The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

There’s a pet shop in Tokyo with seven unusual cats—the Blanket Cats.   Each cat has its own special security blanket, something familiar.  They need it because these cats are rented out to different customers for a three day periods, after which the cats are to be returned to the shop.  The customer has to agree to certain rules, such as only feeding the cat its specific food and keeping the cat and blanket together.  These are cats who have been chosen for their demeanor and calmness; most are purebred cats. 

The people who come to rent these cats come because their lives are in some way broken.  They come hoping that the company of a cat, even if it’s just for three days, will somehow make their lives better.

Sometimes they’re right.

Lately it seems that there’s been a proliferation of books by Asian authors, mostly Japanese, which have cats on the cover and feature stories about troubled people who come to a certain café or coffee shop or restaurant and have a life changing moment. Some have referred to this as “healing fiction,” since most of these people have a revelation or encounter that changes their lives for the better.  Blanket Cats is in many ways a more realistic take on these situations. People do not miraculously change their hearts or make peace with an enemy, but they do see their problems in different ways. For some, there is a glimmer of hope; for other may find the courage to face a problem-- or else become resigned.

These may not be “feel good” stories found in other collections but they do feel more true to life, and as a result feel darker to me. They avoid sentimentality, which can be a good or a bad thing, depending on your preferences, but they are also wonderfully crafted, complex tales that leave a reader wondering what happened next.  The translation seems very smooth, not as choppy as some can be, which certainly added to my enjoyment.

Short story fans will find a lot to like in this book as will cat lovers.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Tao is a travelling fortune teller, but will only tell “small fortunes,”minor things that do make a difference but aren’t life-changing--usually. Not only do major predictions take a lot out of her, but they also draw unwanted attention.  Tao needs to keep a low profile, and that’s already difficult since she is a Shinn woman in Esthera. Then a small prediction has greater consequences than she expects, and she ends up with not one but two travelling companions:  a mercenary and thief (possibly reformed), who are not going to give up until her prediction comes true. . . if it does.

This was my choice for the “debut novel” for Book Bingo, though it could have gone for “judging a book by its cover” for that enticing drawing of a woman with a cat sitting on the steps of a brightly colored wagon under the stars. The cover is an accurate one, because this is a charming tale indeed.  I liked all the characters.  Tao is a brave and determined young woman who is trying to make her way in the world but is forced to keep a low profile or risk being commandeered into the Guild. Mash, the soldier is seeking his young daughter who was lost, probably kidnapped by raiders while his companion Silt is just along for the ride.  And possibly to lift a few valuables.  Reforming is a process, not something one can do cold turkey. They are soon joined by Leah, the baker’s apprentice, whose baked goods taste marginally better than they look.

While I can’t say that this book broke new ground, it is a fun and cozy fantasy full of adventure, characters we enjoy rooting for, a dash of romance, and family.  Tao has more than a few secrets of her own, and there’s a whole backstory to gradually unravel.  Leong has some points to make and she does so elegantly and without fanfare. There’s humor and heart in this book, and I’d be ready to join in on another adventure should one be in the offing.  

And yes, there is really a cat with a role to play!

Nevermore: The Lost Boy, Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Ordeal by Hunger

 

Reported by Rita

Nevermore 8-5-25

The Lost Boy by Thomas Wolfe
A captivating and poignant retelling of an episode from Wolfe's childhood. The story of Wolfe's brother Grover and his trip to the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair is told from four perspectives, each articulating the sentiments of a different family member.

A real page-turner. This immersive novella puts the reader inside the story. - PP 4 stars

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

I enjoyed this book. It was interesting and enjoyable. - NH 5 stars


Ordeal by Hunger: The Story of the Donner Party by George R. Stewart
The tragedy of the Donner Party constitutes one of the most amazing stories of the American West. In 1846, eighty-seven people — men, women, and children — set out for California, persuaded to attempt a new overland route. After struggling across the desert, losing many oxen, and nearly dying of thirst, they reached the very summit of the Sierras, only to be trapped by blinding snow and bitter storms. Many perished; some survived by resorting to cannibalism; all were subjected to unbearable suffering. Incorporating the diaries of the survivors and other contemporary documents, George R. Stewart wrote the definitive history of that ill-fated band of pioneers. Ordeal by The Story of the Donner Party is an astonishing account of what human beings may endure and achieve in the final press of circumstance.

It is a very matter-of-fact telling of the Donner Party. I liked it. - FE 5 stars



Other Books Mentioned

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
Cats in Art: From Prehistoric to Neo-Pop Masterpieces by Alix Paré
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst
The Grandes Dames by Stephen Birmingham
The Swiss Family Robinson / Robinson Crusoe by Johann David Wyss
Chasing the Dime (Harry Bosch Universe, #12) by Michael Connelly
Abandoned Southern Virginia: The South Begins by Liz Roll
The Women by Kristin Hannah
In the Distance by Hernan Diaz
The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell
The Pirate's Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd by Daphne Palmer Geanacopoulos
Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser
Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia



New Books:

The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-Essa
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Cults: Inside the World's Most Notorious Groups and Understanding the People Who Joined Them by Max Cutler
The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon by Laurie Gwen Shapiro
Nature of the Appalachian Trail: Your Guide to Wildlife, Plants, and Geology by Leonard M. Adkins
Absolution (Southern Reach, #4) by Jeff VanderMeer
House of Frost and Feathers by Lauren Wiesebron
The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce

Come Fix You A Plate: Food you’ll actually cook from Your Barefoot Neighbor by Matthew Bounds

 Reviewed by Kristin 

I love a good cookbook, even if I don’t cook as much as I once did. This is one of those indulgent books that tells you how to cook good food, and involves ingredients like “1 stick of butter” or “1 block of cream cheese”. I immediately wrote down four recipes and need to add a couple things to my shopping list. 

With funny names like Crock Pot-ato Soup and RotelTisserieVeetaTini and Ain’tChiladas, the cook obviously has a sense of humor. He also promotes charitable organizations close to his heart without being preachy about it. His love of family and friends also comes through in the short narratives accompanying some of the recipes. 

Myrtle’s Pasta Bake sounds a lot like the baked ziti that my husband orders at our favorite local Italian place. Pasta, meat sauce, cheese: I could fix me a plate of that. 

Sweet Potato Casserole isn’t an everyday food at my house, but this one sounds like a delicious variation that might be worth making for the next holiday. I can practically taste it now. 

Sodie Spice Cake is literally what it sounds like. A can of whatever soda you like, a box of whatever cake mix, both dumped over some apple pie filling. I haven’t made a dessert in ages, but I think this would be a big hit next time we have a family gathering. 

But that Chicken Cobbler…I might just make that this weekend. Shredded chicken, any variety of vegetables, biscuit mix, some liquids and that stick of butter—come fix you a plate.

Abandoned Southern Virginia: The South Begins Here by Liz Roll

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

The intriguing cover invited me to pick up this book. This is a book that’s difficult to review because it is very much a visual experience.  It’s a collection of arresting photographs of abandoned places in Virginia, from ghost towns to factories to schools.  The photographer does an amazing job of lighting a scene, making faded colors pop even as they show wear and neglect. 

I was mesmerized by the book.  It’s obvious that Roll is a gifted photographer, with an artist’s eye for detail.  I spent a lot of time poring over pictures, enjoying the color, details, and the vibe—sometimes a bit creepy, sometimes sad, sometimes mysterious.  Some of the places are said to be haunted, such as Union Level, a place I had never heard of before but which claims to be the most photographed ghost town in Virginia.

Sometimes there is only a limited amount of text to a section. I admit to being disappointed at times at the dearth of information about a place or shot—some places aren’t really identified, perhaps to keep people away.  Some sections do have text that places the structures in historical context, such as how desegregation led to the closure of a specific school. On the other hand, some sites such as the old factories have a good introduction which gave me a greater appreciation for the photos.  Naturally, some of the abandoned places have acquired a bit of graffiti, some of which is artistic in its own right. The other thing I would really have liked to see would have been a little map to give at least a general idea of where these places are located.

But those are minor things beside the photographs.  These images are really memorable and amazing, and I recommend this book.

Nevermore: Pirate's Wife, Queen of Spades, My Name Is Emilia del Valle

 

Nevermore 7-22-25

Reported by Rita

The Pirate's Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd by Daphne Palmer Geanacopoulos
In a work of narrative nonfiction filled with romance and high-seas adventure, a historian and journalist charts the life of Sarah Kidd, who secretly aided and abetted her infamous husband, pirate Captain Kidd, from within the strictures of polite society in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century New York.

I found this title very interesting, with lots of twists and turns. - PP 4 stars


The Queen of Spades by Alexander Pushkin
One of Pushkin's most popular and chilling stories, The Queen of Spades is one of the most famous tales in Russian literature and inspired the eponymous opera by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It tells of a young man who develops a dangerous obsession in pursuit of the wealth he craves.

This book was chilling, scary, and exciting. - MD 5 stars

My name is Emilia del Valle: A Novel by Isabel Allende
In 1800s San Francisco, young writer Emilia, daughter of an Irish nun and a Chilean aristocrat, journeys to South America with talented reporter Eric to uncover the truth about her father—and herself.

It's a really good book. I couldn't put it down. - MH 5 stars


Other Books Mentioned:

Uncomfortable Labels by Laura Kate Dale
Last Patient of the Night (An AJ Docker Medical Thriller, #1) by Gary Gerlacher
Purrfect Murder (The Mysteries of Max, #1) by Nic Saint
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall
Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silvey
The Story of Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting


New Books:

One Final Turn (Electra McDonnell, #5) by Ashley Weaver
The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
Thus With a Kiss I Die (Daughter of Montague, #2) by Christina Dodd

Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon

 

Reviewed by Kristin

Sometimes books seem so over the top that you don’t really have high expectations. Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune series had been repeatedly recommended to me, so I picked it up Louisiana Longshot even though the cover and description seemed, well, they seemed to be trying too hard.

The series is set in Sinful, Louisiana with a CIA agent hiding out because an arms dealer has her in his crosshairs. Fortune (the nickname she’s earned as an agent) is lying low pretending to be the heir to a local estate, as well as a librarian and former beauty queen. Since Fortune would rather run three miles before breakfast than tease her hair and have a manicure, the character does not come naturally.

Human remains turn up on Fortune’s property before she can even unpack her suitcases. This immediately attracts the attention of a rather hot young deputy, as well as critters both domesticated and not. What is stereotypical Louisiana if you don’t spot an alligator or two? A group of old ladies, who have more up their sleeves than is apparent, runs the tiny town. Fortunately, (pun intended) the women are happy to take Fortune in as one of their own.

Fortune gets herself into ridiculous situations that had me laughing out loud, but somehow the writing is skillful enough that it didn’t make me throw up my hands and give up. The characters, especially “The Geritol Mafia”, have promises for depths to be revealed as the series continues. And it is a long series—28 volumes so far.

This first in series fit nicely into my Book Bingo card for “a character who is a sleuth” and I will probably return to the series after I get the rest of my card filled. The crazy situations Fortune gets herself into definitely call for a suspension of disbelief, but it’s a nicely done break from reality.

Fifty Places to Travel Solo: Travel Experts Share the World’s Greatest Solo Destinations by Chris Santella

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

I have to say I found the title of this book a bit misleading. Some of the places recommended definitely require other people to be around—Antarctica, for example.  That quibble aside, this is a most enjoyable book of interviews with different travel writers about places they recommend.  The opening essay by Kate McCulley discusses why she likes to travel without friends or family (makes it very easy to spend time on things that interest you) and how empowering it can make one feel.

The suggested places are listed alphabetically, making it easy to spot places of interest.  While there are plenty of international suggestions such as Havana or Prague or Ho Chi Minh City, there are also a number of U.S. destinations.  One delightful surprise was seeing Asheville listed among New York City, New Orleans, and Palm Springs.  The essays have comments and background information about the person making the recommendation, highlights of the area (Asheville is surrounded by ample opportunities for hiking, camping, etc., great food scene, and of course Biltmore!), must-do suggestions, and ending up with site specific tips for budget travel, best time to visit, and how to get around. Most entries have a full color photo to give readers a sense of the place.

This is a wonderful browsing book!  I read the entries for places I knew first to see someone else’s perspective, then moved on to I’ve heard about but never visited.  There were also a number of places I’d never heard of before but which sound very intriguing. One such is Pai, a small village in Thailand which is not a tourist town and pretty much attracts people because of that.  It’s very rural but with a lively village life featuring live music and locally crafted jewelry and art.

For someone contemplating a trip or for the armchair traveler, this is a fun and informative book.

Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalauddin

 

Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalauddin

Reviewed by Jeanne

After a tragedy, Kausar Khan left Toronto and had never thought to return.  She and her husband had built a life in North Bay, away from friends, family, and most of all, reminders.  Even after her husband passed away, Kausar was unwilling to consider returning until she got a phone call that her daughter Sana is in trouble—and not just simple trouble.  There has been a murder in Sana’s boutique.

While Kausar knows her daughter would not had committed murder, she comes not only to help with the household but to ask questions of her own. This turns out to be more difficult than anticipated because Sana is angry and evasive; Sana’s older daughter seems suspicious of Kausar; and Sana’s husband Hamsa is definitely lying about something. The police, however, seem sure they have their murderer: Sana.

I don’t quite know where to start to say how much I enjoyed this book, which is the first in a new series.  Kausar is a character who really comes to life.  She is a woman of a certain age, a Southeast Asian Muslim immigrant who had an arranged marriage, but who has always met challenges with kindness, empathy, and a shrewd intelligence that allowed her to notice small details that revealed larger truths.  Her race and her age lead people to underestimate her and to make certain assumptions which Kausar uses to her advantage. She’s a warm and empathetic individual, but also with steely resolve to help and protect both her family and her community.  She has a sense of humor as well as humility, but she also has a sense of guilt.  Mired in grief, she now feels that she has let her family down.  She has no idea about the details of Sana’s life or the lives of her granddaughters, and now must try to build more of a relationship with them.  

The book also touches on subjects like gentrification, racism, and generational divides. Kausar and her friends were brought up with certain expectations and views which are not necessarily shared by their children or grandchildren.

The mystery itself is very well constructed.  As Kausar begins to investigate, she discovers some shady financial dealings going on in the neighborhood that may or may not have had a bearing on the murder, not to mention the secrets within her own family.   

I also loved learning more about an unfamiliar culture and place.  Jaladdin writes well, and is able to impart information organically, without lengthy explanations.  In fact, she writes so well that I’m almost tempted to read one of her other books—all of which are romances, which is not my genre.  That says a lot right there!

Blue Ridge Fire Towers by Robert Sorrell

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

While the title might sound dull to some, this book is a little gem of local history.  Sorrell has done a very thorough job of telling the history of fire towers in the area, starting in 1910.  In the early years, fire towers were the only game in town for spotting wildfires.  Nowadays, fire spotters have largely been replaced or supplemented by technology, though some towers remain staffed either by employees or volunteers. Even the abandoned ones remain as points of interest for hikers and locals.

Sorrell tells the story chronologically, beginning with the first towers as it became obvious there was a need for lookouts after some damaging fires. This was a bit more controversial than one would think: according to Sorrell the prevailing attitude was that fires were “a force of nature that could not be abated or prevented.”  Some of the early towers were built either by communities or companies, while conservationist and forest enthusiast Gifford Pinchot championed the building of a network of towers to help manage the potential damage from fires.

But let me just jump ahead to “the good stuff”—the wealthy of local stories and information about the towers.  I am not a fire tower buff myself (not crazy about heights) but even I have heard of a number of these towers.  During the fall, people talk about going up to the Mendota fire tower to get the best views of the foliage. Wise County’s High Knob Tower was so iconic that it was rebuilt not once but twice after it was destroyed by fire in the 1970s and again in 2007. The newest tower, dedicated in 2014, is considered fireproof.

Long time residents will enjoy that Sorrell has several references to local journalist Jack Kestner who wrote about his love for the mountains and even did a stint as a watcher in a fire tower. (Fun fact:  Kestner wrote a novel entitled Fire Tower, set in West Virginia.) There is a good index, which helped me find the areas I was especially interested in, and I certainly enjoyed the photos but honestly I could have read the entire book.  Sorrell has an engaging manner of writing that made me want to read more even if I didn’t know the area he was writing about.  It’s a gift that not all non-fiction writers have, so I really appreciate it in those that do.

If you have any interest in local history in general, I recommend giving this book a try.