A GOOD BOOK

I love getting immersed in a good book. I can lose myself completely. Ultimately I enjoy a book more than a movie and I am a movie addict. A book does not end so fast and consumes me with detail.

I got hooked so bad last night I finally gave up about 2:00 a.m. All that meant was that I slept rather late this morning, than after a couple of chapters this morning I fell asleep in my chair. Isn’t retirement wonderful?

J. A. Jance is a Seattle based writer specializing in detective novels. While I do not live in Seattle, I have moved around the area enough to recognize almost every landmark she mentions. In addition, Birds of Prey is about a mystery on the Inland Passage to Alaska, a wonderful cruise I took a few years back. So I recognize all the ports and side tours that were taken. I love the feeling of connection. Maybe that’s why I like the book so much.

J.A. Jance has many fans at “The Home” but I had never read her before. I had some extra time a few say ago and was in St. Vincent DePaul’s Thrift Shop. I seem to always look for books in thrift stores. I usually look for history or mystery books. I spotted two of her books and at 95¢ each thought I would take a chance. I think I’m addicted already and have not quit finished the first book.

When I got them home I discovered that Without Due Process is an autographed edition. Never had one before. Always wanted a John Grisham autographed edition. He’s my favorite.

There are two supposed murders in Birds of Prey, one off the back of the cruise ship and another off the back of the White Pass train. That kind of ruined the train ride for me. That was the most fun side trip I took. Having lived in Canada for 15 years, and visited nine of the ten provinces (sorry I missed PEI), I was anxious to get into the Yukon. It was early June when I made the trip and it was hot. It was 84º I believe. I was hoping we would get all the way to Yellowknife, but only went as far as Caribou Crossing where we had a chuck wagon meal and ate in a covered wagon. This place had a large taxidermy museum and sent their work to museums around the world. Who knew?

On the return we stopped at Carcross, which has the oldest continuously operating grocery store in North America. It’s been going since 1897 and appears to have no end in site. Of course every tour buss in the area stops for the tourists. I’m sure that helps sales. After that we got on the White Pass train for the trip down the mountain. Spectacular. Of course, I was a fan of Jack London, The Alaska Gold Rush and anything about the Wild West even before this. Even took a trip through California gold rush territory.

Enough about my travel log! I guess now I will have to look at your vacation pictures. OK, I owe you that much. I’m glad it’s a cool day. I wrapped myself up in my toasty warm robe, poured myself a couple cups of coffee and read away. I’m going to go back and finish that book now. Dreams of the Alaska cruise.