BOOK: Gretzky's Tears by Stephen Brunt

Gretzky's Tears by Stephen Brunt, 259 pages
Hockey, Canada, and the Day Everything Changed

4th Canadian Book Challenge; 2nds Reading Challenge
Thanks to Randomhouse Canada for the review copy

There are those moments in your life, in our shared experience, that we remember. For Canadians, we remember hearing when Wayne Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings from the Edmonton Oilers. I was in the car, riding home from my summer job at Department of Veterans Affairs and it was on CBC Radio. (Yes, even back then I listened to CBC, but mostly because it was my parents' car.) Shock, disbelief, really? It was such a surprising announcement.

Stephen Brunt, author of Searching for Bobby Orr, another excellent sport/Canadian book, examines the events of the Gretzky trade - before, during and after. And isn't it the mark of great writing that even when you know what will happen, you can't put the book down?* Late one night as I was reading, and the famous press conference was being described, I couldn't put it down. Gretzky's book is as much about Peter Pocklington and Bruce McNall as it is about Gretzky, but it has to be - the trade was as much about those men as Wayne, and as much about big business as hockey. And while Wayne and Peter Puck did not talk to Brunt, most other key people did, including McNall and Walter Gretzky.

My edition had an updated epilogue to include the lighting of the Olympic torch at Vancouver 2010, where Gretzky played a pivotal role. (Boo to the editor who miswrote the name of Steve Nash, famous Canadian basketball player who helped light the torch and called him Rick Nash, a Canadian hockey player. That was very jarring to read.)

Overall, Brunt captures the love Canadians have for Wayne Gretzky and how attached we are to him, even though he hasn't lived in Canada for over 20 years. Brunt seems a bit surprised how forgiving Canadians are, but I would argue we are still attached to many of our Canadian exports who have gone to the States, like Michael J Fox and Howie Mandel. We still claim ownership and expect them to identify as Canadians.

Americans didn't get [hockey] - couldn't get it, except in a few border outposts and in Minnesota, which was, by virtue of its climate, liberal politics and the fact that they broadcast all ninety minute of As It Happens on the local public radio station, sort of a Canada-lite, in any case. p77

But not even the true, blinded zealots would be able to convince themselves that selling the perfect Canadian player from the perfect Canadian team in the perfect Canadian hockey town to foreigners of suspect motives in a place with palm trees was really in our own best interest. p78

*Note to self: Look for some other Brunt books like Second to None: The Roberto Alomar Story or Diamond Dreams: Twenty Years of Blue Jays Baseball

also reviewed: jayne at jayne's books

BOOK: Fear the Worst and The Murder Stone

Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay, 399 pages

RIP V; 4th Canadian Book Challenge

Barclay delivers with another great thriller.(See previous books read: No Time for Goodbye and Too Close to Home) In this one, a father worries when his seventeen year old daughter goes missing. As he begins to look for her, the 'job' she travelled to everyday has never heard of her. Dun, dun Dun! 

Solid, realistic, with characters who feel believable, if a little impulsive and not willing to explain  what they are doing, Barclay is a reliable RIP novelist.

also reviewed: kerrie at mysteries in paradise;  joy at thoughts of joy;

The Murder Stone by Louise Penny, 414 pages; 4th of 6 in the series
*published as A Rule Against Murder in US

RIP V; 4th Canadian Book Challenge

Series books are tough to review, since you can't tell too much, and so much of a good series is the development of the main characters.

What I like about the series? Inspector Gamache is a wonderful detective and person, almost a little too perfect, but I'd want him on my case. The setting of Quebec, the recurring characters, Gamache's investigative team all combine with Penny's prose to provide an enjoyable read.

This book? I actually like this one a little bit better, although it wasn't set in Three Pines, so few of the recurring characters were around, although there is a connection to Three Pines. There was also little of the arching story line involving Gamache and his boss. Gamache is on vacation with his wife at an exclusive type lodge in the forests of Quebec. A large family arrives for its annual reunion, but they aren't very nice people, even to each other. Lots of motive for when one of them is killed in a closed door mystery - somebody at the lodge has to be the killer.

CHALLENGE: YA Dystopian

From October 1 - December 19, 2010
Hosted at Bart's Bookshelf
Young Adult Dystopian


Level 2: Is for those want a little bit more of a challenge, but still have some wriggle-room to participate as real life permits, requirement for this level is just two to four, young adult dystopian novels, between the 1st October and 19th December.

Possible Books:
Monsters of Men
The House of the Scorpion
In the Forest of Hands and Teeth
The Dead and the Gone
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Jeanne Duprau's The Prophet of Yonwood, The Diamond of Darkhold

Read:

BOOK: Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day by Winifred Watson

Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day by Winifred Watson, 234 pages

Typically British Challenge; 1001 Books to Read

I declare this the year of the Pettigrews! Two of the best books I've read are about Pettigrews - first the Major and now the Miss. There is a movie, which looks delightful.

Miss Pettigrew is on her last chance and ends up spending the day with an actress who lives a much freer, amazing life than she has ever known or approved of. And yet, the things she sees change her life. It was so much fun to watch her embrace her day, and I enjoyed myself as much as her.

It's light, it's fluffy, it's adorable, it's how people should treat each other, being kind to each other. Sure, it's a bit predictable and old-fashioned, but some days that's a lot of fun to read.  I'll be suggesting this one to everyone I know. Who wouldn't adore Miss Pettigrew?

also reviewed:
joanna at lost in a good story;  nan at letters from a hillfarm;

BOOK: The Darkest Room by Johan Theorin

The Darkest Room by Johan Theorin, 438 pages
translated by Marlaine Delargy

RIP V Challenge; Suspense and Thriller Challenge: Winner of CWA International Dagger (Kerrie has a nice round up of the nominated books here)

This has to be one of the spookiest, scariest books I've ever read. Let me explain:
 
the setting: small island off the coast of Sweden, during the winter, and during several blizzards; deserted lighthouses and an old abandoned manor house

the characters: the thieves who are meth addicts and would do anything, the dead drug addict still in the heart of Joakim (the father in the family that buys the house), the ghosts who populate the island and legend has will return at Christmas, the daughter who has very strange dreams, the old man who knows all the legends and history of Oland

the back stories: alternating with the plot are stories of all the people who have died terrible deaths at Eel Point Manor since the house was built. Perhaps building it with the wood that washed ashore from a shipwreck was a bad omen?

the plot: A family leaves Stockholm and buys an old abandoned home on the shore of Oland island, planning to renovate and move on. But the house has been home to many tragedies.And they have some secrets in their past.

You want a haunted house story for Halloween? You like crazy chase scenes through a blizzard? Some modern mystery with your historical mystery? A little international flavor? Here you go.

also reviewed: kerri at mysteries in paradise

BOOK: You Comma Idiot by Doug Harris

You Comma Idiot by Doug Harris, 326 pages

4th CBC Challenge; New Author; Librarything's Early Reviewer Book

This was a fun romp though the streets of Montreal with the main character, Lee Goodstone. Nice ironic name for a small time drug dealer, who at the age of twenty-nine, still has no real job. The best thing going on in Lee's life right now is that he is having an affair with his best friend's girlfriend.

The story is gritty (language and drug use) but the most interesting thing about the book is the narrative. I haven't read a lot or even any books written in the second person. It's quirky, and it was unique enough to keep me interested as the story rambled around town.  Lee is dealing with some problems, and his gang of friends are all loser slackers for the most part, still living the party as they all are ending their twenties. There are some mysteries to be solved and relationships to be revealed, and that also keeps the pages turning: Henry, his friend, is suspected of killing a local missing girl. Henry denies it, but was he involved?

If you act stupidly long enough, people come to think of you as stupid. And if you behave weirdly for long enough, they think of you as weird. And that's how you end up a stupid f*ing weirdo. That's how it works. People don't set out to be losers. It happens when you're not paying close enough attention. p36

Some other neat touches, beside the narrative perspective, was the design. The cover has a cigarette burn in the Idiot and the inside leaf is covered with doodles that Lee would have written. I got this book from the Early Reviewer's program at Librarything, and the publisher sent a bookmark with it as well. These extra touches added to my reading enjoyment.

also reviewed:
buried in print; jonita at the book chick;

BOOK: Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue, 321 pages

4th CBC Challenge (Donaoghue lives in Canada now ); Man Booker Shortlisted 2010; New Author Challenge; RIP V Challenge

Believe the hype - this was a great read. Jack, the five year old narrator, shows us his world, mostly in a 9' X 9' Room with his mother. Such a memorable character and unique voice. I devoured this book in the past 24 hours, was taken on an emotional roller coaster, and shall recommend it to others.

also reviewed by :
Wendy at caribousmom
lizzy at lizzy's literary life
joy at thoughts of joy
kailana at the written world
s. krishna at s.krishna's books
jackie at farmlane books

BOOK: The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery

The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery, 264 pages

Colourful Challenge; 4th CBC Challenge

Such a sweet story with a 1980s retro cover that would inspire no one to read it, unless you've been hanging around the internets. I've been reading some recent reviews of and references to The Blue Castle and it inspired me to reread it. (Plus, it finished off the Colourful Challenge for me.) Even though I knew the main twists in the story, my enjoyment could not have been higher. It was fun to read it again, looking for all the clues that were dropped.

The story: Valencey Stirling is a 29 year old, old maid. This was written in 1926 so that was the phrase of the day, and also, it means she has not fulfilled her role in life. Poor Doss, as her family calls her, is put upon and made fun of, while she comments in her head all the things she wishes she could say. When she receives a dire health prognosis, she decides to live like she hasn't been. Her family is mightily confused by her sudden backbone, and she is finally, blissfully happy. There is much more to the story, but if I told more, you might not have the fun of reading it too.

It's a romance, a feel good read, and although it's predictable, it's absolutely wonderful. Many LM fans like The Blue Castle best. Also, it's a musical written by Hank Stinson. If you ever get a chance to see this performed, please do.

 Get a head start on the 4th Canadian Book Challenge:
I picked up a copy (with the equally old fashioned cover) at our local Walmart, because we can do that on Prince Edward Island. Would someone like a copy? I so love this book, I'd like to send it to someone else to share the enjoyment and love of LM Montgomery and Valency Stirling. I'll take requests for a week in the comments (make sure I can contact you somehow) and then draw a name after October 9th..
Good luck!

ps - there are already comments on this post, so please wait a moment for the comments to load.

BOOK: The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood, 431 pages

4th CBC Challenge; It's the End of the World Challenge; Giller longlist 2009

(The cover is gorgeous! See that face?)
Teenagers are such interesting creatures. I had this book on my desk for Silent Reading period (which we still do in high school) and a student saw it. He said Oryx and Crake was one of his favorite books. Wow, not a book or author I'd expect many sixteen year old boys to like. I was pleased a few days later to be able to tell him that Oryx and Crake had just showed up  in this book. I'll have to lend this book to him. And now I have to find my copy of Oryx and Crake to try. I was scared last year by some mixed reviews, but now that I am familiar with the world, I may attempt it. The Year of the Flood is a companion novel to Oryx and Crake, so not necessary to read one before the other, and I believe they are now described as being part of a trilogy.

What I like about dystopian novels is the way authors imagine a world, similar to ours, but more extreme. You can see how life has evolved to this new state of spliced animals like the liolambs or rakunks. This novel is sometime in the future, after the Waterless Flood, which appears to be a pandemic virus that kills only humans. Two women, Ren and Toby, who ended up in an isolation situation, survived the flood. Both were previously members of The Gardeners, a cult based on respecting animals and the Earth. Each chapter begins with a sermon, and a song. I usually sang the song in my head with typical hymn music.  The Gardeners honor their saints each day, based on naturalists or well known people from now. For example, Saint David Suzuki and Saint Terry Fox, plus so many more that I didn't even recognize. I imagined The Gardeners were like PETA in the future, as they completely avoided any animal products.

Ren and Toby alternate chapters to show how they ended up in the place they did from their time in The Gardeners. There are so many issues to discuss in this novel - the Corporations who run the world, the gene splicing, the extinct animals, what a person can do to survive when absolutely necessary. I also found the book quite humorous, not in one-liners, but somehow it was funny. Toby was a bit of a cynic so she was sarcastic and funny in her head as she dealt with the strong believers.

The story runs along nicely, back and forth in time, very easy to want to keep reading. The women were strong, but I did feel a slight detachedness from them. I cared what happened but I wasn't emotionally attached to them. It seemed a tad coincidental that the only people who survived were all connected somehow, rather convenient. The ending was rather ambiguous as well, but it didn't bother me as much as it might have - it was hopeful, as I like my dystopian novels to be.

In honour of the 30th anniversay of the Terry Fox Runs this past week:
Saint Terry's Day is dedicated to all Wayfarers - prime among them Saint Terry Fox who ran so far with one mortal and one metallic leg; who set a shining example of courage in the face of overwhelming odds; who showed what eh human body can do in the way of locomotion without fossil fuels; who raced against Mortality, and in the end outran his own Death, and lives on in Memory. p 403


also reviewed:
rhinoa at rhinoa's ramblings
leeswammes' blog
jules at jules' book review 
softdrink at fizzy thoughts
wendy at caribousmom
kailana and chrisbookarama buddy read
lori at she treads softly

BLOGGING: It's Tuesday, Where Are You?

I am in the time after the Waterless Flood, trying to survive. It's pretty bleak here, and the Gardeners, who honor the earth are battling against Corps which control the media and nearly everything else. (The Year of the Flood, Margaret Atwood)

Where is reading taking you today? Leave a comment, write a post, spread the word.

BOOK: Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, 418 pages

Typically British Challenge;
released September 21, 2010 in Canada, thanks to Random House Canada for the review copy

Becky Branford, nee Bloomwood drives me crazy in so many ways! Does she never learn? Wouldn't it be easier in to just tell the truth? But, if Becky ever learned, then these enjoyable romps wouldn't be nearly so much fun. It's silly fluff, but well written; the characters are true to form, and Becky, while flighty, has a good heart and just doesn't want to disappoint anyone.

Minnie is now a willful two year old, as obsessed with shopping as Becky is, screaming "Miine, dolly!" in the store and getting banned from Santa's Grotto at the mall. The financial crisis has hit London, and all must do their part. (Becky and her mother discover the joy of the Pound Shop, and 'save' a pile of money with all the deals they discover.) The main story is that Becky is planning a surprise birthday party for the long suffering Luke. All our favorite characters, Suze, sister Jess, Becky's parents, and Luke's estranged mother Elinor, are back to help Becky get the party organized, with several disasters along the way, natch. Kinsella makes great use of the new technology to further the plot (high powered Luke never lets go of his Blackberry, for example) and the fashion names are still being dropped like crazy, even if Becky has to go to the outlet mall to get her discounts.

Kinsella writes this type of story as well as anyone. I wouldn't start with this book, but fans of the series will not be disappointed. While I prefer her stand alone books (Twenties Girl was one of my favorite books from last year), checking in with Becky now and then provides for a weekend of amusing, fun reading. This story left the possibility of another escapade with Becky, Luke and Minnie, and I look forward to it.

my Shopaholic and Baby review from March 2008

also reviewed:
wendy and her sister Paula at caribousmom;

BOOK: Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler

Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler, 417 pages

4th CBC Challenge; Giller Prize Winner 1997; 2nds Challenge

As another Barney might say, "This is legend-wait for it-ary". Barney Panofsky, English speaking, Jewish Montrealer is telling his life story, since that bastard Terry McIver wrote a book about Barney's life and Barney wants to set the record straight. Barney is pretty honest about his life - living in Paris in the 1950s, his three wives - one buried, and two divorced, his career in television, his three children. Oh, yeah, and the murder charge of his best friend he was acquitted on.

Richler has the amazing ability to write characters who are awful, with few redeeming characteristics, and yet I still like them. He first did this with Duddy Kravitz, who makes some wonderful cameos in Barney's Version, and now with Barney Panofsky. Fans of the unreliable narrator will have much to chew on here, as Barney is a bit forgetful now that he is sixty-eight, plus, how honest can he be about some of the shitty things he's done? The mystery of the murder hangs over the whole story - what happened to Boogie that night at the cottage? Did Barney kill him?

My only complaint is the length. I wish it had been a hundred pages less. Richler packs the pages with so many literary allusions and references that it slowed me down, and I'm sure I only caught a small percentage. The memoirs have footnotes, as one of Barney's children has gone through and made the corrections of known facts, which adds to the references. I liked the footnotes as it helped reference what Barney was really able to remember or not. For example, even in his muddled state, he remembers all the Montreal Canadiens' games and goal scorers, a nice touch. Also, the Second Mrs Panofsky, as she is always called, is a nonstop talker, and when I'd hit a page with one of her conversations with her mother on the phone, I'd practically groan. It's a credit to Richler that I'd still read it because I was scared I would miss some important part of the narrative within her rambling nattering. What was Barney's perspective of her perspective of him?

In other good news, this has just been made into a movie, with Paul Giamatti as Barney. I think it had its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival and I am looking forward to seeing it.

BOOK: Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, 284 pages

RIV V; Suspense and Thriller Challenge

I've never watched Dexter, but I think maybe I should start. This was a really fun book, perfect for the Readers Imbibing Peril V Challenge. The best person to catch serial killers would be a person who understands their mind - a serial killer himself! That's what Dexter Morgan does - crime scene investigator, blood-splatter expert by day, serial killer by night, but only killing the bad people. He is detached, as any good sociopath/psychopath should be, not able to relate to normal people, but is smart enough to recognize the steps he needs to go through (girlfriend, nothing flashy lifestyle, wave to neighbours) to not draw attention to himself. The word play and quick repartee are very well done. I can't wait to read the next in the series, Dearly Devoted Dexter, and I've bookmarked the season 1 DVD at the library.

BOOK: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, 389 pages

It's the End of the World as We Know It; RIP V; Young Adult Challenge

So, who thought she was being smart, pre-ordering Mockingjay in July? Who didn't realize that Chapters would not even begin to mail it to them until the evening of the day it was released after I had already complained that I didn't have it yet? And who is never going to pre-order a book from Chapters again? Who placed her next little book order from Amazon? Yeah, I was bitter before I started this book.

It was good, a quick read with everything that should have happened. I liked how Collins wrapped up the story although lots of violence and death with the war and all. I read it as fast as I could, with the twelve year old son pushing me along. I have not much to add to this. I eventually went back to read some reviews, but everyone has been very careful about not giving anything away. So nothing interesting from me.

BOOK: The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston, 562 pages

4th Canadian Book Challenge; Giller Shortlist 1998

Newfoundland joined Canada in 1948 after a referendum. Joey Smallwood was the first premier of Newfoundland, which made him a Father of Confederation. He died in 1991. That about sums up my knowledge of Newfoundland history, in relation to Canada, at least until I read this book. Johnston has written a book for Newfoundland that covers the life of Joey Smallwood, born in 1900.

It's epic, as is Newfoundland.

On the other hand, I was an islander. I wondered, if like [my father], I would be so bewildered by the sheer unknowable, unencompassable size of the world that I would have to come back home. How could you say for certain where you were, where home left off and away began, if the earth that you were standing on went on forever, as it must have seemed to him, in all directions? For an islander, there had to be natural limits, gaps, demarcations, not just artificial ones on a map. p 132

I, living on an island, completely understand this passage. Johnston has a way of letting the reader see Newfoundland, along the railway, in the outports, or in St.John's. And Joey Smallwood was a Newfoundlander to the core. Based on the wikipedia article, he described his character and all the conflicts in Smallwood very well. I had to read the article to get an idea of what was real and what wasn't. 

Here's what I was surprised wasn't real. The main conflict for Smallwood, other than wanting to be remembered for something, was his obsession with a local reporter, Sheilagh Fielding. They had gone to school together and an incident, reminiscent of Robertson Davis' Fifth Business, haunts them. Smallwood was from the wrong side of the tracks but was given a chance to attend a tony prep school and always wanted to be famous, to show 'them' he was worth something. The incident with Prowse (the rich guy), Fielding, and Smallwood makes up a bit of a mystery that stitches its way through the novel. But Fielding wasn't a real person. I didn't like that. She was an obsession for Smallwood. He was almost portrayed as asexual, except for his dealings with Fielding. This seemed to go against his character and if I was a family member, this would bother me. His real wife, Clara, is barely mentioned in the story.

The Fielding character provides the humour for sure. Her articles were dry and biting.  She was also writing a concise history of Newfoundland, and I'd love to read her take on the history of any province, or Canada. It certainly could have livened up Canadian history in high school if it had been written by Fielding.

I liked how the author managed to include a lot of Smallwood's real life, and it was his interactions with the people of Newfoundland that I liked best. The real history, not the made up stuff. The made up stuff was well written, with a mystery that I didn't suspect but was rationally explained, with fascinating characters. I just didn't think it belonged in the book. Once I realized Fielding was a made up character, I questioned everything, which defeats the point of a historical novel for me. I would encourage any one interested in Newfoundland history to have a look at this epic novel, but to be aware that not all is true. (And I know, it's fiction, but historical fiction should not make up major parts.)

CHALLENGE: RIP V

Hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings
runs now until October 31, 2010

All my favorite types of books:
Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.

Peril the First - read 4 books

Pool of possible reads:
Broken Shore by Peter Temple
Room by Emma Donaghue
The Darkest Room by Johan Theorin
The Murder Stone by Louise Penny
Thirteen Hours by Deon Myer
Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay
Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The Black Echo by Michael Connolly
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill

Any you think I really need to read?

The ones I read:

1. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins 09/06
2. Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay 09/10
3. Room - Emma Donoghue 10/02
4. The Darkest Room - Johan Theorin 10/13
5. Fear the Worst - Linwood Barclay 10/16
6. The Murder Stone - Louise Penny 10/23
7. Thirteen Hours - Deon Meyer 10/30

BLOGGING: It's Tuesday, Where are You?

I just returned to Newfoundland from NY city, and I expect there will be big things in my future as I am Joey Smallwood. (The Colony of Unrequited Dreams, by Wayne Johnston)

Where is reading taking you today? Leave a comment, write a post, spread the word.

BOOK: Feeling Sorry When You Reach the Westing Game by assorted authors

Feeling Sorry for Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty, 276 pages

Aussie Authors; Young Adult Challenge; 2nds Reading Challenge

Moriarty has the epistolary novel down pat. I previously enjoyed The Year of Secret Assignments. (The two books are part of a loose series, in the same town with connected characters, but not a linear series.) Here, Elizabeth writes letters to her penpal at a nearby school, notes on the fridge with her mother, the odd postcard from her missing best friend Celia, and the hilarious notes from Lizzy's brain from groups like the Best Friends Society, the Association of Teenagers, and the Cold Hard Truth Association. This was written in 2000, so not as much texting or emailing as a more modern book. Fun, easy book with a likable narrator.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, 193 pages

Young Adult Challenge; Newbery Prize Winner 2010

I didn't even realize this won the Newbery this year - much less hype then when Neil Gaiman won last year. Very much related and in homage to A Wrinkle in Time, Miranda's favorite book. Twelve year old Miranda is helping her mother prepare to be on $20,000 Pyramid in 1979 New York City. She is dealing with being poor with a single mother, the shifting sands of friendship in middle school, and suddenly, mysterious notes appearing in her belongings. I loved the setting, and really felt the city as a character and what it might be like to be growing up in NY. Nice use of relativity in a children's book, and if you've ever loved A Wrinkle in Time, I'd recommend this book.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, 185 pages

Newbery Prize Winner 1979; R author, A - Zed Challenge

So many people list this as an influence of their childhood, plus it's a Newbery Winner, I was inspired to read it. Probably one of those books it's best to read first as a young child, then it stays gold. As an adult, it was a cute book, a bit scattered in view points  and abrupt in places, but overall a nice little mystery. The clues are given, and it's a gateway book to Agatha Christie novels, with the locked library whodunnit. Six pairs of heirs are given apartments near the Westing House, and then given clues to decipher. First to figure it who killed Sam Westing gets the money. A colourful cast of characters to keep track of.

A bit unusual, but good intro for kids to a well-written, solvable  mystery.

BLOGGING: It's Tuesday, Where Are You?

I'm in New York City, circa 1979 with a young girl named Miranda. Her mother is studying to be on the $20,000 Pyramid, and there is some hint of time travel. (When You Reach Me, Rebecca Stead)

Where is reading taking you today? Leave a comment, write a post, spread the word.

BOOK: Spies of the Balkans by Alan Furst

Spies of the Balkans by Alan Furst, 268 pages

thanks to RandomHouse Canada for the review copy

Historical spy novels are not my usual type of fiction, but something about this one, probably the setting of Greece and the Balkans, made me pick this up. Apparently, Furst is well known for his historical spy books, and Spies of the Balkans is the 11th in his Night Soldiers series. (not a series per se, but a series of historical spy novels set in Europe that take place in the years prior to, and in the early part of, World War II.)

Costas Zannis is a special cop in Salonika, Greece, dealing with sensitive situations. He meets up with a woman from Germany helping Jews escape, and ends up helping her, and the refugees, on their path through the Balkans on the way to Turkey. At this point in the war, Greece is not involved, but is definitely a British ally. The plot wasn't as complicated as I feared, as spy thrillers usually leave me wondering who was who. There was just the right amount of suspense and intrigue and I liked Costas as a character. He lived a bit of a playboy life, with women falling all over him, sort of a dream life for guys, so maybe I'm not completely the target audience. It wasn't distracting, but it seemed a little too much for a regular guy to have fall in his lap.

If this is representative of Furst's other novels, I would certainly read another one. Stand-up characters, spy intrigue, world war two, and European settings are all well done.