RenoVous

  It's not what I'm currently reading, but it's the topic that reminded me we haven't had a Book Club this month! Ian Fleming died on this day, 1964. Dr. No was written in 1958, and his first Bond book, Casino Royale , was written in 1953. The final book released, after his death, was The Man with the Golden Gun.  His publisher then released a collection of short stories that would make up later Bond movies, Octopussy and the Living Daylights. I've only read the one in photo, and it was enjoyable. ** As for what I'm actually reading, I started a book recommended by my aunt and my sister, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I'm in the early stages, but it's setting an interesting stage. What are you reading??

  From the collection, A Warning to the Curious, I finished this story yesterday. And it actually spooked me. The ones before it were subtle hauntings, told as stories heard from someone else, of some perceived curse or disruption of a spirit. But this one contained a true horror trying to hide itself within a ghost story. I still shudder to think of it. So what have you been reading?

 I'm reading a collection, anyway. A Warning to the Curious . Mine is not the original (1925) edition though, and some of the stories are different. "The Haunted Doll's House" is missing, for one thing. "Canon Alberic's Scrap-book" was originally included in Ghost Stories of Antiquary, published in 1904. My version was released in 1987, and seems to be a combined collection. A complete set would have all 34 ghost stories. Collected What have you been reading??

  Final thoughts on Much Ado About Nothing . For establishing the "enemies to lovers" rom-com trope, there wasn't much actual romance....Benedick and Beatrice clearly have a rapport, but they admit in the end that there's no love.  Pushed together and willing to accept each other, really.  And then there's Hero, resigned to whomever apparently. But it was funny.  Dogberry is definitely the comedic relief amidst the bit of drama.   "I am a wise fellow and, which is more, an officer and, which is more, a householder and, which is more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any in Messina." I would have liked more closure with Don John.  I know he's a bitter bastard and wanted to cause trouble for his brother, but Hero didn't deserve that, and I'm curious what his punishment would be.  Claudio's footman, perhaps. *** So now I'm onto the next read, maybe this Stephen King I picked up - or, yesterday Guy de Maupassant came up again.  He's writ...

 I actually didn't take a picture of this one before I returned it, so this is from another  blog . I've read a lot of types of horror and murder, but this was a first, in a slasher sense.  It's clear while reading that this was going to be a movie, and I was impressed with how well an entire scene was captured in the pages. It was a quick read, and I've come to find out there are two more in the series. Not sure what I'll start next though - and now's a good time to mention I will be on vacation all next week.  Hubby's starting a new job soon so we decided to go while we can, not knowing if he'll be able to take much time come September this year. Looking forward to reading on the beach.  ;-) And what have you been reading??

  I picked this up from a used bookstore sale because the cover was interesting.   And I like a good haunting. I don't always like journal entries as a narrative, but I can feel it building up to something. *** Today is the birthday of Douglas Adams, author of the superb,  A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I read the complete series back in 2020, and I definitely recommend. In addition to those novels (which includes a short story), he also wrote Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency  and The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul .  He co-wrote a short story with Monty Python's Graham Chapman, which was based on a skit. "The Private Life of Genghis Khan" So what are you reading?

  The library is calling, I need to finish The Absinthe Forger. I've learned some interesting bits of history in this, how absinthe rose in popularity following the phylloxera plague that decimated French vineyards. American rootstock was more immune, and was grafted onto French vines in order to save the industry. And it was that industry that later demonized absinthe, to reclaim the market. I was also reminded of a painting that my Nana had in her living room. L'Absinthe by Degas. "The absinthe stare" of many a drinker back in the day. It was popular among artists of the time, and apparently a cache of old bottles were found which had labels drawn by various artists, such as Kirchner. So what are you reading??

Camping was a perfect setting to start on this book, and I'm nearly done already. I had also started  The Absinthe Forger  after finishing Here One Moment  but that's not something that sucks you in like Larsson does.  I can't even say for sure that I'll finish before I have to return it to the library. But the author has given some background on himself, a freelance writer who has done articles for The New York Times , Wall Street Journal, and Food & Vine.   I see he's written another book called, Why Beer Matters.   He's lived abroad in Prague for many years, so I'm sure he's had some good ones. Evan Rail What have you been reading??

  My agenda! I'm midway through Here One Moment.   I'm not exactly loving it, but I'm curious enough to keep going. I found The Absinthe Forger at the library -  A True Story of Deception, Betrayal, and the World's Most Dangerous Spirit.  Sounds intriguing! And then, since the library did not have Book 3 of the Millennium Trilogy, I bought a copy from the second-hand store.  I'll see if I can donate it when I'm done. So what are you reading?

  After finishing up those Poe readings from Halloween, I picked up something random again. Here One Moment I'm not all that far into it though, still in the setting things up stage. *** It is National Book Award Week but the winner won't be announced until November 19th. Nominees In the UK, the Booker Prize has just been awarded to David Szalay for Flesh. NPR So what have you got going this month?

I finished this one up just after we got back from vacation.  Here I was reading along the creek in the forest. Remember I mentioned this series in an  Author Spotlight . I picked up the second book from the library and I'm already closing in on half way through. Which is good, because I was thinking of a read-along for Halloween. So Book Club may see you later this month!  ;-) What have you been reading?  

  I finished this over the weekend, but it wasn't quite the Haunting of Bly Manor  I had been set to expect. It's much more complicated and confusing than that. For one thing, we have an unreliable narrator - her information is limited, colored by her own emotions and biases. And the ending sure lacks any real closure. This was something short to pass some in between time, for September I haven't decided yet - more ghost stories, or a psychological thriller, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. What have you been reading?

  After finishing Bruce Campbell's autobiography, I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to go in, so I started something unfamiliar. Amsterdam  by Ian McEwan. It was in the mystery bundle I got from the Friends of Washoe County library sale, and it says it was a Booker Prize Winner in 1998. So far, it's engaging enough.  Just a story of two old friends, really. What have you been reading??

 As I mentioned last month, I started Bruce Campbell's autobiography, If Chins Could Kill. He writes comically, which I expected, making a normal Michigan childhood sound entertaining. And now we're getting to the making of Evil Dead , learning behind the scenes magic and mayhem. The cabin was found in Morristown, Tennessee. They had to do some interior work, including digging out the basement area for particular scenes. That hole, and a chimney, is about all that remains today.  Filming alone caused a bit of damage. There's also some background in the book regarding the car, dubbed "The Classic," a 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88.  Sam Raimi has included this in nearly every film he's ever directed. So what are you reading?

 The Friends of the Washoe County Library are holding a book sale this week and we got in on Saturday.  I'm pretty stoked with what I found. Someone back on the Channels turned me on to Wodehouse and the Jeeves stories.  I've read a few now, and this book was in a vintage section. Some ghost stories by M.R. James and the first novel from horror director/writer, Clive Barker.  I had a different book on my list, but grabbed this anyway. Hawking just seemed like a good book to have. The Bruce Campbell autobiography was truly on my list, so finding it for a buck is a deal!  And that's what I'm starting with. I also grabbed a gift wrapped selection for a dollar, but I didn't get anything particularly interesting.  I may give Amsterdam  a try one day.

 We're mixing it up this week because the Met Gala is tonight, so fashion will be tomorrow. Any final thoughts on Othello from last month? After finishing Shakespeare, I picked up a book I had started once: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. It's definitely young adult, but my sister recommended it as a banned book, because the perspective of a poor Indian must be controversial, as well as the topic of bulimia. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month - and while the book doesn't really delve into anything deep here, the fact that a freshman in high school has an eating disorder is not an isolated thing. Mental health is a significant concern on many Native American reservations.

  Othello I'm not sure if I'll be able to start today, but tomorrow for sure. And my sister will be reading along with me as well this time! Online Source Summary and Analysis The play has recently been revived on Broadway, with Denzel Washington in the lead role. Playbill So we'll check in mid-month to touch base around Act III.

 I've had kind of a slow start with this, nothing against the book.  It's actually kind of interesting how it's written.  When the worst things happen, it's not really detailed.  You're left with the sense of what happened, and knowing, historically, that it's bad. And you know that Elwood shouldn't even be here.... My goal is to finish this month, so that way I'm all clear for Shakespeare in April. I'm leaning towards Othello  this year. What have you been reading or planning to read?

  My feeds have been blowing up with this new adaptation, Nickel Boys, and then I came across the book for this month. So as I finally finish Sinatra, I think I'll change course.  I've placed a hold at the library, but I also found  online . I also came across two titles that sound very interesting for unpacking some of the ingrained, systemic racism that exists all around us. Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture Author Juan Williams wrote a celebrated account of America's Civil Rights years (1954-1965) and has recently released a followup on the rise of a 21st century movement. Eyes on the Prize New Prize for These Eyes

  I'm finishing up the Sinatra book and then my sister gave me a recommend to start next. If We Were Villains She does her own read-along with a friend, so when she reads one she thinks I'll like, it's always something I would not have found myself.  My aunt used to do that too, and I've read some good ones. What are you reading?