Today’s Post by Joe Farace
“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”…
“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…”
― The Secret Garden
I’ve never read the The Secret Garden but I am told that it is “a timeless tale of friendship, nature, and rediscovery…” and “remains a favorite with readers of all ages.” Maybe someday I will.
A Sad Day: Babar’s Son Passes Away
In the first first edition of Joe’s Book Club, I shared the story of my first ever visit to a library, the Clifton Park branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. During that visit “I walked out of the Baltimore library with a small stack of books written by Jean De Brunhoff about Babar the Elephant.” I’m sad to report that “Babar” author Laurent de Brunhoff, who revived his father’s popular picture book series about an elephant-king has passed away. He was 98. De Brunhoff, a French native who moved to the U.S. in the 1980s, died Friday at his home in Key West, Florida. He was 12 years old when his father, Jean de Brunhoff, died of tuberculosis, Later, he was an adult when drawing upon his own gifts as a painter and storyteller and released dozens of books about the elephant who reigned over Celesteville, named for Babar’s wife and Queen.
All About Snoopy’s Creator
Among my treasured possessions is a 50th Birthday card that was sent to me and signed by Charles Schulz, a Snoopy card naturally. Next is something that I just received as a gift from Mary. It’s a copy of the new coffee table book, that was signed by Jean Schulz, the widow of Charles “Sparky” Schulz and President of the Board of Directors at the Charles M. Schulz Museum, The objects featured on the pages of the book can be found in the museum’s collection and provide a unique look into the life and work of Mr. Schulz. Die-hard Snoopy fans may know some of this history but surely not all of it and the objects, which includes lots of different artwork, will be an eye-opener for even a Peanuts super fan. Everything about the book is first class from the quality of the design. the paper used and the binding. This is a lovingly crafted book whose text includes comments from people that knew and loved Mr. Schulz and they talk about the affect that he and his work had on their life and careers. This also includes some touching comments from his children. The book takes you on a journey through the life of someone who transcended his role as a cartoonist into what he remains—a cultural icon. This book a must-have for Snoopy and Peanuts enthusiasts and is, I think, quite affordable ($27.67) for a high quality, beautifully produced volume. I give in ten out of ten bookmarks.
In Other TBR News
I’ve just added to the list, another motorsports book—100 Years of Legends: The Official Celebration of the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as the previously mentioned Porsche 911: 60 Years. Look for reviews of both books real soon now. Also added to my TBR list is Hollywood and the movies of the Fifties by Foster Hirsch, I am currently at somewhat of a book impasse. None of the books on my reserved lists from the local library have showed up yet. The April pick from Mary’s Book Club (for Joe) has not arrived either and I’m too broke right now to get some used books from eBay or new ones from Amazon. So What’s a poor hippo to do? Dig into my book collection and find something to re-read! So what did I pick? It was Fer-de-Lance, the fist book that Rex Stout wrote in 1934 about Nero Wolfe and I’m loving it. And re-reads do not count on my “Books Read in 2024” list, which currently stands at just 14.
Murder Crossed Her Mind
Regular readers of this Book Club know that I hate technical mistakes when they appear in books. The biggest ones I find in mysteries have to do with cars and guns. I also enjoy historical mysteries and it bugs me when I find chronological mistakes in them. Case in point: Stephen Spotswood’s Murder Crossed Her Mind that’s set in 1947 (more later) and features the adventures of two female private detectives in New York city. At one point in the book, a potential client tells the detectives that they may not know the name of the company he represents but its name can be found on each transistor that can be found in a radio.
The transistor was successfully demonstrated on December 23, 1947 at Bell Laboratories by William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain. The first radio—the Regency TR-1-—using transistors wasn’t produced until 1954. When I initially read that section it didn’t seem right, having worked at Bell Labs in Holmdel NJ for a short time during the 1970’s. It took me less than five minutes to dig up the correct information. It should have taken the copy editor or proof reader the same time to find that and suggest the author change “transistor” with “component” and it would have been accurate. Have no fear, it’s a great book as you will see,,,
Mini Review
The year is 1947 and the dynamic duo of Lillian Pentecost and Will Parker are hired by a concerned attorney to find a missing, elderly woman that he previously worked with at a law firm. It turns out the woman in question is a bit of a hoarder and is legendary for her photographic memory, which may have something to do with what happened to her. Along the way, Pentecost and Parker encounter their nemesis, which is not quite their “Moriarty” but comes close—,the murder-obsessed collector Jessup Quincannon—who it seems has dug up something from Ms. Pentecost‘s past that she would rather no talk about. and involved, at least on the surface, her father. NO SPOILERS. In what must be the most complex and engaging story in this series, the two women find themselves dealing with gangsters, sleazy federal agents, as well as a Nazi war criminal, And while the plot sorta sorta, kind wraps up on the last page, at the last minute the author tosses in a cliffhanger ending, which on the immediate following page in the Acknowledgement, he apologizes for. If you are not reading this series, you should. And if you’re a fan of classic, cozy mysteries set in post-WW II America, you will enjoy this book. And while, I was slightly put off by the cliffhanger ending, I’m looking forward to the next book containing the exploits of these two crime fighting women. I give in nine bookmarks.
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