“Mansfield Park” ©1814 by Jane Austen
As always, such good writing! Lovely dialog, interesting characters.
Fanny Price must be about the most boring and pure and good person in literature and therefore must not be interesting to read about. Yet, if you really pay attention there is a lot going on inside her head. She is often in turmoil of wanting to be a part of it all and knowing that would not be a good idea. Ultimately, she follows her own conscience even when Mr. Bertram and everyone else is urging her into a marriage that she knows would not be good for her or for Henry Crawford. In the end, her patience, perseverance and strength pay off, her decisions are justified and rewarded with a happy life.
“Heart’s Blood” (Book 2 of the Pit Dragon Chronicles) ©1984 by Jane Yolen
A good continuation of the story. I like that rather than just following along the original plot of Jakkin becoming free and owning a fighting dragon, he is enlisted in espionage. The dragon ranch owner is trying to find and recover Akki, the owner’s daughter and Jakkin’s friend. Jakkin goes to the city and finds himself in the middle of politics and rebellions as well as the space federation. The world of the dragons is explored just enough to set up the next book. Enjoyable.
“The Judas Pair” ©1977 by Jonathon Gash
Basic story: Lovejoy is an antique dealer and he receives a request to find the ‘Judas Pair’ of dueling pistols that may or may not actually exist. Along the way his girlfriend is killed as well as another guy and Lovejoy solves the mystery.
The review: Grrr! By page 2 Lovejoy is ordering his girlfriend about, locks her in the bathroom and hits her across the face. Why you ask? So he can take a phone call. Lovejoy also gives sage ‘insights’ and ‘advice’ about women throughout the book. Lovejoy is a thorough misogynist and my irritation towards the author and main character took away from the mystery part of the story. Never again! And just for your information Jonathon Gash wrote 27 Lovejoy books! Plus, the books were adapted for TV! Ugh.
“Franny and Zooey” ©1955, 1957 by J.D. Salinger
This book is two stories, though they are very much connected to each other.
‘Franny’ is a college student who has read an interesting book, “The Way of the Pilgrim”, and is trying to emulate the monk in the book by praying incessantly: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”. She faints at a restaurant and is sent home to rest.
‘Zooey’ is Franny’s older brother and he is charged with reasoning with Franny about this prayer business. It comes out that it is a kind of family thing to study all sorts of religious matter. He lectures himself as much as he is lecturing Franny. In the end, Franny sees in some sort of way that we are all children of God and are blessed. She can rest in that.
Very interesting.
“Artists in Crime” ©1938 by Ngaio Marsh
Inspector Alleyn is on a ship on his way home from a year long break from work. During the voyage, he meets Agatha Troy who is an artist. He is very attracted to her, but tends to bumble when she is around.
When Inspector Alleyn gets back to England, Agatha having arrived some weeks before, he is called to a murder scene close to his mother’s home, where he is spending the last few days of his vacation. It turns out that the murder took place in Agatha Troy’s art studio where she is hosting extended “artists in residence” classes.
Very good and twisty!
“The Jane Austen Society” ©2020 by Natalie Jenner
Descendants of Jane Austen’s family still live in the place where she wrote some of her books. However, life is rapidly changing after WWII and the land and home are being sold. A small group of locals, an actress and an antiques dealer form a society to save as much as they can for posterity. Along the way they become friends and save each other too.
Lighthearted with many fun references to Jane Austen’s books, a bit predictable, but enjoyable.
“Emil and the Detectives” ©1931 by Erich Kästner, translated from German by Eileen Hall
Emil is a young boy, living in a small town with his mother who is sent to Berlin by train to visit his grandmother, Aunt, Uncle and cousins. During the train ride he falls asleep and a fellow passenger robs him! Emil tries to follow him when the thief leaves the train and ends up a little lost. He meets some boys and they decide to help Emil. They devise a plan to keep an eye on the thief and the next day follow him to the bank and confront him. The thief is arrested for that crime and others and Emil is a hero. He reunites with his extended family.
A fun little story written for young people that is set in the early 1930’s. The boys are pretty awesome.