Book Review: A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #7)

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In my opinion, Louise Penny's books just keep getting better and better as her series progresses.  I'm a little obsessive in that I always read a series in order of publication, so I've read all six of her previous books.  At this point, I am inclined to rush through the rest of the series (a total of 18 at this point, with another one to be published later in 2024).  But I have to force myself to pace my reading, in order to make the joy of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and the Three Pines residents last!

Clara Morrow is preparing for her one-person show at the Musee d'Art Contemporain in Montreal.  There's an after-party in Three Pines after the opening, and a woman is found dead the following morning -- murdered in Clara and Peter's garden.  Enter Chief Inspector Gamache and Inspector Jean Guy Beauvoir to talk to the Three Pines residents, do their typical deep dive into the scenario, and ultimately determine the killer.  

This book has everything that I look for in a mystery series -- mystery, intrigue, smart characters, wonderful setting, beautiful descriptions, and more.  We are immersed in the art field - curators, museums, agents, gallery owners, and terminology.  I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series!

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Book Review: The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an intriguing book, published originally in Japan in 1994 but not translated to English until 2019. I read it for one of my book clubs, and was really glad to be able to discuss it with others! It helped clarify several points in the book, and also prompted me to look into the author's background and her life.

There are only three characters in the book, all nameless -- the female narrator (an author), 'the old man' (a friend of her family), and 'R' (her book editor). They live on a small island which is controlled by the Memory Police. Gradually everyday items "were disappeared"; items such as birds, flowers, hats, bells, etc. When they disappear, the residents of the island all destroy any of the items that they possess and very quickly all memories of these items are erased.

However, some of the island residents don't forget about these disappeared items. They actually remember everything and often hoard and hide these items in order to keep them from the Memory Police. The Memory Police make surprise raids on houses, confiscate items, and frequently take away individuals or families, who are never seen again.

The narrator's mother was one of the individuals who was taken by the Memory Police, and her book editor was in danger of the same fate. Therefore, she and the old man built a hiding place for him in her house. It definitely has parallels with Anne Frank, and I discovered that she is the reason that Ogawa became an author. In fact, she has written two books on the subject of Anne Frank.

This novel also features a 'book within a book' which is told in pieces throughout the book. It was written by the narrator, and is a curious and unsettling tale with many parallels to her own experiences.

This book is a quiet, character-based story but still has the ability to captivate the reader. It's quite a page-turner because I wanted to find out what happens to them.

"But our memories were diminishing day by day, for when something disappeared from the island, all memory of it vanished too."

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Book Review: Emma by Jane Austen

Emma by Jane Austen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to read a traditional classic novel this winter, when I knew I had more time for reading.  I started reading Emma right after Christmas but set it aside several times.  Winter in Michigan can be unpredictable, but I finally realized that I'd better get going if I wanted to finish it before gardening season!

I'm a fairly fast reader, but the language and characters forced me to slow down and appreciate the social mores and conventions of Austen's day.  I read a couple of essays on how to approach and read Austen, and I have to admit that they were very helpful.  I would highly recommend the Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the original publication.   Juliet Wells (Goucher College) writes a reader's guide, along with information on alternate spellings and definitions of words.  She also includes quite a few essays about the aspects of the cultural context:  dancing, dining, politics, etc..  I read it on my Kindle and this edition was available from my local public library through Libby.   

I've read most of Jane Austen's books and thought that I had already read this one, but I guess I never did.  I have fond memories of the Gwyneth Paltrow / Jeremy Northam movie and plan to re-watch it very soon.  Also on my to-be-viewed list is the Anya Taylor-Joy movie version and the Jonny Lee Miller mini-series.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

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