"The English Wife" by Lauren Willig (a New York Times bestselling author) was featured at my local library and called to me so I started reading it last night. That was a mistake because I didn't sleep much! I've been told in the past that you take your age and subtract it from 100 and that's how many pages you read in a book before you decide if you want to finish it or not. I won't disclose my age but let's just say that there are more books out there than I have time left in my lifetime to read -- and new ones coming out all the time. Since I don't want to just spend my life reading - although there is nothing wrong with that!--, I sometimes skim a book to find the answer to the mystery. Having said that, though, I have to admit I do feel guilty when I do that!
This book flashes back from present day New York (1899) to the past in London (1894) and continues to go back and forth to tell the story of Bayard (Bay) Van Duyvil and his bride, Annabelle, who met in London. We begin with the discovery of Bay's body and the disappearance of Annabelle leaving their twin son and daughter orphaned and the son heir to his father's fortune. The story is told from the perspective of his younger sister, Janie, who is kept cowed by her mother and a bit intimidated by her cousin, Anne, who Janie envies for the closeness Anne always had to Bay.
In the novel Janie comes into her own defying her mother and seeking the help of a newspaperman, James Burke, to discover the truth about what happened the night her brother was killed -- something her mother wants to hush up. The papers are saying Bay murdered his wife then killed himself and this is not the memory of their parents that Janie wants their children to have.
As the story unfolds and new discoveries/truths are uncovered in the process, twists and turns lead to a surprising conclusion -- a great read! pazt
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Monday, May 28, 2018
"Since We Fell"
"Since We Fell" is one of Dennis Lehane's stand-alone novels and not part of the two series I've read before. There are so many good books and so little time but I don't want to miss a Lehane book. As usual this one kept me on pins and needles with its twists and turns.
Rachel Childs grew up as the only child of a female professor who always promised to tell her daughter who her real father was but kept that promise just out of reach so that, when she died in an accident, Rachel still didn't know the truth.
Rachel has a career as a TV journalist until an encounter on one of her foreign trips renders her unable to leave her home. Her marriage ended in divorce as she became more and more a recluse until a chance encounter brought Brian Delacroix back into her life. A love affair with a man who was helping her rebuild her life and enter the world again led to marriage and what she thought was a wonderful, loving marriage. All that was shattered by a chance encounter that made her question if she really knew her husband at all. This one will surprise you! pazt
Rachel Childs grew up as the only child of a female professor who always promised to tell her daughter who her real father was but kept that promise just out of reach so that, when she died in an accident, Rachel still didn't know the truth.
Rachel has a career as a TV journalist until an encounter on one of her foreign trips renders her unable to leave her home. Her marriage ended in divorce as she became more and more a recluse until a chance encounter brought Brian Delacroix back into her life. A love affair with a man who was helping her rebuild her life and enter the world again led to marriage and what she thought was a wonderful, loving marriage. All that was shattered by a chance encounter that made her question if she really knew her husband at all. This one will surprise you! pazt
Sunday, May 27, 2018
"Run"
"Run" by Andrew Grant is a stand alone novel -- not part of his Cooper Devereaux or David Trvellyan series and it is an outstanding book!
Many years ago (before it was made into a movie) I read "Ender's Game" which was in the teen section of our library. I don't recall how I heard about it but it was a book whose ending caught me totally unawares and I've not had a book before or since then that surprised me with its ending -- until "Run!"
Marc Bowman is a computer consultant and software designer who has been consulting at a firm where his wife works. One day he walks into the office and is told that the boss (and his friend) wants to see him immediately. He is told that his services are no longer needed and he is to be escorted out of the building and his personal computer and belongings will be delivered by courier to his home.
His wife seems to be clueless about why he's been terminated so suddenly but she also appears to need something from him -- something the company wants returned but he hasn't a clue what they're talking about.
At this point events turn bizarre and he is involved with Homeland Security and the FBI and at odds with his wife who he is unable to contact. As he sorts through what is going on and why people seem so interested in him, clues evolve and he has to make a plan as some individuals around him are ending up dead.
How he resolved the situation blew my mind and was totally unexpected. Please do not read ahead! I'm glad I didn't! pazt
P.S. If you (like me) check out books in order on fantasticfiction.co.uk, you will see that there are two authors named Andrew Grant. This particular Andrew Grant is the younger brother of Lee Child and husband of Tasha Alexander who are also authors.
Many years ago (before it was made into a movie) I read "Ender's Game" which was in the teen section of our library. I don't recall how I heard about it but it was a book whose ending caught me totally unawares and I've not had a book before or since then that surprised me with its ending -- until "Run!"
Marc Bowman is a computer consultant and software designer who has been consulting at a firm where his wife works. One day he walks into the office and is told that the boss (and his friend) wants to see him immediately. He is told that his services are no longer needed and he is to be escorted out of the building and his personal computer and belongings will be delivered by courier to his home.
His wife seems to be clueless about why he's been terminated so suddenly but she also appears to need something from him -- something the company wants returned but he hasn't a clue what they're talking about.
At this point events turn bizarre and he is involved with Homeland Security and the FBI and at odds with his wife who he is unable to contact. As he sorts through what is going on and why people seem so interested in him, clues evolve and he has to make a plan as some individuals around him are ending up dead.
How he resolved the situation blew my mind and was totally unexpected. Please do not read ahead! I'm glad I didn't! pazt
P.S. If you (like me) check out books in order on fantasticfiction.co.uk, you will see that there are two authors named Andrew Grant. This particular Andrew Grant is the younger brother of Lee Child and husband of Tasha Alexander who are also authors.
Monday, May 14, 2018
"Eating Plant-Based, Retirement, Moving and Downsizing"
In January of 2018 at age 75 I retired (for the second time) from a part-time job I had had for 7 years. The main reason I left the job was because I was an Ideal Protein weight loss coach in my son-in-law's chiropractic clinic. After my husband and I transitioned to a plant-based diet in 2017 (at the urging of our oldest daughter who has been plant-based for 20 years or more), I found I could no longer support the Ideal Protein program. On a plant-based diet I was losing weight and was able to eat all the potatoes, vegetables, and fruits that I wanted so I was never hungry. In December 2017 the decision crystallized for me when my husband and I attended Dr. McDougall's 10 day intensive in Santa Rosa, CA. We both lost weight and our cholesterol levels were in a normal range for the first time in forever. My husband had some medical episodes last year that pushed us to make this change and we are glad we did.
Ten years ago we moved into an over-55 mobile home community and I was supposed to be downsizing. However, I think I may have been depressed at the time because I didn't really accomplish anything and was glad to return to work and earn some extra income. This time my retirement has been different. I wake up ready to tackle the household accumulation but, since I'm not giving up my social life, it has not been achieved yet.
Today I was cleaning out a basket in our spare bathroom and found (to my surprise!) a clipping from The Wichita Eagle. I have no idea how old it is but it is yellowed and we haven't lived in Wichita since 1968 and haven't lived in Kansas since 1976. Nothing about the article gives me a clue as to why it might have even been saved by our family. One side is about a Lumberman, C. Stanton Gallup, who headed the American Baptist Convention at that time and was preparing a run for Congress as a Christian. We would have been attending Southern Baptist Churches at that time - a long ways from our current membership in a Unitarian Universalist Congregation!
The reverse of the article has an ad for the Girls' Department at Henry's Department Store. Since we had a 4 year old girl when we moved from Wichita, it is more likely that I saved the ad for girl's wool skirts and sweaters but why do I still have it?! I'm sure I'll be asking myself that question a lot as the downsizing continues.
What was interesting was the fact that The Wichita Eagle was published morning, evening, and Sunday and the publisher and editorial director was Marcellus Murdock. If you wamted all 3 issues, it cost you 55 cents a week. If you wanted only the morning and Sunday editions, it was 35 cents a week and the Morning only or evening only were 20 cents a week and Sunday only was 15 cents a week. If you lived where the paper needed to be mailed to you, it cost $10 a year for the morning and Sunday editions. Sounds like a bargain today! pazt
Ten years ago we moved into an over-55 mobile home community and I was supposed to be downsizing. However, I think I may have been depressed at the time because I didn't really accomplish anything and was glad to return to work and earn some extra income. This time my retirement has been different. I wake up ready to tackle the household accumulation but, since I'm not giving up my social life, it has not been achieved yet.
Today I was cleaning out a basket in our spare bathroom and found (to my surprise!) a clipping from The Wichita Eagle. I have no idea how old it is but it is yellowed and we haven't lived in Wichita since 1968 and haven't lived in Kansas since 1976. Nothing about the article gives me a clue as to why it might have even been saved by our family. One side is about a Lumberman, C. Stanton Gallup, who headed the American Baptist Convention at that time and was preparing a run for Congress as a Christian. We would have been attending Southern Baptist Churches at that time - a long ways from our current membership in a Unitarian Universalist Congregation!
The reverse of the article has an ad for the Girls' Department at Henry's Department Store. Since we had a 4 year old girl when we moved from Wichita, it is more likely that I saved the ad for girl's wool skirts and sweaters but why do I still have it?! I'm sure I'll be asking myself that question a lot as the downsizing continues.
What was interesting was the fact that The Wichita Eagle was published morning, evening, and Sunday and the publisher and editorial director was Marcellus Murdock. If you wamted all 3 issues, it cost you 55 cents a week. If you wanted only the morning and Sunday editions, it was 35 cents a week and the Morning only or evening only were 20 cents a week and Sunday only was 15 cents a week. If you lived where the paper needed to be mailed to you, it cost $10 a year for the morning and Sunday editions. Sounds like a bargain today! pazt
Sunday, May 6, 2018
"Alice Through The Looking Glass"
"Alice Through The Looking Glass" was the book my older brother received when we were a child and I received "Alice in Wonderland." I can't say I ever read his book and wasn't excited about mine either despite being an avid reader. However, my husband and our oldest granddaughter have always been "Alice" fans and both loved the first movie so I decided to check out Disney's "Alice Through The Looking Glass" DVD from our library.
We watched it this evening and the special effects are good but my spouse (the expert!) didn't find it as appealing as Disney's "Alice in Wonderland." It's sad to note this was Alan Rickman's last role where he performs the voice of the hookah-huffing Blue Caterpillar. Alan died too young! pazt
We watched it this evening and the special effects are good but my spouse (the expert!) didn't find it as appealing as Disney's "Alice in Wonderland." It's sad to note this was Alan Rickman's last role where he performs the voice of the hookah-huffing Blue Caterpillar. Alan died too young! pazt
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
"Fairy Tales From Far and Wide"
I was looking for a specific children's book - a story I'd heard from a speaker that I liked. However, when I searched for it at the library, I got "Fairy Tales From Far and Wide" by Fiona Waters and Lisa Berkshire. It is a collection of fairy tales from Germany, Sweden, France, Japan, Ireland, West Indies, and Native America. These are fairy tales with learning taking place at the end and I found it charming. I plan to purchase one as a birthday gift for my great-niece's next birthday! pazt
Thursday, April 19, 2018
"False Witness"
"False Witness" is Andrew Grant's third novel in the Cooper Devereaux detective series. Since it was published in 2018 and it feels like it is left where another book could be in the offing, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the series will continue.
In "False Witness" young women are ending up dead on their 21st birthdays wrapped up like presents and left in public places. What is the link between the victims and how will Devereaux and the rest of the police force find that link and the murderer?
In the meantime, Devereaux and his girlfriend are living apart while she comes to terms with information that came up in the last book about Devereaux's background. While she is struggling with whether to continue or end the relationship, he is looking into new information about his parentage and what that might mean for his relationship with his daughter's mother. This was another good read that kept me riveted. pazt
In "False Witness" young women are ending up dead on their 21st birthdays wrapped up like presents and left in public places. What is the link between the victims and how will Devereaux and the rest of the police force find that link and the murderer?
In the meantime, Devereaux and his girlfriend are living apart while she comes to terms with information that came up in the last book about Devereaux's background. While she is struggling with whether to continue or end the relationship, he is looking into new information about his parentage and what that might mean for his relationship with his daughter's mother. This was another good read that kept me riveted. pazt
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