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Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon.
ONE
CLARA
There were four boxes. Big ones. They must have lots of things in them because they were heavy, you could tell by the way the man walked when he carried them in, stooped over, knees bent. He brought them right into Mrs. Orchard's house, next door to Clara's, that first evening and put them on the floor in the living room and just left them there. That meant the boxes didn't have necessary things in them, things he needed straight away like pyjamas, or he'd have unpacked them.
I started this book yesterday and I'm really enjoying it. In case, you are curious about CLARA - she is an eight year old girl. This is an author I have read and enjoyed in the past so I couldn't wait to read it. I was also happy to read that JoAnn at Gulfside Musing loved it.
Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon.
Akin and Yejide are a young professional couple in Nigeria who after four years in remain childless. Akin is pressured by his mother Moomi, to take a second wife who can give them a child. She even has the woman in mind, her name in Funmi. Akin and his wife do not believe in polygamy but after trying fertility specialists, healers as well as some bizarre folklore beliefs still no pregnancy. Of course, it is assumed Yejide is to blame. When Yejide learns about the second wife she feels desperate to get pregnant and, this is where the story gets interesting. I can't say too much more about the storyline without giving spoilers but, this story was decent and had plenty of discussion points.The story covers the periods 1985 - 2008 with a backdrop of political turmoil. The story is told in alternating POVs from the two main characters who were well-developed yet unlikeable in their own ways. The story is heavy in dialogue with a blend of extremely sad moments and laugh out loud scenes as well which was nice as this book could have been a real downer. I liked learning about the Nigerian culture and the value placed on offspring above all else. My book group met to discuss this one this month and most thought it was an interesting read but no one really loved it. Readers who like learning about other cultures should try this one.
I originally tried the audio download from the library but, I found the Nigerian accent a bit too difficult at times so, I switched to the library print copy instead.
Rating - 4/5 stars
Knopf - 2016
P.D. James (1920 - 2014) was one of those authors I always meant to read but, it took until 2020 to try her books. In this offering, published after her death, there are (4) short mysteries in fewer than 200 pages. The last (2) feature Detective Adam Dalgliesh, a character she featured in (14) earlier mysteries. All of the stories have some merit but, it was the first (2) that I enjoyed the most: The Mistletoe Murder and A Very Commonplace Murder.
The Mistletoe Murder - was the most descriptive in the collection. It takes place at a remote country estate some (60) years earlier just after WWII. It tells the story leading up to the murder of a black sheep of a family, needless to say, the deceased cousin was not well liked. There were not a lot of characters in this mystery so not too many suspects but, still a surprise unraveling at the end. The story was told is the first person, a good character study too.
A Very Commonplace Murder uses a delightful blend of wit and humor. Sixteen years earlier Ernest Gabriel witnessed a crime. However, he was doing something he should not have been doing - spying on a couple. Since he has dirt on his hands, he is reluctant to come forward as a witness for the accused.
The Boxdale Inheritance - a young lovely wife is suspected of poisoning her much older, wealthy husband. She was found not guilty but, the suspicion that she killed him followed her through old age. Sixty-seven years later the case has been reopened at the request of the grandson of the victim since the inheritance may have been ill gotten.
The Twelve Clues of Christmas - Was it murder or suicide? The owner of Haskerville Hall is dead and it originally appears to be a suicide but, further investigation - (12) pieces of evidence points to murder.
Overall, this was a fun way to spend a few brief hours during the month of December. While I enjoyed this short collection, I'm not sure I feel motivated enough to go back and read the (14) book series.
Rating - 4/5 stars