The Family Chao

 Author:  Lan Samantha Chang
Publisher:  Norton
Copyright 2022

It took me a  while to finish reading this novel.  I was interrupted by other life responsibilities.  But, it is not as compelling a read as many of the less "literary" novels by which I often am consumed.  That doesn't mean I value it less.  Still, I was haunted by the book and kept checking it out from the library (3 different times!).  I definitely learned a great deal about immigrant lives and cultural differences.  As a Chinese-American Chang is uniquely qualified to write about the intricate and complex social and emotional currents immigrants and second-generation citizens face.  Add to that the personal connection I have to the mid-western United States and I'm "sold!"

Chang is the director of the Iowa Writer's Workshop (the first woman and first Asian American to serve in that capacity).  The novel clearly proves she has the "writer's credentials" to fill such a post.

The book tells the story of three Chinese-American brothers and their interactions with a Wisconsin community, their cultural heritage, and their parents.  Love, money, passion, and revenge all come into play.  

Futureproof: 9 Rules for Human in the Age of Automation

 Author: Kevin Roose

Publisher: Random House

Copyright:  2021

Roose offers some great ideas for taking back control of life from technology.  I was drawn to this book partly because it helps with ideas to get out of the social media/misinformation/echo chamber.  (And more significantly why we need to do so!)  The first part of the book offers a brief history and explanation of how technology guides and creates our world based on AI algorithms.  Although I'm not a big user of any social media sites it helped me understand why I need to be cautious with product recommendations that appear anywhere on the internet  (they are easily manipulated by AI bots).  Roose calls this "machine drift."  Your musical, reading, and viewing tastes may be heavily influenced by this drift.

I don't want to spoil the reading of the book.  Roose includes a very helpful appendix that gives a great reminder about actions to take (that are fleshed out with details in the book's text).  If nothing else you should check the book out from your library to scan or copy the appendixes.

The anecdotes about the histories of individuals who changed their lives to overcome machines and robots are very helpful touch points.  When I want to think about "scarce, surprising, and social" or "handprints" it is sometimes easier to remember the British ropemaker who through clever steps avoided the worst effects of the industrial revolution or the Japanese autoworker who wisely specialized and ultimately became Toyota's "first-ever chief monozukuri officer" and one of it's few who climbed from the training academy to executive ranks without a college degree.

One important fact that more of us need to know about is how tax laws are encouraging companies to automate.  Physical equipment, including computers and robots, are taxed at a lower rate than human labor.

Definitely worth reading!

A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II

 By Sonia Purnell.     Viking 2019.  (Paperback by Penguin Books 2019)

Who knew that the French Resistance's success in WWII was primarily attributable to a woman?  One of the complaints that I have about the ways in which histories are told is that the narrative focuses primarily on men, warriors (generals), politicians, and warfare.  Of course, some of this is that most historical accounts are written by men about men  (The Guardian, undated).  Purnell's book helps address this deficit (as well as her previous book about Clementine Churchill--Winston Churchill's wife).

Purnell's biography of Virginia Hall is a well-documented account of this extraordinary woman's work as a "secret agent" during WWII and as an agent afterward in the American CIA.  In addition to being a compelling story, Purnell has carefully documented the story with extensive research including the study of previously unpublished primary documents and interviews of surviving participants.  The book is a delight to read!  Not only is it well written but includes many reader supports such as a map, listing of characters (it gets a little confusing--secret agents tend to change their names a lot!), photographs extensive footnotes of sources and a very useful index.  

My emeriti book club read and discussed this.  All members were wildly enthusiastic!  GoodReads gives it 4 of 5 stars with 3183 reviews.  I can easily see it used as part of "choice reading list" selection in a high school history course (or a literature course including a book like The Diary of Anne Frank or The Book Thief.

From the book, I learned some very interesting and important things about WWII and women in governmental organizations.  It's frightening how very near we came to disaster in WWII and how individuals of principle and courage saved us.  (And how the "good old boys network almost lost the war for us.)  It also helped me appreciate the mix of risk-taking, thrill-seeking, and determination required to serve as an undercover agent.  It's not necessarily the buff, handsome and athletic male who ends up making a difference.  

Just Look Away

 

Just Look Away but Stay Active

My mornings typically start with NPR and coffee.  This Monday as I reached for the button on the radio I recoiled.  I knew the news would be about the election.  I just could not listen.  There was actually pressure in my chest and gut---I could not bear thinking about what the coming election was going to mean for our country.  Then, as my finger hovered over the button I thought “Well, maybe they’ll cover something more cheerful, like the earthquake in Turkey.”  It paralyzed me—reports about a a huge natural disaster is more cheerful than the election (or as some call it, the battle for democracy)?

Earlier in this election cycle I made a decision---I was going to save myself first.  I am a committed voter and citizen of the United State of America.  How could I save myself from the damage being done to my soul by the current media coverage of the political battles in our country while still being an active participant in democracy?  My response was to take action.  I volunteered to join a phone bank on Get Out the Vote day.

That did not work out too well.  I am not cut out for phone banking.  I was greeted with obscenities, rudeness, wrong numbers and long waits for a connection.  I replaced phone banking action with a more local activity—creating “handmade” postcards to encourage voters in my state to vote for candidates for our state legislature who supported education and healthcare.  That was a very satisfying and soothing activity.  I felt I had contributed and there was no violence done.

Thus, I have made a new promise to myself.  Look away from the media circus and turn instead to small local actions.  Years ago, I read State of Fear, by Michael Crichton.  His message still resonates with me, that the media and politicians have the effect, intentional or not, of making us all live in a frenzied of fear.   And that was written before the internet grabbed us all.  Later Myra Grant’s Newsflesh trilogy forecast the rise of social media (and misinformation) in the face of a pandemic.  Her work helped me believe in the power of social media, both to inform but also to mislead.

My answer to these tensions that most of us are feeling is twofold.  Look away from the media and take two steps to the center.  The fear created by media and politicians have driven us to extremes.  I still watch or listen to some news but when I start feeling the churning in my gut or the pain in my chest I stop.  I have been intentionally listening to interviews of “average citizens” trying to understand those with a viewpoint different from my own.  To protect myself I’ve chosen the PBS interviews Amna Nawaz has done with a mix of voters after the presidential debates.  Listening with love in my heart for all of America I have tried to hear their concerns and beliefs.  As a result, I think I understand that there is honest concern and good intentions in at least some of the “opposition.”  I hope that as we move past the election that we can find these points of agreement or sympathy and build on them.

COVID-19 a Reader's Journey Wednesay 3.25.2020

OMG--Is that tightness in my chest?

Or--hypochondria/paranoia in the age of COVID-19

Most of the time noting seems normal any longer!  From time to time I imagine (or feel) symptoms of coming down the with THE VIRUS!  I'm trying to stay calm and carry on.  This morning I'm feeling a little tightness in my chest.  Instead of rushing to disaster I'm considering alternative causes of this sensation.

1. House repairs and clean up.  I've painted the ceiling in my craft room (and helped move furniture a little).  The painting, with my bad shoulder reaching over my head, is a very uncomfortable movement.  The bad shoulder is a result of rotator cuff repair as a result of a snowboarding accident.)  I've done a little bit of painting at a time (Done now!).  It could be just stretching muscles that I haven't used for a long time. Pulling grass out of flower beds and other spring yard clean up is also stretching similar structures.
2. Too much coffee.  Since I don't have to rush out to meetings, the YMCA, lectures, or bookclub I can relax, read one of the books on the stack next to the door, read the papers, and drink coffee.  Maybe I should get some decaf!
3.  Medical "Procedures."  Doing the new exercises my orthopedic surgeon prescribed because my should is increasingly weak may have created some strain.
4. Anxiety! Who doesn't have these moments during this pandemic?

My body has some aches and pains.  One of the symptoms of COVID-19 is muscle pain.  

1. Old Body.  Silly me, I'm old and have some arthritis.  We're having spring weather fronts move through and my joints often ache when the weather turns.
2. Olympic Disappointment (just kidding.)  I'm not getting to the YMCA for my regular exercise classes.  Although I'm trying to exercise at home I don't think up creative new ways to move or ways that don't necessarily feel comfortable.  My instructors are great and pushing me in ways I wouldn't go!
3. Inactivity.  I'm sitting more.  I have time to read and play my video game.  Well, what do I expect?  I know that all those joints hurt the more I sit!
4. Spring Gardening.  See above.  Not only does pulling and digging hit those unused chest muscles but also all the joints that give me trouble.

Solutions:

Go walk the dog!  This morning just as I was going to walk her it started spitting snow. As I write I'm beginning to see some blue sky through the clouds.  Dreya, the dog, is seeing it too I think.  She's giving me the eye!  We both always feel better as we patrol the neighborhood while we get some sunshine and fresh air.  

Remember what you don't have!  I don't have a cough.  My senses of smell and taste are working well.  No fever.  I haven't been aware of any potential exposures.  There are two close friends with potential links to a victim, but I haven't spent much (or any) face-to-face time with them.

Do laundry and sanitize surfaces in the house.  I went to the grocery yesterday and completely forgot that I should shower and wash my clothes afterward.  Probably parking shoes at the door would be a good practice as well.  (Maybe I should order some new slippers for inside!)  Sanitizing surfaces make me feel virtuous.  It also gets me to clean off the counter and get up and move! 

Just In Case:  If I actually have THE VIRUS I am socially isolating myself.  Don't worry.  I'm not ignoring the risk of transferring virus the to the people I love the most.

***********************************************************

I hope all of you are finding ways to embrace the options offered by our forced isolation.  I'm still trying to put limits on my consumption of pandemic coverage and doing a pretty good job of it.  Right now I'm reading a challenging book, Say Nothing:  A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe (2019).   I can't say it's lightening my mood, but it is definitely taking my mind off of The Virus.  It's particularly engaging for me since the part that I'm reading now is set in 1969-1972ish.  It marks the beginning of my college career and adulthood.  It gives me opportunities to compare my own experiences with The Troubles.  Of course, we were aware of the violence going on in Ireland but we were more absorbed with the war protests in our own country.  I also lived in the midwest at the time.  It wasn't really a hotbed of Irish heritage (unless you lived in Chicago).  Two of the people Keefe is following are sisters of about my vintage.  The comparison of their lives and choice with mine regarding the Vietnam war is particularly poignant for me.  

BYW--feel free to comment on these blog posts.  I see visitors but no one is talking!

COVID-19 a Reader's Journey Saturday 3.22.2020

4am Panic!

Watching a recorded episode of the PBS NewsHour at 10 pm does not lead to good sleep.  So far I've been able to resist watching the stock market ticker.  This morning I awoke at 4 a.m. with an adrenaline surge and at 5 a.m. I was compelled to take a peek at my investments.  Down significantly but not as bad as I feared.  In fact, sort of similar to the 2008 crash. 

This afternoon I had a virtual happy hour with friends.  One of the couples has a nephew who lives in New York but has stayed in San Jose to help his mother for a few weeks.  The nephew really read the riot act to my friends about maintaining social isolation and protecting their health.  (And the health of others.)  He shared lots of statistics about the trajectory of the infection and hospitalizations.  Also a lot of concern about who will get the limited number of hospital beds and respirators.  Thus the virtual happy hour. We had planned to be reckless and have a 6 foot safety zone happy hour.  At the last minute, we all said we'd rather not take a chance of catching or spreading infection and switched to the virtual option. It was fun and a great way to connect with friends, but not the same as face-to-face.

We really are in uncharted waters here.  I can choose to live in anxiety or in trust that with some attention to the details of life all will work out.  It may not be the future that I planned, but I don't want to live in fear.  If I let my imagination run wild I'll live and experience the emotional toll of countless disasters that probably won't actually happen. 

So, with a rough start to the day, it actually turned out well.  My painting project is progressing.  We had another beautiful spring day.  I was able to mow the back yard.  (That makes my dog, Dreya, happy.  She doesn't like long grass on her feet.  Such a princess!) And happy hour with friends!  All is good so far.

COVID-19 A Reader's Journey Tuesday 3.17.2020

Looking for Positives in the Pandemic

I'll admit--I went to the noon meeting of my spiritual group yesterday.  My friend promised we'd be small (4-5 people).  We ended up with eleven, way above the recommended limit of five.  I won't return in person and will use online meetings instead.  But, the meeting gave me the opportunity to reformulate my thinking about this social distancing campaign and how I reconcile my own thinking and emotions to our new reality.

First, I'm changing the way I think about my own decisions.  I found myself feeling bad about my decisions to back out of group events.  Most weeks I attend at least six to eight face-to-face events.  Now that's all in past-tense.  I used to attend all those events.  It was very hard to back out.  In some cases, the decision was made for me by closures.  In others, I had to announce it myself.  For a while, I was very worried about offending my friends and colleagues.  It was as if I was telling these people they were germ-ridden and a danger to me!  That is until I was discussing my feelings with a friend (by phone).  She wisely observed that I was setting boundaries for myself, not others!  Funny, after I decided to back out of one of my last group activities I immediately got a phone call from one of the members thanking me for taking the first step.  Phase one of changing my perspectives to a more positive view.  I also came to understand that I needed to be responsible about my contacts to protect my family.  My two children, one significant other and their father all have at least one sort of auto-immune condition that puts them at higher risk. 

Later I was looking out the front window onto the street and was able to observe a lovely grouping of what looked like three families with young children in conversation.  They were observing the six-foot distancing rule.  Suddenly I realized that in the past few days I've seen and experienced an increased feeling of community.  The foot-traffic in neighborhoods has dramatically increased.  For example, three high school girls walking with their lacrosse sticks down to the park to practice.  Normally they would be at the school practice field and invisible to their immediate neighbors.  Checking with my health-challenged neighbor before I went to the grocery.  Phone calls from friends when normally we only text.  Chatting with an old friend I haven't seen for years during the 7-9 am grocery store's "seniors only" shopping hours.  I'm blessed to be in a low-infection state, at least so far.  Some of these activities will not be possible in higher density communities or areas with high infection rates. 

Shutting down our busy lives is making it possible for us to relax a bit and reconnect with our communities.  Having to focus on our networks and evaluate our "risk" also makes us aware of our potential threats to others.  Thus, stepping back is actually a gift to our friends, neighbors, and families.

Finally, I want to offer a shout out for the creative social consciousness of many of our local stores.  They have come up with special "seniors and vulnerable populations" shopping hours.  Their consideration of the community is greatly appreciated.  It's way too easy to focus on the negatives of our situation.  Egregious examples of irresponsible behavior are being published far and wide.  I hope that we can also celebrate the more positive examples of care that come our way.

COVID-19 A Reader's Journey Monday 3.16.2020

3/26/2020

I'm going to transform my book blog into reflections as we move through this unique experience.  That is, unique to us.  Past generations have had similar experiences.  I remember a big yellow quarantine sign on our house as I was growing up.  I don't remember if it was for mumps or measles. as a toddler, my best friend contracted polio.  In neither case did I have the background or awareness to be really frightened.  However, I do know my mother and father were terrified.  Not to mention the Black Plague.

For the last month, I've known this was coming.  I've read way too many apocalyptic novels and nonfiction books and have a "theoretical" background in pandemics.  I'll keep recommending horrifying fiction and non-fiction as I blog about our shared experiences.  Today's recommendation:  Feed, by Myra Grant. It starts with zombies, but they are just a device to get into exploration of the intersection of media, politics, and government agencies. It is the first of a trilogy.  Since we're all isolation I suggest you just order all three at once.  I've used it in my college content literacy courses and generally had positive responses from students.

Agitation today.  Monday, and I find myself incapable of settling into anything.  I can't stick with cleaning, painting, reading or gardening.  Suddenly I realize that the problem is that all of my regular schedule has been blown up by COVID-19.  What got me agitated initially was finding out the YMCA had closed.  No water aerobics, no Pilates, no schedule for Lee Ann!  My Osher lectures and hikes had already been canceled. Although I'm retired and regularly proclaim that every day is a weekend, I suddenly had to confront the reality that I had indeed created a schedule of retirement.  I expect everyone does this to one extent to another.  When my children were young we had regular schedules, even in the year I did not work and just focused on finishing my dissertation.  Apparently, retirees craft a schedule.  One of the stressors in this pandemic is that we've all lost our schedules. Once I realized the source of the agitation I've been better able to settle into a new structure.

We are geniuses at this!  Already my regularly scheduled group meetings are setting up video or teleconferencing options. My friends and family are calling on the phone to talk!  (Texting is fine, but we're suddenly needing real contact.)  Of course, that blows up my newly created schedule.  But, I'm learning to adjust! My schedule:  make coffee, read the newspapers (finally),  write a bit, walk the dog, do my exercises, paint the craft room or garden, rest, play my video game.  (Those of you who don't know that I'm a gamer, I'm finding this part of my schedule most comforting!  I'm on Discord, a voice-over-internet service while playing most days.  My friend in Wisconsin and I chat as we play.  My guild creates weekly events that include some discussions as well.  I've never met these people in person, but they are an important part of my social network.  I also have face-to-face friends who have similar networks around on-line chess, Words with Friends, and other online games.) I end the day with some TV, PBS Newshour or something I've recorded.  This week I'm watching His Dark Materials an HBO series adapted from Phillip Pullman's YA novels.  I've read them all years ago and am really enjoying the adaptation.  Bonus!  Lin-Manuel Miranda is in the cast!

I wish you all well in adapting to your new schedules!  They will emerge.  Once I recognized the source of my agitation I was able to think clearly and set about creating structure for myself.  (And adjusting to friends disrupting it by calling me.  A welcome disruption these days!)

A Better Man, by Louise Penny

2019  Minotaur Books

I'm going to try writing this blog as I read.  I'll give page numbers so that you can avoid "spoilers."  (We'll see how well this works.  As always, feedback is appreciated.)

A note about the blog.  I began this for my pre-service and in-service teachers as I professed various literacy methods courses.  The focus was originally on young adult and children's literature.  I am now retired (emeritus)  and have decided to change the focus of the blog to "literary travels."  My first retirement trip was to Quebec to explore the settings of Louise Penny's oeuvre. As I add entries to this blog I will also post travel notes and photos.

The beginning...twitter posts about both Gamache and Clara Morrow.  Penny is always in tune with important trends in our lives.  Twitter and the trolls that misuse this type of social media are a plague upon the land.  Our local university football coach, Brian Harsin, made some wonderful comments recently about negative twitter feeds about specific players and the performance of the team in general.  His analysis of "twitiots" is brilliant.  (You can listen to him here.)  Yes, I have a twitter account.  Haven't read it for months!  I'm beginning to see my ending target and am increasingly aware of how I spend my time.  I don't want to waste my time reading nonsense.  I'll spend it reading carefully crafted work by thoughtful, informed people rather than twitiots.

Motto of Sûreté du Québec

Gamache returns to the Sûreté du Québec. While in Montreal I visited what I think is its headquarters.  I didn't think to try and enter.  Probably my mid-western politeness is what holds me back from being so brazen as to try and open a door.  Still, it didn't look like an American official building, no long staircase leading to pillars surrounding double doors.  Maybe Québécois are more frugal and have better priorities about where public funds should be spent. Maybe I was at a branch office.






Chapter 4

Crossing the St.Lawrence river on the Champlain Bridge Gamache is again challenged by his fear of heights.  This bridge and the river are important motifs in the Inspector Gamache books.  It's small wonder.  I visited Montreal in the fall.  Thank goodness no ice!  But the river and bridge are most impressive.  Now that I live in the Western United States, where almost all of our rivers are dammed, It's easy to forget how powerful untamed rivers are.  For a part of my life, I lived almost on the banks of the Mississippi River.  Flooding happened.  Until you stand near the rushing waters of a large river it is difficult to understand the power of these types of waters.  The Champlain Bridge was also featured in Penny's first book Still Life.

Closing Thoughts
At the end of Chapter 11 Penny closes with "...Sometimes we have to do something stupid (Gamache).  
     It did not seem to Isabelle Lacoste a great addition to the Sûreté motto.
         "Sevice, integrity, justice, and, occasionally, stupidity."
I think it is an important clue to Gamache's approach to policing and life.  I think we need sometimes to be willing to throw caution to the wind and commit to an action that appears stupid but indeed may lead to the first part of the motto, particularly integrity.

The Traveling Reader--Carry a Book

December 2019--Taos, New Mexico

I travel alone frequently when my journey's goals would bore traveling companions.  I'm traveling to see two of my brothers and use up my timeshare points for the year.  Taos in mid-December seems to be pretty tourist-free.  I'm doing some shopping and headed for the ski area this afternoon.  But, this morning as I was searching for a breakfast spot I've made a discovery.  When you're traveling alone a great way to begin conversations is to carry and actual book.  Holding Holmes on the Range,  by Steve Hockensmith gave me opportunity to make two new connections during my wanderings.  Bob Kustra recently had an article in The Idaho Statesman that touched on the value of holding paper books (although the article was really about cybersecurity).  This posting isn't really about cybersecurity or the realities of digital publishing's effects on authors and booksellers, rather it adds to Kustra's musings about the value of paper books.

For several years now I've been reading from my smartphone while waiting for meals in restaurants, drinking coffee in various shops, and hanging out in public spaces.  Other times I am "plugged in" with ear-buds listening to an audiobook.  This time I was forced to carry an actual book because it was only available to me in print and I have the CDs to listen to the second book in the series in the car as I drive on to Albuquerque and Tucson.  All of a sudden I'm meeting new people, having fascinating conversations and getting ideas for new titles to read.

I had to explore to find my breakfast.  In off-season, the spot my sister-in-law had recommended was closed until Friday.  After lengthy poking around to find something interesting I settled down and had a very nice tamale and eggs.  As I got ready to leave a couple stopped me and asked what I was reading.  We talked for a while, he gave me his business card, and I picked up a couple of reading ideas.  Venturing on a window display of a cast-iron cornbread pan caught my eye.  The shop was one of the few open so I dropped in to buy one for a house gift and one for myself.  Over the transaction, the woman at the register asked about the book.  We had at least a half-hour conversation about a wide range of topics including our millennial children, the state of the arts in modern society, and rural living.  It also turns out that she is an aspiring author.  We have exchanged "calling" cards (if you're retired can you have a business card?), emails, and a couple reading ideas.

Many years ago while soaking at Pagosa Springs, CO I was reading from a World of Warcraft book.  Through the three pools of decreasing heat I soaked in I had three conversations about gaming, World of Warcraft literature, and YA books in general.

These conversations have not occurred when I travel with my smartphone.  People don't see the title or even know that you're reading instead of engaging with social media.  What a wonderful lesson to learn.  I didn't have my book in a satchel, briefcase, or backpack.  I carried it in my hand because I was "going light."  Lesson learned.  I'll travel with this in mind and paper copy of a book from now on.

"Broken Ground" by Val McDermid. 2018

A Karen Pirie Novel

One of the peak experiences in my life was attending the Edinburgh Arts Festival.  As a result of my days in Edinburgh, a train ride to London, and my family's ancestry I have become very interested in Scotland.  Val McDermid's novels continue to tease me into commitment to a much longer sojourn to the country.  I had to pull out my Lonely Planet guide to locate the spots that narrative include.  As I have some free time I'm going to get busy Googling images from the area. 

McDermid is one of the best crime writers working today.  If you haven't read her various series and are a fan of crime fiction you have a very joyous year (or more) ahead of you.  I am not going to spoil anything about the Karen Pirie series here.  I will tell you how much I love the character and supporting cast.  One of McDermid's writing tools is to create well-rounded characters with plenty of personal flaws.  Karen is particularly compelling to me.  She has many of the same character defects that plagued me throughout my working life.  (If you're interested---a commitment to finding the truth, impatience with bureaucracy, and disrespect of superiors who do the politically expedient thing or are flat out dishonest.)

Back to my travel plans.  It looks like I'll need to travel most of Scotland to cover the territory of this book.  Honestly, I'm a bit hesitant.  The roads sound horrible to drive and in other books (not this one) the weather sounds quite unpleasant.  I'll let you know when I go there.

Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch, it's so good to spend some days with you again!  I've missed you.  Connelly has turned out another terrific read.  How he keeps Bosch fresh and avoids the pitfalls of some series authors/characters is admirable.  His characters are growing over time.  Bosch is developing new skills and trying out new ways to move through his work.

I think another  reason Connelly's books stay fresh is that he continues to tackle current events.  In this book, not only do we have two compelling mysteries, but also an exploration of the oxycodone epidemic.  Although the two mysteries are both well done what really engaged me was Connelly's treatment of the oxycodone epidemic. 

I don't want to say much about this----doing so might spoil some of pleasure of the read.  I found nothing in the novel to detract from my enjoyment!

Design for Dying: A Lillina Frost & Edit Head Novel by Renee Patrick 2016

Renee Patrick is a pseudonym for a married couple.  Rosemarie and Vince Keenan. Rosemarie is a research administrator and a poet. Vince is a screenwriter and a journalist.  Design for Dying is a 1930's detective novel set in Hollywood.  The main character comes to Hollywood to be an actress but quickly turn to dress design as a way to actually make a living.

I think the authors have probably recreated the language patterns and idioms of the 1930's Hollywood film industry and detective fiction.  It is also likely that the prose actually feels more like a screen play.  Initially it took me a while to feel comfortable with the prose but by the end of the book I felt ready to dive back into Dashiell Hammett and black and white films.  Another joy of reading the book is the use of famous Hollywood folks as characters within the story (including Edith Head).

The number of characters and potential killers can be a bit confusing.  I hope in future books the authors pare down the cast a bit.  I'd prefer more depth in characters possible only by cutting some out.

I am drawn to Lilian Frost, the main character.  She is young but learning fast.  I look forward to a second book in the series.

Spellhaven by Sandra Unerman (2017)

Unerman's prose is a delight to read. This first novel shows great promise for future works. It also shows a few typical weaknesses of first books. The plot is not quite as tight as I might like, characters not fully developed, and the ending somewhat disappointing (it seemed almost as if Unerman was having trouble finding a resolution so she just stopped). The main character, Jane Fairchild, is compelled by a magician, Lucian Hunter, to walk to the magically protected island Spellhaven. He selects her based on her musical gifts. Magicians from Spellhaven travel the world to find gifted artists to fill Spellhaven's needs. Much of the plot of the book is a detailing of the history of Spellhaven and its genesis. The other plot elements are the attempts by various magicians and their families to obtain Jane's services and use her gifts for their entertainments. There is also a larger plot pulling all together but in the interest of avoiding "spoilers" I'll leave that to readers.

The book is enjoyable, but ultimately a bit unsatisfying. I'm not certain whether the book should have actually been an trilogy so that Unerman had time to develop the characters more fully or if it simply need more ruthless editing to reduce the lush details about Spellhaven and focus more on plot and character.

I hope Unerman continues to keep writing. She is clearly talented.

The Proving Ground, by Peter Blouner

Using a traumatized Middle Eastern War veteran as a main character,  Blauner goes just a little over the top with including too many "hot topics" in one novel.  A story of betrayals, drug trade, murder, and PTSD the story is obscured a bit by a little too much "screen writing."  Blauner left a successful career as a novelist to work in television as a producer/writer for both Blue Bloods and Law and Order.  His credentials for understanding crime, particularly drug related crime, are impressive.  As a journalist for New York Magazine and several smaller newspapers he decided to expand his background experience and worked as volunteer probation officer.  I think we can assume that he writes with some authority on these topics. 

The story of a Vet returning to the States and dealing with some well-deserved PTSD is timely.  I know that we have been "protected" from really understanding the challenges our service people and veterans of this particular war are facing.  Blauner's portrayal of PTSD was convincing and I expect probably well researched.  I could have done with one or two fewer plot twists.  I hope that now that Blauner is returning to print that he will focus the next book a little more carefully.

I'm not accustomed to reading novels so thoroughly influenced by screenwriting traditions.  As a reader I was challenged to appreciate some of the nuances of this style.  Particularly some of the dialect work caused me to reread some passages. 

I will however, keep an eye out for the next book.  I'd like to find out what the main character, Natty, does next.  This one of Nancy Pearl's summer reading suggestions gets a "thumbs up" from me.

The Defectors" by Joseph Kanon

I've been trying to widen my reading a bit.  Seems like I've been sort of stuck in fantasy and science fiction (also reading many of my "go to" detective fiction novels).  Nancy Pearl's (NPR) recommendations for summer reading sounded like a well advised plan so I began to work my way through them. 

The Defectors is, as promised, a "classic" 1950's spy novel.  I was a bit young to remember all the anxiety about Russian spying in the U.S. but certainly remember the Cold War and Cuban Missile Crisis.  Thus, reading about the "insider's" view of Russian spy-craft was interesting.  I haven't really be reading any spy novels for a long time---not since Ian Flemming's James Bond books.  Generally I found it somewhat slow going.  The plot line is intended to keep tension tight by making it difficult to know where reality lies.  Indeed I felt the tense but did not find it particularly thrilling.  I had a little trouble following the plot because much of it was transacted through dialogue.  Kannon sometimes lost me...who was speaking.  It's rather classic period dialogue, just think James Bond.  However, it was somewhat frustrating for me to have to return and reread dialogue to untangle just who said what.

The visual images and history of Russia did however make this a worthwhile use of time.  Especially right now as we try to understand the Russian hacking and propaganda that appears to have influenced the 2016 presidential election.  If Kanon is correct about the expertise of the Russian intelligence services then we do indeed need to be worried. 

Cainsville and Age of Legends, Kelley Armstrong

Recently I’ve been tearing through Kelley Armstrong’s books, particularly her fantasy books from the Cainsville and The Age of Legends series.  Previously I’ve read her Nadia Stafford series which is detective series.  I am delighted with everything I’ve read so far.

Cainsville is set in Chicago and an "imaginary" nearby small town, Cainsville (don't go looking for it on a map).  Having spent more than half my life in the midwest it was a very comfortable regional read.  (Those of you following me on Facebook know that I'm starting off retirement with literary tours.)  The Olivia, th main character, suddenly discovers she is adopted and that her birth parents are in prison for multiple murders.  She becomes acquainted with her birth mother's last attorney, a notorious attorney who does what is needed to get his often shady clients off of charges.  

She ends up, accidentally, retreating to Cainsville.  There she takes a job in to local diner (up to this time her adopted family is wealthy and she has lived a committed life as an advocate for homeless and abused women).  There she finds what seems to be a safe and almost timeless community that supports her.  There are the usual small-town characters but overall it is an idyllic retreat from Chicago and the media that has been hounding her.  Here the fun begins.

Armstrong weaves a new view of the fae, the Hunt, and other mythical entities into a very modern setting.    There is a perhaps a bit more sex in the book than I would normally recommend.  It makes it a series that I think prevents it from being a book that teachers could recommend to even high school students.  (I must be getting really old!  I could easily take the sex out, leave the romance, and get on with the story.)

The four books in the series were all well crafted and enjoyable reads.  I think Armstrong has left a possibility for additional books in the series which I would read immediately.  Some critics have criticized the series for being "slow" to unfold the plot and setting.  I did not find this problematic.  As a reader who is exploring a range of mythologies I was not impatient.  My own knowledge filled in the details that Armstrong does not immediately provide.  

In The Age of Legends series Armstrong turns to a more traditional fantasy setting, a "medieval" village, an emperor, and magical/mythical threats.  Twin sisters Ashyn and Moira are the spiritual leaders of their village, the outpost to the wilds where convicts are sent to die, or survive.  If they survive the are recovered after a year having served their sentence.  This series is a young adult series and will capture the attention of many readers.  There is plenty of action (sword fights and evil forces) to keep the attention of male and female readers.  I suspect it will be much more popular with young women.  There is a strong male character, Gavril Kitsune, who will engage young men.  I hope that in the second book that Armstrong develops him further to make the series more attractive to male readers (but there are many books out for them so I won't be disturbed if she does not).  

What I particularly appreciate in this book is the limited knowledge of the main characters, Ashyn and Moira.  In the tradition of "unreliable narrators" Armstrong helps us feel the confusion and anger of young women as they come to terms with the adult realities of their worlds.

Neither series is elevated to "four star" status because they don't rise to "universal truths" but they come close.  Armstrong certainly deals with some the interpersonal tensions of adult life as well as issues of power, politics and "human" weakness. 

Louise Penny's Canada-Tourism through the Lenses of the Inspector Gamache series

 [Notice:  This is a work in progress.  I will continue to add/refine.  I've just have a few requests to post as I go. I'll post a notice when it's final.]

If you've been reading my entries you probably know that I am a great fan of Louise Penny's novels.  As a result, for a number of years I've been hearing the call of Canada. I expect that many of her readers are from Canada, particularly the Quebec Province.  These readers have a distinct advantage.  They have a visual memory of the settings of her books.  I'm going to use this particular blog to share some of my "home photos" of the real locations of some of the land marks and settings of her novels.

I'm visiting during the early fall.  Fortunately I will not be showing frozen lakes or pine trees covered with snow.  If I've made mistakes as I selected places to photograph the error is mine alone.  In some cases a bit of a language problem may have led me to an incorrect location.

I'll begin in Montreal:

As a reader I really was drawn to the libraries.  I'm currently rereading The Nature of the Beast in which research in the national archives is an important element.  I hope I selected the correct library--"Grande Bibliotheque."  It appears as if there are national archive locations in many places throughout the country.  I had envisioned some grand old brick or stone building.  Instead is it very modern and uses yellow birch as the wood throughout.  It is a lovely contemporary building.  I did not take photos in the national archive section.  There is a guard going into the room and I was too self-conscious to take a lot shot in front of him.  (If I'm going to become a literary tourist I am going to have to become more bold!)

Musee de'Art Contemporain de Montreal

I think this was the museum in which Clara had her first show.  It seems right.  It's a little more "cold and modern" that I feel fits Clara and Peter.  But, I can see it being the setting of her successful first one-woman show.  I kept hoping to see a painting that might make me think of her work--but of course Clara is way ahead of the curve.  I was there as a new installation was going in.  It made me think more of Peter's work.Construction in the area made it impossible for me to see the statue out in front.  The entire city is being refreshed for its anniversary next year.  Construction everywhere.

Why I Read Science Fiction (and a few thoughts about politics and Zika)

Many of my friends/acquaintances wonder why I read science fiction.  From my perspective it is and always has been the literature of imagination.  In this posting I'm going to pull together some  previous posts and connect them to current events:  Zika virus and current politics. In previous posts I have reviewed Mira Grant's Newsflesh series.  Yes, it has zombies--but much more.  As I talk politics with my adult children I am alarmed by the increasing skepticism they have for commercial news outlets (also our political system in general!).  The parralles between the Newsflesh series with the current political theater and Zika virus is eerie. 

I don't want to spoil anything in the books so I'm going to talk around how closely Grant predicts the future in these books.  (I can also make much of the same case with Saci Lloyd's Carbon Diaries books.)  What I can discuss is why I think it's important for people to read these sorts of science fiction.  First of all it helps readers think through possible future scenarios and begin to plan their own actions in similar situations. As a result of my readings I am much more able to react rationally to "crises." Because authors like Grant and Lloyd are exploring possibilities, I have a frame work upon which I can structure my thinking.  I might be a tad bit more paranoid than some, but I remain rational.    I'm not a "prepper" by any means, but I do try to think of the possibilities in the future and prepare in ways that I judge reasonable. In the case of Zika this means staying out of Florida and other areas with the virus.  If I didn't have that luxury I would make sure I had good protection (I hate DEET repellents so I'd probably go for the clothing options as much as possible).  Based on Lloyd's work, and that of many author authors, I also have some "stock piles" of food and supplies that I might need in the case of a natural disaster or system failure.  Not two years worth--but at least some.  [As I compose this I had a horrible thought.  There are lots of "storage units" going up around me.  I have been appalled that Americans have so much stuff that their two car garages and McMansions don't hold it all.  Now it suddenly occurred to me that perhaps they are stockpiling resources instead. Hmmm]

Another area that science fiction writers often explore is that of politics. One of the things bothering me in this political season is the mass acceptance of political "cover-ups" (mostly magical thinking). I'm not certain what I might consider actually doing about the political/media fantasy we have going right now.  I'm in the awkward position that I want to believe we can have a working political system.  But, the realist in me makes me think that I'm being naive.  Unfortunately in all the "futures" science fiction I have been reading, there is no great answer for this problem.  It may be that the system is going to have to get much worse before the wider public can see through the smoke and mirrors that I am perceiving.  I have been persuaded that I need to dig deeper and read more widely.  Being informed as well as I can will at least help me feel confident that I can bring some real substance to the discussions of politics when they do occur.  I find myself increasingly using references to novels to help broaden out the thinking of those around me.  One of the skills I learned during a training about how to handle conflict was to avoid "theory" and simply report my own experiences.  Hopefully referencing some fiction that others might read will serve a similar purpose.

Now, just in case I haven't persuaded you that science fiction is a good reading option let me provide some evidence that you're not going to find it poorly written and simplistic.  Here's some evidence of the quality of the writing.  From Mira Grant's website:

 "Feed is a distopian political zombie thriller set in against the backdrop of a national political campaign. It was named #76 on NPR’s Top 100 Killer Thrillers List, and was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010."  

In this year of another election, I think it's worth reading the series to have some grist for processing current events.

Fire Touched, by Patricia Briggs

I enjoy Brigg's books--all of them!   She writes a number of fantasy series and all are well written and engaging.  Yes there are werewolves and shape-changers as well as a variety of supernatural creatures and ancient gods!  But, the books have good narrative arcs and a number of well rounded characters.

But, I am embarrassed by the covers.  I actually found myself turning the book face-down in doctor's offices and coffee shops when I was not actually reading.  If you look at the covers you will probably expect a fantasy romance novel.  There is little if any "romance" other than the developing relationships between main characters--the normal romance found in most novels.

What do I like about these books?  Well, ancient gods always appeal to me!  I'm fascinated by our mythologies and the "character" of the gods, demi-gods, and other "divine" beings.  This series, along with the Iron Druid, Artemis Fowl, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flammel, and Percy Jackson series as well as individual titles such as American Gods have pulled me into a wide range of mythologies.  Brigg's books are set in Southeastern Washington State (the tri-cities area) and thus also resonate with my northwestern US home.  Her details of the setting and region throughout this series may enhance your enjoyment of the books if you are familiar with the area.  If you are not, then they may encourage you to come visit!

It's a great summer read (and you can create a book cover to hide the cover image!).  In this case don't be fooled by the cover.