What Fiction are you reading this week, January 21, 2024?

[hermetic]

How cool is this?

Still reading Lion and Lamb. A cool thing about this story is it begins on January 23 with the discovery of a murdered quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles who was about to compete in the Super Bowl. So, it's like you're right there.
There is also something odd about this book. Whenever someone uses profanities, the words have been blocked out, leaving only the first letter visible. I know James Patterson has written books for younger people but this is not one of them. I've certainly never encountered anything like this before and wondering if it's some sort of censorship.

Listening to the wonderful Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I remember back in 2016 when an octopus escaped from a New Zealand aquarium. I gained a whole new appreciation for the critters then and apparently so did this author whose debut novel is about a wise and wise cracking octopus who makes friends with an aquarium's cleaning lady. This is just so funny and adorable, the parts with the octopus, anyway. The people parts, not so much. But, as Marcellus explains, “Humans. For the most part, you are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.” Love it.

What's brightening up your reading this week?

[cbabe]

1. Land of milk and honey/C Pam Zhang

About a quarter way in and confused.

Mediocre American chef stranded in England as borders close against environmental disaster and famine.

She lusts after foods that are now extinct like just about everything except for govt engineered ‘flour’.

The writing feels thin and teases with bits of backstory and suddenly appearing details. Like the cat. How did she travel all over the world with a cat?

So, she is hired to chef for mysterious gadzillionaire who has all foods of mankind in his remote mountain castle.

As she gourmet chefs for scary dude, her own appetite disappears.

So far I’m not feeling it.

Obama had her first book ‘how much of these hills is gold’ on his best of list. Maybe I’ll give it a try.

[hermetic]

5. Well, that definitely sounds....

unusual. At least it's not terribly long.

Hopefully the other is easier to enjoy. "...a haunting adventure story." Let us know.

[Ponietz]

2. The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass translated by Breon Mitchell

A 500+ page poem I rate with Cervantes and Dostoevsky. Without doubt one of the best books.

From goodreads:

The Tin Drum uses savage comedy & a stiff dose of magical realism to capture not only the madness of war, but also the black cancer at the heart of humanity that allows such degradations to occur. Grass wields his humor like a knife--yes, he'll make you laugh, but he'll make you bleed, as well. There've been many novels written about WWII, but only a handful can truly be called great; The Tin Drum, without a doubt, is one.--Alix Wilber

[link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25888532-the-tin-drum]

[hermetic]

6. That sounds quite awesome

[japple]

3. Finished reading Silas House's book, Lark Ascending. Very good book. Highly

recommend.

Just started reading Jacqueline Winspear's book, The White Lady

[hermetic]

9. That does sound great

"..a story of the ongoing fight to protect our per­sonal freedoms and find our shared humanity."

There are 3 other books with that same title. A Harlequin Romance from 1980. A young adult fantasy from 2014. A general fiction originally published in 1932. And a few more with similar titles. House's book sounds like the best though.

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. 'm in the middle of

The Gilded Mirror, by Sara Donati. It's the story of two female physicians who are cousins, one white and one Black (same father, different mothers). They are originally from New Orleans and were orphaned at young ages, one at 3 and the other at 10, in New Orleans, and were taken in by older relatives who had been widowed during the Civil War. This takes place in the 1880s in Manhattan and is extremely interesting, first, because women weren't usually so independent or educated, second, because of both women's clashes with the despicable Anthony Comstock (how I love the description of him in a courtroom scene as a "puffed-up little bully"!), and third, because of the illumination of prejudices of fhe time against not only Black people but Italians and other immigrants of the time. (how little has changed!) This was a Chirstmas present from my husband, along with its sequel, Where the Light Enters

Another reason I'm finding it interesting is in its description of medical procedures. My great-aunt went to medical school at the Kentucky Medical College (now the University of Louisville Medical School) and graduated in 1905. I don't think the medical procedures had changed much from the time of the book until then. She apprenticed to a surgeon (no residency programs then!) and became one of the finest surgeons in Cincinnati and stayed up to date on all procedures, but at the time she graduated, I suspect they were pretty much the same as described in the book. They really didn't take a great leap forward until WWII, although there were some advances in WWI.

[hermetic]

7. Fascinating

Thanks for sharing your story.

Nice gift!

[Basic LA]

8. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

A novel by Quentin Tarantino, 2021, presenting the movie as a novel, with (I think) fascinating fleshing out of the film's characters & additional Hollywood back stories.

[hermetic]

10. Wow. What a tale!

HOLLYWOOD 1969 -- YOU SHOULDA BEEN THERE

Charles Manson, Sharon Tate. Fascinating, indeed.

[mentalsolstice]

11. Wanting Radiance by Karen Salyer McElmurray

It’s a little known book, but oh my McElmurray is a glorious writer. It’s about a fortune teller’s daughter trying find her way in life in Appalachia. McElmurray’s memoir Surrendered Child is one of my favorites, but I’m biased because my family is the other side of the story. Can’t really share without spoilers.

[hermetic]

12. That's very intrigjing.

It's out in ebook form now.

My library doesn't have anything by her, sadly.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. Midnight At Malabar House by Vaseem Khan (also author of Baby Ganesh)

Bombay, New Year's Eve, 1949

As India celebrates the arrival of a momentous new decade, Inspector Persis Wadia stands vigil in the basement of Malabar House, home to the city's most unwanted unit of police officers. Six months after joining the force she remains India's first female police detective, mistrusted, sidelined and now consigned to the midnight shift.
And so, when the phone rings to report the murder of prominent English diplomat Sir James Herriot, the country's most sensational case falls into her lap.

As 1950 dawns and India prepares to become the world's largest republic, Persis, accompanied by Scotland Yard criminalist Archie Blackfinch, finds herself investigating a case that is becoming more political by the second. Navigating a country and society in turmoil, Persis, smart, stubborn and untested in the crucible of male hostility that surrounds her, must find a way to solve the murder - whatever the cost.

This is a great series! Mr Khan writes serious mystery/detective fiction and fun mystery/detective fiction with the same skill. I really enjoy his books. This is the third Malabar House novel I have read. A new one has just been released, hope I can catch it on discount.

I finished White Crime I think the title is due to a great deal of the story taking place in Siberia in early snow season. It was fun though; this entire series is fun.