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Saturday, January 21, 2017

kay's week - 1.21.17



Happy Saturday everyone!  Hope your week has been peaceful...and that's all I'll say about that.  Me, I'm all about the books.


I've been reading...

I finished 4 books this week, 3 in print/e-book and 1 on audio.  What a lovely week!

I shared The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths as a 'Waiting on Wednesday' selection last week.  I had been lucky enough to get an advance copy of this much anticipated new entry into the Ruth Galloway series and I decided that I indeed 'could not wait'.  This book won't come out in the US until late May and I think in the UK next month.  What I will say is that I was very happy with it!  I know that some feel that Griffiths has a little bit too much about the characters' personal lives and too little mystery.  I understand that feeling, but it's not one that I share.  Honestly, I read this series as much for the characters and their lives as I do for the crime solving.  The Chalk Pit has a lot about 'rough sleepers' or 'homeless' people.  There is a lot of compassion shown toward those individuals.  Ruth and company go below the ground into the tunnels that apparently exist from chalk mining.  There are dead bodies, bones, secrets, and 'wee Kate'.  What more could you want?  Hoping all who love Ruth and Nelson and Cathbad and Judy and Clough and 'wee Kate' will be pleased.

Next, I finished Peter Swanson's new book, Her Every Fear, on audio.  I had read this last year as a paperback advance copy, but decided to listen to it as well.  Eva Kaminsky was the narrator and she did an excellent job.  I was a big, big fan of Swanson's previous book, The Kind Worth Killing, and though I think this one was not quite as much of a favorite, it was still very good.  Kate is a person with lots of fears.  She always has been.  And then things keep happening to her - like being assaulted and stalked by an old boyfriend.  She comes from her home in London to Boston in an apartment swap with a distant cousin.  The first thing that occurs - a dead body next door.  She meets some 'interesting' neighbors and becomes more and more convinced that perhaps her cousin has some secrets.  Swanson's fascination with Hitchcock and his movies is again apparent as this book has some elements of Rear Window.  There were a couple of things here that raised the hair on my neck - very, very scary.  Pick it up.  Read it!

All Men Fear Me by Donis Casey was my next book and I loved it!  It's the 8th book in a historical mystery series that is not nearly as well known as it should be, in my opinion.  Alafair and Shaw Tucker live in Boynton, Oklahoma in the early part of the 1900's.  They have 10 living children, several in-laws, grandchildren, and are related to many people in their area, including the sheriff.  Each book has focused a bit on one or another of the children, along with the parents and crime and Alafair's ability to land herself right in the middle of things.  This book is mostly Charlie's book (age 16), though the effect that World War One has had on Oklahoma and the US in general, plus the other Tucker family members is apparent.  You know, some things never change.  I'm not sure I was aware of quite how divided opinions were about the US entering WWI, but this author has done her research and included some very pithy quotes to begin each chapter.  This book is about fear and patriotism and sabotage and murder.  This series gets better and better.

After devouring All Men Fear Me, I delved right in to the next and most current book in Donis Casey's series, The Return of the Raven Mocker, which was published earlier this month.  As I shared on Tuesday, it's set in 1918 and lets us know what's happened to the Tucker family during war time.  Mostly, it's about the flu epidemic and how it affects Boynton and Oklahoma and the Tuckers.  After my recent bout of flu, it was interesting to me.  Alafair is a farm wife and a skilled amateur healer.  She has experience with 10 children and has nursed many family members through illness.  She has her own opinions about remedies and how to best keep this severe flu from spreading.  After Alice and Walter, her daughter and son-in-law, are stricken, Alafair moves to town to nurse them, while placing her younger children and grandchildren in quarantine with Mary, another daughter.  Flu spreads rapidly through the town and people are sick and some die.  The people in the house next door to Alice have flu, but when two of them die and it turns out they were poisoned, Alafair tells the sheriff and his deputy what she has observed.  I loved this book, but will say that it was not a very complicated mystery to solve.  I enjoyed reading more about the way that a pandemic was dealt with and also was interested in some of the 'home remedies' that the author shared at the end of the book.  Remedies that I remember my own grandmother using.  Again, I love the characters and setting!


I've watched...

Still haven't watched the last Sherlock for this season.  We did record it, but there have been a lot of football and basketball games that took priority.  I've continued watching a bit of Foyle's War, but I've decided to also start watching Midsomer Murders.  I'll begin at the beginning, but there are a number of episodes that I've never watched.  I noticed that Miguel Ferrer, lately starring on NCIS Los Angeles, passed away.  My hubby and I had felt that he looked so gaunt and ill this year on that show.  He had throat cancer or so I read.  I liked him on this show and also on Crossing Jordan a number of years ago.  Always found it interesting that his mother was Rosemary Clooney, which would make George his cousin.


Personally...

A quiet week for us.  I've walked and starting working on getting things together for taxes.  I'm going to expand my volunteer work at my previous workplace, a branch of the Austin Public Library.  They need someone to shelve books one morning a week.  That should suit me just fine and will be a bit more than just working with the mystery book group once a month.  I'm also going to join the 'Friends' of another local library that I use more often to check out books.  They have a book sale twice a year that I've enjoyed attending and I've purchased many books there.  Maybe if I work the sale, I won't buy many books.  What do you think?  Probably not...Ha!  Have a great week!

49 comments:

  1. GFY volunteering at the library. You'll probably get lots of good ideas for reading more books :)
    I got outside for a few walks this week - that's news because our weather up here has made it almost impossible the past several weeks. Have a great week, Kay!

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    1. Glad you were able to get outside for a little walking, Mary. Hope you can continue to do that. Yes, probably too many ideas from shelving at the library, but that's OK. I get so many from blogging too. LOL

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  2. Speaking from experience, working the Friends book sale doesn't necessarily keep purchasing numbers down. Whenever I consolidate, straighten, or tidy, another book always seems to jump out at me! Enjoy your expanded volunteering schedule, Kay!

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    1. No, I totally agree, JoAnn. Actually, this Friends group gets to have a time before the sale for checking out the items available. A perk - I'm going to try not to buy too many. LOL

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  3. Our library doesn't have a book sale, but they put books to be discarded on cart in the foyer for people to take if they want. Maybe they should take your library's approach and make a little profit, but at least they don't dump all the books without giving their patrons a chance to browse and choose a free book or two or more. :) I would happily pay for some of the books they discard and have gotten some great poetry anthologies that are replaced with newer editions!

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    1. This particular library includes the library discards or some of them anyway in the book sale. Plus, when items are donated to the library, the staff takes a look to see if the library can use them on the shelves and, if not, they go to the book sale. They also have an ongoing small sale - a few shelves at the front of the library. It's nice that your library makes those items available for patrons.

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  4. I think I'd love to volunteer at a library, so many books to run through. We saw the 1st and 3rd Sherlock, but not the 2nd. Hated the first, the 3rd was interesting. Can't wait to get my hands on the new one by Elly Griffiths.

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    1. Yes, the 1st Sherlock was tough and the 2nd seemed kind of like a trip on LSD or something. Ha! We'll see about the 3rd. I bet you'll love the new Elly Griffiths. :-)

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  5. Kay, when I moved to Tennessee I volunteered at their annual library book sale thinking I would meet people. I haven't seen any of those people since, but my bookshelves surely had new 'friends' to the them! I am looking forward to volunteering again in April!

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    1. Good for you, Peggy! Yes, I can see how that might be a way to meet other readers. Does the library have a book group?

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  6. I felt badly about Ferrer. I really liked him in Crossing Jordan, and I love that show. One of his brothers is married to Debby Boone. I am a big fan of Rosemary Clooney.
    I just saw the new Deborah Crombie is out next month!!

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    1. I forgot that Debby Boone was married to his brother. Think I knew that way, way back. And yes, Rosemary Clooney - what a voice. I've watched a few episodes of ER recently - ones where George Clooney was still a cast member. Rosemary did a whole series of episodes as a guest star. She played an elderly lady that had dementia, but she could sing - and she did. Beautiful. I'm pretty sure that Miguel guest starred as well.

      Yes, the new Crombie book! Isn't that wonderful? She takes forever to write her books. LOL

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    2. Oh my gosh, I've never seen ER. It would be worth it for me to see her. I've never been a fan of George.

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    3. I can't believe you never saw ER. It was a staple in our lives for years and years. And no, I've not ever been all that fond of George either. He always seemed a little smarmy to me.

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  7. Sad about Ferrer...so many celebrity deaths recently.

    The connections between several celebrities always intrigue me.

    I've only read one book in the Ruth Galloway series, but I do enjoy that character.

    I am also ogling Her Every Fear. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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  8. Great reading this week! The Chalk Pits is really calling to me but I need to read the rest in the series first. I was saddened to hear about Miguel Ferrer. I really liked his character on the show and really wanted them to flesh him out a bit more. From all accounts he was a wonderful man. Enjoy your reading and your volunteering!

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    1. Yes, we were sad too. Always liked his acting - actually much more than his cousin, George. LOL

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  9. Oh the last Sherlock episode. It is something. I can't tell if they intend to continue it or not. Let me know what you think. The books sound good. I want to put a couple on my list.

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    1. Hopefully, we'll get to watch it this coming week. I think I read that it might be the ending of the series.

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  10. The library volunteering sounds like fun! You've had a good reading week from the sound of it. I'm one of the ones who's kinda lost interest in the Ruth Galloway series, but I'm making up for it by enjoying Elly Griffiths' other series - the Stephens and Mephisto books. Glad you enjoyed The Chalk Pit though. :)

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    1. I remember you saying that you're not so pleased with the latest Ruth books. Good to know that the other series works for you though.

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  11. Lots of thrillers and mysteries for you and new titles for me. I use to volunteer with a friends group but not any more.

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    1. Oh, yes, always lots of thrillers and mysteries. That's mostly where my reading takes me, though not always.

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  12. I loved A Kind Worth Killing too and look forward to Her Every Fear. It looks like you had a great reading week.

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    1. I think you'll enjoy HER EVERY FEAR. I had a great week!

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  13. I haven't watched the new Sherlock series either. Football and life have gotten in the way. I know they will always show it on Netflix later.

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    1. Yes, that's true. I suspect we will get to it later this week.

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  14. Looks like a great reading week. Hope this week is as well!

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    1. Thanks! I had a good time and hope to have just as good a time this week!

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  15. It sounds like your week has been a good one getting things in order - I keep saying I should visit our library more, I've been a life-long library member but rarely go nowadays which is a shame. I watched the last of Sherlock and enjoyed it - so much so I even stayed awake until the end haha

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    1. I don't check out all that many books. But I do like to help support the libraries that I use - even if infrequently. Looking forward to that Sherlock episode.

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  16. I felt very bad about Miguel Ferrer's passing. So sad. I watch NCIS: LA every week and was so surprised to hear it.

    I hope you have a great week!

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    1. Yes, it was sad. We felt like there was something wrong with him, but I never heard any publicity about it. Guess he wanted to be low-key about his health.

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  17. I adore the Ruth Galloway series for all the reasons you mentioned! I just love the characters so much- and I'm only 3 books in :) I've only read one book by Peter Swanson but I enjoyed it. I have Her Every Fear on my kindle- sounds like I need to read it really soon! I hope that you have a great week Kay! I think I said this last time I visited but I'm so glad that you are back :)

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    1. Thanks so much - you are too kind! You've got a lot of good Ruth/Nelson books ahead of you and I do think you'll like HER EVERY FEAR. There are some definite shivers there as you figure some things out.

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  18. I read THE OLD BUZZARD HAD IT COMING a few days ago and LOVED it. I'm picking up the next two books in the series from the library today. Thanks for recommending!

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    1. I'm so pleased that you tried THE OLD BUZZARD and liked it. Donis is appearing at the Poisoned Pen tomorrow night, I believe, and talking about the newest book. Wish I could go.

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  19. Oh, wow, I did not see that about Miguel Ferrer; what a loss. I'm pretty jealous that you'll be volunteering at the Austin Public Library; maybe you can hold a spot for me and, one of these days (a long time from now - ha!), I can retire and move. :) Enjoy your week!

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    1. Sounds like a plan for the APL. That was where I worked some time ago and so volunteering there is easy.

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  20. Kay that is wonderful that you are going to get a chance to spend more time at the library! I'm sure they will love having you there. And, I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the latest Elly Griffith's book. I agree there is quite a bit of personal stuff going on more so than mystery at times but I don't mind it at all either. The characters keep me coming back!

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    1. Oh me too definitely regarding Ruth and company. I'm glad to be able to do a bit more for the APL.

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  21. Watched a few minutes of last ep of Sherlock, and we both hated it and turned it off.

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    1. Understand. We still haven't watched it. One day soon.

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  22. I didn't know Miguel was Rosemary's son. I loved him in Crossing Jordan. That show wasn't on long enough. I was just asked to join our Friends of the Library Board so I'm looking forward to a fun year :)

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    1. Sorry, Stacy, I just found this in my moderation folder here. I've got it set for older posts to be moderated. Keeps out some of the spam. Anyway, how exciting about being asked to join the Friends Board. That is great! And, yes, I also liked Miguel in Crossing Jordan a lot. As to being Rosemary's son, well, you wouldn't have known it by looking at them, right? But the same could said about my husband and his mother. We go to the same church, but have different last names because she remarried after his Dad died years ago. Anyway, people are always saying 'I didn't know you were related.'

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  23. This post is over 2 weeks old, but I wanted to chime in and say that I really enjoyed Her Every Fear when I read it in December. I'm eager to give his other book a try later this year, perhaps. Good to know that it's even better than HEF.

    Hope you're enjoying your time at the library. My mom and stepdad used to volunteer at the library in Lincoln City, working in the Friends of the Library book sale room. If I run out of things to keep me busy when we move, I may do the same and start volunteering at the library. I may miss working around books too much!

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    1. Oh, you should definitely read THE KIND WORTH KILLING and then pair it with the movie of Strangers on a Train. Peter Swanson loves Hitchcock. Volunteering at the library has always been a favorite of mine - basically for over 30 years. You might enjoy it in Oregon.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!