July is for reading, walking first thing in the morning, watering in the evening, making salad and sandwiches for dinner, complaining about the heat...and watching the World Cup.
We are now solidly Team Norway and have been practicing rowing with the team after every win! We loved the Tartan Army, and I have indulged in watching reels of international football (aka soccer) fans experiencing American food staples. I personally have never been to a Waffle House, but it seems to be a real winner with our visitors!
When not watching soccer or baseball (the Yankees are slumping but the Rockies are better than last year...not the worst team in both leagues), I've been reading:
In this first book, Andy's father, a renowned judge, just before he died asked Andy to take on the appeal of a death row inmate that he had passed sentence on years ago. Andy knows that the appeal and resulting new trial will not exonerate the inmate of the murder he was convicted for--it is an open and shut case...or is it? Of course, it turns out not to be and therein lies the basic story, with lots of other juicy tangents such as why did Andy's father accepted a huge check 20+ years ago and that he never used. Why does everyone in a photo from 20 years ago that Andy finds in his father's things deny they were in the photo? Why does Andy's estranged wife Nicole show up out of the blue and insist they try to reconcile?
The book was light on tension, laugh out loud funny at times, with interesting courtroom stuff, and no truly scary (i.e., protagonist is about to die) scenes. I will definitely be reading more in this series.
The Night Fire, by Michael Connelly - This was a perfect Michael Connelly mystery as it was a Venn diagram of his best characters. Renee Ballard is the LAPD detective working the night shift. She loops in Harry Bosch, retired from LAPD but still itching to work, and he loops in Mickey Haller, his half-brother and defense lawyer. I just love this universe and how the various characters interact, with each contributing key elements to the overall story.
As with Open and Shut, the main story thread of The Night Fire involves a 20-year-old murder, this one unsolved. I love how Renee and Harry focus on the cold cases--which seems to be a story theme these days. That's where the Thursday Murder Club finds their cases to work on as well. We have lots of interesting angles with loads of LA details--someone needs to make a list of all the places Renee, Harry, and Mickey have lunch and/or dinner. Reading these books always makes me hungry for diner food!
Garden Notes
I picked my first tomato and first zucchini, and the onions are doing great. It's been so hot, I'm not sure if we will have many peas but still hopeful. The native garden is being overrun with non-native aggressive weeds, so I've had to do some clearing out so the native flowers have room to thrive.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
Mama Finch built another nest in the wreath on the front porch, laid three more eggs, and is convinced her family will be safe this time. We moved the chairs so that the predator that got them last time has to come up with a different plan of attack.
TV Notes
Our daughter is visiting from CA this week (in order to go to Twelfth Night with us tonight at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival) and insisted we watch The Sheep Detectives last night with her on Prime.
What a fun movie. Hugh Jackman as Gary the shepherd was wonderful, as was Emma Thompson as the lawyer. The actors who voiced the sheep were marvelous, with my favorite being Brett Goldstein (of Ted Lasso and Shrinking) who was both Ronnie and Reggie, the head-butting rams ("Are we lambs or rams?").
A thoroughly enjoyable movie, especially for those of us who love mysteries as the movie really plays into the all the mystery novel tropes.
Hope you are all enjoying July and finding wonderful books that take you on fantastic journeys.
I thought The Night Fire was one of Connelly's absolute best books, although the way Renee sleeps on the beach worries my sisters and me. I have also enjoyed several of the Rosenfelt series. I have a tomato plant and a cucumber plant but doubt whether either will survive due to the aggressive rabbits and squirrels in my yard who think the place belongs to them. Maybe if my brother's dog visited more frequently they'd be scared away but more likely they would intimidate her too!
ReplyDeleteI agree. The Night Fire was one of my favorite of all the Connelly novels I've read over the years. And yes, Renee sleeping on the beach is worrisome--I know her lifeguard buddy keeps an eye out for her, but I don't think he would be a match for a ne'er do well with a grudge against our girl.
DeleteWe have lots of bunnies and a big dog, but I think the raised beds do more to safeguard our veg garden than dog does. I have a friend in a nearby neighborhood who lost most of her garden already to the rabbits.
I loved the European soccer fan who posted about Ranch dressing and how it was like crack and why didn't they have it in Europe. That one totally made me laugh. And The Sheep Detectives does look like a fun movie. I'm sorry I missed going to see it when it was in the theaters. I've picked lots of chard from my garden, but no zucchini yet. My plants are struggling again this year. Wishing you a good week! :D
ReplyDeleteThe Sheep Detectives is definitely worth watching.
DeleteI'm not sure Ranch is like crack--no personal knowledge there--but I do like it with hot wings!
I've never thought to grow chard, but I have lots of lettuce. No sprinach though, which puzzles me.
We've been enjoying the World Cup too! We were in Croatia and Bosnia and saw how much those countries were excited for their teams, so that made me root for them too (even though they are no longer in it). The Bosnians had a hilarious song called "Take Me To America". It's nice to see sports - and the US - through the eyes of other countries.
ReplyDeleteI will have to look for the Bosnian song--sounds like fun. Yes, the lens of sports has made for a fun, inclusive summer so far.
DeleteLots of good reading and activities... and you know it's really summer when the tomatoes and zucchini start to come in! I've just been a casual World Cup watcher, but the food videos are fun. I've never been to a Waffle House either.
ReplyDeleteTomatoes and zucchini are definite signs of summer. Hope you are doing well and survived the NE heat wave okay.
DeleteHi Jane, Hope you are keeping cool and a very good idea to start each morning with a walk. Its a nice time of day and also cooler. Glad to hear that the tomatoes and zucchini are ready.
ReplyDeleteOpen and Shut sounds interesting and what sells me on a new detective series is always going to be the lead detective or PI and Andy sounds like someone to check out.
I finished the first two books in the Lincoln Lawyer series. I like the way Mickey, Harry and Renee are working together in future books
Andy Carpenter is definitely a fun person to spend time with, at least based on book 1.
DeleteI do think it is cool how Connelly has created a universe in which his three main characters in three different series can interact.
Yes, I will be rooting for Team Norway too today against England. It starts soon. Fingers crossed the Vikings can row again. And so glad that the mother bird has tried again ... I hope the younguns survive. We are finishing Season 2 of Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix. Liking Mickey Haller and funny that Bosch is his half-brother ... hard to believe? His ex-wife should get back together with him instead of moving to SD.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely keep you posted on the fate of this latest nest. Hoping for the best!
DeleteI really like Maggie, Mickey's ex-wife. One of my favorite characters in the books and TV series.
Such a shame Norway went out. They were my favourite team after England. Hope Spain win now! home grown tomatoes how lovely!
ReplyDelete