A Sunday Reading Update

Not trying to jinx the Jays, but they are a step closer to a play-off position

It's been a lovely day so far. I had a good, albeit tiring run this morning. Jo and I went out this afternoon to an open house. It's nice being able to go to them again. Then we watched the end of the Blue Jays game. Relieved somewhat that they managed to come back from losing the first two games to win the next two. Very important. Now the Yankees are coming to Toronto for a 3-game visit.

Now for an update. I've finished 2 books since my last reading update. I've added a couple to my bookshelves. I'll provide my reviews of the two and also the synopses of the next two I'm starting, then the synopses of the new books. And away we go!

Just Finished

1. Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire (2022). I bought this because of the cover. So bright and colorful. Turned out to be an excellent story as well.

"I think I needed this story right now. I think it would be great to read to young kids, not too young but say 7 - 10?? I don't have any, but I tried reading it to my puppies, but they got a bit restless and just demanded a walkie. Anyway, Cress Watercress| is the 2nd book I've read by American author Gregory Maguire, the other being his take on Wicked (also excellent). Cress is his most recent effort.

I saw it when I was visiting a bookstore in Qualicum and got attracted by the bright cover and lovely drawing on it. When I read the synopsis and scrolled through a few pages and enjoyed the drawings within, I thought I should give it a try. Because I was waiting for my wife to finish shopping, I started it then. Cress Watercress is a little rabbit, who, along with her mother and younger brother Kip, are forced to find new lodgings. Father rabbit has disappeared. He went out to get honey for Mother Rabbit to make honey & ginger root tea for Kip's allergies, but he never returned. Mother needs a new location, so they move to a one-room flat in the bottom of the Broken Arms, an old tree run by an owl who lives in the top branches. The tree is also residence for songbirds, a family of squirrels and the superintendent, Manny the Mouse and his wife Sophie. 

Cress isn't happy about this situation, now away from her rabbit friends, the smallness of their apartment and the noisiness of the new neighbors. Oh, the rent is ten moths a day for Mr. Owl. The story is a series of little adventures where Cress discovers more about herself, discovers new friends, like Tunk the Honeybear (who competes for honey), Lady Cabbage (the skunk who lives at Two Chimneys and wants Cress as a maid) and Fricasee Sunday (a wandering chicken). There are others too and they all enrich this lovely story.

There are no bright new lessons to be taught here, just a lovely, growing up story, fun adventures and wonderful drawings. Cress and friends draw you in. For reading to children, the chapters are short enough to keep their attention and make them want to listen to or read one more by themselves. The ending leaves you feeling comfortable, a little sad and happy and hoping you might see more stories about Cress and the Broken Arms. (4.5 stars)"

2. The Face-Changers by Thomas Perry (Jane Whitefield #4). This was an excellent suspense thriller.

"The Face-Changers by Thomas Perry is the 4th book in the Jane Whitefield thriller series. It was excellent. For the uninitiated, Jane used to be a person who helped people in trouble disappear, providing them with new lives, identities, homes, etc. Jane married a surgeon in her hometown and he asked her to give up her career because he was worried about her safety.

Things change when Carey treats his mentor Doctor Dahlman for a gunshot wound. The doctor is suspected of murdering another doctor who worked with him. He asks Carey to help him find Jane Whitefield, not knowing that Jane and Carey are married. Carey asks Jane to help Dahlman escape. This starts a chain of events that turns this into a fascinating chase across the US, as Jane and Dahlman try to avoid people trying to kill him and also avoid the FBI and police who want to capture him.

There are so many neat twists in this story. Who are the Face Changers? Why are they imitating Jane?  I'll let you discover how this works out. Jane is a wonderful character, smart, resourceful, matter-of-fact, somewhat mystical. She is a Seneca woman who sees native spirits, has visions. The story progresses at a steady pace. It seems dry at times but it's just the methodical way Jane approaches each situation. There is so much going on and Jane manages to wade into the midst of it and make decisions that will affect her life with Carey, the lives of the runner(s) she's trying to help and also her very life itself. I was pleasantly surprised by this story. It was a pleasure to read. Most enjoyable. (4.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold (2021).

"When a deadly Fly Flu sweeps the globe, it leaves a shell of the world that once was. Among the survivors are eighteen-year-old Nico and her dog, on a voyage devised by Nico's father to find a mythical portal; a young artist named Kit, raised in an old, abandoned cinema; and the enigmatic Deliverer, who lives Life after Life in an attempt to put the world back together. As swarms of infected Flies roam the earth, these few survivors navigate the woods of post-apocalyptic New England, meeting others along the way, each on their own quest to find life and love in a world gone dark. The Electric Kingdom is a sweeping exploration of art, storytelling, eternal life, and above all, a testament to the notion that even in an exterminated world, one person might find beauty in another."

New Books

1. The Little White Bird by J.M. Barrie (1902).

"The Little White Bird is a series of short episodes with tones ranging from fantasy and whimsy to social comedy with dark aggressive undertones. It accounts the narrator's day to day activities in London of its day, and fanciful tales set in Kensington Gardens and elsewhere. This book also includes the very first appearance of Peter Pan."

2. Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Wizard of Oz #4 / 1908). I've been enjoying exploring this classic fantasy series.

"During a California earthquake Dorothy falls into the underground Land of the Mangaboos where she again meets the Wizard of Oz."

3. MaMa by Ruby Jean Jensen (1983). A new author for me and a genre I'm not all that familiar with. I have been exploring Horror more now.

"There once was a dolly, with the face of an innocent little baby. She could eat and breathe through the hole in her mouth. Her single eye stared relentlessly, some would say malignantly, as though full of evil, watching, waiting . . . As the years rolled away, she waited in the attic to be picked up, cooed over, and set free to work her will . . .

Dorrie had lost her father and was trying to adapt to her new surroundings. She found happiness in the attic, with her new-found dolly. Her mother, brother and sister seemed busy doing other things. If she had better understood this life and death thing, she might have been concerned when her little doll began to move on its own. If only Dollie had understood that her little doll might have a mind of its own, she might have wondered if the doll was capable of killing … killing …"

4. Home Sweet Home by Ruby Jean Jensen (1985).

"Steve and Connie had to figure out how to manage while Connie traveled to the hospital for a major operation and several days' recovery. Ten-year-old son Timmy had already missed the opportunities to go to summer camp with one of his buddies. It was somewhat of a relief when family acquaintance Dan offered to take Timmy to the mountains for two weeks of hiking, camping, and taking pictures of wildlife. Dan was a camera salesman that the family had known for about four years. His parents said it would be lots of fun, a perfect vacation. Timmy tried to argue against the trip, as he had never felt really comfortable around Dan. However, his parents won the argument and off he went. The closer they got to the cabin, the less friendly Mr. Walker's smile became. The scarier the sound of his voice. After driving all day, Dan and Timmy arrived at a remote cabin. But Timmy was very, very, drowsy, and had some very strange dreams that first night. He awoke in the morning surprised to find that he was not the only child in the cabin. Thirteen-year-old Rex, eight-year-old Dale, seven-year-old Joey, and even five-year-old Susie shared bunkbeds in a common room. He quickly sensed their dread, felt their terror, and later heard their screams in the night. Over the next few days, "Uncle" Dan seemed to change personality from one minute to the next. And he was constantly telling the children that they should strive to please "Little Mother". If they made Little Mother happy, perhaps he would introduce them to her. Timmy slowly became aware that Dan had no intention of keeping his promises to Timmy's parents . . . Then he peeked through the keyhole of the forbidden locked door and saw the blood-curling horror that awaited him. He began to make plans, although he had little hope of escaping the deadly welcome of their HOME SWEET HOME . . ."

5. The Shadow Moth by Francesca Gibbons (A Clock of Stars #1 / 2020). Gibbons is a new author for me, but I'm familiar with Chris Riddell (Goth Girl) who does the illustration for an interesting looking YA fantasy story. It's supposed to be a trilogy.

"Imogen should be nice to her little sister Marie. She should be nice to her mum’s boyfriend too. And she certainly shouldn’t follow a strange silver moth through a door in a tree.

But then… who does what they’re told?

Followed by Marie, Imogen finds herself falling into a magical kingdom where the two sisters are swept up in a thrilling race against time – helped by the spoiled prince of the kingdom, a dancing bear, a very grumpy hunter… and even the stars above them."

There you go. I hope you find a book that sounds interesting. Have a great week.