It is 1910 and Lara's father is a kennel steward and breeder of borzois
for a count in Russia. Once again ten year old Lara is allowed to name
the latest born pups. However, her father is prepared to do away with
the runt of the litter. She begs to keep Ryczar, and he only gives in
when she has a vision about the pup.
Lara wants to become the kennel steward in place of her father, but he
sees her potential as the wife of some man. She sees herself as one who
could breed a borzoi worthy of Tsar Nicholas. First but Ryczar, now
known as Zar, and she would have to kill a wolf. Zar's first encounter
with a wolf at the age of four is close to a disaster for the untrained
borzoi.
When her brother is born, Lara's place in the family is diminished. Her
parents see her as taking on womanly roles, learning to sew and look
after her little brother.
Amongst Zar's first offspring is a little female that no one thought was
going to make it. However, she does and is named Chara by Lara.
Later, Lara's vision of a disastrous wolf hunt would come true. Her
father would lose his favourite borzoi and Zar would become the hero of
the day. Lara's father has difficulty accepting it all. Following
Zar's success, the count who really owns Zar, presents him to Tsar
Nicholas. Lara is stunned.
The day Zar is taken away, Lara has a vision of him in danger. Can he be saved from the wolves?
Author Annemarie O'Brien's novella is a good, quick read. Animal lovers will enjoy it.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Distant Summers 1936 - 1938
In 1936, P. G. Downes decided to canoe into northern Saskatchewan from
Pelican Narrows to Brochet at the northern end of Reindeer Lake. His
daily journal records the trials and tribulations of the trip, plus who
he met and what he learned. Unfortunately Downes was unable to complete
the trip due to weather conditions and limited time. For anyone who
has canoed in northern Saskatchewan, this will bring back memories of
your own trips.
Downes returned early the following summer, however he travelled up the lake to Brichet with others in an 18 foot, powered canoe. His intention on this trip is to learn more about the people of the area and their stories. Another objective of Downes was to photograph the people. Many were very shy about having their picture taken. Part of his return trip homeward bound included a flight in a float plane, and offered a different perspective to the lake and rivers he had travelled over. One of his experiences includes smokey days due to forest fires in the area.
Before getting to Downes' travels of 1938, numerous Cree tales are recounted.
On June 23, 1938 Downes left Prince Albert, Saskatchewan for Ile a la Crosse in a float plane. His description of being aboard that plane reminded me of a few similar flights I've taken on float planes on my own canoe trips in northern Saskatchewan. The canoe trip from there to La Loche was not an easy one as the river they travelled on was low, with many meanders, and much poking needed. Rather than using the 12 mile Methye Portage, Downes' guide uses the 20 mile Swan Lake Portage to the Clearwater River.
Downes finds the Clearwater River different compared to the ones he had canoed previously. As he nears Fort McMurray he discovers that there is a sulphurous smell and taste to the water on occasion. At Fort McMurray, Downes buys a canoe and starts off downriver on the Athabasca River on his own. As he travels downstream he foresees a time when oil will be retrieved from the tar sands to supply the world. He discovers that the delta of the Athabasca is winding and muddy. His trip across the western end of Lake Athabasca is fraught with large waves, but he makes it to Fort Chipewyan without any water in his canoe.
Moving north onto the Slave River, Downes finds the river flowing fast and more rapids to maneuver. By the end of July he is at Fort Smith. He waits there for a ride on a barge northwards on the Slave River. He is experiencing some depression and has an infection in one of his legs. Once on the Mackenzie River, Downe's spirits lift a bit. As they progress northwards, the river widens and the landscape changes. At Norman Wells, Downes trip turns up the Bear River. By mid-August he has arrived at Great Bear Lake.
A couple of days later he is at Eldorado and has the opportunity to tour the mine there. On the 28th he flies out to Yellowknife. The community there is very different. At the beginning of September Downes departed Yellowknife once again on a barge. Arriving at Fort Smith he is held up before being able to fly out and home.
For anyone who has canoed in northern Saskatchewan or been further north canoeing, I highly recommend this book. Although it was written 80 years ago the sense of remoteness is still there today. The author also gives you an insight into how things were at that time, allowing the reader the opportunity to compare it to modern times.
Downes returned early the following summer, however he travelled up the lake to Brichet with others in an 18 foot, powered canoe. His intention on this trip is to learn more about the people of the area and their stories. Another objective of Downes was to photograph the people. Many were very shy about having their picture taken. Part of his return trip homeward bound included a flight in a float plane, and offered a different perspective to the lake and rivers he had travelled over. One of his experiences includes smokey days due to forest fires in the area.
Before getting to Downes' travels of 1938, numerous Cree tales are recounted.
On June 23, 1938 Downes left Prince Albert, Saskatchewan for Ile a la Crosse in a float plane. His description of being aboard that plane reminded me of a few similar flights I've taken on float planes on my own canoe trips in northern Saskatchewan. The canoe trip from there to La Loche was not an easy one as the river they travelled on was low, with many meanders, and much poking needed. Rather than using the 12 mile Methye Portage, Downes' guide uses the 20 mile Swan Lake Portage to the Clearwater River.
Downes finds the Clearwater River different compared to the ones he had canoed previously. As he nears Fort McMurray he discovers that there is a sulphurous smell and taste to the water on occasion. At Fort McMurray, Downes buys a canoe and starts off downriver on the Athabasca River on his own. As he travels downstream he foresees a time when oil will be retrieved from the tar sands to supply the world. He discovers that the delta of the Athabasca is winding and muddy. His trip across the western end of Lake Athabasca is fraught with large waves, but he makes it to Fort Chipewyan without any water in his canoe.
Moving north onto the Slave River, Downes finds the river flowing fast and more rapids to maneuver. By the end of July he is at Fort Smith. He waits there for a ride on a barge northwards on the Slave River. He is experiencing some depression and has an infection in one of his legs. Once on the Mackenzie River, Downe's spirits lift a bit. As they progress northwards, the river widens and the landscape changes. At Norman Wells, Downes trip turns up the Bear River. By mid-August he has arrived at Great Bear Lake.
A couple of days later he is at Eldorado and has the opportunity to tour the mine there. On the 28th he flies out to Yellowknife. The community there is very different. At the beginning of September Downes departed Yellowknife once again on a barge. Arriving at Fort Smith he is held up before being able to fly out and home.
For anyone who has canoed in northern Saskatchewan or been further north canoeing, I highly recommend this book. Although it was written 80 years ago the sense of remoteness is still there today. The author also gives you an insight into how things were at that time, allowing the reader the opportunity to compare it to modern times.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
A Prisoner in Malta
Dr. Rodrigo Lopez has been ordered to pick up Christopher Marlowe from
Cambridge and take him to London. Francis Walshingham, Elizabeth's
spymaster has a task for Marlowe. Marlowe and Lopez are to travel to
Malta and bring home a man there that knows much about a conspiracy to
put Mary, Queen of Scotland on the English throne. The problem is, the
man is in a very secure prison.
As their ship sets sail, Lopez informs Marlowe that it is entirely possible that the man they are to rescue could be dead, and in turn they really could be sacrificial lambs for Walshingham's plans. Getting to Malta is not going to be easy, nor will it be easy to break their man out of the prison. Marlowe is shocked when the man turns out to be a woman!
The young woman also knows who her rescuers are because she has very high connections back in England. Will Marlowe and Lopez be able to get the woman back to England safely? Marlowe does manage to get her back safely, but unfortunately Lopez is lost.
Now back in England Marlowe must work to defend himself from a murder charge. How can he do that when there seem to be so many sides at play, each pulling and pushing in various directions?
Author Phillip DePoy has Christopher Marlowe trying to solve this mystery in what seems to be a maze. Every turn that he takes turns out to be a dead end. As a result Marlowe has to turn back and begin again. It takes numerous times before Marlowe gets things right. All-in-all, a very good read.
As their ship sets sail, Lopez informs Marlowe that it is entirely possible that the man they are to rescue could be dead, and in turn they really could be sacrificial lambs for Walshingham's plans. Getting to Malta is not going to be easy, nor will it be easy to break their man out of the prison. Marlowe is shocked when the man turns out to be a woman!
The young woman also knows who her rescuers are because she has very high connections back in England. Will Marlowe and Lopez be able to get the woman back to England safely? Marlowe does manage to get her back safely, but unfortunately Lopez is lost.
Now back in England Marlowe must work to defend himself from a murder charge. How can he do that when there seem to be so many sides at play, each pulling and pushing in various directions?
Author Phillip DePoy has Christopher Marlowe trying to solve this mystery in what seems to be a maze. Every turn that he takes turns out to be a dead end. As a result Marlowe has to turn back and begin again. It takes numerous times before Marlowe gets things right. All-in-all, a very good read.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Gentleman Captain
Matthew Quinton, captain of the recently sunk Happy Restoration, has
been urgently summoned to London to meet with Charles II. There Quinton
learns that the Scottish are preparing for rebellion and that a
shipment of arms is being prepared in The Netherlands for the rebels.
He is assigned the captaincy of the Jupiter. He asks permission to have
his friend Kit Farrell aboard as his mate.
Quinton knows that the crew really belongs to her old, deceased captain. The second in command, Lieutenant James Vyvyan is the former captain's nephew and he is sure that he was murdered. Will Quinton be able to convince this officer and the others on the ship that he is a capable captain despite being a gentleman captain?
It is several days before winds unfavourable to sailing change. Will his friend Kit Farrell arrive in time to join the ship? Fortunately he does, and thus begins Quinton's naval education, given in return for Quinton teaching Farrell how to read and write.
When Quinton decides to test his gunners, he finds that each volley on either side of the ship is ragged. He realises that they would not last long in battle. They would not be much of a deterrent to the Dutch who sailed around the Scottish coast. Later, a man-of-war is discovered in waters near where the Jupiter is anchored.
Author J. D. Davies has treachery, and a naval battle awaiting Quinton in the ensuing pages. How will the young, inexperienced captain survive? You will have to read this historical novel to find out.
Quinton knows that the crew really belongs to her old, deceased captain. The second in command, Lieutenant James Vyvyan is the former captain's nephew and he is sure that he was murdered. Will Quinton be able to convince this officer and the others on the ship that he is a capable captain despite being a gentleman captain?
It is several days before winds unfavourable to sailing change. Will his friend Kit Farrell arrive in time to join the ship? Fortunately he does, and thus begins Quinton's naval education, given in return for Quinton teaching Farrell how to read and write.
When Quinton decides to test his gunners, he finds that each volley on either side of the ship is ragged. He realises that they would not last long in battle. They would not be much of a deterrent to the Dutch who sailed around the Scottish coast. Later, a man-of-war is discovered in waters near where the Jupiter is anchored.
Author J. D. Davies has treachery, and a naval battle awaiting Quinton in the ensuing pages. How will the young, inexperienced captain survive? You will have to read this historical novel to find out.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Thin Air
A woman from London has disappeared on the island of Unst after a
hamefarin'. Detective Jimmy Perez and his sergeant Sandy Wilson set off
to investigate. When the pair arrive in Unst, a friend of the missing
woman tells them that she has received an email from her stating that to
not bother looking for her because she won't be alive! Sadly this
proves to be the case.
Jimmy puts in a call to Chief Inspector Willow Reeves asking her to join him. Pathologist James Grieve and crime scene manager Vicki Hewitt join the team. However it isn't long before Willow suggests that Jimmy travel to London to continue that aspect of the investigation.
A few days later, after Jimmy has returned from London, one of the owners of the guest house they are staying in is found dead on the nearby beach. Jimmy is sure that the death is connected to the woman's death. But how can they prove it?
The case seems to begin to unravel towards the end of Ann Cleeves' murder mystery, but fog and a lost woman help Perez solve it. A very good read.
Jimmy puts in a call to Chief Inspector Willow Reeves asking her to join him. Pathologist James Grieve and crime scene manager Vicki Hewitt join the team. However it isn't long before Willow suggests that Jimmy travel to London to continue that aspect of the investigation.
A few days later, after Jimmy has returned from London, one of the owners of the guest house they are staying in is found dead on the nearby beach. Jimmy is sure that the death is connected to the woman's death. But how can they prove it?
The case seems to begin to unravel towards the end of Ann Cleeves' murder mystery, but fog and a lost woman help Perez solve it. A very good read.
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Rules of Engagement
The Lord Chief Justice has just informed Sir John Fielding that Lord
Lammermoor jumped off Westminster Bridge last night for no known
reason. Later that day, Annie Oakum, a former employee of Fielding
tells his assistant, Jeremy Proctor, that she was with Lammermoor when
he jumped off the bridge. Fielding sends Jeremy to attend the coroner's
inquest. Dr. Donnelly is not impressed with how the judge handled the
inquest. He states that there are other causes that could have led to
the Lord jumping off the bridge than stated.
The following night, Dr. Donnelly takes the group to a demonstration of the teachings of Dr. Mesmer. Fielding asks the demonstrator if such work could be used for criminal endeavours. He says no and then proceeds to use Jeremy's fiancé, Clarissa to prove his point.
Based on their investigation, Fielding is sure that this is a case of murder. He goes to the Chief Lord Justice to set the "rules of engagement". Fielding continues his investigation by questioning the son and wife of the deceased. He has also come to the conclusion that the deceased was under "animal magnetism" when he jumped from the bridge. Fielding is also sure that the death of a potential witness helps the case.
However, how will he and Jeremy gather all the evidence to prove the case? Author Bruce Alexander's murder mystery is intense and riveting. Sadly Alexander was unable to finish it due to his death. His wife and John Shannon wrote the final chapters in collaboration based on the notes he had left behind. A good read.
The following night, Dr. Donnelly takes the group to a demonstration of the teachings of Dr. Mesmer. Fielding asks the demonstrator if such work could be used for criminal endeavours. He says no and then proceeds to use Jeremy's fiancé, Clarissa to prove his point.
Based on their investigation, Fielding is sure that this is a case of murder. He goes to the Chief Lord Justice to set the "rules of engagement". Fielding continues his investigation by questioning the son and wife of the deceased. He has also come to the conclusion that the deceased was under "animal magnetism" when he jumped from the bridge. Fielding is also sure that the death of a potential witness helps the case.
However, how will he and Jeremy gather all the evidence to prove the case? Author Bruce Alexander's murder mystery is intense and riveting. Sadly Alexander was unable to finish it due to his death. His wife and John Shannon wrote the final chapters in collaboration based on the notes he had left behind. A good read.
Friday, June 16, 2017
The Mapping of Love and Death
Maisie Dobbs has been asked to find a woman who had corresponded with
their son during the Great War. Unfortunately their son died in the
war. While reading the post-mortem report on the son, Maisie comes to
the conclusion that he had been murdered, rather than killed by a
shell. The night following the parents' request for Maisie's help, they
are attacked in their hotel room and left for dead.
Maisie arranges to meet the so-in-law of the injured couple. Her assistant, Billy Beale can tell that she is unsure of the man. Moments after the meeting, Maisie is knocked to the ground and her document case is stolen. Fortunately it didn't contain anything related to the case.
Later, when the victims' son arrives, Maisie points out to him that she feels that there is a connection between his brother's death and the attack on their parents. Now it is up to her to solve the mysteries.
Author Jacqueline Winspear's murder mystery spans decades, that requires her and Billy's best mapping skills. It is a story filled with both joy and sadness. A good read.
Maisie arranges to meet the so-in-law of the injured couple. Her assistant, Billy Beale can tell that she is unsure of the man. Moments after the meeting, Maisie is knocked to the ground and her document case is stolen. Fortunately it didn't contain anything related to the case.
Later, when the victims' son arrives, Maisie points out to him that she feels that there is a connection between his brother's death and the attack on their parents. Now it is up to her to solve the mysteries.
Author Jacqueline Winspear's murder mystery spans decades, that requires her and Billy's best mapping skills. It is a story filled with both joy and sadness. A good read.
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