March 19, 2023 HANGING AROUND

Hopalong Cassidy here-hobbling toward week four. The black and blue and brown and yellow and purple is finally gone. The swelling is getting better too. Can't wait to go back to the doctor next week. I'll have another Xray. Praying for good news. It is VERY hard for me to sit around. Thankful for the NCAA tournament. It's given me something to do between books. Speaking of books, I just finished the first installment of Claire Mackintosh's new crime series The Last Party. The series features Ffion Morgan, a detective constable in Wales. She's thirty years old, recently separated and living with her mother Elen and sister Seren in Cwm Coed. The story begins on New Year's Day as a body washes up on Mirror Lake during the annual Polar Plunge. The body--Rhys Lloyd-- was a famous singer from Cwm Coed who recently returned to build "The Shore" a resort for the wealthy--much to the chagrin of the residents of Cwm Coed. As the lake borders both Wales and England, Leo Brady, a detective constable from England  teams up with Fifion to investigate Lloyd's death. It seems everyone in Cwm Coed had a reason to want Rhys Lloyd dead. This is a real page turner with so many twists and turns that you won't know who killed Lloyd to the very last page. It's refreshing to read about a woman detective--especially one as rough around the edges as Ffion. The cast of characters including the wealthy people living at The Shore are in sharp contrast to the residents of Cwm Coed, which adds a whole other layer to the mystery. I really enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the next book. It's about 400 easy pages that you'll have trouble putting down. 

March 4, 2023 BAREFOOT BLUE JEAN NIGHT

 

Took a tumble in Florida. Mini Tsunami hit me from behind and I went flying. When I got up--I knew something was wrong. My foot was killing me. Rallied though. Spent three more days in Florida limping/dancing around AND  trying to ignore it. Finally had an X-ray on Monday. I have an oblique, mildly displaced fracture of the distal fifth metatarsal metadiaphysis. What the HELL does that even mean?? Basically--I can't run, play pickleball or walk for exercise for at least 6-8 week. I broke a bone near my right baby toe. SO SAD. Thankfully--I have a stack of about 10 books here to keep me occupied and help me stay sane. It's going to be a long 6-8 weeks though. If you enjoyed Snowflower and the Secret Fan then I think you will thoroughly enjoy Juhea Kim's debut novel Beasts of a Little Land. Set in Korea during the Japanese occupation, it is 1917 and a lone Korean hunter is tracking a tiger in the mountains when he is captured by Japanese soldiers. He later leads the soldiers out of the mountains in exchange for his life and the tiger he initially hunted, survives unharmed--setting a major theme in this historical fictional novel--there are several different kinds of beasts in Korea--figuratively speaking. The majority of the novel then follows Jade, a young girl whose mother sells her to a courtesan. As an apprentice, Jade becomes life long friends with Luna and Lotus. Jade grow up to become a celebrated courtesan and movie star in Seoul where she, Luna and Lotus befriend several men including Myungbo--who is fighting for Korean independence. Minister Ma, a lethal man with many mistresses. Jungho, an orphan and leader of a street gang and HanCol, a rickshaw driver who is in love with Jade. Find out what happens to these unforgettable characters as they try to survive a ruthless war, death, despair, starvation and heart ache. This novel is about 400 pages but the prose is beautiful and it's well worth the read. Enjoy