I think I will list "books read" each month with a tiny review. I'm not the writer my daughter is, so won't try to give more than a brief outline of the story - as I write it when I've finished each book. So here goes.
Necessary as Blood - Deborah Crombie - The most recent of Crombie's books, and a good one. Kincaid and Gemma are back again - There is a missing mother, a murdered father and a sweet little girl. Gemma is very taken with the little girl - and Gemma and Kincaid are about to be married - maybe.
A Lonely Death - Charles Todd - This is the first Todd book I've read in a long time. I began to tire of Rutledge and "Hamish" after the first six books, but this was a fast read, and interesting. Someone is killing the young men in a village by garroting, and it looks as if it has something to do with their service in WWI.
Fearful Symmetry - Morag Joss - The second of her books I've read, and to me not as good as the first. This one was funny in places, but the "mystery" took a long time to develop. Sara Selkirk - the heroine of the first book - is a cellist. This story concerns a "community opera" written by an unknown composer, a composer who will remain unknown, and an unruly bunch of performers. Sara and Andrew, who is probably the least involved Detective Inspector I ever read about, are the star-crossed lovers.
A Change in Altitude - Anita Shreve - A couple living in Kenya climb Mt. Kenya. There is a tragic accident that leads to problems with the young couple. A depressing story, not helped by my reading it while down with pneumonia!
Bury Your Dead - Louise Penny - How I do love reading these books! Having lived in Quebec and recognizing some of the locations makes the stories even more interesting to me. This one weaves three threads of mystery - a terrorist plot, finding the burial place of Champlain and discovering a killer.
The Season of Second Chances - Diane Meier - A debut novel about a woman professor who decides to change her life by changing jobs - from teaching at Columbia University to teaching at Amhurst - buys a Victorian house that is a definite fixer-upper - becomes involved with various men and finds her life quite changed. A fun, quick read.
Whistling in the Dark - Lesley Kagen - Another first novel about two little girls in a very dysfunctional family in 1959. Something of a mystery, but more about growing up and discovering life. Not a comfortable read.
Up at the Villa - W. Somerset Maugham - A real change of pace. One of Maugham's well-known short novels about an English woman - a young widow - living in Florence who is trying to decide whether she should accept a proposal from a much older man. She gets into some rather terrible difficulties, and finds she needs the help of a somewhat disreputable younger man. A quick read that was recently made into a movie starring Sean Penn.
Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel - Oh my. This is a great book. Winner of the Man Booker Prize for 2009. Excellent historical novel concerning the reign of Henry VIII during the time Anne Boleyn becomes Queen. Told from the view of Thomas Cromwell. I enjoyed this long book!
The Tiger in the Smoke - Margery Allingham - Written in 1952 this Campion mystery is still intriguing, and not too dated. Campion is older in this story, not as "posh", and not the central character as he is in Allingham's earlier books.
Silence of the Grave - Arnaldur Indridason - The second of Indridason's Icelandic mysteries I've read. Similar to the Swedish Mankel stories, but this one at least is much less violent and more character-driven. This story concerns Erlandur's daughter, a skeleton discovered in the foundation of a new house and a long-ago mysterious disappearance.
The Fugitive Wife - Peter C. Brown - Good story set in 1900 during the gold rush to Nome, Alaska. A woman fleeing her husband finds adventure, new friends and herself. The hardships of the era are detailed and interesting. The gold fever that hit in the mid-1880's and on up into the 1900's was rather amazing. Some of the characters in this story were actual people enhancing the tale.
The Lacuna - Barbara Kingsolver - Wow! I'm cheating a bit because this is February 1st and I just finished this wonderful book. I bought Kingsolver's latest novel back in the fall, but kept pushing it aside as I didn't enjoy her last two books very much. This one is terrific. I'm not going to tell anything about it because I think it needs to be discovered by each reader without a review or even telling a bit about what it is about. Just know that it is one of the best I've read in years.
Great list of books, Mom! I haven't been interested in reading The Lacuna, but after reading your thoughts, I'll have to put it at the top of my list! And I might look into Wolf Hall, as well. And many others. Guess I should print & save this list for future reference. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you'd really enjoy reading The Lacuna. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I plan to give it to Rick to read first - then Alison - and then I'll have her send it on to you! Rick and Georgie have spent so much time in Mexico, I think they'll really enjoy the book. I have to say it had me in tears at the end.
ReplyDeleteI just began my Deborah Crombie adventure last year! I've read the first five, and so enjoy her writing, her stories, and those characters. I wanted to have the whole series on my Kindle, but #6 wasn't available, so I bought a used copy. Haven't read it yet.
ReplyDeleteI've read only one Campion but am so interested in reading through the whole series. Have you ever seen any of the shows that were on PBS starring the fellow who played Tristan in All Creatures Great and Small?
Oh, Erlendur! I'm wild for these books. I have read all the ones that have been translated. I think he is the best character. So true, so real. My husband Tom just read this book. This is a series I could go back and read all over again, although I had to avert my eyes in this one in the abuse parts. I think Arnaldur Indridason is the best writer. And I am fascinated by Iceland. It is unlike any place I've ever 'visited' in books. The whole missing persons theme is so interesting.
Great reviews!
Nan, you introduced me to Indridason! I really enjoy reading his books - much more than the Mankel ones.
ReplyDeleteWe've watched many of the PBS Campion series. We aren't able to get PBS where we live, so watch much of it through Netflix. Thank goodness for Netflix! We've just finished watching the first season of Downton Abbey, and are looking forward to next year.
As you may have noticed I read mostly mysteries, but mostly those written about Britain. Not much for the hard-boiled stories that most American writers give us. P.J. Tracy's books and Harlan Coben's are two that I do read, but of course most of the British mysteries are written by American women!
And thank you for saying "Great reviews" as I try to just tell how I feel about a book - and try hard not to give too much away.
ReplyDeleteOh, wasn't Downton Abbey just WONDERFUL! I'm thrilled there will be more. Did you know that the writer, Julian Fellowes played Kilwillie (sp?) on the television series Monarch of the Glen? Such talent!
ReplyDeleteI read a couple Coben's but then the subject matter got too much for me. We did watch a movie version of Tell No One, and it was great. I think I've got the title right - it was the email one. I don't like hardboiled much either. For me it is the case sometimes that makes or breaks a book. For example, I read two by Helene Tursten and was wild about them, even though the second was pretty out there. But the third I could not read. It dealt with satanic rituals that were gross. Do you read Mrs. Malory? Oh, do I ever love her. A real role model for women who are older than 30. :<) Les and I laugh often about how we so very rarely like the same books. It's always a big day when we do!
I haven't read Mrs. Malory. I'll have to look for the books in the library.
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