Darlene's Digest

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Review: To Lie with Lions

- May 31, 2020

To Lie with Lions by Dorothy Dunnett My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: The Unicorn Hunt

- May 26, 2020

The Unicorn Hunt by Dorothy Dunnett My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

"...It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." --President Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address (November, 1863) The words still ring true and carry a deep meaning to all Americans. Today is Memorial Day, when we recall our honored dead and celebrate the freedoms we enjoy because of their sacrifice. #MemorialDay2020 is especially poignant as the COVID-19 virus decimates the ranks of the survivors of WWII, the Korean War an...

Review: Say Yes to the Duke

- May 21, 2020

Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James My rating: 4 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: Scales of Gold

- May 16, 2020

Scales of Gold by Dorothy Dunnett My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: Race of Scorpions

- May 09, 2020

Race of Scorpions by Dorothy Dunnett My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: The Spring of the Ram

- May 03, 2020

The Spring of the Ram by Dorothy Dunnett My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: A Land Remembered

- April 25, 2020

A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: Moonglow

- April 22, 2020

Moonglow by Michael Chabon My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: Niccolò Rising

- April 18, 2020

Niccolò Rising by Dorothy Dunnett My rating: 5 of 5 stars View all my reviews

Review: Thank You, Jeeves

- April 12, 2020

Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse My rating: 4 of 5 stars TW: As much as I love Jeeves and Wooster, it must be acknowledged that these stories were written in the early 20th c. and reflect some of the racist attitudes of the time. Thank You, Jeeves includes casual use of racial epithets (there's a traveling minstrel show) and blackface as a plot device. Having said all that, it was the racism that kept this from being a 5 star read for me. YMMV. I did love the story and the snappy writing, of course, because it's P.G. Wodehouse and it's the best butler ever, Jeeves, and his hapless employer, Bertie Wooster. This was an especially good story as it involves Jeeves and Wooster separating over an obnoxious musical instrument that Bertie's taken up. Despite that, you can be certain it will be Jeeves who will keep Bertie from bumbling too badly as he dodges marriage-minded papas, heiresses, clueless friends and Bolshevik servants. I wil...