Michael Perry
From right around the corner in “Nobbern,” writer Michael Perry describes coming home after many years away. He illuminates the ups and downs of being a first responder and firefighter in the rural town. Being apart of this group brings him in contact with people he never would know otherwise. It makes him part of the community. This is funny and heartbreaking, uplifting and introspective. Yes, one book can be all those things, and Michael does it effortlessly.
Jane Austen
I know I don’t need to give a description of the book here. Everyone knows the basic story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. But, I hadn’t actually read it. This just seemed wrong to me. So, I have made a list of classics that I have not read, and have started reading them beginning with this. I loved it. I have always found it hard to read the older English style of writing so concentration was needed at first. This is probably why I never attempted reading this before. After a few chapters I found it was rather enjoyable. The wit and smart and head-strong personality of Elizabeth is very much my own and found I really related with her where I do not in so many other love stories. How excellent this was; I enjoyed it immensely.
Frances Hodgson Burnett
I have made a list of the classics I have not yet read and didn’t realize just how long that list was. This is the classic born-a-commoner finds-himself-aristocrat story. It is what so many other books and movies are based on. Yet, I had not read it. Now I can say confidently that I have. I can’t believe I hadn’t before. What a wonderful tale! This fairytale is just what every child should be reading. I read the 1955 (originally 1886) edition with introduction by Alice Dalgliesh. The pictures are the originals and I would highly recommend this format. Read this for yourself and read it to your children. Absolutely wonderful.
MC Beaton
This just in! Agatha Raisin grows up! She has finally seen the light. James is back and is as demanding as usual. At one point he actually tells Agatha it is her last chance. Thankfully, she did not reciprocate in her normal manner. The same is said for Charles’ meandering style. Agatha has told them both how she feels about their behaviors. As for the murder, Agatha is in a run down hotel that James has brought her to. After several murders; who is to blame? Are they connected or not? As always a light read that is always a delight.
MC Beaton
I am a little disappointed in Agatha’s behavior in this installment. She seems to have returned to her self-centered childish ways. She is easy to dismiss those who don’t compare to her ideal. I must admit that is part of her, but the last book had her changing just slightly for the better. Sir Charles didn’t step to the plate like I had hoped he would either. As for the rest of the story, her detective agency has endured and there a few new faces. Several surprises await you at the end in Agatha’s work life and personal life.
Ross King
“With Europe poised on the brink of the abyss, the study of Nature and the pursuit of Truth had been replaced by a vulgar contest in which Protestants and Catholics each tries to bend the other to their will. Learning was no longer being used for the improvement of the world: it had become instead the handmaid of prejudice and orthodoxy, and prejudice and orthodoxy the handmaids of slaughter.”
This tale is probably one of the best historical fiction pieces I have read yet. And to be a mystery added to the enjoyment. The setting is a 1660s quest for a missing text deemed heretical then pirated away and finally lost. Hired by Lady Marchamont, Isaac Inchbold, the author of this recollection, finds there may be much more to the task at hand. Intertwined is the ongoing beginning to the story told in third person. Surprises and suspense around every corner, up every inn’s steps, and in every catacomb. The abundant use of historical facts is surprisingly nonintrusive. The only impediment to the reading, and it may have only been due to my incompetence, was the copiousness of Latin.
Mark Schweizer
This is another great story in the Liturgical Mysteries series. This one was a turning point for so many aspects of the story line. Changes in personal lives, changes in society, changes in character lineup. Some changes happy, and some sad. As always, extremely funny and witty. As for the murder at hand, I can say, I didn’t see this one coming. I think I was too focused on other “clues.” Can’t wait for the next one to show up; it’s already ordered.
Carry On, Jeeves
PG Wodehouse
Excellent. I first found Wooster and Jeeves because I have always liked the Frey and Laurie comedy team. To actually read the Wodehouse Wooster and Jeeves is wonderful. It shows just how well Frey and Laurie did with their adaptations. Wodehouse has a sharp, quick wit that keeps the story moving. The character Bertie Wooster and his gentleman’s personal gentleman, Jeeves, find themselves in many nearly unbelievable predicaments. You never really know what Bertie is going to do and you never really know how Jeeves will get him out of trouble. All you know is that it will happen. Half of this book I happened to have already read in Enter Jeeves: 15 Early Stories. I fully intend on reading more of Wodehouse.
Agatha Raisin and the Deadly Dance
MC Beaton
This was a turn in the series. Agatha has opened her own detective agency and has also changed her personality. Well, only slightly. She is realizing how she treats others. At one point she loses both Charles and Roy as friends. Thankfully, Charles and Roy are much better friends than to leave her entirely. This installment also found a change in formula from the past Agatha Raisin books. Agatha’s life is in danger from the middle on, there are more characters on both “sides” and the end actually has a cliff hanger feel to it. I have always enjoyed these stories and find humor throughout the books, but this one had me laughing out loud in several places. I’m not sure what brought about this revitalization, but I love it.
Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House ..MC Beaton
Beaton has done it again with another Agatha mystery to read quickly and enjoy. These are light novels. Agatha is a feisty woman not about to be stopped from solving another of the Cotswolds problems. As usual she is over her head falling for men at the drop of a hat. This time it is for her new neighbor Paul, who is married. At the beginning of the book I had thought back to how much I had enjoyed the relationship with Sir Charles and wished he’d return. And to my delight he did. Wonderful as usual.
The Diary of Samuel Pepys: 1660-1669 ..Abridgment Edited by Isabel Ely Lord
I can’t help but think how boring this was. I loved bits about his home life and his interactions with his wife. That was interesting. The first hand insight to the Great London Fire and Great Plague as it ravaged London were eye opening and thought provoking. But, the other 50% of the text, based mostly on his day to day waking, going to work, and coming home was like everyone else’s life. Even his accounts of seeing friends was just that, plain one or two sentences that mentioned seeing someone. There is always something so boring about reading someone else’s mundane life. I have my own, I don’t need theirs as well. Although, having seen life in the mid-1600s gives us a picture to the everyday workings of an average person. Having read about Samuel in other literature, I thought I’d like a little more background, but I can’t say I’ll read it again.
Blue Blood ..Edward Conlon
{Abandoned}
I just can’t go on in this book. Of the 559 pages I made it 270, ending chapter 7. I figure just under 50% is a good effort. Nearly everyday I complained to my husband that the first hand stories are wonderful and I would love to read only that, but they are mixed into page upon page of historical drone. There was an entire chapter on his family and their roles in the police and FBI world. The problem is the writing is so scattered that I frequently lost track of who was who and in the end still couldn’t see the link between their services on the force and his. In fact, he point blank says he never wanted to be a police officer and would have rather been a writer. Unfortunately, I think it was best he found police work because it seems he was much better at it than he is as a writer. Like I said, if someone came along and edited this book down to about a third of the original and only kept the personal stories and encounters on the streets, it would be a great book. You have to get rid of all the other crap.
