Another Month is Almost Over!

 

It's August 30th and Jo and I are celebrating our 22nd anniversary. We're having a quiet day, enjoying some sunshine and just relaxing. 

Puppy Clyde.... He's not that young now

We have a date for Clyde's cataract surgery down in Victoria, Sept 17th. We're both worried for him and optimistic.

And today is deadline day for British footie. In fact it just ended 4 minutes ago. I think Brighton has improved itself. At least they spent some of the money they'd made on some of the previous trades.

So let's move on to the topic for which I started this BLog. Books!

Just Finished

(I've finished six books since my last update. I don't know if I'll finish any more before the end of the month)

1. The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag (2024).

"I have previously enjoyed the Witch Boy trilogy by Molly Knox Ostertag. It was an enjoyable YA fantasy trilogy. So I figured that The Deep Dark would probably be a similar type story. I was wrong.

The Deep Dark is a more adult fantasy story although I think it could also be read by teens and Young adults, but it is a darker story indeed. Magdalena Herrera lives with her grandmother, her abuela, in a desert community in California. Grannie has cancer so Mags' life revolves around caring for her. There is a mystery to their lives. The story does move between the past and present as the story develops. What is the mystery? Something in the cellar. 

Mags has a difficult relationship with one of the girls in school. Ava loves Mags but also has a boyfriend so their get togethers are necessarily clandestine. Mags has difficulty having a personal life because of her family issues. Compounding Mags' situation, an old friend, Nessa turns up for a visit. Mags hasn't seen her since a childhood incident. Nessa has now transitioned from a boy to a her / she. 

So besides the personal issues in Mags' life, there is this mystery... what is in the basement? What happened to another youngster back when Mags and Nessa were kids? What killed Emil? Why does Mags go down into the cellar every night and why is her hand always bandaged? 

It's a fascinating, twisty story filled with guilt, love, friendship. And when Nessa's ex-boyfriend, Aaron shows up, there are even more twists. Lots of surprises, great relationship development and interesting characters. And great artwork. All in all, an interesting graphic novel that will have you turning page to page to see what is going to happen next. I may have to check out The Girl from the Sea or Darkest Night. (4.0 stars)"

2. Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum (2023).

"Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum, a staff writer for The Atlantic is a short, succinct but powerful look at 'how autocracies work together to undermine the democratic world.' 

Applebaum wastes no time getting into her premise. The cartoon image of an autocratic state is a country with a bad man at the top who controls law enforcement and the army. She explains that nowadays autocracies are not run by one bad guy but 'sophisticated networks relying on kleptocratic financial structures, a complex of security services and tech experts who provide surveillance, propaganda and disinformation.'

The autocrats network with other autocratic countries, doing business with one another. Countries like Russia and China are making deep inroads into Africa and South America, providing police assistance, weapons, disinformation systems, surveillance systems. A country like Mali is basically run by the Russian - financed Wagner group, which came in to provide security for a dictator president, then began killing opponents, taking over gold and diamond mines.

For its brevity, it's a powerful, scary book. Chapters dealing with 'controlling the narrative' talk about how Russia and China and others have begun to take over the 'airwaves' in many countries feeding Russia's disinformation and lies in their efforts to destroy democratic efforts in those countries, basically making democracy the enemy. Opposition leaders are discredited, terrorized along with their families, imprisoned. Countries like Russia do murder opponents but for some, murder just makes the opposition more powerful so it's better to just discredit and the other tactics mentioned previously.

Even international norms are being changed. Applebaum discusses how the international system began, and the creation of the Commission on Human Rights. 'All human beings are born free and equal.' It stated that 'everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person'. The autocracies are now working to remove this language from the documents. 'For China to attain the moral legitimacy, respect and recognition it needs for leadership of a new world order, it must remove the threat of Western universal human rights.' The words 'right to development' and 'sovereignty' are the new words. Of course this isn't limited to China, but all autocracies are using them to an extent. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is to extend 'sovereignty'. 

It's all very scary and should be read. Does Anne Applebaum offer solutions. Stop isolationism. Networks must be forced to be transparent. It's a bit fuzzy. Suffice it to say, be so aware of the misinformation, the lies and be prepared to fight against it. I can't say I'm very good at presenting this. Read the book. (3.5 stars)"

3. Ariel by Sylvia Plath (1965).

"Ariel was written by Sylvia Plath just before her death in 1963. The collection was rated very highly by a number of art critics. There are a variety of themes laid out in this collection; her father (who died when Plath was 8 years old), bee keeping (her family kept bees when she was a child and she and her husband Ted Hughes also kept bees when they were in England) and others. My ability to grasp poetry is always suspect but there also appeared to be themes where she highlighted her previous suicide attempts.

I don't always 'get' poetry but whether her themes are dark or not, there is no denying Plath's beautiful use of words and her crafting of her individual poems.

For example, just look at the opening lines of the titled poem, Ariel - 

"Stasis in darkness.

Then the substanceless blue

Pour of tor and distances.

God's lioness, 

How one we grow, Pivot of heels and knees! - The furrow

Splits and passes, sister to

The brown ar

Of the neck I cannot catch, "

And the final poem, Words;

"Axes

After whose stroke the wood rings,

And the echoes!

Echoes travelling

Off from the centre like horses.

The sap

Wells like tears, like the

Water striving

To re-establish its mirror

Over the rock.

That drops and turns,

A white skull,

Eaten by weedy greens,

Years later I

Encounter them on the road -

Words dry and riderless,

The indefatigable, hoof-taps,

While

From the bottom of the pool, fixed stars

Govern a life."

There is a dark beauty to this collection. But don't trust my thoughts. Judge for yourself. (3.5 stars)"

4. Pavane by Keith Roberts (1968).

"I'm really not sure how to rate Pavane by Keith Roberts. I have enjoyed alternative history stories in the past and that is where this fits in. Basically, the premise is that an assassin had killed Queen Elizabeth I back in 1588 and tries to imagine how the world changed.

The Catholic Church now rules supreme and England remains a Catholic country. The Church holds back science and you can see this in the level of technology that now exists. The story jumps to 1968. There are no telephones or telegraph. Instead the country, and in fact, the whole world, is dotted with semaphore towers and information is passed via the Guild of Signallers. There seem to be cars of sorts but freight is hauled more by large steam driven vehicles, as highlighted in the first story.

The book is more a collection of short stories, each featuring different (although there are links between the stories) characters; the freight hauler hoping to marry, a signaller who dies on his own, a mad monk, a princess who dares take on the might of the church. 

The stories are very well - written and the era and people described in such a way as to draw you in. Some of the writing is almost poetic. The stories are all interesting. My favorite chapter deals with Lady Eleanor's fight against the Church. She is a wonderful, brave, intelligent character. But at the same time, a part of me just thought .... so what. As an alternative history, it's interesting. But, I repeat, so what. Was Roberts trying to make a point. I didn't get it. So, for the enjoyment of his writing style and the description of this alternate era, I think it was interesting. But it left me feeling kind of blah. Try it yourself. (3.0 stars)"

5. East of West, Vol. 2: We Are All One by Jonathan Hickman (2014).

"East of West, Vol. 2: We Are All One is, of course, the 2nd volume of the East of West graphic novel series by Jonathan Hickman. It consists of Chapters 6 - 10 of the interesting story.

I'm still not sure I get what's going on but I have to admit I still find it very interesting. It's kind of a dystopic, fantasy, western as probably the most apt description. The US is divided into 7 states. The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse make deals with the various leaders. Only Death is on his own, on a journey with two spirit friends to try and find his son. 

It's a stark, dark, fascinating world with spirits, technological beings, etc. I repeat it's very hard to describe. It's drawn beautifully, fascinating creatures and people and even amazing landscapes. Who will save the world? Will anyone? I will definitely keep reading. 3.5 stars)"

6. A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll (2023).

"A Guest in the House is the latest graphic novel / horror story by Canadian graphic novelist Emily Carroll. They have written other stories, probably most notable, When I Arrived at the Castle, which I will now have to find.

A Guest in the House is a wonderful mix of stark black and white portraits intermingled with dramatic colored portions of the story. The story follows Abby, a grocery store clerk in small town Ontario who is newly married to the new town dentist David and his daughter Crystal. David's first wife died when they lived out on the West Coast. Abby is a quiet, somewhat insecure young lady, adjusting to this new life. She is generally happy but there are things going on under the surface in this new family.

As a child, Abby lived in a bit of a fantasy world, imagining herself as a gallant knight (these portions are wonderfully colored). In her current life, she begins to suspect or feel a presence in the house and starts seeing a ghostly presence; first as a drowned misshapen lady and then when she finds it too scary, as a beautiful woman. The presence indicates that she is David's first wife and we begin to start unravelling the mystery of her death. 

Krystal also seems to see her mother's ghost. David refuses to let Krystal on the dock, demanding that she stay out of the water of the lake. Mind you, he does let her swim when they go camping (all of which Abby finds very strange). The story begins to get stranger. Who is the lady who says she's living in a house down the road with her family for the summer? Why does David keep the attic locked? 

It's a confusing, intense at times, wonderfully drawn story. I have to say, I ended up confused by the ending, but how the tension ramps up to this final interaction is very well presented. A dark, creepy (especially for its apparent normalcy), building to quite scary story. I look forward to exploring Emily Carroll's work more. They have definitely whetted my appetite for her unique style of horror. (4.0 star)"

Currently Reading

1. Death of a Celebrity by M.C. Beaton (Hamish MacBeth #17 / 2002). MC Beaton is my September focus author).

"Murder on the Telly Lochdubh, a remote village reached only by a one-track lane, nestles serenely amid Scotland's hills...until well-known TV reporter Crystal French races into town in her bright BMW. And Constable Hamish Macbeth, dourly wed to duty instead of the fiancée who dumped him, promptly gives her a summons for reckless driving. Outraged, Crystal makes Macbeth's life a misery with a TV report on policing in the Highlands. When she also rakes up old local scandals for her new hit show, Macbeth notes that someone besides himself might be dead keen to stop her. Then someone does-with stealth and violence. Now, finding out who did it will lead the laconic Macbeth down roads he never envisioned, into a dark story of passion and vengeance...and perhaps a crisis of the heart all his own."

2. The Time Hoppers by Robert Silverberg (1967).

"They were disappearing, one at a time, in spite of the fact that in the crowded, hungry world of 2490 there was really nowhere worth going. Then they began to reappear, not in Moscow or Nairobi or LA--but in 1970, 1981, even the nostalgic days of the roaring 2100's. A way to the past had been found & people were flocking thru it for a better life--no matter what peril they might pose to the threatened present.

Earth in the late 25th Century is an unpleasant place for many. People are crowded into most available areas. Unemployment is rampant. A highly stratified society provides luxury & space for a few, while lower levels live crowded in tiny apartments. Into this situation comes a hope of escape–-escape into the past, before the world was crowded.

The story follows several characters. 1st is Joe Quellen, a midlevel Secretariat of Crime bureaucrat with a secret African residence, reached by a private teleportation booth. He heads the investigation into unauthorized time travel. Another is Norman Pomrath, Joe's brother-in-law, an unemployed low-level worker. He swears he wouldn't abandon his wife & children if presented with a chance to become a hopper."

3. Skyscraper by Faith Baldwin (1931).

"Lynn is an ambitious young woman who loves her job in the gleaming new Manhattan skyscraper. Soon, Lynn also loves Tom, the young clerk down the hall. They are so in love that if they don’t get married, something improper is bound to happen. But her company has a strict new policy: Any woman who marries will be immediately fired. First published in 1931—the same year the Empire State Building opened its doors—Skyscraper marks the advent of a new kind of romance plot, and Lynn a new kind of heroine. Lynn is facing choices that will determine the course of the rest of her life, but rather than just choose between suitors, Lynn and other working girls like her must decide whether to abandon their careers—or abandon their men. They can’t have both—or can they?"

4. Linghun by Ai Jiang (2023).

"Follow Wenqi, Liam, and Mrs. in this modern gothic ghost story by Chinese-Canadian writer and immigrant, Ai Jiang. LINGHUN is set in the mysterious town of HOME, a place where the dead live again as spirits, conjured by the grief-sick population that refuses to let go."

New Books

(I'll highlight 4 or 5.... or 6) 😎

a. The Annual Migration of Clouds by Premee Mohamed (Migration #1 / 2021).

"In post-climate disaster Alberta, a woman infected with a mysterious parasite must choose whether to pursue a rare opportunity far from home or stay and help rebuild her community.

The world is nothing like it once was: climate disasters have wracked the continent, causing food shortages, ending industry, and leaving little behind. Then came Cad, mysterious mind-altering fungi that invade the bodies of the now scattered citizenry. Reid, a young woman who carries this parasite, has been given a chance to get away - to move to one of the last remnants of pre-disaster society - but she can't bring herself to abandon her mother and the community that relies on her.

When she's offered a coveted place on a dangerous and profitable mission, she jumps at the opportunity to set her family up for life, but how can Reid ask people to put their trust in her when she can't even trust her own mind?"

b. Age 16 by Rosena Fung (2023).

"A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about three generations of mothers and daughters passing down and rebelling against standards of gender, race, beauty, size, and worth, for fans of Mariko Tamaki.

Sixteen-year-old Roz is preoccupied with normal teenage stuff: navigating high school friendships, worrying about college, and figuring out what to wear to prom. When her estranged Por Por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, the already delicate relationship between Roz and her mother is upended. With three generations under one roof, conflicts inevitably arise and long suppressed family secrets rise to the surface.

Told in alternating perspectives, Age 16 shifts seamlessly between time and place, exploring how this pivotal year in adolescence affects three women in the same family, from Guangdong in 1954 to Hong Kong in 1972, and Toronto in 2000.

Award-winning creator of Living with Viola Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before and affect those that come after."

c. The Appeal by Janice Hallett (Appeal #1 / 2021).

"The Fairway Players, a local theatre group, is in the midst of rehearsals when tragedy strikes the family of director Martin Hayward and his wife Helen, the play’s star. Their young granddaughter has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and with an experimental treatment costing a tremendous sum, their castmates rally to raise the money to give her a chance at survival. But not everybody is convinced of the experimental treatment’s efficacy—or of the good intentions of those involved. As tension grows within the community, things come to a shocking head at the explosive dress rehearsal. The next day, a dead body is found, and soon, an arrest is made. In the run-up to the trial, two young lawyers sift through the material—emails, messages, letters—with a growing suspicion that the killer may be hiding in plain sight. The evidence is all there, between the lines, waiting to be uncovered."

d. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (Marrow Thieves #1 / 2017). (very similar to my last name.)

"In a futuristic world ravaged by global warming, people have lost the ability to dream, and the dreamlessness has led to widespread madness. The only people still able to dream are North America's Indigenous people, and it is their marrow that holds the cure for the rest of the world. But getting the marrow, and dreams, means death for the unwilling donors. Driven to flight, a fifteen-year-old and his companions struggle for survival, attempt to reunite with loved ones and take refuge from the "recruiters" who seek them out to bring them to the marrow-stealing "factories."

e. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Orisha #1 / 2018).

"Tomi Adeyemi conjures a stunning world of dark magic and danger in her West African-inspired fantasy debut, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir.

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for an enemy."

f. Shout Kill Revel by Jarret Hartnell (2024).

"The Undrowned Order rule the land. Their plans dance to the whims of strange cosmic entities, fueled only by the fears forced upon every soul in sight.

It is believed that Helmina is their lost messiah and the darkness lurking within her will one day unleash an unimaginable horror upon the earth. As that day approaches, Helmina, after a lifetime of wrestling with her cosmic affliction, must do more than run and hide from the cultists, her own mind, and the world itself to put an end to the madness.

The Wild West is over.

This is the Dark West.

Remain fearful."

I hope you have safe happy Labour Day weekend. Travel safely. Enjoy a good book.

A Thursday Update

Our lovely boy, Clyde

Just a quick update from my last post. Clyde's appointment with the vet eye doctor went ok. He has cataracts and his vision is very bad. We've talked to our local vet. He's got one of those diabetes monitors on at the moment to see if his diabetes is under control and she did a blood test on him to check the soundness of his heart. A tentative date has been booked for eye surgery but Jo and I are still waiting for the results of the blood test. Poor little boy.

We've had a few rainy, cloudy days. It's a bit sunnier today and a bit cooler, which is kind of nice. I've got the Democratic convention on in the background and since Jo is off at work and Clyde is eating his lunch, I think I'll do a book update.

Just Finished

1. Maigret and the Gai-Moulin by Georges Simenon (Inspector Maigret #10).

"As I continue my August exploration of the Inspector Maigret mysteries, Maigret at the Gai-Moulin by Georges Simenon has been one of the more interesting ones. The reason I'm saying this is that the irrepressible Maigret doesn't really show up until at least half way through the story. As well, this story takes place in Liege Belgium.

The story follows two young men, Jean Chabot, a sixteen year old and his older friend, Rene Delfosse, (maybe 17 year old), the son of a rich industrialist, as they hang out at a night club, the Gai-Moulin. Jean Chabot works for a law firm, sealing envelopes, handling the petty cash, etc. His family is more middle class. They are both in thrall of the club's hostess, Adele, a sexy older woman. As the story begins, Adele leaves their company to attend to a new guest, a dark stranger who seems to be throwing around money. Another man also comes in arrives as well, a large Frenchman who sits by himself in the corner.

The club closes and the two boys hide in the wine cellar. Their plan (or rather, Rene's plan) is to wait until it's closed and then to rob the till. Rene runs up debts and regularly takes money from his father and his uncle. Jean has spent some of his boss's petty cash money and needs to return it. Once everyone leaves, they return to the main floor but instead of finding money, they see, in the dark, the body of the stranger. They leave in a panic.

The Liege police begin an investigation and Rene and Jean find themselves being followed by the large man and later, by 0ne of the local cops. It's a fascinating story and becomes even more interesting when Maigret shows up. I won't go into the story anymore because it's such a neat twist and becomes an even more interesting story. Interesting to see the Liege police at work. Interesting to see how the main characters, the two boys and Adele, react to the murder (there are even twists there). The Maigret series is always interesting, nice, neat, tense short mysteries with excellent plots and characters. (4.0 stars)"

2. The New Girl by Cassandra Calin (2024).

"The New Girl by Cassandra Calin is a YA graphic novel about a young Romanian girl, Lia, who moves to Canada with her family. The story is about her adjustment to a new life, trying to learn a new language (French, as the move to Montreal Quebec) and her attempts to make new friends and to adjust to what is happening to her body.

Lia isn't happy about leaving her friends and grandparents and other family members to move to Canada with her younger brother and her mother and father. Compounding this is that she has basic English skills and no learning in French. Let's say that Lia isn't happy. Starting school, she is placed in a class of other recent immigrants. Quebec's language laws (if I understand them correctly) are such that if you immigrate to Quebec and your primary language isn't English then you have to learn French. This isn't made an issue in the story. It's just part of the premise.

For the first part, Lia doesn't really try to adjust to her new life. She meets a fellow Romanian student, Bogdan, but he does want to learn and to integrate into his new life. Gradually though, Lia begins to make friends and to take part in more school activities. Because she likes to draw, she joins the school magazine. More friends.

The other issued discussed in this graphic is Lia's dealing with her first period and the pain it causes her. Being a man, I obviously can't relate other than to remember my daughters' issues with their periods and, of course, my wife's. So I can't say that it's dealt with very well, but I think it's presented knowledgeably and sympathetically and that the book might be a good primer for parents wanting to discuss with their daughters. 

All in all, it's a beautifully drawn and colored story. The characters are all sympathetic and well-developed. The story is an easy read and flows nicely. I have a feeling that there may ultimately be a follow-on novel as there were some matters that were left unresolved. But even if Cassandra moves on to other stories, this was a most enjoyable read. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

Well, how do you like that. I haven't started anything else. I'm hoping to read one more Inspector Maigret book before the end of August. I hope #11 arrives before the weekend or maybe Monday. Otherwise I'll pull one of the others off my shelf.

New Books

1. Linghun by Ai Jiang (2023).

"Follow Wenqi, Liam, and Mrs. in this modern gothic ghost story by Chinese-Canadian writer and immigrant, Ai Jiang. LINGHUN is set in the mysterious town of HOME, a place where the dead live again as spirits, conjured by the grief-sick population that refuses to let go."

2. Substrate Phantoms by Jessica Reisman (2017).

"The space station Termagenti—hub of commerce, culture, and civilization—may be haunted. Dangerous power surges, inexplicable energy manifestations, and strange accidents plague the station. Even after generations of exploring deep space, humanity has yet to encounter another race, and yet, some believe that what is troubling the station may be an alien life form.

Jhinsei and his operations team crawl throughout the station, one of many close-knit working groups that keep Termagenti operational. After an unexplained and deadly mishap takes his team from him, Jhinsei finds himself—for lack of a better word—haunted by his dead teammates. In fact, they may not be alone in taking up residence in his brain. He may have picked up a ghost—an alien intelligence that is using him to flee its dying ship. As Jhinsei struggles to understand what is happening to his sanity, inquisitive and dangerous members of the station’s managing oligarchy begin to take an increasingly focused interest in him.

Haunted by his past and the increasing urgent presence of another within his mind, Jhinsei flees the station for the nearby planet Ash, where he undertakes an exploration that will redefine friend, foe, self, and other. With Substrate Phantoms, Jessica Reisman offers an evocative and thought-provoking story of first contact, where who we are is questioned as much as who they might be."

3. Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown (1973).

"Bawdy and moving, the ultimate word-of-mouth bestseller, Rubyfruit Jungle is about growing up a lesbian in America--and living happily ever after."

4. The Land of Mist by Arthur Conan Doyle (Professor Challenger #3 / 1926).

"The Land of Mist is a novel written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1926. Although this is a Professor Challenger story, it centers more on his daughter Enid and his old friend Edward Malone. Another friend from The Lost World, Lord John Roxton, is also involved in the novel's second half. Professor Summerlee, who has died of old age around this time, is referred to by the mediums (much to the anger of Professor Challenger)

Heavily influenced by Doyle's growing belief in Spiritualism after the death of his son, brother, and two nephews in World War I, the book focuses on Edward Malone's at first professional, and later personal interest in Spiritualism.

There is a suggestion in chapter two that the deaths of "ten million young men" in World War I was by punishment by the Central Intelligence for humanity's laughing at the alleged evidence for life after death."

5. Any Man's Death by Loren D. Estleman (Peter Macklin #3 / 1986).

"Peter Macklin, an assassin for organized crime, is assigned to prevent the killing of an outspoken TV evangelist by a rival gang, only to learn the rival killer is his teenage son."

Women Authors whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Nicola Upson

Nicola Upson

I first tried English author Nicola Upson because the main character in her historical mystery series was English mystery writer Josephine Tey. I have enjoyed Tey's Inspector Grant mysteries. Upson was born in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk and has thus far written 11 books in this series. She also wrote one standalone novel. I have a bit of catching up to do on the series. I've enjoyed 2 so far and have another two awaiting my attention. Let's look at the four.

1. An Expert in Murder (Josephine Tey #1 / 2008).

"An Expert in Murder is the first book in the Josephine Tey mystery series by Nicola Upson. I've previously read the 3rd book in the series and enjoyed it. This series is loosely based on real-life author Elizabeth MacKintosh, who published under various pseudonyms; e.g. Gordon Daviot and Josephine Tey. She wrote mysteries under Josephine Tey, a series featuring Scotland Yard inspector Grant. Nicola Upson uses these aspects of Tey's life to develop this interesting series.

Tey's play Richard of Bordeaux is going through a successful run in London. As it comes to an end, there are plans to send the play out on the road and also plans to turn it into a movie. This has caused friction between the theater owner, Bernard Aubrey, and his lead actor. Aubrey wants him to go on the road and the actor wants out of his contract so he can work on the movie (more money). Josephine is on her way from Scotland, returning to London for the final days of the play and to discuss her latest venture, a play based on Mary, Queen of Scots. On her train ride to London she meets a young lady, also heading to London who is a huge fan of the play. She will be attending with her uncle. Tragedy ensues at the train station, where the young lady is murdered.

This starts an investigation by Tey's friend, Scotland Yard inspector Archie Penrose and his capable Sgt Fallowfield. The story becomes a fascinating exploration of theater life, an interesting mystery and a cast of quirky characters; from the acting and local communities. The story also explores issues of PTSD from the trench warfare of WWI. There are secrets on all sides and the unraveling of these secrets makes for an excellent tale. Penrose is a skilled, competent, imaginative investigator the story is more about his investigation, than Tey's. However Tey plays an important sounding board to Archie; he was a close friend of Tey's fiancé who died during WWI. 

At times it may seem somewhat convoluted but things are tied together neatly and resolved nicely. Tey is a thoughtful, intelligent woman and her relationship with Penrose is slowly explained. They are surrounded with an excellent supporting cast, all of which makes for a rich, intelligent story. An excellent first story, will make you want to continue the series. (4 stars)"

2. Angel with Two Faces (Josephine Tey #2 / 2009).

"Real-life British mystery writer Josephine Tey returns as a fictional sleuth in Angel with Two Faces—the second atmospheric mystery in Nicola Upson’s wonderfully inventive series. In this riveting sequel to Expert in Murder, Tey, in league with intrepid policeman Detective Inspector Archie Penrose, is called upon to help unravel a dark and perplexing crime at a Cornwall country house and backstage at a local theater."

3. Fear in the Sunlight (Josephine Tey #4 / 2012).

"Summer, 1936. The writer, Josephine Tey, joins her friends in the holiday village of Portmeirion to celebrate her fortieth birthday. Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville, are there to sign a deal to film Josephine's novel, A Shilling for Candles, and Hitchcock has one or two tricks up his sleeve to keep the holiday party entertained - and expose their deepest fears.

But things get out of hand when one of Hollywood's leading actresses is brutally slashed to death in a cemetery near the village. The following day, as fear and suspicion take over in a setting where nothing - and no one - is quite what it seems, Chief Inspector Archie Penrose becomes increasingly unsatisfied with the way the investigation is ultimately resolved. Several years later, another horrific murder, again linked to a Hitchcock movie, drives Penrose back to the scene of the original crime to uncover the shocking truth."

4. London Rain (Josephine Tey #6 / 2015).

"London Rain by Nicola Upson is the sixth book in Upson's Josephine Tey mystery series. Neat that mystery author Josephine Tey is turned into a sleuth in this series. 

The story is set during the celebrations in London for the coronation of King George VI. Josephine is at the new BBC Headquarters building for the preparations for the broadcast of her play (written under the name Gordon Daviot) Queen of Scots. While there she is witness to friction between renowned BBC broadcaster, Anthony Beresford and his wife, Vivienne Beresford, due to Anthony's relationship with another woman.

One thing leads to another and Beresford is murdered after his part in broadcasting a portion of the coronation. In the book, there is no doubt about who has murdered Beresford, but I'll let you read and discover that part of the story for yourselves.

The story follows the investigation of the murder by Josephine's friend, Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose. Thrown into the mix are problems involving Josephine's relationship with Marta and the conflict with Marta's old relationship; Archie and his girlfriend Bridget, and the Anthony's mistresses. Included in the mystery is the death of Vivienne's sister ten years previously.

It's an interesting premise, the mix of Josephine Tey's real life and the events of the coronation combined with the murder mystery. It moves along at a nice pace, the characters are interesting and the story is ultimately satisfying. I will have to find the other books in the series and discover more. (3.5 stars)"

There you go. I hope you find it interesting. The series is worth checking out. The complete listing of Upson's books can be found at this link.

It's Friday!

Amazed that it's already the middle of August. We've had a nice week, weather-wise. The temps are slightly more moderate. It's nice having the patio doors open during the day. There's a nice breeze today. 

Clyde's not happy about going to the eye doctor!

Jo went back to work this week. I'm so happy that her knee is feeling better. So is she for that matter. LOL. This evening we're heading down to Nanaimo for Clyde's appointment with the vet eye doctor, Dr. Stephanie. Hoping she can do something about his cataracts and that he is healthy enough to tolerate eye surgery. 🤞🤞

We're listening to Kamala Harris give her economic vision for the US. So while she's talking (glad to see the networks are actually showing it and not that waste of space running against her), I'm going to take advantage of it and provide a reading / book update.

Finished

(5 books completed since my last update).

1. Maigret in Holland by Georges Simenon (Maigret #8). Simenon is my August focus author and I've finished 2 so far).

"I always enjoy a good Inspector Maigret mystery. And Maigret in Holland, the 8th book in the series by Georges Simenon was no exception.

In this particular story, Maigret finds himself in Holland, in the small coastal town of Delfzijl. A French professor of criminology, there to conduct a lecture to the local towns people is involved in the murder of one of the town's muckety-mucks, an ex-sailor and now a teacher. Monsieur Duclos was found with the murder weapon, a revolver.

Maigret finds himself somewhat like a stranger in a strange land. Very few of the locals speak French and the local police inspector isn't thrilled to see him there. Nobody has been arrested yet and there is a hint that it might have been a foreign sailor who has already shipped out.

Into this situation, Maigret is thrust and he begins his own investigation. He is his normal taciturn self. He thrusts himself into the lives of those who had an involvement with the dead man, Monsieur Popinga; his wife and her sister, a young girl who lives nearby and who seems to have had a relationship with the victim, a young sailor trainee (related to the wife) and a few others.

It all ends up being a relatively quick investigation and Maigret ends up by reenacting the events that led up to the murder. Simenon gets right to the point. He really places Maigret so very well into this awkward situation, the small community, where everyone probably knows what everybody else is doing. It's easy to get drawn into the story and the ending provides a very satisfying result. Good characters, taut story and always interesting. (4.0 stars)"

2. The Grand Banks Cafe (Maigret #9).

"I always enjoy a good Inspector Maigret mystery. And Maigret in Holland, the 8th book in the series by Georges Simenon was no exception.

In this particular story, Maigret finds himself in Holland, in the small coastal town of Delfzijl. A French professor of criminology, there to conduct a lecture to the local towns people is involved in the murder of one of the town's muckety-mucks, an ex-sailor and now a teacher. Monsieur Duclos was found with the murder weapon, a revolver.

Maigret finds himself somewhat like a stranger in a strange land. Very few of the locals speak French and the local police inspector isn't thrilled to see him there. Nobody has been arrested yet and there is a hint that it might have been a foreign sailor who has already shipped out.

Into this situation, Maigret is thrust and he begins his own investigation. He is his normal taciturn self. He thrusts himself into the lives of those who had an involvement with the dead man, Monsieur Popinga; his wife and her sister, a young girl who lives nearby and who seems to have had a relationship with the victim, a young sailor trainee (related to the wife) and a few others.

It all ends up being a relatively quick investigation and Maigret ends up by reenacting the events that led up to the murder. Simenon gets right to the point. He really places Maigret so very well into this awkward situation, the small community, where everyone probably knows what everybody else is doing. It's easy to get drawn into the story and the ending provides a very satisfying result. Good characters, taut story and always interesting. (4.0 stars)"

3. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (2019). This is the 3rd book I've read by this excellent author.

"With the Fire on High is the 3rd book I've enjoyed by Elizabeth Acevedo the last few years. Clap When You Land and The Poet X were both unique in that they were written as stories told with poetry. With the Fire on High is a more traditional story but is still very powerful.

Emoni is a high school student in Philadelphia trying to finish her last year and graduate. Emoni is also a bit different from most of the other kids in the school as she is also a teen mother. She gets assistance from her grand mother, Buela, as they try to make ends meet. Emoni is also a budding chef and in her last year her helpful home room teacher / guidance counsellor encourages her to take a culinary course as her option. Oh yes, Emoni has a troublesome relationship with her father. When Emoni's mother died when Emoni was very young, her father couldn't bear to stay in Philadelphia so he resides more or less permanently in Puerto Rico, making yearly visits to check up on Emoni, Baby girl and Buela.

Making her final year interesting is the arrival in her home room class and also the culinary class is a new student, Malachi. The development of their relationship becomes a major part of the story. As well, Chef (the culinary arts teacher) has planned a weeklong trip to Spain for the culinary class to learn more about cooking. This puts added pressure on Emoni as she must now try to find the funds to be able to go with the class.

I make the story sound straight-forward maybe but it's a rich, well - crafted, thoughtful story about growing up and the twists and turns of a young girl's life, with the added complication of also trying to be a mother to her young child. Acevedo knows how to draw you into her world, to feel empathy for the characters in her stories. This was touching, sad at times, but a story filled with love and caring and great characters and also yummy sounding food. Most enjoyable. (4.5 stars)"

4. Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night by James Runcie (Grantchester #2). It's been a few years since I had my last visit to Grantchester.

"Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night is the second collection of short stories in the Grantchester mysteries by James Runcie. Once again, Canon Chambers investigates murders in 1950's - 60s Cambridge. This collection contains six stories; a fall from the rooftops of one of Cambridge's college buildings, a fire that turns into arson and murder, a seeming heart attack by a member of Cambridge's professors that may have been electrocution, a death at a cricket match, an unworthy suitor to Sidney's best friend Amanda and an adventure in East Germany.

They are all more than just criminal investigations, but also philosophical explorations, examinations of Sidney's conflicted feelings about his friendships with Amanda and the German widow Hildegarde. The stories focus more on Sidney than the TV series which is very much a buddy series, with Geordie Keating, the police inspector playing a much more important role. In these stories he is more a sounding board for Sidney's speculations, as they have their weekly backgammon games. Of course, ultimately, the police must be involved, once the crimes are solved.

The stories are all interesting. There is nice give and take between Sidney and his assistant Leonard. Mrs. M also plays a much less significant role, but does make appearances. Each case was different, and even though they mostly involve murder, they are quite gentle. I especially enjoyed The Hat Trick, with its explanations of the cricket matches, most enjoyable. And the final story, Appointment in Berlin, where Sidney goes to spend a vacation with Hildegarde and it ends up being a bit of a spy thriller in East Germany, was very different and quite exciting. 

A most enjoyable visit to Grantchester, an easy, friendly read and ultimately, a very satisfying conclusion. (4.0 stars)"

5. Nothing Special: Volume One, Through the Elder Woods by Katie Cook (2024).

"Nothing Special, Volume One: Through the Elder Woods| by Katie Cook is a compilation of chapters from a webtoon (I should know what that is) put into a graphic novel format. Great artwork, wonderful characters and just an entertaining story. When I was a youngster, I was hooked on comics. As an old guy, I'm finding myself drawn to these entertaining young adult graphic novels.

So what's this one about? Callie, a teenage girl, lives with her dad who runs a magical antique shop. He regularly goes on trips (somewhere) to gather material for his shop, leaving Callie to go to school. Callie doesn't know a lot, or even anything, about her missing mother. Callie is somewhat different as she seems to be able to see the spirits of 'plants' and can talk with them. One, a radish, attaches itself to her. Callie discovers, to her surprise, that one of her school mates, Declan, now turned 17, has discovered that he too can now see and hear plant spirits. A friendship develops.

She takes Declan home to meet her dad, as he always returns home on her birthday. They discover, the antique shop turned upside down and Callie's dad nowhere to be found. It turns out that Callie's dad left her a magical crystal that links the two so she decides to head off into the fantasy world to find him. Declan and Radish accompany her. Along the way, they meet Lasser, a demon, who wants Callie to be his wife; it turns out she's a Muse, and he feels that with her at his side, he can take over from his father, the King.

So there is your story, a journey in this fantasy world to try and find Callie's Dad and along the way to discover their feelings for each other and also to develop good friendships. There are many surprises along the way; more about who Declan really is, about Callie's mother, but you have to read the story to find that out.

The characters are all well-developed; funny, independent, smart and just beautifully drawn. The story moves along nicely, with many excellent pop culture references. It's all fascinating, fun and filled with love and caring and... adventure. The 2nd volume doesn't come out until October but I've got it on order. Most enjoyable. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton (Lara McClintoch #1 / 1997). I've read other books in this series but I'm going to work from the beginning now.

"Lara McClintoch, her marriage ended and her antiques business sold, eagerly embarks on a trip to Mexico to help an old friend solve a mystery. On arrival, her friend puts off their meeting and then disappears. After Lara witnesses a brazen robbery of a valuable statue of the ancient Mayan civilization and stumbles on a corpse in a museum of antiquities, she becomes a police suspect. Afraid of the police and unsure whom to trust, Lara follows clues pointing to black marketeers and zealous revolutionaries. This dangerous trail takes her to remote archaeological ruins, lush jungles, and bustling streets filled with revelers. Lara engages in a thrilling battle of wits and courage to unmask a killer and stop a tomb-robber in the shadowy world of Xibalba, the Lords of Death."

2. Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum (2024). The subject matter seemed very appropriate in these times. 

"All of us have in our minds a cartoon image of what an autocratic state looks like, with a bad man at the top. But in the 21st century, that cartoon bears little resemblance to reality. Nowadays, autocracies are run not by one bad guy, but by sophisticated networks composed of kleptocratic financial structures, security services and professional propagandists. The members of these networks are connected not only within a given country, but among many countries. The corrupt, state-controlled companies in one dictatorship do business with corrupt, state-controlled companies in another. The police in one country can arm, equip, and train the police in another. The propagandists share resources—the troll farms that promote one dictator’s propaganda can also be used to promote the propaganda of another—and themes, pounding home the same messages about the weakness of democracy and the evil of America. Unlike military or political alliances from other times and places, this group doesn’t operate like a bloc, but rather like an agglomeration of Autocracy, Inc. Their relations are not based on values, but are rather transactional, which is why they operate so easily across ideological, geographical, and cultural lines. In truth, they are in full agreement about only one Their dislike of us, the inhabitants of the democratic world, and their desire to see both our political systems and our values undermine. That shared understanding of the world—where it comes from, why it lasts, how it works, how the democratic world has unwittingly helped to consolidate it, and how we can help bring it down—is the subject of this book."

3. Maigret at the Gai-Moulin by Georges Simenon (Maigret #10).

"It's closing time at the Gai Moulin, and Jean Chabot and Rene Delfrosse are planning to rob the till to pay of their debts. To their surprise, they stumble upon a dead body. What at first seems to the police an open and shut case proves more complicated when the body turns up next at the zoo, stuffed into a wicker basket. Into the puzzlement steps Maigret, who makes one of the most dramatic and colorful entrances of his career as he sorts out the tangled web of deceit."

New Books

1. We Speak Through the Mountains by Premee Mohamed (The Annual Migration of Clouds #2 /  2024).

"The enlivening follow-up to the award-winning sensation The Annual Migration of Clouds Traveling alone through the climate-crisis-ravaged wilds of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, 19-year-old Reid Graham battles the elements and her lifelong chronic illness to reach the utopia of Howse University. But life in one of the storied “domes” ― the last remnants of pre-collapse society ― isn’t what she expected. Reid tries to excel in her classes and make connections with other students, but still grapples with guilt over what happened just before she left her community. And as she learns more about life at Howse, she begins to realize she can’t stand idly by as the people of the dome purposely withhold needed resources from the rest of humanity. When the worst of news comes from back home, Reid must make a choice between herself, her family, and the broken new world. In this powerful follow-up to her award-winning novella The Annual Migration of Clouds , Premee Mohamed is at the top of her game as she explores the conflicts and complexities of this post-apocalyptic society and asks whether humanity is doomed to forever recreate its worst mistakes."

2. The War We Won Apart: The Untold Elite of Two Elite Agents Who Became One of the Most Decorated Couples of WWII by Nahlah Ayed (2024).

"Love, betrayal, and a secret the untold story of two elite agents, one Canadian, one British, who became one of the most decorated wartime couples of WWII.

On opposite sides of the pond, Sonia Butt, an adventurous young British woman, and Guy d’Artois, a French-Canadian soldier and thunderstorm of a man, are preparing to go to war. From different worlds, they make their way to fight in Winston Churchill's secret army against the German forces and, unlike most involved in the world’s deadliest conflict to date, to fight from behind enemy lines.

Their lives first intersect during clandestine training to become agents with the Special Operations Executive. Sonia and Guy learn how to parachute into enemy territory, how to kill, blow up rail lines, support the French resistance, and eventually...how to love each other. But not long after their hasty marriage, their love is tested by separation, by a titanic invasion—and by indiscretion.

Written in vivid, heart stopping prose, we follow their stories of uncommon courage—as Sonia plunges into Nazi-occupied France and slinks into black market restaurants to throw off German forces who knew she'd arrived, while at the same time participating in sabotage operations against them by night; and as Guy, in another corner of France, trains hundreds into a resistance army, fashioning himself a military leader, weapons instructor, and peacemaker all at once.

Reconstructed from hours of unpublished interviews and hundreds of archival and personal documents, Ayed tells a story of sacrifice and youthful folly; a story about the ravaging costs of war paid for disproportionately by the young. But more than anything, The War We Won Apart is a story about two secret agents who were supposed to land in enemy territory together, but were fated to fight the war apart."

Complete Catwings

3 & 4. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings and Jane on her Own by Ursula K. Le Guin (Catwings #3 & 4) The final books in this entertaining children's fantasy series by Le Guin.

#3 "Jane meets a new friend in this third book in legendary author Ursula K. Le Guin’s bestselling Catwings chapter book series, now with a new look!

Fluffy, orange Alexander is the oldest, biggest, loudest, and strongest of all the Furby kittens. Everyone in his family thinks he’s so remarkable that they call him “Wonderful Alexander” and spoil him to pieces. But one morning, when Alexander bravely sets out to explore the world on his own, he finds himself stuck in a tree and unable to get down. It’s up to Jane, the youngest of the Catwings, to rescue him! Now if only Alexander could do something wonderful for her in return…"

#4 "Jane, the youngest of the Catwings, goes looking for adventure in the big city and captured! Longing for adventure, Jane, the youngest of the catwings, flies to the city on her own. When she flies through the window of a man who feeds here, she is suddenly captured, and finds herself making appearances as Miss Mystery, the fabulous winged cat! Realizing that being independent is much more dangerous than she thought, Jane plots her escape and hopes to reunite with her mother."

5. Ariel by Sylvia Plath (1965). I decided to get this after reading Poems from the Women's Underground.

"Upon the publication of her posthumous volume of poetry, Ariel, in the mid-1960s, Sylvia Plath became a household name. Readers may be surprised to learn that the draft of Ariel left behind by Sylvia Plath when she died in 1963 is different from the volume of poetry eventually published to worldwide acclaim.

This facsimile edition restores, for the first time, the selection and arrangement of the poems as Sylvia Plath left them at the point of her death. In addition to the facsimile pages of Sylvia Plath’s manuscript, this edition also includes in facsimile the complete working drafts of the title poem, "Ariel," in order to offer a sense of Plath's creative process, as well as notes the author made for the BBC about some of the manuscript's poems.

In her insightful foreword to this volume, Frieda Hughes, Sylvia Plath's daughter, explains the reasons for the differences between the previously published edition of Ariel as edited by her father, Ted Hughes, and her mother's original version published here. With this publication, Sylvia Plath's legacy and vision will be re-evaluated in the light of her original working draft."

6. The Dangerous Games by Tereska Torres (1958). I've previously read two other books by Torres.

"Juliette is happily and devotedly married to Frederic. Frederic loves Juliette, but is irresistibly attracted to Francoise, her glamorous friend. Juliette, now on a mad roundabout in search for love and reassurance, allows herself to be seduced by Alain... and the American, Gary.

Only in Paris could a young wife's discovery that her husband is having a violent affair with her best friend set off such a shocking and unconventional situation as revealed here. The talented young French author writes with real perception of the delights and sorrows of love making."

Enjoy your weekend. Read a good book.