Reading this past month has been up and down. Two of the books were recommended on a previous Virtual Retreat when we were talking about what we were reading. Today’s post will begin with the one I didn’t really find that good, although romance lovers may like it. The books will follow in the order that I liked them, with one that is highly recommended and the last one which is spectacular. Amazon link ares provided so you can read the novel synopsis and see more details.
My Heart Will Find You by Jude Deveraux – Billed as a novel set during the pandemic, it was a disappointment. The pandemic is used as a vehicle for the protagonist to meet an older gentleman and have an excuse to stay in his house. Really a stretch here as the whole scene of how they meet is overly contrived, but I persevered on. It turned into a time travel novel, with the protagonist dreaming (as she was sleeping) about a life in the old west, having to get couples together so the present day timeline will be unchanged. The whole plot seemed tortuous to me. The story line just got so twisted around to make things happen, just a bit ridiculous for the protagonist to have to travel to help break Wyatt Earp out of jail so he didn’t disappear in the present. That is where it lost me. I skipped the next 200 or so pages and read the last chapter. But, if you like romance stories of the old west, you might enjoy it. Meh, not for me.
Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill – Historical fact book of the life of the woman who loved and influenced Winston Churchill. It is told in a series of anecdotal stores, which after a while start to run on and get a bit boring. But then, something historic happens, and captures your attention again. It is billed as the story of Clementine (pronounced clem-in-teen), but there is quite a lot about Winston Churchill and his moods, habits, and thoughts. An overall interesting read for the most part, although it bogs down with unimportant details at times.
Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams – A fascinating fictionalized account of a girl whose father is one of the lexicographers for the Oxford English Dictionary, along with two other women who had great influence on the project. It was a revelation to me as to the painstaking work this was, finding and cataloguing the various meanings for every word in the English language. I was astonished to learn in the author’s notes that the completion of the project took 71 years. The research by the author is apparent, and consistent with other works on the subject such as the Professor and the Madman, which influenced the author to wonder why the endeavor did not include women in the history. Her approach was for the words left out, words used by common people with no written definition or usage. It is set in the backdrop of real events from history including the suffrage movement for women to vote and the First World War. Fascinating in subject matter, and flowing prose, this is one I recommend and I couldn’t put it down.
And, this next one was the best by far and I think it would be great on audio!
Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow – There is only one word to describe this thriller – riveting. A mystery with a complicated story line of a lawyer whose fiancee’s son is accused of murder. Faced with soaring legal fees she cannot pay, he reluctantly agrees to defend his soon to be stepson. Told in meticulous detail, the reader sees the turmoil of every facet of the case, from the investigation, to the gathering of evidence, to the arrest and trial. The book is long, 544 pages, but by the time the trial starts about halfway in, it no longer matters as it becomes almost impossible to put down. My only quibble is with the overly long backstories of some of the minor characters that do not seem to advance the story nor become important as the story goes on. Still, the thoroughness of the courtroom scenes showing not only the prosecution and defense, but also the hopes and fears of the narrator as he navigates the mine fields of evidence is fascinating. Highly recommend. Run to the library, order it online, or get it on Audible now, it is that good.
In the movies, we saw the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” and thought it was good. It was the first movie we’ve seen in a theater in quite some time. I was very surprised to see the theater has gone to almost total self service. You have to buy your tickets at a kiosk inside, and you have to choose a seat when you do. I didn’t like this. There was a guy there talking us through the stupid screens. I wondered why, if they were paying a guy to do this, that he couldn’t just sell the bloody tickets. Then, we got to the actual theater, where they have changed all the seats to recliners. You would think this would be an upgrade, but not really. The chairs were not comfortable, with hard seats and difficult to find a position. My feet didn’t reach the floor, so I had no choice but to use the footrest which made my back uncomfortable. It wasn’t any better for my very tall husband. I doubt we will go back.
On Netflix, we are enjoying the series Fire Country, Lincoln Lawyer and the Law According to Lydia Poet (love the costuming in this one!). We are eagerly awaiting the start of the new season of Formula 1 Drive to Survive. If you haven’t seen Man on the Inside with Ted Danson, it is fun. We saw Monsieur Spade on PBS, and it is now on Netflix, pretty good. On network TV, the new season of All Creatures Great and Small is charming. New episodes of Tracker and Masked Singer have begun, and we look forward to more Brilliant Minds episodes.
What have you been reading and watching that you recommend?
From My Carolina Home 
Loved the Dictionary of Lost Words. When I was little I said I was going to read the encyclopedia & dictionary & learn everything on earth LOL. Ambitious little stinker was I.
Hi Carole 🙂
I read “The Music of Bees” which may have been one you recommended. I loved it!
I just finished “Three Days in June” by my favorite author, Anne Tyler. It was good writing but with a section I would have left out 😦 My favorite of hers is “Clock Dance”. Thank you for sharing your reads!
I don’t usually watch TV during the day, but was feeling like a day of tea and couch time was warranted. I ordered 2 movies on Prime: “Widow’s Peak” and “A Good Woman” and wow – they were both great with the timeline in the 1930’s. The acting was superb and the stories riveting. Also, I just finished “Chiefs” by Stuart Woods on Audible. It was probably the best Audible book I’ve ever listened to. If it had been a hard cover book I would not have put it down until finished. In fact, that’s next on my list to read because it was that good and I want to be sure I didn’t miss anything. I love your Book Suggestions!
The Chiefs is free now on Audible! I added it to my library.
I absolutely hate having to buy a specific seat in the theatre — oftentimes it isn’t even full enough to merit it (and I move around!). Lots of times when going with one particular friend, we like to sit in different areas for the movie but together before. Very annoying! And crowds are way too used to being home where they can talk through video, look at phones or just not be quiet. It’s not like it used to be. (All this self serve and you still pay more! It’s like bagging and checking out your own groceries!)
The Oxford book sounds like my cuppa and I’ve always like Turow so those two are on the very long list.
I LOVED the Dictionary of Lost Words! And her next book – The Bookbinder – is just as good. I just finished the first two books in the Marlow Murder Club series – got interested in them because of the PBS series – and thought they were very good. I’ll go check out the Scott Turow book at my library. A page turner is always a fun read! Mike and I have not gone to the movies at all since Covid, but I went to see Wicked with friends right before Christmas. It is amazing! But I agree – picking the seat is a pain because you don’t know quite where in the theater they are!
thank you. didn’t know about the “book binder”. Yeah!!
I highly recommend The Eddie Flynn series by Steve Cavanagh on Audible. The writing is so clever and hooks you from the beginning. The protagonist is a con man turned lawyer.
I like Scott Turow’s legal thrillers. I put Presumed Guilty in the tag-me-when-you-get-the-audio queue in LIbby. Dictionary of Lost Words sounds right up my alley too!
I just finished The Women by Kristin Hannah. It’s historical fiction about a combat nurse in Vietnam and her post war experience. People keep telling her there were no women in Vietnam. The writing was superb and the author captures the culture of the time. I was reluctant to read it at first because I don’t like war. After I got recommendations from 3 friends, I decided to try it out and I’m glad for it. I think this is the best book I’ve listened to in a year.
Just finished Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building on Netflix. The first few episodes of Season 1 are so-so and then it picks up. There is some intergenerational humor, some belly laugh moments, superb character development and unique storylines. It’s a cozy mystery like Murder She Wrote only it takes them 10 episodes to solve the case.
Thanks for sharing your reviews. I’ve had some wall bangers as you call them in the recent past. It is good to have some go to titles!
Jo Anne
I saw the Bob Dylan movie too and really enjoyed it Although not really a Bob Dylan fan, I was interested to find out about his start in New York. What was really interesting too was the reference to the Kennedy, Russia and Cuba crisis, which made such a big impression on the world, even far away down here in New Zealand. I was 17 at the time, in my first job, and remember attending a lunchtime church service praying for world peace with my workmates in a cathedral in Wellington City. Scary days indeed, and sadly these days it is even worse.
Our local movie theater serves food, so it’s big puffy seats, tall round tables – At 5’2″ the food is closer to my nose than mouth! But saw and enjoyed And the puffy seats, I look like I’m in Daddy’s Chair! Not a fan of Dylan so will pass anyway. But I always enjoy your book choices. Thanks!!!!!
I will look for those last two titles at the library, they sound great! I am reading a novel about Maria von Trapp, but I am not loving it. Haven’t decided whether ai will finish it or not.
I’ll have to get the book you suggested “Presumed Quilty” as it sounds like one I would enjoy. I read a lot of Book of the Month books as my son and daughter-in-law get me them for Christmas every year. I read one recently called “The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern” by Lynda Cohen Loigman. It was excellent in my opinion. It was a lighthearted, charming story where a woman runs into the love of her life 60 years or so later. She grew up in the 1920’s.
Then I went to the local library and participated in the Blind Date with a Book event during February for Valentines Day. You picked a book that was wrapped in pretty paper with a chocolate, sticker, and bookmark inside the wrappings. You only got a short review of a line or two to decide your pick. I obviously didn’t do well with my choices. The bookmark you put your name, phone, rate the book with 1-5 hearts and return it to library for a chance to win a prize. The only rule was you had to read at least 100 pages to be able to enter the giveaway. My first book was a thriller it said called “Annie O” by Matthew Blake. It was a psychological thriller, about a young journalist who allegedly murdered two people while sleepwalking. Although the first 22 chapters, they were very short, seemed slow moving, it was a well-researched book and at times it was so technical that I got lost a few times and had to go back and read parts again. Overall, I liked it and read to the end.
The next book was better, but seemed more like a young adult book. The third book was called “Circe” I made it one chapter and closed it up and returned it. So, I got two entries in the event.
Altogether I’ve read five books this month. I’ll have to tell you about the other two another time.
I loved the Dictionary of Lost Words and I’ll put Presumed Guilty on my wish list.
I also thoroughly enjoyed The Dictionary of Lost Words. It was a beautiful book. The author has another one that is also delightful. The Bookbinder of Jericho.
We also went to see A Complete Unknown. Loved it.