Imagine moving into a new apartment and when the door to the elevator opens you are met by a cow! And so starts The Milk Lady of Bangalore: an Unexpected Adventure, by Shoba Narayan. When it got too hard for the grandparents to come for visits, the author and her family made the decision to move back to India. Needless to say, it is very different than living in New York! I learned a lot about milk, and why the cow is so important there. Fascinating, funny, well written.

I’m not exactly sure what to say about this book … it’s part history, a bit of travel, and philosophy, and some life lessons! And it’s about board games! I guess I’ll just sort of wimp out here and say that Tortured Cardboard: How Great Board Games Arise From Chaos, Survive By Chance, Impart Wisdom, and Gain Immortality by Philip E. Orbanes (with the Games Gnome) was an interesting read! :-)

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Canadian Reader left me with a nice stack of books before heading home this Christmas. One of them is the first in a new (for us) series: Murder at the Fitzwilliam, by Jim Eldridge. London, 1894, and the Fitzwilliam is about to open their Egyptian collection to the public. Until a body, a recent body, is found in the sarcophagus. Daniel Wilson, who worked on the case of Jack the Ripper is now in private practice and has been given the case by the management of the Fitzwilliam. Assisting him is their resident archaeologist, Abigail Fenton. The local police are sure it was an accident, the press is convinced it is a mummy on the loose. A great read!

Riding Reader admits to being hesitant in buying me books because so often I’ve already read them, but this time, the book in my stocking … was one I had NOT yet read! Ruff Justice, one of the Melanie Travis Canine Mystery books by Lauren Berenson was new to me. This is a fun series with great characters. This time Aunt Peg is showing a dog rather than being a judge. When she goes to pick up a show leash she as ordered from a local craftsperson she finds her dead. Then her pet sitter goes missing. And there are thefts, too, from home owners with dogs. Big dogs. Hard to put down!  (Oops, see August 13, 2018)!

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Seems there has long been a question of what to do with older women. Even what is considered ‘old’ changes on a regular basis. No Stopping Us Now: the Adventures of Older Women in American History, by Gail Collins is a wild and crazy romp through history, from Colonial America to present day. Full of mini-biographies of dozens, if not hundreds, of strong, active women of a certain age who changed history, or tried to do so. The research that went into this book is amazing, be sure to skim the notes section.

Although I am one of those pacific northwesterners that doesn’t even own an umbrella, I am still quite fascinated by them. The Umbrella Unfurled: Its Remarkable Life and Times, by Nigel Rodgers is delightful history on how it has influenced politics, fashion, religion and more. See how it has been used in fact, fiction, and film. Learn why, for a while at least, it was known as a ‘crusoe’. Fun tidbit here … I started reading this book as I was watching one of the MGM ‘That’s Entertainment’ shows and my favorite scene from a musical … ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ !! :-)

Dog is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You, by Clive D.L. Wynne (PhD) came as a suggestion from Seattle Reader. (‘Suggestion’ because it had not yet been read by Seattle Reader). It proved to be most interesting. How do you study and test for something like love? The author, a “pioneering canine behaviorist” pondered this question and came up with some experiments. He drew on experience from others, too as they studied this phenomena. I found it somewhat dry in parts, fascinating in others, and while I know my dog loves me, it was fun to discover there is now scientific proof! (Much like learning that there is a reason for why veggies taste so bad)! ;-)

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Tall Reader took me to one of those stores that seems to have a little bit of everything. Naturally I wandered over to the one book shelf … and found Camp: Stories and Itineraries for Sleeping Under the Stars, by Luc Gesell with Nicholas Lovecchio. There are photos, tips, and tales for camping all over the world. Many of them are from this area! (Don’t miss the picture right near the front of Mt. Baker). Enjoyed the memories this book brought back as well as the stories of places I will never see. Or, in the case of the ‘vertical camp’ (suspended off a cliff) would never have tried! The smell of a damp, canvas tent would have been appropriate for this reader.

Days Out Under Ground: 50 Subterranean Adventures Beneath Britain, by Peter Naldrett is first and foremost a travel guide. It includes all kinds of useful tourist information … but it is also a most interesting history book with some wonderful photos. There are lots of mines, of course, that was an important industry after all, but there are also Roman ruins (and signs of earlier human habitation, too) as well as sites used in various wars, underwater railway systems, and sewers. (Honest)! A most enjoyable read even though I do not plan on traveling. :-)

Canadian Reader used a gift card to help in the purchase of Zoology: the Secret World of Animals from DK Smithsonian and what an amazing book it is! So many different kinds of entries: deer antlers and horns from skin, swinging through trees and octopus arms, how animals hear, or see … there are lots of these short entries along with amazing photographs. Warning, though, this is a HEAVY book so you might want to read it at the table. :-)

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Bryant & May: The Lonely Hour is the most recent Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery by Christopher Fowler. It does indeed feel lonely as the unit does not seem to be working together as well as is has in the past. The murderer too, is solitary as he tracks down his victims. He uses a most unusual item to kill them, though, and this will help track him down. As usual, that proves most interesting as Bryant has his own way of investigation! More intense that I remember from earlier books in this series, there are some nice bits of humor too as Mr. Bryant continues to look up and use, archaic words!

There is now a truce between Fae and dragon, but it is shaky at best. Irene is on a search for a book, as she has done many times before, but this time it is one specific book than can save a world near and dear to her. The price for this is to steal a painting. And so begins The Secret Chapter, by Genevieve Cogman, the most recent of the Invisible Library series. These have all been good adventures, crossing between different versions of familiar times and cities although this one seemed a bit darker. I do love her companions in her quests, especially the dragon.

For a lighter read … nice, short mysteries that do NOT include a body go for Lady Gold Investigates - Volume 2: Companion Short Stories to Ginger Gold Mysteries, by Lee Strauss and with Norm Strauss. Recipes … very important ones that should be unique to one restaurant are showing up in other establishments. They are kept in a safe so who is passing them out? And why? Paired with a theft from a museum, these two stories make the perfect afternoon read.

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The Queen’s Horse: Gift of the Mounties, by Nora Hickson Kelly is a true story, but written as fiction for younger readers. The author explains this at the very end. It is the story of a black horse, and the young girl who was there at her birth. Even though she was small ‘Blackie’ was a true black, and had beautiful conformation. Tammy was determined that the little horse would be perfect for the Musical Ride. Blackie would be given the more formal name of Burmese and did indeed perform with the Mounties. She then went on as a gift to the Queen and was a favorite mount for her for years. Nicely done, but I would have liked more pictures.

Here’s one for a ‘You read what??’ post (I’ve done one or two before). ;-) Somehow Constant Reader and I got to talking about things found in barns and outbuildings and from that came the recommendation for 50 Shades of Rust: Barn Finds You Wish You’d Discovered, by Tom Cotter. It’s all about cars!! Where they were found, how they were restored (some were fully restored, others were kept with the rusty patina, but completely made over so they could be driven again). There are cars from the movies, TV, and famous drivers, too. Not a bad read, considering! I would have liked fewer race cars and more trucks, but that’s probably just me. :-)

My folks and I used to enjoy watching the Carol Burnett Show so it was an ‘easy choice’ to pick up In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox, by Carol Burnett. Read about the various celebrities that were guests as well as the regular cast and crew. I loved learning more about Carol’s regular characters, and Bob Mackie (who is sure a note about the ‘curtain rod dress’ will go on his tombstone), and the choreography of Ernie Flatt. A most enjoyable read and a serious ‘blast from the past’. :-)

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I am happily working my way through the Lord James Harrington mysteries by Lynn Florkiewicz, Lord James Harrington and the Summer Mystery being the most recent. Summer time means the annual tennis games between Cavendish and Charnley and all is going well until the thefts of jewelery, once just posted in the newspapers, move from London to the countryside. The area, once noted for smuggling, is riddled with caves, secret tunnels, ancient paths … are any of these being used by the smugglers? And just who are the two young men who claim to be cycling across the countryside yet become winded on the slightest of hills?

A Symphony of Echoes, the second in The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, by Jodi Taylor reminded me of an old pin ball machine. Rapid action that changes direction often and quickly heads off in unexpected directions … I may have even heard bells at one point. ;-) This is another fun (well, mostly) romp through time that includes Jack the Ripper, the dodo bird, Thomas Becket (and those are just the main adventures).

The Curious Case of the Black Swan Song is the first in a new series for me by a favorite author, Andrea Frazer. Sadly, she passed away a few years ago, but she wrote a lot of books so, thankfully, there are still many to read. The series this time is A Holmes and Garden Murder Mystery, which should give you hint! Yes, it is a spoof on Sherlock Holmes, and a very well done one at that. Sherman Holmes and John Garden have taken rooms at the Black Swan, both looking for a change in their lives. There’s a piper, too, there because his wife has banished him from practicing in their home. Turns out Holmes and Garden both are fans of (you saw this coming, yes?) of Holmes and Watson and a friendship, and then partnership follows. When the owner of the Black Swan is murdered, they decide to take on the case. An amusing romp ensues! Keep an eye out for other nods to the original.

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Every year I find several picture books dealing with a song that I actually don’t like all that much because I do like the illustrations, and this year that ‘12^th day’ fell on one of my posting days. I found two that I liked. :-)

Rachel Isadora puts an African spin in her 12 Days of Christmas. Usually a ‘snowy song’, here it is hot and dry, the leaping lords were inspired by dancers from Mali, and the ladies from women in Swaziland, and so on … Ms. Isadora lived in Africa for many years and her memories are reflected in her artwork here. Very nice indeed!

Another ‘unsnowy’ version of the song may be found in The Twelve Days of Aussie Christmas, by Colin Buchanan and Glen Singleton. This time all the gifts are ‘Aussie’, too … such as a platypus in a gum tree, cheeky chooks, sweaty swaggies and so forth. To add to the fun, there are other things to look for as well (lizards, goannas, etc.) so be sure to check at the back for the list! Lots of fun!

And lastly, just a fun book for both kids and adults. There are many, many books out on how to care for dogs, but, have you ever seen one for them caring for us? Well, I found one! How to Look After Your Human: a Dog’s Guide, by Maggie Mayhem, with help from Kim Sears and illustrated by Helen Hancocks is a must have guide for all dogs who are responsible for the care of a person. Fun!

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One last holiday book here, even though it is January …. Christmas: a Biography, by Judith Flanders was a good read about the recent holiday and how it has been celebrated and/or changed over time. Where did some of the traditions start? And by whom? And, in some cases, why?

Why do we eat the way we do? Why do we like the foods we like, and shun others without even trying them? Much of this is explained in First Bite: How We Learn to Eat, by Bee Wilson. One of those history books I enjoy so much, I dare you to read the chapter on children’s food without shuddering. (And finally! there is proof that for some of us, vegetables just don’t taste good at all)!

Food and eating were important part of growing up for Ann Hood, and that is reflected beautifully in Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love, and Food. A collection of memories and recipes that kept even this non-cook reading into the night. I especially enjoyed reading about how her dad cooked!

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