It's a Sunny Saturday

It's Saturday and we actually have the patio doors open. It's a mite cool but still nice to have the fresh air. I went for a walk this morning. I do need to get back in the saddle as I've put on a fair bit of weight. 

We're being a bit lazy so I thought I'd do a quick update. So far in March I've completed 8 books. Below are my latest since my last update.

Just Finished

1. Don't Mess with Mrs. In-Between by Liz Evans (PI Grace Smith #3 / 2015). I'm really enjoying this series. Unfortunately it seems she only wrote six in the series, the last being in 2005.

"Don't Mess with Mrs In-Between is the 3rd book in the Grace Smith mystery series by English author Liz Evans. The first two books were Who Killed Marilyn Monroe? and JFK is Missing! Grace Smith is a PI who works for a small detective agency, Vetch (the letch) (International) Associates Inc (don't be fooled by the firm name, it's piddly) in the coastal town of Seatoun. The firm basically consists of Vetch, Grace Smith, Annie (Grace's best friend and also one of the firm's PI's) and Janice, the recalcitrant secretary.

Vetch assigns Grace a strange case. Barbra Delaney has taken photos of 3 people coming out of a corner shop in the nearby town of St Biddy's. Not wanting to leave anything to her son in her will (family feud), she wants Grace to find out who the 3 people are, investigate them and then tell Barbra whether they are suitable for sharing Barbra's estate.

So, somewhat unwillingly, Grace takes the assignment and begins her investigation. All sorts of things will happen. Her flat will be turned over, the office will as well. Someone will be murdered. Grace will celebrate her 30th birthday.... sadly. She will have a relationship but is the young man who he seems to be? Best friend Annie is considering moving to a new firm in the London. And Grace has to travel around using Vetch's old auntie's bicycle because she can't user her own car. So either cycling or cadging rides, Grace finds herself in a convoluted case, where people smuggling, female impersonators and so many other things crop up.

It's all very fascinating. Grace is a cross between Kinsey Milhone, Kat Colorado and Stephanie Plum. She's an ex-cop who left under a cloud of suspicion and her relationship with the police is always somewhat confrontational. She doesn't mind bending the rules a bit to achieve her case. But she's always interesting, intelligent and able to work through the weeds to solve her case. The story is funny, dangerous and just enjoyable to read. Don't get caught up too much with the twists and turns. Just enjoy the seaside, the characters and the story. (4.0 stars)"

2. The White Road by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #4 / 2002). My second book in this chilling series. 

"The White Road is the 4th book in the PI Charlie Parker, mystery / thriller series by John Connolly. It's the 2nd book I've read in the series and while there is a back story taking place, not having read #'s 2 & 3 didn't affect my understanding of what was going on or my enjoyment of the story.

Charlie is living in Maine with his pregnant girlfriend, Rachel. An old friend, Elliot Norton, calls him and asks for his help in a case he is representing down in South Carolina. A young black man, is being tried for the rape and murder of a white woman and Elliot is having difficulties with the local white supremacist movement and needs help. Against his better judgement, Charlie agrees to go. He asks two friends. Louis and Angel, to come and provide him some physical assistance.

Also, in Maine, a cult leader who had damaged both Angel and Louis in a previous story (I think, anyway) is coming up for parole. There is something very dark about him, something 'spiritual'? The white supremacists from South Carolina are helping him with legal assistance as they want him in their group. 

Oh yes, another guy getting out of prison in Maine, Cyrus, has some dark secrets and he wants to 'share' them with Rachel. Charlie has asked a friend to come up from New York to keep an eye on things while he is gone.

So that's the gist of the story. It's a rambling dark tale that moves from Charlie to Louis and Angel and a few others. It's dark, tense, dangerous and at times horrific. Bodies will ultimately start falling out of the trees... (well, maybe an exaggeration but there are a few). An evil history will come out, even involving Charlie's friend Elliot. There will be betrayal, 'evil spirits' and some twisted violence. It's a story that really draws you in but also might repel you. The bad folks are really evil and dangerous. Charlie and his friends are constantly in danger but they are also dangerous themselves and pretty darned competent. 

Fascinating story that will give you the shivers but the ending is fairly satisfying. It's one of the better thriller series I've tried and I'll get back to those I've missed to clear up this back story. (If I dare) (4.0 stars)"

3. Spaceboy by David Walliams (2022). A new author for me, although I am familiar with  his work as an actor / comedian on Little Britain.

"Spaceboy is a fun adventure story for new readers by comedian / actor David Walliams (Think Little Britain). It seems that Walliams has become quite a prolific author of children's novels.

Spaceboy features orphan Ruth, her 3-legged dog Yuri (named after famed Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin). Ruth lost her parents when she was young and she now has to live Aunt Dorothy. Ruth wants to go to outer space. Yuri found a broken telescope and Ruth fixed it and now spends her evenings watching the stars. 

One night a flying saucer crash lands on Dorothy's property. And this begins a wild adventure as Ruth, Yuri (btw, Ruth fashioned a 4th leg out of an old egg whisk for Yuri) and Spaceboy try to escape, Dorothy, the local donut eating sheriff and scads of radiation suited soldiers. They will be captured, brought to the White House and then to NASA with a Dr. Strangelove like scientist.

It's a very fun adventure, with great drawings by Adam Stower. It has a bit of a feel of Roald Dahl to it. Ruth is a wonderful girl, strong, imaginative and spunky. Yuri is so cute and her faithful friend. And Spaceboy... well, look for a surprise. All in all, a great story for young folks beginning to explore the world of books. They'll love it. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson (2020). A new Sci Fi author for me. This is the 3rd book in my Tome Challenge.

"The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all. Its setting is not a desolate, postapocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us. Chosen by Barack Obama as one of his favorite books of the year, this extraordinary novel from visionary science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson will change the way you think about the climate crisis." I like the technique of using eyewitness accounts to tell the story. Reminds of World War Z  and Warday. Both excellent books.

2. Maddie Hatter and the Gilded Gauge by Jayne Barnard (Maddie Hatter #2 / 2017). Jo and I met Jayne two years ago and she brought me all three of the Maddie Hatter trilogy. This is the next book in my series challenge.

"A mysterious message from a midnight duelist sends fashion reporter Maddie Hatter to New York's finest parasol dueling academy, where she foils a daring daylight kidnapping.

The grateful rescuee, only daughter of an American Steamlord, offers Maddie a job as her bodyguard. Soon both young ladies are up to their lace gloves in industrial intrigue and irrepressible street urchins.

Maddie's clockwork bird faces danger too: hungry owls, curious inventors, even a clockwork foe that hides sneaky tricks behind its jewel-green eyes.

From the mansions of Park Avenue to the Statue of Liberty, Maddie hunts a fearless spy and confronts an unexpected power from her past."

New Books

1. Rubymusic: A Popular History of Women's Music and Culture by Connie Kuhns (2023). A new author for me.

"In  Rubymusic , award-winning journalist and broadcaster Connie Kuhns takes readers on an explosive journey through the Pacific Northwest’s groundbreaking women’s music scene in the 80s and 90s.

When journalist Connie Kuhns approached Vancouver Cooperative Radio in 1981 to host a music program dedicated solely to playing music by women, there was some doubt at the station that there was enough music by women to fill half an hour—and besides, who would tune in? Such was the underground nature of women’s music. Despite the doubters, Rubymusic became a successful program, running for fifteen years, introducing listeners to countless artists through radio, magazines, and newspaper columns and on stage at Vancouver’s annual Folk Music Fest, and serving as a powerful platform for the feminist movements taking place in Vancouver’s punk scene and throughout music history in the 80s and 90s. Rubymusic also served as the launching pad for Kuhns’ life-long passion—the preservation of the histories and stories of the women with whom she crossed paths on the airwaves. Here is a time capsule of a pivotal moment in women’s music history, with special emphasis on the women’s music movement in Canada, including the only written history of the women involved in Vancouver’s punk rock scene."

2. Silverwing: The Graphic Novel by Kenneth Oppel (2023).

"A small bat blown off course makes the perilous journey home with new friends in the adventurous middle grade odyssey from award-winning author Kenneth Oppel—this bestselling story is now available in graphic novel format!

Shade the young silverwing bat may be the runt of his colony, but he’s determined to prove himself on the long, dangerous winter migration to Hibernaculum—millions of wingbeats to the south. Too soon, his hopes are dashed when a fierce storm catches Shade in its grasp. Driven far from the others by the unforgiving winds, Shade is left alone.

On his journey back to his family, Shade meets other winged loners. Marina is a Brightwing bat with a strange metal band on her leg, Zephyr the mystical albino bat has an unusual gift, and Goth the carnivorous vampire bat is the largest bat Shade has ever seen. Shade will need all the help he can get if he hopes to reunite with his colony, but with a long and perilous flight ahead, how will he know who to trust?"

Women Authors Whose Works I've Been Enjoying - Valerie Taylor

Valerie Taylor

Valerie Taylor was an American author who lived from 1913 (born in Aurora Illinois) - 1997 (died in Tucson, Arizona. She was one of the authors who published in the lesbian pulp fiction genre. I've tried 3 of her books.

1. Return to Lesbos (1963). 

"Return to Lesbos is Valerie Taylor's sequel to her Stranger on Lesbos. Stranger left protagonist Frances Ollenfield, who had left her husband Bill, for a lesbian relationship, back with her husband. She had received a beating from a woman she'd picked up. In Return, Frances has been living with Bill for a year since her previous experiences and Bill is moving them to a small town outside Chicago due a promotion.

Frances goes with him but lives a loveless life with Bill. She knows she is a lesbian but had promised herself to give her marriage one more try. In this town she discovers a book store run by homosexual, Vince, who immediately takes to Frances. She also briefly meets Erika Frohmann, a young woman who Vince has taken under his wing. Erika had been involved with Kate but that relationship ended tragically.

So there is your story. Will Frances make the difficult decision either to stay with her husband or will she pursue Erika, who has immediately attracted her? I guess in some ways it's a simple story but Taylor tells it caringly and gently. The tension between Bill and Frances is palpable. Frances is more independent now than in the first story but even with her strong feelings towards Erika, she still has to make a difficult decision; stay or go. 

Vince was a highlight for me, a wonderful, sensitive character, looking after Erika but wanting her and Frances to be happy. The priest that Frances meets was also a pleasant surprise. It's a very short story, but told delicately and lovingly. (4 stars)"

2. The Girls in 3-B (1959).

"A couple of years ago I discovered The Feminist Press and their Femmes Fatales 'women write pulp' series. It introduced me to writers such as Vera Caspary, Evelyn Piper and Valerie Taylor. I first read Taylor's Stranger on Lesbos. She was noted as an author in the lesbian pulp fiction genre. The Girls in 3-B is my second look at her work.

Annice, Pat and Barby are three friends living in a small farm community. For their own differing reasons, they want to move to the big city, Chicago. Annice is bored with farm living and wants to explore the arts and life in the big city. Barby wants to get away from home from a childhood trauma. Pat wants a career in the big city. The three share an apartment, 3-B, in Chicago. Annice starts as a student trying to improve her poetry. Barby's father, who has a strange relationship with his daughter, gets her a job in a department store. Pat gets a job with a book publisher.

Their lives diverge quite rapidly. Annice, even though she is sort of dating Jackson, a student at the college, gets involved with a 'Beatnik', Alan and begins to explore sex an drugs. Barby is raped by the apartment manager and finds herself stressed and more and more under his control. Pat has a deep crush on the editor of the publishing company.

The story follows the three, developing their characters nicely. Many powerful themes are approached and discussed, child abuse, abortion, incest, lesbian relationships, drugs. Considering the story was originally written in 1959, they must have been more powerful. The pulp publishers seemed to have much more freedom than the movies and TV and more conservative publishing companies. Taylor approaches these themes delicately without too much titillation. It's an interesting, different story, maybe a gritty Harlequin in some ways but dealing with strong issues. I enjoyed reading it. I liked the Introduction description of the pulp authors and I enjoyed the Afterword, covering Taylor's life. I also liked the ending. (4 stars)"

3. Stranger on Lesbos (1960).

"I first heard of Valerie Taylor when I bought another book, Bunny Lake is Missing by Evelyn Piper. The edition I bought was published by The Feminist Press. I began looking for some of the other authors that they published; Dorothy Hughes - In a Lonely Place, Vera Caspary - Laura (I found this one). Anyway, I also managed to find Stranger on Lesbos this past weekend.

Valerie Taylor was a leading light in the lesbian pulp fiction genre of the late '50s and '60s. Stranger in Lesbos was her fourth book, published initially in 1960. It's a simple story really. Frances, a 1950s housewife, finds herself in a boring marriage, ignored by her husband and stuck in a stifling suburban life. She takes a course at university, deciding to work on the degree she never finished due to her marriage. At her first class she meets Bake and an attraction develops rapidly. 

Even though still married, she finds herself exploring the lesbian world, her deep attraction and love for Bake enticing her to spend more and more time with her. The book deals with her dilemma, whether to stay in her current family situation or follow her heart and leave her husband. It's a difficult story to rate, but suffice it to say that it is a thoughtful, interesting story; one of love and difficult decision - making. Taylor further explored Frances' life in some of her future books. (3 stars)"

You can read more about Valerie Taylor at this wiki link. Check it out.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.