Evanston: ROSE; gone
Evanston: ROSE; gone
I have became a Martin Cruz Smith fan and am taking the first four Arkady Renko novels back to the boat with me.
I just finished reading his ROSE and have started his DECEMBER 6, which will be my in flight book.
ROSE is set in the cold mining town of Wigan, England, in 1872. A mining engineer, who has spent time in Africa and longs to return there, is coerced into investigating the disappearance of a missing curate, who was last seen the day of a mine explosion that killed over seventy men. The key to the mystery seems to be an unusual woman, Rose, who works as a coal sorter.
Martin Cruz Smith brings nineteenth century Wigan to life as well as he does modern Moscow in the Renko novels. The information about mining, the conditions under which miners labored and lived, are interesting. The plot clever. And Rose, herself, a great creation. A very superior and enjoyable crime novel.
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Cloudy and overcast here today. This is the weekend of Chicago’s annual air and water show, which was taking place during our first visit to check out Evanston two years ago.
Except for the few final small items, I am packed. Not traveling light. In fact I am carrying back more than ever. Two bags of just under fifty pounds each. Air New Zealand allows that much on flights traveling through the United States. At least they did and I fervently hope they still do. One bag is the Avon dinghy and a new jib halyard. The other has dinghy extras, including pump and two piece oars; the new gennaker furling gear; a replacement electronic wind masthead unit; a new blanket; books; a teak binocular holder; and other small items. All this stuff is worth five or six thousand dollars, or about what I paid for CHIDIOCK TICHBORNE. I really, really, really hope the airlines don’t lose my bags.
I also hope New Zealand lets me in. My dermatologist has prescribed an ointment to remove sun-damaged cells from my forehead, which appears to be most of them. Consequently I have what a friend who has had the same treatment calls “pizza face.” I am carrying a note from the doctor stating that I am not infectious; but I won’t be offended if whoever sits next to me on the airplane requests a seat change.
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The photo is me in approximately the same pose as the VOILE ET VOILIERS drawing. For some reason the French artist removed my eyeglasses, so I did too.
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Gone.
Friday, August 17, 2007