Ain't Nobody's Fool / Martha Ackmann

 

3.5 out of 5 stars 

Dolly Parton is a force of nature who cleverly disguises herself as a blonde bombshell. I really admire how she overcame multiple obstacles like being raised dirt poor, being ridiculed for her ambition, being relegated to the role of “girl singer," and the general prejudice of the country music industry against women, especially those with unique voices.

It's difficult for me to relate to the poverty that Parton grew up in. Her song Coat of Many Colors is literally taken from her life, growing up in the Smoky Mountains. Dolly patiently endured what she had to and jumped on every opportunity that presented itself. Her determination to make something of her life and willingness to work herself hard resulted in the woman that I admire today.

Blessed with a pure but unusual voice, Dolly has defied conventional wisdom to become an icon. Her self-awareness led to her stage appearance: blonde bouffant wigs, heavy makeup, and tight clothes. But behind this façade lurks a shrewd woman who knows her own worth (and it has nothing to do with her bra size). She was fortunate to find Carl Dean, the love of her life, early on and have his support for 60 years. Carl eschewed the limelight, leaving that entirely to his wife. (Rumour has it that when she wanted to go out with him incognito, she left the wig and makeup behind and was rarely recognized.)

Dolly went through some frustrating years before she became the philanthropist we currently know. She freely admits that she made mistakes when she neglected to listen to her internal voice. But Dolly wasn't in it just for the money—she wanted to be able to take care of the people she cares about. Her theme park, Dollywood, wasn't a vanity project. Its purpose was to supply jobs and economic support for the community she grew up in. Her other concerns include women's health, education, and literacy (her father was limited by an inability to read and write). Her program to supply books to children is well known. This is what money is for, my friends, and I salute Ms. Parton for knowing and acting on it.

The tone of the book is more academic than I expected. It's not as conversational as I would have preferred, but it was still very readable. It is thoroughly footnoted and many obscure little factoids about people in Dolly's life are fascinating. In short, there is much more to Dolly Parton than meets the eye. Don't make the mistake of dismissing her as a dumb blonde!

No Fond Return of Love / Barbara Pym

 

4 out of 5 stars 

I am very much enjoying my year of reading Barbara Pym. This novel completely charmed me through the antics of the characters.

Paula Bryne in her book The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym says, “Barbara Pym's male characters are more often than not shifty, feckless, selfish and self-dramatising, relying on excellent women to solve their difficulties.” The man in question in No Fond Return of Love, Alywin Forbes, absolutely embodies this description. His wife has left him and though they aren't yet divorced, he keeps drifting from woman to woman (when he's not sneaking around in order to avoid them).

Alywin's brother, Neville, may be a supposedly celibate priest, but he also has abandoned his duties at Easter because of an unfortunate young woman (Miss Spicer) who has apparently fallen for the handsome clergyman. Like his brother, he chooses avoidance rather than dealing with his problems. Another non-excellent man.

Dulcie Mainwaring has recently been jilted by her fiance and has attended a publishing conference to distract herself. The attractive Alywin faints during his presentation, attracting her attention. She also meets Viola Dace, the purported reason that Alywin's wife left him. Dulcie and Viola become friendly and share a morbid interest in all things Alywin.

I think all women can recognize Dulcie and Viola in ourselves and our women friends. We cringe a bit when Barbara Pym lays it out before us, but who hasn't figured out the schedule of someone we're interested in and lurked in a likely spot to “casually bump into" them? If you haven't, you're a better person than I am!

A thoroughly entertaining comedy of manners.

Murder on the Marlow Belle / Robert Thorogood

 

3.75 out of 5 stars 

This installment of the series was an improvement over the last one in my opinion. The preceding volume annoyed me because of Judith's insistence on doing her own thing and completely ignoring the policewoman's wishes. Now Tanika, the policewoman in question, is on notice for not following proper procedure and she lets the trio know that their actions could make her lose her job. (And Tanika still has an elderly parent, a small child, and a useless husband to support.) It was Judith's lack of care for someone who had treated the older women well and involved them legitimately in the investigation that stuck in my craw. In this outing, the women try to stay out of the crosshairs while simultaneously figuring out who the murderer is. Judith is still very single minded, but she attempts to give Tanika some cover.

This was my airport/plane reading material and it was ideally suited to that use. The various characters surrounding the murder victim were varied and well defined. The victim himself had so many enemies that the reader has plenty of clues and motives to sort out. Thorogood provides one unexpected situation that suddenly changed my perspective and really added to the drama. And there was plenty of personal drama as the characters are largely members of a theatrical society. 

The last three chapters surprised me greatly and the last few sentences guaranteed that I will be reading the next book when it is published! 

Protector / C.J. Cherryh

 

4 out of 5 stars 

Book number 540 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project

What's a birthday party without some plotting, planning, and an assassination attempt? Cajeiri is turning felicitous nine and he is excited to be visited by three human children who he knew during his two years in space. Everyone is surprised when one of Bren's friends, now a ship captain, accompanies the kids, along with two security officers.

As usual, there are machinations taking place in the planetary capitol. Cajeiri's parents are at odds, staff has been changed, and it is no place for visitors. Bren and the Dowager agree to take the children to Great Uncle Tatiseigi's estate in the country. Even there, they cannot be assured of safety, despite what seems like a battalion of Guild members accompanying them. At least the children get one trail ride in before the shit hits the fan. Tatiseigi amazes everyone by seeming to enjoy the presence of the youngsters.

Cajeiri may only be nine, but he has matured. He is less bratty (though still stubborn) and much more responsible. The safety of his friends is uppermost in his mind. He may tell them a little more than the adults would be comfortable with, but he is protective. Thankfully, he has an entire crew of adults who are determined to keep them all intact.

Likewise, Bren takes fewer chances in this volume. His worst mishap is a cut on the cheek. There are no dramatic chase scenes, just a lot of distracting the enemy while the birthday group gets where they are going. Bren and Jase make a good team. There is more political manoeuvring than fleeing from danger this time around.

This book represented a very short period of time, so it didn't include the actual birthday party. That, it seems, will be part of the next volume.

Sleeping Murder / Agatha Christie

 

4 out of 5 stars 

”It really is very dangerous to believe people. I never have for years.”

I am a ninny and I paid far too much attention to Giles and Gwenda, neglecting Jane Marple! Ms. Christie used the young couple's investigation to divert my focus, just as she used Arthur Hastings in the Poirot novels. I am far too easily led.

It was certainly obvious that this final Marple volume was written well in advance. The version of Jane Marple depicted here is not nearly as frail and limited as she is written in At Bertram's Hotel and Nemesis. She actually has the ability to run up a set of stairs to prevent disaster and to be pulling weeds in the garden. That made things feel a little out of joint, but I was kind of happy to be reminded of the earlier depictions of a twinkly, impish older lady.

I can't believe that I have now read all of Agatha Christie's novels! I appreciate my friend Christine for organizing the project and the Appointment with Agatha group for their company on the journey. It has been proposed that we start over at the beginning and I think I will enjoy a repeat of the experience.

Lake Silence / Anne Bishop

 

4 out of 5 stars 

I didn't read the description of this novel before plunging ahead with it, so I was surprised to be reading about a new assortment of humans and Others. I like them every bit as much as the original cast of characters.

How many women have been gaslighted by abusive men? Vicki DeVine has been criticized and berated by her jerk of an ex-husband for so long that she is beaten down and has internalized his poisonous lies. She believes that she is unattractive, stupid, and useless. She doesn't trust any men and can be induced into a panic attack by even mild criticism. Nevertheless, she has been successfully updating the property that she received in the divorce settlement and is on the way to reclaiming her life. Until her sleazy ex decides that he wants the lakeside property back and sets out to bully her into abandoning it.

What is Vicki to do? Thankfully she has a crew on her side—her friend Julian, the bookstore owner; Wayne Grimshaw, a reassigned highway patrolman; another businesswoman in town; and, most importantly, a large selection of Others. One of the Crowgard has been renting from Vicki, getting to know her and approves of her approach to business and life. Vicki is surprised when one of the Sanguinati appears and tells her that he is her lawyer.

I wonder if Anne Bishop or someone close to her has a history with abusive men. I certainly have secondhand experience of it. The women in one half of my family were programmed by our grandfather to accept controlling men as a normal part of life. As a result, I really empathized with Vicki and I was cheering for her supporters as they protected her.

Two books in this series to go. I'm very much looking forward to them.

Etched in Bone / Anne Bishop

 

4 out of 5 stars 

Having just read Bishop's latest novel, I was reminded that I never finished her previous series <i>The Others</i>. I couldn't resist getting back into it. I was so happy to have an e-book immediately available on Libby. It has been over a year since I read the last volume and I was worried that I would have a hard time getting back into the flow of things. I had forgotten a few details (the terra indigenes calling the young human women “exploding fluffballs" for example). But the broad strokes were still present in my memory banks.

Right from the very first book, I watched as Simon Wolfgard took in Meg Corbyn, a blood seer who was escaping her Controller, the man who cut her to cause her visions. Simon is challenged to learn about humans in order to protect Meg and he gets drawn into more relationships with more humans as time goes on. Meg is special to the Others and they all look out for her. But none with the same care as Simon.

In this installment, the humans cause more problems in the Lakeslide Court where humans and Others mingle and live in community. The brother of one of the police officers comes to Lakeside to try to take advantage of his family. The ancient, awesome indigenes do not understand grifting and they forbid Simon to expel the con man. They wish to study him to determine the difference between good humans and bad humans. He is just one man and they underestimate his trouble-making potential. The turbulence that he causes has frightening consequences. 

Why ever did I stop reading this series? I must have gotten distracted. This is easily fixable. I'll be squeezing the next book into my reading queue ASAP.