I Visit Ancient Rome and Communist China--Via Books

 

  If forced to say my favorite historical mystery writer, I'd give in easily. It's Lindsey Davis. I've been reading her excellent novels for over thirty years. In the Flavia Albia series, her eponymous protagonist is witty and intelligent, and the supporting cast is nutty. While Davis solves a mystery in each book, she also gives the next installment of Albia's life. In a previous book, on her wedding day, her new husband, Tiberius, was struck by lightning. Albia is a newlywed with a sick husband, moving into an unfurnished home while unexpectedly becoming the primary wage earner. She is relatable. Pandora's Boy is sixth in the Flavia Albia series. A fifteen-year-old girl mysteriously dies in her bed. The girl's father suspects poison and hires Albia to discover the truth. I've read a lot of mystery books, and I didn't anticipate the solution. The book is witty, clever, and a little naughty. There are many jokes about a statue of the Egyptian God of fertility Min. 

🔍🏺🏛️🏺🔎

  Dreams of Joy, by Lisa See, is the follow-on of Shanghai Girls. See writes vividly of life in China in the late 1950s. Her book feels authentic with sensory descriptions of the food, clothing, surroundings, and daily life. Nineteen-year-old Joy runs away to Communist China after learning her birth father lives there. Her mother, Pearl, follows to find Joy and bring her back. Mother and daughter become tangled in the political and economic turmoil of the time. I don't know much about Chinese history, but I remember a terrible famine. There are gruesome details of the horrendous things people do when starving. The women claim to be communists but still face persecution for being Imperialist Americans. Shanghai Girls describes the burden of American hostility and ill-treatment despite seeking to live as loyal Americans. Spoiler alert: Joy's adopted father kills himself, overwhelmed by being hounded by the FBI to confess to being a communist sympathizer. Dreams of Joy illustrate life under a totalitarian communist regime. As American Chinese, neither country entirely accepted them. See's characters fight for a good life free from fear and want in both nations. 

    To keep the grain crops from being eaten, Mao ordered farmers to bang pots continuously to scare away the sparrows until the birds died of exhaustion, leading to insects ravaging the crops. Pearl and Joy remind me of sparrows seeking rest, but being driven from place to place.

    I gave this book five stars on GoodReads.

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Theology, Murder, and Fantasy--Typical Week

 

    Someone recommended Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better by Brant Hansen, and I've begrudgingly read it. I am suspicious of subtitles that say one change can make all of life better. I found it to be even-handed and generous. I frequently circle around the question of whether anger is good or bad, helpful or destructive. (I tend to be a black-and-white thinker. Surprise!) Hansen gave good arguments, especially for followers of Christ, to examine their anger and see if it is self-justifying or a check engine light pointing to a problem. This book is short, full of stories, and thought-provoking. It is worth reading and considering.

😡😤🕊️

    Lindsey Davis writes historical mysteries that take place in Ancient Rome, and they are terrific. I have been reading her Roman mysteries for over 30+ years. That's a long time. She doesn't disappoint. This week, I read #10 in the Flavia Albia series, Desperate Undertaking. This series is best read in order but optional. Desperate Undertaking is the tale of a serial killer with a fondness for theater and cruelty. Long-time readers will encounter characters from past adventures. Davis's previous series, Marcus Didius Falco, is about Albia's adopted father, who also solved crimes. If you have lots of time or want to read interesting, informative books about Rome involving murder, Lindsey Davis is for you.     

Here is a link to previous Flavia Albia books I've reviewed:

https://barbpruittwrites.blogspot.com/search?q=Flavia+Albia

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    This will be the first week in a long time that I haven't read a T. Kingfisher. I went online and typed, "If you like T. Kingfisher, you will like _______? We used to do this at the bookstore to find recommendations for people who wanted a book close to an author they liked. The all-knowing internet produced the author Cornelia Funke. Hurray! I've read her Ink Heart series and liked it a great deal. The past four days have been spent consuming her Mirrorworld series. The first book, Reckless, starts with William following his older brother, Jacob, into a mirror world where he is immediately infected by a curse that begins to turn his flesh, heart, and mind into a living stone. Jacob must use all his learned skills as a treasure hunter to find a cure for William. A cure that none of the withes, magicians, or fairies have been able to create. The second book, Fearless, continues the story, focusing on Jacob and his shape-shifting companion, Vixen, as they search for a powerful crossbow able to defeat entire armies. They aren't the only ones desperately needing to find this weapon of mass destruction. 

    This book reminds me of Star Wars. It has multiple plots, wars, a hint of romance, and a gritty, dangerous world. 

🏰🦄🧚‍♀️🧌🧙‍♀️

Same Song, Second Verse or Same Authors, Next Book

 

    This week, I continued to read the series Murderbot Diaries and Flavia Albia novels. 

    I'm almost caught up with Lindsey Davis' series about detective (called informer) Flavia Albia set in ancient Rome. A Comedy of Terrors, by Linsey Davis, takes place at Saturnalia, a Roman holiday that feels like Christmas. There are greens, presents, family get-togethers, and, of course, murder. Davis paints a full-orbed picture of Rome--a big messy city populated with diverse, comical characters that sometimes kill each other. 

    Davis has written over 30 books--about a book a year--and they do not disappoint. 

    Network Effect, by Martha Wells, is a full-length novel about Murderbot. He is a construct of biology and technology. He reminds me of a cyborg, but is likable. Previous books were novellas about 150 pages long, but Network Effect is 350 pages, but it doesn't hinder Well's brisk pacing. Reading through the series, I can see Murderbot maturing in his capacity to care for and connect (See what I did there?) with others. I hope there will be a Netflix (or similar) series. It has the right ingredients: superpowers, a desire to be autonomous, seeking a purpose in a strange world, aliens, evil corporations, and adolescent angst. All good stuff.

    I'm not sure what drew me to The Six: The Lives of The Mitford Sisters by Laura Thompson. It is a biography of six British aristocratic sisters who came of age during the 1930s and World War II. Thompson educates the reader about the political extremes of the time: Fascism, Socialism, Nazism, and Communism. In the face of twenty percent unemployment, many of these ideologies were vying to be the prevailing policy in Great Britain. The times were divisive, and opinions were firmly held. One sister became a fervent Nazi and friend to Adolf Hitler, one's husband was the leader of the British Union of Facist, and another a dedicated Communist. Their lives and marriages were tumultuous and enthralling. It was an entrance to an eye-level understanding of Britain during this time and a chance to read some juicy life stories. Thompson called the sisters the Kardashians of their time. 😉

What I do for history!

Beauty and the Beast Retold and Ancient Roman Crime Fiction

  I'm excited to read A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer because I like a retelling of fairy tales, and she lives close to me. A friend of mine goes to the same gym as Brigid as is her friend. It's like we're athletic best friends. 😉

Also exciting is this is a terrific adaption of Beauty and the Beast. There is a time travel element. A girl from now is inadvertently captured and taken to a magical land called Emberfall with a castle and a handsome, arrogant prince with a dark secret. Kemmerer writes lots of action and twists, but also explores themes like disabilities, true love, and doing good: harmful or helpful. Her characters are vivid and believable. A downside of the book is that it is part of a trilogy, Cursebreaker, so only some things are resolved. Fortunately, all three books are out. I only have to wait for my library holds to arrive. Why does the third trilogy book always become available before the second? Not fair. 

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  Lindsey Davis is one of my favorite mystery writers. Her stories take place in Ancient Rome. She has about twenty novels with informer (think private detective) Didius Falco and a newer series where Falco's adopted daughter, Flavia Albia, has become an informer herself after her dad retires. Davis has won scads of awards for her historical mysteries, which are amazingly fun to read. After many, many years of reading them, I sometimes get lost in the reoccurring characters, but she has a list at the start of each book with brief descriptions. The Third Nero is book #5 in the Flavia Albia series. I have always been satisfied by a Linsey Davis book. She's humorous and engaging, with lots of red herrings and goofy characters. Davis knows her craft and makes Roman history come alive. If you're ever in a place where you need to lay around and read all day, she's a good choice.

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Mystery, History, and Sci-Fi. Oh My!

 

    After weeks of reading weighty subject matter, I have moved on to my comfort reads of mostly mystery and sci-fi. There was a time when I read mystery books almost exclusively, but now I'm mature and try to read Things that Matter. The Grove of the Caesars (Flavia Albia #8) by Lindsey Davis is part of a series I have enjoyed for years. If you like mystery series, Lindsey is really good at what she does. She has two series taking place in Rome in the 1st century. The first is about Didius Falco--former military turned detective, and the second series features his adopted daughter, Flavia Albia. She is intelligent, sarcastic, and cynical--my kind of woman--and the mysteries are intriguing. I'm currently reading the next book in the series.

  

    My departure from the "fun" stuff is Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. This is my book club book for April. It is based on a painting by Vermeer and was also made into a movie with Scarlet Johansson. I haven't seen the movie yet. My art person, Noelle, informed me that not much is known about Vermeer. He only produced thirty-four paintings, mostly of women. The painting is compared to DaVinci's Mona Lisa. It makes sense. It is hard to tell what the woman is feeling or thinking, but she is arresting. 

    The book was more fiction than history. The tension comes from several love triangles and the oppression of women and servants.

          

    I continued the sci-fi series Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. I read the first one earlier this year. search This week, I read Artificial Condition (#2), Rogue Protocol (#3), and Exit Strategy (#4). They were short, more like novellas with about 150 pages each. It is a coming-of-age story. It displays a favorite idea of mine (and others how_stories_change_brain) that story changes you. He is sarcastic, cynical, and lethal, but with a kind heart that he tries to hide and a fondness for soap operas: stories. He is an evolving protagonist and engaging. I have the next one in the series ready to read.

On a final note, Happy Birthday, Dear Beloved Husband, who is the evolving, good-hearted love interest in the book of my life.❤️🤓

    

Trapped in History Feeling my Feelings

 

    Brené Brown is a national treasure. I find it difficult to start her books because I know I will be taking a deep look into my dark soul, but when I finish, I consistently find I've learned how to navigate me and my life a little better. 

    I listened to the audiobook read by Brené Brown and now we are close, personal friends. She has an engaging, warm way of speaking. While reading, she would stop and say let me repeat that vital idea or quote just for you, listener. I may end up buying this book. I try to be selective on books I allow into my house because when they unbury me from the book avalanche that will probably end my life, I want them to be impressed with my book choices! 🤓 What moves me to purchase Atlas of the Heart is she refers to many charts and illustrations that I can't access because I borrowed, not purchased the audiobook. Bummer. The information on emotions is worth a second or third read. Brown also has a series called Atlas of the Heart on HBOmax.  

   Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi is the May book choice for my historical fiction book club. I read it many years ago and like it, but I didn't enjoy re-reading it. It is a heavily plot-driven book with many surprising twists, but if you already know the twists, it becomes a slow-moving descriptive book about 14th-century Britain being icky and oppressive. I would recommend it for middle school grades. 

    Some books aimed at younger readers are excellent at any age, for example, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I love that book.

 

    Master and God by Lindsey Davis is also historical fiction. I have read and recommended Lindsey Davis's historical mystery series set in Ancient Rome (Marcus Didius Falco and Flavia Albia). Even though this isn't a mystery, it is a suspenseful novel revolving around first century Emporer Domitian. Davis creates the flavor and setting of Rome. The two main characters are a Praetorian guard and an imperial hairdresser who are navigating dangerous times under a tyrant. I was sad when it was over.

🦠😷🤒 Memoir, Short Stories, Murder Mystery, Fantasy, and Sci-fi--The Post Has It All!

    Due to a series of unforeseeable events--COVID--I was unable to post last week. This is two weeks' worth of books.

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     Reading books by people of color and other backgrounds than mine help me grow in my understanding of the dialogue surrounding race. I get to see and feel through another's eyes. Marcie Alvis Walker's excellent essays about growing up in the '70s and '80s with a mentally ill mother, in her hateful grandmother's home, the only black child in an all-white school are gripping, eloquent, and heart-wrenching. 

👩🏾‍🦱📚☕️

    Amor Towles's book of short stories, Table for Two, could be a lot better. I'm guessing some of his earlier work was added not for its excellence but to fill out the page count. However, his last story is worth the effort. It relates to a captivating character, Evelyn Ross, in his book Rules of Civility. 

☕️💔☕️

    Lindsey Davis is a master of mystery. Death on the Tiber continues her series with informer Flavia Albia as she faces the terrors of her past. Even though the plot takes place in Ancient Rome, the characters face human struggles common to every age: crime, abuse, children, relationships, and conflict. Her mystery is well crafted, and the plot moves quickly and steadily. I find her quite reliable.

Here are other reviews about Lindsey Davis: https://barbpruittwrites.blogspot.com/2024/04/theology-murder-and-fantasy-typical-week.html

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        House of Salt and Sorrow by Erin A. Craig retells the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I like a reworked fairy tale, but this one didn't appeal to me. The pace was plodding, and I became annoyed at how long it took for things to happen. Craig has built a clever, robust world, but it lacked spark. 

🌊🐙💃🏻

    The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu is the second in a sci-fi trilogy. Here is a link to my review of the first, The Three-Body Problem. 

  https://barbpruittwrites.blogspot.com/2024/06/its-all-about-sci-fi-and-fantasy.html

The Dark Forest had a different translator than the first book, and the transition into English could have been smoother; however, the story was incredible. There is a concept in Christianity of the depravity of humans. It doesn't mean we don't always choose to be self-serving over philanthropic, but the possibility and likelihood are there. The Dark Forest turns on the premise that the way to survival in the universe is to remain undetected. Once other worlds know of our existence, we become a target. The best we hope for is an uneasy détente. Even with this bleak premise, the book is fascinating in the way it examines humanity. The characters' struggles with moral dilemmas feel genuine and compelling. As a fan of sci-fi, I very much enjoyed the excellent writing, the sciency bits, and the philosophical depth.

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