Hi. I hope you all are well. Sorry I’ve been AWOL from the blog lately as I went through a time where I didn’t finish much reading. I was busy while at my parents’ place in Southern California trying to get things done and where it was sweltering at 112 F. Though since I’ve returned to Canada a week ago, there’s been a hint of fall in the air and also some smoke from wildfires west of us in British Columbia, Idaho, and Oregon.
Hmm … I haven’t experienced too much as the quarantine rule after international travel means I have to stay on our property for 14 long days (see my office gym at left, ha). Ugh, it’s like prison, I can’t even walk the dog, but it’s the price I pay for flying. Honestly, I’d rather just get tested, but they require the 14 days regardless. Interestingly I see the CDC in the U.S. has just dropped this quarantine-travel rule, but I don’t think it will go away here anytime soon as Canadians mean business about keeping Covid spread low.
It’s okay I’ll make it. I already have one week in the bag and each day I’m closing in on the finish line. I have no symptoms and I’m cleaning out drawers and doing yard work, see our lovely cherry tomatoes and cucumbers from the backyard. We’ve been getting a daily haul of these.
Luckily pro tennis has returned to the TV and so I can avoid the diabolical RNC convention. It’s hard listening to most of these speeches, is it not? Seems like terrible nails down a chalkboard to me. Meanwhile I finished a couple crime novels as audiobooks. I’m not usually a big crime / thriller kind of reader but in summer I’ll pick up a couple, especially after “The Great Believers” and a few others — I needed a lighter palate cleanser. When you need something fast and not too deep, they can hit the mark. Here’s my reviews of a couple below.
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby / Flatiron Books / 304 pages / 2020
This is quite the crime heist, high-octane novel and from its tagline: “A husband, a father, a son, a business owner… And the best getaway driver east of the Mississippi” … you know you’re in for a wild ride.
The protagonist is Beauregard “Bug” Montage, an African American man who’s a good father to his three kids and husband to wife #2 and owns a garage in Virginia where he works on cars with his cousin Kelvin. As the story begins, he gets in debt on numerous bills for his family members (including for his mother’s nursing home), and he’s soon lured back to the kind of crime activity he learned from his long-ago disappeared father, racing cars. For Bug, being the getaway driver in a jewelry store heist seems to be the answer to his problems, but he soon finds out that the heist with a couple not too bright local bros, didn’t go down all as planned and there’s a lot of unfinished business that comes knocking. Uh-oh.
There’s some raw storytelling here and some strong Southern grit that touches on areas of poverty, racism, and the underbelly of Virginia. It’s a story that is rated R if you’re squeamish to bad language and violence, which comes mostly near the end. I got caught up in Bug’s family story and plight and the characters who interact with him and seek his help. He’s a true “car head” and family man, but the memory of his father and his demons are never too far behind. Like his second wife, I wanted him to stay clean but he gets pulled back in … to earn the cash … and then Bug is no longer the squeaky clean guy we hoped … but is one heck of a driver and one smart, mean fighter.
The ending has a couple car chases and violent scenes that will make you run for cover! There’s a lot of action that is really well told. I was pretty gripped. I had sympathy for Bug and his wife and kids but then parts of him seemed a bit violent too, so he’s sort of a protagonist whose choices make you not love him unequivocally. He’s got baggage and is quite the flawed anti-hero. I’m thinking maybe Bug might return for another book. This appears to be a breakthrough for author S.A. Cosby, who expanded on the character from a short story in 2015, and who hails from southwestern Virginia.
I listened to “Blacktop Wasteland” as an audiobook read by Adam Lazarre-White, who does a terrific job with all the characters — the bad guys and the good ones — and leads you on a chase that will leave you crawling through the broken glass and ashes … wherever you are.
Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger / G.P. Putnam’s Sons / 288 pages / 2019
I needed something quick and not too heavy after “The Great Believers” and a couple other reads and the audiobook of this novel fit the bill. It’s a crime story set on Long Island about an FBI agent (Nell Flynn) who returns home from DC after her father dies in a motorcycle wreck and she ends up getting involved in solving a case there … of two working girls who are found murdered.
I liked how the story becomes personal to Nell … whose mother was murdered long ago, and whose father — a homicide cop killed in a recent crash — she wonders about his involvement with in the current case. It involves the collision between the poorer sides of Long Island (where Nell grew up) with the rich sides with their mansions and lavish parties.
The story was all well and good, but it didn’t overly stand out to me amid other crime novels … it kept me entertained for a while and then eventually it was over … and could be tossed behind me. Some of the plot reminded me a bit of Jeffrey Epstein’s luring of young girls … and crimes … and I wonder if the author took it from that. Perhaps she did … as I recall reading the author’s 2012 novel “The Darlings” about a Ponzi scheme and the Wall Street financial meltdown that reminded me of the Bernie Madoff scandal. She seems good at these stories ripped from the headlines. You recall them, so you’re a bit tuned in, waiting for more.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read any good crime novels or thrillers this summer, and if so which ones? And how are you doing in your neck of the woods?
I love your office/gym. Glad to know you are a lifter! I picked up my weights last week for the first time in a while. Next time we hear from you, you will be out and about as much as allowed. I admire all you went through to see your parents!
The best crime reads I had lately were the Attica Locke books I’ve reviewed but I am about to dive into Nevada Barr, Daniel Silva and Sara Paretsky soon. Blacktop Wasteland sounds good to me.
Hey Judy, good to know you are a lifter too! Yeah I’ve gotten into dumbbells especially the past year. They are good. All those crime (&spy) novelists you mention all seem great and I hope to get to Locke and maybe even Silva.
I’m almost done … if I can make it to Monday. Are you still sweltering there? I recall early Sept. as being some of the hottest there … so take care.
I am glad Your time I’m home quarantine is passing quickly.
I agree about the Republican convention. I have always made it a point not to demonize those who I disagree with. But with Trumpism, we are dealing with real demons. They must be driven from power.
It sounds like You are having a fruitful time with the crime reads.
Stay safe and healthy.
Thanks Brian, this quarantining is for the birds! But I’m managing (barely) & staying well. Yeah the RNC convention this week is not something I can stomach or sit through. I’m worried so much about the election!
This second crime novel is set on Long Island — Riverhead area I believe. So I thought of you. Many novels are set on Long Island… wonder which is your favorite of the area? Cheers.
Crime novels and thrillers, along with the occasional beach novel for leavening, have been my go-to for escapism this summer. I had read about Blacktop Wasteland just recently and had put it on my want-to-read list. After reading your review, I may move it up the list a few notches!
Hey Dorothy, yeah I agree leavening is needed after some literary reads. I like escapism too. I was impressed enough with Blacktop. I like how you have a good mix of book reviews on your blog. Both light & heavier. Enjoy these last summer days.
Glad you are safely home!
Hey thanks Marg. It’s been a longer journey than normal. I don’t think I’ll get on a plane again till maybe Christmas here. Too much quarantine. take care!
Do you have a yard you can walk the dog in? Not walking the dog seems like the biggest hardship, honestly. Fourteen days sounds like a long time but it goes pretty fast, doesn’t it? I think it’s good that they have that rule in place. Here, the numbers seem to be dropping and I attribute that to more mask wearing although the anti-maskers won’t admit it.
The smoke is finally clearing here. The sky is a true blue today. It’s supposed to be 103 and I got my power bill today and it was not good. Of course, we’ve never been home all summer long before either.
I just finished The Vanishing Half, which reminds me that I haven’t written the review yet. I am not reading another Moriarty book, What Alice Forgot. She is my fave author during this pandemic. I’ve read now three of her books and bought another the other day.
Hey Ti, glad you are on a reading roll with Moriarty and I hope you liked The Vanishing Half since I plan to pick it up soon. It’s good to hear the smoke has cleared there … it is clearer here today too. It’s nice to see the blue sky!
My husband has been walking the dog & our dog lady. 14 days is a long time — I wouldn’t recommend it … but tomorrow I will be down to 4 last days. I feel fine and I’m glad stores have imposed a mask only rule. I’m pro mask for sure. stay well !
Two weeks is a long time to stay completely at your house. I’m glad you are living in a place that is so careful. Completely slipshod here. We have about the same number of people in our county as there are in all of Iceland. Yesterday there were 5 new cases in Iceland while our county had 98. Frustrating.
Your cherry tomatoes and cucumbers look great. Bet they have wonderful flavor, too. Our garden is in decline. We’ve got plants started for our fall garden.
I’m reading a very light romance today. With covid and two hurricanes in the gulf in the last few days, I’m opting for light, too.
Hi Deb, Hurricane Laura looks horrible … and I’m seriously worried about Louisiana and parts of Texas. I hope everyone in the line of the storm gets out in time. I think light reads now are definitely in order. Hope you stay safe between the hurricanes and Covid … sigh. So much at once.
Fortunately the hurricane turned and went into a spot where the population was much less dense than in our area near Houston.
Also, The Last Flight was a thriller worth reading, I think.
Thanks for the word on these. And glad you & Houston were spared.
I just finished A Good Marriage and liked it well enough although it felt like a kitchen sink thriller- everything thrown in! Also, I’m not a fan of last minute suspects. That aside, I kept reading, which is saying something these days.
Your tomatoes look delicious! We were not able to get anything planted in time and so are missing homegrown tomatoes.
I am completely ignoring the news this week because I know it will make my head explode. The level of lying and hate is going to be DefCon 10.
Yeah Catherine … do not go near the News this week. It’s nuts so I’m staying clear too. Just death, mayhem, and hate and hurricanes. My head is near exploding soon. Tomatoes and tennis watching might keep me sane.
A Good Marriage sounds just over the top … I’m glad you vetted it for me, ha. Too much kitchen sink. I’ll stop by soon. take care.
Glad to learn you are home again. Here flying into the country requires a permit and two weeks quarantine at your own expense in a nominated hotel.
I just posted a review for an interesting crime debut called Hermit
Hey Shelleyrae, I guess I should feel thankful to quarantine 2 weeks at home. I know many people have it much worse. Canada is doing its best to keep Covid low though next week schools are opening … so we all are a bit worried that our city will see a spike thereafter. I hope Australia will be able to keep things low there. I will have to check out Hermit, thanks!
I’m glad your visit to your parents was good even though it was way too hot. 2 weeks of quarantine is just so much; my daughter is going through it right now at college. Good thing you have books and weights.
Hi Helen, thanks. Yeah I never thought I’d be able to handle 14 days locked down on our property … but I’m now down to 3 last days. I can relate to what your daughter is going thru … poor her. I hope she can start school soon. The books & weights have been so helpful!! Enjoy your week.
That is a long tough quarantine and too bad you can’t just get a Covid test- but better to be safe and you are halfway through already. You write a great review. I enjoyed reading them.. thanks.
Thanks Judee. I’m almost done! 3 more days! I wouldn’t wish the 14 day quarantine on anyone. but if it’s keeping people safe … then I’m following the rules. Hope you are staying well there.
I’m glad you had a good visit and that you made it home without incident. 2 weeks quarantine sounds rough, but you’re halfway through, so hopefully the next week will pass quickly. At least it’s not 112 where you are now!
I like your office/gym. Looks like mine with the mat and free weights. Got keep up with that upper body strength!
No crime novels or thrillers at this point, although we are binging on Bosch, which is a pretty good detective drama on Prime. Other than that, I continue to walk, play Mah Jong with three friends, and get outside for a walk every day. I am not looking forward to the rain season, which will be here before we know it.
Take good care.
Hi Lesley, thanks. Glad you’re into the free weights too. Got to keep it going. I’m down to 1 last day in Quarantine! I can’t wait to walk a few miles. Mah Jong is a fun addictive game … played that long ago, glad you can play it now. And yeah we’re big Bosch fans / we watched & finished all the seasons … loved them.
I hope your rain season doesn’t come too soon … this morning was 46 degrees here … so I’m thinking fall has arrived, gulp. I could use more summer. take care.