I got lazy toward the end of 2024. Part of it was that I had surgery in October, then still did all the usual year-end things...and I was just tired. Being laid up, however, provided ample time for reading -- so read I did. Because I am barraging you with seven new titles, I decided to group them by category. You know how I love categories.
CHILDREN'S NOVELS
My daughter is always complaining about having "nothing to read" (false). As a result, I have gone back into the deep recesses of my memory to dig up some of the books that I read and enjoyed around her age (give or take a couple of years). Here are a couple that she read -and I re-read- in the final weeks of 2024.
Stepping on the Cracks, Mary Downing Hahn
I was fortunate as a child to have an older sister who was an avid reader. This meant that she would often read books and then suggest the good ones to me, essentially weeding out the boring shit. Stepping on the Cracks was one such "good book" that she recommended to me when we were kids.
The story is set stateside during WWII. Two young girls -best friends Margaret and Elizabeth- both have older brothers fighting overseas, and know firsthand how war can affect a family. Still, they are pre-teenage girls and war certainly doesn't occupy all of their thoughts. In fact, the merciless sixth grade bully Gordy Smith and his cronies are more prevalent in their day-to-day lives. In a scheme to exact revenge upon Gordy and his friends for their latest antics, Margaret and Elizabeth make a startling discovery that will change the way they think of their neighborhood as well as the world -and the war- around them.
Stepping on the Cracks is a simple but poignant coming-of-age story. While most of us didn't live through WWII, we can relate to the youthful goings-on of the protagonists. Re-reading this book as an adult was no less exciting, but certainly afforded me the opportunity to experience it through a different lens. As an adult and a mom, I related to characters that I hadn't previously considered. Well worth the re-read.
Cat Running, Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Another period-piece-lessons-learned novel that both my daughter and I enjoyed is Cat Running. This story, set in California during the 1930s, features another sixth grade girl as the main protagonist. Cat Kinsey is frustrated by her traditional parents -specifically her father- who will not allow her to "wear slacks" like the other girls at school. It's not just the mandatory dresses that annoy Cat, but the fact that she is a very talented runner and wants so badly to defend her title in the school's annual running/track competition...but being unable to dress in a way that is conducive to her goals (and being a tweenage girl with an out-of-touch parent) makes that extremely difficult and frustrating.
As a salve to her rage, Cat discovers a strange little hideout in the rocky cliffs beyond her family's property. As she sets up shop in her new secret place, she discovers that she is not the only one who frequents it...and a strange new friendship develops that might just change her life. Fun, informative, and thought-provoking,
Cat Running is a great story for the junior reader in your life.
MURDER MYSTERIES (A.K.A. "HOT DOG BOOKS")
Y'all, I'd be remiss if I didn't have at least one (or three) murder mysteries in my 7-in-1 post. They need no introduction, so I'll just get started...
Miss Morton and the Deadly Inheritance, Catherine Lloyd
Devotees (ha!) will recall a series that I began in 2023: the Miss Morton books by Catherine Lloyd.
Deadly Inheritance is the third book in this series and follows the same format as the first two:
Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder and
Miss Morton and the Spirits of the Underworld. Honestly, I don't feel like it merits a full review because it's just the same formula. It's predictable, fun, and I don't care what you say, I'm going to keep reading them.
Death Comes to the Village, Catherine Lloyd
Prior to the Miss Morton books, Catherine Lloyd penned a series of
Death Comes to ____ books, featuring a practical, similarly minded leading lady: Lucy Harrington. Once again, "devotees" (double ha!) will recall that I began this series back in 2023, but unknowingly started with #3 of an eight book series. (Previously read:
#3 Death Comes to Kurland Hall and
#4 Death Comes to the Fair.) Since I've been doing a lot of hot dog reading in my convalescence (gearing up for another surgery next week...), I figured I ought to go back and start this series from the beginning with #1
Death Comes to the Village, and work my way through this series (skipping #3 and #4). So far, same song and dance: fun, mindless, love mine with mustard and relish.
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, by Jesse Q. Sutanto
In a surprising turn of events, I left England's murdery countryside and landed in present day San Fran's Chinatown. Stereotypical tiger mom Vera Wong runs a little tea house where nothing exciting happens...until one day, a man's body is discovered right in the middle of her shop. Of course, the police department isn't up to snuff, so Vera must take over the investigation herself so that things will be done correctly. As she continues her detective work, Vera finds herself cozying up to a laundry list of suspects, all people who knew the deceased. What she doesn't expect is to find herself caring deeply for these people, their lives, and their well-being.
My husband and I listened to this book together (vs reading it in print) and, let me just say, we fully enjoyed it. It was funny, suspenseful, and heartwarming -- a rare combination. I would recommend Vera Wong to anyone who might enjoy a fun escape, particularly accompanied by a good cup of Chinese tea. (Bonus: Vera will be back in another novel set to release in March!)
MISCELLANEOUS (FANTASY + SHORT STORY)
The final two entries for this post fall into two separate categories.
Taliesin, by Stephen Lawhead
Last year, I listened to a Stephen Lawhead book
In the Hall of the Dragon King. It was OK, kinda contrived, not my favorite. Still, I mentioned in that review how I wanted to try another couple of Lawhead's books/series, so I did.
Taliesin is the first in The Pendragon Cycle, a series featuring a cast of Arthurian characters.
An epic build up to what is certain to be quite the universe, Taliesin spans perhaps an entire continent between Atlantis (a kingdom in its twilight) and a post-Roman Celtic world (that sounds a lot like Wales) that is on the rise. Worlds collide, characters meet, years pass, and loved ones are lost or changed. It's all the things that a fantasy prequel promise to be. Nevertheless, I did find a lot of contrived action similar to that which I detailed in my review of Dragon King. There were elements that were simply too forced for my liking, as well as a lot of "by the way" information crowded into the final chapters. While it wasn't a bad read, per se, I will not be likely to pick up the second book in the series.
The Turbulence Expert (from You Like It Darker), by Stephen King
My husband is a long time fan of Stephen King. In fact, I believe he has read everything the guy has written. (If not, it's pretty damn close.) One of King's latest publications is a series of short stories in the book You Like It Darker.
My husband hates flying; he hates heights. As such, he related a great deal to the main character in the short story The Turbulence Expert from this collection and prompted me to read it, since I know these details about him. Without divulging too much, the main character in the story shares my husband's fears, making him a perfect fit for a (fictional???) job as a "turbulence expert". And that is all I'll say. A fun and eerie read that will take you only a matter of minutes.
And that concludes 2024! I've already made considerable progress in 2025 and am about to wrap my fourth book. I will probably be back to review throughout the year, but I make no promises at this time!
