The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Hello everyone.  I hope you enjoyed some nice holiday time.

I often tease my family here...hey, who wouldn't?  Especially if you met them, believe me, there is a lot to joke.  In fact, when we were at our first appointment for premarital counseling all those years ago, the minister asked what hubby and I saw as one of our major issues.  I said, "He thinks he's funnier."  My husband jumped in insisting that, in fact, he was the more humorous between us.  We had a lighthearted argument about it in front of the woman to marry us.  After that session she pronounced us ready to wed, even telling my mother we "would be fine" for the future. That was decades ago, and I don't know about us being "fine", but I will tell you that my husband still draws breath (for the time being), so I guess that is something.  

Seriously, my husband is a keeper.  He is strong but tender, unbelievably sweet yet equally annoying, he is way too smart when he wants to be.  Yep, he is one of the kind of men that I adore, those that are completely secure in their manhood.  They can go buy lipstick and lumber, carry heavy furniture one minute and cradle a tiny puppy the next. The kind of man that knows your pain or joy by just looking in your eyes.  I chose wisely.  Some do not.

I recently read The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner.  This is the story of Caroline, whose marriage is crumbling.  She escapes to London for a break, while there Caroline discovers an old bottle from a centuries old apothecary.  Since she is interested in history, she becomes determined to find the source of the unusual glass relic.  This story is also told from back when the apothecary is still operating.  It holds many secrets, including that its mission is to sell poison for women to use against their deserving husbands.

This clever story is a joy to read.   It is hard to put down as betrayal and mystery abounds.   As the present day and past stories start to mirror each other, you'll find yourself desperate to get to the finish, not wanting the storytelling to stop but to discover answers.  The end, both surprising and satisfying, left me wanting more. This sweeping tale is a pleasure and not to be missed.

How about The Lost Tavern next?  No, no, The Lost Bookstore!

The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg

Hello everyone.

I hope you are all well and had a fun New Year's celebration. We, of course, were sick. I hope you don't catch this "thing" that is going around with a cough that just will not leave. Poor hubby is starting to sound like a seal when he coughs. I want to tease him, maybe toss a beach ball for him to spin on his nose, but I feel so horrible for him. It actually breaks my heart to hear him in distress. No, those of you that are medically inclined, he does not have whooping cough or pneumonia, but thanks for your concern. Doesn't it seem like every winter there is some stubborn virus going around? Luckily we usually avoid it but guess it was our turn. Oh well, we've seen lots of Netflix and Hulu (both I am angry about the story lines but that is for another day).

Anyway, while plopped firmly in a chair with a blanket on my lap, hubby safely recovering on the sofa, fire in the fireplace and Christmas tree lights on, I finished another great book. I just completed The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg. I received an advanced copy but the actual release is this coming Tuesday on January 8, 2019. If you like wonderful stories that span a lifetime, this is the kind of book you would like. It tells the story of a ninety-six year old woman, Doris, who is writing her life story for her niece. Doris is using her address book as a prompt for her memories. The story is lovely, moving from Sweden to Paris to New York...you get the picture. This is nicely paced, thoroughly telling the story but not lingering on any one part for too long.

Now I am about to be nitpicky and most likely completely wrong, so take this for what it is worth....which is probably a negative amount. One of the people listed in Doris' address book is someone that is in her life a short time. She would never have an address or phone number or need to contact them. So why are they in the address book at all? It just left me wondering why. The author is from Sweden, I am in the USA. I have no idea how address books work in Sweden so having this character listed may well be completely normal. In any case, this does not distract from the story and, again, the character is necessary. Also, like when I have objections to certain things Stephen King does, please remember Sofia Lundberg, has a major hit novel that is going global and I have a cold and dirty kitchen floor. Judge for yourself!

Seriously, The Red Address Book is wonderful. If you like good stories, this delivers.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Hello everyone. I need you to join me for a bit of "mind traveling" today. Imagine you are in the northeastern US.  Parts of New England had a wind chill of -15 yesterday. The whole area has had snow and ice too, winter has arrived.  Okay, now get ready, we are going to slowly start going south for a vacation. Come on, pass the singing snowman that sounds like Burl Ives.  Ooops, try not to get run over by that sledding electric razor. Definitely ignore Buddy the Elf when he offers you some gum! Tune them out and think more like the Price is Right and "come on down". Pass NJ, wave to the Cape May Victorians. Careful of the speed traps in Maryland...hey, why are you speeding anyway? Be careful. Ah, hitting the eastern shore of Virginia now? Make sure you stop at Stuckey's and get some chocolate covered coconut patties. Now, get out your wallets and be prepared to be shocked at the $12 toll to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. At least it is picturesque and interesting if you are going to the bottom of the bay at the exact time a ship is going over. Keep going.

In North Carolina yet? Good, stick as closely as you can to the coast. Notice all those bridges? Why if you are driving close to the coast are there all those bridges? One word, marshes! Yep, all those places where the ocean tries to go inland, or rivers try to get to the ocean are marsh lands. Now you might ask what is the difference between a marsh and a swamp? Ahhh, that is using the old canoodle!  A swamp has more woody things like stumps and trees, but a marsh is more grasslands. Marshes are nutrient rich wetlands that support all kinds of animal and plant life. Now I know you think I'm more off my rocker than usual and about to break into some kind of song probably from School House Rock but no, I've just read a great book about a marsh in North Carolina.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is an amazing book, set in the marshes of coastal North Carolina. It is beautifully written, almost lyrical in parts, while still being an interesting, easy to read story. That story is epic in its journey following a little girl, abandoned in the marsh as she learns how to not only survive but live. The reader is witness to the hardships and bravery of little Kya Clark as she grows up and learns about the world and herself. There is a mystery in this book that is interesting but the strength of it is how enchanting the story is as a whole. This is not that much of a who-dun-it and definitely not a thriller. Amazing, and sweeping in scale, the pacing is excellent and writing superb. The way the author handles things like Kya's childhood innocence reminds me of Tom Sawyer, and I can think of no higher compliment than that.

As Christmas approaches, I keep saying books would make an excellent gift. Different books for everyone's taste. Where the Crawdads Sing would be an excellent gift for those that like a little emotion in their story, something quiet and thoughtful. Almost a classic. For the right person, this would even be a great hostess gift when you've forgotten that pricey bottle of wine. Where the Crawdads Sing is smoother, fuller bodied and will linger longer, too.