Killers of a Certain Age

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, 353 pages

Billie, Mary Alice, Natalie, and Helen are on board a cruise to celebrate their retirement from the Museum when they realize that a burly crew member is actually an assassin trying to kill them. Because "the Museum" is actually an extra-governmental organization dedicated to finding and eliminating bad people (drug lords, human traffickers, corrupt judges, even a Nazi every now and then), and our four heroines were some of their best assassins before they retired. Now Billie and her friends must figure out who put the hit out on them and kill or be killed in a globe-trotting caper.

Oh, this was so much fun to read! The four main characters are fantastic, and I loved the way their personalities worked together. A fun book, and great for fans of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club books. Get in the waiting list for this one, cuz it's worth it.

The best of Adam Sharp

The best of Adam Sharp / Graeme Simsion, 314, pgs.

Adam and Angelina had a torrid love affair 20+ years ago.  Adam moved on to a comfortable life and relationship with Claire.  Now, so many years later, Angelina reaches out to him and he remembers what he left behind.  Will they meet up again?  Is she really the soul mate that he deserves?  In many ways as you read, there isn't anything that will surprise you much, except wondering why in the world he walked away and seemingly didn't look back?  I mean, he was traveling on an IT contract and when he left Australia, he want to New Zealand and beyond.  Sure it isn't easy to commute but it seems like they could have done a better job.  But then what would the story be?  Yes, I can get bogged down occasionally in certain details. Although I enjoyed the book, it is really one of those man fantasies.  Of course, Adam has let himself go a bit but nothing a good shave and 5 days of exercise can't correct.  Angelina, is of course, still a stunner.  Their reunion is interesting and everything works out as I hoped it would.  TMI?

Today will be different

Today will be different / Maria Semple 275 pgs.

The book starts with Eleanor detailing how TODAY will be different.  "Today I won't swear....My face will be relaxed...Today I will radiate calm."  You get the idea that this day's goals will be quite a struggle.  And shortly into the day, we realize how much so.  She has a lunch date with a "friend" that she does not like, her third grader is sick at school, and she discovers her husband has told his office he is on vacation for a week (news to Eleanor).  Eleanor is writing a graphic novel, she even got an advance...but today we find out that was eight years ago and her editor doesn't even work at the publishing company any more. I guess nobody has really been on pins and needles for that book. We find out Eleanor has a few relationships in crisis but one of them is not with her husband, the hand surgeon Joe.  But wait a minute, where exactly is Joe?

This book happens in one day but with flashbacks so you can get the back story of all the important characters.  Maybe because Eleanor and I are similar ages, maybe because I can relate with her being overwhelmed with her life, maybe because I like a good laugh and a reason to think, I really enjoyed this book.

Time to take flight

Time to take flight: the savvy woman's guide to safe solo travel / Jayne Seagrave 279 pgs.

Written for women traveling alone, the author gives tips, hints and first hand accounts of her travels.  Then she lists cities she recommends for travel adventure. The recommendations are divided into North American and European locations.  She tells you in just a few pages why the city made the cut, what to look for while there, give recommendations on where to stay and how easy it is to find quality public restrooms.  I like the way she boils it down.  Her audience is a "mature" woman, so don't look for the best night life or how to hook up.  Not that she is against it, just not her focus. A great book if you are the in the demographic.

Let's be less stupid

Let's be less stupid: an attempt to maintain my mental faculties / Patricia Marx 200 pgs.

Patricia Marx once hung up the phone with a friend because she could not find her phone.  If you can relate with that last statement, this book is for you.  Marx decided to do something about her memory "problem" and undertook every activity she could find to enhance it.  This experiment lasted four months which she bookended (hey, did I just make up a new word?) with cognitive testing and an MRI to see quantify improvement.  But this book is no "how to".  Marx is a former writer from Saturday Night Live.  She has a sense of humor but does not have a lot of practical advice for the rest of us.

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The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus

The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus by Sonya Sones  421 pp.

This novel in verse is about the life of a woman at fifty with a daughter going off to college, a seriously ill mother living across the country, a looming book deadline, a husband she alternately adores and wants to strangle ("Being married makes me feel like a miner trapped in a shaft."), a changing body, and hot flashes ("I am the roar from the oven door that melts the glasses right off your face."). As she navigates her life the poems are touching, angry, funny, heartbreaking, sweet, and all have a wonderful ring of truth. This is a book that will be most appreciated by women who are in the late 40s-mid 50s. However, men should read it also since it may serve as an explanation/warning of what is going on with the women in their lives.

A bad day for mercy

A bad day for mercy by Sophie Littlefield 260 pgs.

Stella Hardesty is at it again.  This time her sister calls with a family problem.  She received her step-son's ear in a package asking for $30,000.  Could Stella look into this for her?  Of course things turn out "interesting" and Stella has a good time with a teen age stowaway, the step nephew and his new girlfriend.  Oh yea, the girlfriend is married and her husband turns up dead...gee, I wonder who is responsible?

Still loving this series and anxiously wanting Stella to get laid.

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The Chaperone

The Chaperone/ Laura Moriarty 371 pgs.

Cora is an orphan who has made a pretty good life for herself after being adopted from one of the "orphan trains" that left New York and traveled to the middle of the country dropping of "lucky" kids in many farming communities when they were adopted by families who needed an extra set of hands.  Cora's adoptive parents actually wanted a daughter and were very good to her.  Unfortunately, they died in an accident when Cora was just 17.  The lawyer who settled their estate took a shine to her and they ended up marrying.  Twin sons follow not much later.  But as life tends to go, some of the things she thought he knew turn out not to be true.  The story really gets going when at age 36, Cora finds herself with the opportunity to be a chaperone for a young girl from her Kansas town who is going to New York City.  Cora is very interested in NYC because that is where she was born and she is hoping she can find out something about her biological parents.  Oh yea, the young girl that she accompanies is Louise Brooks who ends up being a huge star.  This book is a wonderful story of the intersecting lives of Louise and Cora but is more about Cora discovering her past, who she is and who she wants to be. I listened to the audio book and it was wonderful as read by Elizabeth McGovern.

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I remember nothing

I remember nothing by Nora Ephron 137 pg.

I don't want to get into an argument with Nora about who remembers less but I remembered this book enough to enjoy it all the way to the end. I read with some relief that a large inheritance almost prevented us from experiencing When Harry Met Sally...thank goodness for her (relatively) poor relatives! I also enjoyed the food related stories and the rule about butter. - Christa

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