Terry's Traffic Light Delights

One of the best things to happen to me at the beginning of the new year was the appearance of the next “document” in the Spellman “files.” If you are new to this series, you can start with this book and Lutz will catch you up on some of the activities from previous books (she always provides an appendix … which is fun reading in and of itself). But I don’t know why you would want to miss a moment of the crazy antics of the ultimate dysfunctional family.

Isabel Spellman, whose life and work goals consist of “getting to the bottom of everything,” without ever revealing anything about herself or involving herself emotionally, has a myriad of problems both work and personal in this very funny fifth installment of the Spellman Files. Some of the questions currently facing her include: why her mother is filling her schedule with outside interests; what caused the rift between her siblings; and why she is receiving so many oddball surveillance requests. She is also trying work things out with (read: avoid) her boyfriend of two years .

As always, there is lots of subterfuge and spying (most of which is within the family unit). But the most important thing you always walk away from a Spellman book with is, no matter how dysfunctional your family seems, spending time with the Spellmans always makes you take a second look and re-evaluate. Now, pick up this “document” and be prepared to have fun!   

― tlg

Beautifully told with underlying themes of war, family, and survival, The Book of Jonas slowly reveals Jonas’ past and his present assimilation into a new life in the United States. Jonas is originally from an unnamed Muslim country where a military operation has destroyed his home and his family. We know we will learn Jonas’ secrets as we get to know him and it is his search for his memory and for his survival that carry us breathlessly through his narrative.

It is also the story of an American soldier and his mother, who searches for the truth about her son as she tries to put a life together without him. Secrets are slowly revealed and closure comes with the hope of peace … in a beautifully written debut.

Meet Stephen in March in Redondo Beach.  

– tlg

It will be no surprise to Michael’s fans that The Drop is another winning entry in the much beloved Harry Bosch series. Harry is back in the Open-Unsolved Unit where new evidence is now possible because of advances in DNA technology that did not exist when their cases were first open. Harry’s new case is a 1989 rape and murder that can now be connected to a man with a known record for similar crimes. The only problem is that this suspect was only eight years old at the time the crime was committed.

In the meantime, Harry is summoned by the Chief of Police to look into the death of the son of (Harry’s nemesis) Councilman Irvin Irving, who was found outside the Chateau Marmont in what is initially presumed to be an act of suicide. Harry works both cases, meets a possible love interest, and maintains his relationship with daughter Maddie, now 15 years old with a yen to solve crimes.

The Drop in the title refers to both Harry’s current cases and to the acronym used to refer to the Deferred Retirement Option Plan which has allowed Harry to continue working after retirement, but which mandates that he retire after a one-time extension. Connelly assures us that he will continue writing about Harry Bosch until he must retire him, but also reminds us that he has been planting seeds in his books as to what (or who) may follow Harry into the field. — tlg

Elle Beene is beyond happy with her new life that includes husband Joe and his two children who call her Mommy and have filled her life with joy, after years of trying to be a mother with her previous husband. She lives in beautiful surroundings in Northern California where every day is a blessing of organically grown food in a small town filled with family and security. Until one day…

Elle’s life falls apart when her husband is killed by a rogue wave while out taking pictures. And then everything gets worse. The family business is floundering and the children’s birth mother who abandoned them three years prior is now back in their lives threatening everything Elle holds dear … and everything that is holding her together in the midst of tragedy. I thought this was a beautifully written debut about family and finding one’s way back to joy. — tlg

It’s a rare thing. But you know when you find it. And when you do, you don’t want to do anything else but read. This happened to me with The Language of Flowers, a book that is as unexpected as it is compelling and currently my favorite book for the Fall.

Diffenbaugh’s extraordinary debut and her protagonist Victoria Jones will leave you breathless with the scope and originality of both. Victoria was abandoned at birth and the story of her childhood in the foster-care system will have you weeping on her behalf. She is a true-to-life character whom you immediately love and root for from the first moment you encounter her. I loved Victoria’s almost mystical relationship with flowers and the messages they deliver. Her love of flowers and their power of communication becomes her salvation and steers her toward the possibility of a plausible future. Most importantly, this is a book about relationships, trust, and bravery. The Language of Flowers captured my heart.

This passage explains the character and message of the book: “For years my message-laden flowers had been faithfully ignored, an aspect of my communication style that gave me comfort. Passion, connection, disagreement, or rejection: None of these was possible in a language that did not elicit a response.” This was the isolated existence of a young woman who could not connect with any person or community. Her journey toward resolving the effects of the foster-care system in which she is raised will leave you deeply affected.

Please read this book and then meet Vanessa on September 20, 2011 at a not-to-be-missed Ladies, Lunch, and Literacy event. -- tlg