Read This, Not That: What We're Reading at the Reds!

LUCY BURDETTE: If last month was a month for reading lighter holiday books, this month seems to be dedicated to books I haven't chosen, but received for Christmas and my birthday. I just finished the newest Richard Osman, THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTUNE. The same lovely characters are in play, so I’m not sure why it took me so long to get through it. Maybe the frequent switches in point of view derailed me? Anyway I did finish and enjoy it, but I will be glad for a rest before tackling the next one. I was in the process of deciding what to read next when my son and his husband sent me The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. This has gotten so much press that it was quite irresistible. I’m not very far along, so far not finding it gripping. It amazes me that no one expected this book to be a bestseller, but word of mouth has propelled it to the New York Times list! John bought me Megha Majumdar’s A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF, which I hadn’t heard of, but it too has gotten wonderful reviews so I will try it. And I am reading/listening to Ruth Reichll‘s Save Me the Plums. She is going to be our Friends of the Key West Library guest speaker in February, so I’m rereading and brushing up even though I believe I’ve read all of her books before.

(PS I’m now ⅔ of the way through THE CORRESPONDENT and I see exactly why people are pressing it into the hands of reading friends. How can a set of letters be so compelling? Evans has managed it!)

Your turn Reds, what are you reading or looking forward to reading?


HALLIE EPHRON: I started a book recommended as a “literary page turner.” Blurbs from huge names. And I could not get past the opening chapter – a prologue really. Containing words I had to look up. And familiar words used in unfamiliar ways. Writing that draws attention to itself. For readers made of sterner stuff than I.

And now I’m immersed in Ann Cleeves RAVEN BLACK. Cleeves does something I always recommend writers NOT do, which is tell the same scene from one character’s viewpoint; then retell it from a second character’s viewpoint. And of course like every “rule,” write well enough and you can break it. And Ann Cleeves breaks it brilliantly.

Sometimes being a writer handicaps me as a reader.

JENN McKINLAY: I just finished NO ONE WOULD DO WHAT THE LAMBERTS HAVE DONE by the brilliant Sophie Hannah and as I told her when I interviewed her the Poisoned Pen, I’ve never read anything like it. It is quite the page turner!

Next up I’m reading an ARC of WARNING SIGNS by Tracy Sierra for another event at the Poisoned Pen on February 24th. Her debut novel NIGHTFALLING was the pick for Jimmy Fallon’s spring of 2024 book club so I’m eager to read this one.

Other than that, I haven’t had time to read much as I’m on deadline per usual.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I’m in the middle of Marisa Kashino’s BEST OFFER WINS, a thriller about a woman who will stop at NOTHING to get the house of her dreams. It takes place in the DC area, where my sister is a Realtor, and some of the stories she’s told me make this book sound like non-fiction! Next up is THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS by Jennie Godfrey - sort of a cross between Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series and Billy Elliott. I know, that sounds strange, but it has a wonderful narrative voice.

Finally, I’m anticipating THE CORMORANT HUNT by Michael Idov, which is coming out tomorrow! I loved the first book in his trilogy, THE COLLABORATORS, and can highly recommend the series to any of you who like modern spy thrillers like Slow Horses.

No science fiction! I guess it’s been a slow month.

RHYS BOWEN: having been nurse and minder for John for the last month as well as doing edits on one book and copy edits on another I’ve had little time for reading. But I did enjoy the Restoration Garden, also a fun book about a walk across France. Now I’m starting a Single Thread which looks promising!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, do you know LJ Ross? She’s so famous in the UK, but not so much here. YET. Because her newest book IMPOSTOR will be released here soon, and it is so terrific! Set in a small town in Ireland, and the main character is an instantly-iconic doctor/profiler. Highly highly recommended. Really.

I am also reading Marisa Kashino’s Best Offer Wins, and enjoying it. And sometimes, they creep up on you. I had to read Meagan Church’s THE MAD WIFE for an interview, and I was initially so wary. But wow, it’s amazing. (MId-century housewife, very emotional and surprising.)

Oh, and finally, yes, Jenn, agree that The Lamberts is a tour de force! And Sophie Hannah is a genius.

Rats, I know this is too many, but have to add Tim Sullivan. I read THE CYCLIST, and was completely won over. A neurodivergent British DS, and done so beautifully! I promise you will love this series.

And getting ready for OUR BEAUTIFUL MESS in order to interview Adele Parks!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: An odd assortment here. The standout was AN UNSEEN WORLD by Liz Moore, which my daughter gave me for Christmas, insisting I read it ASAP because she loved it so much. I did, too! Fascinating, original, perfectly plotted, and impossible to accurately describe. You could call it a coming of age story but that doesn’t begin to do it justice.

I also read the latest in S.J. Bennett’s The Queen Investigates series, THE QUEEN WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, which was great fun. Now I’m reading a David Nicholl’s book called THE UNDERSTUDY–sooo English!--a romantic comedy about an actor who can’t quite make it. Next up is Lori Rader-Day’s BREAK YOUR HEART, which I’m really looking forward to. Oh, and I–probably insanely–ordered a hardcover copy of THE LONELINESS OF SONiA AND SUNNY by Kiran Desai from my local bookstore. It’s 688 pages and may break my wrists…

Reds, reds, what are you reading??

Comfort Foods for Winter Storms.

RHYS BOWEN: I know that some of you are dealing with horrible winter storm conditions this weekend. I'm sending warming vibes your way!  Also some suggestions to make life more pleasant.

I don't know about you but the moment we get the first wintery blast my mind turns to soups. We usually have a roasted chicken every week and I use the carcass to make a really good chicken stock. Then I work my way through a variety of home made , comforting soups that we eat every day for lunch.

Some favorites are: carrot and ginger

Curried parsnip

butternut squash and cinnamon apple 

leek and potato.

Last week my friend (and friend of the Reds Susan Shea) presented me with this lovely book. It's full of the most yummy soups ever, including the Ribbolita she made for me. So rich and hearty and warming.  I'm sharing a similar Tuscan soup that I make when we have guests in winter. It's a Tuscan chicken soup, especially easy if you have leftover chicken.

First make a base of aromatics. Carrot, celery, onion, garlic. Saute in oil then add good chicken stock. To this add a can of caneloni or white beans, plus a can of crushed tomatoes.

If you are using fresh chicken breast cut it small and saute it first. If left-over chicken breast don't add it until the aromatics are cooked through.  When the chicken is warmed stir in half and half or coconut milk if you're dealing with lactose intolerance.

Finally float spinach leaves on the top until it is just wilted. You can serve with a dollop of sour cream, grated parmesan on top.  Really yummy.

So what is your favorite hearty soup? 

What Next?

 RHYS BOWEN:  As I’ve mentioned this week, we are gearing up for a big family wedding. I am debating whether to spend a small fortune on a dress. Because it is going to be A BIG OCCASION.

When my girls got married the weddings were lovely but simple. We had a family friend to do the photos and the video. Another friend provided the DJ at one and the jazz band at another. We had a nice venue, good food and a great time was had by all.

My son and his bride arranged their own wedding. It was in a grove four thousand feet up a mountain and the whole wedding party slept in yurts. It was lovely. Lights strung between the trees, a dance floor, good food and in the middle of nature. I loved it (apart from the bed in the yurt.. .)

This is a wedding with all the bells and whistles. A wedding planner making sure all is in place  before we reach the venue. A bridal procession in which I have to walk with the two other grandmothers up the aisle. A videographer, apart from the photographer. Signature cocktails. You name it, we are having it. 

This makes me realize how much we have to raise the bar to make anything feel special these days. Destination weddings in Tahiti! Photo shoots by the Eiffel Tower. 

 Christmas comes to all the stores in October.  Look at the ads at Christmas time. Put a Lexus under the tree for her. My granddaughters, at a private school, had to endure prom-posals before the prom. Not just “hey, would you like to go to the prom with me?” but balloons, banners, music, dancers etc etc. Lizzy had the embarrassment of an elaborate  very public, promposal from a boy she didn’t want to go to the prom with. But she said yes, not to hurt his feelings after he’d been to so much trouble. 

We were out for a walk a few months ago and there in the park was what seemed to be a big picnic.  Only it had a giant paper mache decoration and as we passed there was music, drum roll, then this exploded, confetti shot everywhere, there were screams and hugs and…. It was a gender reveal party!

What next? I ask myself. Have we lost the ability to be happy with the simple, the non-extravagent? Not over the top, competing all the time? I find myself fantasizing about living in a French or Italian village. Sitting in the town square, drinking coffee or wine with friends.. All the time in the world. No stress. No hype. 

How about you? Do you feel the same?