Hot, Hotter and Hottest

In true Canadian fashion, I'm starting off by complaining about the weather. Today is the hottest day yet of the weekend. Tomorrow I'll be taking the dogs to the cleaners for their summer baths and hair cuts. It's supposed to be 39℃ then. Just checking with the groomers to see if she will still be open. Tuesday it's going to cool down and I'm heading off to get my 2nd Covid vaccine shot. Very happy about that. At the moment we're sprawled on the sofa in the family room, dogs with cool wet towels wrapped around them. We've closed all of the windows and are relying on just fans. With the patio doors open, it's just heat rolling in.

I finished one more book yesterday so I'll provide my review of that as well as the synopsis for the next book in line. I'll also continue with my look at Women Authors whose books I've been enjoying. 

Just Finished

1. False Scent by Ngaio Marsh (Inspector Alleyn #21).

"False Scent is the 21st book in Ngaio Marsh's Roderick Alleyn mystery series. I've enjoyed this series very much. Each story is different; some laid out almost as plays, some centered on his wife, artist Troy, or his young son. This one was most entertaining.

For the first half we meet the cast of characters. Mary Bellamy is an aging stage actress about to celebrate her 50th birthday; shhh, don't tell anyone how old she is. As they prepare for the big event, she suffers a number of setbacks. Her ward, playwright Dickie Dakers, who has written a number of successful comedies for Mary, is now writing a serious drama, created for the girl next door, who he now loves. Mary is offended by this seeming treachery. Her make up man, Bertie, is now helping character actress, Pinky, who has just received a major play. More drama for Mary. She takes it out on this group, also her lady assistant, who she fires, and even her husband Charles.

Of course, Mary ends up dead and this is where Inspector Alleyn and DS Fox turn up. They spend the rest of the book at Mary's home, investigating. Was it an accident involving a poisonous weed-killer. Mary had been warned many times not to use it, especially indoors, as it was dangerous. Was it suicide, due to her feelings of anger and depression? Or was it murder?

It's an interesting story. Alleyn finds himself constantly frustrated by the reticence and intransigence of the 'suspects'. Nobody wants to be the one to tell him about the events that took place the day of her death. Everybody is hiding something. Floy, the maid, is an angry woman, in love with Mary, who suspects Ninn, the nanny. Ninn loves Dickie and won't hear a word against him. And so it goes on. It's a fascinating character study, if you will. The personalities are interesting, the stage references are as well. And Alleyn, and his capable partner Fox, are deliberate and determined and intelligent. I had ideas of what took place and figured out some things. But that's not the purpose of the story. It's too enjoy the characters and the investigation. Well-written and enjoyable. (4 stars)"

Currently Reading

1 have 3 more books in my 12 + 4 Challenge, this being the 3rd last.

1. Rumpole on Trial by John Mortimer (Rumpole #9).

"As Rumpole wends his way from court to wine bar and to the matrimonial home in Froxbury Mansions, listeners find their hero jousting with the Devil as he defends eight-year-old Tracy Timson against the dire threats of the local authority, is wooed by a beautiful violin player, watches Sam Ballard peer into the future, and appears before the Disciplinary Tribunal of the Bar Council."

Women Authors I'm Enjoying - Eleanor Catton

Eleanor Catton

Canadian born, New Zealand author Eleanor Catton has written two novels, the 2nd of which, The Luminaries won the Man Booker prize.

1. The Rehearsal (2008).

"I'm not sure what to say about The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton. It was interesting and very different but I don't think I got it. At times it made me think of the Theater of the Absurd plays by Eugene Ionesco.....

So let's see. This is the basic plot line. Victoria is out of school after having an affair with her music teacher, Mr. Saladin. The other 7th form girls at the school and Victoria's sister Isolde must take sessions with the school guidance counselor to discuss the matter and their feelings. Stanley has been accepted at a local school of drama and is trying to fit in and discover himself. Isolde, Bridget and Julia take saxophone lessons from the 'saxophone teacher'. As well, the first years at Stanley's school are preparing their first play, and they decide to use the recent scandal as their theme.

OK, that's basically it. We move from Stanley to the saxophone teacher to the various teachers at the school of drama, the Head of Acting, the Head of Movement, etc, to the main girl characters, jumping back and forth and moving back and forth in recent time. There are intricately woven threads, often making you wonder if it's reality or maybe a dramatization... Very confusing at times. Is Isolde actually developing a relationship with Julia or is it a story they tell the saxophone teacher? Who is this saxophone teacher, who seems to be directing the girls' lives? Is she a teacher or a directing a play?

It is a fascinating format but I never really got it. The threads never fully resolved themselves in my mind. It was still different and interesting. The novel was written as Catton's Master thesis. Her second novel, The Luminaries won the 2013 Man Booker prize. (3.5 stars)"

Eleanor Catton's complete list of books can be found at this link. Enjoy your upcoming week. Stay safe. 😷