Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

Gruesome. Thrilling. Revealing. Frustrating. Twisting. Profane.  Best of all - MAJOR CLIFFHANGER!!

And dare I say....magical??? ;-)

Cormoran Strike and his loyal assistant/partner Robin Ellacott are back again in the third novel from this pseudonym for JK Rowling, still riding high from the success of their two previously successful cases - and cognizant of the Police Force's annoyance at being bested by a one-legged detective.  When a serial killer is on the loose and Robin is sent a body part, Cormoran's radar goes up and there are four possible suspects - all with connections to Cormoran's somewhat convoluted past.  As they follow up clues, danger persists, attacks occur, and past history is revealed (trigger alert here for assault victims).  Robin proves an invaluable help to Cormoran, and her on again, off again relationship with fiance Matthew is still a rub, for both of them (and me too - not sure about pretty boy Matthew....).  The language here might be coarse, but this is the underbelly of London we are talking about, and Galbraith certainly knows how to write in local vernacular, gov.  I loved the dialogue!!  I would like to know the background on Shanker's nickname for Strike though - Strike - match - burner maybe????

This is a long book but worth the read in the end.  I thought I knew who the killer was - about three times.  Ha!!!!  I don't think you necessarily have to read the first two books - but why wouldn't you when they are so fun to read?  Cormoran's interesting upbringing, current situation, relationship with the police, and his ability even as a scruffy amputee with a bad attitude, to continually date the most beautiful (if dull) women, do actually make him endearing.  I do agree with another reviewer that once you notice it, it becomes annoying that Cormoran always orders fish and chips and the ladies only order salad (although, Robin broke down and ordered a chippie in this book!!!!).    I do like a curmudgeonly main male character - he's gruff, he's tough, and he's a softie at the same time.

Now, off to the library (sorry, Sally, I am on restriction from buying this month!!) for Book 4  - Lethal White.  Gotta find out what happens after that cliffhanger  -yes, I do!!!!!!!!!

Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon

There is nothing like a trip back to Mitford to put your head and your heart back in a happy place!!!!

I have loved this series for 20 years. In this installment, our Dooley is getting hitched. I love how Karon gives us little snippets from several different viewpoints - we hear from Father Tim and Dooley and Lace and a myriad of other wonderful, eclectic, and wonderfully simple people who are preparing for an outdoor wedding at the Farm. Father Tim Kavanagh is still central to our story, but this is Dooley and Lace's day - and the (years) two weeks leading up to it are fraught with all kinds of small town traumas, family secrets, gifts and blessings - oh the blessings. There is even a reference to Barnabas!!! Sniff!!!! And omgash, Harley and his dentures - and burying a bottle of bourbon (to keep the rain away, a-course!). Plus, I double dawg dare ya not to fall in LUV with Jack Tyler. I just love this stuff!!!

I wonder how many more of these stories she will write - then, I hope to be blessed with more. Start at the beginning of the series if you want to know lots of references here - it is worth the trip back to Mitford just to know what OMC stands for - yum. Heckfire, maybe I will read it all again too.  Classic Southern Literature - and boy howdy, does she do vernacular well!!!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Possibly, a perfect novel.

I had heard all the buzz about this book, so my mom, also a voracious reader herself, gave it to me for Christmas.

Took me two days to read it.  Sorry, family.  I just couldn't stop.

Fantastic read.  Kya is raised in near isolation in the marsh and is perfectly capable of taking care of herself.  She is schooled by nature, by Mother Earth, and avoids contact with the "townies" as much as possible.  They all think she is stupid, dirty, and white trash anyway.  All except for one boy, who accepts her for who she is, and gives her a chance.

But then, murder.  And accusation, and trial.  This is not the heart of the story though.  Loneliness, acceptance, abandonment, prejudice, survival, trust and oh, the feathers.  The author is herself a wildlife scientist and her insight into animal behavior and the pulses of life in the marsh become as much a main character as Kya herself.  So well woven into the story, you might learn something without even realizing it (right, Sheriff?).

I loved the painting of Kya and the boy....the exchange of gifts on the stump....the cat in the courtroom.....Jumpin's warning...Jumpin' himself...feeding the gulls....painting like her mama.....alligator shoes....the unexpected way she revealed the expected ending.....and one unexpected but anticipated homecoming.  Part sad, heartbreaking, and inspiring, this was beautifully done - a great book club choice!

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

I really enjoy Brooks' books; I have read all but the Pulitzer Prize winner - hmmmmm!

This one did not disappoint.  Set in Rural England during 1665-1666, the story is loosely based on a real village and how it reacted during the Black Plague and its infectious devastation.  The language here is appropriate for the times, so may trip up a modern reader, but you get into the cadence pretty easily.  Anna Frith is a maid to the local minister and helps out at events held at the "big house" up the hill sometimes too.  Both positions give her access to very different types of lives and reactions when neighbors start dying horrible deaths.  Could Anna herself have thwarted the spread of the plague?  After all, her lodger was the first to die - a tailor with lots of bolts of cloth.....

Really interesting how Brooks weaves in the superstitions and caste definitions of the times, how people begin to react to the stress of watching all your neighbors die and how unlikely friendships will blossom out of necessity - but also manages to give her heroine such an interesting (if not really believable) ending.  I would recommend all of Brooks' books (The People of the Book was my favorite, but also loved Caleb's Crossing and The Secret Chord), and The Year of Wonders is now among them.  Be sure to read all the info at the end about what really happened - and then say of prayer of thanks for antibiotics!!!!  Could be a good book club book - definitely great for lovers of historical fiction!

Not Dead Yet by Phil Collins

Not Dead Yet: The Memoir 
by 

Phil Collins

 

Oct 23, 2018  ·  edit

really liked it

Interesting look into an amazing life. I have always been a huge fan of Collins' and learning about his life, his musical collaborations, his famous friends, and yes, his messed up marriages was a lot of fun. Some softening of those details are to be expected, and some funny anecdotes about the making of his music had me laughing aloud. Lots of name dropping and brushes with the rich and famous from the music business and beyond. A bit dry at first, but I think Phil warmed up as he began talking about his years on tour and the affect that had on his career (fabulously successful) and his families (tremendously damaging). At what price, fame???

And, he does answer the question of What does Sussudio mean....but it's a letdown! Many other tidbits make up for that though. And now, I get to go see my favorite drummer this weekend on his Not Dead Yet tour in Las Vegas!!! He is not the drummer on this tour, his son Nic is, so that is pretty cool.  Definitely worth a read for anyone into 80's music!!  And 70's....and British royalty.....and drama....and, well, Phil.

Update - the show was AMAZING!!!  Nic is an incredible drummer - his solo was total proof.  Phil has aged tremendously and walks with a cane now - he even sat during the show.  But he still rocks, he still rolls (his eyes hilariously), and he still has that spark of humor, timing, and storytelling, even if he cannot really hit the high notes anymore.  What a life.  Well done, Phil, I promise I won't remember you only as the guy who wrote Sussudio.  

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Another book club book - I have only read one other Hannah book, and NO, it was not THAT one.  I read Firefly Lane years ago, also for book club, so I guess it was high time to read another!!

Alaska. That is who I thought the main character would be here.  Set in the tundra, in a tiny community of tough, rough, dig down deep characters, this is the story of wilderness and cold.  Of survival where humans probably should not survive.  Of bears and salmon and canning your vegetables for the winter because you ain't leaving your house/cabin for 4 months - not to mention, there's only a few hours of daylight - grey daylight.

Sounds fun, right?

Add in an abusive husband with paranoid tendencies and undiagnosed PTSD from the war, a young girl trapped and in love, and a wife torn between her deep love for the man her husband used to be and her desire to help her daughter live a better life, and now you see my dilemma - there are several main characters here, and they are all trying to survive the best way they know how.  They've moved several times at Dad's whim, but this time really seems like it might be The One.  They take to Alaska and it's toughness, and 13 year old Leni falls in love - with Alaska and with Matthew, the only other teenager around.   But as her father's paranoia builds, and as his hate for Matthew's successful father increases, Leni realizes she is a prisoner in her own house.  While the neighbors, including Large Marge from the local store where Leni works (loved her!!!!), try to help out, Leni realizes it is up to her to make a change.  And when change comes, everyone and everything is affected way more than she bargained for.

A few holes in the second half of the story, but I was hooked and invested and really enjoyed the writing.  So much so that I found myself accidentally promising my book club that I will finally read THAT Kristin Hannah book.  Sigh.  Stay tuned......

The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne

For fans of Room and The Great Alone.....

A fairy tale about a frog and a princess is turned into a modern day story of survival and warped relationships.  Helena is brought up with her parents in the woods of the Michigan Upper Peninsula.  She adores her father, who teaches her to hunt and shoot, and can't understand why her mother is so unemotional, or why there are no other kids to play with.  When she turns 11, a stranger stops by their house, and all hell breaks loose.

Fast forward 20 years and Helena is married with two adorable daughters, but no one knows. No one knows about who her parents really are, or that her father is in jail, or that her mother was a victim of a kidnapping.  Until the day her father breaks out of prison, and Helena is the only one who knows how to find him.  What will she do??

Lots of good questions here -  about family, love, forgiveness (or not), mental illness, appearances, and secrets.  Interesting how the author wove the fairy tale in, and I liked the references to how Helena still struggles with modern society's rules.  The majority of the novel is flashback, and her father is violent.  But it is a quick read, and worthwhile.  Recommended by Sally from my local!!!