More Bookish (Stay at Home) Ventures

Lord Peter Views the Body
Dorothy L. Sayers
This is a collection of shorter stories, furthering the adventures of Lord Peter Wimsey and establishing him even more as a charming, aristocratic genius who seems to be able to solve mysteries in his sleep. The stories are witty and have the enjoyable air of always keeping me guessing what will happen. Sometimes I do guess correctly, but it's all about the fun in getting there. Lord Peter will always cheer up your day and make you smile, even as he solves a murder and gets into a few tight spots. It is truly the golden age of mystery writing, and you cannot beat it. All the mysteries by Dorothy L. Sayers are the perfect mix of Agatha Christie and P.G. Wodehouse (with an added dash of Arthur Conan Doyle and his Sherlock Homes). Absolute delight.

The World's Last Night and other essays
C.S. Lewis
I am leading my Sunday School class through this book of essays. C.S. Lewis wrote countless essays for magazines and journals over the years. He had the urge to defend and debate, as it was how he was taught as a youngster, which grew his atheistic stronghold. So, when he became a Christian, he was blessed with the ability to write such thought-provoking and articulate defenses that were fully rational and always hit the nail on the head. He was a scholar, a teacher, and a brilliant thinker. Many of his books and essays reply to or refer to some other book or essay, or current trends in culture that concerned him. This collection is no exception. Going through these essays with intense study has rewarded me with a better understanding of Lewis's thoughts on cultural topics and issues. Lewis always challenges me to think, especially for myself, and that is, indeed, always his goal. 

Pine
Francine Toon
This is a new release novel, set in a remote village in the Highlands of Scotland. It mixes a missing person case, murder mystery, and folklore into a modern tale. I was drawn to that premise, plus I love Scotland. The story mostly focuses on a ten year old girl, Lauren, and her father, Niall. Lauren's mum disappeared many years ago, but it was never known what happened. Some strange things happen in the tiny village that draws on folklore, such as a lady in a white dress showing up out of nowhere and disappearing just as mysteriously, stone circles, and memory drifting to and fro with people. All with the background of a deep pine woods that hold secrets from the past. I was hoping the woods would hold more mysteries and atmosphere. I wanted to love the characters more, to feel the drama and suspense deeply, but it was still an interesting read that combined elements with a modern spin.