Mid-November Reading Update

Clyde when he was a bit younger

It's been a gloomy, rainy week in the Valley. But, we persevere, eh? Jo is asleep and Clyde is in his doggie bed also asleep. He had one of those nights; got up at 1a.m. to go out, then again at 4, then decided it was time to go downstairs at 7... So we're now in the den. He's asleep and I'm at the computer updating books. LOL.

Anyway, since my last reading update, I've completed 5 books. I'll update those, list any books I've started since my last update and also any new books.

Just Finished

1. The Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks (2014). This satisfied both my November focus on graphic novels but also to honor those who've honorably served their countries.

"I've enjoyed American author, Max Brooks' work the past few years. He has demonstrated a unique take on the horror genre, what with World War Z, Devolution and the The Extinction Parade graphics. I just finished The Harlem Hellfighters, a historical graphic novel, with a fictionalized account of the 369th Infantry Regiment, an African American unit which fought in WWI. Factually, they spent more time in combat than any other American unit, never losing a foot of ground to the enemy or suffering any men captured by the enemy.

The Germans nicknamed them the Harlem Hellfighters. What makes their story even more interesting is that they weren't allowed to fight with white American units but were assigned to the French army, who accepted them readily. This was during a time in American when blacks were treated horribly within the US and their soldiers also were attacked and beaten. The African American soldiers were forbidden from responding in kind. 

The story is powerful and also graphically drawn. It's a disturbing story and at the same time a heroic story. Max Brooks treats the soldiers with respect but holds nothing back in his portrayal of their treatment within America. It's a story that should be read and is an important part of American history. More info is available at this link.

Please check the story out especially in this month of November where we remember our war dead, those who fought to end tyranny and fascism. (4.0 stars)"

2. Lost in Taiwan by Mark Crilley (2023).

"Lost in Taiwan by Mark Crilley was a lovely graphic novel. American teen Paul goes to Taiwan to spend two weeks with his older brother Theo, who lives there, teaching English. As it begins, the visit isn't going well at all. Paul has planted himself on the couch and basically refuses to explore anywhere with his older brother. He won't even try the local food. Theo loves the city and his girl friend. Paul spends his time on his phone with online friends and eating McDonald's food.

When Theo goes away for a couple of days, Paul is told by one of his 'friends' that a local store is selling the latest Nintendo Swoop. Paul braves the city and using google maps, finds the store. The Swoop, it turns out is a little child's game. Paul drops his phone and breaks it and finds himself lost in this strange new city. Thanks to a lovely local girl, Peijing, he begins both an exploration of the city and culture but also makes a new friend.

It's a wonderful growing up story. It's beautifully drawn and Crilley presents the story, which takes place over one day, so easily and sympathetically. The characters are all likable, even Paul, as he begins to grow up and discover himself. It was just such a positive story that it draws you in completely. And it definitely makes you want to visit Taiwan. Most enjoyable. (4.0 stars)"

3. Black Helicopters by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Tinfoil Dossier #2 / 2015).

"Black Helicopters is the second book in the weirdly wonderful Tinfoil Dossier trilogy by Caitlín R. Kiernan. How to describe it? I'm not sure I can.

Let's see. First there are the albino twins, la Bête and Ivoire. la Bête is by Deer Island with 66 and soldiers, X agents, CIA / FBI, etc as they battle Lovecraftian creatures who have taken over the island and rise from the sea to battle these troops. Bête is hooked on drugs... Then we move to Ireland where Ivoire and is being 'protected?' by Twimsby while assassins from the various agencies try to get rid of her. There is a sort of time travel as the Egyptian, Ptolema, moves from time to time (I think) In the future it seems that Earth is kind of a Water world..... I think.. LOL.

So now that you know what's going on. Even though I'm constantly confused, I'm also constantly amazed. It's like a Philip K. Dick story when he was writing his most drugged out stories... It's dark, poetic at times, philosophical, horrific, and great Sci Fi. I'm looking forward to #3, The Tindalos Asset to see how it all wraps up. Will the Signalman from Book 1 make more of an appearance? (3.5 stars)"

4. The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown (2023).

"The Scourge Between Stars is the first book by Ness Brown and it's a pretty darn good start. It's kind of a take on the Alien movies. The Calypso is a HUGE spaceship on its way from Proxima back to Earth. It's part of a fleet of ships as I gathered it but the story focuses on acting Captain Jacklyn Albright and her crew. They have left Proxima because the attempt to settle has been unsuccessful so the colony has decided to return to Earth.

Jack's father and mother were the ship's leaders but her mother killed herself and her father has basically locked himself into his quarters, leaving Jack in charge. It's an interesting situation and one thing I wish was that a bit more time had been spent on that aspect. But, ultimately, it's not the point of the story. This is a horror story. But just to set the stage a bit, the ship is divided into sectors and guilds. The passengers are getting upset and a portion want to go back to Proxima. Jack and her team are trying to sort this out when another situation arises. Their comms are acting up. The food supplies seem to be disappearing faster than they should have. A communication droid, Watson, is acting strangely. 

As Jack goes from sector to sector she hears banging on the walls. Strange messages start to arrive from other ships in the fleet, warning them not to open the doors! What doors, she wonders???

Than they start to find bodies, torn to pieces and the adventure starts to ramp up. Jack and her security team begin to hunt down the intruders. What the heck are they?.... It's a very short novella so I'll stop there. Mwuu haa! 

All in all, Ness Brown has started off her writing career with a bang. Tense situation, lost in space with something trying to kill her crew. Interesting characters, competent, skilled. But is that enough? I harken back to Aliens, it's an excellent take on that story... Check it out. (3.5 stars)"

5. Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang (2013).

"My first exposure to the graphic novels of Gene Luen Yang was American Born Chinese which I enjoyed very much. As I usually do when I find an interesting author, I checked out his other books and Boxers & Saints sounded very interesting. And, lo and behold, it was.

Boxers and Saints is two intertwined stories told in separate graphic novels. It's historical fiction based on the Boxer rebellion which took place in China in 1900. I remember a movie I saw when I was just a kid, 55 Days in Peking, which dealt with the siege of Peking by the Boxers. It was very exciting as a young boy. Anyway, this story is told by two Chinese, Little Bau, a young man who leads a group of Boxers to try and take back his country from foreign intruders and also Four-Girl, a young girl trying to find out who she is, eventually becoming a Christian.

Both of these young people live in the same village but don't really interact. Bao sees Four-Girl (so named because she was the 4th daughter and grandfather decided not to give her a proper name. When she becomes a baptized Christian, she is named Vibiana) one day at the market. Four-Girl is trying to be a demon (she's always in trouble) and is freezing her face, like an opera mask, so that's how Bao remembers her.

Bao, after a series of events leave his father injured and damaged from an attack by Christian Chinese, wants to learn how to fight back and learns how to use a sword. Gradually he gathers a group of other young men, including his brothers and they begin to wander the countryside saving villages from Christians who are exacting tribute. They begin a journey to Peking where they hope to throw out the foreigners who live in their own enclave within Peking.

In the other book, we follow Four-Girl who wants to discover herself. She begins taking lessons from a nearby acupuncturist who is also a Christian. Even though she finds his teaching quite boring, she does like the cookies she gets from his wife. When she is beaten by her grandfather, she decides to follow a Christian priest to learn more about how to become a Christian and she moves to another walled town that is run as an orphanage. She will later meet Bao again when his followers attack the settlement on their way to Peking.

There is so much more to this story. Each main character is guided by mystic spirits; Bao by the ghost of one of the first Emperors of China. In fact when his followers begin an attack they go through a mystical process that changes them into various Chinese gods who help them attack. Four-Girl sees visions of Joan of Arc and tries to follow her. Neither of these mystical spirits is perfect with their guidance and it's questionable how much they actually help the two.

It's a very strong story. Treatment of women and girls is harsh. It's an all around harsh life for the Chinese peasants, in fact. The foreigners abuse them. Neither Bao nor Four-Girl are perfect either. The story covers their flaws very well and each of their quests to discover who they are and their purpose one of the main aspects of the two stories. It's gritty, violent and very strong. But it's a very interesting story which gives you some insight, maybe, into the Boxer Rebellion itself an also of a portion of Chinese history from that period. It's powerfully written, beautifully drawn and colored and just a real page turner. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Sandman, Vol. 9 - The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman (1995).

"THE SANDMAN is the most acclaimed and award-winning comics series of the 1990s for good reason; a smart and deeply brooding epic, elegantly penned by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by a rotating cast of comics' most sought-after artists, it is a rich blend of modern myth and dark fantasy in which contemporary fiction, historical drama, and legend are seamlessly interwoven. The saga of THE SANDMAN encompasses a series of tales unique in graphic literature and is a story you will never forget.

They have had many names: The Erinyes. The Eumenides. The Dirae. The Furies. Agents of vengeance, implacable and unstoppable, they do not rest until the crime they seek to punish is washed clean with blood. It is to them, THE KINDLY ONES, that Lyta Hall turns when her baby Daniel is taken from her, and it is Dream of the Endless who becomes their target. But behind a mother's grief and unyielding rage, there are darker forces at work, and what they set in motion will eventually demand a sacrifice greater than any the Dreaming has yet known."

2. Lore Olympus, Vol. 6 by Rachel Smythe (2024).

"Witness what the gods do after dark in the sixth volume of a stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes content from creator Rachel Smythe.

“We have to make an example of her.”

Chaos reigns in Olympus as Zeus publicly declares Persephone a traitor and issues a warrant for her arrest. But Hades defies his brother’s decree, sheltering Persephone in the Underworld—and as the pair spend more time together, they are able to speak openly about their pasts. The goddess of spring admits the truth behind the bloody secret that led to Zeus’s ire, and the king of the Underworld shares the trauma he suffered at the hands of his power-hungry father, Kronos.

But as Hades and Persephone’s relationship grows stronger, others begin to fall apart. The bond between Hades and Zeus is stretched to its limit, threatening to fracture the peace between their realms. Persephone and Artemis’s friendship hangs by a thread as the goddess of the hunt slowly uncovers the vile truth about her twin, Apollo. A line is being drawn in the heavens, putting everyone’s loyalties into question as all the gods are forced to choose sides.

And as the cracks in the foundation of the pantheon spread, something darker and more earth-shattering might soon be released. . . ."

New Books

1. The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Mieville (2024). Jo bought this for me for my 69th birthday. If I don't read it before year's end, it will be one of the first books I start in 2025.

"She said, We needed a tool. So I asked the gods.

There have always been whispers. Legends. The warrior who cannot be killed. Who’s seen a thousand civilizations rise and fall. He has had many names: Unute, Child of Lightning, Death himself. These days, he’s known simply as “B.”

And he wants to be able to die.

In the present day, a U.S. black-ops group has promised him they can help with that. And all he needs to do is help them in return. But when an all-too-mortal soldier comes back to life, the impossible event ultimately points toward a force even more mysterious than B himself. One at least as strong. And one with a plan all its own.

A mind-blowing epic of ancient powers, modern war, and an outcast who cannot die. Combines Miéville’s singular style and creativity with Reeves’s haunting and soul-stirring narrative, unlike anything these two genre-bending pioneers have created before, inspired by the world of the BRZRKR comic books."

2. Ruined City by Nevil Shute (1938). One of my reading bucket lists is to read all of Shute's books. I've read 14 thus far. I have six more on my book shelves.

"Nevil Shute has an uncanny way of combining the tenderness of romance with the drama and excitement of high adventure. Ruined City displays this narrative blending to perfection. It is the gripping story of a successful, respected banker, who risks his fortune and reputation to bring health and employment to a dead city whose inhabitants are the starving victims of depression. It is the story of a great man and a tremendous gamble - of faith, dedication, and ultimate reward..."

3. Pastoral by Nevil Shute (1944).

"From an Oxfordshire air base, Wellington bombers fly missions into Germany. Only a handful of crews have survived the war long enough to become experienced. Peter Marshall is captain of one crew. When he falls in love with Gervase, her rebuff nearly costs him his concentration and life. Their relationship blossoms when he has only five more missions to go. As they tick by, tension mounts."

Women Authors Whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Martha Wells

Martha Wells

American author Martha Wells was born in 1964 in Fort Worth, Texas. Since 1993 she's published 20+ novels in the Fantasy / Sci-Fi genres. I read the first Murderbot book in 2020 and have since enjoyed the 2nd one in the series. (The series was recommended to me by a friend in one of my Goodreads' book groups) I have another 4 awaiting my attention and I'd say this is one of my bucket list series, one I want to finish before I die. I'll provide my review of the 2nd book and also the synopses of the next two or three to give you a feel for the stories.

1. Artificial Condition (#2 / 2018)

"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)"

2. Rogue Protocol (#3 / 2018).

"Sci-Fi's favorite antisocial A.I. is again on a mission. The case against the too-big-to-fail Gray Cris Corporation is floundering, and more importantly, authorities are beginning to ask more questions about where Dr. Mensah’s SecUnit is.

And Murderbot would rather those questions went away. For good."

3. Exit Strategy (#4 / 2018).

"Murderbot wasn't programmed to care. So, its decision to help the only human who ever showed it respect must be a system glitch, right?

Having traveled the width of the galaxy to unearth details of its own murderous transgressions, as well as those of the Gray Cris Corporation, Murderbot is heading home to help Dr. Mensah — its former owner (protector? friend?) — submit evidence that could prevent Gray Cris from destroying more colonists in its never-ending quest for profit.

But who's going to believe a SecUnit gone rogue?

And what will become of it when it's caught?"

4. Network Effect (#5 / 2020).

"You know that feeling when you’re at work, and you’ve had enough of people, and then the boss walks in with yet another job that needs to be done right this second or the world will end, but all you want to do is go home and binge your favorite shows? And you're a sentient murder machine programmed for destruction? Congratulations, you're Murderbot.

Come for the pew-pew space battles, stay for the most relatable A.I. you’ll read this century.

—

I’m usually alone in my head, and that’s where 90 plus percent of my problems are.

When Murderbot's human associates (not friends, never friends) are captured and another not-friend from its past requires urgent assistance, Murderbot must choose between inertia and drastic action."

So there you go. Sound interesting? Martha Wells has written other series as well plus standalone novels. I will probably check them out too but not until I finish Murderbots! Here is a link to all of Martha's work.

Enjoy your weekend!

A Quarterly Reading Update.

As it's almost the end of  March 2024, I thought I'd review my reading for the 1st Quarter of 2024. Just a quickie. 

Some basic stats -

# of books read - 31.

By Challenge -

1. 12 + 4 Challenge (Books of Ursula K. Le Guin) - 6

2. Series Challenge - 11

3. Non - Series Challenge - 6

4. Tome Challenge (over 500 pages) - 2

5. Monthly Focus Author -

a. Jan - Agatha Christie - 3

b. Feb - Adam Hall - 1

c. Mar - Simon Brett - 2

Favorite Book - Very Far Away from Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin - 5 stars (my only 5 star read of 2024)

"Very Far Away from Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin, originally published in 1976, is atypical of the usual books I read by LeGuin, those being fantasy and Sci Fi. This is purely Young Adult fiction, a simple, beautiful story told from the perspective of high schooler, 17-year old Owen Thomas Griffiths. Owen tells his story into a tape recorder and transcribes later.

It's not too difficult to describe, although I'm sure I'll just cover the barest surface level of the story. But here goes. Owen is a nerd and finds high school difficult. He has a few friends but it's mainly on the young man joking level. He likes the sciences, enjoys analyzing and wants to go to MIT or CalTech, maybe to study psychology. 

His father buys him a new car for his 17th birthday and Owen resists driving it to school as he feels it's just makes him 'one of the crowd', something he doesn't really want. Coming back from school on a very rainy day, he takes the bus and sits beside Natalie Fields, a girl he's seen but doesn't know that well. They seem to hit it off and later that night when Owen is feeling adrift, he goes for a drive, stops outside her home and spends the evening in her room, talking, more talking and listening to her play her viola (she is a music student)

Their friendship hits off but something will happen that changes everything. So I'll leave it at that. It's not drastic or traumatic really but it is something that has a profound affect on Owen. 

Simply told, very readable but also very emotional and quite excellent. Check it out. Have your teenage kids check it out. (5.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. 12 + 4 Challenge - Ursula K. Le Guin - City of Illusions by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #3 / 1967). This reminds me somewhat of Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

2. Series Challenge - Maddie Hatter and the Gilded Gauge by Jayne Barnard (Maddie Hatter #2 / 2017). A fun steampunk adventure from Canadian author Barnard. I'm just getting into it but it does involve umbrella dueling.

3. Non - Series Challenge - Twilight by Peter James (1991). A standalone mystery by the author of the Roy Grace books. It reminds me of the first Grace mystery, mainly because a body is buried while still alive. And the setting is still the Brighton area. Very tense.

Rubymusic - A Popular History of Women's Music and Culture by Connie Kuhns (2023). I saw this book in my local book store. It's a collection of essays and interviews by Canadian writer Connie Kuhns with women artists. Very interesting so far.

4. Tome Challenge - The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson (2020). A science fiction story dealing with climate change. I'm enjoying so far.

5. Monthly Focus - March - Simon Brett. Mrs, Presumed Dead (Mrs. Pargeter #2 / 1988). A nice cozy mystery so far. Widowed Mrs. Pargeter has moved into a new house and decides to investigate what has happened to the previous owner. I like it so far.

In the Hopper

(My possible next selections)

1. 12 + 4 Challenge - Ursula K. Le Guin. Tales from Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle #5 / 2001).

"Five stories of Ursula K. Le Guin's world-renowned realm of Earthsea are collected in one volume. Featuring two classic stories, two original tales, and a brand-new novella, as well as new maps and a special essay on Earthsea's history, languages, literature, and magic.

The Finder
Darkrose and Diamond
The Bones of the Earth
On the High Marsh
Dragonfly"

2. Series Challenge. Six Ostriches by Philipp Schott (Dr. Bannerman #2 / 2023). The 2nd book in the Vet mystery series set near Winnipeg Manitoba.

"It’s springtime in rural Manitoba, and the snow has finally left the exotic animal farm when an ostrich finds and swallows a shiny object. (Because this is what ostriches do.) Cue veterinarian and amateur sleuth Dr. Peter Bannerman, who surgically removes the object, which looks like an ancient Viking artifact. Soon after, people around are horrified by a series of animal mutilations. This sets Peter, and his talented sniffer dog, Pippin, on the hunt for answers. Peter begins to suspect a link between the Viking artifact, the mutilations, and a shadowy group of white supremacists on the internet.

Before long Peter and Pippin are in over their heads, and the only way for them to get out alive will be to unmask the mastermind before they end up among their victims."

3. Non-Series Challenge. The Confidential Agent by Graham Greene (1939). This would also qualify as a dusty read as I've had it resting on my bookshelf since 2012.

"In a small continental country civil war is raging. Once a lecturer in medieval French, now a confidential agent, D is a scarred stranger in a seemingly casual England, sent on a mission to buy coal at any price. Initially, this seems to be a matter of straightforward negotiation, but soon, implicated in murder, accused of possessing false documents and theft, held responsible for the death of a young woman, D becomes a hunted man, tormented by allegiances, doubts and the love of others."

4. Tome Challenge. Gone by Mo Hayder (Jack Caffery #5 / 2010). This isn't being read in sequence.

"When a car is taken by force, with an eleven-year-old girl inside, Detective Jack Caffery knows this is a carjacking unlike any other. Sergeant Flea Marley, head of the Police Underwater Search Unit, has a theory that the car-jacker is far more dangerous than everyone thinks. Soon the perpetrator will choose another car with another child in the back seat…"

5. Monthly Focus Author - April - P.D. James. Unnatural Causes (Adam Dalgliesh #3 / 1967). I've enjoyed every book in this series up to now. Always intelligent, thoughtful, well-written.

"Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh had been looking forward to a quiet holiday at his aunt's cottage on Monksmere Head. But Dalgliesh had reckoned without the macabre discovery of the handless corpse of crime-writer Maurice Seton."

New Books - One new book since my last update so here it is.

1. Robodog by David Walliams (2023). I just finished Spaceboy by Walliams and enjoyed it very much.

"Enter a world of superheroes and villains in this action-packed comic caper from No.1 bestselling author David Walliams – and meet Robodog: the future of crime fighting!

Welcome to the city of Bedlam. Enter if you dare!

Bedlam is one of the most dangerous places on Earth – home to a host of wicked villains. Nothing and nobody is safe from these evil criminals. The city needs its own superhero to defeat the supervillains. But who?

Robodog!

He’s the newest recruit at the Police Dog School, and supercharged for adventure. But can he stop the most feared duo in Bedlam, and their evil plans to ruin the city . . .?"

Enjoy the rest of your week and of March!

A March 2024 Reading Update, Etc, Etc....

So let's see. On Sunday and Monday it snowed like crazy, making up for the lack of snow we got over December and January. Since Monday afternoon, it's been sunny and bright, but still coldish. By next week it's supposed to hit 15℃. Go figure.

It's the beginning of March so here is a reading update, a look at some new books, and then I've got some house work to do and the dogs will want their lunch. 😊😉

New Books

Had a few book orders arrive and I traded in some books at my used book store, so bought a few. Here are some highlights.

1. Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson (Short Stories / 2016). I've enjoyed the Shirley Jackson books I've read so far. She was unique in the horror genre.

"Step into the unsettling world of Shirley Jackson this autumn with a collection of her finest, darkest short stories, revealing the queen of American gothic at her mesmerizing best.

There's something nasty in suburbia. In these deliciously dark tales, the daily commute turns into a nightmarish game of hide and seek, the loving wife hides homicidal thoughts and the concerned citizen might just be an infamous serial killer. In the haunting world of Shirley Jackson, nothing is as it seems and nowhere is safe, from the city streets to the country manor, and from the small-town apartment to the dark, dark woods...

Includes the following stories: 'The Possibility of Evil'; 'Louisa, Please Come Home'; 'Paranoia'; 'The Honeymoon of Mrs Smith'; 'The Story We Used to Tell'; 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'; 'Jack the Ripper'; 'The Beautiful Stranger'; 'All She Said Was Yes'; 'What a Thought'; 'The Bus'; 'Family Treasures'; 'A Visit'; 'The Good Wife'; 'The Man in the Woods'; 'Home'; 'The Summer People'."

2. Speedy Death by Gladys Mitchell (Mrs. Bradley #1 / 1929). Mitchell is a new mystery author for me and seems to have been prolific.

"Dr Beatrice Bradley is not your usual genteel spinster. Although elderly, she is a practicing psychiatrist (at a time when a psychiatrist was rare, and a female one almost unheard of). She is quite proud of being ugly, and has darkly sharp insights plus an extremely wicked tongue.

The nice, formal country house guests are shocked by her behavior, and even more upset by the death of the star visitor, renowned world traveler Mountjoy, found in the bath. Suspects galore, of course (including fiancée Eleanor, pompous Alastair and son Garde, the lovely Dorothy, and lets not forget curious naturalist Carstairs (although many wish they could)."

3. Send for Paul Temple by Francis Durbridge (Paul Temple #1 / 1938). When I was still working, I used to come home for lunch and Jo would often be listening to BBC radio's enactments of various books. One was the Paul Temple series. I listened to some with her and now I'd like to see what the books are like.

"In the dead of night, a watchman is brutally attacked and with his dying breath cries out, “The Green Finger!” It is the latest in a series of robberies to take place that have left Scotland Yard mystified, and with no other choice but to call upon the expertise of Detective Paul Temple.

Aided by the beautiful journalist Louise Harvey – affectionately known as Steve – the duo discover that this is not the first victim to warn of the dangerous and elusive ‘Green Finger’… who or what is it? The pair must work together to solve the deepening mystery."

4. The Animal Lover's Book of Beastly Murder by Patricia Highsmith (Short Stories / 1975). Highsmith is another of those strange but interesting authors that you just want to read more of.

"Nowhere is Patricia Highsmith's affinity for animals more apparent than in The Animal-Lover's Book of Beastly Murder, for here she transfers the murderous thoughts and rages most associated with humans onto the animals themselves.

You will meet, for example, in "In the Dead of Truffle Season," a truffle-hunting pig who tries to whet his own appetite for a while; or Jumbo in "Chorus Girl's Absolutely Final Performance," a lonely, old circus elephant who decides she's had enough of show business and cruel trainers for one lifetime. In this satirical reprise of Kafka, cats, dogs, and breeding rodents are no longer ordinary beings in the happy home, but actually have the power to destroy the world in which we live."

5. This Census Taker by China Mieville (2016). I've enjoyed Mieville's style and story - telling very much. I've a few of his books sitting on my bookshelf now.

"In a remote house on a hilltop, a lonely boy witnesses a traumatic event. He tries - and fails - to flee. Left alone with his increasingly deranged parent, he dreams of safety, of joining the other children in the town below, of escape.

When at last a stranger knocks at his door, the boy senses that his days of isolation might be over.

But by what authority does this man keep the meticulous records he carries? What is the purpose behind his questions? Is he friend? Enemy? Or something else altogether?

A novella filled with beauty, terror and strangeness, This Census-Taker is a poignant and riveting exploration of memory and identity."

6. Annals of the Western Shore - Gifts / Voices / Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin (2017). I hope during my life - time that I will eventually read all of Le Guin's works. I'm making good progress.

"Ursula K. Le Guin’s Nebula Award–winning young adult fantasy series—gathered for the first time in a deluxe collector’s edition for readers of all ages.

Teenagers struggle to come to terms with their own mysterious and magical gifts as they come-of-age in the far-flung Western Shore.

This fifth volume in the definitive Library of America edition of Ursula K. Le Guin’s work presents a trilogy of coming-of-age stories set in the Western Shore—a world where young people find themselves struggling not just against racism, prejudice, and slavery, but with how to live with the mysterious and magical gifts they have been given. All three novels feature the generous voice and deeply human concerns that mark all Le Guin’s work, and together they form an elegant anthem to the revolutionary and transformative power of words and storytelling.

In Gifts , Orrec and Gry will inherit both their families’ domains and their “gifts,” the ability to communicate with animals, or control a mind, or maim or kill with only a word and gesture. Both discover their gifts are not what they thought. In Voices , Memer lives in a city conquered by fundamentalist and superstitious soldiers who have made reading and writing forbidden. But in Memer’s house there is a secret room where the last few books in the city have been hidden. And in the Nebula Award-winning Powers , the young slave Gavir can remember any book after reading it just once. It makes him valuable, but it also makes him a threat. Gav sets out to understand who he is, where he came from, and what his gift means.

This deluxe edition features Le Guin’s own previously unseen hand-drawn maps. Included in an appendix are essays and interviews about the novels, as well as Le Guin’s pronunciation guide to the names and languages of the Western Shore."

and a few others.

I did get a few more books but I won't go into them in detail. In summary, the last two books in the Wild Robot Trilogy by Peter Brown, one of the Mirrorworld books by Cornelia Funke, the 2nd and 3rd books in the Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi, etc.

Just Finished

I've completed 4 books thus far in March.

1. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (Wild Robot #1 / 2016). I took a chance on this YA story that I saw at my local. I wasn't disappointed. I will enjoy the other two books in the series.

"I saw The Wild Robot in my local book store and even though it's in the YA / middle grade section, it looked interesting. There are currently 3 books in The Wild Robot series. I thought I should check out the first to see if I want to continue. Yes, I do. The next two books are The Wild Robot Escapes and The Wild Robot Protects.

Roz, short for Rozzum Unit 7134 starts this story on a ship in a box in a storm. She seems to be part of a cargo of robots. The ship gets caught in a terrible storm and sinks, taking all but 5 boxes of robots to the bottom. The remaining boxes crash on shore at an island and only the box with Roz survives. The remaining robots are broken apart and the pieces remain on the shore of the island.

A group of otters sees the parts and when they see Roz's broken crate and Roz inside, they begin to explore and accidently push the button in Roz's skull which activates her. Thus begins Roz's adventure which will culminate in her becoming the Wild robot. At first the island creatures think Roz is a monster but gradually over time she helps various animals, learns their languages and becomes a valuable friend.

At one point when Roz is climbing a mountain, the rocks break and Roz crashes to the ground and to her shock, she has landed on a goose's next, killing the goose and breaking all but one of the eggs. She seeks the help of another goose and then builds a nest, a home of branches and mud and protects the egg until it hatches and becomes Brightbill, her son.

There are many adventures in this wonderful story, bad encounters with bears, helpful encounters with the beavers and other animals and a growing love and friendship between the animals and Roz. But there is a mystery about who actually is Roz? What was she built for? Well, that is why you have to check out the story. It's told wonderfully and is complete with drawings by the author Peter Brown; a touching, sometimes sad, but mostly happy story, with an ending that might choke you up. But I'm hoping that the next to books will resolve those sad feelings as Roz continues her adventures. Check it out. Great for young children beginning to explore books and for adults too. (4.0 stars)"

2. Denison Avenue by Christina Wong (Can Lit / 2023). 

"I've seen Denison Avenue by Christina Wong at my local book store for a few days (weeks?) and kept looking at it. Both of the clerks recommended it highly. It was also one of the books selected by CBC as a 2024 Selection for the Canada Reads list. I also liked the cover with its pencil drawings and just finally thought it was worth checking out. Glad I did.

The story is set in Toronto, mainly in the Chinatown area. It's protagonist is Wong Cho Sum who as the story starts becomes a widow. Her husband is killed by a hit - and - run driver. So there is your story. We follow Cho Sum as she deals with her grief and with living alone. We follow Cho Sum as she wanders the streets of her area, her new career of picking up cans and bottles from the streets and recycling bins and trading them in to the local beer store. 

It seems a simple story but what's good is her interactions with other acquaintances and residents, both good and bad, and her memories of activities with her husband and also her regret at how her neighborhood is changing. This is also displayed in the reverse of the book (the flip side) with pencil drawings of Cho's neighborhood, with Cho pushing her cart, and how the street changes (each page has two pictures, one showing the past and the other what it looks like now to Cho)

The writing style is a mix of free verse and poetry. The dialogue is in Chinese Toisan dialect and its 

English translation. There is so much to this story; grief, love, determination. It's also neat to see where Cho Sam lives. Simple but rich and emotional. (4.0 stars)"

3. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (2006). I enjoyed Yang's Lunar New Year Love Story so I think I'll explore his work some more.

"I decided to find this graphic novel, [book:American Born Chinese|118944] by [author:Gene Luen Yang|68959] after enjoying [book:Lunar New Year Love Story|123023430] a couple of weeks ago. Quite different, it was still an excellent story, with great artwork by Yang and vibrant coloring by Lark Pien.

Basically you've got three stories intertwined in this novel. Jin Wang has just moved to a new school and is trying to fit into a new school, one where he stands out because of he is different. The 2nd story involves the Monkey King who is rejected by the other Asian gods and wants revenge. The 3rd story is about Danny, another student trying to develop a relationship with one of his schoolmates only to be intruded on by his cousin, Chin-Kee, who is loud and irritating. The book moves between the three stories and finally, neatly puts them all together, in a surprising, neat way, making everything clear.

It's a story about trying to fit in, make friends, maybe trying to develop a relationship, when your cultures are different. It can be an uncomfortable story at times but as Gene Luen Yang says in his afterword, it's a story he felt had to be told. And even though he tells it from his Asian - American experience of being bullied and ignored, he says that people of all races, sexual orientation and faiths told him they could relate to it. Can I relate to it? I grew up in a very insular environment so maybe not but I hope I can appreciate it and learn from it. And I think that's the point, which is told imaginatively and emotionally. (As a note, American Born Chinese was one of 20 books removed from general circulation by the Mississippi Madison County Schools. It requires parental permission for students to take it out.)

Check it out. It's worth reading. (4.0 stars)"

4. Space Boy, Volume 15 by Stephen McCranie (2023). 

"Space Boy Volume 15 is the 15th installment of the Space Boy saga by Stephen McCranie. I read the first 14 volumes in omnibus editions but couldn't wait for the next omnibus but have since acquired the individual volumes / chapters.

Volume 15 continues the story of Amy and Qiana, both working at First Contact Project (FCP) HQ and now becoming friends and trying to find out what happened to Professor Lesnik. This might provide some link to the strange being that seems to control FCP's bosses. There are side stories involving Amy's friends back in South Pines, as they begin to explore the events when Amy was kidnapped (although agents of FCP say she died) and also Oliver, out in space preparing for contact with the Space Artifact.

As always it's an interesting story, with excellent drawings and vibrant artwork. Amy's growing friendship with Qiana is a happy situation as I've always liked Qiana. Time will tell if Qiana can shake off her FCP links and become a true friend. As well, it's nice that Oliver is finally talking with Dr. Kim again. Dr. Kim might be able to help. And I like that Cassie and Schaffer are trying to help Tammie remember what happened that night at the prom. They will make a good team.

Volumes 16 and 17 sit on my book shelf so I will get to them soon I'm sure to see what happens next! (3.5 stars)"

That's it for now. I haven't started any new books but am close to completing a few. Keep checking out this page for updates. Enjoy the rest of your week. 

A February 2024 Reading Update... and new books and such.

Back to the normal stuff today. It's a nice sunny Tuesday and I did a few errands this morning after I dropped Jo off at work. We've decided to order in a curry for our Valentine's dinner tomorrow night. It's been awhile. It's always tasty.

I'm finished with my look at our bookshelves and books and now I'm going to return to providing book reviews and synopses of books I'm reading or of new books. This will be my first of February.

New Books

1. Inspector West Takes Charge by John Creasey (Inspector West #1 / 1942). I've enjoyed so many of Creasey's crime and thriller series.

"Extortion is the name of the game and the method is to murder anyone who might get in the way. The Dreem factory and much else is at stake. Inspector West has to unravel it all at gun point, but not without difficulty and surprise . ."

2. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic #0.2 / 1977). I read Practical Magic many years ago and didn't realize there were more books in this series.

"For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse.

The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy."

3. Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold (Vorkosigan Saga #7 / 1991). I read Shards of Honor in this series and really enjoyed. From what I see, Barrayar is the 2nd book chronologically in the series. I'm reading it next anyway.

"Believing her warship days are over after she defeats the Barrayaran militarists and marries their leader, former commander Cordelia Naismith is astounded by the role her unborn son will play in a world on the brink of civil war."

4. Mindworlds by Phyllis Gotlieb (Lyhhrt Trilogy #3 / 2002). My plan eventually is to read everything that Gotlieb has written in the Sci Fi genre. She is always a favorite.

"How can you stop a conspiracy of telepaths? The alien Lyhhrt are powerful enough to read the human mind; if they find you know too much, they can erase your memory, or simply stop your heart. The normally peaceful Lyhhrt society has been splintered by technological change, the bitter legacy of their exploitation by the Zamos crime family. Now a few renegade Lyhhrt, driven mad by isolation from their group mind, seem to be planning terrible crimes--or are they again being used as deadly tools in someone else's scheme?

When the illicit corporation created by Zamos collapsed, it disrupted the lives of heroes as well as villains. With gambling dens shut down, gladiator Ned Gaddes has nowhere to fight. Beautiful Lorrice had hoped to sell her ESP talents to Zamos, but was forced to sell her body instead. And on the planet Khagodis, scholarly Hasso will be forced to leave his archives and unravel the shadowy web that has entangled their fate with the Lyhhrt's.

The struggle that ensues provides the ultimate test of their resources - Ned's savvy toughness, Lorrice's psychic insight, and the fact that even a gentle Khagodi like Hasso could go head-to-head with a dinosaur. Like the best science fiction, Mindworlds is simultaneously exciting and thought provoking. Gotlieb offers a satisfyingly complex look at the ambiguous consequences of toppling even the most evil of empires, and the sacrifices that ordinary people must make to prevent the vacuum of power from being filled by equally corrupt forces."

Just Finished

(I've completed six books in February, 3 by Ursula K. Le Guin as part of my 12 + 4 challenge in which I'm trying to read 16 of her books this year.)

1. Planet of Exile by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #2 / 1966).

"Planet of Exile is the 2nd book in Ursula K. Le Guin Hainish Cycle Sci Fi series. Winter is coming to the planet of Askatevar, The planet circles a dying sun and the year lasts 60 earth years, so winter is 15 years. The Tevars are a race that have lived on the planet since the beginning and they are now in their winter home, building their Winter City where they will hunker down for the season until they can come out again in Spring.

 

Rolery, a young girl, one of the daughters of the Tevar leader, Wold, is avoiding work and exploring, heading to the city of the Farborn, an off planet race, part of the League of Planet, who arrived at Askatevar 600 years ago to see if the races of the planet had enough know how to become members of the League. But a war with a Dark Evil meant that all of their ships had to leave to defend the League, leaving behind a small group of Farborn... as they call themselves, 'Men'. The Farborn have lived in relative harmony with the Tevar people but now their leader Jacob Agat, has a warning. Another race, the Gaal has joined all of its tribes and is bent on destroying the Tevar and Farborn before Winter comes.

There is the gist of the story. As well, there is love story developing between Rolery and Jacob that will affect their possible alliance. Jacob is trying to persuade Wold to leave the Winter City and head back into the mountains to shift the Gaal away from their cities because he fears the destruction of both. His relationship with a Tevar is not permitted and means that it will affect his ability to persuade the Tevar to fight with his people.

Makes sense? I do have some difficulty sometime putting stories like this down succinctly.😒🤔

It's a very short story that moves along rapidly from the initial contact between Rolery and Jacob and the battle to save the Tevar and Farborn from the rampaging Gaal. It's kind of breath-taking but at the same time very thoughtful in its discussion of the relationship between Farborn and Tevar, how the Farborn are not able to force their technology on a planet's people until they demonstrate abilities themselves (Star Trek much?) and how the Farborn are forgetting their own past as they live in isolation on this planet. Interesting characters. Interesting interactions and lots of action. An excellent story and as the 2nd book in the Hainish Cycle, it provides more information on the League of planets and their efforts to explore other planets. A better written story than Rocannon's World as Le Guin seemed to find her stride as she explored this series in more depth. (4.0 stars)"

2. Very Far Away from Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin (1976).

"Very Far Away from Anywhere Else by :Ursula K. Le Guin, originally published in 1976, is atypical of the usual books I read by LeGuin, those being fantasy and Sci Fi. This is purely Young Adult fiction, a simple, beautiful story told from the perspective of high schooler, 17-year old Owen Thomas Griffiths. Owen tells his story into a tape recorder and transcribes later.

It's not too difficult to describe, although I'm sure I'll just cover the barest surface level of the story. But here goes. Owen is a nerd and finds high school difficult. He has a few friends but it's mainly on the young man joking level. He likes the sciences, enjoys analyzing and wants to go to MIT or Cal Tech, maybe to study psychology.

His father buys him a new car for his 17th birthday and Owen resists driving it to school as he feels it's just makes him 'one of the crowd', something he doesn't really want. Coming back from school on a very rainy day, he takes the bus and sits beside Natalie Fields, a girl he's seen but doesn't know that well. They seem to hit it off and later that night when Owen is feeling adrift, he goes for a drive, stops outside her home and spends the evening in her room, talking, more talking and listening to her play her viola (she is a music student).

Their friendship hits off but something will happen that changes everything. So I'll leave it at that. It's not drastic or traumatic really but it is something that has a profound affect on Owen. 

Simply told, very readable but also very emotional and quite excellent. Check it out. Have your teenage kids check it out. (5.0 stars)"

3. The Beginning Place by Ursula K. Le Guin (1980).

"In 2024, I've decided that I will focus on the works of Ursula K. Le Guin (amongst other reading challenges. The Beginning Place is my fourth read, one of Le Guin's standalone novels, originally published in 1980.

It tells the story of two disparate people, Hugh and Irena, both struggling and unsatisfied in the world, who meet each other in separate, strange place 'across the creek'. They will ultimately come together to help save the world of Tembreabrezi.

The story starts with Hugh. He is a frustrated young man, still living with his mother, who controls his life, and works at a local grocery store as a checker. On a particular day, instead of going home, he goes for a long walk and after crossing a creek, finds himself in a quiet, peaceful place. Returning home, he realizes that time has sort of stopped or slowed down tremendously while in his sanctuary. He begins to go there regularly, leaving for work early, telling his mother that he's out jogging, and enjoying the fresh water and just the peace of the spot.

Switch to Irena who it turns out, has been going to the same spot for a long time. In fact she has explored much further into Tembreabrezi and discovered the Mountain town and learned their language and enjoys the company of the locals. She is distressed when she discovers that Hugh has crossed over as she doesn't want to share.

Something dark is happening in Tembreabrezi though and ultimately, both will go on a further journey to try and save their friends. The last half of the story involves this journey and the final result. It's a neat little story, filled with emotion and strong feelings. It's not perfect mind you as some things are left unsaid. But it's got some neat characters and is a fascinating story, easy to read and leaves you satisfied with the resolution. It shows the depth and breadth of Le Guin's writing styles and her imagination. (4.0 stars)"

4. The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles #1 / 2003). I bought this after reading Holly Blacks Good Companions graphic novel. This is a middle school / YA fantasy series. I enjoyed this first book and have ordered the next 2.

"The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black is the first book in the Spiderwick Chronicles written as a combined effort of the 2 authors. It is a young adult / middle grade fantasy in the same ilk as the Narnia books... or so it seems after one book, or maybe more like Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle or the Boggart books by Susan Cooper. Anyway, you can judge for yourselves if you try the book. I'd enjoyed some of Holly Black's work, having completed her graphic novel series, The Good Companions. So it was with interest that I decided to give this series a try.

I have to say I enjoyed this first book very much. The Grace family, mother Helen, oldest daughter, Mallory and twins Jared and Simon have been forced to move to the old Spiderwick estate in Maine. The father of the family has abandoned them and due to family issues (it seems that due to the separation, Jared has been acting up in school), Helen feels that a fresh start is necessary. The estate is empty as Aunt Lucinda seems to be in an asylum (more on that in later books possibly)

The Spiderwick estate is run down, problems with the roof and only 3 bedrooms are currently available. Jared hears something in the walls and the children investigate while Helen is getting groceries. They discover a secret room upstairs and seem to have disturbed what was living in the walls. Various incidents (I won't go into detail) happen in the next days, all blamed on Jared.

Jared finds a clue in the secret room and then finds a chest in the attic which has a book, The Field Guide, which tells about faeries of all sorts. This will lead to more adventures, I think... (future books!!!)

It's an interesting introduction, gets right to the point and right into the family, the story. A more than acceptable intro to the characters, their issues and their new home. And more importantly, it makes you want to continue to see what happens next. (4.0 stars)"

5. The Fall of the Sparrow by Nigel Balchin (1955). I got this because I'd enjoyed Balchin's The Small Back Room very much. But unfortunately, this one didn't do it for me. I didn't finish and provided no rating.

"Unfortunately, The Fall Of The Sparrow by Nigel Balchin was a Not Finish (NF) for me. It's too bad because I enjoyed a previous book The Small Back Room very much. Could I have finished it. Sure, it wasn't too long of a book, 300 pages, but I didn't particularly like any of the characters and really, the story didn't seem to be going anywhere. Too easy to put down.

Basically, the story is about one Jason Pellew and follows his life from childhood to adulthood. It starts with his being in court and sentenced for crime against friends and acquaintances. The story then moves into his childhood and where I gave up, he was in college. The story is told by a childhood friend, Payne, who runs into Jason throughout his life it seems. 

Anyway... that's about all I can tell you. It's probably a better book than I give it credit for and ultimately I might have liked it more if I'd finished it. So, No rating (NR) and a DNF from me."

6. Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe (Lore #5 / 2023). I'm really enjoying this graphic novel series about the Greek gods.

"I've enjoyed the Lore Olympus graphic novel series since I decided to take a chance on Volume 1 a couple of years ago. Lore Olympus: Volume Five by Rachel  Smythe contains Chapters 76 - 104 of the series which basically focuses on the romance between the Goddess of Spring, Demeter and the Lord of the Underworld, Hades.

It's an ongoing story with the two moving forward and then backward in their potential relationship. In the last book, Persephone, who is interning in the Underworld, gets Hades to agree to keep their relationship on a strictly businesslike basis even though both really don't want that.  This book commences with Hades breaking off his relationship with the nymph Minthe, who works as his secretary. He basically wants to be free should Persephone change her mind... and in this volume, there are indications of a relationship that will move closer.

Minthe with the help of Thanatos, another of Hades employees, and Thetis, a nymph who has had a relationship with Zeus (Yup, this series abound with relationships. They are the Greek gods after all) tries to find some dirt on Persephone so she can win Hades back. There is a back story that is very interesting about Persephone and is slowly being brought out.

Oh yes... and then there is Apollo who, in a previous volume, forced his attentions on Persephone, much to her shame. He still wants to have some sort of relationship with her, maybe just to ensure she says nothing about what he did. (Fair warning, there are some powerful themes in this series. In fact, Rachel Smythe does provide a content warning at the beginning of each book).

So... as the story progresses, Zeus gets involved at the instigation of Thetis, Hera also gets involved at the request of Artemis and Persephone disappears, leading to a search by Hades and Hecate and others. And there will be a very surprising ending, meaning I'll have to stew until mid 2024 for Volume 6!!!

The story can often be confusing as the gods have this habit of changing their appearance depending on their emotions. The artwork is colorful and quite powerful. There are many excellent characters; my favorites being Hecate, Artemis and Hermes. It's a neat look at the gods and always an entertaining read. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. 12 + 4 Challenge (Ursula K. Le Guin). The Complete Orsinia: Malafrena / Stories and Songs (2016).

"In a career spanning half a century, Ursula K. Le Guin has produced a body of work that testifies to her abiding faith in the power and art of words. She is perhaps best known for imagining future intergalactic worlds in brilliant books that challenge our ideas of what is natural and inevitable in human relations—and that celebrate courage, endurance, risk-taking, and above all, freedom in the face of the psychological and social forces that lead to authoritarianism and fanaticism. It is less well known that she first developed these themes in the richly imagined historical fiction collected in this volume, which inaugurates the Library of America edition of her works.

The Complete Orsinia gathers for the first time the entire body of work set in the imaginary central European nation of Orsinia: the early novel Malafrena, begun in the 1950s but not published until 1979, the related stories originally published in Orsinian Tales (1976), and additional stories and songs. In a new introduction written for this volume, Le Guin describes the breakthrough that led to her first novel: “Most of what I read drew me to write about Europe; but I knew it was foolhardy to write fiction set in Europe if I’d never been there. At last it occurred to me that I might get away with it by writing about a part of Europe where nobody had been but me.” So Orsinia was established, a country, like its near neighbors Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Romania, with a long and vivid history of oppression, art, and revolution.

An epic meditation on the meaning of hope and freedom, love and duty, Malafrena takes place from 1825 to 1830, when Orsinia is a part of the Austrian empire. Itale Sorde, the idealistic heir to Val Malafrena, an estate in the rural western provinces, leaves home against his father’s wishes to work as a journalist in the cosmopolitan capital city of Krasnoy, where he plays an integral part in the revolutionary politics that are roiling Europe.

Thirteen additional stories trace the history of Orsinia from the twelfth century, when it first emerges as an independent kingdom, to 1989, when its repressive Stalinist government falls in an Orsinian Velvet Revolution. The poem “Folksong from the Montayna Province,” Le Guin’s first published work, joins two never before published songs in the Orsinian language.

The volume also features a newly researched chronology of Le Guin’s life and career, and detailed notes. The beautiful full-color endpaper map of Orsinia is drawn by Le Guin herself."

2. My Series Challenge - Starting, continuing and finishing any series. Look to the Lady by Margery Allingham (Albert Campion #3 / 1931).

"Finding himself the victim of a botched kidnapping attempt, Val Gyrth suspects that he might be in a spot of trouble. Unexpected news to him – but not to the mysterious Mr. Campion, who reveals that the ancient Chalice entrusted to Val’s family is being targeted by a ruthless ring of thieves."

3. My Non-Series Challenge - Any genre. Oath and Honor; A Memoir and a Warning by Liz Cheney (2023). What I've read so far has been so scary.

"A gripping first-hand account from inside the halls of Congress as Donald Trump and his enablers betrayed the American people and the Constitution--leading to the violent attack on our Capitol on January 6th, 2021—by the House Republican leader who dared to stand up to it.

 
In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump and many around him, including certain other elected Republican officials, intentionally breached their oath to the they ignored the rulings of dozens of courts, plotted to overturn a lawful election, and provoked a violent attack on our Capitol.   Liz Cheney, one of the few Republican officials to take a stand against these efforts, witnessed the attack first-hand, and then helped lead the Congressional Select Committee investigation into how it happened. In Oath and Honor , she tells the story of this perilous moment in our history, those who helped Trump spread the stolen election lie, those whose actions preserved our constitutional framework, and the risks we still face."

4. Tome Challenge - Any book over 500 pages. The White Road by John Connolly (Charlie Parker #4  / 2003). Very interesting so far.

"John Connolly thrilled readers with his bestselling novels, "Every Dead Thing, Dark Hollow," and "The Killing Kind." Now he delivers spellbinding suspense as Charlie Parker races to unravel a brutal crime committed in the Deep South. After years of suffering unfathomable pain and guilt over the murders of his wife and daughter, private detective Charlie Parker has finally found some measure of peace. As he and his lover, Rachel, are awaiting the birth of their first child and settling into an old farmhouse in rural Maine, Parker has found the kind of solace often lost to those who have been touched by true evil.

But darkness soon descends when Parker gets a call from Elliot Norton, an old friend from his days as a detective with the NYPD. Now practicing law in Charleston, South Carolina, Elliot is defending a young black man accused of raping and killing his white girlfriend, the daughter of a powerful Southern millionaire. Reluctantly, Parker agrees to help Elliot and by doing so ventures into a living nightmare, a bloody dreamscape haunted by the specter of a hooded woman and a black car waiting for a passenger who never arrives. Beginning as an investigation into a young woman's death, it is a fast-moving descent into an abyss where forces conspire to destroy all that Parker holds dear."

5. Monthly Focus Authors (one author each month whose books stack my shelves) February - Adam Hall. The 9th Directive (Quiller #2 / 1966).

"The setting is Thailand. A very important representative of the Queen is scheduled to visit Bangkok on a good-will tour. A threat has been made against his life, and somewhere amidst the golden spires awaits a deadly assassin.

The top-secret British espionage bureau feels ordinary security precautions are not sufficient, so they call in agent Quiller. He's a cynical loner, but the only man capable of tracking down the would-be killer. The tale is complex, set at a breathless pace!"