What Fiction are you reading this week, September 3, 2023?

[hermetic]

Enjoy your Labor Day

Cozy

I'm reading A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner for Fiction. Meet Bennie, an aging former punk rocker and record executive, and Sasha his troubled assistant. "Although Bennie and Sasha never discover each others pasts, the reader does, in intimate detail, along with the secret lives of a host of other characters. Sly, startling, exhilarating work." I find that an apt description.

I just listened to Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower, the first book in an all-new Emily Dickinson historical mystery series. Set during the politically turbulent time just prior to the Civil War, Emily and her new housemaid set out to find the reason behind a tragic and surprising death in the town stable. Quite good. Book 2 is due out this November.

Now I am listening to We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker, "an extraordinary novel about two kinds of families -- the ones we are born into and the ones we create."

What fictional characters will you be meeting this week?

[sagetea]

1. I'm reading "Magic Lessons"

The prequel the "Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman.

You might have seen the movie ractical Magic' with Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Diane Wiest. It takes us to the 1600's when the first 'Owens' witch, Maria Owens, comes to the United States after she witness' the killing of her adopted mother, Hannah Owens, She meets her birth mother, Rebecca, who sells her to a ship captain who then sells her as an indentured servant, where she learns magic from the islanders. Where she meets John Hawthorn, a Puritan, who impregnates her then leaves abruptly, back to Massachusetts, where she follows him and eventually gets tried as a witch.

It is a poignant story of heartache, love spells, kidnapping, rituals, and survival during the witch trials.

It's a lovely series of books, and perfect for this time of year!!


sage

[hermetic]

2. I did see that movie

Now I want to read that book. Sounds great.

[Polly Hennessey]

3. Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander

A new bedtime cozy and so far I am liking it.

“After graduating from culinary school, Juliet Capshaw returns to her quaint hometown of Ashland, Oregon, to heal a broken heart and help her mom at the family bakery. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is bringing in lots of tourists looking for some crumpets to go with their heroic couplets. But when one of Torte's customers turns up dead, there's much ado about murder...”

[hermetic]

4. Fun

I like cozies that include a little theater action. "The victim is Nancy Hudson, the festival's newest board member. A modern-day Lady Macbeth, Nancy has given more than a few actors and artists enough reasons to kill her." Lots of 5-star ratings for this one.

[cbabe]

5. Andy Carpenter series/David Rosenfelt

Detective/lawyer capers. Set in New Jersey, mostly.

‘Action scenes and courtroom clashes.’

Pizza. Sports. And dogs.

Easy relaxing books. Nice way to end summer.

[hermetic]

6. Nice

indeed.

[The King of Prussia]

7. "Death of a Partner" by Janet Neel

A whodunnit set in and around Whitehall and the world of lobbying. It was a total punt - never heard of the author before - and I'm enjoying it a ;ot.

[hermetic]

9. Hadn't heard of her either

It's kind of an oldie, though. 1991. It's also part of a series of seven. But you probably knew that. Looks like some good stories there.

Always glad to see you. Hope all is well over there. I know there's been some challenges.

[The King of Prussia]

11. All is fine with us, thanks

We are both working so, unlike many, we can afford luxuries like food and electricity.

[hermetic]

12. Excellent

[mentalsolstice]

8. Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea

It was previously recommended here by Japple. So far it’s wonderful! I finished Hurricane Summer by Asha Ashanti Bromfield. It was okay. She’s a young writer and this was her debut book. She started out strong. However, it was very teenagery and angsty (I know….I was once a teenager too). And it felt as though she grew tired of writing it at the end.

[hermetic]

10. I think it's safe to say

if our Japple recommended it, it's gonna be really good. "Taking as inspiration his mother's own Red Cross service, Luis Alberto Urrea has delivered an overlooked story of women's heroism in World War II."

Sorry to hear that other one didn't work out so well, though.

Hope you got through that storm last week unscathed.

[mentalsolstice]

13. Idalia completely missed us.

We had some rain and high surf, but that was it thankfully. We went out to the beach on Wednesday night, OMG such fresh salty sea breezes and a beautiful sunset.



I have dedicated this picture to Jimmy Buffett, here on the Gulf Coast he was iconic.

Thank you for asking!

[hermetic]

14. Oh, that's lovely

Thank you for sharing.

We will always love you, Jimmy.

[japple]

15. Yes!!! This is a wonderful book and happy to see that another DUer is

reading it.

[japple]

16. As recommended by brer cat a couple weeks ago, I have just started

reading When These Mountains Burn by David Joy. Have only read a couple chapters, but it is compelling so far.

[yellowdogintexas]

17. I am still reading House of Spies by Daniel Silva

I haven't had a lot of reading time this week but I am close to the end; I'll probably finish it today.


Gabriel Allon stories are always exciting!

A heart-stopping tale of suspense, Daniel Silva’s runaway bestseller, The Black Widow, was one of 2016’s biggest novels. Now, in House of Spies, Gabriel Allon is back and out for revenge – determined to hunt down the world’s most dangerous terrorist, a shadowy ISIS mastermind known only as Saladin.

Four months after the deadliest attack on the American homeland since 9/11, terrorists leave a trail of carnage through London’s glittering West End. The attack is a brilliant feat of planning and secrecy, but with one loose thread.

The thread leads Gabriel Allon and his team of operatives to the south of France and to the gilded doorstep of Jean-Luc Martel and Olivia Watson. A beautiful former British fashion model, Olivia pretends not to know that the true source of Martel’s enormous wealth is drugs. And Martel, likewise, turns a blind eye to the fact he is doing business with a man whose objective is the very destruction of the West. Together, under Gabriel’s skilled hand, they will become an unlikely pair of heroes in the global war on terror.

Written in seductive and elegant prose, the story moves swiftly from the glamour of Saint-Tropez to the grit of Casablanca and, finally, to an electrifying climax that will leave readers breathless long after they turn the final page.

But House of Spies is more than just riveting entertainment; it is a dazzling tale of avarice and redemption, set against the backdrop of the great conflict of our times. And it proves once again why Daniel Silva is “quite simply the best” (Kansas City

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

18. So, to be absolutely clear

Is this question asking for ****ALL**** books read in a week, or is it only for literally the current one being read? I need to ask, because a) I tend to read more than one book a week, and b) the last time I unknowingly violated whatever arcane and arbitrary rules apply around here, I got my head torn off.

So be crystal clear for borderline aspies like me who need to have these things spelled out.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. If I read more than one since the previous week's post, I list them

especially if I am in a series.

Others do as well. I don't think it really matters