Wednesday, April 19, 2017

April's Who Are You (Who, who? Who, who?)





Between all the comments and emails I received when I did this in March, I thought I'd see how "Who Are You?" would work as a monthly feature. After all, I did come away with some books to add to my wish list and to-be-read shelves. But remember-- this only works if you participate, either by leaving a comment here or sending me an email at kittlingbooks(at)gmail(dot)com. Several of the folks who email me have troubles leaving comments on my blog, so I do it for them. It does look as though I'm talking to myself, so be forewarned!

Okay, now let's take a look at where I find myself this month....


The way the question is worded, I think I'm supposed to be talking about the last book that I finished reading, but since I wouldn't want to be the main character in the last three books I've read, I'm going to talk about the book I'm currently reading: Dorothy Eden's An Important Family. I loved reading her tales of romantic suspense when I was a teenager, and I've recently become reacquainted with her through Kindle deals at Amazon. This is another novel of hers that I have not read, and since Dorothy Eden lived in New Zealand (where the book is set) until she was forty-two, I have high hopes for the setting.

It's 1862. I'm Kate O'Connor, a young Irishwoman whose fiance has been killed, and I want a brand-new start in life. That's why I've come to the grand London townhouse of Sir John Devenish. In no time at all, I've been hired as companion to his wife and daughter as Sir John uproots his family to move to New Zealand. The Maori Wars are over, and the land is ripe for settlers wanting to make their fortunes.

The three-month-long voyage is difficult-- mostly due to Lady Devenish and her daughter Celina. They're two rich, titled women who've never had to do a thing in their lives, but I knew what I was getting into when I signed up for this job. Something is going on with Celina, though. Why do I have to keep giving her sedatives, and why must she be watched 24/7? Although I seldom have time to talk with him, there's a young captain on board who served in India. I really like his intelligence and honesty even though Sir John doesn't. I've also made friends with an older spinster lady, Miss Pugh. I hope I'll be able to see her after we've landed and started building our new lives.


I'm just to the part where the ship has arrived at its final destination, and I'm really looking forward to continuing the story on dry land. It's an interesting experience for the adult me to read books written by one of my favorite authors when I was a teenager. I'm not re-reading; however, merely choosing books she wrote after I stopped reading her the first time. I've had bad luck re-reading books, so I tend to avoid it whenever possible.

Now it's your turn! Who are YOU? Please don't forget to tell us the book title and author's name in case we want to add your book to our wish lists and to-be-read shelves!
 

 

15 comments:

  1. Oooh, interesting! My name's Molloy, and I'm PI in 1950s Auckland. I'm just about to have to deal with a major bit of unrest on the docks there.... And I 'star' in Jonothan Cullinane's Red Herring.

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    1. I just looked it up, and the Kindle version is 99¢. That had BUY ME written all over it. Thanks, Margot!

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  2. My name is Tory Bauer and I live in Delphi South Dakota. Nothing much happens in Delphi except lately. I am a waitress at Delphi's only café. I am in my 40's and could stand to lose a few pounds. I don't want to brag but I have a very good sense of humor. Well anyway, my not so beloved cousin asked me for a favor and that is what pulled me into this mystery. She came down with food poisoning and asked me to check on a carnival that she has booked to come to Delphi. It will be mean a trip to a neighboring town. So why did I do the favor for her and get myself pulled into this mystery? Well, the driver is the man I am secretly having an affair with. My story is told in Sex and Salmonella by Kathleen Taylor.

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    1. I love this series, although I can see how it might not appeal to everyone's tastes. I do wish she'd kept writing fiction instead of switching to writing books about knitting and crafts.

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  3. I'm Dana, a black woman married to a white man in 1976 Los Angeles when I find myself on a plantation in Maryland in 1819. I have to save the life of Rufus a little white boy who will eventually become one of my ancestors. But how do I deal with being a slave.
    This is from Octavia Butler's Kindred.

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    1. Kindred was one of the best books I read in 2008-- I reviewed it just four months after I started this blog. I hope you like it, Janet.

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    2. I loved it, it will definitely make my top 10 list.

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  4. This comment is from Reta:

    "I am a real life person. I am Jeanne Marie Laskas. I write non-fiction books. I wrote: Fifty Acres and a Poodle. I have written other books as well. At one time I was a Sunday Style section writer for the Washington Post.

    I just finished reading this book. I would love to meet this writer. I wish she lived next door to me! PLEASE read this book! It is wonderful."

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    1. Since one of the best friends I've ever had was a poodle, the title grabbed my attention (and my imagination) immediately, Reta. I'm off to take a look for it. Thanks!

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  5. I am a southern matron whose second husband has decided to take the whole crew (the family that you make, not all by blood) to the beach for what will hopefully become a yearly tradition. Sadly, a tropical storm has turned into a full fledged hurricane, necessitating a return to Abbotsville.

    Yep, I'm Miss Julia in Miss Julia Weathers the Storm by Ann B. Ross. It's a long running series, but they always manage to entertain.

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    1. I've never read any of that series, although I know I've seen a book cover or two over the years. I'll have to do some scouting. Thanks!

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  6. I am Mel Ferreira of the Hate Crimes Unit in Petersborough, England. I am from a family of Portuguese immigrants. I was blown up in an earlier book and am still recovering.
    Now I'm investigating who murdered a trans woman in the vicinity. Lots of relatives and friends complicate the scenario.

    I'm worried that the Hate Crimes Unit is closing and I have to rejoin regular Homicide. Will I appear in books again? I have no idea. If my unit is closed, there may be no more books about us solving hate crimes.

    Please, Eva Dolan, there must be more hate crimes for Mel and Zigic to investigate. You barely skilled the surface.

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    1. I've put this series on my wish list, Kathy.

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  7. Oy, nighttime typing - meant "barely skimmed the surface."

    It's a good series and so is Kati Hiekkapelto's with Anna Fegete from Serbia, living in Finland. But book three sends her back to Serbia.

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Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!