by Agatha Christie
Libby audiobook 1 hour
Read by full cast
Published: 1957 (this version 2010)
Genre: Murder mystery, Miss Marple detective
This is another Miss Marple book I've read before but not blogged. I remembered many of the details, but not who the killer was! I love how Miss Marple used her friend Mrs. McGillicuddy's info to report the murder and then investigate. I also love how she got Lucy Eyelesbarrow to help. Such a great story with unexpected twists and turns. Greed is evil!
by Agatha Christie
Libby audiobook 2 hours
Read by full cast
Published: 1964 (this version in 2010)
Genre: murder mystery, Miss Marple detective
I know I've read this before, but since I didn't have a blog entry it was either one that I read before I started blogging or one that fell through the cracks . . .
Although I liked the vocal work of the full cast, some of the necessary abridgements bothered me. Miss Marple is a favorite of mine, but this version made her seem like a horrid gossip who only knitted and chatted.
I ended up liking Mr. Rafael much better, though. I remembered who the murderer was, but not how the whole story came together. Now I'd almost like to re-read the full text for myself . . .
"reminders of mortality" . . . I think those are helpful! Marriage and partners . . . interesting observations made by different characters. I'm glad I'm in a positive marriage!
St. Honore' and "West Indies" - does anyone refer to the Caribbean that way any more? (I thought this was an actual place. I googled it and learned about the pastry before I found that it is a fictional island. Part of my love of reading ties into my love of learning!)
Sorry for all my ellipses in this entry. I'm not feeling very expressive today.
by Merlin Carothers
personal collection paperback 106 pages
Published: 1970
Genre: Christian faith, witness, memoir
This is one of those books that has been sitting around my house for too long. I'm so glad I read it! My plan is to donate it to The Recovery Church, but I am very glad I read this book.
Carothers has a wonderful personal story filled with action. After being determined to get his own way, God got hold of him! I started putting post-it notes on pages, but instead just started underlining. (I hope that doesn't irritate the next person who reads it too much.)
I love that Carothers shared his struggles and doubts as well as how God worked powerfully in his life. He is very relatable. (I looked online and see that he published lots of books and ministered until his death in 2013.
The power of praise. Praising in ALL circumstances. There is so much Scripture to support his ministry of praising God continually.
I love this book. I hope other readers of it are blessed!
Also, I think it's weird that there's no Wikipedia page for him. Perhaps I should author one . . . but I've not yet done any of that.
by Michelle Shocklee
Scott County Library paperback 381 pages plus author's note and acknowledgements
Published: 2022
Genre: Christian historical fiction
This story is told from Priscilla's perspective in the late 1890s and from Audrey's perspective in 1961. Both women have a lot to say about life! I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading Shocklee's Under the Tulip Tree . . . whether or not we read it for book club! (I just checked. It was published in 2020 and is available.)
I'm sorry I'll miss our discussion of this book, but I'll note here the places I put post-it notes.
Page 64 (Audrey): "Perhaps I was just as bad as that school principal and my classmate. Being angry about injustice was a good thing, but words without action to back them up are worthless."
She recognizes that there were times she resented her brother Emmett or just didn't want to be associated with him because of his mental retardation (what it was called in the 1960s). I sometimes think, "So what am I going to do about it?" when I'm faced with a frustrating injustice. The proverbial "thoughts and prayers" seem to be too trite of a response.
Page 80 (Audrey): "Since Mama's passing, Mrs. Ruth had done her best to fill the emptiness I hadn't even known was there until recently. Women need women to talk to, she'd say and encourage me to share my mind and feelings."
I wish we'd gotten to know Mrs. Ruth a little better. She was so sweet to help with Emmett and give Audrey this advice, but she never came out of the background. I've known some women who don't seem to want to form relationships with other women. I appreciate the women in my life who have offered advice, compassion, contrasting thoughts, etc. I'm blessed with amazing friends!
Page 91 (Audrey): "I don't think I'll ever understand why some people hate others for no reason other than they're different from themselves," I said, thinking of Emmett and how he was often mistreated by strangers.
"That seems to be a question for every generation that has ever existed."
Audrey and Jason were sweet together. I like how they were able to talk about the important things in life. Sometimes mindless hatred absolutely baffles me.
Page 153 (Audrey): "But that was a secret I hadn't told anyone. The very thought of pursuing it terrified me, yet the idea continued to float through my mind every so often."
She is contemplating a future working with children who have mental disabilities. I liked this line because the "idea continued to float through my mind." I find that when I have a recurring idea like this, God is prompting me to do something!
Page 167 (Audrey): "A slow smile spread across his face. 'As you wish.'"
I immediately pictured The Princess Bride and Westley!
Page 175 (Audrey): "'I'm sorry I wasn't kinder to you,' I whispered, tears once again springing to my eyes and flowing down my cheeks. Guilt made my chin tremble. 'I'm sorry I didn't take the time to get to know you the way Emmett did.'
I sniffled and closed my eyes. I hadn't prayed much since Mama died, but now seemed a good time to start.
'God,' I whispered as tears dripped off my chin. 'Please don't take Miss Nichols. Not yet.'
The brief prayer was wholly inadequate and completely ineloquent, but it covered everything I wanted to say."
I love that Audrey realized that Miss Nichols had a whole life and history that made her a unique and special person! And I love that she started turning back to prayer.
Page 193 (Audrey): "'The truth is, Audrey, death and sorrow are part of this world. I don't know why Miss Nichols couldn't have been spared her suffering or why my husband was killed in the war or why your mother died when she was still needed by her family.' She walked over and handed the Bible to me. 'But what I am certain of is if we believe what this book says about God and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord, then death isn't the end. It's only the beginning of something so wonderful we can't fully understand it.'"
Betty Ann was a pretty cool character. I liked her a lot!
Page 225 (Audrey): "'I think I understand. Young people like us forget older people were young once, too.' He smiled at me. 'This whole experience has made me want to spend more time with my grandparents. I think I'd like to record their life stories. Who knows what family secrets I might uncover.'"
As Jason and Audrey go through Miss Nichols' scrapbook, they try to figure out some of the questions that arise. It's a cool journey!
Page 229 (Audrey): "His eyes sough mine. 'I miss your mother every day,' he said softly. 'She's never far from my thoughts.'"
Audrey's dad was so sweet! He and Audrey had some really neat conversations. I don't think most 1961 dads were this sensitive and communicative, but I loved it in this story!
Page 284 (Priscilla Nichols): "'Count your nights by stars, not shadows. Count your life with smiles, not tears.'"
When Luca said this to Priscilla, I knew the meaning right away (and love the connection for the title). He was such a gem of a guy! He truly wanted the best for her. Such a sweet romance.
Page 304 (Priscilla): "Wasn't that what we all longed for? To be seen? Truly seen?"
I love her boldness and her courage! I was surprised and pleased at her dad's response to her life choices (That comes a bit later, and on page 345, her mom finally makes nice.). (Priscilla decided to help Reverend Meyers and his wife to rescue girls out of prostitution work.)
Page 330 (Priscilla): "'The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.'"
Mrs. Meyers was another cool character!
Page 361 (Luca to Priscilla): "'Who are we to tell God what he should or shouldn't do? I, too, wish things had turned out differently, but we cannot live in regrets. Choices were made that cannot be unmade.'"
Luca was the most fantastic male hero! Too bad how it ended . . . but I'm glad we finally found out!
Page 371 (Luca to Priscilla): "'There are so many of them.' He grew somber. 'All so young. They need you. They need someone who cares if they live or die.'"
Sex trafficking is not new. And the young are preyed upon. This is a hard topic, but one that affects too many people!
by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes
illustrated by Scott Magoon
Hennepin County Library hardcover unpaged
Published: 2018
Genre: Children's realistic fiction
The authors were injured in the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. This story is based somewhat on their experiences as amputees and connecting with a service dog.
I love that Rescue's POV is included. I love the bond between main character Jessica and Rescue. What a lovely book about overcoming adversity and being supportive!
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Libby audiobook 10 hours
Read by Alexander Spencer
Published: 1985 (this version)
Genre: Detective Mystery
This collection of short stories opened with Silver Blaze! Since I had just listened to that one in a different collection, I skipped ahead to the next story.
The Yellow Face - little girl with a mask. Kind of sad, really. Definitely more a product of the age it was written (1893).
The Stockbroker's Clerk - interesting. Didn't really seem like a typical Holmes story.
The Gloria Scott - dude ruins former shipmates' lives . . .
The Musgrave Ritual - The trigonometry was great, but would the trees cast the same shadows after a few hundred years? I don't think so. The gruesome end was creepy.Butler, Charles I crown, familiar
The Reigate Puzzle - father / son - murder of coachman
The Crooked Man - long, boring, drawn out, mongoose named Teddy
The Resident Patient - nerves, hanging, weird
The Greek Interpreter - so sad! Some people will do any unscrupulous thing for money. Mycroft / Diogenes Club
The Naval Treaty - stolen document, brother of fiancee, Sherlock doing battle
The Final Problem - Professor Moriarty and Sherlock's end . . . reminded me of the play I saw with Ann that reinterpreted this story.
I published this blog a week ago before I'd finished writing about these last three stories! Oops. Four people read this entry before I could complete it. I'm getting too careless.
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Libby audiobook 3 hours
read by Edward Hardwicke
Published: 2017 (this version)
Genre: Detective Mystery
This audio contained "A Scandal in Bohemia," which I've read before. I love how Holmes actually comes to admire Irene Adler. The photograph. The elaborate attempt to figure out where she hid it. Disguises.
"Silver Blaze" was a new one to me. I kind of liked who the killer of the trainer turned out to be . . . but I was super startled when one line of the story leaped out at me: "the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime." That made me want to re-read Haddon's book by that name. I don't recall if he credits Doyle with his title. The lame sheep . . . did not tip me off to what was happening. I'm no Holmes!
"The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" was somewhat familiar to me, but I didn't remember most of the story line. In the introductory part with the young housekeeper being interviewed, my blood almost curdled when the dad spoke admiringly of his son smacking cockroaches with a slipper. There was definitely something off. And asking her to wear a certain dress, cut off her hair, and sit in a certain spot. Just creepy. Even before we get to the starved attack dog.
The vocal work was great.
by Kathy Reichs
Libby audiobook 10 hours
read by Linda Emond
Published: 2009
Genre: murder mystery
I used to love watching the TV show Bones, so when I saw this book I thought I'd give it a try. Some of it was too focused on the forensic science aspect, but I definitely liked this narrator's voice much more than actress Emily Deschanel. Temperance Brennan is an interesting character. I was surprised that she was more of a pushover than I expected. It was easy to see that there was trouble brewing in the lab!
My favorite part was when a character named Otto was asked about his mother's death. His given name was Othello (and his sister was Desdemona). He said he "added a T and got the hell out!" I genuinely thought that was a funny line . . . but then the other characters snidely commented about how funny he thought he was.
The murdered elderly women, the missing bones, the young pathologist determined to make her way in the lab (unethically, to raise her own profile), the moody lab assistant Joe, the neighbor "Sparky" who hated Brennan's cat, the underground graves, detective Ryan, . . . there was a lot going on here!
So funny! I didn't realize I had read and blogged a different "Temperance Brennan" book until I published this one. Apparently I blogged Break No Bones on 7.30.2019 and vowed to not read any more of her books! Perhaps watching the TV show ruined the books for me.
I also forgot to add that it was frustrating that in a couple of places, the audio track SKIPPED. It's an mp3 and it sounded like I was listening to a scratched CD! To whom would I even comment? Libby? My local library? Ugh.
by Camron Wright
Scott County Library hardcover 214 pages
Published: 2001
Genre: Realistic fiction
Oh! I loved this on so many levels, though it isn't quite as good as his book The Rent Collector. Right away, the elderly Harry Whitney and his struggle with Alzheimer's reminded me of dealing with my own mom's end of life. I did NOT like the marriage struggles for Laura and Bob.
Page 1 - "My garden has taught me that every living thing must die. I have watched it happen now for scores of years - I only wish I could have a few more summers in my garden with Emily."
Although I am most certainly not a gardener, this line highlights one of the best things about being connected to the natural world. Death is indeed a part of life. This was Harry's recollection in a time of having clear thoughts. I love that he and his granddaughter Emily had a strong connection, but I don't think playing favorites is very nice. (He didn't really have a relationship with his other grandchildren.)
Page 43 - "Actually, they've been known to sneak in a hand of that (poker) as well. But don't play against Mrs. Wellington, trust me on that one. She used to be a dealer in Vegas - she'll have you sitting in your underwear in no time."
The whole scene where they're visiting nursing homes was so sad to me. I understand why it happens, but I'm also super glad that my parents were able to live at home until their deaths. This lighthearted observation about some of the elderly card players brought a smile to my face.
Page 145 - "I don't mean to compare you to an old mule, Emily, but in life, there will be people who throw dirt on you. If you shake it off and don't let it build up, like that old mule, you'll be able to rise above those dark situations that will occur in your life."
In a series of poems and letters, Harry shares his life wisdom and "treasures" of loving family. As Laura observes later, though the letters are directed to Emily, Harry actually is "speaking" to Bob and his sister Michelle as well. Some of these poems and letters were spot on (and interesting!) while others were less meaningful (to me, at least). I like puzzles but some of the code-breaking on the poems was way out of my league. Michelle (Bob's sister) and her husband Greg were not very well-developed characters. Greg just wanted more money and to find "the treasure." I loved the story about the mule who fell into a deep well! I also loved learning more about Kathryn (Harry's wife) who had died much earlier.
Page 187 - "Emily always try your best - be honest, make your best effort. If you do, you will be richly rewarded in the end. I am thinking of you."
In this letter, Harry tells a story of a king with three sons. He sends the sons off with a quest. The ending surprised me. I hadn't heard this story before and I really liked it.
I have lots of other books to read, but I look forward to reading Wright's other published work in the future. He may be one of my favorite authors now! (And I love that his author photo is of him at a young age with his grandfather.)
by Amy Lynn Green
Scott County Library paperback 366 pages
Published: 2022
Genre: Christian historical fiction (WWII)
I read this over a week ago (and our book club discussion was also over a week ago), but I have to blog it before I return it to the library!) It took me a little to get into the book (mostly because it starts out with four different characters. Dude. Do I need to take notes? Why is this the way so many books start out nowadays?) Once I got past that, I read it in one sitting! Ginny was most definitely my favorite character. She was very spunky.
My quick notes:
I also really liked Delphie. She was sassy!
Page 19 - "She closed her eyes, longing to kneel by the books a little longer and let the latest trouble run its course. But only for a moment, because deeper than the weariness was the knowledge that she was a mother, so all trouble in the family was her trouble."
This was Martina. Both the idea of books being an escape AND the idea that mom had to deal with all life's tough realities - this resonated for me.
Page 112 - "That was my favorite part of the book, actually. Put in straightforward terms - humans need stories because they appeal to our unconscious needs for love, justice, discovery, etc. - I could finally see what Anthony must have meant all along."
This was from Avis' notes from a book club meeting. I am very fond of stories. I love how Jesus used stories to connect with his audiences.(Anthony was her brother. He wrote letters to her throughout the war.)
Page 211 - "Good for me he didn't have a tuba handy, or I would've shown I don't remember much from high school except how to aim a spit valve at the school bully."
Russell wrote this in a letter to Avis and it's out of context, but it made me laugh. It brought back memories of band and how people could clear their spit valve carefully or not. There weren't a lot of laugh lines in this book, so I appreciated the comic relief. Also, I love that Russell got to be part of the beach patrol.
Page 272 - This remembered conversation between Louise and her father dropped a bombshell, but I don't want to have spoilers in this entry. From the beginning, these flashbacks to WWI and her relationship with her dad were leading to something that made her such a bitter, lonely woman. The whole Oliver thing was part of it, but this is where the "more" was clear.
Page 280 - "When you think about it, we're all passing through, in and out of this world quick as a passenger boarding a train, on the way to something that lasts. Until then, you might as well make friends with your fellow travelers. Because, like it or not, you need us, Ginny. And we need you."
Freddy is talking to Ginny after she's become withdrawn. He's such a delightful character!
Page 356 - "For I have found that books make fine friends - but fellow readers even better."
This was in a letter for Louise from her dad. It had been inside a book for two decades. To me, it was too little too late. He wasn't much of a father, in my opinion. I do agree with the sentiment in the letter, though.
I liked how the "minutes" from the bookclub meetings were included. They added to the story AND provided some amusement. Not sure why I tagged them all . . . starting on pages 72, 84, 99, 111, 148, 161, 185, 215, 242, 263, 311, and 360.
I hope this author has written other books!
