Kate’s 2¢: “The Kremlin strike” by Dale Brown

“The Kremlin strike” by Dale Brown

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   I liked this story, but it seems as if yesterday’s sci-fi stories are today’s reality.  Is this story prescient?

–Gulags and mass executions were no longer necessary, not in an age when social media could fear at the speed of light. All one needed were carefully planted rumors.

–Originally, the skill builders’ programmers were tasked with conducting Russia’s covert cyber war and computer hacking operation…now they were also to critical defense industries and computer systems against intrusion and sabotage.

— Thunder-bolt plasma gun were nearing operational status.

–Boomer says the definition of acceptable risk, changes when you’re the one taking the risk.

–The spy posed as a free-lance journalist…many not knowing the funding for the magazine came from Moscow.

–Those who saw the world as it really was, were shunted aside and muzzled.

–Even the professionals knew that there were moments when you caught a winning streak  and times, when no of skill, intuition,  and mathematical genius could affect the out-come.

–Patrick walked rather stiffly…the  motor driven LEAF exco-skeleton and attached life-support pack he wore could keep him alive, but they would never make him graceful.

–The lies you told yourself are always more convincing than falsehoods told by others.Even under competent leadership,  humans or human intelligence, the art of recruiting and running agents had never been the strongest suit of of America’s  different intelligence agencies.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brown was born on November 2, 1956 in Buffalo, New York, and was one of six children. At 15, he began flying instruction, eventually earning a private pilot’s license.[5]

He graduated in 1978 from Penn State University with a degree in Western European history.[5]

   Brown joined the Air Force ROTC while in college.[5] He received a commission in the United States Air Force in 1978. He was a navigator-bombardier (now known as a weapon systems officer (WSO)) in the B-52G Stratofortress long-range heavy bomber and the FB-111A Aardvark medium range fighter-bomber.

Brown received several military decorations and awards, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon. He rose to the rank of Captain and has 2,500 hours of flight time in B-52s.[5]

He left the Air Force in 1986, having never seen combat.[6] He is a Life Member of the Air Force Association and the U.S. Naval Institute.

   Brown’s first paid writing was a review of Fort Apocalypse for Compute!’s Gazette. In 1986, while still in the Air Force at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento County, California, he wrote his first book, Flight of the Old Dog.[5] His novels have been published in 11 languages and distributed to over 70 countries. He published 11 bestsellers in 11 years.[7]

Brown has been represented by literary agent Robert Gottlieb of Trident Media Group.[citation needed]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The Kremlin strike DB102009

Brown, Dale. Reading time: 13 hours, 20 minutes.

Read by William Dufris.

Spy Stories

The formidable Iron Wolf Squadron learn that the Russian have built a high-tech space station armed with weaponry capable of vast destruction. The team must take to the skies in advanced space planes to destroy the space station and save the world from the Russians’ plan for dominance. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019.

Downloaded: July 14, 2022

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Kate’s 2¢: “Lady Yesterday” by Loren D. Estleman

“Lady Yesterday” by Loren D. Estleman

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

A few take-aways:

–Don’t work yourself up to something that won’t happen

–Everyone is looking for where he came from

–The harder you look for a thing the more disappointed you’re going to be when you find it.

   I’m not quite sure where the title comes from, but this is an interesting story with an uninteresting ending.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Loren D. Estleman (born September 15, 1952, in Ann Arbor, Michigan) is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He is known for a series of crime novels featuring the investigator Amos Walker.[1]

Estleman graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1974 with a BA in English and journalism. In 2002, Eastern Michigan University presented him with an honorary doctorate in humane letters. He married the mystery writer Deborah Morgan in 1993. He writes with a manual typewriter.[2]

   Estleman published his first novel, The Oklahoma Punk in 1976,[1] and published the first of his P.I. Amos Walker series, for which he is most famous, in 1980.[1] Other series center on Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books), and a more recent series about Valentino, who tracks down lost films, and crimes related to them. His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes, as well as contributions to several books on how to write and sell stories and novels. Estleman’s literary works have been recognized and highlighted by Michigan State University in their Michigan Writers Series.[3]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Lady yesterday DB107757

Estleman, Loren D. Reading time: 6 hours, 45 minutes.

Read by Andy Pyle.

Mystery and Detective Stories

Private investigator Amos Walker bumps into his old flame Iris outside a steakhouse. She has returned to Detroit to search for her father, who she grew up believing to be dead. Amos offers to look for him, and his investigation leads him to Detroit’s jazz scene. Violence and strong language. 1987.

Downloaded: July 28, 2022

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Kate’s 2¢: “Overboard: a V.I. Warshawski novel” by Sara Paretsky

“Overboard: a V.I. Warshawski novel” by Sara Paretsky

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   I don’t understand how a person – male or female – can be beaten severely up and then get right up to fight again.  If I spend an hour weeding my garden, I can hardly move the next day!

   I enjoyed this fast moving story with all the bullet points of two dogs, two young adults struggling for maturity, drama in a big, old mansion, and the Chicago River with all its own mysteries.

   I’ve not heard this narrator before, so I don’t know if the edge in her voice is natural or used to portray this story. It made me feel angry all throughout the story.

Sara Paretsky (born June 8, 1947) is an American author of detective fiction, best known for her novels focused on the protagonist V. I. Warshawski . Paretsky was born in Ames, Iowa. Her father was a microbiologist and moved the family to Kansas in 1951 after taking a job at the University of Kansas, where Paretsky eventually graduated.

   Paretsky revolutionized the mystery world in 1982 when she introduced V.I. Warshawski in “Indemnity Only”.

From www.goodreads.com/author/show/717304.Susan_Ericksen

Susan Ericksen is a Renaissance woman. In addition to being an Earphones-winning audiobook narrator and director–she’s a writer, an amateur linguist, an actress, a mother, and a wife. In the 1980s she joined former classmate David Colacci in western Michigan, where he was artistic director for the Hope Summer Repertory Theater.

Susan Ericksen (Narrator of Jane Eyre) – Goodreads

   Ericksen graduated with a masters of Fine Arts in acting. In the 1980s she started narrating books for Brilliance. She has narrated over 300 books and has won several awards. Her husband David Colacci is also a narrator.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Overboard: a V.I. Warshawski novel DB108394

Paretsky, Sara. Reading time: 14 hours, 43 minutes.

Read by Susan Ericksen.

Mystery and Detective Stories

“Legendary detective V. I. Warshawski uncovers a nefarious conspiracy preying on Chicago’s weak and vulnerable, in this thrilling novel from New York Times bestseller Sara Paretsky. On her way home from an all-night surveillance job, V. I. Warshawski is led by her dogs on a mad chase that ends when they discover a badly injured teen hiding in the rocks along Lake Michigan. The girl only regains consciousness long enough to utter one enigmatic word. V. I. helps bring her to a hospital, but not long after, she vanishes before anyone can discover her identity. As V. I. attempts to find her, the detective uncovers an ugly consortium of Chicago powerbrokers and mobsters who are prepared to kill the girl. And now V. I.’s own life is in jeopardy as well. Told against the backdrop of a city emerging from its pandemic lockdown, Overboard lays bare the dark secrets and corruption buried in Chicago’s neighborhoods in masterly fashion.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2022

Downloaded: July 28, 2022

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Kate’s 2¢: “The River Murders” by James Patterson and James O. Born

“The River Murders” by James Patterson and James O. Born

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

“Hidden” is one of those machismo tales of exaggerations, blood guts, and  a happy ending. Mitchum uses the deadly force he learned in Navy SEALs training to righteously maim, kill, and save himself and the ones he loves.

“Malicious” Mitchum says he’s 6’2”, 190 pounds, but the Newburgh police make him look small.  I used to live in Newburgh and I don’t remember them as being that big or the city that bad. My colleague  taught in Marlboro and it was a nice small town back in the day. Okay, this story is fiction. I get that.

   I like the comment:  It takes a lot to shake a Mother’s love.

”Malevolent”

In this story, Mitchum says he is 230 pounds. Well, I guess we all put on weight as we age.

   The three stories in this trilogy could stand alone, but there are multiple threads that run through each of them that tie the narrative together.  Most notable is his love and respect for his Mother.

   I enjoyed listening to Greg Baglia read these stories.  Thank you.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Born was raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, and attended Florida State University. Born went to graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi. After graduation, Born became interested in law enforcement.

   James O. Born is an American novelist who used a career in law enforcement to add realistic details and dialogue to his crime thrillers. His first novel, Walking Money, released in 2004, received rave reviews[citation needed] and was shortlisted for the Barry Award (for crime novels).[citation needed] His third novel, Escape Clause, won the gold medal in the inaugural Florida Book Award.[citation needed] He currently co-writes many of his novels with best-selling author James Patterson.[1]

   Born wrote two science fiction novels, published by Macmillan, under the pseudonym James O’Neal. The name change was designed to avoid confusion among his crime fiction fans.

From Wikipedia:

James Patterson books have sold more than 300 million copies and he was the first person to sell 1 million e-books. In 2016, Patterson topped Forbes’s list of highest-paid authors for the third consecutive year, with an income of $95 million. His total income over a decade is estimated at $700 million.

   In November 2015, Patterson received the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, which cited him as a “passionate campaigner to make books and reading a national priority. A generous supporter of universities, teachers colleges, independent bookstores, school libraries, and college students, Patterson has donated millions of dollars in grants and scholarships with the purpose of encouraging Americans of all ages to read more books.”

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The river murders DB108451

Patterson, James; Born, James O. Reading time: 8 hours, 9 minutes.

Read by Greg Baglia.

Suspense Fiction

Adventure

Mystery and Detective Stories

“In these thrilling stories, Mitchum investigates three dangerous cases — and learns that chasing the truth means going to the point of no return. Hidden: After being rejected from the Navy SEALs, Mitchum becomes his small town’s unofficial private eye. But his investigation skills are put to the test when he must find his missing teenage cousin — and uncovers a government conspiracy in the process. Malicious: Mitchum is back. His brother’s been charged with murder. Nathaniel swears he didn’t kill anyone, but word on the street is that he was involved with the victim’s wife. Now, Navy SEAL dropout Mitchum will break every rule to expose the truth — even if it destroys the people he loves. Malevolent: Mitchum has never been more desperate. One by one his loved ones have become victims of carefully staged attacks. There’s only one way to stop the ruthless mastermind intent on destroying everyone around him — to go on the most dangerous hunt of his life.” — Provided by publisher. Unr

Downloaded: July 28, 2022

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Kate’s 2¢: “The Inn” by Candice Fox and James Patterson

“The Inn” by Candice Fox and James Patterson

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   I like that even though James Patterson is a very prolific writer, he takes the time to co-author books with lesser known writers.

“The Inn”, written with Candice Fox, certainly has a house full of misfits, yet, adversity brings them together.

The official website of best selling crime fiction author

FOX_LOGO.png

A thrilling new standalone by James Patterson and Candice Fox – The Inn is here!- watch the book trailer!

Former Boston PD officer Bill Robinson thought he could escape the danger of his old life by the seaside. But he should have known trouble wouldn’t leave him alone for long… 

YouTube Video Player

From Wikipedia:

James Patterson books have sold more than 300 million copies and he was the first person to sell 1 million e-books. In 2016, Patterson topped Forbes’s list of highest-paid authors for the third consecutive year, with an income of $95 million. His total income over a decade is estimated at $700 million.

   In November 2015, Patterson received the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, which cited him as a “passionate campaigner to make books and reading a national priority. A generous supporter of universities, teachers colleges, independent bookstores, school libraries, and college students, Patterson has donated millions of dollars in grants and scholarships with the purpose of encouraging Americans of all ages to read more books.”

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The inn DB 96343

Patterson, James Fox, Candice. Reading time 7 hours, 19 minutes.

Read by Edoardo Ballerini. A production of National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.

Subjects: Suspense Fiction ; Mystery and Detective Stories ; Bestsellers ; Psychological Fiction

Description: The secluded Inn at Gloucester suits its owner–former Boston police detective Bill Robinson–until Mitchell Cline arrives with a crew of local killers. Robinson teams up with three of his fearless residents–Sheriff Clayton Spears, army veteran Nick Jones, and groundskeeper Effie Johnson–to defend the inn. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2019.

• This recording is available courtesy of Hachette Audio. It has been converted to digital talking book format by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.

• Digital talking book.

• ISBN: 9781549118890., Reissue of:, New York : Hachette Audio, 2019.

• Sheriffs; Fiction; Drugs; Psychological fiction; Hotelkeepers; Thrillers (Fiction); Talking books; Gloucester (Mass.); Detective and mystery fiction; Ex-police officers

Kate’s 2¢: “The Queen of Kindergarten” by Derrick Barnes

“The Queen of Kindergarten” by Derrick Barnes

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   This story is for young children getting ready to start school. It shares how they may make a difference in their class and with their classmates.

   I always like ‘lap read’ books, so adults can discuss the story and how it applies to the child.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

   Derrick Barnes is an American author. He is known for writing several popular series of children’s books and is a former staff writer for Hallmark greeting cards. In 2018 Barnes received several awards that include the Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award for his 2017 book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut.

   Barnes’ books celebrate African American culture and feature positive images of black children in everyday life.[1][2]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The queen of kindergarten DB108460

Barnes, Derrick. Reading time: 9 minutes.

Read by Tayla Colllier.

School Fiction

“MJ is more than ready for her first day of kindergarten! With her hair freshly braided and her mom’s special tiara on her head, she knows she’s going to rock kindergarten. But the tiara isn’t just for show–it also reminds her of all the good things she brings to the classroom, stuff like her kindness, friendliness, and impressive soccer skills, too!” — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2. 2022.

Downloaded: July 28, 2022

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Lourey, Jess Litani

“Litani” by Jess Lourey

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   I prefer to read the story first, then, read the author’s explanation of why she did what she did.  The story should be able to stand alone with out the author telling you all about it.

   I liked this story, even though it dealt with the molestation of children. I liked the ending, too.

From  WWW.Jess Lourey.com

Jessica Lourey writes about secrets. She’s the Amazon Charts bestselling Edgar, Agatha, and Lefty-nominated, Anthony and Thriller Award winning author of crime fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, YA adventure, and magical realism. She is a retired professor of creative writing and sociology, a recipient of The Loft’s Excellence in Teaching fellowship, a Psychology Today blogger, and a TEDx presenter (check out her TEDx Talk for the surprising inspiration behind her first published novel). When not leading women’s writing retreats, reading, traveling, or fostering kittens, you can find her drafting her next story.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Litani DB107864

Lourey, Jess. Reading time: 9 hours, 1 minute.

Read by Mare Trevathan.

Suspense Fiction

During the summer of 1984, fourteen-year-old Frankie Jubilee is sent to live with her mother, whom she barely knows. Frankie senses something uneasy in the town of Litani, Minnesota, and her mother–the county prosecutor–advises her to stay out of the woods and away from adults. When Frankie is invited to play The Game, dark secrets emerge. Violence and strong language. 2021.

Downloaded: July 28, 2022

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 Kate’s 2¢: “The Beats: a very short Introduction” by David Sterritt

“The Beats: a very short Introduction” by David Sterritt

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   This essay seems to be trying to justify the amoral, drug culture of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William S. Burroughs by exalting their radical literary creative works. I unapologetically don’t buy it.

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › David_SterrittActions for this site

David Sterritt (born September 11, 1944) is a film critic, author and scholar. He is most notable for his work on Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, and his many years as the Film Critic for The Christian Science Monitor, where, from 1968 until his retirement in 2005, he championed avant garde. 

Career

Sterritt began his career as a film critic at Boston After Dark (now the Boston Phoenix), where he was Chief Editor. He then moved to The Christian Science Monitor, where he worked as the newspaper’s Film Critic 

Personal Life

Sterritt is the partner of psychoanalyst, author and cultural critic Mikita Brottman. They wrote a review together of Gaspar Noé’s 

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The Beats: a very short introduction DB85836

Sterritt, David. Reading time: 4 hours, 6 minutes.

Read by Gregory Maupin. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.

Social Sciences

Literature

The social, cultural, and aesthetic sensibilities of the Beat Generation’s novelists and poets, including Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William S. Burroughs. Topics include the roots of the Beat experience, analysis of the writers’ work, and the lasting influence of the Beats. 2013.

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Kate’s 2¢: “Silence for the dead” by Simone St. James

“Silence for the dead” by Simone St. James

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   Mary Jane Wells did a very good job of narrating this story. It took me a little while to get used to the heavy British accent, but I slowed Victor Stream Reader down a tick and all was well  (no pun intended).

A few take-aways:

–Selfishness is preeminently a defect, which disqualifies a woman from the nursing profession.

–Patient 16 came to us with the highest level of government level, that his stay here was to remain confidential. It would not do to have it known that a national hero was in a mad house. It would be detrimental to morale.

–To disregard the rules of his treatment, is to set him back.

–A man fighting for his sanity, had the energy only for the simple tasks of his daily life. Friendship was a luxury.

–Just because a man has lost his sanity, doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of subterfuge…They have no moral qualms at all.

–This house is a vampire, feeding on the pain the insecurity the despair of these men

–It didn’t seem like a haunted place. It was a big, somnolent house in the summer heat.

–I sat in the bath thinking of things. About  ghosts. About endings. About beginnings.

   I really enjoyed this story, however, I would have also liked to have read more about the author.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Silence for the dead DB108462

St. James, Simone. Reading time: 10 hours, 36 minutes.

Read by Mary Jane Wells.

Gothic Fiction

Historical Fiction

Supernatural and Horror Fiction

Historical Mystery Fiction

“In 1919 Kitty Weekes–pretty, resourceful, and on the run–falsifies her background to obtain a nursing position at Portis House, a remote hospital for soldiers left shell-shocked by the horrors of the Great War. Hiding the shame of their mental instability in what was once a magnificent private estate, the patients suffer from nervous attacks and tormenting dreams. But something more is going on at Portis House–its plaster is crumbling; its plumbing makes eerie noises; and strange, cold breaths of air waft through the empty rooms. It’s known that the former occupants left abruptly, but where did they go? And why do the patients all seem to share the same nightmare, one so horrific that they dare not speak of it? Kitty finds a dangerous ally in Jack Yates, an inmate who may be a war hero, a madman or maybe both. But even as Kitty and Jack create a secret, intimate alliance to uncover the truth, disturbing revelations suggest the presence of powerful spectral forces. And when a medica

Downloaded: July 28, 2022

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 Kate’s 2¢: “The souvenir museum: stories” by Elizabeth McCracken

“The souvenir museum: stories” by Elizabeth McCracken

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

“The Irish Wedding”

   This story demonstrates the angst a young woman has when she goes to her live-in’s sister’s wedding and how she can’t hold it in any longer. Her nervousness erupts at a rather inopportune time, just as the bride and groom are about to “cut the cheese”.  .

“Proof”

  A red-headed Jew, Lewis Levine, wants to wear a kilt to his wedding, but his Scottish wife-to-be says no. Now, all of his six brothers and his wife are deceased. His son, David, takes his elderly Dad on a boat trip to an uninhibited island to see the Puffins and other birds and natural rock formations. The son is worried about his Dad’s forgetfulness, but he is the one who panics and sits down in a very precarious place. The father and son return to the origian beach where the Dad shows his son the wonderful treasures of long-forgotten items that have been warn by the sea and brought up by the tide.  As Lewis ruminates within his forgetfulness, he understands that it was really all about the kilt.

“It’s Not You”

   A woman who is good at voice recognition, ids a call-in radio psychologist’s voice as they sit at a motel breakfast room. She is depressed and he tells her to be kind to herself, to the man who was mean to her, to be kind to everyone.  I don’t think the message gets through to her.

“A Splinter”

   Sixteen  year old Lenny wants to be a ventriloquist, so he follows the ship’s performer home to her London flat. His three older sisters had been raised in British boarding schools and Lenny always felt English, even though he’d been raised in Ithica, NY public shools. When two of his sisters force him to leave Lottie’s apartment, he steals one of the ventriloquist’s dolls.

“Mistress Mickle, All At Sea”

   Rotterdam was experiencing a black-out as the new year approached, lit only by fireworks. Mistress Mickles visits her 42-year old half-brother in his garrt flat. She experiences heart palpitations and bewilderment on a voyage back to her own home.  Strange story.

“Bird Song From the Radio”

   Leonora likes to nibble her children, literally. After they leave her, she nibbles baked breads that resemble her three children.  Weird.

“The Get-Go”

   Sadie was small, plump, and short, born to tall parents. Sadie brought Jack home to meet her mother, Linda Brodie, but they only adored Sadie.

“Robinson Cruso Aat the Water Park”

   The fathers, Bruno and Ernist, took   4-year old Cody, Ernists biological son via surrpgot and Bruno’s by adoption, to an indoor water theme park in Galvinston, Texas.. Provenence: the point was not to stay in one place, but to move along spectacularly and record every stop along the way. Cody’s fathers worry about everything. The artificial wave machine on the fake river swamped Cody in his tube.  Every bathing suit was an act of bravery.

“A Walk Through Human Heart”

   If they were Magpies, she might have counted them up to know what they foretold, but Grackles were just sea gulls dressed up in widow’s weeds…No surprised that the memorabilia of her childhood were all for sale…Georgia had not just wanted ‘Baby Alive (T), But knew it would make a difference…The call of a Grackle is known as a grackle. In the glomingthe Grackles grackled.

   “Two Sad Clowns”

   Even Punch and Judy were in love once…Jack and Sadie had met at a long ago parade in Boston…She liked to imagine him (the man who might love yer like her deceased Father) like a performer…Love was a spot-light that allowed him to preform…He was gregarious and she was a misanthrope of the purest kind, who cloaked it in manners. They delivered the drunk to his home.

“The Souvenir Museum”

   Perhaps she should have known she’d find her lost love, the Viking that left so long ago in The village, a vacation spot where you could wear a costum…Axel had left for Denmark…It was studded with little museums dedicated to misery and wealth… Her son, Leo, wanted to go to every one. The watch had a back panael that, when opened, showed a naked man with his private part wagging to the tick of the seconds. It was someone else’s private jobke.  Even a cartoon wife loved her rascal husband; she did.

From the WEB:

Elizabeth McCracken (born 1966) is an American author. McCracken, a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, graduated from Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts, earned a B.A. and M.A. in English from Boston University, an M.F.A. from the University. Of Iowa, and an M.S. in Library Science from Drexel University.

   Elizabeth McCracken is a Virgo. People of this zodiac sign like animals, healthy food, nature, cleanliness, and dislike rudeness and asking for help. The strengths of this sign are being loyal, analytical, kind, hardworking, practical, while weaknesses can be shyness, overly critical of self and others, all work and no play.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The souvenir museum: stories DB107134

McCracken, Elizabeth. Reading time: 7 hours, 42 minutes.

Read by Kate Reading.

Short Stories

A collection of short stories in which the bonds of family are tested, transformed, fractured, and fortified. A widower and his adult son ferry to a Scottish island in search of puffins. An actress who plays a children’s game-show villainess ushers in the New Year with her deadbeat half-brother. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

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Elizabeth McCracken