Malice by Keigo Higashino

by Carol4 Comments
Keigo Higashino is a Japanese author, apparently a very popular one. I've read two of his books before from the  and loved them. This one is from a difference series, #4, but the only Kaga mystery translated into English at this time. Happily is stands well on its own. As the blurb states, the story is more of a cat and mouse game than a traditional mystery. We learn early who the killer is, even hear their confession, but as Kaga, our detective, digs deeper he questions what he's been told. I have to say I've never read a mystery quite like this one, and I've read a lot of mysteries. The killer's thought process and actions are pretty fascinating really and the motive was not what I was expecting. In the beginning, we see things from two points of view, Kaga's and Nonoguchi's, but as time goes by we hear more Kaga's thoughts and his interviews with people who knew the...
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Thursday’s Tale: The Lotus Girl and the Dragon King

by Carol6 Comments
On Saturday, Joy at Joy's Book Blog, posted a couple of photos she took at the  Missouri Botanical Garden Lantern Festival and gave a brief summary of the legend of The Lotus Girl and the Dragon King. The story is rather touching and Joy was kind enough to allow me to  repost her photos today. The "Lotus Girl and the Dragon King" takes place long ago in China. There was a poor blind man who had just one blessing, and this was his daughter, Shimchong. One day the old blind man fell into a water hole. Suddenly a voice close by spoke. "Old man, if you will promise to give 300 bushels of rice to the temple in the name of Lord Buddha, you will be rewarded with your life, and your eyesight." He quickly said, "I promise," certain it was the Lord Buddha. The old man blinked, awaiting the return of his sight, but this did not happen. Then he realized with terror what he had...
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Readers’ Workouts – 8/18

by Carol5 Comments
So, here are my steps for the week. I may not have made my goal each day, but I did pretty well on the week overall. Here's my current plan. I haven't signed up for the race yet, but I'm still planning on it. Or maybe wussing out and doing the 5K instead. CT stands for cross-training, SS stands for stretching or strength-training. My week: Tuesday - 6.62 miles Wednesday - 30 mins of weights, lunges, etc. Thursday - 3.01 miles Friday -  50 crunches, 10 (girly) push-ups Saturday - 3.1 miles Monday - 3.22 miles, 25 mins swimming I'm down 11 lbs from 5/19. I usually listen to a book while I'm running or walking. This week I finished Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway and started Malice by Keigo Higashino. How was your week? Readers’ Workouts is hosted by Joy at Joy’s Book Blog. Thanks!...
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Bigfoot Blues by Ricardo Sanchez

by Carol1 Comment
Loved it! I might have a soft spot for quirky mysteries that involve taxidermy - alright, I've only read 2, but both were great. Bigfoot Blues is the second in the series, and it works fine on its own, but honestly I'd suggest reading Elvis Sightings first. I read this one first and liked it so much I had to go back and get #1 anyway. This is just a flat-out fun, quick read. Crazy characters, an evil corporation, mythical monsters. I will say you have to just relax and go with it. When you have a private investigator who dresses like Elvis and has a little person named Goliath as a side-kick, you know this is not your standard detective novel. It's silly, but enjoyable with several laugh-out-loud moments. It is a mystery though, and in the midst of the nutty characters and general wackiness of the town, Floyd has to follow the clues and keep from getting bit. Sanchez plays fair with the mystery...
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Thursday’s Tale: Happy Ending for the Lost Children

by Carol3 Comments
I've got another poem today for my Thursday's Tale. It's not a funny one, though. It's a take on Hansel and Gretel. "A Happy Ending for the Lost Children" is from Starting from Sleep: New and Selected Poems by Charles Martin. A Happy Ending for the Lost Children by Charles Martin   One of their picture books would no doubt show The two lost children wandering in a maze Of anthropomorphic tree limbs: the familiar crow Swoops down upon the trail they leave of corn, Tolerant of the error of their ways. Hand in hand they stumble onto the story, Brighteyed with beginnings of fever, scared Half to death, yet never for a moment Doubting the outcome that had been prepared Long in advance: Girl saves brother from oven, Appalling witch dies in appropriate torment; Her hoarded treasure buys them their parents' love. *** "As happy an ending as any fable Can provide," squawks the crow, who had expected more: Delicate morsels from the witch's table. It's an old story—in the modern version The random children fall to random terror. You see...
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Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway

by Carol3 Comments
Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits is clearly based on Pride and Prejudice - many of the characters share similarities and there are Austen quotes at the opening of each chapter, but it's a sweet romance in and of itself. It's a very Southern story and although I'm not much of a history buff, I've known enough to appreciate the fascination with the Civil War that weaves in and out. I listened to the audio version and the narrator uses a Southern drawl very effectively, not overdoing it, just adding the right flavor to the reading. Shelby is our Elizabeth, of course complete with mom and sisters, and Fielding is out Darcy. Fielding was a wonderful character, patient, handsome, intelligent. Yes, they start out on the wrong foot, but I have to admit Shelby drove me crazy for a lot of the book. She jumped to conclusions and was quite rude on occasion. He is clearly trying his hardest and yet she constantly...
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