10 Books for Your June Wish List

June marks the official start of summer, which means we can look forward to vacations (or staycation, as the case may be), lazy days on the deck or porch, and maybe even some afternoons at the pool or beach. Hand in hand with warmer weather comes more time for reading.

Throughout this month I will be sharing my picks for the week's new book releases. For the most part, the books on my lists are for summer escape reading, though you'll also find a few nonfiction titles mixed in. I also include a few books in translation.

Note: For a variety of reasons, publishers have changed the release dates of many of this season's titles. When I wrote this post, the following books were all set to publish on June 2; check dates before ordering. [This list was postponed from last week; look for the second post on Thursday or Friday.]

Head to the Beach

• The House on Fripp Island by Rebecca Kauffman (Mariner) Setting: South Carolina. What happens? Two families on different sides of the economic divide vacation together. The adults have secrets, and the children are on the brink of change. Before the trip is over, one person has been killed. The novel is introduced by the ghost of the victim, leaving the reader to figure out the clues as the story progresses.
• The View from Here by Hannah McKinnon (Atria) Setting: Connecticut. What happens? Three adult siblings and their families reunite at the family lake house to celebrate their grandmother's 97th birthday. One brother and the sister have led conventional lives, but the other brother has been distant. His arrival, with a woman and her daughter in tow, foreshadows change for the family dynamics--but what kind of change is uncertain.

Read with the Lights On

• Seven Years of Darkness by You-Jeong Jeong (Penguin) Setting: South Korea. What happens? Sowon was only 11 when his father was sent to prison for killing his wife, a young girl, the girl's father, and two security guards before opening a dam and flooding an entire village. Sowon grows up under the shadow of his father's crimes, until seven years later he receives information that could clear his father's name. This promises to be a complex thriller. (in translation)
• The Guest List by Lucy Foley (William Morrow) Setting: Ireland. What happens? What could possibly go wrong at an opulent celebrity wedding held on an island with with iffy cell service? Long-festering jealousies, too much alcohol, and exposed secrets lead to murder. This is a twisty closed-room-type mystery/thriller.

Prepare to Discuss

• The Choice by Gillian McAllister (Putnam) Setting: London. What happens? The choice making up the book's title is multilayered. First, a woman chooses to believe the man walking behind her is up to no good. Second, she decides to strike first by turning around and pushing him. Third, she must choose what to do when she realizes she may have killed him: call for help and face the consequences of her actions or keep walking and live the rest of her life as if nothing happened. What does she do? What would you do?
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Riverhead) Setting: United States; last half of 20th century. What happens? Twin sisters grow up in a small Louisiana town where the black community has been consciously self-selecting for lighter skin tones. After running away from home as teens, the girls make very different choices to escape their past: Stella runs a second time, this time to live in the white world, disappearing from her family forever; Desiree marries the darkest man she can, though ends up back at her mother's house. The paths of the twins may have diverged, but those of their daughters intertwine in unexpected ways. Race, socioeconomics, transgender, love, family, self-identity, and many more themes to think about.
• An Elegant Woman by Martha McPhee (Scribner) Setting: United States; 20th century. What happens? How four generations of women coped with their differing circumstances, reinventing themselves as necessary and informing the lives of their children and their grandchildren to follow. This family saga takes us from the East Coast to the upper Plains, from richer to poorer, from supportive to indifferent as a set of sisters in contemporary times try to understand the lives of the women who came before them.
• Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan (Ecco) Setting: Hong Kong. What Happens? A contemporary Irish expat living in Hong Kong must decide who she really is. While eking out a living teaching English to the wealthy, Ava meets a rich male banker and soon allows herself to become a kept woman, entering a social stratum she could never afford. When he is transferred to London, Ava meets a powerful female lawyer and is soon attracted to her and her lifestyle. When the banker returns to Hong Kong, Ava must decide who she is and what she wants.

Pick Fantasy or Reality

• The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant (Knopf BYR) Setting: alternate Paris; 1828. What happens? After the failed French revolution, Paris is ruled by two courts: that of Louis XVII, which remains indifferent as ever to the plight of the poor, and that of the underworld guilds, who control the people. Nina has found a place in the Thieves Court, building her reputation as a skilled burglar, but when her BFF attracts the attention of the Guild of Flesh, Nina becomes determined to save her friend and the others enslaved by that guild. Action and adventure mixed with themes of class, race, and human trafficking.
• The Inner Coast by Donovan Hohn (Norton) Setting: United States What happens? This collection of 10 previously published essays explores our relationship with the landscape, with our past, and with some of our literary heroes. Several essays focus on water, ranging from ice canoeing to scuba diving, droughts, and the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. In some pieces, Hohn turns to his family, writing about his mother's struggles with mental health and his uncle's passion for collecting antique tools. His discussions of literature include Henry David Thoreau, Adrienne Rich, and even the Bible. Put these though-provoking, prize-winning essays on your reading list.

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15 Books; Or What I've Read Lately

Hello all! Hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy. I've been missing in action for months on end, but it looks like my life is getting back on track after dealing with a million things in my personal life and work life.

One of the reasons I started my blog back in 2008 was to keep a record of my reading. So today's post is simply a reading reset for me. I didn't write down the title of everything I read over the last few months, so the following list is likely incomplete.

Many of these titles were audiobooks and some were print or digital. Almost all were provided by the publisher, but some I bought. Note that the dates are per Edelweiss; some of the publishing dates for 2020 have been changed and, frankly, I've lost track.

• The Angels' Share by Ellen Crosby (Minotaur; Nov. 2019): Although this is the 10th installment in the Wine Country Mystery series set in Virginia, I still enjoyed this fun cozy mystery series that had links to American history and the Masons, as well as to food and wine. I plan to read some of the earlier books in the series.
• Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman (Ecco, Mar. 2020): This was a light take on a couple coping with the end of their marriage in modern times. They want to split up but can't afford to; fortunately, they're still friendly. Humor softens the deeper issues and the characters' personal growth.
• The Ninja Daughter by Tori Eldridge (Agora, Nov. 2019): This action-adventure story is set in California and involves a female martial arts expert who is determined to protect abused women. Her current case puts her at odds with the Ukrainian mob; meanwhile she tries to hide her dangerous lifestyle from her elegant Hong Kong-born mother and her restaurant-owing Norwegian American father. It was only okay for me.

• Dragonfly Song by Wendy Orr (Pajama Press; Oct. 2017): Set in Bronze Age Crete, this is a middle grade story with elements of fantasy that focuses on a girl who rises from the deepest poverty and rejection to save her people. I think younger middle grade readers would like the story; it was a little too juvenile for me.
• The Grand, Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler by Lisa Shanahan (Allen & Unwin; June 2018): This very fun middle grade story is set in Australia and is all about a young boy who finally finds his courage while on a camping / beach vacation with his family. Highly recommended for family reading or listening.
• White Feathers by Bernd Heinrich (HMH, Feb. 2020): I love Heinrich's writing and observations about nature. In this book, he examines the nesting and mating behavior of the tree swallows that nest every summer in his backyard in Maine. Fascinating and absorbing.

• The Essence of Perfection by Nita Brooks (Mar. 2020): Romantic comedy featuring a world-renown perfumer who must overcome her issues with perfectionism, impostor syndrome, and fear of fully embracing love and life. I liked the characters, the humor, and the underlying themes. Good for those who like contemporary women's fiction.
• You Can't Catch Me by Catherine McKenzie (Simon & Schuster; Aug. 2020): This was a very twisty and well-done thriller involving stolen identity, family, modern-day cults, and revenge. I was totally fooled by the twists and was fully invested in the fate of our hero.
• My Life as a Villainess by Laura Lippman (William Morrow; Aug. 4): This collection of personal essays covers Lippman's journey from newspaper journalist to best-selling mystery writer. The pieces, which are not presented in chronological order, explore motherhood, marriage, and mourning as well as body image and family and a few brushes with the rich and famous. Highly recommended, even if you haven't read her fiction.

• Austen Years by Rachel Cohen (FS&G, July 2020): As the subtitle says, this is a "memoir in five novels" and focuses on Cohen's early years of marriage, her father's death, and a very close reading (and rereading) of Jane Austen's fiction. You do not have to be overly familiar with Austen's work to appreciate Cohen's thoughts, though an interest in literature and how it teaches us about an author and her times as well as informs us about our own lives helps. I will be rereading this one.
• Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett (Crown; Aug. 2018): This is the start of a speculative fiction trilogy that I guess would be considered a fantasy, though the magic is slightly steampunky. I loved the bantering humor, the great characters, the unique magical elements, the way characters weren't all bad or all good, the world building ... just give this one a try. Super-duper on audio -- read by Tara Sands.
• Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton (Grand Central; Jan. 2011): I'm going to be so sad when I finish this series. Even though this is the 25th book about village copper Hamish Macbeth, I've not gotten tired of him, his murder cases, or his beloved Scottish Highlands. As you know, I'm a huge fan of this very light cozy series.

• 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand (Little, Brown, June 2020): Hilderbrand never disappoints. This summer's novel set on Nantucket is a contemporary take on the "same time next year" theme. The first chapter tells us what happens at the end, and the rest of the novel tells us how we get there. My only complaint is that I have to wait at least six months until I get a new Hilderbrand book. Don't miss this one.
• Extraordinary People by Peter May (Quercus; May 2016): I decided it was high time I caught up with May's backlist and so I started his Enzo Macleod series, starring a Scottish-born forensic expert who is currently a university professor in France. As you can expect from May, the location and the characters' personal lives are as interesting as the mystery. The premise of the series is that Macleod has made a bet that he can solve seven famous cold case murders. I'm in for the long haul.
• Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen (Berkley; Sept. 2011): This fourth installment of the Royal Spyness series takes us to Transylvania, where our hero is tapped by the queen to represent England at a noble wedding. Murder and mayhem ensue, along with a little romance. These books are a lot of fun and well worth your time if you need a good escape series.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 5 Short Book Reviews

I'm going to start this post with the obligatory question/exclamation: How can we be just days away from November? I haven't yet cleaned off my deck, I never did finish weeding the garden . . . Sigh.

I don't have a lot of chitchat this week because I'm still catching up from being away. My hope is that by Friday, life will have settled back down, just in time for me to get ready for my annual fall lace-making getaway. You'll hear more about that later.

This week's reviews are extra short because that's all the energy I have. Here's what I read and listened to over the last couple of weeks.

Virga & Bone: Essays from Dry Places by Craig Childs (Torrey House Press, Oct. 1): If you like essays about nature and our connections to it, you'll like this slim volume of a half dozen essays of observations about various places in the American Southwest. Childs writes about all kinds of desert things: temperature variations in Death Valley, the juxtaposition of bleached bones (the end of life) with the occasional rain (the beginning of life), and the layers of seashells found on the dry side of the Colorado Rockies. He talks about the people he meets and his observations on animals and insects. He also discusses the way people have changed the desert, from ancient indigenous populations all the way to the atomic bomb tests and on to twenty-first-century hunters and scientists. Childs gives you a lot to think about. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

The Sweetest Fruits by Monique Truong (Viking, Sept. 3): This is a fictionalized account of the life of the journalist, author, and teacher Lafcadio Hearn (also known as Koizumi Yakumo), as told through the eyes of the four significant women in his life. I have very mixed feelings about this book, primarily because I didn't realize until I finished it that the novel was based on a real person. Thus I was kind of in the dark and didn't connect at all to the story or to Hearn's extensive travels and relationships. Truong's writing was fine, but without the context, I felt lost. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Penguin Audio; 9 hr, 25 min), read by Cassandra Campbell, Lisa Flanagan, Adenrele Ojo, and Emily Woo Zeller, for a freelance assignment. I enjoyed all four performances. Note that the book has won wide critical acclaim, presumably by people who knew who Hearn was. (audio copy provided for a freelance assignment)

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen (Audible Studios; 2010; 8 hr, 31 min), narrated by Katherine Kellgren. After that last book I needed something light and fun so I turned to the third installment in the Royal Spyness cozy mystery series, which takes place in England in the 1930s. Our hero is Lady Georgiana, who is 34th in line to the throne and a cousin to the royal family. As with all good cozies, Georgie never seems to be too far away from a murder or two. In this outing, it appears that someone is targeting the royal family, and Scotland Yard hopes Georgie will help them find the bad guy. Meanwhile, in Scotland, Georgie's brother and sister-in-law find themselves with unexpected American house guests, including that Simpson woman who has caught the eye of Edward, the king to be. Lots of madness and mayhem, good humor, great characters, a touch of romance, and a fun look at the royal family. Kellgren does a marvelous job with the various accents and characterizations. (personal collection)

What I Lick before Your Face: And Other Haikus by Dogs by Jamie Coleman (Atria, Oct. 8): Attention all dog lovers: Here's the perfect stocking stuffer, hostess/host gift, conversation starter, and feel-good book for you. Coleman presents life from a dog's perspective as told through haiku. I loved pretty much every single one of Coleman's poems. I was laughing and smiling my through this delightful collection. The poems cover such things as taking walks, curling up on the furniture, begging for food, drinking out of the toilet, and fetching slippers.

Your Things
You keep throwing it
I keep on bringing it back
Look. After. Your. Things.

Each poem is accompanied by a photograph of a dog that perfectly complements the sentiment. This book is so much fun to look through and read. You'll be tempted to recite all the haiku out loud to your family and friends. Put this on your gift list! (digital copy provided by the publisher)

In Oceans Deep: Courage, Innovation, and Adventure beneath the Waves by Bill Streever (Little, Brown, July 2): Streever, a lifelong diver, examines the history, science, and technology of humankind's journey to explore the depths of the ocean. Streever takes a personal approach to this book, telling the story of underwater exploration by introducing us to the people involved. We learn about the various types of submersibles, the discovery of what causes the bends and how to prevent them, the effects of being under pressure, and the different kinds of diving (with and without tanks). I never thought about why space exploration seemed to capture the attention of the government and of people's imaginations more than the exploration of the ocean bottom--even with Jacques Cousteau and the later discovery of The Titanic. Streever has thoughts about this. He not only looks at history but also discusses the future, such as the development of underwater robots. Humans are drawn to the ocean depths for a lot of reasons beyond recreation, and Streever explores many questions, including these: Could we someday have underwater colonies? How can we make it safer for underwater work (for example for building bridges)? What are the consequences of underwater drilling? What's the status of underwater robots or drones? All in all this is an interesting and entertaining book. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 9 hr, 3 min) read by Jay Snyder, who is quickly becoming one of my go-to narrators for nonfiction. He totally blurs that line between performer and author, drawing me solidly into the book. (audio copy provided by the publisher)

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Still Reading; or What's in My (Virtual) Book Tote

Am I the only one who has more than one style of reading? I bet not. Most of the time, I read books the regular way—starting on page 1 and reading to the end, straight through, in short order. Other books I read piecemeal over the course of several weeks or even months, and not necessarily in order from the first page to the last.

What? Am I crazy? Maybe, but let me explain. The books I’m talking about are collections of short stories or essays, travel writing, food writing, history, some biographies, and other nonfiction. For example, I might be interested in a trade book on, say, dinosaurs. Because I’ve read quite a lot about paleontology, not only in graduate school but also for fun, my approach may be to skim some of the background chapters and then to read carefully when the author turns to newer research or discoveries.

I’m content with my weird reading habits, but I’m often uncomfortable talking about the books I've read unconventionally here on Beth Fish Reads. I can't help but wonder if I should share my thoughts about a book I haven’t read cover to cover or that took me a while to read. It’s silly isn’t it? If I make it clear I’m still reading, then why not let you know what I think so far?

That’s what today’s post is all about. Here are the books in my current slow-read stack. (Print or digital copies provided by the publisher or publicist.)

I’m a huge Lord of the Rings fan, which I first read when I was in sixth or seventh grade. Since then, I’ve reread the entire series, starting with The Hobbit, about every five years. It’s no surprise that I was excited to get a chance to read David Day’s An Encyclopedia of Tolkien: The History and Mythology That Inspired Tolkien’s World (Canterbury Classics, Oct. 8). Before I get to the contents, just let me tell you that this leather-bound hardback is simply gorgeous. It has gilded edges, a marker ribbon, and contains close to 200 beautiful black-and-white drawings of Tolkien’s universe. Day includes entries on people and characters, lands, creatures, and events found in the books. Some entries relate to Tolkien’s inspirations and scholarship, and others are about gods and legends from various traditions (Greek, Roman, Norse, biblical). I’ve been flipping through, admiring the artwork and reading the entries that catch my eye. If you are a LOTR fan, then you must have a copy, and if there is a Tolkien lover in your family, then this is the perfect gift.

I’m not sure what triggered my interest in the Middle Ages, but I find it hard to resist novels set during that period, and I also like reading medieval history. Kelcey Wilson-Lee’s biography and history, Daughters of Chivalry: The Forgotten Children of King Edward Longshanks (Pegasus, Oct. 1) is more than the story of Edward I’s five daughters. Wilson-Lee presents a non-romanticized look at the complex lives of medieval noblewomen. I’m still in the early chapters, so can’t comment on the overall level of scholarship or conclusions, but I like the different perspectives. Women and girls were, of course, used by men for political or economic gain; that didn’t mean, however, they were totally without independence, that they couldn’t be successfully defiant, or that they couldn’t find ways to take full advantage of their circumstances. Far from being demure damsels in distress waiting for their knight in shining armor, women sometimes had the power to save themselves. I’m assuming Edward’s daughters do just that. Other themes are education, childbirth, and court life.

My father was on a lifelong mission to rid our yard and gardens of moles. This was one battle he lost. In How to Catch a Mole: Wisdom from a Life Lived in Nature (Greystone, Oct. 1), Marc Hamer shares his journey from professional mole hunter to mole accepter. This book offers a little bit of everything because Hamer, himself, has had a multilayered life. The essays and poems collected here reveal the hidden life of moles, recount Hamer's own journey to and from his solitary profession, and bring us closer to nature. In the introduction, Hamer tells us,

There is a difference between truth and honesty, so I am going to tell you one of the millions of honest stories that I could tell you that might be good enough to call ‘true’. One of the stories that led me to the point of kneeling in a muddy field in December with a dead mole in my hand and deciding it was time to stop killing.

The book is beautifully illustrated with black-and-white drawings by Joe McLaren. I'm reading this collection, one essay or poem at a time. One thing, though, even if my dad (who really did love animals) had had the chance to read this book, I doubt he'd have given up on his dream of a mole-free property.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: A Mixed Reading Week

Happy Earth Day! It's finally spring in Pennsylvania, and I'm staring to see early flowers everywhere. Yay (and sneeze)!

If you're looking for a way celebrate nature and learn more about the importance of conservation, I can't recommend the Netflix documentary series Our Planet more highly. We haven't seen all the episodes yet, but the filming is amazing and the message is important. I've included the trailer in this post, which gives you a hint of this don't-miss series.

Because there was so much to see on the news last week and because I'm working ahead to get ready for a lacemaking workshop coming up in a few days, I didn't get a lot of reading done. Hey, some weeks are slow.

The Last by Hanna Jameson (Atria; April 9). I still love good dystopian fiction, and The Last combines an all-too-probable end-of-the-world story with a murder mystery. I really couldn't resist. The premise is this: Jon, an academic historian from the Bay Area attends a conference in a remote hotel in Switzerland. On the last day, before he can check out, massive nuclear war is launched, wiping out entire cities and even countries. A couple dozen people (made up of guests and staff) remain at the hotel to figure out what to do next. The characters come from different walks of life and from different countries. Some are stuck in the hotel alone; others have family with them. Some are resourceful or have a survivor instinct; others want to give up or take their chances in the surrounding woods; some even commit suicide. Can the people at the hotel work together to forge a future? Are there other people alive on the planet? And who murdered the little girl whose body Jon finds? The book consists of Jon's journal, which is a daily record of what happens at the hotel after the bombs are dropped and includes interviews Jon conducts of the other survivors. In addition, Jon becomes obsessed with trying to identify the killer, and he records his investigation and his suspicions in his journal. This novel was almost too scary to read because the idea didn't seem all that farfetched. I liked the set up, the setting, and the way the characters interacted with each other. The problems and choices the survivors faced seemed realistic, and so were the descriptions of the hotel and the changes to the environment. I would have given this a big thumbs up, right up to the end. I don't need my novels to be tied up with a bow, and I don't mind a few open ends that spark my imagination, but this book ended with way too much unresolved. I couldn't find any indication that a sequel was in the works, yet the ending screams, "you'll get the answers in the next book." Made me mad. The unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 12 hr, 16 min) was brilliantly read by Anthony Starke, who nailed the characters' personalities and accents and created an atmosphere of dread and uncertainty. I've never listened to Starke before, but he's now on my recommend list! (audio and digital editions provided by the publisher)

Tiny Hot Dogs by Mary Giuliani (Running Press, April 9). Giuliani (no relation to Rudy) grew up in Montauk (Long Island) in an Italian Catholic family, dreaming of becoming a Jewish actress. Her life, however, took a different turn, and she is now known as being a caterer to the stars. This light memoir is told in short essays and is filled with recipes. There are laugh-out-loud moments from Giuliani's life as well as some fun stories about the famous people she's met. She also provides some behind-the-scenes insight to what it's like to be around the rich and famous, though contact is mostly from the kitchen and the sidelines. Giuliani's memoir is also a tribute to family and a strong marriage and includes her struggle to become pregnant and to sustain a pregnancy. Despite some inevitable sorrow, Giuliani's stories are mostly upbeat and positive. Life can be funny, and no matter how often we think we know where we'll end up, the gods usually have something else in mind. To echo the quote from Ina Garten that appears on the cover: "I love this book!" I may even get around to making one of Giuliani recipes. Note that this little memoir would make a great Mother's Day gift if the mother in your life has a good sense of humor and enjoys spending time in the kitchen. The audiobook (Hachette Audio; 4 hr, 25 min) is read by the author, and although I didn't listen to the book, I sampled a little bit of the narration. From the few minutes I heard, I thought Giuliani did a nice job. The audio comes with a PDF of the recipes. Thank you, Hachette for making sure that audiobook lovers won't miss out on the recipes. (audio, digital, and print copies provided by the publisher)

And here is the promised trailer.

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10 Books About Ourselves and Our World

I'm an eclectic reader. My shelves contain a healthy mix of literary fiction, fantasy, mystery, and even middle grade novels. Sitting right next to all of that escape reading are a good number of true stories, science, history, essays, and biography. These days, I doubt I could name just one genre or subject as my favorite, but when I was in elementary school, I used to tell people that biography was my go-to.

Today's roundup highlights the nonfiction titles I've added to my April reading list. I know I won't get to all of these, but the following 10 books are the ones that caught my attention. The list contains biography, history, science, personal essays, and memoir, so I hope something here will find its way to your own bookshelves. Note that I'm not including food writing/memoir, which I'll save for my Weekend Cooking posts.

Science

• The Accidental Homo Sapiens: Genetics, Behavior, and Free Will by Ian Tattersall and Robert DeSalle (Pegasus Books; April 2). This book examines human evolution from a contemporary theoretical context, looking at the interplay of genetics and behavior, the way humans solve problems and change their environment, and the biological future of our species. Why I want to read this: Tattersall was youngish paleontologist, already making a name for himself, when I was in graduate school. He and DeSalle are both associated with the American Museum of Natural History and are well respected in the fields of physical anthropology and evolution. This topic is closely related to my own academic interests.
• American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race by Douglas Brinkley (Harper, April 2). I can't summarize this better than the following sentence from the publisher: "A vivid and enthralling chronicle of one of the most thrilling, hopeful, and turbulent eras in the nation’s history, [this book] is an homage to scientific ingenuity, human curiosity, and the boundless American spirit." Why I want to read this: First--gawk!--it cannot possibly be 50 years since we first landed on the moon; it was 20 years ago tops, right? I'm particularly interested in this account because it includes new interviews and firsthand accounts of the politics, people, and technology that allowed JFK's challenge to be met ahead of schedule.
• Science Comics: Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate by M. K. Reed and illustrated by Jonathan Hill (First Second, April 16). This book helps us learn to distinguish between weather and climate and tells us all about new weather technology and how major storm systems develop. This fun nonfiction comic answers all our questions about storms throughout the seasons. Why I want to read this: I'm curious about the world around me and love the idea of learning more about weather through a nonfiction comic. This may be geared to middle grade readers, but I'm sure I'll discover something new about meterology.

Essays

• Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen by Mary Norris (Norton, April 2). Norris is widely known as the chief copyeditor of The New Yorker magazine and in this collection of essays she talks about English, words, and her love affair with all things Greek. Why I want to read this: As an avid reader, full-time copyeditor, and part-time book reviewer how could I say no to this? Norris is not only an impeccable editor but an entertaining and thoughtful writer. This is (as you might have guessed) on my must-read list for this month.
• Here Is Where I Walk: Episodes From a Life in the Forest by Leslie Carol Roberts (University of Nevada Press, April 3). In the essays collected here, Roberts muses about travel, nature, motherhood, and the environment, all linked by the time she has spent in America's only residential national park, the Presidio in San Francisco. Why I want to read this: I'm a big walker and love to spend as much time as possible in my local parks and state forests. I wonder if Roberts and I think about the same kinds of things when we're in the woods.

Humor

• The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht (Chronicle Books, April 2). Do you think you can you identify the common birds that hop around your yard and build nests in your hanging plants? Kracht bets you don't know their real names: how about the black-capped prickadee and goddamned Canada goose? Why I want to read this: I love watching the birds in my yard and tending to my bird feeders, but I also have a good sense of humor. This guide offers solid information about our feathered friends but it's served with an irreverent attitude. The illustrations (see the cover) are nicely done.
• Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault by Cathy Guisewite (Putnam, April 2). In this collection, Guisewite steps away from her beloved comic strip (Cathy) to talk about life and family in the sandwich years and her complex perspectives on grown children, aging parents, and retirement. Why I want to read this: I've always been a huge Cathy fan and, hey, Guisewite and I are about the same age, so I can relate. I love her viewpoint.
• Southern Lady Code: Essays by Helen Ellis (Doubleday, April 16). In her newest collection of essays, Ellis talks about, as the publisher says, "marriage and manners, thank-you notes and three-ways, ghosts, gunshots, gynecology, and the . . . art of living as a Southern Lady." Why I want to read this: Even though I'm a Yankee through and through, I'm a fan of Ellis's outlook on life. In her new book, she offers a fresh angle on being a displaced southern belle in the modern world. I'm ready to laugh.

History

• The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 9). Much has been written about Jack the Ripper, a murderer who has never been definitively identified. But who were the women he killed? What were their stories? Why I want to read this: I like true crime and want to know more about the victims whose names and lives have been overshadowed by the man who killed them. A snapshot of the dark side of the Victorian era by a historian.
• The Regency Years: During Which Jane Austen Writes, Napoleon Fights, Byron Makes Love, and Britain Becomes Modern by Robert Morrison (Norton, April 30). The Regency period provides an endless source of interest and is pretty much summed up by the book's subtitle. Ocean battles, global trade, the arts, new technology, and changing politics; it was a vibrant and not always pretty era. Why I want to read this: Some of my favorite authors published during this time and some of my favorite novels were set during this time. Plus I love history and always appreciate an accessible and easy-to-read account of the past.

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6 Books in Translation to Read in March

It's the ides of March, and the only thing I have to beware is letting time get away from me and missing some of this month's books in translation. As you well know, I make an effort to read authors who are outside the English-speaking world. It's a great way to gain a different perspective and to learn about life around the globe.

Here are six books in translation on my March reading list. They cover a range of genres, and I hope at least one catches your eye.

All Happy Families: A Memoir by Hervé Le Tellier, translated from the French by Adriana Hunter (Other Press, March 26). In this moving memoir, Le Tellier recalls his childhood, spent mostly with his grandparents or troubled mother, and the years in which he seemed unable to feel normal human emotions, such as grief and love. Although he wasn't abused, his relationships with the people who were meant to protect him were often beyond dysfunctional. His mother in fact suffered from a disconnection to reality and often lied to him. Other people he was close to died early, including a girlfriend, which is another form of abandonment. In this memoir, Le Tellier comes to terms with these difficult relationships as he views them through the lens of maturity and success as a writer. A testament to the fact that children can indeed survive messed-up families.

Auntie Poldi and the Vineyards of Etna by Mario Giordano, translated from the German by John Brownjohn (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, March 5). I don't know how I missed the first book in this series, but I'm happy to jump on the Auntie Poldi bandwagon with the second book. When Isolde Oberreiter, better known as Poldi, left Germany to spend her retirement in Sicily, she had no idea that there'd be more to life than walks on the beach, copious glasses of wine, occasional sex, and new friends. Poldi can't help but get involved when it's a matter of dead body or two. In this outing, the unstoppable Poldi is determined to figure out who poisoned her neighbor's dog. After a little pillow talk with her current lover (a police inspector), she's onto bigger things--like linking the murder of a man to the demise of the dog. An adult cozy mystery brimming with the flavors and colors of Sicily.

Homeland: A Novel by Fernando Aramburu, translated from the Spanish by Alfred Macadam (Pantheon, March 5). This timely novel is set in Basque country, and although a murder is at its center, this is not crime fiction. Instead, it's an examination of how ordinary people can get caught up in the wider political events of their country and how it isn't always easy to figure out who is hero and who is villain. When a businessman is killed by separatists, the repercussions are felt by more than just the grieving family. Friendships and everyday life in the town are forever changed. Who is brave enough or sure enough to take a stand on the future of Basque? Is it easier just to leave your home and start over? Set after the ETA separatists declare an end to their fight for independence, this story looks at the violent past and uneasy present. The novel has won multiple international honors.

The Little Girl on the Ice Floe by Adélaïde Bon, translated from the French by Tina Kover (Europa, March 19). This is a tough memoir about surviving a childhood rape. When she was just nine years old, Bon was raped by a stranger, and though she was unable to provide many details, her parents reported it to the authorities. As a way to cope, Bon compartmentalized her life--seemingly stable and friendly on the outside, while dealing with guilt, shame, fear, and more on the inside. Despite years of therapy and various self-soothing activities (such as eating and drinking too much), there were parts of her that remained numb and details of her attack that she could not remember. Two decades later, the Paris police inform her that they've caught a serial sexual offender, who is charged with dozens of assaults on minors. Only nineteen now-grown women confront the man in court, Bon among them. The aftermath of the trial brings some unexpected reactions. Can there ever be true healing after rape? Especially in a society that still blames the victim.

The Secret Wisdom of Nature by Peter Wohlleben, translated from the German by Jane Billinghurst (Greystone Books, March 5). I loved Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees (though I can't believe I never wrote about it on my blog), and in his latest, the German forester returns to tell us (as the subtitle says) about "Trees, Animals, and the Extraordinary Balance of All Living Things" through "Stories from Science and Observation." Wohlleben has spent most of his life in the woods, both professionally and privately, observing nature up close and in a way few of us have an opportunity to do. Here he takes a big-picture view of the environment, from the largest forest fires to the smallest insects and discusses in everyday language and using a personable style how the ecosystem works. There are many sides to every problem in a system as complex as Earth's natural world, and Wohlleben takes some surprising stands on conservation and preservation. If you haven't yet read any of his work, you should.

Waiting for Bojangles by Olivier Bourdeaut, translated from the French by Regan Kramer (Simon & Schuster, March 19). This debut novel, which has already won much critical acclaim, tells the story of an unnamed boy and his unconventional parents who live in happy chaos in Paris. Told mostly from the boy's point of view, with sections from his father's diary, the book follows the mother's journey from quirky to the can-no-longer-deny-it mentally unstable. After the pesky business of taxes and the outside world invade their space, the family removes to a vacation home in Spain, where son and husband hope to protect the ailing woman, showering her with love. Mental illness, however, cannot always be cured with the peace of the countryside, fancy cocktails, and dancing to the record player. The ministrations of well-intentioned family are often not the answer. This coming-of-age story is told partly in verse.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: The Giant Edition

Hold on to your hats, this is going to be a long post because it covers two weeks of my reading life. I had a post in good shape for last Monday; all I had to do was give it a final read through and then hit "publish." Well, best-laid plans and all of that.

Around midnight on Sunday night, after the Oscars, I lost electricity in a big wind storm. There was still no power in the morning, and in fact, we were in the dark for about 12 hours. Because I had to work on Monday and there was no telling when I'd get electricity again--the repair crews were dealing with numerous outages--I decided not to waste my laptop battery on my blog. The house was getting pretty dang chilly before the heat finally kicked on again.

Before I get to the reviews, note that I am giving away a digital copy of Disney's The Little Mermaid to one of my USA readers. Check out that post for information on how to enter for a chance to win a copy. (Thanks, Disney Studios!)

The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald (Gallery Books, Feb. 5): This book is billed as a thriller, but I think it's more like a mystery or puzzle. The story is told in retrospect by a single mother and her daughter. When Abi's phone rings in the middle of the night, you know it's not going to be good news: Her only child, Olivia, is in the hospital in a permanent vegetative state after falling from a bridge into a shallow river. The state of Washington cannot turn off life support because Olivia is pregnant, and there's a good chance the baby will survive until term. The chapters alternate between Olivia's and Abi's viewpoints, covering the final months of Olivia's life. Olivia's chapters primarily cover the events that lead up to her accident (or was it murder?), and Abi's chapters focus mostly on her new reality. Both characters reflect on the past and the choices that lead them to their current situation. The underlying thread is what really happened to Abi on the bridge: Murder or accident or suicide? Was she alone? Among the suspects are a new girlfriend, an old boyfriend, a new boyfriend, and a lifelong best girlfriend, and the parents of these kids are not exactly out of the picture either. This was a solid average read: I liked the two viewpoints and I wasn't completely sure what happened to Olivia. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 10 hr, 45 min) read by Kelly Burke and Laurel Lefkow, whose performances captured the ages and emotions of their characters. There were a couple of minor mispronunciations, but nothing too jarring. (audiobook provided by the publisher)

Pay Attention Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion Books, Feb. 5): Schmidt is one of my very favorite middle grade authors (Orbiting Jupiter; Lizzy Bright and the Buckminster Boy). Although his novels are indeed geared to young readers, they deal with real-life issues that are important to all of us. His characters are always believable, and he often uses humor at just the right moments to soften the more difficult topics. I loved his latest book and am looking forward to his next. Absolutely nothing goes right on the first day of sixth grade: Carter's mother is feeling blue, the dog gets sick, there's no milk for the cereal, his little sisters are cranky, the car won't start, and a British man wearing a bowler hat is ringing the doorbell. From there, Carter's life gets both worse and better all at the same time. The man, as it turns out, worked for Carter's late-grandfather in England, and he's a genuine butler! Although the solidly middle-class all-American Jones family has no experience with domestic help, the butler is not daunted; he's here to stay and intent on "civilizing" his new employers. Underlying the fun of getting used to a butler (and learning to play cricket!), Carter is also contending with a father who is on active duty in Afghanistan, the loss of a younger brother from illness, and a mother who is loving but having trouble coping with her grief and loneliness. Mixing humor with an exploration of common contemporary issues, Schmidt has written another winning and thoughtful novel. I mean it, you should be reading his books. (finished copy provided by the publisher)

This Much Country by Kristin Knight Pace (Grand Central, March 5): I didn't know who Pace was before I started reading her well-written memoir. I picked it up because it takes place (mostly) in Alaska and because she is one of the few women to have completed both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod sled dog races. Each race covers more than 1,000 miles of frozen wilderness and tests the physical and mental strengths of both the mushers and the dogs. Pace has always loved the outdoors, spending as much time as possible in the wild areas of the country, even when quite young. She is also a dog lover. At loose ends, she accepted an offer to spend a few months house sitting, hoping that by the end of winter she would have a clearer vision of her future. This wasn't just any house, though, it was a cabin near Denali Park, and it came with eight sled dogs. Pace, no stranger to fending for herself, thrived in the harsh Alaskan winter, learning not just how to care for the dogs but also how to work them. By the end of the season, Pace found her home, new friends, and a new passion. Pace's story isn't a fairy tale; she writes about her troubles as much as her successes. I can't imagine what it would be like to be on the starting line in -40F temperatures looking ahead to 1,050 miles of snow, ice, cold, and unknown environmental dangers, faced mostly all alone in the wilderness. It's just you, your supplies, and your dogs. Of course, there are checkpoints and other racers, but the Yukon Quest and Iditarod are extremely solo races. Pace has a masters in photojournalism and worked as a journalist, and her writing flows well. It's easy to picture the beauty and harshness of Alaska, her incredible relationship with her dogs, and the emotional journey that has given her a life fully led. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio, 8 hr, 41 min), read by the author. I usually avoid author-read audios, but Pace did a decent job. It's clear that she's not a professional, but her performance was engaging and heartfelt. The audiobook comes with a downloadable PDF which includes some photographs and maps of the races. (audiobook provided by the publisher)

The Waning Age by S. E. Grove (Viking Books for YR, Feb. 5): I really liked Grove's The Glass Sentence series and so I thought I'd give her latest novel a try. In a future world, people lose the ability to feel emotions as they mature. Currently, the age of waning is around 10, which means children feel sadness, happiness, love, and empathy but teens and adults feel only instincts. Thus a mother will care for her children, but true love is missing. If you have enough money, you can buy synthetic emotions; depending on the mix, the drugs allow you feel a full range of emotions from joy to depression. Since their mother's death, Natalia and Cal have been mostly on their own. Nat works as a maid in a Bay Area hotel while her brother attends school. Although Cal is already 10, he is not showing signs of waning and thus draws the attention of a powerful pharmaceutical company, which kidnaps the boy so researchers can figure out why he's retaining emotions. Nat uses her street smarts and meager connections to try to save Nat before he comes to harm. The novel is a mix of action/thriller and alternate history and explores the nature of emotions and how a world can become devoid of empathy. Grove leaves you with a lot to think about in terms of how technology and drugs could change the very nature of humanity. The unabridged audiobook (Listening Library; 9 hr, 51 min) was read by Kyla Garcia, Julio Sanchez, and Arthur Morey, who kept my attention, blended well together, and grasped the pacing of the story. (audiobook provided by the publisher)

Make This!: Building Thinking, and Tinkering Projects for the Amazing Maker in You by Ella Schwartz with photographs by Matthew Rakola (National Geographic Kids, Feb. 5): First, get the idea that this book is only for kids out of your head. Make This! is for anyone who is interested in how things work. The book takes the current artisan maker movement and turns it into an inspiring learning opportunity for those of us who want to know how to create useful and fun gadgets out of everyday materials. I love the maker culture and can't tell you how excited I was to find a book that is full of projects that pretty much everyone can complete. The projects in Make This! are divided into categories based on a STEM idea: machines, systems, optics, energy, acoustics, and so on. Each project is fun and easy and teaches a practical concept. For example, use a rolling pin to make a pulley and test how it makes it easier to lift heavy objects. Make your own Archimedes' screw and see how screws can move water uphill. Make your own musical instruments and learn about sound waves. Besides the projects, the book explains why things work, encourages us to think about how to apply the concepts to real-life problems, and helps us see the world in a new light. As a bonus, the photographs show young makers of different ages, colors, and body types, which is always appreciated. Both Mr. BFR (a real-life adult maker) and I are looking forward to making many of the projects in the book. Highly recommended. (print copy provided by the publisher)

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See (Scribner, March 5): I have always liked Lisa See's historical fiction set in China, so I jumped at the chance to listen to her latest novel for a freelance assignment. This time See takes us to the Korean island of Jeju, which has a unique history in terms of women. Families count on women to tend both the dry lands (traditional land-based gardens) and the wet lands, the collectively owned areas of the sea where the haenyeo (women divers) harvest seafood for sale and for feeding their families. The men, in turn, cook, watch the children, and "think deep thoughts." The diving collectives are a centuries-old tradition in which the women are strong and are the major breadwinners for the family. These women dive into cold ocean waters using only lung capacity and wearing minimal clothing; as a result they are able to withstand lower body temperatures than any other population on earth, including polar peoples. The novel follows two friends--one from a long line of strong haenyeo and one an orphan from a questionable family--from young childhood through to old age. Their story is also modern Korea's story, which includes invasion by the Japanese, occupation by the Americans, and a war between democracy and communism. This is a fascinating look at a vanishing culture, an emotional and complex tale of women's friendship, and tough look at Korean history of the last 70 years or so. Add this novel to your March reading list; it's an amazing story. The unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 13 hr, 22 min) was read by Jennifer Lim who did a terrific job capturing the emotional arc of the characters. (For more, see AudioFile magazine; review copy provided for a freelance assignment)

Stories, Other Books, and a DNF

• "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Lui from The Paper Menagerie (Saga Press, 2016). I read and loved the title story from this speculative fiction collection. The story explored a mother-son relationship, immigration, regret, and empathy. Recommended, so far. (finished copy provided by the publisher)
• The Book of Delights by Ross Gay (Algonquin, Feb. 12). In 102 very short prose pieces, award-winning poet Gay recorded the small acts of kindness, humor, and beauty he noticed over the course of a year. Recommended for dipping into and for gift giving. (finished copy provided by the publisher)
• Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James (Riverhead, Feb. 5). An epic fantasy based on African myth and history that garnered tons of praise. After an hour of listening to the audiobook (Penguin Audio, 24 hr, 2 min) read by Dion Graham I had to put it aside. I just wasn't feeling it. From the little bit I heard, Graham's performance was awesome. (audio edition provided by the publisher)
• "Secrets" by Jessica Keener from Women in Bed (Story Plant, 2013). Keener is one of my go-to authors, and I liked the way this first story in the collection made me think about the relationships we have with the people we run into on a daily basis but never really know; in this case a waitress and a woman who was a regular for lunch service. Recommended. (review copy provided by the author)
• Death of a Dreamer by M. C. Beaton (Grand Central 2007). This is the 22nd book in the Hamish Macbeth series, and it didn't disappoint. Hamish's personal life, the characters in the village, his new cat, and of course the murders kept me entertained. Totally recommended, especially in audio (Blacktone Audio; 5 hr, 25 min; performed by Graeme Malcolm) (I bought the audiobook)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Last Week's Hits and Misses

Happy New Year's Eve to everyone. My wish is for all of you to have the best year ever.

Despite working full-time between Christmas and New Year's, I managed to read two short books, make progress on a third and listen to a fourth.

For many years now, we've hosted a New Year's Eve party for just a few friends. I make a fancy dinner and then we all retire to living room to watch a movie, eat dessert and snacks, and wait for the ball to drop in Times Square. Some years the last person leaves at four in the morning, and other years we're alone by one. Either way, we're always happy to have friends to our house.

I'll try to pop in to visit your blogs in between cooking and setting the table and all the other little things we need to attend to today. Tomorrow is one of my favorite days: I put away the Christmas things, hang the new calendars, and get ready for a new year and a fresh start.

Here's what I read last week.

Book Love by Debbie Tung (Andrews McMeel, January 1, 2019): Put this book on your reading list and add it to your gift list for every book lover you know. This gem of a book is a series of black-and-white comics: some are one panel, some are several, and all will touch the core of the book nerd in you. Tung hits all the familiar bookish problems: staying up too late reading, packing books for trips, the impossibility of passing a bookstore without going in and buying something, the pain of transitioning to digital formats, and the book hangover. I know I'll return to this collection again and again -- Tung has so brilliantly captured the life of a reader. Don't miss this! (review copy provided by the publisher)

Parkland Speaks edited by Sarah Lerner (Crown Books YR; January 22, 2019): The subtitle of this moving collection of essays, poems, quick thoughts, photos, and art will tell you what this book is about: "Survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Share Their Stories." On February 14 of last year, the teenagers of MSD high school were thinking about valentines and dates, getting to sports practice, hanging with friends, and all the other everyday things. When shots were fired, leaving 17 dead, the lives of the surviving teachers, students, and families were forever changed. You could read this collection in a single day, but the stories and memories and tributes are so moving, it would be hard to absorb all that emotion in one sitting. The feelings and voices of these teens are raw, heartbreaking, and elegant. The firsthand accounts of fear and confusion and the resulting sadness, guilt, and anger will stick with you. I hope the words of these teens encourage us all to work harder make our schools safe. (review copy provided by the publisher)

China to Me by Emily Hahn, read by Nancy Wu (Blackstone Audio; 22 hr, 1 min; November 2018): I'm not at all sure what I think of this autobiography of Hahn's unconventional life in China in the years before the war and after the Japanese invasion (1935-1943). She lived in Shanghai and Hong Kong, among other places, and traveled in many social circles. Her detailed account of China at that time is very much from the perspective of a Westerner and very much a response to the times and to war. The book was originally published in 1944, after Hahn was able to return to the United States with her infant daughter. It's sometimes extremely difficult to listen to the language and the prejudicial statements; I had to keep reminding myself of the time period and that Hahn's life was truly in danger at the hands of the Japanese. She was often fearless, a true feminist, and ahead of her time in many ways. She met some of the most important people in China at the time (including Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek), and worked as a journalist, writer, and teacher. Her story is fascinating, though hard to stomach from today's sensibilities. Narrator Nancy Wu is one of the best for Chinese accents and pidgin English, and she projects Hahn's emotions well. (audiobook provided for a freelance assignment)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Escape Reading at Its Best

I can't tell you how happy I am that we got ready for Christmas early, because this last week needed every bit of energy and attention I had.

We had sad things and happy things to deal with plus my clients had lots of last-minute (preholiday) jobs for me. In between I kept my house in order, did a little cooking, and tried to have a life. Hahaha.

Once again, I wonder how I'd survive if I didn't have audiobooks. They are truly blessings when I'm overwhelmed with the world and with life.

In case you missed it, I posted my favorite books of the year on Friday. And here's what I read last week.

The Blackhouse by Peter May (Quercus, 2014). I've read and loved several of May's books, so I'm not sure why I've never read his Lewis Trilogy, which is set in the Outer Hebrides. The print book has been on my shelf for a few years, so I did a sort of read plus listen, depending on what was going on. Detective Fin Macleod escaped his native Isle of Lewis almost the moment he graduated high school, heading off for university. Instead of graduating he joined the Edinburgh police force, where he investigated murders. When a childhood acquaintance is murdered under unusual circumstances back home, Fin's superiors send him up north to investigate. While there, Fin discovers much more than just who the killer is; he must confront the past he was so eager to leave behind forever. I loved the atmosphere of the book and the descriptions of the people and the landscape. I felt so bad for Fin and the issues he contended with both in his youth and as an adult. I'll probably read or listen to the next book before the year is out. Note that this book is as much about Fin as it is about the crime. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 12 hr, 20 min) was brilliantly read by Peter Forbes. Not only did he keep me on track with the characters, but his pronunciation of the Gaelic words and names enhanced my enjoyment of the mystery. I'm thrilled that he comes back to perform the other books in the series. (print and audio copies provided by the publisher)

Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love, and Food by Ann Hood (Norton, December 2018): I wasn't sure whether to write about Hood's memoir here or for a Weekend Cooking post because these essays are very much tied to cooking and eating and each piece in the book ends with a recipe or two. Hood writes about her Italian grandmother's cooking for a large family in a small kitchen in Rhode Island, she remembers the year she learned about dieting, she shares her Midwest relatives' best fried chicken, and all the while she muses about families, marriage, friends, motherhood, loss, and love. Her current (and presumably last) husband is none other than Michael Ruhlman, a writer and most notably a cook and cookbook author. Hood's food memories include comfort food and cooking for and with her children (ramen, anyone?) as well summer pesto and tomato pie. I loved the stories of the first dinner parties Hood hosted and of how she learned to use a backyard smoker with her son. Some incidents (the death of her daughter, for example) are retold in several essays, but I think that's because this collection includes some previously published pieces. Regardless, I can recommend Ann Hood's memoir without reservation. Although I listened to it for a freelance assignment (see AudioFile magazine for my review), I had a copy to read as well. I can't wait to try her mother's meatballs with her grandmother's Sunday sauce. Lovely in audio, but probably a better read in print because of the recipes. (eGalley provided by the publisher; audiobook for freelance assignment)

Counting Sheep: Reflections and Observations of a Swedish Shepherd by Axel Lindén (Atria, November 2018). I picked up this little gem of a book because I like personal essays, I love Scandinavia, and I have a growing interest in books in translation. This short memoir is a series of diary entries about Lindén's experiences of leaving academia to settle on his parents' farm, when they decided to leave the land. He writes about the difference between what he thought farming would be like (part boring hard work and part wonderful to be self-sufficient) and what it eventually became (a way of life, a means of subsistence). Some of the diary entries are only one sentence long, and they all apply to his relationship to his sheep, though we see glimpses of his children and other people. Much of his attention is focused on literally counting sheep: have they survived the night and are they all in the pasture? Does he have too many rams for his herd? How many lambs were born and how many survived? This is a quiet little book that is full of charm but is (frankly) probably not for everybody. The print book includes lovely black and white drawings of sheep that I intend to revisit. I listened to the audiobook (Simon & Schuster; 1 hr, 53 min) read by Peter Nobel, who captured Lindén's intent and moods very well. I decided to listen to the book over the weekend, when I had some household chores because the length and timing were just right. Unfortunately, I feel as if I didn't give the audiobook enough attention (totally my fault), so I plan to skim it in print again, looking at the drawings and rereading some of the more poignant entries. This is a quiet memoir that would appeal to those of you who like to connect to the natural world. (eGalley and audiobook copies provided by the publisher)

Death of a Bore by M. C. Beaton (Grand Central, 2006). I listened to the 20th entry in the Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series, which takes place in northern Scotland and stars a lovable, smart, but ultimately unambitious village copper. I've written about this series many times over the years, and it's near impossible not to spoil the earlier books at this point. Every series has its ups and downs, but so far Beaton has let me down only once, and that was a few books ago. In this entry, Hamish meets the new schoolteacher, sets local gossips a-talking, solves a mystery, reconnects with some old flames, and has to work with some new superior officers in the city. Of course, Hamish manages to get the killer plus help a few villagers past some of life's bumps. These mysteries are pure fun and pure escape, and I urge you to start at the beginning if you're going to read them. The books are short and will take you just an afternoon or so. But if you're an audiobook fan, I strongly encourage you to listen instead of read. Graeme Malcolm is the narrator for the series (Blackstone; 5, hr, 17 min). He took over from Davina Porter (and in fact re-recorded the earlier books). Although I was a little taken aback at first, Malcolm has totally grown on me, and I can't wait to hear him perform the next books in the series. (personal collection)

Charmcaster by Sebastien de Castell (Orbit, September 2018). This is the third entry in the Spellslinger series, and I was as taken in by this book as I was by the first two. As I've said before, the world and its rules are fresh and unique, though the familiar fantasy elements shine through. There will no spoilers for this book, but I can't help a few subtle ones from previous books in the series. In this installment, Kellen, our hero, is still struggling to come to terms with the fate life has given him. He was born into one of the strongest families of his region and clan, but was denied entry into the elite world he grew up to expect. As an outlaw, he has had to make a new family, find his strengths, and overcome his weaknesses. This entry was a major turning point in the story. Kellen discovers things about his companions and his estranged sister and father that solidify his worldview. He is maturing and becoming more confident, but he is not perfect and still makes mistakes and doubts himself. I love being on his journey with him. The book doesn't end on a cliff-hanger, but new things will be happening in the next story. As I said before, the series is a great mix of action, character study, and magic mixed with humor and a Wild West feel. If you're a fantasy fan, you should be reading these books. Or better yet, listen to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 11 hr, 42 min) read by Joe Jameson, who is fantastic. His characterizations perfectly project the characters' personalities and his comedic timing is spot on. I love the way he keeps the dialogue moving and pulls us completely into the action. Stay tuned for book four. (audiobook provided by the publisher).

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