What are you reading: September 14, 2024.

Currently reading The Stardust Grail. Next up will be Escape from Model Land and Travelers in the Third Reich.

Now, for something completely different, it's time for the gonzo alternative history of Mark Hodder and The Secret of Abdu El-Yezdi!

As expected, The Guermantes Way by Prousts is going slowly but I'm enjoying it. I'm closing in on the 1/4 point, and I'll be breaking up the reading into quarters, I think.

I'm about halfway through The Library Book by Susan Orlean. It's evolved from the story of the fire to the history of the Los Angeles public library system and I'm still into it.

I've been reading the brilliant 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. It's a doorstop of a book, coming in at just under 1200 pages, but I'm halfway through and expecting a pleasant journey to the end.

Free Fire – C J Box
Book on CD read by David Chandler
3***

Book number seven in the mystery series featuring Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett.

Recently fired from his job as a game warden, Joe is working on his father-in-law’s ranch when he’s asked by the Governor to investigate an unusual crime that occurred in Yellowstone National Park. An attorney, Clay McCann confessed to killing four campers, claiming self-defense. But he did so in a tiny corner of the park that is actually in Idaho, and a loophole in the law gets him off completely. The Governor wants to know what’s really going on.

Gosh but I love Joe Pickett. He’s an astute observer, keeps his cards close to the chest, doesn’t take unnecessary chances, but doesn’t hesitate to go into dangerous situations when it’s called for. He calls on his friend (and somewhat of an outlaw), Nate Romanowski, for back-up. This is a guy you definitely want to have on YOUR side!

Joe quickly discovers that not everyone comes to Yellowstone for the spectacular natural scenery. There are some hidden agendas regarding ecoterrorism, deals cut with major bioengineering firms, and possible drug dealing. Can he sort it out and discover the “real” culprit before a natural disaster occurs to wipe out all evidence?

I’ve yet to visit Yellowstone, but this book really increases my desire to do so. That’s just a bonus.

David Chandler does a good job of narrating the audiobook. He sets a good pace and I like the way he interprets Joe and Nate.

I'm about a quarter of the way through Active Measures: The Secret History of Disinformation and Political Warfare, by Thomas Rid. I'm just up to the early 1960s. Interesting book and very readable.

Continuing to enjoy this audio via Libby ~

Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame: A Novel
by Olivia Ford

Finished yesterday The Widow Spy by Megan Campisi and started On the Royle Range by William W. Johnstone. I have to go somewhere today and should be able to finish House of Mirth by Edith Wharton audio I have in the car.

Yours Cheerfully – A J Pearce
4****

This is book two about Emmeline Lake, a young woman who was introduced to readers in Pearce’s Dear Mrs Bird. Emmy has now taken over the advice column, but she has also been tapped to helped formulate a new plan to encourage women to take up the jobs in factories that the men have left to fight in World War II.

I was completely charmed by Emmy in the first book and really like to see her continued growth as a woman and journalist. As Emmy meets the women on the line in a munitions factory she also begins to identify the societal and industrial prejudices that women are suffering. They are penalized if they are late or skip a day due to childcare issues, but neither the government nor the factory owners seem able to even recognize the unique issues faced by this new workforce, much less to address them. Well, Emmy is bound and determined to open the eyes of her readers and of the country’s leaders, and to advocate for solutions. I loved that she had a boss who was so supportive and encouraging, who even pushed her a bit to spread her wings.

Like many other readers, I’m getting tired of the barrage of WW2 books, but still really enjoy novels like these that deal with the effects of the war on those “back at home.”

>9 BookConcierge: Hey there! I've just started Dear Mrs. Bird. Nice and breezy. Just what I need for my break from Proust. Cheers.

Three Notch Safari by Christine Trent
New and 2nd installment in her "Heart of St. Mary's County" series. This is the author's first contemporary set series in her home state of Maryland!

The World Is Yours: The Story of Scarface
Glenn Kenny
This is the story of the making of the film Scarface starring Al Pacino. This is a pretty detailed account of things that happened during the shooting of the film and some history and the legacy of the film. 3/5 stars A Dozen Film and TV Books

I've decided to read Proust's The Guermantes Way in quarters. It's enjoyable, but mostly slow reading. Having just reached the 1/4 mark, I've set it aside and, as I mentioned above, I'm about to start Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce. It's a breezy, light-hearted somewhat comedic novel set in London. During the blitz. In a blurb on the back cover, The Guardian calls the book "a wartime romp." This is the first of a 3-book series, and if you look upthread, you'll see that BookConcierge is enjoying the set (>9 BookConcierge:), so that's a good sign!

Worn, People's History of Clothing by Sofi Thanhauser. Recommended by someone on Needlearts.

>13 rocketjk: Thanks for the shout out. Hope you're enjoying Dear Mrs. Bird.

Dragon Actually – G A Aiken
3***

From the prologue: Fearghus the Destroyer. A black dragon who likes being alone in his cave and has no desire to change that. Until Annwyl the Bloody drops into his life. So welcome to the world of handsome warrior dragons and the bloodthirsty females who love them.

My reactions:
The plot is thin: Annwyl (a human) is at war with her brother and his forces. Seriously injured in a battle fought very near to Fearghus’s cave, she’s rescued by the dragon, nursed back to health, and then begins serious battle training with a mysterious (and incredibly sexy) knight. Her anger turns to lust and there’s a lot of hot sex.

Meanwhile, Fearghus’s siblings begin to arrive and his mother, Queen Rhiannon, gives Annwyl an audience. At the end of the Annwyl - Fearghus story is a bonus novella that gives us the background of Rhiannon and her consort (and their hot dragon sex).

It was a fast read and somewhat entertaining, if repetitive. I have to say I most enjoyed the family interplay between Fearghus, his siblings and parents. But I think I understand the “panties went poof” tag now.

The new thread is up over here.