General Info Mar Total
Books Read - 9 32
Pages Read - 3,300 10,100
Pages Breakdown
< 250 4 14
250 - 350 0 6
351 - 450 3 8
> 450 2 4
Ratings
5 - star 0 2
4 - star 4 16
3 - star 5 13
2 - star
Gender
Female 3 12
Male 6 20
Genres
Fiction 1 5
Mystery 6 20
SciFi 1 3
Non-Fic 0 3
Classics 1 1
Top 3 Books
"The Death Of Grass by John Christopher was written in 1956 and in some ways reminds me of John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
It's a grim, tense dystopic story. A virus, the Chung Li virus, has affected the grasses (read rice, grass, etc) of China and other Asian countries. The story is told from Britain, where the main group that we will follow, track the disaster that is occurring from the comfort of their lives. 100's of millions are dying in China, there are riots, panic. John and David Custance and John's friend Roger Buckley follow the news and try to prepare for the future. Roger is a government spin doctor so has inside information and tries to guide John. David lives in a valley in northern England and wonders what to do with his grain crops.
Of course, efforts to contain the virus fail and threaten the whole world. This begins a journey by John and Roger and their families to get to David's sanctuary. For the shortness of the story, there is a lot of impact and Christopher packs a lot of punch into the story. The characters are transformed by the events and once again Christopher tries, and I think successfully, to show their attitudes and how they are forced to change them to the new situation.
Everything happens in a very short time frame once the disaster strikes but don't let that fool you. The story is tense, at times scary and will leave you somewhat uncomfortable. Very powerful and worth reading. (4.5 stars)"
"Phineas Finn is the second book in the Palliser series by Victorian author, Anthony Trollope. As simply put as possible, the story follows young Irish lawyer, Phineas Finn, as he arrives in London, finishes his legal education and decides to run for Parliament.
He arrives with no money other than his father's allowance, no prospects and no love life. He has left behind Mary Flood Jones, who loves him, but who Phineas feels he can't yet offer any sort of life. Thus begins Phineas's journey in London, a journey of romance(s), of life in government and of his rise up the ladder and then, well, I won't ruin how it ends.
Call it a Victorian soap opera, but an interesting one for sure. We do get some people crossing over from the first book, namely my favorite character Lady Glencora Palliser, but for the most part, this story is filled with new personages. You have, of course, Phineas, but also those people who he meets and gains friendship with from his days in government; Barrington Erle, Mr. Monk, Lord Brentford, etc. We also meet those women whose paths Phineas crosses throughout the story, Lady Laura, Violet Effingham and the lovely Madame Goesler (my favorite).
There is much more politics in this story which adds to the interest. Personally, Finn's dealings with the Canada 'issue' definitely added to my interest, being Canadian and all. :0) But of course, there is romance, attempts, failures, duels, etc. It's a long story, but all the same a very interesting one. Anthony Trollope isn't a George Eliot by any means but he still spins a neat tale. I enjoyed it very much, being very frustrated by the frustrating attempts for romance, not just by Phineas, but by all of the main characters really. But that didn't really matter in the long run, it just added to the story.
The next book in the series is The Eustace Diamonds and I'll wait a bit to start it, but now that I'm into the Palliser series, I do want to continue. (4 stars)"
"Death In Holy Orders is the 11th book in the Inspector Dalgliesh mystery series by P.D. James. It's the 4th I've read. The books are a joy to read, intelligent, thoughtful and excellent mysteries. Commander Adam Dalgliesh works for Scotland Yard, in charge of a prestigious murder team.
In this story, Dalgliesh is asked to go to a seminary near Norfolk to look into a previously closed death. A young ordinand had been found dead at the base of a cliff. The death is deemed to be death by accident. The young man's father wants Scotland Yard to investigate. Since Dalgliesh is about to go to the area on vacation so he agrees to look into the case. It also turns out that as a child, his father being a parson, that Dalgliesh spent time at St Anselms and it becomes somewhat a visit into his past.
The story starts in the past with the original discovery of the boy's body by Margaret Munroe, an elderly woman who works at St Anselms. This part of the story is told through the means of Margaret's diary. She ends it with a statement that the death concerns her and that it reminds her of something that occurred in her past. Margaret is discovered dead the day after this last entry.
So there are two deaths that Dalgliesh looks into, wondering if they are related? At the same time the Arch Bishop responsible for St Anselms is coming for a visit. He is most unlikeable and wants nothing more than to close the seminary. There are also other visitors to St Anselms and there are links between them all. Another death, this time a murder, brings all of Dalgliesh's team into the case; DI Piers Tarrant, DI Kate Miskin and DS Robbins.
Thus begins an interesting investigation as the team try to find clues to the murder and to see if the other deaths are in any way related. I love the way James presents the story, delving into the personalities, in a way that you feel you know them and presenting the investigation methodically and neatly. James has such a clear manner of presenting the story. I thought it would be too long but the pages turn quickly and the story holds your attention and keeps you moving along nicely. Don't expect much action, just a well-crafted, excellent mystery and just an excellent piece of fiction. (4 stars)"
12 + 4 Challenge (completed 7)
1. Deep South by Nevada Barr (4 stars)
2. Swan Song by Edmund Crispin (4 stars)
Papa Bear Challenge (Books I've had the longest on my Goodreads bookshelf) (completed 4)
O(ldest)/ 15 - Death in Holy Orders by P.D. James (4 stars)
Mama Bear Challenge (Middle of my Goodreads bookshelf) (completed 6)
#487 - A Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss (3.5 stars)
#487 - Shadow Dancer by Thomas Perry (3.5 stars)
#489 - Behold, Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer (3.5 stars)
Baby Bear Challenge (Books most recently added to my Goodreads bookshelf) (completed 6)
N / 25 - Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope (4 stars)
Goldilocks Challenge (Random Number Generator (completed 6)
816 - The Tango Briefing by Adam Hall (3.5 stars)
Break from Challenge Challenge (Freebees every time I complete 10 books) (completed 3 books)
33. The Death of Grass by John Christopher (4 stars)
Apr 2019 Books Currently Reading
2. The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart
3. The Dead Shall Not Rest by Tessa Harris
4. Bloodlines by Jan Burke
5. London Rain by Nicola Upson
6. Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
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