Wednesday, January 24, 2024 -- Books & More
BOOKISH FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Cycling back to last week's post, I've been thinking about my favorite characters. I realized that I can't name a favorite let alone give a list. Don Quixote is low hanging fruit and I've taken him out of the competition. I do have a number of characters that I am happy to spend time with, but I wouldn't call them favorites or necessarily well-written characters, just frequent and welcome visitors. I don't think any of them are candidates for a TIME 100 list of all-time greats. Wait forget that thought; neither TIME nor its list makers are competent to compile such a list with any credibility.
A small part of me (and getting smaller as I mature) thinks that favorite characters maybe should be taken from some sort of canon or should be analyzed as to how well the author has done their job in creating the character, which honestly is a rather ivory tower approach, which is a synonym for narrow-minded and not high-minded. But then again likability is limiting in its own way, eliminating in one fell swoop all the Moriarity's , the Othellos, the Draculas, the MacBeths and all the other deeply dark and twisted creations of some of the most talented authors in the literary canon because favorites should be likeable and how can deep, dark and twisted be likeable. So adios to those two possible criteria for choosing a favorite character.
That leaves me back where I started, with frequent and welcome visitors. And, this is where I will pick-up next week, because I still have not revealed THE LIST.
READING MY "HORDE"
Running total=19 books finished
THE BOOKS
¨ The Barrakee Mystery by Arthur Upfield
I circled back to read the first book of the series. A very nice start.
3.25
¨ A Crime in Holland by Georges Simenon
Maigret is a Frenchman to the core and he couldn't wait to get out of Holland and back to civilization. Vive Le France!
3 stars
¨ The Catherine Wheel by Patricia Wentworth
Another delightful sojourn with Miss Silver as she and her knitting needles making everything all better and solve the crime.
3.5 stars
¨ Tender is the Bite by Spencer Quinn
Not the best in the series but it is still Chet and Bernie and that's what counts.
¨ Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit by P.G. Wodehouse
I don't read Wodehouse for the plot. I read Wodehouse for the antics and the put-downs and his poison pen.
3.25 stars
¨ The Z Murders by J. Jefferson Farjeon (with forward by Martin Edwards)
Oh my stars and garters! Just my level of creepy. Loved it. Sadly this is the last Farjeon that I can get my hands on, everything that Audible has to offer.
3.75 stars
¨ Great Courses: Creation Stories of the Ancient World taught by Joseph Lam
I had such high hopes. I was so bored after the first few lectures, which were fascinating. The rest of the lectures were boring, vacuous and didn't seem to say anything.
3 stars
I have actually been reading fairly regularly from Mt. TBR since I stocked up on titles in a sitewide-sale-that-could-not-be-passed-up in July -- and then went on to double its size in December (another sitewide sale) with more titles I could not pass up because they were so cheap and not available from my library.
This is the first year since the Agatha Centenary read started that I have actually kicked off the year with an Agatha; it felt good! I have to admit that I did not see this one coming at all; it just never crossed my mind. I enjoyed it very much.
Surface science for non-scientists. Just my speed. I might even have learned something in the process.
Book three of Brett's first series of mystery novel, published in 1977. MC Charles Paris is an actor who has a side line in amateur sleuthing. Wow, has Brett come a long way since he wrote the Charles Paris series, which isn't bad at all. I'm glad he kept at it -- and so will I.
I hated that Lovesey killed off Diamond's wife but I loved the book. I loved the way Lovesey treated Diamond's grief and mourning without being maudlin. I loved the dead-ends and the twists and turns of the plot. Very devious, Mr. Lovesey, very devious.
I can't remember how this one ended up on my wish list. I love the cover but it did not take very long to realize that this one really is not for me. I don't like books where the set up involves putting the innocent MC into a lose-lose situation thus forcing him to do something he absolutely does not want to do. I find it too damned frustrating. However, I do think that there are a few folks here who might actually enjoy this one.
What can I say? It is a Perry Mason story. File it under "necessary roughage"and let's move on.
One of the joys of living where we do is the little art museum down the street. They bring in some pretty amazing exhibits such as the one that is currently there of Rembrandt's etchings. We finally made time to see the exhibition -- and I plan to go back once more before it leaves in the middle of February to take more pictures. Most of what is on display is from the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam and all but 10 works are by Rembrandt; the remainder are works from those who inspired and were inspired by him..jpg)
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How did I not love thee? Let me count the ways. DD1 recommended this one to me. I put a hold on it immediately, sight unseen, and it arrived while I was in Philly, trying to read The Hollow Man. Even having read up on the book would not have prepared me for what I found.
Necessary Roughage!! Westlake is not great literature but he sure is a lot of fun to read.
Sorry, Michael, this one just didn't do it for me. Some of my problem was the ornate language you tried to employ, trying to give it an old world feel. That didn't work well and it was distracting. The start was rocky, too. I like the "Jews with swords" idea but you lost me at the start and I never found my way back. 
I love Scalzi best when his tongue is firmly in his cheek -- and read to me by Wesley Crusher. In other words, I enjoyed this one but really have nothing specific to say about it --other than I love how the cover gives nothing away. 
Hard-boiled detective fiction. Very well written, especially the creative cussing. There was no way that Himes could have used what was actually being used on the street and get published -- and even the language he did use was pushing it in 1964. I enjoyed the book very much but it isn't quite light reading. 
Locked room mystery. I had trouble with this one. I couldn't keep the characters straight and I'm still not sure of the 'howdunit.' Still, I really enjoyed the story and will throw this one back on TBR to re-read at a later date so I can catch what I missed the first go round.
A great way to end the year!