Fall of Poppies

I finished Fall of Poppies a week ago, but haven't had a chance to blog until now.

Fall of Poppies: Stories of Love and The Great War is a collection of stories most of which take place shortly before or right after the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Fall of Poppies was mentioned in the book notes for Last Christmas in Paris.

I enjoyed:
"The Record Set Right" by Lauren Willig
"All for the Love of You" by Jennifer Robson
"Something Worth Landing For" by Jessica Brockmole

In my France Today magazine there was this ad for visiting WWI battlefields.

Reading Resolutions

In Sunday's paper, The Gazette, there was an article about how to read more books in 2018. Reading more is a great resolution. Some suggestions for reading more:

1. 1. buy an e-reader: I personally hate reading long articles (for school) or books online. For me, holding books, feeling them, and smelling them is part of the reading experience. But, if you like reading electronically, an e-reader is a great way to do so. E-readers are also less bulky to take on trips. Although, I did once bring back 28 books from France and did not have to pay for heavy bags. 
2. Use the library: I love the library. As long as you don't accrue fines (like me) borrowing from the library is a free way to access books. I also like checking out library books because if I don't like a book or don't have time to finish it before it's due, I haven't wasted money. 
3. Join a book club
4. Join Goodreads or follow reading blogs, like this one for recommendations. 
5. Set aside time to read each day. It could be 10, 20,  or 30 minutes, or if you are truly lucky, an hour or more. I think it's helpful to set aside time to read at the same time each day: before bed, during your commute, on your lunch break, when your child/children are napping.
6. Have a reading spot: A comfy chair or sofa, a blanket, a table to put a drink and a snack on help set a good atmosphere for reading. And of course a cat (or other pet) is a nice addition. 

Last Christmas in Paris

#89 Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

When World War I broke out, politicians and governments declared that it would be over by Christmas. Evelyn (Evie) Elliot, her brother Will, their close friend Thomas (Tom) Harding, and Alice Cuthbert make plans to spend Christmas 1914 in Paris. At that point, Tom and Will, both Lieutenants on the Western Front, will be home. However, the war continues and four Christmases will pass before the Armistice is signed on November 11, 1918. As the war continues, a peaceful Christmas becomes evermore tantalizing and elusive.
...Years later, Tom Harding settles into his apartment in Paris at Christmas to read the packet of letters exchanged between himself, Evie, Will, Alice, and their families during WWI. One final letter, never read, remains from Evie. Perhaps this letter will allow Tom to lay to rest the ghosts of the past.

This epistolary novel was actually written as an exchange of emails between the authors. Hazel would write several of the letters from her home in Ireland and email them to Heather in New York. Heather would read Hazel's latest work, compose her own letters and send those onto to Hazel.

On Christmas day in 1914, troops from both sides  famously laid down their arms and joined together in No Man's Land to mark the holiday.

The movie Joyeux Noel is one fictional version of this truce

And I love this Celtic Thunder song about the truce of 1915

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! It's been a while since I've posted anything, but a new baby and a toddler who is potty training cut into reading time.

I read 5 books in November and December, bringing the total up to 88. These three were worth mentioning.

The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg is a fictionalized account of French author George Sand's scandalous and unconventional life, her lovers, her children, and her career as an author.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris. Jack and Grace Angel appear to have the perfect life. Jack is a  high profile attorney. Grace used to be a purchaser for Harrod's and travel all over the world, but gave up her job when she got married. The Angel's live in a spectacular house, and give lavish dinner parties, with food perfectly cooked by Grace. Grace is a also a doting sister to her younger sibling Millie. Friends and neighbors can't help but be charmed by Jack and Grace.

But Jack and Grace keep others at arm's length. Although she doesn't work, Grace never answers the telephone and often cancels any plans she has made. Grace's purse is empty: no keys, wallet, or phone. Their perfect house is surrounded by a high-security fence.

What really happens behind closed doors?

I don't usually read thrillers, but this was a good read. If you liked The Girl on the Train or Gone Girl, you would probably like this as well.

When Christmas Trees Lit the Sky: Growing up in World War II Germany is a memoir by Anneliese Heider Tisdale. Anneliese  was born in Munich in 1928 and remained in Germany until 1947. In her memoir, she describes her family home, daily life with her parents and older brother Ludwig, early school days, and Christmas traditions. She also describes how World War II affected her family and her daily life. Her brother Ludwig was forced to join the German army and later became a prisoner of war in Russia. Anneliese worked as a interpreter for the American army at the end of the war. In the chapter "Dancing with the Enemy" Anneliese describes the dances that the GIs held for German Girls as part of their peace-keeping activities. At one of these dances, Anneliese met her future husband, Bill from Cedar Rapids Iowa. In 1947 Anneliese and her cousin Mariele left for the United States as war brides. She later became a U.S citizen and attended the University of Iowa and taught in the Cedar Rapids schools. Anneliese's memoir also includes family recipes. 

Happy New Year. May 2018 be a year of literary discovery and exploration, of new authors and beloved favorites. 

Meow If It's Murder

First in a series: Meow If It's Murder by T.C. LoTempio

Nora Charles, a former crime reporter in Chicago, returns her hometown of Cruz, California to run her deceased mother's sandwich shop. Back home, Nora finds it difficult to give up her sleuthing ways; she is named after Nora Charles from The Thin Man.

Nora begins to investigate the death of local socialite Lola Grainger. Lola's death was deemed an accident: too much alcohol caused her to fall of her husband's boat. Nora isn't the only one who suspects Lola's death was caused by foul play. Lola's sister contacted a P.I. to investigate. Then Lola's sister and the P.I. subsequently turn up missing. Nora's investigative efforts are aided by Nick, the P.I.'s cat. (Now you have Nick and Nora Charles) who ferrets out evidence and spells clues with Scrabble tiles.

Nora's friends include: Chantal the French psychic who has decided to make cat collars as a side business. Ollie Sampson, the missing P.I.'s former partner; and Detective Daniel Corleone.

Also included are recipes for The Thin Man Tuna Melt and The Michael Buble Burger, both features at Nora's shop.

Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris

Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris by Graham Robb

I started this a few months ago and finally finished it a few days ago. Robb tells the history of Paris from the point of view and experiences of about 20 Parisians throughout history. The Parisians include: Napoleon, Marie Antoinette, Madame Zola, Juliette Greco, the students of May 1968, and others. Robb's history of Paris spans the time period from 1789 to the beginning of the 21st century. Robb tends to start each chapter/entry by slowly introducing the Parisian; it's not always clear until a few paragraphs or pages later who the person in question is.

At one point I read about half of Robb's the Discovery of France, a geographical history of France. In both cases, there is ample historical detail, but I find the writing to be a bit dry. 

Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective

My latest read was Agatha Christie's Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective, which consists of 12 short stories. 

Mr. Parker Pyne was a government functionary, but now runs an ad in the Personal Section of the newspaper: "Are you happy? If not, consult Mr. Parker Pyne." The first 6 stories are not really mysteries, but rather Mr. Pyne's remedies for unhappiness. Mr. Pyne relies on his vast understanding of human nature.  The second six stories are crime and mystery stories.

Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective was published in 1934. According to Nancy Wynne, the 1930s was Christie's most prolific decade. She wrote 17 novels and six short story collections. It was at this time that she earned the title "Queen of Crime." Even though Christie had published several novels in the 1920s, Mr. Parker Pyne, Detective seemed a bit unpolished to me. The first six stories are a bit formulaic and Christie appears to test out characters that she uses later. For example, Mr. Pyne's secretary is named Miss Lemon. Miss Lemon is Hercule Poirot's secretary and is more developed as a character in the television series than in the Poirot novels. Mr. Pyne is also friends with the famous mystery writer Mrs. Oliver. Mrs. Oliver is good friends with Poirot. Although Poirot, Miss Marple, Tommy and Tuppence, and Mr. Pyne had overlapping lifespans, they and their associates don't usually mix. So, I found it unusual to see Miss Lemon and Mrs. Oliver mentioned in the Mr. Pyne stories when in later works they work closely with Poirot.

 More information about Mr. Pyne and similarities between him and Mycroft Holmes. http://www.agathachristie.com/characters/parker-pyne