My Current Interest

             This is not the first time I have read The Kitchen Boy .   Nor is it the second.   I know I have now ready this book at least three times.   While I often reread books, this is one I especially value.   Every time I read it I get wrapped up in the story.   The story is incredibly engaging and a well crafted piece of historical fiction.                 Misha is at the end of his life.   It has been a long life full of secrets.    As the end is near, it is time for these secrets to be revealed.   With his beloved wife already gone, and his son dead long ago, the only one left to hear Misha’s story and carry out his wishes is his granddaughter, Kate.   There is one catch.   Misha does not want Kate to know the truth until after he has died.   He sits down and records everything, leaving the tape for Kate along with instructions on how to carry out his final wishes.                 The story Misha is so eager to tell is one that would solve a historical mystery.   Misha is

                 To say I like mysteries would be an understatement.   I am always on the lookout for a new-to-me series.   Not even necessarily a series.   It can be a stand alone.   Midsomer Murders is a mystery series I discovered that I absolutely adore.   I eagerly anticipate every disc that arrives.                              Midsomer is a fictional county in England.   At first glance one would think it is a quiet and sleepy community.   When looked at a little closer, it is clear Midsomer is anything but.   There are numerous secrets among the residents waiting to be uncovered.   Affairs, blackmail, spying, and the growing of illegal plants are just some of the goings-on in this county.   Then there are the murders.   There is not a shortage of murders.                 Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby is the one given the task of unraveling what is really going on in Midsomer and who committed the murder.   He is accompanied by Sergeant Troy, a man who is young, and

              This is very exciting for me.   When I went to the library not long ago, I discovered a new mystery series.   There it was, just sitting on the shelf waiting for me.   Actually it was the newest book in the series that was sitting there, but the premise interested me enough to seek out the first.   I had to place the book on order and wait for its arrival.   Once I began reading I knew it was worth the wait.                         Tricia is the owner of the mystery bookstore, Haven’t Got a Clue.   She lives in a town devoted to revitalization by way of the bookstore.   All different kinds with their own specialties inhabit the town.   Not even in business for a year, things are going well for Tricia.   At least until she finds the owner of the cookbook store dead.   Not just dead, but murdered.   To make things even worse, the Sherriff is determined to pin the murder on Tricia and refuses to think of any other possibilities.   In order to clear her name, Tricia has to

                  Yes, this is old.   Yes, people laugh at me.   No, I do not care.                           Set in a time not long after World War II, Ellery Queen is a mystery writer.   He is a quite absent minded mystery writer.   His glasses are left all over the place and he constantly puts things in strange places, such as the refrigerator.   While Ellery is devoted to his writing, he is unable to resist becoming involved in the real life mysteries brought to him by his police inspector father.   Of course Ellery always solves the case.                 What is different about this series versus others is that right away the narrator tells us who is going to be killed and the possible suspects.   The audience can spend their time looking for clues and analyzing suspects instead of wondering who is going to be the victim.   Another unique thing is just before the answer is revealed, Ellery speaks to the viewers.   He asks us if we know who the culprit is based on what we have j

               For the past two weeks I have spent my days moderately sleep deprived.   I blame it all on the Australian Open.   Taking place in Melbourne, Australia, which is in a time zone seventeen hours ahead of my own, I spent a great deal of nights waiting for my favorite players.   Some days it was not waiting, but getting up very early in the morning, as in 2:30-3:00 a.m.   Even once my favorite players were no longer in the tournament, I continued to pay attention and watch, I just did not get up quite so early.                   Due to the time zone difference, I spent a lot of time watching matches I do not usually seek.      Often this was because I was waiting for a specific match or to see the results of the already completed, but I am happy I was able to see something I usually would not.   There are a lot of up and coming players I learned about who I believe I will see quite often in the seasons to come.                 This tournament was also unique in the fact th