Beginnings (More)
Normally this feature appears on Sunday, but got pushed to today by Chet’s Friend of the Month. We’ve been doing beginnings – all the Chet and Bernies (as part of Chetspeak) – and now taking on all the Peter Abrahams novels in chronological order. Here, from 2003, #13, THEIR WILDEST DREAMS, first of the Arizona novels.
(“Peter Abrahams… is once again at the top of his game in this wildly inventive, captivating caper. Make that several capers-this novel’s multiple plot threads and unlikely assortment of characters carom off each other like so many carnival bumper cars. In typical fashion, Abrahams places a gaggle of ordinary folks in what gradually become distinctly unordinary scenarios, with an ever-so-creepy edge… The author’s up-to-the-minute pop-culture references lend an easygoing immediacy, and his wry humor is spot on-when one character wants to borrow a cell phone, he’s answered, “Mind waiting a bit? Off-peak starts in three minutes.” Off-peak, however, need not be a concern to readers of this bravura thrillfest.”
– Publishers Weekly)
And here’s the beginning:
Mackie dreaded the mail. That was new, one of the many new things in her life, none good.
Tags: Arizona, beginnings, Mackie, Peter Abrahams, Publishers Weekly, Their Wildest Dreams
This entry was posted on Monday, April 2nd, 2018 at 7:31 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
7:49 am on April 2nd, 2018
Greetings!
Great review…Intriguing beginning…
Snowing here in this neck of the woods!
Good day to all!
7:52 am on April 2nd, 2018
RIO! In answer to your question of yesterday, Grizz was doing some on-line tutoring yesterday, so we had our usual Sunday dinner of rib-eye steaks and tostones.
I did watch a bit of the Beverly Hills dog show. There was a really cute pug in the toy group. I thought of you. :^)
10:07 am on April 2nd, 2018
I wonder if we could have the beginning to the new Chet and Bernie mystery that Spence is currently working on.
Rose: What are “tostones”?
Good morning all.
11:05 am on April 2nd, 2018
Good morning Wose, B and everyone! There are days when mom dreads the mail as well. Have a good Monday.
11:29 am on April 2nd, 2018
Good Morning and a belated Happy Easter (no wait! Orthodox Easter is next Sunday on the 8th…)to one and all. I’m sorry not to have been more present; I’m having to put up an online course at short notice so am learning a platform AND assembling a lot of material very quickly.
I’m glad you all had a good day yesterday (except, apparently, Old Doc) which I certainly did (chile rellenos, broccoli quiche, chocolate cheesecake, cauliflower soup, basmati with dill and buttter, mangoes, hot cross buns and champagne at various points in the day, all timed to coordinate with one another). I don’t know how this stacks up against the mysterious “tostones”…
Have a wonderful day today everyone–I hope to check back once the late-start term begins.
11:42 am on April 2nd, 2018
DianeC, good to hear from you. You should have been here for the word games last week. Rio put it up and your humor and smarts would have added to the fun.
12:12 pm on April 2nd, 2018
This book looks good!
Yesterday’s Easter adventure was a pleasant surprise. After a wild van ride we drove right onto the ferry with no waiting. Then cloudy skies turned to bright sunshine as we relaxed by the fire pit enjoying hors d’oevre and cocktails prior to a delicious ham dinner. The rains did not return until we drove off the ferry on our return trip home.
Hoping y’all had a great holiday as well, and that Riõ’s bad-boy nephew left the rest of the little red house intact.
12:23 pm on April 2nd, 2018
DianeC! Your Easter Feast sounds delish!
2:22 pm on April 2nd, 2018
HRH,B: Tostones are good!
Here is some info…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tostones
5:39 pm on April 2nd, 2018
Rose!….What are tostones!…snort!…You guys had a much more enjoyable day than I did…sniff!…My friend was gracious and happy to have everyone over, but her nerves were frayed by the end of the day by that Boy (from Hell)….yeeep!…The toilet has been fixed, just so youse know. No dishes or glass doors in buffets and cabinets were broken even though he was throwing a plastic ball around all afternoon…grump!…I hid under the far cawfee table where I would not get “Dodge-Balled”….growl!
5:42 pm on April 2nd, 2018
Today was supposed to have thunderstorms. NO, clear and sunny and 80*F 😅. Sheesh, too much too soon.
5:43 pm on April 2nd, 2018
Link!…Well, I had to click on the Link as no one will explain them in English here on the blog…grump!…Plantains?…I don’t like bananaz, so therefore …bah!
5:50 pm on April 2nd, 2018
RIO! I was lost as well. I read Wose’s link and thought “probably not!” Mashed potatoes would go much better with steak.
6:01 pm on April 2nd, 2018
Boo!…Even french fries would be better than fried green bananaz. Or fettuccine with olive oil and parmesan cheese ..guh!…And where’s the corn on the cobb?…sniff!
Food!…Even with fried green bananaz, Rose’s Easter dinner was probably better than what Mother thought she could pull together….grunt!…My friend tried to help, but some things can’t be fixed. Like under-cooked sweet potatoez with melted marshmallows . And a gelatin surprise that never sets. Oh, and the nieces cake that wasn’t baked long enough. Raw inside…gah!sniff!
7:48 pm on April 2nd, 2018
RIO! and BooBear: Although plantains are in the banana family, the texture is different, particularly the green ones. They are firmer than a normal banana. You peel and slice them, then fry them. They are crispy, almost like eating a homemade potato chip.
RIO! When your Friend comes to NY, Grizz and me will take her to eat some authentic Puerto Rican/Cuban food. I am sure she will love it! :^)
8:41 pm on April 2nd, 2018
Rose!…If Puerto Rican/Cuban food is spicy she will definitely love!love!love! it. Spicy is what what we are missing here completely….snort! …And thank you for inviting us…snorkel!
9:02 pm on April 2nd, 2018
RIO! Spicy is the middle name of Puerto Rican food! I truly hope that your Friend can come to NY some day!
10:12 pm on April 2nd, 2018
Rose!…That sounds just great!…snort!…Spicy food and maybe baseball, or brick oven pizza…slobbler!slurp!
10:15 pm on April 2nd, 2018
Pizza!…Speaking of Pizza, my friend is working on trying to make her own pizza and replicating the sauce she loved from two different and beloved pizzarias….wuffle!…It might take some time needless to say…but in the meantime we will have fresh pizza!….YEEEEE! EEEEP!
10:20 pm on April 2nd, 2018
Wildest!…Have I mentioned “Their Wildest Dreams” will always be one of my favorite novels…chuffle!…I remember Siber-H and I reading it around the same time and we both laughed, cried and shuddered at the same things…snorkel!…What a great story! If you have not read it by now, you should. I am proud to say I have an autographed copy of it on my book shelf and we here are thinking of reading it again!…snort!snorkel!
11:28 pm on April 2nd, 2018
Their Wildest Dreams!
Rio: I like the laughing part of reading this book. It’s the crying and especially the shuddering that worries me.
I agree with BStover! I want to read the beginning of the new Chet and Bernie book!
DianeC: You had me at “chile rellenos.”