"A Taste for Death" by P.D. James

I was sad to learn of the recent death of this fascinating Lady! She was in her 90's when she passed away last year. Her genre was mostly the criminal suspense "who-dun-it", but with so much literary value added: similar to John Le Carre and the spy novel genre. Her hero in this novel (and many others) Adam Dalgliesh is a high-ranking criminal investigator at Scotland Yard; more than that, he seems a proxy for the holistic person in the age of the big bureacracy of the modern age. "A Taste for Death" featured many characters: victims, heros, villians, helpers and hinderers of the process of detecting the evil that committed the bloody murders at the heart of the novel. The violent crime works changes of so many of the people in the book-from the initial victims to the small boy who discovered the crime to the young police woman among the investigators. I couldn't put it down and I was sorry when I finished this book.

Happy Birthday, Mother...

My Mother is the child about 6 years old in the middle of this little 1920's family group, sitting on the steps of their Cincinnati, OH home. This was probably about the summer of 1924 or 1925. Seems a long time ago. A long time gone. The little girl on the bottom step, with her hand hiding a giggle: she recently passed away--as a 93 year old matriarch of a big family of her own.

Books Books Books Not Great Books, Simply Books Completed.

 My last try at Nelson DeMille: Charm School

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

 Faithful Unto Death by Caroline Graham (definitely not P. D, James.)

Thrush Green by Miss Read. Interesting little book, actually.

On a Picnic in Kentucky last month...a Sycamore Tussock Moth caterpillar

It was interesting. It was aggressive. I'm glad I didn't touch it because I just learned it's sharp hairs have irritating venom that stings and causes hives.

Not the best photo...but 2 of the best people!

Architect Erin Besler and her oft-time collaborator and husband Ian H. Besler (also known as the kidz) slowed down for a photo in front of one of their friend's exhibits at the Chicago Architecture Biennial which opens tomorrow. Their project is located on the 1st floor of the Chicago Cultural Center.