New Books in October!

 

  

Andrews, Donna  Rockin’ Around the Chickadee

Armstrong, Kelley  I’ll Be Waiting

Banville, John  The Drowned

Beaton, M.C.  Killing Time (Agatha Raisin)

Child, Lee & Child, Andrew  In Too Deep (Jack Reacher)

Connelly, Michael  The Waiting (Ballard & Bosch)

Cornwell, Patricia  Identity Unknown  (Scarpetta)

Erdrich, Louise  The Mighty Red

Griffiths, Elly  The Man in Black:  And Other Stories

Hannon, Irene  Over the Edge

Harkaway, Nick  Karla’s Choice: A John Le Carre Novel (Note:  Nick Harkaway is John Le Carre's son)

  

Hawkins, Paula  The Blue Hour

Kashiwai, Hisashi The Restaurant of Lost Recipes

Kelly, Julia  Betrayal at Blackthorn Park

Klavan, Andrew  A Woman Underground

Korelitz, Jean Hanff  The Sequel

Macomber, Debbie  A Christmas Duet

Mallery, Susan  One Big Happy Family

McCall Smith, Alexander  The Great Hippopotamus Hotel (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency)

McFadden, Freida  The Boyfriend

O’Connor, Carlene  You Have Gone Too Far (County Kerry)

Patterson, James  Murder Island (Doc Savage)

Penny, Louise  The Grey Wolf

Penrose, Andrea  Murder at King’s Crossing (Wexford and Sloane)

Prose, Nita  The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid)

Rankin, Ian  Midnight and Blue

Steel, Danielle  Triangle

Suffrage Song: The Haunted History of Gender, Race and Voting Rights in the U.S. by Caitlin Cass

 

Reviewed by Kristin

This graphic novel packs a lot about the right to vote in the United States into its pages in a very accessible format. From the early Suffragists who never were able to vote (Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, among others) to the later activists following in their footsteps through the Civil Rights era around the 1940s-1960s, this book presents an enormous amount of information. The graphic format makes it engaging and entertaining, avoiding the pitfalls of some scholarly works.

Moving forward in a mostly linear fashion, the narrative sometimes includes side stories to illustrate the suppressive societal expectations faced by both women and minorities. In the “New Women” era of the 1900s-1920s, women began to question tradition and stretch their boundaries. While dressing in clothing that allowed women to move and take more risks, the bicycle was a natural choice for many. However, male doctors began to warn that bicycles could be harmful and lead to “bicycle face” (for women only, naturally) and this could include bug eyes, a red complexion, and a permanent grimace.

The push and pull between suffrage for women and racial minorities is also discussed. Many who believed that women should be allowed the vote were not willing to take on the vote equality for all, as they saw votes for white women much more achievable than universal suffrage.

The bibliography at the end is extensive, showing the in depth research done by Caitlin Cass. Organization names and dates are also mentioned, along with popular songs included in the book.

This book is timely, no matter your political or partisan views. 2024 is an election year, and I strongly believe that we should all speak our minds at the ballot box.

Nevermore: Growing Up in Coal Country, Where Coyotes Howl, Abingdon's Boardinghouse Murder

 

Nevermore 8-6-24:  Reported by Rita

Growing up in Coal Country by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Based on personal interviews, newspaper accounts, mining inspection records, and other original sources, a portrait of life in the Pennsylvania coal mines and "patch villages" tells the heartbreaking but life-affirming story of children and adults for whom this region represented a way of life.

 The stories are heart-wrenching and tough to read, but they are well-written.     –NH     5 stars

 

Where Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas

In 1916 Wallace, Wyoming, schoolteacher Ellen Webster finds purpose in her work as a rancher's wife and in her bonds with other women settled on the prairie as they look out for each other, share their secrets and help one another in times of need.

 This was an easy read with a touching story. Very good.      –CD      5 stars

 

Abingdon's Boardinghouse Murder by Greg Lilly

On a bitter November night in 1945, a widow shot her young boarder, a WWII veteran, and left him to die on the floor of his room. Helen Clark tossed the gun under the neighbor's porch and then took a taxi to join her teen daughters at a movie in Bristol. When the body was found, after several conflicting statements, she settled on the claim that he shot himself four times, twice in the back. The Commonwealth of Virginia called it murder in a jealous rage. The trial enthralled the nation.

Local author Greg Lilly uses newspaper coverage of the murder, the investigation, and the trial to reveal the facts of the Abingdon boardinghouse murder.

I was disappointed with the outcome, but the book was enjoyable, and I liked the writing.      –GP     4 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

Serena: a Novel by Ron Rash

The Ron Rash Reader by Ron Rash

The Cove by Ron Rash

The Risen: a Novel by Ron Rash

Why Good People Do Bad Things: Understanding Our Darker Selves by James Hollis

City of Dreams: a Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam and Early Manhattan by Beverly Swerling

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand

 

New Books

A Nest of Vipers by Harini Nagendra

The Element Encyclopedia of the Celts by Rodney Castleden

Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg

In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf

Losing our Religion: an Altar Call for Evangelical America by Russell Moore

Crochet Monsters by Megan Lapp

Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Luke Fitzwilliam is happy to be back in England after working as a policeman in the Mayang Straits, and happier still to be on a train to London… that is, until the elderly lady in his carriage decides to strike up a conversation.  Having several elderly aunts, Luke expected this to happen but he did not expect to hear that she was on her way to Scotland Yard to report a series of murders. He tries to humor the old dear, listening to her rambling on about who has died and that she expects the doctor to be next.

Luke hopes that the man on duty at the Yard will let her down gently, even though she is definitely a bubble off plumb.

It’s a bit of a shock when he reads in paper that the old lady was run over by a motor car and killed before she even reached the Yard. 

It’s even more of a shock a few days later when Luke reads that the doctor she mentioned as the next victim dies suddenly.

Is it possible that the old lady was right and there’s a murderer running amok in a quaint little English village?

Luke enlists the aid of an old friend in order to go undercover and investigate.

I read quite a lot of Agatha Christie’s books in high school, but back then I was really only interested in the series titles with Hercule Poirot or (my favorite) Miss Marple so this one was new to me.  Christie wrote a number of standalone books like this one, which came out in 1939.  While it definitely reflects the era in which it was written, the strong plot and good characterizations had me turning pages quickly to find the solution.  As with most of Christie’s books, there’s a possible romance—unless, of course, the lovely young woman who has caught Luke’s eye is the murderer in question.  Luke himself is a likeable young man, but it must be said he doesn’t have Hercule’s “little grey cells.”  In fact, another character catches on more quickly that he does.  Nonetheless, he does solve it out in the end—and just in time, too.

As usual, I had some things figured out but not others.  There’s a reason Agatha Christie’s work is still read, and I certainly enjoyed this one.

Note:  The book was also published under the title Easy to Kill.

The Art of Gothic Living: Dark Décor for the Modern Macabre by Paul Gambino

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

It seems to me that the past few years Halloween has gained in popularity, exceeding its October date. Skeletons on mailboxes, boney dog statues in flowerbeds, dark décor, all seem to defy being limited to a single day or month.  Shops featuring local artists have pieces featuring bone or simulated skeletons. That prompted me to pick up this book, The Art of Gothic Living, to learn a bit about what has sparked this interest.

The book is divided up into fifteen chapters, each one of which is devoted to one home and the people who have created it.  There are wonderful color photographs of various rooms and in some cases, the outsides of the houses. I noticed in the photos is the seriousness of the décor.  Heavy drapes, dark wood, statuary, and Victorian patterned rugs and wallpaper were the first things I noticed, but a closer look revealed real skulls, skeletons, and a lot of taxidermy.  

A LOT of taxidermy.

The reader gets to meet the owners and learn why they selected various objects, how they chose to display them, and what it means to them.  It’s really quite fascinating, as they are all serious collectors with a deep appreciation for the items.  One couple found a preserved passenger pigeon, and then searched until they found a second to restore and display together to give, as owner Laura Bashian puts it, “the respect they deserve as some of the last specimens of their kind.”

There are many photos of each house, most focused on one or two objects, with a description of the object included. There is something of the feel of a movie set about most: the houses are lived in but also have a bit of museum ambiance. Many have bright colors to better showcase some of the objects; all have a feel of the dramatic.

The stories about the people and why they collect what they do were very interesting.  Most had one or two categories they concentrate on; one couple looked for posters and other material related to sideshows, while another had quite the assortment of spiritual items, including a séance table and numerous Ouija boards.  They all are looking for genuine historic items, not modern reproductions.

As a packrat and clutterer, I appreciated all the many items in a room and understood why the owners wanted to display them as they did.  There are some really lovely pieces, including gorgeous furniture and old framed photographs, carved wooden items, statuary, knickknacks, and stained glass windows.  There was one room I particularly liked, with lots and lots and lots of old photos but modern couches because the owner said, “Gothic couches are uncomfortable.” They are also looking for someone with a hydraulic lift so they can put up even more photographs.  I could relate.

I was not enthused about the skeletons and taxidermy, however, but that’s just my personal taste.

In short, I found this to be a very interesting and informative book. I especially liked learning some of the history behind the objects.  I’m not going out bone collecting anytime soon, but at least I understand the impulse now.

 

Nevermore 7-23-24

Reported by Rita

Nothing Gold Can Stay: Stories by Ron Rash

This collection of stories navigates the emotionally harsh terrain of Appalachia. It includes The Trusty, in which a convict sent to fetch water for the chain gang tries to convince a farmer's young wife to help him escape, but she is trapped in her own prison.

I love his prose and sense of humor. I really enjoy his writing.    – KN     5 stars

 

How to Age Disgracefully  by Clare Pooley

The quirky members of the Senior Citizen's Social Club join forces with the tiny members of the daycare next store to thwart the city council's planned sale of the building housing both centers.

 Hysterical and fun! I found it to be a delightful, relatable, and light read.   –NH      5 stars

 

The Consequence of Anna  by Kate Birkin

Set against the sprawling backdrop of 1930s Australia, Anna May Shahan is a wild child raised on a lush farm by the sea, always barefoot and playing in her neighbor’s secret garden. Her Aboriginal nanny teaches her the ways of the land, and she grows up to be a quirky, eccentric, and sweet woman. But she is not without her demons, as she struggles with bizarre behaviors and a haunting, dark side.

I thought it was well-written, but it was too long.     –CW     4 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

Kinfolks: the Wilgus stories by Gurney Norman

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout

 Oh William! : a novel by Elizabeth Strout

Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout

Growing Up in Coal Country by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Patrick Henry: First Among Patriots by Thomas S. Kidd

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

Bear: a novel by Julia Phillips

The Lego Story: How a Little Toy Sparked the World's Imagination by Jens Andersen

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

 

New Books

Forgotten on Sunday by Valâerie Perrin

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

Alexander at the End of the World: The Forgotten Final Years of Alexander the Great by Rachel Kousser

Habitats: Discover Earth's Precious Wild Places by DK

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

 

Reviewed by Kristin

In a near future London, a young woman accepts a civil service job without having a complete picture of what that job will entail. She soon learns she is to be a caretaker to someone from two centuries ago, as the ministry has recently worked out how to bring people centuries forward into the current day. The ministry is cautious, and only takes individuals who were about to die anyway. Wars, plagues, and civil unrests, those are all great times to pluck out someone whose disappearance shouldn’t make a ripple in the fabric of time.

The unnamed young woman narrates the story, only identified as a “bridge” working with one of the historical individuals—Commander Graham Gore of Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated Arctic expedition. The five individuals brought forward in time are known as “expats” and sometimes referred to by the year from which they were extracted.

Expat Graham came from 1847, and understandably has a very difficult time accepting some of the changes happening in the world. 9 million people living in London? Indoor plumbing? Women’s bare calves? The enfranchisement of the working class? Spotify? Unthinkable!

The other expats are a woman from 1665 (Plague of London), a lieutenant from 1645 (Battle of Naseby), an army captain from 1916 (Battle of the Somme), and a woman from 1793 (Parisian Reign of Terror). As might be imagined, these characters are highly entertaining as they get to know each other and the vagaries of the modern world.  The ministry is keeping an eye on them, but letting them live in the real world, not just keeping them locked up in a hospital ward.

But, can the ministry be trusted?

Alternately funny, tender, and just slightly spicy, this genre defying debut novel from Kaliane Bradley is a delight.

Nevermore: In the Lives of Puppets, Secret Appalachian Highlands, Paws of Firefighters

Reported by Rita

 

In the Lives of  Puppets by TJ Klune

When an unwitting act of betrayal leads to the capture of his android Gio, who once hunted humans, Victor Lawson and his assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to the City of Electric Dreams to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

It's funny and enjoyable if you’re looking for a light read.    – WJ     4 stars

 

Secret Appalachian Highlands: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure by Robert Sorrell

The Appalachian Highlands, a rural region consisting of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, is world-famous for its country music treasures, fast cars, early pioneer history, and breathtaking natural scenery. It is centered on the tri-cities of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport, and is surrounded by smaller communities and rural wonderlands. Secret Appalachian Highlands: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure digs deeper and uncovers some of the region’s lesser-known places, mysterious stories, and creative oddities. Each community in the Appalachian Highlands has its share of secret attractions, such as Jonesborough, Tennessee’s, pillory; dinosaur creations in Bluff City, Tennessee; and the wolves of Abingdon, Virginia. A few famous faces, including President Andrew Johnson, NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt Jr., and pop- culture icons Tennessee Ernie Ford and Hank Williams Sr. have all made their unique mark on the Appalachian Highlands. The region also features some of the nation’s most spectacular natural features, including one known as the “eighth wonder of    the world.” Local author Robert Sorrell will introduce you to the secret side of the Appalachian Highlands, a treasure trove of intriguing peculiarities and hidden history just waiting to be explored.

An excellent resource to own for planning outings.      –WJ     5 stars

 

Paws of Firefighters: The Dogs and Other Animals of New York Firehouses by Emmy Park

This series of pet bios and accompanying portraits tells the stories of the animals that serve on duty at New York's firehouses. In this book, Emmy Park has combined her love for dogs and cats and her passion for documenting the relationship between pets and their families in this unique journey with the firefighters who serve New Yorkers and the companions that serve them unconditionally. Meet beloved canines, felines, and even a pig of New York’s firehouses—in all five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island) and Long Island.

This is a fabulous collection of photos of firehouse animals.     –NH     5 stars      

 

Other Books Mentioned

The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly

The Consequence of Anna by Kate Birkin

Crow Talk: a Novel by Eileen Garvin

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance

One of Ours by Willa Cather

Smoky Jack: The Adventures of a Dog and His Master on Mount Le Conte by Paul J. Adams

The Trouble I've Seen by Martha Gellhorn

Above the Waterfall: a Novel by Ron Rash

Thick as Thieves by Sandra Brown

Thereby Hangs a Tail: a Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn

In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face-To-Face With the Idea of an Afterlife  by Sebastian  Junger

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy by Adam Nimoy

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

While the title sounds a bit like a celebrity tell-all, this is no Mommy Dearest.  While Adam Nimoy does blame some of his problems on having a father who was an emotionally distant, hypercritical, and often absent alcoholic, the primary focus of the book is about how Adam faced up to his own addiction to pot.

He became addicted as a teenager but it wasn’t until he became an adult that Adam realized he needed to break his habit. Unhappily married with two young children, he enrolled in a program and began to try to put his life together. 

Getting sober didn’t immediately fix all his problems.  His marriage ended in divorce, and his children were angry and hurt, especially his daughter, Maddy.  His relationship with his father didn’t improve.  His mother suffers from depression and possibly hypochondria, visiting doctor after doctor in hopes of a terminal diagnosis.

That’s a lot of temptation to fall back into old habits, but Adam perseveres.  The reader learns a lot about the Twelve Steps and just what it means to make an amends. He also has the support he needs to realize what he needs to work on, including thinking twice before speaking, and to recognize that being an addict since his teens has stunted his emotional growth.  He’s very much a work in progress.

To his credit, he also refrains from celebrity name-dropping and downplays some of his entertainment connections.  He does reference his directing jobs and why those ceased (“It’s not the work, it’s the attitude”) while he was still using.

That’s not to say there are no personal aspects to the book. One important part is when Adam examines his father’s formative years as the child of Jewish immigrants who did not support Leonard’s acting ambitions either emotionally nor financially.  It does help him understand some things from his father’s perspective, even if Adam does have grievances of his own.

Mostly, it’s the story of a man trying to find his place in life and his search for someone to share it with.  It’s well told and interesting, though at times there is an emotional distance from the reader.  It does read more like AA Sharing in that he is only reporting his feelings and not anyone else’s with very few exceptions.   I liked learning about the recovery program, and hope to employ WAIT (Why Am I Talking?) in my own life because there are times I just need to shut up.

Like now.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

 

Reviewed by Christy

In August 1975, camp counselor Louise discovers one of her 13-year-old campers is missing. And not just any camper – Barbara Van Laar. Barbara is the daughter of the wealthy owners of the summer camp. Working class Louise knows her livelihood and her dreams of bettering her younger brother's future are at stake if Barbara is not located quickly. What follows is a sprawling drama centering the Van Laar family, its many employees, and the surrounding townspeople in their shadow.

          What I enjoyed most about this novel is that there is no one protagonist. Moore spends time with multiple characters (Tracy – Barbara's bunkmate, TJ – the camp director, Judy – a young detective, and many more). It also isn't a linear timeline, jumping from the 1960s to the 1950s to earlier in the summer of 1975. Moore keeps a handy timeline before each chapter with the current time in bold, which I found immensely helpful. I have recently discovered a love for expansive character studies, and Moore really executes this particular style well. I can't say the characters sounded terribly different from one another but that didn't bother me. The storytelling was too engaging for me to mind.

          There are many wealthy, terrible people in this novel who are deeply frustrating to read about but that's what makes the tragic aspects of the story so much more impactful. We know that there are rich people who will always get away with being rude, entitled, and so much worse long after we finish the final page. Moore's prose is simple but moving, and I found myself unable to shake the heaviness I felt while reading even after I put the book down. When I initially started reading, I was not expecting to be affected so much but I'm really glad I read it! I would rather a book make me sad than make me feel nothing at all.

        

     

Nevermore: Intrigue of Witches, Some Days There's Pie, In My Time of Dying

 

An Intrigue of Witches by Esme Addison

Thirty-year-old Black woman Sidney Taylor is a talented early American historian, working in fast-paced Washington DC, with her eyes on promotion. She's also currently persona non grata. Who knew that making an inconvenient historical discovery would see her stuck at her desk, shuffling paper? So when she receives an anonymous and very cryptic invitation to visit historic small-town Robbinsville, North Carolina, and hunt for a missing archaeological treasure - with a million-dollar payout at stake - it's one she can't refuse. Besides, her beloved grandmother lives in Robbinsville, and it's been too long since she's visited her. Soon, Sidney's on an exciting treasure hunt, following two-hundred-year-old clues that lead her ever closer to the artifact she's searching for. But what is the artifact? And why is Sidney starting to feel like she's at the heart of a terrifying conspiracy she doesn't understand? The answer blows Sidney's world apart, plunging her into a dark, glittering world of secret societies, ancient bloodlines, witches, and magic linked to an ages-old conspiracy that could destroy the very principles upon which America was founded.

I found this book very likable and entertaining.    –MH     4 stars

 

Some Days There's Pie by Catherine Landis

This humorous, affecting novel follows the adventures of Ruth, a woman who has run away from her life, with the help of Rose, an elderly, kindly reporter suffering from a terminal illness.

She’s a good writer, but I couldn’t get into the story.    – KM     3 stars

 

In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face-to-Face with the Idea of an Afterlife by Sebastian Junger

The New York Times best-selling author shares the story of how a near-death experience led him to question his own atheism and undertake a scientific and philosophical examination of mortality and what happens after we die.

It was thought-provoking and informative, but the medical terminology was sometimes too much.     – NH     4 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

Burning Bright: Stories by Ron Rash

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Sociopath: a Memoir by Patric Gagne

The Lego Story: How a Little Toy Sparked the World's Imagination by Jens Andersen

 

New Books

Crow Talk: a novel by Eileen Garvin

Challenger: a True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham

A.K.A. Lucy: the Dynamic and Determined Life of Lucille Ball by Sarah Royal

In the Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf

How to Land on Your Feet: Life Lessons from My Cat by Jamie Shelman

New in September!

 Here are some of the fiction titles we're looking forward to September!

Atkinson, Kate Death at the Sign of the Rook  (Jackson Brodie)

Bentley, Don  Capture or Kill (Mitch Rapp)

Bradley, Alan  What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust (Flavia de Luce)

Child, Lee  Safe Enough (Stories)

Dave, Laura  The Night We Lost Him

Deaver, Jeffery & Isabella Maldonado Fatal Intrusion (Sanchez & Heron)

Freeman, Brian Break Every Rule

Gilbert, Victoria  A Killer Clue (Hunter & Clewe)

Goldberg, Lee  Ashes Never Lie (Sharpe and Walker)

Haig, Matt  The Life Impossible

Jance, J.A.  Den of Iniquity (J.P. Beaumont)

Johansen, Iris On the Hunt (Kira Drake)

Jonasson, Ragnar   Death at the Sanatorium

Klune, T.J. Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles)

Koontz, Dean  The Forest of Lost Souls

Locke, Attica  Guide Me Home (Highway 59)

Madden, Mike  Clive Cussler Ghost Soldier (Oregon Files)

Michaels, Fern  Santa’s Secret

Novak, Brenda The Banned Books Club

Novik, Naomi  Buried Deep and Other Stories

Osman, Richard  We Solve Murders

Patterson, James and Ellis, David  Lies He Told Me

Powers, Richard  Playground

Robb, J.D.  Passions in Death

Rooney, Sally  Intermezzo

Strout, Elizabeth  Tell Me Everything

Sutanto, Jesse Q.  You Will Never Be Me

Walker, Martin  A Grave in the Woods (Bruno, Chief of Police)