desert_vixen's lair

A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid – This is the third of a series I read in March, set in the Upper Peninsula.  I really enjoyed the other two, especially with the change in scenery, but this one got tedious.  Too much of the big bad Englisch world against the Amish, too many characters who are either just abrasive or slimy, and of course the one Englischer who acts decent actually has an Amish background.

An Old-Fashioned Mystery by Runa Fairleigh – This was mildly entertaining, sort of a gorier take on And Then There Were None with more sarcastic characters, but then it got to the end and went all meta (essentially, blaming the author and the reader for the murders because they could have stopped any time).

Around the Bend (Sandy Cove 4) by Rosemary Hines – Another of the Sandy Cove books, dealing with the main character’s grandparents, and one of their deaths.  This is actually a pretty good one, and deals with the issue in a satisfactory and touching matter.

Behind Her Smile (Sandy Cove 6) by Rosemary Hines – Sandy Cove strikes again, this time dealing with young women, eating disorders, seeking attention by having sex, and feeling unpure.  It was actually better than expected, and I appreciated that the author drove home the message that it’s okay to make mistakes in that area.

** Consenting Adult by Laura Z. Hobson – Very dated book dealing with how homosexuality was treated in the 1960s.  The focus of the book is the mother’s relationship with her son – trying to understand and support, even when she is driving him nuts.  It has what I would characterize as a happy ending.

Corpses at Enderby by George Bellairs – Inspector Littlejohn mystery, British cozy type.  It was okay, but I will pass on any others.

Diana of Orchard Slope  by Libbie Hawker – This is a Green Gables variation, looking at events through Diana’s eyes and very focused on Diana’s mother being super strict and a little snobby.  It was entertaining, but a little too focused on the Diana-likes-Gilbert-and-feels-guilty/frustrated angle.

Flowers for the Judge by Margery Allingham – A decent Campion outing.  Nothing extraordinary, however.

** Madame X: A Story of Mother-Love by  Alexandre Bisson – Overwrought historical fiction dealing with a mother and wife who abandons her husband and son, and of course ends up paying the ultimate price.  She is reunited with them at the very end for maximum tear factors

Mermaid: Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon – This is an excellent variation on the Little Mermaid that respects the story while adding in a story about the girl who does marry the prince.  The end has a nice twist.

** Mother's Choice by Elizabeth Mansfield – Regency romance with mild tearjerking.  If you’ve read Elizabeth Mansfield, you know what to expect.  This one did have a mildly annoying deal involving lying to someone who had a head injury.

** Randy by Sharon Srock – This is a contemporary Christian author whose stuff has been surprisingly good.  The main character has decided to forgo motherhood to break the cycle of abuse she lived through, but Fate decides something else is in store.  There’s some rough patches but the end is lovely.

** Real Food for Mother and Baby by Nina Planck – Interesting stuff about eating during pregnancy but a little navel-gazy and guilt-trippy.

Something New (Plain City Bridemaids) by Dianne Christner – This is the second in a series about a trio of Mennonite friends and their romances.  It was entertaining but I don’t feel the need to pick up the whole set. 

The Bilbao Looking Glass by Charlotte MacLeod – This month featured several go-rounds with the Kelling and Bittersohn crew.  I liked this one, mostly because deserving people get what’s coming to them.

** The Child Who Never Grew by Pearl S. Buck – Non-fiction about the author’s experience with a child who is severely mentally disabled.  Some of it is very raw and may not qualify as light reading, but it is very honest and still applicable today.

The Convivial Codfish by Charlotte MacLeod – This one was the lightest of the Kelling mysteries this month, more enjoyable for the characters than anything else.  The drollness with which MacLeod invokes characters – “his family was in railroads when there were railroads to be in” – is always enjoyable.

** The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan – This book hits both Asian & Pacific Islander and mother themes.  I read it in high school for a class, enjoyed it, watched the movie, and then didn’t give it much thought after my paperback copy was damaged in a move.  It was on sale on Kindle, so I decided to pick it up again.  I enjoyed it a little more this time, but I think it’s definitely held up well, although some of the characters are pretty dated.  I love the meddling aunties.

The Resurrection Man by Charlotte MacLeod – I think this was the best of the Kelling mysteries this month, with two linked mysteries, although the end is a little sad, but hopeful.

True Summit: What Really Happened Annapurna by David Roberts – I read Maurice Herzog’s Annapurna last year, and that book is a masterpiece of great white explorer’s burden.  This one looks a little more at the other players and some of the events, but also examines Herzog’s later life.  Interesting, but not as dishy as I had hoped. 

Yield: Emily and Damon by Lilia Moon – A wedding planner has to meet with a BDSM club owner about doing a wedding there for two of his clients.  Of course, they hit it right off.  It goes in my bad examples collection, however, because some of the language is laughable.  For one, the author has personified the guy’s equipment just a little too much – “She kisses me until my cock wants to plunder her through my pants.” – and points off for repeated use of the word “sopping”.  Sorry, not sexy.  BDSM factor is medium.

Dead Tree reading was productive in the negative.  I actually read and catalogued 4 books, but discarded 13 off the pile, as well as the 3 new ones that I tried to add.

Murder in the Bowery by Victoria Thompson – Another entry in the Gaslight Mysteries.  I admit the series is kind of falling off for me, but this one features another missing person-turned-murder plot and not enough development of secondary characters.  There is an interesting one-off character, but that’s about it.

Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff – Sutcliff tackles the Iliad.  It’s very nicely written and lyrical, what you would expect from her.

Girl Scout Handbook (1953) by Girl Scouts of America – Doing a little Girl Scouts history research and adding to my vintage collection.

Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective by Agatha Christie – I got this one to read to Adrianna, since I’ve read most of the stories in e-form.  She really enjoyed it, and I enjoyed revisiting a few, especially The House at Shiraz and The Oracle at Delphi.  His approach to happiness is an interesting one.