Saturday Miscellany—3/20/21

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On March 20, 2021

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Last weekend, I considered putting up a post saying that I was going to take the week off—we worked long shifts all week and had some family stuff going on, and I just knew it was going to be hard getting anything done. But I decided I’d power through and get some stuff accomplished. And ended up basically taking the week off—although the only thing I made a conscious decision not to do was last the Fridays with the Foundling post. All I have to show for my efforts this week are several mostly completed and utterly lifeless posts that I’ll have to do a major re-write on next week.

I did get some reading in, though—including my favorite book of the year so far. So, there’s that. Hope you enjoy this week’s collection:

Odds n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet Why You Should Support Your Local Bookstore—In case you need the reminder
bullet A Kansas Bookshop’s Fight with Amazon Is About More Than the Price of Books—worth the minor hassle of dealing with The New Yorker’s not-a-paywall hoops
bullet I didn’t set out to go on an anti-Amazon rant, but, here we are: Want to borrow that e-book from the library? Sorry, Amazon won’t let you.—this one troubles me greatly.
bullet Pre-ordering: show authors some love!—Yeah, this is focused on this particular press, but it applies to all the others. And you don’t even have to shop at That River Website to do it! I’m frequently (still, somehow) surprised how much this helps an author when I see them talk about this.
bullet 5 Reasons to Listen to Classics on Audio—There are some really good points here…I should do this. The accompanying playlist Classic Books to Try on Audio looks like a decent place to start. I think the narrator is key, for example—Ian McKellen reading The Odyssey or George Guidall reading Les Misérables? Sign me up.
bullet Why So Many Novelists Write About Writers—This isn’t a definitive answer to the question I’ve asked a million times (I’m sure most readers have), but it’s a good one.
bullet Why Are We Obsessed With Psychopaths?—some good stuff here, too.
bullet When Is A Book Blogger Not A Book Blogger?—I’m not sure this rant was necessary (I don’t think the blogger is, either), but…yeah, I tend to agree.
bullet The Importance of Knowing Your Own Taste: Ways to Avoid the HYPE and HATE Train—you’d like to think this is unneccesarry and self-evident. However, we’ve all been victim to this folly and need good reminders like this from The Orangutan Librarian.
bullet That post was followed a couple of days later by some great examples of taking her own advice: Books I Read Thanks to Negative Reviews and Ended Up Loving (as an aside, I love the cover for My Lady Jane used there—does a better job of capturing the book than the one I saw when I read it)
bullet To What Extent Should We Compare Books?—good discussion from Stephen Writes
bullet How I Have Maintained A 300+ Day Post Streak!—Nope. Not jealous at all. Especially this week. Going to take some of this advice.
bullet Typically, I’m not a fan of “you’re not a real fan/geek/X, if you don’t…” things, but you’d have a hard time convincing me that @BooksNest is wrong here.

This Week's New Releases That I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet Drop the Mikes by Duncan MacMaster—The Kirby Baxter series is about the most reliably entertaining series I’ve read in the last few years, and I can’t imagine this is going to be the exception. Kirby ends up vacationing next to a Fyre Festival-type thing and stumbles on to a murder (of course).
bullet Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs—Anna and Charles investigate the disappearnce of a small community. I’m around 60% through with this, it’s Briggs’s best in years (so far, anyway)
bullet What Abigail Did That Summer by Ben Aaronovitch—Peter’s cousin Abigail gets the spotlight in this fun novella. I talked about it a bit here recently.
bullet Firefly: Life Signs by James Lovegrove—hey, look, another in this Firefly series for me to have on my TBR Shelf and not get around to reading for months (I did read the first one…). Thankfully, the hardcovers look nice sitting there.

The Friday 56 for 3/19/21: Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs

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On March 19, 2021

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

The Friday 56This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice

Before I get into today’s entry, this is the 10th Anniversary of Freda’s Voice doing this here weekly meme. That is freakishly impressive in an ephemeral and inconsistent medium as blogs are. Many congratulations to Freda for that.

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
The Friday 56 Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
The Friday 56 Find a snippet, short and sweet.
The Friday 56 Post it

from page 56 of:
Wild Sign

Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs

She was tall and leanly muscled. She flexed her long-fingered, manicured hands. Her father had said she was built for work—it had not been a compliment. Bran said she looked like a Valkyrie. She wasn’t sure if that was a compliment, either, though she didn’t think it displeased him.

But no amount of grooming, of cleaning, of polishing, could erase the gaunt woman she had been, more animal than human, with dirty hair so tangled they’d had to cut most of it off. She looked at her muscled forearms and saw instead how they had appeared when she’d been so thin that both bones had shown through the skin. Sleek, smooth nails polished glossy red seemed more unreal than the filthy nails broken down to the quick.

And the stupid part of that? As clear and as visceral as the vision of that haggard creature was, she couldn’t actually remember looking like that.

PUB DAY REPOST: What Abigail Did That Summer by Ben Aaronovitch: Peter Grant’s Cousin Searches for Missing Kids

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On March 18, 2021

In Ben Aaronovitch, Rivers of London (Peter Grant), Urban Fantasy

What Abigail Did That Summer

What Abigail Did That Summer

by Ben Aaronovitch
Series: The Rivers of London, #5.7 (or so, I’m not sure how it’ll get numbered)

eARC, 232 pg.
Subterranean Press, 2021

Read: March 1, 2021

There are a few, uh, provisos, a, a couple of quid pro quos.

I almost feel like I need to go back and do a lot of re-reading before writing much about this book. I’d have thought that Abigail’s involvement with the Folly and Peter wasn’t this developed until later in the series.

Also, I know there’s a connection between Abigail and the talking foxes, but I don’t remember exactly when it comes about and how much of this book is Aaronovich filling in the backstory that he just breezes past in one of the novels.

I didn’t feel at a loss for context while reading the book, but I tell you what, I’m feeling it as I try to talk about the novella. So, I guess I’m saying, be nice and forgive any lapses in what’s to come:

What’s What Abigail Did That Summer About?

This novella is set during the events of Foxglove Summer and Peter’s not in London. But never fear, Abigail does talk to Nightingale a couple of times.

Abigail has a strange interaction with someone she used to know and sees someone else acting slightly strangely. She starts, not really investigating, but taking a close look around at everything. Then when the police start asking questions of kids in the park, showing pictures of those same people, she knows something’s up.

Not that she tells the police that, because they’re not going to believe her. She’s told that these children (and others) have gone missing, but then reappear at home, with fuzzy memories of the last couple of days. If Abigail, she thinks, with the help of some of the local talking foxes, can figure out what’s going on, she can point Nightingale in the right direction—which might help convince him that she’s ready for training.

But mostly, Abigail’s curious about what’s happening and has to figure it out.

Postmartin’s Contribution

Abigail’s first-person account is littered with footnotes by the Folly’s archivist, Harold Postmartin. Largely, these footnotes are to explain some of the more slang-y terms Abigail uses (although sometimes it’s a more technical note). He seems to go to great lengths to make sure that American readers can get what she’s saying. I halfway wonder if in UK editions those notes have differences.

I think I could’ve worked out the terms I wasn’t already familiar with, but the footnotes were entertaining enough that it doesn’t matter if I could’ve. This was a better way to deal with it.

So, what did I think about What Abigail Did That Summer?

This is absolutely a Folly-story, one that belongs in this series, but there’s no way that Peter Grant was the right character to use for this story, Aaronovich needed to use someone like Abigail to tell this, conveniently enough, there she was. She has a different way of thinking than Peter—and while there’s humor to her narration, it’s not the same as Peter’s (even if it’s occasionally similar). Seeing things from her perspective, it’s a great way to see how she’s similar to her cousin, while very much being her own person.

Frequently, with novellas, I walk away wondering why couldn’t we get a full novel out of it? This isn’t one of those times—the story is as long as it needs to be—it’s complex and satisfying. Also, we get a lot of development out of Abigail and get a better degree of understanding of her than we’ve had before.

That said, there are just so many things I want to know more about, but just making this novel-length wouldn’t take care of it. For example, we learn right off the bat that there’s something…different…about Simon’s mom—and Aaronovich teases us with a couple of more things. I want more of this. I want to know just what it is that Abigail’s doing for her. I want more adventures with Abigail and the foxes.

I’ve always wanted to see more Abigail in the novels—this underscores that for me.

In short, this was a fun story—a strange one at times, but fun—that makes me more curious about a character I already enjoyed, but now I want more of her—both on her own (like this) or in the main novels. I had a similar reaction to the novella The October Man, too. Although that probably is my reaction to anything in this universe (at least so far)—”I enjoyed that, can I have more like it?”

This would be an interesting jumping-on point for the whole series—I’m not sure I’d recommend it, but it might be enough to convince you to dive into the rest.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Subterranean Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

3.5 Stars

WWW Wednesday, March 17, 2021

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On March 17, 2021

In Books, Currently Reading, News/Misc., WWW Wednesday

For those who track such things, it’s the Feast Day of Patrick of Ireland, but here? It’s just plain ol’ WWW Wednesday!

This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words—and shown to me by Aurore-Anne-Chehoke at Diary-of-a-black-city-girl.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Easy enough, right?

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading the hot-off-the-press Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs and am listening to the last (so far) Twenty Palaces audiobook, Circle of Enemies by Harry Connolly, Daniel Thomas May (Narrator).

Wild SignBlank SpaceCircle of Enemies

What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished M. W. Craven’s fantastic Born in a Burial Gown and Cursed by Benedict Jacka, Gildart Jackson (Narrator) on audio.

Born in a Burial GownBlank SpaceCursed

What do you think you’ll read next?

My next book should be Animal Instinct by David Rosenfelt and some sort of audiobook, we’ll see if any of my Library holds come in.

Animal InstinctBlank SpaceQuestion Mark

Hit me with your Three W’s in the comments! (no, really, do it!)

Down the TBR Hole (23 of 24+)

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On March 17, 2021

In Books, Down the TBR Hole, News/Misc.

Down the TBR Hole

You get 11 instead of 10 this week, because this is the end of the (initial) list! There’s no way I’m going to do a post for one book (especially because that book is a thumbs up, where’s the fun in that?). Next time, we’ll take a quick look at this project so far.

But for now, how many books are we going to cut from my Want to Read list?

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story—but Jenna at Bookmark Your Thoughts is the one that exposed me to this, and as my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf is scarily long, I had to do this.

The Rules are simple:

  1. Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf
  2. Order on ascending date added.
  3. Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books.
  4. Read the synopses of the books.
  5. Decide: keep it or should it go?
  6. Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week! (or whenever)

What distinguishes this series from the Mt. TBR section of my Month-end Retrospectives? Those are books I actually own while Goodreads contains my aspirational TBR (many of which will be Library reads). The Naming of the two is a bit confusing, but…what’re you going to do?

(Click on the cover for an official site or something with more info about the book)

A Beginner's Guide to Free Fall A Beginner’s Guide to Free Fall by Andy Abramowitz
Blurb: A family drama about roller coaster engineer in career and family trouble, and his sister, an advice columnist whose life is as just as messy.
My Thoughts: I really dug Abramowitz’s earlier novel, Thank You, Goodnight and am curious about what he’s got going on. Also, I bought this forever ago, so it has to stay.
Verdict:
Thumbs Up
Why Liberalism Works Why Liberalism Works: How True Liberal Values Produce a Freer More Equal Prosperous World for All by Deirdre N. McCloskey
Blurb: “With her trademark wit and deep understanding” McCloskey argues “for a return to true liberal values, this engaging and accessible book develops, defends, and demonstrates how embracing the ideas first espoused by eighteenth-century philosophers like Locke, Smith, Voltaire, and Wollstonecraft is good for everyone.”
My Thoughts: If this is any good, this is exactly the political book I want to read right now. But…I just can’t. I just cannot bring myself to care, put the effort into this, or for endure the despair that’d settle in after I finish this and look at the world around me.
Verdict:
Thumbs Down
Your House Will Pay Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha
Blurb: “A powerful and taut novel about racial tensions in LA, following two families—one Korean-American, one African-American—grappling with the effects of a decades-old crime. In the wake of the police shooting of a black teenager, Los Angeles is as tense as it’s been since the unrest of the early 1990s. Protests and vigils are being staged all over the city. It’s in this dangerous tinderbox that two families must finally confront their pasts.”
My Thoughts: I had a friend rave about this a couple of weeks ago. That’s enough to keep it. I still would’ve because of the various reviews I saw around publication.
Verdict:
Thumbs Up
The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity by Michael J. Kruger
Blurb: “A cautionary examination of ten dangerously appealing half-truths.”
My Thoughts: I read this in May ’20 and wrote about it here
Verdict:
Thumbs Down
The Bard's Blade The Bard’s Blade by Brian D. Anderson
Blurb: “Mariyah enjoys a simple life in Vylari, a land magically sealed off from the outside world, where fear and hatred are all but unknown. There she’s a renowned wine maker and her betrothed, Lem, is a musician of rare talent. Their destiny has never been in question…Then a stranger crosses the wards into Vylari for the first time in centuries, bringing a dark prophecy that forces Lem and Mariyah down separate paths. How far will they have to go to stop a rising darkness and save their home? And how much of themselves will they have to give up along the way?”
My Thoughts: I’ve heard/read nothing but good things about this, and until I started this sentence had intended on keeping it. But…I rarely make time for fantasy any more, and I know I’m not going to get around to this.
Verdict:
Thumbs Down
TITLE6 The Rome of Fall by Chad Alan Gibbs
Blurb: A 90s rock star comes home to be with his dying mother and teaches at his old high school in a retelling of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
My Thoughts: Proof that I actually read things from this list and I don’t just archive them here…I read this last August and wrote about it here
Verdict:
Thumbs Down
A Blight of Blackwings A Blight of Blackwings by Kevin Hearne
Blurb: The sequel to A Plague of Giants, about an invasion that devastates a continent, kicks off huge cultural/religious changes, and (it seems) inspires a movement to fight back.
My Thoughts: Yeah, I just got done saying I don’t make time for Fantasy the way I want to. But I thought volume 1 in this series rocked. I just need to force myself to start this and I know I’ll love it. Also, I have the hardcover within arm’s reach, I pretty much have to. Another also: Kevin Hearne.
Verdict:
Thumbs Up
Critical Point Critical Point by S.L. Huang
Blurb: The third Cas Russell novel. Nuff said.
My Thoughts: This was one of the victims of the busy-ness around my move last year, I’m getting to it shortly.
Verdict:
Thumbs Up
Something That May Shock and Discredit You Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery
Blurb: “a hilarious and stirring collection of essays and cultural observations spanning pop culture—from the endearingly popular to the staggeringly obscure…From a thoughtful analysis of the beauty of William Shatner to a sinister reimagining of HGTV’s House Hunters, and featuring figures as varied as Anne of Green Gables, Columbo, Nora Ephron, Apollo, and the cast of Mean Girls…a hilarious and emotionally exhilarating compendium that combines personal history with cultural history to make you see yourself and those around you entirely anew.”
My Thoughts: Texts from Jane Eyre was a fun read, but the synopsis of this one isn’t clicking with me.
Verdict:
Thumbs Down
Broken Broken by Don Winslow
Blurb: “In six intense short novels connected by the themes of crime, corruption, vengeance, justice, loss, betrayal, guilt and redemption…a world of high-level thieves and low-life crooks, obsessed cops struggling with life on and off the job, private detectives, dope dealers, bounty hunters and fugitives, the lost souls driving without headlights through the dark night on the American criminal highway.”
My Thoughts: I’m only waiting to finish The Border before I start this.
Verdict:
Thumbs Up
In Plain Sight In Plain Sight by Dan Willis
Blurb: “In 1933 New York, there are two kinds of magic, the all powerful sorcerers who use their abilities to acquire wealth and fame, and the runewrights who scratch out what meager spells they can to make a living. Decidedly in the latter category, Alex Lockerby uses his magic to aid him in his work as a private detective, consulting for the police on cases with mystical ties….” There’s more to the description, but who needs more?
My Thoughts: This has been on my list since Bookstooge posted about it last March. It’ll be soon.
Verdict:
Thumbs Up

Books Removed in this Post: 5 / 11
Total Books Removed: 129 / 240

Anyone out there read any of these books? Did I make the right call with any of them?

(Image by moritz320 from Pixabay)

Burying the Newspaper Man by Curtis Ippolito: A Young Police Officer’s Past Comes Back to Haunt Him

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On March 16, 2021

In Book Tour, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Burying The Newspaper Man

Burying The Newspaper Man

by Curtis Ippolito

eARC, 244 pg.
Red Dog Press, 2021

Read: March 10-11, 2021

What’s Burying The Newspaper Man About?

I’m going to lean heavily on the Publisher’s Description here, because this is one of those books that I’m afraid to say anything about. “This is a book about a police officer who finds something that disturbs him. This officer used to be a child and things happened. Now he has to deal with his life.” Just doesn’t sound all that interesting, right?

Marcus Kemp is a beat cop in San Diego who has a knack for discovering stolen cars. The book opens with him discovering his fortieth of the year—a record-setting pace that should crush his previous record. It’s a fairly upbeat opening that should make anyone worried—in this car he discovers a dead body. Decades ago, when he was growing up in Texas, the man in the car trunk repeatedly sexually abused Marcus.

Marcus knows he should inform the detectives who come to the scene that he knows who the victim is, that there’s a tie between them—and that he can possibly point at a motive for the killing. But he doesn’t do that. Instead, he starts an off-the-books investigation of his own into finding the killer. Not to bring the killer to justice, but to help him avoid arrest.

He ends up lying to his lieutenant, abuses his office, breaks I don’t know how many laws (he loses count, too)—putting his career and his freedom at risk—for the opportunity to aid and abet this man’s killer.

A Matter of Focus

In a book that ostensibly is about a cop hunting a murderer, the novel isn’t all that interested in the killer. It’s primarily interested in one of the cops hunting for the killer. The emphasis is on both what happened to Marcus as a child and how he’s dealing with it in the shadow of his abuser’s killer. We get a long look at the events leading up to the abuse—Marcus’s already troubled home life, his friends, and then choices that put him in repeated contact with the abuser.

The other emphasis is what Marcus goes through after finding the body. In the intervening years, he’d stopped thinking about the abuse. But once he recognized the body, he can’t stop thinking about it. He begins to see how so many of his choices are made because of the abuse, what it’s done to the way he thinks, the way he acts, and his relationships now.

This isn’t to say that Marcus’s hunt for the killer is unimportant, but it’s of tertiary importance at best. Thanks to a lucky break or two—scratch that, thanks to Marcus taking advantage of a lucky break or two, it’s a fairly uncomplicated hunt. But that’s the only thing lacking complication in the novel. As Marcus isn’t officially investigating or looking for an arrest, he doesn’t have to adhere to a typical protocol (even the curtailed protocol we let fictional heroes get away with). It’s striking how little we learn about the killer throughout the novel. It’s not a typical choice, but it works really well in these circumstances.

So, what did I think about Burying The Newspaper Man?

This isn’t at all what I expected from the novel. It’s richer, it’s deeper, and better realized than I expected (whether or not that’s fair, it’s true). Yes, there’s a lot of psychological trauma and depictions of Marcus’ trying to cope—but there’s some great action, too.

Aside from that, there are some great descriptions of life in San Diego—you can feel the atmosphere around the beach, in Marcus’s neighborhood. Ippolito gave us enough local character to ground the action—and a little extra, too. There’s even a nice flashback to a San Diego Comic-Con to further establish the setting and show us a non-professional side of Marcus beyond the abuse survivor.

I fear Ippolito rushed through the denouement, it could’ve easily lasted 3-4x as long as it did while holding the audience’s attention. But that’s not the style of Burying the Newspaper Man. Ippolito isn’t about answering all our questions, he focuses on what he thinks is most important, and if you agree with him, all the better.

There are enough “atypical Crime Fiction” elements to this book to appeal to readers that don’t usually touch Crime Fiction. There are enough “typical Crime Fiction” elements to appeal to die-hard fans of the genre. It’s the former that adds depth to this novel that you’re not used to, but that serves to make this more emotionally satisfying, and possibly genre-expanding.

Whichever camp you fall into—Crime Fiction reader or not, I recommend this novel to you—ignore the genre and just enjoy something well done.

4 Stars


Red Dog Press
My thanks to Red Dog Press for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including a copy of the novella) provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Burying the Newspaper Man by Curtis Ippolito

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On March 16, 2021

In Book Tour, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

I’m very pleased to welcome the Book Tour for Burying the Newspaper Man by Curtis Ippolito on the novel’s release day. Check back next hour for my take on the novel, but for now, let’s start by learning a little about this book, and then you can go buy a copy, okay?

Book Details:

Book Title: Burying the Newspaper Man by Curtis Ippolito
Publisher: Red Dog Press
Release date: March 16, 2021
Format: Hardcover/Paperback/Ebook
Length: 244 pages
Burying the Newspaper Man

Book Blurb:

A dead body. A dark past. An ordinary man with everything to lose.

Marcus Kemp is a regular beat cop living a normal life in San Diego, California. Until the day he makes a shocking discovery: a dead body in the trunk of a stolen car. Worse, the victim turns out to be the man who abused him as a child.

Marcus instinctively wants to help the killer get away with murder and, disregarding his police oath, will stop at nothing to make it happen. With both his job and freedom in jeopardy, his investigation leads him to an unexpected killer, and Marcus is soon faced with an impossible decision.

Can he finally bury the past before it drags him under?

About the Author:

Curtis IppolitoCurtis Ippolito lives in San Diego, California, with his wife. He is a communications writer for a nonprofit biological research facility. He has previously been a writer in the health care industry and is a former newspaper reporter. Follow him on Twitter @curtis9980.

Purchase Links:

Amazon ~ Red Dog Shop: Paperback ~ Red Dog Shop: Limited Edition Hardcover

Red Dog Press
My thanks to Red Dog Press for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including a copy of the novel) provided.

Saturday Miscellany—3/13/21

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On March 13, 2021

In Books, News/Misc., Saturday Miscellany

Another short one, guess that’s where my attention span is lately. I didn’t get a lot posted this week, either—but I got some good sleep in (not always intentionally), and honestly, I didn’t like a single one of those posts. They felt lifeless to me, but that’s what I was capable of, and I didn’t think that a few more days of percolating was going to improve things, either. Hopefully next week will be better.

In the meantime—all of these below are worth your clicks.

Odds n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet I tried to write a Norton Juster tribute after I heard about his death on this week, but it just didn’t work out. But it’s one of those deaths that hit me. The Phantom Tollbooth was formative for me in many ways, and I could (and have) pick it up and be completely satisified at point in my life. It’s like one of those movies you see flipping through the channels and you have to stop and watch.
bullet Obituary: Norton Juster—from Publisher’s Weekly
bullet Berkeley Breathed’s Tribute—I should’ve realized the links between Tollbooth and Bloom County
bullet My favourite book as a kid: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster—was written last Spring, but it works really well this week.
bullet The Phantom Tollbooth: Beyond Expectations—a nice little documentary about the book, Juster and Jules Feiffer. (I contributed to the Kickstarter years back)
bullet What Are Cozy Mysteries?—Ramona Mead’s overview of the sub-genre
bullet Must be something in the water, because this popped up on a feed this week, too: Murder, but gentler: ‘Cozy’ mysteries a pandemic-era balm—worth it just for the first few paragraphs.
bullet 50 Very Bad Book Covers for Literary Classics—Wow. “Very bad” hardly begins to describe it. I was going to name a highlight (lowlight?) or two, but I wouldn’t have known where to stop. (thanks—kind of?—Themis Athena for drawing my attention to it)
bullet “We Didn’t Start the Thriller”—Robert Crais has posted a link to this silly and fun parody a couple of times this week, I can see why.
bullet Goodreads vs. The StoryGraph – The New Dilemma of Reading Trackers and the Book Community—I’m with Bec & Books on this. I’ve been dabbling with The Story Graph for a few months, but it feels like I’m shouting (mumbling?) into the wind. Is there anyone actually out there?

Lastly I’d like to say hi and extend a warm welcome to josbees who followed the blog this week. Don’t be a stranger!

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding: BOOK XVII., v. – viii.

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On March 12, 2021

In Fiction, Fridays with The Foundling, General Fiction/Literature

Fridays with the Foundling
Tom Jones Original CoverAfter the tumultuous events of the last few chapters, things might start to take a turn for the better for Tom.

Might, I say, might. But, like Fielding said in last week’s chapters, it’s going to take some work for these characters to get to the shore of a happy ending, as this isn’t a drama.

Whether it was that Fortune was apprehensive lest Jones should sink under the weight of his adversity, and that she might thus lose any future opportunity of tormenting him, or whether she really abated somewhat of her severity towards him, she seemed a little to relax her persecution,

and sent Nightingale, Partridge, and Mrs. Miller* to visit him.

* I don’t know why this is, but every time I write her name, I write “Mrs. Wilson” and have to go back and fix it in editing. Every. Single. Time.

When these three come to visit Tom in prison, Partridge brings good news—Fitzpatrick is still alive. He’s not in great shape, but he’s still alive. Mrs. Miller agrees to take a letter to Sophia. And Nightingale commits to digging up more information on the duel. The three of them leave Tom feeling better.

Sophia’s not in any mood to take a letter from Mrs. Miller (who she just met), but she’s worn down. Tom’s letter doesn’t really do the trick—he’s too vague about what happened with Lady Bellaston, and in the end, she’s still angry.

Mrs. Miller and Allworthy have a longish conversation, which is really the most interesting thing in this section. Miller gives him an account of all the good things that Tom’s done for her and her family (although she doesn’t get into all the nitty-gritty about Nightingale and Nancy. Allworthy acknowledges that Mrs. Miller ought to feel gratitude and some obligation to TOm, but doesn’t want him mentioned again. He also warns her against the negative comments towards Blifil—or he’ll cut her off. There might be some softening on his part toward Tom, but before we can see more of that Blifeil and his attorney arrive and that’s the end of their conversation because business needs to get taken care of.

The last chapter annoyed me—it’s essentially a repeat of the last chapter or so of Lord Fellamar and Sophia material—but this time, Mrs. Western backs off her earlier support of Sophia and is once again trying to get the match made. Fellamar tries apologizing, but basically says he’s so head-over-heels for her that he couldn’t help but try to rush things. Sophia flatly refuses him and isn’t at all subtle. Mrs. Western is fed up, if Sophia won’t accept him she’ll be sent back to her father the next day.

So the whole Sophia/Fellamar/Bellaston thing (Bellaston was behind Fellamar’s last attempt, I should add) seemed like such a waste, we covered this before, and Mrs. Western’s reversal doesn’t make much sense to me. I’d have preferred more advancement on the other areas of the plot—but I can see where the lack of advancement was necessary. I bet that conversation between Allworthy and Mrs. Miller will prove important later. Also, I had to check but the name of Blifil’s attorney is one we’ve run into before, near the beginning of the book. I bet his reappearance is going to prove pivotal.

There’s some really good writing here, as always, Fielding’s voice makes even the dull/repetitive/annoying parts at least somewhat entertaining.

Next week, Tom in prison and we begin the last Book.

The Friday 56 for 3/12/21: Born in a Burial Gown by M. W. Craven

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On March 12, 2021

In Currently Reading, News/Misc., Quotations, The Friday 56

The Friday 56This is a weekly bloghop hosted by Freda’s Voice

RULES:
The Friday 56 Grab a book, any book.
The Friday 56 Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
The Friday 56 Find a snippet, short and sweet.
The Friday 56 Post it

from page 56 of:
Born in a Burial Gown

Born in a Burial Gown by M. W. Craven

Two minutes later, Fluke had a doctor trying to stick a cannula in the back of his hand. ‘The first two attempts missed.

Fluke hated cannulas. Doctors always struggled to find veins, legacy of his treatment. On the odd occasion he was having blood taken by someone who wasn’t familiar with his medical history, he always ended up giving an explanation. The most common reason for poor veins was intravenous drug use and Fluke felt compelled to tell them his condition was due to chemotherapy, not heroin.

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