The Light We Lost

 Book 11 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from January 21 - 30

The Light We Lost

by Jill Santopolo

My Opinion

3 stars

In the Beginning:

After about 20 pages I will say this book is light and easy to get sucked into.  Having it written in her voice talking to him as she recounts past memories makes it feel intimate and emotional.

Checking In (about 20% through):

Uh oh, I just felt a little pinprick in my heart after reading a certain line and I feel the smallest inkling of where this is going.

Checking In (about halfway through):

This book keeps speeding along, it's only been 2 loads of laundry since I wrote the previous update (that's a common measurement of time, right?).  The narrator stays in the present of the time she's looking back on so there isn't much foreshadowing and I enjoy it.  I still have that little pit in my stomach, not just for the concern I had earlier but also about the comparisons she's making.  I hope she continues to make good choices.

Checking In (about 60% through):

haha, this is embarrassing.  I thought something major was going to happen because the chapters switched from Roman numerals to 1 but as I flipped through to see if the pattern continued I realized it actually was an l (the next chapter is li) so there's no change.

I'm a little frustrated about the continued fluctuating.  I understand about past loves and how they affect your present but mentally upending things every time there's a conversation, especially when those conversations are very very rare, isn't really fair to anyone.

Checking In (about 85% through):

Oh no.  I hate the direction this has gone, especially the unconfirmed justification.

Up until this point I thought one of the good things was that she didn't add extra drama by lying and I don't like the path she's taking now.

The End:

Fuuuuuck.  Nah man, that was too much in a short amount of time and the ending-not an ending left too much unanswered.  I really really want to know what she told her husband.

Final Overall Thoughts:

I didn't love the choices but understood the characters until that one big thing and then it was too far gone.  And my prediction from that one line early on turned out to be correct.

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World

 Book 10 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from January 27 - 30

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World

by Fredrik Backman

My Opinion

2 stars

This was disappointing because I loooove the author's fiction books so much and this felt surprisingly impersonal.  I felt more emotion from characters he created than from this book talking about his own life.

The funniest piece of advice was remembering to spit on a napkin and then wipe a child's face; do not spit directly on a child.

Nebula Awards Showcase 2014

 Book 9 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from January 22 - 28

Nebula Awards Showcase 2014

My Opinion

4 stars

This collection includes the winners and nominees of the Nebulas and includes short stories, novel excerpts, poetry, and more.

I enjoyed the book a lot which isn't surprising since they were aiming to curate the best of the best.  These are annual publications and I would definitely read more.

As always, since there are multiple authors I will add a little something about each one individually below.  

Immersion

Good story and interesting concept.  Even though there wasn't really a resolution I also think it ended at the right time.

Close Encounters

Excellent story that engrossed me from beginning to end.

After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall

It was over 100 pages but didn't feel like it.  I lost interest a little during some of the 2014 flashbacks but the majority of the story was riveting.

The author did a great job of creating full characters without a lot of backstory or extra details.  I was surprisingly sad when Julie died.

Excerpt from 2312

The first half of the excerpt was really interesting but once it moved away from Swan's perspective and the personal aspects into the more scientific aspects of various surroundings it lost me.  I think excerpts are hard in general because you want to give enough of a taste to interest the reader but it's often unsatisfactory because you also can't give away too much since the goal is to have someone read the whole thing.

Not related to the story itself but someone was described as dipping their head in "a kind of autistic bow".  I don't have any idea what that would be.

The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species 

What a lovely thought that every being "reads" and passes knowledge in some form.

Excerpt from Fair Coin

I immediately added the book to my "to-read" list based on this excerpt.

Five Ways to Fall in Love on Planet Porcelain

My favorite.  The story filled me with feeling even though it was sparse and delicate.

Christmas Inn

The story was riveting.  I wish there had been a little more explanation to the ending because I didn't get it.  Maybe if I reread it it would become clearer.

The Library, After

I would read an expansion of that.  I love the idea of a library turning feral.

I never would've described it as a poem if it hadn't been listed in that category but it didn't bother me, I'm not the poetry police.

The Curator Speaks in the Department of Dead Languages

Winner of the best long poem, it also has the longest title.

The poem was emotional.

Blue Rose Buddha

This feels like a poem the author would read at a show and everyone around me would be nodding and snapping while I felt too shallow to understand it.  I feel that way about a lot of poetry, actually.

Everyone You Hate is Going to Die

 Book 8 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from January 13 - 27

Everyone You Hate is Going to Die: And Other Comforting Thoughts on Family, Friends, Sex, Love, and More Things That Ruin Your Life

by Daniel Sloss

My Opinion

5 stars

In the Beginning:

I'm a big fan.  I feel like verbal and physical presentation affect how he can say such outrageous things without being offensive so I hope that can translate to writing as well.

Checking In (about 75% through):

Oof, I just finished the chapter "Lads Lads Lads" and need to take a moment.  It hit me hard (in a good way).  

The reasons I like watching/listening to Daniel Sloss is because I enjoy dark humor but he also makes me feel safe to laugh.  It takes a certain person to be able to say outrageous things while also conveying they would protect you if some moron took their jokes as permission to act out of line.

The concern I had before reading that his work wouldn't translate to print has not been an issue.  If anything, it's a little better because I can experience it how I want to without the performance of someone else's reaction.

Final Overall Thoughts:

This book (and Sloss in general) is not for everyone but it is for me.  Great entertainment.  I didn't realize until the very end when reading the acknowledgments that there's a picture on the front of the book if you remove the book jacket.

It also makes me happy reading about his then-girlfriend knowing they're now married with a child.

Best out-of-context line: "History is written by my weiner."

Best line: "I rolled down the window and showed him my bird collection. I have only one, but it had been inside of his mother, so I thought they should be acquainted."

So dumb but I laughed more than I want to admit: "I am a genius. Nay, a god. Neigh, a horse."

Accidental Magic

 Book 7 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from January 6 - 22

Accidental Magic

by Iris Beaglehole

My Opinion

2 stars

In the beginning:

I chose this book from Prime Reading because it looked interesting.  I started to read a little to see if it would stick and ended up forcing myself to stop after 5 chapters because I don't have the time to continue.  

I like the mother-daughter duo but really hope the "fish out of water" doesn't last too long and they accept what it true and begin learning.

Checking In (25% through):

I like the characters but I really need at least a few basic things to be answered soon.  This appears to be the first book in the series and I hope it isn't going to drag everything out. I at least need them to accept what they're seeing and start investigating what it means for them.

It kind of has an "Alice in Wonderland" vibe when they go into town because all the characters are a little off and seem to speak in riddles.

Checking In (halfway through):

I don't know about this.  The pages pass quickly once I start reading but I've also been putting off returning to the book because I'm getting frustrated with the lack of any answers.  Not one person they've decided to trust (even if it's wrong, at least it's a commitment)?  Not one area of circumstances that is becoming clearer?  

I guess it's progress that they're accepting the magic but I need more.

Checking In (60% through):

I'm making slow progress on this because I get frustrated.

Duuuuddddeeee...I need some sort of "teams" to be decided.  I know there's usually a twist where someone you trust is the bad guy (or vice versa) but continually acting like they're brand new and not making any decisions about anyone keeps everything up in the air, both because it adds unnecessary drama but also because there's not new information being learned.  They're new to town and they don't trust anyone enough to ask questions so we're still just blindly limping along.

And now there are vampires...

The End

Ok that last third really turned it around.  If the events had been paced better throughout the entire book I would've enjoyed the whole thing a lot more.

Final Overall Thoughts

Now that some things have been settled I'm tempted to read the second book but I'm not sure.

I was pretty frustrated for most of the book but once the action actually started it passed by in a blur.  All's well that ends well.

Cat Crimes

 Book 6 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from January 14 - 21

Cat Crimes

My Opinion

3 stars

This small paperback was a cozy way to pass some time.  As I always do when reading things with multiple authors, I'll say a little something about each story individually.

Ginger's Waterloo

That twist packed a punch, I did not see it coming at all!  I even read back through the story to see how the author had misdirected so well.

Bedeviled: A "Nameless Detective" Story

This particular case didn't keep my attention but I liked the character enough to look into the "Nameless Detective" series.

A Weekend at Lookout Lodge

It was fine.  I wished it had leaned more into the "haunting" aspects throughout the story.

Tea and 'Biscuit

Very short, even for a short story.  There wasn't an ability to "play along" because the reasoning/clues weren't given until after they'd already solved the case and announced the culprit.

Horatio Ruminates

It wasn't a mystery but the author did a great job of capturing a cat's haughty nature.

Scat

Fairly predictable but an unique job.  The culprit but unbelievably careless at the end but it was needed to move the story along.

Blindsided

The ending was hokey but the bait-and-switch in the middle of the story was amazing.  I didn't see it coming at all.

The Last Temptation of Tony the C.

I thought the connection to cats was very thin until the ending which I did not anticipate.  I still didn't really like the story though.

Buster

I had the method of death correct but the motive wrong.

Catnap

I didn't know what was going to happen but it was a lot of hoopla for a random ending.  It wasn't a mystery.

Last Kiss

I was bothered more by the violence to the animal than the violence to the human which usually seems to be the case with me.

Little Cat Feet

Anticlimactic ending.  I know it's a short story so things have to be wrapped up but to go through an entire list of suspects only to have the murderer basically break down and admit it after one question ends the story with a whimper, not a bang.

Finicky

Very short and creepy.

The Duel

The fact that she died as well makes absolutely no sense...after all that work put into thwarting his poisoning efforts she absentmindedly forgets and eats the food?

Archimedes and the Doughnuts

That was a solid story from start to finish with just enough personality to jazz it up without extra details.

The title and the inclusion in this book told me from the very beginning where it was going.

The Lower Wacker Hilton

Unique story and setting but there was so much effort to make the characters sound like wise-guys with all the extra words and interruptions that it was difficult for me to sift through and find the actual important stuff.

A Proper Burial

I understood the grief from the couple who had replaced children with their cat.  Surprising ending.

We Are Okay

 Book 5 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read on January 13

We Are Okay

by Nina LaCour

My Opinion

4 stars

It was a slow start at the beginning and I was worried it would remain vague for longer than I wanted.  But once I got past 3 chapters the rest of the book passed quickly.  I could feel the heartache.

I rated it 4 stars because of how quick and emotional it was but I feel like it's the kind of book that I would like less if I reflected on actual plots and resolutions.  So instead of pulling threads and thinking more, I'm going to just let this be and put the book away.

Yearbook

 Book 4 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from January 9 - 12

Yearbook

by Seth Rogen

My Opinion

4 stars

This book could very easily be read in one or two sittings if I'd had the time.  He has a very conversational way of writing and even though it's humorous and he's a comedian, the stories aren't crammed with jokes jokes jokes.  It's like talking to an entertaining person that isn't trying too hard.

A Few Quotes from the Book

"My mom and I were always close, which for a Jewish boy is probably the least surprising thing I could possibly write, other than saying dairy messes with my tummy."

"When we picked them up, Scott mentioned that he hadn't had anything to eat or drink all day, which isn't uncommon for him. Like a lot of older guys, he takes a huge amount of pride in not taking good care of himself."

And Don't f**k It Up!

 Book 3 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from January 1 - 12

And Don't f**k It Up!

An Oral History of RuPaul's Drag Race (the first ten years)

My Opinion

5 stars

Before reading:

I'm a strange Drag Race fan because I love the show but don't watch a single episode.  I watch all the recaps/analysis I can, both official (Fashion Photo Ruview and The Pit Stop) and unofficial (Sibling Watchery, Race Chaser, Bussy Queen, etc.) but the actual episodes make me uncomfortable because I don't like to see people flounder publicly.  I'll enjoy the highlights and lowlights without having to experience it in real time.  I can tell you who bombed the Roast challenges but will not watch the actual roasts.

A long way to say I'm very excited about this book but also not sure how familiar I will actually be since this covers the first ten years.  I have a passing recognition of pretty much everyone from season 5 on but I don't know much about the earlier seasons.

I hope it gives actual info and isn't too canned or polished.

Checking In (about 30% in):

The author was there from the actual beginning which helps with familiarity and I'm sure impacted how many people were interviewed for this book.  There are a wide variety of people involved with the show that participated and that says a lot about their feelings about the show, especially since I'm only through Season 3 which means they're taking the time to share about things that happened 10-15 years ago.

Interesting tidbit: the first conception of the show had queens bringing someone with them as a "sidekick" (like a friend or designer).  It would've changed everything if they'd done that so I'm glad they scrapped it but their reasoning was funny in this current time.  They couldn't imagine doubling the number of people in the workroom which would've been 18 total; current seasons have almost that many individual competitors.

Checking In (about 50% in)

There is a lot of variety in this book thanks to the many people that were willing to be interviewed.  It is skewing very positive about the show itself (I'm guessing the people that feel negatively about it either weren't asked or declined participation) but they are shit-talking their fellow competitors so it feels a little more authentic.

There's no reason to read this without some familiarity with the show but I will say you don't have to be a super fan with amazing memory.  The book goes by seasons and spends a little time at the beginning giving a recap of who was on that season and some memorable touchpoints.

Checking In (almost done)

Still loving it.  The photo inserts are nice too.

The interviews with Valentina made me roll my eyes, I can't believe how into the fantasy she is.  Just one quote for example: "...I was really honored to do that because I knew it was gonna be daytime drag in a car.  I know most queens look terrible in daylight and up close but I don't."  You can be confident in yourself without having to put others down.

I didn't know Cynthia Lee Fontaine hadn't been feeling well and was diagnosed with liver cancer shortly after she left season 8.  

 

Interesting tidbit: I can't believe Ginger Minj and Miss Fame are the same age!

The next chapter is "All Stars and Beyond" and there are only about 50 pages left so I don't think it will be enough.  With how in-depth the 10 seasons have been I think the author either should've left All Stars seasons out or gone in-depth with them as well (and I would've preferred the latter because I think All Stars seasons, especially All Stars 2, were game changers in format and helping the popularity and longevity).

The End

I wish there had been more about All Stars.

I enjoy drag for the entertainment and variety and artistry but as a cis white straight Midwestern mom, it was lovely reading about so many people finally feeling seen and represented and less alone through the show.  

Final Overall Thoughts

I realized I knew more than I thought.  I could get a visual image of pretty much every queen and highlight they talked about.  This book didn't disappoint so if you're in the demographic that would be interested, I think it's worth a read.

I'm glad there were supporters and believers that had the space and commitment to see the show grow as they worked through the various channels, formats, etc. to continually reinvent and showcase drag.

The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club

 Book 2 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from January 6 - 9

The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club

by Julia Bryan Thomas

My Opinion

4 stars

Before reading: 

This book caught my eye on display at the library.  A bookshop setting for women to discover friendship and strength in the 1950's has excellent potential.

Checking In (about a third of the way through):

The pages pass quickly and I'm invested in the girls' relationships with each other and boys.  I'm also reading with trepidation though because the description said someone "finds herself shattered" so I'm waiting for something big to happen.

Checking In (about two thirds through):

My goodness, I blinked and another third of the book went by!  The big thing happened and we're now in the aftermath.  I don't love the secrecy and wish everyone would talk to each other but I understand why the characters are behaving the way they are.

My feelings about one character have definitely shifted into the negative because she's being judgmental and not a good friend.  People that have strong opinions on life experiences they know nothing about upset me so much.  Listen to the people who have actually lived them and then see how you feel; you can disagree without being close-minded.

Checking In (about 80% through):

OM Freakin' G why did Tess insert herself like that?!?!  I had to shut the book for a minute before diving into the aftermath.  I might barf.

The End:

Ok, that didn't go as poorly as I thought it would.  It was thankfully short to wrap everything up and even though some things went a little too smoothly, everyone had a somewhat satisfactory look ahead to the future.

Final Overall Thoughts:

This was the kind of book that reminds me why I love reading.  Even though it wasn't a perfect book, it was a perfect companion for a few hours to zone out and lose myself.  I would definitely read this author again.

The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries

 Book 1 of my 2024 Reading Challenge

read from December 18 - January 6

The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries

My Opinion

4 stars

Wow, this took a lot longer to read than I expected!  It's over 600 pages but I think stopping to write a little review after each of the sixty stories probably slowed me down more than I expected.  I also didn't have have as much downtime over Christmas Break as I'd hope so that slowed me down too.

Unless I missed something I believe the earliest story was from 1877 and the latest from 2011.  Overall it was fine.  I don't understand why authors give their stories titles that give it all away, I prefer the super generic or super clever titles instead.

The book was divided into sections but there was so much variety that I didn't really notice the groupings other than the "Uncanny Christmas" section.  I didn't like the majority of the stories in that section; maybe I'm anti-ghost or something?

Waxworks was my favorite.  I don't normally have a least favorite but Christmas Party made me do a little rant

As I typically do with stories by multiple authors, I have a little blurb for each story below.

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding

Good length for a full story.  The explanations at the end were plausible enough that they made sense but not obvious enough to know while reading (hindsight is 20/20 and all that...).

Gold, Frankincense, and Murder

Just as the intro said, a mystery that could be solved with clues and not coincidences or confessions.  There were a lot of characters which would make sense as red herrings in a longer story but ended up muddying the waters a bit when it was just one evening.

Boxing Unclever

The narrator was clearly written and I could easily picture the bombastic man "holding court" while others play along with his story.  I don't understand the ending though - was it real or was it a play?

The Proof of the Pudding

Completely unexpected ending.  I feel a little sorry for Polly but am happy for Wendy and Norman.  I almost missed the man's name was Nick Saint which was a nice touch.

The Adventure of the Dauphin's Doll

haha, there's "an Iowa snob!" in the story.  Most of the time our stereotype is farmer hick.

As far as the actual story, soooo many words per sentence.  Once it got into the actual mystery it picked up and the funny thing is there had been so many things that happened between the beginning and the end of the story that I forgot the culprit was the person I suspected in the very beginning; I'd completely spaced him out as the story developed.

Morse's Greatest Mystery

As a heartwarming "caught the Christmas spirit" story it was fine but as a mystery it was a letdown; there was no resolution on who did it.

More Than Flesh and Blood

I could feel the emotions but it was really ambitious to try and have so many things be under the surface in a short story.

The Butler's Christmas Eve

Another one where as a story it was fine but as a mystery I'm not sure I understand it.  I was waiting for another twist...did it happen?  I'm not sure if the last line was William being emotional because it worked out or being emotional because a mistake had been made.

The Trinity Cat

The story itself was fine but based on the title and the rhythm of these types of mysteries I knew what was happening and was just waiting for the reveal.

The Burglar and the Whatsit

Completely unexpected.

Dancing Dan's Christmas

The intro mentioned the author's use of slang in his stories and he was right.  This was written in the 1930's and there were so many phrases I wasn't familiar with but I could still get the gist of the story.  This was more of a "tell" than "show" story - the main character gets sick for a few weeks and is told everything that transpired to wrap everything up in a few paragraphs.

A Visit from St. Nicholas

That read very quickly.  I could feel the frustration of the conversation with the brother when he doesn't quite remember details so every story is interrupted a million times with "corrections".

The Thieves Who Couldn't Help Sneezing

Just as the title says, sneezes did them in.

Rumpole and the Spirit of Christmas

Another story where the mystery itself (whether or not the suspect was guilty) isn't resolved.  The back door dealings of the legal system made me sad.  Also, I picked the wrong person...I thought the defense attorney was trying to liquor up the prosecutor, not the other way around.

A Reversible Santa Claus

That felt really long and it took a lot of effort to read what was being said since 3 of the characters spoke in slang/poor English with half-words and lots of contractions.  I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop; I think I'm glad things worked out but am not quite sure.

A Scandal in Winter

My favorite so far.  That one also felt long but in a good way.  Having a child as the narrator helped avoid biased opinions changing the observations so the reader could just see the facts as Holmes and Watson did.

The Christmas Client

Although the reason he was being blackmailed was icky, it was a good story that I did not predict at all (but made sense in hindsight).

The Secret in the Pudding Bag & Herlock Sholme's Christmas Case

I thought it was the winner of the strangest title but it turns out to be 2 stories combined into one.  It's funny to have casual mention of "snuffing cocaine"; it's obviously an older story.

I liked the first story about the pudding bag better than the Christmas case but I'm glad there were two because either one would've felt too short on its own.  If it hadn't been mentioned I wouldn't have known they were written years apart, they flowed very nicely.

Christmas Eve

Having it presented in a play format helped.  Maybe I'm a Scrooge but I don't like that she ended up getting the money in the end.

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

The story went in an unexpected direction but I've read enough to Sherlock Holmes to have an idea of where his path was headed.  I don't understand why he let him go though.

Dead on Christmas Street

I was a little suspicious of the culprit but not for the reason it ended up being.

Crime's Christmas Carol

It was like "The Gift of the Magi" but with crime.

Serenade to a Killer

I love locked room mysteries.  This one worked because there was an inkling of possibilities but nothing definite until the very end.

The Haunted Crescent

I did NOT see that coming at all!

A Christmas in Camp

Not for me.  It felt like a million words per page and I gave up and started skimming fairly quickly into the story.  I still caught the gist though.

The Christmas Bogey

It didn't really hold my interest but I'm glad it wasn't an attack.

The Killer Christian

It was far-fetched but interesting.

The Ghost's Touch

I don't think the section "An Uncanny Little Christmas" is for me because this is the fourth story in a row that was "meh".  I found my mind wandering - so many words to explain a fairly straightforward situation.

A Wreath for Marley

Just when I'd given up on the whole "Uncanny" section, this story came along and reclaimed my interest.  It's a Christmas miracle.

The Carol Singers

A well thought-out story.  Having it start with the victim going through her regular day brought out my sympathy.  I thought the son-in-law was going to have something to do with it but I was wrong.

Waxworks

Favorite!!!  That was a pulse-pounding read.  My throat is still clenched as I write this from the dryness of holding my breath.

Cambric Tea

There was too many layers for the story to make sense.  I'm glad to have a resolute answer on who did it but the secretary's sudden change of heart was surprising and unsatisfactory.

The 74th Tale

It was fine but the ending was unexpected.  I can't believe the guy lived and I fully expected the bookstore to not be there any more, like it had been haunted or something.

The Uninnocent

I'm left with more questions than answers.

Blue Christmas

My palms are sweaty from reading about him trying to talk her off the ledge.  It was more sad than mysterious but I still felt it.

Noel, Noel

It was fine since it was short.

Death on Christmas Eve

Classic mystery with the final words giving a twist.

The Chinese Apple

Meh.  It relied on a lot of coincidences and wasn't really much of a mystery.

And All Through the House

Too too much.

An Early Christmas

This one is tough because there was so much going on it may have worked better as a novel but it also felt long and I wouldn't want it to be drawn out any further.  Maybe as a short story but with just 2-3 suspects instead of 5-6 would've worked better.  I didn't necessarily love this story but I would read this author again.

The Live Tree

It hit all the right points for a short story arc - a few hints, a whirlwind of activity, the twist, and a short reflection.  It was a happy change of pace that the mystery was how he accomplished something good instead of the usual twist of something appearing positive and turning out to be a con.

Three-Dot Po

This story held my interest and while I don't love that the culprit was someone we didn't meet until he was caught, at least the idea of him had been floated and it made sense.

Mad Dog

The circumstances of getting everyone into the room were tenuous but once they were in the room the progression from beginning to end worked at an excellent pace.  I'm glad to know the resolution even if it was revealed through the person who'd gotten away with it for 30+ years suddenly admitting everything.

Sister Bessie

I didn't know the exact circumstances but I knew the culprit right away because the author was really heavy-handed in painting her and only her in an outstanding light and the only decent family member.

That's the Ticket

I was so sad about how stupid Ernie was that I could barely read the story.  I'm so glad it turned out well!

Death on the Air

It kept me guessing until the end about the actual murderer.

The Thirteenth Day of Christmas

Abrupt and solved through telling, not showing.

The Christmas Kitten

The culprit made sense and it would've been fine if the main character had solved it but to have him still chasing wrong leads while a bit character solved it "off-screen" didn't make sense to me.

The Santa Claus Club

That used a method I'd never heard of.

The Flying Stars

Even setting aside the racism common for the era of the story (doing blackface for a play), I didn't like it.  It was solved with a monologue at the end and instead of the thief escaping like the story even stated he easily could do, apparently the monologue worked and he had a change of heart.

Christmas Party

No.  I can't fault the author for playing into stereotypes (not trusting Asians - and not referring to them as Asians - in this instance) because it was written in 1957.  I can, however, fault the editor for choosing to reprint it and include it for this current audience.  The racism was an entire plot point; they couldn't tell if she was lying because "Orientals slant their eyes to keep you guessing" and they didn't know if her smile was genuine because "after all, she was half Oriental".  Also, she told the police who it was from the start but they didn't believe her because of her race which is why she needed the men to corroborate her facts.

So without the racism at play there would literally be no story.  Let's leave that in the past and not include it in a current anthology.

The Raffles Relics

I'm unfamiliar with the characters but I'd go back and read more from their series.  Fun fact that the author is Arthur Conan Doyle's brother-in-law: they both wrote mysteries but from different sides of the coin (this author's duo are thieves).

The Price of Light

The mystery part was small but it was good as an overall story.

A Present for Santa Sahib

Standard twist at the end of a mystery but frustrating because the twist was someone never mentioned before turned out to be the thief.

The Christmas Train

It was fine.  The cat-and-mouse aspect might have meant more if I was familiar with the series and their history.

Markheim

I didn't understand it and then I got to the end and realized I'd already read it.  So I didn't understand it twice.

A Chaparral Christmas Gift

It felt quick and abrupt even though so many years have passed.  

The Chopham Affair

Pretty convoluted and coincidental.

A Christmas Tragedy

A mystery anthology wouldn't be complete with Agatha Christie.  Not my favorite story of hers but she really holds up well.