Thursday, December 13, 2018

November books

Finally, I'm caught up! I just got it into my head that I had better do this now. 2018 is slip, slip, slipping away! As with all these posts, read from bottom to top. Sorry for confusion. This was just the easiest way for me to list them.

November - 8

57. Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry - book 2 in the Rabbi Small series
by Harry Kemelman
mystery 1966
Kindle
reread
finished 11/27/18
American writer/American setting

56. Friday the Rabbi Slept Late - book 1 in the Rabbi Small series
by Harry Kemelman
mystery 1964
Kindle
reread
finished 11/22/18
American writer/American setting

I read the Rabbi Small books years and years ago. I listened to them on Recorded Books tapes. I learned so much about what it means to be Jewish. The rabbi is great friends with the local policeman, who is Roman Catholic. He solves crimes through logic and the Talmud. Fascinating. I'm quite sure that nothing has ever been written like these books. They are informative, interesting, and just plain fun to read. This is one of my favorite mystery series.

55. Still Life with Bread Crumbs
by Anna Quinden
fiction 2014
Kindle
library book
finished 11/19/18
American writer/American setting

And I loved this one, too. Very different story, but it was just terrific. How do writers come up with ideas like this? Or any other fictional books. It is a miracle to me that one could invent a whole world, peopled with interesting souls.

55. Miller's Valley
by Anna Quindlen
fiction 2016
Kindle
library book
finished 11/17/18
American writer/American setting


I haven't ever read any of Anna Quindlen's fiction before. I've sometimes caught a word or two about the books, and the subject matter just didn't appeal, but I knew when I first heard about this book that I would like it, and I more than liked it. I thought it was a great book. I don't want to say much about it because it is nice to discover a story on your own. The time period was about the same as my growing up, so there was a lot of familiarity, but even if you are older or younger, it is still such a good, good story.

54. Quiet Girl in a Noisy World
An Introvert's Story
by Debbie Tung
nonfiction graphic novel 2017
finished 11/16/18
English writer/English setting

Along with the Garrood book below, this was my favorite of the year. I thought the drawings were fantastic, her story so interesting. It was just perfect. I am definitely an introvert, which I knew already, but this book pointed out new facets and I just nodded my head. I am so fond of this author who I don't even know.

53. Night Blind - book 2 in the Dark Iceland series
by Ragnar Jonasson
crime fiction 2015
print
finished 11/13/18
Icelandic writer/Icelandic setting

I so liked the first book, and couldn't wait to read this one. In it we have gone ahead five years. The third book goes back to just after the first book. Interesting way to do it. I heard that the author was supposed to be at the Malice Domestic conference, which shows that, as I noted before, this is not noir. The head of the police is shot dead, which so upsets the balance of this small town in Iceland. I really enjoy this series.

52. The Conqueror Inn - book 18 in the Bobby Owen series
by E.R. Punshon
mystery 1943
Kindle
finished 11/12/18
English writer/English setting

Time for some more Punshon, I thought. I love these Bobby Owen books. Always interesting.

51. Ruth Robinson's Year of Miracles
by Frances Garrood
fiction 2018
Kindle
finished 11/1/18
English writer/English setting

If pressed, I might say this is my favorite book of the year. It is everything I love in a book. Warmth, country living, people who care about each other, characters who are individuals. I heard about it hereI could hardly wait to begin and I enjoyed every minute of the book.

12 comments:

  1. Coincidentally, Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry was the first book I read in December. I had read all (or most?) of the books years ago and liked them a lot. I enjoyed reading this one again; I always enjoy learning about religions and groups I have not experienced.

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    1. What are the chances that the two of us would be reading this series?! This is not a very-often-written-about series!! I'm amazed.

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    2. I have been reading through the other months and I saw Basil Thomson, totally new to me. I will definitely be looking into that author.

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    3. It's unbelievable how many unknown-to-me authors there are! Most of them English men from decades ago!

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  2. All of the books you have listed for this month appeal to me - I just wish my eyes would still allow for hours and hours of reading!
    Apart from Ruth Robinson, I've not read any of them. Frances is a great writer, isn't she! I don't know without looking it up on my blog whether you read my review of Ruth Robinson, but it is probably my favourite of Frances' novels so far.

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    1. Maybe you could get Audible. I know a lot of readers listen to their books. Yes, I did read the review. That's how I heard of her!

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  3. Nan - I am so glad I stopped in here today. I loved the Rabbi series by Harry Kemelman, and I think I shall have to reread them myself. Perfect for this season. I also enjoy Anna Quindlan and just bought Alternate Side, but I am not familiar with Still Life or Miller's Valley, so I thank you very much for that - as well. And I will have to look for your other suggestions. We do seem to have similar tastes. I wish you a very merry Christmas! I hope you get some new books as gifts. I've bought books as gifts - and plan to read at least a couple of them before they are given away.

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    1. So good to see you!! I love it that you read the gift books first!! So happy to hear of another Kemelman fan!

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  4. Hi Nan,
    I read Snowblind, the first book in the Icelandic series you've mentioned. I was the leader of a "European Book Tour" book group in which I suggested this one. I really liked it and felt I really wanted to visit this place, although I'm sure I never will. I thought the characters were quite well-drawn. But other people weren't keen on it. Phooey.
    I did learn when I prepared to lead the group that the books were not published in the U.S. in the order in which they were written. Evidently, they were published in the order most likely to "stir American audiences." In other words, the books that marketing execs thought would most likely to appeal to Americans were published first. Craziness. I really would like to continue with this series.

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    1. The author actually writes in the second book about the five year gap and then going back to the time just after the first book.But you are so right. I found this: Original publication order of the series in Iceland:

      Fölsk nóta (2009)*
      Snjóblinda (Snowblind) - 2010
      Myrknætti (Blackout) - 2011
      Rof (Rupture) - 2012
      Andköf (Whiteout) - 2013
      Náttblinda (Nightblind) - 2014

      * Not set in Siglufjordur, but the first novel featuring Ari Thór Arason, as a young theology student looking for his missing father.

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  5. Thank you for the “Ruth Robinson’s...” recommendation. I got it. I loved it. I need happy (but not sappy) reading right now, this was perfect. I have read all I think of Anna Quindlen novels and always enjoyed them ... Miller’s Crossing is an all-time favorite (all novels, not only hers). I remember reading some of the Rabbi series years ago ... but I am sure I could re-read those and enjoy them as much as any I missed back then (not only because they are well-written, but also becauseI am old enough to have forgotten them! ) Perhaps this will be a benefit of advanced age.

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    1. Oh, wasn't it just the best!!!!! I'm so tickled that you read it. Thank you for telling me that you liked Miller's Crossing. I also thought it a very special book. The late Donald Hall wrote that his mother told him it was a distinct advantage of old age that she could reread her beloved Agatha Christie's and not remember the plot. I think that was a lovely thing to say, and attitude to have.

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