A Wednesday Night Reading Update

Jo is home from work and we've had dinner; tuna melts and salad. We're currently relaxing and watching Home Economics so I thought I'd provide a reading update. I've finished one book so far in 2023 so I'll provide my review as well as the synopsis of the next book in line. I've also received a couple of books in the mail and bought one. I'll provide the synopsis of those books for you as well. I'll also continue with my ongoing look at Women Authors whose Work I've been enjoying.

Just Finished

1. The Cool Cottontail by John Dudley Ball (Virgil Tibbs #2 / 1966).

"The Cool Cottontail by John Dudley Ball is the 2nd book in his Virgil Tibbs mystery series. I enjoyed the first story, In the Heat of the Night, and this book was just as entertaining. In the 2nd volume, Tibbs is once again back in California as an LAPD investigator.

Tibbs is called out to the scene of a murder. A dead body has been found in the pool at a nudist park. The body also is nude. Tibbs begins the investigation, helping the local cops with the investigation. It's all done very methodically, first the work to identify the victim and also the final investigation to discover the murderer. It's a well-crafted and presented story with nice character development as well.

There are interesting, topical (for the period, the 60s) issues covered as well as a crime investigation. Tibbs' constant having to deal with being a black cop, even to the questioning of his actual job, is an ongoing issue. I also enjoyed the discussion of the nudist park people, of their standards. It's not made a big issue but it is an ongoing theme. Tibbs is an excellent character and his methods make me think of the Spenser books by Robert Parker. He's low-key and capable, both physically and mentally. Excellent 2nd story and I look forward to the next one. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Innocent by Taylor Stevens (Vanessa Munroe #2 / 

"Eight years ago, five-year old Hannah was spirited out of school and into the closed world of a cult known as The Chosen. Ever since, followers of its leader have hidden the child and shielded her abductor. Now, childhood survivors of The Chosen who have escaped to make a life for themselves on the outside know here to find Hannah and turn to Vanessa Michael Munroe for help. Munroe reluctantly takes the job, and travels to Buenos Aires to infiltrate the cult and save the girl. Inducted in to a world unlike anything she has faced before, Munroe must navigate unpredictable members and their dangerous cohorts, the impatient survivors who hired her, and the struggle against her own increasingly violent nature so she can rescue the child before the window of opportunity closes and Hannah is lost forever."

New Books

1. March Book 3 by John Lewis (2016).

"Welcome to the stunning conclusion of the award-winning and best-selling MARCH trilogy. Congressman John Lewis, an American icon and one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, joins co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell to bring the lessons of history to vivid life for a new generation, urgently relevant for today's world."

2. The Sandman Vol 4 - Season of Mists by Neil Gaiman (1990).

"Ten thousand years ago, Morpheus condemned a woman who loved him to Hell. Now the other members of his immortal family, The Endless, have convinced the Dream King that this was an injustice. To make it right, Morpheus must return to Hell to rescue his banished love -- and Hell's ruler, the fallen angel Lucifer, has already sworn to destroy him."

3. Heartstopper Vol 2 by Alice Oseman (2019).

"Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie's gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn't.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family ... and himself."

Women Whose Work I'm Enjoying - Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel is a British writer of historical fiction. She was born in Derbyshire in 1952 and died in Devon in 2022. I've read the first book in her Wolf Hall trilogy and enjoyed very much. It was a slow build, as I recall but the more I got into it, the more I enjoyed it. I also have the 2nd book on my bookshelf and hope to get to it this year. I think the reason I haven't yet is because I start off being intimidated by tomes. Silly really because I regularly end up enjoying them. Anyway, enough rambling. Let's look at my review of the first and the synopsis of the 2nd book.

1. Wolf Hall (2009).

"My wife and I got Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel as a gift about 5 years ago. It's sat on the shelf for a long time, as you can see, and I've had quite some trepidation about starting it. I can't say why. It might just have been the size, but in the end that's a pretty poor reason as I've read longer books than it. Suffice it to say, this year it was one of my challenge reads, selected for me by a book club friend of mine. 

It's a historical novel, set during the time of Henry VIII in the early 1500's as he fights with the Pope to get his first marriage to Katherine of Aragon annulled so he can marry Anne Boleyn. The story focuses on the rise of Thomas Cromwell from the son of a blacksmith to Henry's chief adviser. We get to see palace intrigue, the life and family of Cromwell, those who people the court of Henry VIII and their dealings and personalities.

That's the story on its simplest level but it is indeed an intricate, complex, fascinating story. As with most large tomes, it took me awhile to get going with the story. I usually have a few books on the go and I can be easily distracted. But as I got deeper into the story, I found myself drawn to the characters, the richness of their personalities, the complexities of the court life and just the portrayal of England at the time.

Cromwell is made very human, as is Henry VIII and the rest of the large cast of thousands, from Cromwell's extended family, to the lords and dukes and ladies who you find at the King's court and in their dealings with Cromwell. The religious aspect is also well - described, the dealings between England and Rome as they try to get the first marriage annulled. Cromwell is everywhere, dealing with Henry, with Anne Boleyn, with Katherine, the lords and archbishops, etc. His rise in power is a fascinating story. His love and care of his family and of those people he seems to pick up off the street and add to his family was especially fascinating. 

In the end, I enjoyed the whole story immensely and was pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy it. Now I have to dust off the 2nd book, Bringing up the Bodies.. I may wait awhile to catch my breath though. (5 stars)"

2. Bringing Up the Bodies (2012).

"Though he battled for seven years to marry her, Henry is disenchanted with Anne Boleyn. She has failed to give him a son and her sharp intelligence and audacious will alienate his old friends and the noble families of England. When the discarded Katherine dies in exile from the court, Anne stands starkly exposed, the focus of gossip and malice.

At a word from Henry, Thomas Cromwell is ready to bring her down. Over three terrifying weeks, Anne is ensnared in a web of conspiracy, while the demure Jane Seymour stands waiting her turn for the poisoned wedding ring. But Anne and her powerful family will not yield without a ferocious struggle. Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies follows the dramatic trial of the queen and her suitors for adultery and treason. To defeat the Boleyns, Cromwell must ally with his natural enemies, the papist aristocracy. What price will he pay for Anne's head?"

The complete listing of Mantel's works are available at this link.