Though I have an Audible account (12 books / year) I spend far more time on the Libby app. I’m coming up to 500 audio books borrowed, so far.
I can read 2-3 books a week at 150% normal speed.
Once I put a popular book on “HOLD” — wait time does seem to be increasing. So I recently added a second library to the app. Now I can put up to 60 books on hold: 30 for each library.
I’m still captivated by the unique Japanese murder mystery books of Higashino.
Surprising. And fascinating.
This is his 4th book featuring ‘Detective Galileo‘, actually Dr. Manabu Yukawa — a physicist and college professor, who is known for his intelligence. He collaborates with the police when they can’t solve a crime.
The accused in a case of murder is found not guilty. Lack of enough evidence.
He returns to mock the family knowing he cannot be charged again.
In fact, this is the 2nd time in 20 years he was accused of murder and found innocent.
DCI Kusanagi worked both cases and is frustrated that the assumed killer is free. He asks Detective Galileo for help.
The central character, Kira, who has a deformed leg, is orphaned and must learn to survive in a society that normally leaves the weak or disabled exposed to die in the fields.
In the course of the book, she begins to learn the art of dyeing thread to different colors except for blue, which nobody in her community knows how to make.
She also learns more about the truth of her village and the terrible secrets that they hold.
I read this book because it reminded me of that great film ➙ Enemy at the Gates.
The movie features a snipers’ duel between two of the best from the Soviet Union and Germany during the Battle of Stalingrad.
The Diamond Eye is based on the true story of a Ukrainian woman sniper in WW II.
In the fictional version, bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko evolves into a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. She becomes a propaganda tool for the Soviets who send her to Washington D.C. to try to gain support from the Americans. She is befriended by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
The plot kept me going. But, ultimately, this book was not nearly as good as Quinn’s Rose Code.
I only clicked DOWNLOAD on this book because it was set in the Kootenays of British Columbia where my family had a house for 30 years.
It’s not a strong book.
BUT the issues are relevant to the area. Should the town approve a park acknowledging the many American draft dodgers who moved there?
Should the massive Grizzly Resort go ahead, even at costs to the environment? No doubt it was based on the Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort controversy, ultimately cancelled in 2020.
Constable Molly Smith is a rookie cop in the mountain town of Trafalgar somewhere near Nelson.
I like Molly. But the resolution of the murder seemed dumb to me.
The reader of the audio book, Carrinngton MacDuffie, used quite a dreadful, unrealistic Canadian accent. Mispronounced some place names. That did turn me off the book, too.
In any case, I won’t be reading any more Molly Smith books.
.. opened in London’s West End in 1952 and ran continuously until 16 March 2020, when the stage performances had to be temporarily discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
… The focus of the book is to state what little is known conclusively about Shakespeare, and how this information is known, with some discussion of disproved theories, myths, and that which is believed by the public but not provable.
It also explores the political, social, cultural and economic background to Shakespeare’s work. …
I read it while in London. Quite dry for Bryson, I thought. I would have liked more humorous anecdotes — whether or not they were true. 😀
The best section is Bryson debunking all the conspiracy theories that other authors actually penned his great plays.
Existing today are only 6 Shakespeare signatures, spelled differently. He took a lot of licence with spelling since it was the spoken word that mattered.
And only 3 images of Bill exist.
We tend to go with the Chandos portrait, which was the 1st work donated to the National Portrait Gallery, London. I went to try to see it summer of 2022 — but the Gallery was closed for renovation.
It’s most likely Shakespeare, but nearly nothing can be factually verified about the great playwright.
While on the tour a production was rehearsing. A new play based on Joan of Arc, but using the technology of the original theatre.
Shakespeare lived 1564 – 1616, a terrible time in London. Plague years.
It’s astonishing we think we know as much as we do about one of the most influential writers all-time. Plays at the time were not intended to be published. Happily, much of his work was saved.
Rick McCharles 