The starting book of this month's chain is by George Saunders, a story that has been getting lots of press in the last year - Lincoln in the Bardo.
I have not read this book and have heard mixed reactions to it. Will I read it? Perhaps, but no plans to do so right now. Lincoln in the Bardo takes place in the year 1862 and concerns the death of Lincoln's son, Willie, and some odd things that happen after his death.
We'll remain in the year 1862 and note that the American Civil War is still part of our next book. My next link is to The Union Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini. This is the 17th book in this author's loosely connected series set mostly in Pennsylvania and featuring women who quilt and their stories woven through historical events. I have read all the books in this series and enjoyed them very much. This author has done a lot of research and included great stories, as well as quilting lore.
For the next link, I'm going to stay with quilting. Arlene Sachitano writes a series about the Loose Threads, a quilting group that solves mysteries. Harriet Truman is the main character and she lives in Foggy Point, Washington. Quilt As You Go is the 3rd book in the series that now has 10 entries. It concerns a mystery at a Civil War reenactment. One of the participants goes down in 'battle' and doesn't get up. I've read several books in this series, including this one.
I've selected the Pacific Northwest as the next link in our chain. The book is Slayed on the Slopes and the author is Kate Dyer-Seeley. Her mystery series concerns Meg Reed who writes for an extreme sports magazine - though Meg herself is not at all an athlete or a fan of extreme sports. She needed a job though and Northwest Extreme needed a writer who would also try out the sport of the month. In this 2nd book, Meg is at the top of Mount Hood, high in the Cascade Mountains. Her assignment is to write about the Ridge Rangers, Oregon's elite high-altitude rescue team and their winter training. And, of course, there is a body. I've only read the 1st book in the series, which now has 5 total.
Kate Dyer-Seeley lives and works in the Portland area. She also writes another mystery series under the name Ellie Alexander. Therefore, the next link is same author/different series. In these books, Juliet Capshaw returns to her hometown of Ashland, Oregon, to help out at the family bakery - Torte. These are the Bakeshop mysteries. Till Death Do Us Tart is the 8th book and it will be published this summer. It concerns a surprise Elizabethan-themed wedding, a poisoned cup of wine, and a body, of course. I have not yet read any of these books, but look forward to some 'tasty' crimes.
I have, on the other hand, read several of Jenn McKinlay's delectable Cupcake Bakery mysteries. The link here is another baking mystery series, this one also concerns a wedding. Did you know that cupcakes are very popular at weddings these days - in the place of big wedding cakes? My daughter makes cupcakes and has provided them for several of her friends at their weddings. Yummy! Wedding Cake Crumble is the 10th book in this series, coming out in April. Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura own Fairy Tale Cupcakes in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. Angie is about to be married, but several of the people she has hired to help out have turned up dead. Bodies, again! And cupcakes!
The last link I have is a series also set in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. Betty Webb is a former journalist who writes the Lena Jones mysteries. Lena owns Desert Investigations with her partner, Jimmy Sisiwan, a member of the Pima tribe. Lena's growing up years were quite grim and she has a personal mystery to solve as well. Desert Noir is the 1st book in this series, which is up to 9 books now. A very interesting protagonist and some great stories. Definitely not a cozy mystery series - be warned. Ha!
We're at the end of this month's chain - from Lincoln and the year 1862 to Quilting to the Pacific Northwest to same author/different series to bakery cozy mysteries to Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. We've run the gamut from gentle books to not-so-gentle tales. This was again fun for me and I enjoy highlighting some great series. I'll look forward to next month's Six Degrees (March 3rd), when our starting place is The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf.
I only discovered last year that quilting novels was a whole genre! The idea of a series that combines quilting and historical events sounds great - I imagine it works so well because it captures that oral narrative history but in a book, of course!
ReplyDeleteYes, I think because quilting is such a thing here, the books kind of come naturally. Jennifer Chiaverini has done a good job, in my opinion, melding the two. She is a quilter herself and has several non-fiction books with patterns and pictures.
DeleteSuch an interesting chain, Kay - and so different from mine! Quilting fascinates me, although I've never tried it myself. Have you read The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier? It's about the life of Honor Bright, a quilter, after she emigrated from Dorset to America in 1850 where she joined a Quaker community in Ohio.
ReplyDeleteI've borrowed the Lincoln book from the library - and will definitely not be reading it. It's a bit too strange and unstructured for me.
I have not read The Last Runaway, but thank you for suggesting it. I see that my library has it. The Quakers were very involved in the Underground Railroad and quilts were indeed used as signals. And, no, I'm not a quilter myself. Like knitting, I am fascinated by it, but not adept with a needle of any kind. My grandmothers were both quilters though.
DeleteI've heard the audio of Lincoln in the Bardo is fantastic so I'll probably go that route when I get around to reading it.
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know, Mary. I had heard that there were lots and lots and lots of characters. LOL
DeleteThe audio is UNBELIEVABLY good
DeleteGood to know, Candace!
DeleteI'd love to know more about the quilting/historical novels - is that the loose connection, or is it through the characters somehow? Sounds like a series I'd enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThe connection in the quilting books is both, Melinda. There is a current day quilting group that appears in most of the books, but there are also historical parts to most of the books as well. Jennifer Chiaverini has brought the quilter series to an end now and is writing historical fiction that is based on actual incidents. You should check out her books. You might like them.
DeleteI love this post-- what fun! Also a great way to find out about an eclectic group of new to me titles. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kari! Yes, it's an easy way to feature all kinds of books that I've heard about or enjoyed. You should check out some of the other chains. All are so different.
Deletefun! here is mine: https://wordsandpeace.com/2018/02/03/six-degrees-of-separation-from-lincoln-to-alexandria/
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting to do this each month? I'm glad I started taking part in it.
DeleteI love this! I'm a fan of the cozy series you mention especially. I've been on the fence about Lincoln in the Bardo. At first I had no interest in reading it but learning more about the premise I'm intrigued but not quite ready to commit to actually reading it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck if you decide to try the Lincoln book. Don't think it's for me. This is a fun meme to do and I love that each person's chain is so different.
DeleteI think this is such a fun way to talk about books! I would probably need a week to create a list of my own, but maybe I'll give it a try next month.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed doing this the last couple of months. Since you know the starting place for next month, you have time to ponder where your chain would take you. Try it, you'll like it!
DeleteGreat chain this month! I haven't read any of those books apart from Lincoln in the Bardo, which was interesting but too experimental for me. I love the sound of The Union Quilters.
ReplyDeleteI liked that whole quilting series. And thanks!
DeleteEnjoyed you links Kay though I haven't read any. I have read one Chiaverini, and enjoyed it, but unlike you I rarely read series. I have read one stand alone quilt novel, How to make an American quilt, by Whitney Otto. It was published while I was living in the USA. I also enjoyed your post because I love the Pacific Northwest and also Arizona. Great places to visit.
ReplyDeleteI read How To Make an American Quilt. Remember the book was pretty short and spare. I liked the movie better. Oregon and Arizona are certainly great vacation spots.
DeleteI haven't read any of these books, although I'm in the middle of DEATH ON TAP by Ellie Alexander. I'm enjoying it even though I know zilch about beer :) It's a fun mystery.
ReplyDeleteDeath on Tap is her new series I guess. I'll watch for your thoughts on it. I don't know anything about beer either. LOL
DeleteI'm going to join Margaret in recommending The Last Runaway, I loved it. Great post, Kay, The one that most appeals is Slayed on the Slopes. Must look into that series.
ReplyDeleteGuess I'll definitely have to watch for The Last Runaway, Cath. Yes, I think you'd like that Pacific Northwest adventure series. It's fun.
DeleteAs a born-and-raised Northwesterner who has lived in both Portland and Ashland, I clearly need to start reading Kate Dyer-Seeley right away!
ReplyDeleteI've met Kate a couple of times and she is funny and charming. She told me that she tries all those extreme sports that she writes about. Tries them, but doesn't master them. LOL
DeleteInteresting links - and I had no idea there were so many books with quilting as a theme - although I do know about the baking cozies...
ReplyDeleteI think there are cozies for every kind of hobby. LOL
DeleteSuch a fun meme and seeing how you link up the books! I remember reading several of the Jennifer Chiavarini quilting books. Those were really good and just cozy reads.
ReplyDeleteThey were indeed. I keep thinking I might reread them at some point, but probably not. Too many other books.
DeleteLincoln in the Bardo has been on my list but then sometimes I think it's not for me...I may still try it.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I'll skip it. Just too many others that are calling my name.
DeleteIt is always interesting to see this kind of post. We make so many associations with the books we read!
ReplyDeleteI think that's the point here and it is definitely interesting to see where others have taken their 'chains'. My mind, of course, goes to crime and bodies. LOL
DeleteLovely chain, lots of books that are new to me. Like others, I'm intrigued by the quilting series especially :-)
ReplyDelete(Apologies for the deleted commented above - I was trying to finally sort out my wordpress/blogspot profiles. Fingers crossed I've done it!)
I'm pleased to have introduced the quilting books to everyone. I've enjoyed all of them.
DeleteNo worries about the deleted comment. I took it out and, yes, some are seeming to have trouble commenting on various blogs.
That is a very interesting chain, Kay. I did not know that there were so many quilting series either. I am hoping to try the Betty Webb series someday, and I am amazed that she is up to nine books. How time does pass, and I mistakenly thought that Desert Wives was the first one.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Desert Wives book was #2 in the series and boy was it good!
DeleteI love how you link these and have been looking forward to this feature since the last time you participated. So much fun!
ReplyDeleteWell thank you kindly, Michelle! My mind always works in 'mysterious' ways. LOL
DeleteI really loved Bardo but it took a quick 20 pages for me to get the format.
ReplyDeleteTi, I don't think I have 20 pages to spare. LOL
DeleteNice chain. AND thanks for a couple of tips for my reading USA fiction challenge state-by-state...some of those states are hard to find interesting-looking books for
ReplyDeleteAh yes - that would be good you. You know that the website 'Stop You're Killing Me' has a location section where you could take a look at the various states and see if you could find a book or two.
DeleteYes, - Lincoln in the Bardo got a lot of press this past year. I admit I haven't really had any interest in reading it, especially after hearing more about it. I have long wanted to read Betty Webb's series, but for some reason keep putting it off.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand. So many series I'd like to read, but I know I won't get to all of them.
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