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:
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Books update
THE SONG IS YOU by Arthur Phillips
Phillips has written in a variety of genres, and in this one he has come up with a Lolita for the 21st century - a story of obsession from afar, with contact through email, blog entries, and comments on web pages. The protagonist, a man in late middle age, becomes obsessed with a young singer, follows her career, stalks her, leaves messages for her with bartenders, and yet never meets her face to face.
AUGUST HEAT by Andrea Camilleri
Sicilian inspector Montalbano investigates the grisly discovery of a body in an unused vacation home. I love this series, and always put the book down with my mouth watering for one of the meals Camilleri describes so lovingly. The translator includes helpful hints in an afterword, to help non Italian readers understand the many colloquial references.
LIVING WITNESS by Jane Haddam
Retired FBI investigator Gregor Demarkian takes on yet another consulting assignment, this time in a small town wracked by controversy over biology curriculum in the local schools, and the now iconic struggle between Darwin's theories and "intelligent design." Haddam always finds rich material for her books in the daily headlines.
DEAD OR ALIVE by Michael McGarrity
I really enjoy this series set in New Mexico. A convict takes advantage of a naive transport driver and manages to escape and start a killing spree. Kevin Kerney, a state police official and his son Clayton Istee, a cop with a smaller locality, team up to track the killer through the mountains of Northern New Mexico.
THE FOURTH SACRIFICE by Peter May
Several years ago, May had a popular series of "China Thrillers" available for the most part in the UK and in Europe. US publishers have caught on to their quality, and the titles are now appearing in the US. Forensic investigator Margaret Campbell has been sent to China for a conference, and gets caught up in a murder investigation. She meets and falls in love with Chinese cop Li Yuan. In this second in the series, several bodies have been found, mutilated in a unique fashion, with enigmatic notes left at the scene. May includes much fascinating detail of archaeological investigation in China, and the fate of several artifacts provides the clue to the mystery.
FRAG BOX by Richard Thompson
One of the homeless persons who spend their days in St Paul, Minnesota is murdered on a city street, in broad daylight. A bail bondsman who knew the dead man is startled to discover that he has been named the sole heir. When it becomes obvious that quite a few people want access to something the dead man had hidden away somewhere, the book becomes a race on two fronts - to find the hidden stash, and to identify the killer.
NO SUCH CREATURE by Giles Blunt
Two con men cross the US annually, during the summer months, impersonating a wide range of characters and stealing anything that isn't nailed down. Purses, jewelry, cash, and other valuables. The two men, uncle and nephew, are on a roll, but of course, things begin to waver out of control. The closing pages have one of the most surprising "gotcha!'s" I've read in a long time. Lovers of Shakespeare would really enjoy this - spotting the dozens of references Blunt includes in the action.
THE GREAT GATSBY by F Scott Fitzgerald
The "classics" entry in this go around. And, like the others I've mentioned, I waited far too long to read it. Longing, betrayal, and fraud. Yet I thought Gatsby was in the end an appealing character. The film a few years back had Robert Redford in the title role. Although I've never seen the movie, and perhaps am not qualified to comment, somehow Redford does not "look like" Gatsby the way I saw him in my mind.
THE RENEGADES by T Jefferson Parker
LA Sheriff's deputy Charlie Hood is a witness to what seems like a gang killer dispatching an unpopular cop. But as he begins to trace the events which led up to the cop's death, he only finds questions which lead to more questions. I really enjoy Parker's books, and hope we can look forward to at least one more about Charlie.
CADILLAC DESERT by Marc Reisner
The western US is dry. It always has been, and probably always will be. Reisner traces the woeful short sightedness of US water policy and only sees trouble ahead.
THE DRAINING LAKE by Arnaldur Indridson
Icelandic cop Erlendur investigates the discovery of a skeleton in a lake bed sucked dry when an earthquake opened a fissure in the soil below. The answers lie in long ago events of the early Cold War years, and the dashed optimism of the many young socialists who went to Eastern Europe to study. I understand that Bernard Scudder, who has translated this series for several books now, died recently and a new translator is on the scene. I hope for continuing high quality in this series.
LONG LOST by Harlan Coben
Myron Bolitar gets a message from a former lover, and travels to Europe to help her unravel questions surrounding her husband's death.
That's it for this go around! Happy Reading!
Phillips has written in a variety of genres, and in this one he has come up with a Lolita for the 21st century - a story of obsession from afar, with contact through email, blog entries, and comments on web pages. The protagonist, a man in late middle age, becomes obsessed with a young singer, follows her career, stalks her, leaves messages for her with bartenders, and yet never meets her face to face.
AUGUST HEAT by Andrea Camilleri
Sicilian inspector Montalbano investigates the grisly discovery of a body in an unused vacation home. I love this series, and always put the book down with my mouth watering for one of the meals Camilleri describes so lovingly. The translator includes helpful hints in an afterword, to help non Italian readers understand the many colloquial references.
LIVING WITNESS by Jane Haddam
Retired FBI investigator Gregor Demarkian takes on yet another consulting assignment, this time in a small town wracked by controversy over biology curriculum in the local schools, and the now iconic struggle between Darwin's theories and "intelligent design." Haddam always finds rich material for her books in the daily headlines.
DEAD OR ALIVE by Michael McGarrity
I really enjoy this series set in New Mexico. A convict takes advantage of a naive transport driver and manages to escape and start a killing spree. Kevin Kerney, a state police official and his son Clayton Istee, a cop with a smaller locality, team up to track the killer through the mountains of Northern New Mexico.
THE FOURTH SACRIFICE by Peter May
Several years ago, May had a popular series of "China Thrillers" available for the most part in the UK and in Europe. US publishers have caught on to their quality, and the titles are now appearing in the US. Forensic investigator Margaret Campbell has been sent to China for a conference, and gets caught up in a murder investigation. She meets and falls in love with Chinese cop Li Yuan. In this second in the series, several bodies have been found, mutilated in a unique fashion, with enigmatic notes left at the scene. May includes much fascinating detail of archaeological investigation in China, and the fate of several artifacts provides the clue to the mystery.
FRAG BOX by Richard Thompson
One of the homeless persons who spend their days in St Paul, Minnesota is murdered on a city street, in broad daylight. A bail bondsman who knew the dead man is startled to discover that he has been named the sole heir. When it becomes obvious that quite a few people want access to something the dead man had hidden away somewhere, the book becomes a race on two fronts - to find the hidden stash, and to identify the killer.
NO SUCH CREATURE by Giles Blunt
Two con men cross the US annually, during the summer months, impersonating a wide range of characters and stealing anything that isn't nailed down. Purses, jewelry, cash, and other valuables. The two men, uncle and nephew, are on a roll, but of course, things begin to waver out of control. The closing pages have one of the most surprising "gotcha!'s" I've read in a long time. Lovers of Shakespeare would really enjoy this - spotting the dozens of references Blunt includes in the action.
THE GREAT GATSBY by F Scott Fitzgerald
The "classics" entry in this go around. And, like the others I've mentioned, I waited far too long to read it. Longing, betrayal, and fraud. Yet I thought Gatsby was in the end an appealing character. The film a few years back had Robert Redford in the title role. Although I've never seen the movie, and perhaps am not qualified to comment, somehow Redford does not "look like" Gatsby the way I saw him in my mind.
THE RENEGADES by T Jefferson Parker
LA Sheriff's deputy Charlie Hood is a witness to what seems like a gang killer dispatching an unpopular cop. But as he begins to trace the events which led up to the cop's death, he only finds questions which lead to more questions. I really enjoy Parker's books, and hope we can look forward to at least one more about Charlie.
CADILLAC DESERT by Marc Reisner
The western US is dry. It always has been, and probably always will be. Reisner traces the woeful short sightedness of US water policy and only sees trouble ahead.
THE DRAINING LAKE by Arnaldur Indridson
Icelandic cop Erlendur investigates the discovery of a skeleton in a lake bed sucked dry when an earthquake opened a fissure in the soil below. The answers lie in long ago events of the early Cold War years, and the dashed optimism of the many young socialists who went to Eastern Europe to study. I understand that Bernard Scudder, who has translated this series for several books now, died recently and a new translator is on the scene. I hope for continuing high quality in this series.
LONG LOST by Harlan Coben
Myron Bolitar gets a message from a former lover, and travels to Europe to help her unravel questions surrounding her husband's death.
That's it for this go around! Happy Reading!
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