OCTOBER 2023

     HELLO ALL!

We met at Beth's lovely home last month and below is a list of the books we discussed:

Bookshare Books: October

 

Beth Hedengren

 

The Last Devil to Die, by Richard Osman (5 stars)

This is the third volume of the Thursday Murder club, in which octogenarian friends living in a “over 55” center use their considerable skills (spy, psychologist, nurse, union organizer) to solve murders. They once again solve the mystery here (using their own borderline illegal methods), but even more memorable are the inscrutable complications of aging they face. Well written, charming, funny, and thought-provoking.

 

The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray (3 stars)

Second in a series on murder mysteries in which the characters are primarily taken from Jane Austen’s books. The sleuths for example are the young adult children of respectively Jane and Charles Darcy (Pride and Prejudice) and Catherine and Henry Tilney (Northanger Abbey). In this one Mr. Willoughby’s new wife is murdered and Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney must prove that their friend Marianne Brandon (Sense and Sensibility). Not as fun as the first in the series, which brought together characters from many more of Austen’s books, but still good.

 

Not Her First Rodeo by Lisa Rumsey Harris (3 stars)

A romance novel written by my friend Lisa, who teaches English at BYU. Her second book, I believe. Best part is that it is set in American Fork, Utah, and is wonderfully believable in its portrayal of rodeo/horsemanship/ranch life. Lisa was a rodeo queen herself, and a fine horsewoman. I loved the details of how a rider trains and communicates with her horse. The male love interest is a British tech guru, in Silicon Valley to troubleshoot software issues. The story gets really good when Liberty’s big brother tries to sabotage their relationship at the rodeo. It started a bit slow, but by the end I was a fan.

 

Kiki’s Delivery Service by Elko Kadano (5 stars)

The 1985 Japanese children’s book which was the inspiration for the anime film of the same name. My grandgirls were Kiki’s this Halloween, so I had to read it. Charming story of a modern 13 year old witch who must prove herself by living on her own for a year. She has no magic except the ability to fly, so she starts a delivery service.

 

Evershore by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson (3 stars)

A novella in the Skyward series, co-written by Patterson. Not as good as straight Sanderson, but still fun to fill in some background in the characters. I downloaded it and was almost through before I realized it was co-written. So I finished.

 

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson (5 stars)

I listened to this, and the narrator was very gentle indeed. Very sweet book by a Swedish woman “between the ages of 80 and 100.” She teaches us to gradually say farewell to the things we have accumulated throughout life, and along the way you get to know the very intelligent, very kind, very wise woman. It is not at all like the usual de-cluttering books. This books encourages you to take time to remember and to appreciate before moving things on to better homes.

 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (4 stars)

My Halloween read. Really fun to read the original and appreciate the language of the time. Like Dickens, Irving delights in language, especially description. I loved reading about the groaning table filled with harvest fare, including “whole families of pies.”

 

Everybody Fights by Kim and Penn Holderness (5 stars)

I have long enjoyed the Holderness family’s hilarious YouTube videos, so listening to this was like talking with old friends. Kim and Penn narrate the audio version and are constantly deviating from the script with funny commentary and shenanigans. They are very serious, though, about the topic: How to manage disagreements in a relationship. They have solid advice and great examples. I found myself thinking of how to apply their counsel not only in my marriage but in all relationships.

 

Marlene Mattheson

In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park, a North Korean Girl's description of her journey to freedom - I loved it!

 

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan, about a cooking contest to see how creative cooks could be with rationed supplies, contains recipes. A fun read.

 

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See - A story of Lady Tan surrounded by Chinese customs from the 1500's: foot binding, doctoring methods with herbs, teenage arranged marriages, and how an elite household of women was organized under the strict dictatorship of the mother-in-law.

 

Maryann Stevens

Ordinary Heroes by Scott Turow 5⭐️ WWII such a good book, so many philosophical discussions about war & principles. A young JAG officer chasing down soldier accused of insubordination is caught in the thick of the Battle of the Bulge & immediately reassigned as an infantry company leader. Years later his own son finds the father’s account of the war and must reevaluate his father’s life.

Mrs Polifax & the Second Thief by Dorothy Gilman 3.5 ⭐️ Mrs Polifax is sent to Italy to respond to an SOS.

Issac’s Storm by Erik Larson. 4⭐️ in the very early years of the US Weather Service, Issac, a meteorologist is assigned to Galveston, Texas. He ascribes to the theory that Galveston is in a ‘sweet spot’ that will not be affected by hurricanes. Cuban meteorologists, looked down upon as brown men with no scientific background, predict a huge & growing Caribbean storm moving rapidly toward the Texas coast. Since US meteorologists have predicted, the storm will move east up the Atlantic coast, Texas is totally unprepared for the devastation that hits Galveston in 1906.

Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan 4.5⭐️ interwoven with Chinese wisdom, sayings this is a story of a daughter and her mother, who is facing rapidly debilitating dementia. As the daughter feels she must spend more and more time with her unwilling mother, the book examines the shift of interpersonal relationships between mother and daughter, daughter and her husband.

Agatha Raisin the Case of the Curious Curate 3⭐️ just a fun escape with Agatha. No James. No Sir Charles. A new man.

Tom Lake by Ann Pachett

5 ⭐️Would I loved this so much if the narrator had not been Meryl Streep? In the spring of 2020, the adult daughters of Lara & Joe return to their northern Michigan fruit orchard. While they pick cherries together, the daughters beg their mother to tell them the story of her summer stock experience at Tom Lake & her love affair with Peter Duke who later becomes a famous screen actor. Though a fun tale, the main draw for me was the love affair between Lara, her husband, & their daughters.

True Sisters by Sandra Dallas 4.5⭐️ a true story of the Martin Handcart company told through the trials of 4 women & their families, actual members of the company. I did not realize how many days of trudging through the mountains in winter weather awaited AFTER the ‘rescue.’ Great read. The non-LDS author states: “I realized this was not just a Mormon story but a western story. And that story is not just about tragedy but about joy and faith, of people willing to endure the hardship for a better life. It is a story of sacrifice but also of love. And even humor.”

 Karla Cox

I didn’t read many that you haven’t already talked about; I spent most of the month reading  recommendations from the blog! 

—Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Great recommendation, JoAnn! A quick, worthwhile read, and one that fits nicely with the Depression-era/Dustbowl books I have read and learned from and enjoyed over the past months and years… 

—The Sisters of Auschwitz by Roxane van Iperen

Maryann recommended this one. It is incredible. 

I sometimes wonder why I keep reading these WW II stories of death, darkness, insanity and evil. But I think it’s because of the other side: there is light, survival, compassion, determination and goodness to be seen and honored as well. How would I have done in those situations? The survivors were fighters - with internal strength that is truly heroic. 

—The Eagle Has Landed  by Jack Higgins 

This actually felt like a look at the other side; like seeing the war effort through the lives of people who didn’t love Hitler but hated England and her politics. 

A review sums it up well: “First rate… A fascinating adventure story…The interest never flags.” ~San Francisco Chronicle

I must confess, the surprise ending was a surprise indeed! 

—The Tatooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Another Auschwitz horror account, this story is remarkably filled with hope and miracles. The incomprehensible miracle of both Ludwig (Lallay) and Giselle (Gita)’s survival and eventual liberation from a camp known for death, their eventual reunion and life together, makes this story the ‘happiest’ Holocaust story of my repertoire. And it should probably end my exploration and empathic suffering with and of a people persecuted, robbed, tortured, and brutally murdered for no reason but their heritage. My heart aches for the Jewish people who are suffering today; but my soul aches for the impossible yet real tragedy of Hitler and the Holocaust. 

(Alas, it WON’T be my last…)

--Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

The stories from the outside (of concentration camps) are sometimes less painful; I can’t say that this story is less gut-wrenching, though, because it still involves Nazis, torture and death. It’s about two young women - one a Scot, the other English - whose friendship and desire to help in the resistance in England and in occupied France, beautifully illustrate the power of courage. And goodness is seen in surprising places and within surprising people. There is tragedy in this fictional version of historic circumstances. But there is also hope, love, and redemption. This seems to be written for younger readers, maybe young adults; I appreciated the less graphic though accurate depictions and wording. 

A beautiful phrase that came from the author’s heart became part of the story: “It’s like being in love, discovering your best friend.” We could spend too much time discussing the layers there… But it’s a beautiful, sweet commentary on committed friendship. 

I can’t imagine having the courage to face what so many people faced during WWII; I don’t think I would have. I think I would have laid down and died, or prompted someone to shoot me. So the characters in these stories - real or fictional - are heroic in a way I may never be. 

In the author’s notes, she is quoting a beautiful paragraph in the story, then she says this: 

“And that, o best beloved, is the wonderful thing about reading. While you’re reading, if you’re immersed in it, the story - be it fiction or non-fiction - feels real. It is happening in your head in real time.” 

Another grand quote for a book group!! 

Also see p 1216-17 for fabulous quote about empathy!

--Fortunately, the Milk  by Neil Gaiman 

Definitely the diversion I needed! A short (1 hour), very silly story about a British brother and sister whose mother has gone on a business trip and whose father is left to care for them. When there’s no milk for breakfast, the dad is off to the shop to buy some. And a rollicking tale of his adventure AFTER buying the milk ensues. Fortunately, at every crazy turn of events, the milk is saved to bring home to the worried children. 

A great book to read or listen to when you’ve been entrenched in too many heavy books (point already made…). Or a delightful story to read to grandkids who are staying for the weekend or going on a drive with you. 

--The Heavens Are Open by Wendy Nelson 

This is a remarkable book, and surprisingly interesting (am I okay to say that? ) Sister Nelson voices the audiobook, and I enjoyed hearing her voice. 

She presents the case for the Heavens being opened for us by the actions we take and the efforts we make. She makes specific points in each chapter. 

Here are some examples. 

—Zero Contention

—You have censured me; “but it mattereth not. And I rejoice in the greatness of your heart”

-Weightier matters

-“Because I know the Book of Mormon is true”

-More light

-Family History opens the Heavens… Commence with a prayer 

“There’s going to be dancing in Heaven tonight!”

-A beautiful telling of her relationship with Pres Nelson

-Pray for God’s will, and be open to praying for our requests, or something better! 

--An Unwitting Alliance by Annika R Walker

Just a little light reading audio style, because I do enjoy a silly romance now and then… This was another Deseret BookPlus selection. One surprising detail that won’t be a spoiler, should anyone decide to read it: the story is supportive of arranged marriages! 

--Codes of Courage by A L Sowards

Sigh… Another WWII story. But, from the outside - an Austrian sailing for GB, whose family was murdered by Nazis, and an American diplomat’s daughter, who is recruited to translate and break German codes, find each other, then find each other again in embattled England. 

Another DBookShelfPlus choice, it’s fictional, but clean, interesting, reasonably well-researched, and tear-jerkingly heroic. 

Geri Christensen

The Joy and Light Bus Company

By Alexander McCall Smith

Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni attends a course hosted by the local chamber of commerce entitled “Where Is Your Business Going?” But rather than feeling energized, he comes back in low spirits, not sure if he should be satisfied with the already venerable and successful Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors. Then an old friend from school approaches him with an exciting new business venture. When it turns out he will need to mortgage the garage in order to pursue this endeavor, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi worry about the potential repercussions for his current business—as well as for their own.

 

But even as she puzzles over mysteries on the domestic front, Mma Ramotswe’s professional duties must take precedence. When a concerned son learns that his aging father’s nurse now stands to inherit the family home, he begins to doubt her intentions and takes his case to Botswana’s premier detective agency.  Fortunately, Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi, committed agents of justice, agree to investigate. 

 

Tricky as these matters may be, Mma Ramotswe, armed with her usual supply of tact, humor and good will, knows that the most creative solutions are often found with the support of friends and family and a cup of red bush tea. With these reliable assets, she is certain to ensure that all involved find the happiness that they deserve.

Spy Coast

By Tess Gerritson

A retired CIA operative in small-town Maine tackles the ghosts of her past in this fresh take on the spy thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.

Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.

In Their Footsteps

By Tess Gerritson

The quiet scandal surrounding the death of her parents has always haunted Beryl Tavistock. Now she’s asking dangerous questions, and the answers are proving that the past does not die easily.

Pulled into a world of espionage, Beryl quickly discovers that she needs help, and former CIA agent Richard Wolf is her only hope. But in a world where trust is a double-edged sword, friends become enemies and enemies are killers.

Agatha Raisin and the Case if the  Curious Curate

Amateur sleuth Agatha Raisin is going through a man-hating phase after being left by her husband, is bored with tottering around Carsley, and wishes men would just sod off, so she is unmoved by news of a captivating new curate. But when she meets the golden-haired, blue-eyed Tristan Delon, she is swept off her feet - along with every other female in the village. She is positively ecstatic when he invites her to dine with him, but the next day Agatha is left with a hangover from hell - and the curate is found dead. Carsley is whisked from time-warp monotony to a hotbed of murder and intrigue, and Agatha Raisin is back on track.

As the corpses multiply, ever-obstinate Agatha trails clues from Lilac Lane to London, unmindful that someone wicked is arranging that Mrs. Raisin's cats never again hear their mistress' footfall on the path.

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