A Private Cathedral

This is an earlier book by James Lee Burke that still features Dave Robicheaux--this is the 23rd installment in that series. As with all his books (and I have read several), the writing is compelling and atmospheric, even though often very dark. This book has a bit of Romeo and Juliet plot that involves young lovers from two crime families that have been mortal enemies for decades. There is also an element of the supernatural here, as there was in Burke's most recent book, Every Cloak Rolled in Blood. It's a challenge for Dave and his troublesome but loyal sidekick and former detective colleague, Clete Purcel, to battles a time traveling assassin. 

Erik Larson (one of my favorite non-fiction writers) in his WSJ review calls this genre of Burke's writing "Louisiana gothic" and claims that this is his favorite book in the series.   D offers a mixed review, concluding "Whether or not you buy the metaphor of reincarnation here, it goes a long way toward explaining the thread that links Dave’s 23 grandly repetitive adventures." The New York Journal of Books has a much more detailed plot line in their review and offer these perspectives: "As usual in Burke’s books, Robicheaux faces his own guilt over killings in Vietnam and his on-again, off-again love affair with alcohol...Robicheaux is twice-widowed, which makes his loneliness and desire a poignant obstacle as he tries to do the right thing for people who are on a highway to hell...the story achieves a satisfying resolution, moral or divine justice where everyone gets what he or she deserves, whether or not the earthbound courts would agree." Publishers Weekly calls the book "superb" and rounds out their review by saying "An imaginative blend of crime and other genres, Burke’s existential drama is both exquisitely executed and profoundly moving."

Rituals

This is the sequel to the Mary Anna Evans book I read a few months ago, Plunder. Obviously I enjoyed the first one enough to read another. This is the 8th installment in the Faye Longchamps series. Amande Landreneau, the orphaned teenager that Faye and husband Joe Wolf Mantooth rescued and adopted in that previous book is helping Faye with a tedious project going through a private collection to identify is anything is of worth, and to catalog everything in the collection. While in this small town of Rosebower, NY, which was established by spiritualists, they encounter a colorful cast of characters. Of course there is a murder and maybe another in the offing if Faye cannot figure out who is cheating to gain power in the local community. 

Kirkus closes their brief review with this note: "The emphasis on the spirit world makes this a bit of a departure from Evans’ usual historical and archaeological themes (Plunder, 2012, etc.), but it’s certainly a well-plotted and enjoyable mystery." Similarly, Publishers Weekly says, "A superior puzzle plot lifts Evans’s eighth Faye Longchamp mystery...Evans pulls all the pieces nicely together in the end."

When Women Were Dragons

I really wanted to like this book by Kelly Barnhill...after all, who can resist that title?  And she has won numerous prizes and awards for her children's books, including the Newbery Medal for The Girl Who Drank the Moon. And I loved the premise--that every woman had some dragon in them, and when they reached for that power they could, in fact, become dragons. But overall the book felt like it dragged and ended on such a sticky sweet note that I can't wholly recommend it.

Set in a 1950's era America, math and science prodigy Alexandra Green (it's Alex for those who care) is abandoned by her favorite aunt, Marla, who is part of the mass dragoning disappearance of tens of thousands of women in 1955; by her mother who shortly therafter dies of cancer; and by her father, who quickly remarries the proverbial secretary to start a new family. Literally, he shoves teenage Alex and her young cousin, Beatrice, in a run-down apartment and sends them rent and food money once a month--until he, too, dies. Fortunately Alex has the support of the local public librarian, who is a force to be reckoned with.

Kirkus, on the other hand, extolls the storyline: "In lesser hands the dragon metaphor would feel simplistic and general, but Barnhill uses it to imagine different ways of living, loving, and caring for each other. The result is a complex, heartfelt story about following your heart and opening your mind to new possibilities. This novel’s magic goes far beyond the dragons." The New York Times offers a more thought provoking review. Publishers Weekly also closes on a positive note, "Barnhill makes palpable Alex’s sense of loss as well as the strictures of mid-century American life. This allegory packs a punch."

Cackle

I was in the mood for something a bit more frivolous and this book by Rachel Harrison certainly filled the bill. But there is also a strong flavor of feminism here. This is the review from Booklist:

"Annie's boyfriend was her world; then he dumped her. She can't afford to live in New York City without him paying half of the rent so she moves to a small town to teach. Right away, nothing is quite right. The town is magazine-perfect, but there are persistent spiders everywhere. Before she meets and befriends Sophie, Annie has no one, but then she quickly realizes there is something off about Sophie. The townspeople are terrified of Sophie, who talks as if she has lived quite some time. After she curses a boy in Annie's class, it is clear that Sophie is a witch. Still, Annie is not comfortable in her own company; if she's alone, she seeks solace in alcohol, texting her ex, and later on, a friendly spider. Annie is, at times, annoying, whiny, frustrating, endearing, and interesting. But she doesn't stay that way, with Sophie's help. Sophie's attention toward Annie is a psychological cat-and-mouse game as Sophie wants a witch friend. Annie's evolution from lonely teacher to witch will hypnotize readers." For an additional review, check out Publishers Weekly