Showing posts with label #Mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Mystery. Show all posts

#IMWAYR March 31st, 2025

Welcome! It's #IMWAYR time again, when bloggers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. I'm also connecting up with the Sunday Salon. These are fabulous places to start your search for what to read next.


I managed to get a lot accomplished in the last few weeks. I didn't finish everything that was on my list, but I did complete things that were not on it.

Last Sunday one set of grandkids arrived, and then Monday I was at a quilt workshop. The children and their father left Thursday and I headed off to a quilting retreat. I really enjoyed the retreat and managed to get the quilt I started Monday finished. I also made headway with another project that I started about 1 1/2 years ago. 

Here's the top that I finished. Lydia, my four year old granddaughter, has claimed it as her own. 

Her seven year old brother had a pile of books that he brought with him. I had hoped to sneak a look at some of them, but after they went to bed, I was too exhausted. 

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian or Indigenous Canadian Author and or Illustrator.
Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book

NON FICTION PICTURE BOOKS

Usborne Beginners

5 stars

Dangerous Animals by Rebecca Gilpin & Catriona Clarke July 01, 2008



My four year old granddaughter and I had a grand time reading these while she was here.
I used these nonfiction titles all the time when I was teaching. They are chock full of information. I love the pairing of one line of text with an image. These books were perfect for my ESL learners as well as primary students. When my husband and I were last visiting the Mosaic Bookstore in Kelowna, BC, I found some on sale for $1.99. I grabbed a copy of as many as I could find.


This book is a perfect example of why I read middle grade novels. Olivetti, a typewriter, is one of the main characters. Olivetti lived with the Brindle family for years. Before the introduction of personal computers, it was a valued member. Then it was mostly forgotten until one day, their mother, Beatrice, packed it up and took it to a pawnshop where she pawned it for $126. Then she disappeared. 
When the family are putting up missing posters for her, Quinn, the pawnshop owner's daughter, recognizes Beatrice, and connects with Ernest, her twelve year old son. Soon afterwards, Ernest discovers the door to the shop is open after hours, and steals Olivetti. As a way of helping the family find Mrs Brindle, Olivetti begins typing out the memories she once typed into it. 
I really appreciated that we never really understand out what is happening with Ernest until the mystery is solved and the connection is revealed. 
I adored this book. It packs an emotional wallop. Olivetti is a delightfully quirky character. I cared for Quinn, Ernest, and the rest of his family. 
Last summer, my seven year old granddaughter purchased a typewriter at a garage sale. I can't wait to share this novel with her. 

YA/ADULT NON FICTION


This Japanese mystery novel is both fascinating and creepy. When Yasuko Hanaoka’s abusive ex husband finds her and her daughter, they end up murdering him. It’s the only way they will ever be safe. Unexpectedly, their neighbour, Tetsuya Ishigami, a brilliant mathematician, comes to their rescue to help them get rid of the body.
He creates an elaborate plan telling them what to do and what to say should the police come knocking on their door.
Detective Kusanagi does eventually find the body and comes to interview the mother and daughter. They have a water tight alibi for where they were the night of the murder but the inspector feels that something isn’t quite right. When he talks about the case with his physicist friend, Dr. Manabu Yukawa, it turns out Yukawa is a friend of the mathematician. In the end, it’s the physicist who unravels what actually happened. I did not expect the convolutions that are revealed.

ADULT NON FICTION


The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Jen Gunter  May 25, 2021 🍁

Since I first read Dr. jen Gunter’s book, The Vagina Bible, I’ve been a fan of her work. I plan to purchase copies of Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation as a reference book for my grandchildren and their families. The latter is a book I really wish had been around when I was young. 
I am post menopausal, so I didn’t really think this book would have a whole lot to teach me. But then, it's Jen Gunter, so of course it did.
Jen Gunter's writing is full of empathy, but it's also straight up and no nonsense. These are the facts. This is the research. Here’s what to look out for so you aren't sucked into purchasing from corporations selling snake oil. Not only do we readers learn about history of menopause through a feminist lens, we learn what to look out for to ensure that we are truly taking care of our own health.

CURRENTLY 

Cut You Down by Sam Wiebe February 13, 2018 🍁

The Shepherd's Crown by Terry Pratchett August 27, 2015

UP NEXT (MAYBE)

Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters by Charan Ranganath January 1, 2024

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong November 5, 2024

2025 READING GOALS

#MustRead2025 10/25

NonFiction 12/30 

Poetry 1/12 

Canadian Authors 22/50 one on the go

Indigenous Authors 6/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 48/200

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#IMWAYR December 7, 2024

Welcome! It's #IMWAYR time again, when bloggers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. I'm also connecting up with the Sunday Salon. These are fabulous places to start your search for what to read next!

I've probably read more than is on my list here today, but if I did, I forgot to make note of it. I know I started and abandoned at least one book. I also picked up a collection of books on marionettes that I have been working my way through. 
We had a lovely visit with friends and family in Vancouver last week. Unfortunately, I wasn't really well. My doctor diagnosed me with a sinus infection and walking pneumonia when I got home. I suspected the former, but thought the coughing was related to my asthma not being under control - a normal event for me after a respiratory tract infection. I'm on antibiotics so I hope it's over soon.
I suspect that Covid 19 has screwed up my immune system again. It's what happened last time I got it.

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian or Indigenous Canadian Author and or Illustrator.
Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.

This was delightfully ridiculous! Jack is on Santa's bad list. He does what he has to to get on Santa's good list. He's not successful, and it's no wonder. This book turned out to be one hilarious surprise after another.
This is my first Jack book, but it won't be the last. I have put a hold on some for my grandkids to read when they visit over the holiday. I expect them to love them as much as I do. 

NON FICTION PICTURE BOOKS
She was an amazing woman! In1956, at the age of 23 she headed off, on her own, to South Africa to study giraffes. Not only was she a pioneer in the study of animals in their natural habitat, she was the first person to study giraffes, and the first western woman to study animals in the wild.
Just getting to South Africa was fraught with difficulty - mostly because she was a woman. She used the first initial in her name, knowing people would assume she was a man, just to find a place to stay.
After she finished her PHD, she tried to get a job teaching at a university, but because of her gender, no one would hire her. Even when she did get a teaching job, tenure was denied because of it.
This title focuses on her work with giraffes, but she also studied many different animals in Canada. She was a pioneer in the study of homosexuality in animals. Eventually she became an activist working towards equality for women in academia.
What I really like about this book is that not only do we learn a lot about giraffes, we also learn what life was like for a woman scientist in Anne Innis Dagg's lifetime. Born 25 January 1933, she was a few months older than my mother. I find it fascinating to look at the different lives women of their generation lived. 
François Thisdale's dramatic illustrations are worth admiring even without the text.  
I encourage you to watch the 2018 documentary on Dr Anne Innis Dagg's life, The Woman Who Loves Giraffes. It is available to watch on Kanopy, but you can watch the trailer for it here. 


I previewed a digital copy of this for my four year old granddaughters because they are both interested in dinosaurs and monsters. I liked it, but think there is too much text on the page for them. It's still a wonderful book. The artwork is gorgeous!
Each animal is presented in a double page spread. Each spread contains four different areas of information. The Mega Fact File gives basic information. Another with a coloured background provides more detail. I really like the inserts that compare the size of the creature to a human. 

How would you like to run into a Terror Bird?


Marta and her mother live in an attic room at the Hotel Balzaar, a run down establishment that has seen better days. Her mother works as a maid, while Marta tries to remain unobtrusive. Then the Countess, a flamboyant old woman with a parrot, arrives. She notices Marta and invites her to her room to tell her some fantastical stories. In their time together, she passes on important wisdom to the young girl. “It takes no courage at all to doubt, Marta. And we are not beyond rescue. We are never beyond rescue . . .”
The thing I love most about reading a Kate DiCamillo novel is how much deep philosophical thought is embedded in each one. This one is no exception. In it she examines the power of story telling, especially how we can see ourselves, our families, and our history in them.
The audiobook is delightfully narrated, but I think I missed a lot not seeing the illustrations. 

5 stars

The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate May 2, 2023

I adored The One and Only Ivan, and enjoyed Bob's story so when I found this in a pile of library books at my son's house. I sat down one evening and read it. Ruby's story has all the pathos, charm and power of The One and Only Ivan. It was impossible to not love Ruby and ache for her as her story is revealed. 

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, Jean-Guy Beauvoir, & Inspector Isabelle Lacoste uncover a plot to poison the water system of Montreal. They have no idea who they can trust. It looks like the culprits behind the plan might include more than just high ranking officers in the The Sûreté du Québec. It seems that members in the highest levels of government are behind it all.
I enjoyed this, but had a hard time following the audiobook. This might be because I was getting used to a new narrator, or it might just be that I wasn't really feeling well. 


Ent
ADULT/YA NON FICTION


Reading about history that you have lived through is a fascinating endeavour. I remember reading and/or listening to reports on the radio (back when CBC was properly funded) on much of what Ash writes about here, but those events were something happening far away. In this book, Ash takes us inside these stories and into the lives of people who lived them. They become personal. 

CURRENTLY 

Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu February 1, 2022 🍁

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose & Lauren Ambrose (Narrator) November 28, 2023 🍁

Lavender Clouds by Bex Ollerton July 4, 2024

UP NEXT (MAYBE)

The Color of Water by James McBride

I'm going to see how many books on my must read list that I can finish in hopes of completing my #MustRead2024 goal. 

READING GOALS 

#MustRead2024 19/25 

NonFiction 38/24

Canadian Authors 70/50

Indigenous Authors 29/25 

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 205/200     

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#IMWAYR November 18, 2024

Welcome! It's #IMWAYR time again, when bloggers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. These are fabulous places to start your search for what to read next!

I had planned to get a post in last Monday, but Covid 19 dropped in for a visit. I suspect I picked up the virus when I was a substitute teacher the previous Thursday. I had been feeling invincible since I had my vaccine just over a month ago. Apparently when you are over 65, you are never really invincible. Even my poor husband has come down with it. I'm still testing positive, but this go round is nothing compared to the first time I had it.
Despite that, I managed to get some mice sent off to the local craft fair to try and sell them. I will know on Wednesday how many, if any, have sold. Since I'm having so much fun creating them, I really need to figure out how to sell some before they overwhelm my shelves. I'm still working on cowboy boots, but I've got the shirt figured out. These are a couple of my recent creations. 

Here's a slide show of more of them. 

Last week I quit X and joined Bluesky! It's a fabulous place that feels like a reunion with old friends and new! You can connect with me @cherieeweichel.bsky.social.

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian or Indigenous Canadian Author and or Illustrator.
Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.

In the last year I've read many novels about immigration to Canada. This graphic memoir shows what its like for a young girl when her family decide to return to their country of origin. 
Ruth Chan had a wonderful life in Toronto Canada. She had lots of good friends and did well in school. Then her father got a new job and the family returned to live in Hong Kong. It was a traumatic move for her. She understood some Cantonese, but spoke almost nothing. Still, she managed to learn how to navigate a new culture, a new school system, a new city, make friends, and eventually, feel like she belonged. 

MG NOVELS


I didn't love this book at first. I even contemplated abandoning it, but then before I knew it, I was invested in the characters and the mystery! 
Four children and one grandfather decide to spend the summer solving the mystery of what happened to Al Capone's long lost treasure. In the middle of searching an island in the middle of the Everglades, they come across dead animals and a toxic waste dump. In their search for the criminals they have to jump off a burning boat, nearly drown, and almost end up in jail. 

5+ stars

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell & Samuel West (Narrator) September 14, 2023

As glorious as the cover of this book is, it doesn't compare with the story inside its pages. Right off the bat we meet two remarkable children, Christopher and Mal. Animals of all kinds are just attracted to Christopher. Mal has a cloak that enables her to fly. The two of them live in different realms on the same planet. When Christopher rescues a drowning griffin, his grandfather tells him that he is a guardian of the Archipelago, a group of islands inhabited by magical creatures. Soon afterwards he meets Mal, on the run from the Archipelago and a murderer. The two of them set out on a wild adventure to find out who wants Mal dead, and what is endangering the magical creatures.
I adored this book and can't wait for the next one.

ADULT/YA FICTION


"Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by." Unfortunately, Gram has died, and Molly is on her own struggling to get by. She's behind in her rent and barely surviving. The one thing Molly loves is her job as a maid at The Grand Regency Hotel. It's perfect for her since she is obsessive about cleanliness. 
Her life is upended when she discovers a dead body in one of her rooms. 
The next thing Molly knows, she's arrested for the man's murder. Luckily, she has friends with friends in high places. The only way to clear her name is to find out who the real murderer is and figure out what nefarious activity has been going on at the Grand. She and her new friends come up with a plan to uncover the truth. The problem is that Molly will have to lie convincingly for it to succeed. Molly never lies.
I was hooked from the first few pages of this book. It's hilarious and heartwarming with just the right amount of tension to keep flipping the pages. I adore Molly and think, if you haven't already met her, that you will too!
The best thing about discovering this a few years after publication, is that I was able to download the next one right away!


I was delighted to find out what Flavia de Luce has been up to. It turns out she has been mentoring her younger cousin, Undine, who is a terror on her own terms. Luckily Undine idolizes Flavia.
When a local villager is poisoned and their cook is suspected of murdering him, Flavia, with the help of Dogger, the butler, and Undine, set out to identify the culprit.
Aside from revealing the murderer, Flavia discovers a shocking family secret that I was not expecting!
If you like cosy historical mysteries and haven't yet discovered Flavia, you have a treat in store.
 
ADULT/YA GRAPHIC NON FICTION 

Ent


What do you do when everything is not ok? In this memoir,  Debbie Tung shares her story of being overwhelmed by depression and anxiety, and then, with the help of a good therapist, finding a way out of it. I think this is a helpful book for people going through similar issues, because it's shines a beacon of light. I really like that coming out the other side of her mental health crisis didn't mean returning to who she had been before, but rather, figuring out who she really is, and learning to deal with her demons before they got out of control. I have been contemplating giving this to a young man I know who is the middle of his own mental health crisis, but will recommend it to his parents instead, and let them make that decision. 

ADULT/YA NON FICTION


In 1915 Ada Annie Rae-Arthur and her first husband came to the west coast of Vancouver Island as settlers. Over time they cleared approximately 5 acres of land along the northern shore of Clayoquot Sound. 
"She ran a successful nursery, post office and general store from her homestead. There, she birthed 11 children, outlived four husbands and became known for allegedly shooting and killing about 70 cougars in her lifetime. Today, Cougar Annie’s Garden is owned and operated by the Boat Basin Foundation to preserve her legacy and promote natural history."
I took my time with this book - reading it in bits and pieces. I skimmed or skipped some sections that felt not relevant to Annie's life, but mostly I ended up appreciating that this biography puts her life into historical and geographical context. 
Annie, who was about the same age as my maternal grandmother, was a truly remarkable woman, even if she wasn't always likeable. I couldn't help but make connections between the challenges each of them faced. My grandfather, unlike Willie Rae-Arthur, was a hard working, steadfast man, but my grandmother still ended up cooking for his crew in logging camps while birthing child after child. I can't even imagine living either of their lives.
You can read more about Annie here. 

CURRENTLY 

A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver January 1, 1994

Crooked Teeth: A Queer Syrian Refugee Memoir by Danny Ramadan May 28, 2024 🍁

Crystal Cave by Nancy Deas &  Mike Deas (illustrator) August 13, 2024 🍁

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune September 10, 2024

UP NEXT (MAYBE)

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 

Homelands by Timothy Garton Ash

READING GOALS 

#MustRead2024 18/25 one on the go

NonFiction 33/24 one on the go

Canadian Authors 66/50 two on the go

Indigenous Authors 28/25 

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 192/200    





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