The Daily Bongo
Books, food, sports, television, movies, politics, and Pittsburgh life
Pittsburgh Penguins |
|
|
|
|
|
Current Entries
Sunday, February 5, 2012 -- Evening
RIP Dorothy Gilman
Dorothy Gilman, the author of the Mrs. Pollifax series, died yesterday from the complications of Alzheimer's Disease. I read the Mrs. Pollifax books as a teenager, and I loved them. You would think that a senior citizen who volunteers to work for the CIA as spy would not be an appealing character to a teen. However, Ms. Gilman knew how to write a compelling character and story. I'm going to have to add either a Mrs. Pollifax or stand-alone book to my TBR pile. The NY Times has posted an obituary.Sunday, February 5, 2012 -- Afternoon
Pens Lose to the Devils
The Pens have had issues beating the New Jersey Devils in recent years, and this afternoon's game was no different. Marc Andre Fleury started the game for the Pens, but he was pulled at the start of the second period when he let in his third goal of the game (and a short handed one too, which really put the nail in the coffin). Brent Johnson went in, and the Pens quickly got a power play goal from Matt Niskanen. But then around eight minutes later, the Devils scored again with a goal from Zach Parise. Evgeni Malkin managed to get a goal to bring the Pens within two of the Devils, but it was too much to make up so late in the game. The Devils went on to win with a final score of 5-2.Sunday, February 5, 2012 -- Late Morning
Walker in Shadows
I love a good romantic suspense book, especially if there are some gothic elements thrown in for good luck. That's one of the reasons why I love the Barbara Michaels' books. She writes the type of books that I love to read, and if I were an author, the type of books that I would want to write. Last night, I finished Walker in Shadows, one of Michaels' best woo-woo books. In this book, we have Pat Robbins, recently widowed mother of 19 year-old Mark. She lives in one of those huge, gothic type houses that you just know would be haunted. Next-door is a mirror image house. The pair of houses was built in the 1800s for a pair of twin sisters. Well, Josef Fredericks, recently divorced, moves into the next-door house with his 17 year-old daughter, Kathy. Tensions develop between the families when Mark falls for Kathy, who is forbidden to see Mark by her dad. Then Josef makes a remark about Pat that comes off as making her sound as if Pat is out to hook him. One night, when Pat is coming home from an evening out with a friend, she hears screams from the Fredericks' house. When she gets there, she finds Josef struggling with his screaming daughter. Nope, Josef isn't an abusive dad. A ghost in the house has traumatized Kathy. Pat and Mark get sucked into the horror because the entity is in search of Kathy, even if it means finding her in the Robbins' house. Of course, by the end, the problems are resolved, because that's what people want in their romantic suspense, a happy conclusion.One of the things that I loved about the book was the absence of a typical gothic heroine. Pat Robbins is in her forties, a working mom, widowed, and not your typical beauty. As I get older, I love to see characters that are more realistic as the main character of books. Michaels is great at putting atypical people into romantic leads. Walker in Shadows kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages of the book late into the night. Not only did I want to know what was behind all of the horrifying situations, but I also wanted to know what would happen with Pat and Josef. I have to admit that I thought the romance bit happened a bit quickly between the two of them. It seemed forced, but it was still enjoyable. I have more of Michaels on my TBR list, and if they are as good as Walker in Shadows, I'll be happy.
Saturday, February 4, 2012 -- Evening
Pens Win With Fleury
The Pens were in Boston to play the Bruins in an early afternoon game. Marc-Andre Fleury was back between the pipes, and surprise of surprises, the Pens won this one. Evgeni Malkin and Matt Cooke got goals to give the Pens a 2-1 win.Thursday, February 2, 2012 -- Afternoon
Pens Lose a Close One
Surprises of surprises, Marc-Andre Fleury, after an eight game winning streak, was pulled from the back-to-back home/away series with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dan Bylsma decided that Brent Johnson needed a turn between the pipes to spell Fleury. Johnson didn't do a bad job; he only let in one goal. The problem is that James Reimer, the Maple Leafs goalie, had a shut out. The Pens suffered a loss, but let's hope that they pick up their winning ways again. Final score: Pens 0 - Maple Leafs 1.The Old Fox Deceiv'd
I just finished reading The Old Fox Deceiv'd by Martha Grimes. The book is the second in the Richard Jury series, and as with the other books in the series, the title comes from the name of a pub that slightly features in the book. In fact, in this book, the action is very slight indeed. CID Inspector, Richard Jury is called up to a small town in the North of England to investigate the murder of Gemma Temple, murdered in costume on Twelfth Night. The question, though, was if Gemma Temple was in fact Dillys March, long-lost ward of Sir Titus Crael, wealthy, local landowner. Melrose Plant, wealthy former Lord Ardry, is visiting the Craels and gets to join in the detection fun as he did in the first book. It would seem to me that as the series progresses, it will become more difficult to get Plant involved in Jury's investigations, but that's how fictional mysteries are.The mystery in this book was a good one, and I enjoyed figuring out whodunit (and no, I didn't guess it this time). My favorite character was a young boy, Bertie Makepeace who has been left to fend for himself by a mother who is more interested in herself. Fortunately, Bertie has a level head on his shoulders, and a super-intelligent dog named Arnold. Jury and Plant travel to London to gather information on Gemma Temple, and in the search, find out something about Sir Titus' family, deceased Lady Margaret and the deceased elder son Rolfe, and younger son, Julian. The Crael family has many hidden skeletons in the closet, and all comes out under Jury's investigation. We learn that Julian''s adamant hatred of Dillys would be more aptly described as great love.
The book was an entertaining read. I like the interactions between Plant and Jury. The human side of both come out in the case of Bertie Makepeace. The mystery was a good one. I do wonder if I just happened to miss the piece that lead to the solution. I think that I might have read it, but not picked up on it. There were suggestions throughout the book, but because I missed the initial puzzle piece, the suggestions did nothing for me. Overall, the book is a good read, and I have plans to read more in the series.