Tall Tales from Kansas

a compelling story written with compassion

I just finished American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. It has been on my list for a few years, but I could not bring myself to listen to it during the pandemic. It's a novel about a woman from Acapulco and her son who are one day ripped out of the routine of their Mexican middle-class life into the world of migrants fleeing for their lives. Lydia, the main character, is married to a journalist and he and her entire family of sixteen are murdered after he writes a story about a leader of one of the drug cartels. Lydia and her son Luca manage to escape, and must flee the country to survive. 

When this book first came out there was controversy over the author, who identifies as white, writing this story. I simply read it for what it was. A fictional story that puts faces on this treacherous journey undertaken by so many. It was hard to read because I kept thinking every minute that something terrible was going to happen to the main characters.  

It was read by Yareli Arizmendi, she gave voice in a most familiar way to the terms and endearments my mom and her sisters and brothers used with us and especially when they were all together.  The story is filled with details and descriptions that make you feel like you are right there on the journey. 

Highly recommended. In retrospect, I do not understand how some could have found fault on the part of the writer because she was not Mexican.  This is a compelling story written with compassion, a story we should not look away from, no matter who it is written by.  

before we were old enough to walk to the library

Over the last three nights, right before drifting off to sleep, I have been reading Baby Island. First published in 1937, it's the story of two sisters, Mary and Jean, who are on an ocean liner on the way to Australia to meet up with their dad. The ship starts to sink so they are put on a lifeboat and somehow end up with 4 babies as well. So there they are, alone in a boat, on the open sea, with 4 babies to take care of. You can figure it out from there.

But here's the deal, it took me right back to 1967 or so, walking to the library to check out books, racing home to read them. Stuff like Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, the Bobbsey Twins, you get the idea. Simple stories where things worked out in the end. My great appetite for reading began with simple stories. Before we were old enough to walk to the library, mom would read us short stories/fairy tales from books that I still have. 

Most of you will NOT enjoy reading this, unless - like me, you want to be transported back to the past and can tolerate a lot of unbelievable scenarios. I thought it was great fun. Thank you Diane Perin for mentioning it on your blog where it caught my attention. 

a little snippet of a story

After listening to Ann Patchett recently, on a quick instagram post from Parnassus books in Nashville (I thoroughly enjoy listening to her thoughts on books), I got The Shell Collector from the library. It's a collection of short stories by Anthony Doerr, author of All The Light We Cannot See. 

What I love about a short story is that it's just a little snippet of a story, a quick glimpse, and then the door closes. You don't really know what comes after, but you wonder... more than I usually do with a complete novel that generally has an "ending" of sorts. I enjoyed some of these stories more than others. My absolute favorites were The Hunter's Wife and Mkondo. Such unusual stories, so well written, such interesting characters.

If you like a short story, check this collection out. Let me know what you think. 

we are presented with the possibility that Billy may still be alive

I just finished listening to Watch me Disappear by Janelle Brown. It held my attention through all 13.5 hours. So much so in fact, that I brought it in from the car and listened to the last 2 CD's on my portable CD player. Yes they do still make such a thing.

In short, it's the story of Billy Flanagan, her husband Jonathan, and their 15 year old daughter Olive. Billy disappears while on a solo hiking expedition and we arrive on the scene at about the one year anniversary of her disappearance. Jonathan and Olive are grieving, there are some money troubles that would be aided by the issuing of a formal death certificate, and we are presented with the possibility that Billy may still be alive. 

This is the first Janelle Brown novel I have read. You will tell me of course if you have read others and think I should give them a try. The thing about this story is it could have gone down a winding road to a disappointing ending. But it did not. For me, that is always a sign of a good writer. 

Recommended. 

for someone who loves words for the sake of words

For the person who loves the pictures as much as the words, who likes to run their hands over the pages and read very slowly, right before going to bed... here is a suggestion for you. The Lost Words by Robert MacFarlane, illustrated by Jackie Morris. This is not a lengthy book, I made myself space it out and savor it, and even so was through it in 3 nights. 

Just for a quick glimpse of what you are in store for, some of my favorite pages are below.

Be warned it is a large and heavy book, but with a pillow to prop it up in bed, it was perfect. Thank you Sharron for this recommendation. I would not have found it on my own.

P.S.  This is a book for someone who loves words for the sake of words more than words being strictly for making sense and following rules. 

one day a stranger knocks on the door

My latest audiobook listen is We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. It's an oldie. Written in 1962, it was Jackson's last work before her death in 1965. 

It is the story of Constance, Mary Catherine, and Uncle Julian who live in a big old mansion and are essentially cut off from the world after an incident that occurred 6 years prior. Mary Catherine ventures into town for supplies twice a week and is teased mercilessly by the people in town. One day a "stranger" knocks on the door and life as they know it changes. This is an interesting, well written, unusual story, and I enjoyed it very much. It kept me well entertained on my drive to and from Salina last weekend. AND it has me wanting to read some of Shirley Jackson's short stories and other works. 

one of the owners is not coming clean about what he knows

The conclusion of The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny has left me with a bit of inner turmoil. This is book # 5 in the Three Pines series, featuring Inspector Armand Gamache and his team of agents from the Sûrete du Québec. Don't get me wrong, it's a well written ending. It had me guessing and hoping until the very, very, very, last sentence. Hoping for a different outcome even though I knew this was the way it had to go. 

Those of you who know the series know there is always a murder and a search for the perpetrator of the crime. In this book the main suspect seems to be one of the townspeople we know and love. In a nutshell - a hermit is found murdered in our favorite bistro where we, as the reader, feel we have consumed numerous wonderful meals with our friends, and one of the owners is not coming clean about what he knows. We want the murderer to be someone we don't know as well, we don't like so much... I will stop there. 

Another wonderful addition to this excellent series. I love learning a bit about Canada through these stories. Very highly recommended. 

a very "readable" story

While on my way to and from California recently, I entertained myself with Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout. I first met Lucy Barton, the main character in this story, when I read My Name is Lucy Barton a number of years ago. In this current novel, she references that time and some of the events from that book as well.  I liked that sense of history with this character. 

In a nutshell, Lucy and William used to be married, have 2 kid together, he is now newly divorced again and a little shell shocked by it all. Lucy's second husband has recently died as well. They are helping each other through some stuff. 

This is a very "readable" novel, with pauses to give you time to digest and consider what's just happened and how that fits in to the whole story. There is also some back and forth in time with revelations from the past sprinkled in as well as hints of what you will learn more about later... if not in this book, maybe in a future story, or one from the past. 

I liked it very much. Highly Recommended. It is not necessary, in my opinion to read these books in any particular order. Lucy by the Sea is her latest novel, and picks up the tale of William and Lucy during the pandemic. It will be released later this month. 

maybe it's just me, what did you think?

This book (Anxious People) started out as one of the most irritating works I have ever listened to. Ridiculous dialogue between characters so annoying they made me roll my eyes, grit my teeth, and talk back to my car stereo system.  It seemed to me the author was trying way too hard to be overly clever in the way the characters interacted with each other. 

I am not entirely certain why I persevered. Except, I did sort of want to find out how it was going to end. About 3/4 of the way through, when there was a light at the end of the tunnel, I got less fussy. 

In the end it took a turn and moved from complete chaos to a complete fairytale where everything worked out like it should. Glass slipper fits the foot, you get the idea. 

So what I have to say is this, if you have a low threshold for irritation don’t even start this book you won’t be able to get past the first few chapters. I certainly did appreciate this authors previous works (A Man Called Ove, Britt-Marie was Here, my grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry) so I’m not sure what happened to Frederik Backman with this book. It just didn’t quite hit the mark. Maybe it's just me? What did you think?

…working on several cases while dealing with a bad tooth

I just read my first book on the Libby app from the library. I was prepared to find reading on a phone to be NOT one bit enjoyable. That's not how things turned out. But let me back up. Chrissy West has given me some great book tips through the years and this was another one of those. 

Case Histories, by Kate Atkinson, is the first book in the Jackson Brodie series. He’s former police, now investigator, recently divorced, living in Scotland, dreaming of France, working on several cases, while dealing with a bad tooth. There. That’s how the series begins. I found myself quite invested in the cases he is working on. The chapters skip back and forth in time and between cases which takes a minute to get used to, but then evens out nicely.

I am glad to have met Jackson Brodie and will look forward to checking in on him from time. There are currently 5 books in the series.  Recommended.  

So back to the phone thing... reading on it, as it turns out, is quite handy, since lots us have one with us most of the time. For example if you stumble across a nice bench in a shady spot 1/2 way through a walk, a reading break might be just the ticket.  It’s also not uncomfortable from an ergonomic standpoint which I was certain it would be. Just my 2 cents on that. Feel free to add your opinion about this series and reading on a phone. 

if you don't have a friend who is almost 99 years old

Things I am appreciating, enjoying, investigating. That's what this post is about. 

If you don't have a friend who is almost 99 years old, can I suggest you go out and find one? Then be sure and schedule regular meet-ups to talk about important stuff - like getting over the part of us that always thinks we should be "doing" something. Marti Huff makes life better and I am grateful to this day that she wrote up a contract to make me an honorary member of the family.  

In the enjoying arena, unless you have a field of zinnia's of your own (though other flowers would also work),  you can not imagine the sheer pleasure of going out to cut every few days and putting together fresh arrangements. Whatever strikes your fancy gets cut.

Below I am appreciating AND enjoying this short cooler spell we are having which makes needlepoint on the front porch wonderful. At all times of the day. The natural light is the best. 

It's about to be full on bougainvillea time here. When it's hot and sticky and things are melting and fading, it is at it's finest. 



I requested my local library buy Finna by Nate Marshall, sometime in the last year. I think I mentioned it here before. You know how when you read a poem that touches something in you, a shared experience that somehow the poet has found a way to say that makes you want to shout YES! This isn't that book or that poem. This is a collection of words and sentences put together in a way that touch you for a whole lot of other reasons. I do not have the words to do it justice. Just go get it.

Then settle in for a lesson on language. HIGHLY recommended. 

Sharron recommended it

With some trepidation, but trusting the recommendation of a friend, I recently picked up Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, from the library. 

I am certainly glad I listened. On my own, this would have most likely passed me by. I am not typically a fan of futuristic tales of the world ending and what life is like for survivors, but Sharron recommended it, and we tend to have similar tastes in books. 

I'll not go into great detail about who's who and what's what. There's a pandemic, the world as we know it changes drastically, most people die, some survive, they get on with life the best they can. It follows a group of characters over a span of years, allowing the reader to see how some cope with death and some with survival. There are some unbelievable/coincidental connections through the years (it's a book, that's allowed). 

In the middle of a pandemic, it's quite interesting to read a book written in 2014 about a fictional pandemic. 

Recommended. Thanks Sharron for the heads up about it. 

 

the pure beauty of the way Helen Oyeyemi puts words together

Below is my first contender for the best book I have read in 2022. That's what I thought when I was halfway through it. Today I finished it. I am not sure I will read another book this year that makes me feel like this one did. I hope so. I surely do hope so.

I do not recall where I read about this book. But when I put it on my list of books to read, I made a notation that it must be listened to. I am SO GLAD I made that note and that I followed the advice. 

Gingerbread is a book that is:

A. a complete fairytale spun from the imagination of a most unique individual
B. a story wrapped in magic that uses a parallel language to allow the reader to see how a life that is challenging can take your breath away with the love it also contains over and over again
C. constantly catching you off guard with where it is going, while at the same time holding your hand so you don't ever get lost
D. enchanting
E. all of the above

There is so much to say about this book, but I will stop here. Maybe you will want to give it a listen. In the meantime, though it is not the season for gingerbread, I am feeling compelled to make a batch. This is a book that will have to be listened to again for the pure beauty of the way Helen Oyeyemi puts words together. As it is, I listened to the last 20 minutes twice. This book is not for someone who believes that stories should follow rules and make sense on a practical level. 

Please tell us what you thought if you have read/listened to it. 

people it would be a relief to be with

Today I finished reading Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónón Hession.  One of you recommended it a few years back, and now seemed like just the right time to settle in with it.  

This book is about two friends, Leonard and Hungry Paul.  We never learn the story behind the name Hungry Paul by the way, it's just his name, and no one thinks it's unusual in the context of the book. These are 2 very ordinary fellows, living under the radar, but each with a special talent of sorts that has not really been celebrated. Their gifts are quiet, like they are. They seem to me to be people it would be a relief to be with. If you are looking for a book about friends, living regular lives, without too much nonsense going on, THIS is a story for you. Perfect bedtime reading. I enjoyed it immensely. 

I will be open to exploring more of her work

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley is my latest drive-time/commute listen. It is classified as a "suspense/thriller" and as usual I have no memory of where I heard about it. It held my interest, contained an unusual cast of characters, was set in Paris with both French and British accents by narrators, and the ending surprised me. 

All of those things lead me to recommend it if you like a suspense story. Lucy Foley is a a British author who has written many other books, none of which I have read, but I will be open to exploring more of her work. Let me know if you have favorites by her that I should start with. 

Here is the stack I picked up when I took The Paris Apartment back to the library.

Oh, iced coffee season is open here. I dropped by my favorite cold brew maker in town today to pick up a growler. I have become a fan of oat creamer, especially in iced coffee. It's rich and creamy. Add a splash of dark chocolate liqueur if you are feeling adventurous. Which I was today. 

what the heck

Playing around with scraps to make this pillow sham was good fun. Though it's hard to tell from these photos, I practiced some quilting. I also tried folding over the back of the sham to make the "binding" instead of making bias binding and attaching it separately. That was a mistake, but you have to try it to know that right? This method does not lay down as smoothly, at least it didn't for me. 

I am not 100% sold on the "matching" of a sham to a quilt, but what the heck. 

In other news, this dianthus, planted at least 10 years ago, has returned yet again.

It just hangs on to the rock wall and does its thing every year. A wonderful little plant for mini flower arrangements, that also provides plenty of pleasure as I look at it from the window over my sink. 

All the flowers are done for the year from the Rising Sun redbud but aren't the leaves just beautiful? 

I also finally went through the burpee catalog and ordered zinnia seeds to plant. It feels like maybe it's a bit later than last year but you can plant them all summer long so why not whenever you get around to it?

On the reading front, I finished the first of the Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell - Faceless Killers. As in the previous book I read by him,  The Shadow Girls (not part of the Kurt Wallander series), I was irritated at times by the main character and yet was compelled to see how it turned out. I will likely try the second in the series... to see if Kurt gets any smarter in his personal life as he is in his professional work. Actually, "smarter" is not the right word. He just struggles so, as we all do, with what seems to the reader (anyway) like the obvious best choices. If you've read the series do weigh in. This was the first book I have listened to on a library app (Hoopla) as opposed to an actual CD, which has opened up my listening options greatly. Plus, it makes me feel savvy. 

some parts that seemed far fetched

Below is my latest drive-time listen. Once There were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy. My college roommate told me about it and since we have similar "likes" in the book world, I checked it out, despite Sister's dislike of the ending. While we both enjoy many of the same books we also have dissenting opinions at times.  

The BEST part of this book is what it taught me about the role of wolves in forests, and how important they are for our fragile eco-system. It made me want to read more about projects to reintroduce them into the wild, and what the results of those efforts have been.

There are also some parts that seem far-fetched (I will not spoil the story by listing the 3 main ones), but this is after all a novel, not a documentary of fact. So I went with it, though not without providing oral commentary as I drove in the car all by myself. In the end, I would recommend it because of the wolves. The audio version also has a wonderful narrator and I thoroughly a story read with a good accent. 

Do round out the discussion with your thoughts on the book if you have read it. 

long and tall and that's not all

Tonight it’s a mish-mash of links, updates, photos, recommendations... take what you need and leave the rest for someone else. 

In the event that you have never heard of Lusia Harris, please do yourself the favor of watching this documentary.  It's only 20 minutes and is the story of an ordinary woman who did amazing things and I LOVE that the NYT had this in the paper last weekend to pique my interest. 
Link to the story: Long and Tall and That's not all 
She is the first woman to make a basket in the history of women's basketball in the olympics. Did I say she was ordinary? I meant extraordinary. 

It's shamrock season. Get one! You can put it on your porch as soon as it's warm enough. It will flourish with very little care all summer. Doesn't like too much sun. 

This is a lovely story which takes about 10 minutes to read, if you stretch it out. It is the perfect encapsulation of the joy of simple things.

Baking the bananas for 30 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit made delicious banana bread.  I think the baking amps up the flavor of the bananas. Poke them with a fork before you put them in the oven so they won't explode. 

We watched "This is Us" Friday night and the song below was featured. I haven't stopped humming it all day.  Oh the power of music from certain periods of your life... especially high school... enough said. 

Our dear friends Johnny and Annette were traveling through KC this weekend and Chris and I hopped over to swoop them up for a few hours before they had to catch a flight home. It was most excellent. Will we ever again take for granted the ability to see the people we love? I hope not. 

2 sisters, a bad guy, chicken pot pie, emu's, and Uncle Tinsley

My latest listen on the commute to and from work, has been The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls.  She narrated this audio version as well.  Maybe you read her 2005 memoir The Glass Castle, about growing up with a mom and a dad with very different ideas about raising children, as well as some mental health issues. When discussing this with a friend I could not remember if it was a true story or a novel, because some parts of it are so unbelievable. But it is in fact, as noted above, a memoir.  This story, in a similar fashion, focuses on 2 sisters growing up with a mom who is struggling to "find herself", and leaves the girls (ages 12 and 15) on their own quite a bit.  

It is a bit formulaic, but somehow that didn't bother me too much. I guess there are just seasons in life when you want to read something with a beginning, middle, and end. A story where issues are mostly resolved though there is still room for a whole lot of guessing about how life turns out for "Bean" and her sister Liz.  This is a good story to listen to in the car on a cross country trek. It will hold your interest but not have you going off the road with unexpected twists and turn. 

on a pendulum swinging between total irritation with the main character and can't stop listening because the story line is so good

Recently, I heard it said "you have to do something ALOT to get good at it". That's true about many things in life. Why is it that we think we will achieve perfection without the work of repetition? Luckily I am having an amazingly good time continuing to try my hand at improving this little pouch thingy. Turning it into the best little squeeze pouch I am capable of. 

What I have figured out, is my favorite part may be sewing together teeny bits of fabric to decorate the bag. I have NOT hit my stride yet, but the practice will continue. What else am I to do with all these scraps?





The logical side of my brain also continues to contemplate ways to make the construction better. 

At this exact moment I have a pair of old, very thin, jeans, waiting to be cut up for use with my leftover spots and stripes quilt material. They are going to turn into a pillow sham. I think. A good "medium sized project" to go along with this small scale bag. 

On the literary front, I just finished The Shadow Girls by Henning Mankell.  It has had me on a pendulum swing between total irritation with the main character, and can't stop listening because the story line is so good.  I got this at the library because it was available on CD and I have had "Faceless Killers", the author's first in the Wallender series, on my "to read" list for years. It was not available on CD, but this was. As good a reason as any to pick a book. This is NO crime novel. Which is amusing because the main character, Jesper Humlin, is a poet whose last book didn't do so well and his publisher wants him to write a crime novel. 

 

What made this book very worth a listen, are the stories of the three refugee girls  (Tea-Bag, Leyla, and Tanya) and their individual journeys from Nigeria, Iran, and Russia. Their struggles to be seen and survive are real and their narratives difficult to hear at times.  There are so many things we don't know about what people are going through, have been through, etc. I want to read more by this author.

wherever you are in the world

Happy Saturday ( or maybe Sunday by the time you read this) from Tall Tales Headquarters. I treated myself to the 12 dollar tulip bouquet from the grocery store today. Because I, like the rest of the world, am in need of comfort.  

I finished reading Crying in the H Mart last night. A memoir by Michelle Zauner, whose mom died when the author was in her early 20's. I think it was so insightful, at her young age, to realize that she may only have a short time with her mother, and she chose to go be with her for the last months of her life. I don't see a lot of people who do that. No judgement here, it's just hard when we are caught up in our own lives filled with work, kids, spouses, obligations... to just put all that on hold. 

Also, this book made me want to explore the entire world of Korean food. She describes it all so vividly, including how her mom taught her to appreciate it.  The book is recommended, if you are in a place where you are able to read about a daughter losing her mom to a terminal illness. Not everyone is right now. 

Is this photo below not the MOST adorable picture ever? I think it's the authors mother and aunt. 

On this regular Saturday there was a visit from my dearest of dear neighbor cats, Harvey. Talk about comfort. 

He was just enjoying the sun, sniffing the grasses, and was up for a giant squeezer hug from me. 

That's it tonight friends. Be well wherever you are in the world. 

waiting for the one that features Olivier and his partner Gabri

A Rule Against Murder is another winner in the Three Pines series by Louise Penny that features the chief inspector Armand Gamache and his lovely wife Reine-Marie. The setting for this book is a lodge in the mountains in Canada that makes me wish, wish, wish, (as with every one of these books) that the place was "real" and I could go for a visit. In this setting, I want the inn-keeper, the cook, and the head waiter, ALL to be there when I go for my visit.  I want to sit on the terrace, walk through the gardens, go down to the dock on the lake... you get the idea. 

Even though the village of Three Pines does not play as prominent a role in this story, we still get to see our friends from the village, and catch up with things at the bistro etc. We also get a glimpse into the childhood of the Chief Inspector and events that shaped his life. 

As I start each one of these books, I quickly settle in, right where I left off, with the characters and their various story lines. I am waiting for the one that features Olivier and his partner Gabri, the owners of the bistro and the B&B in the village. Maybe there isn't one? But I feel like there is.  As always, highly recommended. This is comfort reading at it's finest. I hope I didn't say that about the last book I finished in the series. I don't want to repeat myself, but at the same time I do want to convey the pleasure of reading/listening to them. 

they also fit in the soothing category

Happy Sunday morning from Kansas. It's cold and sunny here, 32 degrees according to my weather app. If you have not had the pleasure of a "London Fog" let me nudge you towards this warm, comforting, beverage. Earl Gray tea (my favorite is Earl Gray Creme from Art of Tea, but there are many wonderful tea companies out there these days), steamed milk, and honey or vanilla syrup. My proportions are a cup of strong hot tea, 1/2 cup of milk frothed (I have an aero latte whisk thing), and a generous spoon of honey. You need a big cup. This is something your dearest friend would make you if you went to visit and needed soothing. Two of the women I work with turned me on to it a few weeks ago, I was hooked from the first sip. 

At work our COVID numbers are moving downwards. As of 4pm on Friday we had 181 inpatients, 26 in the ICU, 14 on ventilators. I hope this is a trend. 

This is my latest bedside read. Just finished it this weekend. Fresh Waters for Flowers by Valerie Perrin is a novel about Violette Toussaint. She has stumbled into the job of caretaker at a cemetery in Bourgogne, France.  She has been through difficult things and we follow along with her as she moves through life. I don't want to spoil this for you so that is all I will say. BUT - I do think it's interesting that in the last 10 -15 years I have read several wonderful books where cemeteries loom large. In the event that you have not read them, and are a lover of a stroll through a cemetery as I am, let me give you a list. But do put Fresh Water for Flowers on the top.  It's a winner.

A Gracious Plenty, by Sheri Reynolds
Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders
Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger
The Whole Town's Talking, by Fannie Flagg

Marti Huff described The Whole Town's Talking as "heartwarming" and I agree 100%. A Gracious Plenty I would also put in that category, the other two are more unusual stories and you should look them up to be sure you want to read them first - I enjoyed them all immensely. 

While we are talking about comforting, heartwarming, and hopeful trends, let me show you my grocery store flowers from the week. They also fit in the soothing category.

a billiards room is part of the story but no candlesticks or Colonel Mustard

I recently dipped my toe into the pool of Agatha Christie novels. How has it taken me this long to "discover" them? Here's the whole and complete answer to that question. Yes, the one I asked myself and will also answer myself.  It is with great delight that I find the older I get, the more I discover "stuff" that I just have not gotten around to appreciating earlier in life. Maybe I was too busy or formed opinions based on here-say without fully experiencing them for myself? Now, as I look forward to all the things I may have missed earlier in life, I am filled with gratitude for all that awaits me in this decade and the ones to follow. 

OK, with that out of the way, let me tell you about this book. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by the one and only Agatha Christie. 

First of all, I listened to this book, and I highly recommend you do so, but only if that's a way you can get into. The dialogue is snappy and smart and wonderful, with a first-rate reader. The whole experience was filled with atmosphere which took me back to when we lived in Spain in the mid 1960's. We were on a base and did not have TV. We did however have a console stereo/radio gizmo - you know the kind that was like a piece of furniture with one side on the top that opened up so you could play records or tune the radio. Speakers were in front.  We listened to Gunsmoke on this contraption. I was just a kid, but recall our family sitting around listening and remember (in my mind at least) how much we loved it. Each of us, individually imagining what the places and characters looked like, based on the sounds and voices. But back to the book!

In this mystery there is a murder, a whole host of suspects, a quaint English village, a butler, a housemaid, a country doctor, and a Belgian detective of great renown. This was quite good listening and the ending was not what I expected. Now I need to have a conversation with an Agatha Christie expert ... I want to know how she came up with the Hercule Poirot character and her method/approach when piecing together the complex puzzle that was this story. I will look forward to integrating more of her writing into my rotation of listening. Not a steady diet of one after another, more of a sprinkling in a few times a year.

Recommended!

P.S. A billiards room is part of the story but no candlesticks or Colonel Mustard. 

like chicken and noodles served over mashed potatoes

When discussing books and reading with others, a frequently asked question is "what kinds of books do you like?". That's like trying to tell someone what kind of music I like, or what my favorite foods are, or which is the best trip I have ever been on... and on and on and on. I will read and enjoy anything that contains some element that appeals to me - whether it's the characters, the plot, the setting, the way the author puts words and sentences together and sometimes if I am very lucky, all of those bits together in one tale. 

I just finished listening to book #4 in the Maisie Dobbs series. The primary reason this series appeals to me is the main character, and how her life is evolving in each episode. While each book has a specific case she is working on, the thread that runs through them all is her story. Sometimes after reading a book that makes me scratch my head a little or leaves me feeling vaguely unsettled, the Maisie Dobbs series is a comfort. Like chicken and noodles served over mashed potatoes. Sort of. If you are from the midwest, you know what I mean by that. 

P.S. Every time I finish one, I thank you, the person who told me about them, whose name I can't remember. Actually, I think it was several of you. 

trusting my instincts and the universe to make it happen

Miss Benson’s Beetle, by Rachel Joyce, is a story about hardship, struggle, and following your dreams even when it seems unlikely they will be realized.  

The main characters team up after each experiences a set of circumstances that causes them to need to give up old routines and set sail.  Maybe the universe does conspire sometimes to make things like this happen?  I don’t have an answer for that, and you don’t either, but sometimes I want to believe it.  

If you find yourself in need of a read that is adventurous, magical, takes place halfway around the world, and contains my new favorite curse word (though it is only uttered twice), this is the book for you.  I read this as opposed to listening to it, but I think I would also like to listen to it… while I am on a long drive somewhere, that I decide to take at the last minute, with only a sketchy plan in place, trusting my instincts and the universe to make it happen.  Wouldn't that be delicious?

but what happened to the doorman and the madonna

Several years ago, I began reading Forest Dark by Nicole Krauss. After struggling for awhile to get through it, I stopped. However, as the author of The History of Love, my all time favorite book, it seemed right that I should give it a second chance. Maybe that just hadn't been the right time to read it?  So, coincidentally, while cruising through the stacks at the library recently I spied it on audio/CD and picked it up. For me, it always seems easier to get into a book that is being read to me. 

 

In this story, 2 characters are on parallel journeys - a 68 year old man and a 39 year old woman each trying to "figure it out". One near the end of life, it is unclear if he has a terminal illness, though he may, and one on an exploration pulled by history - both personal and literary. She experiences events that all seem wildly implausible but somehow you believe them. A blending of past/present/future and in the end you wonder, did all that happen to her or was it the virus she contracted that brought it all about in her mind? The story is told in an overlapping format - one chapter his story, the next chapter her story and so on. The 2 characters do not meet. 

Immediately upon finishing it I wanted to talk to someone else about it. Were they as unsettled as I was by it, or was the sensation of being unsettled what the reader was supposed to feel? And not to give anything away... but what happened to the doorman and the madonna? What was the purpose of that part of the story line? That valuable things come and go and are inconsequential?

There is something about each of the characters that compels the reader to continue.  Both of them, in different ways, are big thinkers, with lots of uncertainty about the next right step on the journey... and for some reason I was not annoyed by their inner dialogues.  The bottom line is this is a good read/listen. Nicole Krauss is a wonderful writer, as evidenced by this description, "...the building whose mottled stones were the color of teeth though perhaps of a person too ancient to use them..." or this one "...the boy was beautiful as only a person raised in sunlight could be..."who thinks of lines like that?

I really hope one of you has read this book and will share your thoughts with me.

still not sure of the fate of a character I was quite invested in

It's been a few years since I last read one of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole detective stories. They tend to be gruesome, anxiety producing, and keep me on the edge of my seat. So why did I decide I needed to try another one? Well I was at the library, with nothing I had reserved for listening yet available, and The Police jumped out at me from the shelves. Plus, we have a history together, Harry and I ... and you know how that goes. 

So, despite that fact that my hand was over my mouth on multiple occasions while listening (as if that could keep the bad stuff from happening), listen I did, from beginning to end. Whew.  It's a doozy. With lots of red herrings and several occasions when I had myself convinced that Harry had actually died. Right up until the end I did not know how things would end. AND I will say now that I have finished, I am still not sure of the fate of a character I was quite invested in. Which means that yes, I am going to have to get the next one in the series. 

Recommended, but not for the faint of heart, or those who tend to startle easily. 

very different ways to look at the world and ultimately to make a meaningful life

A few nights ago I read the last pages of Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. Over several months, a chapter or two (and sometimes more) a night, I have been savoring the story of Sunja and her life in Korea and Japan. The story begins in 1910 in Korea and follows the main character as she leaves for Japan to begin a life with her new husband, who has agreed to marry her though at the time they meet she is pregnant with another man's child. 

They have many struggles as they cope, trying to make a life in Japan, where Koreans are/were looked upon as foreigners and discriminated against.  The story moves at a good pace, sometimes skipping years at a time though this does not feel disorienting at all. It allows us to get to know Sunja's sons and experience what it is like for them in Japan. Through the stories of the son's we see different ways to look at the world, and ultimately to live a meaningful life. No matter what your dreams may have been or how/where you thought you would end up in the world. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and recommend it highly. It has made me want to know more about Korean and Japanese culture. When I was telling a friend about this book she recommended The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. Has anyone read it? 

treachery is revealed

A seance is held, fate is tempted, new characters are introduced, regular characters become better known, more incredible meals are described, a murder happens, treachery is revealed.  All of this and more is what you will find in the 3rd installment of the Armand Gamache series that takes place in Three Pines, the small village south of Montreal, Canada. 

I remain a faithful  fan and look forward to book #4. Highly recommended as a Christmas present to yourself. If you need a reason. Which you don't. 

to quiet the mind after a day of scrambling around in a busy world

Home Cooking is an homage to everyday, ordinary, comfort food. Dishes that anyone can make, if they want to. It's a collection of essays about food, told from the perspective of someone who loves food. Laurie Colwin does not insist that you try her recipes after reading. There is no coaxing on her part, no desire to turn the non-cook into a chef. Just stories of her love for simple food and the role it plays in her life. I LOVED it. 

It lived on my bedside table for the month of October and each night I picked it up and read a few chapters. An excellent way to quiet the mind after a day of scrambling around in a busy world. 

searching for the truth about what happened to 2 men who never returned from WWI

My deepest thanks to the Scott County Library System in Eldridge, Iowa for letting me borrow the 3rd installment of the Maisie Dobbs series - Pardonable Lies. I like to listen to these books on my commute to and from work. Having a way to access them through the public library is so great, it almost feels like a secret privilege I am somehow getting away with. I like to imagine walking into all of these libraries from whom I have obtained books over the years and giving them each a check for some exorbitant amount of money, because I could, and because I so appreciate them. 

But back to the business at hand. This installment, 3 of (I think) a total of 17, does not disappoint. New aspects of Maisie are discovered as her work and life continue to develop. As always, there is the historical aspect to these stories that is interesting especially when uncovered in the light of a group of characters. I am not sure how far into the future this series will go, and truth be told, I really don't want to know. I am perfectly happy just letting things unfold page by page.

This book has Maisie searching for the truth about what happened to 2 men who never returned from WWI. Did they die as their families were led to believe?  Good story, wonderful characters, charming settings. Recommended. 

this writer skips the usual ploys

Happy all the Time is the story of Guido Morris and Vincent Cardworthy , two long-time friends, now into early adulthood, who meet Holly Sturgis and Misty Berkowitz. Somehow, each with their individual quirks, turn out to be the right people for each other. As in, the kind destined to spend the rest of their lives together.

This sounds simple, but Laurie Colwin, unlike so many others, manages to avoid the usual pitfalls found in stories about people who meet and fall in love.  It is instead, entertaining with unusual dialogue and situations that make you want to meet these characters, instead of rolling your eyes when you encounter typical romantic angst. She skips the usual ploys, leaving you wondering where things will go next in the relationships you are pretty sure will remain intact. 

This book doesn't fall easily into any category you might want to put it in. Unless it is that type of book you will continue thinking about for awhile after you have finished reading it. 

One last thing I enjoyed was this card that was tucked in the copy I got from my library. On the back was written "...this is one of my mother's paintings - I thought it was a good time to share...",  it was signed Jennifer.  I left it in the book for the next reader to discover. 

Highly Recommended. 

I don't know that I necessarily agree with all of that, but it is a good story

I made a special trip to the post office this morning, to get 15 more minutes of listening time in, and reach the conclusion of The Last Thing he Told Me by Laura Dave. It's a good listen. Rebecca Lowman is the narrator and has a great voice. If I had been reading, I would have plowed through it a bit faster, instead of chewing slowly, and giving it the attention it deserved. 

On the back cover it says it is a "...riveting mystery, certain to shock you with it's final, heartbreaking, twist..." I don't know that I necessarily agree with all of that, but it is a good story, well written, which keeps you wanting more. The characters are likable and the ending satisfying without being predictable or trite. Recommended. Especially if you have a road trip coming up. 

2 women who meet in a seemingly random way

I just finished listening to That Summer on a portable CD player while I did some sewing. You know what that means. I could not possibly wait for my next commute to work to finish it. It is the story of 2 women who meet in a seemingly random way but are connected by events from the past. 

The story unfolds in a past and present sort of format, going back and forth between the main characters, slowly letting the reader figure things out as you get to know each of them individually and become invested in how things will turn out. It's fiction obviously, but gives a perspective on the #MeToo movement, that is well worth reading. Recommended.  

they had kitty bow ties for sale

Below is my purchase from the newly opened, new location, of The Raven Bookstore, on Massachusetts street in downtown Lawrence Kansas.  I could not miss an opportunity to pet a cat, support a local favorite, and check out the new space. Which is perfect, by the way - you must let me know what you think if you visit. 

Ngaio was ensconced in a chair in the front window, tucked out of the way, and we had a nice visit. I began to acquaint myself with the new layout and had to tear myself away from the section labeled "First in a Series", which will be the area I explore on visit #2. 

P.S. if you live with a cat, they had kitty bow ties for sale. I wonder if the Harvey boys would each like one? 

God's love of lemon meringue pie

In the second installment of the Three Pines Mystery series by Louise Penny, I have been drawn deeper into the subplot of the Arnot case, an incident that happened within the ranks of the Sûreté du Québec, that has caused trouble for Chief Inspector Gamache. I had to listen to the last part of it several times to be sure I was hearing and understanding it all correctly. The beauty of this series is the escape into the village of Three Pines, learning more about the inhabitants, while you wish you were sitting in Olivier and Gabri's bistro with a basket of warm crescents in front of you. 

I will give myself ample time to let all the things that happened in A Fatal Grace sit for a bit before I request book #3. I am not one to "binge" watch or read a series. For me, stories like these need to be read slowly and carefully, to capture all the details and nuances that may be important later on... such as learning about God's love of lemon meringue pie. This series is highly recommended. 

Below, is the most recent finish from the pile on my bedside table. It, is something you can just race through because really you know how it's going to end and frankly the 364 pages could have been condensed to 227. Still, I finished it because I did want to be certain some crazy twist didn't come in at the end, which would have been much worse than the predictable conclusion. 

Isn't it a good thing there are so many different kinds of books in the world to appeal to all of the different people we are? Even though I didn't love People We Meet on Vacation I can absolutely see how others might. If you want to read a story about friends who meet and realize over the course of 10 years they were meant to be more than that... this IS the book for you. 

3 generations of women from Palestine who are living in Brooklyn

Today I finished listening to A Woman is no Man by Etaf Rum. It's one of those novels that's hard to read at times, but you are unable to stop because it feels like you know the characters, and you must find out if things turn out as you hope they will. 

This is the story of 3 generations of women from Palestine who are living in Brooklyn. It gives the reader (what felt to me like) an honest glimpse into the lives of some Arab women. What is expected of them, and the lack of choice for females within this culture. It's eye opening and has made me want to read more. If you have read it, please leave your thoughts/impressions in the comments. I would love to hear them.

Very highly recommended. 

a thin line that is unbroken as the story progresses

If you are looking for something to read (in one sitting) in your rocker out on the porch, or under a straw umbrella at the seashore, or in your camp chair in a circle of tall trees, I present Turbulence by David Szalay. I finished it over the course of a few very enjoyable hours. 

It's an unconventional format, with one character from each chapter getting on a flight, landing in a different city, and catching up with someone else who will then be the next character to board a plane. And so forth and so on. There is a thin line that is unbroken as the story progresses in an unpredictable way.

I enjoyed it very much. Recommended. 

read, listened to, flipped through

My latest library loans include The Summer Book by Tove Jansson, Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear, and Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson. The Summer Book was by my bed for several weeks and was a perfect bedtime tonic. On the surface it is the story of a young girl and her elderly grandmother spending the summer on an island on the archipelago in the gulf of Finland. Underneath it is a grandmother preparing her grandchild (and herself) for the possibility that she will not be returning to the island again. At least that's how it seemed to me. A tender tale, wonderfully written. 

The second in the Maisie Dobbs series was equally delightful in a totally different way. Increased character development, clues about what may come in future installments, the perfect drive time listen.

Lastly, I love getting a book from the library that I know I want to look at, but don't need to have in my collection. Nigella Lawson's latest falls into that category. 

Images of oxtail stew, linzer cookies, and a rice pudding cake were lingered over, but the recipe I know I will try is the beet and chickpea hummus.

That color is simply stunning. I will want to dip cucumbers and snap peas in it along with the carrots. If I like the way it turns out will share the recipe later. 

where you fell in with a group of happy go lucky map makers

I just finished listening to The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. It’s the story of Nora Seed, a woman with many regrets, who finds herself in a position to experience what her life would have been like had she made different choices.

It’s an interesting concept. Who hasn’t wondered what life would have been like if they had chosen a different career path, went on that spontaneous trip around the world where you fell in with a group of happy-go-lucky map makers on a mission to redraw the world… and discovered your true calling?

I considered stopping about 1/3 of the way through when I grew impatient with Nora’s continual perseverating, but I held on because it has an excellent narrator (Carey Mulligan) and I wanted to know if what I thought was going to happen, actually happened (yes and no).

Recommended.

 

a small curve ball that I didn't see coming

My latest drive-time listen is below. Later, by Stephen King and the first thing I want to say is I liked it. Stephen King writes great dialogue and puts out a good story with no unnecessary "stuff" that you just want to speed through to get to the point. Admittedly, I am a FAN of Stephen King and have thoroughly enjoyed much of his work, though I have by no means read everything he has written.  

This is the story of Jamie Conklin, a boy who see's people who have died. He can talk to them and if he asks them a question they must respond truthfully. There are a few other details, but that's the basic premise. And in case you were wondering, no, it's not like the The Sixth Sense.

If you have a road trip planned and need something to fill the time, put this on your list of audiobooks to get from the library. I suggest sticking it in between some historical fiction and a few interesting podcasts. Something to get you through the hard hours of your drive, after you have finished the morning coffee, a snack, and lunch. When it's getting warm, the sun might be in your eyes, and you need something stimulating to make the time roll by. Have some ice cold water by your side and maybe a few skittles in case you get nervous about what's going on and you need something to chew on. It's only 6 1/2 hours long, which sometimes I really like. There is a place on my listening list for the "short-ish" page turner. 

There was a small curve ball at the end that I didn't see coming. I am still contemplating that, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of this story. Great summer reading, with a good narrator if you are going listen. 

you must drink the cup of coffee you are served before it gets cold

I heard about my most recent read on the Diving In podcast which I have mentioned here previously. Another book that would not normally be something I thought to pick up, but after hearing them discuss it, I was intrigued. Before the Coffee gets Cold, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is about a coffee shop called Funiculi Funicula, located in a back alley in Tokyo. From this cafe it is possible to travel in time. 

There are, as you might expect, some rules that the traveler must adhere to.
1. You can only meet people who have visited the cafe
2. You can do nothing while in the past that will change the present
3. There is only one seat in the cafe that takes you to the past
4. You can not move from that seat while you are time traveling
5. There is a time limit - you must drink the cup of coffee you are served before it gets cold and once consumed you are returned to the present

The rules and the concept are what sparked my interest - and of course the way that Virginia and Louise were talking about it on the podcast. It is a quick read, the subject is different, and I quite liked it. It's probably not for everyone. This book was adapted from a play and in my mind I kept seeing it being put on in the "little theatre" at Marymount College in 1980. That might have contributed to my enjoyment as well. 

if you are looking for something to fit that bill

I finished City of Girls this week and found it, in the end, to be quite a satisfying listen. It's been on my list for awhile but when my college roommate told me she liked it, I decided to get started on it. Initially, before I really got into the story, I wanted to tell Elizabeth Gilbert to "kill her darlings" to quote Stephen King. In other words, eliminate some of those phrases that don't really advance the story but are there because they are clever. But after a while she either stopped, or it didn't bother me anymore, because I got over being annoyed. 

This is the story of Vivian Morris and her move to NYC in the 1940's. It is from the perspective of someone looking back on their life and being able to see how all the pieces fit together, in retrospect. A perfect summer read if you are looking for something to fit that bill.  

it can feel like a short companionable visit of sorts

This collection of essays has been living on my bedside table for a month or so now.  Each night before I go to sleep Ann Patchett has been talking to me about a variety of subjects. 

Things like figuring out what you were meant to do with your life and getting established in it, loving a dog, trekking across the country in an RV, what it's likes to go through the process of getting accepted into a police academy, and in fact.. as the title implies, the story of a happy marriage. 

What I have discovered is that I thoroughly enjoy a good collection of essays. It seems there are topics we can all universally relate to and hearing another's perspective on it can feel like a short companionable visit of sorts. As you read you are free to interject your thoughts - agreeing, or not. Right before bed is a perfect time to pick up a selection such as this, not quite certain what you are in for, but feeling pretty sure it will not disappoint. 

Recommended. This is one of those books to pick up at your local book store to keep on the shelf for a future re-reading. 

"...one must always play these things by ear, tuning and adjusting one's story to the reaction of the person being lied to..."

It is with some sadness, that I conclude my listening of that I believe to be the last (for now), of the Flavia de Luce novels. In The Golden Tresses of the Dead Flavia and Dogger take on their first client, who winds up dead quite early in the story. Which, in no way detracts from the delight in the reading. 

These stories are read purely for the enjoyment of finding out what is happening with Flavia and her sisters Ophelia and Daphne, the house staff (Dogger and Mrs. Mullett), cousin Undeen, and the rest of the characters from Bishop's Lacey, the town closest to the family home of Buckshaw. 

Jayne Entwistle gives such character to the wonderful writing/dialogue of Alan Bradley. Case in point is demonstrated in today's post title in which Flavia describes the subtle art of interacting with a lie-ee. 

As I await the next case brought to Arthur W. Dogger and associates, Discreet Investigations, I will keep these lines in my head and imagine Dogger and Flavia motoring through the English countryside... "we were purring our way home and the day was drawing in, a light mist played across the fields and smoke hung in the lanes..."

Pure delight. Highly recommended.

April's book report

I have heard of Louise Penny, and even had her "Inspector Gamache" series on my list of books to read. But when in the course of a single week, 2 well-read, intelligent, women both recommend her to me, I stop messing around and get to the library. And, commence to listening. As luck would have it, Still Life was on the shelf waiting for me. No reservation needed, no waiting required. I think it was meant to be. 

Oh boy. I was not disappointed. I jumped into this story and these characters with both feet and did not look back. Good story, lovely characters, well written, a few red herrings but not so many that it was overdone. If the town of Three Pines existed south of Montreal, I would be looking for an Airbnb there right this second. I want to go to the bookstore, the cafe, walk in those woods, and sit on a bench in the town square and watch life unfold. 

ALSO - I just looked and there are 16 more waiting to be read. I feel like I just unwrapped a wonderful present.
Highly recommended. Thank you Sharron and Marti. You never lead my astray.

On a totally different topic, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World takes place in Turkey - mostly Istanbul. It's the story of Tequila Leila, a prostitue who is murdered and left in a dumpster. It is about the time after she dies and where her mind takes her - mostly memories of those people in her life who have been important. What I most enjoyed about the story were the cultural aspects. Despite how it sounds, it's not gruesome. Read this book if you like stories that are unusual. I love the premise that we might have time after we are dead to review our life and consider the things that got us where we are... even though we may not have had different choices to make. 

Chime in with your reviews if you have read either of these.

an intermingling of stories about family, the ridiculous world of politics...

If you want to sit down with a former president and have a direct conversation about what it's like to be the leader of the United States of America, without having to get dressed up, or feel awkward/uncomfortable. You will want to read A Promised Land. Even better to listen to in my opinion. 

With an intermingling of stories about family, the ridiculous world of politics, details behind significant events of the first 4 years of his presidency - including finance, healthcare, immigration, climate change, foreign policy, it is informative on many levels. I don't begin to understand how we can change our contentious political system, but listening to this provided an increased awareness of what a screwed up process in can be at times. Very highly recommended.  

Full disclosure: it's long - 28 1/2 hours. 

well worth the month or so I waited my turn for it

Here are my latest "kid book" favorites.

First there is The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse, by Charlie Mackesy. It is lovely for it's sweet and tender message of goodness about a friendship, between ... you guessed it, a boy, a mole, a fox, and a horse. It is a visual treasure. Written out in script, illustrated in a deceptively simple appearing style with watercolor and ink.

Thanks for telling me about it Jennifer, it was well worth the month or so I waited my turn for it at the library. I will by copying his watercolor style for some time to come.

My next report is about Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk. 

It's a story about right and wrong and navigating your way through the world as an 11 year old girl. I won't say more than that because I don't want to give things away. Well written, not too "preachy", with a good message. I absolutely adore the cover of this book.

I bought this one at my local bookstore and will enjoy reading it again in years to come. 

Both Highly Recommended. Simple stories for complex times. Have I said that already recently? It bears repeating.
 

neighbor with cat, former wife, and a bookstore all figure into the puzzle

This morning I finished listening to Monogamy, by Sue Miller. She also narrates this audio version by the way, and I quite enjoyed her voice.  

I liked this book, a lot actually. It was interesting to follow along as Annie (the main character) dissects her relationship with her husband after his death. The story meanders back and forth through the years, and the place he occupied in her life. With a daughter, stepson, neighbor lady with cat, former wife of said husband, and a bookstore all figuring into the puzzle as well. I found small parts of it could have been left out. Full disclosure - I sometimes find descriptions of sexual encounters (even short ones) unnecessary. Go ahead, call me prudish. It's my prerogative now that I am in my 60's. 

I listened pretty much non-stop to the last 3 CD's. Now I will have to check out another Sue Miller novel. I feel like I have probably read something by her before, but when I looked at the titles with brief summaries of previous books, nothing jumps out as familiar.  Do let me know if you have a favorite.  

Highly recommended.