Wednesday 1 December 2021

Book Review: Delany, Chapman, Griffiths

It's book review day! What with COVID, some library books have taken 3 months until I can pick them up. Others haven't shown up at all. I'm reading three series, for this reason. 

Borrowing has been pretty tricky, since they used to leave them for 3 days due to COVID prevention. Then there are no penalties if you are late. Libraries have reinvented themselves. It's been a challenge. We tried the Libby app, but I wasn't thrilled. 

We are all avid readers. Josephine has several books out from her library. Momma sent a photo of her new desk, high school kids have homework. But check out the library books she has in her bedside table! What a great young lady. She turns 14 in December. I turn 65!

Ottawa libraries are a big deal. There are no fines, but after after 90 days there is a replacement fee to buy the book. I really like that idea. 

I prefer female authors, as well as female protagonists. (I like mysteries.) Some of the men are too violent, crude or coarse. These have been wonderful, with strong, yet vulnerable leading women. These three writers do that for me. I like the mystery as it unfolds, with details unfolding slowly. Peeling the onion layer by layer, clue by clue. They aren't heavy reads, as we are still dealing with health issues, and it takes me out of my head at bedtime. 

 1. Valley of the lost: : a Constable Molly Smith novel #2, Vicki Delany. <= This one I'm enjoying. 

2. Shallow end : A Stonechild and Rouleau mystery #4, Brenda Chapman. 

I'm on book #4. What I like about this series is that it takes place in Kingston, for the most part. JB went to uQueens, and we had family ties to Kingston, so we were frequent visitors. I know the streets whereof she writes, and I find it quite enjoyable. Not only that, but one character used to teach in Winston Churchill School. I taught there, but in Ottawa! I drove 2 km to work and drove through 15 traffic lights from our home. It was my last Ottawa teaching assignment before I went to Muskoka to care for my parents.


The new technology around libraries is quite incredible, much more developed during the pandemic. Online I can find similar titles or similar authors. The best part, however, is checking my borrowing history and figuring out what is next. Some days my brain is pretty feeble.



3. The Crossing Places: a Ruth Galloway mystery #1, by Elly Griffiths.
I'm still waiting for this one, reserved in May! I went on to read #2, and, I think #3, but I cannot remember. Don't you love old age?!

That said, I have enjoyed reading so much over the past while. Have you been borrowing books? What are you reading?

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@Barrie Summy

17 comments:

Barrie said...

Libraries have kind of reinvented themselves down here, too. No fines, for example. At one point, a library staff member would use a long ruler to push your reserved book the length of a table to you. Crazy times! I do use Libby to either read on my Kindle or listen to through my cell phone. On my bucket list is to take a tour of the Kingston prison. I'll have to try a Brenda Chapman mystery! Thank you for reviewing!

Lucy said...

I prefer a book to hold but due to covid I've started borrowing e-books from the library. Like you, seeing longer than usual wait times from the library. Oh well.

Sounds like you're reading some interesting books though! Thanks for highlighting them! :)

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
I have a long list awaiting my attention... all sorts, factual, fictional, biographical. Fiction tends to the SCi-Fi and mystery... if I would only get around to reading them!!! YAM xx

Tom said...

...I wish that I enjoyed reading.

Jeanie said...

I just did my book review post for November! I love mysteries and it looks like you and I might like some of the same books! I think I need to add some of these to my 2022 list. They look very good (I love Ruth Galloway's character! I had one of hers this month, too!)

William Kendall said...

I read a lot. I noticed that a couple of items on my holds list have been there for a couple of years and are still listed as on order.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Our libraries have changed so much also. No overdue fees, they keep books 3 days on return in kind of a book quarantine.
They have also expanded their wifi to the parking lot. Our upload speeds on the internet are painfully slow so if I have a lot of photos to upload I go the library and what takes hours at home takes literally one or two minutes.
I'm reading some Lisa Scottoline recently.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Having trouble finding the right book for these times.

Powell River Books said...

I like mysteries and books in series as well. I'm going to check out the ones from your review. I try to stick to one at a time or I start getting confused. I remember having a desk at home in high school and college, but I have to be honest, most of my work was done on the floor or the kitchen table where I could have people nearby. - Margy

RedPat said...

I pick up books from the Little Libraries and then return them later. I isolate them for a few days when they come home with me.

DeniseinVA said...

Thank you for these books. I am always happy to get recommends on various authors. I have a few books I should get started on. The colder weather will be keeping me inside more, and it's a good time to start in earnest.

Lyndi Lamont said...

I've been reading a lot since Covid, mostly e-books, but some audio books, too. I still enjoy romance, but I've been reading more cozy mysteries this year. They're great fun. I recently finished the Gilded Newport series by Alyssa Maxwell (Newport, RI in the 1890's with Vanderbilt connections) courtesy of the local county library. Great series.

I also enjoy the Lady Hardcastle series by T. E. Kinsey, and the High Society Lady Detective series and Death of Location series by Sara Rosett.

Linda McLaughlin

Cloudia said...

Glad I stopped by. Thanks honey!

The Furry Gnome said...

We have a brand new library that is totally wheelchair accessible, it's wonderful! I think they have the same software as your screengrab, telling me similar titles and authors. I've read every Ruth Galloway mystery they have. But I've gotten so used to their online system that I just stop quickly and pick up my holds.

Sarah Laurence said...

How impressive to review three series! Like you, I usually prefer female protagonists. So cool to get snow too! You live in such a beautiful part of the world. I'm looking forward to real snow, but all we've had is a dusting and treacherous ice.

Bindu said...

I love reading books. It is e-books now. Toronto public library has a big collection. I bought a Kindle and realized the library don't have kindle support. Returned it and got a Kobo. Kobo is just black and white. It would have been nicer if I could use Kindle.

Kay said...

I really appreciate our library system now too. Since I'm FaceTiming with my grandson every Wednesday, it's great to be able to place holds on books I think he might enjoy reading. I actually hold up the book for him to read while we discuss the story. I used to read the book, but now he prefers reading it himself while I hold the book up to the iphone camera.