My laptop is seriously misbehaving. It is around 11 years old … In any case, I’m putting this post up so it will appear on Monday with the hope it actually will. And next I need to learn how to do all the bits I do here (not many) on the MacBook. Wish me luck.
Well, the outer world is all over the map. Post our mini heatwave it’s been much cooler, rainy and sometimes windy. Like we’re going backwards towards late March. But, the heatwave means the lilies are in bud (which seems early – maybe it’s not) and the jasmine is starting to produce buds as well. We’ve been told in the media to expect an El Niño event in the next few months.
Now marking week 3 of no sugar. I have no clue about the effects except I seem to be sleeping better and it appears (I may be making this up) that the dark areas under my eyes have lightened up considerably. But, that may also be due to the new serum I’ve been using which is a product of the leftovers of wine-making plus botanicals (I think there’s some tomato in it). It smells otherworldly. Not cheap though. Will probably write about it at some point in a summer skin roundup.
I’ve got two magpies that visit. New this year. I think they live in the large garden behind mine. They are quite bold, which I enjoy. When they first discovered my house and garden, they spent 10 minutes hopping up and down the glass roof in my kitchen, nibbling on the moss that falls from the roof, cleaning out the gutter (much appreciated), and chattering to each other about who knows what. I make sure to say hello to them whenever they arrive. That’s an important magpie thing.
On to recent reading. These sorts of books have become something of an antidote to what’s going on in our world daily. I’ve always read a lot but it’s now become a bit of breathing space.
First and second far behind third one in reader satisfaction.
The Brothers McKay (number 22 in the Longmire series) Craig Johnson. These have been samey for the past few books. Still worth reading. Sheriff in a fictional county in Wyoming. Writing is good, atmospheric (never managed to get to this part of the country when I lived in the US). Interesting, quirky narrative. Will continue to read the books as he churns them out.
The Keeper (number 3 of 3 in The Cal Hooper Series) Tana French. I feel quite ambivalent about Tana French. I’ve read a couple of others she’s written, part of a different series, but this series is the only one that I found really engrossing. Former cop from Chicago moves to rural Ireland figures out mysteries. The best characters are the two women – the teenager (close to feral in the first book) and the love interest. Sometimes secondary characters are way more interesting than the primary one.
A River Red with Blood (number 22 in the Charlie Parker series) John Connolly. Now, this – this was so very good. Connolly goes up and down with the books, particularly when he’s trying to bridge a narrative into the next book. But, all in, these remain very compelling. Beautiful writing, great characters and great relationships between characters. Mostly set in Maine now. The Parker, Louis and Angel triumvirate is so … unique and powerful as friendship groupings go.
Finally, I am awaiting the next in the Rivers of London Series by Ben Aaronovich. I vaguely mentioned this book grouping back in a book post in 2022. If you haven’t heard of these they follow a young cop in London with twists. No point in giving away the central premise but magical realism, set mostly in London and environs, and Aaronovich manages to include a lot of history and natural history regarding the city. The series also has ancillary novellas which are worth a look. My fave at this point is What Abigail Did Last Summer. And Aaronovich used to (he’s dropped off recently) email followers very short stories from the narrative every once in a while. My fave from those was set right before Christmas one year and featured magical foxes.
Beyond books, I meant to go see The Devil Wears Prada 2 a couple of weeks ago but got sick instead. Have probably missed it in the cinema now and will have to wait for online.
Any books/tv/cinema you are into currently/recommend?
Pics: pexels, wiki