So, as we head into the weekend, I've received a couple of books in the past days, one bought for me by Jo. I'll provide the synopses for the 3 books. I'll finish off by continuing with my look at women authors whose books I've been enjoying.
New Books
"Laugh-out-loud,
deeply insightful, and emotion-filled essays from multi-talented
actress, comedian, pod-caster, and writer Casey Wilson.
Casey
Wilson has a lot on her mind and she isn’t afraid to share. In this
dazzling collection of essays, skillfully constructed and brimming with
emotion, she shares her thoughts on the joys and vagaries of modern-day
womanhood and motherhood, introduces the not-quite-typical family that
made her who she is, and persuasively argues that lowbrow pop culture is
the perfect lens through which to understand human nature.
Whether
she’s extolling the virtues of eating in bed, processing the
humiliation over her father’s late in life perm, or exploring her
pathological need to be liked, Casey is witty, candid, and full of
poignant and funny surprises. Humorous dives into her obsessions and
areas of personal expertise—Scientology and self-help, nice guys,
reality television shows—are matched by touching meditations on female
friendship, grief, motherhood, and identity.
Reading The Wreckage of My Presence is
like spending time with a close friend—a deeply passionate, full-tilt,
joyous, excessive, compulsive, shameless, hungry-for-it-all, loyal, cheer-leading friend. A friend who is ready for any big feeling that
comes her way and isn’t afraid to embrace it."
"In the stunning sequel to Kill Zone, there's a contract on Detroit hit man Peter Macklin. He has one hope--that he's better than the killers on his trail--and one prayer--that his son isn't one of them."
"Book 1 in the Wallace of the Secret Service series. Sir Leonard is not the man to desire fame or notoriety. His chronicler has been forced to fall back on office records and information supplied by various members of the secret service, to tell of the struggles of Wallace and his intelligence officers and their battles against the Soviet Union, terrorism and subversion in the British Empire, Nazi Germany and the tentacles of global organised crime."
Women Authors I'm Enjoying - Patricia Highsmith
American author, Patricia Highsmith, lived from 1921 - 1995, born in Texas and dying in Switzerland. Over her life, she wrote 22 novels and various short stories. She had one series featuring Tom Ripley. I haven't read any of that series yet but I have enjoyed 5 of her novels, starting with one that was converted to an Alfred Hitchcock movie, Strangers on a Train. I have one other sitting on my shelf to read. She does have a unique style, one well worth trying. I'll highlight the book on my shelf and the last two I've enjoyed.
Patricia Highsmith
1. A Game for Living (1958).
"Gentle, generous Theo would tell you that he feels quite logically happy about sharing Lelia with his best friend Ramón.
Although
the word 'logical' troubles him sometimes. (Can love ever be logical?)
It is he, at any rate, who eventually finds Lelia dead in her painter's
studio in Mexico City. She has been raped, her handsome face bloodily
mutilated. Theo's thoughts immediately turn to Ramón as the natural
suspect: hot tempered, moody, a man whose Catholic soul has already been
damned by passion - unable to marry Lelia, unable to give her up...
A confession is made, but are we able to believe it? In A Game for the Living threads of sexual jealousy and guilt are shot through with all Patricia Highsmith's uncanny talent for the unexpected."
"I read Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith back in 2011, I've enjoyed another 4 of her unique mysteries. The Blunderer, first published in 1954 was her 3rd novel and also excellent.
Almost a reverse take on Strangers on a Train, this story follows lawyer Walter Stackhouse who is married to real estate agent Clara, and deeply dissatisfied in their marriage. He has tried to divorce her previously but her subsequent actions (attempted suicide) kept them together. However their relationship has continued to deteriorate especially with Carol's actions regarding Walter's friendships, making him increasingly persona non grata with many friends. Walter reads about the death / murder of Helen Kimmel in the newspaper. Helen Kimmel was killed while taking a bus to visit her mother. The main suspect was her husband, bookstore owner, Melchior Kimmel, suspected of following the bus and murdering her at a rest stop.
Stackhouse keeps the article and for some reason wants to visit Melchior, as he suspects him of the murder. Later Stackhouse follows his wife's bus as she goes to visit her dying mother. Clara is found dead; suicide is suspected except by cop Lt Cordy, who begins to investigate both ladies' deaths and becomes a constant irritant to the two men.
It's a fascinating journey as we watch the unraveling of both men's lives, relationships under the intense inspection of Cordy, whose reasons for this are only suspected - promotion enhancement? a bullying complex? Considering the current examination of police misconduct all across the US, it makes Cordy's actions even more interesting and topical. His treatment of Kimmel is especially current.
As I mentioned at the beginning, the story is almost a reverse Strangers on the Train with two related murders and two suspects, who aren't really working together but whose lives are closely entwined. One thing I find about Highsmith's writing is her almost emotional distance from her characters. For all of the displaying of their lives and interactions, there is still a coldness and distance in their characterizations. It's difficult to become emotionally involved with them. But this distant observation of them, the activities and lives are still fascinating and the story is engaging and interesting. I've enjoyed exploring Highsmith's world and stories. There are a few more I'll try to find and enjoy. (4 stars)"
"Over the last ten years or so I've enjoyed a few of Patricia Highsmith's books, Strangers on a Train, Deep Water, People Who Knock on Doors (my favorite so far) and This Sweet Sickness. I find her writing style unique and her mysteries very interesting. Carol has been a different experience for me when I think back on her other stories.
Carol (also published as The Price of Salt) was her second novel published originally in 1952. It is a love story in its simplest form. Therese Belivet is a stage designer trying to get herself established in the business. She is forced to work of the Christmas period as a store clerk in the toy department in a department store in New York. One day she sees Carol Aird, an attractive woman shopping for a doll for her daughter.
A connection is made almost immediately and a relationship commences. After spending time together, Carol invites Therese on a road trip across the US. She is going through a divorce with her husband and needs to get away. Therese agrees to accompany her and on this trip, their relationship grows. They discover as well that Carol's husband has a detective trailing them, trying to get 'dirt' on her so that he can get sole custody of their daughter.
That is the basic story but there is so much more to this story. It is a coming-of-age for Therese, as she finds out more about her personality and feelings. Highsmith presents their relationship delicately and intelligently. She also highlights the use of same-sex relationships at the time to ruin people's lives by those who object to them. There you have Carol's husband's feelings and also those of Therese's ex-boyfriend. But at the same time there are those who accept the relationship easily and comfortably.
It's an interesting story and quite different from those others books of Highsmith that I've enjoyed. Well worth reading. (4 stars)"
The complete listing of Highsmith's works can be found at this link. Enjoy your weekend. Get vaccinated for your sake and for those around you. Stay safe. 😷
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