Six Degrees of Separation

Today's local paper carried an interview with author Brian Boldrey, whose new book Honorable Bandit: A Walk Across Corsica" is a memoir of his journey across the Mediterranean island of Corsica in 2004." Check out his hip website for more information.

What's interesting about this book to me is that it's "part travelogue, part memoir and part history."

Today Brian teaches creative writing at Northwestern University, but back in the late 70's, when he was in high school, he was a lowly student page and I was a lowly assistant at the Jackson District Library. Even then Brian evidenced a desire to see more of the world. It was also obvious that he had a pretty good sense of the absurd and humorous. I plan to take the trip with Brian this year. I'll let you know how it turns out.

This made me consider all the folks I have known who went on to write books while I was running libraries. Expect to hear more about them.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Year 4 of the Harry Potter series sat on my bookshelf for years waiting to be read. For one of my New Years' Resolutions, I have begun to read it and actually went out and bought Year 5. Isn't that what retirement is all about?

Everthing Must Go

A couple of years back I attended Book Expo America; and when the lines for autographs grew long, I chose the shortest one not even caring who the author might be. Then I discovered I was in the line for a book I had just read and found amazing, Emma and Me, by Elizabeth Flock!

That made me very interested in reading her newest novel (11/2006) Everything Must Go.

Maybe Christmas wasn't the right time to be reading such dismal fare. Henry Powell lives a life inside his head that doesn't match his tedious day-to-day existence. He is scary and sad and lonely. I had trouble with the shifts in time. Sections would be given a year and then within that section, Henry would go back in time. I kept hoping something would happen to break Henry free from his routine life. As years slipped by, he continued to work at the local clothing store and take care of his parents. The ending offers a glimpse of possible hope, but it is outside forces not Henry that brings this about.

John Brady, Canadian Mystery Author

John Brady's A Stone of the Heart is a dark, dreary night of a book. Set in Dublin, Police Sergeant Matt Minogue is trying to get back to work after a disastrous occurance. His first case seems straighforward on the surface but gyrates into something far more sinister and perhaps connected with the Troubles.

'Complex', 'compelling' and 'powerful' are words the Washington Post used to describe this book. The characters - both good and bad - are fully realized. The language and cadence of the dialogue is Irish and takes some concentration. This certainly fits my criteria for literate mystery.

This is the first book in a series of eight - the last published in 2005. Brady won the Arthur Ellis Award for this title for best first First Novel in 1989. The award is presented annually by the Crime Writers of Canada for the best Candian crime and mystery writing.
Wikipedia provided the following information which I found amusing: "The awards are named for Arthur Ellis, the pseudonym of Canada's official hangman. The award statue itself is wooden model of a hanging man. The arms and legs move when the statue's string is pulled."
P.S. This isn't the cover on my paperback either!

Do Covers Matter?

When I went out to search for the cover for my most recent read, I found all sorts of covers including the ones I've posted but none of them match the paperback I have in my hand. Since I bought it in Canada, I tried searching there and in the United Kingdom as well with no luck.

I will confess right here that I choose a book by its cover. Years I ago, I was in a small bookstore in an old house on the main street of Cederburg, Wisconsin. It was a picture perfect winter evening with twinkling lights and snow. Walking into the bookstore, no matter where you looked, there were beautiful books. Some of this may have been the skill of the bookseller but I have never forgotten that store nor the books I purchased that evening.

That's not to say that I neglect books with less than fortunate covers. I will read anything; but when I am choosing, I am going to look at the cover and read about the book before I make a committment.

Catalogue of Death

If you've ever worked in a library and have an off-beat sense of humor, you will fall in love with librarian Helma Zukas. Some of the reviewers at Amazon.com don't get the joke and find the series flat. Jo Dereske knows libraries and the odd ways of some of the folks that choose to work there. I have read some of the other 10 titles in the series and in the Catalogue of Death, which was published in paperback this year (2007), and I am impressed with the quality of her storytelling.

A snowstorm unexpectedly hits Bellehaven, but the library must remain open! The snow will halt construction on the building site for the badly needed new library building generously offered by Franklin Harrington, a town father. After doing some research at the library, he heads out into the snow. Shortly thereafter an explosion is heard and the fun begins.

For those that love libraries, this is a cozy, undemanding mystery series. Index to Murder is coming in 2008!

Jo Dereske

A Blackbird Sisters Mystery

A good friend, who shares a love of mysteries, gave me the first title in the Blackbird Sisters Mystery series last week. Called How to Murder a Millionaire, it's all about great clothes, men, and what's going on in Philadelphia's upper class Main Line. (This is not to be confused with the 1990 Joan Rivers movie of the same title.)

Emma, Nora, and Libby have some sibling rivalry going on as well as embarrassment that their parents have flown the country to avoid the tax collectors leaving little behind for the formerly well-to-do sisters. Nora finds a job as a society page columnist but at her first assigment she stumbles on the murdered body of the host, a family friend and wealthy art collector.

Looks like there are seven titles now if this is your kind of story. I enjoyed it because of the references to Philadelphia where I grew up. Interesting characters and clever dialogue helps make the book an enjoyable, light read for those looking for cozys with a bit of romance.

Check out more about the author, Nancy Martin, and her mysteries at her website.

And now for something completely different. . .

All Saints by Liam Callanan is his sophomore book having created a stir with The Cloud Atlas, which was compared to Ondaatje's The English Patient. I am not familiar with either.

All Saints, is a Catholic High School located on the Pacific ocean in Newport Beach, California. It should be paradise. The author weaves in stories of saints, which are interesting whether you are Catholic or not.

My first impulse was to associate with the narrator, theology teacher Emily Hamilton, because our private thoughts are often not what others would expect from us and she is fascinating. After finishing the book, I grew more and more appalled at her character and how the author allowed Emily to draw us in as she did those who attempted to love her. Emily's self absorption and lack of control results in unfortunate endings for a number of people who make the mistake of reaching out to her. A disturbing and cautionary story.

The Flurry Continues

Then there was Ian Rankin's Blood Hunt. Although I have read two of Rankin's books, neither has been an Inspector Rebus title for which the author is well known.

Here's another conspiracy tale. Jim Reeve, a journalist, is onto a 'big' story in the states when he apparently commits suicide. His brother Gordon Reeve, an ex-SAS operative, doesn't believe it and takes the revenge of this death as a challenge. (This would make a great Bruce Willis movie.)

Again the violence committed, even by our hero, was over-the-top.

Here was another book that kept me up past my bedtime.

A Flurry of Reading in Retirement Begins

First there was The Lost Constitution by William Martin. Actually that was a fun read since I love conspiracy tales like DaVinci Code and Book of Fate. In this sprawling story, warring political factions are trying to obtain a rumored hand notated copy of the U.S. Constitution to help their side prove its right. Everyone hopes that the notes from the original framers will clarify present day entrenched debates.

Chapters alternated between the past and the present allowing the reader to follow how the two paths that converge by the end of the story. The protagonist is a rare book dealer who accepts requests to find historical documents.

My reservations about the book are the huge number of characters the reader had to follow and the amount of violence. The book was a page turner for me with enough historical information to please the genealogist in me.