Friday 14 December 2018

My 2018 Musical Advent Calendar - Day 14 and a Reading Update

I picked two songs yesterday for my Day 14 Musical Advent Calendar.

Day 14 - Joseph - SOS (Overboard).

 Joseph is a band from Portland Oregon. It consists of 3 sisters. Their first album was released in 2014. The song, SOS (Overboard) was from their second album. I've chosen a live version which doesn't have the production values of the video, but still shows off their voices and musical talents.


I had a bonus track last night. On CBC TV the past few weeks, they've had a show called From the Vaults. They've been featuring musical artists from the history of CBC. Last night one of the ones they had was Canadian songstress Anne Murray. It reminded me of her first #1 hit, Snowbird. Here it is for you...


Just Finished


1. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley (Flavia de Luce #2).

"The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag is the second Flavia de Luce mystery by Alan Bradley. I read the first about five years ago and left this sitting on my shelves much too long. The Flavia series is quite unique. 11 - year old Flavia is a young girl living with her two older sisters and widowed father in Bishop's Lacey.

The series is set just after WWII, offering an interesting setting as well. Flavia is 'precocious', spending much of her time in her late uncle's laboratory exploring poisons and figuring out ways to get back at her sisters, who can be merciless towards her. And yet, even with all that, they remain a family, bound together with familial ties. Flavia spends much of her time on her own, wandering the local countryside on her faithful bicycle, Gladys, a memory of her dead mother. Flavia's father struggles to control his three daughters, spends a lot of time hiding away with his rare stamp collections. A family of loving misfits, I'd describe them.

Flavia, in her wanderings discovers an old mystery involving the hanging death of a young boy of the couple on the neighboring farm. As well, she meets a wandering puppeteer and his lovely assistant, whose van breaks down. Without the money to get it repaired, they agree to hold a show with the puppets at the local church. They are a mysterious pair. Rupert Porson, it turns out has spent time in Bishop's Lacey in the past. He also has a damaged leg, supported with steel braces. He has a show on the BBC, Snoddy the Squirrel, but has run away from that. Nialla is his assistant. Is she his lover? Their relationship is a fractious one.

Flavia finds herself in the mix of this relationship, helping set up the show, while at the same time exploring the other mystery. A sudden death throws the whole thing into a tumult. And of course, Flavia is determined to assist Inspector Hewitt with his investigations. So much goes on in this story, it is rich with characters and story lines. Flavia is an excellent investigator, finding out things that the police seem unable to.

I've grown to like Flavia; she's quirky without being too irritating. Her family are all unique and different. Throw in the faithful staff, Dogger and Mrs. Mullett, as well as the addition for most of the story of Aunt Felicity, and you've got a rich, fascinating cast of characters. The supporting neighbors and friends all add to the story. It's a book I found I could put down easily but at the same time, when I picked it up again, I became once more engrossed the wonderful world of Bishop's Lacey. (Good book titles too) (3.5 stars)"

I'm now reading 4 books and won't pick any more for December unless I finish these off before the end of the month. I've got a few short books that would fit the bill. Maybe one or two of these.

a. Ethel Lina White - The Wheel Spins. This is the book that Alfred Hitchcock turned into The Lady Vanishes

b. Eric Nicol - A Scar is Born. A book by Canadian humorist Eric Nicol.

Of course, I might read something completely different. ;0) Enjoy your weekend!

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