BEST deal I could find Vancouver to Europe one way this summer was $498.16 CAD ($364 USD). Includes one piece of luggage, cancellation insurance, and seat selection.
BEST deal was NOT to London, for a change.
Years ago I typically flew Air Transit, a charter. But for the past 4 years WestJet has had the best options to Europe.
BUT he has a lot of books. They’ve sold more than 425 million copies. And he’s helped thousands of people earn a living through the book industry.
Not to mention the dozens of author’s he’s promoted by co-authoring.
James Patterson is one of the good guys.
He calls himself a left-leaning political independent — but is disgusted with his neighbour, 4-time-loser Trump.
His 2024 nonfiction title, The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians takes us inside the lives, and livelihoods, of the everyday heroes surrounding us in the literary trenches: booksellers and librarians.
In a collection of profiles that includes professionals of all types, from school librarians to independent booksellers to big box chain employees, Patterson and his co-author, Matt Eversmann, delve into how these reading gurus inspire young and old every day.
Publisher’s Weekly review – James Patterson’s ‘The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians’
Patterson has donated millions of dollars in grants and scholarship to various universities, teachers’ colleges, independent bookstores, school libraries, and college students to promote literacy.
In 2013, Patterson took out ads titled “Who Will Save Our Books? Our Bookstores? Our Libraries?” in Publishers Weekly and The New York Times Book Review, which employed the text “If there are no bookstores, no libraries, no serious publishers with passionate, dedicated, idealistic editors, what will happen to our literature? Who will discover and mentor new writers? Who will publish our important books? What will happen if there are no more books like these?”
According to the journalist Alex Ross in 2001, “What set ‘Creep’ apart from the grunge of the early nineties was the grandeur of its chords—in particular, its regal turn from G major to B major. No matter how many times you hear the song, the second chord still sails beautifully out of the blue. The lyrics may be saying, ‘I’m a creep,’ but the music is saying, ‘I am majestic.’ …
I wish he’d do something without having to rely on the shock value of ultra violence.
Casting is excellent.
Theo James carries the show and almost makes the absurd story believable.
Michael Vu as James “Jimmy” Chang, Susie’s chief weed grower is my favourite.
Edward Horniman has unexpectedly inherited an estate of 15,000 acres (6000 hectares) and the title of Duke of Halstead at the reading of the last will and testament of his deceased father.
He learns that the land has become part of a weed-growing empire run by Susie Glass.
He must navigate a world of eclectic and dangerous characters with nefarious agendas, whilst also trying to protect his home and stay alive.
My goal is to ride the 18,000 miles in 110 days. The current women’s record is held by Jenny Graham at 124 days, 10 hours and 50 minutes.
At this point, in regards to the record, there’s no distinction between supported and self-supported rides. I’ll be carrying all of my own equipment and food and figuring out all of the logistics on and off the bike. That’s how I like to travel– with a sleep kit and winging it along the way.
I like open-ended adventures and I like competition and riding around the world as fast as I can feels like a great combination of both.
Rue will be documenting my ride and I’d love to encourage people to come out and share a few miles with me along the way.
Breathless is a murder mystery set on one of the 8000m peaks.
Manaslu
Not a great mystery — but I enjoyed hearing about the challenges of high altitude climbing.
When journalist and novice climber Cecily Wong is asked to summit Mount Manaslu, the eighth-highest peak in the world, it’s a career-making opportunity. She’s been personally invited by Charles McVeigh, one of the most acclaimed mountaineers in the world, who wants her to report on the final leg of his record-breaking series of summits. But there’s one caveat: he won’t give her the interview until she’s scaled the mountain as part of his climbing party.
Amy McCulloch actually knows what she’s talking about. September 2019, she became the youngest Canadian woman to climb Mt. Manaslu in Nepal — the world’s 8th highest mountain.
She also summited Aconcagua, in -45C and 90kmph winds, and has visited all seven continents.
Gudenkauf has created a memorable character in Amelia.
I do recommend this book.
After losing her hearing in a freak hit-and-run accident that also killed a woman, Amelia has struggled with alcoholism and unemployment and is finally striving to get her life together.
She finds peace on the water, kayaking or paddleboarding with her service dog, Stitch, another survivor and misfit, until the day she discovers a body left in a shallow channel.
Shocked not only by her discovery, but also by the realization that she used to be friends with the victim, Gwen, Amelia also worries that the publicity surrounding her 911 call might lead the killer right to her doorstep. …
Come for the mystery; stay for the taut suspense, the unique heroine—and of course, the ugly, loyal dog.
Cute title. I ASSuME it’s yet another British Cozy Mystery.
I asked Perplexity AI to generate some possible Cozy Mystery titles:
“A Stitch in Time for Murder”
“Perilous Potluck and the Puzzling Murder”
“Murder in the Misty Marsh: A Cozy Whodunit”
“Curious Case of the Corpse in the Cottage”
“The Mysterious Murder of Miss Marigold”
But this book is actually by an Australian comedian. A black comedy.
I enjoyed the humour far more than the murder mystery.
He speaks directly to the reader, as well, which I found very entertaining.
Of course a group of possible suspects are all stuck in one place, like Agatha Christie.
Oddly, they are Aussies all trapped due to a snow storm.
I’m Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I’d killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it’s a little more complicated than that.
Rick McCharles 