Bad Cree / Jessica Johns

 

5 out of 5 stars 

Wow, what a debut novel! I loved it. I'm so excited that the author will be a special guest at a conference that will take place in August here in my city. I'm going to go be a fan girl.

The things that I loved were numerous. The loving descriptions of the land in our province. The skillful use of traditional tales. The constant presence of crows, guiding and protecting. The family ties that bind Mackenzie to her family. The auntie power that fuels the three girls at the centre of the story. The revelation of how many family members have significant dreams.

My aboriginal connection is tiny: a 4th great grandmother who was half indigenous. She has obsessed me for decades and I need to return to my research to see what I can learn now that there's so much more information on the internet. I have experience with the dream world too. I remember meeting a guy that had appeared in my dreams for years—I just about fainted. I was disappointed when he turned out to be a bit of a jerk. But the best dreams are when my great grandfather or my mother come to visit. Or my Auntie Grace. It's so nice to talk & drink coffee with Mom & her sister, even if it's short and I don't remember a word we said when I wake. I remember the joy of being back in their presence.

I couldn't help but notice the insignificance of the men in this story. They were in the background but it was the women who shone. That spoke to my soul too. I miss my dad, but it's Mom that I dream of. And when I learned many important lessons, it was aunties who supplied them. Now I'm all homesick for the old days—time spent processing garden produce as a large family project, gossiping and laughing. Marinating in family and love.

The Salt Grows Heavy / Cassandra Khaw

 

3.75 out of 5 stars 

It's official: creepy mermaids are far superior to Disney mermaids. I won't pretend to completely understand this little novella, but I certainly appreciated how it turned Andersen's Little Mermaid upside down. This sea maiden has been captured and her tongue cut out.

Why have sharp teeth if you're not going to use them? This mermaid is carnivorous and cruel. Her “Prince" doesn't know what hit him—and he brought it on himself by hunting her down. She is the embodiment of female rage.

I learned a couple of new words and was reminded of several more. It's fun to stretch your vocabulary. I'm not sure that I would read more of Khaw's work, but this was a nice entry as my 2024 MerMay selection.

Pudding Up With Murder / Julia Buckley

 

3 out of 5 stars 

Sometimes I need a light book to fill in an evening and Julia Buckley's novels are perfect for that purpose. I found this one slightly less enjoyable than the first two and I'm trying to figure out why that is.

As usual, there is a fair amount of kitchen time, although less than previous books, I think. There was much less emphasis on clandestine food delivery, which I missed. There seemed to be a great deal of attention to romantic relationships around Lilah. Her best friend got engaged, as did her landlord. She admonishes a couple of young men in her circle to quit messing around and court their women. I think that may be the crux of my discontent—too much romance, not enough mystery.

Only one book left in the series, so Jay must seal the deal in that installment. He and Lilah certainly have their differences in this one, both of them being unreasonable at times. But Jay shows up when it counts! So I think I can be persuaded to read the final volume.

Exiles / Jane Harper

 

Mystery Book Club 2024

3.5 stars?

I much preferred this, book three of the Aaron Falk series, to the first one The Dry. I found that one blatantly obvious—this one at least kept me guessing until very late in the book. It's a slow paced mystery, involving as it does two cold cases. Those kind of investigations are all about amassing and analyzing data. In this, Falk may be the perfect investigator, being used to dealing with financial crime, which must have a similar method.

I think what also helped my enjoyment was the personal relationships that centered the novel, plus Falk's reassessment of the state of his life. His realization that he hadn't had a free weekend in over a year and that life was passing him by. Many people have these epiphanies, but few take action on them, so I truly admired his change of focus.

I read the first volume because my former book club had chosen it and this one as a current book club choice. I feel absolutely no urge to find volume two or to complete the series. I just count myself lucky that I found this one more agreeable than the first. I will look forward to our discussion next week.

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance / Lois McMaster Bujold

 

4 out of 5 stars 

Book number 523 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project

What an excellent idea the author had to change things up a bit in the Vorkosigan universe—a book following cousin Ivan Vorpatril. Ivan has been a consistent presence in Miles Vorkosigan's life, the tall, handsome cousin who shows up Miles' shortness and oddness of appearance. Ivan has been presented to the reader as a handsome, slightly dim, unambitious womanizer. In this volume we learn why.

I had not really absorbed the hints of how close Ivan and Miles were/are to the throne, before Gregor had children. With Ivan being favoured because of Barrayaran sensibilities regarding mutations. We, the loyal readers, know that Miles is not a mutie, but public opinion being what it is, Ivan has had to live with the knowledge that he could disastrously end up with the keys to the kingdom. No wonder he underachieved so determinedly! Don't build a strong CV for a job you don't want. Hence, no wife, no pursuit of position, no startling brilliance.

At least until Byerly Vorrutyer appears at his rental suite on Komarr requesting Ivan's assistance with an espionage mission—keeping track of a lovely young woman, judged to be just his thing. However this woman, Tej Arqua, turns out to be from a very prominent Jacksons Whole family, on the run from those who would kill or capture all of the Arquas. Things get complicated in a hurry and Ivan does something very Miles-like: to prevent Tej from being taken into custody, they perform an impromptu Barrayaran marriage ceremony, with the understanding that they will divorce on Barrayar when Tej's future moves are determined.

As circumstances evolve, Ivan reveals that he has been hiding his light under a bushel. He shows that he can plot and plan, improvising when necessary, with the rest of the clan. Now what will he do with his newfound Lady Vorpatril? Who had no idea from Ivan's low key demeanour which strata of Barrayaran society she was hitching her wagon to? There is a point where Ivan wonders how he ended up in his predicament without Miles being anywhere near him.

Chronologically set before CryoBurn, but published after it, causing me a bit of angst until I figured that out. Very, very enjoyable. Miles aficionados be warned that he appears only briefly close to the book's beginning.

The Tainted Cup / Robert Jackson Bennett

 

Free Range Reading

3.7 stars

It seems like I keep hearing about this book from many sources, most recently at a book club event at my favourite book store. It is often described as a Sherlock and Watson mystery in a fantasy world. The world, with all its contagions and rot, reminded me a bit of Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl. The language of the Empire, describing its ranks with Latin titles, made me think of Jim Butcher's Furies of Calderon. But Ana Dolabra is very much an eccentric Sherlock to Dinios Kol's calm, grounded Watson.

Unlike the original Watson, Din has more on the ball. Not everything, so Ana pulls a rabbit out of her hat on several occasions, amazing him. Being an engraver (someone who can commit everything they can see to memory), Dinios has advantages over poor old Watson and he uses his brain to their mutual benefit more than once. On the other hand, engraving was his only talent—he failed every other class dismally and had to figure out a route around that obstacle. In other words, he is sneaky, a trait that is useful in crime investigation.

I didn't expect to enjoy this novel as much as I did. I'm surprised to find that I'm very interested in the next installment.

Remnant Population / Elizabeth Moon

 

5 out of 5 stars 

Free Range Reading

I can't remember who brought this title to my attention, but if you are reading this thank you! It was excellent. I adored Ofelia, who has had it with being told what to do, how to do it, and where to do it. She is tired of her bossy son and judgemental daughter-in-law. She is sick of societal expectations and having to pretend to give a damn. How could I not love her?

So when the company that more-or-less owns these people decrees that they must pack their belongings (not many, not much room for luggage) and be put in cryo-sleep to be moved to another planet, Ofelia sees an opportunity. She packs a small bag and hides in the forest until all the shuttles have left. When she returns to the village, she luxuriates in the peace—no one wants anything from her. Her rebellion starts small: no knickers. This escalates to no clothing and to painting herself. She has time to create the art that she envisions, to garden, and to write in the station logs.

And then she realizes that she is not alone on the planet. First contact and, honestly, they're as bad as children for making messes, getting under foot, and demanding her time! But they are interesting and she wants to communicate…

I related strongly to Ofelia, in being fed up with the judgements of others. Once you reach a certain age, there's no requirement to give a fuck about many of the things that occupy young people. I recognize the freedom that she reveled in. Recommended if you are also a woman of a certain age who is no longer willing to comply.