Still Life

 

This was a first for me from Louise Penny. I enjoyed this first book in her series.

Here you find a community of Three Pines. Friends who just want to live out a normal life. Artist that are eccentric and maybe recluse. But get along. So we think.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache gets called to look into a murder, a crime. Was interesting to see how Gamache conducted the investigation. How he got along with people. The characters of the story were much interesting. I was looking forward in reading who they where, what they did, how they acted when coming in front of what happened to Jane? Armand Gamache takes us step by step on why this would happen. Everything, every one is not perfect. Naturally it's a hunting town. So everyone thinks that is how Jane is killed. But Gamache doesn't agree so easily. With his colleagues Jean Guy Beauvoir, and one other they uncover and turn around to find out the truth of what happened. Except for someone that Inspector Gamache takes a chance on, Agent Nichol. But we find out quickly she does try to help. But in a way that offends pretty much everyone including Gamache, who sends her home. I hope she doesn't come back. Person after person seems to me that Armand has some sort of connection with. And that what makes him unique. And that is the town that you want to be apart of.

Jane knew. Some might of thought her painting was a bit juvenile. But when you look at it, it told a story. A story of a town. A Fair Day in a town. Art is in the eyes of the beholder. And there can be many of them.

Eventually Inspector Armand Gamache and Beauvoir get their killer. You can't help but feel bad when you find out. At least Three Pines.

Still Life. Life is suppose to change. If you don't change with it your life might be still.

I really did like this book. Great cozy mystery. Wanted to come back each time for those folks in Three Pines.

I give Still Life 4 

Only because in order to get on with the story it was so many pages to get through a chapter. I'll be looking for more from the series.

Black Cake

I thought the story was interesting. I like the idea it was written around families. But wish it had more on the geography of the Caribbean Islands, Jamaica, West Indies.

Starting the story with Covey's children coming together after her death was good. Which led to the story of Covey and her dad. How she threw herself into the sport of swimming. Swimming the ocean, pushing herself to be even stronger. We find how Covey's dad gambled everything away. To the point in marrying her off to the person who owned almost everything.

Covey escaped with her fine tuned swimming. With the help of Pearl and her closest friend Bunny. As we find out about Covey, we find that she left a recording for her kids to listen to. Telling her story to Benny and Byron. We find that Benny and Byron have their own things to deal with each other.

And with themselves. Both seem to be working it out through hearing their mothers voice.

We learn through all this, the one thing Covey kept a tradition was making The Black Cake. Her mother showed her and Covey showed her children how to make it. As well how important it is to carry traditions on. 

We read how each place Covey and her husband went from West Indies, Caribbean Islands, London, then California. Yes she found the guy she left. And married him. Stayed away from crowded Caribbeans in fear someone would recognize her from her country. As she made it through the years, she befriended a girl named Eleanor. Elly for short. Sadly she died on a train accident. And everyone thought it was Covey that died. So Covey took Elly's name. Word got back to her country that she had died. No one looked for her.

We also learn it's the same than, sadly as today, of how different the color of your skin is. Whether it's dark or, color of straw, characters still had to prove themselves. Still had looks thrown at them. Still had to answer to. Toward the end of Covey's life she did get to see her friend Bunny. Bunny was the no.1 swimmer by now. A black swimmer!

The one thing I noticed with this recording Covey had was she kept mentioning her 1st born. It couldn't of made Byron, and especially Benny feel so good. But what Covey had to endure. And found herself pregnant. She gave up the baby. But wanted to still find out about her.

The end Covey wanted Byron and Benny to find their sister. Their sister Mabel, or Marble did come around to excepting them. All visited Bunny, and Bunny took all 3 back to her country. Showed them that this and her family, (dad). This is also their family. Sadly Covey's dad was still a not so nice man.

The storyline for Marble wasn't that interesting. 

Plus Covey's mom not much on her. The way she died. But then again not much help for an immigrant. The 3 finally got along. Byron found out what was going on with Benny. Great news, he became a father also. Benny still wasn't giving up on her cafe. But she was the most excepting person. And Marble she straighten her life out with her son.

Last request from Covey to her 3 children was to have a slice of Black Cake. Black Cake was the staple of the house wherever that was. They would know when the right time would be. The time it looks, was 3 children together, knowing who their mom and dad were. plus their mom's family.

I give Black Cake 4 

My reason, is there were too many characters for too many chapters for one character at the end. Other than that it was a good book.

 

Third Girl

This book was pretty interesting. It put our beloved Poirot in a different light. How vain that he is came out and it was funny to read. When a girl, Norma came to Poirot for help and told him she thought she murdered someone. He was willing to help. But one look and she said that he was too old no-one told me you were so old. Threw Poirot for a loop.

His character was kept through the story which was nice. And it was nice to see another character Ariadne Oliver come back for another go at it. While Ariadne was trying to help. Poirot always seem to want to solve without Ariadne. Of course the banter was pretty good between them. Even when Miss Oliver explained what a Third Girl was.

We have a girl that thought she committed murder. Poirot on the hunt to help and clear up that he wasn't that old. And someone who would love and take care of Norma at the end. Plus sneaky people who weren't Norma's family to take what she had.

Hercule Poirot solves not 1 murder but 2. We meet Miss Lemon, Poirot's secretary. And read how he convinces Norma why she thought to be crazy. Norma appears crazy, or think crazy, and possibly is crazy.As he explains the general may be ordinary for everyday people. But it something to get help in.

Giving Third Girl 5 

Now off to another adventure!

 

My Bermuda Namesakes

 

I always like to read debut novels. Gives me a chance to look at a new author. With hopes that the next book is just as good or, better. 

There was something about this story that was off for me. I believe it lacked a strong protagonist. Josephine James, JJ as friends and family call her. Maybe it was the accident when she lost short term memory that made her wary. But to go to Bermuda to be under one of best doctors took guts.

On a whim to look up namesakes was brave. But when she met one of the namesakes I couldn't stand to read about her actually believing everything people say. What a shame she walked into a mess that somebody took advantage of her handicap.

I think it was the drawn out way she had to keep coming back to her journal. Didn't write anything down when she was talked into something that she shouldn't of been doing.

She finally did meet another namesake which was a better match for her. And a boyfriend to boot. Who is a lawyer.

Naturally everything was put together in a red bow at the end.

Nice concept. A little long, too long on the back and forth and her short term memory

just to get to the bottom of a whodunit .

Good story but can only give 4____________> 

It just was too long for me. And JJ was just too annoying with her being naive. But again the book was ok.

Roar

 

This was a good book. Short stories, so many pages.
30 short stories. Could have used a little less. They are stories that women can relate to. Roar to.

When I first started to read this book. I was scratching my head wondering where this author is going. What is Cecelia trying to say? Stories were told in weird allegories to make a point. In this case how a woman is treated and how she feels.

I totally relate to some stories. Like the story where the woman had to give a presentation. And everything she thought could go wrong, did. Enough that she went down a black hole. Found out she isn't the only one that makes mistakes. She gets support from down there. Gets the confidence that she can do this presentation and anything she wants. She gives a great presentation. With a little help from new found friends.
A story about a woman that has a bird brain. Literally! She has a bird feather on her brain. Everything she did before having kids, taking care of her husband seemed to be in a fog to her. So she had to make a change for herself. So slowly she took care of herself. Spent time alone with her husband. Did things that made her happy. Then that feather was no longer there. Her fog gone.
I think my favorite was when a man went to doctors and wanted a vasectomy. But the doctor couldn't do it. Yet he didn't understand and said he would go somewhere else. Doctor told him not in this country. He was so angry. Telling the doc that they had no right to tell him what to do with his body. But they do. It's illegal to travel, give advice over the phone etc..
With what is going on in this country it's good to read about the other side on what they are going through. How's it feel man? Not so good huh?

Who can resist to Roar! Every woman has her own secret. Her own space. At the end of the day the put together woman gets her chance to ROAR!

I give Roar 4 

Just not because it was too many stories. But I do see other's options that it's not all showing empowerment for women. But a social thing.