The first was a Southern gothic, complete with crumbling antebellum mansion, draping Spanish moss, faded belles, ghosts, the works. It was an unfinished manuscript by the late Michael McDowell, who apparently was a horror writer of some note, and was finished by Tabitha King (wife of Stephen, an accomplished writer in her own right.) The title is Candles Burning. I was completely absorbed by the story--read nonstop for two days-- and am now thinking of looking into other works by McDowell.
Next was Fear of the Dark by Walter Mosley. You might recall that Mosley became well-known a while back because Bill Clinton was fond of his EZ Rawlins series. If you haven't read those, you should. They're wonderful. But this book features another pair of his recurring characters, Fearless Jones and Paris Minton. Like the Rawlins stories, this one is set in the Watts/South Central Los Angeles of another era--the forties. It features a population of black folks who have been made mobile by serving in WWII and have moved from south Texas and Louisiana to the big city in search of better opportunities. In those days, Watts was a peaceful and prosperous area populated by working class folks of all colors, but you can certainly see the seeds of trouble to come as you follow these novels. Fearless and Paris are an unlikely pair of mystery-solvers. Fearless is a big, tough, physically intimidating but sweet-spirited black man, a decorated WWII hero held in high esteem by the community. Paris is small, nerdy and bookish, and owns a used book store where he holes up all day rereading classics. Trouble seems to keep coming to Paris's door, and his great friend, Fearless, is always there to help him out. I also read this one cover to cover in just a day or two.
So, what have YOU been reading?
11 comments:
Im reading the chameleon's shadow by Minette Walters its the first one of hers that I have enjoyed for a while
Im reading the chameleon's shadow by Minette Walters its the first one of hers that I have enjoyed for a while
Obviously, you are REALLY enjoying it. ;)
I read it twice it was that good
I recently finished Dawn Powell's Angels on Toast. I ran across the book when I was in Chicago and remembered that someone had recommended her. It was really good, funny and smart.
For my book group, we're reading a novel called Ursula, Under, about a girl who falls into a well. But the story's really about her ancestors, the back story that leads to her birth. I'm only a little way in. It's pretty good so far.
I just finished Nightshade, a Chna Bayles herbal mystery by Susan Wittig Albert. I like this series because Albert puts in a lot of good information about herbs--and resources she uses for research.
Did you know that potatoes and tomatoes are part of the deadly nightshade family?----way back "in the day" people didn't eat either one--thinking they were poisonous.
Anyway the book was a good page-turner
I read Jed Rubenfields "Interpretation of Murder" whilst on holiday. Which was ok. But very long and drawn out.
I am now reading a book by Kate Mosse called Sepulchre. Which I can't put down and I shall be going out to by her other book Labyrinth as soon as I have finished.
I just finished Widow of the South. It was set in the civil war era and reflected the true life story of a woman who had her plantation taken over during a battle, and used as a hospital. Afterwards, she felt obligated to care for the deceased soldiers bodies and when the battlefield graves were threatened by the land owner, she and her family transported all the bodies and buried them with honor on their land. it was fascinating.
next on tap. the book that was sent to me by a bookshelf buddy. :)
Just finished "American Eve" by Paula Uruburu. To me it was disappointing that I know little more about Evelyn Nesbit's mindset than I did when I watched Joan Collins portray her in the movie "Girl on a Red Velvet Swing."
It does gives great detail of Evelyn's life and the fascinating rivalry for her affections by Stanford White and Harry K. Thaw that lead to murder. However, it is the kind of book where you wish you could slap people upside the head and ask as David Letterman once did, "What the hell were you thinking?"
If you haven't seen "Ragtime" or the Velvet Swing movie, you might prefer them to the book. The book goes on about 70 pages too long, yet leaves many questions unanswered.
It's very long, sorry.
I've been busy over the past few months between the baby, work and school. It's shocking how much reading time you have when you don't watch TV, go places, or sleep.
I loved "three cups of tea", it's worth the read and i encourage you to read it.
I read several several books of children's nonsense rhyme to the baby, she seemed to like it and now claps in rhythem to the reading.
"The Daily Show and Philsophy" was okay, if you're a fan. I'll probably give in and read Colbert's book.
"Free for All" by Don Borchert was a great read and very funny, if youy want to know just what was found in the dropbox at the library, read it.
"world of Girls" by L.T. Mead (it's over 100 years old, I got it for $5 at a library in Indiana)
"20 Most asked questions about the Amish and Mennonites" It wasn't worth the read. It was like reading nazi propaganda, it could have been written better.
"On The Art of Teaching" by Mann. This was suggested reading and short, 20 mins long, so I read it. It was okay.
"I love everybody (and other atrocious lies)" by Laurie notaro. What can i say, i'm not a nice person, so Laurie and i get along and I can see myself doing what she did at costco.
Eats, shoots & Leaves" by Truss. I read this for my kids at school, they had fun with it.
Water babies by Kingsly (also 100+ years and from indiana for $5). It was a nice fairytale. I love the way old books smell.
The house on mango street (i loved this book so much, I wish we could teach it at school. short stories are perfect for kids who have reading and attention problems, and the material actually relates to them).
Little Heathens (One of my most favorite books this year, read it if you had depression era family or wonder how they did things back then. I really loved her describing what went into cooking and how the stove/dish sink and washing machine worked, oh and she places many great recpeies in there with family stories about the food mixed in. it's a feel good book.).
"Middlesex" (I read this while pregnant and while the baby was little...not a good pregnancy book, but a good book)
"It's not News, It's Fark" by Drew Curtis, it's great fun and makes many great points about our shitty news. it reminded me of Bert.
"Where's Bin Laden? and many others" by Daniel Lalic. a quick joke book, stocking filler item. not worth what someone paid for it but entertaining.
"The Mighty and the Almighty" by Madeline Albright (worth the read, she's a smart lady, we had a great chat after reading it)
"It's a guy thing" by Scott Seegert, worth a giggle or two but don't buy it.
"What do Jews Believe?" by David S. Ariel, this was a great read and lead to a good conversation, so worth the time.
"Running on Empty" by Peterson, interesting book but depressed me a little.
"Adam's Curse" by Sykes, not a book for people who don't admit we're related to monkeys.
"The truth about testing" by Popham (good for anyone who doesn't like standardized tests, it's gives you all the big words you need to sound smart and prove your point!)
I also re-read all of fannie flagg's books, and i just love fannie. She makes me laugh and cry and i love the recipies she places at the end of her books. I wish more of her books were made into movies.
I have a few dozen others that I've read since last August, but I don't feel like digging them off a shelf. I will say, out of all the overpriced textbooks I bought and read this year, one of them read like people magazine using celeberties and all of their dirt to make points. it was highly entertaining and i don't know if i actually learned anything from it that i needed to, but i didn't fall asleep when reading.
Right now I'm taking a break because i go back to work next week and go back to class so i will be busy and don't know when i'll get to pick something up for me.
p.s. emma, I knew that about potatoes and tomatoes because I read a book called "The potato" a few years back and it mentioned that. It's a great book if you can find it. It talks about the history of the potato and what the potato did to re-shape the world. It might be a book you'd like.
Jilly
Bloody hell, Jilly, do you ever sleep?
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