Sandy and I scurried through our woods hike in the snow early this morning. She would have liked to remain hiking, but I knew an hour was all we could spare if we were to be back in time to watch the very beginnings of all the inaugural activities. And we made it, and Ken and I watched enraptured for at least three hours. The first hour I could not stop my tears. I am and was so surprised by how overwhelmed with emotion I was to see such a man and such a woman rise up to govern our country. And it was so clear how humble they both were, how they only wish to do good for others, how it is so NOT about them personally. I could not stop the tears of gratitude and joy. What a day of boundless hope! May they stay safe and healthy and strong! Today everything buoyed me up, after so many days of waking in the morning filled with despair.
I retired in the late afternoon to continue reading my latest novel, Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton. Kinsey Milhone always sets me straight. I'm a third of the way through at this point, and am enjoying being back in Santa Teresa (really Santa Barbara, California), but even more so being back in Kinsey's company and in her struggles.
I'm also listening to James Comey's new book: Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust, which details more cases from his past as a federal prosecutor and what it takes to get it right, and how so often it can go wrong. I'm onto this one because I thought his first book was stellar. I had to find out more about what he has to say.
Judith, we thought the Inauguration was moving as well. I love how genuine and human our new President and Vice President are. Oh Happy Day.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about James Comey's new book as I loved his memoir when I listened to it a couple of years ago.
Oh, Diane,
DeleteSo sorry to be so tardy in responding to your comment! Where do the days go?
I wholeheartedly agree that I LOVE how genuine they both are. Happy Day, indeed!
If you liked James Comey's first book, I think you would like this one. Based on my take.
I did not watch the inauguration but sort of followed the events on the internet throughout the day. It was a relief to have a new president and vice president.
ReplyDeleteI have only read the first few Sue Grafton mysteries but I enjoyed reading about Santa Barbara when I read one of the books, a few years ago. Although it seemed a different Santa Barbara than I know.
Hi Tracy,
DeleteYes, a definite relief. Although we are engulfed by continuing problems and issues, I feel a bit better.
How interesting--Sue Grafton goes to great lengths to describe her "landscapes," whether in Santa Barbara or elsewhere in California. Do you think her descriptions of Santa Barbara are by any chance too many decades removed from the Santa Barbara of today? Just wondering, because I do groove on the fact she pays such keen attention to her settings.
Judith, we moved to Santa Barbara in 1980 and Sue Grafton started the series in 1982. The last book I read (sometime in 2015), G is for Gumshoe, was set in 1989. But what I noticed most in that book was that the settings she described were in luxury hotels in Santa Barbara, which I have spent little or no time in. And high end dinners for the well-to-do. That book also spent a lot of time away from Santa Barbara (in the desert). If I decide to dip back into Grafton's series, I should try books from different points in the series... although she keeps the setting in the 1980s?
DeleteHi Tracy,
DeleteThe settings for the series do vary from book to book, I've found. In one, and I can't remember which, the setting is in the Sierras. In Q is for Quarry, a large part of the action takes place in the part of California that borders Arizona and that is in Riverside County.
Q is for Quarry was published in 2002, but yes, it is set in the late 1980s--or 1987 or so.
I remember reading an interview with Grafton, in which she said something about wanting Kinsey to grow as a character, but not wanting her to age in time with the length of time necessary to publish successive books. I'm not sure I've explained that well. So yes, I can say that up to Q, definitely in the 1980s. As with any series some books are better than others. I really liked the one set in the Sierras, but don't remember which one. Drat.
I really think, honestly, that the strength of the series lies in Kinsey's character and less so the crimes and mystery. I read Grafton religiously from A-Y strictly for Kinsey and her never-say-die gutsiness and craziness and independence.
I looked up this series in my book catalog, and I have H, I, J, and K, so I will read through those and see how I like them. I read A - F in the 1980s and then G in 2015. A big span of time in between.
DeleteWe watched the whole thing for hours, we even saw Trump off. I think just about the entire world heaved a sigh of relief, and the first press briefing at the White House was such a breath of fresh air too. I must just mention Amanda Gorman - fab, and Bernie Sanders too!
ReplyDeleteAmanda Gorman was so amazing!! And Bernie Sanders with his Vermont-made mittens. They've gone viral! I want to knit a pair, but guess what? I've never made a pair of mittens.
DeleteSo glad you were able to watch the pageantry.
The inauguration was a beautiful, moving event... and a tear or two was shed here, too. We joined our neighbors late in the afternoon for an outdoor, socially-distant champagne toast to celebrate a new beginning!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're enjoying Comey's new book... still haven't gotten to his first. So many things I want to read!
I do recommend both of Comey's books. I'm so glad you were able to celebrate the Inauguration outdoors! We've been in the deep-freeze for the first time this winter, so we did all our celebrating indoors. Looking forward to hearing all about your reading in 2021, JoAnn!
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