The Long Way Home

It was time for me to revisit Gamache and the people of Three Pines.  I had halted in part because the storyline had become so difficult to process emotionally (a sign of good writing, I suppose), and in part when I learned that the narrator Ralph Cosham had passed.

But it was time to move on, and time to listen to the last of the Gamache books that Cosham did narrate, The Long Way Home (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 10).

This story is all about where Clara's husband Peter has gone to, and along the way, how everyone is living within their new positions and life roles after great turmoil, upheaval, and change of the past several books - Gamache, Beauvoir, and the several of the residents of Three Pines have adjustments to work through.  Which brings us back to Peter.  Clara and Peter had a trial separation of 1 year, and Peter was supposed to return to figure out where they go for now.  But he hasn't, and something must be wrong - but what?

There is a lot of symbolism in this story - in the title, the book cover, and the "clues" Peter has left behind.  

I do really enjoy this series.  During this particular book, I laughed throughout and cried once (I cannot say more without spoilers).  I will miss Ralph Cosham, but he did a beautiful job with this last book (and all those proceeding it). 

Going forward, I will be quicker to listen to The Nature of the Beast (Chief Inspector Gamache, Bk 11) and the other books in the series.  I hope narrator Robert Bathurst is a good fit (Louise Penny says he is), and I look forward to my next visit with Gamache and the residents of Three Pines.

City of Secrets

Title: City of Secrets

Author: Victoria Thompson

Publisher:  Berkley Prime Crime

Series: Counterfeit Lady, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780451491619

Length: 307 + "Author's Note"

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I wanted to read this from the time I finished the first book in the series, City of Lies.  During the year I waited, I binged on Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mystery series.  More recently, I've been on something of a reading slump.  I would read some, and even enjoy what I was reading, but I haven't had the same passion that I had in days gone by.  Yesterday (11/23/2018), I had gone Black Friday shopping and was home alone with the dogs, and I thought, "I should read that book that I've been waiting so long for and finally have checked out."  So I did.  I read straight through it, with only small pauses to nap (I was exhausted), let the dogs out, catch the dogs when they unlatched the gate and escaped the yard, take pictures of the dogs, or break up occasional dog-spats (those dogs are more than a handful). Finally.

The story jumps right in from the start.  Too bad I didn't remember the first book quite as well as I would have liked, but I picked up fairly quickly.  I think I needed the quick pacing of this story...

I wrote the above in November 2018 and never finished or published, so here it is...Since I didn't finish my thoughts, and don't remember what I intended to say now, we'll just say I'm a fan.

The Elephant Keeper: Caring for Orphaned Elephants in Zambia

The Elephant Keeper: Caring for Orphaned Elephants in Zambia by Margriet Ruurs and illustrated by Redro Covo

Margriet Ruurs is a Canadian author (British Columbia), qualifying this read for the 12th annual Canadian Book Challenge.

I have a fondness for books about conservation and animal rescue, and this book is a double whammy.  Aaron helps with the rescue and care of a young orphaned elephant.  In the process he discovers a passion for helping these beautiful animals that are not the terrifying and horrible beasts he grew up hearing about.

The story is moving with some lovely illustrations.  In a couple places the book breaks to interject some facts and figures about elephants.  The content was interesting and important, but my involvement in the story was broken up in the process of reading these details.  I can see where it might be useful to help connect with the real deal, but I feel it might have done more harm than good.  Personally, I ended up skipping over these parts to finish the story and easily could have not missed them altogether.  I feel they might have been better at the end of the book, when, having finished tehstory, a reader would want to learn more.

In the end you learn that Aaron is a real person who really is one of the elephant keepers at the Lilayi Elephant Nursery.  Overall, I enjoyed and appreciated the book and story.

Anna at the Art Museum

Title: Anna at the Art Museum

Author: Hazel Hutchins & Gail Herbert; Illustrated by Lil Crump

Publisher: Annick Press

A quick book about Anna as she explores an art museum by pushing boundaries.  She touches what she ought not touch, she is noisy when she ought to be quiet, and she thinks a roped-off sculpture looks like a great place to climb.

Anna is bored, and every time she tries to find some entertainment she is shushed, scolded, and held back.  But with a little kindness shown and a backside look at some of the inner workings, Anna finds an appreciation for art and its beauty that she never held before.

The end includes a listing of all the real art pieces Anna encounters along with where they are currently held.  The majority can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, but there are others.

After completing the book I realized that it qualifies for the Canadian Book Challenge.  Hazel Hutchins is from Alberta, Gail Herbert is from Ontario, and illustrator Lil Crump is from Nova Scotia.

Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children

Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children by Canadian author Monica Kulling and illustrated by Julianna Swaney is the story of a woman who persevered in spite of what would be expected of her for the better of others.

Dr. Jo lost her brother and father to disease and determined to help others fight a similar fate.  She may have had some false starts, but eventually she made changes that improved the lives of children, particularly poor children, throughout New York City and America.

I was drawn to this book in part because of Dr. Jo's name and in part because I find inspirational biographical children's books a joy to read.  I did not realize that it has a Canadian author and qualifies for the challenge!

Other biographical picture books that may be of interest are: Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum (I read this a few years back with the kiddos, and they LOVED it), Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenia Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist, and Joan Proctor, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles (I read these last two with the youngest and he enjoyed them).

Back to the Future

Part of the POP Classics series, Back to the Future based on the movie written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale is illustrated by Canadian Kim Smith.  I requested all the books in this series since they fit into the 12th annual Canadian Book Challenge.

I've never watched Back to the Future all the way through; I've only seen a few minutes here and there.   So while I knew the gist of the story, this children's books that supposedly (based on other reviews) only hits the main plot points was still new to me for the most part.  The illustrations are bright and the characters are all very expressive.

I'll admit, the new book smell really made this read all the better.  I don't know if I would have enjoyed it so much without the additional sensory input.  Anyway, I will be reading more of these.  I have X-Files and a couple others checked out from the library.

Asking for Truffle

Title: Asking for Truffle

Author: Dorothy St. James aka Dorothy McFalls

Publisher: Crooked Lane

Series: Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781683312918

Length: 316 pages + "Recipes Snipped From the Camellia Current, Camellia Beach's Local Newspaper"

Obtained: Library hardcover copy

Comments:

Penn is the next thing to an orphan, even though, presumably, neither parent has actually passed.  She's the daughter of a very rich man, and was raised by her very rich grandmother (kind of).  But she is estranged (and always has been) from her known family, and doesn't want any part of their money.  Her background has made her cynical and short on trust.  So wen she gets a letter claiming she's won a trip to a beach town chocolate shop, she suspects a scam.  She speaks to an old school friend who agrees to go down and investigate for her.  But when he is murdered and his death is written off as a drug crime, Penn goes down to investigate.

Penn's cynicism sees this small beach community as worn down and crumbling.  She encounters a closed minded and inept cop, a mystical "woo-woo" shop that she doesn't believe in, two old ladies who she believes must be involved in the scheme to get her into town for her trust fund.

Unfortunately, Penn's negative picture is how the town is introduced to the reader as well.  Instead of the usual cozy warmth that tends to be found in small cozy mystery towns, there is this gloom.  And while Penn's perspective changes throughout the story as she gets to know the people in town, it is hard to move past her initial negativity.

The mystery itself is fine.  It is multi-part, and of course, events throughout add to the mystery.  I guessed the bad guy, but not the motivation.  Anyway, I had a little trouble connecting to this story and its characters, but I do expect I'll keep reading the series.

Murder in an Irish Village

Title: Murder in an Irish Village

Author: Carlene O'Connor

Series: Irish Village Mystery, Bk 1

Publisher: Kensington Mystery

ISBN: 9781617738463

Length: 344 pages

Obtained: Purchased autographed paperback at Lit Fest

Comments:

I found out I could go to a "Cozy Book Club Mini-Con" for my birthday and I was so psyched! As I reviewed the list of authors expected, I realized I had bought this back in June, so I started it the night before.

Siobhán O'Sullivan and her five siblings are trying to keep up their parent's bistro and each other after the death of their parents a year prior.  But when the brother of the young man who killed them in a drunk driving accident comes into town, making crazy claims, an stirring things up he ends up a murder victim... in the bistro.  Eldest sibling James, is believed to be the killer, and Siobhán is left to solve this mystery and keep the pieces of their family and home together.

I enjoyed the story and the characters.  I particularly enjoyed the O'Sullivan Six.  The mystery puts everyone in the village under suspicion.  Since this is the first book and introduction to the village characters, Siobhán's sleuthing and instincts strongly color who may or may not be responsible.

An interesting note... when Carlene spoke at the con, she mentioned that she had thought keeping foul language out of a book set in Ireland wasn't very authentic.  However, her publishers assured her that Irish curse words don't count.  In fact, the Irish cursing is frequent in the book's dialog, and as Carlene said, they are most definitely swear words.  I can see, however, where words that are not common cursing in the States made them easier to just gloss over while reading.

Also of note, the village this book is set in, Kilbane, County Cork doesn't quite exist, but is based off of a real town, Kilmallock,  that the author fell in love with in County Limerick.  She highly recommended visiting if anyone has the chance.  You can see her love of this town, as place is most definitely a character in this book.

Anyway, I own book 2, Murder at an Irish Wedding, and hope to read it soon.

Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein

Title: Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein

Author: Linda Bailey; Illustrated by Júlia Sardà

Publisher: Tundra

ISBN: 9781770495593

Length: Unnumbered + "Author's Note" + "Sources"

Obtained: Library hardcover picture book

Comments:

I have a series of Frankenstein programs scheduled for work, and I've been reading some Frankenstein related books (just kids books so far). This is one of them, but I realized when I finished it that the author, Linda Bailey, is Canadian, so I'm posting to fulfill the 12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge.

 This is a children's book that looks into Mary Shelley's background from her childhood on. It focuses on what inspired her creation of Frankenstein, from her "dreamer" nature as a child to the challenge that prompted the story. The illustrations are charming, and I couldn't help but like Mary her past and creativity is uncovered.

A Distant Heart

Title: A Distant Heart

Author: Sonali Dev

Series: Bollywood, Bk 4

Publisher: Kensington Fiction

ISBN: 9781496705761

Length: 297 + "A Reading Group Guide"

Obtained: Purchased autographed copy

Comments:

I read this in one chunk until 3 in the morning.  I had met the author in June, and she assured me that while it is part of a series, and particularly connected to the previous book, A Change of Heart, that I could read it as a standalone or out of order.  I still tend to believe I would have been better off to read A Change of Heart first.  I know details of that storyline that I otherwise would not have.  However, I'll agree that my reading of this story was not detracted from. 

Kimi has had health issues nearly all of her life.  Her parents wealth and determination allowed her to live through a number of new treatments and options until her heart simply would not take it anymore.  Then she was blessed with a transfer.  She would like to find her donor.  Rahul, a man from the slums and now a cop in Mumbai, came into her life as a child and was her only friend and constant for years of fighting for her life.  Now he is determined to have some closure for a case about a gangster/black market that he has been working on for years.  The stakes are high for them both and while they stay in hiding and investigate their respective quests, they must also navigate their pasts and potential futures. 

The story is told in "Present Day" and "A Long Time Ago" from the perspectives of Kimi, Rahul, and Kimi's father - who is a part of both their lives.  I don't mind multiple perspectives, but I'm not a huge fan of time jumping back and forth.  It does work for this story, though, to unfold what has been (without info dumps) and what the characters are currently going through.

I'd be interested in reading more of Sonali's work, particularly A Change of Heart.

Cat About Town

Title: Cat About Town

Author: Cate Conte

Series: Cat Café Mystery, Bk 1

Publisher: St. Martin's

ISBN: 9781250072061

Length: 295 pages

Obtained: Library paperback copy

Comments:

Maddie is visiting the town she grew up in as her grandmother has passed and she's helping her grandfather adjust.  While there she finds out a local bigshot is bullying her grandfather - former chief of police - into selling his home... ahouse that has been in the family for generations.  Before she can come up with a plan, said bigshot is murdered, and Maddie's grandfather is suspected.  Obviously this means she needs to help find tehtrue culprit, and to help jer is the cat that seems to have adopted her - JJ.

The story was pretty quick, with a mixture of focus on the murder/investigation and Maddie's relationships with family, friends, and other townspeople.  This book is definitely primarily a set-up for the series though.  The series name, for instance, doesn't even really come into play other than brief mentions here and there.  And I didn't always agree with Maddie's approach to some aspects of her sleuthing.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I look forward to reading book 2, Purrder She Wrote.

Venom in the Veins

Title: Venom in the Veins

Author: Jennifer Estep

Series: Elemental Assassin, Bk 17

Publisher: self-published

ISBN: 9780986188565

Length: 342 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I'm a fan of this series.  I tend to be a fan of Jennifer Estep's work in general (though I had trouble getting into the Bigtime series).  So I did enjoy this book.  Just not as much as some past books in the series.

Gin has been trying to get information on The Circle and her parents.  In the meantime, a friend's life is threatened and she is going to get to the bottom of it.  In the meantime, someone from her past comes out of the woodwork and she finds herself in a sticky situation, with memories that haunt her reappearing in her dreams.  There is a hook at the end, so while the main storyline for this book is wrapped up, the overall arc story is hanging in suspense.

I look forward to the next book and more of Gin and her friends/family.

the age of miracles

Title: the age of miracles

Author: Karen Thompson Walker

Publisher: Random House

ISBN: 9780812982947

Length: 269 pages + "A Reader's Guide"

Obtained: Library book discussion copy

Comments:

This was a book discussion selection.  Unfortunately, I missed the discussion (one of the dogs was being tested for her CGC that night), so I don't know what the rest of the group thought.

Julia's life (as well as the life of everyone around her) is upturned when time begins to slow.  The day lengthens, the magnetic field (and gravity?) is altered.  Animals and plants respond poorly, and humans do not fare much better.  Response is varies, so people try to follow the standard 24 hour day, while others try to follow the daylight.  Sleep cycles, metal stability, physical balance and health are all at risk with these changes.  End of the world measures are taken by some while others try to live as normally as possible.

This is something of a dystopian, but it addresses the time of becoming and immediately after, rather than society after all changes are said and done.  It is also something of a coming-of-age story.  Julia recounts her life as an 11/12-year-old during the slowing - complete with puberty, a crush, changes in friendships and relationships, bullies, family drama, and death.  I mostly felt sad while reading this, and the deaths upset me, but I obviously didn't fully connect, or I would have been sobbing.

I finished it, it was okay, the premise was interesting... I just didn't love it.

Hot Mess

Title: Hot Mess

Author: Emily Beldon

Publisher: Graydon House

ISBN: 9781525811418

Length: 412 pages

Obtained: Purchased autographed copy

Comments:

I heard Emily speak on a panel about romances (the actual panel name said something about hope, but I don't remember specifics).  I wondered at the time if it was actually a romance, but I bought her book along with books by the other authors who spoke, had it signed, and got my picture with her.  I thought  having a giveaway might be the motivation I needed to read some of these books (rather than only the library books that come flooding in).  No one entered to win this, but I still kept on with reading it.

Within the first 30 or so pages, I wasn't sure if I was even going to finish.  I had a couple obstacles.  First, the language.  While I don't use hard language (curse words and such) myself, I can usually ignore it in books.  But that language was so frequent and blatant, particularly in those first pages, that I was having difficulty overlooking it.

Another factor is that the book is told in first person.  I don't necessarily care for first person in a romance (if that's what this is, and I'm still not certain, even after having finished the book), though it can be acceptable if done well.

But a third issue/obstacle is that I felt too old for this story.  And honestly, that's a bit ridiculous.  I read books intended for all ages - children, MG, teen, adult.  I've never felt this way before.  And the main character, Allie, is 25, so I also have less than a decade on her.  But between the acronyms, social media jargon, brand name descriptions, and other terminology... well, I was lost until Allie becomes more involved in the restaurant business.  Since she doesn't know what the terminology and acronyms are for the restaurant industry, the reader gets definitions, clarifications, and explanations even as Allie does.

I persevered, and I did read last 1/2 - 2/3 in one big chunk.  Once I was past the language, terminology, etc., I was interested in the story and how Allie would straighten out her life (which is accurately described by the title - a hot mess). 

Themes of addiction are strong in this book.  Allie's boyfriend was in the midst of heavy drug use when they first became involved, and it continues to effect their lives throughout teh book.  While addiction is something various members of my family have struggled with, I can't say I've seen it from this perspective.  Emily did mention, in the panel she spoke at, that early readers had commented on how realistic the addiction aspect was to them and their lives.

Illegal

Title: Illegal

Author: Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin; Illustrated by Giovanni Rigano; Lettering by Chris Dickey

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

ISBN: 9781492662143

Length: 122 + Creators' Note + "Journey: Helen's Story" Words by Helen as told to Women for Refugee Women + Sketchbook

Obtained: Library hardcover copy

Comments:

I placed a request for this the first time I saw it, but by the time it came in it was just one of many books waiting for me to get to it.  Then Sunday, I picked it up just to glance real quick.  Next thing I knew, I was running late.  I stopped reading long enough to go to bible class, started reading again briefly before heading into work (dragging myself away), and then continued/finished as soon as I was home.  In other words, I found myself quickly caught up in the story and eager to discover Ebo and his family's fate.

The story moves between Ebo's time traveling by sea and jumping backward to his travels prior to that, including through the desert.  Ebo is continuously looking for his siblings through the story, as they are trying to build a better life together.  This isn't the first refuge story I've read, and I'm sure it won't be the last.  However, there is something about the graphic novel format combined with the real risks and dangers so many people are taking to improve their lives and escape the dangers of their home country that made Ebo's story especially touching.

A Hard Day's Knight

Title: A Hard Day's Knight

Author: Simon R. Green

Series: Nightside, Bk 11

Publisher: Penguin

ISBN: 9781101475232

Length: 304 pages

Obtained: Library OverDrive ebook copy

Comments:

The Nightside and Arthur, Camelot, and the Knights of the Round Table - or in this case, the London Knights.

The series is coming to a close and you can feel it in this book.  Threads that have been lingering are being tied up, and the Nightside is in a strange place between staying the same and changing, complete with the beginning stages of a major war.  Of course, that isn't unusual for the Nightside.  John has already been through two other wars recently.

I only read one book prior to this one recently to remind me of what is going on, so you probably could just jump in.  However, I would definitely recommend starting from the beginning of the series so you can both watch John's growth and get a good feel for the Nightside and all its characters.  I'm both excited and dreading the next, and final, book of this series - The Bride Wore Black Leather.

Bird, Bath, and Beyond

Title: Bird, Bath, and Beyond

Author: E. J. Copperman aka Jeffrey Cohen

Publisher: Minotaur

Series: Agent to the Paws Mystery, Bk 2

ISBN: 9781250084293

Length: 304 pages

Obtained: Download from Edelweiss+

Comments:

This is the second whitelisted Macmillan review title that I've downloaded through Edelweiss+.  I had to read the first book in the series, Dog Dish of Doom before I could read this one (you can find my post for that here).  In general, there is something about E. J. Copperman's characters that really appeals to me.

In this story, Kay is representing a parrot for a popular zombie television series.  She encounters entirely different cops this time, which makes sense considering the murders in both books have taken place in New York.  Kay is again reluctant to be pulled into an investigation, but her client was the only witness.  While the cop this time certainly does NOT ask for her assistance, Kay feels she needs to help and poke around for other reasons.  I don't want to say too much and give anything away, so I'll leave it at that. 

This one's mystery is a bit more convoluted and maybe even a little ridiculous, but I still enjoyed it.  I enjoy the characters, I enjoy the humor, and I especially enjoy the combination that comes out in Kay's narration of the story.

I look forward to whatever the third book may be, and I hope to read some more of E. J. Copperman/Jeff Cohen's other work in the meantime.

The Lost Books: The Scroll of Kings

Title: The Lost Books: The Scroll of Kings

Author: Sarah Prineas

Publisher: Harper

Series: ? It's hard to say if this is a series or standalone.

ISBN: 9780062665584

Length: 295 pages

Obtained: Library hardcover copy

Comments:

I haven't read anything by Sarah Prineas previously, so I don't know how this story compares, but I love finding books with book and/or librarian related themes, and this has both.

Among my first impressions is that Alex may be a "librarian" and love books, but he certainly isn't an archivist, genealogist, or historian, as he seemingly found no interest or use of documents that I know would have been useful for such purposes. 

But I'm getting off track.  Alex has run from home after arguing with his family.  He is certain, after having read all the books in his father's locked up library, that he is a librarian, not a warrior s trained.  This is in a world/time when all libraries have been locked up - Alex believes because books are dangerous - and all librarians are old.  This last part is quite troublesome for Alex who is looking to be trained, but cannot find any librarians willing to share their secrets.

He has managed, by chance and some trickery, to talk his way into the Royal Library, where he must figure out what is happening with the books, save them (the books) and himself, and convince the young queen of his task because he cannot do this alone.

I enjoyed the story.  If this is a series, I would be happy to read more.  If it is a standalone, it ended well enough.  I hope to read more of this author's work (particularly the thief series I've heard about) at some point in the future.

Tricks for Free

Title: Tricks for Free

Author: Seanan McGuire

Publisher: DAW

Series: InCryptid, Bk 7

ISBN: 9780756410407

Length: 346 + "The Recitation of the Most Holy and Harrowing Pilgrimage of Mindy and Also Mork" + "Price family Field Guide to the Cryptids of North America Updated and Expanded Edition"

Obtained: Library paperback copy

Comments: I do like this series.  I know it isn't for everyone, but I enjoy it.  Of the siblings, Verity remains my favorite, but they have all grown on me including Antimony.  She is on the run in this book, which means no Aeslin mice, so I was glad to have the short story at the end from the perspective of Mindy (and Sam, Antimony's... potential boyfriend).

Anyway, Antimony finds a hiding place from the Covenant (evil or misinformed or both group of "Van Helsing" types, who hunt all "monsters", not vampires) while also keeping away from her family (in order to protect them from unwanted discovery and attention).  She has secured a position at a theme park that is apparently runner up to Disney in both Florida and California - in this case Florida.  Coming from her recent Carnie type experiences, this seems an ideal fit.  But she is having issues with a burgeoning magical side.  Plus, she's seen an uptick in strange and unlucky events that may draw the Covenant's attention no matter how cautious she is - not to mention people are dying.

This series is really one that should be read in order, even though the books switch perspectives between siblings (this is the second Antimony book); they tend to build on each other, especiall these last few.  I look forward to the next book, That Ain’t Witchcraft, which will be another Antimony book.

The Door to the Lost

Title: The Door to the Lost

Author: Jaleigh Johnson

Publisher: Delacorte

ISBN: 9781101933169

Length: 289 pages

Obtained: Library print copy

Comments:

This was a quick and interesting middle grade fantasy.  A large number of children from another world with magic came through this world at the same time magic failed.  However, these children still have magic, and are looked at as the bringers of misfortune in a world that is not their own.  In other words, they are immigrants without parents or adults to help them navigate the prejudices and, for the most part, hatred and fear of the people (or at least the adults) in their new home.  They do not remember anything of their old world and so do not even have memories of better or happier times to turn to.

Rook has the ability to open doors to anywhere... except the country she came from.  Now she and her friends have been pulled into a dangerous scheme initiated by adults they cannot even trust.  Can they save their new land before it is destroyed?  Can they find a home in this world?  will they ever discover the secrets and mystery of their pasts?

After last week's Monday post, I immediately started this book (rather than sleep) and read straight through until I had finished it - work that Monday was harsh.  I enjoyed the break in pace and the kickstart to picking me up out of a potential reading slump.