Yet another from my extensive collection of seasonal crime novels….
#Day22
#Snow
#ChristmasCheer
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
Yet another from my extensive collection of seasonal crime novels….
#Day22
#Snow
#ChristmasCheer
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
“Mrs Napier walked slowly to the middle of the terrace, noted the oncoming car, looked round to make sure that she was fully observed, crossed her legs deliberately, and fell heavily on to the red gravel drive.”
Now that‘s a great opening sentence!! 😂
It‘s the last #BookSpin day of 2024! Thank you, Sarah, for running this challenge—I look forward to it every month! My last two spins of the year are: a mystery from my Kindle TBR (I‘d love to use it for the #christmascrimechallenge if I can make it fit a prompt), and one from my library list that I‘ve been meaning to read forever (and it fits a year I need for #192025). Looking forward to squeezing these into my already-full December!
A farcical story about a middle age man Douglas who tells his wife he is going to Scotland fishing but sets of on an artistic groups visit to Moscow with his lover the flamboyant actress Nina, who then appears to be permanently avoiding him. His journey around 1980s Russia with the other members and the authoritive olga makes for a strange tale of misadventures. Enjoyable, strange ending, as ever Bainbridge is a great storyteller but not my fave
This was published in 2002 when Fay Weldon was 70. And its like sitting down with an older lady who has lived quite a life and having her describe that life to you over tea and cake. Its written in an easy style but Fay never kept diaries so its not always detailed - although her childhood in NZ is very well remembered. Her mother was a solo mum in the 30s and Fay was a solo mum in the late 50‘s ⬇️
💚Some news from Virago. I adore the original green spines though. My heart goes pitter pat when I spot a green spine at a used bookstore. They are becoming fewer and fewer though for me in the wild!
Ah yes. 1923 NYC. Talking about Jews as foreign and overly sexual.
On the next page the author refers to the same character as “oriental.”
Classic racism.
There is nothing new in the world.
“Even downtown we got differences. Let me and the landlords wife go to the butcher store for meat. For who will the butcher pick out the fattest piece of meat? For me, who bargains herself every penny, or the landlords wife that pays him over any price he asks?”
Unintended bias is everywhere. Even in 1923.