Yes, I'm Indeed Avoiding Yard Work

The Peripheral

Jo is at work and I've been a lazy slug so far. I watched the first episode of the new Orphan Black series. It was ok. I'm reserving judgement for now. I watched the 2nd episode of The Peripheral. Confusing but I'm enjoying. Amazing, actually, as I gave up on the book. I may still mow the front yard by I'm going to do a reading update first. 😃

Just Finished

(I've completed 4 books since my last update.)

1. The Paton Street Case by John Bingham (1955).

"The Paton Street Case is an excellent police procedural by English author John  Bingham. This was the third mystery I've read by Bingham and I've enjoyed each one. 

The story is told at the beginning by a 'disembodied spirit' as it introduces the main characters of this story on a particular night. There is Chief Detective Inspector Morgan of Scotland Yard and his wife Gwen, asleep in their home in Chelsea. There is his Sergeant, Sgt Shaw, also at home with his wife Evelyn, not a happy relationship. Further away are Gladys Turner and her husband Len. Gladys knows Paton Street, which will soon feature in this mystery, very well. Then there are Otto and Rose Steiner who rent the first floor of 127 Paton Street for their furniture business. They are a German / Jewish couple who escaped from Nazi Germany to settle in London. Their daughter Rachel lives in their home. The final character introduced is PC Maitland who will discover the fire that sets the events of this story in motion.

The fire destroys the apartment above the Steiners' furniture store. A body is also discovered. in the apartment, the body of the resident of the apartment, Robert Draper. The rest of the story is the investigation of this fire and 'murder'. And it is an excellent story, taut, tense and with a neat little twist at the end that I never saw coming. Inspector Morgan is an excellent character, methodical, intuitive, gruff when needed and Sgt Shaw is the perfect foil. Watching them interrogate a witness is so very interesting. The cast of suspects / witnesses are also all well-developed and interesting. 

The story moves along nicely but as we near the end, the tension surprisingly mounts and I found myself unable to put the book down so I could get to the end. The ending itself was somewhat untidy, I thought, but that could just have been my interpretation of it. All in all, it was an excellent story and I now have Murder Plan Six on order. (4.5 stars)"

2. The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi (The Amulet #1 / 2008).

"The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi is the 1st book in the graphic novel series Amulet. It's an entertaining middle grade (I guess) fantasy series that follows brother and sister Emily and Navan and their mother as they move to an ancestral home to start a new life. This is a couple after a tragic car accident in which Emily & Navan's dad is killed. Mother decides that the family needs a new start.

And start they get. Kibuishi isn't one to rest on his laurels and let a story develop slowly. No he's not! No sooner do they arrive and begin cleaning the old home, then Emily finds her great grandfather's den and also a strange amulet. This seems to wake up something. What happens is that Mother is kidnapped by some creature and the children follow her down into the cellar and deeper into another world where they must enlist the aid of a group of strange robots? to help find their mother and save her life.

It's a fast-paced, exciting story, well drawn and colored and it keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. Nice surprise at the end when the house they are staying in, in this other world, turns out to be much more than a house. I've now got Books 2 and 3 on my book shelf and can't wait to see what happens next. Wow! (4.0 stars)"

3. The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi (2020).

"When I saw The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017 by Rashid Khalidi, I felt that it was a book I should read, especially considering what is currently happening in Israel / Palestine. I admit that there were times when I almost gave up reading it. I'm not sure why, maybe it was just a bit ponderous... Not sure, more likely, just my short attention span these days of 30 second s0und bites.

At any rate, I'm glad, if glad is the correct work, that I finished this book. It opened my eyes and made me think more about what has happened in that area of the world. The book covers the period 1917 - the current time. Unfortunately, it was published in 2020 so I wonder how Rashid Khalidi would have updated his ideas with what is currently happening.

It's not easy to describe the book in a few sentences. Khalidi compares the Zionist desires to colonize Palestine and convert it into an Israeli country and to remove the Palestinians who were already living there to similar acts in the US, South Africa, even Ireland, where the indigenous peoples were turned into 2nd class citizens by the colonists. 

He starts by referring to European Zionist congresses which called for a Jewish state with the sovereign right to control immigration. He quotes the diary of Theodor Herzl, an Austrian journalist, and one of the early Zionist leaders.

"We must expropriate gently the private property on the estates assigned to us. We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border by procuring employment for it in the transit countries, while denying it employment in our own country. The property owners will come over to our side. Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly."

This is the ongoing theme throughout the period of the book. The Zionists move to Palestine, obviously to escape persecution within Europe and Russia. Firstly with the help of various great powers, Great Britain early one, and the US more recently, they have forced the Palestinians out of their homes, properties and taken them over. Of course, blame isn't limited here. The Arab states, which profess to support the Palestinian peoples have their own desire are either not strong enough or too disorganized to assist the Palestinian cause. More recently, these Arab states, prefer to deal with a much stronger Israel and the US than take up the fight for the Palestinians.

The Palestinians, themselves, were not strong enough to challenge the Israelis. They have tried various means; actual fighting, protests, boycotts, terrorism, etc to try to maintain their own possessions, their own country. The Palestinians were not as skilled at obtaining worldwide support for their own cause. Various UN resolutions and negotiated settlements between Israel and countries like Great Britain and the US, recognized the right of Israel to exist as a state. The same hasn't happened for the indigenous Palestinians, who have found themselves forced into exile (refugee camps all over the Middle East, confined to Israeli managed regions of Israel. It's a sad, desperate picture.

Over the course of the book, we see how many times Israel has used its power and military might to cow its Arab neighbours, the 6 Day War, the invasion of Lebanon, etc. The mass destruction is astounding and must have been terrifying. Now I realize that I'm making this sound very one-sided, but I must say that Khalidi does try to show both sides of the story. It's not just the Israelis but the Arab countries who assist, even by just sitting by and letting this destruction happen. The Palestinians also are disorganized and unable to coalesce into a unified front.

It's a sad, discouraging story. Mr. Khalidi explains and presents the story very well. The comparison to colonization is so interesting. This paragraph seems to say it all.

"Within Israel, certain important rights are reserved exclusively for Jewish citizens and denied to 20 percent of citizens who are Palestinian. Of course the five million Palestinians living under an Israel military regime in the Occupied Territories have no rights at all, while the half million plus Israeli colonists there enjoy full rights....   Even as Israel's 1948 Declaration of Independence proclaimed complete equity of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex, dozens of crucial laws based on inequality of rights were implemented in the ensuing years." He proceeds to give examples, such as banning Arab access to land and to residency, etc. (I hate to say it but as I watch the news, I see similar things being attempted in current right wing rules countries, or even right wing US States or Canadian provinces)

Khalidi once again has said that the Palestinians are often their worst enemies. After the 1st Intifada, which was mainly peaceful, raised the issue positively in the world's eyes. But the 2nd Intifada, where the Palestinians began to resort to suicide bombings within Israel, had the opposite effect.

I have said I have had difficulty reading this book. I had my own preconceived ideas; you know, like reading and watching Exodus, etc, but I do find myself looking at the whole situation differently. Oh, there is an interesting portion near the end of the impact Donald Trump's presidency had on the region... negatively, that is. 

But Mr. Khalidi does try to offer a hopeful ending.

"While the fundamentally colonial nature of the Palestinian - Israel encounter must be acknowledged, there are now two peoples in Palestine, irrespective of how they came into being, and the conflict between them cannot be resolved as long as the national existence of each is denied by the other. Their mutual acceptance can only be based on complete equality of rights, including national rights, notwithstanding the crucial historical differences between the two, There is no other possible sustainable solution, barring the unthinkable notion of one people's extermination or expulsion by the other."

This book was published in 2020 and I wonder what Mr. Khalidi would think of the situation now, where this last fear may actually come into effect unless the world decides to act bravely and step in. A book that should be read. this is not a unique situation around the world. (4.0 stars)"

4. East of West, Volume 1: The Promise by Jonathan Hickman (2013).

"While I've been in a prolonged process of divesting myself of all the comics I collected over the years, I somehow now find myself buying and trying new and different graphic novels. Go figure! A case in point, last week, while wandering through one of my local used book stores, I noticed the first two volumes in a graphic novel series by Jonathan Hickman, that series being one called East of West. In the mood for something short last night, I read Volume One, The Promise.

I did find the whole thing kind of confusing. So we have a dystopic future Earth. There is the Message, written in 3 parts over time, by the Prophet Longstreet in Atlanta, by Red Cloud and then half a century later by Chairman Mao, in exile. These three documents make up the Message. You also have the 4 Horseman of the Apocalypse, minus one, that being Death. The others trek around the US, the dystopic US, divided into various regions; the Dead Lands, New Shanghai, the Endless Nation, the Black Towers, the Kingdom of New Orleans and the Republic of Texas. 

The three remaining horsemen, War, Famine and Conquest kill the president of the US and the next of those in line until they get to the Secretary of the Interior and make her President. Got it so far?

And then there is Death, the White Horseman, who seems to be on the prowl seeking revenge for the loss of his wife and child. He is accompanied by Crow and Wolf who have powers. From what I've read, there are two groups, those in favor of Apocalypse, led by the 3 Horsemen and those against it, led by Death.

Death ends up taking a side trip when he discovers his wife is not dead as he believed, instead held prisoner by her father and sister, the leaders of New Shanghai.

Now there is more to the story, but that is the gist. I find it confusing but interesting so far. Vol 1 contains the first 5 chapters and ends with Death heading off to find his son. The characters are interesting and very well drawn and colored. There is lots of action and violence. And there is a potentially interesting view of the future. We'll see how Vol 2 develops the story. (3.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night by James Runcie (Grantchester #2 / 2013). This will be my focus book for July.

"The loveable full time priest and part time detective Canon Sidney Chambers continues his sleuthing adventures in late 1950's Cambridge. Accompanied by his faithful Labrador Dickens, and working in tandem with the increasingly exasperated Inspector Geordie Keating, Sidney is called on to investigate the unexpected fall of a Cambridge don from the roof of King's College Chapel; a case of arson at a glamor photographer's studio; and the poisoning of Zafar Ali, Grantchester's finest spin bowler, in the middle of a crucial game of cricket. As he pursues his quietly probing inquiries, Sidney also has to decide on the vexed question of marriage. Can he choose between the rich, glamorous socialite Amanda Kendall and Hildegard Staunton, a beguiling German widow three years his junior? To help him make up his mind Sidney takes a trip abroad, only to find himself trapped in a complex web of international espionage just as the Berlin Wall is going up.

Here are six interlocking adventures that combine mystery with morality, and criminality with charm."

2. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (2019). This is the 3rd book by Acevedo that I've read in the past couple of years. She is an excellent author.

"Ever since she got pregnant, seventeen-year-old Emoni's life has been about making the tough decisions - doing what has to be done for her young daughter and her grandmother. Keeping her head down at school, trying not to get caught up with new boy Malachi. The one place she can let everything go is in the kitchen, where she has magical hands - whipping up extraordinary food beloved by everyone.

Emoni wants to be a chef more than anything, but she knows it's pointless to pursue the impossible. There are rules she has to play by. And yet, once she starts cooking, and gets that fire on high, she sees that her drive to feed will feed her soul and dreams too. And anything is possible."

New Books

1. Foul Play Suspected by John Wyndham (1935). I think this is the last book by Wyndham that I've found.

"England, 1935: Phyllida Shiffer’s marriage has just ended in divorce. She heads home, expecting to be welcomed with open arms by her father, a brilliant (if slightly distracted) scientist. But her father’s house is locked up; he is nowhere to be found; and there are suspicious men who seem to think that Phyllida herself might hold the key to her father’s latest scientific discovery. . . ."

2. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson (2015).

"Twelve-year-old Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. So when Astrid signs up for roller derby camp, she assumes Nicole will too. But Nicole signs up for dance camp with a new friend instead, and so begins the toughest summer of Astrid's life. There are bumps and bruises as Astrid learns who she is without Nicole...and what it takes to be a strong, tough roller girl."

3. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022). Jo and I started to watch the TV series. I was pleasantly surprised to see it's based on a book.

"Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it's the 1960s and despite the fact that she is a scientist, her peers are very unscientific when it comes to equality. The only good thing to happen to her on the road to professional fulfillment is a run-in with her super-star colleague Calvin Evans (well, she stole his beakers). The only man who ever treated her--and her ideas--as equal, Calvin is already a legend and Nobel nominee. He's also awkward, kind and tenacious. Theirs is true chemistry.

But as events are never as predictable as chemical reactions, three years later Elizabeth Zott is an unwed, single mother (did we mention it's the early 60s?) and the star of America's most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth's singular approach to cooking (take one pint of H2O and add a pinch of sodium chloride) and independent example are proving revolutionary. Because Elizabeth isn't just teaching women how to cook, she's teaching them how to change the status quo."

4. Murder Plan Six by John Bingham (1958). I've enjoyed 3 of his mysteries so far and want to continue to explore his work.

"'Murder Plan Six', described by the 'Evening Standard' as 'a thriller of a very high (and rare) order', is by John Bingham, whom many will remember as the amiable father of Charlotte Bingham in 'Coronet Among the Weeds'. If the story is rather less than amiable, it is nevertheless rather more than unusual, with its introduction of Victor Gollancz, the very real and very well-known publisher, as one of the main characters, together with two fictitious authors of the Gollancz 'stable' and two women, of whom one is an angel and the other the very devil. When a note of madness creeps in - happily among the fictitious characters - things are bound to get out of hand, and they do it with a tension that winds up tighter and tighter as time and the tape-recordings run out."

5. Global by Eoin Colfer (2023). I think I may read this tonight. It's shiny and new and looks very interesting.

"Time is running out for Sami and Yuki. Sami and his grandfather live in a village along the Indian Ocean. They earn their living by fishing. But the ocean is rising and each day they bring back fewer and fewer fish. Yuki lives in the far north of Canada where warming temperature are melting the ice. Polar bears have less food to hunt and are wandering into town looking for something to eat. Yuki is determined to do something to help the bears."

6. Murder Your Employer: McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes (2023). Yes, indeed, The is the same Rupert Holmes of The Pina Colada song fame.

"A New York Times bestseller! From Edgar Award–winning novelist, playwright, and story-songwriter Rupert Holmes comes a diabolical thriller with a killer concept: The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, dedicated to the art of murder where students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Miriam Toews

Miriam Toews

I readily admit that I've only read one book by Canadian author, Miriam Toews thus far but it was so good and has made me get another book by her. Miriam Toews was born in Steinbach Manitoba in 1964. Since 1996, she has published 9 books. The book that I have tried thus far just recently won an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay for Sarah Polley. I'll provide my review of Women Talking and also the synopsis of the book I have sitting on my book shelf.

1. Women Talking (2018).

"I bought Women Talking by Miriam Toews after checking out a list of one author's Top Ten most horrifying novels ever. While I don't think the body of the novel is horrifying, the events that lead up to this novel are. 

The novel is based on a true story of a remote Mennonite community where the men, over a period of time, drug the women and abuse them over night. This took place over a long time and the women believed they were being attacked by demons. The truth was ultimately discovered and eight men were sent to jail.

The story takes place after these events and follows eight of the women, from two different families as they meet  in the loft of a barn to decide what they must do. Their options; to stay in the community a continue to live with the men who've abused them or to leave the community forever. The women have been subjugated all of their lives; they are not taught to read, so this decision is momentous. 

Also part of the story is August Epp. He and his parents had been banned from the community year before but he had returned as an adult and now teaches the boys. He has been asked to take minutes of the meeting. (The women have limited time to make their decision as the remaining men have gone to the city to try and bail out the eight. So they will all be returning.

So this is the basic story, a discussion by these women of what they will do. They were all abused, Ona is pregnant, even though unmarried. Even the age of the women does not matter as it seems even the very young have been mistreated. What can these women do? They've lived their lives here and now must decide whether they have the capabilities of even surviving on their own. So if you want a story with relatively no action, but with immense implications and a terrifying premise, you might want to try this one. (3.5 stars)"

2. Fight Night (2021).

"Fight Night is told in the unforgettable voice of Swiv, a nine-year-old living in Toronto with her pregnant mother, who is raising Swiv while caring for her own elderly, frail, yet extraordinarily lively mother. When Swiv is expelled from school, Grandma takes on the role of teacher and gives her the task of writing to Swiv's absent father about life in the household during the last trimester of the pregnancy. In turn, Swiv gives Grandma an assignment: to write a letter to "Gord," her unborn grandchild (and Swiv's soon-to-be brother or sister). "You’re a small thing," Grandma writes to Gord, "and you must learn to fight."

As Swiv records her thoughts and observations, Fight Night unspools the pain, love, laughter, and above all, will to live a good life across three generations of women in a close-knit family. But it is Swiv’s exasperating, wise and irrepressible Grandma who is at the heart of this novel: someone who knows intimately what it costs to survive in this world, yet has found a way—painfully, joyously, ferociously—to love and fight to the end, on her own terms."

The complete listing of Toews' work can be found at this link.

It's Been a Week...

 

It's been a week now since our lovely puppy Bonnie left us. She'd been sick for awhile now, diabetic, blind but she had persevered for almost two years. But last week, everything just came together and Jo and I knew in our hearts that it was time for Bonnie to get some peace. We had a very quiet week since then, all of us not sure how to react. Poor little Clyde isn't sure what is going on. I'm sure he misses his friend and companion terribly.

The puppies having a fun scrap

We got Bonnie in 2013. The breeder originally named her Alice but Jo and I knew we were going to get two miniature schnauzers and thought Bonnie and Clyde would be fun. Bonnie was born in January but we didn't pick her up until we'd been to the World curling championships in Victoria. Clyde came along around a month later. They sure got along well. Bonnie made short shrift of the toy, a little giraffe, that Clyde was given when we picked him up. Her toy, oddly enough, a Happy Face emoji, has survived to this day.

Helping me water the plants

Bonnie was such a lovely dog. She had a rough time though. She almost died on us from an infection she died on us in 2019. It was just after Christmas and on New Year's Day, we found ourselves rushing down to the Veterinary Hospital in Nanaimo where Bonnie spent a week until she was on the mend and we could bring her back home. The vets there were so happy when she actually took some food from my hand, after about 3 days, as they could not get her to eat. We were so relieved. Funny thing, after this terrifying incident, Bonnie was suddenly jumping up on the sofa by herself. Before that, the crafty mare would sit there and look at us with her big eyes and get us to pick her up. So smart. LOL!

Sunny sunshine. Ahh!

Like Clyde, she did like to find herself a sunny spot. It was nice having a back yard to spread out in. 

After a trip to the groomers, time to have a nap.

Of course, both of them also liked to sprawl on the sofa. Maybe they were just watching TV, eh?

Lots of room for all of us here.

Of course, they also liked to sprawl on our laps. Clyde, to kiss Mommy's nose and Bonnie just to feel some skin.

I mentioned that the two of them liked a little scrap. They also loved some snow to run around in. This video always brings a smile to me.

You, I don't like! Grrr!

There is so much to say about Bonnie. Suffice it to say, she brought us joy, comfort and uncomfortable love. She loved everyone, well, everyone but a particular toy we bought one Christmas, a sort of Schnauzer-like door stop. For some reason, she took great umbrage to it. She would lie there and then of a sudden would attack it... trying to bite off its face. It was so funny.

Bonnie's Last Photo

Ah well. we all miss her dearly. In the end, she just got tired of her physical troubles. Her last moments were peaceful, quiet and she got many hugs from us and kisses from Clyde. 

Good-bye to our lovely dear. 

A Mid-month Update

Happy Father's Day to all of you Dads (especially my Dad)!

Jo is in bed. Clyde is lying on the floor watching me type. I've got England vs Serbia on the television in the other room and am tracking the Blue Jays game on my pc as I type this. Oh! And I got a nice card from Jennifer. So let's do a reading / new book update.

I completed six books so far in June, a mix of children's stories, graphics and novels of a few different genres. I've updated my reading in my last post here so I'll just continue with that.

Completed

1. How to Stand up to a Dictator: The Fight for our Future by Maria Ressa (Non-Fic / 2022).

"I first heard of Maria Ressa one night watching Stephen Colbert's show. On the show she discussed her book, How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future. I was so very impressed listening to her talk that I felt I should get the book. So, of course, I did. I'm glad that I did, even though the subject matter is very depressing.

The story is a biography but it is focused on the past few years when Maria was working as a reporter and more in the Philippines. She worked for the biggest broadcaster in the Philippines, ABS - CBN. She worked for CNN as a Far East as a reporter and bureau chief. With broadcasting friends, she established Rappeler, an innovative online news organization which was one of the most successful on the Facebook platform.

However, this story is mainly a cautionary tale. Maria has spent the latter years fighting the corruption of the Duterte regime in the Philippines and has had to deal with online harassment from Duterte's hate platforms, as well as fight against corruption charges from a corrupt regime. All the while, she has continued to work for freedom of the press, for an honest press. She received a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.

It's a fascinating story and a warning. Despots and fascists and right wing fanatics have taken over the internet, use Facebook to spew vitriol and to ruin peoples' lives. The Duterte regime was expert at this and this skill has been passed to other right wing regimes; Hungary, Myanmar, even the US. 

Maria Ressa tries to explain how to fight back. She has 3 pillars to fight with -

- Technology. Demand accountability from technology starting with government action. One thing that Rappeler rolled out was Lighthouse, a technology platform built by journalists to try to preserve public discourse around facts.

- Protect and grow investigative journalism. There is a global initiative International Fund for Public Interest Media, a short - medium term solution to the drop in advertising revenues of news groups all around the world.

- Build larger and larger communities of action. Collaborate to protect frontline journalists. 

It's a constant fight to preserve democracy and a free press is part of that. The story is well - written, interesting, tense and provides a great picture of Maria and her friends / partners and their efforts to keep reporting under horrendous pressure. It should be read because one thing Donald Trump and allies want is an uneducated public and part of the way to achieve that is to seed  and foment distrust against a free press. Anyway, check it out. (4.5 stars)"

2. A Circus of Hells by Poul Anderson (Flandry #2 / 1970). No it's not another book about Trump's presidency, although it would be an appropriate one. 😎

"A Circus of Hells is the 2nd book in the Flandry Sci Fi series by Poul Anderson. Like Horatio Hornblower, Flandry seems to gain higher rank throughout the series. (Well, at least from the 1st to the 2nd when he goes from Ensign to Lt. 😃😎). I can't say it's my favorite Sci Fi series but the books are short and there is something entertaining about them.

In this story, Flandry is assigned to a planet on the outskirts where he works as an Intelligence officer. Yes, he's bored and when he's assigned to scout around the fringe planets for possible intrusion by the enemy Merseians. He is persuaded, for a 'small' fee, to take a side trip to investigate another planet, which may possess mineral riches. He agrees but also has to take along a representative of the man who hired him, a beautiful woman named Djana. Unfortunately for Flandry, she's working for another group.

The planet is filled with dangerous robots but Flandry and Djana manage to escape, only to tumble into another predicament. The folks for whom Djana work, also work for the Merseians. Yup, from the kettle into the fire, so to speak. Thus further adventures ensue on the planet Talwin, where the Merseians have established a base of their own; partly to study the planet's inhabitants and partly a Navy base.

So lots going on. Flandry tries to find ways to escape. Djana falls under the sway of the lead Merseian, Ydwyr. Flandry works with the indigenous folks to help his escape. As I say, lots going on. Lots of moving back and forth between Flandry and Djana and side trips to see how the aliens' minds and lives work. There is almost too much going on that distracts from the adventure portion. It's a combination of pulp Sci Fi, like those old serials you used to get at the movies, and an exploration of other worlds. I found that sometimes irritating as I didn't want distractions from the fun and games. But it was ok, to say the least and I'll still continue with the adventure. 2.0 stars"

3. The Big Jump by Leigh Brackett (1955). It was released the year I was born, it must be good.

"The Big Jump by Leigh Brackett was a surprisingly good Sci Fi story, short but very well-written and interesting. I've read three other of Brackett's books; an excellent crime thriller, The Tiger Among Us and two other Sci Fi novels which were mostly just entertaining; The Sword of Rhiannon and The Nemesis from Terra.

The Big Jump refers to a new space technology that permits mankind to move to the other galaxies with no time lapse. It's all done in real time. One voyage has been attempted with a crew of five. The story starts with the return of this voyage and a break in at the compound on Mars where the 'survivors are being kept. Arch Comyn needs to find out if an old friend, Paul Rogers, returned from the expedition. Rogers saved him many years ago.

What Comyn finds is disturbing and will start a chain of events that leads to a 2nd voyage to Barnard's star. Only one of the crew has returned, Ballantyne, and he has been changed by whatever he discovered. He has not spoken to the people holding him; all belonging to the Cochrane Company. But when Comyn breaks in, Ballantyne tells him something and begins screaming.

Comyn won't tell Cochrane what he has heard unless they will let him go on the next trip to Barnard's star so he can try to find his friend. The Cochranes believe a new energy has been discovered. So there you go, another voyage is planned and sets off and something is discovered.

It's a short, well-crafted, taut Sci-Fi adventure. The characters are all interesting. The plot is neat and not too technical. Everything happens quickly, holds your attention and draws you in. A most enjoyable Sci Fi story. (4.0 stars)"

4. When Stars are Scattered by Omar Mohamed & Victoria Jamieson (2020).

"I was checking out the latest arrivals in one of my favorite local book stores, Books 4 Brains, and as usual picked up a few. When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed; Victoria Jamieson was one of the books I picked up. I had to try it right away and once started could not put down this wonderful graphic novel. It tells the true story of the childhoods of Omar and his brother, Hassan, as they grow up in a refugee camp, Dadaab, in Kenya.

Omar and Hassan are parentless. They came from war-torn Somalia along with thousands of other refugees. Omar saw his father shot to death by 'soldiers' and lost contact with his mother. When they arrive in the camp, they are put together and taken under the wing of Fatumah who becomes their de facto guardian / mother.

The story tells of their growing up in this refugee camp. It's a difficult, boring life. Omar looks after his younger brother. Hassan cannot vocalize, uses only one expression, Hooyo, which, we discover much later, does mean something. Hassan also suffers from seizures and the refugee camp doctors can't discover the cause or know how to treat them. 

Eventually, Omar start going to school with his best friend Jeri. He is persuaded that it's the best way he can get help for his brother. An education might put him on the List of those refugees selected to be moved to a host country, the US, Canada, etc. At school, Omar also becomes friends with two young girls, Nimo and Maryam. Both want an education so they don't have to marry. All of the children have great ambitions to be teachers, lawyers, social workers.

But as Omar says, 'refugee camps are supposed to be a temporary place to stay until it's safe to go back home. I guess no one expected the war to last so long, though, because Hassan and I have been here for 7 years'. Life is often a boring wait, lining up for water, lining up for food. As each month ends, their monthly ration begins to dry up and the children go hungry until the next food ration is provided. 

It's hard for all the children but for the girls even more so. Some are allowed to go to school, but at lunch time must rush home to do their chores to help feed, wash, etc their siblings and care for their parents. Maryam, who desperately wants to go to Canada to go to college is married off to help provide her family with enough money to continue to support the other children. But even with that heartbreak, she helps Omar with his brother so he can continue with his education.

It's a heartbreaking story but wonderfully told and even in this heartbreak there is hope, joy, positivity. The boys continue to hope that their mother will eventually come to the camp. Omar and Hassan are finally selected to go to the US where Omar has become an advocate for refugees and now helps those who STILL live in Camp Dadaab. The story definitely opens your eyes to the plight of the countless refugees around the world. Beautifully drawn by Victoria Jamieson, beautifully told by Omar Mohamed and brightly colored by Iman Geddy. (4.5 stars)"

5. Ms. Tree: Heroine Withdrawal by Max Allan Collins (Ms. Tree #5 / 2023).

"I've enjoyed the Ms. Tree graphic novel series by Max Allan Collins very much. Great graphics and entertaining hard crime stories. Ms. Tree Vol. 5: Heroine Withdrawal was basically similar but also it seemed a bit of 'going through the motions'. 

It's a collection of 5 individual stories which, in this book, are tied together. So let's see. 

Story 1. Her nemesis, crime boss Muerta, is returning to the US to stand trial. He's holed up on his estate, basically bed - ridden. Ms. Tree's partner, Dan, who lost an eye and hand in a previous confrontation with the Muerta gang, seeks revenge and is found over the dead body of Muerta and others. He proclaims his innocence, is locked up and Mike (that's Ms. Tree's name) investigates.

Story 2. This story was definitely not my favorite. Mike is forced to hide out from the Muertas and stay out of her PI business due to what happened in the 1st story. She meets her dead husband's ex - cop partner and ends up trying to help him. He's gone a bit loco and is now hanging out with an anti-abortion group that is picketing an abortion clinic. He wants to blow it up. I just found this a topic that shouldn't be glossed over and it felt like it was just used to be hard - hitting??

Story 3. Because of the events in Story 2, Mike is sent to lock up. She basically didn't follow the judge's rulings that she not be involved in crime cases until her trial. While in this county jail, attempts are made on Mike's life, she befriends her fellow inmates and exposes corruption within the jail. Woo hoo!

Story 4. Mike's lawyer makes a deal with the DA prosecuting Mike that she will attend a psychiatric facility and plead to an insanity defense to avoid the trouble of a trial. While there, Mike delves into her feelings, discovers an inmate who has seen a murder by a popular politician and gets her agency to investigate and saves herself and the fellow inmate.

Story 5. Mike is released from the psychiatric facility, taking tranquilizers and admitting to herself that violence isn't the only solution to solving crime. This forces her partners, son-in-law and even her exec assistant to take the mantle of trying to protect her from mob forces and endangering themselves. All is made good in the end of course.... 

Anyway, it was an action - packed collection, well drawn, but not totally satisfying. I'll see how #6 is when it's released. (3.0 stars)."

Currently Reading

1. Ratlines by Stuart Neville (2013).

"Ireland 1963. As the Irish people prepare to welcome President John F. Kennedy to the land of his ancestors, a German national is murdered in a seaside guesthouse. Lieutenant Albert Ryan, Directorate of Intelligence, is ordered to investigate. The German is the third foreigner to die within a few days, and Minister for Justice Charles Haughey wants the killing to end lest a shameful secret be the dead men were all Nazis granted asylum by the Irish government in the years following World War II.

A note from the killers is found on the dead German's corpse, addressed to Colonel Otto Skorzeny, Hitler's favorite commando, once called the most dangerous man in Europe. The note simply "We are coming for you."

As Albert Ryan digs deeper into the case he discovers a network of former Nazis and collaborators, all presided over by Skorzeny from his country estate outside Dublin. When Ryan closes in on the killers, his loyalty is torn between country and conscience. Why must he protect the very people he fought against twenty years before? Ryan learns that Skorzeny might be a dangerous ally, but he is a deadly enemy."

2. The Caves of Night by John Christopher (1958).

"Five people enter the Frohnberg caves, three men and two women. In the glare of the Austrian sunshine, the cool underground depths seem an attractive proposition – until the collapse of a cave wall blocks their return to the outside world. Faced with an unexplored warren of tunnels and caves, rivers and lakes, twisting and ramifying under the mountain range, they can only hope that there is an exit to be found on the other side.

For Cynthia, the journey through the dark labyrinths mirrors her own sense of guilt and confusion about the secret affair she has recently embarked upon. And whilst it is in some ways a comfort to share this possibly lethal ordeal with her lover Albrecht, only her husband Henry has the knowledge and experience that may lead them all back to safety.

But can even Henry’s sang froid and expertise be enough, with the moment fast approaching when their food supplies will run out, and the batteries of their torches fail, leaving them to stumble blindly through the dark?"

3. Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker by Robert Mankoff (2004). Jo bought me this at the local Auxiliary Thrift Store and I've been slowly going through it. Most enjoyable.

"The book that Janet Maslin of The New York Times has called "indispensable" and "a transfixing study of American mores and manners that happens to incorporate boundless laughs, too" is finally available in paperback—fully updated and featuring a brand new introduction by Adam Gopnik.

Organized by decade, with commentary by some of the magazine's finest writers, this landmark collection showcases the work of the hundreds of talented artists who have contributed cartoons over the course of The New Yorker's eight-two-year history. From the early cartoons of Peter Arno, George Price and Charles Addams to the cutting-edge work of Alex Gregory, Matthew Diffee and Bruce Eric Kaplan (with stops along the way for the genius of Charles Barsotti, Roz Chast, Jack Ziegler, George Booth, and many others), the art collected here forms, as David Remnick puts it in his Foreword, "the longest-running popular comic genre in American life."

Throughout the book, brief overviews of each era's predominant themes—from the Depression and nudity to technology and the Internet, highlight various genres of cartoons and shed light on our pastimes and preoccupations. Brief profiles and mini-portfolios spotlight the work of key cartoonists, including Arno, Chast, Ziegler, and others.

The DVD-ROM included with the book is what really makes the "Complete Cartoons" complete. Compatible with most home computers and easily browsable, the disk contains a mind-boggling 70,363 cartoons, indexed in a variety of ways. Perhaps you'd like to find all the cartoons by your favorite artist. Or maybe you'd like to look up the cartoons that ran the week you were born, or all of the cartoons on a particular subject. Of course, you can always begin at the beginning, February 21, 1925, and experience the unprecedented pleasure of reading through every single cartoon ever published in The New Yorker .

Enjoy this one-of-a-kind protrait of American life over the past eight decades, as captured by the talented pens and singular outlooks of the masters of the cartoonist's art."

New Books

1. When the Tripods Came by John Christopher (Tripods 0.5 / 1988).

"When it comes to alien invasions, bad things come in threes. Three landings. One in England, one in Russia, and one in the United States. Three long legs, crushing everything in their paths, with three metallic arms, snaking out to embrace -- and then discard -- their helpless victims. Three evil beings, called Tripods, which will change life on this planet forever."

2. Catwings Return by Ursula K. Le Guin (Catwings #2 / 1989).

"Wishing to visit their mother, the winged cats leave their new country home to return to the city, where they discover a winged kitten in a building imminently to be demolished."

3. Lore Olympus: Vol Six by Rachel Smythe (Lore #6 / 2024).

"Witness what the gods do after dark in the sixth volume of a stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes content from creator Rachel Smythe.

“We have to make an example of her.”

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother’s decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld—and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus’s ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.

But as Hades and Persephone’s relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis’s friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone’s loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.

And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released. . . ."

4. The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet #1 / 2008). Yup, a new graphic novel series for me to try.

"There's something strange behind the basement door...

After a family tragedy, Emily, Navin and their mother move to an ancestral home to start a new life. On the family's very first night in the mysterious house, Em and Navin's mom is kidnapped by a tentacled creature. Now it's up to Em and Navin to figure out how to set things right and save their mother's life!"

5. Snow in the Year of the Dragon by H. Leighton Dickson (Upper Kingdom #4 / 2018).

"“Shame comes to the House of Fangxieng! Shame sits on the old wooden seat!”

The dying words of an assassin, sent to kill Empress Thothloryn Parillaud Markova Wu, echo though the halls and prayer rooms of Pol' Lhasa, as political tensions seethe in this next chapter in the Rise of the Upper Kingdom. With a coup threatening the Eastern Kingdom, and anarchy in the North, Unification has never seemed so far off.

The Shogun-General’s team is divided and facing hostility at every turn. Back in Pol' Lhasa, Sireth and Ursa are determined to uncover spies at the highest levels of government, while Setse and Yahn Nevye struggle with the daunting task of training Oracles in a land that despises them. Solomon finds life, death and deceit in Sandman 3, Kalgoorlie, and the Sandman bases of NorAm regroup in the shadow of IAR.

Meanwhile, Kirin, Kerris and the others journey to the mysterious city of Shin Sekai under the 'protection' of the Snow Guard. Here, they discover a gruesome secret at the heart of the Capuchin Council and the Court of the Rising Suns. With snow and Snow thwarting their every move, the leaders of the Nine Thousand Dragons will be hard-pressed to get out of this New World alive."

6. The Art of Neil Gaiman by Hayley Campbell (2014).

"The world is simply composed of stories."

Novelist, comics writer, scriptwriter, poet, and occasional artist, there are few creative avenues Neil Gaiman hasn't ventured down—from unforgettable books like The Ocean at the End of the Lane and American Gods to groundbreaking comics and graphic novels like The Sandman and Violent Cases; from big-screen fantasies like Coraline and Stardust to small-screen epics like Doctor Who and Neverwhere; and from short stories to songwriting, stage plays to radio plays, journalism to filmmaking, and all points in between.

The Art of Neil Gaiman is the first book to tell the full story of his amazing creative life. Never-before-seen manuscripts, notes, cartoons, drawings, and personal photographs from Neil's own archive are complemented by artwork and sketches from all his major works and his own intimate recollections. Each project is examined in turn, from genesis to fruition, and positioned in the wider narrative of Gaiman's creative life, affording unparalleled access to the inner workings of the writer's mind.

Utterly comprehensive, lavishly illustrated, The Art of Neil Gaiman is the fully authorized account of the life and work of one of the world's great storytellers."

7. The Day of their Return by Poul Anderson (Flandry #4 / 1973).

"Aeneas is the powder keg of the universe, a frontier planet where rebellion is a way of life--and death. Smarting under the thumb of the Terran Empire after an almost successful war against Imperial rule, the Aeneans are swept up in a fanatical religious movement that promises the return of the Elder Race."

Women Authors Whose Works I've Been Enjoying - Victoria Thompson

Victoria Thompson was born in Washington, DC in 1948. I discovered her Gaslight mysteries back in 2012 with the first in the series, Murder in Astor Place. Since then I've enjoyed the 1st six books in the series. They got better and better. Since the first book in this series came out in 1999, she has published 27 more books in the series. She also has other series published but this is by far the most prolific. I'll provide the review of the 6th book and also the synopses of a few others to give you an idea of the series.

1. Murder on Marble Row (#6 / 2004).

"I've enjoyed the Gaslight Mysteries since the very first book. Murder on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson is the sixth book in the series. In this latest mystery, mid-wife Sarah Brandt and Detective Sgt Frank Malloy investigate the murder of wealthy industrialist Gregory van Dyke. He is killed in an explosion at his office. Suspects abound; oldest son Creighton who has left home and taken up with anarchists, van Dyke's partner Mr. Snowberger with whom there has been considerable enmity, youngest son Tad, the anarchists, etc. Frank is assigned the case by the Police Commissioner, Teddy Roosevelt, himself, which adds to the pressure on him.

It's an entertaining story. Both Sarah and Frank are wonderful characters, both with their own issues. Sarah has strong feelings for a young girl living in an 'orphanage' but her lifestyle as a mid-wife makes her concerned about adopting her. Frank's young deaf son, Brian, has shown steady improvement after surgery to repair his club-foot and Frank is now trying to sort out whether he should go to school. We don't see as much of Sarah's neighbor, Mrs Ellsworth but there is enough to still enjoy her character. But in this story, Sarah's mother, Mrs. Decker, plays a bigger role and her common sense attitude and straight forward ways are a breath of fresh air. She accompanies Sarah in her investigations, even travelling on the subway and wandering around the streets of the seedier areas of New York. It was nice to see her playing a bigger role.

All in all, it's an entertaining story, frantic at times and it progresses very nicely, investigation mixed with the personal lives of Sarah and Frank. The picture of New York in the early 1900's is well portrayed and the characters are all interesting. Has their been progress in Sarah's and Frank's relationship? Well, somewhat maybe, but you'd have to read it to come to your own conclusions. Still entertaining and enjoyable, much recommended. (4.0 stars)"

2. Murder in Chinatown (#9 / 2007).

"Sarah Brandt finds herself involved in the secretive world of Chinatown when she is called to attend the Irish-American wife of a Chinese merchant. Since the United States government has prohibited Chinese women from immigrating, many Chinese men in New York City have married Irish girls. Although these women encounter prejudice from the white community, Sarah learns that the women are quite happy with their lot in life.

Their mixed-race children don’t necessarily share their contentment, however, and when one of these girls runs away, Sarah uses her detecting skills to help her family find her. When the girl is later murdered, Sarah must ask her friend, Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, for help. Has someone in her family killed her for rejecting an arranged marriage with a Chinese man to elope with a penniless Irish lad? Has her would-be fiancé killed her for dishonoring him? Or has someone in her husband’s family killed her because of her mixed blood?

Together, Frank and Sarah must learn to understand the Chinese culture before they can unravel the secrets of Chinatown and find a killer."

3. Murder on Lenox Hill (#7 / 2005).

"A midwife working in the tenements of turn-of-the-last-century New York, Sarah Brandt is summoned by the wealthy Lintons to confirm their worst fear: their teenaged daughter is with child. It's a mystery, however, since the young woman - mentally still a child herself - is never left alone.

With the help of her friend Detective Sergeant Malloy, Sarah vows to crack this delicate case, especially since suspicion is on those close to the Lintons. Then, when one of the suspects is poisoned, Sarah knows she must uncover the truth before more lives are ruined."

4. Murder on Bank Street (#10 / 2008).

"In the four years since her husband's death, midwife Sarah Brandt has become an angel of mercy in the tenements of turn-of-the-century New York. Now, Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy has taken up the task of solving the murder of Dr. Tom Brandt. But the shocking revelation he discovers may destroy Sarah-and Malloy's hopes for any future with her."

So there you go, a brief taste of Thompson's Gaslight series. If you want a complete list of Thompson's writing, check out this link. Enjoy the rest of your June.