Mondays: Mailbox/What Are You Reading?/Musings

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books. This month it is hosted by Martha of Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf.

I received four books this past week, thanks to authors/publicists:

1) Flame: The story of my mother Shahnaz Husain by Nelofar Currrimbhoy :


Universally recognized as much for her flaming tresses and her inimitable style as for her stupendous and sustained global entrepreneurial success, Shahnaz Husain is a legend in the world of cosmetology and pioneering Ayurvedic beauty treatments. Starting with a small beauty clinic in the veranda of her home set up with the help of her devoted husband and daughter, Shahnaz Herbals employs over 1800 people today, with exports to sixty countries and a range of over 250 high-selling products.


Born into an aristocratic family, Shahnaz is seen as never before through her childhood, her adolescence and the charmed years of her early married life. In this warm and affectionate biography, shot through with vividly-remembered anecdotes of her vivacious mother’s years of struggle and the close-knit family life they all shared, her daughter, Nelofar Currimbhoy, provides a fascinating insight into the personal and professional life of this remarkable woman.


2) Ninepins by Rosy Thornton: 


Deep in the Cambridgeshire fens, Laura is living alone with her 12-year old daughter Beth, in the old tollhouse known as Ninepins. She's in the habit of renting out the pumphouse, once a fen drainage station, to students, but this year she's been persuaded to take in 17-year-old Willow, a care-leaver with a dubious past, on the recommendation of her social worker, Vince. Is Willow dangerous or just vulnerable? It's possible she was once guilty of arson; her mother's hippy life is gradually revealed as something more sinister; and Beth is in trouble at school and out of it. Laura's carefully ordered world seems to be getting out of control. 


With the tension of a thriller, NINEPINS explores the idea of family, and the volatile and changing relationships between mothers and daughters, in a landscape that is beautiful but - as they all discover - perilous.


3) Cuts Like a Knife by M. K. Gilroy:

Detective Kristen Conner goes undercover to find a serial killer who selects his victims - all successful young professional women - in the most unlikely of places - only to find herself as his next favorite target.

When Leslie Reed is found dead in her fashionable townhome, a red flag goes up in Washington, D.C. The FBI knows an elusive "organized killer" on a decade-long crime spree is at work again.  The problem is the Feds have only one tenuous lead to assist local police in the manhunt ... a most unlikely place the killer likes to find his victims.

Conner is light one her feet and packs a powerful punch - growing up in a cop's home, intense hand-to-hand combat training, and not being able to shoot a handgun straight - all encourage that. Her life is built on faith and family: she coaches her 7-year-old niece's soccer team, the Snowflakes, always shows up hungry for family dinner, and only misses church when she is fighting with her mom and glamorous TV news reporter sister - or relentlessly tracking down a ruthless killer.

4) Hurrah's Nest by Arisa White (Poetry):  A vivid and varied collection that addresses family loyalties, dysfunction, violence, and differences, Hurrah's Nest is White's imaginative and emotionally honest exploration of growing up the second oldest, first daughter of seven siblings. Childhood experiences are looked at with rawness, sensitivity, and crafted with precision: be it the cutting of her dreadlocks, mother's abortion, drug trafficking, or her sister's developmental disability, the language is tender and startling. Hurrah's Nest--from the confusion of our lives--asks us to make meaning and good from what we've bargained and haven't bargained for.


It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey

I am in the midst of reading:

Calico Joe by John Grisham

If you were going to write a book, what would you write about? Would it be fiction, or nonfiction?

I want to write a book on mathematics. Short cut methods in math for easy calculations. I have it my mind and will surely write one soon.