Book List January 2023

 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (library)  I liked it. The characters definitely seem to be "on the spectrum" Dysfunctional family drama and while not really comedic, it was a fun read. 

Death in a Desert Land by Andrew Wilson (library) another fun one where Agatha Christie solves the mystery. I like all the hints at real people and places that Agatha encountered in real life. 

A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley (library) I really enjoyed this one about a girl in a brothel in 1800's Monterey, CA. It's got all the historical atmosphere and a murder mystery element as well. 

Sitka by Louis L'Amour  a rollicking Alaska Adventure with a lot of the real history behind the Seward's Folly included. It takes half the book for you to actually get to Alaska. You begin with the protagonist as an orphan in the swamps? of the Susquehanna! And follow his adventures across the country to San Francisco. Enjoyable fluff

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair okay, so I say that I never want to read a book on a kindle or e-reader etc. But I was stuck on a flight and I did not have a back-up book in my bag and I was forced to see what I had on my phone!! And lo and behold, I had downloaded this free book ages ago (it is a favorite) - so I read it to pass the time on my commute to work. Still a great read in my opinion. But reading on the screen does give me a headache!

Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen His stories are sometimes so over the top crazy. But then again, they are set in Florida and some of the stories do have a "ripped from the headlines" feel to them!! LOL

The Last Flight by Julie Clark (library) interesting twist on a thriller where two ladies switch airline tickets and then one of the planes crashes into the ocean with no survivors! 

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz I enjoyed Magpie Murders so now I am reading  more of Anthony Horowitz. If you like modern British mysteries, give these a try! 

Key West Connection by Randy Wayne White This was his first book that he got published back in the day and it is interesting to see how he evolved his characters from this beginning to what kinds of books he writes now. 

A Wolf Called Romeo by Nick Jans The true story of a wolf who visited a community in Alaska and interacted with the people for several years. Spoiler alert: it is a book about dogs, you are gonna cry

Breakdown by Sara Paretsky (audiobook) I used to like the V I Warshawski books, but lately the last few I have read, I have not enjoyed very much. Suffered through this one in the car. 

Seattle Postcards: Salmon Fishing

 

We love our Salmon here in Seattle!

Seattle Postcards: Luna Park

 

These are some of my favorite cards from my collection. Very hard to find and often expensive. They are of a Coney Island style entertainment center that was on Alki Beach back in the day.  At night, the park was lit up brilliantly, with each building and ride outlined in light bulbs. The park could be seen from miles away and was advertised as a safe nighttime destination for women and children.  The rides were disassembled and removed in 1913, with the Zeum Carousel traveling to California (the carousel is now in operation at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco.)  Today all that remains of Luna Park are the original pilings, which are visible during extremely low tide and people often come from all over Seattle just to view these pilings!! The Luna Park Cafe just down the street was named after this, "The Greatest Amusement Park on the West Coast."

And here is a modern postcard celebrating Luna Park.

Seattle Postcards: Troll

The Fremont Troll used to be a sort of "local's only" secret treat. Now it is on the route of most city tours of  Seattle. Tour buses come by so everyone can get a photo op with the Troll.  The Troll is a statue, located on N. 36th Street at Troll Avenue N., under the north end of the Aurora Bridge. In 1989, the city asked the Fremont Arts Council to launch an art competition to rehabilitate the area under the bridge, which was becoming a dumping ground and haven for drug dealers. Therefore the Troll is considered an example of hostile architecture having been erected to deter the presence of homeless people and antisocial behavior under the bridge. It is clutching an actual VW as if it had just swiped it from the roadway above. Originally, the car held a time capsule including a plaster bust of  Elvis, which was stolen when the sculpture was vandalized.

 

Seattle Postcards: at night

 

I especially enjoy the antique postcards of Seattle at night. They are so atmospheric.

Seattle Postcards: Greetings

This year my postcards are all going to be from Seattle, WA! 

I collect lots of Seattle postcards and specifically, I love to find old ones from my neighborhood in West Seattle, but you will get to see many postcards from all over the Seattle area this year.