January - 9
1. The Purple Onion Mystery (aka Murder on Friday) - book 7, and last, in the Spike Tracy series
by Harriette Ashbrook
mystery 1941
Kindle
finished 1/2/21
Sorry to say farewell to Mr. Tracy. I've so enjoyed these books.
2. The Theft of the Iron Dogs aka Murderer's Mistake - book 28 in the Robert Macdonald series
by E.C.R Lorac
mystery 1946
Kindle
finished 1/10/21
One of my favorite books in the Macdonald series. He goes back to an area, and sees some of the people he met in a previous book, Fell Murder. Such good characters, and she was a really good writer. I've read she's getting a lot of acclaim since being re-introduced through the British Library Crime Classics series. She deserves every bit of the praise.
3. The Railway Children
by Edith Nesbitt
children's fiction serialized in The London Magazine 1905, published as a book in 1906
Kindle
finished 1/14/21
Best book of the month! I loved it so much. She is a great writer, and I plan to read more of her this year. Wonderful family relationships. Realistic children. Life in the "olden days" when kids could pretty much live their own lives during the long days.
4. The Owl Service
by Alan Garner
children's fiction 1967
Kindle
finished 1/16/21
I really wanted to like this, but I mostly felt it was odd. I don't want to say too much because it is a good story to come to fresh. I am interested in the mythical stories about old England and Wales, but this one just didn't strike my fancy.
5. Murder in Vienna - book 42 in the Robert Macdonald series
by E.C.R. Lorac
mystery 1956
Kindle
finished 1/21/20
Still loving Lorac so much. What a terrific character Macdonald is. It is one of those series where you don't see him at home, or with relatives. It is just him on the case, yet readers get to know him as a person.
6. Kamala and Maya's Big Idea
by Meena Harris; illus. by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez
Children's book 2020
print
finished 1/24/21
7. Joey The Story of Joe Biden
by Jill Biden; illus. by Amy June Bates
Children's book 2020
print
finished 1/24/21
8. The Fatal Flying Affair - book 7 in the Lady Hardcastle mysteries
by T. E. Kinsey
mystery 2020
Kindle
finished 1/27/21
I love this series! It is historical fiction set in the pre-WWI years. Awfully good relationship between two women, both of them strong and interesting.
9. The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse
by Charlie Mackesy
illustrated fiction for adults and children 2019
print
finished 1/27/21
My main print reading is a very big (and wonderful book) about Churchill and the Second World War but I did read a few children's print books this month.
I heard about The Boy... from The Duchess of Cornwall. And then I saw it everywhere, so I bought it. I must be missing something. I think it is a perfectly fine children's book, but I am not one of the many adults who've written about how wonderful it is. I thought it rather simple and bland and not surprising or interesting. Probably I'm the only reader in the world who thinks this, but there you go.
The book about President Biden was really quite wonderful. We got it for all the grandchildren for Christmas. It is quite detailed about things in his life. I think it will show children that ordinary people can do great things as children and may even be President someday.
This book about Kamala Harris and her sister, Maya written by Maya's daughter was based on a story the writer had always heard. It isn't necessary factual but is a good story. I didn't care for the illustrations.