What I'm Reading
Happy Mother's Day!
There are lots of concerned mothers in this book that I'm now reading
The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia by Juliet Grames ( July 23, 2024), Knopf, NetGalley
Book description: Set in Calabria, 1960. One unidentified skeleton. Three missing men. A village full of secrets. The best-selling author of The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna brings us a sparkling—by turns funny and moving—novel about a young American woman turned amateur detective in a small village in Southern Italy.
Enjoying: The historical info on the region of Calabria in Southern Italy, fluid writing by the author, an intriguing story of a lost/missing boy from years past, atmospheric descriptions of a small and isolated Italian village, its inhabitants, and their lives.
I hope to finish The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia by Juliet Grames before going on to the myriad of saved ebooks on my list.
What I reviewed
The Night of Baba Yaga by Akira Otani
Publication July 2, 2024; Soho Crime
My rating: 4 of 5 starsTokyo, 1979. An intriguing mobster/yakuza novel about Shindo, a brawny woman kidnapped and forced to be the bodyguard of the mob boss's daughter. Shindo nevertheless grows to become friends with her ward, Shoko, who is tougher than she appears. The world of violence and revenge they endure from then on is portrayed well in spite of all the gore.
The story jumps without warning at the end to decades in the future. It's a surprise but, nevertheless, gratifying to see the women surviving the hyper masculine world they lived in.
For May, which celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I am continuing watching Asian dramas on TV. These include the ever popular Kdramas, Jdramas, Cdramas, and even a Vietnamese drama I just discovered. The Last Wife. a period piece set in the Nguyen dynasty in Vietnam, is about a reluctant third wife whose life is changed when she meets her childhood lover again by chance.
What are you reading/watching this week?
Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, Sunday Salon, and Stacking the Shelves
The setting of 1960 Calabria makes The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia sound like a promising read. I look forward to hearing what you think about it. And I'm glad to see that you enjoyed The Night of Baba Yaga. Thank you for keeping us updated about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to learn that The Lost Boys... is funny and moving by turn. I wasn't expecting the funny part. I hope you find it enjoyable all the way through.
ReplyDeleteJust started 'Speculative Los Angeles' edited by Denise Hamilton. Next up will be 'That Option No Longer Exists: Britain 1974-76' by John Medhurst.
ReplyDeleteInteresting books! I like how you tied the mother bit in for this weekend! Hope you have a good week! Thanks for visiting me at Lisa Loves Literature too!
ReplyDeleteThe Lost Boy sounds good, I like the idea of it being set in Italy and the plot sounds intriguing!
ReplyDeleteI am currently reading the last book in the defy the night series. Once that done then i am reading teh whole crave series. On major goal this year is to finish any series i started and i have a lot of those i am bad i read two book or something and then get distracted by another book. So it either finish them or get caught up as much as i can. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I'm curious about The Night of Baba Yaga. It sounds like not really my thing, but sometimes it's nice to try something out of the comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteInteresting books on your list. I have Special Ops on my list to watch at some point. I haven't gotten around to it yet. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteNice looking books! All are new to me. I'm glad you enjoyed the ones you chose. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThe books looks good!
ReplyDeleteThe first book looks absolutely fascinating! I hope you're having a great week!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should try Special Ops Lioness ... if I can find it here. Looks like a tough female series.
ReplyDeleteI think it was on Paramount Plus
DeleteThose sound like excellent books!
ReplyDeleteThe Lost Boy of Santa Chionia sounds intriguing. I hope you're enjoying it! Have a good week, and happy reading.
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