Books

I have been reading - mostly mystery novels - in between my research on India, Hinduism and Buddhism. My fun reading lets me relax. It's mind clearing!

Bookmarked For Death: A Booktown Mystery by Lorna Barrett is the second book in her new cozy series. They are set in a small town in New Hampshire on a street that would be any book lovers delight -- a street full of book stores. To celebrate her bookstore's ( Haven't Got A Clue) anniversary, Tricia Miles hosts a book signing for local, best selling author Zoe Carter. The event takes a terrible turn when the author is found dead in the washroom. I enjoyed seeing the characters from the first book that I liked so much. They are quirky and feel like they'd be welcome at my place anytime for a cup of tea. Tricia's sister, Angelica, now owns the cookbook store next door. As with any good cozy, there are recipes at the end.


Runner: A Jane Whitefield Novel by Thomas Perry is the book I just finished. Jane, a Native American guide who helps people assume identities has been gone from the book world for nine years. Jane is now married and living a quiet life as a surgeons wife. It's nice to have her back. A bomb goes off in the middle of a hospital fundraiser. A young pregnant girl has been tracked across country by a team of hired hunters. Jane helps her escape and then sets about helping the young girl begin a new life. Of course, it's not as easy as one, two, three. There is plenty of suspense. I liked having Jane back. This series was one that I faithfully followed for many years. Times have changed since the last time Jane *ran*. I thought the book was fast at the beginning, then slowed in the middle and then set a break neck speed at the end. Guess that's the sign of a well written suspense novel. Fans of Jane Whitefield will be glad to see her back. Those who have not read any of the series before, may not like having any background on Jane.


Dragon's Kin is a novel by Anne McCaffrey and her son Todd McCaffrey. Ms. McCaffrey started writing the Pern series in 1968 and it has never gone out of style. Todd McCaffrey joins his mother as author on this novel. A mining camp's watch wher dies and young Kindan and his new friend Nuella learn about loss, friendship and responsibility. Impossible dreams are never out of reach - a lesson that we all should learn! Knowledge about the watch whers and their relationships to the dragons has been lost. Kindan and Nuella work to relearn that knowledge.

Science Fiction/Fantasy Character

I was visiting Sarah at Cottage Garden Studio this evening and she had a link to take the test to see which science fiction/fantasy character you might be. I don't know why, but I enjoy these things so I took the test and look who I am - the beautiful Galadriel!

Possessing a rare combination of wisdom and humility, while serenely dominating your environment you selflessly use your powers to care for others.

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future. (I love this statement and I believe it!)

Galadriel is a character in the Middle-Earth universe.

Books!

I'm running a little behind today. We live in a older neighborhood and the city is putting in new water lines. I'm thankful that the city has the money to upgrade and I'm glad they are working, but, golly -- what a pain! Some days we have water. Some days we have nice clear looking water. Some days we have brown water. Some days we have little water pressure. Today Twisty Lane looks like a mini-river. What water we have seems clear. We just don't have a lot of it. No water for cleaning paint brushes or brushing teeth! Normally, Friday is Journal day, but I took Mr. Robin's face off with a sticky finger this morning! Hopefully, I'll get the repairs done and have a journal page for you on Sunday.

I thought I'd tell you what I read while curled up with my cold. These are two very different books. One is science fiction on a series I've been following for 30 years (is that possible? Ack!). The other is a favorite mystery series.

I love dragons (as you already know). I've been reading the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey for what seems like forever. Her son, Todd, is now writing Pern books -- with his mom and on his own. Dragonsblood is Todd's first Pern book written on his own. It had been many years since I'd read a Pern book. I know I'm behind in the series. Just because I hadn't read any didn't mean Mrs. McCaffrey hadn't written any! Now I need to catch up.

In Dragonsblood a mysterious illness is killing the dragons. Lorana must find a cure with help from the past. I enjoyed every word of this book and went out (cold and all) and bought the three books Todd wrote with his mother. They are staring at me -- read me, read me, read me. I'm going to read slowly. I love the planet of Pern, it's dragons, its people, its fire lizards.


A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny was my second read. I did a little dance when I picked up the mail and there was A Rule Against Murder fresh off the press from Amazon! Armand and Reine-Marie are celebrating their wedding anniversary at Manor Bellechase, an isolated, luxurious inn not far from the village of Three Pines. The Finney family - rich, cultured and respectable - are also there for their own celebration of sorts. Secrets, hatreds, polite smiles abound along with murder. The Finney's think the murder must have been committed by the "housekeeper and her husband". Imagine their surprise when they find out *he* is the chief inspector. Too funny, but then Ms. Penny really has an amazing way of combining the absurd/strange/funny with the ordinary/correct/everyday. Her characters are quirky and wonderful. You'll have to read the book to find out what *doing your sums* means. Let's just say, I try to do my sums everyday. Everyone should.