Yesterday was a cloudy, drizzly sort of day but today it's brightened up very nicely. We've the patio doors open and are enjoying a nice cool breeze. Supper tonight is going to be a take-away curry, I think.
I finished a book this morning. I'll provide my review of it plus the synopsis of the next book in line. I'll also continue with my look at my most recent theme, Women Authors I'm Enjoying Reading.
Just Finished
"Three Days of the Condor by James Grady is a taut, well-crafted, excellent spy thriller. In 1975, Sydney Pollack turned it into an excellent movie starring Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway. I found a copy of it at a local charity book sale a few years ago and decided to try it out. I'm so glad that I did.
CIA analyst Ronald Malcolm works out a small detachment in DC. Their function is to read mystery novels and determine if the author might actually know something about current spy practices and people and need to be investigated. It's a boringish job, to the point that every morning at around 8:45, Malcolm sits at his window to gaze across the street at a beautiful woman who walks by every day. Malcolm is called down to meet with new accountant / librarian, Heidegger. Heidegger has been looking through records and seems to find some discrepancies on shipments of books. Heidegger decides to send his concerns to HQ. This causes a chain of events that will result in many deaths and also put Malcolm on the run for his life.
To say any more might give up too many details. Let's just say that it's a fascinating tale. Malcolm, aka Condor, is intelligent, lives by the seat of his pants and manages to stay one step ahead of those chasing him. The story highlights spy craft so very well; the process of reporting what happens at Malcolm's office, the process for ramping up actions to discover what happened and how to determine who was involved. You get to see the many varied departments of the US National Intelligence Service, how they interact and how they don't. It's a technical, entertaining story. Malcolm is an excellent character, Wendy, the young lady who helps Malcolm is wonderful, daring, brave. The old man who works to solve the case before the killers can catch Malcolm is intelligent, and excellent as well.
It's a page turner, with neat details, lots of action and a satisfying conclusion. A perfect, entertaining story. (4.5 stars)"
Currently Reading
"Walter Stackhouse's love for his wife is dead: now he wishes she was.
His
wish comes true when Clara's body is found lying at the bottom of a
cliff. But there are uncanny similarities between her death and that of a
woman called Helen Kimmel; who was, in fact, murdered by her husband.
The
apparent connection is not lost on Lieutenant Corby of the Newark
police. The object of close scrutiny, Walter is forced into a string of
blunders that claim his career and his reputation, cost him his friends -
and ultimately threaten his life."
Women Authors I'm Enjoying - Frances Hodgson Burnett
English author Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett lived from 1849 (born in Manchester) - 1924 (died in New York, US). Over her life she was quite prolific, best known for her children's novels, Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Little Princess and The Secret Garden. So far I've only read the latter.
Frances Hodgson Burnett
"What a wonderful story The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is. I've had it on my book shelf for a year or so and added it to my 12+ 4 reading challenge on the recommendation of a Goodread's friend.
It was so nice to read an uplifting, joyous story such as this. It's a story of growing up, discovering friendship and love and it leaves you feeling very positive and happy. (well, there were a few tears shed at the end but only because it was a positive ending.)
Young Mary Lennox is growing up in India. Her mother abandons her to the care of an Indian governess; she never really wanted a child. Mary becomes a loner, a temperamental, selfish young girl. When her parents die due to a cholera epidemic, she is sent to England to live with an uncle who resides at his estate in Misselthwaite Manor. Her uncle is basically a hermit who has never recovered from the death of his wife. He wants nothing to do with Mary, heading off to Europe and other places as soon as she arrives. Mary is once again alone but she slowly begins to make 'actual' friends, firstly her maid, Martha, a young Yorkshire lass, then a robin, etc. She then discovers the entrance to a locked garden; her uncle had closed it down when his wife died. It was her favorite and she died when a branch fell on her. Mary also discovers another resident in the manor, who turns out to be her cousin, Colin.
Without ruining the story by telling you anymore, suffice it to say that the two develop a close relationship and learn about friendship and love as they grow. The link with the garden, their development as the garden grows and multiplies, is most interesting. The story is full of wonderful characters; not the least Mary and Colin but also Martha, Martha's brother Dickon, their mother and even the old gardener, Ben.
I was so pleased to read this story, to read a perfect little story that left me feeling positive and happy at the end. Everyone should read! Thanks for adding to my challenge list, Alissa. (5 stars)"
The complete list of Burnett's books can be found at this link. Take care. Stay safe. 😷
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