Madam by Debby Applegate

November 29, 2022

Madam by Debby Applegate

A biography of Polly Adler, notorious New York madam, as much a history of New York City in the first decades of the 20th century as a biography. Polly started out as a nice Jewish girl from Russia who came to America alone as 13 year old Perle, seeking the golden land. After working a series of low paying jobs (such as factory worker and seamstress), Polly realized that she wanted more and the fastest way to get there was by opening a brothel. Polly was known for having some of the most beautiful prostitutes in New York working for her.

The book is well-researched and an astonishing number of famous writers, actors, and politicians, as well as gangsters, were friends, clients, and associates of Polly. The book is very long and there is a little too much detail about Polly's many, MANY addresses around New York, as well as the number of times she was interviewed by the police, which could have perhaps been summarized (such as, "In 1935, Polly was interviewed by the police about Dutch Schultz at least 15 times."). But it was an interesting biography about an independent self-made businesswoman and author who is virtually unknown today. She wrote a book called A House is Not a Home that was made into a movie - Shelley Winters portrayed Polly in the film.

Polly Adler at her most glamorous

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

November 28, 2022

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

Emily Sheridan and Chess Chandler have been friends since elementary school. Both are writers: Emily writes cozy mysteries and Chess writes self-help books. Following a bad period in Emily's life, Chess suggests they spend the summer at a villa in Italy where both can work on their writing. At first, the house seems like the perfect place to spend the summer. But when Emily learns that a murder occurred at the villa 50 years earlier, she begins to dig deeper into the story.

There are two timelines here, set 50 years apart, that mirror each other to a certain extent. I figured out the plot about one third of the way into the story. But there were some unexpected twists as well as two different endings, and the reader is left wondering about the truth. Quite a few of the characters are unlikeable, so it didn't bother me when they died or got killed. This is enjoyable escape fiction, well-written, that is perfect for vacation, and readers of psychological or suspense fiction will be drawn into the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Orvieto, Italy, the setting for The Villa

#veryfat #verybrave by Nicole Byer

November 28, 2022

#veryfat #verybrave by Nicole Byer

Comedian Nicole Byer celebrates her plus-size body in this collection of photos showing off her collection of bikinis. She also talks about growing up as a large child and living as a plus-size adult in a society that scorns fat people. She discusses her acting career and how she gained the confidence to be #brave enough to appear in her bikinis in public. 

Nicole is a funny lady and I enjoy watching her on the Netflix baking disaster series Nailed It! The cover photo is a take-off on a photo of the singer Lil Kim.

Nicole on Nailed It!

Keto Clarity by Jimmy Moore with Eric C. Westman, M.D.

November 27, 2022

Keto Clarity by Jimmy Moore with Eric C. Westman, M.D.

A beginner's guide to starting a keto diet with explanations of how keto differs from low calorie, low carb, and paleo diets. My sister-in-law is doing some kind of carnivore's diet, so I wanted to see if that's the same thing as keto. It's not.

The research on keto's positive effect on a variety of health conditions is intriguing, including diabetes, weight loss, cardiovascular disease, aging, and cognitive disorders. Carbs are my downfall and I do better if I stay away from carbs altogether, rather than trying to limit them like plans like WW do (which works well for some people - one of my brothers has done WW for years with great success). Keto eliminates most carbs except for non-starchy vegetables and the few carbs that you may get in protein sources. I actually like vegetables (no, I'm not an alien), but this might be a good diet for the non-vegetable eater.

Another thing about keto that appeals to me is that you limit protein, since I'm not a meat lover. The hardest thing to get your head around is increasing the fat in your diet. If you aren't eating sugar or starch, you body will start to burn your dietary and stored fat. It seems counter-intuitive to eat fat when you already have plenty of fat stored around your body, but it seems like the dietary fat triggers fat burning. Also, it's been drummed into us for decades that fat is bad for you, even though studies have proved that this isn't true, that it's based on a hypothesis rather than genuine research. Most of what the government tells us about what we should eat comes from lobbyists from various food industries (sugar, snack foods, dairy, grain, juice box manufacturers, soda producers, etc.) and who will pay the most money. Most doctors know very little about nutrition since they don't take even a single class on diet in medical school - I've heard that nutritional instruction is an hour or two at the most.

Overall, keto sounds like it might be a good way to give your organs a rest, especially your liver, kidneys, and pancreas, so I am planning on trying it for 30 days and then evaluating the results.

Peanut butter fat bombs, one of the more delicious things that you can eat on keto

Nut butter fat bombs:

1 c. nut butter (preferably almond or cashew, but I used low sugar p.b.)

3/4 c. coconut oil

2-3 T. unsalted butter

2-3 packets stevia

Combine all ingredients in a microwavable bowl and heat in microwave until melted, stirring about every 30 seconds. Pour mixture into ice cube trays or other container. Freeze for two hours. If using a larger container, freeze for 1-1/2 hours and cut into 16 portions, then freeze until solid. Enjoy one after dinner in place of a high-carb dessert. Makes 16 servings.

The Maker of Swans by Paraic O'Donnell

November 20, 2022

Eustace is a servant to Mr. Crowe, a mysterious man with a magical literary talent. Crowe shares his home with his ward, Clara, a mute girl who is extremely intelligent, and writes and draws. But when Mr. Crowe commits a violation of the rules that govern his magic and is set a task to atone for his offense, Clara is abducted until Mr. Crowe completes his punishment.

This is a difficult book to review. The writing is gorgeous and lush, and I really enjoyed listening to the story. Also, the characters are fascinating and I wanted to learn more about them. The book has two parts: the first part has very little magic in it and is just a good story about a reclusive man, his faithful servant who cleans up his messes, and the child who lives with them. The second part is about Eustace descending into despair after Clara is abducted, and also about Clara's imprisonment.

One of the novel's problems is that Mr. Crowe's magical power is referred to in only the vaguest of terms, so vague that the reader isn't sure what it is that he can do. It sounds like he might be a writer's muse of some sort, but it isn't clear. Another problem is that the book ends quite abruptly. Some people loved it, but I'm ambivalent.

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

November 19, 2022

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

The six Mitford sisters are the toast of the London social scene, even in the middle of a worldwide economic depression. Oldest sister Nancy concentrates on her marriage and her writing, while sisters Diana and Unity are caught up in Hitler's fascism and become close personal friends of the Fuhrer, as well as strong supporters of the British Union of Fascists. Meanwhile, younger sister Jessica is a devout communist and runs off to Spain with her boyfriend to fight Franco's regime.

Marie Benedict really captures life in England and Germany between the two world wars. She focuses on the three oldest sisters: Nancy, the best known of the sisters for her writing; Diana, married to the head of the British Union of Fascists; and Unity, Nazi fangirl who possibly had an affair with Hitler. As with all of Benedict's books, research is sound and even readers who are unfamiliar with this time period will have no problem being caught up in the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Five of the six Mitford sisters

Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

November 15, 2022

Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

It's almost the holiday season. On his way to a charity dinner, Mayor Alex Oliva is shot and killed in his driveway. Lawyer Andy Carpenter is drawn into the case when his Golden Retriever Tara digs up a body in the local park. After a reporter who had a grudge against the mayor is arrested for the crime, the editor of the local paper asks Andy to represent the reporter. But when a second person is killed, Andy suspects there is more going on than just an unhappy constituent. 

Fun holiday read. As usual, reluctant lawyer Andy lets his friends sucker him into taking on another case that he doesn't want. It's not necessary to read the series in order. If you like lighter mysteries and dogs, this series is a good choice.

BTW - Andy believes that Tara, his Golden Retriever, is the best Golden Retriever ever, but he's wrong - that title goes to my Golden Retriever Luke.

Paterson, NJ, Andy's hometown

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

November 15, 2022

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

Ann Stilwell is a Renaissance art graduate student who is offered a summer internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, but when she arrives, the only position available is at The Cloisters, a branch of MOMA that specializes in medieval art. At The Cloisters, Ann works with the stunning Rachel and Patrick, the equally stunning curator who is obsessed with finding an original tarot deck from the 15th century. When one of her co-workers is murdered, Ann realizes that she is part of a dangerous game.

I love all things medieval and I've always wanted to visit The Cloisters in New York. Medieval literature was one of my concentrations in grad school, so I was looking forward to reading Hays' novel. I loved the setting, and the descriptions of the museum and the gardens were wonderful. But the plot really dragged, and the characters were irritating. Ann was incredibly naive, Rachel vacillated between brilliant, manipulative, and extremely childish, and Patrick's only real interests were tarot and Rachel. There is also a lot about the cutthroat world of academia. I guess publishing houses don't have editors anymore?

Many thanks to Edeweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC. Wish I had liked it more.

The Cloisters museum in New York

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

November 14, 2022

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Children's author Beatrice Darker is celebrating her 80th birthday on Halloween, and her family is gathering at her house on an isolated island off the coast of Cornwall. Once it's high tide in the early evening, the house will be cut off from land. Her son Frank, his ex-wife Nancy (who Beatrice is actually closer to than her son), their three daughters Rose, Lily and Daisy, and Lily's daughter Trixie are largely estranged from each other, so this will be the first time that the whole family is together in a long time. It will be an uncomfortable gathering at best. But in the middle of the night, one family member is found dead and it appears someone plans to pick off another one every hour.

A review in one sentence: And Then There Were None meets The Sixth Sense. Even the book cover is a rip-off from Agatha Christie. It kept me reading right up until the disappointing ending. At least the dog is okay at the end.

The Cornwall coast

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore

November 11, 2022

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore

Ten years ago, famous magician Violet Volk disappeared in the middle of her stage act. Violet always had magic tricks that seem beyond rational explanation, even to other magicians. No one has seen or heard from her in ten years, not even her sister Sasha, although rumors of Violet sightings run wild on the Internet, creating a cult of Violet fanatics. Unlike her sister, Sasha has led a quiet life in their hometown of Willow Glen, NJ, with a husband, daughter and business. To protect her family, Sasha tries to avoid all the misinformation about Violet. But now the ten-year anniversary of her vanishing is approaching, and the uproar is increasing to new levels, with a podcast series in addition to the annual vigil. As Violet mania intensifies, Sasha begins to wonder if she is losing her mind.

This started out as a decent missing persons story, and I would have been happier if it had stayed that way without the magical realism slant. Although some readers may find it annoying, I liked the combination of narrative mixed with podcasts, emails, and interviews - it worked quite well in the audio format and reflects how we get information in the 21st century. Sasha also talks about the horrible things that people do today, like throwing a Molotov cocktail through the window of her business because someone didn't think she was grieving properly (again, a reflection of the times we live in).

But then the ending just falls flat. Instead of finding out what happened to Violet, the reader is led to believe that she transported to some higher plane or alternate universe, and that maybe Sasha wants to go there, too. This is the second book by Montimore that I've read - the first one was disappointing, but I decided to give her another try. This one was disappointing too. It's like she gets her characters into a situation and then can't figure out how to get them out, without "magic."

A female magician with her male assistant - there are plenty of female magicians out there

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

November 10, 2022

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

Lila Macapagal and her friends Adeena and Elena have finally opened their cafe, the Brew-ha Cafe, in Shady Palms, IL, right next door to Lila's family's Filipino restaurant. They are getting ready to participate in the town's annual holiday bazaar, when Lila's prodigal cousin Ronnie returns home to Shady Palms as the new owner of the local winery. But when one of his financial backers dies suddenly after drinking one of Ronnie's wines, Ronnie is a prime suspect and Lila's aunt asks her to help clear his name.

This is the third book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series, a cozy mystery series centered around a Filipino family restaurant in a small town about 100 miles from Chicago. Lots of food and eating. There are recipes in the back of the books for some of the traditional Filipino dishes. I worked with Mia's mom, Marian, for years at the Chicago Public Library, and I know she is proud as heck of Mia. Very enjoyable mysteries.

Bibingka, a traditional Filipino coconut cake served during the Christmas holidays

Crooked River by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

November 9, 2022

Crooked River by Douglas Preston and Lincoln

Captiva Island in Florida is a vacation paradise, with beautiful beaches where visitors enjoy collecting a wide variety of shells. But one morning, dozens of amputated feet wash up instead. The case is strange enough that the FBI's most unusual agent, Special Agent Pendergast, along with his sometime-partner Armstrong Coldmoon, is assigned to investigate. Pendergast's ward, Constance Green, is along for the ride and manages to find her own mystery to solve when she's not working with the two agents.

This is #19 in the Agent Pendergast series. Agent Pendergast is mysterious and has a number of quirks, but his ward Constance Green (who has quite a backstory of her own) and Agent Coldmoon aren't far behind in the quirky/mysterious category. Very enjoyable series, looking forward to the next release. I would suggest reading the books in order so that you get the full narrative. I listened to the audiobook - the narrator gets the inflections exactly right.

Captiva Island

Crooked River State Park, Florida

Queens of the Age of Chivalry by Alison Weir

November 7, 2022

Queens of the Age of Chivalry by Alison Weir

A history of five English queen consorts from the 14th and early 15th centuries, well-researched with a focus on the lesser known royal women. They influenced politics and economics as well as fashion and the cult of courtly love. The narrative flows smoothly, intended for a popular audience rather than a scholarly audience. The bibliography and notes at the end are extensive, should the reader want to consult primary sources.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Philippa of Hainault, queen consort to Edward III

Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

November 2, 2022

Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

In Belfast in December 1972, a woman named Jean McConville was taken from her flat by a group of people with the IRA. Nine of her ten children waited at home for her to return but they never saw her again. In 1999, the IRA admitted to killing Mrs. McConville because they believed she had been passing information to the British Army stationed in the city. No evidence was ever found to back up their claim about Jean, and in fact, when she was abducted, her oldest son was serving time in prison for being an IRA member. Her body was not found until 2003. Dolours and Marian Price and Brendan Hughes, all infamous IRA members, are believed to have taken part in her murder. It is believed that Marian was the one who actually shot Jean. Dolours later claimed not to have known that Jean was the mother of ten children, although she was one of the people who removed Jean from her home.

The story of Jean's abduction and murder is set against the backdrop of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, including the London bombings, the Price sisters' hunger strike in prison, the death of Bobby Sands, and the founding of Sinn Fein, which lobbied for a unified Ireland. It also explores the dissatisfaction of old IRA members who believed that violence was the only way to get their message across to the British, with the new philosophy of compromise and working through legal political channels. The impact of the Boston College oral history project about the Troubles is also discussed at length in this very readable piece of narrative nonfiction.

Jean McConville

Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson

November 2, 2022

Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson

Two misfit kids, Frankie and Zeke, are 16 and living in the small town of Coalfield. Their families are falling apart, since both fathers ran off with other women. It's summer, they're bored, so they decide to spend their summer break making art. They design a poster with a variety of images and a couple of nonsense sentences, make hundreds of copies, and hang up the posters all over town, just to see what kind of reaction they get. Everyone in town has an opinion, from cults to heavy metal bands. Then the poster spreads beyond their town, like it's taken on a life of its own. Twenty years later, a journalists unearths the truth about the poster and advises Frankie that she is planning to publish an article.

I read and enjoyed the author's previous book Nothing to See Here. I live in Chicago and I've seen similar art installations, hundreds of copies of a poster stapled to the wooden barrier around a construction site or on boarded up store windows, and wondered about the artist's intentions. The story is sweet without being cloying, and it starts out with a YA feeling but quickly evolves into so much more. The two main characters are so young, so lovingly created and so stunned at the consequences of what was basically the way to pass the summer months. Frankie's mom and brothers are wonderful characters, too. The ending was a little disappointing since the reader doesn't get to find out what happens when the article is published, but we know that Frankie and Zeke are all right. Be sure to read the author's note at the beginning about his inspiration for the story.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC.