gloryb
Fraser Valley Regional Library
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gloryb's rating:
Added Mar 24, 2024
gloryb's rating:
Added Mar 24, 2024
Comment:
A "cozy" mystery with the Queen, age 90, helping to solve a murder at Windsor Castle by involving her staff as her investigators. I found her other novel in this series, "Murder Most Royal", to be more enjoyable probably due to the many references to the Queen's family holidaying with her during Christmas at Sandringham.A "cozy" mystery with the Queen, age 90, helping to solve a murder at Windsor Castle by involving her staff as her investigators. I found her other novel in this series, "Murder Most Royal", to be more enjoyable probably due to the many references…
The Madness of CrowdsThe Madness of Crowds, BookGender, Race, and Identity
by Murray, DouglasBook - 2019Book, 2019
gloryb's rating:
Added Mar 19, 2024
Comment:
Murray provides the reader with an overabundance of examples to show how accusers presently attack individuals who publicly present different views from theirs on topics like sexual identity, race, and gender. Often these individuals lose their jobs and their reputation even though they backpeddle, apologize profusely, or volunteer to submit to re-training for expressing such views. Sound familiar? The author blames social media for the success of individual accusers to gain a crowd of similar thinkers who then relentlessly hound those with opposing views to theirs. He suggests that there is an ulterior motive for attacking our liberal society on those 3 areas which he calls tripwires. I wonder now if he will be the focus of such attacks. Each chapter has copious notes to show his sources of information.Murray provides the reader with an overabundance of examples to show how accusers presently attack individuals who publicly present different views from theirs on topics like sexual identity, race, and gender. Often these individuals lose their jobs…
The Little Old Lady Strikes BackThe Little Old Lady Strikes Back, Book
by Ingelman-Sundberg, C.Book - 2023Book, 2023
gloryb's rating:
Added Mar 07, 2024
Comment:
An enjoyable addition to the series with similar capers as in previous books carried out by a group of seniors, only this time in the countryside. There were just too many examples of the good things the seniors, now as countryside activists, did accomplish in improving the quality of life in one village, even though each epidsode had a funny side when their plans went slightly awry. The same pattern got tiring after awhile and I wondered when they would flee the countryside, as they had the city, when the police got too close. Still, a light, humorous read.An enjoyable addition to the series with similar capers as in previous books carried out by a group of seniors, only this time in the countryside. There were just too many examples of the good things the seniors, now as countryside activists, did…
111 Places in Ottawa That You Must Not Miss111 Places in Ottawa That You Must Not Miss, Book
by Bain, JenniferBook - 2022Book, 2022
gloryb's rating:
Added Mar 03, 2024
Comment:
I found the map at the back of the book, which identifies the location of the sights described in the book, to be helpful than the chapter contents. It was easier to find the points of interest in the area where I intended to visit and use the legend number to read the description about that sight. The book describes sights one might pass by in an area - the sights are not like those usually identified in a guidebook. Interesting to read, but I prefer a "real" guidebook to a city's attractions.I found the map at the back of the book, which identifies the location of the sights described in the book, to be helpful than the chapter contents. It was easier to find the points of interest in the area where I intended to visit and use the…
gloryb's rating:
Added Mar 03, 2024
Comment:
A page turner - gets more intense and puzzling as one reads. Writer focusses on the plot, not fillers, but provides just enough background info when needed and those don't extend into pages. An enjoyable mystery.
gloryb's rating:
Added Mar 01, 2024
Comment:
A good read for those who like to read about court room drama. In this novel, the Lincoln Lawyer, Hadder, investigates the case of a woman who says she was innocent of murdering her ex-husband, a police officer. The first section of the novel has much dialogue and filler between Bosch, the investigator, and Haller, the lawyer, which can be easily scanned. The last section of the novel is about the lawyers in court (defense and prosecution) with word for word accounts of the legal proceedings and their strategies for winning the case.A good read for those who like to read about court room drama. In this novel, the Lincoln Lawyer, Hadder, investigates the case of a woman who says she was innocent of murdering her ex-husband, a police officer. The first section of the novel has…
gloryb's rating:
Added Feb 27, 2024
Comment:
I enjoyed how the author provided evidence using historical facts to support his defence of the good things that have come from western civilization, and showed up the weak and often false allegations from anti-West critics like African American professor, Dr. Kendi, who seem to find its faults at every turn. Their criticisms and accusations revolve around slavery, racism, colonialism, and white supremacy in the West, but they ignore criticizing other countries where similar failures of human rights are occurring and have occurred. To show how pervasive these ideas of the anti-West critics have become in the West, Murray provides current examples of how those in entertainment, religious and educational institutions, CEOs of corporations, and the media are focussed on not being labled a racist, as consequences such as job loss and statements of apologies will follow. Even the statues of historical figures in the West have been pulled down by protestors because the protestors have perceived them to have been racists. A good book to read for providing some insight and analysis into current social trends. Notes and index are included.I enjoyed how the author provided evidence using historical facts to support his defence of the good things that have come from western civilization, and showed up the weak and often false allegations from anti-West critics like African American…
gloryb's rating:
Added Feb 26, 2024
Comment:
I wasn't expecting science fiction elements and conspiratory theories in a medical examiner mystery novel. Perhaps it was those elements that made this novel a good read. The first part of the novel äbout events in the forest is creepy and a thrilling read, but when the filler scenes of conflict among the characters began, I kept turning the pages to read about another twist and unusual events. The author has the knack of writing, with the words seemingly "dripping off her pen".I wasn't expecting science fiction elements and conspiratory theories in a medical examiner mystery novel. Perhaps it was those elements that made this novel a good read. The first part of the novel äbout events in the forest is creepy and a…
gloryb's rating:
Added Feb 22, 2024
Comment:
Mildly interesting story about a pathology resident's investigation into suicides over a short period of time when he worked in the Medical Examiner's department. Readers will face too many victim names and the resulting interviews of family, police attendees, and medical examiners as well as a repetition of facts and reasons the resident pathology student is pursuing these cases. This novel is easily scanned.Mildly interesting story about a pathology resident's investigation into suicides over a short period of time when he worked in the Medical Examiner's department. Readers will face too many victim names and the resulting interviews of family, police…
gloryb's rating:
Added Feb 13, 2024
Comment:
Enjoyable mystery set in Skye, northern Scotland. The author lets readers know who one murderer is right at the beginning. She then focuses on the police having to find evidence to prove who they know did it. But then another murder occurs. The author ensures there are many others in the village who could be responsible for that one. The author includes the treacherous Island weather and local scenery to heighten the suspense. Good contrast in characters. Author is adept in taking on the personae of the different characters.Enjoyable mystery set in Skye, northern Scotland. The author lets readers know who one murderer is right at the beginning. She then focuses on the police having to find evidence to prove who they know did it. But then another murder occurs. The…
gloryb's rating:
Added Jan 28, 2024
Comment:
A good book to turn to to understand the problems in the Middle East in the first 15 years of the 21st century. The author uses a question and answer format to address issues like the political status of the Middle East states prior to the Arab Spring uprisings and how those, with backings of foreign intervention, changed the status quo in those states. He talks about the Syrian civil war and the rise of ISIS and its spread and why the organization will not last. He talks about how the foreign policy of different US presidents affected the situation in the Middle East. He shows that there are many facets to the Middle East situation from governance problems, wars among opposing groups, poor economies, deplorable standards of living for a majority of the populations resulting not only from wars but also environmental degradation and that the indicators of progress are declining from 15 years ago. I thought he provided good insights. There is a lot to absorb in this short book (under 200 pg); probably helpful to take notes as one reads; easy to read and understand. Book comes with Notes, suggestions for Further Reading, and an index.A good book to turn to to understand the problems in the Middle East in the first 15 years of the 21st century. The author uses a question and answer format to address issues like the political status of the Middle East states prior to the Arab…
ManhuntManhunt, DVDSeries 2, The Night Stalker
DVD - 2022DVD, 2022
gloryb's rating:
Added Jan 26, 2024
Comment:
This DVD has 2 discs, each with 2 episodes and each episode lasts about 1 hour. Time went quite quickly as the story enfolds in the first disc while in the second disc time dragged abit as it takes so long for various strategies the police used to finally catch this serial burglary, rapist guy. Based on true events, the story does reveal why it took the police 17 years to catch him. Just a bit about the guy's background is revealed as the focus of the plot is the police teamwork in catching him. There is nothing about the Doc's mannerisms in evidence when Martin Clunes plays Colin Sutton, the SIO of the case.This DVD has 2 discs, each with 2 episodes and each episode lasts about 1 hour. Time went quite quickly as the story enfolds in the first disc while in the second disc time dragged abit as it takes so long for various strategies the police used to…
ManhuntManhunt, DVDSeason 1
DVD - 2019DVD, 2019
gloryb's rating:
Added Jan 24, 2024
Comment:
I took out this DVD because Martin Clunes plays the main character in this police procedural thriller. Based on a true story/actual events, the story is gripping as the police team seem track clues to solve the murder of the girl in the park. There are 3 episodes in the disc, taking just under 3 hours to watch. Very enjoyable.I took out this DVD because Martin Clunes plays the main character in this police procedural thriller. Based on a true story/actual events, the story is gripping as the police team seem track clues to solve the murder of the girl in the park. There…
Arthur & GeorgeArthur & George, DVD
DVD - 2015DVD, 2015
gloryb's rating:
Added Jan 24, 2024
Comment:
I took out this DVD bec the actor Martin Clunes is the main character. Suprisingly he plays Sir Arthur C Doyle who is resolved to discover why a nice Indo-British civilian was framed in a court trial which lead him from being disbarred from the legal register. The drama is based on actual events which make the story even more gripping. Sir Arthur plays the part of his fictional charactor, Sherlock Holmes, and his valet plays the part of Watson. The 3 episodes on the disc take under 3 hours to watch and each was enjoyable as the team sets out to solve the mystery. Set in the the early 1900's you see horse and carriage chases rather than cars as the good guys chase the bad guys. The crime scenes are sooo different to the crime scenes in modern detective stories, but I did see similar motivations - jealousy. Yet those motives seemed infantile for a sociopath personality. The lighting in the episodes is on the dim side which adds to the effectiveness of the scenes along with the dark music which adds tension.I took out this DVD bec the actor Martin Clunes is the main character. Suprisingly he plays Sir Arthur C Doyle who is resolved to discover why a nice Indo-British civilian was framed in a court trial which lead him from being disbarred from the…
gloryb's rating:
Added Jan 21, 2024
Comment:
Another enjoyable police procedural detective story from Templeton. I felt I was right there with her detective team - Strang and Murray - looking at the murder scene, investigating/interviewing the suspects, working out staffing problems, suggesting strategies and theories. The story is set in northern Scotland so the policing problems differ from those in the city as does the description of the countryside and the problems with weather. I can always depend on a good read with one of Templeton's books.Another enjoyable police procedural detective story from Templeton. I felt I was right there with her detective team - Strang and Murray - looking at the murder scene, investigating/interviewing the suspects, working out staffing problems,…
The DissidentThe Dissident, BookAlexey Navalny : Profile of A Political Prisoner
by Herszenhorn, David M.Book - 2023Book, 2023
gloryb's rating:
Added Jan 10, 2024
Comment:
I suggest to start with the later chapter, Early Years, in order to see Navalny's background and growth in exposing corruption among Putin's elite and state corporations. Navalny and his group seem to have no difficulty in getting evidence of State graft, and, consequently, an accumulation of wealth by people in Putin's government, so I am wondering why this information does not keep surfacing as an expose of Russian government corruption in Western news. Of course, such reporting in Russian would not go unpunished - just look at what happened to Navalny - such a courageous man! The author uses extensively quotes from Navalny's blogs and podcasts so the reader gets a feel for how he makes fun of State employees and politicians in Putin's United Russia political party.I suggest to start with the later chapter, Early Years, in order to see Navalny's background and growth in exposing corruption among Putin's elite and state corporations. Navalny and his group seem to have no difficulty in getting evidence of State…
The Girl in the Eagle's TalonsThe Girl in the Eagle's Talons, Book
by Smirnoff, KarinBook - 2023Book, 2023
gloryb's rating:
Added Jan 08, 2024
Comment:
I liked all of the references to present day thinking about climate change and how politicians and developers take advantage of that trend. The frequent violent scenes center not around Lisbeth's actions, but around the gangsters she is after. Expect unpleasant references to human trafficking and sexual relationships. The gansters also use threats, extortion, and kidnapping to get what they want. The author takes 100 pages to set up the plot and identify the main characters, but after that my interest in the plot increased. I also liked all of the wilderness descriptions which presented obstacles that the main characters had to overcome. The title is inaccurate and used only to attract readers already familiar with the format of the first titles in this series.I liked all of the references to present day thinking about climate change and how politicians and developers take advantage of that trend. The frequent violent scenes center not around Lisbeth's actions, but around the gangsters she is after.…
The SuspectThe Suspect, DVDSeries 1
DVD - 2022DVD, 2022
gloryb's rating:
Added Jan 06, 2024
Comment:
Robotham's fans will enjoy this episodic disc with around 5 hours of viewing pleasure. It's a thriller that gets more and more intense as a psychologist appears to be framed for the murders of 2 women. The episodes reveal why someone is doing this to him as the doctor becomes the detective following clues from a past and present case - all connected. The story features Robotham's psychologist character, Joe O'Laughlin.Robotham's fans will enjoy this episodic disc with around 5 hours of viewing pleasure. It's a thriller that gets more and more intense as a psychologist appears to be framed for the murders of 2 women. The episodes reveal why someone is doing this…
gloryb's rating:
Added Jan 05, 2024
Comment:
This is not an autobiography so don't look for it on the library's biography shelves. Gerry D writes numerous stories, ancedotes, vignettes - all with a funny punch line at the end - not only about how he got into showlife/comedy/TV, but also about growing up, schooling, sports (of course), and family life. I enjoyed the stories about his career in comedy and was awed by his ability to accept rejection so many times. His humility in seeing other comedians as superior to him was gratifying. The book is a light-hearted read - a nice change for me. It's his second book which makes me want to read his first book about teaching.This is not an autobiography so don't look for it on the library's biography shelves. Gerry D writes numerous stories, ancedotes, vignettes - all with a funny punch line at the end - not only about how he got into showlife/comedy/TV, but also about…
gloryb's rating:
Added Dec 31, 2023
Comment:
Some good,and unexpected tweists are in this story of missing women in Dublin. The author was inspired by the reporting of true crime documentaries and by the unsolved missing women cases in her Irish county. (Read her "Note from the Author" page.) In this novel, she provides various perspectives - the victims, their families, the perpetrator, the detectives - which does make the storyline abit jumpy. Her very good comparisons to a spot in the movie, " Jurassic Park" and the thinking of climbers attempting to reach the summit of a mountain in Nepal were good explanations of why culprits in missing women cases sometimes are not apprehended. The novel is a good read but I did prefer her previous ones. Start with those if you haven't yet read any of her award winning books.Some good,and unexpected tweists are in this story of missing women in Dublin. The author was inspired by the reporting of true crime documentaries and by the unsolved missing women cases in her Irish county. (Read her "Note from the Author" page.)…
gloryb's rating:
Added Dec 28, 2023
Comment:
There were many jarring moments to my thinking about what this novel was about at th beginning. This novel seemed to be set in Medieval England, but had references to present day objects - artifacts found by the characters - like the yellow shell object a raised sign at the blacksmith's shop, plastic forks and straws strewn on the ground, and even an object that has a bitten apple pic on it. Turned out this novel is dystopian, perhaps similar to an oldie - The Canticle forLeibowitz - or even Atwood's, The Handmaid's Tale. This book becomes a page turner as the young inexperienced priest becomes absorbed by the heretical books, books of knowledge from a past age, that he finds hidden in the home of a deceased priest he has come to bury. I found many interesting events and descriptions, but, after having me in the pawn of his hand as to the mystery behind the tall tower, the author suddenly ends the novel not revealing all - a bit of a disappointment at the end , but the journey was worth the reading time.There were many jarring moments to my thinking about what this novel was about at th beginning. This novel seemed to be set in Medieval England, but had references to present day objects - artifacts found by the characters - like the yellow shell…
gloryb's rating:
Added Dec 25, 2023
Comment:
Another enjoyable, but different, novel by CJ Box, as this one has very little description of the environment and hunting infractions which his main character - Joe Pickett - usually is involved in. This novel however, doesn't lack in bloodshed and adventure. Box pursues several story lines interweaving the riots planned by the antifa movement, popular in the mid and Pacific NorthWest, with Nate trying to find his stolen eagles, and Marybeth finding a Nazi photo album which a Hungarian political family wants to recover in order to hide their past Fascist associations. I thought the quotes that appear throughout this novel from Yeats' poem, "The Second Coming", in which Yeats' made references to a change from peaceful times to politically unrest, were quite appropriate to Box's theme.Another enjoyable, but different, novel by CJ Box, as this one has very little description of the environment and hunting infractions which his main character - Joe Pickett - usually is involved in. This novel however, doesn't lack in bloodshed and…
gloryb's rating:
Added Dec 23, 2023
Comment:
A good read with the 2 sisters using many wily ways to get rid of uncooperative victims besides bludgeoning them to death which is Jack Reacher's preferred method, but he too, has several opportunities to show off his fisticuff strength. The author does drop some useful hints about the person the army sisters and Jack's task force team are after thus reducing the full shock at the end of the novel when all is revealed; however, there is an aftershock just to show how cold-hearted the killer is. Some of the scenes really seem author manipulated just to get the characters moving along in the telling of the story. This novel is short - just under 300 pages.A good read with the 2 sisters using many wily ways to get rid of uncooperative victims besides bludgeoning them to death which is Jack Reacher's preferred method, but he too, has several opportunities to show off his fisticuff strength. The author…
gloryb's rating:
Added Dec 20, 2023
Comment:
For me this historical fiction novel was a page-turner. A most interesting and very readable story about the manhunt for the last 2 remaining Colonels of Cromwell's army charged with the killing of Charles I. Highly recommended.
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