Happy Monday! What are you reading?

Hello fellow readers! How was your weekend? Mine was pretty good. My husband and I went to see Thor: Love and Thunder on Saturday night and it was great! Except that I got a migraine right when it started so I was really unhappy by the time we got home. Why can’t anyone get the music right on the movies? The music is always SO LOUD and then the dialogue is normal. Regardless, I really did enjoy the movie. I heard a lot of criticism, but we laughed so hard. The screaming goats are hilarious. And it made me a little teary-eyed too. So well done.

Sunday I just recovered. Also I’ve been playing the computer game Raft on Steam. I’m really having fun. I’m just starting so my raft is not too cool yet, but someday!

I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump. I’m still addicted to Marvel fanfic, but for actual books, I haven’t been reading as much. I am reading 3 books now, but I’m not loving any of them.

The Bernini Bust by Iain Pears. I know, ugliest cover of the year, right? This one is a disappointment, but I want to finish it. I read the first in the series, which is set in Rome, and I really liked it. This one is set in California and I’m so bored. It’s all about a museum which might have bought a stolen sculpture and a murder on site. I love this author’s other works, but this one is making me fall asleep.

The 11th Hour by Mark Hayden. This is the third in the King’s Watch series, which is a sort of magical law enforcement in England. I haven’t gotten very far in this one. It’s not terrible or anything; it’s just not interesting enough yet to make me want to pick it up. If you like the Rivers of London series, you’ll probably like this. I think part of my problem is that I’m not crazy about the characters here.

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner. OK, this is the real sticking point. We read this for my book club last year and I did not like it. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep good notes about WHY I didn’t like it, and now my OTHER book club is reading it. It’s set in the US in 1918 during the flu pandemic. I’m trying to skim through it but I have zero enthusiasm and it’s going nowhere. But I missed last month and I really want to go this time, so I need to find SOMETHING to say.

So that’s my sad tale of reading woes. I hope your reading is more fun than mine and you are enjoying something. Let me know! Even if your book sucks, so I can avoid doing this in the future.

Book Review: Ashes to Ashes

I reread this one recently and thought I’d share my review. Enjoy.

Book description

The St. Bernadette’s Parents League was formed to save the old, bankrupt parochial school from being replaced by a twenty-story apartment house. The irate protesters had sentiment and Francis P. Omara on their side, Unger Realty had John Putnam Thatcher of Sloan Guaranty Trust, four million dollars, and the Archdiocese of New York behind them. Francis P. Omara was a powerful spokesman for his cause – but so was an unknown killer with a butcher’s mallet who was determined to have the last word…. And so John Putnam Thatcher, the Sloan’s urbane V.P., finds himself out of Wall Street, in the heart of Queens, and smack in the middle of unholy murder!

My thoughts

The cardinal has made the decision to close St. Bernadette’s Parochial School. They can’t find enough teachers, enrollment is down, and costs are up. They have an offer to purchase from a real estate developer, and the church can’t afford to turn it down.

However, the parents in the neighborhood are not ready to let the school close its doors without a fight. They organize a Parents League and file a lawsuit. Negotiations begin, but neither side is willing to give in. The Sloan Guarantee Trust is handling the multimillion mortgage, so John Putnam Thatcher is stuck in the discussions. Things are at a stalemate, when the president in the league – and the accusing party in the lawsuit – is found murdered in the church.

Soon things are really out of control. Protesters flock to the little neighborhood, tempers flare, and the violence mounts. Thatcher better figure out what’s going on before riots start breaking out.

I was so excited to find this one at the used bookstore. I totally love this series, and even though there are lots of little ways in which this books gives away its age (references to the Dow Jones losing a whopping 30 points in one day!), the conflicts are still real. And although each book opens with a few paragraphs about Wall Street, it doesn’t take an economist to appreciate these little gems. Definitely worth reading, but extremely hard to find!

Flashback Friday

This is a feature where I share a review that I published a few years ago and see what I think about the book now and let you see what you think about it too.

The Colony: The Harrowing True Story of the Exiles of Molokai by John Tayman

Book description:

In the bestselling tradition of In the Heart of the Sea, The Colony, “an impressively researched” (Rocky Mountain News) account of the history of America’s only leper colony located on the Hawaiian island of Molokai, is “an utterly engrossing look at a heartbreaking chapter” (Booklist) in American history and a moving tale of the extraordinary people who endured it.

Beginning in 1866 and continuing for over a century, more than eight thousand people suspected of having leprosy were forcibly exiled to the Hawaiian island of Molokai — the longest and deadliest instance of medical segregation in American history. Torn from their homes and families, these men, women, and children were loaded into shipboard cattle stalls and abandoned in a lawless place where brutality held sway. Many did not have leprosy, and many who did were not contagious, yet all were ensnared in a shared nightmare.

Here, for the first time, John Tayman reveals the complete history of the Molokai settlement and its unforgettable inhabitants. It’s an epic of ruthless manhunts, thrilling escapes, bizarre medical experiments, and tragic, irreversible error. Carefully researched and masterfully told, The Colony is a searing tale of individual bravery and extraordinary survival, and stands as a testament to the power of faith, compassion, and the human spirit.

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My original review:

Leprosy. It’s a horrible disease. It makes your extremities fall off. It’s horribly contagious. It causes nasty oozing sores that spread germs to everyone you pass by. It’s always fatal. And there’s still no cure.

Except that none of this is true. Well, it is a pretty horrible disease, if not treated. But there is a very effective treatment available. It’s not very contagious at all. Only a small portion of the population is susceptible to it in the first place. Even then, only some of them get the worst form. It’s more a matter of nerve damage and swelling. And diagnosis is a matter of minutes, so getting started with the right treatment now takes just days.

What a change from the past. This book is all about the bad old days of leprosy, and in the United States, it didn’t get worse than in Hawaii. Hawaiians were some of those that for some reason were particularly prone to catching leprosy. And back then, there was no treatment available. They could diagnose it, all right. Then they would pack you up and ship you off, without another word, off to Molokai, the leper colony. Good luck to you.

Incredible story, and it’s all true. At least, the author says it’s all true. Apparently there’s some controversy. But it made for great reading. It was shocking stuff. I couldn’t believe how they treated lepers like criminals. It’s not a crime to be sick. (Although in this country, I often wonder.) But they were treated like they had done something wrong by getting a disease. I couldn’t put it down. 4 stars. 

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Update:

I do think this was quite a sensationalized book. The actual facts of the story were horrifying enough that the author didn’t need to try and make it more shocking. The story of Father Damian, the Catholic priest who ministered to the sick and dying people of Molokai, was the most incredible part of the story. The story of Molokai is definitely worth learning about, but I’m not sure this book is the best source.

Book Review: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Children’s Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Find more here.

Prompt: Takes place in a place where you have lived: (Texas)

Also for Pioneer Book challenge, Newberry Award Nominee

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

Calpurnia, known as Callie Vee to her 6 brothers, is not one of those quiet, homemaking type of girls. She likes being outdoors, studying nature. The hot summer of 1899 marked a big change in her life. That was the year that she made friends with her Granddaddy and became a naturalist.

But Calpurnia’s mother is not giving up her only daughter without a fight. She’s forced into piano lessons, needlework lessons, cooking lessons, and knitting lessons. Knitting isn’t so bad, at least when it’s a wet and rainy day, but they all make her feel completely inadequate. Is she doomed to be nothing but a wife and mother? And what’s the rush? She’s only 11!

This story was set in the dawning of a new era, with the coming of the first telephone – and first FEMALE telephone operator, the first automobile, and yet the ties to the past, with Granddaddy and his stories of service in the Civil War. Then the excitement of New Year’s Eve, and a new century!

When I started reading this one, it made me think back to my own summers in Texas, with the heat reaching over 100 for days in a row, when we would turn our clawfoot bathtub into a little swimming pool, and the heat would turn everything into a dead brown landscape, make my nosebleed, and then bake the blood right onto the sidewalk. At least we could occasionally escape to my Grandma’s air conditioned living room. But Calpurnia has no escape except her private swimming hole.

I loved this book. I was a little disappointed by the end, which is why I took off half a star. I hope this is the first in a series; otherwise, Calpurnia is just sort of hanging at the end of the story. While I am very happy being a wife and mother, I understand her feeling of being trapped into a narrow role she has no way to fight. It’s a choice between her mother’s way, or some unknown way, and Calpurnia really has no idea what else is out there for her. I have to hope that the coming years will reveal some new possibilities to her and give her the strength to choose her own life. 4.5 stars

This was a reread for Susan’s challenge, and I found it just as absorbing and delightful the second time around. I definitely recommend it and it would be a fun one to read aloud. CW: They do slaughter their turkeys for Thanksgiving and one child is heartbroken, so be aware of that.

5 Non-fiction Books to Read

I’ve been busy packing, and by now, most of my books are in boxes. But moving day is still 3 weeks away and I need something to read until then, so I kept out most of my TBR stacks. I realized most of them are non-fiction, so that’s what I’ve been reading. That’s fine with me – I’ve been enjoying that more than fiction lately anyway.

Here are 5 I’ve read this month.

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decide Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin

This was such a good book. The writing was so conversational I almost didn’t realize I was learning anything. So much great information on here. At the end she includes some training tips.

How We Got to Now: Six Innovations that Made the Modern World by Steven Johnson

A quick read with truly original ideas. All about the connections between ideas that lead to technological advances. Also lots of pictures.

Caesar’s Last Breath: Decoding the Secrets of the Air Around Us by Sam Kean

This wasn’t quite as good as his previous books, but it was as still interesting. Basically about chemistry and gases. But I got a little overwhelmed with details and skipped some paragraphs.

Man of the Family by Ralph Moody

The second book in this autobiographical series. This book is all about Ralph and his family living in town. Ralph is 11 now and trying to earn what money he can while still going to school. I never worked as hard as this poor kid did.

The Ice Master by Jennifer Niven

The Karluk was meant to explore the Arctic and discover new land. Instead it got trapped in the ice and their leader abandoned them. Only their captain, Robert Bartlett, could keep them alive. Great story.

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I’ve gotta say, it’s been a good month! I can’t wait to move, but at least I’ve still got plenty to read.

Throwback Thursday – Nursing Home Murder

This meme is dedicated to reviews or posts that you published before, but feel deserve a second chance to shine.

Nursing Home Murder by Ngaio Marsh

Synopsis:

“When Britain’s Home Secretary complained of abdominal pains, it seemed like a simple case of appendicitis. But minutes after his operation, the ill-fated politician lay dead on the table. When Chief Detective-Inspector Roderick Alleyn arrives to dissect the situation, he finds many a likely suspect, including a vengeful surgeon, a lovelorn nurse, an unhappy wife, and a cabinet full of political foes.”

My thoughts:

Sir Derek O’Callaghan is in the middle of pushing through an important bill when he becomes ill with appendicitis. The surgery appears to be a success, but he dies soon after.

It sounds like an accident, but his widow is convinced that his enemies got him. The police aren’t convinced – until the post-mortem. And after they begin to invesigate, they find no shortage of enemies to choose from.

Inspector Alleyn is on the job. I really enjoyed this one and was stumped as to how it was done. Inspector Fox was also in this one, and I like him.

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Update: I still have a definite fondness for Marsh’s books. I love her frequent use of the theater as a backdrop for her stories, and I’ve always liked the quiet, erudite Inspector Alleyn. But when read today, the attitudes toward LGBT characters is just shocking. I’m not sure how this was viewed at the time they were written, mostly the 1940s & 1950s, but today’s reader will really be surprised. So I recommend caution. This book didn’t have anything offensive in that way (at least that I can remember) but be aware that it’s there. Also that element was really toned down in the video adaptation, and they were really well done. Maybe watch these instead.

 

 

Flashback Friday

This review has appeared previously.

Venom House by Arthur Upfield.

Most people are content to leave the Answerth family alone. Their mansion, Venom House, secluded on an island in the center of a treacherous man-made lake, doesn’t exactly lay out the welcome mat for prospective visitors. And there are the stories that Venom House is haunted by ghosts of aborigines slaughtered by Answerth ancestors to keep outsiders away. But when a couple of corpses are found floating in the stagnant lake, Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte has a sudden urge to get to know the Answerths and their charming home much better.

This almost read like a gothic novel–creepy atmosphere, troubled family, complete with faithful (?) retainer, mentally ill brother, dominant sister, etc. But it was really good. I enjoyed the setting a lot and the characters were well done.

The Spinster and the Prophet: A Review

This review appeared earlier, but I am sharing it again while I am recuperating. Enjoy.

Themes: intellectual rights, gender roles, marriage, women’s rights, suffrage, sexism, free love, Canadian history, publishing, fame
Setting: Toronto and London, early 20th century

 

I picked this up because of the title, but I brought it home because I had just finished The War of the Worlds. The book is about an obscure female writer, Florence Deeks, who accused H G Wells of plagiarizing large portions of his World History book from her unpublished manuscript. The writer starts by profiling each party in the lawsuit, first Wells, then Deeks, then back to Wells for a bit, and so on. I certainly learned much that I had never heard before about Wells. I was really only familiar with his science fiction writing, although I had heard the titles of another book or two. But I had no idea what a ladies’ man he was. He was a fervent advocate of free love and Fabianism, had at least one illegitimate child, and made his wife extremely unhappy by the way he couldn’t stay away from other women. The worst part was the way that he wrote books about his affairs, only halfway hiding their identities, and then published them for the whole world to read. His regular publisher even had to refuse a couple of books as too racy to handle, thinking more of lawsuits and poor taste that actual content.

So what’s the verdict? Did he steal her work? Well, sadly, that’s where this book got boring. I really didn’t care about the state of Canadian publishing at the time, the characters involved, or long passages comparing sections sentence by sentence. I also especially didn’t care about the court cases. I just wanted a summary of that, and more of the personalities involved. It was interesting to learn about Canada at the time, but get on with the verdict! The court decided in favor of the man, naturally, but the writer and the reader will probably disagree.

If you are a fan of Wells, I think you might enjoy at least looking through this one. Otherwise, I would stay away. It was somewhat interesting, but would have been much better if the focus had stayed on the people and not strayed so far into details. 2.5 stars

Weekend plans – Book Haul, Reading, Games

Hey folks! How are you all doing? I am planning a relaxing day, reading my new book, going to Trader Joe’s, and then D & D with my family. Yesterday I went to the used book store. Ours is called Pioneer Book and it’s just great. I love the people who work there. I wish they had some new or at least newer books, but they get snatched up pretty quickly. I was looking for Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg which is our book club pick for next month, but they didn’t have that one. Instead here’s what I got:

Jimmie Lee & James: Two Lives, Two Deaths, and the Movement that Changed America by Steven Fiffer and Adar Cohen

A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers 2) by Becky Chambers – so excited they had this one since I just finished book 1!

Passing Strange: A Gilded Age Tale of Love and Deception Across the Color Line by Martha Sandweiss – this one sounded really good so I didn’t check the reviews, but now I see that they’re not very good. I guess we’ll see!

Villains by Necessity (Antony Maitland #36) by Sara Woods – already reading this one!

An Improbable Fiction (Antony Maitland) by Sara Woods

Bound for Canaan: The Epic Story of the Underground Railroad by Fergus M. Bordewich

From London Far by Michael Innes – which I realized I might have already because it was also published under a different title. Darn.

 

Anyway, a pretty nice little haul. Like I said, I’m currently reading Villains by Necessity and listening to Ayesha at Last, which came in from the library. Both are good so far. Have a good weekend!

 

How many books Do you read at once?

This was going to be a post about what I’m reading right now, but I realized the answer was – a lot! I think I have 7 books on my currently reading shelf on Good Reads. I’m not giving them equal attention – I just kind of start reading whichever book or device is nearest. That happens a lot. Usually one of them is so good I wind up carrying it everywhere until I finish.

What about you? How many books can you manage at once? Does it matter what platform they are? Do you retain more with only a few at a time?

Here’s my current list.

Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America by John M. Barry. This is a large paperback I bought used. The title was on my TBR for a couple of years. I love history, especially new aspects of history I haven’t read before. Also I’ve lived on the Mississippi River so this is very appealing to me.

Pandora’s Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong by Paul A. Offit. This is an audio book from Overdrive. I love science and this sounded good. However, he’s a little gloomy for my taste. Still, it’s hard for a modern reader to see eugenics as anything but horrifying.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1) by Becky Chambers. This is an ebook I’m mostly reading on my phone. I was expecting something much less accessible and engaging, so I’m delighted by this story.

Father And I Were Ranchers by Ralph Moody. Still haven’t finished my reread. Book club go postponed while I was getting over bronchitis so this slipped off the radar. I need to reschedule.

Darktown by Thomas Mullin. I just started this on my Kindle and wow, it’s shocking from the very beginning. I’ve heard great things about this book, so I want to read more.

That’s not as many books as I thought, although I did just finish an audio book. Anyway let me know your comments below! Tell me what you’re reading.