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Monday, February 1, 2016

Bookish Nostalgia - February 2016



Can you believe that we are already into February?  One-twelfth of 2016 gone.  I think that time is passing faster or maybe I'm just getting older faster.  Ah well.  We still have books and reading and what's better than that?  February is the month for Valentine's Day, but I'm not sure that my reading really reflected the month of 'love' over the past 20 years.  Here's what I remember best:



February 1996 - Killing Orders by Sara Paretsky - This is the 3rd V. I. Warshawski book by Sara Paretsky.  There are now 18 books in this series.  Do you know V. I. or Victoria Iphigenia?  She's a tough private eye in Chicago and that city is almost another character.  In this book, V. I. has to step in when her very unpleasant Aunt Rosa is investigated by the authorities in her role as treasurer of St. Albert's Priory.  So we have the Church, some criminals, and horrible Aunt Rosa.  All the fun stuff in one book.  I went through a period where I read a bunch of V. I. books and really enjoyed them.  I'm not caught up at all on this series, but it's one I've always meant to get back to.  Sara Paretsky can certainly write.  She was awarded the Grand Master Award by the Mystery Writers of America in 2011.



February 2001 - Murder and the First Lady by Elliott Roosevelt - This is the first of a mystery series (20 books) written by the son of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and it stars Eleanor.  I know - what is it about those children of Presidents and writing mysteries (Margaret Truman also)?  I did like this book and this series though.  I'm not sure how well written they were, but I loved the idea of Eleanor Roosevelt as a sleuth.  While FDR was still in the White House.  Set in 1939, a White House staffer is killed and the First Lady's secretary is accused of the crime.  Eleanor to the rescue!  These are out of print and not available as e-books, but I have a few of them around.



February 2006 - Naked in Death by J. D. Robb - This book is the first in J. D. Robb's (aka Nora Roberts) 'In Death' series, which now numbers 41!  And it's a good one.  Eve Dallas is a lieutenant in the New York Police Department, Homicide Division.  She's tough and independent.  Her job means everything to her.  In this first book, she investigates the death of a woman who has connections to all kinds of important people.  One of the people she meets and interviews as a suspect is an Irish billionaire named Roarke.  And life will never be the same again - for either of them.  Now don't assume that this series is all about romance.  It's definitely not.  These are pretty tough police procedurals.  But they are also about the epic love story that Eve and Roarke share.  Oh, and they are set in the future in the 2050's.  We're a lot closer to that date than we were when J. D. Robb wrote this book in 1995!  I really like this series.



February 2011 - The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - This is the first book in Julie Kagwa's Iron Fey series - YA.  It has 6 books at this time.  A little outside of my usual reading type, I can't remember why I picked this one up.  Don't get me wrong - I like young adult books and I like supernatural type creatures - witches, vampires, and the like.  Somehow, I have never been as fond of the Fey or fairies.  Anyway, I do remember liking this book a lot.  In it, Meghan finds out that she's the daughter of a faery king.  Her 4-year-old little brother has been exchanged for a changeling.  Her best friend, Robbie, is actually 'Puck' - yes, that 'Puck'.  There's a prince.  And another world.  Meghan has to rescue her brother and she needs help doing it.  I'm not sure why I didn't read on in this series, but writing about it here makes me want to add The Iron King to my reread list and begin again.

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Well, that's all for this month.  Not much romance or hearts or candy.  Guess you'll have to find those on your own.  See you in March!
 

32 comments:

  1. Your past February selections don't mach a Valentine theme (LOL). Time does go by fast.

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  2. Good choices as usual! I hadn't heard of these Elliot Roosevelt books until recently, when Margot at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist mentioned them in a blog, persuading me to add them to the wishlist. As you say, they're out of print, but it seems to be possible to get second-hand copies of most of them...

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    1. Yes, I suspect they will around in used bookstores or libraries. I thought they were fun.

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  3. Naked In Death sounds pretty interesting to me. It sounds good just on its own, but I also always like reading books written at least a decade ago that are set in the future. It's just fun to me to see how the future was portrayed, now that we're not so far away from those "futures".

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    1. I think you would like Naked In Death. It's a pretty gruesome crime scene for an author that most think of as 'romance only'. LOL

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  4. I used to love the Sara Paretsky books but it's been ages since I've picked one up. V.I. was such a fun character. I think I was reading her and the Kinsey Millhone (A is for Alibi, etc) at about the same time. I need to pick up that first J.D. Robb. I love the Nora Roberts books but haven't read any of the others and I think I'd enjoy them.

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    1. I do think you'd like the J.D. Robb books. You might try Naked in Death and see what you think.

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  5. I do love these posts but for the first time there isn't anything that's familiar to my books - I am quite taken with the series about the president though!

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    1. Yes, it was a fun one. As I said, not terribly well written, but it included a lot of period detail.

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  6. I don't read much romance so my list wouldn't include any Valentine-y books. I still haven't read J.D. Robb even though I keep thinking I will.

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    1. I have read romance from time to time, but apparently not in February! LOL

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  7. I like the sound of Murder and the First Lady! Love the idea of it as well.

    Time is definitely going faster. I didn't even read much last month.

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    1. Yes, I'm amused that the First Lady mystery is the one most are commenting on.

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  8. I hear a bell... I have two Elliot Roosevelt books that I have never read. A Royal Murder and The White House Pantry Murder. More TBR

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    1. I read probably at least of half of that series and liked them. Not the best written, but fun in other ways.

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  9. Love the In Death series and am patiently waiting to read Brotherhood in Death. Have a great February.

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    1. Oh, I love it too. I read pretty much the whole thing in 2014, but now I'm maybe 2 books behind. Won't take long to catch up.

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  10. I want to know how Nora Roberts does it. Not only does she have this series which I didn't even realize was already at 41! But she also continues to write romances and contributes to other collections. How does she do it! Anyway, have only read the first in this series and meant to go back but now I'm a bit intimidated by that number of books! haha...hope you have a great February!

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    1. I have no idea how she manages it, Iliana. If she has other writers helping her like some authors, well, she hasn't revealed that.

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  11. No Valentine's theme happening here, Kay. LOL! Love these posts.

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  12. I love, Love, LOVE when you get nostalgic!

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  13. Oh, I don't know. I think the budding romance between Eve and Roarke gives a little nod to Valentine's Day, don't you think? <3 I've only read Naked in Death and I'm a bit intimidated now that there are 40 more to catch up on! The older I get, the less inclined I am to start such a long series. I never did get back to the Lucas Davenport series that I enjoyed so much and I still have several Debbie Crombie books that you sent me! :)

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    1. Well, yes, a little bit of a steamy Valentine's, although Roarke can certainly be romantic when he wants to be. Eve's the one that has trouble with hearts and flowers. LOL

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  14. I've only read the first book in the V.I. Warshawski series. I liked it okay, but not enough to continue--until I read an article about the author and now I want to go back and read the rest of the series. I also would like to give J.D. Robb's series another try. Maybe. I read Naked in Death years ago and hated it. The heavy dose of romance annoyed me and I felt the setting in terms of the time period was too vague. I got a copy of the book for Christmas the year before last from someone who obviously didn't know about my strong feelings toward the book, and so now I'm thinking maybe I should give it another shot. Especially since I'm back to reading romance again, and so might not mind a mystery with strong romantic overtones.

    Iron King is one I have always wanted to read.

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    1. You know, the J.D. Robb series may not be one that works well for you and I totally understand that. I don't really like her standalone books all that well. I did like one of them - Montana Sky - but I like this series and her paranormal trilogies better.

      It's been a long time since I read a Paretsky book - years.

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  15. I haven't read any of these, but I just had to leave a comment and say what a very good writer you are - I love the wit, and the wisdom.

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    1. Thanks, Nan. I always say that I write like I talk. I think as time passes, I do this more and more. With the dashes and dots...and the jokes. That's me.

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  16. I didn't know Elliott Roosevelt was a writer - love the idea of Eleanor as a sleuth!

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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!