Jolabokaflod!

 

 

Ramblings by Jeanne 

 In Iceland, there's a tradition of giving books on Christmas Eve. Everyone then spends the evening reading their new acquisitions.  It's called Jolabokaflod, meaning Christmas Book Flood:  a fine name for a fine tradition.

I sometimes travel at the holidays and I have my own book tradition:  I visit the Gift Shop at the Bristol Public Library where there is a lovely selection of books at rock bottom prices.  I buy three or four books that look interesting but I probably wouldn't read otherwise and I take them with me to read during layovers.  I can then jettison whatever books I finish and lighten my luggage.  (I'm just not into ebooks; even if I were, the charging stations enroute are sometimes less than reliable.) 

This year I really hit the jackpot.  Every book I picked turned out to be memorable and made the time fly by-- no pun intended.

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty had piqued my interest awhile back because it was set at Biltmore. The story revolves around a young girl who lives on the grounds with her father, who works for the Vanderbilts.  Serafina sees a disturbing encounter one night and becomes convinced that there is a dangerous man on the premises. The question is, can she prove it? This was a well done juvenile historical fantasy that made excellent use of its setting and introduced the reader to intriguing characters. It's the first in a series as well.

Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen was an impulse choice.  I had only read one of Hiaasen's books previously, but was hoping for a return (or at least an update) on some characters from the previous books and I wasn't disappointed.  Hiaasen is known for his ecological themes, and this time the focus is on the pythons who are multiplying rapidly. His humor may not be for everyone, but this time some lines made me laugh out loud.

 As should be obvious from my reviews, I read a lot of mysteries but somehow I never started reading the Kinsey Millhone books. That was remedied when I found  A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. I was hooked from the first chapter and since have gone on to read two more in the series.

It was like a Christmas stocking full of unexpected goodies!

For about $2, I had hours of entertainment.  Yes, that's right:  $2. The BPL Gift Shop is a treasure trove!   And believe it or not, they are now having a sale with prices cut even more:  paperbacks are 10 for $1, hardback books are 50% off. You can't beat that.

So if you're still looking for gifts, do your pocketbook a favor and check out some of the bargains at the Gift Shop.  You may find just the perfect coffee table book for Uncle Joe or a great cookbook for Grandmother. Or you may be like me, and just find stuff for yourself.   At those prices, you can treat everyone!

A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Yes, I’m very late coming to the Kinsey Millhone party! When I first became aware of Sue Grafton’s series, she was well into the alphabet, so I just kept putting off reading.  I’d heard about how Grafton chose to keep the series grounded in the 1980s, making later entries turn into historical novels.  I’d read about how tough Kinsey was and how the character blazed a trail for female PI characters.  I’d read about all the awards and accolades. I still didn’t pick up the series.

When Grafton passed away suddenly, leaving the series to end at Y, I rather felt there would be no ending and maybe I shouldn’t even start the series.

Recently I was getting ready to go out of town, so I was browsing the BPL’s wonderful giftshop.  I found a copy of the first book, A is for Alibi, for a quarter so I decided I’d take it.  If I didn’t like it, I could leave the book behind.

Thirty pages in, and I knew I was not leaving the book behind.

Not only was this a good mystery, but I loved the ambiance. Grafton’s descriptions brought the scenes alive, and her character sketches were deftly done.  Most of all, I discovered I really liked Kinsey.  She’s someone I’d like to have as a friend, though she doesn’t really encourage close ties.  I admired her tenacity, her integrity, and her intelligence.  I love the way that she analyzes situations and people, without sentiment. She’s cool-headed, but not perfect.

In this first entry, Kinsey is approached by a woman who has just gotten out of jail for murdering her husband.  She hires Kinsey to prove she didn’t do it, leaving Kinsey to start digging up information about a very cold and very closed case. And Kinsey doesn’t rule out the possibility that her client might have done it after all.

It was a fascinating ride that ended in one of the best endings I can recall reading in a while. All I can say is, “Wow.”

I consulted with a friend who says the series doesn’t have to be read in strict order, though of course one would not want to skip to Y immediately.  I picked up C is for Corpse and immediately was drawn into that story as well.  I can see I’m going to be reading the whole series!