Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane

Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review will actually cover the following books: Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, Busman's Honeymoon and Thrones, Dominations.

I am late to the stories of Lord Peter Wimsey and his love interest, Harriet Vane. I'm going to confess right now that I did not read them in the correct order at all.

I started with Gaudy Night. I'm not sure how I had this book on my kindle. I suspect that it was because I was interested in Dorothy Sayers, and was able to purchase the novel for $2 or less. What particularly intrigued me about this book was the underlying feminist theme. Harriet, in her own words, is

Scholar; Master of Arts; Domina; Senior Member of this University.

She, and her counterparts at the university, professors all, are women, exceeding at a profession that was long denied to them. Most of them are single. There is an underlying tension between their thoughts of marriage, being successful women, and whether or not you can be both. This theme captured my attention and interest over and above the mystery theme of the book. Harriet herself, struggles with her feelings for a man (Lord Peter), and her independence, career (mystery writer) and her womanhood. The book was written in 1935, so these issues would have been prominent at that time. Harriet and Peter met when Harriet was accused of murdering her former lover--this is mentioned in Gaudy Night. Harriet and Peter's relationships grows, and so I was curious to find out what happened next.

So, on to the next book in the series, which was Busman's Honeymoon. Here, there is, of course, another murder to investigate. Again, I am a bit more intrigued by the relationship between Harriet and Peter and how Harriet is struggling with being a wife, and being a writer. Interestingly enough, Peter encourages her in her writing, and it is she herself who is trying to reconcile those roles.

Now, of course, I am beginning to wonder about the back story. I begin Strong Poison. Strong Poison was written in 1930. Here we learn of Harriet in prison for murdering her lover by poisoning him. I'm thinking that in 1930 it was pretty fast of a young woman to live with a man, so here again we have an underlying theme of feminism, womanhood, woman's independence and belief in herself at a time when it was not the norm. Lord Peter instantly believes in her innocence, and is instantly attracted to her intellect, instinctively knowing this is a woman who could be his equal in a relationship. Harriet though, is having none of it.

Well, now I've read everything except for Have His Carcase, so I might as well read that too, right? Harriet and Lord Peter collaborate on another mysterious murder, and their interactions with each other become more complex.

The last book in the series is Thrones, Dominations. This book was actually finished by another author, and shows us a glimpse of Harriet and Peter as a married couple.

So, although I read these all helter skelter, I did enjoy the series. As you can probably tell, I enjoyed them more for the story of Lord Peter and Harriet, than for the actual mysteries. Overall, the series charmed me. One other thing I noticed about these books - the language in them is higher than the language that authors use in writing now. We had a higher expectation of our readers than we do in our present time.


View all my reviews

What Does Your Sunday Look Like?

Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was so excellent. Rachel is very honest in her questions and struggles with the church, fellow christians and her faith walk. I felt she was respectful but passionate about the areas where she didn't agree with the party line of mainline churches. I think she was honest about her questions and feelings, and that we could all benefit from being more honest with each other, as long as we temper it with grace. She starts the book with this thought:

Even when I don't believe in church, I believe in resurrection. I believe in the hope of Sunday morning.

So, she begins with hope. She goes on to say:

The truth is, we think church is for people living in the "after" picture. We think church is for taking spiritual Instagrams and putting on our best performances. We think church is for the healthy, even though Jesus told us time and again he came to minister to the sick. We think church is for good people, not resurrected people.

I think that is so true. We expect perfection of ourselves and fellow christians, when the truth is we are all just one hot mess. One of of my favorite quotes from this book from the chapter titled "With God's Help". Rachel takes this story from a Lauren Winner book. A 12 year old girl is going to be confirmed. She tells her father, a pastor, she's not sure she can do it--she's not sure she believes everything enough to make a promise to believe these things forever. Her father tells her

What you promise when you are confirmed is not that you will believe this forever. What you promise when you are confirmed is that this is the story you will wrestle with forever.

Frederick Beuchner says much the same thing when he says

Doubt is the ants in the pants of faith."

Life with God is not an absolute, it's a relationship, a journey.

What always amazes me about these types of reflective, memoirish (if that's a word) books, is how vulnerable the authors are about sharing their thoughts and struggles. I really appreciated that Rachel showed us her heart. A really good book to share and talk about with others.


View all my reviews

The Excellent Lombards by Jane Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very good read, one that I really hope will end up as one of our book club picks. It needs to be talked about!

I love the main character, Frankie, affectionately nicknamed Marlene by her father (no one knows why) and Imp by her brother. Frankie lives in her head a lot, and has a wild imagination. Their family shares ownership of an apple orchard with Frankie's uncle, a self styled, but not very successful inventor. This is Frankie's world, and she loves every inch of it. Because she lives in her head a lot, she makes a lot of situations in her life more dramatic than they really are.

We get to meet Frankie at an early age (4 or 5 years old) and follow her story through her high school years. I especially liked her moody, dramatic teen years. Who doesn't remember the angst of being a teenager and how you choose to be obstinate just for the sake of disagreeeing with your parents? Our world revolves around our ownselves in those years (at least they did for me), and we are woefully misunderstood and forced to do things we don't want to do. We don't even understand our obstinacy but we insist on being contrary anyway.

There are so many characters to love in this story. I love how the marriage relationship between Jim and Nellie (Frannie's parents) is portrayed. I like the scary Aunt who Frankie dislikes. I like Gloria, who is many ways was another mom to Frankie and her brother. I like how Frankie tries to understand these relationships as they relate to her.

I could really relate to how Frankie's love for her home and family was almost an obstinate love, and one that she could not let go of. A love that she selfishly wanted to keep for herself. She was hanging on to it so tightly because she was afraid of what change would do to her family and her place in it.

Ultimately this book is about just that. How do we love so passionately and get to that understanding that at some point, your love will change. To understand that your love can expand and that we don't have to be afraid to let other people in.


View all my reviews

Ove is a Decent (Albeit Grumpy) Man

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is something about this book that was really endearing. Parts are amusing, parts are touching, and the book is full of characters that form unexpected connections.

I was reminded to appreciate and celebrate the decent and good people among us.

Everyday we are bombarded with news stories about the evil, ignorant and mean people that choose to treat people badly. One would think we have no decent people anywhere in the world. But we can choose to be decent.

I think that's what I liked most about this story. Do people make mistakes? Yes. Do people judge others? Yes. But, if we as a people dig a little deeper, will we find a connection with people instead of following our prejudices? Yes, if we choose to.


View all my reviews

Girl Scientists are the Best!

The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I truly enjoyed getting to know Calpurnia Tate! She was a girl ahead of her time. A girl with a scientific bent in a world that did not credit woman with brains or skill. Other than her grandpa, who encouraged her to learn everything she could, there was no-one who appreciated her smartness. Indeed, when she asked about going to college, her father said she should save her money for her trousseau.

My what? Bridal linens? Clothes? Was he kidding? I searched his face for signs of joshing but there were none. I couldn't believe it. How had this happened? How could I be so misunderstood by my own father? I was a foreigner in my own home, a citizen of some other tribe, a member of some other genus.

Poor Calpurnia, she who could learn and do anything, was treated as a second class citizen just because she was a girl.

Calpurnia and her brother Travis were partners of a sort. Travis loved animals, trying to adopt armadillos, raccoons, and a certain coyote dog who wormed his way into Travis's heart. Calpurnia tried to be the voice of reason. As a girl scientist, she knew these animals were better off in the wild, but Travis just wanted to love them all.

I loved Calpurnia's voice. She was smart, with a sort of wry humor and way of looking at her life. Her grandpa is the love of her life, he who says

"...life was full of opportunities to learn something new about the world, and one should glean all one could from an expert in his field, no matter what that field may be."

Calpurnia realized that she was an anomaly in her world, but she was determined to overcome it. I was really sad to have to say good-bye to her.


View all my reviews

Passing Through All Right

Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a compelling story! From the moment you meet Charlie you realize that this is not going to be a simple story. Each time I turned the page, I was wondering, is it this chapter where the shoe is going to fall?

The author's opening line is "The thing is, all memory is fiction. You have to remember that." He goes on to say

This story actually happened, and it happened pretty much the way I'm going to tell it to you. It's a true story, as much as six decades of remembering and telling can allow it to be true. Time changes things, and you don't always get everything right."

Charlie walks into town a stranger--he's pretty much adopted by a family, then by the town. But Charlie has an obsession--her name is Sylvan. Heading Out to Wonderful is primarily their story, although you will meet many other people along the way.

I love how the book was written, in fact, the writing reminds me a little bit of My Ántonia. That too, was a story of ordinary people living ordinary lives, told in a respectful way.

I would say this story will also make you think of forgiveness, or, perhaps, the lack of forgiveness. We have so much to give each other, yet, so often we withhold ourselves, holding onto judgment instead.

Some favorite quotes:

When you're young, and you head out to wonderful, everything is fresh and bright as a brand-new penny, but before you get to wonderful, you're going to have to pass through all right.

Childhood is the most dangerous place of all and no one gets past it unscarred.

She could only think, there are no fires of hell, there is only mercy

This book may not be for everyone, it's written in a very reflective manner, but I thought it was excellent, and will be checking out other books by this author.


View all my reviews

A Magical Evening with the Book of Speculation

The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was absolutely pulled into this book from the first page. For me, this book helped me to reach that zone of living in an alternate universe, which is what all the best books do. I did not want to come up for air!

First, the main character, Simon, the librarian, who naturally, loves books (I really liked Simon). Right there, I'm hooked. Then, he receives a beautiful, old, mysterious volume in the mail from a bookseller he doesn't even know. And thus the mystery begins. It is a fantastic mystery--by that I mean that the events recorded in the book, and the events surrounding his ancestors are rather fantastic and out of the realm of belief. But, you believe them, they are part of the story of Simon's life.

You will weave in and out of Simon's life as he digs into the book's mystery. Sometimes you will be in present time (Simon's time), and sometimes you will be in his ancestor's times. I know this can be annoying to some people, but it really worked well in The Book of Speculation.

I love when debut novels are so good, but feel bad for the author, because now I will expect her next book to be just as enthralling.

As always, it's not just the story, but the language used that draws me in. Here are some tidbits for you to consider:

"at night the lights from Connecticut shine across the harbor like they're crying."

"We carry our families like anchors, rooting us in storms, making sure we never drift from where and who we are."

          "Perhaps the book opened a door; books have a way of causing ripples." (love this!)

I borrowed this book from my local library, read it in an evening, and am now re-reading bits of it. It pulled me in like The Thirteenth Tale did years ago. I highly recommend it.



View all my reviews

An Unexpected Tale About Good and Evil

Bohemian Gospel by Dana Chamblee Carpenter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you're looking for a book to take you away, this fit the bill for me. It's fantasy, and somewhat dark, but full of adventure and mystery.

Mouse is abandoned as a child, with no knowledge of her mother or father. She is loved and educated in an Abbey by one of the monks, Father Lucas. She is trained to be a healer by a Nun, Mother Kazi. Although Father Lucas and Mother Kazi love her, they are a little afraid of her, and she senses that from them. Mouse has mysterious gifts, like hearing things long before anyone else hears them, and her body heals itself very quickly. Mouse doesn't know if these are good or evil things.

One day, a young king is injured and Mouse is instrumental in his healing. From that day forward, their lives are intertwined. Their journey leads to love, sadness and sacrifice. There are adventures, and there are questions. When Mouse learns the answers, will she be happy?

The ending was a little flat for me, but I would still highly recommend this read.


View all my reviews

The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reviewers were really varied on this book, from 1 star hated it to 5 stars. Most all like the first part of the book, but then were disappointed with the character development choices at the end. For me, I was interested all the way through. I didn't want to give this 3 stars, I thought that was too low, but a 4 seems a little high. So know that this book fell between those choices for me.

Carrie's boyfriend, Mike, dives off Clausen's Pier and becomes paralyzed. Carrie was conflicted about their relationship before the dive,and now she is placed in the unenviable position of being a "lifeline" for Mike. The choices she now makes will affect Mike, Mike's family, herself, the friends that she and Mike hung out--that's a lot of pressure for a 23 year old. We follow Carrie's journey as she tries to figure out who she is, and what role she will play in Mike's life.

Do I agree with the folks who were disappointed in what they perceived as shallowness in the character development as the book moved forward? Well, yes, in some ways--but then again, the 23 year olds of today are not exactly mature. They do make debatable choices, and some of the choices they make are based on how they think other's will make judgments about them. And some of their choices are selfish. I think so many young people are so confused about life, themselves, and how they work together.

One of the things I liked about this book, is how Carrie used sewing as an escape. I love to sew, so her descriptions of fabric, and fashion, and how she used those as an escape were interesting to me.

In the end, Carrie makes a sort of peace with her life and choices. I'm not sure it would have been quite that neat in real life, but it fit Carrie's life, and so it was a just right ending.


View all my reviews

What Story is Your Life Telling?

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy Donald Miller's writing, and I like this book even better than Blue Like Jazz.

Basically this book encourages us to think of our lives as story. Don't like the story you're in? Then why don't you look at changing it into a better story? That's what Don did, and along the way he made new friends, went on some adventures, and made a difference in the lives of boys that don't have fathers through a mentoring program. There were portions of the book where I was just chuckling out loud, particularly the chapter featuring snow and kayaks. Don't think the book is all humor though, he also covers hard subjects like losing people you love to cancer.

There are so many great things to quote from this book, but I'll have to restrain myself. Here's a few of my favorites:

"I wonder if that's what we'll do with God when we are through with all this, if he'll show us around heaven, all the light coming in through the windows a thousand miles away, all the fields sweeping down to a couple of chairs under a tree, in a field outside the city. And we'll sit and tell him our stories, and he'll smile and tell us what they mean."

When Miller tries to comfort his cousin about the loss of her father, his Uncle Art, who was like a father to him. He can't find the words, but:

"later that night I pictured Uncle Art, and I could see him in heaven, and he was sitting at a table and there was a celebration. There was dancing and bottles of wine, and there was music. I could see him at a wedding, and I realized that's what I should have told Carol, that her dad was at a wedding."

Miller's friend Kathy is struggling with God and the events he allowed to happen in her life and the life of others. She goes to visit Ntarama in Africa, to visit the church which is the memorial to the people who died because of the terrible atrocities that occurred in the war between the Hutus and the Tutsis people. It's there she heard God's voice

"This is what happens when people walk away from me, Kathy. I have brought you to this place to show you something important.This is what happens when my compassion and love leave a place."

Such a good reminder that we are responsible to be God's hand and feet in this world.

This book is full of stories that will make you think of your life differently. I guarantee you will enjoy it!


View all my reviews

Beryl Markham: Fact or Fiction?

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think I may be getting frustrated with books that are part biography and part novel. While I enjoyed getting to know about Beryl Markham's life (her accomplishments as a woman are amazing), I kept wondering how the author could know what she (Beryl) was really feeling. Of course she can't, and she has every right to take creative license as it is a novel, but I find myself wanting to know the real bits. That said, I am intrigued to read Beryl's book, West With the Night, so I can see what she has to say in her own words.

To be fair, as a story, I would give it 4 stars, the 3 stars are my frustration with not knowing what is truth and fiction.


View all my reviews

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was pulled into this story of Rachel, a daughter of a Norwegian and a Black American GI. It is a story of loss and despair, with some hope pulled in. I thought the ending was just right. You can view a good synopsis on Heidi's website.

I think this would be an excellent classroom or book club discussion book.


View all my reviews

Yeah! Flavia's Back!

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm glad to say that Flavia is once again back on the job! I was concerned that with her growing older, and going away to boarding school, we would lose some of the Flavia that I've grown to know and love. Thankfully that was not the case.

Flavia is leaving home to attend boarding school. The unjustness of being banished from her home has laid her spirit low. She even misses her cruel sisters.

Flavia arrives at Miss Bodycote's Female Boarding School in the dead of night. If you are a fan of Flavia, you know that something is bound to happen sooner, rather than later, and you would be right. She's barely asleep when there is a knocking at her door and a body drops from the chimney into the hearth in her room. Before authorities get there, she manages to pocket a small token that was clutched in the body's hand, starting Flavia on her next adventure.

Thoroughly enjoyed this most recent book in the series and the ending made me happy.



View all my reviews

Fun Adventure Series for Adults and Children

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book series, which contains, The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia, and A Conspiracy of Kings. This review really encompasses all four books which I read over a weekend. Let me just say, I am very sad that books 5 and 6 are not out yet.

So, disclaimer here, these are children's books, for ages 10 to 14. I don't think I'll disclose my age, but I am well past that, and yet became thoroughly caught up in the story. I say story because even those these are 4 separate books, they are the continuation of the lives of Gen, Irene, Helen and Sophos.

The stories have a feel of Greek myths, although the gods have been created from the author's imagination. There is adventure, betrayal, forgiveness and love (both true love and friendship love).

Gen says he can steal anything, and sets out to do just that. The whole series is based on this premise.

Gen is adept at hiding who he really is, but that doesn't keep him from being captured by the Queen of Attolia. The consequence of being a thief in her kingdom was a truly shocking one. What happens after the consequence is even more surprising.

This quote from the goodreads book description captures some of the intrigue of Book 2:

When Eugenides finds his small mountain country at war with Attolia, he must steal a man, he must steal a queen, he must steal peace. But his greatest triumph, and his greatest loss, comes in capturing something that the Queen of Attolia thought she had sacrificed long ago

Whether you are adult or child, pick up this series for a quick and adventuresome read!



View all my reviews

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was truly as good as the reviewers said it was. You will be sympathetic to all the characters, which means you will embrace both the good and bad of both sides of the war. It is so easy to vilify Germans in these World War II stories, yet they are people like you and me. The main characters are Marie-Laure, a young blind girl and Werner, an orphaned radio repair man.

As you get to know Werner, you begin to understand why he made his choice, and also to see that you may have made the same choice. As you get to know Marie-Laure, you feel her fear, and also, her courage. Werner's sister displays that innate sense of what is right and the ability to stay true to that. Marie's uncle, who becomes her caregiver after her father is captured, is both a coward and a hero.

The author allows us glimpses into their lives, the background story, if you will, of why they are who they are. You gain a sympathy and understanding for each of them. For me, this is part of what makes the story so powerful. Of course there is good and evil in the world, we see, read, and hear about the evil everyday. Somehow, evil becomes a country, or a people, or a political party. This story helps me to remember that it's individuals who make up the groups--perhaps, if we know their back stories, and help them in an appropriate way, they will have the power to change the evil into something good.


View all my reviews

He Is The Lamp for My Path

A Lamp Unto My Feet: The Bible's Light For Your Daily Walk by Elisabeth Elliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In ancient times a tiny clay lamp was sometimes fastened to the thong of a sandal so that the pool of light cast was sufficient only for a single step. The traveler took that step and found light enough for the next. So the psalmist wrote: "Thy Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light on my path."

This beginning passage charmed my soul. I am always a fan of Elisabeth Elliott's writings and this book did not disappoint. I love how she points always, to God and His word. In this book she gently reminds us that it is time alone with God and His Word that will equip us to live our lives. It's so difficult in this fast paced society to slow down and just be with God. She reminds us that:

Very possibly we often miss what God wants to show us because we don't take time to pray silently and watch quietly.

As I was browsing through my notes, I realize that I have practically highlighted the entire book!

The book is divided into months, and then homilies for each day of the month. I actually read it through over a period of days, rather than using it as a devotional. This book became a time of quiet and refreshment for me over my lunch time. It was a lovely way to slow myself down and recenter myself as one of God's children.


View all my reviews

An Old Fashioned Novel for Your Reading Pleasure

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this Lucy Montgomery book. It is very old fashioned--if you don't like old fashioned stories and writing, this book may not be for you.

Valency has taken a back seat all her life. Her mantra is pretty much, don't make waves, do what you are told. She's living in fear of breaking the rules and speaking her mind. She won't even change her hairstyle as her family expects her to be obedient and never change. To top it off, she is considered an unattractive old maid.

That all changes when Valency finds out that she should not expect to live a long life. In fact, she ends up proposing to a eccentric and wild bachelor, Barney Snaith. Barney accepts her proposal out of the kindness of his heart (I know, this is a little unrealistic, but I forewarned you this is an old fashioned book).

Barney and Valency live on Barney's personal island. It turns out to be a pretty idyllic life, at least for Valency who loves nature, privacy and being able to do whatever she wants.

There is an author that Valency loves, who comforts who hurt soul throughout the book. His name is John Foster. Foster seems to be a John Muir type character to me, and many of the descriptive passages he writes are shared throughout the book. For example

It is a pity to gather wood flowers. They lose half their witchery away from the green and the flicker. The way to enjoy wood flowers is to track them down to their remote haunts--gloat over them--and then leave them with backward glances, taking with us only the beguiling memory of their grace and fragrance."

Montgomery is the author of the popular Anne of Green Gables series. As I understand it this is her only novel for adults. The Blue Castle was a nice break from modern literature which seems to be moving away from using words in the more gentle and educated way of the past.



View all my reviews

Prue Sarn's Words of Wisdom

Precious Bane by Mary Webb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I discovered this book through a newsfeed of some sort, investigated it in Amazon and Goodreads (over 4 stars for both), and decided to give it a try.

Precious Bane was first published in 1924. The setting is Shropshire, England after the Napaleonic wars. I tell you this because I struggled with understanding some of the conversations at first, as the language used was representative of the time and people. Once I got to know Prue Sarn though, I was pulled into the story. There was a lot of descriptive narrative, and I skimmed through much of this as I was always eager to get into the heart of the story.

Prue was born with a hare-lip, and this caused her to be looked at with suspicion in the community. In fact, many thought her cursed and no-one ever expects that she will marry. Fortunately, Prue does meet a Prince Charming, although I will let you find out how this all comes about. .

What spoke to my heart throughout this book was Prue's innocence and wisdom. For example, regarding her hare-lip:

"It seems to me that often it's only when you begin to see other folks minding a thing like that for you, that you begin to mind it for yourself. I make no doubt, if Eve had been so unlucky as to have such a thing as a hare-lip, she'd not have minded it till Adam came by, looking doutfully upon her, and the Lord, frowning on His marred handiwork."

or, consider this, after an acquaintance remarked on the deformity:

"'A great affliction.' But afore she said it I'd forgotten it, so I hadna got it. I was out of the cage till she put me in again."

Isn't this just true? We ourselves, make the person with a handicapped more disabled because we insist on looking at the outside instead of the inside.

When Prue met her "maister" (the one she loved), she ponders:

"Times I wonder if heaven will be thus, a long gazing on a face you canna tire of, but must ever have one more glimpse."

Such a beautiful thought.

When her loved one was in danger, this is Prue's thought:

".. .it always seemed a strange thing to me that the Mother of Jesus could keep her hands off the centurion, and it could only have been because her Son had given orders afore. But indeed if it had been me, I think I should have forgot the orders."

I'm in danger of quoting so many things from this book, but I'll end with this one:

"There was a mommet once called Judas, and if he had started away from his set part in fear, we should none of us have been saved. Which is all a very strange mystery, and so we must leave it."

Indeed! These are the gems that kept me drawn in to the story. I'm very glad to have discovered this book.

View all my reviews

Three In One: A Story of a Bird, a Woman, and a Man

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a really excellent memoir. The author was really vulnerable about herself and the impact her father's death had on her life. She just pretty much lays it all out there. For me, that would be tremendously hard to do.

Additionally, the way Macdonald writes about birds of prey and their habits, was just so interesting and fascinating. Hawking seemed like a romantic sort of hobby to me, but it is really a lot of work for the owner. The building of trust between human and bird is a tenuous thing.

There's another layer of the story which is basically an autobiography of T.H.White, author of "The Once and Future King". The way she ties his story to her story was done pretty much seamlessly.

Her language is lovely:

"Looking for goshawks is like looking for grace: it comes, but not often, and you don't get to say when or how"

I highly recommend this book to the avid reader.


View all my reviews

A Satisfying Tale

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Webster: penumbra: something that covers, surrounds, or obscures :shroud (a penumbra of secrecy) )a penumbra of somber dignity has descended over his reputation — James Atlas.)

Until this very moment I had no idea what Penumbra meant, but after reading the last line of this book, I decided it had to mean something, and, what a perfect meaning it is.  It only adds to the smile of satisfaction I had when I read the last line of Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore.

I enjoyed every minute that I spent with Mr. Penumbra and his friends. What a mysterious place this bookstore is, and what curious people come to borrow the books from the “waybacklist”. Indeed, Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore is two bookstores in one. There is the bookstore that sells your “normal” books, and there is the “waybacklist” bookstore with books that engage and entice your curiosity. To tell you more would take away from the enigma that is Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore.

You will learn about Penumbra and his bookstore through the voice of Clay Jannon. Clay’s respect and affection for Mr. Penumbra and his friends grows throughout the story. Clay’s friends are intrigued by the bookstore and use their creativity to unravel the riddles that surround the bookstore. They are unique inidividuals who connect with each other through their relationship with Clay, and Clay’s relationship with Penumbra.

Some books just engage us from the first page all the way through to the end. I often speed through a book to find out what’s going to happen next! In my impatience, I will skip to the end and then go back and finish the book. Somehow, I innately knew that reading Penumbra in that way would ruin the story. I didn’t even want to rush through, but instead enjoyed each moment on the page in calm anticipation of what would happen next.  Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore was an entirely satisfying read.

View all my reviews