Ah winter is here.... that means rain and wind, of course

The car has had its winter tune up and I'm relaxing while Jo has an afternoon nap. Typical December weather at the moment, that being, mildish, windy and rainy. 

So while Jo is asleep, I'll take this time to do a quick update. Perfect time, actually because we've got a busy week of appointments ahead.

Just Completed

Two books completed since my last update. (Ed. Note. I apologize in advance if I get any characters' names incorrect.)

1. Maddie Hatter and the Timely Taffeta by Jayne Barnard (Maddie #3 / 2017). This is the last book in the trilogy.

"Maddie Hatter and the Timely Taffeta is the 3rd and final book in the entertaining steampunk adventure trilogy by Canadian author Jayne Barnard. It's light, fun and filled with action as we follow Maddie and her friend Serephine around Venice. Serephine, the daughter of a rich British manufacturing family, who wants her to marry into a titled family, is in love with a Scottish inventor and Maddie is pretending to be her chaperone. 

Scottie has invented a new thread, spun by spider bats that have certain qualities and he is working at a Venetian fashion house run by a French lady, Madame Frangetti. Venice is about to have its annual festival which will fill the canals and streets with imaginative boats and costumes. The fashion house, like many businesses are busy making outfits, costumes. Serephine is apprenticing there so she can spend time with Scottie. Maddie is helping her but also working in disguise for her newspaper boss, trying to prepare stories about the festival.

Various groups seem anxious to discover Scottie's secret fabric. Why? But there are all sorts of costumed people lurking about, disguised as Pinocchio, the Cricket, Cats and Foxes, etc. It's all very exciting. Maddie, Serephine, Maddie's friend Obie and Maddie's mechanical messenger bird, Tweedle D, along with some new friends and some old enemies are working to keep Scottie safe and discover who wants him so badly.

It's all very confusing, exciting and just an entertaining story. I think it's suitable for young adults getting into fantasy but also for those just looking for a fun, entertaining story with a neat world created and interesting characters. (3.0 stars)"

2.Out of Time's Abyss by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Caspak #3 / 1918) This completes this trilogy as well. I have one more series to finish by year's end to finish one of my 2025 Reading Challenges.

"Out of Time's Abyss is the 3rd and final book in the Caspak trilogy by American adventure / Sci Fi author Edgar Rice Burroughs. It completes the adventures of a group of British explorers ship wrecked on a forgotten land in the Pacific, a land filled with prehistoric creatures and a mix of humanoid beings.

In this final book, Bradley and a group of his men leave Fort Dinosaur to try and find Bowen Tyler and his wife who have gone missing. On the way back, Bradley is captured by a being they've not previously encountered on their adventures in Caspak. He is carried away by a winged humanoid to their island city deep inside Caspak. Now it's sort of confusing why they took him. But as I gathered somewhat, the Oo Oh (as they are called) have need of a way to birthing Oo Oh babies without having to kidnap women of one of the other races. Suffice it to say, they want to see what makes Bradley and his group tick. (As I say, it's somewhat confusing)

Bradley spends his time trying to escape the city and also meets a Galu woman (one of the races that are higher up on the evolutionary ladder in Caspak) and takes her with him as he tries to escape. The Oo Oh's use the Galu women in their procreation activities.... I believe. 😔🤨😎

At any rate, like most of Burroughs' adventures, it's filled with action, while also thoughtfully trying to explain life in Caspak. Interesting and confusing stuff. And all the while trying to escape back to his men at Fort Dinosaur and maybe finally getting off the island. (3.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

As I mentioned in my last entry, I'm only reading two books at a time. I already highlighted The Other Wind, the 6th book in the Earthsea Chronicles by Ursula K. Le Guin, a book I'm enjoying very much. The other is -

1. Love and Rockets, Volume 7 - The Death of Speedy by Jaime Hernandez (1989) (Supposedly the series is one of the first in the alternative graphic novel genre. Either way, I'm enjoying very much so far.)

"The original, seminal Love & Rockets comic book series, which ran for 50 issues from 1981 to 1996, singlehandedly defined the post-underground generation of comics that spawned Daniel Clowes, Chris Ware, and so many others. Now collected into 15 volumes, Love & Rockets is a body of work that The Nation has described as "one of the hidden treasures of our impoverished culture." Created by brothers Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario Hernandez, three Southern California Mexican-Americans armed with a passion for pop culture and punk rock, Love & Rockets gave a voice to minorities and women for the first time in the medium's then 50-year history and remains one of the greatest achievements in comic book history."

New Books

Well, how do you like that, no books arrived since my last update. I do have a few on order but I'll surprise you with those in my next update. 

Tata for now, folks. Stay warm and dry.

2025 Anyone? Part Deux

I've previously looked at a potential 2025 Reading challenge, a 12 + 4 challenge to read the 16 books I've had the longest on my Goodreads page. If you haven't seen it already, you can go to the link by clicking on 12 + 4 above. The other 12 + 4 challenge I plan to have is to finish 16 series in 2025. (this is a specific challenge. It's possible I might finish more.) The series will follow below.

2025 12 + 4 Reading Challenge - Finish a Series or Two or 16

1. Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid's Tale) - The Testaments.

"When the van door slammed on Offred's future at the end of The Handmaid's Tale, readers had no way of telling what lay ahead for her--freedom, prison or death.

With The Testaments, the wait is over.

Margaret Atwood's sequel picks up the story more than fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.

In this brilliant sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, acclaimed author Margaret Atwood answers the questions that have tantalized readers for decades."

2. Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows) - The Crooked Kingdom. As I understand it, this finished the Six of Crows but not the whole Grishaverse universe series.

"When you can’t beat the odds, change the game.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets—a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world."

3. Jayne Barnard (Maddie Hatter) - Maddie Hatter and the Timely Taffeta.

"Maddie Hatter’s third Adventure finds her in Venice on an all-expenses-paid assignment: report on the season’s most extravagant Carnevale costumes. Determined to land an inside scoop, she enlists the help of her half-Venetian friend, Lady Serephene, to penetrate Madame Frangetti’s Costume Atelier in disguise.

Serephene is pursuing plots of her own: training in secret for a career that’s forbidden by her family, and flirting madly with a low-born Scottish inventor in his airship laboratory. When the inventor’s fabulous new fabric is targeted by industrial spies, Serephene risks not only her family’s displeasure but her own safety to protect him and his work.

Pursued through the floating city’s legendary canals and squares, Maddie must draw on all her hard-won survival skills to keep herself and Serephene out of the spies’ clutches. With the help of unexpected allies among Venice’s underdogs, the daring young ladies just might reach Carnevale’s grand finale alive."

4. Giles Blunt (John Cardinal) - Crime Machine.

"A year after the death of his beloved and troubled wife, Catherine, John Cardinal has moved into a new, but very humid, condo. He has fallen into an easy routine of work on cold case files and platonic movie nights with friend and colleague Lise Delorme. The quiet of a snow-covered Algonquin Bay is shattered when the decapitated bodies of two people are found in a summer home on Trout Lake. The victims, visitors from Russia, are in Algonquin Bay attending the annual fur auction. This is by no means a routine murder investigation as Cardinal soon discovers, but a horrific piece of a very twisted puzzle. Blunt has, once again, given us a page-turning plot, a remarkable cast of characters and the comfort of John Cardinal at the helm."

5. Edgar Rice Burroughs (Land that Time Forgot) - Out of Time's Abyss.

"This is the tale of Bradley after he left Fort Dinosaur upon the west coast of the great lake that is in the center of the island. About them upon the ground, among the trees and in the air over them moved and swung and soared the countless forms of Caspak's teeming life. Always were they menaced by some frightful thing and seldom were their rifles cool, yet even in the brief time they had dwelt upon Caprona they had become callous to danger, so that they swung along laughing and chatting like soldiers on a summer hike."

6. Olivia E. Butler (Exogenesis) - Imago.

"From the award-winning author of Parable of the Sower : After the near-extinction of humanity, a new kind of alien-human hybrid must come to terms with their identity -- before their powers destroy what is left of humankind.

Since a nuclear war decimated the human population, the remaining humans began to rebuild their future by interbreeding with an alien race -- the Oankali -- who saved them from near-certain extinction. The Oankalis' greatest skill lies in the species' ability to constantly adapt and evolve, a process that is guided by their third sex, the ooloi , who are able to read and mutate genetic code.

Now, for the first time in the humans' relationship with the Oankali, a human mother has given birth to an ooloi Jodahs. Throughout his childhood, Jodahs seemed to be a male human-alien hybrid. But when he reaches adolescence, Jodahs develops the ooloi abilities to shapeshift, manipulate DNA, cure and create disease, and more. Frightened and isolated, Jodahs must either come to terms with this new identity, learn to control new powers, and unite what's left of humankind -- or become the biggest threat to their survival."

7. Agatha Christie (Tommy & Tuppence) - Postern of Fate.

"Tommy and Tuppence Beresford have just become the proud owners of an old house in an English village. Along with the property, they have inherited some worthless bric-a-brac, including a collection of antique books. While rustling through a copy of The Black Arrow, Tuppence comes upon a series of apparently random underlinings.

However, when she writes down the letters, they spell out a very disturbing message: "Mary Jordan did not die naturally." And sixty years after their first murder, Mary Jordan's enemies are still ready to kill. . . ."

8. John Christopher (The Tripods) - When the Tripods Came.

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

9. Justin Cronin (The Passage) - The City of Mirrors.

"The world we knew is gone. What world will rise in its place?

The Twelve have been destroyed and the terrifying hundred-year reign of darkness that descended upon the world has ended. The survivors are stepping outside their walls, determined to build society anew—and daring to dream of a hopeful future.

But far from them, in a dead metropolis, he waits: Zero. The First. Father of the Twelve. The anguish that shattered his human life haunts him, and the hatred spawned by his transformation burns bright. His fury will be quenched only when he destroys Amy—humanity’s only hope, the Girl from Nowhere who grew up to rise against him.

One last time light and dark will clash, and at last Amy and her friends will know their fate."

10. William Gibson (Sprawl) - Mona Lisa Overdrive.

"Mona is a young girl with a murky past and an uncertain future whose life is turned upside down when her pimp sells her to a plastic surgeon in New York and overnight she’s turned into someone else.

Angie Mitchell is a famous Hollywood Sense/Net star with a special talent. And despite the efforts of studio bosses to keep her in ignorance, Angie’s started remembering things. Soon she’ll discover who she really is . . . and why she doesn’t need a deck in order to enter cyberspace.

From inside the matrix, plots are set in motion and human beings are being played like pieces on a board. And behind the intrigue lurks the shadowy Yakuza, the powerful Japanese underworld, whose leaders ruthlessly manipulate people and events to suit their own purposes.

Or so they think . . ."

11. James Herbert (Rats) - Domain.

"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."

12. P.D. James (Cordelia Gray) - The Skull Beneath the Skin.

"Private detective Cordelia Gray is invited to the sunlit island of Courcy to protect the vainly beautiful actress Clarissa Lisle from veiled threats on her life. Within the rose red walls of a fairy-tale castle, she finds the stage is set for death."

Alt. 1. China Mieville (New Crobuzon) - Iron Council. 

"Following Perdido Street Station and The Scar , acclaimed author China Miéville returns with his hugely anticipated Del Rey hardcover debut. With a fresh and fantastical band of characters, he carries us back to the decadent squalor of New Crobuzon—this time, decades later.

It is a time of wars and revolutions, conflict and intrigue. New Crobuzon is being ripped apart from without and within. War with the shadowy city-state of Tesh and rioting on the streets at home are pushing the teeming city to the brink. A mysterious masked figure spurs strange rebellion, while treachery and violence incubate in unexpected places.

In desperation, a small group of renegades escapes from the city and crosses strange and alien continents in the search for a lost hope.

In the blood and violence of New Crobuzon’s most dangerous hour, there are whispers. It is the time of the iron council. . . ."

Alt. 2. Leo Rosten (Hyman Kaplan) - The Education of Hyman Kaplan.

"The humorous adventures of Hyman Kaplan, the irrepressible student at the American Night Preparatory School for Adults, and his personal war with the English language. A classic work of American humor."

Alt. 3. Philipp Schott (Dr. Bannerman) - Eleven Huskies (It's possible that there may be more books in this series, but as of now, this is the last.)

"Peter Bannerman, veterinarian and amateur detective, deserves a summer vacation. Peter and his family head to a remote fishing lodge in northern Manitoba for a canoeing trip with his champion sniffer dog, Pippin. But a series of incidents color their plans. The lodge’s sled team of huskies has been poisoned and, at the same time, a floatplane crashes into the lake, killing the pilot and both passengers. While Peter works to save the huskies, it is discovered that the plane crash wasn’t an accident. It was murder. It’s been a hot and dry summer, and one morning the Bannerman family wakes up to find a forest fire spreading quickly. They manage to dodge the conflagration, making it back to the lodge before it becomes cut off from the outside world. Peter soon figures out that the murderer, who probably also poisoned the huskies, must be among the other guests or staff trapped with them at the lodge. The power fails. The now-enormous fire draws nearer. Can Peter discover the culprit in time?"

Alt. 4. Bart Somers (Commander Craig) - Abandon Galaxy!

"Commander Craig Battles for Survival on the Planet Thand.

If Craig makes one false move in this grotesque tournament of cunning and savage skill, he sacrifices his life and the lives of everyone in the galaxy.

If he wins, the deadly League of Outer Space Thieves will be prevented from blowing up the universe. As part of his reward, Craig will receive the exciting beauty Mylitta.

John Craig races against time as he struggles to save the world in the most dangerous adventure of his incredible career."

It's not set in stone yet, but this is one of my 2025 plans. Books may be adjusted. See any that interest you? 

It's a Sunny Saturday

It's Saturday and we actually have the patio doors open. It's a mite cool but still nice to have the fresh air. I went for a walk this morning. I do need to get back in the saddle as I've put on a fair bit of weight. 

We're being a bit lazy so I thought I'd do a quick update. So far in March I've completed 8 books. Below are my latest since my last update.

Just Finished

1. Don't Mess with Mrs. In-Between by Liz Evans (PI Grace Smith #3 / 2015). I'm really enjoying this series. Unfortunately it seems she only wrote six in the series, the last being in 2005.

"Don't Mess with Mrs In-Between is the 3rd book in the Grace Smith mystery series by English author Liz Evans. The first two books were Who Killed Marilyn Monroe? and JFK is Missing! Grace Smith is a PI who works for a small detective agency, Vetch (the letch) (International) Associates Inc (don't be fooled by the firm name, it's piddly) in the coastal town of Seatoun. The firm basically consists of Vetch, Grace Smith, Annie (Grace's best friend and also one of the firm's PI's) and Janice, the recalcitrant secretary.

Vetch assigns Grace a strange case. Barbra Delaney has taken photos of 3 people coming out of a corner shop in the nearby town of St Biddy's. Not wanting to leave anything to her son in her will (family feud), she wants Grace to find out who the 3 people are, investigate them and then tell Barbra whether they are suitable for sharing Barbra's estate.

So, somewhat unwillingly, Grace takes the assignment and begins her investigation. All sorts of things will happen. Her flat will be turned over, the office will as well. Someone will be murdered. Grace will celebrate her 30th birthday.... sadly. She will have a relationship but is the young man who he seems to be? Best friend Annie is considering moving to a new firm in the London. And Grace has to travel around using Vetch's old auntie's bicycle because she can't user her own car. So either cycling or cadging rides, Grace finds herself in a convoluted case, where people smuggling, female impersonators and so many other things crop up.

It's all very fascinating. Grace is a cross between Kinsey Milhone, Kat Colorado and Stephanie Plum. She's an ex-cop who left under a cloud of suspicion and her relationship with the police is always somewhat confrontational. She doesn't mind bending the rules a bit to achieve her case. But she's always interesting, intelligent and able to work through the weeds to solve her case. The story is funny, dangerous and just enjoyable to read. Don't get caught up too much with the twists and turns. Just enjoy the seaside, the characters and the story. (4.0 stars)"

2. The White Road by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #4 / 2002). My second book in this chilling series. 

"The White Road is the 4th book in the PI Charlie Parker, mystery / thriller series by John Connolly. It's the 2nd book I've read in the series and while there is a back story taking place, not having read #'s 2 & 3 didn't affect my understanding of what was going on or my enjoyment of the story.

Charlie is living in Maine with his pregnant girlfriend, Rachel. An old friend, Elliot Norton, calls him and asks for his help in a case he is representing down in South Carolina. A young black man, is being tried for the rape and murder of a white woman and Elliot is having difficulties with the local white supremacist movement and needs help. Against his better judgement, Charlie agrees to go. He asks two friends. Louis and Angel, to come and provide him some physical assistance.

Also, in Maine, a cult leader who had damaged both Angel and Louis in a previous story (I think, anyway) is coming up for parole. There is something very dark about him, something 'spiritual'? The white supremacists from South Carolina are helping him with legal assistance as they want him in their group. 

Oh yes, another guy getting out of prison in Maine, Cyrus, has some dark secrets and he wants to 'share' them with Rachel. Charlie has asked a friend to come up from New York to keep an eye on things while he is gone.

So that's the gist of the story. It's a rambling dark tale that moves from Charlie to Louis and Angel and a few others. It's dark, tense, dangerous and at times horrific. Bodies will ultimately start falling out of the trees... (well, maybe an exaggeration but there are a few). An evil history will come out, even involving Charlie's friend Elliot. There will be betrayal, 'evil spirits' and some twisted violence. It's a story that really draws you in but also might repel you. The bad folks are really evil and dangerous. Charlie and his friends are constantly in danger but they are also dangerous themselves and pretty darned competent. 

Fascinating story that will give you the shivers but the ending is fairly satisfying. It's one of the better thriller series I've tried and I'll get back to those I've missed to clear up this back story. (If I dare) (4.0 stars)"

3. Spaceboy by David Walliams (2022). A new author for me, although I am familiar with  his work as an actor / comedian on Little Britain.

"Spaceboy is a fun adventure story for new readers by comedian / actor David Walliams (Think Little Britain). It seems that Walliams has become quite a prolific author of children's novels.

Spaceboy features orphan Ruth, her 3-legged dog Yuri (named after famed Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin). Ruth lost her parents when she was young and she now has to live Aunt Dorothy. Ruth wants to go to outer space. Yuri found a broken telescope and Ruth fixed it and now spends her evenings watching the stars. 

One night a flying saucer crash lands on Dorothy's property. And this begins a wild adventure as Ruth, Yuri (btw, Ruth fashioned a 4th leg out of an old egg whisk for Yuri) and Spaceboy try to escape, Dorothy, the local donut eating sheriff and scads of radiation suited soldiers. They will be captured, brought to the White House and then to NASA with a Dr. Strangelove like scientist.

It's a very fun adventure, with great drawings by Adam Stower. It has a bit of a feel of Roald Dahl to it. Ruth is a wonderful girl, strong, imaginative and spunky. Yuri is so cute and her faithful friend. And Spaceboy... well, look for a surprise. All in all, a great story for young folks beginning to explore the world of books. They'll love it. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson (2020). A new Sci Fi author for me. This is the 3rd book in my Tome Challenge.

"The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all. Its setting is not a desolate, postapocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us. Chosen by Barack Obama as one of his favorite books of the year, this extraordinary novel from visionary science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson will change the way you think about the climate crisis." I like the technique of using eyewitness accounts to tell the story. Reminds of World War Z  and Warday. Both excellent books.

2. Maddie Hatter and the Gilded Gauge by Jayne Barnard (Maddie Hatter #2 / 2017). Jo and I met Jayne two years ago and she brought me all three of the Maddie Hatter trilogy. This is the next book in my series challenge.

"A mysterious message from a midnight duelist sends fashion reporter Maddie Hatter to New York's finest parasol dueling academy, where she foils a daring daylight kidnapping.

The grateful rescuee, only daughter of an American Steamlord, offers Maddie a job as her bodyguard. Soon both young ladies are up to their lace gloves in industrial intrigue and irrepressible street urchins.

Maddie's clockwork bird faces danger too: hungry owls, curious inventors, even a clockwork foe that hides sneaky tricks behind its jewel-green eyes.

From the mansions of Park Avenue to the Statue of Liberty, Maddie hunts a fearless spy and confronts an unexpected power from her past."

New Books

1. Rubymusic: A Popular History of Women's Music and Culture by Connie Kuhns (2023). A new author for me.

"In  Rubymusic , award-winning journalist and broadcaster Connie Kuhns takes readers on an explosive journey through the Pacific Northwest’s groundbreaking women’s music scene in the 80s and 90s.

When journalist Connie Kuhns approached Vancouver Cooperative Radio in 1981 to host a music program dedicated solely to playing music by women, there was some doubt at the station that there was enough music by women to fill half an hour—and besides, who would tune in? Such was the underground nature of women’s music. Despite the doubters, Rubymusic became a successful program, running for fifteen years, introducing listeners to countless artists through radio, magazines, and newspaper columns and on stage at Vancouver’s annual Folk Music Fest, and serving as a powerful platform for the feminist movements taking place in Vancouver’s punk scene and throughout music history in the 80s and 90s. Rubymusic also served as the launching pad for Kuhns’ life-long passion—the preservation of the histories and stories of the women with whom she crossed paths on the airwaves. Here is a time capsule of a pivotal moment in women’s music history, with special emphasis on the women’s music movement in Canada, including the only written history of the women involved in Vancouver’s punk rock scene."

2. Silverwing: The Graphic Novel by Kenneth Oppel (2023).

"A small bat blown off course makes the perilous journey home with new friends in the adventurous middle grade odyssey from award-winning author Kenneth Oppel—this bestselling story is now available in graphic novel format!

Shade the young silverwing bat may be the runt of his colony, but he’s determined to prove himself on the long, dangerous winter migration to Hibernaculum—millions of wingbeats to the south. Too soon, his hopes are dashed when a fierce storm catches Shade in its grasp. Driven far from the others by the unforgiving winds, Shade is left alone.

On his journey back to his family, Shade meets other winged loners. Marina is a Brightwing bat with a strange metal band on her leg, Zephyr the mystical albino bat has an unusual gift, and Goth the carnivorous vampire bat is the largest bat Shade has ever seen. Shade will need all the help he can get if he hopes to reunite with his colony, but with a long and perilous flight ahead, how will he know who to trust?"

Women Authors Whose Works I've Been Enjoying - Valerie Taylor

Valerie Taylor

Valerie Taylor was an American author who lived from 1913 (born in Aurora Illinois) - 1997 (died in Tucson, Arizona. She was one of the authors who published in the lesbian pulp fiction genre. I've tried 3 of her books.

1. Return to Lesbos (1963). 

"Return to Lesbos is Valerie Taylor's sequel to her Stranger on Lesbos. Stranger left protagonist Frances Ollenfield, who had left her husband Bill, for a lesbian relationship, back with her husband. She had received a beating from a woman she'd picked up. In Return, Frances has been living with Bill for a year since her previous experiences and Bill is moving them to a small town outside Chicago due a promotion.

Frances goes with him but lives a loveless life with Bill. She knows she is a lesbian but had promised herself to give her marriage one more try. In this town she discovers a book store run by homosexual, Vince, who immediately takes to Frances. She also briefly meets Erika Frohmann, a young woman who Vince has taken under his wing. Erika had been involved with Kate but that relationship ended tragically.

So there is your story. Will Frances make the difficult decision either to stay with her husband or will she pursue Erika, who has immediately attracted her? I guess in some ways it's a simple story but Taylor tells it caringly and gently. The tension between Bill and Frances is palpable. Frances is more independent now than in the first story but even with her strong feelings towards Erika, she still has to make a difficult decision; stay or go. 

Vince was a highlight for me, a wonderful, sensitive character, looking after Erika but wanting her and Frances to be happy. The priest that Frances meets was also a pleasant surprise. It's a very short story, but told delicately and lovingly. (4 stars)"

2. The Girls in 3-B (1959).

"A couple of years ago I discovered The Feminist Press and their Femmes Fatales 'women write pulp' series. It introduced me to writers such as Vera Caspary, Evelyn Piper and Valerie Taylor. I first read Taylor's Stranger on Lesbos. She was noted as an author in the lesbian pulp fiction genre. The Girls in 3-B is my second look at her work.

Annice, Pat and Barby are three friends living in a small farm community. For their own differing reasons, they want to move to the big city, Chicago. Annice is bored with farm living and wants to explore the arts and life in the big city. Barby wants to get away from home from a childhood trauma. Pat wants a career in the big city. The three share an apartment, 3-B, in Chicago. Annice starts as a student trying to improve her poetry. Barby's father, who has a strange relationship with his daughter, gets her a job in a department store. Pat gets a job with a book publisher.

Their lives diverge quite rapidly. Annice, even though she is sort of dating Jackson, a student at the college, gets involved with a 'Beatnik', Alan and begins to explore sex an drugs. Barby is raped by the apartment manager and finds herself stressed and more and more under his control. Pat has a deep crush on the editor of the publishing company.

The story follows the three, developing their characters nicely. Many powerful themes are approached and discussed, child abuse, abortion, incest, lesbian relationships, drugs. Considering the story was originally written in 1959, they must have been more powerful. The pulp publishers seemed to have much more freedom than the movies and TV and more conservative publishing companies. Taylor approaches these themes delicately without too much titillation. It's an interesting, different story, maybe a gritty Harlequin in some ways but dealing with strong issues. I enjoyed reading it. I liked the Introduction description of the pulp authors and I enjoyed the Afterword, covering Taylor's life. I also liked the ending. (4 stars)"

3. Stranger on Lesbos (1960).

"I first heard of Valerie Taylor when I bought another book, Bunny Lake is Missing by Evelyn Piper. The edition I bought was published by The Feminist Press. I began looking for some of the other authors that they published; Dorothy Hughes - In a Lonely Place, Vera Caspary - Laura (I found this one). Anyway, I also managed to find Stranger on Lesbos this past weekend.

Valerie Taylor was a leading light in the lesbian pulp fiction genre of the late '50s and '60s. Stranger in Lesbos was her fourth book, published initially in 1960. It's a simple story really. Frances, a 1950s housewife, finds herself in a boring marriage, ignored by her husband and stuck in a stifling suburban life. She takes a course at university, deciding to work on the degree she never finished due to her marriage. At her first class she meets Bake and an attraction develops rapidly. 

Even though still married, she finds herself exploring the lesbian world, her deep attraction and love for Bake enticing her to spend more and more time with her. The book deals with her dilemma, whether to stay in her current family situation or follow her heart and leave her husband. It's a difficult story to rate, but suffice it to say that it is a thoughtful, interesting story; one of love and difficult decision - making. Taylor further explored Frances' life in some of her future books. (3 stars)"

You can read more about Valerie Taylor at this wiki link. Check it out.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Pre-Christmas Reading Update

We've had a few days of snow and cold weather. It's just cold today but from what the weather forecasts are indicating we're in for a week of warmer weather and rain. Bummer.

I've been trying to finish off the books I've been working on and have been reasonably successful. I have 3 left that I hope to finish before end 2022. I should be able to finish at least two of them. For now, I'll update those books I've completed since my last update and I'll add the synopses of the couple of books I've received / purchased as well. Then I'll see about continuing with my ongoing look at Women Authors whose Works I've been enjoying.

Just Finished

1. The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman (1990).

"It turned out that the stories that make up The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman were also contained in the collection of Sandman stores I'd read previously but it didn't really matter as I enjoyed reading them again. The main story line is The Sandman trying to find subjects who disappeared while he was held prisoner in a previous storyline. He also tries to stop a Dream vortex from taking over the dreamscape.

We find Rose Walker, first with her mother, visiting England to claim an inheritance. Rose is next seen in the US searching for her younger brother, Jed, who is held prisoner by relatives. She will end up in a hotel in Georgia hosting a psycho serial killer convention. There are other storylines in this collection; Sandman visits one man every 100 years to see if he is ready to die and to get an update on the man's observations on life in general. 

It's a rich collection of fascinating stories, well-written, well-drawn and so enjoyable to read. I didn't even mind it being a reread. Try it out. (3.5 stars)"

2. Maddy Hatter and the Deadly Diamond by Jayne Barnard (Maddy Hatter #1 / 2015).

"Maddie Hatter and the Deadly Diamond is the first book in the steampunk trilogy featuring, yes you guessed it, Maddie Hatter. The story was created by Canadian author Jayne Barnard, who is also known for her crime series, The Falls Mysteries.

The Deadly Diamond is a YA, steampunk - light story which features Maddie Hatter, a young lady, daughter of a Steamlord. Maddie is hiding out in Egypt, trying to avoid an arranged marriage by making a life for herself as an investigative journalist. Unfortunately for Maddie, she is stuck in the fashion circuit, reporting on what the high polloi are wearing as they summer in Cairo. While there she gets involved trying to solve the disappearance of famed English explorer, Baron Bodmin, who was searching for the Diamond of Africa. When Bodmin's body floats up on shore in England, Maddie will begin a journey from Egypt, to Venice and onward to England to try and solve the mystery.

It's not a perfect story by any means but it's entertaining and is a nice teaser for Barnard's steampunk world; neat airships, mechanical sparrows that can record conversations and even provide videos. There is lots of action and Maddie is an interesting character. Her pal Obie, who works for Madame Taxus-Hemlock, as does Maddie in fact, is also a great character and helps her throughout this adventure.

I think this would make a great graphic novel as well as Jayne draws wonderful pictures of the clothing, the locales, the people, but it's still enjoyable as a story. I hope Book 2 continues to develop the characters and I'm looking forward to reading about parasol dueling. 😁 (3 stars)"

3. The Sandman Vol 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman (1990).

"The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country is the 3rd book in the Sandman graphic novel series by author Neil Gaiman. I will start this review off by saying that I should have been a mite more careful when I started down the Sandman rabbit hole. I had read Book 1 awhile ago and then next bought Vol 2, The Doll's House and now, Vol 3, Dream Country. Unfortunately for me, the Book One contained stories 1 - 20, which includes The Doll's House and Dream Country collections. LOL.

Having said that I still enjoyed rereading these stories. And there was a nice edition, which contained the actual script that Neil Gaiman drafted for the story line for Façade. This is the script he sent to the Kelley who would provide the art work for the particular story. That was very interesting as it contains Gaiman's panel by panel description of what he wanted as well as some of Kelley's comments.

"Page 17 panel 6

TWO PANELS ON THE BOTTOM TIER. HEAD SHOT OF THE SANDMAN, STARING STRAIGHT AT US: HE SEEMS HALF AMUSED, HALF DISGUSTED, HALF HURT. (YES, I KNOW IT MAKES THREE HALVES)" Comment "It's okay. I failed math. K" 😃

Dream Country contains storylines 17 - 20. My favorite was Calliope, in which struggling author Ric, pays to have an imprisoned Muse, Calliope, handed over to him (the cost a bezoar) to help him write his latest novel. Fascinating story and loved the ending.

Sandman is a great character and we also see his sister, Death in this collection. (Unfortunately, again, the story in which Death appears, also shows up in the Death collection. Oh well).

There is a cute story about cats and also an interesting one featuring Shakespeare and his deal with Sandman, as Shakespeare's troupe performs out in a field for the legion of faeries. All entertaining stories and great art work. Even with them being repeats, still most enjoyable and highly recommended. (Just get them in the proper order) Season of Mists now on order. (3.0 stars)"

4. Coraline by Neil Gaiman / Craig P. Russell (2002).

"December 2022 has been a Neil Gaiman month for some reason. I've been enjoying the Sandman and Death graphic novels. Today I purchased and enjoyed Coraline, a horror story that was put in graphic novel format by Craig P. Russell.

It's a simple story concept. A young girl, Coraline, whose family has newly moved to a new house is bored, somewhat mad at her parents, bored with her new neighbors and just BORED! She is housebound one day due to rain and doesn't know what to do. Her father tells her to explore the house, count the windows and doors, find the water heater. She finds one door, behind which is a brick wall. Supposedly there is an empty apartment behind the wall, which is for sale.

In the night, Coraline hears scratching sounds, creeping noises. When her mother goes out to get lunch, Coraline gets the key to the door and when she opens it, she discovers a passage instead of a wall. *shudder* On the other side is 'another' mother and father. Both have dark button eyes and the 'mother' has long claw-like fingers.

This begins a journey for Coraline. Her real parents disappear. She discovers ghostly spirits in the basement of the other house. To get her parents back, she must trick this 'other' mother. It's an interesting, creepy story, well-drawn and well-written. I have not read the original book so can't compare but this was an enjoyable read. Thanks, Mr. Gaiman for continuing to entertain me. (4.0 stars)"

5. The Twelve by Justin Cronin (The Passage #2 / 2012).

"I enjoyed the first book in Justin Cronin Passage trilogy, The Passage, very much. I've had this 2nd book, The Twelve early in 2022 and finally, with some hesitation, started it at the end of July. Now, my hesitation was mainly because it was such a tome, not because I was worried I wouldn't enjoy.) Anyway, it's taken me since July to get through the book, basically half a year, but it was worth it. It didn't take me a long time because I wasn't enjoying it, but more because I usually have 4 or 5 books on the go and it was easy to put one down so I could finish another.

Anyway, enough rambling. let's get to this story. This has been an exciting, rich epic novel, a battle between the remains of mankind against the Twelve and their minions. The Twelve are powerful vampires created in a laboratory from genetic material provided from Zero, the first vampire, discovered in the first novel in South America. (If I remember it all correctly, because so much has happened in the two novels, that I may have forgotten some specifics). The first two novels, in my mind, are like The Stand on steroids.

This second follows many of the characters in the first novel (check out the Dramatis personae at the back to refresh yourself on the characters). The story moves from character to character; the Expeditionary folks from Texas who go out to battle the minions of the Twelve, the baddies in The Homeland, in Iowa, where they hold humans prisoner, feeding off them, building the Dome (why?), etc. 

The story will lead to a climactic denouement, a 'final' (probably not because there is still Book 3) battle between insurgents in the Homeland and their allies from Texas vs the acolytes of the Twelve. I know I'm glossing over the whole scope of the novel because so much happens. The characters are fantastic, with their imperfections, the future is described in fantastic rich detail and the events will cause you to go through the gamut of emotions. This story might have taken me a long time to read, but once I settled down to focus on it, I couldn't put it down. I know it's a great story when I fell happiness, sadness, anger, all the emotions. I can't say enough good things about this 2nd story. Loved it and now I have Book 3 on order. (5.0 stars)"

New Books

1. Dark Dreams by Michael Genelin (Commander Matinova #2 / 2009).

"Prudent Jana and impetuous Sofia were best friends when they were schoolmates. One day Sofia approached a man in a car when she shouldn’t have and ended up being raped by a nefarious Communist Party bigwig. Jana pursued the culprit’s car, identified him, and vowed someday to bring him to justice.

Now Jana is a commander in the Slovak police force and Sofia, having made her name as a reformer, is a member of Parliament. Jana has fallen in love with an upright government prosecutor and Sofia is carrying on a notorious affair with a suave, married fellow MP.

One day Jana finds an enormous diamond dangling from a string fixed to the ceiling of the living room of her house. Was it put there as a present? Or, more likely, to entrap her? Where did this magnificent jewel come from? And why was it left for her to find? The answer leads Jana across Europe to unravel a criminal conspiracy involving multiple murders which has entangled her hapless, impulsive friend, Sofia, in its web, and ultimately to the criminal mastermind, the onetime Communist Party boss."

I'll continue with my ongoing look at Women Authors in my next post, I think. Time for lunch. 👍👌

Last Month of 2022 & My First Reading Update.

The year is winding down. We've had a few days of snow and everything is messy. Jo and I had a nice day downtown the other day. Had lunch at Beninos and then wandered out onto the Comox Wharf. It was just lovely, watching the sun falling behind the glacier. We even saw a seal swimming into the harbor. Anyway, it was a nice way to finish off the day.

So, here is my first reading update of the month; books read, started, a couple of new books, all the good things.

Just Finished

1. The Detective's Daughter by Lesley Thomson (Detective's Daughter #1 / 2013). I'll keep reading this series.

"The Detective's Daughter by Lesley Thomson is the first book of 9 in her Detective's Daughter series. Ex police superintendent Terry Darnell, now a PI, is still investigating his white whale, the murder of Kate Rokesmith, when he dies of a heart attack. His estranged daughter, Stella Darnell, owner of a successful house cleaning business, while going through Terry's papers comes across his files on the case and she decides to continue with the investigation.

Also involved is Jack Harmon, a strange young man, who works evenings as a Tube (subway) driver and also seems to hide out in other peoples' homes; his Hosts, as he calls them. Jack is hired by Stella to help clean some residences and he implicates himself into Stella's investigation. There are also other 'weird' characters; Stella's 'ex' boyfriend Paul, who sort of stalks her and also seems aware of the murder, Dentist Yvan, whose office Stella cleans (well, actually, she gets Jack to clean it) and with whom she has a budding relationship. There are other people who may have been witnesses to the murder.

It's a sometimes-confusing story, wandering between Stella and Jack, but also jumping into the past where we follow Stella as a child with dad, Terry. There is also a story line about a young boy at boarding school and we don't really get clarity (somewhat) into that situation until much later. So, there are imperfections. As always, PEOPLE KEEP TOO MANY SECRETS! And Stella is not necessarily likeable, although this does change as the story progresses. As the story progresses, the clues begin to pop up more and more and it draws you deeper and deeper into the story. 

It's a cold story, set in London during winter so reading it now was appropriate. LOL. I liked how things came to a head, resolved themselves, both from Stella's and Jack's perspectives and ultimately, even from Terry's. I was doubtful about the story at the beginning, but it just got better and better. I quite enjoyed and look forward to reading the next story, Ghost Girl. (4.5 stars)"

2. Red Rising by Pierce Brown (Red Rising #1 / 2014). I gave up on this book and, hence, the series. I'm sure it's a popular series but I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. 

"I have no rating to offer for Red Rising by Pierce Brown as I chose not to finish it after reading about 1/3 of the book. It's an interesting concept but I just found that it was too easy to put down.

Basically, as I understand the story, it's set on Mars. Darrow is a miner who lives and works below the surface with his tribe and his wife. The leaders, the Golds, (Darrow is a Red) convict Darrow and his wife of treason... sort of. Darrow is given the lash and his wife is executed. Darrow is also executed but he doesn't die? (I may have this all wrong, of course. It's slipping from my memory). He is brought to the attention of a group of rebels who use surgery and such to make Darrow a Gold so he can infiltrate the Gold hierarchy. To do this he has to go to Gold school.... (And that's where I ended it)

I probably should have focused on it more and put aside other books, but it really didn't grab me enough to do so. It's unfortunate as I know others who have enjoyed the series. Oh well. This is a DNF and NR."

3. Ms. Tree, Vol. 2; Skeleton in the Closet by Max Allan Collins (Ms. Tree #2 / 2020). I like this graphic novel series based on the pulp mystery genre.

"This is the 2nd collection of Ms. Tree, Vol. 2: Skeleton in the Closet 'comics' that I've enjoyed. It contains 5 or 6 individual graphic novels and one short story. Most enjoyable.

Ms. Tree, aka Mike Tree, runs a detective agency in Chicago. She took it over when her husband, also, Mike Tree, was murdered on a case. She runs it with his partner, now hers and one other detective. The stories are all pulp detective stories at their best and they touch on very strong subjects; Satanism, homophobia, college rape, the Vietnam War and good old horror stories (the overnight stay in a haunted mansion classic tale).

Mike Tree is tough, hard-nosed detective who doesn't mind using her fists or guns to finish off a case. She has a reputation as the female Mike Hammer. She stands up for the underdog, her son-in-law (who features in some of the stories) and her friends. The police use her when they can't get justice following their own rules. 

The artwork is excellent, and the stories action packed and nicely crafted. They might gloss over the issues covered but they cover them, making them important. Detective stories in the hard-boiled tradition placed in the graphic novel format. Most enjoyable. (4.0 stars)"

4. March, Book 2 by John Lewis (March #2 / 2015).

"March: Book Two by John Lewis is the 2nd book, in graphic novel format, detailing Representative John Lewis's life as a civil rights leader in the 60's. It's a powerful story covering the Freedom Riders, efforts to obtain equality for Blacks in the South and finally the Freedom March in Washington, DC. Interspersed with this story is the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

It's a fascinating history, one that I knew a bit about, but it provided me with new insights into the events around the Civil Rights' movements. The anger and hatred and violence of white Southerners against peaceful demonstrations; even just trying to buy tickets at movie theaters or to sit as a lunch counter, is so disturbing. The violence of the police, especially highlighting Chief of Police Bull Turner, the ascension of Governor Wallace and other segregationists, never ceases to astound me.

We meet Martin Luther King, Jr and I found his hesitance to be involved at times surprising We also meet President JFK and his brother Robert Kennedy. Technically, the artwork is excellent and the storytelling first - rate. I'm so glad to find out more about this portion of American history and now trying to relate it to the current situation in the US, the rise of hatred, suspicion of government, etc. There is one further book in this excellent graphic novel series, and I have it on order. I'd suggest this must-read history. (4.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

(My focus in December is graphic novels, wo you will see a few)

1. Alpha & Omega; Locke & Key #6 by Joe Hill (Locke & Key #6 / 2014). I've enjoyed this series a lot.

"It took two lifetimes and countless victims, but Lucas "Dodge" Caravaggio has his terrible prize at last: the key which will open The Black Door. Disguised in the form of little Bode Locke, Dodge descends into the Drowning Cave, to throw back the door and release the demons on the other side. Those who have stood against him for so long - Tyler, Kinsey, Scot, Nina, Rufus, and all the rest - take their places as the final tragedy unfolds... A confrontation between decency and hate in the caverns a hundred feet beneath Keyhouse, at the threshold of an evil kept for generations under lock and key."

2. The Absolute Death by Neil Gaiman (Death of the Endless #1 - 2 / 2012). Death was introduced in Gaiman's Sandman series, and I had to try this.

"From the pages of Newbery Medal winner Neil Gaiman's The Sandman comes the young, pale, perky, fan-favorite character Death in a new Absolute Edition collecting her solo adventures! Featuring the miniseries Death: The High Cost of Living 1-3, in which Death befriends a teenager and helps a 250-year-old homeless woman find her missing heart.

The Absolute Death collects the miniseries Death: The High Cost of Living and Death: The Time of Your Life together with "The Sound of Her Wings" and "Façade" from The Sandman 8 and 20, the P. Craig Russell-illustrated "Death and Venice" from The Sandman: Endless Nights, and the never-before reprinted stories "A Winter's Tale" and "The Wheel." This deluxe volume also features an introduction by The Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer as well as extensive galleries of Death portraits and retail products, sketches by artist Chris Bachalo, and the complete original script by Gaiman for The Sandman 8."

3. Maddie Hatter and the Deadly Diamond by Jayne Barnard (Maddie Hatter #1 / 2015). Jo and I met Jayne Barnard a couple of months ago. It was so nice to chat with her and her husband.

"Miss Maddie Hatter, renegade daughter of a powerful Steamlord, is scraping a precarious living as a fashion reporter when the story of a lifetime falls into her lace-gloved hands.

Baron Bodmin, an adventurer with more failed quests than fingernails, has vanished in circumstances that are odd even for him. While he is supposedly hunting the fabled Eye of Africa diamond in the Nubian desert, his expeditionary airship is found adrift off the coast of England.

Maddie was the last reporter to see the potty peer alive. If she can locate the missing baron or the Eye of Africa, her career will be made.

Outraged investors and false friends complicate her quest, and a fiendish figure lurks in the shadows, ready to snatch the prize... at any price."

4. Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables #4 / 1936). Over the past few years, it's become one of my traditions to read one book in this series in December.

"Anne Shirley has left Redmond College behind to begin a new job and a new chapter of her life away from Green Gables. Now she faces a new challenge: the Pringles. They're known as the royal family of Summerside—and they quickly let Anne know she is not the person they wanted as principal of Summerside High School. But as she settles into the cozy tower room at Windy Poplars, Anne finds she has great allies in the widows Aunt Kate and Aunt Chatty—and in their irrepressible housekeeper, Rebecca Dew. As Anne learns Summerside's strangest secrets, winning the support of the prickly Pringles is only the first of her delicious triumphs."

So, there you go. I will continue with my ongoing look at women authors whose work I've been enjoying in one of my next episodes.