Nevermore: Country Vet, Listen for the Lie, The Anthropocene Reviewed

 

Nevermore 1-13-26

 

Country Vet: Thirty Years of Treating Animals and Trying to Understand Their Owners by Randy L. Skaggs

"This book relays my stories of being a country veterinarian in a rural area treating all sorts of animals. I have been writing down my experiences at the office and in the field for thirty years. These stories are often educational, emotional, humorous and unpredictable, but always entertaining.

This book is my first effort to share them with a wider audience. The stories involve working with all kinds of animals but also involves interacting with their owners. Sometimes the second part has been more of a challenge than the first which creates for interesting stories." - Randy L. Skaggs

Good light reading. It was laugh out loud funny. - CD 5 stars

 

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn't matter? After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy's blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It's been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can't remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life. But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast Listen for the Lie, and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy's murder for the show's second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend's murder, even if she is the one that did it. The truth is out there, if we just listen.

This is not my usual genre and it got off to a rough start, but it was good. - WJ 5 stars

 

The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green

The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale--from QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar. Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. John Green's gift for storytelling shines throughout this masterful collection. The Anthropocene Reviewed is an open-hearted exploration of the paths we forge and an unironic celebration of falling in love with the world.

I really enjoyed this book. It was both funny and sad. I loved it! - MH 5 stars

 

 

Other Books Mentioned

Southwestern Homelands by William Kittredge

Cat Nap by Brian Lies

In the Time of Five Pumpkins (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency #26) by Alexander McCall Smith

Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future by Elizabeth Kolbert

Woodcraft and Camping by George W. Sears Nessmuk

Night Came With Many Stars by Simon Van Booy

Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1) by Travis Baldree

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good (Elderly Lady, #1) by Helene Tursten

Vows and Villainy by Elizabeth Penney

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

American-born Molly has really found a home in Cambridge.  Her family owns a centuries-old bookshop and Molly has made a host of friends, including Daisy and Tim who are getting married with a Shakespearean themed wedding at Hazelhurst House. This is the home of the noble Scott family, which includes Molly’s boyfriend Kiernan. The wedding is going to be quite the event, and will include performances by a troupe of Shakespearean actors who are putting on a series of plays over the summer.

But when one of the lead actors is found floating in the moat, those plans go awry—especially since members of the wedding party are among the suspects.

This is the fifth in The Cambridge Bookshop series, and Penney has built up a solid cast of characters. Molly and her friends take center stage, but I have to admit I really like some of the older member of the supporting cast, especially Molly’s Aunt Violet and her beau, Sir Jon, who are planning a wedding of their own—if Sir Jon’s ninety-five year old mother will just give her consent.

Penney is a veteran cozy author with several series to her credit and has contributed to several more.  She knows her way around all the expected mystery conventions, and Cambridge provides a marvelous setting.  While the series doesn’t have to be read in order, the various romances and weddings are possibly better enjoyed if one has some background.  I appreciated all the Shakespeare references and quotations, and that added to my enjoyment but your mileage may vary!

Other books in the series are:

Chapter and Curse

A Treacherous Tale

The Fatal Folio

Madrigals and Mayhem

The Brownout Murders by Luke C. Jackson and Kelly Jackson, illustrated by Maya Graham

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Melbourne, Australia, 1942. In a world at war, people struggle with ways to stay safe.  Australians have been warned of the possibility of Japanese attacks. While the city isn’t extinguishing all lights at night as is London, they are limiting the amount of light--a brownout, not a blackout.  Troop ships from America bring soldiers, visible reminders that Australia is a nation at war and far away from most allies.

The story is told from the point of view of Beatrice, one of three sisters living in Melbourne.  She is a warden and wants to do her part for the war effort. Her sister Lizzie is more interested in the handsome American GIs and having a good time than volunteering, but needs Beatrice’s help to circumvent their mother’s reservations about  about her daughters consorting with soldiers. Sister June casts a cynical eye over both, being a part of a young communists group and not interested in frivolous pursuits.

Then a young woman is found strangled to death, her clothing removed. In a city already under stress, the incident strains nerves to the breaking point.

The black and white illustrations add to the atmosphere.  The authors do a wonderful job of conveying the tension and fear.  Early in the book, Beatrice speaks to a group of school children, explaining what she does to help keep Melbourne safe. Then the children fill out identification cards to carry in case the city is attacked.  I have to admit I had some flashbacks to my childhood when we were told to get under desks in case of a nuclear bomb.

I found this to be a very powerful story.  There is a great deal to unpack here; there are so many layers.  After another murder occurs, there’s talk about evacuating women and children.  There was talk of banning women from going to bars. And the victims were blamed for being victims.  As Beatrice notes, “They blamed alcohol.  They blamed men.  But they blamed women most of all.” 

The serial killings are more of a back-drop to the book than the total focus, but are chilling all the same especially since it’s based on a true story. This book really resonated with me, and I loved the way they used one image in particular to great effect. There’s more I would like to say, but I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone else.  It’s too good for that.

Nevermore: Evan Warlow, Key Trilogy, Theo of Golden

 

Our first Nevermore member recommended Rhys Dylan’s Evan Warlow series which is set in Wales.  In the first book, The Engine House, retired DCI Warlow is called in when a landslide reveals the bodies of two missing persons—a case Warlow had investigated eight years earlier.  The books make good use of the location, with local color highlighting the mystery. 4 Stars FE

Nora Roberts’ Key trilogy captured the attention of another reader.  Three women are brought together to free the imprisoned souls of three demigoddesses. Described as “mindless but fun” the books are Key of Light, Key of Knowledge, and Key of Valor. 4 Stars MH

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi continues to make the rounds.  This week’s reviewer praised it for its heart and humor, adding that it somehow managed to avoid cursing, which she found very refreshing. Four Stars WJ

Other Books Mentioned

107 Days by Kamala Harris

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Sailing the Shallows by Roger Barnes

The Elements by John Boyne

When It All Burns by Jordan Thomas

Modern American Memoirs edited by Annie Dillard and Court Conley

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

Redwoods by Jason Chin

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter by Aaron Reynolds

Frazz by Jef Mallet

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

It’s well-known that I am a fan of comic strips.  From the classics such as Blondie and Peanuts to newer offerings like Breaking Cat News and Strange Planet, I’m a fan.  (Not to mention Calvin and Hobbes, Arlo and Janice, Rose is Rose, Mutts, Red and Rover, The Far Side…. This could go on for a very long time.)

So when a patron asked about Frazz, I hesitated for just a moment. I knew I’d seen a strip or two, but it wasn’t one I followed.  Since the library didn’t have any collections, I ordered a couple and, after the original requester had returned them, I was intrigued enough to give them a try.

It didn’t take long for me to see the appeal. This is a thoughtful and delightful strip set in an elementary school. The title character is a young man who works as a janitor at the school.  He’s smart, an athlete, and a musician, but he loves working with kids because of their energy and excitement. He can also see right through some of their ruses, especially the plans cooked up by Caulfield, an extremely bright student who likes to push boundaries.

The humor is wonderful, sometimes a bit philosophical, but always clever. It reminds me a bit of Calvin and Hobbes, and I’m not the only one to think so.  There were once rumors that Bill Watterson was the real artist behind the strip, but no, this is all Jef Mallet though he does cite Watterson among his influences. (There are also a few Watterson references in the strip.)  I get some echoes of Peanuts as well, because the kids are so perceptive.

For me, there’s a lot to love about this strip.  I get a kick out of the literary and cultural references (Caulfield reads Kafka behind his school book and dresses up as Santiago from The Old Man and the Sea for a school play) and I enjoy some of the thoughtful responses.  The characters are all treated with respect, even the ones we may not find as amiable. It’s a sweet strip without being saccharine.  The only drawback I’ve found is that the humor can’t be boiled down to a short sentence. It’s more nuanced and complex than that, which is very appealing to me.  It just makes the strip hard to explain!

So if you’re in the market for a comic that’s more than a one-liner and art that isn’t cookie-cutter, you may want to give Frazz a try. I think I may have found a new strip to follow!

Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories by Lee Child

 

Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories by Lee Child

Reviewed by Jeanne

Back a few years ago, Otto Penzler managed to talk his friend Lee Child into allowing Penzler to publish special limited editions of the Reacher books.  As an added attraction, Child would write a preface to each book, describing a bit about how it came to be written. Fortunately for Reacher fans without deep pockets, these prefaces have now been gathered into a single volume so that those without the good fortune (or deep pockets) can read them as well.

To be honest, I think I expected it to be a collection of real life true crime incidents that shaped the narratives, an adrenaline-fueled, action packed adventure. Instead, it’s more a thoughtful, insightful, and sometimes gently humorous collection about how Child came to write each book.

The impetus for writing the first Reacher novel was Child’s impending unemployment; it was as good a time as any to investigate a new income stream.  The first book sold, but with much re-writing; and a second book was under contract. The books sold, but weren’t topping the charts.  Fortunately, the mystery community (including Otto Penzler) championed those early books or else the series might have faded into obscurity.  They generated enough interest for the publisher to contract for two more books, and the rest is history.

This book is not just a peek into Child’s personal life and his mindset as he wrote each book; in many ways it’s a look back at a world that no longer exists.  He wrote the first Reacher novel out in longhand, later borrowing his daughter’s computer to type it up. Child didn’t have an email address, a cell phone, or a fax machine.  Manuscripts were delivered by courier. Word of mouth was critical to a book’s success, back in the days before Facebook or TikTok.

There are some interesting insights along the way, such as the fact that Child did not (and still doesn’t) like the title The Killing Floor for the first novel.  It wasn’t until his fifth book, Echo Burning, that Child was able to use a title he chose. That was also the first book he wrote entirely while living in the U.S.

For me, these short, informative, and entertaining introductions have a lot of charm. Child comes across as a guy-next-door sort, never bragging, but always looking for the next tale to tell.

At this point, I should probably admit that I have never read a Reacher novel and yet I thoroughly enjoyed all the insights and stories.  I can only imagine how much a real fan will react.

And by the way—there’s a brand new Reacher story included, “A Better Place.”

Nevermore: Buckeye, Call of the Wild, How the World Ran Out of Everything, The Women, Molly and the Cat Cafe

 

12-30-25

 

Our first reader picked up Buckeye by Patrick Ryan, which has been generating a lot of interest as a Read with Jenna book club pick. Set in small town Ohio during and following World War II, this is a story of love and secrets in middle America. Highly recommended!

 

One of our young readers who attends Nevermore with a parent during school breaks read The Call of the Wild by Jack London. Buck, the canine main character, reminded our reader of their dog Millie. Next up by the same author: To Build a Fire.

 

A non-fiction title that our book club member summarized as “greed is ruining the world” was How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain by Peter S. Goodman. The author describes how companies will do absolutely anything to get results and to make profit, regardless of the fallout.

 

Another reader picked up The Women by Kristin Hannah. This reader noted that the second part of the book, when Frances “Frankie” McGrath returns to the United States, felt like an entirely different book from her Vietnam combat nursing experience.

 

Two books by Melissa Daley, Molly and the Cat Café and Christmas at the Cat Café were called light, fun reads, appropriate to the holiday season. (We can’t argue, as we like cat books around here.)

 

Also mentioned:

 

Hastings (Battles That Changed the World) by Samuel Willard Crompton

 

The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott

  

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

  

The Engine House by Rhys Dylan

 

The Truth about the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline

  

Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success from the World's Greatest Mentalist by Oz Pearlman

 

Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm by Charlie Mackesy