Next in the Bewitched By Chocolate series by H Y Hanna. This is a cute cozy mystery series about a young twenty something girl who finds out that the woman she thought was her mother had really found on the side of the rode in a basket, left there by her true birth mother. When the famous actress who brought up dies, Caitlyn Le Fey leaves America and goes back to the English countryside to find her real family.
In this mystery series Caitlyn has found her birthplace, the little village of Tillyhenge, that is owned by the Fitzroy family. James is the current heir and handsome love interest of Caitlyn. She has also found the Bewitched By Chocolate chocolate shop run by the Widow Mags, who turns out to be Caitlyn's grandmother and her daughter Bertha who runs the local herb and remedy shop.
There is always a mysterious death in the village that Caitlyn and her best friend Pomona work to solve while Caitlyn tries to win the affections of James. It was cute at the beginning but now so many books into the series, her inexperience in the ways of love and flirting is getting a bit odd.
I get that the author wants to stretch the build of a romance between them but this has gone on too long.
In this novel, a woman comes to town saying she is a witch with potions and powers to place curses and cures on people. She stirs up the anger of the villagers who pay her and then don't get satisfaction for the magic skills they asked for. A famous witch hunter also appears in the village and is invited to dinner at the Fitzroy mansion. When a body turns up Caitlyn is on the trail to find out why the murder took place...
The best paragraph in the book is spoken by Caitlyn's aunt Bertha, when she explains about being in control over the power of witchcraft, " But how can you ever be sure you are in control, and it's not the other way around? You could become a slave to the forces of Dark Magic before you realize. The darkness is there in all of us you know, and it takes great strength of character to make the right choice - the difficult choice. To choose understanding over judgement, forgiveness over revenge."
I think this is a good message for everyone even those of us who have no magical powers and just need to make good decisions, and make our chocolate the old fashion way with our own two hands.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Park Avenue Summer
Just as I am getting used to being a member of AARP and the fact that my doctors are now younger than I am and almost ready to start looking at how to sign up for medicare... another sign that I have crossed an invisible line... books that cover the 1960s are now considered "historical" fiction.
Renee Rosen mentions in her interviews that she was captivated by episodes of Mad Men which inspired her to find a way to write about that time period. Listed in the historical fiction genre is Park Avenue Summer, a novel written about Helen Gurley Brown as she takes over the reins of Cosmopolitan magazine.
The year is 1965 and Gurley Brown has just published her book, Sex and the Single Girl, which stirred up quite a bit of excitement among young women. This is also the time that Betty Freidan has written The Feminine Mystique. Young women are rethinking marriage and family. They are realizing they have more power than they thought. They can work and live on their own.
Alice has come to New York City to fulfill her childhood dream and become a photographer. Having lost her mother at a young age, she hopes to follow in her footsteps, leaving Ohio for the big city. Finding an old friend of her mother's as a mentor, she lands a secretarial job in the office of Helen Gurley Brown just as she is about to try and relaunch Cosmo as the new magazine that "her girls" are looking for. The fictional Alice is there to assist Gurley Brown as she historically goes up against the male executives trying to make Cosmo what she thinks is the new style of magazine young working women are looking for. With sensual cover photos and evocative articles she is hoping to turn around the failing magazine that has been covering recipes and how to get stains out of clothes.
Mixing fact and fiction we follow Alice, one of the women Brown's audience, as she struggles with the new age of women's mystique, the glamour and sexual appeal, and how she supposed to use it. As Alice works through her feelings about men, affairs and marriage, she finds her way around New York City and improves her photography skills.
Quite a fun book to read especially because I was a "Cosmo girl". Reading Cosmopolitan magazine in my late teens and early twenties, I can picture Helen Gurley Brown leading the way for a generation of women.
Renee Rosen mentions in her interviews that she was captivated by episodes of Mad Men which inspired her to find a way to write about that time period. Listed in the historical fiction genre is Park Avenue Summer, a novel written about Helen Gurley Brown as she takes over the reins of Cosmopolitan magazine.
The year is 1965 and Gurley Brown has just published her book, Sex and the Single Girl, which stirred up quite a bit of excitement among young women. This is also the time that Betty Freidan has written The Feminine Mystique. Young women are rethinking marriage and family. They are realizing they have more power than they thought. They can work and live on their own.
Alice has come to New York City to fulfill her childhood dream and become a photographer. Having lost her mother at a young age, she hopes to follow in her footsteps, leaving Ohio for the big city. Finding an old friend of her mother's as a mentor, she lands a secretarial job in the office of Helen Gurley Brown just as she is about to try and relaunch Cosmo as the new magazine that "her girls" are looking for. The fictional Alice is there to assist Gurley Brown as she historically goes up against the male executives trying to make Cosmo what she thinks is the new style of magazine young working women are looking for. With sensual cover photos and evocative articles she is hoping to turn around the failing magazine that has been covering recipes and how to get stains out of clothes.
Mixing fact and fiction we follow Alice, one of the women Brown's audience, as she struggles with the new age of women's mystique, the glamour and sexual appeal, and how she supposed to use it. As Alice works through her feelings about men, affairs and marriage, she finds her way around New York City and improves her photography skills.
Quite a fun book to read especially because I was a "Cosmo girl". Reading Cosmopolitan magazine in my late teens and early twenties, I can picture Helen Gurley Brown leading the way for a generation of women.
Saturday, September 7, 2019
A Better Man
I had a date with Chief Inspector Armand Gamache last weekend!. What a treat to sit and read the newest of the Louise Penny mystery novels. A Better Man is the newest in the Louise Penny, Gamache series.
Again we meet up with all the villagers living Three Pines. Though it never seems to be summer there or even good weather, the people are dedicated to the village and their neighbors. They muddle through protecting each other from harm and even negative feelings. They care for each other and keep each other warm and dry against the elements.
This time spring is coming and the thaw has started and snow and ice melt threatens to flood not only the village of Three Pines but all along the St Lawrence River throughout the province. There is a discussion at the Surete highest level about how to handle the dangerous situation and again Gamache has the best answer though his colleagues disagree. There is still unrest among the leadership of the force and respect for Gamache is challenged. His title has been taken away and now he answers to his second in command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, who is also his son-in-law. Along with Isabelle they are off to solve another crime.
After sandbagging the riverbanks around Three Pines they are watching the storm. The father of Vivian Godin approaches Gamache and asks him to find his daughter. Though Gamache knows he should put this aside until after flood is averted, struggles with the knowledge that he also has a daughter he would want searched for.
This is a psychological study in the different personalities of the girl and the people around her. This novel involves domestic abuse and the relationships between family members. Penny is so adept at interweaving the familiar characters in the village into the major plot. She involves them in the crime and weaves their personal stories in with similar themes to the crime motivations.
Clara is suffering from a bad review from the art critics, as Gamache is working through bad social media coverage of his last case. Both Gamache and Beauvoir share the thoughts throughout this novel, "What would I do if..." because Gamache has a daughter who is pregnant, who is also Beauvoir's wife, and they both realize how personal this case is. How can you abandon a missing girl and possibly let a killer walk free?
Again we meet up with all the villagers living Three Pines. Though it never seems to be summer there or even good weather, the people are dedicated to the village and their neighbors. They muddle through protecting each other from harm and even negative feelings. They care for each other and keep each other warm and dry against the elements.
This time spring is coming and the thaw has started and snow and ice melt threatens to flood not only the village of Three Pines but all along the St Lawrence River throughout the province. There is a discussion at the Surete highest level about how to handle the dangerous situation and again Gamache has the best answer though his colleagues disagree. There is still unrest among the leadership of the force and respect for Gamache is challenged. His title has been taken away and now he answers to his second in command, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, who is also his son-in-law. Along with Isabelle they are off to solve another crime.
After sandbagging the riverbanks around Three Pines they are watching the storm. The father of Vivian Godin approaches Gamache and asks him to find his daughter. Though Gamache knows he should put this aside until after flood is averted, struggles with the knowledge that he also has a daughter he would want searched for.
This is a psychological study in the different personalities of the girl and the people around her. This novel involves domestic abuse and the relationships between family members. Penny is so adept at interweaving the familiar characters in the village into the major plot. She involves them in the crime and weaves their personal stories in with similar themes to the crime motivations.
Clara is suffering from a bad review from the art critics, as Gamache is working through bad social media coverage of his last case. Both Gamache and Beauvoir share the thoughts throughout this novel, "What would I do if..." because Gamache has a daughter who is pregnant, who is also Beauvoir's wife, and they both realize how personal this case is. How can you abandon a missing girl and possibly let a killer walk free?
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Broken Strings
This is a middle school novel that touches on the Holocaust in a simple but poignant way.
Authors, Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer tell the story of a young girl and her grandfather's relationship to present what can be a hard topic to address for young readers.
Seventh grader Shirli Berman is cast as Golde for the school musical, Fiddler on the Roof. One of her school responsibilities is to go over to her grandfather's house to bring him groceries and check up on him. Her Bubbe has recently died and everyone in the family misses her. Shirli especially because she always listened to her sing and came to all her performances. Until now no one in the family knew why Zayde forbid music in the house and did not seem interested in Shirli's performances. He has never spoken about his experiences during the war years, event to Shirli's father, Zayde's own son.
Looking for costumes, for her play in Zayde's attic, Shirli comes across a poster and an old violin which open up something long closed off in Zayde. Though he has never spoken about his past, now that the door has opened he is ready to share all the hard memories he has kept bottled up for decades.
I even shed a tear or two as I read this novel. Bringing a grandfather and his granddaughter closer, and bringing an old man out of his shell and keeping him feeling vital even in later age, is what this book explores. There are a few times when the authors seem to stretch the edge of reality, but the story and the message is well presented so you can let go of the questions. I can picture this Zayde as my grandfather, but I am not sure someone 14 years old would currently have a grandfather of this description. Also this book is set right after the World Trade Towers were attacked, which relates the those emotions to the Holocaust, though I am not sure if these are equivalent, but the the storyline is so engaging.
Authors, Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer tell the story of a young girl and her grandfather's relationship to present what can be a hard topic to address for young readers.
Seventh grader Shirli Berman is cast as Golde for the school musical, Fiddler on the Roof. One of her school responsibilities is to go over to her grandfather's house to bring him groceries and check up on him. Her Bubbe has recently died and everyone in the family misses her. Shirli especially because she always listened to her sing and came to all her performances. Until now no one in the family knew why Zayde forbid music in the house and did not seem interested in Shirli's performances. He has never spoken about his experiences during the war years, event to Shirli's father, Zayde's own son.
Looking for costumes, for her play in Zayde's attic, Shirli comes across a poster and an old violin which open up something long closed off in Zayde. Though he has never spoken about his past, now that the door has opened he is ready to share all the hard memories he has kept bottled up for decades.
I even shed a tear or two as I read this novel. Bringing a grandfather and his granddaughter closer, and bringing an old man out of his shell and keeping him feeling vital even in later age, is what this book explores. There are a few times when the authors seem to stretch the edge of reality, but the story and the message is well presented so you can let go of the questions. I can picture this Zayde as my grandfather, but I am not sure someone 14 years old would currently have a grandfather of this description. Also this book is set right after the World Trade Towers were attacked, which relates the those emotions to the Holocaust, though I am not sure if these are equivalent, but the the storyline is so engaging.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
A Murder Unmentioned
Again I am back reading one of my favorite mystery series, the Rowland Sinclair series, written by Suri Gentill. This series presents Rowly Sinclair and his friends, Edna, Milton and Clyde, living in Australia during the early 1900. We are now in book six of the series and we are on the verge of World War II. In the last book,, Rowly and his friends went to Germany to stop the Australian representative to get close to Adolf Hitler, when he wanted to learn how to bring Hitler's power and ideas back to Australia.
Now Rowly and his friends having escaped death or arrest in Germany are back home and Rowland wants to share what he learned in Germany and keep the German sympathizers from coming to power at home. But once again there are forces that want to stop him and keep his ideas out of the public arena. When a gun turns up unexpectedly, an investigation is started. The gun seems to be the weapon used to kill Rowland's father many years ago. Rowland and his brother never really spoke about that fateful night. As different people come forward with theories about what happened Rowland finds himself under scrutiny and possible arrest for murder.
This continues to be a fun entertaining series, and the added benefit of learning a little Australian history. There, of course, there is also some romance which is keeping me frustrated ... I can hardly wait until Rowland figures out how to propose and marry the love of his life, Edna, the beautiful bohemian sculptress.
Now Rowly and his friends having escaped death or arrest in Germany are back home and Rowland wants to share what he learned in Germany and keep the German sympathizers from coming to power at home. But once again there are forces that want to stop him and keep his ideas out of the public arena. When a gun turns up unexpectedly, an investigation is started. The gun seems to be the weapon used to kill Rowland's father many years ago. Rowland and his brother never really spoke about that fateful night. As different people come forward with theories about what happened Rowland finds himself under scrutiny and possible arrest for murder.
This continues to be a fun entertaining series, and the added benefit of learning a little Australian history. There, of course, there is also some romance which is keeping me frustrated ... I can hardly wait until Rowland figures out how to propose and marry the love of his life, Edna, the beautiful bohemian sculptress.
The Island of Sea Women
What an incredible story. Lisa See has out done herself yet again. Sometimes you read a fabulous award winning novel and hope that the author can repeat the performance. I started with Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. After reading that book with my book discussion group, we rated that our favorite book. Then with another book group I read, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. With this group we held a in person FaceTime discussion with Lisa. Now this was I thought the best book she had written, but now The Island of Sea Women, she has published another incredible novel.
This is book is such a beautiful story. Not only do you learn a history lesson about Korea and what happened there between the Japanese and the Koreans during the 1930s leading up to the Second World War and the Japanese colonialism. Then the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima and afterwards, when the Americans came in and divided the country and the Korean War. It was a turbulent time in the Korean history that I am sure many readers are unaware of, as I was, until they read this book.
Lisa describes in intimate detail what it is like to be one of the haeuyeo, women who lived on the island of Jeju off the Korean coast, who were females divers. Lisa is very adapt at writing about the life of these strong independent women who go out into the frigid waters off the island and dive to incredible depths to gather abalone, octopus, and other edible seafoods that they sell to support their families. When they age out of diving or are too young to dive, they gather seaweed and other shellfish at the water's edge. In this society women are the wage earners and the men stay home and take care of the children. There are so many interesting angles to this book.
It is all based around the story of Young-sook and Mi-ja, two young girls who become close friends, and follows them through their lives, growing up to become haeuyeo, then as they get married, start their families and what happens when the war and other political differences separate them and challenges their relationship. The tides ebb and flow driving them together and apart. The waters are cold and the life is hard and Lisa See draws a clear picture of their lives. All based on real events and people she interviewed, this novel is immersed in historical facts.
This is book is such a beautiful story. Not only do you learn a history lesson about Korea and what happened there between the Japanese and the Koreans during the 1930s leading up to the Second World War and the Japanese colonialism. Then the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima and afterwards, when the Americans came in and divided the country and the Korean War. It was a turbulent time in the Korean history that I am sure many readers are unaware of, as I was, until they read this book.
Lisa describes in intimate detail what it is like to be one of the haeuyeo, women who lived on the island of Jeju off the Korean coast, who were females divers. Lisa is very adapt at writing about the life of these strong independent women who go out into the frigid waters off the island and dive to incredible depths to gather abalone, octopus, and other edible seafoods that they sell to support their families. When they age out of diving or are too young to dive, they gather seaweed and other shellfish at the water's edge. In this society women are the wage earners and the men stay home and take care of the children. There are so many interesting angles to this book.
It is all based around the story of Young-sook and Mi-ja, two young girls who become close friends, and follows them through their lives, growing up to become haeuyeo, then as they get married, start their families and what happens when the war and other political differences separate them and challenges their relationship. The tides ebb and flow driving them together and apart. The waters are cold and the life is hard and Lisa See draws a clear picture of their lives. All based on real events and people she interviewed, this novel is immersed in historical facts.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
The Mother-in-Law
Sally Hepworth has written an intriguing novel that grabs your attention and keeps the suspense going all the way until the end.
So many of us have a mother-in-law. It is the age old joke about how hard it is to get along with your mother-in-law. I remember my grandmother, my mother's mother never thought any of the spouses of her children were good enough for her son or daughter. Now I have mothers-in-law and I have become for the first time a mother-in-law. This book does capture some of the thoughts that go through your mind as both the mother and child that are the in-law. How will we get along, not to step over and invisible boundaries, not to insult one another, not to offer unsolicited advice, not to meddle in the marriage or with the raising of the grandchildren, but yet to be apart of their lives
This book does invoke many of those feelings. Lucy marries Oliver and is looking forward to a mother-daughter bonding relationship with her new mother-in-law, Diana. Diana comes across as cold and reserved. So the relationship seems strained. Lucy and Oliver have three children in quick succession, but Oliver's sister Nettie and her husband are unable to conceive.
Oliver is having trouble with his business and finances are tight. His father Tom has helped his children in the past but when he dies suddenly, Diana the mother has not been as generous. She feels that you should work hard for what you want and things should not be handed to you.
Flipping back and forth between the past and the present and hearing the story mainly from Diana and Lucy's points of view we learn Diana has been found dead in her home and the police are investigating. Learning about each character we learn that each has a secret that they have shared with the other family members. As the secrets are revealed and the police all each character down to the station for interviews we unravel how a family can end up in such a precarious position.
A good plot that is not much of a thriller but does do the slow reveal of information that leads to satisfying conclusion.
So many of us have a mother-in-law. It is the age old joke about how hard it is to get along with your mother-in-law. I remember my grandmother, my mother's mother never thought any of the spouses of her children were good enough for her son or daughter. Now I have mothers-in-law and I have become for the first time a mother-in-law. This book does capture some of the thoughts that go through your mind as both the mother and child that are the in-law. How will we get along, not to step over and invisible boundaries, not to insult one another, not to offer unsolicited advice, not to meddle in the marriage or with the raising of the grandchildren, but yet to be apart of their lives
This book does invoke many of those feelings. Lucy marries Oliver and is looking forward to a mother-daughter bonding relationship with her new mother-in-law, Diana. Diana comes across as cold and reserved. So the relationship seems strained. Lucy and Oliver have three children in quick succession, but Oliver's sister Nettie and her husband are unable to conceive.
Oliver is having trouble with his business and finances are tight. His father Tom has helped his children in the past but when he dies suddenly, Diana the mother has not been as generous. She feels that you should work hard for what you want and things should not be handed to you.
Flipping back and forth between the past and the present and hearing the story mainly from Diana and Lucy's points of view we learn Diana has been found dead in her home and the police are investigating. Learning about each character we learn that each has a secret that they have shared with the other family members. As the secrets are revealed and the police all each character down to the station for interviews we unravel how a family can end up in such a precarious position.
A good plot that is not much of a thriller but does do the slow reveal of information that leads to satisfying conclusion.
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