This week I finished the last book in the Dalton trilogy by Shannon Bowring.
In a Distant Valley by Shannon Bowring, a buddy read with Susan at The Cue Card. This is the last book in the Dalton trilogy and what a wonderful series. Bowring brings the characters to life. You can visualize them, hear them, anticipate what they may say or do and hope to encourage them. She made them real. Can't wait to see what she comes out with next. I'll do a more detailed review on Goodreads.
Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin is scheduled to be published in March 2026. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from LibraryThing.
This book starts in 1986 with the explosion of the Challenger and Oliver Ines' birth. Little Ollie is growing up in a small English town, his bedroom ceiling and wallpaper are covered with stars which glow at night. Around age 10 he cycles to a neighbor's home at the request of his mother to trade off produce and meets a girl named Philly. The children have a connection and become friends, their lives weaving in and out of each others paths after a chance meeting at a London College.
Between the chapters are log book entries from Commander Oliver Ines as he is on a ten year mission, in charge of a spaceship and crew headed to Jupiter.
Ines is an astronaut employed by a private company owned by a billionaire. Hmmm....
He reflects on events in his life, his childhood, university days, the career in the Navy and his love of Philly and family. It's introspective as he considers his relationships and regrets, reconciling choices he made. This is a well fleshed out character study of a man who wonders if he made the correct choices and if they were worth it.
Themes are family, friendship, belonging and compassion. 4 stars.
This is a book blog...mostly. I try to keep frustrations on the state of our country out of my writing but this week was bad. So....rant.
Political news - this sums it up. I honestly hope the damage can be reversed one day. Hopefully in my lifetime.
The Agriculture Secretary actually suggested Americans can save money on food by eating "one piece of chicken, one piece of broccoli and a tortilla" - see here.
You know what I suggest? These politicians who enjoy free health care and have financial security have to trade places with a family trying to make ends meet for an entire month. Trade places with individuals experiencing financial insecurity during the days of rising costs, those experiencing food insecurity, without health care or the cush benefits these politicians enjoy and take for granted.
Put the names in bowl and draw = making sure a quarter of those names are those who are struggling with homelessness, those who sleep in their cars, those who struggle to feed their children especially when some states have pulled the free lunches for kids. See what they think about some real life issues.
Don't get me started on Greenland.....
Rant over.
Ok, let's end with more book chat. Just picked up The Ferryman and His Wife, a translated book by Norwegian author Frode Grytten and started it yesterday. As you can see by the photo I was able to sit outside a bit.
Tonight brings a wintery mix, as the weather station calls it, so I will be once again covering my plants as freezing temps are back again. All week apparently. Being inside means bread making, puzzles and reading.
Hope your week will be a good one. Lots of good reading and anything that makes you happy.
Good review. I agree Bowring makes her characters come to life so well. And I always enjoy her books & storytelling. Thx for reading it with me. I like your rant too. It's infuriating what's going on. This administration is so out of touch it's crazy, it's ludicrous. Don't get me started. Sounds like a chilly week there - best to get another puzzle going. We've almost finished one here. Hopefully this week.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I had some things bookmarked for the Bowring book and want to review on Goodreads. It's always fun reading together :-)
DeleteGlad my rant wasn't over the top and like I said, I don't like bringing politics on my happy place here but man...infuriating watching and reading the shenanigans going on.
Yea for another puzzle completed! I am still sorting.
I'm looking forward to reading all three of Bowring's books this winter. The first will be a re-read, which is fine with me. I like that you and Susan have become such great reading buddies. I'd love to join you, but I'm such an impulse reader that the stars would probably not align. Celestial LIghts sounds really good! Yes, I feel the same about all the terrible news. It's not just our problem in the U.S., either. I feel for Greenland and all the European countries that thought we were their friends/allies. Honestly, I think this government is trying to kill off a majority of the population. Survival of the fittest? I worry about the children who are stressed and afraid right now. So much trauma in such young lives. So you were able to sit outside and read, but now you are preparing for a wintery mix? Gotta love January weather, right? We're working on a puzzle, but our weather is pretty nice for a change. Sunny and mid-50s. Unbelievable for the Oregon coast in January! Take care. Deep breaths. I have to believe things will turn around.
ReplyDeleteLes, it's quite a nice roundup with her trilogy and I think you'll enjoy being able to read them all at once. Can't wait to see what she comes out with next.
DeleteI'll align with you on a book upcoming :-) If you are still down for The Likeness I will start it when you do. It would be fun to actually attend a book club meeting with my friends here and talk about the book.
Celestial Lights is ready for mailing...but I forgot the post office isn't open today.
My word, this administration is like having teen aged boys making decisions and it's so funny (not) they were going on about Biden being too old but now....nooooo....
Just back from today's walk and it's 28 degrees.
I have a book to mail out today too, but remembered it's a federal holiday. As far as the Tana French books, I think (maybe) I'd like to start at the beginning and re-read In the Woods first. You game for that? I could plan for next month, if you like.
DeleteLes, sure... Just let me know when you are ready next month!
DeleteI enjoyed the first of the Dalton series, must read the rest some day. I like the sound of Celestial Lights.
ReplyDeleteI’ll scream with you, the ego and idiocy of the US govt is frightening.
Wishing you some great reads to take your mind off it all for a while at least.
Shelleyrae, that Dalton series was so good. When you can get the characters to seem so real to you, that's fantastic. I do indeed have some good books to take me away, armchair travleing away from madness. All of us Americans aren't supporters of this lunacy....I hope the rest of the world knows that.
DeleteI'm glad you are enjoying the Dalton series. It sounds like an ideal series to read during these highly fraught times.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the rant. I get upset and then I realize that all I can continue to do is speak up for the common good and justice and freedom. I especially worry about American children who deserve to get to grow up in a time when we have leaders who speak up for what is right.
Deb, It was so nice to wrap it up and the trilogy was well written, in my opinion.
DeleteThanks for the support of the rant. These politicians are supposed to work for us, not their own self interests. Ugh
I really enjoyed all the Dalton books, too, and am glad you and Susan got to enjoy them together. Can't wait to see what Bowring writes next! I think your rant was very controlled and spot on. The state of our nation right now is horrible and I'm afraid it will take decades to undo all this damage. Our Canadian friends here in FL have decided not to use their house at all this year and have gone to Antigua instead, and many of their friends have followed suit. A sad state of affairs. I'm hoping to get caught up with blogging friends today and see what everyone's been up to. Stay warm... our wind chill was 31 this morning. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, thak you for all the kind words. I do try and keep current affairs off this blog - my happy place - and there have been many times I have written out a rant then deleted it. I don't want to run anyine off from being a book buddy but sometimes, you just have to vent.
DeleteCrazy you have such cold temps that far south. When I lived in Hollywood on the east coast it did get cold but I don't remember it ever getting that cold!
Oh, funny thing, I ran nto a man who was walking in our neighborhood near Christmas time and we got to chatting while our dogs visited. He also has a house on Sanibel. He lives in Texas and was visiting his brother here,
I think your “rant” was well formulated, and polite. I think each side can agree that there are legitimate issues which need to be addressed regarding daily life in America. From food to safety, all of it, I pray for wisdom and strength each day.
ReplyDeleteBellezza, you said it. Hopefully wisdom and strength will prevail. Thank you for the comment.
DeleteI could rant along with you.
ReplyDeleteC'mon, Erin! You are always welcome!
DeleteCelestial Lights sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteScreaming does seem like an appropriate response. I caught a bit of today's Fresh Air on the way home and I'm listening to it again. It's a new interview with Heather McGhee, author of The Sum of Us. Her book is one of the most hopeful, grounded, reflections on what America can be that I've ever read. I was pleased to see that she still summons that, five years after her book was published and in the current climate. If you're looking for a bit of hope, that might help. https://www.npr.org/2026/01/19/nx-s1-5677279/martin-luther-king-jr-would-be-inspired-by-todays-activism-author-says
Joy, I have a book by Terry Gross about her interviews on Fresh Air. That sounds like a good book and I will look it up. Thank you :-)
DeleteI have definitely tried screaming! (Doesn't work.) Even more ludicrously, that $3.00 dinner she says we can have is comprised of "one piece of chicken, one piece of broccoli, one corn tortilla, and one other thing." I heard her say that exact thing on TV, "and one other thing". What???? Some random other thing. As this Instagram video points out, that one other thing is going to have to cost around 16 cents for this dinner to come in at under the $3.00 mark. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DTnfWagDi5s/
ReplyDeleteYour books look good! I stopped requesting ARCs because I wasn't being good about keeping up with them. I need to look and see if we're friends on LibraryThing!
Laurie, screaming does ot work but sometimes....!! Yeah, that was a ludicrous statement from an uniformed individual. No perspective on real life.
DeleteI only request ARCs if I know I will make the time for them.
I silently scream every time I read the news. *sigh* So much nonsense. They are completely out of touch.
ReplyDeleteJen, I agree completely. Totally out of touch!
DeleteYeah...and I don't even LIKE broccoli that much. At least give me enough money to afford asparagus and Brussels sprouts!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJust kidding. I'm as pissed off about everything as you are.
Thanks for the New Year's card!!!!
Jinjer, I was wondering if I should have even hit Publish about that crap. It's so discouraging but it's god to vent sometimes.
DeleteYou are very welcome for the card!
I'll have to try Bowring. I love authors who really bring characters to life like that. I'm really focusing on my mental health this year and that means avoiding the news and most social media like the plague.
ReplyDelete