Author: Kathy Harriott

My husband, Mike, and I moved from NJ to Southwest Florida in September 2006. I currently work for the local county Facilities Dept. and fill my free time with crafts, reading and my experiments in the kitchen.

Some really good books I’ve read recently

As you can imagine, I’ve been reading a lot. Between the books I read at night and the audiobooks I listen to while driving to and from work, I am more than halfway through my goal of 80 books for the year.  Maybe I’ll hit 100!  Here

My mother, Patrica Angus, told me about a writer I had never heard of before, Diney Costeloe.  I chose The Sisters of St. Croix, a book set in Nazi-occupied France at the beginning of WWII.  The main character, Adelaide, finds out that the man she thought was her father is not.  She heads to Our Lady of Mercy convent in France to find out more about her birth father, who died in WWI, from his sister, the Reverend Mother. Adelaide and the nuns are caught up in the German occupation and have to deal with how it affects their beliefs and their lives.  They become involved in the resistance and sheltering Jewish orphans from the Germans.  It was a heartwarming, frightening, and well-written book.

The Sisters of St. Croix

After reading The Sisters of St. Croix, I had The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah on my to read pile. I usually don’t like to read historical fiction back to back.  In this case, I ended up reading historical fiction set at the same time in the same place – back to back.  The stories had many similarities including strong women secretly fighting their own war against the German occupation.  The fact that the things that occurred in both of these books actually happened is heart wrenching.  I recommend that you read both books.

The Nightingale

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick was a delight to listen to.  I absolutely love listening to someone with a British accent read.  The story was very enjoyable. Arthur Pepper is a widower who decides he is finally able to go through his late wife’s belongings a year after her passing.  While going through her closet, he finds a gold charm bracelet hidden in a boot. He has no memory of ever seeing this bracelet.  What do the different charms – an elephant, a tiger, a paint pallet, a book, a ring, and a heart- represent?  While looking at the elephant charm, Arthur notices a phone number engraved on it and calls the number.  This phone call starts Arthur on a quest to find out about the rest of the charms. This quest uncovers some happy and some painful things about his wife’s life.  A thoroughly enjoyable read.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

What have you been reading or listening to?

Thanks for reading.

My foray into “guy” books

 

Yesterday was my father, Richard’s 79th birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!  I have childhood memories of him reading Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey book all the time.  In my mind, these books were “boy books”, so I never wanted to read them.  I figured they would be filled with saloon girls, shooting, and cussing, so I never had any desire to read them. This is the reason I chose a Louis L’Amour book for my May “authors I’ve avoided” book.  Let’s just say that I was pleasantly surprised.

 

The book that I chose to read was Tucker.  I have to admit that I went to the paperback shelf at the Punta Gorda Public Library, where I work, and chose the smallest book out of our Louis L’Amour paperback collection.  I just didn’t think I’d make it through a long, boring western and I didn’t want to fail to read another of my chosen authors (see previous post about trying to read Diana Gabaldon).

 

Shell Tucker and his father were just finished selling some cattle from their ranch as well as some for their neighbors.  While heading back home, Shell and his father had a disagreement parted ways a short while.  When he cooled down and went back to meet up with his father, Shell found him with a broken leg from falling off his spooked horse.  His horse had been stolen, along with the money that they were bringing back to the neighbors.  It seems that two of Shell’s “friends” Doc Sites and Kid Reese, whom his father did not approve of, had hooked up with an outlaw and stole the horse and money.  When Shell’s father succumbed to his injuries, he decided that he had to follow the outlaws and get that money back, saving his father’s reputation as well as the ranch.

 

Shell follows Doc, Kid and Bob Heseltine through the South West, trying to get the money back.  He puts so much pressure on the outlaws that they can’t even enjoy the money.  Several times, Heseltine and his girl, Ruby, try to have Shell eliminated without success.  Finally, Heseltine says he gives up and hands the money over to Shell and says to leave him alone.  It looks like the worst is over, but Heseltine comes back and tries to kill Shell again, but he isn’t as fast as Shell.  Finally, Shell has the money and can head back home.

 

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be slipping a Louis L’Amour book into my reading schedule once in a while.  It wasn’t overtly “guy”-ish.  It was just a good story with well written characters.  I’ve become a Louis L’Amour lover and I’m proud of it!
I hope you give a different author or genre a chance.
Thanks for reading!

Trying new things

I love to try new recipes.  Earlier this month, Chef Warren Caterson come to the library where I work and did a cooking demonstration.  I have both of the chef’s cookbooks Table for Two: The Cookbook for Couples and Table for Two: Back for Seconds. Because of Chef Warren’s visit to the library, I became brave enough to cook some tuna steaks.  Pan-seared Tuna Steak with Sesame Oil was the recipe I tried.

Not only was this delicious for me, but my husband who doesn’t eat fish, ate it and said he would like to add this to our dinner rotation.

Thank you Chef Warren Caterson for the inspiration.

I tried…really I did

In my post on January 9, 2016, I gave a list of authors that I have avoided reading for one reason or another.  So far I have made it through a James Patterson, a Danielle Steele, and a Robert Galbraith without much trouble.  Then came April.

For April’s author, I chose Diana Gabaldon.  Oh how I wish I hadn’t.  I have twice tried to read Outlander.  Both times I gave up.  I just couldn’t get into it. Since I didn’t want to try again to read an 850 page book that I have given up on twice or listen to the 32 hour and 43 minute audiobook, I decided to try one of Diana Gabaldon’s smaller tomes.  I chose to listen to the 9 hour and 24 minute Lord John and the Private Matter.  After 1 hour and 4 minutes of listening to Lord John try to get a peek at his niece’s fiance’s schmeckle (yes, I said SCHMECKLE!) to see if he has the pox (aka syphilis), I couldn’t take it any more. I give up.  I just can’t do it.

I am not a “you read that tripe?” snooty reader.  If you enjoy Outlander and the rest of Diana Gabaldon’s books, I’m glad for you.  As for me. I tried but I just can’t…

Thanks for reading.

Review – How much sleep did I miss reading Into the Mist by Lee Murray? ALL OF IT!

One of my favorite things about working in a library and being around books, is when I find a new author that blows me away.  Into the Mist by Lee Murray is just one of THOSE books.  The author’s cousin, a librarian in New Zealand whom I correspond with, told me that the book was coming out, so I went to Amazon to check to see if it was something I would like. The description of the book had me clicking pre-order faster than I eat chocolate.  Military horror, native mythology, beautiful locale, and breathtaking action – this book has it all.
 
I have always been a big fan of mythology of different cultures.  The Taniwha, a legendary Maori water monster, brings thrills and chills to the native Maori park in New Zealand.
 
A group of scientists are on a fact finding mission to see if there is gold in the area. They are beyond unprepared for what is waiting for them in the misty mountains, even with their military escort. Unbeknownst to them, there have been park visitors reported missing, including a whole military search party. The military escort is not only there to protect them. They are also looking for the missing military search party that was previously sent to the area to search for the missing park visitors.  What follows is an intense, roller coaster ride through the jungle just trying to survive.
 
Reminiscent of Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park and Preston & Child’s Relic, Lee Murray’s Into the Mist was a satisfying romp that kept me wanting more.  To decide if a book is good, I judge it by how much sleep it made me miss.  I missed a LOT of sleep while reading this book.  I highly recommend it.
 
You can order Into the Mist at Amazon or check with your local independent bookstore.
 
 
Thanks for reading.

 

 

What could possibly entice me to post after four and a half months of silence?

A FOOD TRUCK!!!

I recently read an article in the Charlotte Sun newspaper about food trucks.  One food truck, in particular, caught my eye. It is called The Ravenous Rhino.

Today we were out and we spotted the food truck in the parking lot at PetSmart in Port Charlotte. My wonderful husband, Mike, pulled over and let me check it out.  As soon as I looked at the menu, I knew what I wanted.  Sanibel Crab Cake Sandwich – Handmade been of blue and snow crab, fried & served on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, and Cajun tartar sauce. I took a picture of the deliciousness before I started to eat.

I can’t express how delicious this sandwich was.  The spices that were mixed with the sweet crab made for a scrumptious crab cake.  The fresh bun was toasted and delicious.  The tomato, onion, and lettuce were fresh and crispy.  The pickles were dilly.  The Cajun tartar sauce, which is made to order, was heavenly!

Here is a peek at today’s menu:

If you are out and about and see the Ravenous Rhino truck, take the time to stop.

Cozy mysteries are in danger.

Today, while searching for a new book to read, I found out that cozy mysteries are in danger.  Due to mergers and other business factors, some publishers are culling their cozy mystery collections.

What, pray-tell, is a cozy mystery?  Wikipedia states that “Cozy mysteries, also referred to simply as “cozies”, are a subgenera of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detections takes place in a small, socially intimate community.”

If you are a cozy mystery lover, please be sure to contact the publishers of your favorite series to express how much you love them.  Ask them to continue their support of these great stories and the writers who make them happen.

You can find out more about this issue at Save Our Cozies.

Thanks for reading.

Review: Britt-Marie Was Here will make you laugh and cry

It has been a long time since a book both make me laugh and broke my heart.  “Britt-Marie Was Here” did just that.  If you loved Fredrik Blackman’s “A Man Called Ove” or “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry”, you will love this book.

Britt-Marie is a 60-something woman who walked away from her husband, Kent, and their loveless marriage of 40 years.  She has taken a job as the caretaker of the soon to be closed recreation center in the down and out town of Borg. Britt-Marie can’t stand disorder.

Seeing a utensil drawer that is not organized correctly sends her into a tizzy. She feels that only crazy people sleep past 6 am and that dinner should be at the same time every day.

The town of Borg, hit by the economic downturn, has a few die-hard citizens who have not given up on the town.  The one thing holding them together is the one thing Britt-Marie hates, soccer.

 Notable characters in the town are, Somebody – the wheelchair bound proprietor of the only pizzeria left.  Sami, a young man trying to raise is younger brother, Omar, and sister, Vega, after the death of their mother.  Sven, the local policeman with a heart of gold. Her landlady, Bank, is mostly blind with a wicked sense of humor.

The children of Borg play soccer on an improvised field with cups as goal posts.  Ever since their coach died, they have not had a legal “team” and therefore cold not play in any competitions.  Somehow, Britt-Marie becomes their coach, much to her chagrin.  Her hatred of soccer comes from the fact that her husband, Kent, ignored her completely during soccer season.  With the help of Bank, who used to play soccer, the children of Borg enter a soccer cup.

Even though Britt-Marie’s husband Kent shows up she is torn between going home to her loveless marriage or staying in Borg. Has she finally found a place where she can make a difference? By agreeing to be the coach, she keeps the children of Borg from getting into trouble. When a friend of Sami’s puts on a mask and tries to rob the pizzeria, Britt-Marie and Sven try to keep Sami and Omar from getting revenge.

I don’t want to going any more details and ruin the book for you.  The author, Fredrik Blackman, has a way of writing characters who seem unlikable but turn out to be completely different.  I would suggest reading all three books.

Check your local library or independent bookstore for “A Man Called Ove” and “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry” .  “Britt-Marie Was Here” is currently scheduled to be published on May 3, 2016.

Thanks for reading.

I was given an advanced reader copy of Britt-Marie Was Here from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

J.K. Rowling….um….I mean….Robert Galbraith’s The Cuckoo’s Calling

I loved every word of the Harry Potter books written by J.K. Rowling.  When I learned that Robert Galbraith was a pseudonym she was using to write a new series of books, I was very excited.   I thought “YAY!!!  If they are as fantastic as the Harry Potter books, I’ll read every one!”  Then I learned that they were NOT fantasy or kids books.  I was so annoyed that I refused to read any of them. That is, until I decided to read a book each month by an author that I have avoided – and I chose The Cuckoo’s Calling by Galbraith as my March selection.

Cormoran Strike, an ex-military man working as a private investigator. John Bristow hires Strike to investigate the death of his super model sister, Lula, which was ruled a suicide. Strike is pulled into the lifestyles of the rich and famous as he tries to find out the truth about what happened the night Lula died.
One of the things Rowling/Galbraith knows how to do is develop characters. While I didn’t love the book, I might consider reading the next book in the series if I run out of books.  A little wordy and over descriptive, which was a plus in the Harry Potter books, in this book it dragged to story down.
A decent detective story but not one I’d put on my “must read” list.
Next month I am supposed to read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  Wish me luck as I have tried to read it once before and gave up.