We Have an Election Upcoming and of course, Books Update.

Well, no more waiting around. Canada will have a Federal Election upcoming. New Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced it for April 28, 2025, so in just a month we'll know who has won and who will lead us against Donald Trump's constant threats against Canada and other countries. I haven't really made my mind up yet........ 🤔🤔🤔 

Ah, who am I kidding... I've ordered my lawn sign for my local Liberal candidate, Jennifer Lash, who seems eminently qualified. 

So, now about books..

Books Completed

(I've completed 3 books since my last update)

1. Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie (Tommy & Tuppence #5 / 1973).

"Postern of Fate is the 5th and final book in the Tommy & Tuppence Beresford spy / mystery series by English author, Agatha Christie. This novel finds Tommy & Tuppence finally retired from the spy work for the English government and settling into a retirement house purchased in a little town on the coast.

The house is awash with electricians and other work men, digging holes in the floors and walls as they bring the new home up to snuff for the two 'elderly' retirees and their dog, Hannibal. But they will be drawn into an investigation that will threaten their lives. Tuppence agreed to take hand of the previous family's reading material and spends her days up in the library, sorting through them. Tommy continues to commute to London but helps when he gets home.

In one book, The Black Arrow, Tuppence notices that certain letters have been underlined. Being naturally inquisitive, she starts copying them down and comes up with the phrase, "Mary Jordan did not die naturally. It was one of us. I think I know which one." Her interest piqued, she begins to visit the older folks in town trying to find out about their new home and previous residents. Reluctantly, Tommy finds himself drawn in and he starts his own investigation, which includes visiting some of his old spy pals.

It's a slow - paced story, that seems to be trying to ascertain what might have happened in the past, and not the recent past, and does it relate to anything that is happening now.. I did find it a slow read, but I do think Tuppence is one of my favorite Agatha Christie characters. And all their old friends in the spy business think she's wonderful too... As the story progresses, Tommy and Tuppence wander between being interested and wondering why they are even investigating. But something happens that changes everything. Tuppence is suddenly angry. 

"I am worked up. And I'm not doing anything for fun any more. This isn't fun. We're doing something different now, Tommy. We're hunting down a killer...."

It's an interesting story with many neat little characters. I especially liked the young kids who discover that Tuppence was a spy in her past life and they become her Junior Brigade. (Everyone loves Tuppence!) And brave Hannibal the dog, another great character. Is it an exciting thriller filled with action? No, it's just an interesting story and most enjoyable. The Tommy and Tuppence series is well worth reading. (3.0 stars)"

2. A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin & Fred Fordham (Earthsea #1 / 2025).

"I've been enjoying exploring the work of American author, Ursula K. Le Guin and have, in fact, read all but one of the fantasy series. But when I saw the graphic novel version of A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel written by Fred Fordham, I had to give it a try.

My review of the original novel is below followed by my review of the graphic novel. 

"Back in my university days, 74 - 78, I took a science fiction novel course and was introduced to Ursula K. Le Guin, specifically The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed. I enjoyed those books so much that I went looking for others of her books. I found A Wizard of Earthsea but over the years I never tried to read it. 

I found another copy of the book recently and decided to try this series again and I'm glad that I did. Ged is a young man of Earthsea who lives on the island of Gont. When the island is invaded by pirates, we discover Ged's talents as a wizard. He saves his village. The wizard of the island takes him in after his naming ceremony to teach him how to be a wizard. After Ged brings a shadow from the underworld up in an effort to impress a young girl, Ogion sends him to the Wizard school on the Island of Roke.

Much time is spent with Ged's education as a Wizard but he is involved in a number of incidents, almost dying when he tries to impress another wizard - student by bringing up a spirit from the underworld. A Shadow remains on the earth and when Ged finally completes his wizard training he must go after the Shadow as it is a threat to his life.

It's a fascinating story, thoughtfully written and describing an interesting new world. In so many of these stories, I struggle to read the maps or many places are left out, but I was quite happy that these were clear and easy to read, even in a paperback edition. Ged is an interesting character and the others, while not as major, are still interesting, especially his friend Vetch. There were intimations of events that take place in Ged's future, presumably they'll be described in the continuing versions of the Earthsea saga. (4 stars)"

My review of the graphic novel version -

Basically, a young man, Ged, gets training as a Wizard on the island of Roke. While there, another student goads him into raising a dead spirit. Ged does this but at the same time a shadow comes through, that being an evil shadow of course. This shadow is linked to Ged. Ged leaves Roke after becoming a wizard. He becomes wizard of a small island and chases away a family of dragons that is threatening the island.  

Ged meets with the shade again and after going back home to his home island, decides that he has to finally deal with this shadow. That is the rest of the story and follows Ged's journey to find and confront this shadow.

So now to compare the book to the graphic novel. Fred Fordham shows great respect to the book, in fact was chosen by Le Guin's son after he saw Fordham's graphic novel of To Kill a Mockingbird. Fordham's graphic novel definitely has the pace and feel of the book. There is not a lot of dialogue in the book itself, it is more descriptive and Fordham does create that same feeling. Some of his illustration is just beautiful, almost like paintings. Some of the full page pictures, especially when Ged is alone at sea, are stunning and create a feel of the expanse and loneliness. Some of the other illustrations I found kind of dark, but that could just be that they are at night and the lighting in my room isn't all that great (and NO, it's not that my vision is getting worse with my extreme old age). I found that when I sat out in the sunshine reading it, the pictures were much clearer.

Anyway, I have to say that I enjoyed this graphic novel just as much as the book; nicely paced, with a similar feel and with beautiful artwork. I hope Fordham continues to illustrate the Earthsea books. (4.0 stars)"

3. A Series of Murders by Simon Brett (Charles Paris #13 / 1989).

"I've been trying to work through the dusty end of my bookshelf this year and have been enjoying reconnecting with some old favorites. A Series of Murders is the 13th book in the Charles Paris mystery series by English author Simon Brett. For those who might not have tried this series of 20 books, Charles Paris is a jobbing actor with a 'troubled' marriage and a bit of a drinking problem who finds himself involved in murder mysteries on the various acting jobs that he manages to find.

In A Series of Murders, Charles has managed to get a steady part on a new TV series being produced by W.E.T productions. The series is a mystery series based on a number of books by a lady author from the 50's, W.T. Wintergreen, a sort of Agatha Christie styled author. The series follows private detective Stanislas Braid (think of Hercule Poirot or Peter Wimsey) as he solves various crimes. Charles plays a police Sgt whose basic job is to be Braid's foil in the series. The book opens as they film the first book.

There is lots of friction on the set. The main actor, playing Stanislas Braid, doesn't like that it's not modern enough. The author and her sister, two elderly maidens, aren't happy with the language, the actress playing Braid's daughter (in fact most of the crew hate her because she's a crap actress and seems to have got the job, maybe by sleeping with the director) and so on.. .Lots of arguments about the set, about the script, etc. Most people are upset with the casting of Sippy Stokes and fairly quickly she is found dead, under a pile of props in the storage room.

This is fairly quickly brushed off as an accident and the filming progresses. Charles Paris sort of doubts that it was an accident and throughout the book, haphazardly investigates and 'interrogates' the other cast members. The book continues with the filming of the 2nd episode and then they move along to the west coast of England for the 3rd episode. There might be other 'accidents'. Charles continues to appeal to his ex-wife Frances to get back together, although, rightfully so, she's suspicious. She knows what he's like and actually we've got a pretty good idea as well, from the previous books.

Charles loves his ex-wife but he's also used to being a rambler, moving from job to job, minor  role to minor role and even likes living in his one room grubby apartment as he doesn't want to be tied down. He may promise to Frances that he will stop drinking but we know he won't. He may promise to be faithful, but we know he probably won't. That's Charles... 

As always, it's neat seeing the workings of the film / TV / acting industry, even down to Charles' generally useless agent. And the mystery is always interesting, sometimes just a side issue but it will be resolved satisfactorily and in this particular book, with a neat little surprise at the end. Brett is an entertaining story teller, no matter what series you try out; Charles Paris, Mrs. Pargeter or Fethering... Check him out. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Domain by James Herbert (Rats #3 / 1983). This will be the final book in Herbert's Rats trilogy. There is supposedly a graphic novel out there, but I've yet to find it.

"The long-dreaded nuclear conflict. The city torn apart, shattered, its people destroyed or mutilated beyond hope. For just a few, survival is possible only beneath the wrecked streets - if there is time to avoid the slow-descending poisonous ashes. But below, the rats are waiting."

2. Lost Girls by Alan Moore (Lost Girls 1 - 3 / 2006)

"The groundbreaking, controversial masterpiece of erotic comics, decades in the making, now in a sumptuous hardcover collecting all three volumes, with 32 pages of new artwork and commentary.

For more than a century, Alice, Wendy and Dorothy have been our guides through the Wonderland, Neverland and Land of Oz of our childhoods. Now like us, these three lost girls have grown up and are ready to guide us again, this time through the realms of our sexual awakening and fulfillment. Through their familiar fairytales they share with us their most intimate revelations of desire in its many forms, revelations that shine out radiantly through the dark clouds of war gathering around a luxury Austrian hotel. Drawing on the rich heritage of erotica, Lost Girls is the rediscovery of the power of ecstatic writing and art in a sublime union that only the medium of comics can achieve. Exquisite, thoughtful, and human, Lost Girls is a work of breathtaking scope that challenges the very notion of art fettered by convention. This is erotic fiction at its finest."

New Books

(A few new books arrived since my last update.) 😏😉

1. Alabaster Volume 2: Grimmer Tales by Caitlin R. Kiernan (2014). I've enjoyed the other two graphics in this series.

"Dancy Flammarion possesses a savvy awareness and a keen knife for the monsters that lurk in the shadows. She does the bidding of an unholy host, a legion of dark gods guiding her across America's southern wilds. And a blackbird's grim tales of her battles could be his only salvation from becoming dinner for a boxcar full of beastly hoboes. Collects Boxcar Tales #1–#13 from Dark Horse Presents."

2. The Wintermen III: At the End of the World by Brit Griffin (Wintermen #3 / 2020).

"Life after climate catastrophe is a dystopian nightmare. Brit Griffins’ series The Wintermen wraps up as Johnny Slaught tangles with new Talos strongman Eton Love over who the future belongs to: the people and the land, or the same old capitalist profiteers. With a slim promise of spring on the horizon, megalomaniac Love is gearing up for a cut and run replay of business as usual, and that means grabbing the wealth that lies within the Wintermen’s territory. But the forests, deep snows, and wolves, have a different idea about the fate of the northern landscape. Caught between these two powerful forces, Slaught and his community have to decide which side they’re on. Can they salvage a liveable future from the winter-swept remains of the planet, or is human greed just too powerful?"

3. On Freedom by Timothy Snyder (2024). I only recently heard of Mr. Snyder. My wife heard him interviewed and thought he was very interesting. Since I bought this book, I've discovered that he's move to Canada and will work at my alma mater, University of Toronto. A friend of his also moved to Canada, both citing the current political situation in the US.

"A brilliant exploration of freedom—what it is, how it’s been misunderstood, and why it’s our only chance for survival—by the acclaimed Yale historian and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller On Tyranny/ Timothy Snyder has been called “the leading interpreter of our dark times.” As a historian, he has given us startling reinterpretations of political collapse and mass killing. As a public intellectual, he has turned that knowledge toward counsel and prediction, working against authoritarianism here and abroad. His book On Tyranny has inspired millions around the world to fight for freedom. Now, in this tour de force of political philosophy, he helps us see exactly what we’re fighting for. Freedom is the great American commitment, but as Snyder argues, we have lost sight of what it means—and this is leading us into crisis. Too many of us look at freedom as the absence of state We think we're free if we can do and say as we please, and protect ourselves from government overreach. But true freedom isn’t so much freedom from, as freedom to—the freedom to thrive, to take risks for futures we choose by working together. Freedom is the value that makes all other values possible. On Freedom takes us on a thrilling intellectual journey. Drawing on the work of philosophers and political dissidents, conversations with contemporary thinkers, and his own experiences coming of age in a time of American exceptionalism, Snyder identifies the practices and attitudes—the habits of mind—that will allow us to design a government in which we and future generations can flourish. We come to appreciate the importance of traditions (championed by the right) but also the role of institutions (the purview of the left). Intimate yet ambitious, this book helps forge a new consensus rooted in a politics of abundance, generosity, and grace."

4. The Colour out of Space by H.P. Lovecraft (1927).

"'It was a monstrous constellation of unnatural light, like a glutted swarm of corpse-fed fireflies dancing hellish sarabands over an accursed marsh...'

H.P. Lovecraft was perhaps the greatest twentieth century practitioner of the horror story, introducing to the genre a new evil, monstrous, pervasive and unconquerable. At the heart of this story are terrors unthinkable and strange: a crash-landing meteorite."

5. Lord of the Flies; the Graphic Novel by William Golding & Aimee de Jongh (1954 / 2024). I'm kind of hooked on these graphic novelizations of classic novels. Maybe I should do a separate post on them.

"A plane crashes on a desert island. The only survivors, a group of schoolboys. By day, they explore the dazzling beaches. By night, they are haunted by nightmares of a primitive beast and of what they've lost.

'There aren't any grown-ups anywhere.'

Orphaned by society, they must forge their own; but it isn't long before the group is split, and their innocent games take a dangerous turn.

'What are we? Humans? Or Animals?'

For the first time, from acclaimed artist Aimée de Jongh, comes the stunning graphic novel adaptation of this classic story, one of the BBCs '100 Novels that shaped our World'."

6. Reflections in a Golden Eye by Carson McCullers (1941). I've read three books by McCullers now, my favorite will always by The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Such a great writer.

"A powerful and passionate tale is set on a southern army post --a human hell inhabited by a sexually disturbed officer, his animalistic wife, her lover, and the driven young private who forces the drama to its climax..."

So there you go. All caught up. I hope you see something that interests you. Enjoy the rest of your week.

Hey! It's Thursday!

Darn mice!

It's another rainy day in the Comox Valley. We're going to pick up our Ford Focus from one car repair shop and then tomorrow it goes to the Ford dealer to see if it needs more work. Darn mice! 

Little rats! or mice

They seem to have decided that the engine block was a nice warm place to live. Fountain Tires has done the initial work, replacing coolant hoses and now Ford will look at the wiring. This is the first time ever that I've made an insurance claim. We're currently driving a nice little rental, a Hyundai Kona. We might have to look at one as a possible replacement.

I've finished two more books since my last reading update. Or more accurately, I gave up on one and completed one. I'll provide my reviews for both and also the synopses for the next two books I've started. Shockingly, I've no new books on which to provide updates. Don't tell Jo or she'll think there is something wrong with me. 😎 I will continue with my ongoing look at Women Authors whose work I've been enjoying. 

Finished Reading

1. Fanny Hill, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland (1748). I was reading this as part of my pre-1900 books. I ended up giving up on it as I found myself just skimming pages. 

"Well. OK. I've given up on Fanny Hill, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland. From what I've read it's one of the earlier examples of erotica. It is well-written, I guess. Originally published in 1748, it tells the story of young Fanny Hill, who writes letters to Madam and describes her descent into a life of Pleasure.

Fanny moves to London, is taken in by one woman who teaches her about sex. She falls in love, her suitor, is sent overseas. She then moves in with another man (sold by her madam). Because she sees him having sex with her maid, she does the same with his valet. He boots her out and she moves in with another madam.... That's where I finally gave up. Not sure how it ends.

It's definitely a book of erotica, but it is also quite relentless. I didn't know that there were so many words to describe female and male anatomy. I'm sure it was shocking at the time. From what I read about Cleland, he was arrested after publication of the book. The language is 'mild' for the topic but also quite graphic. Anyway... It wasn't worth finishing and seeing if and how Fanny resolves her life. Try it and let me know. (No Rating / NR)"

2. Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton (2022). I read this as part of my CanCon genre challenge. I first heard of the book when I looked at Barack Obama's books of 2022. 

"Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton is an autobiographical story told in graphic novel format of two years spent in the Alberta Oil Sands, at Fort McMurray by novelist Beaton. After graduating from university in Nova Scotia, Beaton decides to go to work in the Oil Sands for a couple of years to pay off her student debts.

The Oil Sands attract workers from all over Canada and the world, especially from the Maritime provinces where work in the mines, fishing and steel industries were drying up. Kate meets folks from all over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland during her time there.

It's not a pretty tale, to be sure. Women working in the Oil Sands are outnumbered 50 - 1 by men. The isolation of some of the camps can change people. Kate's story is sometimes gritty; she was raped twice while there, and very revealing. It's so very well drawn as well. Her artwork is clear and sometimes awesome and grand in scale. 

It's a fascinating story peopled with wonderful people, people trying to earn money, trying to help their families but being away has its effects on people as well. And Kate tells this story clearly and thoughtfully. I'm glad that President Obama mentioned it as one of his books of 2022 and that I saw it very shortly afterwards in my local book store. Well worth checking out. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Man Who Would Be King & Other Stories by Rudyard Kipling (1885). Continuing with my January Decade Challenge, pre-1900's.

"Winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1907, Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) drew upon his experiences in Anglo-Indian Society for much of his writing.

This anthology of tales by Rudyard Kipling contains some of the most memorable and popular examples of the genre of which he is an undisputed master. The Man Who Would Be King (later adapted as a spectacular film) is a vivid narrative of exotic adventure and disaster.

The other tales include the ironic, horrific, poignant and haunting. Here Kipling displays his descriptive panache and realistic boldness. Shrewd, audacious, abrasive and challenging, he remains absorbingly readable.

Contents of this Wordsworth Classics edition:
* The Education of Otis Yeere
* At the Pit's Mouth
* A Wayside Comedy
* The Hill of Illusion
* A Second-Rate Woman
* Only a Subaltern
* The Phantom 'Rickshaw
* My Own True Ghost Story
* The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes
* The Man Who Would Be King
* Wee Willie Winkie
* Baa Baa, Black Sheep33433
* His Majesty the King
* The Drums of the Fore and Aft"

2. Stories I Might Regret Telling You: A Memoir by Martha Wainwright (2022). I saw this book one day when I was checking out The Laughing Oyster book shop. It kind of intrigued me as Wainwright comes from music royalty, her mother is Kate McGarrigle of Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Her father is Loudon Wainwright and her brother is Rufus Wainwright. Amongst others. Back in my Uni days, I bought Kate and Anna's 2nd album, Dancer with Bruised Knees. This book just seemed like one I might like to try. It's been interesting so far.

"A singer-songwriter's heartfelt memoir about growing up in a bohemian musical family and her experiences with love, loss, motherhood, divorce, the music industry, and more.

Born into music royalty, the daughter of folk legends Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III and sister to the highly-acclaimed and genre-defying singer Rufus Wainwright, Martha grew up in a world filled with such incomparable folk legends as Leonard Cohen; Suzy Roche, Anna McGarrigle, Richard and Linda Thompson, Pete Townsend, Donald Fagan and Emmylou Harris. It was within this loud, boisterous, carny, musical milieu that Martha came of age, struggling to find her voice until she exploded on the scene with her 2005 debut critically acclaimed album, Martha Wainwright, containing the blistering hit, "Bloody Mother F*cking Asshole," which the Sunday Times called one of the best songs of that year. Her successful debut album and the ones that followed such as Come Home to Mama, I Know You're Married but I've Got Feelings Too, and Goodnight City came to define Martha's searing songwriting style and established her as a powerful voice to be reckoned with.

In Martha's memoir, Stories I Might Regret Telling You, Martha digs into the deep recesses of herself with the same emotional honesty that has come to define her music. She describes her tumultuous public-facing journey from awkward, earnest, and ultimately rebellious daughter, through her intense competition and ultimate alliance with her brother, Rufus, to the indescribable loss of their mother, Kate, and then, finally, discovering her voice as an artist. With candor and grace, Martha writes of becoming a mother herself and making peace with her past struggles with Kate and her former self, finally understanding and facing the challenge of being a female artist and a mother. Ultimately, Stories I Might Regret Telling You will offer readers a thoughtful and deeply personal look into the extraordinary life of one of the most talented singer-songwriters in music today."

Addendum. As I sit here, the mail carrier just dropped a book off on our doorstep. Of course, she was welcomed by Bonnie and Clyde in their normal fashion.

New Books

1. The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin (The Passage #3 / 2016).

"In life I was a scientist called Fanning.

Then, in a jungle in Bolivia, I died.

I died, and then I was brought back to life...

Prompted by a voice that lives in her blood, the fearsome warrior known as Alicia of Blades is drawn towards to one of the great cities of The Time Before. The ruined city of New York. Ruined but not empty. For this is the final refuge of Zero, the first and last of The Twelve. The one who must be destroyed if mankind is to have a future.

What she finds is not what she's expecting.

A journey into the past.

To find out how it all began.

And an opponent at once deadlier and more human than she could ever have imagined."

Women Whose Works I've Been Enjoying - Carson McCullers

Carson McCullers

Carson McCullers was an American author / short story writer who was born in Georgia in 1917 and died in New York in 1967. I first discovered her work after watching The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, a great movie starring Alan Arkin. The book turned out to be just as great. Since then I've tried two others of McCullers' books. I'll provide my reviews of those three books to give you a feel for her writing.

1. The Member of the Wedding (1946).

"One of my favorite all-time books is The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by American writer Carson McCullers. This novel explored the lives and relationships of a group of misfits in the South. I found The Member of The Wedding, written in 1946, was the 3rd of 4 novels she had published. It explores similar themes but it was a darker story in some ways than Lonely Hunter.

The Member of the Wedding follows twelve-year old Frankie who live with her widowed father and their maid Berenice. The story mainly focuses on Frankie and also Berenice and Frankie's young cousin, John Henry. The tale takes place over the period of a couple of days. Frankie's older brother is in the US Army (the setting is towards the end of WWII) and is on leave as her prepares to get married. The wedding will be out of town and we don't really meet the betrothed couple.

It's a hot summer in southern town and Frankie is lost, jealous of the wedding, frustrated with her life and angry and depressed at the same time. She plans to go away with her brother and new wife after the wedding. (Note: Dad is an absent figure in this story, it revolves around the 3 others)

The story follows Frankie as she wanders about her town on the day before the wedding. She meets people, tells about her plans for the wedding and afterwards. There is a disturbing incident that takes place and throughout their is a sometimes darkness and feeling of unease as she wanders. 

It is a fascinating story and the three main characters are well-developed and unique. The story alternates between Frankie's journey around town and their interactions in the kitchen of Frankie's home. These interactions present many interesting themes and show Frankie's feelings and thoughts, but also those of Berenice and to a lesser extent, John Henry.

The story is in three parts and in each we meet a different Frankie; Part 1 - 12 year old Frankie, Part 2 - she becomes F. Jasmine (part of her desire to leave with her brother and future sis-in-law, both F.J.'s) & Part 3 - she is Frances). Each name explains her attitude and personality and the events taking place. There are interesting discussions especially in the kitchen. I especially found the discussions on the Negro experience and feelings of Berenice as poignant and touching. Berenice's wish for a future world were profound - "But the world of the Holy Lord God Berenice Sadie Brown was a different world, and it was round and just and reasonable. First there would be no separate colored peopled in the world, but all human beings would be lighter brown color with blue eyes and black hair. There would be no colored people and no white people to make the colored people feel cheap and sorry all through their lives....." It really struck a chord with me and still resonates today in the US / world.

The story had a different, darker tone than The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and there was an ominous feel throughout. But so well-written and crafted, it was an excellent, touching, emotional story. Based on solely two stories, but she was a great writer who painted fascinating pictures of the lives she portrayed. The Member of the Wedding was also made into a movie in 1952. I may have to see it, but I don't need to cry anymore  (e.g. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter....) (5 stars)"

2. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1940).

"When she was only twenty-three, Carson McCullers’s first novel created a literary sensation. She was very special, one of America’s superlative writers who conjures up a vision of existence as terrible as it is real, who takes us on shattering voyages into the depths of the spiritual isolation that underlies the human condition. This novel is the work of a supreme artist, Carson McCullers’s enduring masterpiece. The heroine is the strange young girl, Mick Kelly. The setting is a small Southern town, the cosmos universal and eternal. The characters are the damned, the voiceless, the rejected. Some fight their loneliness with violence and depravity, some with sex or drink, and some— like Mick— with a quiet, intensely personal search for beauty." (5 stars)

3.  The Ballad of the Sad Café (1951).

"I've previously read and enjoyed two of the novels of Carson McCullers; The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (one of my all-time favorite novels) and The Member of the Wedding (which was also quite good.) The Ballad Of The Sad Café is a collection of her short stories, originally published in 1951. It contains 7 stories including the titled one; The Ballad of the Sad Café, Wunderkind, The Jockey, Madame Zilensky and the King of Finland, The Sojourner, A Domestic Dilemma, and A Tree, a Rock, A Cloud.

There is no denying that McCullers creates fascinating scenarios and settings but for the most part, I'm afraid I didn't get the point of the stories. The best one was the first, a powerfully depressing story of 3 individuals in a small town; Miss Amelia, owner of the local store and a powerful woman of the community, the hunchback who shows up (turns out he's a distant relation) and causes such a change in her life, and Marvin Macy, her ex-husband of just a few days, who turns up from prison. The resulting chaos will drastically change Amelia's life. As I said, a powerful, but depressing story.

The remaining stories are much shorter and while they do create fascinating pictures, I found the endings unsatisfying. Each seemed to leave you hanging. It's very possible I'm not perceptive enough to discern her point, that her point escaped me, but they just didn't ultimately satisfy me. 

Wunderkind, for example, is about a young girl struggling with her music lessons. Her hands aren't responding to instruction, her body aches, her teacher keeps encouraging her, but ultimately, she rushes off. Why! The Jockey features a, yes you guessed it, a jockey who confronts a table of 3 men, a trainer, an owner and a bookie. The story refers to a previous incident in which his friend, another jockey, is hurt. There is a confrontation..... OK.. but why! Each story is similar to me. I seem to miss the punchline, the result. 

But don't let that dissuade you. At the very least, you should explore The Ballad of the Sad Café. The remaining stories are short and quick and easy to read. I'd suggest you try them all and see what they mean for you. Carson McCullers is worthy of trying. (3 stars)"

The complete list of Carson McCullers' books can be found at this link.

Happy New Year!

It's just after 8 pm here on the West Coast of Canada so for many parts of the world, it's already 2023. So I feel safe in wishing you all

Yesterday morning I went for my last run of 2022 and it was a reasonable run on which to end the year. It's been a lovely weekend. Today was downright balmy. Jo and I have been watching stacks of Blue Bloods for most of the week, in between stacks of the Big Bang Theory. 

I managed to finish three books since my last update. To my own handscribed monthly reading summaries, I finished 150 books in 2022. According to Goodreads, that total is 149. So one of us is slightly off, but I'm going to stick with 150. I'll provide the reviews of the 3 books and then summarize December and the year, briefly.

Just Finished

1. Lore Olympus: Vol 2 by Rachel Smythe (Olympus #2 / 2022).

"Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel  Smythe is the 2nd book in Smythe's updated look at the activities of the Gods of Olympus and continues the story of the romance between Demeter's daughter, Persephone, and the God of the Underworld, Hades. As I recall the story, Persephone ended up spending winters in the Underworld with Hades and came back to Earth during springtime, hence the rebirth every spring.

In this 2nd installment of the Lore graphic novel, Hera, aware of the budding relationship between the two, assigns Persephone as an intern to Hades Inc. Persephone is an 18 year old university student and Pluto is a 12,000 year old god. Yup, a spring / winter relationship. Hades has doubts about starting a relationship. His PA, Minthe, a Naiad, who loves Hades, tries to get rid of Persephone. 

It's a glossy story, great artwork, and entertaining. I sometimes had difficulty figuring out who was who, coz, well, you know, those Greek gods look similar. 😏 But try it out. I'm sure you'll enjoy the romance, the characters, the artwork and the coloring. I have Vol 3 on my book shelf and will get to it soon, I'm sure. (4.0 stars)"

2. Goth Girl and the Fete Worse than Death by Chris Riddell (Goth Girl #2 / 2014). I love his imagination, artwork and neat names. Great books for younger children. (And me) (NB. Canadian steampunk author Jayne Barnard would appreciate this story as it talks about parasol dueling)

"Goth Girl and the Fete Worse than Death, the 2nd Goth Girl Children / YA book by Chris Riddell was the perfect, light read to finish off my reading selections of 2023. In this story, Lord Goth is hosting the annual Full-Moon Fete at Gormley Hall. While he is away on book tour to promote his latest book of poetry, he asks an old friend Lord Sydney Whimsy to help organize the fete. This year will be the most exciting as it will include an art auction by famous English artists and also a Bake-off in the great tradition of British bake-offs.

The night of the fete is also Ada Goth's birthday. Because of her father's mourning of the death of his wife, he's not celebrated Ada's birthday in previous years. The only person who has remembered her birthday has been her personal maid Marylebone, who Ada has never seen because the shy maid won't leave her closet. Lord Sydney provides a letter to Ada to give to Marylebone to give her maid from her boyfriend in Bolivia. (You'll be surprised when you see who her maid is)

Gormley Hall is a busy place as everybody is running around trying to set up for the fete. All of Ada's friends in the Attic Club are too busy to spend time with her. The Hall is filled with famous English chefs, like The Hairy Hikers, Nigellina Sugarspoon, Merry Huckleberry, etc. There are also famous artists like JMW Turnip, Romney Marsh, Sir Stephen Belljar, etc. But there are mysterious visitors too. Who are the mysterious Grocers of the Night? What are they up to? What is their head butler Maltravers up to? Is he getting in trouble again?

It's a fun story, with neat characters and wonderful drawings. Read the books to your kids. They'll enjoy them. (4.0 stars)"

3. Maus II: A Survivor's Tale; And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman (Maus #2 / 1991).

"Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began is the 2nd book in the duology by Art Spiegelman. It is the story of  Art's father Vladek Spiegelman and his survival in the Nazi concentration camps during WWII. It also deals with his difficult relationship with son, Art, who, in the present, tries to find out what actually happened to his father and mother all the while he tries to deal with his father's issues.

In this second instalment, Art gets details of his father's time in Auschwitz and the following time period when the Russians forced the Nazis to evacuate their concentration camps in Poland and Eastern Europe and march the survivors to camps in Germany, especially Dachau. All the while, Art also tries to sort out his father's life in the present, at a summer camp in the Catskills. Due to the struggles his father experienced in the camps, he has many issues in the present; hoarding food, issues with his relationship with 2nd wife, Mali.

It's a grim story and well told and drawn by Spiegelman, as he tells the story in comic form. These are hard issues, cruelty, starvation, murder, torture. It's a story that can't be forgotten or hidden or ignored. It could happen again. The people in the story are 3 - dimensional, with all their gritty edges, but it makes the story more real, more touching, more emotional. (3.5 stars)"

December / 2022 Reading Update

I completed 20 books in December, roughly 5,500 pages. I'm very pleased with the way I finished off the year. By my records, I read 150 books and by Goodreads, my year total for pages was roughly 41,000 pages. 

Some rough stats for 2022

a. 85 books under 250 pages, 14 over 450 pages

b. 14 5* selections (See my previous posts of my favorite 2022 books). As well, there were 9 books this year that I gave up on and gave no rating. That's kind of a record for me. Maybe I'm getting more discerning, or just lazier.

c. 94 books were written by men, 55 by women and one by a married couple

d. Mystery was my favorite genre with 41 books. A new genre for me was Young Adult / Children with 23 books. I also read quite a few graphic novels this past year, 28 and as a matter of interest, I also read at least 9 books of Canadian content.

All in all, it's been an enjoyable reading year and I'm looking forward to seeing what 2023 will bring. Below are the first 5 books I'll be reading to start off 2023.

2023 Start-Ups

1. The Decent Inn of Death by Rennie Airth (John Madden #6 / 2020). One of my 2023 challenges is to finish off a number of series. I've enjoyed this series.

"Snowed in at a country manor, former Scotland Yard inspectors John Madden and Angus Sinclair find themselves trapped in the company of a murderer.

On a trip into Winchester, former chief inspector Angus Sinclair learns of a tragedy that has taken place in the village he is staying in. Beloved church organist Greta Hartmann has slipped and fallen to her death in a shallow creek, and while investigations conclude it to be an accident, her friend and housemate, Vera, remains unconvinced. After learning that Greta was the widow of a prominent anti-Nazi German preacher, Sinclair meets with the distraught Vera, and he resolves to dig deeper into the story. His investigations lead him to the stately manor of Julia Lesage, where she lives with her devoted staff that includes her secretary, cook, and driver. Though confined to a wheelchair, Julia is an electrifying spirit with a sharp wit, and those who know her adore her. Among those who do, a gentleman with dubious business dealings is also staying at the house--and Julia appears to be in love with him. A blizzard hits, keeping Sinclair, and later Madden, on the grounds with little to do but analyze the case of Greta's death, until a murder takes place, and everyone becomes a suspect."

2. Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong (Inspector Chen #1 / 2000). This is a carry-over from 2022. It's the first choice in my Start a Series challenge. I'm enjoying so far.

"Qiu Xiaolong's Anthony Award-winning debut introduces Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police.

A young “national model worker,” renowned for her adherence to the principles of the Communist Party, turns up dead in a Shanghai canal. As Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Special Cases Bureau struggles to trace the hidden threads of her past, he finds himself challenging the very political forces that have guided his life since birth. Chen must tiptoe around his superiors if he wants to get to the bottom of this crime, and risk his career—perhaps even his life—to see justice done."

c. The Cool Cotton-Tail by John Dudley Ball (Virgil Tibbs #2 / 1966). This is the 2nd book in this series and is the first choice in my Continue a Series challenge.

"The Cool Cottontail is the second Virgil Tibbs mystery series (the first being In the Heat of the Night). In this mystery, Tibbs finds himself at a nudist colony in Los Angeles where the victim (who was not one of the guests) is found floating dead in the pool. Set against this unusual backdrop, the guests of the resort prefer guarding their secrets to solving the murder mystery, particularly when the investigating detective is black. Author John Ball often used social issues of the day to feature as issues in his work, making his work controversial but at the same time, some of the best and most relevant fiction of his time. Along with racism other social taboos, Ball had no problem with nudism; naked people are the least of the problems these characters face."

d. Five Little Indians by Michelle Good (Can Con / 2020). This is the first book in my January Can Con challenge.

"Taken from their families when they are very small and sent to a remote, church-run residential school, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie are barely out of childhood when they are finally released after years of detention.

Alone and without any skills, support or families, the teens find their way to the seedy and foreign world of Downtown Eastside Vancouver, where they cling together, striving to find a place of safety and belonging in a world that doesn’t want them. The paths of the five friends cross and crisscross over the decades as they struggle to overcome, or at least forget, the trauma they endured during their years at the Mission.

Fuelled by rage and furious with God, Clara finds her way into the dangerous, highly charged world of the American Indian Movement. Maisie internalizes her pain and continually places herself in dangerous situations. Famous for his daring escapes from the school, Kenny can’t stop running and moves restlessly from job to job—through fishing grounds, orchards and logging camps—trying to outrun his memories and his addiction. Lucy finds peace in motherhood and nurtures a secret compulsive disorder as she waits for Kenny to return to the life they once hoped to share together. After almost beating one of his tormentors to death, Howie serves time in prison, then tries once again to re-enter society and begin life anew."

e. Fanny Hill, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure by John Cleland (1748). This is the first book in my Decades Challenge; Classics / Pre - 1900).

"The Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure often known as Fanny Hill is one of the most celebrated erotic fictional works of all time. The reader will not find anything coarse or vulgar in the book, for it is a work of great charm and literary merit, and is essential reading for all who desire to acquire a knowledge of erotic fiction. Banned and heavily edited at various times, in many countries since its first publication in 1748 / 9, the book is presented in this edition in its unexpurgated form."

So there you go folks. I hope you have a wonderful 2023.

A Reading Update And The Science Fiction Novel

Bottom shelf

Before I get into reading material or, as I like to call them, books.. (Ed Note - Stolen gratuitously from Miranda). These is the most recent photos of my Little Free Reading Library.

Top shelf

I didn't post the picture of the outside as it needs a paint job to freshen it up. Not overly busy these days but then again, people are staying indoors.

The sprinkler guy arrived nice and early, so the sprinkler system is ready to go. I've got it programmed for two days a week in anticipation of sprinkling restrictions coming in force. I can manually have it go other days if I want.

I finished a book this morning while I was waiting for the fella. I'll provide my review and also the synopsis of the next book I'm starting. I'll also continue with my look at the Science Fiction novel. Three more posts left. What to do next!

Just Finished

1. Women's Barracks by Tereska Torres (1950).

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

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

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

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

Currently Reading

1. Killing the Shadows by Val McDermid (2000).











"A killer is on the loose, blurring the line between fact and fiction. His prey - the writers of crime novels who have turned psychological profilers into the heroes of the nineties. But this killer is like no other. His bloodlust shatters all the conventional wisdom surrounding the motives and mechanics of how serial killers operate. And for one woman, the desperate hunt to uncover his identity becomes a matter of life and death.

Professor Fiona Cameron is an academic psychologist who uses computer technology to help police forces track serial offenders. She used to help the Met, but vowed never to work for them again when they went against her advice and subsequently botched an investigation. Still smarting from the experience, she's working a case in Toledo when her lover, thriller writer Kit Martin, tells her a fellow crime novelist has been murdered. It's not her case, but Fiona can't help taking an interest. When the killer strikes again Fiona finds herself caught in a race against time - not only to save a life but also to find redemption, both personal and professional."

The Science Fiction Novel - Blake Crouch

Blake Crouch was born in Statesville, North Carolina in 1978. He's an author I've yet to try but is best known for his trilogy of books featuring Wayward Pines (also subject of a TV series). I've thought of trying the series and have looked for the first book. In its place I found a standalone novel and have it on my bookshelf. 

a. Dark Matter (2016).

""Are you happy with your life?"

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man Jason's never met smiles down at him and says, "Welcome back, my friend."

In this world he's woken up to, Jason's life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that's the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could've imagined--one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe."

The complete listing of Crouch's books can be found at this link.