Darlene's Digest

The Vineyard of Liberty by James MacGregor Burns My rating: 5 of 5 stars Excellent, readable history of the United States through mid-Civil War. The author's comprehensive look at the various factors that went into the making and near sundering of the new republic makes this a must for all students of US history, or even the casual reader wondering why our country took the shape it did. Highly recommended. View all my reviews

I was walking back to my hotel today, and without realizing where I was I managed to walk up to the National Library of Ireland. I think my brain is wired to take me to libraries automatically. I didn't have the opportunity to spend as much time as I would have liked (a month would have been nice), but as is my custom, I got a shot of myself in front of the library. This time it was a selfie, so you only see the library sign in the background, but I was there.

I don't care what anyone says, there are sunny days in Ireland. Today I toured the National Gallery, then walked back on a long, circuitous route that took me past the National Library, then to St. Stephen's Green (where this lovely garden was in bloom), then to tea at Voila, finally walking along the canal back to our hotel.  It was such a delightful day I wanted to spend as much time outside as I could, and the large number of sun worshippers in the park seemed to agree.

I really enjoyed this romance, primarily because the protagonists were seasoned adults, not YA or NA.  Reading about people who were old enough to know what they want and go after it made me happy. In fact, I'd like to read more romances with protagonists in their 50s having wild monkey sex. Sure, there would be Astroglide and little blue pills involved, but it would still be fun for readers of a certain demographic. I'm looking forward to reading the next Girls' Night Out story. Ms. Dahl, like her heroes, always satisfies.

Fifteen hundred dollars worth of coffee coming in duty free meant a tidy profit, whether it was Delerue-Sanders behind the smuggling or someone else. A simple plan, but one that worked all too well given the poor state of the Revenue Marine. The revenue cutters couldn’t begin to cover all of the coast, not when the ships were spread thin with surveying, rescue operations, and winter cruising between Charleston and Key West. Underfunded, understaffed, looked down on by the regular navy, despised by the merchants who paid the tariffs, the Revenue Marine was no one’s darling. Well, except maybe Alexander Hamilton, he’d loved his revenue cutters that brought money into the Treasury, but look what happened to him, Washburn thought. Irritate the wrong people and there you are, worm food. -- Smuggler's Bride  The United States Coast Guard, aka the Revenue-Marine, aka the Revenue Cutter Service was founded on this day in 1790 by US Treasury Secretary Alexander Ha...

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith My rating: 4 of 5 stars Excellent mystery, wonderfully snarky insiders' look at publishing and authors behaving badly. "Whodunnit?" kept me guessing until the last quarter of the book, and even then I couldn't figure out the motive until it was all revealed. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was the POV shifts in the middle of a scene. I realize it's becoming a more common style, but I still find it jarring. I look forward to more Cormoran Strike mysteries! View all my reviews

Redefining Rape: Sexual Violence in the Era of Suffrage and Segregation by Estelle B. Freedman My rating: 4 of 5 stars Fascinating look at a topic still very much in the news. How do we define sexual assault, and how, historically, have charges of sexual assault been used as a political weapon? In addition, how are certain populations disenfranchised from exercising the right to charge sexual assault? An important look at historic American attitudes that still play out today in questions of power, race and sexuality. View all my reviews