Jottings from Jan

2012-01-27T17:53:00.000-08:00

#4
Title: Untold Story
Author: Monica Ali
Read by: Emma Fielding & Nicholas Farrell
Genre: Fiction
Rating: C
Published: 2011
Date read: 12/23/11 - 1/27/12
Cds/Hours: 8/10

This story didn’t impress me much. It’s a what-if book; if Princess Di hadn’t died, what would her life have been like? She would have had girlfriends, a shrink, a paparazzi fellow stalking her. Except for the absence of her family this could have been her life anyway. Perhaps I missed something but the book seems to be assembled in a haphazard way. The journal entries from Lawrence who appears to be her psychiatrist is rambling and seems to be an afterthought plugged into the middle of the book. Not very satisfying to say the least.

2012-01-26T18:39:00.000-08:00

#3
Title: Christmas House
Author: Ann Turner
Illustrations by: Nancy Edwards Calder
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Rating: B
Published: 1994
Date read: 1/24/12

While Christmas is long over with I decided I wanted to share this book of poetry with granddaughter. Turner takes each room, each person in the family and writes a free-verse poem of their qualities. Calder’s vivid and rich paintings frame Christmas in an old house full of love. We see the house itself as 100 years old, the cat whose fur has been sucked by the baby, Nicky who couldn’t sleep Christmas Eve, and Annie who with cousin Jeannie play in the attic and dress up in yesterday’s dresses. Each page, each drawing satisfies our need to experience the ideal Christmas.

2012-01-26T18:22:00.001-08:00

#2
Title: Eloise Wilkin Stories
Author: Eloise Wilkin
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Rating: B +
Published: 2005
Date read: 1/7/12 - 1/9/12
Pages: 209

I remember Eloise Wilkin drawings at an early age. Now my granddaughter can enjoy both her classic stories and illustrations. This particular volume represents nine beloved classics as the front cover tells us. A forward, written by her daughter, Deborah Wilkin Springett gives us a bit of history on the life of Eloise Wilkin. Born on March 30, 1904, Eloise Margaret Burns hailed from Rochester, New York. She died October 4, 1987 and left a legacy of stories and drawings for generations of children and parents alike to enjoy. Among her stories are Baby Listens, Baby Dear and Baby Looks. She also illustrated books for other childrens book authors among them, Jane Werner Watson who also provided A Remembrance of Eloise Wilkin. She describes Eloise Burns Wilkin: The Soul of Little Golden Books as one whose work typifies the essence of Little Golden Books. From the time Eloise descended upon New York with a portfolio almost as big as she, she happily occupied her time illustrating books for children. I love how she describes Eloise as the mom of four, drawing and painting the chubby-faced, well-behaved toddlers every parent-to-be dreams of having. A devoutly religious person, she shared her values and sense of the beauty of order and love, of implicit self-discipline, and of regard for others. She has left us with rich reminders of a lovely time not so long ago.

2012-01-26T18:21:00.001-08:00

#1
Title: Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God
Author: Mary Ella Randall, M. A.
Genre: Cliffs Notes
Rating: B +
Published: 1995
Date read: 11/29/11 - 1/4/12
Pages: 86

The Cliffs Notes for this book are outstanding. I love the Suggested Essay Topics and Research Projects. The F2F book group meets, Friday, January 13 and I have half a mind to bring a southern dish described in the essay about food. In particular, the Hoppin’ John sounds good. Made with black-eyed peas, bacon, onion and rice, this dish Janie prepared for Tea Cake. It takes forever to cook, though. Maybe my DH would consider prepping it for me!

2011-12-19T08:42:00.001-08:00

#155
Title: Girl with a Pearl Earring
Author: Tracy Chevalier
Genre: Historical Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, London Olympics, Around the World in 80 Books, To Be Read, Read Your Own Book, Fill in the Gaps
Rating: A
Published: 1999
Dates read: 11/6/11 – 12/18/11
Pages: 233

Set in the 17th Century Griet finds herself a maid in the Vermeer household. She always refers to him as “he” and never is the name Vermeer mentioned in the 233 pages of this historical piece of fiction set in Delft the Netherlands. Written in first person, Griet tells of her three years living with the master, his wife, his mother and varying number of children and one other maid. Besides her household duties of laundry, dusting and marketing, Griet helps her master grind the paint elements and pose as a substitute for people in his paintings. Though not a fast worker, the master is steady, knows his art and always has a buyer for his work. He and his wife produce a myriad of children yet his income is insufficient to feed their brood. Throughout the story we also meet Griet’s family and the family into which she’ll marry. I found the book to be a very satisfying work of art.

2011-12-14T19:59:00.001-08:00

#154
Title : Little Critter’s Christmas Book
Author: Mercer Mayer
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, PB&J, Young Readers, The 2nd
Rating: A
Published: 1989
Date read: 12/13/11

Narrated in first person, Little Critter, talks about all the things he and his family do to get ready for Christmas. From writing a letter to Santa Claus, to playing in the snow, Little Critter and his small sister enjoy winter and all the things preceding and including Christmas. A winning story for the advent season.

2011-12-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

#153
Title : Home for Christmas
Author: Jan Brett
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, PB&J, Young Readers, The 2nd
Rating: A
Published: 2011
Date read: 12/13/11

Rollo, the troll, has a tail. His little sister is also a troll yet has NO tail. To lose your tail means you’ve done your chores, or were helpful and kind. Rollo has too much fun just playing and being there for himself. One day when his family asked for him to help them, he grabbed his rucksack and took off. Everyday for what seemed like months he had adventure after adventure. Then he decided he missed his family, imagined he smelled wood smoke from his cozy house. Before he knew it he was sliding down the snow in the antlers of a moose. You’ll have to read to see what happened to Rollo -- whether he arrived home and whether he lost his tail.

2011-12-12T18:12:00.000-08:00

#152
Title: Naked Spirituality
Author: Brian D. McLaren
Genre: Non-Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Deepen Faith
Rating: B
Published: 2011
Dates read: 9/13/11 – 12/11/11

Sub-titled A Life with God in 12 Simple Words, this book was chosen by our Senior Pastor for discussion in our Christ Care groups from September to December. The small group I’m in finished today with answering the questions from the last chapter and afterword. I used my journal these past twelve weeks to record my answers. A couple of chapters delved into our innermost psyche, causing much soul searching on my part and including the shedding of a few tears – much to the dismay of some of my group who didn’t know me well. Yet, the book’s thought-provoking questions proved helpful to me and I may go back in a few months and see where I am with those passages.

2011-12-11T09:28:00.000-08:00

#151
Title: Sarah’s Key
Author: Tatiana de Rosnay
Read by: Polly Stone
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: A
Published: 2007
CDs/Hours: 8/10
Dates read: 12/2/11 – 12/10/11

The hallmark of a good book is its ability to make me weep. And this book did towards the end. While this is another holocaust story the author does a beautiful job of tying in the past with the future and does so with depicting scenes from July 16, 1942, and the days that followed, then scenes from the early 21st century. Sarah and her mother and father were gathered with other Jews in Paris during the Roundup that hot July day. Sarah was the first to hear the knock at the door. At first she thought it was her father, coming up from his hiding place in the cellar. He’d forgotten his keys … But then came the voices. Nothing to do with her father. “Police! Open up!” Her younger brother asleep stirred in the next bed. She was afraid. She remembered the hushed conversations … Her father and mother’s voices. He had explained that it would be safer if he slept downstairs. When would it be safe again?

Thus begins the story of Sarah’s key to the cupboard her younger brother is hidden in. She promised him she’d come back as soon as they rest of the family is released.

2011-12-03T15:55:00.001-08:00

#150
Title: On Canaan’s Side
Author: Sebastian Barry
Genre: fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B
Published: 2011
CDs/Hours: 7/71/2
Dates read: 11/19/11 – 12/3/11

Ninety year old Irish-born Lilly learns that her grandson has just been killed in Desert Storm. To deal with this heartbreaking event Lilly begins journaling. Over the course of seventeen days, she relives her life from the time of being in love with her first boyfriend, Tighe, who was tragically killed to the marriage to her second husband who left her before their son, Edward, was born. The mystery of her husband’s disappearance surfaces and Lilly is confronted with the truth of this matter. Wanda McCaddon, the narrator does a masterful job of Lilly Bere’s brogue.

2011-11-30T21:01:00.001-08:00

#149
Title: Can You Hear It?
Author: William Lach
Genre: J780.075 Art & Music Junior Literature
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, Support Your Local Library, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: A
Published: 2006
CDs/Hours: 1/ 40 minutes
Pages: 39
Dates read: 10/27/11 – 11/30/11

I haven’t been this high on a publication since I can’t remember when. This combination of art and music is the ultimate for teaching kids these subjects. William Lach, Senior Editor, Metropolitan Museum of Art brings together thirteen short works by American and European composers and thirteen pictures by world renowned artists. For example, a Japanese print of a hovering bee by Hiroshige illuminates the trilling flutes in The Flight of the Bumblebee by Rimsky-Korsakov. I was able to get my three and half year old granddaughter to listen for a couple minutes to this excerpt. I can’t wait until she’s a bit older to try this again with her when she can better appreciate every page and every cut from the CD.

In addition is an introduction to musical instruments, and a brief discussion of each artist. The question Can you hear - accompanies each musical selection and asks the reader and listener to hear the various instruments as it relates to the picture. I could just imagine what it would be like to be a student or teacher in such a class and the wonderful assignments unfolding – write a review of a musician, chose an artist and decide what picture would accompany your choice of music. The possibilities are endless.

2011-11-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

#148
Title: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Author: Zora Neale Hurston
Read by: Ruby Dee
Genre: Classic Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, New Author, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear, Support Your Local Library
Rating: B+
Published: 1937
CTs/Hours: 4/7
Dates read: 11/20/11 – 11/30/11

I love what the back cover of the cassette holder says about this book. An American classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God is the luminous and haunting novel about Janie Crawford, a Southern Black woman in the 1930’s, whose journey from a free-spirited girl to a woman of independence and substance has inspired writers and readers for over 70 years.

“This poetic, graceful love story, rooted in Black folk traditions and steeped in mythic realism, celebrates boldly and brilliantly African-American culture and heritage. And in a powerful, mesmerizing narrative, it pays quiet tribute to a Black woman, who, though constricted by the times, still demanded to be heard.”

2011-11-29T15:16:00.000-08:00

#147
Title : Oliver and Amanda’s Christmas
Author: Jean Van Leeuwen
Pictures by: Ann Schweninger
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, PB&J, Young Readers, The 2nd
Rating: B+
Published: 1989
Date read: 11/29/11

Great story about the Pig family who have secrets, buy a Christmas tree, bake cookies, hang stockings and enjoy the magic of Christmas morning. Read and find out - did Oliver get 22 gifts? - what kinds of cookies did they bake? - how big was Oliver’s stocking? - what did Grandmother Pig bring the kids? Reading a book at Tully’s before our Bible Study on Tuesday mornings is the routine these days and one both granddaughter and I equally enjoy.

2011-11-25T16:28:00.001-08:00

#146
Title : The Cat in the Hat
Author: Dr. Seuss
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, PB&J, Young Readers, New Author, Give Poetry a Chance
Rating: B
Published: 1957
Date read: 11/24/11

In rhyme the kids in the story are a bit in awe of the Cat in the Hat -- and, to be sure, it’s a funny situation.

2011-11-22T19:59:00.001-08:00

#145
Title : Elliot’s Noisy Night
Author: Andrea Beck
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, PB&J, Young Readers, The 2nd
Rating: B
Published: 2002
Date read: 11/22/11

Elliot’s been hearing noises after going to bed at night. He asks his friend Beaverton what he knows about it. Beaverton tells him about the refrigerator and furnace. Yet the noises keep coming and before Elliot knows it, all his friends are also hearing the noises. You’ve got to read this story to find out how it ends. Truly charming!

2011-11-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

#144
Title: The Forgotten Garden
Author: Kate Morton
Read by: Caroline Lee
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, New Author, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear, Support Your Local Library
Rating: B
Published: 2008
CDs/Hours: 16/20 3/4
Dates read: 10/39/11 – 11/19/11

This charming book speaks to all ages – young adults, mothers and grandmothers – all will identify with Nell, Cassandra, Eliza. The story spans over 100 years of history – from before the 1913 voyage of Nell to Australia – it covers the lives of Nell’s grandmother Adeline, Adeline’s daughter Rose up to 2005 when Cassandra, Nell’s granddaughter researches the family to learn the truth about its secrets. It’s a true page-turner. And I loved every minute of it.

2011-11-17T13:14:00.001-08:00

#143
Title : The Spirit Level
Author: Seamus Heaney
Genre: Poetry (821.914)
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, Give Poetry a Chance, The 2nd
Rating: B+
Published: 1996
Date read: 10/30/11 - 11/17/11

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and editor of The Essential Wordsworth, poet Seamus Heaney has woven a patchwork of 40 free-style pieces that comprise this small, 82 page volume. Much of his Irish heritage shines through and takes us on a journey to The Gravel Walks where we see ’men in dungarees, like captive shades, mixed concrete’; we sit in the Poet’s Chair and feel ‘the way the air behind them‘s winged and full‘; ‘sailed beyond ourselves’ on The Swing and hear ‘all night behind the corpse house’ A Dog Was Crying Tonight in Wicklow Also. At the Wellhead we meet the sightless Rosie Keenan who ‘let us touch her braille in book’. All our senses become alive when Heaney speaks.

2011-11-15T21:16:00.000-08:00

#142
Title : Over in the Meadow
Author: John Langstaff
Illustrations by: Feodor Rojankovsky
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, PB&J, Young Readers, The 2nd
Rating: B
Published: 1957
Date read: 11/15/11

While we’ve read this book before, it was adapted by another author. With this version and as with his Frog-Went-A-Courtin’ Langstaff has music at the end for how the song is sung in ten verses, each verse represents a number such as old mother red fox and her little foxes two and old mother spider and her little spiders nine. The drawings by Feodor Rojankovsky are delightful.

2011-11-15T21:06:00.000-08:00

#141
Title : Kipper’s Snowy Day
Author: Mick Inkpen
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, PB&J, Young Readers, The 2nd
Rating: B
Published: 1996
Date read: 11/15/11

Kipper is back -- this time on a snowy day with his friend, Tiger. They play and cavort in the snow! And have a ball. Porter wanted to keep the book another day so we’re keeping it until she’s back again next week. We may even have snow by then, too!

2011-11-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

#140
Title: A Light in the Attic
Author: Shel Silverstein
Genre: Kid Poetry Book
Challenges: Read and Review, PB&J, Young Reader, To Be Read, Read Your Own Books, Give Poetry a Chance
Rating: B
Published: 1981
Dates Read: 10/28/11 - 11/5/11
Pages: 168

As usual Silverstein masters the art of combining his whimsical drawings with equally charming, outrageous poems. From the first poem, A Light in the Attic, to the last, This Bridge – our poet knows how to tickle our funny bone and simultaneously settle in our psyche. A classic!

2011-11-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

#139
Title: The Castle
Author: Franz Kafka
Read by: Alan Corduner
Genre: Classic Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear, Support Your Local Library
Rating: B-
Published: 1928
CDs/Hours: 10/13
Dates read: 10/11/11 – 11/4/11

Described as darkly bizarre, The Castle was the last book Kafka wrote and didn’t finish. He asked a friend to destroy his work – not just The Castle but all the things he’d written. His friend didn’t follow instructions and even commented about how he thought The Castle would end. It sounded plausible to me.

From the back cover – “A land surveyor, known only as K(arr), arrives at a small village permanently covered in snow and dominated by a castle to which access seems permanently denied. K(arr)’s attempt to discover why he has been called constantly run up against the peasant villagers, who are in thrall to the absurd bureaucracy that keeps the castle shut, and the rigid hierarchy of power among the self-serving bureaucrats themselves. But in this strange wilderness, there is passion, tenderness and considerable humour.”

2011-11-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

#138
Title: Ten Little Rabbits
Author: Virginia Grossman
Illustrator: Sylvia Long
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, PB&J, Young Reader
Rating: B
Published: 1991
Date Read: 11/1/11

I love it when the book combines not just story and art but factual information about the subject as Grossman and Long have done with this in counting-rhyme. Each number depicts a traditional custom such as rain dances, hunting, and smoke signals. For example, “One lonely traveler riding on the plain” shows a Sioux, one of the plains tribes riding on a travois with a shaggy dog pulling the rabbit clothed in a Navajo blanket. Although each number represents a separate tribe, the rabbits wear a different Navajo blanket. A glossary tells us a bit about ten tribes of North America.

2011-11-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

#137
Title: Santa Baby
Adapted & Illustrated by: Janie Bynum
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, PB&J, Young Reader
Rating: B
Published: 2005
Date Read: 11/1/11

This is one of those stories based upon a song so in the back of the book are the words and music. It’s a sweet story that granddaughter chose on her own one day at the library. She loves to read the books to herself and hold the book as though she were reading to and showing the pictures to her bear. The baby is dressed as Santa and helps his mother decorate the tree, tie bows on gifts and cut stars out of dough for cookies. It’s almost that time of year!

2011-10-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

#136
Title: Beatrice and Virgil
Author: Yann Martel
Read by: Mark Bramhall
Genre: General Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear, Support Your Local Library
Rating: B-
Published: 2010
CDs/Hours: 5/6
Dates read: 10/21/11 – 10/28/11

Not recommended for the faint of heart, Martel delves into yet another holocaust story. He may not have hit upon that subject in Life of Pi but here in Beatrice and Virgil it looms bigger than life in the story of the taxidermist and Henry who goes to his aid to help with the play the shopkeeper is writing. Through a series of twists and turns, each time Henry leaves the shop he learns a bit more about this eccentric and abstruse person. Though the story is well written it is hard to take in the horrors and tortures endured by the characters. Many of us have read other holocaust books and may not want to read another. Yet the current generation may want to expose themselves to the demented minds that perpetrated the atrocities of that era of egomania.

2011-10-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

#135
Title: The Matchmakers
Author: Janet Dailey
Genre: Romance Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Book Around the States, To Be Read, Read Your Own Books
Rating: B
Published: 1977
Dates read: 10/19/11 – 10/27/11

Set in Delaware, nurse Kathleen Darrow, desires to try another profession and turns to, as her friends call it, glorified nanny and housekeeper. Through a series of what appear misunderstandings between her and her boss, Jordan Long, Kathleen just about loses her job time after time. It’s only when her charges, twelve year old Annette and eleven year old Marsha, come clean with deceptions to bring Kathleen and Jordan together that the girls’ plan is revealed.

2011-10-20T08:34:00.001-07:00

#134
Title: Bridge to Terabithia
Author: Katherine Paterson
Genre: Kid Chapter Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, PB&J, Whisper in My Ear, Book Around the States
Rating: A
CDs/hours: 4/4
Read by: Robert Sean Leonard
Published: 1987
Dates listened to: 10/16/11 – 10/20/11

Set in Virginia, Jess lives with his mother, father, two older sisters and two younger sisters, Brenda, Ellie, May Belle and Joyce Ann. A family moves into the old Perkins place, just down the hill from the Aarons’s. Their name is Burke and they have a 10 year old named Leslie. From the moment Jess meets Leslie they connect and she takes him to places they have never been before and teaches him things he’s not yet considered. Then one day she’s gone and Jess is beside himself in grief. But in his sadness he returns to Terabithia and introduces his six year old sister May Belle to it.

The story, according to the interview between Katherine Paterson and her son, David, was inspired by an incident that happened to seven year old David involving a young girl who died from being struck by lightning. As a way of making sense of this tragedy Paterson wove Bridge to Terabithia and won the Newbery Award for her efforts. In 2007 the book became a movie, one I haven’t seen but am ordering from the library today.

2011-10-18T21:52:00.001-07:00

#133
Title: The Tennis Partner
Author: Abraham Verghese
Genre: Biography
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: A
Pages: 345 pages
Published: 1998
Dates read: 9/22/11 – 10/18/11

Thoroughly documented and researched, Verghese writes a biography of a few years of his life when he met David Smith, a medical intern under him. He becomes David’s mentor in the field of medicine and David becomes Abraham’s mentor on the tennis court. It is a rare relationship that the two men experience. Abraham is going through a divorce which affects his two young sons and David has a problem with drug abuse. Each come to know each other in a special way but it’s only towards the end that Dr. Verghese comes to acknowledge the severity and depth of David’s sickness. One of their colleagues puts it this way – “Within your secrets lies your sickness.” If David never sustained a lasting recovery, it was because he never let go of his secret, there were some bars that never came down. His secret is still with him. He still walks alone.

This book preceded the author’s Cutting for Stone. Both books are exceptional in the way they are told.

2011-10-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

#132
Title: The Secret Visitor
Author: Juli Kangas
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: B
Published: 2005
Date read: 10/18/11

When Edgar Small sat down to write a letter to his brother George he had nothing of note to say. That is, he didn’t have anything to say until a tap sounded on his mousy door and he opened it to find a blue roundish thing on his doorstep. From then on he and his friends take the roundish thing on a journey, remaking it as they go along. When they are through doing their thing, they find that the roundish thing belongs to Mrs. Fleedle. And then, when Edgar gets back home is able to write George and tell him all about his surprise visitor. Need I say delightful in both story and pictures. Thank you Juli Kangas!

2011-10-17T16:02:00.001-07:00

#131
Title: The Night Season
Author: Chelsea Cain
CDs/Hours: 7/9
Read by: Christina Delaine
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B
Published: 2011
Dates read: 10/7/11 - 10/16/11

I love Cain’s style – easy-going, believable characters, suspense, everything neatly tied up at the end and set in the Pacific NW - Portland, Oregon to be exact. I’d love now to read the first three in the Archie Sheridan series.

2011-10-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

#130
Title: Superfreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and why suicide bombers should buy life insurance
Authors: Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
CDs/Hours: 6/7.5
Read by: Stephen J. Dubner
Genre: General Non-Fiction (330)
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B
Published: 2009
Dates read: 9/30/11 - 10/11/11

From the back cover, Levitt and Dubner mix smart thinking and great storytelling like no one else. By examining how people respond to incentive, they show the world for what it really is – good, bad, ugly, and, in the final analysis, super freaky. For the subtitle subjects they give answers to questions you were afraid to ask. The duo cleverly suck us in with their warmth and humor and, with the same wit at the end, leave us craving more.

2011-10-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

#129
Title: The Winter Visitors
Author: Karel Hayes
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: A+
Published: 2007
Date read: 10/11/11

Hayes, both author and illustrator, has a winning tale of a varied retelling of the three bears. Using only about a dozen words, she beautifully tells the story in detailed pen and ink and watercolor. I fell in love with the story and granddaughter too to a slightly lesser degree. When the tale was over with I wanted to write the author and tell her how much we loved the pictures. She has illustrated a number of books.

2011-10-11T14:17:00.001-07:00

#128
Title: Arthur’s Halloween Costume
Author: Lillian Hoban
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: B
Published: 1984
Date read: 10/11/11

It’s Halloween time and Arthur’s school is having a costume party. Follow the antics of Arthur and his friends as he gets ready for school, searching for his notebook, trying to decide the perfect original costume and see what he finally comes up with. Granddaughter pretty much stuck with the story (it was pretty long) and reacted with looks of surprise as the story unfolded from page to suspenseful page.

2011-10-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

#127
Title: The Power
Author: Rhonda Byrne
Genre: Non – Fiction (155.25)
Read by: the author
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper In My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B
CD/hours: 5 /6
Published: 2010
Dates read: 9/30/11 –10/7/11

This book could have been named The Power of Positive Thinking, a title used a number of years ago by Norman Vincent Peale. The difference is that Byrne’s book (155.25) is classified by the Library under their Dewey Decimal System as control, psychological aspects of success, psychological aspects of happiness and Peale’s book (248.4) is classified as peace of mind, religious aspects of Christianity, success. Peale stresses Christianity as the controlling factor while Byrne sites a variety of religions from Buddhism to Christianity, New Age to early Roman Catholic saints and mystics.

The book is enlightening when you consider that love conquers all – whether for yourself or the world around you, whether for its' healing power or bringing peace. Some of her adages are – keep a smile on your face, don’t gossip and what’s in your heart is what you truly believe. I figure you’re never too old to learn nor to practice the power of thinking positively.
.

2011-10-06T19:04:00.001-07:00

#126
Title: The Return of the Soldier
Author: Rebecca West
Genre: Fiction
Read by: Nadia May
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper In My Ear
Rating: B
eAudio: 2 hours; 47 min.
Published: 1918
Dates read: 9/28/11 –10/6/11

Set during WWI Chris Baldry has been psychologically wounded and suffers amnesia. His wife Kitty and his cousin, Jenny, await his return. Enter Margaret Gray, a woman from Chris’s past who brings the news of his shell-shock. Narrated by Jenny, the story unfolds that Margaret and Chris were once sweethearts, parted and married other people. Each had a child who both died at the age of two of similar circumstances, five years earlier. Oliver was Kitty and Chris’s son; Dick was the son of Margaret and her husband, George. When Chris comes back he can only remember his life from 15 years ago, nothing of his recent life. So, he remembers his time with Margaret, and she his time with her when “to see him was to desire intimacy with him”.

Dr. Anderson comes to the house on the day Margaret is there. He diagnoses Chris’s inability to remember saying “the superficial self suppresses the real self”. It is suggested that to bring him back to the present that something of Oliver’s be brought to him. Kitty agrees and suggests that Margaret be the one to show Chris the items. She and Jenny go up to the nursery and Jenny picks out a blue jersey and red ball to help Chris remember. Margaret takes the items to Chris in the garden. Kitty joins Jenny in the nursery. Kitty says, “I wish she would hurry, she’s got to do it sooner than later. Jenny, do look again.” Jenny saw a figure mothering someone in her arms. Chris looked at the house avoiding a patch of light from a window. He would go back to Flanders. Kitty asks “how does he look?” and Jenny says “every bit a soldier”. At this point Kitty is sure he’s cured.

Satisfying work from an author who has been known to be wordy but here is economic with her scenes yet gives lots of information about the characters and brings it to a commendable conclusion.

2011-09-30T09:24:00.001-07:00

#125
Title: The Keep
Author: Jennifer Egan
Genre: Fiction
Read by: Jeff Gurner & Geneva Carr
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper In My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B-
CDs/Hours: 7/8
Published: 2006
Dates read: 9/18/11 – 9/29/11

From the back cover – “Two cousins, devastated by a childhood prank, reunite twenty years later to renovate a castle in Eastern Europe. The fortress has a blood history that stretches back hundreds of years. Amid extreme paranoia and eerie silence, the men reenact the signal even of their youth, with even more catastrophic results. And as the full horror of their predicament unfolds, a third party – a prisoner, jailed for an unnamed crime – recounts an unforgettable story that brings the crime of the past and present into stunning alignment.”

I could not get into the drama that the review from the back cover portrays. I wanted to see another work by this Pulitzer Prize winning author.

2011-09-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

#124
Title: Touch Blue
Author: Cynthia Lord
Genre: Children’s Chapter Book
Read by: Erin Moon
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper In My Ear, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: A
CDs/Hours: 4/4.5
Published: 2010
Dates read: 9/25/11 – 9/27/11

The setting: current day Maine, a small island off the coast
The family: the Brook family – Jacob, father & fisherman; Kate, mother & school teacher; Tess, 11 year old daughter; Libby, five year old daughter; Aaron, 13 year old foster son.
The plot: the state of Maine is ready to shut down the schoolhouse, forcing some of the families to move to the mainland. The town has a plan – bring in foster children to up the school population. Will Aaron stay with Brook family? Or will he be reunited with his mother?

2011-09-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

#123
Title: The Enchanter
Author: Vladimir Nabokov
Genre: Fiction Novella
Read by: Christopher Lane
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper In My Ear
Rating: C
CDs/Hours: 3/3
Published: 1986 posthumously by son, Dmitri Nabokov, written in 1939
Dates read: 9/18/11 – 9/23/11

This novella sounded like the precursor to Lolita whose theme it shares and is that of a man drawn sexually to a teenager between 15 to 19 years of age, although the girl in this case is only 12. The definition for this type of relationship is ephebophilia as opposed to pedophilia. In any case, the man is a pervert in my estimation. I kept falling asleep as I listened each night and kept backing up the story to get the details. Part of the problem was that no one has a name. I chuckled at myself because it seemed like in going back I was looking for the sexual part of the story that finally occurred. Fortunately the story is only three discs long and half of it is a description by son Dmitri who gives background about his father and his writings and compares the story with others that the famous Nabokov has written.

2011-09-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

#122
Title: Yip! Snap! Yap!
Author: Charles Fuge
Genre: Kid Picture Cook
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: B
Published: 2000
Dates read: 9/23/11

This book encourages making noise – just like the puppies do. They not only yip, snap, and yap, they arf, woof and go rruff, chomp, munch and chew, hrumph, zzzzz and shew. It’s a fun book for making all the dog sounds young children love to copy.

2011-09-23T14:49:00.000-07:00

#121
Title: Alfred’s Nose
Author: Vivienne Flesher
Genre: Kid Picture Cook
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: B+
Published: 2008
Dates read: 9/23/11

Porter and I read this book in the library before checking it out. Alfred, we learn from the charming photographs, is a French Bulldog whom everyone loves. He adores playing ball and giving sloppy kisses to the kids. He hasn’t much of a nose and his tongue hangs out of his mouth all the time. Ants like to walk across his tongue whenever they encounter it. What do you suppose Alfred does with the ants?

2011-09-23T14:42:00.000-07:00

#120
Title: Mystery Vine
Author: Cathryn Falwell
Genre: Kid Picture Cook
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: B+
Published: 2009
Dates read: 9/23/11

As Porter and I read this book it reminded me of all the times I spent watering the Mission Scouts’ Pea Patch this season. Like the Pea Patch, in this story we learn about planting seeds in the vegetable garden, watching them grow, weeding and watering them. First to come up is lettuce followed by green peas, radishes and a mystery vine. Next comes tomatoes, beans and the mystery vine begins creeping. It sprouts yellow flowers. Can you guess what it is?

2011-09-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

#119
Title: Dork in Disguise
Author: Carol Gorman
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: B+
Pages: 164
Published: 1999
Dates read: 9/14/11 – 9/20/11

Gorman knows her kids and did some research about physics to give authenticity to Jerry Flack, a nerd, turned cool guy. Jerry is starting this 6th grade at a new school and wants to turn over a new leaf. So, he takes off his glasses, says good-bye to dorky clothes and lies through his teeth to the guys he thinks are cool at Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School. Brenda befriends him and helps attain his cool status. He has a crush on Cinnamon but she may be playing up to him just to make someone else jealous. Look out for how this fun story plays out for Jerry and his school-mates.

2011-09-20T18:52:00.001-07:00

#118
Title: The Ugly Duckling and Other Stories
Author: Hans Christian Anderson
Read by: Rebecca Burns
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, PB&J, Young Readers, One Hundred Shots of Shorts
Rating: B
CDs/hours: 5/5
Published: 1835 - 1848
Dates read: 9/14/11 – 9/17/11

Spelled Andersen, this Danish author of fairy tale fame seems to be the original childrens’ story teller. Each story is delightful – some with happy endings, some without. Some I remember from my childhood, others were new to me. I couldn’t find a publish date for this collection so I googled the author’s name and got a listing of most of the stories. I then googled the two which were not listed and found that The Garden of Paradise was published in 1839 and Great Claus and Little Claus was published in 1835. I loved the tale of the two Claus guys and how Little Claus outwitted the big guy.

2011-09-17T16:25:00.000-07:00

#117
Title: Luka and the Fire of Life
Author: Salman Rushie
Read by: Lyndam Gregory
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B
CDs/hours: 7/7.75
Published: 2010
Dates read: 8/29/11 – 9/17/11

Rushdie is a twenty-first century Hans Christian Anderson with his tale for young and old alike. Luka’s father must be saved from certain doom as he lies asleep from which no one can awaken him. In Luka’s quest to find the fire of life he meets Dog the Bear and Bear the Dog and other creatures who remind him of his father Rashid and mother and brother. The cast of characters that Luka meets cause us to think we are in stories like Sinbad, the sailor, or Alice in Wonderland. Luka and the Fire of Life is truly nonsensical yet charming.

2011-09-14T08:24:00.001-07:00

#116
Title: A Family Affair
Author: Rex Stout
Read by: Michael Pritchard
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B
Published: 1975
Dates read: 9/4/11 – 9/14/11

The last of Stout’s Nero Wolfe stories, the period is that of Watergate with reference to that event mentioned throughout the book. Archie and Nero uncover conspiracy and lies, the killer serves up a second helping of homicide, and Nero is left to face a most unpalatable truth – it’s a family affair.

2011-09-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

#115
Title: Confessions of a Teen Sleuth, A Parody
Author: Chelsea Cain
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author
Rating: B
Published: 2005
Dates read: 8/24/11 – 9/13/11

And a parody it is. Nancy Drew comes forward and says how Carolyn Keene misrepresented Nancy’s life and the girl sleuth sets us straight. Each chapter is chronologically set out from 1926 when Nancy reveals that Ned Nickerson was not the love of her life but Frank Hardy whom she met in 1925. The last chapter is from 1992 when Nancy tells us the truth of Carolyn Keene whom she met that year. Along the way of Nancy’s life she encounters other amateur detectives like Cherry Ames, Trixie Belden’s daughter who incidentally marries Ned Jr., Nancy’s son, Encyclopedia Brown and others. Truly delightful with mysteries that get solved along the way.

2011-09-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

#114
Title: Time’s Magpie
Author: Myla Goldberg
Genre: Non-fiction 943.71205
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Around the World in 80 Books, London Olympics
Rating: B
Published: 2004
Dates read: 8/10/11 – 9/12/11

Set in the Czech Republic Myla Goldberg paints a current picture of a city constrained by communist rule for much of the 20th century. “Our author lived in Prague in 1993 just as the process of Westernization was getting underway”, the book’s fly page states. “The city straddled a past it wished to shed and a future it was eager to embrace. In 2003 she returned to see what the pursuit of capitalism had wrought and to observe the integral ways in which Prague’s character had endured.” In writing her observances the book became part of the Crown Journey Series of other towns throughout the world by other well-known authors.

I love how she is able to give life to the city in general, the library, the noon signal, the Museum of Monastic Technology and some cemeteries where cultural heroes like Anton Dvorak, Karel Capek and Franz Kafka rest. One story in particular appealed to me because she told how she met two policemen and attempted to escape the city’s unpopular way of fining jaywalkers and the like. She describes the pair as Dim and The Mole because they have no badges. One cannot equate the police system in the States with that of The Czech Republic. As Goldberg describes it, “since the ‘fine’ being levied is going straight into the policeman’s pocket, there is no legislated price for freedom." You’ll just have to read the parody of the threesome to properly appreciate our judicial system.

2011-09-09T14:52:00.000-07:00

#113
Title: A Picture Book of Davy Crockett
Author: David A. Adler
Illustrated by: John & Alexandra Wallner
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, PB&J, Young Reader, Book Around the States
Rating: B
Published: 1966
Date: 9/9/11

This book held even the attention of my three year-old granddaughter until she fell asleep at naptime. I continued reading aloud and then to myself the author’s note and important dates. I remember the popular song from my childhood of the 1950s – Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier and the movie starring Fess Parker. The book is from a series, Picture Book Biographies, of which Adler has written extensively. The book covers the period of his life – from his birth on August 17, 1786, in a backwoods cabin in eastern Tennessee to his death at the time of siege of the Alamo in 1836.

2011-09-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

#112
Title: Frog Went A-Courtin’
Author: John Langstaff
Pictures by: Feodor Rojankovsky
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, PB&J, Young Reader
Rating: B
Published: 1955
Date: 9/9/11

Originally a story-song from Scotland, this rendition covers all sorts of versions handed down from over 400 years of generations. The author says “I have just put together the stories they sang without changing a word …” At the end he includes two or three bars of the song. Porter and I weren’t sure about the words since we’ve been listening to one version that we sing from a CD of Folk Playground music sung by Laurie Berkner. The pictures are delightful and whether or not you know the story it’s sure to make you smile.

2011-09-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

Jan & Ronda in the horse arena at the Evergreen State Fair, Monroe, WA Sun., Aug. 28

Elizabeth, Ronda's daughter showing off a stick horse she just made

Olivia & Ronda signing the book, Confessions of a Teen Sleuth

John, Ronda's husband (not knowing I caught him with his eyes closed!)

2011-08-30T22:05:00.001-07:00

#111
Title: Too Many Women
Author: Rex Stout
Read by: Michael Pritchard
Genre: Mystery
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear
Rating: B+
Published: (to be determined)
CDs/Hours: 6/7.51
Dates: 8/18/11 – 8/29/11

This, my first Nero Wolfe mystery, delighted my ears thoroughly as I listened to Archie Goodwin, Wolfe’s number one man, pose as a stockbroker on Wall Street. Archie works long hours interviewing suspects and fellow workers of a man supposedly murdered. A pleasurable side bennie for Archie is the wealth of “non-virgins” as he calls them who also work there. A clever ending nicely ties up the story after Archie and Wolfe solve the mystery. I’m looking forward to my next Wolfe and Goodwin mystery.

2011-08-30T21:52:00.000-07:00

#110
Title: The Log Cabin
Author: Alex W. Bealer & John O. Ellis
Genre: Non-Fiction (728)
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B
Published: 1978
Pages: 191
Dates: 7/18/11 – 8/29/11

Subtitled – Homes of the North American Wilderness, this illustrated book contains lots of detail about log cabin construction and the influence Scandanavia, France, England, Scotland and Ireland styles had on the log homes built in our country’s early days. Floor plans abound as well as different types of wood used. The book is not limited to log cabin construction but includes outbuildings, fences, furniture and the tools used to fashion each item. As though this were not enough, the authors include a chapter on log cabin living with items such as quilts, cooking utensils, fireplaces and the types of wood that burn best. The illustrations are also fun to look at. Preservation of log cabins has been a huge program in North America as evidenced by pictures of relocated and restored buildings in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Vermont, Minnesota, Washington and Canada. Native Americans also participated in building log homes based upon the styles in their areas. Because this art has caught the imagination of late 20th century folk, a list of kit manufacturers is useful to the would-be log cabin builder. A wonderful bibliography lists other books on the subject.

2011-08-30T21:20:00.001-07:00

#109
Title: All Aunt Hagar’s Children
Author: Edward P. Jones
Read by: Peter Francis James
Genre: Short Stories
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper In My Ear, To Be Read, Read Your Own Books, 100 Shots of Shorts
Rating: B
Published: 2006
CDs/Hours: 13/15.5
Dates: 7/21/11 – 8/29/11

Pulitzer Prize winning author, Jones, collects 14 short stories, set in Washington, D. C. From the review on the backside of the CD box – the book “turns an unflinching eye to the men, women and children caught between the old ways of the South and the temptations that await them in the city, people who in Jones’s masterful hands, emerge as fully human and morally complex, whether they are country folk used to getting up with the chickens or people with centuries of education behind them. With the legacy of slavery just a stone’s throw behind them and the future uncertain, Jones’s cornucopia of characters will haunt readers for years to come.”

2011-08-25T13:57:00.001-07:00

#108
Title: The Soul of Christianity
Author: Huston Smith
Genre: Non-Fiction (230)
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Deepen Faith, EBook
Rating: B
Published: 2005
eBook – 176 pages
Dates: 8/5/11 – 8/25/11

Subtitled Restoring the Great Tradition, Smith answers questions about the church, the Bible and the three main branches of Christianity today. While I’ve read both Smith’s and other’s works on Christianity – I especially like what he says about the Protestant Principle – one of the things that make Protestantism different from Orthodoxy and Catholicism. While Protestants believe that only God is infallible they also recognize that they themselves tend to idolize the Bible which means in their interpretation of it they filter it through their own human eyes and understanding. Smith also points out that “(a)nother common instance of idolatry within Protestantism has been the deification of the private religious experience. The Protestant Church’s insistence that faith must be a living experience has often led its constituents to assume that any vital experience must be the working of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps so, but again the experience is never pure Spirit” because the Spirit combines its essence with that of the human.

Smith so politely explains theological and philosophical points even if his vocabulary requires us to have a dictionary at hand.

2011-08-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

#107
Title: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Author: Jonathan Safran Foer
Read by: various narrators
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: A
Published: 2005
CDs/Hours: 10/11
Dates: 8/5/11 – 8/17/11

This is the perfect book to read this time of year, now in 2011. Though it’s about a nine year old boy it’s not for children. Oskar Schell has just lost his father in the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center. Oskar finds a key of his father’s but no lock for it and goes in search of it throughout the boroughs of New York. In his quest he meets numerous people who come to have an effect on him. It’s also a story about his paternal grandparents and their relationship with Oskar and his mother. I highly recommend this to anyone interested (or not) in the events of that fateful date ten years ago.

2011-08-04T16:27:00.001-07:00

#106
Title: The Story of Cirrus Flux
Author: Matthew Skelton
Read by: Jon Smith
Genre: Kid Chapter Book
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Whisper in My Ear, Young Reader, PB&J, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B
Published: 2009
CDs/Hours: 6/6.5
Dates: 7/29/11 – 8/4/11

Cirrus Flux, like his father, James, lived the life of an orphan. James Flux presumably left his son the breath of God, an item coveted by an evil woman. Cirrus, with the help of Pandora, escapes her clutches time and time again. Yet she’s intent on capturing him. Also to the rescue are Mr. Hardy and his trusty flying dragon towing a hot air balloon. Join the adventure as Cirrus and his buddies tramp the streets of London, wondering what will happen next.

2011-08-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

#105
Title: Gourmet Rhapsody
Author: Muriel Barbery
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, eBook, Whisper in My Ear
Rating: B
Published: 2009
Dates Listened to on eBook: 7/21/11 – 8/4/11

For the eclectic palette, Barbery describes foods in a sexual, luscious way from ice cream to bread, vegetables to mayonnaise. Combined with the family members, George, Anna, Laura, Paul, and Jean, we get a glimpse of what each character feels about the other and the food they eat. When listened to on eBook downloaded from the library, you get a you-are-there quality of overhearing what Anna thinks of her husband the food critique, George, and what Laura wants you to know about these two people, her parents. You’ll fall in love with the words used to describe each food encountered by each member, performed by narrators Norman Diez, Barbara Caruso and Eliza Foss.

2011-07-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

#104
Title: Dora’s Pirate Adventure
Author: Leslie Valdes
Illustrated by: Dave Aikens
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, New Author, Young Readers, PB&J, Support Your Local Library
Rating: B
Published: 2005
Date Read: 7/29/11

Dora has invited us to a pirate play and we need to find our costumes. But the Pirate Piggies have captured the costume chest! So we need to find where they have gone and get the chest back. As Dora and friends sail the seven seas they go under a bridge and almost fall down a water fall. But I’m telling you too much. You just have to read the story to find out the rest of it.

2011-07-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

#103
Title: Diego’s Egyptian Expedition
Author: adapted by Emily Sollinger
Illustrated by: Warner McGee
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, New Author, Young Readers, PB&J, Support Your Local Library
Rating: B
Published: 2009
Date Read: 7/29/11

We are greeted by Diego’s “hola” as he starts his expedition in Egypt. Seems like the country is experiencing a draught and the animals at Medina’s Animal Rescue Center are thirsty, including the camels. She has a camel friend named Jamal who knows all about the desert. He also knows that a magic Golden Cloud can make it rain – Diego and Medina just have to know where to find it. The trip is eventful and finally when the three friends return … Well, you’ll just have to read the story to find out what happens on their trip across Egypt to the pyramids.

2011-07-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

#102
Title: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
Author: Beatrix Potter
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: B
Published: 1903
Date Read: 7/28/11

Squirrel Nutkin is a precocious squirrel – more interested in badgering Mr. Brown, the owl, with riddles than gathering nuts with the other squirrels. This story was a favorite of my daughters when she was my granddaughter’s present age of three. This story would also have been read to my mother and to me!

2011-07-28T15:35:00.001-07:00

#101
Title: Lentil
Author: Robert McCloskey
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J, Book Around the States
Rating: B
Published: 1940
Date Read: 7/28/11

The setting is Alto, Ohio; the boy is Lentil; his misfortune is that he cannot sing well nor whistle; his solution is a harmonica. Thus sets the stage for this timeless character who endears the town of Alto and us with his gift of harmonica playing. Colonel Carter, the town hero, comes to town and he, too, played the harmonica. See what the Colonel does for the town as you read the book.

2011-07-27T14:07:00.001-07:00

#100
Title: Kisses on the Wind
Author: Lisa Moser
Illustrator: Kathryn Brown
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: A
Published: 2009
Date Read: 7/27/11

This is another grandma/granddaughter book. Told in first person by Lydia, she and her Papa and Mama are getting ready to leave for Oregon in the covered wagon and it’s time to say good-bye to Grandma. She and Grandma go for a walk and share memories. At one point Lydia puts her head in Grandma’s lap and cries. Then they run and laugh and sit some more. Grandma says she’ll be picturing and gives Lydia a small book of the stories she has written, the stories she’s been telling Lydia all their years together. Then they hug and Lydia breathes in her grandma’s scent so as not to forget her. Next, they walk hand-in-hand back to the wagon all loaded now for the trek westward.

2011-07-26T14:33:00.001-07:00

#99
Title: Twenty is Too Many
Author: Kate Duke
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: B
Published: 2000
Date Read: 7/26/11

This is an arithmetic book in which we start with twenty guinea pigs and take away one at a time until we have just one left. Cleverly done, Duke has the guineas boating, diving, stinking, sneaking, yelling and fishing, to name a few. You’ll be delighted with the one who is left.

2011-07-25T19:49:00.001-07:00

#98
Title: The Light of the World
Author: Katherine Paterson
Illustrator: Francois Roca
Genre: Non-Fiction (E232.901)
Challenges: Read and Review, New Author, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: A
Published: 2008
Date Read: 7/25/11

Taken from the Bible, Newbery Medalist Paterson tells the story of Jesus with the loveliest of pictures drawn by Francois Roca. Paterson’s introduction tells us that God created the heavens and earth and said “Let there be light” and then explains that in the time of Isaiah the prophet believed God promised that the people who were living in darkness would someday see a great light. From the Christmas to the Easter story we hear about the life of Jesus, the light of the world and that “the light still shines through everyone who, like Jesus, lives the good news of God’s loving kingdom.”

2011-07-24T14:18:00.001-07:00

#97
Title: South of Broad
Author: Pat Conroy
Read by: Mark Deakins
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, Fill in the Gaps, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Support Your Local Library
Rating: A
Published: 2009
Dates: 6/20/11 – 7/24/11
CD/Hours: 16/20

This is one excellent book by Conroy. The story, set in South Carolina begins June 16, 1989, when we meet the King family celebrating Bloomsday. Against the sumptuous backdrop of Charleston, South Carolina, this book gathers a unique cast of sinners and saints. Among our characters are Leopold Bloom King, Sheba and Trevor Poe, Niles and Starla Whitehead, Molly Huger, Chadworth Rutledge X and his sister Frazier and the parents. Leo’s brother committed suicide at the tender age of ten. By the end of the book we learn not just how this happened, but what brought it about. “The ties among them endure for years, surviving marriages happy and troubled, unrequited loves and unspoken longings, hard-won successes and devastating breakdowns, as well as Charleston’s dark legacy of racism and class divisions.” Conroy tells it like is.

2011-07-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

#96
Title: Where or When
Author: D. M. Ulmer
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, To Be Read, Read Your Own Book
Rating: B+
Published: 2010
Dates: 7/14/11 – 7/24/11

The title is from the 1940s hit Where or When, The story is from an idea the author had when wondering what happened to a WWI aviator who was shot down over France in the later days of the war. Ulmer has succinctly pulled together the early 20th century events into the 21st century. It’s also a love story on two fronts. If you like genealogy, romance and a well-written tale of love and honor, this novella will touch your heart as it did mine.

2011-07-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

#95
Title: Mothers and Sons
Author: Colm Toibin
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear
Rating: B+
Published: 2007
Dates: 7/13/11 – 7/21/11

This collection of nine short stories is fantastic. I love what the reviewer said about Toibin being able to exact “control over both form and material never varies … his adaptability in writing short or long, and in working with characters far difference from another, is astonishing …” A couple of my favorites were The Name of the Game and The Long Winter. In keeping with the theme of the title these stories tell of mothers and their sons and the psychological push and pull they have on each other.

2011-07-21T10:20:00.001-07:00

#94
Title: The Food-Mood Solution, All Natural Ways to Banish Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Stress, Overeating, and Alcohol and Drug Problems -- and Feel Good Again
Author: Jack Challem
Genre: Non-Fiction (616.890654)
Challenges: Read and Review, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Foodies
Rating: B+
Published: 2007
Dates Read: 7/8/11 – 7/21/11

Great book for isolating physical and mental conditions and knowing what vitamins, minerals and foods can help regulate neurotransmitters that govern these conditions. Challem divides the book into three parts. Part I – The Food Mood Connection gives an overview of How Food Affects Your Mood, How Life’s Stresses Do a Number on Your Moods and Neuronutrients, Moods and Your Mind.

In Part II we learn How to Improve Your Moods which is broken down into four steps – Take Your Supplements, Eat Mood-Enhancing Foods, Be More Active and Begin Changing Your Life Habits. In the Take Your Supplements section he lists twenty different mood and behavior problems and the supplement that can help correct them. He then goes on to describe each vitamin and its principal use, what else you should know and the proper dosage. Throughout the book he cautions us to contact our physician when combining supplements with prescribed medicines and suggests we find a nutritionally-oriented physician. In the Eat Mood-Enhancing Foods he gives guidelines for developing good eating habits and provides menus and recipes.

Part III – Improving Your Specific Mood and Behavior Concerns covers dealing with aggression, anxiety, ADHD-like behavior, overweight pre-diabetes, depression and alcoholic and drug abuse.

Throughout the book he gives quick tips such as why it’s important to read food labels and case studies that help put his recommendations into perspective.

2011-07-14T13:32:00.001-07:00

#93
Title: Dakota Dugout
Author: Ann Turner
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Fill in the Gaps, New Author, Book Around the States, Young Readers, PB&J, Support Your Local Library
Rating: B+
Published: 1985
Date Read: 7/14/11

This gramma gets teary eyed because the story is about a grandmother who tells her granddaughter about what it was like being a young bride on the Dakota prairie. Maybe it’s the poetic text that brings the tears or maybe it’s just the thought of the bond a grandmother has with her granddaughter. Whatever the cause, the story is heartfelt and shows the new generation what it’s like to live in another time and I love it.

2011-07-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

#92
Title: A Visit from the Goon Squad
Author: Jennifer Egan
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Buy One Book and Read It, Fill in the Gaps, New Author, Read Your Own Books, To Be Read
Rating: B
Published: 2010
Dates: 6/9/11 – 7/13/11

I think this year’s Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction requires a second read before I can truly appreciate the characters and how they inter-relate with each other. Yet the book is all American by today’s standards and that’s what the Pulitzer Prize is all about. I think Egan won this year not only for her beautiful command of language and writing but also for her ability to use technology that ties the future with the past and present.

2011-07-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

#91
Title: My Wife’s Affair
Author: Nancy Woodruff
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear
Rating: B+
Published: 2010
Dates: 7/8/11 – 7/12/11
CDs/Hours: 5/6.5

Georgie Connolly is an actor, wife, and mother. When she and husband Peter and three sons move to London, Georgie once again wants to get back into acting. She lands a roll as Dora Jordan, an actress from the 19th century who has 13 children. Georgie does well in her roll yet “risks it all for an affair that will have consequences no one could anticipate.” Woodruff, author of, Someone Else’s Child, writes well and incorporates the theme of how children react to the pressures of their parents.

2011-07-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

#90
Title: Bless Me, Ultima
Author: Rudolfo Anaya
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, New Author, Support Your Local Library, Book Around the States, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear
Rating: B
Published: 1972
Dates: 6/17/11 – 7/7/11
CDs/Hours: 10/11.25

From the back cover – “Tony faces the daunting prospect of growing up amidst constant religious and cultural uncertainty. His mother is a devoted Catholic, but her influence is challenged by Ultima – a woman with magical healing powers. As Tony follows his own path toward adulthood, he relies on Ultima’s wisdom. With her guidance he is able to forge his unique identity. “ Anaya is the winner of the Premio Quinto Sol, the national Chicano literature award.

2011-07-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

#89
Title: Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time
Author: Marcus J. Borg
Genre: Religious (232.908)
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Deepen Faith, EBook
Rating: B
Published: 1994
Dates: 6/18/11 – 7/4/11
Pages: 162

I read this as an eBook -- not something I do on a regular basis – yet. For its time this book has been celebrated as the single best seller book by a contemporary Jesus scholar. Indeed, Borg gives us pause when we consider and reconsider his take on who Jesus is. The book is subtitled The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith. Borg describes the pre-Easter and post-Easter Jesus, Jesus as the Wisdom of God and covers others areas of who Borg thinks Jesus really is. An additional part entitled The Meaning of Easter is an excerpt from a book by Marcus J. Borg and N. T. Wright, The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions published in 1999. This extra work gives the five meanings of the completed patterns of Good Friday and Easter as it relates to Jesus death and resurrection.

The thing I liked most about the book was Borg’s reason for writing it. He was asked to do a presentation to an Episcopal group about Jesus and to make it personal. Though a challenge, Borg answered the call. Together with material from his lectures, his own personal experiences that include his secular as well as life as a Christian, this book was born. He says he wrote it for people who are Christians, knew Jesus from their childhood and, like himself, began questioning why their childhood image of Jesus no longer made a great deal of sense to them as adults. The bottom line when all is said and written here is – “That life is not ultimately about believing or about being good. … It is about a relationship with God that involves us in a journey of transformation.”

2011-06-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

#88
Title: Nomad: From Islam to America, a Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations
Author/Narrator: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Genre: Bio
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear
Rating: B+
Published: 2010
Dates: 6/11/11 – 6/18/11
CDs/Hours: 10/11

Ali, also author of Infidel, narrates again her memoirs of escaping the Islam religion and the tenets that bind it to the middle ages. This time her theme is sex, money and violence and she gives descriptions of how restrictive and antediluvian each concept is as it pertains to the Islamic faith. She quotes the Quran, chapter and verse, in support of men owning their wives and disciplining them if they even feel their women may disobey them. And this is putting it mildly. Recently, Ali has established a foundation called AHA (for her initials) in which she promotes the welfare of girls being allowed to pursue an education and the abatement of genital mutilation and other human rights issues. If you want to better understand Islam and its suppression of human rights, this is a must-read.

2011-06-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

#87
Title: The Easter Parade
Author: Richard Yates
Read by: Kristoffer Tabori
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear
Rating: B
Published: 2001
Dates: 6/7/11 – 6/17/11
CDs/Hours: 6/6.5

I found Tabori’s voice a bit annoying at first, probably because this is a story about two sisters and Mr. Tabori used his best falsetto to achieve the voices of not only Sarah and Emily but their mother, Pookie, and other women in the tale. Otherwise, the book achieved success in describing the relationships among the women and the men in their lives.

The book must have been published posthumously since Yates died in 1992 and the book was published 2001.

2011-06-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

#86
Title: Toot & Puddle Toot’s Tour of India
Author: adapted by Laura F. Marsh
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: B
Published: 2009
Date read: 6/16/11

In this story Toot tours India but not before he and Puddle agree that Puddle water the garden. Although Toot totally touts his tour of India it’s Puddle who points out how important it is to grow friendships as well as gardens.

2011-06-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

#85
Title: Dreaming: a Countdown to Sleep
Author: Elaine Greenstein
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: B
Published: 2000
Date read: 6/15/11

This is another great bedtime story and counts down to the time when your little one is almost asleep.

2011-06-15T20:59:00.001-07:00

#84
Title: Sailing Off to Sleep
Author: Linda Ashman
Illustrated by: Susan Winter
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: B
Published: 2001
Date read: 6/15/11

In rhyme Ashman and Winter create a story so appropriate to the nighttime storybook. We find mommy encouraging small daughter to climb into bed yet the girl has her own ideas (not unlike Porter and other children) of what she’d rather be doing at bedtime. She hooks her boat to the tail of a whale, meets a walrus, cuddles a polar bear, shares ice cream with the rabbits and encounters a number of other arctic animals. The story is a true delight.

2011-06-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

#83
Title: It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
Author: Andrea Spalding
Illustrated by: Leslie Elizabeth Watts
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, New Author

, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: B
Published: 2001
Date read: 6/15/11

Taking the old children’s poem, It’s Raining, It’s Pouring, the Old Man is Snoring, Spalding and Watts have given special life to the story of the Old Man as seen through the eyes of Little Girl.

2011-06-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

#82
Title: The Book of ZZZs (E612.821)
Author: Arlene Alda
Genre: Kid Pic Book (non-fiction)
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: B
Published: 2005
Date read: 6/15/11

Alda has a way with photographs and this book is full of charming pictures of animals and people sleeping – on unusual surfaces, in different postures, some pretty conventional. This book makes you smile!

2011-06-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

#81
Title: Birthday Mice!
Author: Bethany Roberts
Illustrated by: Doug Cushman
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Young Readers, PB&J
Rating: B
Published: 2002
Date read: 6/15/11

The mice are preparing to celebrate one mouse’s birthday. He’s turning two. Things go well at first – balloons get blown up, the guests begin arriving. Then things really break loose. Before you know it mouse’s cowboy theme becomes a nightmare. But squirrel saves the day when he becomes the answer to what mouse wished for his birthday present to be. I especially ordered this book from the library because Porter will be celebrating her third birthday later this month.

2011-06-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

#80
Title: Sam and Anna Go West
Author: Jeanette Olson Azcuenaga
Genre: Memoir
Challenges: Read and Review, New Author, Book Around the States, To Be Read, Read Your Own Book
Rating: B
Published: 2010
Date read: 5/29/11 – 6/8/11

I’ve been on a “going west” kick lately and this book by a friend really fit the ticket. Each chapter can be read independently yet I read it straight through, thoroughly enjoying each vignette. The story mostly progresses chronologically so I was happy to take in the progression of Jeanette’s life from the time of her Swedish grandparents’ immigration to South Dakota to a time when Jeanette looked back in her later years to reminisce over her life. She knows Lynnwood, Washington as her home.

2011-06-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

#79
Title: The Glass Castle
Author: Jeannette Walls
Read by: Julia Gibson
Genre: Autobiography
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: B+
CTs/Hours: 8/11.25
Published: 2005
Dates read: 6/1/11 – 6/8/11

Author Jeannette Walls tells of growing up in a dysfunctional family. One of four children Jeannette along with sisters, Laura and Maureen and brother, Brian pretty much fend for themselves. Their father is alcoholic and mother is without a lick of common sense and together aren’t concerned that they have no job and little food to feed their brood. The book remains on the NYT Best-Seller list and for good reason. The author demonstrates that in spite of raising themselves and trying to be there for their parents, three of the four go on to rise above it all and become responsible adults. Walls’ style of writing without sentimentality allows the irony of their lifestyle to surface. This book together with Half-Broke Horses contributes to the story of the Jeannette’s mother and maternal grandmother.

2011-05-31T21:35:00.000-07:00

#78
Title: Going West
Author: Jean Van Leeuwan
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, Young Reader, New Author, Book Around the States
Rating: B
Published: 1992
Date read: 5/31/11

In the style of Wilder, Van Leeuwan writes the story of Hannah and her family who travel west in a covered wagon. They sleep under the stars, weather terrible storms and cross rivers so wide and deep that the horses have to swim. Though not as detailed as the Laura books, I still felt the poignancy of how the family felt during their first year in Kansas (though the book doesn’t actually give the name of the state because it may have been a territory at the time).

2011-05-31T20:56:00.000-07:00

#77
Title: Little Town on the Prairie
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Read by: Cherry Jones
Music by: Paul Woodiel
Genre: Y/A
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Fill in the Gaps
Rating: B+
CDs/Hours: 6/6.5
Published: 1941
Dates read: 5/18/11 – 5/31/11

This is the seventh in the Laura Years series but it’s the 8th book of hers I’ve read. Delightful describes the story – Laura earning money to send Mary to college in Iowa, standing up for her other sister, Carrie, in school, attending socials and birthday parties, living in town for the winter and making time for a new caller, Almanzo Wilder.

2011-05-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

#76
Title: How Can I Help?
Author: Ram Dass and Paul Gorman
Genre: Non-Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Read Your Own Book, Fill in the Gaps, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, To Be Read, Deepen Faith
Rating: B+
Published: 1985
Dates read: 5/1/11 – 5/28/11

This book is subtitled, Stories and Reflections on Service. In it we find chapters entitled – Natural Compassion, Who’s Helping?, Suffering, The Listening Mind, Helping Prison, The Way of Social Action, Burnout and Reprise: Walking Each Other Home. The book answers questions like Do I have the capacity to help others? Am I doing enough for someone? Am I doing too much for them? The authors talk about what our heart feels and our head’s response to taking a step towards being in service to others.

This book is for anyone – whether they are contemplating becoming a volunteer at a community center or just helping your next door neighbor or just wondering about life in general. The authors spent many hours listening to stories from those who not only face suffering but people who serve, ‘day in and night out’. Ram Dass and Paul Gorman have added their own reflections – whether simply to appreciate and ponder truths or to take the testimonies and show how they helped identify and examine specific challenges all of us face, caring for one another.

What I liked about the book were the instructional portions as in the chapter on Suffering where we are asked to open ourselves to pain by first finding a comfortable position where we can be quiet for a few moments, then bringing into our awareness a thought or bodily sensation that is uncomfortable to us. Next we’re asked to let our attention settle around this thought or sensation and allow ourselves to be with the discomfort, then release it, possess it, release it. Deeper and deeper we go until the sensation becomes just a sensation. Ram Dass (aka Richard Alpert) and Gorman give credit to this exercise to Stephen Levine, author of Who Dies.

When the book is done we find we’re just like others who question their abilities to serve other people, that we are capable of more compassion than we know and we’re all in this together. It’s okay to question ourselves and be there for ourselves until we’re ready to be there for others again.

2011-05-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

#75
Title: The Sea of Monsters
Author: Rick Riordan
Read by: Jesse Berns
Dates read: 4/27/11 - 5/23/11
Genre: Kid Series Book
Published:
Challenges: Read and Review, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, The 2nd, Support Your Local Library, Whisper in My Ear, Young Readers
Rating: B

From the back cover - "Percy Jackson's seventh-grade year has been surprisingly quiet. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep school campus. But when an innocent game of dodge ball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get ... well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of Percy's friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.

"In this fresh, funny, and hugely anticipated follow-up to The Lightning Thief, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their beloved camp. but first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family -- one that makes him wonder whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor, or simply a cruel joke."

The story's end sets up the third book in this best-selling series for nine to fourteen year olds.

2011-05-29T14:09:00.001-07:00

#74
Title: The Eleventh Man
Author: Ivan Doig
Read by: Tom Stechschulte
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Book Around the States
Rating: B
CDs/Hours: 11/13 1/2
Published: 2008
Dates read: 5/3/11 – 5/23/11

From the back cover – “National Book Award nominee Ivan Doig whisks readers back to the battleground of World War II for this captivating novel about 11 young men who answer the call.

“Inspired by the memory of a dead teammate, TSU’s starting football squad powers its way to an undefeated season and takes its place in Montana state lore. Then, when their country needs them, these champion athletes and close friends eagerly enlist, only to be scattered across the globe in various theaters. One of them, Ben Reinking, is recruited by the propaganda machine to follow the others and write their stories for small-town newspapers across America. But Ben’s buddies are dying one by one – and it often seems like they’ve been pushed into harm’s way.

“A sweeping tale of friendship, heroism, and finding unexpected love amidst catastrophic destruction. The Eleventh Man is a uniquely American epic steeped in nostalgia.”

2011-05-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

#73
Title: A Good Year
Author: Peter Mayle
Read by: John Lee
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Fill in the Gaps
Rating: B
CTs/Hours: 5/7 1/2
Published: 2004
Dates: 5/9/11 - 5/20/11

When Max loses his job in London, he finds himself in Provence, France, the heir to a vineyard. Things get complicated when the daughter of Max's deceased uncle appears on the scene. She, too, may lay claim to the land. Add a lawyer to help sort things out, a caretaker who'd also like to have the property and a local waitress who has eyes for Max and you have a recipe for a sumptuous summer of learning about the wine trade.

2011-05-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

#72
Title: Olivia Saves the Circus
Author: Ian Falconer
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Challenges: Read and Review, PB&J, Support Your Local Library, Young Reader, The 2nd
Rating: B
Published: 2001
Date read: 5/5/11

Olivia is at it again. This time it has to do with the circus. First off, she makes pancakes for breakfast for her brothers – old bro William and younger one Ian. Then it is time to dress. Olivia has many beautiful clothes but must wear her uniform to school. Thank goodness for accessories. At school, she tells the class what she did on her vacation. She tells about the time her mom took her and William to the circus. From then on, she tells them all the wonderful things she did – riding the elephants, taming the lions, walking on stilts, and riding a unicycle are just a few of the marvelous things she knew how to do.

.

2011-05-03T18:52:00.001-07:00

#71
Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Greg Heffley’s Journal
Author: Jeff Kinney
Narrated by: Ramon de Ocampo
Genre: Kid Chapter Book
Challenges: Read and Review, PB&J, Support Your Local Library, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Whisper in My Ear, Young Readers, The 2nd
Rating: B
Published: 2007
CTs/Hours: 2/2
Date read: 5/2/11 – 5/3/11

Greg’s mom buys him a diary but he insists its only a journal. He uses it to chronicle his days – as older brother to his baby brother; younger brother to older bro, Rodrick; son to caring parents and friend to the guys at school. Throughout his year as a 6th grader he muses about fickle girls, his fleeting popularity and keeps us in stitches the whole time. Great best-selling series for ages 8 and up.

2011-05-03T18:47:00.001-07:00

#70
Title: Hooray for Harry
Author: Kim Lewis
Genre: Kid Picture Book
Challenges: Read and Review, PB&J, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd
Rating: B
Published: 2006
Date read: 5/2/11

Harry has lost his blanket and can’t find it. His friends, Lulu and Ted help him. They look all over – from their picnic site to the place where the blanket served as a sail; from the tent they made with it to the clothes line where they hung it to dry after washing it. Read to find out where they found it and what they did afterwards. A delightful going-to-bed story book and for taking into the bed with you – if you’re only almost three years old.

2011-05-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

#69
Title: Stump Town Kid
Author: Carol Gorman & Ron J. Findley
Read by: Terry Bregy
Genre: Kid Chapter Book
Challenges: Read and Review, PB&J, Support Your Local Library, New Author, Whisper in My Ear, Book Around the States, Young Readers, 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Rating: A
CDs/Hours: 4/5
Published: 2005
Dates read: 4/27/11 – 5/2/11

Set in Iowa in 1952, 11 year old Charlie Nebraska befriends a transient 25 year-old black professional baseball player, Luther Peale. Their unique friendship has the whole town talking! Luther helps Charlie and his friends become better baseball players and Charlie helps Luther confront racial discrimination. A mix of sports, suspense and heroism!

2011-05-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

#68
Title: Hugging the Shore
Author: John Updike
Genre: Non-fiction (814.5)
Challenges: Fill in the Gaps
Rating: B
Published: 1983
Date read: 11/16/09 – 4/30/11
No. of pages - 878

Mostly this tome is a collection of essays, book reviews of books written between the mid-1970’s through the early 1980’s and a Q&A at the end of Updike interviews about his writing and awards he’s won. Not really a book to be read straight through yet that’s what I did with a few breaks while I read other books, listened to cassette tapes and compact discs. For the most part I didn’t recognize many authors because many of them were foreign. There were, however, a number of authors I did recognize or that were referred to. Among these folk are also people referred to like James Garner who was mentioned in the biography of Doris Day by A. E. Hotchner. Garner, when interviewed commented that Day was one of the sexiest screen ladies he’d had the pleasure to be intimate with on-screen.

Other authors I’m familiar with are Mark Twain, Saul Bellow, John Cheever, Don DeLillo and Isak Dinesen, Ernest Hemingway and Anne Tyler. Others that I intend to read though maybe not the book Updike reviewed are Jean Rhys, V. S. Naipaul and Gustave Flaubert. And still other foreign authors like Bertolt Brecht, Milan Kundera and L. E. Sissman.

Updike appears fair in his assessment of author talents or ineptness. He isn’t afraid to call it where it lies. He touts and admonishes, sings praises and pans. Each sentence is one you’ll never read again. And such is the talent of this gifted writer. I plowed each furrow of each review and unearthed more poems, tales and letters from every corner of the world. This isn’t a book for everyone but if you read it, you may find a jewel or two and a better appreciation than I have.

2011-04-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

#67
Title: Olivia
Author: Ian Falconer
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read & Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: B
Published: 2000
Date read: 4/26/11

Olivia the pig is one extraordinary animal as exhibited by the clothes she wears, the variety of things she knows how to do well, the places she goes and the number of books she likes to read before bedtime. She reminds me a lot of my granddaughter!

2011-04-28T17:54:00.000-07:00

#66
Title: Can’t Sleep Without Sheep
Author: Susanna Leonard Hill
Illustrated by: Mike Wohnoutka
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read & Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, PB&J, Young Readers
Rating: B
Published: 2010
Date read: 4/25/11

When Ava can’t sleep she calls upon the sheep to help. Raucous behavior on behalf of all sorts of animals causes Ava to get her sheep back, because only sheep know how to jump fences sensibly and peaceably enough to one to sleep!

2011-04-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

#65
Title: Cutting for Stone
Author: Abraham Verghese
Narrator: Sunil Malhotra
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: Read & Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Around the World in 80 Books, London Olympics
Rating: A
Published: 2009
Dates read: 3/14/11 - 4/25/11
CDs/Hours: 19/24

When their Indian mother dies in childbirth and their British surgeon father disappears, twin brothers, Marion and Shiva Stone are orphaned. As they come of age in revolutionary Ethiopia, they share not only a fascination with medicine but a passion for the same woman. Marion flees his homeland, eventually making his way to American where he is forced to confront his past and rely on the two people who have betrayed him on the deepest level.

2011-04-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

#64
Title: From Beirut to Jerusalem
Author/Narrator: Thomas L. Friedman
Genre: Non - Fiction (956)
Challenges: Read & Review, Support Your Local Library, The 2nd, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Fill in the Gaps, Around the World in 80 Books, London Olympics
Rating: B+
Published: 1988
Dates read: 4/24/11 - 4/25/11
Cts/Hours: 2/3

This abridged book won the 1989 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Thomas Friedman has been a bestselling author for years and this book is no exception. With his background in reporting for UPI and The New York Times, Friedman has a pulse on the political unrest in the Middle East. If you read this book, you’ll gain an understanding about why and where Israel is in the political world today. The book should be required reading by high school students (even this abridged version) for a view on the political sciences of both Israel and Lebanon.

2011-04-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

#63
Title: The Great Railway Bazaar
Author: Paul Theroux
Narrated by: Frank Muller
Genre: Non - Fiction (915.04)
Challenges: Read & Review, Support Your Local Library, New Author, Whisper in My Ear, 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Fill in the Gaps
Rating: B
Published: 1975
Dates read: 4/9/11 - 4/23/11
Cts/Hours: 8/11.5

Theroux begins his sojourn in London and travels to Asia aboard the Orient Express through India, Malaysia, Russia, China and other peripheral countries over a period of four months. He takes in the sights, reminisces, meets his fellow travelers, reads and writes, eats, drinks and sleeps. Colorfully narrated by Frank Muller we see and experience things we may never have opportunity to do.

2011-04-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

#62
Title: Easter Mice!
Author: Bethany Roberts
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, PB&J, Young Readers, New Author
Rating: A
Published: 2003
Date read: 4/17/11

Bright, beautiful colors draw the young reader into this enchanting story of mice on an Easter egg hunt. Set in verse mice search for their holiday eggs. One small mouse has a difficult time finding even one egg. Maybe because it is spring and everything is colorful. Finally mousie locates an egg. This egg is about to pop! Read to find out what kind of critter hatches right before their eyes!

2011-04-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

#61
Title: Silly Tilly and the Easter Bunny
Author: Lillian Hoban
Genre: Kid Pic Book
Challenges: Read and Review, Support Your Local Library, PB&J, Young Readers, New Author
Rating: A
Published: 1987
Date read: 4/17/11

When Silly Tilly Mole wakes up one morning she realizes the Easter Bunny is at her front door. Through a series of events from losing her glasses, to wearing a flower pot as her Easter bonnet she finally invites her honored guest in for tea. It’s an I-Can-Read book and also a read-to-me book that Porter thoroughly enjoyed.