A Sad Week - RIP Little Clyde

RIP little Clyde, our sweet little boy

I'm going to take a break from updating my reading stuff today. It's been a sad week for Jo and I. Our little miniature schnauzer, Clyde was put to sleep earlier this week. Jo and I have been quietly adjusting to his absence. He's been going through a lot this past year, much like his sister, Bonnie, went through previously. He suffered from cataracts, which effectively made him blind and his health was such that he couldn't have corrective surgery. He also suffered from diabetes, like Bonnie. As well he had a number of issues. But he was a brave little man and a constant companion. We still went for walks, he still played with his toys sometimes in the evening.

Clyde's 1st day at home, with his sister

We got him in 2013, 3 months after we got Bonnie, to be a companion for her and we just were ready for two again. We got him in Abbotsford, BC and had to bring them both across to Vancouver Island on the ferry. We had to wait for a 2nd ferry and as we walked them both around, we realized that Jo was basically dragging Clyde. He didn't seem to like that leash. LOL

They had such fun, Bonnie and Clyde. Nothing they enjoyed more than a good old rough house. Especially in the snow. Bonnie was a bully, eating Clyde's food, taking his toys. But he got his own back. When we first got him, he used to crawl under the foot stool in front of the sofa, crawling from one end to the other, teasing Bonnie. We came home a few times, having left them both with rawhide strips to keep them occupied, only to discover that Clyde had hidden Bonnie's under pillows so she couldn't have them.

Reading with me in the den

They were two great dogs, liking nothing more than sprawling with either Jo or I. They did like that contact. 😁

Such a difficult life, eh, Clyde.

Or just after a hard day at work and being out for walks...

The Whole Gang; from left, Bonnie, Norman, Clyde & Nikki

At least Clyde isn't suffering anymore and he's with his sister, Bonnie and with our other two mini-schnauzers, Bonnie and Clyde.

A last photo

You're always in our hearts, Clyde.

RIP my little dear friend.

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 Been a Week...

 

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

The puppies having a fun scrap

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

Helping me water the plants

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

Sunny sunshine. Ahh!

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

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

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

Lots of room for all of us here.

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

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

You, I don't like! Grrr!

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

Bonnie's Last Photo

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

Good-bye to our lovely dear. 

For Janice - Books Part 15

That's pretty personal you know, old man!

It's been a rainy sort of week. Low cloud, mizzy, that sort of thing. But the snow we had is pretty well all gone. Nothing exciting really to mention. Bonnie had a check up yesterday; heart and lungs good, weight good. The doc wants to put her on a glucose monitor again as her reading was a bit high. I mentioned that Clyde has been licking a fair bit (don't tell him I said this because he'll probably be embarrassed.) So the vet asked me to get a sample of his pee so they could check if he might have an infection. What a little bugger. I'm trying get him to pee in a little container this morning as we went for our walk. Every time he cocked his leg, I'd place it under him and he'd stop... Grrrr! Long story short (yes, I know, too late), I managed finally to get a sample and dropped it at the vet and celebrated with a quick trip to Big Foot Donuts to get Jo and I a treat.

The Study bookshelves (see the doors...)

Anyway, back to looking at our book shelve and the books therein. Into my final room now but it might take a few posts as the den has quite a few shelves and books behind doors. 

Floating shelves

But I'll start with the collection at the opposite room first. Jo put up the floating shelves to store our cd's, as you can see. But she also said I could have the top shelf for some books.

Cadfael by Ellis Peters

1. Top Shelf. Ellis Peters wrote the Cadfael books, a historical mystery series featuring an English monk, Cadfael. Jo and I had enjoyed the TV series featuring Derek Jacobi as the crime - solving monk. There are 21 books in the series and I've enjoyed 16 thus far. It's always fun to pull one down to read.

The other side of the room consists of three sets of shelves we bought from Home Depot many years ago. The two shelves we have in the Family room come from the same set. As you can see from the first photo, they fit into the space pretty snugly. Today I'll start on the left side (as you look at the shelves) and work down from the top. I'll save the bottom rows for my last posts as they are pretty extensive.

Sci Fi & Fantasy

1. Top left (left side). This is one of my Sci Fi corners. Working from the left are some of the Fu Manchu books by Sax Rohmer. In a previous post, when I was showing off the lounge, there were the remainder of this collection, just different editions. I bought these books at Russell Books in Victoria, a special printing. The next four are Phillip K. Dick stories. I've read quite a few of his books. He's always unique. Next is a Fantasy from Patrick Rothfuss. I've read the first book in this series and thought it was great. I've read one Stanislaw Lem story, Return from the Stars. I'm not sure whether I like him or not but I'll give Eden a shot. The remaining authors are all new for me and were published in this Masterworks collection. I'm looking forward to trying them. There are Joanna Russ (one of my newest additions), M.J. Engh, Nicola Griffith, Ward Moore, William Tenn & Walter Tevis. Check them out and let me know if you like them. (Ed Note. I readily admit that I buy some of these books because I like the covers.)

2. Top left (right side). Just 3 books squeezed into this slot. I've read The Best of Saki, a short story writer (HH Munro is his name) who influenced people like P.G. Wodehouse. I bought the book in Kingston when Jo and I went there to visit Jenn one summer. He's got a strange sense of humor. China Mieville is one of a modern group of Sci Fi authors who I'm really enjoying exploring. And The Testaments is Margaret Atwood's sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, a book I've read two or three times.

Book covers again

3. Left side (2nd shelf). Iain M. Banks is another of the more modern authors of Sci Fi that I enjoy. His Culture series is fascinating. He also wrote fiction / mysteries. I think I prefer his Sci Fi, although you might like to check out The Wasp Factory. It's kind of strange; in the same vein as Lord of the Flies I think. Another Philip K. Dick, this time a collection of short stories, including The Minority Report (made into a movie). The remaining books are graphic novels. Alan Moore's V for Vendetta, one of Moore's selections I've not yet read and then another of my favorite graphic novel series, Tank Girl by Alan Martin. It's always enjoyable and I read somewhere that it's being made into another movie.

4. Left side (middle shelf, left side). From left to right, a book on Germany that I received as a going away gift when I was stationed there. The Scrabble 'book' contains a scrabble game. I don't remember where Jo and I found this but it sure looks nice. The Virgin 9th Film Guide is a list of movies and then there is one book based on a Canadian TV series that my folks used to enjoy when we were stationed in Bagotville PQ, the Plouffe family. 

5. Left side (middle shelf, right side). As I have mentioned a few times, Jo and I often find vintage books in our travels, hence the Blackie's Standard Dictionary. the other books are shelf fillers. They add a certain texture to the shelf.

6. Left side (bottom shelf... not including the two lowest shelves which will be dealt with later on). A mish mash of books here. We have a couple of Shakespeare collections. I think we found this one at a local thrift store. I don't think it was much more than $10. The next is a reference book of some sort.. LOL. Then a couple of dictionaries. I think the Webster's was one my folks had and it's been around the world a couple of times, hence the new cover. The King's dictionary was purchased in another local vintage store and is from the early 1900's. The next book is a Treasury of Use and Beauty from 1885 that I found when Jo and I were down at a Vintage shop in Nanaimo. Not sure it's there any more. I did post some excerpts from it at one time. If you scroll through my 2017 posts, you might find more excerpts... What else.... Just a variety of books. Some of the Harry Potter books that I used to buy at Superstore as they came out. A few more of Jo's movie and TV reference books. She either brought them with her or we found them locally..... We did buy some boxes of books at the Cumberland auction, just to flesh out our shelves back in the day.

So, for today, some more books and series for you to check out. More in my next post. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and the upcoming week. It's almost FEBRUARY!

Doggies are the spice of life.

I hope Dad doesn't see me lick my foot.

I was taking photos around the house yesterday and was followed by my friends. This post is just to have them say hi to you all.

Pay attention to me DAD! Pbfffft!

Well, Clyde tends to say BARK!! BARK!! BARK!! a bit more.

We had snow overnight but it's sunny and warm at the moment and has melted quite a bit. Enjoy the rest of your week!

A Tuesday Update

Hi Daddy! Still reading?

Yesterday we got a fair bit of rain and it cooled it down very nicely. We're supposed to get more rain today but at the moment it's sunny and cool. Bonnie is lying by the patio door and Clyde is beside me on the couch. Jo is at work so it's a perfect time to do a reading update. (Oh, I also cut up a cantaloupe. Yummy) I've spent the past few days catching up on some of the books that I've been reading since March and April. I still have a couple of long term books to finish and I WILL dammit! 

Bonnie avoiding her close-up... Sigh!

So on that note, let's take a look at my latest reading, books I've started and any new books.

Just Finished

I've completed 4 books since my last update.

1. Let the Fire Fall by Kate Wilhelm (1969). I was kind of disappointing with this book, especially since I'd enjoyed Wilhelm's previous read.

"Sigh! I enjoyed my first exposure to Kate Wilhelm's Sci-Fi when I read Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang. I was looking forward to trying Let the Fire Fall. Unfortunately I was kind of disappointed with this one.

The plot sounded interesting. A space ship lands on Earth. The aliens all die except that one of the females leaves a baby behind. There are other babies born to the family of the doctor who treats the lady, as well as another woman. The 'alien' baby is taken under care of the UN. At the same time, Obie, the father of another of the children, becomes an evangelical preacher, preaching against the aliens.

I've simplified the plot a bit. There is constant friction between Obie's cult and the rest of Earth, leading up to violence between both groups. Obie desperately wants control of the alien child, Star Child. One of the children, a boy, is a genius, creates things to make the world better. Oh yes, the world is in crappy shape. 

The story is written well, but it just doesn't seem to go anywhere, at least for me. I even found the ending, not quite an ending. Unfortunate as I had hoped to read more of Wilhelm's work. She also wrote mysteries and I have a couple on my shelf. I'll try those. (2.0 stars)"

2. Golem100 by Alfred Bester (1980). A strange but interesting (not perfect) Sci Fi story.

"I have read three other books by Sci-Fi author Alfred Bester before I tried Golem100. His stories, so far anyway, are quirky and strange. Golem took awhile for me to get into and was easy to put down, but that is partially due to my reading habits of late. I think I can safely say that Golem is style over substance.

OK, so what's it about? Sheesh! Trick questions much. The story is set in a future New York City, now call The Guff. A group of women get together and try to summon the devil, unsuccessfully in their minds. But at the same time a series of horrendous murders take place in the city. A trio of individuals, beautiful Gretchen Nunn, a master of psychodynamics, Blaise Shima, a chemist and her lover and finally homicide policeman Subadar Ind-Dni. They discover that what they call a Golem is committing the murders.

OK, so that's the gist of the story, which will delve into a drug that is powerful and brings the experimenters, Blaise and Gretchen at first, into some other dimension. This is described in such an interesting fashion with drawings by Sci-Fi artist Jack Gaughan. As I mentioned, style over substance. Does the story matter? Well, yes, of course, but it's presented in a fascinating fashion, stream of consciousness, songs in all languages, drawings, etc. Does the ending matter? Well, it does end. The characters are quirky, intelligent, sexy... the city is kind of like Philip Dick's portrayal of, is it LA?, in Blade Runner, but on steroids.

Check it out anyway. Bester is worth trying. (3.5 stars)"

3. Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem (1961). At one point I considered giving up on this book, but I'm glad I didn't. It wasn't perfect but it was interesting.

"It took me awhile to get into and through Return from the Stars by Stanisław Lem. I believe we many have taken one of his books back in my university day, my Science Fiction novel course, but I don't think I actually read it. (too many books to read in that course, dontcha know 😀😁).

Anyway, once I got into Return from the Stars, I enjoyed it, if that's the proper term to how I felt. Basically, a group of astronauts returns to Earth after a ten year space exploration. Like many of these journeys, time dilation means that 127 years have passed on Earth. The group returns to a much changed Earth. The story follows one of the space explorers, Hal Bregg, as he tries to adjust to this new Earth.

It starts with his return from acclimatization on the Moon to his passage to Earth and his 'new' life there. He gets lost when he arrives and misses his contact with his Earth contact and then basically decides to just try and adjust on his own. Terminology is different, basic processes like getting money (it seems that any bank accounts have just accumulated so I guess he's reasonably well off). He finds the whole new world very confusing and, in fact, is kind of like the 'savage' in Brave New World. Lem calls the returning astronauts ' resuscitated Neanderthals'. 

In the 127 years that Earth has changed, the biggest change is the act of 'betrizating' children, removing aggression and violence out of them. This is especially difficult for Bregg as he is filled with anger and has refused betrization. He takes himself off to a small resort on the ocean and reads and tries to find out the history of Earth while he was one, as well as science, etc. While he begins to understand, he doesn't resolve his anger. He has one of the old crew, Olaf, come and visit. He finds himself attracted to a young woman, Eri, who stays with her husband at the resort.

It's an interesting book, this exploration of Bregg's physicality, his trying to cope with events that happened on the voyage (self-imposed guilt at the deaths of some of his crew mates) and his attraction to Eri. It's a very thoughtful book, well-written and interesting enough once you get into it. I have tried to watch the original movie adaptation of Solaris another of Lem's books, but may just have to try the novel instead. Anyway, Return from the Stars is worth trying. (3.5 stars)"

4. The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag (Witch Boy #1 / 2017). A bit of fun, a YA graphic novel fantasy.

"The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag is the first graphic YA Fantasy in her Witch Boy trilogy. It's entertaining, well-drawn and satisfying.

Basically you've got a clan of witches (the women) and shapeshifters (the men) who live in the woods. The daughters are taught to be witches and learn witching and the boys are taught to be shapeshifters and never the twain shall meet.

Of course, there is a twist. Young Aster is supposed to be learning to shapeshift but he lacks the talent and / or the desire. Instead he spies on the girls as they are taught to be witches, taking notes, trying out spells. He is regularly told off about this past time. It's forbidden after all. At some point the small community is placed under attack by a demon; one of the boys disappears, then others. 

Aster and a human friend, Charlie, decide they are the only ones who can defeat the demon and that's the story. It's a neat little story. It gets going right away, has a good pace and is a fun, entertaining read. It's not earth shattering by any means but it will keep you involved until the satisfying ending. Try it. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1 / 1992). Yup, a new author for me. Comparing to the time travel series by Jodi Taylor.

"For Kivrin, preparing an on-site study of one of the deadliest eras in humanity's history was as simple as receiving inoculations against the diseases of the fourteenth century and inventing an alibi for a woman traveling alone. For her instructors in the twenty-first century, it meant painstaking calculations and careful monitoring of the rendezvous location where Kivrin would be received.

But a crisis strangely linking past and future strands Kivrin in a bygone age as her fellows try desperately to rescue her. In a time of superstition and fear, Kivrin--barely of age herself--finds she has become an unlikely angel of hope during one of history's darkest hours.

Connie Willis draws upon her understanding of the universalities of human nature to explore the ageless issues of evil, suffering, and the indomitable will of the human spirit."

2. Eye in the Sky by Phillip K. Dick (1957). A favorite of mine when it comes to Sci-Fi.

"While sightseeing at the Belmont Bevatron, Jack Hamilton, along with seven others, is caught in a lab accident. When he regains consciousness, he is in a fantasy world of Old Testament morality gone awry—a place of instant plagues, immediate damnations, and death to all perceived infidels. Hamilton figures out how he and his compatriots can escape this world and return to their own, but first they must pass through three other vividly fantastical worlds, each more perilous and hilarious than the one before."

3. Slaves of Heaven by Edmund Cooper (1974). I've enjoyed the previous book by Cooper, News from Elsewhere and Transit. Looking forward to seeing what this one's about.

"British paperback edition of this 1975 novel. "Berry, chief of his clan, knew his people could survive the dangers of the forest; and when winter came he made them build barricades against raiders from other clans. But no barricades were strong enough to hold against the Night Comers - huge silver beings of horrifying strength who carried away the womenfolk and were drastically lowering the human population. Were the Night Comers men, monsters or gods? Berry believed they were man; and when the inevitable night came when the women of his clan were seized, he managed to follow. He followed them to a huge tapering column of metal, which took him away from the world he had known to an island in the sky called "Heaven." And there Berry realized that he had to defeat the Lords of Heaven if the people on Earth were to survive."

New Books

1. The Playground Murders by Lesley Thomson (Detective's Daughter #7). I enjoyed the first book in this series.

"Wormwood Scrubs playground, 1980.  The wind blows across the common, and the girl in her shorts shivers. The playground is isolated, timeless. Far from the prying eyes of grown-ups, she and her friends can play make-believe here. The looming slide is a mountain; the upturned log a pirate ship. But six-year-old Sarah Ferris does not know that in two days' time, she will be dead: a victim of jealousy, betrayal, and her own innocence. Hammersmith, 2019. Cleaner Stella Darnell loves rooting into shadowy places and restoring order. She'll clear your attic, polish your kitchen and scrub your bath—but she also investigates cold cases. Stella can spend hours sifting through forgotten evidence looking for shreds of evidence the police might have missed. So when a woman is found dead, and the killer is linked to the Sarah Ferris murder, Stella is the woman for the case. But dredging up the past can be dangerous—especially if the playground killer is back."

2. The Knowledge by Martha Grimes (Richard Jury #24 / 2018). It's been awhile since I tried this series.

"With their signature wit, sly plotting, and gloriously offbeat characters, Martha Grimes's New York Times bestselling Richard Jury mysteries are "utterly unlike anyone else's detective novels" (Washington Post). In the latest series outing, The Knowledge, the Scotland Yard detective nearly meets his match in a Baker Street Irregulars-like gang of kids and a homicide case that reaches into east Africa. Robbie Parsons is one of London's finest, a black cab driver who knows every street, every theater, every landmark in the city by heart. In his backseat is a man with a gun in his hand--a man who brazenly committed a crime in front of the Artemis Club, a rarefied art gallery-cum-casino, then jumped in and ordered Parsons to drive. As the criminal eventually escapes to Nairobi, Detective Superintendent Richard Jury comes across the case in the Saturday paper.

Two days previously, Jury had met and instantly connected with one of the victims of the crime, a professor of astrophysics at Columbia and an expert gambler. Feeling personally affronted, Jury soon enlists Melrose Plant, Marshall Trueblood, and his whole gang of merry characters to contend with a case that takes unexpected turns into Tanzanian gem mines, a closed casino in Reno, Nevada, and a pub that only London's black cabbies, those who have "the knowledge," can find. The Knowledge is prime fare from "one of the most fascinating mystery writers today"

(Ed. Note: TCM is currently showing The Trial with Glenn Ford and Dorothy McGuire. Talk about topical; white supremacists, segregation, lynching? 1955 and things don't seem to have changed)

3. The Hidden Witch by Molly Knox Ostertag (Witch Boy #2 / 2018). I liked the first graphic novel in this trilogy so I should try the next two.

"Aster and his family are adjusting to his unconventional talent for witchery; unlike the other boys in his family, he isn't a shapeshifter. He's taking classes with his grandmother and helping to keep an eye on his great-uncle whose corrupted magic wreaked havoc on the family.

Meanwhile, Aster's friend from the non-magical part of town, Charlie, is having problems of her own -- a curse has tried to attach itself to her. She runs to Aster and escapes it, but now the friends must find the source of the curse before more people -- normal and magical alike -- get hurt."

4. The Midwinter Witch by Molly Knox Ostertag (Witch Boy #3 / 2019).

"The acclaimed graphic novel world of The Witch Boy and The Hidden Witch comes to a thrilling conclusion in this story of friendship, family, and finding your true power. Magic has a dark side . . .Aster always looks forward to the Midwinter Festival, a reunion of the entire Vanissen family that includes competitions in witchery and shapeshifting. This year, he's especially excited to compete in the annual Jolrun tournament-as a witch. He's determined to show everyone that he's proud of who he is and what he's learned, but he knows it won't be easy to defy tradition. Ariel has darker things on her mind than the Festival-like the mysterious witch who's been visiting her dreams, claiming to know the truth about Ariel's past. She appreciates everything the Vanissens have done for her. But Ariel still craves a place where she truly belongs. The Festival is a whirlwind of excitement and activity, but for Aster and Ariel, nothing goes according to plan. When a powerful and sinister force invades the reunion, threatening to destroy everything the young witches have fought for, can they find the courage to fight it together? Or will dark magic tear them apart?"

Focus Author - Jean Rhys

Jean Rhys

Jean Rhys was a British author who lived from 1890 - 1973. She was born in the British Leeward Islands (Dominica) and died in Exeter, England. I've read three of his books thus far. They're not what you'd call enjoyable, light reading rather, they can be challenging. And that's not a bad thing, eh? I'll provide my reviews of the books I've read and the synopsis of the one I have on order.

1. After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie (1930).

"This was my first exposure to Jean Rhys writing. She also wrote Wide Sargasso Sea. So having said this, I had no inkling what to expect when I began the book, was it a romance maybe? What spectrum would it fall into? I think I can safely say it wasn't a Romance. It's a short, concise story dealing with a two-week (or so) period in the life of Julia. There is a bit of a back story; she has been in Paris for a number of years, having left England and her husband after the death of their child. She has travelled around Europe and finally settled in Paris and after a time become involved with Mr. Mackenzie. She lives on a monthly compensation from Mr. Mackenzie, after he wishes the relationship to be terminated. The story finds her in a small room, depressed, downtrodden, discovering that this allowance will now cease.  After a confrontation with the man, the Mr. Mackenzie in the title, she decides to go to London, to reconcile with her mother and sister, maybe to restart her life? That's the gist of the story. Rhys has a concise writing style and a nice flow to her story. It's a grim story at times; Julia wonders where her life is going, has encounters with a man she met in Paris, with her sister and others. Did I enjoy the story? Did I learn anything from the story? I think it was interesting, a new style and writer for me. I do have others by Rhys on my bookshelf and I would like to explore her writing more. (3.5 stars)"

2. Voyage in the Dark (1934).

"Voyage in the Dark| is the 2nd story by Jean Rhys that I've read. It is a moody, depressing tale. Anna is an eighteen year old girl who has moved to London from a Caribbean island. She has worked as a chorus girl, traveling around England and then finds herself a male companion. The story is set 1913 / 1914. 

Anna seems to wander through life, managing to survive somehow. She doesn't seem to work but gets money from Walter. She moves from apartment to apartment, is abandoned by Walter, finds company with other men. Eventually she gets pregnant by one of her male friends. 

It's all very sparsely told, Rhys moves from London and the present to Anna's life as a child in her home. You don't really find a lot out about her. I don't know. I found it difficult to relate to the story or the characters. I did feel that I'm glad I didn't grow up at that time. I have one more of Rhys's books, Wide Sargasso Sea, which is her most acclaimed book, I believe. I'm not sure what to make of Voyage in the Dark, though. (3.5 stars)"

3. Wide Sargasso Sea (1966).

"Wide Sargasso Sea (1966) is the 3rd book I've read by Jean Rhys. I can't say she is one of my favorite authors but she has a unique style. Wide Sargasso Sea is a period piece, set in the Caribbean Islands. It follows Annette, who is also the lady in the tower in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. 

The story is told in three parts; the first is narrated by Annette and follows her life from childhood until she is introduced to Rochester (not named in the book); the second is narrated by Rochester, describing his marriage and their life at their honeymoon home near a town called Massacre; the third part has moved to England and Rochester's home and is narrated first by Grace Poole (the nurse) and finally by Annette.

It's a fascinating story, often harsh and depressing. Annette's childhood is actually quite terrifying, her mother alone with a sick boy and a young girl and being harassed by Negro population and also looked down upon by the English population. It's a period I'm not familiar with set after the Emancipation Act of 1833, when the Negro slaves were freed in the Caribbean Islands. It's a period of transition and Annette and her mother do not fit into any group. Annette's mother was a Creole women who had married a white Englishman, meaning she didn't fit into any group. It makes her life harsh and ultimately there is a tragic event. (You read it). Annette ultimately is married off to Rochester and we follow that part of her life, also tragic.

Reading the story made me think of the current situation in the US with the BLM movement. Wide Sargasso Sea is only peripherally related but the underlying issue of race made it especially topical. The story has a dark tone throughout. The different narrative perspectives makes it interesting and at times difficult to follow. But the story does draw you in and it can be difficult to put down. (4 stars)"

4. Jean Rhys Letters 1931 - 1966 (1984).

"In her will, Jean Rhys expressed a wish that no biography should be written unless authorized during her lifetime. Following her death, her literary executor was approached frequently with requests for permission to write "an official life". Finally he decided that, by compiling a volume of letters, authentic biographical information would be provided. But as the collection grew, the biographical aspect took on a secondary importance as the self-portrait began to reveal the turbulent process of literary creation. The final result is a portrait spanning the years 1931 (taking up the story roughly where it was left in "Smile Please") to 1966, when the long struggle to finish "Wide Sargasso Sea" was over."

The complete listing of Rhys's books can be found at this link. Enjoy the rest of your week.