It's Monday! What are you reading? 7/16/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

It's been a week.  Dog training classes (2), book club, crafting night, volunteering (at a local cat rescue), worship, work, and some family things.  All in the life.

One of the dogs is on a mole hunt in the backyard.  She has dug several large holes along the fence-line trying to catch this mole.  Last year it took her the bulk of the summer to catch the mole plaguing us, and in the meantime we ended up with holes across the entire yard.  You can tell where it/they move(s) by watching the dog (as well as the tunnels that pop up, of course). Her head cocks as she listens, she sniffs around, and next thing you know dirt is flying.  Once she has decided the mole is out of reach she comes back with a dirty brown nose, dirty white sock paws, and an innocent "didn't I do good?" look.

Oh, and I almost forgot! I finally have my desktop set up!  (Many thanks to my father who spent hours running virus protection on my old, tired Vista and then more transferring all my files to a portable external hard drive.)  I've been a year+ just borrowing other computers.  This should definitely help my blogging.

This week I finished reading:

Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig - [My post] An emotional and intense read.


From the Charred Remains (Lucy Campion Mystery, Bk 2) by Susanna Calkins - [My post] I look forward to beginning book three in this series.

I'm currently reading:

In audio (on CD), I've been listening to Moby Dick by Herman Melville (read by Paul Boehmer).  I haven't gotten much further in this story because I had some (Celtic) music CDs come in.  Ishmael has secured his place on the whaling vessel of his choice and will be introducing Queequeg.


Mary Flora Bell : The Horrific True Story Behind an Innocent Girl Serial Killer by Nancy A. Veysey and Ryan Becker - This book needed a lot more editing.  The punctuation is horrible, and the actual writing is too casual and scattered.  But the story and content is interesting (if horrifying and tragic).

The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny (Nightside, Bk 10) by Simon R. Green - A new coworker's question about if I've been reading anything good lately brought the revelation that I haven't been reading enough fantasy lately.  So I decided to finish up the Nightside series.  I thought I was picking up where I left off, but as I've been reading the story began to feel vaguely familiar.  That would be because I've read it before... [My original post]  I'm going to finish it out without reading my post, and I guess this can still be a springboard to the end of the series.

Up next:

I have too many library books at once, and had to return some unread.  I hope to get back to them some other time.  Some of the library books I still have out include:

Eye of the Shoal : a Fish-watcher's Guide to Life, the Ocean and Everything by Helen Scales
The Scroll of Kings (Lost Books, Bk 1) by Sarah Prineas
White Sand Blues (Ashley Grant Mystery, Bk 1) by Vicki Delany (Canadian Author)
Almost Adulting: All You Need to Know to Get It Together (Sort Of) by Arden Rose

From the Charred Remains

Title: From the Charred Remains

Author: Susanna Calkins

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Series: Lucy Campion, Bk 2

ISBN: 9781250007889

Length: 340 + Histoical Note (343)

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I started this immediately after finishing the first book in the series, A Murder at Rosamund's Gate for the second time.

Lucy is leaving her former master's home to make way for herself as a printer's apprentice.  She hopes to both make better future for herself and possibly to clear the way for her to have a relationship with her now former master's son, Adam.  But Adam is distant and Lucy has discovered (in a way) another mystery in the aftermath of the great London Fire.  The charred remains of a foreigner hidden in a barrel and with naught but what are apparently the winnings from a card game, including a coded love letter.

I'll be reading more of this series soon, I hope.  I own an autographed copy of the third book, The Masque of a Murder, from when I met the author a few years back.

It's Monday! What are you reading? 7/9/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

This week I joined the 12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge.  We saw the new Jurassic World movie on Tuesday (I mostly liked it, but they hit quite a bit on the sad emotional stuff, and I didn't have quite enough raptor action, and I have mixed feelings about the ending).
I enjoyed the 4th of July parade Wednesday (despite the fact that it never really has floats anymore), but I did not enjoy the fireworks that have been turning the dogs into nervous and high-strung wrecks.

This week I finished reading:

Better Off Read (Bookmobile Mystery, Bk 1) by Nora Page - [My post] I had series doubts about this one for the first half.  But it looked adorable, and others seemed to enjoy it.  Thankfully, it picked up in the second half.

A is for Alibi (Kinsey Millhone, Bk 1) by Sue Grafton - [My post] Pretty enjoyable.  I look forward to continuing the series.

I'm currently reading:

In audio (on CD), I've been listening to Moby Dick by Herman Melville (read by Paul Boehmer).  Most recently, Ishmael has gone to select the vessel that he and Queequeg will be whaling on.  I actually do not not much about this story, despite it being a classic; though I'm still early on, everything in the story is new to me.

I started in print, From the Charred Remains (Lucy Campion Mystery, Bk 2) by Susanna Calkins.  I haven't gotten any further than last week because I was finishing some other books.


Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig - I've just barely started this, but the book discussion it is for is Tuesday.  Fortunately, I've taken Monday off so I should be able to focus on finishing it.

Up next:

Other books I have through the library (and may or may not get to) include:

No Cure for the Dead (Florence Nightingale Mystery, Bk 1) by Christine Trent
How to Fall in Love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson
Eye of the Shoal : a Fish-watcher's Guide to Life, the Ocean and Everything by Helen Scales
Mary Flora Bell : The Horrific True Story Behind an Innocent Girl Serial Killer by Nancy A. Veysey and Ryan Becker
The Scroll of Kings (Lost Books, Bk 1) by Sarah Prineas

 

It's Monday! What are you reading? 7/1/2018

Hosted by: Book Date

This week I finished reading:

Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash by Shia Su - I've posted my thoughts here (Zero Waste), but basically some was interesting and potentially useful and some is not currently likely.

The King of Bones and Ashes (Witches of New Orleans, Bk 1) by J. D. Horn - I was interested in the second book, and of course I have to read a series in order.  I suspect this is a necessity in this instance because there are a lot of characters to familiarize oneself with.  I've posted my thoughts here (King of Bones and Ashes), but I have mixed feelings.

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate (Lucy Campion Mystery, Bk 1) by Susanna Calkins - This was a re-read.  Still enjoyed, although the past 5 years have slightly changed my reaction.  My newest post is here (Murder at Rosamund's Gate Re-read) and my original is here (Murder at Rosamund's Gate).

I'm currently reading:


In ebook format, I've been reading A is for Alibi (A Kinsey Millhone Novel, Bk 1) by Sue Grafton.  I think I've made less progress this week than last.  I'm at about midway through this, and I'm going to have to just set down my print books and pick up my phone or Kindle, because otherwise this isn't happening.

In print, I've been reading Better Off Read (Bookmobile Mystery, Bk 1) by Nora Page.  I did get a little further, but then I left my book at home one workday (hence The King of Bones and Ashes) and in my car overnight another evening (hence the re-read of The Murder at Rosamund's Gate).

In audio (on CD), I've been listening to Moby Dick by Herman Melville.  Apparently I wanted to continue the sea theme that I started with Master and Commander.  Some parts are interesting or amusing, some parts I have to strain to keep focused or I miss chunks.  And some parts I think I need to pull my print copy (never read) off the shelf and check on what they actually said.  I'm currently in a sermon of "Jonah and the Great Fish" being given by some whaling sailor with a very different perspective than any I've heard before.

I started in print, From the Charred Remains (Lucy Campion Mystery, Bk 2) by Susanna Calkins.  Lucy has come across another murder (this time of a foreign man), but now she is in new circumstances, and several aspects of her life are in flux.

Up next:


It was my turn to select the book for one of my discussion groups.  After gathering the input of my fellow group members, I decided on Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig.  Now the discussion is approaching in a week and I haven't read it yet.


Other books I have through the library (and may or may not get to) include:

The Grey Bastards (Lot Lands, Bk 1) by Jonathan French
No Cure for the Dead (Florence Nightingale Mystery, Bk 1) by Christine Trent
How to Fall in Love with a Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate (Re-read)

Title: A Murder at Rosamund's Gate

Author: Susanna Calkins

Series: Lucy Campion Mysteries, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781250007902

Length: 340 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I wanted to catch up on this series, and I couldn't remember this first book well enough, so I decided to re-read it.

I did enjoy it - enough so I crammed reading it all in one evening.  But perhaps not to the same extent as the first time.  I remembered one part about Lucy's brother, and I suspected (but did not remember) the culprit partway through.  Last time I was left waiting for book 2, and the delay meant I never did get around to reading it.  This time I already have books 2-4 on hand, and have begun reading book 2 already.

Anyway, regarding this story.  The story starts with Lucy as an 18-year-old chambermaid in a decent household in 1665-1666 London.  Soon after we are introduced to Lucy we discover servant girls are being murdered.  When a member of Lucy's household becomes a victim, Lucy is determined that her friend have justice.  But this is a rough time for London with plague looming and other disaster following closely behind.  When all of London is in chaos, justice for a lowly servant girl doesn't prompt much urgency - especially when the one pushing is another serving girl, when women have little say, and when those accused of crime have so few rights.

You can see my original post here.

Printers Row Lit Fest 2013

I went to the Printers Row Lit Fest again this year!  I had some issues in the morning and was a good 2 - 2 1/2 hours later than I wanted to be, but I made it.

The first panel I went to was "Female Sleuths: Gillian Royes, Libby Fischer Hellmann and Sharon Fiffer" moderated by Jamie Freveletti.  I have to say I was a little disappointed.  They all seemed perfectly nice, and Sharon Fiffer has a great sense of humor, but it wasn't really about Female Sleuths much at all.  For one thing, Gillian Royes protagonist is a male.  And that would have been fine if they talked more about the sleuths and less about the rest.  But it felt more like tell us about your stories/books.  And some stuff about intolerance themes.  Some stuff about the writing process.

But I missed the "Mystery Writers of America: Writing and Selling a Mystery" with Michael A. Black, Julie Hyzy, Clare O'Donohue and moderated by Lori Rader Day for this.  If I had to go back I would have went to the other panel, even though I'm not a writer and don't intend to be one.

I did purchase the first book in Sharon Fiffer's Jane Wheel book, Killer Stuff.  And I got it autographed and a bookmark and a picture with Sharon (which I will post on Facebook once I've done some editing).  So that was good.

Then I did some wandering and at the Mystery Writers of America station I hear the bulk of a short by Julie Hyzy (read by the author).  I didn't hear the end, though because I had to hurry off for my next panel.

I listened to author of The Devil Wears Prada and Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns Lauren Weisberger in discussion with Chicago Tribune VP/Managing Editor Jane Hirt.  I haven't read these books (though I've seen the movie), but the talk was still interesting.

The last panel I went to was "The Lure of Noir: Bryan Gruley, Brian D’Amato, Alec Nevala-Lee and Libby Fischer Hellmann" moderated by Robert Goldsborough.  Now this panel was entirely about the topic of Noir.  It was a little unreal.  Noir was being approached from all angels - not only literary noir, but films (of course), art, music, and even perfume.  I don't know much about noir, but the authors had this philosophical discussion about what noir is, what you find in noir, etc.  Entertaining and interesting all in one.

This is poor quality and blurry, but it's the best I managed.
In order, from left to right: Alec Nevala-Lee, Brian D'Amato, Bryan Gruley, Libby Fischer Hellmann

After the noir panel I wandered some more and came up by the Mystery Writers of America booth again. Staring me in the face is A Murder at Rosamund's Gate.  I look up at the author, Susanna Calkins, and exclaim, "I just read your book!"  And then proceed to tell her I'm not going to buy it, because I read it already, but could I get her autograph?  She was kind enough to oblige...

I finish by clumsily telling her how I appreciated the detail without the info-dumping.  Smooth, no?

I turn the corner and find Joelle Charbonneau and Nancy J Parra/Nancy J Coco.  First I tell Nancy that I have her book checked out, but I haven't read it yet.  Then I turn to Joelle.  I brought the first book in the Glee Club Mystery series, Murder for Choir, because I new she'd be there for a panel about her YA book, The Testing.  I had missed that panel because it was at the same time as the Lauren Weisberger one, and I thought I had missed my opportunity to see/speak to Joelle as well.  But here she was!  And she was kind enough to sign my book even though I wasn't buying any.

Now I'm in my little Cozy Mystery/Author Celebrity world.  It was wonderful.

I capped the day by catching the end of the El Payo Cuadro Flamenco with Flamenco Dancers from Ensemble Español and musician John Urban performance.  I've not heard of any of them, but it was still enjoyable and a nice end to the day.

A Murder at Rosamund's Gate

Title: A Murder at Rosamund's Gate

Author: Susanna Calkins

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Series: Lucy Campion, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781250007902

Pages: 338 + Historic Note

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I can't remember when I first saw this and decided to request it.  But I decided to read it now because it fit the Historical Mystery Reading Challenge 2013.

Comments:

I enjoyed this book.  Lucy is a very likeable character.  She's a servant, but intelligent and part of a very good household so she has more opportunity than many other servants might have.  The book is very clear that servants and the lower classes can live very grim lives.

In fact, that's one of the things I appreciated about this book - the historical detail.  The author takes a couple privileges, which she addresses in her historical note at the end, but overall you can tell a lot of attention was paid to the detail and accuracy of the history and time being portrayed - without being preachy or stilted.  Perhaps that is in large part due to the author's doctorate in British History?

Speaking of which, this book is set in Restoration London (1665 or thereabouts).  This is a period I know VERY little about.  But issues addressed include:

Plague
London Fire
Treatment of lower classes and women
Quakers
Prisoner/Criminal treatment
England's legal and court system
Public Society's interest in murder and gruesome tales (there's a word for these and I'm blanking)
Etc.

Now, I would say this is very clearly a historical mystery.  Except I do need to point out that at one point the book seemed to forget it was supposed to be a mystery and turned into a (sweet) romance ... but it recalled itself by the end.  Seriously, though, there was some genre confusion.  As I happen to like romances as well as mysteries I was fine with that, but it was a little strange.  Especially considering the hints at the end (which I will not further address so as not to give things away).

For the mystery part of things.  I wondered about the bad dude off and on.  Then about 3/5 of the way through, I thought the whole situation was hinky and settled on him... hesitantly.  It wasn't smack my head obvious (or at least no to me), more of a gut thing.

I hope to read the next book, expected out in April 2014 with a working title of From the Charred Remains.