Travels with Tutu - a 50th Anniversary Celebration

This year marks a 50th year of wedded bliss for Tutu and the Mr.  We decided it was time to celebrate by undertaking a sort of Grand Tour of some of the most wanted on our European bucket list, so we are embarking on a trek through many of the art museums and architectural sites we've either never been to or we had marked for needing more time from previous visits.

We'll be leaving next week.  Our tablets and MP3s are loaded with travel guides, language lessons, and not a few e-books we've been meaning to get to.  We've got the latest in several series we both like, and that ponderous but interesting Paris by Edward Rutherford.  We really enjoyed reading his Sarum before our visit to England last year, so hopefully, we'll be able to get through at least part of this one before we get to Paris in October. We're planning to do Italy, France and England.  There may be some book reviews thrown in, but for the next couple months, it's going to be a travels with Tutu blog.  Hope you'll come along.

All suggestions for restaurants in Rome, Assisi, Florence, Venice and Paris are most welcome.

Coming Soon - Glass Houses by Louise Penny

Title: Glass Houses
Author: Louise Penny
Publisher: Minotaur Books (2017)
Genre: Mystery
Subject: Drugs, murder,
Setting: Mythical Canadian village of Three Pines
Series: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache
Source: Net Galley
Why did I read this book now? I want to move to Three Pines


 It's so hard to review a Louise Penny book without taking away from the prospective reader's upcoming experience.   Her stories are a delight to every sense - physical and mental.  I've read every book in this series - most of them 2 or 3 times, and I never fail to put it down with a feeling of regret that the story has come to an end.

The newest installment GLASS HOUSES is scheduled for publication next week.  Once again, the gracious Ms. Penny has graced me by allowing me an advance peek.  I resisted temptation as long as I could, but will confess I've already read this one twice and have pre-ordered the audio so I can download that from Audible next week.  I will not do any spoilers here. I will simply say that this author manages to surprise me with every book. The characters are becoming more like family, and the setting Three Pines definitely shines in this one. The plot is complex and very very different.

Once again I am left wanting to turn back to the beginning and read it again and again. STUNNING. Vive Gamache!

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Title: Before the Fall
Author: Noah Hawley
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (2017)
Genre: Suspense thriller
Subject: Journalism, art, and problems of the rich and famouse
Setting: New York, CT, Martha's Vineyard
Source: Public library
Why did I read this book now? It was recommended by several readers whose opinions I respect.

Thrilling, chilling, and suspenseful.  Like many reviewers, I had visions of Fox News manipulators and fake news masquerading as journalism with one of the main characters, but it's a simple story: private plane carrying some very rich and self-important people crashes into the Atlantic ocean between Martha's Vineyard and New York.  Two survivors - a not rich at all neighbor who bummed a ride, and a 4 year boy.   Man swims ten miles to shore with boy on back to be hailed as a hero, but investigation into cause of the crash raises ethical and political issues as we see the background of all the passengers while searching for the who, how, and why.  It's the battle between personal privacy, TV news ratings, and some First World angst, along with some interesting insights into the world of artists and that makes this an entirely satisfying read.

Not sure about the ending, but all in all a great book to take to the beach this summer.

Knife Creek - a new book by Paul Doiron

Title: Knife Creek
Author: Paul Doiron
Publisher: Minotaur Books 2017
Genre: Mystery
Subject: Maine Game Warden service
Setting: Woods of Maine
Series: Mike Bowditch Mysteries
Source: Net Galley ARC
Why did I read this book now? I love the series and the setting



 In this latest episode of the adventures of Maine Game warden Mike Bowditch, the author not only continues to develop Mike's character, but also gives us a more in-depth picture of the blossoming relationship of Mike and his biologist girlfriend Stacey.  The setting is another new area of Maine, the job is a new job for Bowditch, and by incorporating returning characters with old, and showing us a maturing protagonist who is finally getting a grip on life, Paul Doiron continues to delight.

The story has sad, funny, gloriously redemptive, and downright scary scenes.  The plot is easy to follow, but the mystery is not necessarily too easy to solve.  It's another in this well-written, informative, descriptive, and entertaining series, loved by our readers.  We're already looking for the next adventure.

She's back!!!!

Wow!  It's been awhile.   Without going into lots of unwanted information, let's just say that real life caught up with me, so that time and energy to read and review just hasn't been in the cards for the past year or so.  I'm now able to read comfortably again (there were some eye problems) and I have a bit more mental energy, so I'm picking up new books again.

For quite awhile, my reading has been just old favorites - mostly on audio - that did not require me to render an opinion.   I've been reading purely for pleasure or my own education.

I'll be posting a bit more often, but will not be doing formal reviews too much.  If I find a book I'm really taken with and want to shout out, I will.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my grandchildren in Virginia (we love the ability to make video phone calls), and my glorious summer here in Maine.  To celebrate Mr & Mrs Tutu's 50 wedding anniversary later this summer, we're planning a fun jaunt through Europe to check several pieces off our bucket list.

And.... I'll be continuing my nightly chats with an amazing lady - my 92 1/2 year old mom who has a new hip and who is now safely residing with many new friends in a wonderful Assisted Living community in Baltimore.  I spent a physically exhausting but psychologically and spiritually enhancing 7 weeks caring for her earlier this spring.  May she outlive all of us! 

I'll continue to keep the left side bar updated here so you can see what's on my current (or next up) reading pile.  I've been trying to catch up on several mystery series, as well as do some reading about Venice and Paris in connection with our upcoming adventures. Would love to hear from any or all who are still around.