Books and other stuff I feel like discussing
By education and experience - Accountant with a specialty in taxation. Formerly a CPA (license has lapsed). Masters degree in law of taxation from University of Denver. Now retired. Part time work during baseball season as receptionist & switchboard operator for the Colorado Rockies. This gig feeds my soul in ways I have trouble articulating. One daughter, and four grandchildren. I share the house with two cats; a big goof of a cat called Grinch (named as a joke for his easy going "whatever" disposition); and Lady, a shelter adoptee with a regal bearing and sweet little soprano voice. I would be very bereft if it ever becomes necessary to keep house without a cat.
Mood:
Advisory
Read/Post Comments (2)
November reading
Here's a brief summary of books I've finished since I last reported on November 11.
A STOLEN SEASON by Steve Hamilton
Hamilton's excellent series is set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with a protagonist who is a former Detroit cop seeking to leave bad memories behind him and operate a small resort near the recreational opportunities of the UP. Needless to say, trouble comes calling on a fairly regular basis. In this entry, a decision to help the operators of a foundering luxury boat becomes entwined with a gun running operation between Canada and the US.
BRAINIAC by Ken Jennings
About the only TV program that I really hate to miss is Jeopardy. Last year along with much of the US, I was riveted as Jennings kept winning, and winning, and winning. Presented with enough wealth to leave his unsatisfying job, Jennings hired a ghost writer, began to research America's fascination with trivia, and came up with a remarkably enjoyable book.
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
This was an assignment for one of my library book discussion groups. I had never read it before and was both intrigued and puzzled. I was looking forward to the discussion, but a miserable winter storm prevented us from meeting to talk the book over. In brief, the lesson seems to be a fairly basic theme in more than one literary/theatrical work. It's a mistake to try to stop time. Not very intellectual summary, I know!
THE MANGLER OF MALIBU CANYON by Jennifer Colt.
I was at the annual mystery convention dubbed Bouchercon in late September. At one panel, I won a copy of Colt's book in an audience giveaway segment. Later I met her standing in line to get some lunch and struck up a conversation. I've finished this first book of hers and will be reading the next quite soon. This is a fun combination of chick lit, wacky PI genre, teeing off on southern California stereotypes, and semi comic fiction. Nothing wrong with brain candy if it's done well.
THE LOST - A SEARCH FOR SIX OF SIX MILLION by Daniel Mendelsohn.
A truly engrossing thoughtful combination of history, memoir, travelogue, and philosophical/theological analysis. My blog entry of November 28 goes into more detail.
DYING LIGHT by Stuart MacBride
MacBride's Logan MacRae series is a Scottish import, and worth checking out. MacRae struggles to keep a worthwhile assignment in the police force of Aberdeen Scotland. Various missteps, both by him and other officers working with him, keep MacRae just out of loop. In this entry a series of sadistic arsons, murdered prostitutes, and a puzzling missing persons case coincide to give MacRae a nightmarish string of one bad day after another.
SILENCE OF THE GRAVE by Arnaldur Indridason
Indridason has been publishing his series set in Reykavik Iceland, and (duh!) written in Icelandic, for several years. Recently English translations have become available and readers who delight in noir have a huge treat waiting. In this entry, Reykavik cop Erlendur investigates the discovery of a long buried set of human bones. As his investigation moves along, he also copes with the critical illness of his estranged adult daughter, who may or may not recover from a miscarriage.
Happy Reading!
Woodstock
A STOLEN SEASON by Steve Hamilton
Hamilton's excellent series is set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with a protagonist who is a former Detroit cop seeking to leave bad memories behind him and operate a small resort near the recreational opportunities of the UP. Needless to say, trouble comes calling on a fairly regular basis. In this entry, a decision to help the operators of a foundering luxury boat becomes entwined with a gun running operation between Canada and the US.
BRAINIAC by Ken Jennings
About the only TV program that I really hate to miss is Jeopardy. Last year along with much of the US, I was riveted as Jennings kept winning, and winning, and winning. Presented with enough wealth to leave his unsatisfying job, Jennings hired a ghost writer, began to research America's fascination with trivia, and came up with a remarkably enjoyable book.
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
This was an assignment for one of my library book discussion groups. I had never read it before and was both intrigued and puzzled. I was looking forward to the discussion, but a miserable winter storm prevented us from meeting to talk the book over. In brief, the lesson seems to be a fairly basic theme in more than one literary/theatrical work. It's a mistake to try to stop time. Not very intellectual summary, I know!
THE MANGLER OF MALIBU CANYON by Jennifer Colt.
I was at the annual mystery convention dubbed Bouchercon in late September. At one panel, I won a copy of Colt's book in an audience giveaway segment. Later I met her standing in line to get some lunch and struck up a conversation. I've finished this first book of hers and will be reading the next quite soon. This is a fun combination of chick lit, wacky PI genre, teeing off on southern California stereotypes, and semi comic fiction. Nothing wrong with brain candy if it's done well.
THE LOST - A SEARCH FOR SIX OF SIX MILLION by Daniel Mendelsohn.
A truly engrossing thoughtful combination of history, memoir, travelogue, and philosophical/theological analysis. My blog entry of November 28 goes into more detail.
DYING LIGHT by Stuart MacBride
MacBride's Logan MacRae series is a Scottish import, and worth checking out. MacRae struggles to keep a worthwhile assignment in the police force of Aberdeen Scotland. Various missteps, both by him and other officers working with him, keep MacRae just out of loop. In this entry a series of sadistic arsons, murdered prostitutes, and a puzzling missing persons case coincide to give MacRae a nightmarish string of one bad day after another.
SILENCE OF THE GRAVE by Arnaldur Indridason
Indridason has been publishing his series set in Reykavik Iceland, and (duh!) written in Icelandic, for several years. Recently English translations have become available and readers who delight in noir have a huge treat waiting. In this entry, Reykavik cop Erlendur investigates the discovery of a long buried set of human bones. As his investigation moves along, he also copes with the critical illness of his estranged adult daughter, who may or may not recover from a miscarriage.
Happy Reading!
Woodstock
Read/Post Comments (2)
Previous Entry :: Next Entry
Back to Top
