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| Happy Anniversary Mommy & Daddy! Any cake? |
Big day in the household today, it's Jo and my 19th Anniversary. Jo got me a globe and a new wallet; love them both. We've been dieting since January but today we treated ourselves with a Tim Horton's dream apple cake donut. So good! Tomorrow we plan to go to the Black Fin for dinner. We haven't been out for dinner in over a year, probably a year and a half.
As the month winds down, I've been trying to finish a few of my challenges. I hope to read one more. I'll provide my monthly reading update tomorrow or Sep 1st. I've finished two books since my last reading update and also have purchased a few books to wind down the month. I'll provide my reviews of the two books I've completed and the synopses of the next books in line. I'll also provide the synopses of the new books. I'll continue with my ongoing look at Women Authors in a future post.
Just Finished
"Crimson Lake is my introduction to Australian mystery writer Candice Fox and it was an excellent introduction to her stories. What have you got? Ted Conkaffey is an ex-Sydney detective whose life was turned upside down when he was accused of a brutal abduction of a young girl. His trial was closed without conviction but in everybody's eyes, Ted was still guilty. He loses his wife and daughter and is forced to move out to the hinterland of Australia to try and hide from everybody and to live a life. He moves to Crimson Lake, in the northern corner of Queensland, in a cabin on a croc filled lake.
Ted gets a job working with a private detective, Amanda Pharrell, another person with a back story; convicted as a young girl of murdering another girl, spending time in prison, and now working as a PI in Crimson Lake. The two main characters have issues; Ted is menaced constantly by two local cops, bursting into his house, stopping his car, physically assaulting him. He also has nightly visitors of local vigilantes, breaking windows, the usual vigilante stuff. But he does have one good thing in his life; an injured mother goose and her kids. That is definitely a bright spot in this story, that has a steady tone of menace.
Ted works with Amanda to discover what happened to a famous local Sci-Fi writer. Of course this is an ongoing thread throughout the story, although it picks up really in the last half. Amanda is a strange, quirky? character. Because of what happened to her in the past (I think, anyway) she won't ride in a car, but instead follows Tom on her bicycle. Makes for interesting situations.
Besides their case, Tom is dealing with a reporter who is trying to investigate his previous situation; the reporter, Fabiana, is another interesting character. As well, Ted begins to surreptitiously look into Amanda's case because of perceived inconsistencies in the investigation.
It's all very interesting and moves along at a nice pace; jumping from the present to the past (Ted's trial, critical events in his life, etc); from their investigation, to letters from an 'admirer' of the missing man (Jake Scully that is), to the turmoil in both Amanda and Ted's lives. Amanda is remarkably casual (except for a few incidents) while Ted is still very broken. But they make an interesting, excellent team and the results of their investigation(s) are ultimately very satisfying. It's a scary story at times; the incidents with the cops and vigilantes, the crocs (rarely seen, but just a menacing sidelight). It was an entertaining first story and whetted my appetite to continue the series. I've #2 currently on my bookshelf. (4 stars)"
The Hat of Authority is the second book in the historical adventure series featuring Oliver Cromwell's spy, Nicholas Pym, by author John Sanders. Pym is called out of mourning (for the loss of his wife, dying during child birth) by his father-in-law and boss, Mr. Thurloe.
Pym is given command of one of the Protector's (this being Cromwell) newest ships. He is sent to the Caribbean to check on the Governor or Jamaica (not trusted) and given papers of warrant as an accredited privateer. His job is to find a cargo of Spanish gold, taken by the Right Hand, and hidden on the island of Tortuga. Unfortunately, the island is owned by the French and populated with a gang of pirates. Pym must figure out how to distract the pirates so he can get the gold. Plotting with privateer, Henry Morgan, he comes up with a plan to attack Spanish fortifications in Panama.
The story is filled with plots and counter plots, lots of action and adventure, and life threatening action; a beautiful woman (can she be trusted?) and even the Spanish Inquisition. Pym moves from the situation to situation, relying on his wits and intelligence to keep himself alive and achieve Cromwell's aims. It's an entertaining, sometimes dark, story and moves along quickly. I'll try to finish the series as I find the historical setting interesting (not a time I'd want to live in, mind you), religious intolerance and lots of war. Worth trying if you like historical adventures. (3 stars)"
Currently Reading (I've only started one new book as I've so many on the go right now)
"In this second novel in
the Earthsea series, Tenar is chosen as high priestess to the ancient
and nameless Powers of the Earth, and everything is taken from her—home,
family, possessions, even her name. She is now known only as Arha, the
Eaten One, and guards the shadowy, labyrinthine Tombs of Atuan.
Then
a wizard, Ged Sparrowhawk, comes to steal the Tombs’ greatest hidden
treasure, the Ring of Erreth-Akbe. Tenar’s duty is to protect the Ring,
but Ged possesses the light of magic and tales of a world that Tenar has
never known. Will Tenar risk everything to escape from the darkness
that has become her domain?"
New Books
"In The White Mirror, the follow-up to Elsa Hart’s critically acclaimed debut, Jade Dragon Mountain,
Li Du, an imperial librarian and former exile in 18th century China, is
now an independent traveler. He is journeying with a trade caravan
bound for Lhasa when a detour brings them to a valley hidden between
mountain passes. On the icy planks of a wooden bridge, a monk sits in
contemplation. Closer inspection reveals that the monk is dead,
apparently of a self-inflicted wound. His robes are rent, revealing a
strange symbol painted on his chest.
When the rain turns to snow,
the caravan is forced to seek hospitality from the local lord while
they wait for the storm to pass. The dead monk, Li Du soon learns, was a
reclusive painter. According to the family, his bizarre suicide is not
surprising, given his obsession with the demon world. But Li Du is
convinced that all is not as it seems. Why did the caravan leader detour
to this particular valley? Why does the lord’s heir sleep in the barn
like a servant? And who is the mysterious woman traveling through the
mountain wilds?
Trapped in the snow, surrounded by secrets and an
unexplained grief that haunts the manor, Li Du cannot distract himself
from memories he’s tried to leave behind. As he discovers irrefutable
evidence of the painter’s murder and pieces together the dark
circumstances of his death, Li Du must face the reason he will not go
home and, ultimately, the reason why he must."
"Me and White Supremacy
teaches readers how to dismantle the privilege within themselves so
that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of
colour, and in turn, help other white people do better, too.
When
Layla Saad began an Instagram challenge called #MeAndWhiteSupremacy,
she never predicted it would spread as widely as it did. She encouraged
people to own up and share their racist behaviors, big and small. She
was looking for truth, and she got it. Thousands of people participated
in the challenge, and over 90,000 people downloaded the Me and White
Supremacy Workbook.
The updated and expanded Me and White Supremacy
takes the work deeper by adding more historical and cultural contexts,
sharing moving stories and anecdotes, and including expanded
definitions, examples, and further resources.
Awareness leads to
action, and action leads to change. The numbers show that readers are
ready to do this work - let's give it to them."
"Murderbot wasn't
programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever
showed it respect must be a system glitch, right?
Having traveled
the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous
transgressions, as well as those of the Gray Cris Corporation, Murderbot
is heading home to help Dr. Mensah — its former owner (protector?
friend?) — submit evidence that could prevent Gray Cris from destroying
more colonists in its never-ending quest for profit.
But who's going to believe a SecUnit gone rogue?
And what will become of it when it's caught?"
"Two Chicago hoodlums and a beautiful nightclub singer on the run decide to hide out in the bayou country of the deep South, land of moonshine whiskey and easy loving. Then Miss Choo-Choo Caroline disappears wearing nothing but a very tiny G-string encrusted with diamonds, and the neighborhood erupts into a fevered search of the woods"
"Madame Maigret takes the
lead in a disturbing investigation in this new translation, book
thirty-three of the new Penguin Maigret series.
When he got to
his door, he was surprised not to hear any noise in the kitchen and not
to smell any food. He went in, crossed the dining room, where the table
had not been laid, and at last saw Madame Maigret, in her slip, busy
taking off her stockings. This was so unlike her that he could find
nothing to say, and when she saw him standing there wide-eyed, she burst
out laughing.
Inspector Maigret's wife turns sleuth after a
strange encounter in a Paris square leads her on the trail of a woman
in a white hat, and towards a grisly tale of deception and greed."
There you go, some reading ideas for you. Now to try and finish Silent Shadows by Ann Cleeves by tomorrow. Jo is now cooking our anniversary dinner; roast chicken and veggies. Yummy!
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