Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The Canterbury Sisters

Che de Milan is having a tough day.  Shortly after the arrival of her mother's ashes and directive to spread the ashes at Canterbury Cathedral, she receives another note from her long-time boyfriend, dumping her for another woman.  Upset, she decides to go to Canterbury right away, but when her hastily-made travel plans to Canterbury fall apart, she reluctantly joins a walking tour that follows the path of Chaucer's pilgrims.  Like the original pilgrims in Canterbury Tales, the women tell tales of life, love and loss.

Happy reading,
Christine

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Big Little Lies

This is a great "mom" mystery.  It's a great mystery, because it is so well written, that up until the end, you don't even know who is dead, let alone who the killer is.  It's a great "mom" book, because it opens with the homicide detectives arriving at a Parent Association event, and throughout the novel, you read  the viewpoints of various parents and school staffers as they explain events that led to the death.  Seemingly insignificant events, like cupcake wars between moms who think cupcakes at class birthday parties are a rite of childhood, and fit moms who think only nutritious foods should be served; dads arguing over standardized tests; kindergartners being excluded from playdates and birthday parties; moms competing to throw the best birthday parties; and Parent Association officers drunk with power.  Best of all, is the title, Big Little Lies, which begs the question, aren't all lies big lies?

Happy reading,
Christine