The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion - Volume 8 - by Beth Brower - Audio book on Libby

Oh, my this one is as good as the last! I'm so sorry to have reached the end of the series, so far. Apparently Volume 9 is being written right now...Can't wait to read the next develoopments. But it will be good to take a break. This is the first one I've listened to instead of read, and it became an obsession for too long! I'm ready to take a break from being tied to my Airpods.

This volume mostly takes place at Stonecrop, Duke Islington's estate that is idyllic. There is such beauty in the descriptions of both the place and of the friendship of the four main characters that I want to capture somehow. I will wait until my hold on the actual book becomes available and read it. I think I will like that better... I like to pause and read beautiful passages, and that's harder to do on an audio.

The specter of alcoholism is becoming more pronounced as Pierce confronts his stepfather, an alcoholic. I found myself wondering if Emma's attachment to Pierce is going to be problematic...or will she inspire him to change? There was a lot of HARD emotion in this confrontation...still plenty of lightness too, but it was a very hard episode to swallow.

It was a delightful (mostly) vacation to immerse myself in this story, but I am ready to clean house, welcome the Riskedahl's as houseguests, and get back into my world. It's been challenging with Leonard having a very bad cold and cough...I have not been the doting wife! I will do better now that this story is a wrap! 

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

 This book was so amazing that I immediately ordered a copy for Melissa! She has started a little book club with Dawson, Coralett, and Gabe. Next they are reading Theo of Golden. Another great choice...

I loved this book so much. I'd heard a lot of hype about it, and it surpassed the hype, actually. My book club read it, and we ALL were so impressed by it and had a lot to say about it...the guilt Sybil felt, the way she grew and developed over time, the goodness in so many of the characters... 

My own copy of it has not yet arrived, so I had to borrow a copy and read it in a day, which was okay, but I'm ready to read it again at a more reasonable pace. I really wanted to contribute to the conversation we were having about it in my Ridgeview ward book club, so I was happy I could to that. A delightful chat,  for sure.

Both Shirla and I wondered if Sybil had had an understanding bishop or of the gospel, would she have had a different way of reacting to the tragedy of the death of her son? We all loved her relationship with the troubled young man in the story. It just reaffirmed my desire to do good in the world. And to reach out more to those I love...

I'm curious about how Melissa will respond to the thread of adoption in this story and how Sybil finally connects with her half-siblings...

You Are Here by David Nicholls - Audiobook on Libby - 8 hours

 This book was part of a list of books that were "heartwarming" and similar to my obsession with Beth Brower's books. So I took a chance and listened to it. It IS heartwarming, and the writing is delightfully witty and crisp. I guess I mean the dialogue is witty. 

The narrator is British and some of the words and allusions were lost on me. But there were enough that were so clever and so fun that it was a fun listen. The story moved along in an interesting, introspective way that I related to. I mean a lot of the feelings of loneliness, relationship struggle, struggle to be authentic, etc., felt very true. 

The only caveat is that although it's fairly clean, not too spicy, there are parts where the language, particularly F-bombs take over. Not fun, but not too distracting. I really enjoyed both of the main characters, because they were so hapless, vulnerable, and open to change. 

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

This book came highly recommended by those who like epostolary novels, which I do. However, this one is too short and its allusions are too obscure for me to appreciate. Still, it was an enjoyable, charming, and quick read. What's also interesting is that it begins in 1949 and goes through 1969--an incredibly important time span in MY life. I enjoyed some to the cultural things going on, though there wasn't much of that; mainly at the beginning when the British folks had rationing, and the New Yorker could order them food.

It was so sad that this author, Helene Hanff, the writer of the letters to the amazing and charming British bookseller, never made it to London to visit this beloved place in person. Her letters brought her close to the workers there, and even their families--it was so sad she never got there in person. I also enjoyed their descriptions of the books and their creamy pages...The prices were amazing for these collectors' items...it was fun to read about those aspects... 

I am definitely a book lover, and the worlds it creates for me...especially at this time of my life when I have time to enjoy them. I am becoming more discerning, too, and really appreciate a good read as opposed to most of the fluff coming out today...

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion - Volume 7 - by Beth Brower

 This Volume 7 takes up exactly where Volume 6 left off, namely Emma and Pierce's KISS! And what it means, and how do they move forward? It's a sweet and often funny discussion, and sometimes very poignant. This story also features a little more about the Pirate, and his extraordinary abilities in journal making. He's also marginally kinder to Emma.

This journal culminates with a shocking incident when Emma and Islington are caught in each other's arms when he stumbles, and much is made about why they are found this way. It's absurdly funny, and the result is that Islington claims to be Emma's guardian after she reaches "her majority."

We also learn more about young Hawkes and his amazing scholarly abilities, as well as his uncanny and intuitive ability to help out where and when he's needed. We learn about his relationship with Emma's father, though not too much. He's willing to tell her more, but prefers she not ask, so she doesn't. I sure hope we learn more about this fascinating character in Volume 8!

Emma is reading Plutarch in this volume, and there are also more Shakespeare and Emerson quotes. She's definitely a student of the classics, which makes me want to get into these more, as well as Wordsworth. I'm following several Instagram accounts where Brower claims to be working on Volume 9, but isn't yet able to announce a publication date. It's clear that her many fans, like me, are waiting anxiously for more news of this enchanting character. 

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

 This was a selection by someone in my Monterey Book Club, and I'm glad I waited to get it from the library, because it isn't one I would ever want to give away or reread.

That is not to say, though, that there isn't some merit to the book. I liked how it shared the complexities of the way politics and the U.S. government work. Mary McLeod Bethune is a black academician who becomes a civil rights leader and a good friend of Mrs. Roosevelt. There was a lot I didn't know about the Roosevelt family, for example that Eleanor was related to Teddy and was a Roosevelt herself before she married Franklin.

I also knew that there was speculation about her having a lesbian relationship and marital problems, and this book took that theme and ran with it. It got a little tiresome to read about some of these problems. What was interesting to me, though, was the way that Eleanor supported Civil Rights causes and tried her best to persuade her husband to support them as well. I also learned more about the New Deal and its sweeping legislation. 

What is disappointing, though is the total lack of credible citations or sources or bibliography. In the end notes, both authors claim to have read hundreds of articles, etc., yet there isn't one citation. So it's kind of impossible to separate fact from fiction. 

The authors also claim that their own black/white relationship grew as they discussed difficult racial issues as they co-authored this book. However, the racial aspects of the story are not particularly nuanced. They did do a good job, though, of reflecting the oft-made mistake of whites wanting to make decisions for blacks, and of token black appointments with no power or authority. That was felt authentic and unfortunately true. 

One of my neighbors said she disliked the book so much she couldn't even read past the first couple of pages! She doesn't even want to attend the discussion, which makes me wonder what she's all about. She checked in with me to see how I liked it, but I hadn't begun it yet... Now I'm curious to see if it's the sympathetic portrayal of blacks that got to her or what??? It will be interesting to find out!

The Unlikely Thru-Hiker by Derick Lugo

 I was sold on the hype on this one, on Amazon, and I was between book club books, so I went for it. The purchase supports the AT, so it also felt like a good cause.

I love hiking books! Obviously. This one was lighter than most, and enjoyable. The perspective of being the only black hiker on the trail was a novel one. He was also a true novice, non-hiker, who succeeded in finishing the hike. These are commendable. He focuses more on his fellow hikers than on any of his own injuries or struggles. Maybe he didn't have too many? He described some challenges, but he doesn't dwell on them like many other author-hikers do.

One thing that struck me was how well he described the through-hiker culture. He was willing to step off the trail to attend some hiker celebrations that were held along the way, and it reminded me of exactly what Eli has described to me as Burning Man culture. You barter, you trade, you give away, you accept, you love, you don't judge, you help others along their way.

He does have some moments of appreciating the profound beauty around him, but that isn't his focus. As a New Yorker, his appreciation of the outdoors is child-like and charming. Lugo is a part-time comedian, and always takes a light and comedic tone in his interactions with others. He's also relentlessly positive, and earned his trail name of "Mr. Fabulous." It's not great writing or great humor, but it is a fresh and enjoyable read. 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion - Volume 6- by Beth Brower

 Have I said this before--these books just keep getting better and better? They do! This one was a delight; so much so that I read the last few chapters twice. Actually, I'm looking forward to rereading the whole series again, when I finally get Volume 8 from the library, and await Volume 9's publication.

This is the volume where Emma helps Hawkes fish money out of the fountain and ends up falling in; where she takes on a job as secretary and fights off a predator with a fire poker, and gets closer to her three friends in very cozy interludes. We learn some hints about Islington's past, but not much. 

This series is such a great and welcome escape from my day to day wondering if I am living my best life! It always puts me in a happier mood, and my step is lighter. With Len's recent heart attack, I'm feeling confused about how much I am needed and how I am needed here at his side. When I truly want to spend more time being GRANDMA! Or ??? Doing something with some substance. Right now I am watching, coasting, and hoping to figure out a way to support Leonard's attempts to be healthier..,

This volume ends with a very thorough kissing of Emma by Pierce, which leaves a fabulous opportunity for an enticing opening of Volume 9!

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion - Volume 5 - by Beth Brower

 Oh, my, the fun continues!

I was really trying hard to stay focused on my lesson prep (Genesis) for Gospel Doctrine, AND I was excited to read this when it finally got to me from the library. Thank Heaven, I was able to discipline myself, prepare a really different kind of Gospel Doctrine Lesson (two little plays portraying Sarah, Jehovah, and Abraham) AND enjoy this book, but not overly so. It was delightful this afternoon to have my lesson go well, and to be able to enjoy the sweet Christmas and New Year's ending of this book.

In this volume, Emma attempts to track the Roman's movements by culling sightings from the citizens of the neighborhood. She begins to recover from Maxwell's burial, and there are some especially poignant thoughts about grieving. Especially at the end, when Hawkes invites her to confession and she tells him about the beginnings of her recovery. 

Another riveting scene is when Jack calls in his favor and takes Emma to see his dying mother. It's an almost violent scene and heart-breaking. But Emma endures it well, and becomes a confidante to Jack at the end. 

There are sweet moments with Agnes and Parian and Pierce, but he's definitely drinking to excess these days, and Emma notices. Will she become his rescue as he was for her? And there's a deepening entertaining relationship between Emma and Islington which is pure delightful banter. So good!

The Q by Beth Brower

 I am so entranced by Brower's series (The Unsolicited Journals of Emma M. Lion), and yet have to wait so long to get them from the library, I decided to try one of her other books. This one also has rave reviews on Amazon; it wasn't expensive, and I could get it in a few days. DONE! I took a chance and bought it.

Whoa, it's SOOOOOO good! I love it so much. Brower does an amazing job of hitting me in the gut in such a good way. Her characters are so interesting and so human AND so altruistic and highly principled...not all, but there are such beautiful moments of high and holy thinking. Wow. 

Quincy, as a main character, is interesting to watch. She seems autistic, even, but her social retardation may just be the result of being a foundling. She develops slowly and believably across the arc of the story. Her solicitor, Arch, is an amazingly supportive friend, and his father's kindness to Quincy brought me to tears more than once. Such sensitivity! It's remarkable how Brower captures this.

And there is also the arresting wit and humor which I also appreciate about this author. This is such an enjoyable and satisfying book that I'm reluctant to recommend it and lend it out until I can read it again just one more time. Probably more than once, but once again SOON!

I have such a satisfying life in St. George, but I'm occasionally restless and wonder if I'm doing all I can to do good in the world. Being able to drift away into Brower's world is one I lovely habit I would hate to give up if I get more ambitious anytime soon...

The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson

This book was my neigbor Denise's pick for our Monterey Book Club, and she raved about it. It's kind of a pulpy, low level kind of read, so I was disappointed. I respect Denise a LOT, so I'm surprised she liked this one so much. Maybe she hasn't read the good stuff about the Occupation? Like the Potato Peel Society one? It's miles better!!! but that's why book clubs thrive, I guess. We each decide what's good or not. I just have to find a way to politely voice my disappointment...or not...when we meet.

What is impressive, though, is the whole back section where the author cites her sources and describes some of the historical ties to her characters. They were mostly based on real people and real suffering. That is impressive, but it got so old to have her fictional characters be so trite and predictable...frustrating, really. And it got very old to read about the hardships and the starvation... with very little about how people actually survived emotionally. I'm sure it was through more than just the library books. Yes, it's an ode to help that a book or good story can provide as a get-away, but I'm sure they needed more than that. These people are heroes, and they certainly deserve better portrayal, more nuanced and real portrayal than this author gave them. Sheesh. 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 4, by Beth Brower

 Oh, my goodness, these just get better and better. Volume 4 hits high and it hits deep...Emma goes to Maxwell's burial and is ripped open by grief. The way Pierce comforts her is beautiful. The alchemy between the four main characters is discovered and deepens...Young Hawkes, Emma, Islington, and Pierce. Who doesn't want to be "one of the guys" in a very feminine and protected way? Browers portrays this emerging partnership beautifully. You really want to inhabit this world. So sweet...and yet her grief over Maxwell's loss is so poignant. Maybe this is a great example of knowing the bitter so you can learn to prize the sweet???

That would be an appropriate message as I am studying Moses right now, and the contrast between bitter and sweet and between learning to prize the good comes up a LOT. 

I'm on the waiting list for the next two volumes...I've also put holds on the audio. I think I would enjoy listening to some of these volumes again and again...

The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinango

 This was an interesting read. I'm not sure who chose it for our Marcia Oshita book club, but I was happy I found it at our library. I'm glad I didn't have to purchase it, because it's not worth giving away or keeping, but it taught me a few things about the indiginous people of Ecuador. 

Virginia is given away as a child and we spend many chapters living through the horrible abuse her new family piles on her. It's hard to read and makes up most of the book. However, she does a good job of describing the conflicting feelings of a young girl, and later of an adolescent.

This girl is caught between cultures and languages and customs. She shows amazing resilience and ingenuity despite horrific obstacles and living conditions. It's inspiring in that way, and it's also a little hard to believe. I liked that she studied so hard and that she ultimately found a way to honor her culture and her adopted culture. I kept thinking about the Lakota and Henry and when or if Henry will grapple with any of these issues. 

It was a good read, but not a great read. I like how it shares the message of how education is the passport out of poverty and hopelessness. But for the average girl in Virginia's circumstances, most would never fought as she fought her way out, I wouldn't think. 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 3 by Beth Brower

 Oh my gosh, this series is getting better and better! And finally, a book with a little more length and heft! Over 200 pages! Woohoo! Pure delight on every page. The humor is pervasive and then suddenly, the pain and grief can appear. It's not all lightness; there is the dark to deal with as well.

In this story, Emma and Niall Pierce get closer. Their attic-note-exchanges become more intimate, and in a very poignant part, he shows her his war photos of Afghanistan. Emma's lightness turns dark, but she is honest and allows herself to be guided through it. The mystery of Pierce deepens and we are still wondering how he got his limp.

Before this seriousness, though, there is the zany episode of looking for clues to obtain tickets to Julius Caesar in St. Crispian's. As Emma and her uncle are teaming up to get these tickets, Archibald meets Tybalt the cat in an unfortunate accident and ends up bed-ridden with a broken leg. His behavior worsens and Emma's reactions are predictably funny. 

I was so happy that his volume got to me through the library before I had to return Volume 4, which came in first. And I want to read them in order. They are so good, though, I may have to purchase the entire series because they are that good. In fact, I could start this one over right now, and I might, after I read Volume 4. It's annoying because they are in such demand, they can't be renewed! I don't want to incur the 10cent a day fine, but it's not that. I don't think it's fair to hold on to them too long, to deprive other anxious readers from carrying on.

One of my favorite characters is Emmas's aunt Eugenia and her insults! Roland and the twins are delightful too. Oh, and the Duke! All of these potential suitors are hilarious, not to mention the young Hawkes and her unintended intended, Charles Goodard. Too funny! Agnes the maid is emerging more too, and all of them make up a colorful tableau. None of these hold a candle, though, to Niall Pierce. I love the way he inhabits a sofa or a room...there must be amazing charisma there. So fun! 

A Train to Potevka by Mike Ramsdell

 I went to some effort to get this book, published in 2006, and finally was able to borrow a copy from Karen, one of my friends in the Ridgeview Ward book club. I think we're calling ourselves the Dixie Book Club now, and I was committed to getting it and contributing to our next discussion because I really enjoy these women, and I've had to miss the last two meetings. 

Mike Ramsdell is a Bear River, Idaho native who wrote about his life and one of his very challenging adventures as a Russian spy. He claims it's fiction because there are laws about what ex-spies can share, but it feels authentic. Along the way we learn about his life growing up, his son Chris, and what it was like to be trained as a spy, to catch your best friend being a traitor, to starving on a train and then in a safe house in Siberia, and to finally reunite with your best friend in Germany and marry her. It held my interest all along the way.

I read for several hours at the Honda Service Center as our Honda had a fuel pump module recall repaired. The two hours flew by. In a lot of ways, it's a simple book, because he doesn't go into great detail about the espionage he's writing about. He outlines Russian history, and describes the Russian landscape and people very descriptively. It's also a fairly fast read and moves along at a good clip. The overwhelming poverty, starvation, alcoholism and constant cold are pervasive in the USSR and the hard life these people live is instructive. I knew a lot of this from my years in West Berlin, sometimes experiencing the Soviet way in East Berlin. The endless concrete block buildings, the pervasive grey of everything, the harshness of the soldiers, the high distrust of everyone because the KGB was everywhere. 

A charming aspect of this book was the author's illustrations. They are simple pen and ink drawings, but add a nice dimension to the book. Ramsdell is LDS but he's not a preacher in this book. He describes his own mission briefly, and his religion comes up when he attempts to buy two Elders dinner in Moscow, but there's no doctrine or Christian message beyond his love and longing for his family. 

After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Ramsdell is in Moscow and describes in great detail how difficult it was to find a restaurant that would serve him and two Elders he encountered at Gorky Park. They end up at the newly-completed McDonalds, but the line snakes outside and is over 2000 people long! It was fascinating to read about little boys who saved places in line, identified foreigners they could help, and then sold increasingly close places in line to the entrance of the restaurant. Capitalism beginning to grow in these young entrepreneurs! And then the disheartening revelation that most of their earnings would be collected nightly by the Russian Mafia.

I knew about the KGB, but was pretty clueless about the Russian Mafia. Both groups seem sinister and destructive to a struggling new government...Russian history is so fascinating and mysterious to me! This book added to the mystery and to my wondering...Is Russia forever destined to be run by corrupt people and is dishonesty still so pervasive? They, as a people, do seem markedly different than their western European neighbors...

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner

 I happened to pass this book when I was browsing at the Washington County Library downtown and recognized the author as someone who had written several Jane Austen spin off books that I enjoyed. I figured this one was worth a try.

At first, I couldn't get into it. It was bland, blah, and not even remotely witty. But the plot began to grow on me, and I persisted. It wasn't worth it. It was actually kind of puzzling the way the story unfolded and perhaps is rife with suffrage history, but I'm not sure if it's accurate or fictionalized. At any rate, the raving women intent on women's rights quickly marry and give up other rights. 

The circumstance that kept me reading was the fight over a Jane Austen letter that was given to one of the main characters after she had married. When her husband insisted she sell it, she bolted. This created a legal battle between London and Boston that had several interesting implications. Did she lose her American citizenship by marrying a Brit? This was just one of the thorny issues...

In the ship travel crossing back and forth across the Atlantic, we meet Louisa May Alcott and get to know other characters that were somewhat interesting. All in all, though the characters are likable and the extensive references to Jane Austen's work and life are occasionally insightful, this book is not worth the time. I'm kind of mad I didn't follow my earlier inclination to give it a miss in the first few pages. Oh, well, you never know if a book is going to come alive...This one didn't. 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 2, by Beth Brower

Oh my gosh, I love this Emma M. Lion, and smirk and smile and occasionally laugh out loud at her writing and her situations. I'm still frustrated that each book is so short and that there is such a long wait for each one at the library, but I love them so much I'm sticking with them. I heard somewhere that additional volumes are coming out beyond the seven that are out now, so I wonder if I should go ahead and just purchase the first group? THEY ARE THAT GOOD!

It's so refreshing to have comical and interesting characters and then to throw in some royalty and snobbery and some greed... Really, each page is delightful. In this volume, Emma begins her job as a foil to her cousin Arabella and attends all sorts of interesting social events. She gets to know her Tenant next door, and there is obviously some chemistry brewing. Then her childhood nemesis, Roland, also creates some love tension...and there is a duke in the neighborhood who stops in and is totally entertained by the unusual and unexpected antics of Emma. 

In this volume, Emma and her friend Mary's boyfriend, Jack, conspire to return to her boarding school to retrieve a three-volume set of Jane Eyre, spurred on by a meeting of "the Janes" in her Lapis Lazuli house. The Tenant asks to rent the salon for his studio, so that will probably heat up the action in the next volume. So fun! Such a relief to read funny, witty, and clean and clever fiction!!!

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult; 16 hours on Libby Audio

 My sister Ann told me they are reading this book next in her book club. I have been to several of their meetings, and I like these women, and I value their choices. And I thought it would be fun to talk to Ann about it when she reads it. When I found it on Libby, I thought I would give it a try.

I have read other Jodi Picoult books, but wasn't that impressed. Still, I thought this might be worth a try. It was! Sixteen hours flew by as I cleaned the house, walked, walked the mall, and mopped floors. At the end, I listened for almost four hours straight.

It's a compelling story of a nurse who is accused of murdering the baby of a white supremicist. The medical terminology and the legalese were both more than I could handle, but showed the author's rigorous research. Still, I could follow it in general terms. The way the characters took over the telling of the story, especially the trial, was riveting. 

I found the background information about the white supremicist fascinating. I thought the way Ruth, the black nurse, experienced racism was very realistic and not unknown to me. It was a good and poignant reminder, though, of my white privilege. The thorny issues are really well-developed in this no-win situation...especially the agony that ensues when Ruth is thrown into jail, and her son Edison is left on his own. It was a startling reality check to imagine being in jail like that...

There was harsh language and very harsh and violent scenes that were hard to listen to... Several times I wondered if I should continue. But by then I was pretty invested in Ruth and her life and her beautiful conflicted character. I especially valued the contrast between her and her darker-skinned sister. And the way Ruth had strived to live by the rules, to work harder, and to succeed despite rampant racism. And then to have "the system" attack her anyway was so heart-breaking, one could understand her sister's more militant anti-racist stance.

I liked how many stereotypes were addressed and explained. For one, how it is not black people's job to erducate whites on their injustices and the systemic injustices. It is white advocates' job to do that for each other, to defend and become advocates for blacks in all situations. I don't have many opportunities to do that, except occasionally I will hear someone say "woke" in a disparaging way, and I can address that better after reading this book. None of this was new to me, but it was set inside a compelling story which really held my interest. Bravo to this white author for taking on a hard topic and researching and presenting it well. 

The Immortals by Steven T. Collis

I was a little annoyed when Marsha Oshita, a friend in our ward, decided to start a new book club outside of Relief Society. It's not that she started a book club, but that she started one and promptly picked out all the books herself! I'm not sure that's what happened, and we haven''t met yet, but this is the first one picked. It's a military history and it was hard to read because of the cold, the desperateness of the men involved, and how it really only hinges on a half-hour at sea when the Dorchester gets torpedoed and sunk.

There were four chaplains aboard, and a cook on one of the accomanying ships who heroically helped save others and then succumbed themselves. It's a moving example of selflessness. But the author goes on and on and speculates so much about what the men were thinking and feeling that it felt like padding to make a book out of a short story. I thought the men's lives prior to the disaster were interesting to read about..but not particularly compelling. A lot of facts didn't lead anywhere.

I did bother to read the end notes, and this author did a lot of meticulous research from primary sources to tell this story. I learned a lot about how the chain of command works and doesn't work. There were other heroes besides these five that he writes about, and it's amazing to read of their selflessness.

The other thing I learned was that the military specifically sought out chaplains who could think larger than their own particular religion. They needed men who could minister to men with no faith and with a variety of faiths. This description of their qualifications as lovers of humanity was interesting. 

I guess one of the reasons to be in a book club is to read things I wouldn't normally read, and this one certainly qualifies. I would have put it down; no, I wouldn't have even picked it up because I like happier milieus, but I am glad I got rhrough it, and it will be interesting to hear what the other women in the group think about it next week. I fear it may veer into the political, so I hope I can stay appropriate, especially now that Trump is threatening to take over Greenland, and that connection may be brought out in a positive way at the discussion. Yikes, what will I say? We shall see! 

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1 by Beth Brower

 People who review books on Instagram keep mentioning this series, so I was intrigued. And it finally came through on my request at the library! Whohoo!! When I picked it up, the librarian asked me if it was my first time reading this series, and when I told her yes, she warned me that the first couple of books are a little slow and require patience, but that they get better as the series goes on. I believe there are seven books in the series, and I could buy the set on Amazon for $114.00, but don't plan on that at this juncture. 

However, I do have a problem because waiting so long between volumes is hard because I forget the characters and details...and won't have the former books to refer back to if I keep reading them as they become available at the library. What a problem, huh?!

BUT...this first book was so delightful, I'm tempted, sorely tempted to buy the series. Maybe I will. It's clean, it's very witty, and it has cute characters. I love the heroine and her attitude. Of course I love all things British...so this fits right in. And the time period, the late 1800s is a good one too...I may have to cave on this one. I would definitely go for it if it weren't such an obvious marketing ploy to have each book be so SHORT! The first volume was a little over a hundred pages and didn't even last me for two legs of my flights to Indiana! When I got there, Sierra told me she has listened to the series and really enjoyed it too. At the moment, I have a request in for Volume II at the Washington County Library so we'll see how long it takes for that to come in...

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

 I have been hearing all sorts of glowing reports about the goodness of this book, and I couldn't get it at the library, so I treated myself to it when I was in Granger, Indiana, looking after the grandkids. I went to Barnes and Noble, and sat by the fireplace and read a few pages to see if I liked it. I did! And then I saved it for my flights home.

I am so happy I had this book for my LONG travel day yesterday! I was hung up in Chicago, at O'Hare airport for more than six hours. I was able to actually enjoy that time...walking, and reading, reading and walking. I'm so grateful that it was engrossing, positive, intriguing, and really held my interest all day. By the time I landed in St. George, after a stop in Denver, I had finished it. It's not a short book, but what a joy it was to give the whole day to it! I think it also helped me feel so much gratitude as I reflected on my time in Indiana, my time with the grandkids, and my time in Laramie and Rapid City as we flew over them!

It is a delightful read with a rather blunt and violent ending, but it works out in a way that is instructive. I liked the subtle message of heaven and Christ woven throughout Theo's bestowal of gifts. In some ways, it's more overt than many "modern" readers would appreciate, but it's so solid and so heartening that I think it's hard to take offense at it. Christianity has taken a lot of hard knocks in our culture, and it's so popular to cry foul and list all the ways churches have failed us...So it was refreshing to read a book that extols Christian virtues in an unapologetic way. 

Theo reminded me of the Count in A Gentleman in Moscow. Both are cultured, older, refined, educated, and gracious gentlemen. They choose to see good and be good and encourage good in others. It was a sweet comparison to contemplate. I admire both characters sooooo much. I like books with great characters!

I especially liked the way Theo was able to articulate to people what he saw in their portraits and what he saw in THEM. This had a magic way of lifting their spirits and helping them see themselves in a more capable light, especially the homeless woman. It's a good model for what all of us could be doing more of... There were also many encouragements to enjoy nature, to enjoy the moment, and to really look people in the eye when we encounter them. So many good reminders! So refreshing...

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

 Several women in our Monterey Book Club mentioned at our Christmas luncheon at Bloomington Country Club that they had enjoyed this book. While we were deciding on a process to choose this year's books, we all agreed to read this one for January and make our final decisions for the rest of the year at our January meeting. So I put in a request at the library for this book, and happily, it came through in time for me to read it.

I liked the setting of the 50s, of course, and all the attendant TV, music, and food references for that time period. The boarding house with all of its interesting characters were also fun to read about. The mysterious murders unfold along the way, and in the end are justified because the two murdered characters were so despicable. This is not reality, but it's kind of a fun ride. This is not deep or compelling reading, but it is fun and mostly fairly light.

There are two historical situations that I was unfamiliar with. One is that the Russians set up a whole mock American city in order to train their spies. Russians learned to speak flawless English, shop in supermarkets, etc., so they could easily fit in as natives in America. That was fascinating to read about, and also the shock that these spies were astounded to learn that what they actually found in America was even better than the mock up version, and many apparently defected.

The other situation was a mock invasion in Texas where a whole town reacted to a mock Russian invasion. It was called Operation Longhorn. I'm still hazy on why this was done or what the learning was supposed to be, but how weird! This book also illustrated the panic that was rampant among people accused of being Communists or gay; the McCarthy era. And Edward R. Murrow makes a brief appearance calling him out on his newscast. It made me think, I wish a respected Republican would do the same with Trump! Some are trying, but there is so much hate flying in both directions that we don't hear them...They don't stand out. 

At any rate, this story was enjoyable with strong and interesting characters. Would I seek out other work by this author? Probably not...but maybe. I really liked the author's notes at the back explaining some more of the historical context and who was real and who was fictional. It's a fun way to learn some history, for sure.