 by Karin FossumThe character described in this book is likable, mentally ill, dangerous, and pathetic. Ms Fossum has done an excellent job of describing this person and his actions, from his point of view. In his words and through his feelings and rationalizations. Now to read more of her books!
Tagged book, fossum, review
by Jessie BurtonThe end of the 1600s in Amsterdam, its power beginning to wane. A very interesting view into a relatively short period of a new wife arriving into a well-established and affluent household with its rules and secrets. There are many rules and one fundamental secret! Nicely written and nice to read. I’m looking forward to reading other books by Ms. Burton when they become available.
Tagged book, Burton, review
by M. J. McGrathThe third in McGrath’s series of mysteries featuring Edie Kiglatuk and Derek Pallister. Edie is the primary protagonist. They both live in the Canadian Arctic. She is a private citizen who often works as a teacher or guide. He is a regional policeman and in this story she is hired as his deputy. In the background is the independence and resourcefulness of the local peoples and the disregard for their rights by the federal, Canadian authorities. This tale, as her others, has an interesting telling but it ends a little too neatly. Of course, all the bad people are punished or die and some good people die along the way, but it comes together at the end rather quickly with right and truth winning out over more powerful forces. I’ve read three of McGrath’s books and do look forward to reading another.
Tagged book, mcgrath, review
Beets are in season now and we’ve been getting some great ones from Blenhiem Organic Gardens at the Fredericksburg Farmers Market. Â Here’s a recipe for a salad of beets and oranges. It has a great marinade for the beets too.
Tagged beet, orange, recipe, salad
The first in the series of books by Jason Goodwin with protagonist Inspector Yashim, an eunuch with connection to the Sultan and his mother in 19th century Istanbul. A pleasant low-suspense mystery that allows the reader to get Goodwin’s insights into the politics, culture, and daily lives in Istanbul in that period before the upheavals of the twentieth century. I’ve also read the last in the series in which Goodwin’s writing seems a bit more mature, practiced. I don’t mean to imply that this is not good. It just gets better when one reads more than one in this sequence.
Tagged book, istanbul, review
After requesting Yotam Ottolenghi’s book Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London’s Ottolenghi
White Heat: The First Edie Kiglatuk Mystery (Edie Kiglatuk Mysteries)Edie Kiglatuk is a woman of half Inuit heritage. She lives in one of the Canadian portions of the Arctic very near Greenland. She’s an accomplished hunter and guide. A person who can deal with much of the modern world but also held in another world through her heritage and her culture. An admirable heroine. The book takes her through mystery, terror, and great sorrow while providing a description of an isolated land and peoples. This is the first in a series of three current books. I’ve read the first two in succession and now reading the third. A pretty good recommendation, no?
Tagged book, mcgrath, review
The Woman and the ApeA nice treatment of the conflicts between our manufactured perfection and the perfection of the natural world. The woman comes from her perfect world and an ape, capable of speech and intelligence we often associate with humans is captured from his world. The two come together, live together in an excellent fantasy. Very nicely done.
Tagged book, hoeg, review
Brief review. The Boy in the Snow: An Edie Kiglatuk Mystery by M. J. McGrath
The Boy in the Snow: An Edie Kiglatuk Mystery
by M J McGrath
This is the 2nd in the series of three books by M. J. McGrath that I’ve read. This one has several of the same characters as the others – Edie Kiglatuk and Derek Palliser. This one takes place in Alaska – far south of Edie’s home. It nicely involves the tensions of religious freedom, property development, and politics. A nice addition to the series.
Tagged book, mcgrath, reviewCommentary Comments (0) Permalink