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January 2021 book report

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January's book:

The first book of 2021: my first crime novel ever: "The Cuckoo's Calling" by Robert Galbraith (2013), aka JK Rowling. And, I liked it. It was slightly disappointing that I did not research well and read "The Casual Vacancy" instead--because "The Casual Vacancy" was published before (the first non-Harry Potter* book she published following the series) "The Cuckoo's Calling" (2013). Maybe someday I'll read "The Casual Vacancy." Still, I appreciated "The Cuckoo's Calling" (2013) and there were sections my brain paused to credit Rowling: A man would never write that! And, I believe she has been criticized for it, but I thought it was good and her new-to-me characters grew on me. 

Isn't that true? Wherever there is art (music, poetry, writing, painting, drawing, dancing, production, creativity...), there are critics. I am a reader--not a critic. I like JK Rowling and I thought the "The Cuckoo's Calling" (2013) was an intriguing crime story--the setting is London; I love London!

One reason that I haven't been reading as much as I would like is that I am about half way through a Master's program and have been reading textbooks and peer-reviewed articles. For 7 weeks or so, I've been specifically studying careers, so I appreciate these insightful passages on job selection from "The Cuckoo's Calling" (2013):

"'...thanks for everything you've done this week.'"

"'It's my job,' said Robin lightly."

"'If I could afford a secretary...but I expect you'll end up pulling down a serious salary as some fat cat's PA.'"

"Robin felt obscurely offended."

"'That's not the kind of job I want,' she said."

"There was a sightly strained silence." (Galbraith, 2013, p. 97).

An earlier passage gives readers a hint about the offense: "Robin realized, for the first time, what kind of business she had been sent to assist...The name on the paper beside the outside buzzer was engraved on the glass panel: C. B. Strike, and underneath it, the words Private Detective" (Galbraith, 2013, p. 12).

"Robin stood quite still, with her mouth slightly open, experiencing a moment of wonder that nobody who knew her could have understood. She had never confided in a solitary human being...her lifelong, secret, childish ambition" (Galbraith, 2013, p. 12).

What became of your (career or otherwise) "lifelong, secret, childish ambition?" (Galbraith, 2013, p. 12). Have you left it? 

Fulfilled it? 

What stopped you? What were your barriers? How did you overcome them?

What parts have you embraced?



Galbraith, R. (2013). The cuckoo's calling: Cormoran strike book 1. Hachette UK.

 


*I was late to the Harry Potter book series (story for another day), but Merlin's beard, do I adore it; some of my all-time faves! 


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