Book Log 2019 #39: The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

A meteor hits the US right by Washington DC, demolishing the capital and leaving the country more or less without a government. This would be bad enough, but it's not long after the strike that scientists realize that the planet will eventually become uninhabitable. This leads to a worldwide effort to colonize space in an effort to save humanity, an effort that requires all hands. Including those of Elma York, a former WASP pilot and mathematician who just may become the first American woman astronaut.

There's a lot here that reminded me of Neal Stephenson's Seveneves, from the climate implications of an astronomical event to the role that women could play in saving humanity. In that book, though, the current day setting allowed for a much for technology-focused story than this one, which focuses much more on the people involved and on issues such as gender, race, mental health, and family. I'm assuming there's an impulse to attribute this difference to the genders of the writers, but I tend to think it's at least as much due to the timing and the nature of the emergency in this book. 

Anyway, I did enjoy this book and definitely recommend it, if only for the chapter about using a toilet in space (the research for which turned into a memorable Twitter thread).

 Book Log 2019 #38: A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre

This is a very engaging retelling of the Kim Philby spy case, enhanced by the personal storyline of how Philby's friends - most notably fellow spy Nicholas Elliott - kept supporting Philby, even while the web of lies he created to hide his double cross became increasingly tenuous.

There's also an interesting class angle here, as there was an assumption that Philby, who went to the right schools, knew the right people, and had the right background, couldn't be working for the Soviets. This assumption allowed Philby to operate for nearly 20 years, and underscores why the old boy network isn't a great operating principle.

Very much worth reading if you're into this sort of thing. You may want to squeeze this in before the TV version hits screens, with Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce in the starring roles.

 Book Log 2019 #37: Holy Orders by Benjamin Black

Dublin pathologist Quirke is back to investigate another murder, and this one is semi-personal as the victim was a friend of Quirke's daughter Phoebe. The victim was also a journalist, and apparently working on a story that put him against the Catholic church, whose sway in 1950s Ireland was substantial.

Between the personal connection and the chance to take the church down a peg, it's not surprising that Quirke would take this case on, even though his last case involving the church left him much the worse for wear. As the case progresses, we get as much (if not more) background on Quirke and his youth spent in a Catholic home for orphans, which was about as dour as you might think. In many ways this case is less about the actual whodunit as it is about getting Quirke to revisit his formative years and examine what sort of lasting effects that time had on him.

I like this book a little more than some of the earlier ones, as it did help to fill in some gaps about Quirke and why he is the way he is. It still doesn't explain his appeal to women, but that's a mystery that may never get solved. Maybe the next book will give us that answer.

 Book Log 2019 #36: Claws of the Cat by Susan Spann

When a samurai is killed in 16th century Kyoto, ninja Hiro Hattori is given three days to solve the crime, otherwise the geisha accused of the killing and Father Mateo, the Jesuit priest Hattori is sworn to protect, will be put to death. Hattori and Mateo delve into the samurai's life and find no shortage of suspects, though there seem to be even more people who want to thwart their investigation.

I liked this book quite a bit, both for the unusual setting for a murder mystery and the relationship between the ninja and the priest.  It reminds me vaguely of Brother Cadfael, though that may just be the religious aspects of the two series making a connection in my brain. 

 Book Log 2019 #35: The Roads to Sata by Alan Booth

This book chronicles Booth's 2000 mile trek from Soya, located on the northernmost point of Hokkaido, to Sata, located in the southermost part of the Home Islands. Having spent most of his life living in Tokyo, Booth's journey is mostly spent in the countryside, where he gets to see a very different side of his adoptive homeland.

For every experience Booth had with lovely vistas and helpful locals, he also seemed to have trouble with finding a place to sleep, fighting with cars for room on the road, and questions from people who couldn't understand why he didn't just drive. Having everything go his way wouldn't make for a very interesting story, but there were times where I wondered why he didn't just pack it in.

Still, it's an engaging travelogue and worth reading to get a period picture of Japan. 

 Book Log 2019 #34: Provence, 1970 by Luke Barr

Barr, the grand nephew of M. F. K. Fisher, one of the best known American food writers of the 20th century. In 1970, Fisher was in Provence at the same time as a number of other figures in American gastronomy - Julia Child and James Beard most notably - and they spent their time together eating, drinking, and discussing the state of food in France and America. Barr reconstructs these meetings through the journals and letters of Fisher, Child, and Beard, with embellishments of his own memories of Fisher.

While the jacket copy makes it sound like this period was pivotal in the history of American cuisine, I think the book is really most successful in the way it portrays how good food and lively conversation build on each other, leading to memorable moments that endure well after everyone heads home. It also makes me wonder why we all don't just live in Provence, enjoying the fruits of the farm, orchard, and vineyard during long evenings at a farmhouse.

If you have any interest in food you should read this, and probably seek out some of Fisher's writings as well (which I have admittedly failed to do, but will hopefully correct soon).

 Book Log 2019 #33: The Raven in the Foregate by Ellis Peters

There's a new parish priest for the people of the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul foregate, but his austere look and brusque manner makes his flock uneasy. Within the space of a week he's alienated pretty much everyone with his approach to pastoral affairs (which tends to involve the word 'no' and a stick).

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the new priest soon turns up murdered, with no shortage of suspects, including a young man who was attached to the priest who isn't what he first appears to be.  As usual, Brother Cadfael steps in to help solve the murder while sorting out romantic and political entanglements.

Another solid outing for our favorite monk-detective.