A Thursday Update

Our lovely boy, Clyde

Just a quick update from my last post. Clyde's appointment with the vet eye doctor went ok. He has cataracts and his vision is very bad. We've talked to our local vet. He's got one of those diabetes monitors on at the moment to see if his diabetes is under control and she did a blood test on him to check the soundness of his heart. A tentative date has been booked for eye surgery but Jo and I are still waiting for the results of the blood test. Poor little boy.

We've had a few rainy, cloudy days. It's a bit sunnier today and a bit cooler, which is kind of nice. I've got the Democratic convention on in the background and since Jo is off at work and Clyde is eating his lunch, I think I'll do a book update.

Just Finished

1. Maigret and the Gai-Moulin by Georges Simenon (Inspector Maigret #10).

"As I continue my August exploration of the Inspector Maigret mysteries, Maigret at the Gai-Moulin by Georges Simenon has been one of the more interesting ones. The reason I'm saying this is that the irrepressible Maigret doesn't really show up until at least half way through the story. As well, this story takes place in Liege Belgium.

The story follows two young men, Jean Chabot, a sixteen year old and his older friend, Rene Delfosse, (maybe 17 year old), the son of a rich industrialist, as they hang out at a night club, the Gai-Moulin. Jean Chabot works for a law firm, sealing envelopes, handling the petty cash, etc. His family is more middle class. They are both in thrall of the club's hostess, Adele, a sexy older woman. As the story begins, Adele leaves their company to attend to a new guest, a dark stranger who seems to be throwing around money. Another man also comes in arrives as well, a large Frenchman who sits by himself in the corner.

The club closes and the two boys hide in the wine cellar. Their plan (or rather, Rene's plan) is to wait until it's closed and then to rob the till. Rene runs up debts and regularly takes money from his father and his uncle. Jean has spent some of his boss's petty cash money and needs to return it. Once everyone leaves, they return to the main floor but instead of finding money, they see, in the dark, the body of the stranger. They leave in a panic.

The Liege police begin an investigation and Rene and Jean find themselves being followed by the large man and later, by 0ne of the local cops. It's a fascinating story and becomes even more interesting when Maigret shows up. I won't go into the story anymore because it's such a neat twist and becomes an even more interesting story. Interesting to see the Liege police at work. Interesting to see how the main characters, the two boys and Adele, react to the murder (there are even twists there). The Maigret series is always interesting, nice, neat, tense short mysteries with excellent plots and characters. (4.0 stars)"

2. The New Girl by Cassandra Calin (2024).

"The New Girl by Cassandra Calin is a YA graphic novel about a young Romanian girl, Lia, who moves to Canada with her family. The story is about her adjustment to a new life, trying to learn a new language (French, as the move to Montreal Quebec) and her attempts to make new friends and to adjust to what is happening to her body.

Lia isn't happy about leaving her friends and grandparents and other family members to move to Canada with her younger brother and her mother and father. Compounding this is that she has basic English skills and no learning in French. Let's say that Lia isn't happy. Starting school, she is placed in a class of other recent immigrants. Quebec's language laws (if I understand them correctly) are such that if you immigrate to Quebec and your primary language isn't English then you have to learn French. This isn't made an issue in the story. It's just part of the premise.

For the first part, Lia doesn't really try to adjust to her new life. She meets a fellow Romanian student, Bogdan, but he does want to learn and to integrate into his new life. Gradually though, Lia begins to make friends and to take part in more school activities. Because she likes to draw, she joins the school magazine. More friends.

The other issued discussed in this graphic is Lia's dealing with her first period and the pain it causes her. Being a man, I obviously can't relate other than to remember my daughters' issues with their periods and, of course, my wife's. So I can't say that it's dealt with very well, but I think it's presented knowledgeably and sympathetically and that the book might be a good primer for parents wanting to discuss with their daughters. 

All in all, it's a beautifully drawn and colored story. The characters are all sympathetic and well-developed. The story is an easy read and flows nicely. I have a feeling that there may ultimately be a follow-on novel as there were some matters that were left unresolved. But even if Cassandra moves on to other stories, this was a most enjoyable read. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

Well, how do you like that. I haven't started anything else. I'm hoping to read one more Inspector Maigret book before the end of August. I hope #11 arrives before the weekend or maybe Monday. Otherwise I'll pull one of the others off my shelf.

New Books

1. Linghun by Ai Jiang (2023).

"Follow Wenqi, Liam, and Mrs. in this modern gothic ghost story by Chinese-Canadian writer and immigrant, Ai Jiang. LINGHUN is set in the mysterious town of HOME, a place where the dead live again as spirits, conjured by the grief-sick population that refuses to let go."

2. Substrate Phantoms by Jessica Reisman (2017).

"The space station Termagenti—hub of commerce, culture, and civilization—may be haunted. Dangerous power surges, inexplicable energy manifestations, and strange accidents plague the station. Even after generations of exploring deep space, humanity has yet to encounter another race, and yet, some believe that what is troubling the station may be an alien life form.

Jhinsei and his operations team crawl throughout the station, one of many close-knit working groups that keep Termagenti operational. After an unexplained and deadly mishap takes his team from him, Jhinsei finds himself—for lack of a better word—haunted by his dead teammates. In fact, they may not be alone in taking up residence in his brain. He may have picked up a ghost—an alien intelligence that is using him to flee its dying ship. As Jhinsei struggles to understand what is happening to his sanity, inquisitive and dangerous members of the station’s managing oligarchy begin to take an increasingly focused interest in him.

Haunted by his past and the increasing urgent presence of another within his mind, Jhinsei flees the station for the nearby planet Ash, where he undertakes an exploration that will redefine friend, foe, self, and other. With Substrate Phantoms, Jessica Reisman offers an evocative and thought-provoking story of first contact, where who we are is questioned as much as who they might be."

3. Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown (1973).

"Bawdy and moving, the ultimate word-of-mouth bestseller, Rubyfruit Jungle is about growing up a lesbian in America--and living happily ever after."

4. The Land of Mist by Arthur Conan Doyle (Professor Challenger #3 / 1926).

"The Land of Mist is a novel written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1926. Although this is a Professor Challenger story, it centers more on his daughter Enid and his old friend Edward Malone. Another friend from The Lost World, Lord John Roxton, is also involved in the novel's second half. Professor Summerlee, who has died of old age around this time, is referred to by the mediums (much to the anger of Professor Challenger)

Heavily influenced by Doyle's growing belief in Spiritualism after the death of his son, brother, and two nephews in World War I, the book focuses on Edward Malone's at first professional, and later personal interest in Spiritualism.

There is a suggestion in chapter two that the deaths of "ten million young men" in World War I was by punishment by the Central Intelligence for humanity's laughing at the alleged evidence for life after death."

5. Any Man's Death by Loren D. Estleman (Peter Macklin #3 / 1986).

"Peter Macklin, an assassin for organized crime, is assigned to prevent the killing of an outspoken TV evangelist by a rival gang, only to learn the rival killer is his teenage son."

Women Authors whose Work I've Been Enjoying - Nicola Upson

Nicola Upson

I first tried English author Nicola Upson because the main character in her historical mystery series was English mystery writer Josephine Tey. I have enjoyed Tey's Inspector Grant mysteries. Upson was born in Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk and has thus far written 11 books in this series. She also wrote one standalone novel. I have a bit of catching up to do on the series. I've enjoyed 2 so far and have another two awaiting my attention. Let's look at the four.

1. An Expert in Murder (Josephine Tey #1 / 2008).

"An Expert in Murder is the first book in the Josephine Tey mystery series by Nicola Upson. I've previously read the 3rd book in the series and enjoyed it. This series is loosely based on real-life author Elizabeth MacKintosh, who published under various pseudonyms; e.g. Gordon Daviot and Josephine Tey. She wrote mysteries under Josephine Tey, a series featuring Scotland Yard inspector Grant. Nicola Upson uses these aspects of Tey's life to develop this interesting series.

Tey's play Richard of Bordeaux is going through a successful run in London. As it comes to an end, there are plans to send the play out on the road and also plans to turn it into a movie. This has caused friction between the theater owner, Bernard Aubrey, and his lead actor. Aubrey wants him to go on the road and the actor wants out of his contract so he can work on the movie (more money). Josephine is on her way from Scotland, returning to London for the final days of the play and to discuss her latest venture, a play based on Mary, Queen of Scots. On her train ride to London she meets a young lady, also heading to London who is a huge fan of the play. She will be attending with her uncle. Tragedy ensues at the train station, where the young lady is murdered.

This starts an investigation by Tey's friend, Scotland Yard inspector Archie Penrose and his capable Sgt Fallowfield. The story becomes a fascinating exploration of theater life, an interesting mystery and a cast of quirky characters; from the acting and local communities. The story also explores issues of PTSD from the trench warfare of WWI. There are secrets on all sides and the unraveling of these secrets makes for an excellent tale. Penrose is a skilled, competent, imaginative investigator the story is more about his investigation, than Tey's. However Tey plays an important sounding board to Archie; he was a close friend of Tey's fiancé who died during WWI. 

At times it may seem somewhat convoluted but things are tied together neatly and resolved nicely. Tey is a thoughtful, intelligent woman and her relationship with Penrose is slowly explained. They are surrounded with an excellent supporting cast, all of which makes for a rich, intelligent story. An excellent first story, will make you want to continue the series. (4 stars)"

2. Angel with Two Faces (Josephine Tey #2 / 2009).

"Real-life British mystery writer Josephine Tey returns as a fictional sleuth in Angel with Two Faces—the second atmospheric mystery in Nicola Upson’s wonderfully inventive series. In this riveting sequel to Expert in Murder, Tey, in league with intrepid policeman Detective Inspector Archie Penrose, is called upon to help unravel a dark and perplexing crime at a Cornwall country house and backstage at a local theater."

3. Fear in the Sunlight (Josephine Tey #4 / 2012).

"Summer, 1936. The writer, Josephine Tey, joins her friends in the holiday village of Portmeirion to celebrate her fortieth birthday. Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville, are there to sign a deal to film Josephine's novel, A Shilling for Candles, and Hitchcock has one or two tricks up his sleeve to keep the holiday party entertained - and expose their deepest fears.

But things get out of hand when one of Hollywood's leading actresses is brutally slashed to death in a cemetery near the village. The following day, as fear and suspicion take over in a setting where nothing - and no one - is quite what it seems, Chief Inspector Archie Penrose becomes increasingly unsatisfied with the way the investigation is ultimately resolved. Several years later, another horrific murder, again linked to a Hitchcock movie, drives Penrose back to the scene of the original crime to uncover the shocking truth."

4. London Rain (Josephine Tey #6 / 2015).

"London Rain by Nicola Upson is the sixth book in Upson's Josephine Tey mystery series. Neat that mystery author Josephine Tey is turned into a sleuth in this series. 

The story is set during the celebrations in London for the coronation of King George VI. Josephine is at the new BBC Headquarters building for the preparations for the broadcast of her play (written under the name Gordon Daviot) Queen of Scots. While there she is witness to friction between renowned BBC broadcaster, Anthony Beresford and his wife, Vivienne Beresford, due to Anthony's relationship with another woman.

One thing leads to another and Beresford is murdered after his part in broadcasting a portion of the coronation. In the book, there is no doubt about who has murdered Beresford, but I'll let you read and discover that part of the story for yourselves.

The story follows the investigation of the murder by Josephine's friend, Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose. Thrown into the mix are problems involving Josephine's relationship with Marta and the conflict with Marta's old relationship; Archie and his girlfriend Bridget, and the Anthony's mistresses. Included in the mystery is the death of Vivienne's sister ten years previously.

It's an interesting premise, the mix of Josephine Tey's real life and the events of the coronation combined with the murder mystery. It moves along at a nice pace, the characters are interesting and the story is ultimately satisfying. I will have to find the other books in the series and discover more. (3.5 stars)"

There you go. I hope you find it interesting. The series is worth checking out. The complete listing of Upson's books can be found at this link.

It's Friday!

Amazed that it's already the middle of August. We've had a nice week, weather-wise. The temps are slightly more moderate. It's nice having the patio doors open during the day. There's a nice breeze today. 

Clyde's not happy about going to the eye doctor!

Jo went back to work this week. I'm so happy that her knee is feeling better. So is she for that matter. LOL. This evening we're heading down to Nanaimo for Clyde's appointment with the vet eye doctor, Dr. Stephanie. Hoping she can do something about his cataracts and that he is healthy enough to tolerate eye surgery. 🤞🤞

We're listening to Kamala Harris give her economic vision for the US. So while she's talking (glad to see the networks are actually showing it and not that waste of space running against her), I'm going to take advantage of it and provide a reading / book update.

Finished

(5 books completed since my last update).

1. Maigret in Holland by Georges Simenon (Maigret #8). Simenon is my August focus author and I've finished 2 so far).

"I always enjoy a good Inspector Maigret mystery. And Maigret in Holland, the 8th book in the series by Georges Simenon was no exception.

In this particular story, Maigret finds himself in Holland, in the small coastal town of Delfzijl. A French professor of criminology, there to conduct a lecture to the local towns people is involved in the murder of one of the town's muckety-mucks, an ex-sailor and now a teacher. Monsieur Duclos was found with the murder weapon, a revolver.

Maigret finds himself somewhat like a stranger in a strange land. Very few of the locals speak French and the local police inspector isn't thrilled to see him there. Nobody has been arrested yet and there is a hint that it might have been a foreign sailor who has already shipped out.

Into this situation, Maigret is thrust and he begins his own investigation. He is his normal taciturn self. He thrusts himself into the lives of those who had an involvement with the dead man, Monsieur Popinga; his wife and her sister, a young girl who lives nearby and who seems to have had a relationship with the victim, a young sailor trainee (related to the wife) and a few others.

It all ends up being a relatively quick investigation and Maigret ends up by reenacting the events that led up to the murder. Simenon gets right to the point. He really places Maigret so very well into this awkward situation, the small community, where everyone probably knows what everybody else is doing. It's easy to get drawn into the story and the ending provides a very satisfying result. Good characters, taut story and always interesting. (4.0 stars)"

2. The Grand Banks Cafe (Maigret #9).

"I always enjoy a good Inspector Maigret mystery. And Maigret in Holland, the 8th book in the series by Georges Simenon was no exception.

In this particular story, Maigret finds himself in Holland, in the small coastal town of Delfzijl. A French professor of criminology, there to conduct a lecture to the local towns people is involved in the murder of one of the town's muckety-mucks, an ex-sailor and now a teacher. Monsieur Duclos was found with the murder weapon, a revolver.

Maigret finds himself somewhat like a stranger in a strange land. Very few of the locals speak French and the local police inspector isn't thrilled to see him there. Nobody has been arrested yet and there is a hint that it might have been a foreign sailor who has already shipped out.

Into this situation, Maigret is thrust and he begins his own investigation. He is his normal taciturn self. He thrusts himself into the lives of those who had an involvement with the dead man, Monsieur Popinga; his wife and her sister, a young girl who lives nearby and who seems to have had a relationship with the victim, a young sailor trainee (related to the wife) and a few others.

It all ends up being a relatively quick investigation and Maigret ends up by reenacting the events that led up to the murder. Simenon gets right to the point. He really places Maigret so very well into this awkward situation, the small community, where everyone probably knows what everybody else is doing. It's easy to get drawn into the story and the ending provides a very satisfying result. Good characters, taut story and always interesting. (4.0 stars)"

3. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (2019). This is the 3rd book I've read by this excellent author.

"With the Fire on High is the 3rd book I've enjoyed by Elizabeth Acevedo the last few years. Clap When You Land and The Poet X were both unique in that they were written as stories told with poetry. With the Fire on High is a more traditional story but is still very powerful.

Emoni is a high school student in Philadelphia trying to finish her last year and graduate. Emoni is also a bit different from most of the other kids in the school as she is also a teen mother. She gets assistance from her grand mother, Buela, as they try to make ends meet. Emoni is also a budding chef and in her last year her helpful home room teacher / guidance counsellor encourages her to take a culinary course as her option. Oh yes, Emoni has a troublesome relationship with her father. When Emoni's mother died when Emoni was very young, her father couldn't bear to stay in Philadelphia so he resides more or less permanently in Puerto Rico, making yearly visits to check up on Emoni, Baby girl and Buela.

Making her final year interesting is the arrival in her home room class and also the culinary class is a new student, Malachi. The development of their relationship becomes a major part of the story. As well, Chef (the culinary arts teacher) has planned a weeklong trip to Spain for the culinary class to learn more about cooking. This puts added pressure on Emoni as she must now try to find the funds to be able to go with the class.

I make the story sound straight-forward maybe but it's a rich, well - crafted, thoughtful story about growing up and the twists and turns of a young girl's life, with the added complication of also trying to be a mother to her young child. Acevedo knows how to draw you into her world, to feel empathy for the characters in her stories. This was touching, sad at times, but a story filled with love and caring and great characters and also yummy sounding food. Most enjoyable. (4.5 stars)"

4. Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night by James Runcie (Grantchester #2). It's been a few years since I had my last visit to Grantchester.

"Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night is the second collection of short stories in the Grantchester mysteries by James Runcie. Once again, Canon Chambers investigates murders in 1950's - 60s Cambridge. This collection contains six stories; a fall from the rooftops of one of Cambridge's college buildings, a fire that turns into arson and murder, a seeming heart attack by a member of Cambridge's professors that may have been electrocution, a death at a cricket match, an unworthy suitor to Sidney's best friend Amanda and an adventure in East Germany.

They are all more than just criminal investigations, but also philosophical explorations, examinations of Sidney's conflicted feelings about his friendships with Amanda and the German widow Hildegarde. The stories focus more on Sidney than the TV series which is very much a buddy series, with Geordie Keating, the police inspector playing a much more important role. In these stories he is more a sounding board for Sidney's speculations, as they have their weekly backgammon games. Of course, ultimately, the police must be involved, once the crimes are solved.

The stories are all interesting. There is nice give and take between Sidney and his assistant Leonard. Mrs. M also plays a much less significant role, but does make appearances. Each case was different, and even though they mostly involve murder, they are quite gentle. I especially enjoyed The Hat Trick, with its explanations of the cricket matches, most enjoyable. And the final story, Appointment in Berlin, where Sidney goes to spend a vacation with Hildegarde and it ends up being a bit of a spy thriller in East Germany, was very different and quite exciting. 

A most enjoyable visit to Grantchester, an easy, friendly read and ultimately, a very satisfying conclusion. (4.0 stars)"

5. Nothing Special: Volume One, Through the Elder Woods by Katie Cook (2024).

"Nothing Special, Volume One: Through the Elder Woods| by Katie Cook is a compilation of chapters from a webtoon (I should know what that is) put into a graphic novel format. Great artwork, wonderful characters and just an entertaining story. When I was a youngster, I was hooked on comics. As an old guy, I'm finding myself drawn to these entertaining young adult graphic novels.

So what's this one about? Callie, a teenage girl, lives with her dad who runs a magical antique shop. He regularly goes on trips (somewhere) to gather material for his shop, leaving Callie to go to school. Callie doesn't know a lot, or even anything, about her missing mother. Callie is somewhat different as she seems to be able to see the spirits of 'plants' and can talk with them. One, a radish, attaches itself to her. Callie discovers, to her surprise, that one of her school mates, Declan, now turned 17, has discovered that he too can now see and hear plant spirits. A friendship develops.

She takes Declan home to meet her dad, as he always returns home on her birthday. They discover, the antique shop turned upside down and Callie's dad nowhere to be found. It turns out that Callie's dad left her a magical crystal that links the two so she decides to head off into the fantasy world to find him. Declan and Radish accompany her. Along the way, they meet Lasser, a demon, who wants Callie to be his wife; it turns out she's a Muse, and he feels that with her at his side, he can take over from his father, the King.

So there is your story, a journey in this fantasy world to try and find Callie's Dad and along the way to discover their feelings for each other and also to develop good friendships. There are many surprises along the way; more about who Declan really is, about Callie's mother, but you have to read the story to find that out.

The characters are all well-developed; funny, independent, smart and just beautifully drawn. The story moves along nicely, with many excellent pop culture references. It's all fascinating, fun and filled with love and caring and... adventure. The 2nd volume doesn't come out until October but I've got it on order. Most enjoyable. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton (Lara McClintoch #1 / 1997). I've read other books in this series but I'm going to work from the beginning now.

"Lara McClintoch, her marriage ended and her antiques business sold, eagerly embarks on a trip to Mexico to help an old friend solve a mystery. On arrival, her friend puts off their meeting and then disappears. After Lara witnesses a brazen robbery of a valuable statue of the ancient Mayan civilization and stumbles on a corpse in a museum of antiquities, she becomes a police suspect. Afraid of the police and unsure whom to trust, Lara follows clues pointing to black marketeers and zealous revolutionaries. This dangerous trail takes her to remote archaeological ruins, lush jungles, and bustling streets filled with revelers. Lara engages in a thrilling battle of wits and courage to unmask a killer and stop a tomb-robber in the shadowy world of Xibalba, the Lords of Death."

2. Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum (2024). The subject matter seemed very appropriate in these times. 

"All of us have in our minds a cartoon image of what an autocratic state looks like, with a bad man at the top. But in the 21st century, that cartoon bears little resemblance to reality. Nowadays, autocracies are run not by one bad guy, but by sophisticated networks composed of kleptocratic financial structures, security services and professional propagandists. The members of these networks are connected not only within a given country, but among many countries. The corrupt, state-controlled companies in one dictatorship do business with corrupt, state-controlled companies in another. The police in one country can arm, equip, and train the police in another. The propagandists share resources—the troll farms that promote one dictator’s propaganda can also be used to promote the propaganda of another—and themes, pounding home the same messages about the weakness of democracy and the evil of America. Unlike military or political alliances from other times and places, this group doesn’t operate like a bloc, but rather like an agglomeration of Autocracy, Inc. Their relations are not based on values, but are rather transactional, which is why they operate so easily across ideological, geographical, and cultural lines. In truth, they are in full agreement about only one Their dislike of us, the inhabitants of the democratic world, and their desire to see both our political systems and our values undermine. That shared understanding of the world—where it comes from, why it lasts, how it works, how the democratic world has unwittingly helped to consolidate it, and how we can help bring it down—is the subject of this book."

3. Maigret at the Gai-Moulin by Georges Simenon (Maigret #10).

"It's closing time at the Gai Moulin, and Jean Chabot and Rene Delfrosse are planning to rob the till to pay of their debts. To their surprise, they stumble upon a dead body. What at first seems to the police an open and shut case proves more complicated when the body turns up next at the zoo, stuffed into a wicker basket. Into the puzzlement steps Maigret, who makes one of the most dramatic and colorful entrances of his career as he sorts out the tangled web of deceit."

New Books

1. We Speak Through the Mountains by Premee Mohamed (The Annual Migration of Clouds #2 /  2024).

"The enlivening follow-up to the award-winning sensation The Annual Migration of Clouds Traveling alone through the climate-crisis-ravaged wilds of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, 19-year-old Reid Graham battles the elements and her lifelong chronic illness to reach the utopia of Howse University. But life in one of the storied “domes” ― the last remnants of pre-collapse society ― isn’t what she expected. Reid tries to excel in her classes and make connections with other students, but still grapples with guilt over what happened just before she left her community. And as she learns more about life at Howse, she begins to realize she can’t stand idly by as the people of the dome purposely withhold needed resources from the rest of humanity. When the worst of news comes from back home, Reid must make a choice between herself, her family, and the broken new world. In this powerful follow-up to her award-winning novella The Annual Migration of Clouds , Premee Mohamed is at the top of her game as she explores the conflicts and complexities of this post-apocalyptic society and asks whether humanity is doomed to forever recreate its worst mistakes."

2. The War We Won Apart: The Untold Elite of Two Elite Agents Who Became One of the Most Decorated Couples of WWII by Nahlah Ayed (2024).

"Love, betrayal, and a secret the untold story of two elite agents, one Canadian, one British, who became one of the most decorated wartime couples of WWII.

On opposite sides of the pond, Sonia Butt, an adventurous young British woman, and Guy d’Artois, a French-Canadian soldier and thunderstorm of a man, are preparing to go to war. From different worlds, they make their way to fight in Winston Churchill's secret army against the German forces and, unlike most involved in the world’s deadliest conflict to date, to fight from behind enemy lines.

Their lives first intersect during clandestine training to become agents with the Special Operations Executive. Sonia and Guy learn how to parachute into enemy territory, how to kill, blow up rail lines, support the French resistance, and eventually...how to love each other. But not long after their hasty marriage, their love is tested by separation, by a titanic invasion—and by indiscretion.

Written in vivid, heart stopping prose, we follow their stories of uncommon courage—as Sonia plunges into Nazi-occupied France and slinks into black market restaurants to throw off German forces who knew she'd arrived, while at the same time participating in sabotage operations against them by night; and as Guy, in another corner of France, trains hundreds into a resistance army, fashioning himself a military leader, weapons instructor, and peacemaker all at once.

Reconstructed from hours of unpublished interviews and hundreds of archival and personal documents, Ayed tells a story of sacrifice and youthful folly; a story about the ravaging costs of war paid for disproportionately by the young. But more than anything, The War We Won Apart is a story about two secret agents who were supposed to land in enemy territory together, but were fated to fight the war apart."

Complete Catwings

3 & 4. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings and Jane on her Own by Ursula K. Le Guin (Catwings #3 & 4) The final books in this entertaining children's fantasy series by Le Guin.

#3 "Jane meets a new friend in this third book in legendary author Ursula K. Le Guin’s bestselling Catwings chapter book series, now with a new look!

Fluffy, orange Alexander is the oldest, biggest, loudest, and strongest of all the Furby kittens. Everyone in his family thinks he’s so remarkable that they call him “Wonderful Alexander” and spoil him to pieces. But one morning, when Alexander bravely sets out to explore the world on his own, he finds himself stuck in a tree and unable to get down. It’s up to Jane, the youngest of the Catwings, to rescue him! Now if only Alexander could do something wonderful for her in return…"

#4 "Jane, the youngest of the Catwings, goes looking for adventure in the big city and captured! Longing for adventure, Jane, the youngest of the catwings, flies to the city on her own. When she flies through the window of a man who feeds here, she is suddenly captured, and finds herself making appearances as Miss Mystery, the fabulous winged cat! Realizing that being independent is much more dangerous than she thought, Jane plots her escape and hopes to reunite with her mother."

5. Ariel by Sylvia Plath (1965). I decided to get this after reading Poems from the Women's Underground.

"Upon the publication of her posthumous volume of poetry, Ariel, in the mid-1960s, Sylvia Plath became a household name. Readers may be surprised to learn that the draft of Ariel left behind by Sylvia Plath when she died in 1963 is different from the volume of poetry eventually published to worldwide acclaim.

This facsimile edition restores, for the first time, the selection and arrangement of the poems as Sylvia Plath left them at the point of her death. In addition to the facsimile pages of Sylvia Plath’s manuscript, this edition also includes in facsimile the complete working drafts of the title poem, "Ariel," in order to offer a sense of Plath's creative process, as well as notes the author made for the BBC about some of the manuscript's poems.

In her insightful foreword to this volume, Frieda Hughes, Sylvia Plath's daughter, explains the reasons for the differences between the previously published edition of Ariel as edited by her father, Ted Hughes, and her mother's original version published here. With this publication, Sylvia Plath's legacy and vision will be re-evaluated in the light of her original working draft."

6. The Dangerous Games by Tereska Torres (1958). I've previously read two other books by Torres.

"Juliette is happily and devotedly married to Frederic. Frederic loves Juliette, but is irresistibly attracted to Francoise, her glamorous friend. Juliette, now on a mad roundabout in search for love and reassurance, allows herself to be seduced by Alain... and the American, Gary.

Only in Paris could a young wife's discovery that her husband is having a violent affair with her best friend set off such a shocking and unconventional situation as revealed here. The talented young French author writes with real perception of the delights and sorrows of love making."

Enjoy your weekend. Read a good book.

The Olympics Have Started!!!

I apologize for taking so long between Blog posts. I don't know why it's been so long. Maybe the Manana Proposition fits the bill. I definitely know that's the policy I've been following when it comes to mowing the lawn. Poor Clyde gets lost out in the long grass these days... If he's not battling the creeping blackberry vines.

Before I get down to updating my books; new ones, just finished and currently reading, I just wanted to say that Jo and I are enjoying the Olympics so far. The Opening ceremonies were so neat. The whole idea of doing the intro to the athletes by having them travel down the Seine on boats was cool. 

The French opera singer who sang the French national anthem was so powerful and she was stunning standing on the roof. And what can I say about Celine Dion. Considering the health issues she's been dealing with, she was so wonderful. Brought tears to both of our eyes. What a voice! What strength of character! 

We've been enjoying the Games as well although it's totally screwed up our sleeping habits. I've sort of failed to stay up overnight to watch events live. Jo's much better at it than I am. But we do catch up all day long. I'm very proud of the Canadian team. I'm pissed off at what happened to the women's soccer team. Who doesn't scout out their opponents before a game??? But I'm cheering for them to overcome all the adversity and win the Gold! Please! What a finish to the game against France yesterday. Both of us were screaming with joy. LOL. And today we won our third medal.... so far. Men's synchro diving. That's a first. Yesterday we won our first ever fencing medal. So things are good. Now more swimming medals please. 🥇

Now. On to books. It's been two weeks since my last update so there may be a bit of highlighting. We'll see. Let's start with completed books.

Just Completed

(I've completed seven books since my last update. Let's check out 4)

1. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #4). I've read this a few times over the years but I've been focusing on Le Guin this year and it's in the middle of the Hainish series. 

"One of my all time favorites. Great story; I can read again and again. 

(Latest reread). I think this is at least the 3rd time I've read The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. I read it the first time in university as one of the books in a Science Fiction novel course I took. What a great course! Reading two Sci Fi books a week and being graded on either a review of a book or for having written a Sci Fi short story. What more could a Sci Fi fan ask? And it introduced me to so many great authors, including Le Guin. 

I read it again as I'm working through her Hainish Cycle and it's the 4th book in this Sci Fi series. The basic story is of Genly Ai, a representative of the Ekumen, a conglomeration of planets who try to add other planets to the grouping. Genly has been landed on the planet Gethen (aka Winter) to try and persuade the peoples' to join the planets. A spaceship with other representatives orbits the sun, with its crew in hibernation, awaiting word from Genly.

The beings of Gethen, divided into various individual states are 'its'. When they come into 'kemmer', i.e. ready to procreate, they become either women, ready to bear children, or male. They can change each time. It's an interesting sexual situation.

Each state / country has its own type of government. Where Genly lands first, Karhide (city of Ehrenrang), it is ruled by a king, Aragaven, who is somewhat insane. Genly is under the 'protection / guidance' of Estraven, the king's Head of State. The other country we visit in the course of the story is Orgereyn, divided into Commensals and I think the best similarity here on Earth is Communist Russia, especially under Stalin, where everyone is spied upon.

Over the course of the story, Estraven will be called a traitor by the 'mad' King, his job taken over by the plotting Tibe and Estraven will be forced to flee to Orgereyn or he will be executed. Genly comes under disfavor. The King distrusts this concept of joining a league of planets as he feels he will be subsumed into it and become minor and insignificant. Genly also makes his way to Orgereyn, where he will eventually be made a prisoner. He and Estraven will undertake a dangerous journey across the glaciers back to Karhide to escape his imprisonment.

That is the story in its simplest I think. In this third .... or fourth... reading, it took me awhile to get back into it. I think I've become used to reading books with more action. But in fact, especially at the end, it's a tense, fascinating story. There are so many elements to it. You have this sexual nature of the Gethenanians, in comparison to Genly's human, where Genly is considered a pervert for being always in 'kemmer'. You've got the various political situations. Overlaid with it is Winter, itself, a cold, forbidding planet that Genly will eventually come to love. There is a rich emotional context as well, the growing of a relationship between Genly and Estraven, the growth of the understanding by Genly of the planet his is on and its people and its nature. Reading it again reminded me of how grat the story is. I'm moving on to the next Hainish book, The Dispossessed (5 stars)"

2. Wycliffe in Paul's Square by W.J. Burley (Superintendent Wycliffe #9). I focused on Burley in July and managed to read 3 of this excellent crime series. 

"Wycliffe in Paul's Court is the 3rd Wycliffe mystery I've read this past month and each one has been excellent. It's the 9th book in the series by W.J. Burley.

In this story, we start with DS Kersley until Wycliffe makes his appearance. Paul's Court is a small little square of 4 apartments. You've got Willy Goppel, who makes miniature doll houses. He lives over his shop. The Wards live in the other half and run the local sub post office. There are the parents and their two kids, teenagers Alison and Henry. You've got the Fiskes, husband and wife and their mentally handicapped boy, Marty. There are the retired couple, the Hedleys. Mrs. Hedley is interested in tarot. Finally there is Natalie Cole who runs a local night club and likes to sun bath naked in the courtyard. She lives with boyfriend, garage owner, Geoff Bishop. Natalie has a teenage daughter as well, Yvette who goes to school with the Ward kids.

That's the basic situation. Willy Goppel has a son Frederick who has moved out and lives in town with the Hedley's nephew, Tony (aka Pongo). Willy is a German immigrant who married an English girl and has lived in England for many years. His wife died years ago. It turns out that Willy has a secret. He has passed himself off as a German Jew who escaped from Germany but his papers indicate something else. They have been stolen and then somebody sent them to the local police, addressed to Sgt Kersey. After the Sgt.'s visit, where he indicates he has to send the papers to the Home Office, events begin to take off.

Yvette turns up missing. Kersey begins to investigate and gradually Superintendent Wycliffe becomes involved. When a body turns up and then another, things begin to get really interesting. I'll leave the story there as I wouldn't want to ruin your enjoyment. Suffice it to say that W.J. Burley knows how to tell a story. His characters are all interesting, his plot line fascinating and the story flows very nicely. There are a variety of story lines as you get to know the characters, some with secrets, but all will out eventually. The investigation is methodical, but at the same time there is room for Wycliffe's jumps of intuition. His relationship with his team is excellent as he is well - respected and straight forward. A most enjoyable mystery and just a great story. I'm glad I still have more of the series to read. (4.0 stars)"

3. Six Ostriches by Philipp Schott (Dr. Bannerman #2).

"Six Ostriches is the 2nd book in the Dr. Peter Bannerman mystery series by Canadian veterinarian / mystery writer Philipp Schott. The 3rd book in the series, Eleven Huskies came out in 2024. For once I'm caught up with a series!!! 😎

The series has many things of interest to me. It's by a Canadian author. I've lived in Winnipeg (ok, I lived there one year, but it felt like 4!) Manitoba. The series is set just outside so it kind of resonates with me. And, of course, I like animals so a mystery series featuring a vet is kind of neat. (I guess it's not many things, but still).

In #2, spring is just around the corner. Peter visits a local farm which is raising ostriches because one of them seems to have swallowed something. Performing surgery on the ostrich, he discovers it swallowed what appears to be a Viking artifact. (Critical point here - The local area has been heavily populated by Icelandic and Finnish immigrants for many years). The perceived artifact is a mjolnir which Peter takes to the University in Winnipeg to have examined by an expert on Viking artifacts, Grim for short. Grim believes it to be an ancient artifact and that it supports his theory that Vikings settled in the Winnipeg area around the time when they were exploring Newfoundland.

Peter also finds himself (plus the local RCMP detachment, which includes his gay brother - in - law, Kevin) investigating a series of animal murders and mutilations. Peter wants to get involved in the investigation but due to what happened in the first story (Peter was almost killed) both his wife, Laura, and his brother - in - law, emphatically tell him to stay out of the investigation. However, we know that Peter won't be able to or the story would end right there. Along with his wonderful scent dog Pippin, Peter tries to find out who is killing loved farm animals.

Throw in a secretive local white supremacist (Odin followers) movement that believe they are the original settlers???? and you've got the makings of an interesting story. Both Peter and Pippin are in danger, especially Pippin. I like that Peter's wife, who makes a living knitting thematic sweaters (pop culture themes) even gets more involved, especially with a strong knowledge of the internet.

The story moves along nicely. The characters are all interesting and getting more and more developed. I could have done without the brief interlude with Peter's ex-girlfriend, even though it's not pursued. (Just sort of a throwaway... although maybe it's a teaser for #3) I kind of had the main suspect sussed out, but it didn't matter because even there, the story kept me unsure. It's all resolved kind of nicely and quickly once you get to the end. But #2 was more enjoyable than the first and it seems that Schott is finding a nice stride with this series. #3 is currently on order. (3.5 stars)"

4. The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi (The Amulet #2).

"The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi is the 2nd YA / Fantasy graphic novel in the Amulet series. I have to say that so far I love it. I love the art work, the coloring, the characters and the story. It's an engrossing, entertaining adventure story set in a wonderful, fascinating world. 

Emily and Navin now find themselves wholly in the world below the basement of their great grandfather's home. Their mother has been bitten by a poisonous spider and is in a coma. The two desperately are seeking a cure. Their great grandfather's robots, Miskit, Cogsley and the others are now taking their home (yes, it walks) to the city of Kanalis to try and find a doctor and a cure.

The evil elves want to stop them. Emily is wearing one of the magic amulets and they know she is now a threat to their security. Emily must learn to control the being within the amulet as it wants OUT!

In Kanalis, which is under the thumb of the Elves where people are changed into animal shapes, there is also a resistance. We also meet the Fox, Leon Redbeard, who is much like Puss 'n Boots, offers his services to help Emily and Navin find the cure for her mother. The Elves attack the doctor's house, the Resistance and Navin escape through tunnels while Emily, Leon and Miskit escape across the rooftops.

It's now a race to find the fruit tree that has the cure. There is even some friction amongst the Elves. The Elf King's son is having an internal battle, loyalty to his father but hatred of him as well because of his treatment. And don't forget the entlike trees who see into the future.

It's a rich, deep story. I love the characters. I love the imagination (the walking house are so neat) and I love the way it is drawn, rich colours, lots of action. Check the series out. Enjoy the heroes. Enjoy the fantasy. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Old Man's War by John Scalzi (Old Man's War #1 / 2005). I've wanted to start this series for awhile now.

"John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.

The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-- and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So: we fight. To defend Earth, and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has been going on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.

Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.

John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine--and what he will become is far stranger."

2. Maigret in Holland by Georges Simenon (Maigret #8 / 1931). The Maigret series will be my August focus.

"On his latest case, Maigret finds himself in the town of Delfzijl investigating the murder of a teacher. He is presented with two clues-a sailor's cap in the bathtub and a Manila cigar butt-and a gaggle of suspects, including a flirtatious farmer's daughter, an angry lawyer, a larcenous ship owner, an unaccountably frightened cadet, and a pompous criminologist with a revolver. The Inspector, in turn, is preoccupied with a suspicious pathway lit by a lighthouse beam, which leads him to wonder if this is the kind of spot where secret lovers might be discovered..."

3. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hainish Cycle #5 / 1974).

"The Principle of Simultaneity is a scientific breakthrough which will revolutionize interstellar civilization by making possible instantaneous communication. It is the life work of Shevek, a brilliant physicist from the arid anarchist world of Anarres. But Shevek’s work is being stifled by jealous colleagues, so he travels to Anarres’s sister-planet Urras, hoping to find more liberty and tolerance there. But he soon finds himself being used as a pawn in a deadly political game."

4. Poems from the Women's Movement by Honor Moore (2009).

"In 1965, Sylvia Plath’s posthumous  Ariel  took the literary world by storm with its fierce and undeniably female voice. For the next 15 years, America saw a historic outpouring of women’s poetry supported by and supporting the women’s movement. As editor Moore points out, poetry was vital to the movement, articulating previously unexpressed lives, empowering others as the poets found their own power. . . . And all who missed these missiles and epistles then will find them still demanding and invigorating.”— Booklist  (starred review)

“What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? / The world would split open.” These lines by Muriel Rukeyser epitomize the spirit that animated a whole generation of women poets, from the 1960s to the 1980s, who in exploring the unspoken truths of their lives sparked a literary revolution. Honor Moore’s anthology presents fifty-eight poets whose work defines an era, among them Sylvia Plath, Adrienne Rich, Anne Sexton, Sonia Sanchez, May Swenson, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde, Anne Waldman, Sharon Olds, Diane Di Prima, Lucille Clifton, Judy Grahn, Alice Notley, and Eileen Myles. Here is a fresh and revelatory look at a crucial time in American poetry that presents the full range of its themes and approaches and a generous sampling of its most compelling voices."

New Books

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Throne #1 / 2012).

"Lethal. Loyal. Legendary.

In a land without magic, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She has no love for the vicious king who rules from his throne of glass, but she has not come to kill him. She has come to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three murderers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she will be released from prison to serve as the King's Champion.

Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. And a princess from a faraway country will befriend her. But something rotten dwells in the castle, and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying mysteriously, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival-and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world."

2. Selected Stories by Philip K. Dick (1982).

"Philip K. Dick was a master of science fiction, but he was also a writer whose work transcended genre to examine the nature of reality and what it means to be human. A writer of great complexity and subtle humor, his work belongs on the shelf of great twentieth-century literature, next to Kafka and Vonnegut. Collected here are twenty-one of Dick's most dazzling and resonant stories, which span his entire career and show a world-class writer working at the peak of his powers.

In "The Days of Perky Pat," people spend their time playing with dolls who manage to live an idyllic life no longer available to the Earth's real inhabitants. "Adjustment Team" looks at the fate of a man who by mistake has stepped out of his own time. In "Autofac," one community must battle benign machines to take back control of their lives. And in "I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon," we follow the story of one man whose very reality may be nothing more than a nightmare. The collection also includes such classic stories as "The Minority Report," the basis for the Steven Spielberg movie, and "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale," the basis for the film Total Recall. Selected Stories of Philip K. Dick is a magnificent distillation of one of American literature's most searching imaginations.

» Introduction by Jonathan Lethem
1. Beyond Lies the Wub
2. Roog
3. Paycheck
4. Second Variety
5. Imposter
6. The King of the Elves
7. Adjustment Team
8. Foster, You're Dead!
9. Upon the Dull Earth
10. Autofac
11. The Minority Report
12. The Days of Perky Pat
13. Precious Artifact
14. A Game of Unchance
15. We Can Remember It for You Wholesale
16. Faith of Our Fathers
17. The Electric Ant
18. A Little Something for Us Tempunauts
19. The Exit Door Leads In
20. Rautavaara's Case
21. I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon"

3. Nothing Special by Katie Cook (2024).

"Two not-so-human teenagers and a friendly ghost radish face the fantasy adventure of a lifetime in this captivating graphic novel, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes material, from the inimitable Katie Cook.

In the grand scheme of the worlds at large, Callie thinks she's nothing special. Sure, she's friends with the ghost of a radish and her dad owns a magical antique shop--but she's spent her life in the human world. Her dad won't let her join him on his collection trips in the magical realm “for her own protection”, so she’s only caught glimpses of that world through the gates of the town where her father’s store is.

On her seventeenth birthday, Callie goes home with her friend Declan to find her home in disarray and her dad missing. Signs of a struggle point to the portal to the magical realm and when there are signs, you follow them. Now it's up to Callie, Declan, and Radish to band together and bring him home. As they face creatures good and bad, and all sorts of adventure, Callie and Declan may just find out that they are both special in their own ways after all."

4. The Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie (Age of Madness #3 / 2021).

"Chaos. Fury. Destruction.

 
The Great Change is upon us . . .
 
Some say that to change the world you must first burn it down. Now that belief will be tested in the crucible of revolution: the Breakers and Burners have seized the levers of power, the smoke of riots has replaced the smog of industry, and all must submit to the wisdom of crowds.
 
With nothing left to lose, Citizen Brock is determined to become a new hero for the new age, while Citizeness Savine must turn her talents from profit to survival before she can claw her way to redemption. Orso will find that when the world is turned upside down, no one is lower than a monarch. And in the bloody North, Rikke and her fragile Protectorate are running out of allies . . . while Black Calder gathers his forces and plots his vengeance.
 
The banks have fallen, the sun of the Union has been torn down, and in the darkness behind the scenes, the threads of the Weaver’s ruthless plan are slowly being drawn together . . ."

5. Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo (2023). I've enjoyed her books so far.

"Flor has a gift: she can predict, to the day, when someone will die. So when she decides she wants a living wake—a party to bring her family and community together to celebrate the long life she’s led—her sisters are surprised. Has Flor foreseen her own death, or someone else’s? Does she have other motives? She refuses to tell her sisters, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila.

But Flor isn’t the only person with secrets. Matilde has tried for decades to cover the extent of her husband’s infidelity, but she must now confront the true state of her marriage. Pastora is typically the most reserved sister, but Flor’s wake motivates this driven woman to solve her sibling’s problems. Camila is the youngest sibling, and often the forgotten one, but she’s decided she no longer wants to be taken for granted.

And the next generation, cousins Ona and Yadi, face tumult of their own: Yadi is reuniting with her first love, who was imprisoned when they were both still kids; Ona is married for years and attempting to conceive. Ona must decide whether it’s worth it to keep trying—to have a child, and the anthropology research that’s begun to feel lackluster.

Spanning the three days prior to the wake, Family Lore traces the lives of each of the Marte women, weaving together past and present, Santo Domingo and New York City. Told with Elizabeth Acevedo’s inimitable and incandescent voice, this is an indelible portrait of sisters and cousins, aunts and nieces—one family’s journey through their history, helping them better navigate all that is to come."

6. The Last Council by Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet #4 / 2011). I have to see where this series takes me now.

"A FALLEN CITY WHERE TERRIBLE SECRETS ARE REVEALED...

Emily and her friends think they'll find the help they need in Cielis, but something isn't right. Streets that were once busy are deserted, and the townspeople who are left live in fear. Emily is soon escorted to the Academy, where she's expected to compete for a spot on the Guardian Council, a group of the most powerful Stonekeepers. But as the number of competitors gets smaller and smaller, an awful secret is slowly uncovered—a secret that, if left buried, means the certain destruction of everything Emily fights for."

7. The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2023).

"A girl matches wits with a war god in this kaleidoscopic, epic tale of oppression and the cost of peace, where stories hide within other stories, and narrative has the power to heal… or to burn everything in its path.

In the winding underground tunnels of the Library, the great celestial peacekeeper of the three systems, a terrible secret lies buried.

As the daughter of a Library god, Freida has spent her whole life exploring the Library's ever-changing tunnels and communing with the gods. Her unparalleled access makes her unique – and dangerous.

When Freida meets Joshua, a mortal boy desperate to save his people, and Nergüi, a Disciple from a persecuted religious minority, Freida is compelled to break ranks with the gods and help them. But in order to do so, she will have to venture deeper into the Library than she has ever known. There she will discover the atrocities of the past, the truth of her origins, and the impossibility of her future…

With the world at the brink of war, Freida embarks on a journey to fulfill her destiny, one that pits her against an ancient war god. Her mission is straightforward: Destroy the god before he can rain hellfire upon thousands of innocent lives – if he doesn't destroy her first."

So there you go, folks. I hope you see a couple of books that pique your interest. Have a great week! Oh, and Canada just won its first gold medal ever in women's judo. Woo hoo!