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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
Peggy Arthurs has commented on (23) products
Kind of Grief
by
A D Scott
Peggy Arthurs
, October 03, 2015
The sixth book in The Highland Gazette Series, one of my favorite series! I'm never disappointed with Ms. Scott's books. She draws you in from the first pages and I devour each book. Her sense of place is fantastic. I'm always transported to 1950's Scotland as I read. Her characters are vibrant and well developed. I think about them between books and look forward to visiting them again in the next book! In this installment Joanne is 6 months out from a horrific experience in a previous book. She almost died. You really need to read these in order to get the most out of them. She is 'retired' from the Gazette, now married to McAllister, focusing on her home and family and writing. Having short stories published in magazines, she wants to write a novel. She comes across a headline in a newspaper about a recent 'witch trial' up north in the Highlands, where the last witch in Scotland was burned ages ago. Thinking this would be a great subject for her novel and wanting to prove to her editor husband that she is fully recovered and doesn't need to be 'watched over' or protected anymore, she decides to head up and investigate. There's an instant connection between Joanne and Alice Ramsey, the so called witch. When Alice is found dead from a supposed suicide Joanne uses her investigative skills learned as a reporter at the Gazette to find out what really happened to Alice. Is she putting herself in harms way? Will the staff at the Gazette be able to help her find the truth and protect her? Spies, forgery, witches, intricate plot and relationships to unwind. You'll have to read it yourself to find out!
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Z Murders
by
J Jefferson Farjeon
Peggy Arthurs
, August 29, 2015
A rollercoaster ride of 48 hrs. on the trail of a serial killer. It was love at first sight for Richard Temperley and he was determined to find the girl from the hotel and do whatever he could to help her and keep her safe. Three murders plus in just 48 hrs.! In a race against the police to find Sylvia first and a cat and mouse game with the killer to keep her safe, will Richard solve the mystery and get the girl? Richard takes us on a winding, frantic search from town to town. Will the police figure it out in time and be there when he needs them? Having read and loved The Mystery in White by Farjeon I was delighted to get a chance to read this one. Not as good in my option, but an excellent, tense, read to the last page, good mystery! I highly recommend Farjeon and British Library Crime Classic, which we can now get here in the US through Poison Pen Press! Thanks!
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Murder of Magpies
by
Judith Flanders
Peggy Arthurs
, February 22, 2015
Good solid mystery. Set in the world of publishing, a new setting for me. I enjoyed the humor throughout and the relationships between the characters. I'm not really sure what the name of the book means or how it ties in unless I missed it somehow! My favorite line in the book: When real life gets too difficult, go find something to read. Great advice!
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As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust A Flavia de Luce Novel
by
Alan Bradley
Peggy Arthurs
, January 01, 2015
So much seemed resolved in the last book The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches that I was afraid this next book with Flavia going away to school would be less of everything we have come to love about the books and the characters. Boy was I wrong! Even though Flavia is away from Buckshaw and all the characters we learned to love she's still our beloved Flavia and wherever she is there is fun! And murder! Flavia is being groomed to follow in her mother's footsteps as a secret agent or spy, we're not really told. Here in Miss Bodycote's Female Academy she has a larger than life image to live up to in her mother. Can she do it? Who can she trust in this land far from home? Not only do we have the wonderful antics of Flavia here at the school but a whole group of girls there for just the same reason as she! Lots of brainy, quirky girls to love! We still get glimpses of home and family through letters from Dogger and Flavia's memory as she draws on things that happened or were said to help her on her journey. Great series!
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Nest
by
Ehrlich, Esther
Peggy Arthurs
, September 29, 2014
This was a wonderful book! I fell in love with Chirp and with her friend Joey. I truly hated for the story to end. I'd love to see a continuation of their story as they grow up. The sense of place was strong. The family was Jewish and I enjoyed the yiddish words and little peeks into their traditions. The characters grew and evolved through the events. And I learned a lot about birds! A book I look forward to reading with my grand-kids.
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The Blackhouse: Lewis 1
by
Peter May
Peggy Arthurs
, September 13, 2014
Vivid, gorgeous descriptions of the Isle of Lewis. Wonderful sense of place. Interesting complicated relationships. The story moves flawlessly between current day and his memories of his youth on Lewis. His memories are told in first person and present day in the third person. Almost like two stories weaving in and out of each other and coming together in one superb, climatic ending I was not expecting! This is a book that will stay with you and might possibly be my favorite book read this year! I can't wait to get onto the next one in the series! You just have to go to the author's website click on The Lewis Trilogy to the left and check out all the extra's on this series available there!
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Man Called Ove
by
Fredrik Backman
Peggy Arthurs
, August 26, 2014
Quirky character got me interested in this book. And Ove is quirky! And I absolutely loved him! Ove is pronounced 'uu'-ve the uu sounds like the u in rule and the ve like vay. I looked it up! The writing is wonderful, the characters excellent. I felt like I knew the whole neighborhood by the end of the book and I hated it to end. I hate to give too much away, but Ove is trying to commit suicide throughout the whole book and he is constantly interrupted, by his neighbors whom he really wants nothing to do with, and a stray cat that seems to have adopted him. Such a serious matter and yet so very funny. I laughed out loud, a lot. Lots of tender moments to that bring you to tears. 'Ove stands there with his hands in his pockets. The cat beside him looks as if it would do the same, if it had pockets.' 'He knew better than to speak ill of what she loved; after all he understood very keenly how it was to receive her love when no one else could understand why he was worthy of it.' A beautiful, funny tale of loss, love and reconciliation. I hope you get a chance to read it and fall in love with Ove too. We can all learn a lot from him.
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Removers A Memoir
by
Andrew Meredith
Peggy Arthurs
, July 03, 2014
This was a good book. I just about read it right through in one sitting. The story skipped back and forth a little to when he was young and before the firing and after the firing, but it didn't distract. I had a hard time putting the book down to go to bed. I was compelled to finish and see how things turned out for Andrew and his family. Pretty graphic descriptions of dead bodies, especially the one that had lain for a week before anyone checked on him, and what happens to a body during cremation. But it was really interesting learning about this aspect of what happens when someone dies. I'm glad Andrew invited us on his journey through a fractured family. How he finally came to be comfortable with himself, to see he had value and something to contribute to life. We all have traumas and drama in our families. But what he learned and shared with you and I is that the important thing is our response to them. Worth a look! I recommend it.
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Stolen Remains A Lady of Ashes Mystery
by
Christine Trent
Peggy Arthurs
, May 11, 2014
Very interesting historical mystery! Takes place after the Civil War and during the building of the Suez Canal. The characters are well developed and interesting. I liked the idea of a woman undertaker which would have been very unusual at that time. Lots of interesting little tidbits, like how she embalmed a body at the deceased's home, the invention of dynamite by Alfred Nobel, that embalming bodies started after the Civil War in the US but people in the UK still frowned on the practice, and Egyptology all seamlessly woven in the story. If you like historical fiction then you will love this series.
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Death by the Book
by
Julianna Deering
Peggy Arthurs
, April 16, 2014
Another excellent mystery from Ms. Deering. Each victim has an antique hatpin holding a cryptic note stabbed into the victim. The notes are from Shakespeare. But what do each of the victims have in common? And what exactly do the notes mean? Is Drew the final target? Or his beloved Madeline? Will Madeline agree to marry him in this episode or not? I love that the main characters in this series are mystery readers. I love the little bookshop where they go to get the 'latest' mysteries from Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie and others. Well plotted, engaging characters, lots of suspects and a really good 'I never would have guessed' ending. With a thread of faith through out the story Ms. Deering never makes it the overly happiness, sunshiny stuff so much 'Christian' fiction have. I stopped reading them because of it. Life just isn't always that way. Well done, excellent read!
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Of Sea & Cloud
by
Jon Keller
Peggy Arthurs
, April 09, 2014
The word raw comes to mind when thinking on this book. Raw, cold, Maine weather and sea water. Raw emotions and relationships. Powerful is another word that comes to mind. Powerful storytelling, powerful characters, and of course the powerful north Atlantic ocean. I love Maine. It's stark ruggedness draws me for some reason. You have to be made of stern stock to survive there. The first time I visited there I was mesmerized with the rough rocky coastline where huge boulders sat, thrown there like they were softballs by a mad and churning sea. And yet growing out of the cracks of these rocks were tiny wildflowers. I don't particularly like the 'beach', the warm sandy beach for swimming and laying in the sun, but this shore I can stand next to all day with the wind blowing and the waves booming. This is what Maine does to people. It captures you. This book will capture you too. The tale takes place in winter. Gorgeous writing describing the icy sea and the wind. This is a story about an old and insular way of life in the midst of radical change. A good look into the lobstering industry and how it works and how it is changing. But its also a story of flesh and blood. I can't really say too much about the story as I don't want to give away anything. You need to go in blind and let it capture you from the very get go. I want it to unfold for you the same way it did for me. Complex relationships, a shocking death at sea. Deep, rich characters with the sea in their blood. Revenge, forgiveness, healing. Holds you to the very end. And haunts you when your done.
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Stay Where You Are & Then Leave
by
John Boyne
Peggy Arthurs
, March 30, 2014
This was a wonderful little book. Refreshing seeing something as terrible as the war through a child's eyes. Full of courage, duty, and love. It didn't feel like I was reading a children's book at all. I think adults will love this as much as children. A great book to read with your children and grandchildren and then talk about the values and issues brought up in the book. John Boyne has written 8 adult novels in addition to his children's books. I am looking forward to reading some of those as well!
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Runner
by
Patrick Lee
Peggy Arthurs
, February 21, 2014
This is a well written, fast paced, page turner. Right from page one it's GO. There's secret agents, secret drug tests, mind-reading, and human weaponry. And the government is tied into it all. U.S. governmental surveillance satellites make it virtually impossible for Sam and Rachel to hide. Heart-racing scenes in Chicago with high tech weapons, mind-reading, parachuting between buildings and government agents everywhere. Will Sam and Rachel be able to escape this time? Is Rachel really an innocent victim as Sam thinks she is or is she diabolical? You won't be able to put it down until you find out! In addition to being a thrill ride, you will question how much is too much. Bio-ethical questions will abound! But really at the heart of this fast paced thriller there is a love story. How far will Sam go to protect Rachel and free her from the government and herself? Will helping Rachel give him his life back or ruin it for good? Looks like a great new series has arrived! It's a great read!
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Winter People
by
Jennifer McMahon
Peggy Arthurs
, December 17, 2013
The Winter People is a well written, complex, suspense novel! This ghost story is quite different from say Wendy Webb's ghost stories. This one has a real edge of evil to it. It switches between 1908 and present day thru the use of Sara's diary. As we are learning Sara's story and what happened to her in 1908 we are also watching the consequences of that unfolding still in present day. There are three main female characters in this story. Sara, Ruthie and Katherine. We also get to look at the story in 1908 from Sara's husband Martin's view. At first I thought it was a little confusing flipping back and forth between so many people. But it all came together wonderfully. A thoughtful tale of what lengths we might go to for just a few more days with those we've loved and lost. And of greed and revenge! This was my first experience with this author and I will definitely be reading more of her!
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Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea
by
Morgan Callan Rogers
Peggy Arthurs
, December 17, 2013
What can I say about this book? It made me cry three times! Every character in this book is well written. You immediately become invested in their lives. Its authentic, its Maine. I loved it. I didn't want it to end. I don't want to take the book back to the library. I can't wait for another book by this author! Monica Wood, author of Any Bitter Thing said 'I loved spending time with Florine and I'm still thinking about her. She will break your heart and make you glad she did.' And I can't say it any better than that! I loved the writing style and her way with words... As the longest winter of my life dragged its ass across the calendar, I welcomed every minute of returning light, and I welcomed Bud's visits to the car.' Want a ride?' he asked. I ran around to the passenger side and jumped in. The whole inside was red and warm, like being inside someone's mouth. I stroked the leather seat and looked around. I grinned at Bud. 'When did you get it?' I asked. 'Just picked her up now. Runs like the tide's chasing her into shore.' Read it! If you don't already love Maine, you will.
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The Vanishing
by
Wendy Webb
Peggy Arthurs
, December 10, 2013
I LOVED this book! I read it in one day. Couldn't put it down. This is my second Wendy Webb book and I am a fan! The thing of it is, I've never really been a ghost story reader, but for some reason I can't put Ms. Webb's books down once I start one! I read The Fate of Mercy Alban in one day too. I connect to the characters. I 'see' the house and surroundings. It's a setting I like. Set in Minnesota on Lake Superior in the winter. Think blizzard, haunted mansion, stuck inside! The writer does an excellent job of keeping you in suspense. Not ever really knowing who's their 'good guys' or 'bad guys' until the very end. And there's always a wonderful mystery connected to long buried family secrets to solve, as well as a little romance, along the way. Oh yea, on cold snowy winter day in January, your going to want to read this one!
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Cold Mourning: A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery
by
Brenda Chapman
Peggy Arthurs
, November 27, 2013
This was a solid, interesting mystery. Kept me interested and wanting to get back to my reading. I did figure out who and why long before the end, but it didn't detract any from the enjoyment of finishing the book. Kala is a loner and prefers to work alone but it was fun watching her working relationship with her boss develop and I look forward to reading more of their adventures. Not only is there the mystery of who killed Tom Underwood, but Kala is trying to solve her own mystery on her off time. She's looking for a 'cousin' she hasn't seen since a traumatic episode they shared when they were kids. Now that had a surprise for me, who's who wasn't who I thought they were. Hmm, you might have to read it to figure that one out:)
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Snowblind
by
Christopher Golden
Peggy Arthurs
, November 07, 2013
'SNOWBLIND is a thrilling contemporary ghost story with both horror and heart. The small New England town of Coventry is haunted by its memories of a deadly winter… in which loved ones were lost, families torn apart, and a town buried in a terrible blizzard. Now, twelve years later, the people plagued by their memories of that storm are haunted once again as a new storm approaches, promising to wreak new havoc. Old ghosts trickle back, and this storm will prove even more terrifying and deadly than the last. With richly textured characters, scarred and haunted by the ghosts of those they loved most, Snowblind reinvents the ghost story for today’s world. Spellbinding in scope and rooted deeply in classic storytelling, Christopher Golden has written a chilling masterpiece that is the best work of his career and a standout supernatural thriller.' This was a good ghost story/horror story. Unique storyline with vivid descriptions of the 'monsters' and snowstorms that make you want to bundle up. It's also a second chance story. Second chances to make amends with lost loved ones, to make the right decisions, for love to win out. Set in Massachusetts. The main characters are Joe Keenan the local cop, haunted by the loss of two teenagers during the first storm and Jake Shapiro, the older brother of Isaac who was 'taken' during the first storm right in front of Jake's eyes. A couple, T.J. and Ella Farrelly, owner of the local restaurant, The Vault. T.J.'s mother disappeared in the first storm and he and Ell's daughter Grace was conceived that night. And Doug Manning, a mechanic at the local garage and the town screw-up. Now it's 12 years later and another fierce storm is on it's way. Many things will happen this night besides snow covered roads and power outages. Who will live and who will die?
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Someone
by
McDermott, Alice
Peggy Arthurs
, October 22, 2013
And it is my opinion that she is a fine writer! I loved this book. Her writing is lyrical, beautiful to feel in your mouth, or in your ears if listening to an audio version. I was listening to another of her books on audio in the car the same time I was reading this one. Not a good idea! Tough to keep the stories apart. This story begins in pre-war Brooklyn. I loved the time period, the Irish Catholic families. It starts with Marie at age 7 and goes forward and then back again encompassing her death. Her father is a closet alcoholic, her brother is the favored child, born to be a priest. He's very fragile though. He becomes a priest and within a year has left the priesthood. It's eluded to that he might be homosexual but that story isn't really developed. Although he is the character with the most 'going on' in his life, Ms. McDermott chose to explore shy, plain Marie. Although she is a unremarkable woman on the outside, she has a very active inner life and it is this that McDermott draws out. I am half way through with her novel And This on audio and I LOVE it. I am going to read all of Ms. McDermott's books. You should too!
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Returned
by
Jason Mott
Peggy Arthurs
, October 05, 2013
This book started out slow for me and I thought here's another one that I'm going to have to make myself finish. But curiosity kept me reading to see how it all got explained at the end and I'm so glad it did! A very emotionally stirring read. Gives you a lot to think on. What would you change if you got the chance to say goodbye again to someone you lost? The fear of the unknown, the behavior of mankind. So many different types of relationships explored in this. A teenage love returned, how does it affect your marriage? The family that was murdered and the murderer never found! How does that affect the whole town? A mother with dementia. Would you want them back in your life or would you shut the door on them? What if your loved one didn't return? Are they demons or a miracle? Good read.
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Ghastly Business
by
Louise Levene
Peggy Arthurs
, September 30, 2013
I'm not really sure how to start on this book. I'm not sure if I liked it or not. It took me a week to read it, it was kind of like a chore to get it done. I liked the main character, Dora Strang. I would enjoy following more of her life, but... The timing was off in the story or something. I felt like it went at a frenetic pace at times yet took forever to get there. See what I mean about not knowing how to write about it? I kept feeling like I had missed something and found myself, a couple of times, flipping back a few pages to see what I had missed and didn't find anything. I did like the time period, and the morgue setting and descriptions of the workings of it. they were quite 'ghastly' actually! If you like forensics then you'll like that about the book. The trial scenes were very interesting. And I did like the characters in the book. I liked the humor and the wording. Dora was forever lapsing into romantic daydreams that involved quite sexual descriptions. She had a very vivid imagination from reading her father's secret stash of pornographic novels. In the acknowledgements the author states that 'the quotes from Dora's secret stash of pornographic novellas are authentic'. It was quite entertaining! The crimes are of a sexual nature too. Syphilis and gonorrhea seemed to be rampant in 1920's London! For a period where sex was not talked about it seemed to be all they thought about! Having finished it and chewed on it a little while, I would have to say I liked it. But I'm glad it's finished!
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North Sea Requiem
by
A D Scott
Peggy Arthurs
, September 25, 2013
Two great mysteries running side by side eventually dove tailing into a very satisfying read! Looks like Joanne is finally going to have a wonderful romance, maybe even Hector has a little romance coming his way:) Rob is in for quite a life changing event. Will the American jazz singer story Joanne is working on put her life in mortal danger? You'll have to read it to find out! Plenty of red herrings and atmosphere. Don't miss this one! It is a great read as a stand alone but it's much better if you start with the first in this wonderful series!
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Burial Rites
by
Hannah Kent
Peggy Arthurs
, September 17, 2013
Excellent tale! Vivid writing! My first book with Iceland as a setting. Brutal is all I can say. Cold, stark, primitive. I can't imagine living like the people in this book lived. Written in first and third person narrative. Agnes was the last person to be put to death in Iceland. She was beheaded on January 12th, 1830 along with another young man. Not much is really known, this long after, of the details or of Agnes herself, but Ms. Kent does a nice job of filling in the blanks with 'what might have been'. She includes a map of the region and a small pronunciation guide to help with the names of people and places. I found that very helpful! I was struck with the 'religiousness' of the people and yet how cruel they were to Agnes. It was disturbing to me. The young priest sent to 'bring her back to God' was reprimanded for showing her grace and kindness... "She seems sincere," Toti said. "I can tell you that she is not. You must apply the Lord's word to her as a whip to a hard-mouthed horse. You will not get anywhere otherwise." As a former redhead, before I turned gray, I had to laugh at this... "After recording his confession, I was of the unwavering opinion that his was an intransigent character. His appearance excited in me strong suspicions of that order: he is freckle-faced and - I beg your pardon, Reverend - red-headed, a sign of a treacherous nature." Both of those statements were made by the District Commissioner, sort of like the sheriff I suppose in that region. Even though this book has beautiful language and descriptions it left me feeling restless all evening when I finished it. The story really gets to you. Really brings Agnes to life in your minds eye. It left me crying. You should read it.
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