A Progress Report

What I am reading now:

Carl Sandburg Home - The Official Historic Site Handbook:
This was a pleasant surprise. The text of this this book, about Connemara, the home of the poet and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, is written by Paula Steichen, Sandburg's granddaughter. Lots of insight into the writer and his family.

The Bedside Guardian 28 (1978-1979) - introduced by John Cleese:
I love this collection of articles, profiles, and reviews published in the British newspaper, The Guardian. Even the stories about rugby or politics I find to be so well written that they are a pleasure to read even though I am not quite sure what is going on. 

Hit List by Lawrence Block: 
Professional hit man Keller is back. In this second book of tales from the world of the stamp-collecting killer for hire, an unknown rival is out to eliminate his competition. Keller, it turns out, is on that guy's Hit List.

What I just finished reading:

My Connemara by Paula Steichen:
A sweet look at life growing up in the household with her grandfather Carl Sandburg. I will write about this soon.

Bloodhounds by Peter Lovesey:
This is the fourth in the series about police detective Peter Diamond of Bath. This is an especially entertaining one as The Bloodhounds are a group of mystery novel fans who get together to discuss crime writers and their books. That is, until the real-life, locked-room murder of one of the members happens. It was fun to mark Lovesey's many, many references to authors, book titles, and fictional detectives. 

The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys:
See my review here.


What I will probably read next:
I have two Bill Bryson books, At Home and A Short History of Nearly Everything to begin. And a P.G. Wodehouse, Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit which I bought on my recent book-buying spree. These should keep me laughing for a bit.

 What does your progress report look like?

Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit by P.G. Wodehouse

Oh, that Bertie Wooster. 

I just finished Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit (1954) by P.G. Wodehouse. I do believe it is one of the only full-length novels that I have read starring the feckless Wooster and his man, the shimmering Jeeves. Mostly I have made their

acquaintance through short stories. 

I recently wrote about watching all four seasons of Jeeves and Wooster with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, and of course I could only see and hear them in my mind's eye as I read this comic tale. That only added to my enjoyment.

The trouble, and there is always trouble when Bertie is about, begins with Bertie growing a moustache to the disappointment and disgust of Jeeves. The action moves from London to Aunt Dahlia's stately home, Brinkley Court, and involves pearl necklaces, side whiskers, disappearing ladders, a restorative concoction invented by Jeeves, a cosh, a bout of dyspepsia, engagements made and broken, and more cliff-hangers than can be counted. 

Just as Bertie gets out of one jam, another presents itself which is where the fun is. How will B.W. work his way out of this corner!

Odd as it may sound, a book with the unlikely title The Mystery of the Pink Crayfish and its author play a part in this romp. Of course, Jeeves is on hand to smooth Bertie's bumpy way. Bertie eventually sees the light regarding said moustache to which Jeeves, with just the tiniest raising of an eyebrow, can only reply:

"Thank you very much, sir."