I am still reading the 1,000 page biography of the Queen Mother. I never intended to read the whole thing but find it so engrossing that I can't stop. It's not so much her that has kept me going but the role she played in the historical background of so many major events of the 20th century, especially WW2. The "soft power" of the British monarch/s is not to be underestimated, as we have seen very recently with Charles' visit to Washington and previously, the red carpet rolled out for T and wife in Windsor.

Just finished Clown Town, ninth in the Slough House series by Mick Herron

I'm still reading the Miss Marple books, currently on A Murder is Announced and finding some of the characters rather tedious.

I’m reading The Darwin Affair by Tim Mason. It’s kind of a strange story. A group of men, including a bishop and a British lord, are conspiring to murder Queen Victoria. They are also working to discredit Darwin’s recently published On The Origin of Species. One of the co-conspirators is this really creepy man who kills lots of people, but who also kidnaps others and keeps them in his house. Some of them are made to kill for him. It was just revealed one of his captives is Mary Withers, aka Typhoid Mary.

Donna

Carolyn - Clown Town is such a great title. How does the title fit into the story?

Kathy, Slough House consists of MI5 or 6 (not sure which) agemts who have messed up. They know too much to be fired and so are put to very boring and monotonous jobs in a poor building in an undesirable part of London, but they always find out stuff and solve problems the real agents don't. They are, however, referred to as clowns--or worse.

In my post about the Hugo nominees, I mentioned that I have been distracted by other reading. A lot of it was fluff novels from Kindle Unlimited, which I do enjoy when I am in the right mood. But the books that have really engaged me recently were The Correspondent (I think I mentioned this previously) and Lonesome Dove. I used to read Larry McMurtry but had fallen out of the habit. This might be my favorite of his novels, and it was reading The Correspondent that I was inspired to go back to it. I chose to listen rather than read it.

I am in the middle to two other novels that I must set aside until I finish my Hugo commitment, The Shipping News by E Annie Proulx (listening) and The Doxie's Penalty by Madeleine E Robins (reading). I saw and enjoyed the movie of The Shipping News when it came out 25 years ago, but never got around to reading the book. The Doxie's Penalty is the 4th in a historical mystery series about a female "inquiry agent" in the 1800's. I like the series a lot, but it had been a number of years since the last one so I thought the author had moved on to other things. It was a happy surprise to me to find it. I may reward myself for finishing the next of the Hugo nominees by sneaking back and finishing this book before continuing with the rest.

Working With Winston by Cita Stelzer a US academic was quite an interesting read. CS has obviously undertaken hours of research into the Churchill archive looking up all the information on the many secretaries who worked for Winston from the 1930 to his death aged 90 in 1965 many taken from 'audio' recordings.

Each secretary is given a separate chapter and I found I learnt much more about the man. How he almost never stopped working, even into old age. His day began at about 8am with 'dictation' taking place from his bed and possibly ending at about 2 am! He was always accompanied by a secretary who often had to work in the car/train/plane and be able to type straight from dictation to typewriter (leaving out the shorthand). These women were expected to handle his political work, private/family matters, the many books he wrote, everyday concerns such as helping Mrs Churchill when her lady's maid was unavailable, feeding the pet fish, visiting his pigs at the farm, keeping an eye out for the pet budgie and cat that had free run of the bedroom, coughing through the cigar smoke.

They travelled with him on his trips abroad, Yalta, Quebec, Fulton (Iron Curtain speech) and organised setting up offices, putting in telephone lines, planning seating for meals.

The down-side of the book was that it was very repetitive. Sometimes the same piece of info' was given several times in a chapter, often on the same page. Obviously the 'routine' of these various women followed the same pattern over many years but I didn't need to be told this each time a 'new girl' was appointed.

Had the book been condensed it would have been a tighter easier read.

I finished The Darwin Affair and found it very good.

Now I’m reading King and Maxwell by David Baldacci. K & M are private investigators who have been hired by a teenage boy whose father was supposedly killed in Afghanistan. We know from the beginning this is not true, and K&M are trying to find out what the Army is covering up.

Also reading Dancing with the Virgins by Stephen Booth.

Has anyone read Yesteryear ?

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A GMA BOOK CLUB PICK • A NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR (SO FAR) • A traditional American woman, a “tradwife” influencer, suddenly awakens in the brutal reality of 1855—where she must unravel whether this living nightmare is an elaborate hoax, a twisted reality show, or something far more sinister in this sensational debut novel.

"A bold and biting satire, Yesteryear…will have you cackling and gasping right to the final page."
—Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid series

No, I have not read Yesteryear. But it does sound intriguing.

I have not read it. The reviews make it sound as if there is a political message so I don't think I will read it. Enough of that in the papers.

After reading some of the reviews I think I might agree with you Ginny.

I want to read a book to enjoy, not to be lectured.

I'm reading Miss Julia Renews Her Vows. Having spent several dayschanging from Spectrum to AT&T, I was in need of something soothing. Miss Julia is my backup.

Currently reading The Marshal Makes His Report by Magdalen Nabb - a mystery set in Florence, Italy, with Marshal Guarnaccia as the main character. I've read several, and I am sure I've read them out of order but it doesn't seem to matter.

PAM

Enjoying As Chimney Sweepers Come To Dust by Alan Bradley , another delightful Flavia DeLuce adventure. It is #7 in the series and she has been sent to a girl's boarding school in Canada.

Bigsdogtwo, So glad to see you mention the Florence mysteries with Marshal Guarnaccia. I'm also a big fan of that series. I read them all some years ago and started re-reading last fall. The mysteries are very good, the Florence setting wonderful. And I love the Marshal. So self-deprecating but the smartest man in town. I do prefer reading them in order as they build up his character and all those around him.

Ginny - Thank you - you've summed up Guarnaccia very well. He is human and likeable with morals and ethics and honor. I will have to consult stopyourekillingme.com for the proper order although I fear I've already read enough of the series to be permanantly mixed up.

YoYo - I am intrigued by Yesteryear. And I think what intrgues me is the current interest in homesteading by all sorts of people for all sorts of reasons. And as a gardener myself, and with friends who have land and chickens, etc. I am wondering if the book will be some sort of stark wake-up.... forget the trad wife thing. There are good and bad things to being a stay at home mom and there are various ways to be a stay-at-home mom. Unfortunately, I think the new term "trad wife" is often seen as derogatory. Personally, I loved it and still went on to have a career. But anyway, my guess is that the protagonist may meet with the harsh realities of the life of the past. I will take a closer look.

vee - also interested in reading Working with Winston. Seems like it is a micro-history behind-the-scenes peek at the man.

Thank you for adding to my ever-increasing TBR!

PAM

Magdalen Nabb was an English woman who lived in Florence for many years. She became good friends with the carabinieri and her books are all based on real crimes. She died suddenly--stroke--when she was only 60 and the carabinieri formed an honor guard in full ceremonial uniform when she died in 2007. I don't know why she is not better known.

Ginny - I knew she was English but did not know the rest of those details. Thank you for sharing. And I agree, Nabb should be more well known. I wish more people knew about her. I will be passing my copies (purchased used) on to others in the hope to spread the joy.

PAM

When I want to read a series in order I use the site Order of Books. You can search by author or by character. I’ve found it very useful.

Order of Books site

You can also Google and ask for author's books in order.

Today I started The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen. I can already tell I will be up late tonight.

I finished A Murder is Announced and started on Sleeping Murder, both by Agatha Christie.

One small thing I have noticed in several of the Miss Marple stories (short and novels) I have been reading is a minor St. Mary Mead mystery concerning a "gill of shrimps" that she solved. I have no idea of whether or not that story is ever told anywhere, but I rather think not, as it's used to exemplify the way she solves mysteries through drawing parallels. It's a fun little teaser and I so enjoy such small details that carry on through book series. I can imagine someone frantically reading all the Miss Marple stories in search of the story and being frustrated over not finding it.

I don't think that story was ever fully explained, just used as an example of her cleverness!

I liked both filmed versions of A Murder is Announced but Sleeping Murder is the worst filmed adaptation of a story, well, almost the worst. There are several contenders IMHO!

I agree that the Miss Marple books sometimes refer to Miss Marple's "village parallels" that have never been actual stories or novels. But your comments led me down a rarbbit hole. What is a gill in the meaning of "a gill of pickled shrimp"? The rabbit hole revealed that gill in this sense is pronounced "jill" and that it is a unit of liquid measurement equal to half a cup or four ounces in the US, slightly different in the UK. I have a vague memory of this in grade school when we had to memorize weights and measures.

But if it is a liquid measure, why use it for pickled shrimp (ugh), surely a solid-ish thing? Another mystery....

I’m slowly reading Dancing with the Virgins. I’m finding it slow and a bit dull. According to Libby (my library reading app), I read the previous Cooper and Fry novel, but I have no recollection of it. Not sure if I’ll finish this one.

I also have Dream House by Rochelle Krich checked out. Bon, is this the one you were listening to? Maybe I’ll start it and give the virgins a rest for now.

Donna

Finished The Silver Ladies on Penny Lane and feel like the ending was completely flat.

The highlight was that the main character, a silver lady, was able to lose two and a half stones ( whatever that equals in body weight !).

Ginny re. 'gill'. I remember back in the Dark Ages learning these different 'weights and measures' but had to check. A gill is a quarter of an Imperial pint. I think used in the context you describe as a measurement for shrimp, and although they are not liquid they were usually sold by street vendors by the mugful not by weight. Where I live by the banks of the River Severn elvers (undeveloped salmon) are still caught as they migrate up stream. No longer in their millions but in large enough numbers for the fish-protection people to keep an eye on so-called fishermen/poachers. These were traditionally sold by the wives of the fishermen and dolled out by the mugfull. Apparently they were fried in bacon fat and considered quite a delicacy. They look like translucent lengths of string with a pair of big eyes at one end!

I remember the street vendors selling seafood in mug measures. My grandmother was fond of cockles which were sold with mussels locally. I don't recall shrimp. Perhaps they were not a local catch. Our man pushed a barrow up and down the hills to access the rows of terrace houses but do not imagine slums! They were well-kept homes to working class people who were buying them or in my grandparents case, bought when retiring to a seaside town.

Yoyobon, I just had to look that up. A stone is 14 pounds, so two and a half stones would be 35 pounds.

I believe I have looked it up before over the years - several times - but since I don't use it, I don't seem to remember it.

Yoyo, over here we always weigh ourselves in stones and pounds, even after the 'metric police' ordered us to change from Imperial measurements.

I am bi-lingual around measurements to some degree but I can only visualise height in feet and inches.

I had to pull out a lot of measuring metal tape to work out my metric height for a medical form! Weight is simple, 100kgs mostly! (15 stone and ten pounds.) Hidden inside floaty maxi dresses.

I always have to look up "stone" too--and I never remember the next time. Stone as a weight never seemed to cross the Atlantic.

Here's another thing I had to learn in grade school that absolutely no one uses anymore--or even then!--inst. and ult. Inst. means 'this month' and ult. means 'last month'. Imagine my shock when that long-ago information actually became useful in recent years in doing genealogy. You often see it in old records. Has me chuckling that the knowledge finally became useful.

I have had to clarify dates because some people say eg. next Wednesday or Wednesday next, meaning the next Wednesday coming or the one following that! I then check the exact date to be sure after being caught out a few times, waiting for someone to come for a visit!

Ginny, my late Mother used to type business letters for my Father and often started them "Thank you for yours of the inst/ult." Obviously from the way she had been taught back in the 1930's. I notice today that many emails, even 'business' ones start "I hope you are well" which reminds me of 'Thank you letters' we were made to write to Aunts/Grandparents for presents received at Christmas.

Annpan the ultimate 'e' I received the other day was from a friend who gave me the date for a 'chat', so I got out the coffee cups and tidied around only to find the 'chat' was expected to take place over the phone! What have things come to when an informal phone call has to be booked in advance?

On the book-front I have enjoyed a quick read When I was a Nipper by Alan Titchmarsh. He is something of a 'personality' who started out as a TV gardener and now has various chat-shows. The book is about his recollections of growing up in Yorkshire in the 1940/50's/60's. Of course back then the grass was greener, children were well-behaved and we were all poor but happy and honest . . .

nb. a Nipper was a very common word used to describe children. My Father always called us "You nips", in no way a term of abuse!

Re: chats on the phone.

Recently I have had to suffer phone conversations meant to be private which became a "speaker phone" event with another person in the room/car . These were not meant to be a "three-way" and I found it slightly offensive that I could not talk with the person I called. In both instances the third person was not someone I knew well or cared for in the least ! Ugh. Is this how it goes these days ?

Vee, I prefer to phone family rather than send an email but am quite anxious to know that I am not calling at a "bad" time and usually ask that first. I also like family to check with me with a time if they are calling in to see me. I have been known to take a nap and miss their knock.

There are so many knocking noises around, I don't register them! People and workmen are always doing something and the brickwork of the local homes can make a distant sound seem close. I have a front door bell but callers seem to prefer knocking.

Nippers here are usually child lifesavers in training. They have been known to use their skills at home in emergencies too.

yoyo and everyone . . . on the phone call theme (and having to 'share' one would make me uncomfortable too).

I have a very old friend who occasionally calls me, usually in the evening when she knows I will be home. She rang last night and started chatting while a quite loud noise was going on in the background. I asked her what it was and she said she was watching TV. I had always understood if someone called me, or I them, the TV/radio would be turned off or, if others were watching in the room, the person 'on' the phone would go into another room to carry on the conversation in private.

I remember soon to be S-in-law would take mobile/cell calls while sitting with us and never make any attempt to go elsewhere . . . as I treated him in much the same way as my own children I gestured to him to leave the room and carry on outside. He soon got my message.

Is this just me, and allowing for the fact I am old and irritable, or is there some sort of phone etiquette that should be observed please?

Vee...it is not just you. As cell phones succeed in dominating many people's lives, it becomes the unwelcome entity in any situation.....restaurants, homes, medical offices etc. I do NOT want to be privy to your calls.

I also do NOT like that most surgeons want to call you on your cell to let you know how the patient did.

Usually I am in a waiting room with other people who are also awaiting calls and without access to privacy.

Therefore they hear my conversation.....or worse yet, continue to talk loudly to someone in the room when they are aware that people will be getting calls from physicians .

It's what we are "waiting" for in the waiting room. *sigh*

I had to shush a woman who was loudly joking around when I received such a call .

As far as those who leave a TV or radio on while visiting or taking a phone call from a friend......I am quick to say " I am having difficulty hearing you, could you turn off the background noise ?" If visiting and someone should leave a TV on....I am sure I'd ask if they would turn it off "so I could hear them more clearly " ( note: I do not have hearing problems ! just problems with those who have a lack of awareness about this things)

What a timely topic! A few days ago, I was in a waiting room with other people. A woman carried on a very long conversation and had the other person on speakerphone!! For the rest of us all to sit silently and endure. It was an utterly useless conversation, chit-chat with no purpose. It was obvious that the other person wanted to end the call but the annoying woman was bored waiting, I assume, and wanted to fill her time, and ours too. I'm still steaming.

Ginny .......I am at an age where I think perhaps I shouldn't say something, then my brain says " Say it and see what happens !! "

While grocery shopping a few years ago, when these intrusive phones were just becoming a full blown nuisance, I kept hearing a woman talking to her husband about some dental procedure he just had done. No matter what aisle I was in, I got to "enjoy" her conversation. As it turned out she was in line to checkout ahead of me and her conversation was STILL going on. The cashier kept waiting for a break in her nonstop talking in order to ask her a question , as I stood there fuming. Finally she realized that the cashier was waiting for her and she says to her phone " Okay, good bye honey have a nice day." and I say " Yes, have a nice day, honey !"

She whips around and glares at me then says " Excuse me ? THAT was my husband and he had serious dental work done. "

And I replied " Yes I KNOW ! I have been hearing all about it the entire time I was shopping. How is he doing ?"

(dripping sarcasm)

Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do :0)

I did think about saying something, Yoyobon, but we now live in a world where we don't know who is unbalanced and how they might react or who might be carrying a weapon. I never imagined I'd be typing such a sentence but alas, there it is.

Good point.

The mother of idiots is always pregnant.