Holiday reading

As you may have noticed quite a lot of my holiday time was spent reading. 

Look Alive 25 by Janet Evanovich 

I think I have all the Stephanie Plum books in the series. the latest one is usually part of my Christmas present from husband and I always look forward to reading them. I've even written my own novel in the style - very vaguely - of these books. Which is why it pains me so much to say that this one was a disappointment. 
Perhaps it was inevitable: when you get to book 25 it must be hard to be original and funny. But there are certain things I expect from a Stephanie Plum novel. Family dinner, funeral viewing with Grandma Mazur, numerous blown-up cars. And there were none of these. (A birthday meal doesn't count.) Plus the plot was weak. And Wulf turned up again. He's a slightly mysterious character that isn't needed. *

A Recipe for Bees by Gail Anderson-Dargatz

This was one of those books that grew on me. From feeling irritated because the female lead seemed to be just accepting her lot to getting cross because she was selfish (I know- I want it both ways) I became fond of her but fonder of her husband. 
Lots of interesting information about bees and chickens included as well as a glimpse into life for women in the last century in farming communities in British Columbia. The title comes from an ancient belief, shown both in the bible and in the poetry of Virgil, that bees were created/born out of corpses. 
*** and a half *



Death at the Seaside by Frances Brody

I'd seen books by this author in the library before but this was the first one I've read. I'm coming to it late as there are seven earlier novels featuring the private investigator, Kate Shackleton. Set in the 1920s, in this one Mrs Shackleton is supposed to be on holiday when she happens upon a corpse, a corpse in whom her old school friend had a romantic interest. Her school friend's daughter - who is also Kate's god-daughter - has gone missing as well and Kate with some reluctance starts to investigate.
I suppose it would be classed as cosy crime as it's a bit Miss Marples-ish and I very much enjoyed it and will be reading more in the series. I've read a number of books featuring Maisie Dobbs, another early twentieth century female investigator and this is very similar.
****

The Summer Seaside Kitchen by Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan is fast becoming my joint favourite 'happy read' author (along with Katie Fforde). Perfect holiday reading. Light, jolly, nothing too terrible, lovely characters and a happy ending. Perhaps that makes it sound trite but it's written with such humour and joy, I think, that it's compulsive. The sort of book where you know what's going to happen but you still sit and smile through it.
****





Finally a book I'm halfway through but I'll review it anyway.
The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

I read The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul a few years ago so when I saw this one in a charity shop I picked it up expecting a similar thing, and it is, and it isn't.
Whereas the coffee shop was a novel - based on the author's experiences living in Afghanistan - this is a memoir. How it really happened. How Ms Rodriguez came to set up a beauty school in war-torn Kabul. (It's always war-torn.) Where women were only just being allowed to go without burkhas and where there were still strict rules about male and female gatherings and relationships.
But most of all it's about the women. Women who are the same the world over. It's their stories, sad and happy, horrific and inspiring.
Meanwhile I'm still getting to grips with the fact that there are beauty shops in Kabul ...
****