Virginia Woolf and Other Notes

Just a short post today. It'll be a day for running errands that I've put off; taking my new laptop to Staples to see if they'll download the Microsoft 2024 and a few other things. 😁 Nothing new to report on either the reading front or new books. 

The Woman in the Wall

The Woman in the Wall

A quick comment on an excellent, powerful TV mini-series that Jo and I watched the other day, The Woman in the Wall. It's set in Ireland and stars Ruth Wilson and Daryl McCormack. It's a mystery but also so much more than that. I won't ruin it for you but this is the synopsis of the story, taken from Wikipedia.

"Lorna (Wilson) wakes up to find the apparently dead body of a woman in her house. Lorna has a long history of trauma-based sleepwalking that stretches back to her time spent in Ireland’s controversial Magdalene Laundries."

Ruth Wilson is fantastic. Check it out.

Women Whose Work I've Enjoyed - Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf was born in London in 1882 and died in East Sussex in 1941 at the young age of 59. She was one of the founding members of the Bloomsbury Group along with her brothers' intellectual friends. She married Leonard Woolf in 1912 and the two of them founded Hogarth Press which published most of her work. 

Over her life, Virginia wrote 9 novels, numerous short stories and also works of non-fiction. I haven't explored her work as much as I should, having only completed two of her novels thus far. Both display her unique writing style. I'll provide my reviews of both to give you a feel for her stories.

1. Mrs. Dalloway (1925). This was Woolf's 4th novel. 

"Mrs Dalloway is my first exposure to the writings of Virginia Woolf. It wasn't an easy book to read but once I got into the flow, I enjoyed it very much. It's a unique style, one long chapter that flows from one character to another over the course of a single day. It's like a wandering vine; one story branches off and then by a circuitous route through other vines, it once again joins the main story.

That main story focuses on Mrs. Clarissa Dalloway, wife of Richard Dalloway, a British Member of Parliament, as she prepares for a party at their home. Over the course of the day, the tale branches off to that of Peter Walsh, an old boyfriend who returns to London from India to arrange for his marriage with a married woman and drops in to see Clarisse; there is Rezia Warren Smith, Italian wife of shell-shocked Septimus Warren, trying to get him help for his condition, plus all of the sundry characters that people this story.

The switch from one character to another is often swift and if you're not paying attention you might not realize it. It happens when a chance crossing of paths occurs and the story switches to that particular character. Even if they don't meet, there are links with characters that interact with both; Dr Bradshaw attends Clarissa's party and also treats Septimus.

It's a fascinating story, somewhat limp ending maybe but all in all quite an introduction to Virginia Woolf. (4 stars)"

2. Between the Acts (1941). Her last fiction novel.

"Between the Acts is the 2nd book by Virginia Woolf that I've read. It was her last novel, published in 1941. the year she ended her life. I can't say that I necessarily understand the ultimate point of this novel, but it is a fascinating journey.

The basic story is the annual pageant hosted by Pointz Hall, the estate of the Olivers; Giles and Isa and their young children, and father Bartholomew and aunt Lucy. The pageant is a play put on in the grounds of Pointz Hall, the purpose to raise money for the local Church. The play was organized by Miss La Trobe (some reviewers seem to think she is Virginia Woolf).

So that is the foundation. The story takes place over one day, the morning of the play, the play itself and the final hours of the day. We meet so many people, delving into their thoughts and emotions; especially the 4 main ones, but also Miss La Trobe, wealthy Mrs. Manresa, and others.

The story is like climbing a sand dune trying to grasp individual pieces of sand as you struggle to the top. Each provides a picture, an insight, a bit of color description. When you reach the top finally, you might still not see the complete picture but the portrait painted is still pretty darn amazing. Woolf has a way with words, with description, using dialogue to provide a picture. I struggled at times with the pacing of the story but then other times it just moved along breathlessly.  I think I'll read more of Woolf's work. (4 stars)"

Actually, I haven't read more of Woolf's works yet but I do hope to. An excellent portrait of her life and works can be found at this link. Enjoy searching out more about her.

Yes, I'm Indeed Avoiding Yard Work

The Peripheral

Jo is at work and I've been a lazy slug so far. I watched the first episode of the new Orphan Black series. It was ok. I'm reserving judgement for now. I watched the 2nd episode of The Peripheral. Confusing but I'm enjoying. Amazing, actually, as I gave up on the book. I may still mow the front yard by I'm going to do a reading update first. 😃

Just Finished

(I've completed 4 books since my last update.)

1. The Paton Street Case by John Bingham (1955).

"The Paton Street Case is an excellent police procedural by English author John  Bingham. This was the third mystery I've read by Bingham and I've enjoyed each one. 

The story is told at the beginning by a 'disembodied spirit' as it introduces the main characters of this story on a particular night. There is Chief Detective Inspector Morgan of Scotland Yard and his wife Gwen, asleep in their home in Chelsea. There is his Sergeant, Sgt Shaw, also at home with his wife Evelyn, not a happy relationship. Further away are Gladys Turner and her husband Len. Gladys knows Paton Street, which will soon feature in this mystery, very well. Then there are Otto and Rose Steiner who rent the first floor of 127 Paton Street for their furniture business. They are a German / Jewish couple who escaped from Nazi Germany to settle in London. Their daughter Rachel lives in their home. The final character introduced is PC Maitland who will discover the fire that sets the events of this story in motion.

The fire destroys the apartment above the Steiners' furniture store. A body is also discovered. in the apartment, the body of the resident of the apartment, Robert Draper. The rest of the story is the investigation of this fire and 'murder'. And it is an excellent story, taut, tense and with a neat little twist at the end that I never saw coming. Inspector Morgan is an excellent character, methodical, intuitive, gruff when needed and Sgt Shaw is the perfect foil. Watching them interrogate a witness is so very interesting. The cast of suspects / witnesses are also all well-developed and interesting. 

The story moves along nicely but as we near the end, the tension surprisingly mounts and I found myself unable to put the book down so I could get to the end. The ending itself was somewhat untidy, I thought, but that could just have been my interpretation of it. All in all, it was an excellent story and I now have Murder Plan Six on order. (4.5 stars)"

2. The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi (The Amulet #1 / 2008).

"The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi is the 1st book in the graphic novel series Amulet. It's an entertaining middle grade (I guess) fantasy series that follows brother and sister Emily and Navan and their mother as they move to an ancestral home to start a new life. This is a couple after a tragic car accident in which Emily & Navan's dad is killed. Mother decides that the family needs a new start.

And start they get. Kibuishi isn't one to rest on his laurels and let a story develop slowly. No he's not! No sooner do they arrive and begin cleaning the old home, then Emily finds her great grandfather's den and also a strange amulet. This seems to wake up something. What happens is that Mother is kidnapped by some creature and the children follow her down into the cellar and deeper into another world where they must enlist the aid of a group of strange robots? to help find their mother and save her life.

It's a fast-paced, exciting story, well drawn and colored and it keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. Nice surprise at the end when the house they are staying in, in this other world, turns out to be much more than a house. I've now got Books 2 and 3 on my book shelf and can't wait to see what happens next. Wow! (4.0 stars)"

3. The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi (2020).

"When I saw The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonial Conquest and Resistance, 1917-2017 by Rashid Khalidi, I felt that it was a book I should read, especially considering what is currently happening in Israel / Palestine. I admit that there were times when I almost gave up reading it. I'm not sure why, maybe it was just a bit ponderous... Not sure, more likely, just my short attention span these days of 30 second s0und bites.

At any rate, I'm glad, if glad is the correct work, that I finished this book. It opened my eyes and made me think more about what has happened in that area of the world. The book covers the period 1917 - the current time. Unfortunately, it was published in 2020 so I wonder how Rashid Khalidi would have updated his ideas with what is currently happening.

It's not easy to describe the book in a few sentences. Khalidi compares the Zionist desires to colonize Palestine and convert it into an Israeli country and to remove the Palestinians who were already living there to similar acts in the US, South Africa, even Ireland, where the indigenous peoples were turned into 2nd class citizens by the colonists. 

He starts by referring to European Zionist congresses which called for a Jewish state with the sovereign right to control immigration. He quotes the diary of Theodor Herzl, an Austrian journalist, and one of the early Zionist leaders.

"We must expropriate gently the private property on the estates assigned to us. We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border by procuring employment for it in the transit countries, while denying it employment in our own country. The property owners will come over to our side. Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly."

This is the ongoing theme throughout the period of the book. The Zionists move to Palestine, obviously to escape persecution within Europe and Russia. Firstly with the help of various great powers, Great Britain early one, and the US more recently, they have forced the Palestinians out of their homes, properties and taken them over. Of course, blame isn't limited here. The Arab states, which profess to support the Palestinian peoples have their own desire are either not strong enough or too disorganized to assist the Palestinian cause. More recently, these Arab states, prefer to deal with a much stronger Israel and the US than take up the fight for the Palestinians.

The Palestinians, themselves, were not strong enough to challenge the Israelis. They have tried various means; actual fighting, protests, boycotts, terrorism, etc to try to maintain their own possessions, their own country. The Palestinians were not as skilled at obtaining worldwide support for their own cause. Various UN resolutions and negotiated settlements between Israel and countries like Great Britain and the US, recognized the right of Israel to exist as a state. The same hasn't happened for the indigenous Palestinians, who have found themselves forced into exile (refugee camps all over the Middle East, confined to Israeli managed regions of Israel. It's a sad, desperate picture.

Over the course of the book, we see how many times Israel has used its power and military might to cow its Arab neighbours, the 6 Day War, the invasion of Lebanon, etc. The mass destruction is astounding and must have been terrifying. Now I realize that I'm making this sound very one-sided, but I must say that Khalidi does try to show both sides of the story. It's not just the Israelis but the Arab countries who assist, even by just sitting by and letting this destruction happen. The Palestinians also are disorganized and unable to coalesce into a unified front.

It's a sad, discouraging story. Mr. Khalidi explains and presents the story very well. The comparison to colonization is so interesting. This paragraph seems to say it all.

"Within Israel, certain important rights are reserved exclusively for Jewish citizens and denied to 20 percent of citizens who are Palestinian. Of course the five million Palestinians living under an Israel military regime in the Occupied Territories have no rights at all, while the half million plus Israeli colonists there enjoy full rights....   Even as Israel's 1948 Declaration of Independence proclaimed complete equity of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex, dozens of crucial laws based on inequality of rights were implemented in the ensuing years." He proceeds to give examples, such as banning Arab access to land and to residency, etc. (I hate to say it but as I watch the news, I see similar things being attempted in current right wing rules countries, or even right wing US States or Canadian provinces)

Khalidi once again has said that the Palestinians are often their worst enemies. After the 1st Intifada, which was mainly peaceful, raised the issue positively in the world's eyes. But the 2nd Intifada, where the Palestinians began to resort to suicide bombings within Israel, had the opposite effect.

I have said I have had difficulty reading this book. I had my own preconceived ideas; you know, like reading and watching Exodus, etc, but I do find myself looking at the whole situation differently. Oh, there is an interesting portion near the end of the impact Donald Trump's presidency had on the region... negatively, that is. 

But Mr. Khalidi does try to offer a hopeful ending.

"While the fundamentally colonial nature of the Palestinian - Israel encounter must be acknowledged, there are now two peoples in Palestine, irrespective of how they came into being, and the conflict between them cannot be resolved as long as the national existence of each is denied by the other. Their mutual acceptance can only be based on complete equality of rights, including national rights, notwithstanding the crucial historical differences between the two, There is no other possible sustainable solution, barring the unthinkable notion of one people's extermination or expulsion by the other."

This book was published in 2020 and I wonder what Mr. Khalidi would think of the situation now, where this last fear may actually come into effect unless the world decides to act bravely and step in. A book that should be read. this is not a unique situation around the world. (4.0 stars)"

4. East of West, Volume 1: The Promise by Jonathan Hickman (2013).

"While I've been in a prolonged process of divesting myself of all the comics I collected over the years, I somehow now find myself buying and trying new and different graphic novels. Go figure! A case in point, last week, while wandering through one of my local used book stores, I noticed the first two volumes in a graphic novel series by Jonathan Hickman, that series being one called East of West. In the mood for something short last night, I read Volume One, The Promise.

I did find the whole thing kind of confusing. So we have a dystopic future Earth. There is the Message, written in 3 parts over time, by the Prophet Longstreet in Atlanta, by Red Cloud and then half a century later by Chairman Mao, in exile. These three documents make up the Message. You also have the 4 Horseman of the Apocalypse, minus one, that being Death. The others trek around the US, the dystopic US, divided into various regions; the Dead Lands, New Shanghai, the Endless Nation, the Black Towers, the Kingdom of New Orleans and the Republic of Texas. 

The three remaining horsemen, War, Famine and Conquest kill the president of the US and the next of those in line until they get to the Secretary of the Interior and make her President. Got it so far?

And then there is Death, the White Horseman, who seems to be on the prowl seeking revenge for the loss of his wife and child. He is accompanied by Crow and Wolf who have powers. From what I've read, there are two groups, those in favor of Apocalypse, led by the 3 Horsemen and those against it, led by Death.

Death ends up taking a side trip when he discovers his wife is not dead as he believed, instead held prisoner by her father and sister, the leaders of New Shanghai.

Now there is more to the story, but that is the gist. I find it confusing but interesting so far. Vol 1 contains the first 5 chapters and ends with Death heading off to find his son. The characters are interesting and very well drawn and colored. There is lots of action and violence. And there is a potentially interesting view of the future. We'll see how Vol 2 develops the story. (3.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night by James Runcie (Grantchester #2 / 2013). This will be my focus book for July.

"The loveable full time priest and part time detective Canon Sidney Chambers continues his sleuthing adventures in late 1950's Cambridge. Accompanied by his faithful Labrador Dickens, and working in tandem with the increasingly exasperated Inspector Geordie Keating, Sidney is called on to investigate the unexpected fall of a Cambridge don from the roof of King's College Chapel; a case of arson at a glamor photographer's studio; and the poisoning of Zafar Ali, Grantchester's finest spin bowler, in the middle of a crucial game of cricket. As he pursues his quietly probing inquiries, Sidney also has to decide on the vexed question of marriage. Can he choose between the rich, glamorous socialite Amanda Kendall and Hildegard Staunton, a beguiling German widow three years his junior? To help him make up his mind Sidney takes a trip abroad, only to find himself trapped in a complex web of international espionage just as the Berlin Wall is going up.

Here are six interlocking adventures that combine mystery with morality, and criminality with charm."

2. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (2019). This is the 3rd book by Acevedo that I've read in the past couple of years. She is an excellent author.

"Ever since she got pregnant, seventeen-year-old Emoni's life has been about making the tough decisions - doing what has to be done for her young daughter and her grandmother. Keeping her head down at school, trying not to get caught up with new boy Malachi. The one place she can let everything go is in the kitchen, where she has magical hands - whipping up extraordinary food beloved by everyone.

Emoni wants to be a chef more than anything, but she knows it's pointless to pursue the impossible. There are rules she has to play by. And yet, once she starts cooking, and gets that fire on high, she sees that her drive to feed will feed her soul and dreams too. And anything is possible."

New Books

1. Foul Play Suspected by John Wyndham (1935). I think this is the last book by Wyndham that I've found.

"England, 1935: Phyllida Shiffer’s marriage has just ended in divorce. She heads home, expecting to be welcomed with open arms by her father, a brilliant (if slightly distracted) scientist. But her father’s house is locked up; he is nowhere to be found; and there are suspicious men who seem to think that Phyllida herself might hold the key to her father’s latest scientific discovery. . . ."

2. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson (2015).

"Twelve-year-old Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. So when Astrid signs up for roller derby camp, she assumes Nicole will too. But Nicole signs up for dance camp with a new friend instead, and so begins the toughest summer of Astrid's life. There are bumps and bruises as Astrid learns who she is without Nicole...and what it takes to be a strong, tough roller girl."

3. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022). Jo and I started to watch the TV series. I was pleasantly surprised to see it's based on a book.

"Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it's the 1960s and despite the fact that she is a scientist, her peers are very unscientific when it comes to equality. The only good thing to happen to her on the road to professional fulfillment is a run-in with her super-star colleague Calvin Evans (well, she stole his beakers). The only man who ever treated her--and her ideas--as equal, Calvin is already a legend and Nobel nominee. He's also awkward, kind and tenacious. Theirs is true chemistry.

But as events are never as predictable as chemical reactions, three years later Elizabeth Zott is an unwed, single mother (did we mention it's the early 60s?) and the star of America's most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth's singular approach to cooking (take one pint of H2O and add a pinch of sodium chloride) and independent example are proving revolutionary. Because Elizabeth isn't just teaching women how to cook, she's teaching them how to change the status quo."

4. Murder Plan Six by John Bingham (1958). I've enjoyed 3 of his mysteries so far and want to continue to explore his work.

"'Murder Plan Six', described by the 'Evening Standard' as 'a thriller of a very high (and rare) order', is by John Bingham, whom many will remember as the amiable father of Charlotte Bingham in 'Coronet Among the Weeds'. If the story is rather less than amiable, it is nevertheless rather more than unusual, with its introduction of Victor Gollancz, the very real and very well-known publisher, as one of the main characters, together with two fictitious authors of the Gollancz 'stable' and two women, of whom one is an angel and the other the very devil. When a note of madness creeps in - happily among the fictitious characters - things are bound to get out of hand, and they do it with a tension that winds up tighter and tighter as time and the tape-recordings run out."

5. Global by Eoin Colfer (2023). I think I may read this tonight. It's shiny and new and looks very interesting.

"Time is running out for Sami and Yuki. Sami and his grandfather live in a village along the Indian Ocean. They earn their living by fishing. But the ocean is rising and each day they bring back fewer and fewer fish. Yuki lives in the far north of Canada where warming temperature are melting the ice. Polar bears have less food to hunt and are wandering into town looking for something to eat. Yuki is determined to do something to help the bears."

6. Murder Your Employer: McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes (2023). Yes, indeed, The is the same Rupert Holmes of The Pina Colada song fame.

"A New York Times bestseller! From Edgar Award–winning novelist, playwright, and story-songwriter Rupert Holmes comes a diabolical thriller with a killer concept: The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, dedicated to the art of murder where students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Miriam Toews

Miriam Toews

I readily admit that I've only read one book by Canadian author, Miriam Toews thus far but it was so good and has made me get another book by her. Miriam Toews was born in Steinbach Manitoba in 1964. Since 1996, she has published 9 books. The book that I have tried thus far just recently won an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay for Sarah Polley. I'll provide my review of Women Talking and also the synopsis of the book I have sitting on my book shelf.

1. Women Talking (2018).

"I bought Women Talking by Miriam Toews after checking out a list of one author's Top Ten most horrifying novels ever. While I don't think the body of the novel is horrifying, the events that lead up to this novel are. 

The novel is based on a true story of a remote Mennonite community where the men, over a period of time, drug the women and abuse them over night. This took place over a long time and the women believed they were being attacked by demons. The truth was ultimately discovered and eight men were sent to jail.

The story takes place after these events and follows eight of the women, from two different families as they meet  in the loft of a barn to decide what they must do. Their options; to stay in the community a continue to live with the men who've abused them or to leave the community forever. The women have been subjugated all of their lives; they are not taught to read, so this decision is momentous. 

Also part of the story is August Epp. He and his parents had been banned from the community year before but he had returned as an adult and now teaches the boys. He has been asked to take minutes of the meeting. (The women have limited time to make their decision as the remaining men have gone to the city to try and bail out the eight. So they will all be returning.

So this is the basic story, a discussion by these women of what they will do. They were all abused, Ona is pregnant, even though unmarried. Even the age of the women does not matter as it seems even the very young have been mistreated. What can these women do? They've lived their lives here and now must decide whether they have the capabilities of even surviving on their own. So if you want a story with relatively no action, but with immense implications and a terrifying premise, you might want to try this one. (3.5 stars)"

2. Fight Night (2021).

"Fight Night is told in the unforgettable voice of Swiv, a nine-year-old living in Toronto with her pregnant mother, who is raising Swiv while caring for her own elderly, frail, yet extraordinarily lively mother. When Swiv is expelled from school, Grandma takes on the role of teacher and gives her the task of writing to Swiv's absent father about life in the household during the last trimester of the pregnancy. In turn, Swiv gives Grandma an assignment: to write a letter to "Gord," her unborn grandchild (and Swiv's soon-to-be brother or sister). "You’re a small thing," Grandma writes to Gord, "and you must learn to fight."

As Swiv records her thoughts and observations, Fight Night unspools the pain, love, laughter, and above all, will to live a good life across three generations of women in a close-knit family. But it is Swiv’s exasperating, wise and irrepressible Grandma who is at the heart of this novel: someone who knows intimately what it costs to survive in this world, yet has found a way—painfully, joyously, ferociously—to love and fight to the end, on her own terms."

The complete listing of Toews' work can be found at this link.

A Late Friday Reading Update (February Version)

The puppies when Jenn last visited

Hmm! This is getting to be a habit, these Friday night posts. Just back from walking the doggies. Always interesting now. We discovered this week that our Bonnie is diabetic and losing her vision. I'm giving her daily insulin injections and Jo is making sure she gets her eye drops. She's a brave trooper, not too confident when we go for a walk but the route is familiar so with a bit of coaxing she manages quite well. Tired by the end as we've got a small hill to climb up but she managed it very nicely tonight. Such a wonderful doggie. And Clyde isn't too bad either. 😀

Silent Witness was especially good tonight, very tense and also sad. We've lost two regular members of the cast so it'll be a somewhat different show in the next episodes. 

Now how about a quick reading update. I've completed 3 books since my last Friday update, last week. I'll provide my reviews and also the synopses of the books next in line. I'll also provide the synopses of 3 new books that have recently found their way to our bookshelves.

Just Finished

1. Raffles by E.W. Hornung (1898). Entertaining collection of short stories featuring gentleman thief, Raffles.

"Raffles is the first book in a collection of four books featuring AJ Raffles, by English author E.W. Hornung. Raffles, along with companion Harry 'Bunny' Masters, is a gentleman thief. This first book is a collection of 8 short stories featuring their crime adventures. The narrator of the stories is companion Bunny Masters, who becomes involved with Raffles when he approaches him, requesting assistance from his financial difficulties. Raffles invites Bunny to assist him with a caper and it all begins there.

The books were suggested by Hornung's brother-in-law, Arthur Conan Doyle (Hornung was married to Doyle's sister) and Raffles came into being, almost an anti-Sherlock Holmes. As Raffles tells Bunny, even though Raffles appears to be a well-off gentleman, appearances can be deceiving and his abilities as an amateur cracksman are necessary to finance Raffles living style. Definition of 'cracksman' - a burglar or safe cracker. During the day, Raffles is an excellent cricketeer and at night he and Bunny commit robberies.

Each burglary is different and interesting. There is steady friction between Bunny and Raffles as Raffles likes to go off by himself to plan his robberies and Bunny feels untrusted and frustrated. It's generally diamonds that piques Raffles' interest and he uses his ability at disguise when fencing the gems. The duo face threats from other burglars and also in a few of the cases from Scotland Yard Inspector Mackenzie. The book starts off with Bunny's first involvement, desperate for financial assistance. 

We also find out about Raffles' first robbery attempt. It's set in Australia where Raffles is visiting to participate in cricket matches. Needing money, he discovers a cousin who works in banking and decides to visit him to get some help. Neat twists and turns with this one as he is mistaken for his cousin and decides to rob the bank at which his cousin is employed.

There are other neat stories; Raffles trying to beat another cracksman to diamonds while visiting an estate to participate in a cricket tournament (the first time we also meet Inspector Mackenzie.) This other cracksman, Crawshay, makes an additional appearance. Having escaped from Dartmoor prison, he shows up at Raffles' digs demanding help from Raffles to escape from England. 

In another caper, Raffles and Bunny are hired to steal back a Velazquez painting, with a neat twist. The final caper involves a cruise to the Mediterranean, to steal a pearl, given as a gift by the Queen to a foreign king. Will this caper be the end of the partnership? Of course there are a couple of other capers as well. All interesting and different. Raffles is an interesting character, maybe not quite in the league of Sherlock Holmes but still entertaining. 

The stories were turned into plays, movies (David Niven portrayed Raffles), radio shows and were very successful during their time. Well worth trying. (3 stars)"

2. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries #2). Most enjoyable Sci-Fi story.

"It's been a couple of years since I read and enjoyed the first Murderbot book by Martha Wells. I finally dusted off book 2 of the Murderbot Diaries, Artificial Condition and sat down to it earlier this month. Such an enjoyable read.

Open your mind to a future of Murderbots, officially SecUnits, Sexbots, augmented humans, living ship's computers (ART), etc. and enjoy the world that Martha Wells has created for you to experience. The Murderbot from the first book is now searching for clues to what actually happened at the massacre where humans under his protection were massacred. 

Somehow either his memories were wiped by someone or he wiped them 'himself'. He was freed from his obligations as a SecUnit when his boss, Dr. Mensah bought him. The Bot is now traveling on a cargo ship, captained by ART who is interested in him and decides to help the Bot. They travel to the RaviHyral mine where the massacre took place (although all evidence and news of it seem to have disappeared.) ART helps make the Murderbot more human, with various surgeries.

Murderbot hires himself out to a group of scientists who were fired by Tlacey Excavations as a security expert. They want their research data back and he agrees to help. He also wants to discover what happened at the mine, so this, he hopes, will allow him access to the site. His new job turns out to be more dangerous that he thought as Tlacey has decided to get rid of the 3 scientists. So with ART's help, Murderbot will try to assist the scientists and also discover what really happened at the mine.

It's a neat, entertaining, excellent story. What a world! Do I understand everything that's going on? Nope. Does it matter? Nope. ART is a great character to go along with Murderbot. The scientists are interesting and take hold of Murderbot's heart (Does he have one?) The story is quick, with lots of action and computer stuff, to keep your attention and interest. Great story and I look forward to joining Martha Wells's world again in the near future with Book 3, Rogue Protocol (4.0 stars)"

3. Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong (Inspector Chen #1). This took awhile but it ended up being an excellent, rich story.

"Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong is the first book in the Chief Inspector Chen mystery series set in Shanghai. I bought the book in 2017 and it sat on my shelf until Nov 2022 when I dusted it off and finally gave it a try. It's now the beginning of Feb 2023 so it did take me some time to get through it. However this is no fault of the author or the story. It was well worth the effort and I'm glad that I kept reading it. (These days I usually have 4 or 5 books on the go so a relatively deep, involved story can rest on my night stand as I read shorter, quicker reads).

OK, let's get into this story. As I said, it's set in Shanghai. Chief Inspector Chen is new to his position as head of the Special Case Squad and also relatively young for the job. His promotion is an indication of his favorability within the Communist Party, a chance to promote younger members to senior positions. Celebrating his promotion and new one room apartment, Chen is having a party with a few close friends. He's advised that a body has been discovered floating in a canal a short distance from Shanghai. He assigns Detective Yu to initiate the investigation. Yu is an older cop, his father was a cop, and he's a bit jealous of Chen for his promotion. Yu lives with his wife, the lovely wife Peiqin, their son and his father, Old Hunter, in a 2 room apartment.

The investigation discovers that the body is of one Guan Hongying, a young woman who worked in a department store and who is what is called a national role-model worker; one who represents what's best in the Communist Party. Thus begins a long investigation that has criminal elements but when delved into deeper, also political aspects that will threaten Chen's career and that even of his partner, Detective Yu.

It's a rich, deep story with many intricate, related themes; crime, politics, corruption, love, friendship, cowardice, bravery, all intertwined to make a fascinating story. It portrays Communist China as it tries to convert from a socialist society to a modern, economical society. The history of China is covered, to highlight the effect the various revolutions had on people's lives; especially Chen's and his family, Yu's, etc. It's a fascinating portrayal and well worth checking out as it makes the story that much more interesting.

Chen and Yu must walk a tight-rope, but they will find that they have brave friends, colleagues and family who will help them as they try to solve the murder and bring the suspect to justice. Will justice be served? Well, you've got to check it out. Don't be intimidated by the size and scope of the story, as I almost was. It's an excellent read. (4.0 stars) (Number 2 in the series is on order). 😀"

Currently Reading

1. The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan #2 / 1913).

"Tarzan had renounced his right to the woman he loved, and civilization held no pleasure for him. After a brief and harrowing period among men, he turned back to the African jungle where he had grown to manhood. It was there he first heard of Opar, the city of gold, left over from fabled Atlantis.

It was a city of hideous men -- and of beautiful, savage women, over whom reigned La, high priestess of the Flaming God. Its altars were stained with the blood of many sacrifices. Unheeding of the dangers, Tarzan led a band of savage warriors toward the ancient crypts and the more ancient evil of Opar . . ."

2. The Cat Who Turned Off and On by Lilian Jackson Braun (Qwilleran #3 / 1968).

"The team of Koko, the brilliant Siamese cat, and Qwilleran, the reporter with the perceptive moustache, is back in action -- with an adorable female Siamese, Yum Yum, added to the household. When Qwilleran decides to do a feature series on Junktown, he gets more than he bargained for. Not the dope den he anticipated, Junktown is a haven for antique dealers and collectors -- as strange a lot as the crafty reporter has ever encountered. When a mysterious fall ends the career -- and the life -- of one of Junktown's leading citizens, Qwilleran is convinced it was no accident. But, as usual, it takes Koko to prove he's right."

3. The Penguin Pool Murder by Stuart Palmer (Hildegarde Withers #1 / 1931).

"For the third graders at Jefferson School, a field trip is always a treat. But one day at the New York Aquarium, they get much more excitement than they bargained for. A pickpocket sprints past, stolen purse in hand, and is making his way to the exit when their teacher, the prim Hildegarde Withers, knocks him down with her umbrella. By the time the police and the security guards finish arguing about what to do with Chicago Lew, he has escaped, and Miss Withers has found something far more interesting: a murdered stockbroker floating in the penguin tank.

With the help of Detective Oscar Piper, this no-nonsense spinster embarks on her first of many adventures. The mystery is baffling, the killer dangerous, but for a woman who can control a gaggle of noisy third graders, murder isn't frightening at all."

New Books

1. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (Susan Ryeland #1 / 2016). Jo and I enjoyed the mini-series based on the book. I'm looking forward to reading it.

"Alan Conway is a bestselling crime writer. His editor, Susan Ryeland, has worked with him for years, and she's intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd, who solves mysteries disturbing sleepy English villages. Alan's traditional formula pays homage to queens of classic British crime such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. It's proved hugely successful. So successful that Susan must continue to put up with his troubling behavior if she wants to keep her job.

When Susan receives Alan's latest manuscript, in which Atticus Pünd investigates a murder at Pye Hall, an English manor house, she has no reason to think it will be any different from the others. There will be dead bodies, a cast of intriguing suspects, and plenty of red herrings and clues. But the more Susan reads, the more she’s realizes that there's another story hidden in the pages of the manuscript—one of ambition, jealousy, and greed—and that soon it will lead to murder."

2. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton (2011). I read Beaton's Ducks in 2022 and it was excellent. This is a collection of her newspaper cartoons.

"Since Kate Beaton appeared on the comics scene in 2007 her cartoons have become fan favorites and gathered an enormous following, appearing in the New Yorker, Harper and the LA Times, to name but a few. Her website, Hark! A Vagrant, receives an average of 1.2 million hits a month, 500 thousand of them unique. Why? Because she's not just making silly jokes. She's making jokes about everything we learned in school, and more.

Praised for their expression, intelligence and comic timing, her cartoons are best known for their wonderfully light touch on historical and literary topics. The jokes are a knowing look at history through a very modern perspective, written for every reader, and are a crusade against anyone with the idea that history is boring. It's pretty hard to argue with that when you're laughing your head off at a comic about Thucydides. They also cover whatever's on her mind that week - be it the perils of city living or the pop-cultural infiltration of Sex and the City, featuring an array of characters, from a mischievous pony, to reinvented superheroes, to a surly teen duo who could be the anti-Hardy-Boys."

3. Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo (Alex Stern #2 / 2023). This is a new fantasy 

series but not a new author.

"Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex” Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory―even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies’ most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls."

I hope you see something that interests you. Have a great weekend.

A Late Friday Night Update

It's 10 pm on a starry Friday night. The puppies and I just had a nice walk around the neighborhood. I think I'll do an update before I head off to beddy bye. 

Clarissa, portrayed by Liz Carr on Silent Witness

Jo and I watched a Silent Witness episode that we'd taped from last Friday night. I think it was the best one I've ever seen; focused on Clarissa, portrayed by Liz Carr. Great actress. The story focused on her dealing with her declining mother and also she was central to the solving of the case. She displayed such great range. The episode also featured Jemma Redgrave as the DI working on the case. Another great actress. Anyway, it was a fantastic episode, dealing with a neat topic, Cryogenics. 

I'll provide the reviews of the 3 books I completed since my last update and also the synopses of the books I've started since. I'll also provide the synopses of 3 new books I've added to my bookshelf. 

Just Finished

1. Ottoline Goes to School by Chris Riddell (Ottoline #2).

"I needed something light with which to start off my morning and Ottoline Goes to School, the 2nd Ottoline YA story, by Chris Riddell was perfect. Ottoline lives in The City, basically on her own, cared for by her companion Mr. Munroe, while her parents are off exploring. She is cared for by a group of people, food preparers, door knob shiners, pillow plumpers, etc. She lives in the Pepperpot building, called thusly because it looks like a Pepperpot.

In this story, Ottoline and Munroe meet a young girl Cecily Forbes-Lawrence III an her Patagonian pony, while the duo are visiting the Pettigrew Park and Ornamental Gardens to feed the turtles. Ottoline is instantly enthralled with Cecily (who doesn't seem all that nice to Munroe) and when Cecily tells her that she will be attending the Alice B. Smith school Ottoline sends a letter to her parents asking that she be permitted to attend as well.

Thus begins Ottoline and Munroe's adventure at the Alice B. Smith School for the Differently Gifted and, of course, there is a mystery as well. Who is stealing objects from people and who is making the mysterious clomping noises? And who seems to be getting Munroe into trouble and why does Cecily think he's a dog!

It's all well written, excellently drawn (great pictures and sneaky little inserts) and just a fun story and you know it'll all end up ending pleasantly and satisfactorily. Most enjoyable. Thanks for starting off my day so happily. (3.5 stars) And now to get Ottoline at Sea!"

2. The Man Who Would Be King and Other Stories by Rudyard Kipling (1885).

"In the past few years, I've read a few of Rudyard Kipling's; Captains Courageous, Puck of Pook's Hill and Just So Stories, all of which displayed the depth and breadth of his writing. The Man Who Would Be King: and Other Stories is a collection of short stories set in India during the time of the Raj. Kipling was born and raised in India and he tells stories from his experience.

This collection contains 14 stories, some dealing with adults, some with children (my favorites I think) and some with soldiers. The setting of Simla is a frequent one. Simla was the summer capital of the Raj, where the British rulers spent their summers in the coolness of the mountains. There seem to have been a lot of extramarital relationships taking place there. 

Let's try and rank the stories. My least favorite for the most part were the initial ones set in Simla as they didn't really resonate with me, in fact, I didn't really get some of them. In the middle are some neat little ghost-like stories; The Phantom Rickshaw, My Own True Ghost Story and The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes (very creepy). The Man Who Would be King (turned into a movie starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine) was very interesting, a story told to a newspaper reporter by one of the men who took over a country. Wee Willie Winkie, Baa Baa Black Sheep and His Majesty the King all feature children put in difficult positions but showing great strength and character, even heroism. The last story is a bit of a throw-in and not necessarily a favorite.

It's definitely a nice mix of short stories, some much better than the others but it's worth reading to get a feel of their lives in India, not a complete picture because it's very one-sided, but still a picture. It's worth trying just to get a feel for Kipling's story-telling and writing skill. (3.5 stars)"

3. The Innocent by Taylor Stevens (Vanessa Munroe #2).

"The Innocent: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel is the 2nd book in the Vanessa 'Michael' Munroe thriller series by Taylor Stevens. The story starts off in Morocco where Munroe has been living with lover, Noah, trying to deal with her inner struggles; nightmares where she relives acts of violence (making her a danger to others). She tries to solve the issue by drugging herself before going to sleep.

Her business partner Miles Bradford and another friend, Logan, arrive with a proposition. Logan and friends need her help. Logan was raised in a cult, The Chosen. As a young man he left, along with others, but now they need to find a young girl, Hannah. Hannah is the daughter of Noah (although she believes her father to be another man) and Charity. Hannah was abducted by David from Charity and taken back to the Chosen. Logan and his friends have recently discovered that Hannah is at Haven hideouts located in Buenos Aires Argentina. They want to hire Munroe to go and get her back. With Miles and three of the ex-Chosen, Logan, Heidi and Gideon, heads to Buenos Aires to try and get Hannah back. This story is that effort; as Munroe battles her demons and at the same time tries to discover the whereabouts of the Haven hideaways and infiltrate to discover Hannah's location.

It's an exciting book and provides an excellent portrait of Munroe, her inner struggles, her expertise with weapons, and her information-gathering skills. Miles brings along other skills and is an interesting character, faithful and dedicated to Munroe, worried about her issues and mental stability, but providing a core strength to her. The story is stark and grim but as it progresses, there is reason to hope; both for the success of the mission and for Munroe's mental health. I have #3 The Doll sitting on my bookshelf awaiting my attention. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Murderbots #2). I'm glad to finally be getting back to this series as I enjoyed the first book very much.

"It has a dark past--one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself “Murderbot." But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more. Teaming up with a Research Transport vessel named ART (you don’t want to know what the “A” stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue. What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks."

2. Raffles by E.W. Hornung (1898). I've wanted to try this series for awhile now. I believe David Niven and Ronald Colman, amongst others, played Raffles in the movies.

"Gentleman thief Raffles is daring, debonair, devilishly handsome-and a first-rate cricketer. In these eight stories, the master burglar indulges his passion for cricket and crime: stealing jewels from a country house, outwitting the law, pilfering from the nouveau riche, and, of course, bowling like a demon-all with the assistance of his plucky sidekick, Bunny. Encouraged by his brother-in-law, Arthur Conan Doyle, to write a series about a public school villain, and influenced by his own experiences at Uppingham, E. W. Hornung created a unique form of crime story, where, in stealing as in sport, it is playing the game that counts, and there is always honor among thieves."

New Books

1. The Doll by Taylor Stevens (Vanessa Munroe #3). Just keeping up with this series.

"Haunted by a life of violence and as proficient with languages as she is with knives, Vanessa Michael Munroe, chameleon and hunter, has built her life on a reputation for getting things done—dangerous and often not-quite-legal things. Born to missionary parents in lawless Africa, taken under the tutelage of gunrunners, and tortured by one of the jungle’s most brutal men, Munroe was forced to do whatever it took to stay alive.

 The ability to survive, fight, adapt, and blend has since taken her across the globe on behalf of corporations, heads of state, and the few private clients who can afford her unique brand of expertise, and these abilities have made her enemies.

On a busy Dallas street, Munroe is kidnapped by an unseen opponent and thrust into an underground world where women and girls are merchandise and a shadowy figure known as The Doll Maker controls her every move. While trusted friends race to unravel where she is and why she was taken, everything pivots on one simple choice: Munroe must use her unique set of skills to deliver a high-profile young woman into the same nightmare that she once endured, or condemn to torture and certain death the one person she loves above all else.

Driven by the violence that has made her what she is, cut off from help, and with attempts to escape predicted and prevented, Munroe will hunt for openings, for solutions, and a way to strike back at a man who holds all the cards. Because only one thing is certain: she cannot save everyone.

In this high-octane thriller for fans of Lee Child, Stieg Larsson, and Robert Ludlum's Bourne trilogy, Vanessa Michael Munroe will have to fight fast, smart and furiously to overcome a dangerous nemesis and deliver her trademark brand of justice."

2. How to Stand up to a Dictator: The Fight for our Future by Maria Ressa (2022). I saw Maria Ressa on The Tonight Show with Stephen Colbert and was so impressed listening to her. I had to get the book.

"Maria Ressa is one of the most renowned international journalists of our time. For decades, she challenged corruption and malfeasance in her native country, the Philippines, on its rocky path from an authoritarian state to a democracy. As a reporter from CNN, she transformed news coverage in her region, which led her in 2012 to create a new and innovative online news organization, Rappler. Harnessing the emerging power of social media, Rappler crowdsourced breaking news, found pivotal sources and tips, harnessed collective action for climate change, and helped increase voter knowledge and participation in elections.

But by their fifth year of existence, Rappler had gone from being lauded for its ideas to being targeted by the new Philippine government, and made Ressa an enemy of her country's most powerful man: President Duterte. Still, she did not let up, tracking government seeded disinformation networks which spread lies to its own citizens laced with anger and hate. Hounded by the state and its allies using the legal system to silence her, accused of numerous crimes, and charged with cyberlibel for which she was found guilty, Ressa faces years in prison and thousands in fines.

There is another adversary Ressa is battling. How to Stand Up to a Dictator is also the story of how the creep towards authoritarianism, in the Philippines and around the world, has been aided and abetted by the social media companies. Ressa exposes how they have allowed their platforms to spread a virus of lies that infect each of us, pitting us against one another, igniting, even creating, our fears, anger, and hate, and how this has accelerated the rise of authoritarians and dictators around the world. She maps a network of disinformation--a heinous web of cause and effect--that has netted the globe: from Duterte's drug wars to America's Capitol Hill; Britain's Brexit to Russian and Chinese cyber-warfare; Facebook and Silicon Valley to our own clicks and votes.

Democracy is fragile. How to Stand Up to a Dictator is an urgent cry for Western readers to recognize and understand the dangers to our freedoms before it is too late. It is a book for anyone who might take democracy for granted, written by someone who never would. And in telling her dramatic and turbulent and courageous story, Ressa forces readers to ask themselves the same question she and her colleagues ask every day: What are you willing to sacrifice for the truth?"

Off to bed now. I hope you see something interesting. Have a great weekend.