The Olympics Have Started!!!

I apologize for taking so long between Blog posts. I don't know why it's been so long. Maybe the Manana Proposition fits the bill. I definitely know that's the policy I've been following when it comes to mowing the lawn. Poor Clyde gets lost out in the long grass these days... If he's not battling the creeping blackberry vines.

Before I get down to updating my books; new ones, just finished and currently reading, I just wanted to say that Jo and I are enjoying the Olympics so far. The Opening ceremonies were so neat. The whole idea of doing the intro to the athletes by having them travel down the Seine on boats was cool. 

The French opera singer who sang the French national anthem was so powerful and she was stunning standing on the roof. And what can I say about Celine Dion. Considering the health issues she's been dealing with, she was so wonderful. Brought tears to both of our eyes. What a voice! What strength of character! 

We've been enjoying the Games as well although it's totally screwed up our sleeping habits. I've sort of failed to stay up overnight to watch events live. Jo's much better at it than I am. But we do catch up all day long. I'm very proud of the Canadian team. I'm pissed off at what happened to the women's soccer team. Who doesn't scout out their opponents before a game??? But I'm cheering for them to overcome all the adversity and win the Gold! Please! What a finish to the game against France yesterday. Both of us were screaming with joy. LOL. And today we won our third medal.... so far. Men's synchro diving. That's a first. Yesterday we won our first ever fencing medal. So things are good. Now more swimming medals please. 🥇

Now. On to books. It's been two weeks since my last update so there may be a bit of highlighting. We'll see. Let's start with completed books.

Just Completed

(I've completed seven books since my last update. Let's check out 4)

1. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #4). I've read this a few times over the years but I've been focusing on Le Guin this year and it's in the middle of the Hainish series. 

"One of my all time favorites. Great story; I can read again and again. 

(Latest reread). I think this is at least the 3rd time I've read The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. I read it the first time in university as one of the books in a Science Fiction novel course I took. What a great course! Reading two Sci Fi books a week and being graded on either a review of a book or for having written a Sci Fi short story. What more could a Sci Fi fan ask? And it introduced me to so many great authors, including Le Guin. 

I read it again as I'm working through her Hainish Cycle and it's the 4th book in this Sci Fi series. The basic story is of Genly Ai, a representative of the Ekumen, a conglomeration of planets who try to add other planets to the grouping. Genly has been landed on the planet Gethen (aka Winter) to try and persuade the peoples' to join the planets. A spaceship with other representatives orbits the sun, with its crew in hibernation, awaiting word from Genly.

The beings of Gethen, divided into various individual states are 'its'. When they come into 'kemmer', i.e. ready to procreate, they become either women, ready to bear children, or male. They can change each time. It's an interesting sexual situation.

Each state / country has its own type of government. Where Genly lands first, Karhide (city of Ehrenrang), it is ruled by a king, Aragaven, who is somewhat insane. Genly is under the 'protection / guidance' of Estraven, the king's Head of State. The other country we visit in the course of the story is Orgereyn, divided into Commensals and I think the best similarity here on Earth is Communist Russia, especially under Stalin, where everyone is spied upon.

Over the course of the story, Estraven will be called a traitor by the 'mad' King, his job taken over by the plotting Tibe and Estraven will be forced to flee to Orgereyn or he will be executed. Genly comes under disfavor. The King distrusts this concept of joining a league of planets as he feels he will be subsumed into it and become minor and insignificant. Genly also makes his way to Orgereyn, where he will eventually be made a prisoner. He and Estraven will undertake a dangerous journey across the glaciers back to Karhide to escape his imprisonment.

That is the story in its simplest I think. In this third .... or fourth... reading, it took me awhile to get back into it. I think I've become used to reading books with more action. But in fact, especially at the end, it's a tense, fascinating story. There are so many elements to it. You have this sexual nature of the Gethenanians, in comparison to Genly's human, where Genly is considered a pervert for being always in 'kemmer'. You've got the various political situations. Overlaid with it is Winter, itself, a cold, forbidding planet that Genly will eventually come to love. There is a rich emotional context as well, the growing of a relationship between Genly and Estraven, the growth of the understanding by Genly of the planet his is on and its people and its nature. Reading it again reminded me of how grat the story is. I'm moving on to the next Hainish book, The Dispossessed (5 stars)"

2. Wycliffe in Paul's Square by W.J. Burley (Superintendent Wycliffe #9). I focused on Burley in July and managed to read 3 of this excellent crime series. 

"Wycliffe in Paul's Court is the 3rd Wycliffe mystery I've read this past month and each one has been excellent. It's the 9th book in the series by W.J. Burley.

In this story, we start with DS Kersley until Wycliffe makes his appearance. Paul's Court is a small little square of 4 apartments. You've got Willy Goppel, who makes miniature doll houses. He lives over his shop. The Wards live in the other half and run the local sub post office. There are the parents and their two kids, teenagers Alison and Henry. You've got the Fiskes, husband and wife and their mentally handicapped boy, Marty. There are the retired couple, the Hedleys. Mrs. Hedley is interested in tarot. Finally there is Natalie Cole who runs a local night club and likes to sun bath naked in the courtyard. She lives with boyfriend, garage owner, Geoff Bishop. Natalie has a teenage daughter as well, Yvette who goes to school with the Ward kids.

That's the basic situation. Willy Goppel has a son Frederick who has moved out and lives in town with the Hedley's nephew, Tony (aka Pongo). Willy is a German immigrant who married an English girl and has lived in England for many years. His wife died years ago. It turns out that Willy has a secret. He has passed himself off as a German Jew who escaped from Germany but his papers indicate something else. They have been stolen and then somebody sent them to the local police, addressed to Sgt Kersey. After the Sgt.'s visit, where he indicates he has to send the papers to the Home Office, events begin to take off.

Yvette turns up missing. Kersey begins to investigate and gradually Superintendent Wycliffe becomes involved. When a body turns up and then another, things begin to get really interesting. I'll leave the story there as I wouldn't want to ruin your enjoyment. Suffice it to say that W.J. Burley knows how to tell a story. His characters are all interesting, his plot line fascinating and the story flows very nicely. There are a variety of story lines as you get to know the characters, some with secrets, but all will out eventually. The investigation is methodical, but at the same time there is room for Wycliffe's jumps of intuition. His relationship with his team is excellent as he is well - respected and straight forward. A most enjoyable mystery and just a great story. I'm glad I still have more of the series to read. (4.0 stars)"

3. Six Ostriches by Philipp Schott (Dr. Bannerman #2).

"Six Ostriches is the 2nd book in the Dr. Peter Bannerman mystery series by Canadian veterinarian / mystery writer Philipp Schott. The 3rd book in the series, Eleven Huskies came out in 2024. For once I'm caught up with a series!!! 😎

The series has many things of interest to me. It's by a Canadian author. I've lived in Winnipeg (ok, I lived there one year, but it felt like 4!) Manitoba. The series is set just outside so it kind of resonates with me. And, of course, I like animals so a mystery series featuring a vet is kind of neat. (I guess it's not many things, but still).

In #2, spring is just around the corner. Peter visits a local farm which is raising ostriches because one of them seems to have swallowed something. Performing surgery on the ostrich, he discovers it swallowed what appears to be a Viking artifact. (Critical point here - The local area has been heavily populated by Icelandic and Finnish immigrants for many years). The perceived artifact is a mjolnir which Peter takes to the University in Winnipeg to have examined by an expert on Viking artifacts, Grim for short. Grim believes it to be an ancient artifact and that it supports his theory that Vikings settled in the Winnipeg area around the time when they were exploring Newfoundland.

Peter also finds himself (plus the local RCMP detachment, which includes his gay brother - in - law, Kevin) investigating a series of animal murders and mutilations. Peter wants to get involved in the investigation but due to what happened in the first story (Peter was almost killed) both his wife, Laura, and his brother - in - law, emphatically tell him to stay out of the investigation. However, we know that Peter won't be able to or the story would end right there. Along with his wonderful scent dog Pippin, Peter tries to find out who is killing loved farm animals.

Throw in a secretive local white supremacist (Odin followers) movement that believe they are the original settlers???? and you've got the makings of an interesting story. Both Peter and Pippin are in danger, especially Pippin. I like that Peter's wife, who makes a living knitting thematic sweaters (pop culture themes) even gets more involved, especially with a strong knowledge of the internet.

The story moves along nicely. The characters are all interesting and getting more and more developed. I could have done without the brief interlude with Peter's ex-girlfriend, even though it's not pursued. (Just sort of a throwaway... although maybe it's a teaser for #3) I kind of had the main suspect sussed out, but it didn't matter because even there, the story kept me unsure. It's all resolved kind of nicely and quickly once you get to the end. But #2 was more enjoyable than the first and it seems that Schott is finding a nice stride with this series. #3 is currently on order. (3.5 stars)"

4. The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi (The Amulet #2).

"The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi is the 2nd YA / Fantasy graphic novel in the Amulet series. I have to say that so far I love it. I love the art work, the coloring, the characters and the story. It's an engrossing, entertaining adventure story set in a wonderful, fascinating world. 

Emily and Navin now find themselves wholly in the world below the basement of their great grandfather's home. Their mother has been bitten by a poisonous spider and is in a coma. The two desperately are seeking a cure. Their great grandfather's robots, Miskit, Cogsley and the others are now taking their home (yes, it walks) to the city of Kanalis to try and find a doctor and a cure.

The evil elves want to stop them. Emily is wearing one of the magic amulets and they know she is now a threat to their security. Emily must learn to control the being within the amulet as it wants OUT!

In Kanalis, which is under the thumb of the Elves where people are changed into animal shapes, there is also a resistance. We also meet the Fox, Leon Redbeard, who is much like Puss 'n Boots, offers his services to help Emily and Navin find the cure for her mother. The Elves attack the doctor's house, the Resistance and Navin escape through tunnels while Emily, Leon and Miskit escape across the rooftops.

It's now a race to find the fruit tree that has the cure. There is even some friction amongst the Elves. The Elf King's son is having an internal battle, loyalty to his father but hatred of him as well because of his treatment. And don't forget the entlike trees who see into the future.

It's a rich, deep story. I love the characters. I love the imagination (the walking house are so neat) and I love the way it is drawn, rich colours, lots of action. Check the series out. Enjoy the heroes. Enjoy the fantasy. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Old Man's War by John Scalzi (Old Man's War #1 / 2005). I've wanted to start this series for awhile now.

"John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.

The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-- and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So: we fight. To defend Earth, and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has been going on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.

Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.

John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine--and what he will become is far stranger."

2. Maigret in Holland by Georges Simenon (Maigret #8 / 1931). The Maigret series will be my August focus.

"On his latest case, Maigret finds himself in the town of Delfzijl investigating the murder of a teacher. He is presented with two clues-a sailor's cap in the bathtub and a Manila cigar butt-and a gaggle of suspects, including a flirtatious farmer's daughter, an angry lawyer, a larcenous ship owner, an unaccountably frightened cadet, and a pompous criminologist with a revolver. The Inspector, in turn, is preoccupied with a suspicious pathway lit by a lighthouse beam, which leads him to wonder if this is the kind of spot where secret lovers might be discovered..."

3. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #5 / 1974).

"The Principle of Simultaneity is a scientific breakthrough which will revolutionize interstellar civilization by making possible instantaneous communication. It is the life work of Shevek, a brilliant physicist from the arid anarchist world of Anarres. But Shevek’s work is being stifled by jealous colleagues, so he travels to Anarres’s sister-planet Urras, hoping to find more liberty and tolerance there. But he soon finds himself being used as a pawn in a deadly political game."

4. Poems from the Women's Movement by Honor Moore (2009).

"In 1965, Sylvia Plath’s posthumous  Ariel  took the literary world by storm with its fierce and undeniably female voice. For the next 15 years, America saw a historic outpouring of women’s poetry supported by and supporting the women’s movement. As editor Moore points out, poetry was vital to the movement, articulating previously unexpressed lives, empowering others as the poets found their own power. . . . And all who missed these missiles and epistles then will find them still demanding and invigorating.”— Booklist  (starred review)

“What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? / The world would split open.” These lines by Muriel Rukeyser epitomize the spirit that animated a whole generation of women poets, from the 1960s to the 1980s, who in exploring the unspoken truths of their lives sparked a literary revolution. Honor Moore’s anthology presents fifty-eight poets whose work defines an era, among them Sylvia Plath, Adrienne Rich, Anne Sexton, Sonia Sanchez, May Swenson, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde, Anne Waldman, Sharon Olds, Diane Di Prima, Lucille Clifton, Judy Grahn, Alice Notley, and Eileen Myles. Here is a fresh and revelatory look at a crucial time in American poetry that presents the full range of its themes and approaches and a generous sampling of its most compelling voices."

New Books

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Throne #1 / 2012).

"Lethal. Loyal. Legendary.

In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not come to kill him. She has come to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three murderers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she will be released from prison to serve as the King's Champion.

Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. And a princess from a faraway country will befriend her. But something rotten dwells in the castle, and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying mysteriously, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival-and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world."

2. Selected Stories by Philip K. Dick (1982).

"Philip K. Dick was a master of science fiction, but he was also a writer whose work transcended genre to examine the nature of reality and what it means to be human. A writer of great complexity and subtle humor, his work belongs on the shelf of great twentieth-century literature, next to Kafka and Vonnegut. Collected here are twenty-one of Dick's most dazzling and resonant stories, which span his entire career and show a world-class writer working at the peak of his powers.

In "The Days of Perky Pat," people spend their time playing with dolls who manage to live an idyllic life no longer available to the Earth's real inhabitants. "Adjustment Team" looks at the fate of a man who by mistake has stepped out of his own time. In "Autofac," one community must battle benign machines to take back control of their lives. And in "I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon," we follow the story of one man whose very reality may be nothing more than a nightmare. The collection also includes such classic stories as "The Minority Report," the basis for the Steven Spielberg movie, and "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," the basis for the film Total Recall. Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick is a magnificent distillation of one of American literature's most searching imaginations.

» Introduction by Jonathan Lethem
1. Beyond Lies the Wub
2. Roog
3. Paycheck
4. Second Variety
5. Imposter
6. The King of the Elves
7. Adjustment Team
8. Foster, You're Dead!
9. Upon the Dull Earth
10. Autofac
11. The Minority Report
12. The Days of Perky Pat
13. Precious Artifact
14. A Game of Unchance
15. We Can Remember It for You Wholesale
16. Faith of Our Fathers
17. The Electric Ant
18. A Little Something for Us Tempunauts
19. The Exit Door Leads In
20. Rautavaara's Case
21. I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon"

3. Nothing Special by Katie Cook (2024).

"Two not-so-human teenagers and a friendly ghost radish face the fantasy adventure of a lifetime in this captivating graphic novel, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes material, from the inimitable Katie Cook.

In the grand scheme of the worlds at large, Callie thinks she's nothing special. Sure, she's friends with the ghost of a radish and her dad owns a magical antique shop--but she's spent her life in the human world. Her dad won't let her join him on his collection trips in the magical realm “for her own protection”, so she’s only caught glimpses of that world through the gates of the town where her father’s store is.

On her seventeenth birthday, Callie goes home with her friend Declan to find her home in disarray and her dad missing. Signs of a struggle point to the portal to the magical realm and when there are signs, you follow them. Now it's up to Callie, Declan, and Radish to band together and bring him home. As they face creatures good and bad, and all sorts of adventure, Callie and Declan may just find out that they are both special in their own ways after all."

4. The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie (Age of Madness #3 / 2021).

"Chaos. Fury. Destruction.

 
The Great Change is upon us . . .
 
Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry, and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds.
 
With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch. And in the bloody North, Rikke and her fragile Protectorate are running out of allies . . . while Black Calder gathers his forces and plots his vengeance.
 
The banks have fallen, the sun of the Union has been torn down, and in the darkness behind the scenes, the threads of the Weaver’s ruthless plan are slowly being drawn together . . ."

5. Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo (2023). I've enjoyed her books so far.

"Flor has a gift: she can predict, to the day, when someone will die. So when she decides she wants a living wake—a party to bring her family and community together to celebrate the long life she’s led—her sisters are surprised. Has Flor foreseen her own death, or someone else’s? Does she have other motives? She refuses to tell her sisters, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila.

But Flor isn’t the only person with secrets. Matilde has tried for decades to cover the extent of her husband’s infidelity, but she must now confront the true state of her marriage. Pastora is typically the most reserved sister, but Flor’s wake motivates this driven woman to solve her sibling’s problems. Camila is the youngest sibling, and often the forgotten one, but she’s decided she no longer wants to be taken for granted.

And the next generation, cousins Ona and Yadi, face tumult of their own: Yadi is reuniting with her first love, who was imprisoned when they were both still kids; Ona is married for years and attempting to conceive. Ona must decide whether it’s worth it to keep trying—to have a child, and the anthropology research that’s begun to feel lackluster.

Spanning the three days prior to the wake, Family Lore traces the lives of each of the Marte women, weaving together past and present, Santo Domingo and New York City. Told with Elizabeth Acevedo’s inimitable and incandescent voice, this is an indelible portrait of sisters and cousins, aunts and nieces—one family’s journey through their history, helping them better navigate all that is to come."

6. The Last Council by Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet #4 / 2011). I have to see where this series takes me now.

"A FALLEN CITY WHERE TERRIBLE SECRETS ARE REVEALED...

Emily and her friends think they'll find the help they need in Cielis, but something isn't right. Streets that were once busy are deserted, and the townspeople who are left live in fear. Emily is soon escorted to the Academy, where she's expected to compete for a spot on the Guardian Council, a group of the most powerful Stonekeepers. But as the number of competitors gets smaller and smaller, an awful secret is slowly uncovered—a secret that, if left buried, means the certain destruction of everything Emily fights for."

7. The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2023).

"A girl matches wits with a war god in this kaleidoscopic, epic tale of oppression and the cost of peace, where stories hide within other stories, and narrative has the power to heal… or to burn everything in its path.

In the winding underground tunnels of the Library, the great celestial peacekeeper of the three systems, a terrible secret lies buried.

As the daughter of a Library god, Freida has spent her whole life exploring the Library's ever-changing tunnels and communing with the gods. Her unparalleled access makes her unique – and dangerous.

When Freida meets Joshua, a mortal boy desperate to save his people, and Nergüi, a Disciple from a persecuted religious minority, Freida is compelled to break ranks with the gods and help them. But in order to do so, she will have to venture deeper into the Library than she has ever known. There she will discover the atrocities of the past, the truth of her origins, and the impossibility of her future…

With the world at the brink of war, Freida embarks on a journey to fulfill her destiny, one that pits her against an ancient war god. Her mission is straightforward: Destroy the god before he can rain hellfire upon thousands of innocent lives – if he doesn't destroy her first."

So there you go, folks. I hope you see a couple of books that pique your interest. Have a great week! Oh, and Canada just won its first gold medal ever in women's judo. Woo hoo!

It's Friday, Let's Have a Reading Update.

We've had a bit of a hot spell these past few days. Mind you. From about Wednesday, a bit of a breeze picked up so it cooled off just enough. Beautiful with the patio doors open. We're all relaxing this morning. Clyde and I just returned from our noon walk and Jo is currently watching Escape to the Country.

I've basically stopped watching the news. Everything is all screwed up. The US seems determined to destroy itself from the inside. Israel is running amok and the government doesn't seem to care. It's just so frustrating and depressing. I guess the only good thing is that in some countries, the right wing is being defeated. Anyway, enough of that, let's talk about books, eh?

Just Completed

Since my last update, I've completed 3 books.

1. Wycliffe and the Pea-Green Boat by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe #6 / 1975). W.J. Burley is my focus author for July. I need to catch up a bit on this series. (Well, that was different. It seems that Blogger has updated its download features. Woo hoo!)

"I discovered the Wycliffe mystery series early in the 2000's and every year or two I try to read at least one book in the series. I haven't previously been reading them in order and it hasn't really mattered but of late I've been trying to read every series that I'm working through in order. Wycliffe and the Pea-Green Boat is the sixth book in the series and it was one of the best so far, I think. At least I really enjoyed this one, even if I did seem to have it sort of figured out.

The story is in two parts and both parts will ultimately be linked together. It starts in 1953 in an unnamed Cornish seaport. The story follows the Tremains, one of the more successful families in town. Morley, an accountant at the local mine, lives with his mother, who had been married to a Tremain brother who had committed suicide a few years previously. She runs the local shop. Morley is quiet, shy and in love with Alice Weekes who works in the store. She is relatively new to the town. The other Tremains live in Quay House and is ruled by Harry Tremain, the patriarch of the family. He has two children, Cedric, a trouble maker and Eunice, who had previously gone out with her cousin, Morley.

As the story progresses, Morley discovers things about Alice and breaks up with her. Alice is found raped and murdered and Morley is arrested and convicted of her murder and sent to prison for execution. The other Remains are key witnesses to his conviction. Morley's sentence is commuted to life imprisonment and he is released after serving 14 years. 

Moving to the present, Harry Tremain is killed when his boat, a pea-green boat to be exact, explodes. The police, investigated by one of Chief Inspector Wycliffe's under-studies, Inspector Gill, ascertains that Tremain was murdered by a bomb in his boat and he arrests Cedric Tremain. 

As it happens, Wycliffe, finally making an appearance in this story, is in the town on vaction with his wife Ruth. It seems that Wycliffe is recovering from a bad case of pneumonia and he is in town to meet his daughter, Ruth's, potential in-laws. However, Gill asks Wycliffe to look into the case as he thinks something isn't quite right. So halfway through this story, Wycliffe begins a very interesting investigation. I won't elaborate any more on the case, but it's fascinating and Wycliffe is also at his very best. The cast of 'suspects' are all very interesting. The case is also interesting, especially as you begin to intertwine the two separate cases. 

I liked the town, filled with vacationers. I just totally enjoyed the mystery, which to my mind wasn't overly complicated. But the joy of the story is that it didn't matter. Excellent mystery. (4.0 stars)"

2. The Great British Bump-off by John Allison (2023).

"The Great British Bump-Off by John Allison is a graphic novel featuring two favorites of British culture, the Great British Bake Off (or in this case UK Bakery Tent) and an Agatha Christiesque mystery. Basically lots of fun and games and some baking.

The group has arrived for a new season of the Bakery Tent, including one Shauna, a student and this season's Quirky one. Things go off the rails quite quickly when Neal, the Meteorologist is poisoned for being kind of obstreperous. Shauna takes it upon herself to investigate, while still trying to stay in the competition.

She makes friends with Jill, the 'elderly' one and Sunil, the 'Cool' one and begins making notes on the other contestants to see who might be the attempted killer. She makes enemies as well, especially Maisie, who finds her notes and thinks she's trying to ruin the competition. 

As I mentioned, it's got lots of fun and games. It's beautifully drawn and the character's are most expressive. Just enjoyable to read and to see who might be the killer and whether Shauna will survive to bake another day. Most enjoyable. (3.0 stars)"

3. Kronk by Edmund Cooper (1970).

"I'm not really sure how to rate Kronk by Edmund Cooper. I've read three other books by Cooper, one of them a collection of short stories, the other two interesting Sci - Fi novels. So I kind of knew what to expect when I started this... So I thought.

I'm probably being unfair with my rating as the story was interesting and readable, but it's a bit out there.. Like OUT THERE!

Let's see. A scientist invents a form of venereal disease that turns people peaceful, after they go through various stages; one that involves highly sexual desires and activity, then eating and then sort of a tranquil peaceful attitude. Gabriel Crome and the scientist's wife, Camilla; they were on a one year contract, decide to infect the world to cause world peace. Oh yes, the scientist had previously injected Camilla with the virus so she's already infected. She passes it on to Gabriel by, yes, having SEX with him... lots of it.

Simple right? Well, there are other story lines. There are the two twin brother spies, Peter and Ilyich Karamazov, one working for the Russians, one working for the US but actually working together. They hear about the scientist's experiments on wild animals and decide to kidnap some peaceful tigers and lions, etc. Of course, they realize they no longer trust each other.

There is also the goings on at the British Ministry of International Security and Peregrine Perrywit and Dr. Slink. Both were sort of aware of the experiments but now realize the possible impact on the world and ..... 

So all of these people are in the scene, plus a documentary group working for NaTel that set up situations to make documentaries of. Like hiring young thugs to attack and rape Gabriel and Camilla... This world which Cooper has created is dystopic to say the least. But interesting.

I don't think I got the story, but it was engrossing. The ending was kind of neat. Like I say, I may be unfair with my rating but I give it a 2.5 stars. Check it out, though as Cooper is a strange but engrossing Sci Fi author."

Currently Reading

1. Wycliffe and the School-Girls by W.J. Burley (Wycliffe #7 / 1976). It's started off very interesting.

"Bullying and persecution among a group of schoolgirls leads to violent retribution and a race against time for Wycliffe.

Two very different young women have been murdered within the same week. One was a singer in a nightclub, the other a nurse - but both were strangled in their own homes in very similar attacks. The press are quick to assume there is a psychopath on the loose, but Wycliffe suspects the truth may be somewhat more complex than that . . .

As Wycliffe searches for a link between the victims his investigations take him back in time; to a school trip, an isolated hostel and a cruel joke on a lonely student. Wycliffe is forced into a race against time to track down the murderer before they strike again."

2. Time Gladiator by Mack Reynolds (Joe Mauser / 1964). I've not read any other books by Reynolds.

"IT SEEMED AS IF EVERYONE WAS A SPY! The political situation in the 21st century was coming to the boil: one man, a scientist, held what might be the important key to ultimate power in the struggle between the three blocs: West-world, Sov-world, and Common Europe. The scientist, Auguste Bazaine, disappears, and each bloc accuses the other of kidnapping. There was only one way to settle the difference! So nine men were chosen to fight to the death in a trial by combat organized by the World Court. The winner will put his country on top. But when an American and a Russian meet face to face - the result is not what was expected!"

3. In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune (2023)

"In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?"

New Books

1. The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag (2024) I previously enjoyed the Witch Boy trilogy by Ostertag. I think this is more adult than that series.

"Everyone has secrets. Mags’s has teeth.

Magdalena Herrera is about to graduate high school, but she already feels like an adult with serious responsibilities: caring for her ailing grandmother; working a part-time job; clandestine makeouts with a girl who has a boyfriend. And then there’s her secret, which pulls her into the basement each night, drains her of energy, and leaves her bleeding. A secret that could hurt and even kill if it ever got out -- like it did once before.

So Mags keeps her head down, isolated in her small desert community. That is, until her childhood friend Nessa comes back to town, bringing vivid memories of the past, an intoxicating glimpse of the future, and a secret of her own. Mags won’t get attached, of course. She’s always been strong enough to survive without anyone’s help.

But when the darkness starts to close in on them both, Mags will have to drag her secret into the daylight, and choose between risking everything... or having nothing left to lose."

2. The Motion Picture Teller by Colin Cotterill (2023) I've been working through Cotterill's Dr Siri Paiboun and Jimm Juree mystery series. This sounded interesting.

"Thailand, 1996: Supot, a postman with the Royal Thai Mail service, hates his job. The only bright spot in his life is watching classic movies with his best friend, Ali, the owner of a video store. These cinephiles adore the charisma of the old Western stars, particularly the actresses, and bemoan the state of modern Thai cinema—until a mysterious cassette, entitled Bangkok 2010, arrives at Ali’s store.

Bangkok 2010 is a dystopian film set in a near-future Thailand—and Supot and Ali, immediately obsessed, agree it’s the most brilliant Thai movie they’ve ever seen. But nobody else has ever heard of the movie, the director, the actors, or any of the crew. Who would make a movie like this and not release it, and why?

Feeling a powerful calling to solve the mystery of Bangkok 2010 , Supot journeys deep into the Thai countryside and discovers that powerful people are dead set on keeping the film buried."

3. Whispering Wall by Patricia Carlon (1969). Carlon is a new mystery author for me. Her books are regularly highlighted in the Soho Crime books. I have two now. Must read the first!

"Sarah Oatland, confined to her bed by a stroke, is surrounded by menacing plotters; the willfully unsympathetic nurse, the has-been heart throb, the arrogant doctor, the greedy relative. They assume, because she cannot communicate, that she does not understand. Bu she has overheard the schemers and, despite her paralysis, must foil them to save her life."

4. Seaweed Under Fire by Stanley Evans (Seaweed #7 / 2017). I've read two books in this crime series set in Victoria. Most enjoyable.

"If you want someone's legs broken, even if you want somebody killed it can be arranged.... for a price.

The murder of a confidence trickster, followed shortly afterwards by a ruthless second murder, suggests that hired killers are at work. Murders pile up. Pursuing the killers takes Coast Salish cop Silas Seaweed on a search through the city's seedy night clubs and bars. Add a Coast Salish mystic who takes Silas on a Return trip to the land of the dead, and a strange black wolf that leads Silas to a mysterious cave and you have another suspenseful thriller."

5. Battle Ground by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #17 / 2020). This is a great fantasy series.

"Harry has faced terrible odds before. He has a long history of fighting enemies above his weight class. The Red Court of vampires. The fallen angels of the Order of the Blackened Denarius. The Outsiders.

But this time it's different. A being more powerful and dangerous on an order of magnitude beyond what the world has seen in a millennium is coming. And she's bringing an army. The Last Titan has declared war on the city of Chicago, and has come to subjugate humanity, obliterating any who stand in her way.

Harry's mission is simple but impossible: Save the city by killing a Titan. And the attempt will change Harry's life, Chicago, and the mortal world forever."

Tereska Torres

Women Authors Whose Work I've Enjoyed - Tereska Torres

Tereska Torres was born in Paris in 1920 and died there in 2012. Her 1950 book, Women's Barracks is listed as the 'first paperback bestseller'. Critics said that it was the first book to candidly address lesbian issues. Over the course of her life, she wrote about 10 books, half of which seem to have been translated. I've so far read two of her books and I'll provide my reviews of them. 

1. Women's Barracks (1950)

"Women's Barracks was written in 1950 and is a diary of sorts by French author, Tereska Torrès, describing the lives of French women who escaped to England on the German invasion of France and who joined the Free French forces. The group lived in a barracks in London. The story describes their lives and relationships of the women, including love affairs, lesbian relationships, etc. Now having provided this brief synopsis, I have to say that the stories are gently told and not at all graphic or titillating.

Torres was one of the girls who formed part of the group and she talks about the others' lives. It covers the period from the invasion of France until the D-Day invasion when the group was basically disbanded and many returned to France to continue to help the war effort.

It's an interesting story. The women cover the gamut, from young inexperienced girls to older, more experienced (both in life and sexually) women. We follow a number of them as they experience the war; young, inexperienced Ursula who falls under the influence of more experienced, worldly Claude, a woman who moves from man to woman all the while still in love with her husband. There is Ann, a tough, independent individual, who quickly advances up the rank. There is glamorous Jacqueline who suffers from a back injury and falls for a French Captain who loves her but wants to remain faithful to his wife back in France. It's a varied, interesting group of women that Torres grows close to during the war.

War is always in the background; the bombing of London, the troops waiting for an invasion and biding their time in London and around England. It's a rich, interesting story. Torres is credited with writing the first pulp dealing with lesbian issues. The House Select Committee on Current Pornographic Materials identified it as an example of books promoting moral degeneracy but I didn't find that at all. It's a book about relationships and worth checking out. (4 stars)"

2. By Cecile (1963)

"By Cecile is my second effort by Tereska Torrès, the first being Women's Barracks, often described as the first lesbian pulp novel. By Cecile was originally published in 1963. It tells the story of a young French woman, Cecile, and is set at the end of WWII and the years afterward. 

Cecile was moved by her parents from Paris to live with an aunt in a small country town to keep her away from the war. Her parents are sent to a 'prison' and she awaits the end of the war, hoping they will return. A family friend, Maurice, a man who is basically a literary agent, comes and gets Cecile and brings her to Paris, to live in her parents' apartment. He eventually marries her and the majority of the story is their life together.

Cecile is a free-spirited child, imaginative, full of life. Maurice introduces her to sex and to the artistic life in Paris. (The sex is more hinted at than graphic). Cecile isn't happy with Maurice and begins to fall in love with Henriette. Maurice discovers a story that Cecile is writing and decides it needs to be touched up (that is his specialty; he's not a writer, rather an editor) and by touched up, he means more detailed exploration of sexuality.

Everything sexual is described very mildly, more by intimation than actual action. It's a very French story. I can see it as a movie by Jean Luc Godard or Francois Truffaut. The story is very well-written, provides an excellent picture, and is very thoughtful. It's a slow-paced story, but that is necessary and it helps present Cecile's character and describe her growth. Thoughtful and interesting. (3.5 stars)"

More information about Tereska Torres and her written works can be found at this link.

Have a great weekend!

My First July 2024 Post

What to say today? It's Friday. Jo is asleep. Clyde is asleep on the sofa in the family room, or maybe he's just keeping an eye on me. The patio door is open and it's nice and cool so far. The Blue Jays keep losing. Canada is still alive in the Copa America footie tournament and will be playing against Venezuela today. Go Canada! 

What about books, you ask? It's the start of the 2nd half of 2024 so let's take a quick look at my first half, if you don't mind.

Some First Half Stats

Books Completed - 69 (includes 2 I didn't finish)

Pages Read (rounded down) - 16,900

Pages per Book - 245

Ratings - (includes half ratings, e.g. 4.5)

5 - star - 4

4 - star - 39

3 - star - 22

2 - star - 2

No Rating (for the ones I didn't finish) - 2

Gender of Author

Female - 32

Male - 34

Other - 3

My Annual Challenges

1. 12 + 4 (books of Ursula K. Le Guin) - completed 9 of 16. 2 X 5-star reads so far, Very Far Away from Anywhere Else and Searoad

2. 12 + 0 (Sci Fi, less than 200 pages) - completed 3 of 12

3. Series - completed 22 thus far (books, not series). 1 X 5 - star read. To Walk in the Ways of Lions by H. Leighton Dickson

4. Non - Series - completed 17

5. Tomes (over 500 pages) - completed 4. 1 X 5 - star read. The Ministry of the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

6. Monthly Author Focus - Jan / Agatha Christie (3 books), Feb / Adam Hall (1 book), Mar / Simon Brett (3 books), Apr / P.D. James (2 books), May / J.J. Marric (3 books), Jun / Ngaio Marsh 91 book)

Now let's move on to my current reading update. 😁

Completed (since last update)

1. Surfeit of Lampreys by Ngaio Marsh (Inspector Alleyn #6)

"Over the years, since early 2000's, I've enjoyed 15+ of the Inspector Alleyn mysteries by New Zealand author, Ngaio Marsh. Surfeit of Lampreys is the sixth book in this entertaining series. My wife and I also enjoyed the TV series starring Patrick Malahide as Inspector Alleyn, an excellent choice if I do say so myself. (And I do)

The sixth book starts briefly in New Zealand, with a New Zealander, Roberta (or Robin as she is called) Grey, who during her childhood spends much time with an English family, the Lampreys, on their estate in New Zealand. The Lampreys, Lord and Lady Charles, have six children and it become apparent, live on the edge of bankruptcy, sometimes being assisted by Charles' older brother Gabriel, the Marquis of Wutherwood and Rune. At the outset, the family are forced to return to England.

After this prelude, we once again see Roberta, now on a boat, heading to live with an aunt in London, due to the death of her parents. She will be spending some time with her old friends, the Lampreys, before moving in with her aunt.

Lord Charles is once again in financial difficulties. He seems to have bought into a business but his partner has lost all of their money and committed suicide. When Roberta arrives, the family awaits the imminent visit of brother Gabriel, who Charles hopes to persuade to assist once again. He is beset by creditors, one, a Mr. Grumble, who is currently attending the family.

So that's your preamble. Within a day, there will be a murder that will bring in Chief Detective Inspector Alleyn and his capable assistant, Detective Inspector Fox, aka Brer Fox or Foxkins. They have an excellent relationship. The rest of the story is basically the investigation, as Alleyn and Fox interview the family and staff. There is dissembling, false trails, in fact, the family while endearing aren't all that likable... It's difficult to describe. Likable isn't the term, I think, they are just very protective of each other. The twin boys have some sort of agreement where they both blame themselves when there is trouble, just to sow confusion. That sort of thing. 

It's a fascinating investigation, that actually builds quite a bit of tension by the end. Roberta is a key player as she is the outsider, friend of the family, who is somewhat in love with the oldest boy, Henry, but at the same time, not quite a part of the family. (Does that make sense?) So her observations are important to the fabric of the story. Alleyn and Fox  are, as always, excellent, just a great relationship. Alleyn's friend, reporter Nigel Bathgate, who appears in most of the stories, also makes an appearance, at the request of the family.

There are some neat touches. I won't ruin them, but the family isn't quite as tricky as the think they are. I thought I had the killer in my mind, my own twist to the story, but was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong. It's been awhile since I delved into an Alleyn mystery. This one was excellent. I've got about 10 to go. (4.0 stars)".

2. Global by Eoin Colfer (2023).

"Global by Eoin Colfer is a beautifully drawn and told middle-grade graphic novel that highlights the dangers of climate change. It tells the story of Sami & his grandfather, both surviving on the edge of the Indian Ocean as fishermen and also of Yuki and her dog Lockjaw, who live in the Canadian Arctic. Both see the changes and suffer from the changes that climate change is having on their lives and environment.

Sami and grandfather are finding that the constant storms that hit their coastline are affecting the fishing stocks that they and their fellow fishermen need to survive. The water continues to rise, forcing them to constantly relocate, trying to find higher ground. As well, they must cope with more and more refugees, also suffering. 

Yuki and Locky live in an indigenous village in the far North. Their friends are all moving away as the permafrost melts as the glacial icefields warm up, causing more and more methane to leak into the atmosphere. The polar bears are losing their icefields in the Arctic Ocean and being forced further south where they mate with grizzly bears who are migrating north in search of new homes and food. The resulting bears are called grolars and are not equipped to survive in this new environment. The village elders kill the bears that come into the town and Yuki wants to prove they aren't a danger. She heads out to get photos of a grolar to prove her point. And she gets lost. Danger ensues.

The story tracks between the two young people and is so very fascinating and also very scary. Both of the youngsters are lovely and caringly developed. They are brave and fighting for themselves and their land. The effect of climate change is made smoothly and succinctly but powerfully. At the end of the story is a short exposition explaining climate change, how it occurs and its impact. We're not leaving our children much these days. It shouldn't be up to them to sort  it out. It might be too late. Excellent adventure story, just on its own but also a powerful one. (4.0 stars)"

3. Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker by Robert Mankoff (2004).

"My wife works at volunteers part - time at a local thrift store run by the Ladies' Auxiliary, which raises money for local charities and health care. Anyway, a month or so ago, she brought home this book she thought I might like, Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker edited by Robert Mankoff. It covers the period 1925, the First Decade to 2006, the 8th Decade, and she got it for $5.00. It also includes a CD-ROM which contains every cartoon published during that period. (Ah, if only any of my computers still had a cd -rom slot). But the selection of cartoons is excellent and runs for 660+ pages. Loved every bit of it.

Each decade is introduced by people from those periods, the 3rd decade by Lillian Ross, the 4th by John Updike and they provide a brief synopsis of the period and the artists. There are also brief interludes featuring either issues of the time, Nudity, business culture, the Internet or specific artists, like James Thurber, Charles Addams, Bruce Eric Kaplan, etc. 

It was so much fun to read through and enjoy the talent and the humor. Did I always get it? Nah. But it didn't matter. Of course I had favorites, especially those featuring dogs. I mean, who wouldn't ! All in all it was an enjoyable journey, some smiles, some guffaws, some belly laughs and many I shared with my wife as she tried to do other things. She may have regretted buying it for me, but I sure enjoyed it. I've used a few in my Bluesky page and have quite a few more earmarked. See if you can find it. It's excellent. (4.0 stars)"

4. Ratlines by Stuart Neville (2013).

"I've read two of Northern Irish author, Stuart Neville's Jack Lennon thriller series set in Belfast. I've enjoyed them both. Ratlines is one of three standalone stories he's written. It is set in Ireland in 1963. The country is waiting to welcome a visit by President John F. Kennedy. Department of Intelligence Lieutenant Albert Ryan is called in by the Minister of Justice, Charles Haughey, to investigate who is murdering German nationals living in Ireland.

It seems that there are many ex-Nazis living in Ireland after the war, both German and other nationals, what has become an embarrassing national secret. They seem to be under the thumb of one Otto Skorzeny, an Austrian who worked for Adolf Hitler during the war. A note has been discovered on the most recent body, addressed to Skorzeny, 'We are coming for you.' Ryan is a Protestant who, during WWII, went north and joined the British army, fighting against the Nazis, in Egypt, in North Korea, etc. His parents have been harassed ever since by local IRA in his home town, something Ryan tries to rectify.

But the story follows Ryan as he works, not too willingly for Skorzeny and Haughey trying to discover who is after Skorzeny. The feeling is that it might be the Mossad, Israeli intelligence. But there is more to it than that. What you end up with is a tense, exciting, often violent thriller as Ryan tries to stay alive and play off various people against the other and survive to live another day. There is even a romantic element with the lovely Celia, who he also must keep alive.

It's a well-written, entertaining, exciting story leaving you wondering how Ryan will accomplish everything. Excellent thriller. (4.0 stars)"

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

"Over the past few years I've begun exploring John Christopher works, especially his Sci Fi novels, both for adults, Death of Grass and for younger people just beginning to explore the wonders of Sci Fi, the Tripod trilogy, The Lotus Caves, an adventure on the Moon. Recently I found a copy of The Caves Of Night, which I thought was another of his Sci Fi stories. Nope.

The Caves is set in Austria, shortly after WWII. An English couple, Cynthia and Henry, take an annual vacation to Austria as Henry wishes to continue exploring the Fronberg Caves. When they arrive they discover that another English couple, Heather and Peter, newlyweds, have been given their normal room. They also discover that the caves have been closed by the landowner, Herr Joachim Albrecht, as there was a recent cave collapse. As a side note, Peter, while serving in the British army during the War had been bivouacked in Joachim's home, while Joachim, himself was a prisoner of the Russian army.

Anyway, with that preamble, the Graf (that's Joachim) agrees to let Henry and Cynthia continue their spelunking. Henry does it basically on his own, searching the caves for more cave drawings, while the other three are entertained by Joachim on his estate, playing tennis, swimming, horse riding, etc. A relationship begins to develop between Joachim and Cynthia.

So, as we move along, the whole group decides to follow Henry and let him show them the caves. While there, Cynthia and Peter, irresponsibly cause a cave in. This means that the group must try to find another way out, meaning they will have to go deeper into the mountain and hopefully link up with a series of caves on the other side.

It becomes a tense affair. Henry leads the way as he has most experience underground. Cynthia and Peter continue to cause issues. Cynthia must sort out her feelings between Henry and Joachim. It's all very entangled but also very tense and at times tragic. The feeling of claustrophobia is very real, reminding me of a Nevada Barr mystery set in a national park with a cave setting. The characters are all well developed, there is time for some philosophical discussion, all the while the group must struggle underground, hoping to find a way out before both their flashlights and food run out. Excellent story even if it's not Sci Fi as I thought. (4.0 stars)"

OK, I'm throwing this New Yorker cartoon in before I get to the Currently Reading section.

Currently Reading

1. Wycliffe and the Pea Green Boat by W.J. Burley (Inspector Wycliffe #6). Burley is my July Focus author.

"Wycliffe tackles a case which reaches back down the generations ...When Cedric Tremain is charged with murdering his father by booby-trapping his fishing boat, all the locals are agreed that he is an unlikely murderer. But the case against him is he has the motive, the opportunity and the know-how; not to mention the fact that there is some hard circumstantial evidence against him. So Cedric is arrested. But Chief Superintendent Wycliffe has a strong sense that something about the case just doesn't fit. As he quietly continues his investigations a confusing picture emerges. Twenty years ago Cedric's cousin was convicted of strangling his girlfriend and served fourteen years of a commuted death sentence. While the wheels of justice begin to grind Wycliffe searches for a link between past and present."

2. Kronk by Edmund Cooper (1970)

"HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD THROUGH SEX AND SIN!

It seemed that Gabriel Crome and his elegantly hippy girl friend had the answer—a new, highly communicable disease with the property of inhibiting aggression. And oh boy! was it fun to communicate!

But Gabriel had reckoned without the finely honed irony of whatever Prankster it is who governs human affairs.

As the Raven quoth, 'KRONK."

3. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig (2019).

"Shana wakes up one morning to discover her little sister in the grip of a strange malady. She appears to be sleepwalking. She cannot talk and cannot be woken up. And she is heading with inexorable determination to a destination that only she knows. But Shana and her sister are not alone. Soon they are joined by a flock of sleepwalkers from across America, on the same mysterious journey. And like Shana, there are other "shepherds" who follow the flock to protect their friends and family on the long dark road ahead.

For as the sleepwalking phenomenon awakens terror and violence in America, the real danger may not be the epidemic but the fear of it. With society collapsing all around them--and an ultraviolent militia threatening to exterminate them--the fate of the sleepwalkers depends on unraveling the mystery behind the epidemic. The terrifying secret will either tear the nation apart--or bring the survivors together to remake a shattered world."

OK. You asked and you shall receive, another New Yorker cartoon before I move on to New Books. What's that you say? You didn't ask? Oh well. Too bad.

New Books

(just one! 🤯)

1. Scales of Justice by Ngaio Marsh (Roderick Alleyn #18  / 1955)

"Of all the books in the Alleyn series, Scales of Justice is most powerfully reminiscent of Agatha Christie, with its setting in an almost unspeakably charming little English village, and its cast of inbred aristocrats. When one of the aristos turns up dead next to the local trout-stream – with, in fact, a trout at his side – everyone is dreadfully upset, of course, but really, just a tad irritated as Murder is so awfully messy. Thank gawd that nice Inspector Alleyn – not really one of us, you know, but not terribly wide of the mark – is on hand to clear things up. Though one could wish that he didn’t feel compelled to ask quite so many questions."

Well, there you go. Clyde is lightly scratching at my chair. I think he wants to go for a walk before it gets too warm. So I leave you with one final New Yorker cartoon to lead you into your weekend.

I lied. One more. Enjoy your weekend, July and the rest of the year.