BOOK: Dissolution by C.J.Sansom

This meme (highlighting crime fiction titles or authors) was run first on Mysteries in Paradise in 2009-2010 and was re-run in 2011. This week's letter is the letter C. Head over here to see what other books are being highlighted this week.This week I"m highlighting author C J Sansom and his mystery series.

Dissolution by C.J.Sansom, 439 pages

Tudors! Murder! What's not to like?
First in the series with the hunchback lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, associate of Thomas Cromwell. Shardlake is sent in to a monestary to discover who killed the representative who was sent in to possibly disband the monks. Lots of motive, lots of great characters. And then another murder, or two.

Shardlake is an idealist about religous reform, and I fear in later books he may be disillusioned by Cromwell's ambition and questionable methods. This was hinted at in this book. He's a great main character because his physical ailments make him an outsider, not the usual person in power, but his skills as a lawyer and his intelligence overcome his hunchback. This series is like a more modern Brother Cadfael mystery - no matter the time, there will be people behaving badly. Looking forward to more of Matthew Shardlake.

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet: Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood

The Alphabet in Crime Fiction - a Community Meme.

This meme  (highlighting crime fiction titles or authors) was run first on Mysteries in Paradise in 2009-2010 and was re-run in 2011.  This week's letter is the letter B. Head over here to see what other books are being highlighted this week.

Blood and Circuses by Kerry Greenwood, 208 pages

Aussie Author Challenge; Series Challenge (book 6 of 18 in this series)

Phryne (fry-knee) Fisher is the coolest detective around, especially in 1920s Melbourne, Australia. She is rich enough to do as she likes, with whom she likes, and she does, with at least one new handsome fella each book. As she joins the circus in this book, friend that she is of some gypsies, she gets to meet some 'freaks' and clowns, and sleep with some new guys. The books are more than Phryne sleeping around though. By joining the circus and learning to ride bareback on horses, she leaves her servants and 'people' and learns that she can survive on her own, a powerful lesson. The mystery is generally forgetable, but getting to spend some time in another time and place with the definition of a cool chick, is always enjoyable.

BOOK: Tigerlily's Orchids by Ruth Rendell

Tigerlily's Orchids by Ruth Rendell, 280 pages

Mystery and Suspense Challenge; review book from Randomhouse.ca

As mysteries go, this was a quiet one. No detective called in to solve the case, no amateur sleuth who just happens to be around. No, this is not a cozy mystery nor a police procedural both of my usual mystery fares. There's not even a death until well over halfway through the book. It reminded me of Rear Window, the Jimmy Stewart/Hitchcock movie where the man across the street, bored with a broken leg, begins spying on his neighbours across the street. There actually is a bored man across the street who 'keeps an eye' on his neighbours in the apartment of flats across the street, or whatever those are called in London. He likes to give names to everyone and imagine their relationships. As the reader, we get to see the truth about the people, and how wildly off he is in his nosiness.

No, it's not a classic mystery, but it was a great story. Seeing how the tenants were connected, and what was going on in their lives - some sad, some cute, some tragic, made for great reading. As the characters got more and more entwined, as people who live near each other are wont to do, I was kept on the edge of my seat. It wasn't scary suspense, but there was a feeling that something would happen to someone, and soon. There were some surprises and the plot moved quickly in the second half. I enjoyed the characters although they weren't all good people. It's a story with characters that lie to the police because they have something to hide, but not related to the case usually. Sigh, it must be tough to be a police officer investigating a case.

Great writing, interesting characters, and a that plot meanders for an enjoyable read.


This is my contribution for this week's Crime Fiction Alphabet. Ruth Rendell for the letter R. Rendell has written a pile of mysteries, prolific would be the term. How have I never read any of her books? There is a series with Inspector Wexford, and a large number of stand-alones, plus even more written as Barbara Vine. I managed to pick up another book at the used book sale: The Water's Lovely. Can't wait.

Rendell has been winning awards from the Crime Writers' Association  since 1976, up to the 1991 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger and the 2004 Gumshoe Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Hosted by Kerri at Mysteries in Paradise

By Friday of each week you have to write a blog post about crime fiction related to the letter of the week.
Your post MUST be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname.
So you see you have lots of choice.
You could write a review, or a bio of an author, so long as it fits the rules somehow. 

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet (author Tarquin Hall)

Hosted by Kerri at Mysteries in Paradise

By Friday of each week you have to write a blog post about crime fiction related to the letter of the week.
Your post MUST be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname.
So you see you have lots of choice.
You could write a review, or a bio of an author, so long as it fits the rules somehow. 

 This week the letter is H is brought to you by Tarquin Hall, author of The Case of the Missing Servant, the first in the Puri Vish mystery series. Find more H entries here.

Tarquin Hall is a writer and journalist who has lived for many years in South Asia, as well as the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. He is married to the journalist Anu Anand and divides his time between Delhi and London, England. His website is www.tarquinhall.com. (taken from the back cover flap)

The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall, 298 pages

Global Reading Challenge: India

Puri Vish is a Most Private Investigator in Delhi, with a great staff. He is hired to find a missing servant that the owner of the home has been accused to 'ruining', if not more. Unfortunately, even her name is barely known and India has over a billion citizens. Vish takes the case, a nice change from many of his marital background check cases.

Vish reminded me of a cross between Poirot and Holmes. Poirot because he keeps his ideas to himself, and Holmes because he notices little details. I kept thinking it would be a bit of a comedy, because the tone is light, and there is some humor, but Vish is a serious investigator, with high quality investigative tools. There are some great characters that can be further developed, especially Vish's mother, who looks into an attempt on Vish's life, much against Vish's wishes. But she is very good. The employees, with nicknames like Facecream, Tubelight, and Flush, are smart and loyal and look interesting in their own right.

Add all these great characters to the vivid setting of India with its unique culture and traditions, and Tarquin Hall has written a great mystery novel that I'm glad I've caught at the beginning. The next book in the series, The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing, was just released last summer. Vish also refers to some of his past cases in this novel, so maybe some of them will be written.

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Hosted by Kerri at Mysteries in Paradise

By Friday of each week you have to write a blog post about crime fiction related to the letter of the week.
Your post MUST be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname.
So you see you have lots of choice.
You could write a review, or a bio of an author, so long as it fits the rules somehow. 

This week, E is for Edwards. Author Martin Edwards first book in his Lake District series, The Coffin Trail. Other books in the series include: The Cipher Garden, The Arsenic Labyrinth, and The Serpent Pool. Find more entries for this week here.

The Coffin Trail by Martin Edwards, 286 pages

Global Reading Challenge: Europe (England)

Lake District - area in northwest England, full of tarns, and fells

It took me a while to get into this mystery, as it takes a while to establish the characters and determine who is who. Daniel Kind, and his girlfriend, impulsively buy a house in the Lake District to get away from Oxford and London life. Daniel is a historian, and professor and he is also trying to learn about his late father, a former police officer from the very area he moves to. He makes contact with his father's old sergeant, Hannah Scarlet, who has just been named head of a cold case squad. There were a lot of coincidences with people and situations to get this set up going I thought, as Daniel had a connection to the old case that Hannah begins investigating. Stop! Too much of this! I must be a tad more patient with the first book in the series.

In the beginning, I got a very creepy vibe from Daniel, and I originally thought he was the bad guy. This led me to have difficulty identifying with him, as for the first half of the book, I suspected him at every turn. (Also, I didn't like the cover and it made me think less of the book for quite a while. Sorry, book.) Most of my issues with the plot and characters can be attributed to getting the series set up. (Maisie Dobbs, however, made me love the first book and the set up to get her story going, so it is possible to be less abrupt.) The ending however, with its twists and turns, did make up a lot for the beginning. At the half way point, I wasn't planning to read anymore in the series; however, but the end, I'm thinking I'll give the next book a chance.

thanks to Susan at you can never have too many books for the suggestion to read this series. I so seldom remember who recommended a book to me that when I do, it's quite exciting.
also reviewed: nan at letters from a hill farm;  kerrie at mysteries in paradise;

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Hosted by Kerri at Mysteries in Paradise

By Friday of each week you have to write a blog post about crime fiction related to the letter of the week.
Your post MUST be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname.
So you see you have lots of choice.
You could write a review, or a bio of an author, so long as it fits the rules somehow. 

This week is letter D. D is for Death in La Fenice by Donna Leon. This is the first book in the Guido Brunetti Mystery series, which is up to book number 19. Looks like I have some catching up to do. I'm a bit late this week, but hopefully will get on track with the letters next week.

Death in La Fenice by Donna Leon, 278 pages

Global Reading Challenge: Italy; Criminal Plots Challenge: first in a new to you series

At the Opera House in Venice, the conductor never comes back after the second act. He's been poisoned by cyanide in his coffee. Commissario Guido Brunetti is called in to investigate. It's Italy, so expect unreasonable bosses, great food descriptions, lots of wine, red tape, and wonderful atmosphere. Brunetti deals with his unreasonable boss, and has a wonderful family with aristocratic connections.

The mystery is secondary to Brunetti's interactions with the suspects and the setting. The writing is clear, with great characters.  As my Camilleri mystery series (Inspector Montalbano) is practically up to date, this will supply my Italian fix when I need it. I quite enjoyed all the references to different areas of Italy that are mentioned and the accompanying stereotypes of Naples and Sicily.  Yes, I'll be reading more of this series.

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet (review of Cocaine Blues)

Hosted by Kerri at Mysteries in Paradise

By Friday of each week you have to write a blog post about crime fiction related to the letter of the week.
Your post MUST be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname.
So you see you have lots of choice.
You could write a review, or a bio of an author, so long as it fits the rules somehow.

This week's letter is C in the Crime Fiction Alphabet Meme. I am spotlighting the first book in the Phryne Fisher Mystery series, Cocaine Blues. For more posts in this meme this week, visit here.

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood, 175 pages

 Book 1 of 18 in the series; Global Mystery Challenge

Phryne Fisher is a flapper, a dame, and broad and a lady. Set in the 1920s of Australia, she embodies the beginnings of the women's movement. She flies a plane, does what she likes, sleeps with whom she wants, and has a ton of money. She lives a life of luxury and I'm sure it was much easier for women of money to become independent. I've read a few later editions, but this is the first one, as Phyrne establishes her life in Melbourne after leaving boring England, and meets her supporting characters.

This is a fun series, which shouldn't be analysed too seriously for plot holes. Phyrne will figure everything out ahead of everyone, will know who is doing what, and step in and fight where she certainly doesn't belong and still run in the upper society circles wearing the best of clothes, which always look best on her. But it will be a fun ride even amidst serious topics. (this one includes back room abortionists, drug rings, women doctors, and communists)

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet (review of In the Company of Cheerful Ladies)

Hosted by Kerri at Mysteries in Paradise

By Friday of each week you have to write a blog post about crime fiction related to the letter of the week.
Your post MUST be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname.
So you see you have lots of choice.
You could write a review, or a bio of an author, so long as it fits the rules somehow.

I am going to try to spotlight some mystery books or writers that I am reading, or want to read this year, as Kerri is hosting the Crime Fiction Alphabet again this year.Today, the letter A is brought to you by the prolific mystery writer, Alexander McCall Smith.

Alexander McCall Smith  - In the Company of Cheerful Ladies, 233 pages
book 6 of 12 in the series

Pull up a chair, or find a tree to stand under. Pour the bush tea, and settle your traditionally built body down for a visit. Mma Precious Ramotswe is becoming one of my favorite characters in books. Her thought process, her respect for tradition and elders, her love of Botswana, and her philosophy and manner of dealing with people is so kind, and smart, and practical.

This is book six, so if you've read these books, you know the drill. Quiet, not much of a mystery to solve, but several 'events' that need dealing with. Charlie, the apprentice at Mr J.L.B. Matekoni's garage has run off with an older women; Mma Makutsi is taking dance lessons; Precious' first husband, Note, is back in town;  and who left the pumpkin on the back porch? There is a lot going on, but not much at the same time. It is Mma Ramotswe's view of life and musings that we read these books for, and I hope to take a dip into the Number One Ladies Detective Agency a few more times this year. It's like sitting with an old friend for a cuppa, being in the company of cheerful ladies.

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Mysteries in Paradise hosts a weekly meme on mystery authors and books, highlighting a different letter each week. Beginning March 29, 2010, posts with the letter X, for author first or last name or book title are being collected here.



X is for Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton.

The first of 11 in the Lara McClintoch mystery series. In this book, Lara travels to Mexico from Canada to help an old friend who sends her a cryptic message. By the time she gets to the hotel owned by her old friends, Don Hernan has gone missing. Lara is picking her life up after a sudden divorce, and she throws herself into finding Don Hernan and what it was he wanted her help for.

First novels in a series can be tough because the author has to set up a whole back story to sustain further novels, introduce supporting characters, plus be a compelling mystery on its own. The mystery was good; Lara jumped right in to situations that I thought were a little daring, but she seemed nonplussed about breaking into a museum, or sneaking out of the hotel while under house arrest. There was a touch more historical information than I would have required but it was a fascinating look at the history of the Maya and Mexico that I knew nothing about.

Summary: cute little cosy mystery, but I won't be running out to get another in the series. Recommended for archaeological fans and people interested in Mexico and its history or for readers wanting a book beginning with the letter X.

(originally posted to my blog November 2008)

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Mysteries in Paradise hosts a weekly meme on mystery authors and books, highlighting a different letter each week. Beginning March 22, 2010, posts with the letter W, for author first or last name or book title are being collected here.



My entry this week is the mystery, When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson. 348 pages

Jackson Brodie, previous detective from Case Histories and One Good Turn, is back for Kate Atkinson's newest novel. The title hints at the bad news following some characters that permeates this page turner. There are some desperately sad people in this book, and as several stories overlap and intersect they prove Jackson's line near the end of the book, 'A coincidence is just an explanation waiting to happen.'

This story is more straight forward than One Good Turn. Atkinson takes some time to weave several characters and stories together, and then the twists started that had me rapidly turning the pages to see how it would end. Great characters and plot twists and humor and suspense.

Reggie Chase, sixteen but looks younger, is a nanny for Dr Joanne Hunter's baby. Reggie spends her time avoiding her no good brother, trying to get her high school degree, and being followed by bad luck. I wanted to hug her and cheer her on the whole time.
Dr Hunter's husband is having some business cash flow issues and then Dr Hunter herself goes missing.
Joanne Mason was six years old when her family was butchered by a serial killer, only she and her novelist father survived. The killer, Andrew Decker, is about to be released from prison after thirty years in jail.
Louise Monroe, Detective Chief Inspector in Scotland, has moved on from her attraction to Jackson in the last book, but hasn't stopped thinking about him (who could?) She is still a strong protector of women and the baddest ass cop around.
Jackson Brodie, he used to be a policeman. He always has to look for a missing woman; he can't turn that mystery down.

Once a train wreck is added to this assortment of characters, lives get intertwined and some blood is shed. I liked how so many nursery rhymes were woven into the writing, and pop references are flying everywhere. I'm sure I missed a lot, not being a British native, but I was able to identify many. The ending was a little vague but as hopeful as could be expected for these sad, sad people. Louise and Jackson are terrific characters, full of angst and both are the typical lone-wolf cop with commitment issues. Hopefully, they will be back to another book.

(review originally posted to my blog on October 8, 2008)

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Mysteries in Paradise hosts a weekly meme on mystery authors and books, highlighting a different letter each week. Beginning March 15, 2010, posts with the letter V, for author first or last name or book title are being collected here.

Here's my review from December 2008:

Voices by Arnaldur Indridason, 344 pages

translated from the Icelandic by Bernard Scudder

genre challenge: detective

My second read in the Reykjavik Thriller series, but definitely not my last. The Draining Lake is next and I think a new one is being released this spring, Arctic Chill.

Detective Erlunder is back investigating the death of a hotel doorman, killed in his Santa suit. As with all good mystery series, the detectives, including Erlunder, Elinborg, and Sigurdur Oli, are as interesting as the mystery itself. Erlunder is the classic cop - alone, miserable, and fighting crime to avoid fighting his own demons. This case brings up more from his past, and his daughter Eva Lind is back, pushing him, and in his face, trying to make him face the decisions he has made with his family. He seems to be on the verge of a break through. The development of the main characters, plus the bleak Icelandic setting make this a great series to read.

Appropriately, and entirely accidentally, I read this at Christmas time. Set the week before Christmas, Erlunder doesn't want to go home and all his detectives are worrying about getting home in time and getting everything done more than finishing the case. There wasn't as much emphasis on Elinborg or Sigurdur Oli in this book, hopefully there will be more in the next one.

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Mysteries in Paradise hosts a weekly meme on mystery authors and books, highlighting a different letter each week. Beginning March 2, 2010, posts with the letter T, for author first or last name or book title are being collected here.


T is for Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann

translated from the German by Anthea Bell

genre: mystery fiction

This wasn't too baaad of a mystery. Such a neat idea, to have the flock of sheep investigate the murder of their shepherd. Lots of fodder for the mind. The story does a good job of getting information that only the sheep can hear to the reader, and we can understand a lot more than the sheep, even Miss Maple, quite possibly the cleverest sheep in Ireland. The cast of sheep, includes the requisite black sheep of the flock, Othello, and you can see that there is lots of playful fun with the narrative. The sheep face some of their fears and learn a lot about the world and humans. Some sections got a little confusing and woolly but they were sheep trying to make sense of things and they often got distracted by the need to graze. I can understand that in many ways.

In some ways, the execution of the story wasn't quite as good as the concept, but it was cute, especially if you like sheep. (I've reprinted the review of this book I posted on my blog over a year ago. Once I reread the review, it was kinda cute.)

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Mysteries in Paradise hosts a weekly meme on mystery authors and books, highlighting a different letter each week. Beginning February 8, 2010, posts with the letter Q, for author first or last name or book title are being collected here.


This week, Q is for Kwei Quartey, author of Wife of the Gods.

From Kwei Quartey's website:

Dr. Kwei Quartey was born in Ghana and raised by an African American mother and a Ghanaian father, both of whom were university lecturers. Even though his professional writing career began after he became a physician, his desire to be a writer started at a very early age.

Kwei Quartey now lives in Pasadena, California. He writes early in the morning before setting out to work at HealthCare Partners, where he runs a wound care clinic and is the lead physician at an urgent care center.

Here's my review of Wife of the Gods, one of my favorite books from 2009. Set in Ghana, it takes the reader to the conflict between traditions and modern conveniences, as well as introducing a new detective, Darko Dawson.

And I see from Quartey's site that another book with Detective Darko Dawson is planned for 2011. Wee! I'll be looking forward to Children of the Street.

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Mysteries in Paradise hosts a weekly meme on mystery authors and books, highlighting a different letter each week. Beginning February 1, 2010, posts with the letter P, for author first or last name or book title are being collected here.


Lots of options for the letter P. I thought I would use Anne Perry, but then I remembered how I found Perry in the first place: beside Ellis Peters on the library shelf as I hunted for some Brother Cadfael mysteries. So this week, P is for Ellis Peters.

Ellis Peters is the pseudonym for Edith Mary Pargeter, the British author who died in 1995. Her most famous books are the Brother Cadfael mysteries set in Shrewsbury, near Wales in the 12th century. Cadfael was on the crusades before he joined the Benedictine monastery, so he is a man of the world, with more experience than your average monk. A mixture of murder, politics - within and without the monastery, history, and great characters make this a wonderful, gentle mystery series.

In 1993 Peters won the Cartier Diamond Dagger, an annual award given by the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain to authors who have made an outstanding lifetime's contribution to the field of crime and mystery writing. (from wikipedia) I am mostly focusing on her Cadfael books, but Peters wrote over 50 books, mostly historical fictions.

The setting and fame of the Cadfael books have made Shrewsbury a local tourist spot, with mystery fans coming to see the church and the castle. The BBC has made adaptations of the books into radio and television series, which I haven't seen any of yet. There are many books in the series, which, personally, is something I love to find in a new mystery series - you know there will be another book at the library to take out for quite a while.
list of books copied from wikipedia:

A Morbid Taste for Bones ·
One Corpse Too Many ·
Monk's Hood ·
Saint Peter's Fair ·
The Leper of Saint Giles ·
The Virgin in the Ice ·
The Sanctuary Sparrow ·
The Devil's Novice ·
Dead Man's Ransom ·
The Pilgrim of Hate ·
An Excellent Mystery ·
The Raven in the Foregate ·
The Rose Rent ·
The Hermit of Eyton Forrest ·
The Confession of Brother Haluin ·
The Heretic's Apprentice ·
The Potters Field ·
The Summer of the Danes ·
The Holy Thief ·
Brother Cadfael's Penance

I've still remembered a line from one of the books from many years ago when I read these:
On making a decision, Cadfael says "Ten of one, half a score of another." Well done, Ellis Peters.

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Mysteries in Paradise hosts a weekly meme on mystery authors and books, highlighting a different letter each week. Beginning January 25, 2010, posts with the letter O, for author first or last name or book title are being collected here.

O is for Karen E Olson
Karen Olson is the author of two mystery series: the Annie Seymour mysteries, which includes

• Sacred Cows
• Secondhand Smoke
• Dead of the Day
• Shot Girl

and her new Tattoo Shop Mysteries, which includes:

• The Missing Ink
• Pretty in Ink (to be released March 2 in pb, but I've already read some good reviews)

I came late to the Annie Seymour mysteries, and have only read Sacred Cows (my review), but it was everything I thought the Stephanie Plum books were supposed to be, with humor, and love interests, and a messy lead character - literally and also in her life. I'm on the lookout for the next couple in the series.

I haven't read her new Tattoo Shop mysteries, but her fans are loving this new series set in Las Vegas. Both series feature women who, while not detectives, are drawn in murders to solve. Annie Seymour was a reporter and Brett Kavanaugh is a tattoo artist. I must put that on my wishlist, both books.

Karen is also a blogger, and is active online. She is very accessible, and often stops by to readers who review her books.

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet

Mysteries in Paradise hosts a weekly meme on mystery authors and books, highlighting a different letter each week. Beginning January 11, 2010, posts with the letter M, for author first or last name or book title are being collected here. This is my first week participating, and I'm going for the double M:

M is for Miyuki Miyabe

Miyuki Miyabe is one of Japan's most popular contemporary writers. She writes mysteries, science fiction, and fantasy novels. Only 6 of her books have been translated into English, the most famous being the mystery All She Was Worth. I've read three of her mysteries now, and I've enjoyed all of them, including the most recent, Crossfire, a Christmas present, review below.

my reviews of
Shadow Family
All She Was Worth




Crossfire by Miyuki Miyabe, 404 pages
translated by Deborah Stuhr Iwabuchi and Anna Husson Isozaki

Japanese Literature Challenge

Sometimes noncombatants get caught in the crossfire.

The back cover describes this as Death Wish meets Firestarter, and Miyabe includes a nice reference to Stephen King within the novel. Detective Chikako Ishizu of the Tokyo Arson division is called in to investigate the death by fire of some local hoodlums. In the parallel story, Junko is on a mission to avenge crimes and mete out justice. She has pyrokinesis, the ability to start fires with her mind. Adding the touch of paranormal activity makes this mystery just a little different and intriguing.

The story is told from these two perspectives, and deals with finding justice, from the police and from a societal point of view. Both women deal with their role. There are several other interesting characters, some great twists and turns in the plot, and a look at a dark side of Japan.
Miyabe makes some statements about vengeance and punishments, and whose role it is, much like she does in her other books. (Shadow Family made comments about credit and consumers.) Who gets to decide what the punishment is? Who decides how evil a person is and who deserves to die?

Thanks to tanabata who sent me this wonderful book from Japan for the Blogger Holiday Swap, it made it all the more special to read it.