Messiah: The Little-Known Story of Handel's Beloved Oratorio by Tim Slover

 Non-Fiction. Fulfills "New Arrival Downstairs" category in the Pioneer Book Challenge

When I was in Provo a few months back I stopped by the Pioneer Bookstore. As part of this book challenge I'm doing, some of the categories need to be purchased at their store. Side note: if you ever have a chance to visit the Pioneer Bookstore in Provo, GO!  It's a used bookstore and has wonderful nooks and crannies to discover and sit and read. I saw this one on the New Arrival table and picked it up. The fact that it included a CD in the back of the Tabernacle Choir singing the Messiah sealed the deal for me and I bought it. 

It's a short book that covers the social environment around the time that Handel composed The Messiah. Even though I know the music well, I had not known about the situation surrounding the singers Handel chose to sing and how the public reacted. It's easy to look back on music history and assume that all these masterpieces were received with many accolades. This was an interesting look into Handel's life and how he navigated the performers he worked with and the public's reaction. 

Recommend: yes

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

 Mystery. Fulfill Best Seller Fiction Display category in the Pioneer Book Challenge

I've always been a mystery fan and especially and Agathe Christie lover. I normally read her mysteries that feature Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple and I love to watch the different adaptions on the large and small screens. This stand alone novel of hers is pretty dark, but I guess since each of her books usually has at least one murder in the story that could be said of all of them. This one seemed more sinister than others I have read. Perhaps it was because the detectives in her other books bring a bit of light into the stories. 

For those who have never read this I won't give any spoilers, but there are multiple murders committed and discussed throughout the book. And the absence of a detective as part of the story is not Christie's usual style. I would still recommend this book to those mystery lovers, but perhaps not to a first time mystery reader. 

Recommend: Perhaps

Wedding Bell Blues by Lynn Cahoon

 Mystery. Happily I noticed that another installment in the Tourist Trap mystery series had come out in February. I immediately downloaded it to my kindle and read it over a few days as I was on a plane with my daughter, Audrey, and her adorable son Ollie. (In between making sure Ollie didn't escape our row and run down the aisle of the plane.) It did not disappoint. I did see that Lynn Cahoon will be releasing her final book, #14, this fall. Sigh. I'll have to find another guilty pleasure!

Recommend: If you're me, YES!