The Madness of Crowds

The Madness of Crowds (17th in the series) by Louise Penny. New York; Minotaur Books, 2021. 439 pages. *****

"Q & A With Louise Penny on The Madness of Crowds." "A Word About The Cover For The Madness of Crowds."

All will be well. Ca va bien alter.

Chief Inspector Gamache and his family are enjoying the holidays and are looking forward to the New Year. The Pandemic has been officially declared over and the residents of Three Pines are celebrating with friends and family in a way that would have been impossible a year ago. 

The fact that Gamache receives a new assignment to provide security for a professor of statistics who will be giving a lecture at a nearby university is puzzling on many levels. Complicating his assignment is the appearance of Haniya Dad, the Hero of the Sudan, who claims to have come to the village to meet someone, however, she won't divulge the person's name.  Is it Ruth or the Asshole Saint and why won't she tell them? New Year's Eve ends in murder, which only raises more questions - has the wrong person been killed, mistaken for someone else or is this a carefully crafted murder? 

Louise Penny's latest book packs a punch! I have read all of her books in this series and this one could have easily been divided into two novels. Inevitably, books published now will include Pandemic/Covid situations and themes. That's what I thought when I started The Madness of Crowds, however, it veers in a different direction. There are many sub themes and yet, are they? Who gets to decide who lives or dies, is it a matter of economy, convenience, or viability? I highly recommend this series and suggest starting at Still Life (book 1) even though her books can be read individually. 

Previous Book:

All the Devils Are Here

From Louise Penny

"I live outside a small village south of Montreal, quite close to the American border. My husband Michael and I have long had dogs, all golden retrievers. Bonnie, Maggie, Seamus, Trudy and now Bishop. Some came as puppies, some were adopted as adults. All beloved.

Michael and I were together for 22 years and married for 20. He was the inspiration for Armand Gamache. Kindly, thoughtful, generous, a man of courage and integrity, who both loved and accepted love. 

He developed dementia, and died peacefully at home in September 2016, surrounded by the love he'd put into the world for his 83 years. 

So now it's Bishop and me. But we're far from alone. We have the village, and all our friends including My Assistant Lise, and the indomitable, happy spirit of Michael. And, of course, the company of Armand, Clara, Ruth, Gabri and Olivier et al."

For more information on Louise Penny - https://www.louisepenny.com/louise.htm

Follow me on IG @flamazing_books.

#gratitude #themadnessofcrowds 

A Simple Murder

 

A Simple Murder: A Kate Burkholder Short Story Collection by Linda Castillo. New York: Minotaur Books, 2021. 406 pages.  ****

A collection of original short stories from her Kate Burkholder series of books. Fans of the series will recognize and enjoy reading about her main characters. If you haven't read the books, these short stories are a wonderful introduction and provide a quick glimpse at Castillo's writing style. Perfect for the beach, waiting to pick up your children, short periods of time, etc. 

Linda Castillo is The New York Times bestselling author of the Kate Burkholder novels. She is the recipient of numerous industry awards. In addition to writing Castillo's other passion is horses. She lives in Texas with her husband. For more information, click here.

Follow me on IG @flamazing_books

#kateburkholderseries #mysteryshortstories #amishfiction

Wish You Were Here

 

Wish You Were Here: A Novel by Jodi Picoult. New York: Ballantine Books, 2021. 366 pages. ***** Publication November 30, 2021.

Diana O’Toole is right on track in her life. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the art auction world.  She’s not engaged yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galapagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. 

But then Covid begins to appear in the city. On the night before their trip, Finn breaks the news that he can't go. He must stay behind to work in the hospital. Their trip is nonrefundable, so Finn convinces Diana to go without him.

Diana is in shock when she gets there, and the island is evacuating. She decides to continue anyway and discovers that her luggage is lost, the hotel is closed, and the WIFI doesn't work. The island is under quarantine until the borders open again. She makes friends with a family on the island and begins to question her life's plan.

I read this book in one day. This is my first Covid Pandemic story, and it is well-written. Picoult's description of Finn's work in the hospital and the toll the pandemic took on the doctors and nurses was heart-wrenching. Communication between Diana and Finn is inconsistent and sporadic. Neither one can understand and empathize with the other's experience. Picoult's books force me to look inward, what would I do in a similar situation? There are so many people who probably have similar stories and experiences in the last year.  In her last two books, she focuses on life's choices and a "what if?" experience. I highly recommend Wish You Were Here  and I am already looking forward to her next one.

I received an ecopy for a review. 

Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-seven novels, including The Book of Two Ways, A Spark of Light, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, The Storyteller, Lone Wolf, Sing You Home, House Rules, Handle with Care, Change of Heart, and My Sister's Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. For more information click here

Follow me on IG at flamazing_books

#wishyouwerehere #pandemicfiction #covidfiction 

2021 Monthly Color Challenge - June

June - Pumpkin - Orange 

Pumpkins:

9 Impressive Health Benefits of Pumpkins

What are the Health Benefits of Pumkins

80 Best Pumpkin Decorations for an Easy, No-Carve Halloween Display

7 Delicious Ways to Use Pumpkin Seeds

This is the 6th block in the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge, you may find the block and instructions on Jen's blog, here.

Jen's patterns are clear and precise, make sure you look at the video too. In order to get my points centered, I ironed a crease down the center of the triangles and the square. 

Trim where indicated and your block should turn out beautifully!

If you don't have a 12.5 square ruler, it's not too late to purchase one. Very helpful when making these blocks.

These plastic boxes from Michael's are perfect for storing the blocks and the fabric. 

Bloggers:

Patterns by Jen

Pieceful Thoughts

Quilty Creations by Fawn

True Blue Quilts

Sunflower Stitches

Everyone Deserves A Quilt

Quilts to End ALZ

Make sure that you Link Up your block at the end of the month to win one of these great prizes!

Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio – Goodie Bag*

Bea Quilter – PDF Pattern

For the Love of Geese – PDF Pattern

True Blue Quilts – Book: Monochromatic Quilts Amazing Variety*

Make Modern Magazine – 6 month subscription

Island Batik – Fat Quarter Bundle*

Benartex – Fabric Bundle*

Quilters Dream Batting – 60 x 60 Dream Poly*

The Warm Company – 90 x 108 Warm and Plush 100% Cotton

Appliques Quilts and More – $10 gift certificate

Fat Quarter Shop – Gift Certificate

DayBrook Designs – 2 PDF Patterns

Patterns By Jen – Tucker Trimmer 1® ruler*

Follow me on IG at kathy.nester

#2021monthlycolorchallenge #junequiltblock #pumpkin #grateful

Hour of the Witch

 

Hour of the Witch: a Novel by Chris Bohjalian. New York:Doubleday, 2021. 400 pages *****

Seventeenth Century New England where every woman is suspected of being a witch. Twenty-four-year-old Mary Deerfield is the second wife of Tomas Deerfield, a cruel and powerful man, who rules his household with his fists. Thomas is very careful to treat his wife with kindness and respect when Catherine, the servant girl, or his daughter is present. Mary's life with Thomas becomes intolerable when he stabs her in the hand with a fork to see if she is a witch. Divorces are few in Puritan Boston, however, Mary fears for her life when Thomas is drunk and knows it is only a matter of time until he kills her. Will Mary be granted a divorce based on her injuries or will she be sent back to her angry and humiliated husband? 

I have always been interested in the Salem Witch Trials and wondered what was the true story? This book is fiction and not based on any one's life story, however I suspect it is a composite of people and circumstances that occurred frequently in this time and place. Given human nature the story is totally believable and it's a wonder anyone survived. Superstition mixed with jealousy, pettiness and cruelty, fueled the flames of religious wrath. Difficult to put down once started, yet I didn't want it to end and was fearful of Mary's fate. No spoilers here,  you'll have to read it to find out for yourself. Definitely add it to the top of your Reading List!

Witches

Witch Hunts in Puritan New England

boston-witch-trials

Chris Bohjalian is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 22 books.  His work has been translated into 35 languages and become three movies and a TV series. His books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year by the Washington Post, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Hartford Courant, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Bookpage, and Salon. For more info, click here.

Follow me on IG @flamazing_books

Suggested Summer Reading List

#historicalfiction  #witchcraft #puritannewenglandfiction

The Four Winds

 

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2021. 464 pages. ****

Texas 1921. Twenty-five-year-old Elsa Wolcott spends her time reading and daydreaming about adventures of her own. She feels like an outsider and thought ugly by her family. Elsa resents being considered a spinster, so she cuts her hair and sews a red silk dress. One rebellious night, she meets Raffaello Martinelli, and her life is changed forever. Considered ruined, her family wants nothing to do with her and marriage seems to be the only answer. Working on a farm is hard work, made more difficult by the disapproving looks from her mother-in-law. 

1934. People are out of work and a drought has settled in the Great Plains. Dust storms are relentless, crops are dead, water is drying up and store shelves are empty, Elsa makes the unfathomable decision to follow others and take her children and head towards California. Elsa's bravery is tested when those traveling are considered “Okies" and employers take advantage of them.

Receiving mixed reviews (socialism, political), I am perplexed by these reviews. I enjoyed this book and learned so much about the The Great Plains and the dust storms. "Roughly 2.5 million people left the Dust Bowl states—Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma—during the 1930s." I had no idea. Hannah writes a compelling story about a horrific time in our history. It is not a happy story; however, it is one that must be told. Heartbreaking, yet hopeful. This will be a good Book Club choice and will provide many points of discussion. I recommend you read it and decide for yourself. 

Information on the Dust Bowl:

https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/dust-bowl

The Dust Bowl, a film by Ken Burns

Kristin Hannah is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, Winter Garden, Night Road, and Firefly Lane.

Kristin is a former-lawyer-turned writer who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Her novel, Firefly Lane, became a runaway bestseller in 2009, a touchstone novel that brought women together, and The Nightingale, in 2015 was voted a best book of the year by Amazon, Buzzfeed, iTunes, Library Journal, Paste, The Wall Street Journal and The Week.  Additionally, the novel won the coveted Goodreads and People’s Choice Awards. The audiobook of The Nightingale won the Audiobook of the Year Award in the fiction category. For more information on Kristin Hannah and her books, https://kristinhannah.com

Follow my bookstagram in IG at flamazing_books

#historicalfiction #dustbowlfiction  #thegreatdepressionfiction 

Suggested Summer Reading 2021

Looking for something to read this summer?

Here are some of the books that I enjoyed and reviewed:

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline

Extraordinary Life of Sam Hill by Robert Dugoni

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku

The Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman

The Perfect Daughter by D. J. Palmer

Seven Perfect Things by Catherine Ryan Hyde

 The Woman With the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff

Follow me on IG @flamazing_books and on my Blog http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com