine Langrish (these will work for Carl's Once Upon a Time Challenge , and Kailana and I are both planning to do The Shadow Hunt; be sure to check out Katherine's blog where you can find out more about her own books, as well as see interviews of other authors and great posts about fairy tales.)

The Golden Child by Penelope Fitzgerald.  


Currently reading: 

 

West of Here by Jonathan Evison (thanks to Algonquin Books!) and enjoying it.  Not a fast moving novel, but totally engrossing!    I get lost in this one and when I come up for air, marvel at the author's ability to weave so many threads into whole cloth.

The Hidden Reality:  Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos by Brian Greene.  Well, I was reading this, but it has been kind of put on hold as I keep picking up West of Here instead.


What an eclectic mix:  poetry, history, fantasy, mystery, adventure, science.  I'm really trying to read more nonfiction this year, and so far, I'm doing OK. 

The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall

I thoroughly enjoyed The Death of the Missing Servant with its unusual detective, the vibrant and delightful Vish Puri.  Known affectionately as Chubby by friends and family, Vish Puri heads Most Private Investigators, Ltd, with aplomb.

Hall evokes  Delhi in images and voices that linger.  The novel has a glossary that will keep the reader up-to-date on vocabulary, and I enjoyed getting the definitions of terms with which I was vaguely familiar, as well as those that were new to me.

What was the most fun was the character of the irrepressible Vish, whose ego is no small thing, but who also has an innocence that makes him lovable.  The minor characters were interesting as well, and I hope to see them better developed, especially Mummy, who could have an agency of her own. 

The dialogue, dialect, and cultural mores are seamlessly blended--and informative.  Several serious themes are treated with a light touch that makes you think, but that doesn't take over the story.

An Adventure in Reading posted about Tarquin Hall here.

Fiction.  Mystery.  2009.  295 pages + glossary.

Bones of Contention by Jeanne Matthews

Bones of Contention  didn't work for me (at all).  The characters weren't appealing and the plot seemed ludicrous. 

Here is the review from Publishers Weekly: 

A dying man's pending changes to his last will and testament trigger murder in Matthews's unconvincing debut. Seeking the truth about her father's death, Dinah Pelerin flies from the U.S. to Australia when she learns that her mother's cancer-ridden ex-husband, Cleon, is planning to settle family affairs before ending his life by assisted suicide. Attending Cleon are his first ex-wife; his current wife; resentful Aboriginals; an alcoholic doctor; and assorted progeny, including Dinah's artist half-brother, Lucien. An Aussie cop investigates after a poisonous snake bites Lucien, the doctor dies under mysterious circumstances, and other shady matters come to light. The failure to properly utilize the huge cast; implausible, even idiotic, actions by Dinah; and the too numerous, clumsily introduced plot elements prevent the reader from summoning much sympathy for the heroine or the novel.

 I agree.  I'd like to hear an Aussie's opinion on the overdose of "strine" -- I've never read a book by an actual Aussie that sounded like this.  The book is supposed to become a series with Dinah as lead, but I honestly can't see how.


Fiction.  Mystery.  2010.  304 pages.

Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows

Tutankhamun:  The Book of Shadows  is an interesting historical mystery set in the turbulent period of Tutankhamun's short reign.

I enjoy novels about ancient Egypt and find it curious to see how different novelists develop the characters of Tutankhamun; his wife (and half-sister) Ankhesenamun; Ay, the Grand Vizier, the power behind Tut's reign, and briefly pharaoh after Tut's death; and Horemheb, the Commander of the Army. 

Drake has created Rahotep, a Medjay officer called "the seeker of mysteries," who was the protagonist in Drake's first book in the series.  Rahotep is both a detective and a family man, which causes him quite a few dilemmas as he tries to balance work and family commitments.  Rahotep's character is nicely drawn and gives him a depth and sensitivity that might not be historically or culturally accurate, but makes him interesting and likable.

After being called in to investigate a gruesome murder of a crippled adolescent, Rahotep is also requested to aid the young king and queen by discovering the source of threatening gifts.  A second murder with bizarre details, this time of a young woman, and Rahotep knows there is a connection not only of the two young victims, but with the royal family.

What is at stake?  The safety of the Pharaoh and his wife, political stability, and Rahotep's own family.


Fiction.  Mystery/Historical Fiction.  2010.  369 pages.

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.

A Lonely Death by Charles Todd

A Lonely Death is another installment of the Ian Rutledge series by the mother-son team.  I've enjoyed most of these novels a great deal, partly because of the protagonist, but partly because of the time period, shortly after WWI.    However, the last couple of novels have lacked the depth of the first ones.

This one was much better than the last one (The Red Door); the Todds have (thankfully) brought Hamish more into the picture once again.  Rutledge suffered shell shock during the war and has been gradually trying to work his way back to a more balanced life.  Hamish, a voice in Rutledges's head, is both a "ghost" and a part of Rutledge.  Rutledge has to watch himself to keep from replying aloud to Hamish's comments.   Every novel has a connection to the war and its effects on British society, in one way or another.

A small Sussex village requests a member of Scotland Yard to help solve the murder of 3 young men, who were rebuilding their lives after the war.  Rutledge must discover what motive drives the murderer and try to prevent more deaths.  Although all but one of the men served together, the link appears to have its roots further in the past.

The characters are better drawn in this one than in the previous one, and the plot more interesting; although still not as good as some of the earliest in the series, it does have more of the earlier flavor.

Fiction.  Mystery/ Historical Fiction.  2011.  343 pages.

The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

The Sherlockian, told in alternating chapters, begins with Arthur Conan Doyle's frustration with the character he created in Sherlock Holmes; he wanted to be remembered for more than his detective's fictional adventures and resented the fact that many people believed Holmes to be real.  Killing off Holmes aroused genuine anger among his readers, and as we know, he eventually brought his character back to life.

In the current day chapters, Sherlockian Harold White is inducted into The Baker Street Irregulars, and finds himself trying to solve the murder of one of its members and recover a missing diary of Conan Doyle's.

Moving back and forth, we find Doyle and his friend Bram Stoker pursuing a serial killer in London, and Harold White pursuing a murderer and the diary.  I usually like parallel stories, but there is a skill in moving between alternating chapters that seemed lacking here.  Each little segment left me a bit frustrated.

Truthfully, neither story truly pulled me in.  I liked Bram Stoker's character much more than Doyle's and found Harold White annoying as often as not.      

Initially, I found the book amusing and thought I'd like it a lot.  As I continued reading, however, I found myself bothered by several things (including chapter transitions, or lack thereof).  A good premise, but somehow the novel never lived up to my expectations.

I don't regret reading it, by any means, I just hoped to like it better.   Years ago, I read The 7 Percent Solution which I liked, and I always enjoy Laurie King's Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series.  Sherlock Holmes continues to intrigue me, whether through Doyle's original stories or the many take-offs.

Other reviews here:  Linus's Blanket, The Written World,  Literary Corner Cafe...

Fiction.  Mystery/Historical Fiction.  2010.  350 pages.

The Film Club by David Gilmour

The Film Club is a memoir by Canadian novelist David Gilmour that covers the years he spent viewing movies with his son Jesse.  Gilmour allowed his son to drop out of school in the 10th grade, but only if he promised to watch 3 movies a week with his father.  The movies become an opportunity to bond with his son, to explore directors and film technique, to discuss some of the topics of the various films which run the gamut of tragedy, comedy, great films, and guilty pleasures.

Gilmour struggles with his decision to allow Jesse to drop out of school, with his own job search, and with the ups and downs of his teenage son's love life.

If you love movies, you will find all kinds of interesting trivia, be reminded of classic films, enjoy revisiting some of your favorites, and learn some of the odd facts that accompanied the making and makers of the films.

This was recommended by Beauty Is a Sleeping Cat, and a book that I thoroughly enjoyed (although the teenage love life was much more important to Gilmour than to ancient me).  A great pre-Oscar read--I'm passing this one on to my daughter who will soon be hosting her annual Oscar party.

Nonfiction.  Memoir.  2009.  225 pages.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Knife of Never Letting Go is the first in the Chaos Walking series.  A very popular YA novel that just didn't do it for me, and I'd so looked forward to reading this series.  One turned out to be plenty for me.

The premise is great:  all thoughts are audible.  Men, in this respect, are "chaos walking."

Unfortunately, the best character is the dog.  I really liked the dog.

The rest of the novel lost momentum; although packed with little scenes of  havoc, the reappearance of the preacher and the men from Prentisstown became a bit ho hum.

Without spoilers, I can't reveal all the things that bothered me about this novel and kept me from immersing myself in the story.

Ends with a cliffhanger.

I really wanted to love this one because I've read so many positive reviews, but that's the way it goes.  The series is a beloved one, so take my curmudgeonly review with a couple of grains of salt and try it for yourself.  The book won awards. 

Fiction.  Science Fiction/YA.  2008.  479 pages.

The Spiritualist by Megan Chance

The Spiritualist is a bit of a mash-up: nice girl/bad boy romance, mystery, spiritualism.  I read Chance's An Inconvenient Wife a couple of years ago and felt some of the same dissonance (difficult to decide whether or not you like the characters).

The rise of the cult of Spiritualism fascinates me, and I was drawn to the book for two reasons:  I like this kind of Victorian Gothic mystery, and I'd read two nonfiction books about the Fox sisters (who are actually mentioned in the novel).  (Talking to the Dead: Kate and Maggie Fox and the Rise of Spiritualism by  Margaret Weisberg and Exploring Other Worlds: Margaret Fox, Elisha Kent Kane and the Antebellum Culture of Curiosity by David Chapin.

Although some reviews have praised Chance for the historical detail, I'm not sure that I found the detail that authentic.  The apparent acceptance of middle-class  Evelyn (Evie) Atherton into New York society was not likely, and although the acceptance was less genuine than Evie believed, I still find it difficult to believe that she would have been comfortable with the creme de la creme of N.Y. bluebloods.  Especially since she attended events without her husband....

Evelyn's father was an investigator, but Evelyn doesn't seem to have learned much about the business.  Her character seems to vacillate back and forth.

OK - quick summary.  Evelyn's husband is murdered after a Seance, and she is eventually charged with his murder.  Who killed her husband and why?

It was an interesting read, but somehow a bit affected. 

The devotion of the members of the small circle who attended the frequent spiritual gatherings led by the handsome and charismatic medium Michel Jourdain does fit historic accounts.  Believers were dedicated and often contributed large sums and expensive gifts.  William James studied spiritualism and was generally supportive; Nobel-laureate physiologist Charles Richet was a convert; Arthur Conan Doyle was also a believer.

None of the characters in the novel were entirely positive, which is an interesting take.  Also, one angle or complication involving the relationship between Jourdain (the medium) and his patron is left ambivalent, leaving the reader with a prurient curiosity.

  Sooo...what do I think, overall?  Megan Chance likes to keep things a bit edgy.  Feelings about the characters are often a little uncertain.  It certainly kept me reading.

I did like The Seance by John Harwood better, though.

Fiction.  Mystery/Suspense/Supernatural.  2008.  419 pages.

Poets' Love Letters

Another offering from Poets.org -- love letters:

Keats to Fanny Brawne
Gertrude Stein to Alice B. Toklas
Lewis Carroll to Gertrude Chataway
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Alice Nelson-Dunbar

I've got about 5 more reviews that need to be finished, about 3 books in progress, and a stack of TBR.  A surplus of books at the moment.  But the weather is so beautiful!  It is just too beautiful to be inside during the day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  (image from The Graphics Fairy)

More Love Poems

Poets.org offers these lovely Valentines.

Love Poems

From Poets.org The Kiss
by Stephen Dunn
She pressed her lips to mind. —a typo How many years I must have yearned for someone’s lips against mind. Pheromones, newly born, were floating between us. There was hardly any air. She kissed me again, reaching that place that sends messages to toes and fingertips, then all the way to something like home. Some music was playing on its own. Nothing like a woman who knows to kiss the right thing at the right time, then kisses the things she’s missed. How had I ever settled for less? I was thinking this is intelligence, this is the wisest tongue since the Oracle got into a Greek’s ear, speaking sense. It’s the Good, defining itself. I was out of my mind. She was in. We married as soon as we could.   San Antonio   by Naomi Shihab Nye Tonight I lingered over your name, the delicate assembly of vowels a voice inside my head. You were sleeping when I arrived. I stood by your bed and watched the sheets rise gently. I knew what slant of light would make you turn over. It was then I felt the highways slide out of my hands. I remembered the old men in the west side cafe, dealing dominoes like magical charms. It was then I knew, like a woman looking backward, I could not leave you, or find anyone I loved more.

The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks

The Traveler is the first book in a trilogy by a rather mysterious author.  Although it did get better, even then I didn't find it particularly interesting or engaging.

from Publishers Weekly: 

Twelve Hawks's much anticipated novel is powerful, mainstream fiction built on a foundation of cutting-edge technology laced with fantasy and the chilling specter of an all-too-possible social and political reality.

 Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but I can see why the author might want to remain "off the grid" and unidentified.  This is one that probably should have gone into the DNF pile, but I hung in until the end.  Silly me.

Fiction.  Science Fiction/Dystopian.  2005.  456 pages.

A Brush with Death by Elizabeth J. Duncan

A Brush with Death is a cozy.  The cover caught my attention, and books about old letters, etc. always interest me.

 Penny Brannigan inherits a cottage from a friend and as she cleans it out discovers some old letters.  Her friend had a lesbian relationship in the 1960's, but her lover, an artist, had been killed in an unsolved hit-and-run.  Although there were some suspicious circumstances, the death was eventually written off as an accident.

Penny begins looking for more information, hoping to solve the mystery.  I enjoyed Penny's friends in the small Welsh village of Llanelen.

The novel is a typical cozy in that there is no graphic violence and setting and community are important aspects of the mystery.

Light, but fun.

Fiction.  Mystery/Cozy.  2010.  258 pages.

A Time to Keep Silence by Patrick Leigh Fermor

A Time to Keep Silence was recommended by Dorothy (Books & Bicycles).  It is a short memoir of sorts about Fermor's attempt to find seclusion for writing by visiting various monasteries.

 Fermor records his thoughts as he makes the transition, first into the Benedictine Abbey of St. Wandrille de Fontanelle in France, later into Solesmes, and finally, into the Trappist monastery of Le Grande Trappe.

He explains the difficulty of leaving the hectic, verbal world and entering into one that maintains silence even during meals.  Initially, he finds the silence sobering and disturbing.  Within a short time, however, he feels more comfortable.  He describes the abbey, the monks, the rituals, and the history of the orders.  At first, in his tiny cell, he experiences insomnia; however, then his sleep habits change, and he describes his sleep as "profound."  He finds himself sleeping much of the day.  Then another change, and he begins to sleep perhaps only five hours a night-- "light, dreamless and perfect sleep, followed by awakenings full of energy and limpid freshness."

His dedication and energy for his work increased.  Having recovered from the restlessness and depression, Fermor is able to appreciate the benefits of silence and solitude.  Time began to pass swiftly, almost without notice.  When it was time to leave, Fermor says that the transition back into the noisy, mundane world was as difficult as adjusting to the abbey in the first place.

I'm not going to mention his other withdrawals, except to say that his feelings for the Benedictine life were much more positive than those he experienced in the Trappist monastery at Le Grande Trappe.  The order was much stricter, and he was more sequestered from the monks.  However, the history of the Trappist order was very interesting, indeed.

Two of my favorite parts were not part of the book itself: the introduction by Karen Armstrong, who spent seven years in a Roman Catholic religious order, and Fermor's 1982 introduction, 30 years after his experiences.  My least favorite part was the concluding chapter on the Rock Monasteries of Cappodocia, which seemed a bit out of place.

A few years ago, I was interested in the life of Thomas Merton, the great spiritual leader who was a Trappist Monk.  Merton was interested in Buddhism and interfaith understanding.  Although the two men would have been contemporaries, Merton's experiences with the Trappist order were different because he was eventually allowed more freedom and privacy than most Trappist monks (who had to sleep in dormitories).  He met personally with the Dalai Llama and Chatral Rinpoche and felt that his experiences with this broader religious community deepened his own faith.

I have no idea, even after reading about Fermor's experiences as a lay guest in different monasteries and Merton's experiences as a Trappist monk, what it would really be like to have a lengthy retreat in a monastery.  I would certainly choose a Benedictine over a Trappist monastery, however.

Nonfiction.  Memoir/Religion/Spirituality.  First published in 1957.  96 pages.

In the Mail and ...

I've forgotten to mention that Nancy (Bookfool) sent me a copy of The Ingram Interview this last week.  Thanks, Nancy, I appreciate it!

Also in the mail, West of Here by Jonathan Evison, an ARC from Algonquin Books.    From Publishers Weekly:  "A big novel about the discovery and rediscovery of nature, starting over, and the sometimes piercing reverberations of history, this is a damn fine book."  

More sleet and snow expected today.  Here's the snowman I made last week.

Reading The Film Club and thoroughly enjoying it.  Putting off reviewing several books.  Playing in the studio with cloth and clay. 

Invisible Boy by Cornelia Read

Invisible Boy is the third book in the Madeline Dare series.  I didn't realize this, of course, when I pulled it off the shelf and don't really think it matters.  The story stands alone;  if interested, however, getting the previous books would fill in some of the background hinted at in the book.

The first couple of chapters almost lost me.  While I do enjoy witty repartee, the book opens with so much of it that you wonder if there is a story at all.  The heavy swearing and drinking was also a distraction.  Over use of wisecracks, cursing, and binge drinking becomes more than boring, it becomes annoying.

That said, the book does pick up when Madeline helps a friend and other volunteers clearing an overgrown, weed-ridden, historic cemetery.  Madeline discovers a tiny skeleton, one that has been dumped not buried.

I liked some of the wit and humor.  I liked that the focus remained in large part on the victim.  I liked Maddy Dare, her husband, sister, and friends.

 I didn't like over use of bad language.  Believe me, it isn't at all shocking; I've heard it all and said most of it myself.  When it bombards you like this book does, especially in the beginning, the only purpose it serves is distraction.

There aren't many surprises, the reader pretty much knows where things are leading.  The police procedure didn't seem real, and my goodness, I ought to know, having watched Law & Order for years!  Didn't like the subplot. The tempo was uneven.  Hated and didn't get the last chapter which was a flashback.

Sounds as if I hated the book, but I didn't.  I enjoyed it.  What do I know?  Would I seriously look for the two previous books?  No.  If someone handed me one of them, however, I'd be turning the pages. 

Fiction. Mystery/Crime. 2010.  418 pages.

Snow Day in Lousiana

Pig Island by Mo Hayder

Pig Island sounded interesting, but in the end, was just weird.  Really weird and a bit horrifying, but not for the reasons one would assume. 

None of the characters were likable.  Every situation was bizarre and/or prurient.  A lot of things simply didn't hang together.




Spoiler:  The biggest problem occurred on pages 116-17 in my copy.  This is when Joe Oakes first confronts the "monster," and it is feeding "from Blake's bloodied remains...."  I had to go back and find the exact location because from this point on the story simply doesn't make sense in any way.  Each new situation from this point seems to forget this major problem.  I couldn't forget it, so how does the main character manage to forget it?

The conclusion was ambivalent, but once again, not in a literary way.  I simply didn't know what the author was trying to say because there were so many things that didn't mesh.

Not my kind of book. 

Fiction.  Horror.  2007.  352 pages.

Book Tree

Isn't this wonderful?  I love, love, love it!  From DesignArtist.

I've been decorating for Valentine's Day.  My stack of old books received a new ribbon, I've made a new doll (Valentina), and I've been playing with other crafty things, too.  Most of the crafty stuff is on my other blog, but I'm pleased with this little vignette and wanted to share.

Grave Secrets by Charlaine Harris

Grave Secrets is the 4th in Charlaine Harris' series featuring Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver.  Struck by lightening when she was a teenager, Harper developed the ability to locate bodies.  Not only can she locate them, but she can tell what caused their deaths.

She and her stepbrother have formed a partnership and are hired by both individuals and law enforcement to locate bodies and determine cause of death.  In this installment, the two are hired by a Texas woman who wants to know more about what caused her grandfather's fatal heart attack.  Harper is escorted to the cemetery and begins giving details about some of the other people buried there.  The information she relates about one woman's death appears to bring the entire family up short.  Then she tells about what caused the grandfather's heart attack....

The other plot, which revolves around the first one in strange ways,  has to do with Harper's sister Cameron who has been missing for years.   Cameron's disappearance has haunted Harper throughout the previous novels and now, after eight years, there has been a possible sighting.  A woman who appears to match Cameron's description is caught on a mall surveillance camera.  When Harper views the video, she is disappointed because the woman is not Cameron.  Still, she wonders about who called in the tip.

I tried and did not finish one of the Sookie Stackhouse novels.  As beloved as those novels are by many people, they don't appeal to me, but I do enjoy this series featuring Harper Connelly.  Best to begin with the first one to get a feel for the characters:  

1) Grave Sight
2) Grave Surprise
3) An Ice Cold Grave
4) Grave Secrets

Fiction.  Mystery/Supernatural.  2009.  320 pages.

Mission of Honor by David Weber

Mission of Honor is the latest in the Honor Harrington Space Opera series by Weber.  I love Weber--his books are loonngg, full of realistic characters and involved plots, abounding in political negotiations and deceptions and riveting battle tactics. I love them!

However, this is a series that is best (and perhaps, only) appreciated if you begin with the first one.  The number of characters and complex relationships and plots need to be followed from the beginning.  I've written lots of reviews and posts on the Honor Harrington series and the Safehold series and so it is easy to deduce my fascination with Weber's creations.

Now that the war with Haven is over, Weber delivers more on the hints he has previously offered about an underlying conspiracy that has shaped the history of Haven and Manticore.  Honor goes to Haven on a diplomatic mission even as the Mesan Alignment advances its plans to involve Manticore in another war. 

I admit that these science fiction/space opera novels are not for everyone...they are very, very long and have hundreds of characters, but each character comes off the page.  I'm always impressed with Weber's world-building, character development, military tactics, and his ability to consider the motives and reasoning of not only the good guys, but the bad guys as well.

How long will I have to wait for the next one?

Fiction.  ScienceFiction/Space Opera/ Military.  2010.  600 pages.