Very similar to the other Eggnog book I read, Eggnog Murder.
Somebody drinks eggnog. She is allergic to dairy and of course, DIES.
How and why she was Very similar to the other Eggnog book I read, Eggnog Murder.
Somebody drinks eggnog. She is allergic to dairy and of course, DIES.
How and why she was murdered was a little bit surprising, but I will still stop reading any more books about eggnog causing death. I happen to like the stuff and don't want to read anything else about how it can kill people.
Two awesome little stories about Christmas. Full of love and caring. And a beautiful cover too.
Christmas for Two A non-traditional Christmas is made poTwo awesome little stories about Christmas. Full of love and caring. And a beautiful cover too.
Christmas for Two A non-traditional Christmas is made possible.
The Christmas Gift Brenda, whose own father was abusive, finds love in God the Father
Please see Notes from Author in Kindle Highlights about each of these two stories.
Non-fiction that is so good, it reads like a novel. Listening to it as so ably read by Matthew Blaney is a rare treat as well.
The book starts with theNon-fiction that is so good, it reads like a novel. Listening to it as so ably read by Matthew Blaney is a rare treat as well.
The book starts with the 'disappearing' of Jean McConville, a young woman and mother of 10, in 1972. The death, violence and destruction radiates out from there.
The picture on the cover shows the eyes of Delours (pronounced Delores) Price, a member of the I.R.A, found complicit in a bombing in London and on a hunger strike in the jail. One of the most intense scenes in the book describes her being force fed through a thin rubber hose. Gruesome.
The book is full of names, names that are more than names � Gerry Adams, Bobby Sands, the Price sisters, Burntollet Bridge, Bloody Sunday, Enniskillen, Margaret Thatcher, Ian Paisley � the names of people and places, events, that carry huge emotional clout. I admit I have a wholly different view of Margaret Thatcher after reading this.
This period in Irish history was referred to as The Troubles. According to the NY Times reviewer, Roddy Doyle: "“Say Nothing� is an excellent account of the Troubles; it might also be a warning."
5 stars
Just dawned on me. Review written on St. Patrick's Day. How ironic!!...more
Now, THIS is my kind of book. Since I was a math major in college, I love that the Time Traveller starts out with a discussion about existence and dimNow, THIS is my kind of book. Since I was a math major in college, I love that the Time Traveller starts out with a discussion about existence and dimensions. Without a fourth dimension - TIME- a thing does not exist. Just my kind of thinking.
The format is a story within a story, aka a Frame Narrative. We first meet the Time Traveler in his own environment - England in the mid 1800's. He explains his concept of time to his dinner guests and shows them an almost finished time machine. In fact, H.G. Wells invented the term time machine.
Within a week, he has completed it and uses it.... to travel to a far distant future in the year 802,701 A.D. There he meets the 'Eloi', a fragile small people and their enemies the 'Morlocks'. The Morlocks steal his time machine and he fears he may never be able to return. But he does. just to leave and never be seen again.
I had a hard time getting into the time travel story because of Wells' unique writing style. Within a chapter, I got into Wells' rhythm, and really enjoyed the book.
My favorite quote (and lesson):
"The too-perfect security of the Eloi had led them to a slow movement of degeneration, to a general dwindling in size, strength and intelligence".
The book starts with a list: all of the people in Mickey's life who have died of a drug overdose.
"People with promise, people dependent and depended The book starts with a list: all of the people in Mickey's life who have died of a drug overdose.
"People with promise, people dependent and depended upon, people loving and beloved, one after another, in a line, in a river, no fount and no outlet, a long bright river of departed souls."
Current Day, Philadelphia. Mickey Fitzpatrick is a police woman. Her sister, Kacey, is a drug addict. Mickey has a new partner, Ed Lafferty. Her old one, Truman Dawes, is out on disability-work related injury. A series of murders is occurring in her neighborhood: Kensington. The story begins when Mickey and Lafferty find a dead body by the Tracks. The story continues with more deaths and, added to it, worry that Kacey might be the next.
The story alternates between Now and Then, Then being their childhood. The girls are orphans and brought up by their maternal grandmother, Gee. Tough lady is Gee.
Story is very engaging, somewhat complicated, well written. Did not have a hard time following it at all.
Note: the story has many police acronyms. I found a meaning for four of them, made available in my kindle notes.
I LOVE eggnog. I decided to read a Christmas story with eggnog as its 'drink of choice'.
This is a Lucy Stone Mystery. Over the years, Meier has writteI LOVE eggnog. I decided to read a Christmas story with eggnog as its 'drink of choice'.
This is a Lucy Stone Mystery. Over the years, Meier has written about 30 of them (this is #23.5). They follow Lucy and her husband Bill from starting a family in Tinker’s Cove, Maine to present day.
Lucy is a reporter with the local Pennysaver. The receptionist there is Phyllis. Phyllis' husband Wilf has joined a new club, The Real Beard Santa Club. A gift arrives for Wilf on the back porch- an old-fashioned milk bottle decorated with red and green ribbons and a sprig of faux holly and filled with EGGNOG. Instead of letting Wilf drink this totally calorie-filled drink, Phyllis brings it to the Pennysaver Christmas Party. Someone drinks the eggnog and, you guessed it, DIES.
The clues unravel from there and as the reader follows them, the story becomes alluring. I enjoyed following these clues to their somewhat surprising conclusion.
Meier has written other books where the Stones experience various holidays. I hope to read one or two more.
This book was recommended by a good friend AND his daughter. They know I am a Catholic and that I would identify with the Catholic aspects of this booThis book was recommended by a good friend AND his daughter. They know I am a Catholic and that I would identify with the Catholic aspects of this book. Identify I did!! Enough to want to visit this staircase one day.
From Wikipedia: Lizzy Ender's father dumps her at a Santa Fe convent after her mother died on the Santa Fe Trail. A Methodist, Lizzy is an outcast in the school who can't comprehend the dedication to Catholicism. She thinks the nuns who pray to Saint Joseph for help to finish their choir loft (which doesn't have a staircase) are crazy. She befriends an unemployed carpenter and suggests he build the staircase. Her classmates are furious as they were waiting for a miracle to occur. The carpenter, named Jose, proceeds to build the staircase in a matter of weeks armed with three simple tools and his faith. After building the staircase, Jose disappears and Lizzy decides to leave the convent to live with her father, who was currently living on a ranch in Texas.
ANN RINALDI is an award-winning author best known for bringing history vividly to life. A self-made writer, Ms. Rinaldi never attended college but learned her craft through reading and writing. As a columnist for twenty-one years at The Trentonian in New Jersey, she learned the art of finding a good story, capturing it in words, and meeting a deadline.
This book and story is very good and I hope to visit Santa Fe one day!!
The wisdom shared in this book is phenomenal. Julian lived 700 years ago, yet her teachings and thoughts are very relevant to the events of the 21st CThe wisdom shared in this book is phenomenal. Julian lived 700 years ago, yet her teachings and thoughts are very relevant to the events of the 21st Century. She lived in a time of pandemic: the bubonic plague was prevalent during her 80+ year life. She is one of the most optimistic, loving, sharing person I have ever read.
7 Chapters are entitled Facing the Darkness Goodness, Joy, Awe The Oneing of God and Nature The Divine Feminine and the Motherhood Tasting Non-Dualism Trusting Our Sensuality The Power of Love Over Evil: A Call to Wellness
Chapter 8 enumerates the points of each chapter. What a wonderful way to review and remember the whole book.
Read slowly. Every sentence is worthy of extra thought.
Emma Malloy is an orphan whose parents died in a fire in NYC. She comes to the fictional town of Coal River, PA to live with Uncle Otis, Aunt Ida and Emma Malloy is an orphan whose parents died in a fire in NYC. She comes to the fictional town of Coal River, PA to live with Uncle Otis, Aunt Ida and their son Percy. Coal River is the home of the Bleak Mountain Mining Company and its greedy owner, Hazard Flint. Uncle Otis is a foreman there. He and Aunt Ida are pretty despicable too.
Wiseman wrote this book to highlight the horrible working conditions of the miners and their sons. Some of those boys were working at an age below the legal working age. Some of these boys worked in the 'breaker' and were called breaker boys.
Before researching for this book, Wiseman had not heard the term 'breaker boys'.
"When I found out young boys were used to sort coal until their fingers bled, and realized other people hadn’t heard of the breaker boys either, I knew it was a story that needed to be told. I also wanted to write about the boys who worked as nippers, spraggers, and mule drivers."
She also mentioned two real people who worked to change these conditions:
Johnny Mitchell - president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). Lewis Hines - a journalist, who, through his photography, exposed child labor in coal mines, cotton mills, factories, the newspaper industry, seafood ports, agriculture, and retail sales.
I learned a lot through reading this well written and engaging tale. I look forward to discussing with my Book Club later today.
I initially became interested in this book because my favorite genre is historical fiction. I LOVED the book, but let me tell you: THIS IS NO ORDINARY HISTORICAL FICTION. In fact, it packs in two more genres-fantasy and crime. Truly multi-genre!!
Written in 6 parts, the first is entitled "Afterlife A Gothic Fairy Tale Out the Window January 26, 1920". We meet Jeanne as a dead person. All her thoughts are seen from the other side. She had jumped out a window to her death. Thinking as a dead person might..how immensely fascinating. Extremely imaginative too. Highlights: 1) the Paris of the Dead. Did you know that there is another Paris where only dead people live? 2) the trial of Jeanne because she was accused of double murder - her own and her unborn child. Jeanne is looking for Modi. Will she be allowed to be with him where he now resides... with the Immortals?
Part 2 "Ghosts of Montparnasse The Missing Madonna 1981". An art student has come to Paris for a year to write a thesis on the Chilean artist, Manuel Ortiz de Zarate, whose studio was once located on these premises in the glorious years of Montparnasse. Modigliani had worked in the upstairs loft of these premises. She meets Annie Rosier who had been a model for Ortiz. Annie is more interested in talking about Modi than Ortiz. She mentions the Missing Madonna, a portrait of Jeanne and her baby girl, started by Modi and finished by Jeanne.
Part 4 "The Missing Madonna 2". Annie and the student set off for Nice... looking for The Missing Madonna. Annie then says that it is too dangerous in Venice and they continue their journey to attempt to find the painting in Rome.
Part 5 "Afterlife"
Part 6 "The Holy Family of the Circus Venice, 2021"
The story was well constructed. The phrasing was flawless; I do not think there was a word out of place. The last two parts were completely surprising to me and I leave them un-described. I leave it to the reader of this review to PLEASE READ THE BOOK.
This is my first book by Lapin. It won't be my last. I originally got a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I loved it so much, I paid for the Kindle copy. The review was a real pleasure to write. Will remember this book for a long time. Definitely in my top 10 for the year 2020 and my last book to finish that year.
The backdrop is The New York Public Library with alternating stories taking place in 1913 and 1993. It is a mix of historical fiction and mystery/crimThe backdrop is The New York Public Library with alternating stories taking place in 1913 and 1993. It is a mix of historical fiction and mystery/crime. I am beginning to love this type of cross genre book.
New York City, 1913 We meet Laura Lyons, her husband Jack, her children Harry and Pearl. They live in the New York Public Library in a 7 room apartment. The living quarters are the perk for the Building Superintendent. Jack is writing a book in his 'spare' time, Laura is an aspiring journalist, Harry is a sensitive kid, Pearl is Pearl!! Laura eventually is accepted at the Columbia School of Journalism.
New York City, 1993 Sadie Donovan works for the New York Public Library. Her mentor is Marlene Jenkinson. They, along with a guy named Claude, are preparing for an upcoming exhibit of the Berg Collection, entitled Evergreen. Marlene takes a job at the Boston Public Library and Sadie is selected to take over the planning. Rare books start to disappear. Sadie is eventually suspected as the thief.
Books disappeared in 1913 also. Jack and Laura are suspected.
This book was fabulously good. The connection between the two stories was the crime of stolen books and the relationship of Sadie to Laura. I'd love to tell you more, but I want you to be surprised!!
Fiona Davis has written 4 other historical fiction and all about buildings!! Her characters are usually fictional but not the structure!! I have read The Address, a book about the Dakota, and The Masterpiece, a book about the art school in the Grand Central Terminal. I gave 5 stars to these books as well, but my favorite by far is 'Lions'.
Will be discussing the book at my book club this afternoon. One of our members went to The Columbia School of Journalism in 1960 and has quite a story to tell. Can't wait for the lively discussion this book is sure to produce.
This book is not highly rated, but I thought it fabulous. Why? Unforgettable characters; a tragic accident that made me cry.
Written in 2011, it is theThis book is not highly rated, but I thought it fabulous. Why? Unforgettable characters; a tragic accident that made me cry.
Written in 2011, it is the fourth J Courtney Sullivan I have read. If I can, I will read at least one more The Engagements.
From the end of the book:
Three generations of women converge on the family beach house in this wickedly funny, emotionally resonant story of love and dysfunction from the author of the best-selling debut novel Commencement (“One of this year’s most inviting summer novels� —The New York Times).
The matriarch: Alice. Widowed, outspoken (as in bitchy); hides a secret.
The daughter: Kathleen. Divorced but now living with boyfriend on a worm farm in CA. Reformed alcholic. Bitchy, er, I mean outspoken, in her own way. She HATES her mother.
The grandaughter: Maggie. Daughter of Kathleen. Pregnant but not married. Is the most functional of the group. Her grandmother can't believe that such a nice girl is the daughter of her own daughter.
The daughter-in-law: Ann Marie. Housewife. Is into doll house decoration. What does that say about her? She met her husband when he was going to Notre Dame and she was going to sister school St. Mary's. I lived in South Bend, IN so this spoke to me too.
There is real ugly confrontation amongst the members of this group, but, since I will NOT forget this book for a long time, it has to be rated....
Petra Durst-Benning is a German Historical Fiction author. My introduction to her came through The Glassblower Trilogy. I have read the first two and Petra Durst-Benning is a German Historical Fiction author. My introduction to her came through The Glassblower Trilogy. I have read the first two and enjoyed them.
This series is about the photographer Mimi Reventlow. She travels for her profession, setting up shop for a few weeks in the towns she is traveling through. Her 'creations' are ingenious and popular. She is a strong personality and will take guff from nobody. This is circa 1905, so a strong female character is a rarity.
Her uncle, Josef, is a retired photographer in Laichingen. He is her role model. He is very ill and Mimi arrives to care for him in his final days.
Laichingen is a small town and the people have small town ways. Weaving is the main industry of the town and the owner of the mill, Gehringer, is a bigoted tyrant. Mimi has many run-ins with him.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a strong woman. Next up An Artificial Light.
Rowena Farre lived with her aunt as a child. They were in Scotland and it was the 1950's."A book of real and rare enchantment".
"Escapism at its best".
Rowena Farre lived with her aunt as a child. They were in Scotland and it was the 1950's. They found a very out-of-way cottage there. The home was called a croft. Their nearest neighbor was 3 miles away. A loch (lake) was much closer.
Their were many animals living at the croft: Rodney, a rat; Hansel and Gretel, a female and male otter; Sara and Cuthbert, a female and a male squirrel. And then, of course, was Lora, a female Common Seal. Adopted as a pup, she soon became the center of the croft's attention.
Lora was the smartest of the bunch. Eventually she learned and responded to 46 words. The rest of the menagerie knew no more than half that number. As the book progresses, we learn of many of the experiences of all of the animals and discover many of these animals' traits.
In a fascinating afterward, Maurice Fleming discusses the few known facts about the Highland years and later life of Rowena Farre, a mysterious figure who shunned publicity and remained elusive to the end.
The book is not available on kindle. I have a beautiful paperback copy with an engaging picture of a Common Seal on the cover. I will treasure it always.
Thank you, Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friend, Leila, for recommending this book to me. I did enjoy this book so much.
Yolanda (Yoli) is a sister. Elfrieda (Elf) is older. Although Elfrieda has everything: a loving husband, a huge talent for piano, is a concert pianistYolanda (Yoli) is a sister. Elfrieda (Elf) is older. Although Elfrieda has everything: a loving husband, a huge talent for piano, is a concert pianist, AND is beautiful, she wants to die. She has tried to commit suicide many times. Now she wants to go to Switzerland to be assisted in death and wants Yoli to help her. Oh my.
There has been suicide in my family. But these sisters' experience is quite different. I worried that my sister was very depressed, but we never discussed suicide. Despite the differences, I still felt I had something in common with Yoli.
The title? Comes from a Coleridge poem
In fancy (well I know) From business wand’ring far and local cares, Thou creepest round a dear-lov’d Sister’s bed With noiseless step, and watchest the faint look, Soothing each pang with fond solicitude, And tenderest tones medicinal of love. I too a SISTER had, an only Sister� S She lov’d me dearly, and I doted on her! To her I pour’d forth all my puny sorrows......
One of the most compelling stories I have read this year.
The book starts in a MN home to assimilate Indians into the white man's culture. Two orphanedOne of the most compelling stories I have read this year.
The book starts in a MN home to assimilate Indians into the white man's culture. Two orphaned white boys live there, too; there is no room in the state orphanage. It is a CRUEL place, but also some people DO care. Despite that, the brothers must run away. They do and take an Indian and an orphan girl with them. Actually they row away!! Starting on a (I believe) fictional tributary of the Minnesota River, the Gilead, and then on to the Minnesota itself, then the Mississippi, then St Louis. The story ends in Ithaca, years later.
The Characters
The Travelers Odie O’Banion � the narrator, short for Odysseus, and this story IS an Odyssey Albert � older brother Emmy � Cora’s daughter Mose � big strapping Sioux kid, pitches
The Good Guys Cora Frost � teacher; widow; kind; crafty (encounter with Bledsoe end of Ch 2) Volz � kind janitor; frequently breaks Odie out of the quiet room Faria � the rat that lives in the wall Miss Stratton � plays the piano
The Villians Hector Bledsoe � farmer; mean Mrs. Brickman � the black witch Mr. Brickman � her husband
Cilka's Journey is the second in the series The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Both books are based on real people.
Ludwig (Lali or Lale) Sokolov was the TattCilka's Journey is the second in the series The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Both books are based on real people.
Ludwig (Lali or Lale) Sokolov was the Tattooist of Auschwitz. The author, Heather Morris, interviewed him for her first book - about him. Lale spoke lovingly of Cilka.
“Did I tell you about Cilka?� “No, Lale, you didn’t. Who was Cilka?� “She was the bravest person I ever met. Not the bravest girl; the bravest person.� “And?� “She saved my life. She was beautiful, tiny little thing, and she saved my life.�
Cecilia (Cilka) Klein is the Cilka of Cilka's Journey. When Auschwitz was liberated by the Russians she was arrested for 'collaborating/sleeping with' the enemy. She was taken to Vorkuta Gulag, Siberia, 160 km north of the Arctic Circle. I am sure you know how cold it is there. And the accomodations were sparse, at best.
This book is about Cilka's stay at the Gulag. Morris weaved her story into a riveting novel: her job in the hospital; being taken under the wing of a female doctor; going out on the ambulance.
I will probably not go back to read the first book. I feel I got a distinct flavor of it from the flashbacks in this book.
There is a list of recommended reading at the end. I have highlighted the books in my Kindle Notes.
The Note from Heather Morris at the end of the book is a must read too.
Thank you for sharing your life and your mayorality of South Bend Indiana in this fantastic book. Be-cause of you, South Bend is nDear Pete Buttigieg,
Thank you for sharing your life and your mayorality of South Bend Indiana in this fantastic book. Be-cause of you, South Bend is now considered #30 on a list of the 100 best small cities to live in. I thank you for that too.
I lived in South Bend between 1962 and 1969... at least 20 years before you were born. But South Bend means a lot to me. My mother lived there until 2000 and my sister lived in Granger until her death in 1996.
Sharing your memories has made me nostalgic for my own as well. I too went to St Joseph High and graduated in 1966. The last time I was in South Bend was for a funeral in 2014. You were mayor by then. I wish I had known of you. I would have been more than honored to meet you.
This memoir allowed me to follow your life through high school, college at Harvard and Oxford and then on to management consulting in Chicago. (BTW, I lived in Chicago area for 9 years myself).
But you knew you had to 'come home'. You were probably surprised to win the mayor race at the tender age of 29. But I am so glad that you did as your ideas and communication turned a sad sorry city into one of promise.
I know other people will not have the personal tie-ins to your story like I do, but I want to encourage them to read this book anyway. You really know how to put a sentence together and those sentences made some pretty powerful reading.
If I could give your book 6 stars, I would... Your devoted fan, Celia
A satisfying tale of love and political commitment. This is Allendes's second novel and it is written in the same lilting style as the first.
There isA satisfying tale of love and political commitment. This is Allendes's second novel and it is written in the same lilting style as the first.
There is Irene Beltran, the unconventional daughter of a wealthy family, and Francisco Leal, son of Spanish exiles. She is the journalist and he is the photographer. They both work hard to uncover misdeeds of the political government.
Then there is Evangelina Ranquileo, a strange farmgirl near the village of Los Riscos who seems to possess supernatural powers.
I loved, loved, loved this book. Very worthy of Allende's extraordinary literary talents.
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