Carol's Notebook – Page 177

One Summer by Bill Bryson

July 9, 2019July 9, 2019 by Carol2 Comments

I loved One Summer by Bill Bryson. I may have already told my mom she should read it. Unfortunately, I can't just let her borrow mine since a.) I listened to the audio version and b.) I borrowed it from the library. I'm not a history buff or a sports buff. I've only read one of Bryson's books before, Shakespeare, but I was looking for a non-fiction read and One Summer caught my eye. I'm so glad I picked it up. You can tell from the blurb that a lot happened between May and September 1927. People and events I've heard of, and some I haven't. Bryson takes two of the famous men from the era, Charles Lindbergh and Babe Ruth, and tells not only their stories but the story of the time, the inventions, the politics, the deaths, the bad but mostly the good. It's a fun book full of little bits of information. I may have told my family...

Mailbox Monday – 7/8

July 8, 2019January 6, 2020 by Carol6 Comments

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. Tell us about your new arrivals by adding your Mailbox Monday post to the linky at mailboxmonday.wordpress.com. Velocity Weapon was a win from Orbit Books US on Instagram....

Sunday Salon – 7/7

July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 by Carol2 Comments

Thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon. Stop over there or at the Facebook Groupto participate. Week’s Highlight: We had a really nice week. We had a cookout for the 4th, went to a couple of fireworks show and went to a Pirates Game. They lost, but it was still fun. Reading: I never did post my wrap-up for Sci-Fi June. Oops. This week is the Sharknado Readathon for COYER Summer. You’re trapped in your house because there’s a Sharknado outside. You can only read the books on your physical shelf—no book not in your home at the start of the readathon—counts. I posted my potential reads on Instagram. My choices are a bit limited since we've been doing a little work around the house and I've been painting bookshelves, so most of my books are currently in boxes https://www.instagram.com/p/BzoCsLdgt8k/ Last week’s posts: The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley I've got a couple of reviews I need to get around to posting, but this week is pretty...

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

July 2, 2019July 2, 2019 by Carol8 Comments

So, if I had to pick a favorite genre I would choose mystery, but I can narrow it down even farther: mysteries that take place in country houses over the holidays. These tend to be vintage mysteries, which I love, but The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley fits right into that category too. The holiday is New Year's and the country house is actually a remote resort in Scotland, where the group of friends has been isolated from the outside world by a blizzard. We know from the first page that one of them is dead, but we don't know who exactly the victim is until the last few chapters. I was impressed by how well Foley kept unfolding the secrets and clues bit by bit, without letting on who either the killer or the victim was. I can't think of a book I've read lately that kept the suspense going that well. The friends are not nice, likable people. They're like...

Sunday Salon – 6/30

June 30, 2019July 1, 2019 by Carol11 Comments

Thanks to Deb at Readerbuzz for hosting The Sunday Salon. Stop over there or at the Facebook Group to participate. Week’s Highlight: We've been busy lately. A couple of weeks ago I was out of town for work, then we went to my brother's for a weekend and to go to the Origins Game Fair. We've been working around the house a bunch too. Reading: Sci-Fi June just ended. I'll try to have my wrap-up post done soon. We're still in the middle of Summer Coyer. The link to my progress is on my sidebar. Last week’s posts: Death of a Ladies’ Man by Helena MarchmontA Knife in the Fog by Bradley Harper I'm currently listening to One Summer: America 1927 by Bill Bryson which I am loving. It's full of interesting stories and little bits of trivia, it's the kind of fun non-fiction I really enjoy. Looking forward a bit the 24in48 July readathon is July 20-21 and Dewey's 24 Hour Reverse Readathon starts in the evening on August 2. The...

Death of a Ladies’ Man by Helena Marchmont

June 27, 2019June 27, 2019 by Carol6 Comments

Alfie's life in London merges with his life in Bunburry in Death of a Ladies' Man. This is the fourth in the series and can stand alone, but it would be much better to go back and read them all. They're short and enjoyable, and like most series it's better to read them in order. Two of Alfie's acquaintances from London show up. They are gaudy and snobbish and want Alfie to invest a bunch of money in some scheme or other. Also in town is Mario Bellini, who makes the best ice cream in London. Mario makes a bit of a stir in town. He's handsome and an irrepressible flirt who makes at least one local husband quite angry. Alfie loves the ice cream and gives Mario his card so he can have some shipped. Unfortunately, when Mario is found dead, Alfie's card is still in his pocket, and the incompetent sheriff at first focusses on that. But the jealous...