The Winds of Change (28)

Quite by chance I seem to have been getting Martha Grimes' books in sequence. Which is odd because I just go on to the FVRL website and do a search for her name and then request whatever books come up.

I'm loving reading the books in sequence though because SO many story elements continue from one book to the next.

This was both my favorite and least favorite of her Richard Jury books.

On the one hand, I felt it was the one in which she was least British. I'm not sure if that's because I was so aware that she's an American (and so it was just me being silly and making her seem more American) or if she was being a bit careless with her references.

On the other hand, I was so excited to be following so closely on the heels of the Grave Maurice story line that I really enjoyed the continued character development of ALL her major characters and references back and forwards to stories I've already read.

The story itself was quite dark and for the first time I figured out the mystery (though I asked Andrew if he thought maybe that was because I've read so many of her books that I'm starting to think like her ha hah).

Anyhoo, I have one more of the Martha Grimes books borrowed, then I think I'll read something more weighty for a while. Save the mysteries for when I need light reading!!

Twenty Six and Seven

Dust by Marsha Grimes - I forgot to blog about this one when I finished reading it. Now that I've pretty much finished Agatha Christie and PD James' mysteries, I've turned to Marsha Grimes. I love how she fools me into thinking she's a British author. She's an American who almost gets it right.

What sticks out in my memory most about this book is Wiggins' tirade against the end of the "happy eater" restaurant chain in England (due to Burger King buying out the chain). My family spent many hours in Happy Eater when house hunting throughout the South of Britain. Such a tragedy.

End in Tears by Ruth Rendell - I've watched the Ruth Rendell mysteries on television often enough. Now that I've found the mystery section of my library, I thought I'd give this book a go. I have to say that I couldn't figure this mystery out until the same moment CID Wexford did. So to me that's a good thing. It was sooooooo hard not to peek at the end of this book, but I restrained myself.

Having discovered the mystery section, I'm afraid I'm overindulging. I expect I'll read something more...intellectual? sometime or other, just not till I'm done with all the lovely thrillers currently on my shelves...

25

Just finished Michael Palmer's Fifth Vial.

Like so many books, I found that this one was really good until about the last couple of chapters. Then it was like he thought, "ooh I bet I'd sell this to more people if I threw a romantic story line in. And hey! It would help me tie everything up if the two lovebirds could get together and talk about everything afterwards."

Which always seems so contrived to me.

Other than that, a stellar book, and a quick read.

I just finished Miss Wyoming. Life After God is still my favorite Coupland novel, but I think this one runs a close second.

I'm going to post a passage from the book on my other blog.

18, 19, 20 and 21 (and 22 and 23)

Oh dear, I keep forgetting to keep track...

Well, Jane lent me Saving Graces, a wonderful book on friendship. Since I know Jane from a group of friends a leeeetle like the Saving Graces, this book was especially tearjerky. So good.

Then I read All Families are Psychotic. Not my favorite Coupland ever.

So I went back to Martha Grimes. I read Cold Flat Junction then I went over to her website to read about this author, I was a bit confused as to whether she's English or a Yank. Well turns out that she's famous for her Richard Jury mysteries of which I've read one. And that her RJ fans actually sent her hate mail when she wrote this semi biographical trilogy (Hotel Paradise, Cold Flat Junction and Belle Ruin). Well, I'm sorry, but I think they're brilliant. In fact, I started carrying a pen and paper with me to write down quotes from the books. But then I like to think I'm a precocious child like the protagonist in these books is...

When I was returning books to the library I saw Robert Ludlum's The Bancroft Strategy. Probably my favorite Ludlum book to date. Although in the beginning I found it quite witty and kept reading one liners and quotes to Andrew. By the end it felt like he was tidying things up too quickly and it was getting a bit corny.

Next I pulled out Hey Nostradamous, but after the first page I realised I've already read that one, so instead I started Miss Wyoming, also by Douglas Coupland. And that brings me to book 23. I was getting a little desperate for books, but I realised that Jane lent me a few more which I have yet to read...

I just started reading King of Torts. My first impression is that

john grisham does not look at all like I thought he would.

Sixteenth this year, Fiftieth since keeping track!

jPod by Douglas Coupland.

DC is one interesting person. Actually, believe it or not, this book reminded me of some of my favorites by Robertson Davies, another prolific Canadian Author.

I'd stop and chat about why I liked this book so much, but I have about 23 more books on my shelves that need to get read and returned to the library.

Oh - I did decide to finish Daughter of Mine. I think it bugged me so much cause it was like a really bad Catherine Cookson.