The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club / Helen Simonson

 

5 out of 5 stars 

I shall have to thank my local book shop for recommending this title to me. I might not have picked it up without their nudge and that would have been my misfortune. Mind you, I should have known that the author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand would produce another incisive commentary on unwarranted prejudices and the ridiculous rules of the class system, all wrapped up in a charming story of female friendship and unexpected romance.

The time frame of the novel was what cinched the deal for me, set in England in 1919 as the Great War has wound to a close. Back in February, I read a nonfiction book, Singled Out, about the societal changes brought about by this war. The loss of so many young men, resulting in “surplus women" who now must plan lives without marriage and with extremely reduced chances to make a living for themselves. Women who had worked steadily and well during wartime were abruptly sent back to the kitchen and the drawing room, pushed back into dependent positions. This novel illustrates the frustrations of these women to perfection.

Constance hopes to find some way to support herself, since her sister-in-law is hostile to her and her family farm is therefore no longer a welcoming haven. Her mother has recently died in the influenza epidemic and she has been left to the mercies of her mother's supposed friend, who considers Constance a burden and treats her as an unpaid servant. Despite the fact that she has nursed this woman's mother through the flu, she now finds herself persona non grata, and is sent on one last mission, accompanying the elder lady on a seaside vacation.

Some consolation comes from making friends with a group of young women who are trying to make a living using their motorcycles, running a taxi service. Constance develops a taste for ripping around the countryside wearing goggles and with her bonnet tied firmly to her head with a sturdy scarf. With her bookkeeping acumen and other practical skills, plus a substantial dose of courage, Constance becomes an asset to the seaside community.

There are many problems to be faced and overcome. I could sympathize and I found myself unwilling to set the book down until I knew the outcome. I would highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates the value of good friends and of knowing your own worth.

A Grave Robbery / Deanna Raybourn

 

3.7 out of 5 stars 

I am an avowed fan of Veronica and Stoker but I must confess that I was a trifle less impressed with this latest installment. The romantic tension is largely gone, as the pair are devoted to one another. While the mystery was good, I missed their jousting for advantage. Yes, they still elbow each other from time to time, there is still humour, but the banter is reduced. (I am somewhat reminded of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody and her archaeologist husband, Emerson. Amelia throws herself into events certain that she knows best and Emerson lurks fondly in the background, making sure that nothing too damaging happens to her).

I read the novel with pleasure, easily finishing it before the due date. Because there are many more Veronica Speedwell fans out there, awaiting their turn. Now, I turn to the question of whether this is the final volume of the series. The conclusion seemed to me like it wrapped things up nicely. It sounded final. But there are no definite indications, so I guess I will have to wait with everyone else for confirmation or denial.

Forlorn River / Zane Grey

 

3.5 out of 5 stars 

Book 11 of the 2024 Read Your Hoard Challenge

I picked this up second hand, remembering how much I enjoyed Grey's Nevada as a teen. That book I haven't been able to find, but lucky me, I can borrow the audiobook through the library! In about two weeks time I will revisit an old favourite.

In the meantime, in Forlorn River, we meet Ben Ide. Estranged from his father, Ben has purchased a homestead in the wilderness and spends his time catching and training wild horses. He especially covets a spectacular stallion known as California Red. Rumour around town says that Ben is rustling cattle too and there are always folk ready to believe the worst of others.

But the horse is not the only thing Ben longs for. When he hears that Ina Blaine is home from college and is visiting his sister and mother, Ben is convinced to come back to visit when his father's away. Ina doesn't give the rumour mill any credence and tells him so plainly. She hints pretty strongly that she's his girl, but of course there must be some suffering before they seal the deal.

Also introduced is Ben's friend, Nevada, who we are given to suspect is a bad hombre. We don't learn his true name (that's for the next book) but he has big ideas for the two men to earn cash, buy more land, and get set up for business when the drought breaks. He steadies the more emotional Ben, gets him steered towards financial stability and Ina, while managing to gain the regard of Ben's sister.

It's a typical Grey novel, complete with rather honourable outlaws, dishonorable businessmen, plenty of horseback riding, camping, cowboys, and a strong love story. It definitely shows its age, especially in Ben's Indian companion, Modoc. But you can feel Grey's love of the wilderness and horses on every page.

Tiassa / Steven Brust

 

4 out of 5 stars 

Book number 524 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project

Adventures in library borrowing. I was delaying the renewal of this book, wanting to get the maximum number of days, as one does. Suddenly, with three days left on the book, there were two holds placed on it! Two! My reading priorities were changed abruptly as I coped with this new situation.

Fortunately I do enjoy Vlad Taltos books and concentrating my attention on this one was no hardship. The plot covers a lot of time, taking us back to pre-marriage Vlad, goofily in love with Cawti, right through the various stages of his life since then. Like any good story, there are two sides. As expected, Vlad is the focus of one side. His counterpart is Khaavren, the Captain of the Phoenix Guard, who is tasked with investigating the events that Vlad has participated in. This book would not be part of the series if the plot wasn't convoluted. The two men are very different. Vlad is the fast thinker and practiced plotter. He employs an interesting mix of planning (involving rehearsing, as for a play) and flying by the seat of his pants. What his objective truly is may be obscured by decoy objectives. Khaavren is much more analytical, as befits a crime investigator and a Tiassa.

A very enjoyable romp in the Vlad Taltos universe. If you like him, I think you will enjoy it.

An Unforgiving Place / Claire Kells

 

3.8 out of 5 stars 

I really enjoyed this book despite some misgivings about some plot details. The Alaskan wilderness is very much a major part of this story, which was a plus for me. The isolation and the extreme riskiness of being out there caused me angst, even without murders and other events. The plot tension was relentless, requiring me to take breaks regularly. Close the book, do something calming, breathe.

Now for the niggles that bothered me. First was the notion of a fertility cult based in Alaska. Seriously, if you're running a “Let me impregnate your wife" business, wouldn't it make sense to be closer to population centres? How many people can afford to fly to Alaska and rent a bunch of gear? I suppose if you live in the back of beyond and spend a lot of time camping in the wilderness with your clients, maybe you don't need gobs of money. Generally, however, if you're running a scam you're very into making as much cash as you possibly can.

Okay, second negative: I'm getting very mixed signals about Felicity and Hux's relationship. Felicity's husband is missing, albeit for a long time. She assumes Kevin is dead but isn't absolutely sure. Also, she's quite convinced that Hux is seeing someone, an anthropologist or archaeologist. She's highly aware that she's Hux's senior officer and of the regulations that forbid romantic relationships between staff. And yet she seems to be catching feelings for him. I feel uneasy about this and much prefer their strictly friendly and professional bond in the first book. I do appreciate that Felicity is trying to resist the pull and I hope that Kells doesn't take us there simply to have a romantic element to the series. Not every mystery requires a romance!

Despite my reservations, I did find the book engaging. I will certainly read the third book when I get the chance.

Why We Read / Shannon Reed

 

4 out of 5 stars 

I would venture a guess that most of us who gather here are capital R Readers. We read regularly and devotedly. It brings us joy, comfort, and, if we're very lucky, epiphanies about our lives. It is always a surprise to us when we encounter someone who considers reading a bore or a chore.

Shannon Reed teaches literature in Pittsburgh and sounds to me like she's damn good at it. She covers a lot of literary ground in this defense of reading for pleasure. Love of libraries and rare book rooms. Historical lit. Children's lit. Tear jerkers. Amish romances. Shakespeare and other playwrights. Mysteries. Contemporary fiction. Poetry. Vampire novels. Harry Potter. Memoir. She has read it all and recognizes that we will all have varying responses to it, but that knowledge of what you truly enjoy is valuable and may change as you advance through life.

I often found myself nodding along with her points. Lots of people do get hung up on capital L Literature, like her student who tried to establish his superiority to the other students by saying that Moby Dick was his favourite novel. The class smelled a rat and strongly suspected intellectual snobbery, which Reed discourages. Reed approves of audiobooks—they do count as reading. She also recommends going to performances of plays (or at least reading them aloud, preferably in groups) rather than reading them silently to oneself. She gives counsel to those of us freaked by horror: Lights on. Before 8 p.m. Have snacks. Write notes. Make sure there are other people around. I concur with these guidelines. If you have issues with a genre, give it multiple chances. Just because one novel/short story/poem doesn't work for you doesn't mean that all of them won't. (I have a friend who refuses to read vampire or zombie novels because of an author in that genre who offended her somehow. She has cut herself off from all that fun because of ONE author's behaviour!)

There's nothing wrong with loving a particular genre as long as you don't use it as a measuring tool to put down readers of other materials. I struggle with poetry, but haven't made the effort that Reed has to try to appreciate it. I have issues with many literary novels, which seem to me more like misery porn than like entertainment. But I occasionally visit that genre in search of one with meaning to me.

My mother was a Writer, so I have observed a writer in her natural habitat. Most of her writing took place in that zone of the day where the supper dishes were done and her kids were in bed. I found it perfectly natural to fall asleep to the sound of steady typing. She read a lot to fuel this habit. I've read voraciously since I learned the skill. But, having lived with a writer and studying them at conferences over the years, I have come to realize that I am a Reader (and, to a lesser extent, a Reviewer). There isn't a novel inside me trying to struggle its way out. I am not driven to write. But you know what? Writers require audiences and I am an enthusiastic member of that audience.

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.