More reviews from the depths of time!!
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy – 3.5*
//published 2019//
This is one of those books I kept seeing everywhere and finally read. It’s a picture book, mostly, and should have felt trite and Hallmarky, but instead somehow came through as just gentle conversations about life, love, personal value, etc. without being too preachy. There isn’t any kind of story or anything like that, just little snippets. It was pleasant as a thoughtful one-time read, but wasn’t a book I felt like I needed to cherish. Definitely struck me as the kind of book people buy to give as a gift to other people, and I don’t exactly mean that as an insult haha
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn – 3.5*
//published 2022//
This book had a super fun premise and a lot of funny moments, but it was one I wanted to like more than I actually did. The characters were virtually indistinguishable from one another, and the anti-man sentiment was dished out pretty heavily. Apparently men just lounge around and collect paychecks while women have to WORK. Also, EVERY woman is just weighed down by guilt about everything because MEN make them feel horrible no matter what choices they make about life. Sorry, but if you choose to feel guilty, that’s on you. But whatever. The story itself was a lot of fun, and I would definitely pick up a sequel if one came out, but it was a little too preachy for me to really wholeheartedly enjoy it.
Meet Mr. Mulliner by P.G. Wodehouse – 4.5*
//published 1927//
It’s no secret that I love Wodehouse, and this short story collection was a great deal of fun. If you happen to drop in at the Angler’s Rest for a drink, you’ll probably run into Mr. Mulliner, who has an unending well of stories about various relatives of his – something for every occasion! Some of these were quite silly, as Wodehouse can be, but all of them were quite funny. Not my favorite collection, but a great deal of fun.
Lady Thief by Kay Hooper – 4*
//published 1981//
I picked this one up at a library discard sale somewhere along the line, because the synopsis sounded interesting. I actually didn’t realize at the time that it was a Regency romance rather than a modern one. The author has an absolutely adorable note in this reprint of her first novel, pretty much asking readers to be nice to her because she didn’t know what she was doing when she wrote this one LOL As expected, then, this one is a bit melodramatic and predictable, but still it was somehow very likable. There is a second short story included that I also really liked. All in all, while this wasn’t an amazing tale, it did make me think that I should check out some of Hooper’s later writing.
A Fine and Pleasant Misery by Patrick McManus – 5*
//published 1978//
McManus has always been a part of my life. He’s on the most-quoted authors in our household; it’s astounding how relatable his articles are. However, it’s been a long time since I read through his books, so I thought I would start through them again. For those who don’t know, McManus wrote articles for magazines like Outdoor Life about hunting, fishing, hiking, and growing up in the backcountry of Idaho. His books are collections of those articles, so while there are plenty of repeat characters and settings, there isn’t really any kind of cohesive plot throughout the book. As with all short story collections, some are stronger than others. I personally love his childhood tales the best, but it’s rare that one doesn’t at least make me snicker. McManus has a great knack for stringing the reader along – you know at some point he’s gone from fact to fiction, but you’re not exactly sure when that shift happened. If you’re not much into the outdoors or hunting, his writing may not be for you – but personally I think there is a lot of universal wisdom to be found in his writing.
The Aroma of Books 