The author's parents move to Maine, buy a piece of land from Helen and Scott Nearing, and start an organic farm. I REALLY enjoyed reading this memoir as I have read of the Nearings in Mother Earth News back in the day. From reading this I am sure I did not have the gumption to go "back to the land". Excellent book! Read the Uncorrected Proof edition.
Jesse Stone #13. Based on Robert B. Parker's character Jesse Stone, this is a pretty good crime story.
A college girl is murdered as her boyfriend is kidnapped.
Jesse Stone #16. A birthday party is to be held for a famous reclusive singer. An old lady dies during a burglary. Are they related?
I got a bit lost in all the characters. Even Spenser make a showing!
The world's youngest arch-ciminal genius is now 13. He finds out his father is being held for ransom, and in the Lower Elements the goblins are revolting. Enjoyably clever!
The boy criminal has to get the technology he stole back from the fiend who stole it from him, to save the fairy land from being discovered. Very good.
Benny's Da is transferred to Tunesia. Benny misses Ireland, and hurling, but makes a friend in Omar, a poor local. Tramatic events ensue.
Words I Had To Look Up:
Rider To The Sea (pg.247) -- An Irish play by John Millington Synge. Hurley (pg. 2) -- Stick used in the Irish game of Hurling.
Quote:
He was of the Father Barry school of coaching, where nothing good ever came of encouragement. Fear of consequences was the only way to make a young chap learn. (pg. 142)
This was described as "hilarious", and while it had much humor, "hilarious" would not be the word to pop in my little brain. I did enjoy it very much, and I think it could make a cute movie if handled correctly.
Quote:
Now he was king of jack shit in Mudsville, Louisiana. But he'd lived in worse places. The water was cool, and the alligators did what they were told, for the most part.
Quote:
Then Vern dropped his cargo pants, magicked his dragon tackle out of somewhere, and pissed all over Squib's arm.
Mostly his arm.
Quote:
If there was one thing the species could come together on, it was balls ache, and the desire to avoid same.
Quote:
[...] and a slice of lemon pie submerged in whipped cream fresh from the nozzle.