YOUTUBE CHANNEL REVIEW: MYSTERY LANE

 YOTUTBE REVIEW:  MYSTERY LANE

MYSTERY LANE is not my favorite channel that shares Nero Wolfe stories but I do enjoy them and have subscribed to the channel.  In reading the comments I find they are no different than any other channel, regardless of the topic, some like it others found fault. 

I was playing games, Rummy and backgammon, while listening to an episode of Nero Wolf via YouTube;  NERO WOLFE AND THE MURDER IN CRAMER’S OFFICE,  I am not an Ai specialist thus though I know that it is Ai influenced I cannot tell you the extent to which it is. I can tell you I have listened to “Nero Wolfe, inspired stories as well as other stories that are not worth my commenting on. 

“NERO WOLFE AND THE MURDER IN CRAMER’S OFFICE” explores why there is a dead man in Cramer’s office. As with most of the NERO WOLFE STORIES there are characters that most followers of the orchid loving detective expect to prese=you need to know: Nero Wolfe, Archie, Fritz, and Cramer, any channel worth viewing must have these individuals as part of the plot, Mystery Lane  checks the boxes.

The plot captured me within the first minute and kept my attention throughout the one hour 20 minutes and 32 seconds. I am drawn to, and have SUBSCRIBED, the channel because the conversations are not dumbed down, meaning: if you do not have an extensive vocabulary get a dictionary. I had to look up two terms spoken in this episode:  Invective and Prevericate, I assumed the meaning by how it was used in a sentence, I looked the words up to be sure. 

The generated Ai images don’t seem to match the dialogue, something I have noticed with most of the short stories found on YouTube. M y imagination is better.

When listening to the audio story REMEMBER: This is a spin-off of the original Nero Wolfe chronicle of which I have watched. The original was written by Rex Stout  and published in the 1930’s.

DEFINITIONS:  
Invective is harsh, abusive, or highly insulting language used to blame, censure, or violently attack someone. It often combines intense anger with sharp rhetorical skill or bitter sarcasm

 prevaricate means to avoid telling the truth. It is a formal verb used when someone dodges a direct question, beats around the bush, or gives a misleading answer without outright telling a flat-out lie 

Check it out. Please Like and Subscribe the channel if you watch it as well as SUBSCRIBE AND COMMENT on this blog.

Written by Marsha L Floyd

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

LISTENING TO A YOUTUBE AUDIOBOOK produced by THE WILD WEST VAULT

My print books are taking second place to audiobooks because I cannot embroider or sew and read a book.  It seems that there are quite a few audiobooks available to choose from  many with similar themes which is why narration is very important. 
What is important to note is the increase number of Ai generated stories. Ai is not the best content creator or graphic facilitator. 

The following video is the 3rd video I have listened to produced by THE WILD WEST VAULT.  It is historical fiction with faith, inspirational. The theme is in the title: "The Sheriff Only Wanted a Housekeeper for Winter—The Polish Girl Changed His Entire Life" .  You could listen to the story while you are driving on errands or to work or, like I do, wile sewing; it is 56 minutes and 45 seconds long.

I have discovered these "historical fiction like, mail order bride" tales are relaxing, they are non-violent,  "G" rated plots worth listening to. I find these stories inspirational and motivational as well as entertaining.  I have decided to share other audiobook channels that I enjoy. 

 by Marsha L Floyd

BOOK THOUGHTS: A SINGLE THREAD BY MARIE BOSTWICK

 

As I mentioned in a previous review, I chose this book because it was about sewing and it had the same title as another book; I wanted to read both books and compare. Unfortunately, I stopped reading the other book with the same title because of the introduction of sexual behavior, I don’t read romance novels. After the disappointment from the first book entitled A SINGLE THREAD, I am happy to report that this book is one I can appreciate.

A SINGLE THREAD by Marie Bostwick is a book that talks about life in a way that will pull on your emotions; have you wanting to hug a character, yell at another character; cry, laugh and sigh with relief, while planning your next quilt. 

The underlying theme of the book: “The need for friendship is the single thread that we all have running through us.” (page 322) This is the lesson I have learned in my 66 years of living and the one young people need to learn. 

The book published in 2008, is 344 pages, centers around 2 main characters and deals with  issues that most women will encounter, directly or indirectly. One of the trials the main character faces was addressed in a very poignant way. (No, I will not tell you what it is!)  There is emotional pain in this book that is dealt with in a manner that makes sense and, there is healing.  

A SINGLE THREAD is not a thriller but it is, at least it was for me, an emotional roller coaster in which in the end you walk away with a smile. Yes, I recommend you read this book then go make a quilt!

               “Quilts are made of broken lines, just like life.” (page 327)

Written by Marsha L Floyd
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

BOOK THOUGHTS: THE NEW YEARS QUILT

 

NEW YEAR’S QUILT An Elm Creek Quilts Novel by Jennifer Chiaverini, the eleventh of the twenty-four books in the Elm Creek. The beauty of this book and the others is the ability of the writer to blend the life of one woman, the life lessons of others, and the art of quilt making in a historical setting. When does a book stop being historical? 

It is the making of a New Year’s Quilt by Silvia, the main character, that is the basis of this novel, upon completion it will be presented to her step-daughter who is against her father, Andrew, marrying Sylvia. They know she will be very angry when she learns they are married.

If you have been reading these books in order of publication, starting with THE QUILTERS APPRENTICE, you know that each book reveals information regarding Sylvia’s past that sheds life on her present personality.  I appreciated learning the story behind the New Year’s Quilt; readers of the other books will go “ooohhhh!”  Will the quilt be finished in time, to present it to her new step-daughter? 

The bigger question:  How does Andrew and Sylvia get past an adult daughter’s rejection of their marriage?  Especially since she does not know, the purpose of the visit is to reveal the wedding which occurred Christmas.  So what happened?  The reader may like it or not like it, depending on how they feel about senior citizens getting married and how much influence children should have in their parents’ lives. 

I will be reading The Winding Ways Quilt next, after I finish a few others. Will I be able to read the other 13 books before the end of the year? My reading list gets longer and longer. 

WRITTEN by Marsha L Floyd

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BOOK THOUGHTHS: ONE HUNDRED EMBROIDERY STITCHES

 

ONE HUNDRED EMBROIDERY STITCHES – published COATS & CLARK’S BOOK No.150-B, published 1979, original cost 60 cents.  

A few months ago I purchased an embroidery sampler book with a wide variety of stitches, I want to finish the book BUT many of the stitches I did not know and could not find a lesson on how to do them.  I have searched YouTube and purchased books to no avail, until I discovered this used book.

ONE HUNDRED EMBROIDERY STITCHES my not have all the stitches I need but it has many of them. What I am discovering is the best book for learning how to do various stitches are often out of print books. Thus, sources like WORLD OF BOOKS and THRIFT BOOKS, there may be others will have books for how things used to be before machines took over.  I have found this to be true with quilting and applique as well.

ONE HUNDRED EMBROIDERY STITCHES arrived encased in a plastic envelope, my plan is to have a printer duplicate the booklet, 33 pages, to preserve this classic book. WHAT A FIND!

*Note This book is available at various prices and there is also  1964 version that I will be ordering after I post this review. Same title, cost $4 original cost 35 cents.

WRITTEN by Marsha L Floyd
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

BOOK THOUGHTS: JOHN JASPER by William E. Hatcher

 

John Jasper 1812-1901 was the founding Pastor of the Sixth Zion Baptist Church in Richmond Virginia. I learned of him from a YouTube channel that I subscribed to, Scroll Reader and I, unashamedly, admit that the fact that he was Black is what interested in me.  I decided to purchase the book:  JOHN JASPER A Remarkable Preacher Raised From the Shadows of Slavery by William E Hatcher, originally published 1908 Revised in 2025 by Scroll Reader.

John Jasper began as an uneducated slave, he learned to read which facilitated his desire to learn God’s word and preach it. His sharing the gospel began on the plantation and as his reputation increased the opportunities to share God’s word spread.  At the end of slavery, 1865, he continued preaching and the crowds grew. One of his most famous sermons was entitled “The Son Don’t Move”.

I liked this book and recommend it. My theological opinion of John Jasper is not solid because as a Pastor his doctrine is not solid but for his time his preaching was good. He, himself, admits that he was not formerly educated and the biographer reminds the reader that he accepted the Bible literally. 

What made this book enjoyable was my listening to the audio book, the narration brought the story to life.  https://youtu.be/pqwVqFuC2Ms?si=zf-26pVxoy831MD1  

It became clear to me that John Jasper was a fantastic story teller. He brought Scripture to life paraphrasing before paraphrasing was a thing. The author was able to share with the reader how the author stimulated laughter, tear, fear and other emotions when sharing the word of God.

Chapter 13 shares the story of a journalist who wrote about his experience attending one of John Jasper’s meetings. He too was caught up in the emotion of the event. Unfortunately, he was not a Christian going in and he was not a Christian leaving the venue. Which had me wondering, how many people attended those meetings for the “entertainment” value without having a true relationship with God? 

Was his ministry any different than some of today’s ministries? Emotional, entertaining, but not leading to salvation? At that time there were other churches people could have attended. 

John Jasper believed in God’s word with all of his heart and soul. What he preached he believed and his unique style was his style. He was a man of integrity and cared for God’s children. As his ministry grew and the church was able to pay him a salary, he initially refused. After much pressure he agreed to receive $62.50, even though the church wanted to pay him more. He said: 

““I get enough now, and I want no more. I’m not here to squeeze my people for all I can get,” he told them. He had enough to pay his taxes and buy what he needed, and he told them that any extra should go to help the Lord’s poor.”  (Chapter 8 Page 60)

I firmly believe John Jasper was very sincere when he spoke, and understood his own shortcomings. In his own words: “Brethren God never lies; He can’t lie. Men lie. I lie sometimes- I am very sorry to say it.” (Chapter 9 Page 70) According to the author, William E. Hatcher, he would challenge the listeners  to prove him wrong, using Scripture. There were, apparently, other Pastors that tried to tell him how he misunderstood the Scripture but he did not accept it, I suspect because all Scripture is not literal.

This book is not written, I don’t think, for the messages John Jasper spoke; it was written because John Jasper was a major influencer of faith among both Black and White individuals, this is what makes him unique and the book worth reading.

Witten by Marsha L Floyd
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

CAN THEY READ? This video is very disturbing

I am sad but not surprised.  
Please like and subscribe to the YouTube channel after you pray for America's children  - MARSHA