I am working my way through the Elvis Cole novels by Robert Crais. I’m not reading them in any particular order – however they happen to turn up at the library or the bookstore is fine with me. I am glad, though, to have read this one fairly early on. It gives a fascinating look at Elvis’ family history and… Read more
When Georgia Post says short stories, she means it. None of the 25 stories in this volume are more than about 2 pages long. They are all on the same theme: marriage or the lack thereof. There are wives who want to hang on to their husbands, husbands cheating on their wives, widows who want desperately to be remarried and… Read more
In 1666, sixteen years after his death, the bones of Rene Descartes were dug up in the middle of the night and transported from Sweden to France under the watchful eye of the French ambassador. This was only the beginning of the journey for Descartes’ bones, which, over the next 350 years, were fought over, stolen, sold, revered as relics,… Read more
Most people have never heard of the Trouser Wars of 1964, probably because they didn’t actually happen. That is Forgotten Fashion by Kate Hahn in a nutshell – the story of fashions and trends and clothes and marketing gimmicks that never happened. Fashion is such a crazy industry that some of these are almost, really very nearly the sort of… Read more
A comfy corner of a good friend’s couch, the other party guests are long gone but a few of you are lingering with vodka tonics and party snacks, dishing gossip, telling old stories and laughing your arses off. That’s exactly the atmosphere of Anything Goes, John Barrowman’s autobiography. Dr. Who fans will recognize John from his role as Captain Jack… Read more
“REPLACE THE GOD ANCHORS! WHO IS GUARDING THE NATION! WHERE IS OUR BEER!” These are the sort of gods I can relate to. In Terry Pratchett’s new book, Nation, the gods are angry and churlish. They berate Mau, lone survivor of an enormous tidal wave, for not singing the proper songs, doing the proper chants, or bringing them their daily… Read more
Raymond White is a young man who has everything: a fancy degree, a gorgeous fiance, a high-powered career and connections that are about to land him a seat in the US Congress. Then he agrees to do a favor for a dying friend and it all falls apart. His rivals frame him for murder, taking the job, the Congressional seat… Read more
If you like Historical Fiction with a strong emphasis on the Historical, you’re going to love The Whiskey Rebels. This book is well-written and painstakingly researched. Liss clearly has a thorough knowledge of the history behind the story, the language and demeanour of the characters, and the workings of the frontier economy. (It is truly bizarre to hear them keep… Read more
The problem with reading a book about the Salem witch trials is that you know how it ends, and you know it is going to end badly. It’s like reading a book about the Titanic – you know the boat is going to sink, and even if the characters survive, they’re going to get wet. This was the undercurrent running… Read more
How would you like to go to the grocery store or the gynecologist or your graduation wearing a $37,000 diamond necklace? Would it be fun? Would it be shocking? Would it change your life? In Cheryl Jarvis’ book, The Necklace, Jonell McClain convinces 11 other women to band together with her to bid on a $37,000 diamond tennis necklace. (The… Read more