People of the Book / Geraldine Brooks/ 372 pp

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks is a fictionalized history of the Sarajevo Haggadah. Hanna Heath, an Australian book restorer, is called by the UN to work on the Haggadah to get it ready for display. The book, used by Jews during the Seder, is rare because it is illustrated. It was saved during the Bosnian War by a Muslim librarian which makes it a symbol of unity between the faiths. The UN hopes the display will draw the people together again. As Hanna uncovers mysteries concerning the book -- an insect wing, stains and hair -- the reader is transported back in time to the people who left their mark on the precious book. A wonderfully written book that I enjoyed immensely!

The Order of Odd Fish / James Kennedy / 403 pages

A ruby palace in the middle of the desert, an aging ex-movie star aunt, a Christmas costume party, an overweight Russian who journeys around the world at the behest of his digestive tract, a talking 3 foot tall cockroach...  To say this book is unusual would be an understatement.  13-year-old Jo Hazelwood must deal with it all.  Could she be the monster feared by the city of Eldritch and the knights of the order of odd fish?  Sometimes reading like a thesaurus, this book is a great vocabulary builder.  Humorous to a fault, the book certainly requires the reader to suspend disbelief.

Call Me Irresistible / Susan Elizabeth Phillips 387 p.

Returning characters from Phillips previous works (Glitter Baby, Fancy Pants, and First Lady) delight the reader. The aimless Meg Koranda, daughter of Hollywood legends, breaks up the marriage between Ted Beaudine, and Lucy Jorik, daughter of first woman president. Everyone in Wynette, Tex., loves Ted and they defend their favorite son. Meg’s parents show tough love to get her to make something of herself so they cut her off and she finds herself without funds, living in a Rustmobile, and owing a chunk for her hotel room. Stranded, Meg becomes the town’s pariah and forced to accept a menial job cleaning toilets to pay off her hotel room—probably her first. Meg, honest, outspoken, and reckless, finds herself in the center of a campaign to get a multimillionaire to invest in an environmentally green golf course that is needed to boost the town’s shaky economy. This tosses her into contact with both Ted, the billionaire, his daughter, and the quirky townspeople. Her wit and her famous pedigree get the multimillionaire pursing her. To give herself an out with the multimillionaire she declares her love for Ted. So she fakes a romantic interest in Ted. Meg’s path to acceptance is rocky indeed. Phillip’s works demonstrate her gift for witty dialogue and intriguing characters. A bestseller from a RITA winner. Phillips says that Lucy Jorik deserves her happy ending and is hard at work on her story.

Ready for Anything/ Keiko Kasza

I read the 2011 Building block book nominees. My favorite was Ready for Anything because I have a soft spot for worried, paranoid animal characters. Raccoon obsesses about the dangers of going on a picnic. Duck "reframes" the outdoor experience possibilities for raccoon. This is a very good psychological technique that would be beneficial for anyone to learn at a young age. Positive self-talk rather than negative is always good. Set in this story, it is great; not didactic at all. (reminds me of Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt-another favorite of mine)

My next favorite building block book was Silly Tilly by Eileen Spinelli because it is very silly, and rhymes, and also shows that everyone needs that different sort of character around.

Smash Cut / Sandra Brown / 367p.

The murder of Paul Wheeler has all the elements of a blockbuster: family rivalries, incalculable wealth, and a prominent man dying in the arms of his beautiful mistress. Which also makes this book very scripted and flat, you know you have seen this storyline before.  Of course there is the very handsome, power hungry Lawyer who saves and falls in love with the independent, spirited mistress.  The villain is a rich kid who is obsessed with movies and spends a lot of time describing famous movie plots or responding with mainstream movie quotes (which after awhile gets kind of annoying).  The plot line of the book suffers from the fact that the suspense and harassment of the main characters continue because they keep secrets from each other and never talk to the police.  And, I never really cared for the romance between the leads considering their first "romantic" encounter is in an airplane bathroom (ahhh, nothing says true love like that!).  My Final Verdict: FAIL!

Maybe This Time/ Jennifer Crusie/ 478 pages

First time for me to read this author. Wow, such an interesting writing style and such quirky characters!

The 2nd page, she describes the ex-mother-in-law in terms of her ex-husband's desk which she evidently despised: "A lot of really big trees had died to make that desk. His mother had probably gnawed them down, used her nails to saw the boards, and finished the decorative cutwork with her tongue." Just say how you feel; no hostility there. It was great, and fun. This book has ghosts, children she describes as "Damien and the Bad Seed" and really strange characters. I would definitely read another even though it's far from my usual type of book.

Get Yer Bonus Points Here!!!

Hey all!  I just posted January & February's Reading Challenges for those of you that want to rack up some extra points.  And if you have an idea for a reading challenge, just send me an email.  I mean I have to come up with 12 of them...HELP!!!  To see the Challenges just click on the link in the above menu that says "Bonus Points!"  Then keep reading those books and let me know somewhere in your blog posts if your book qualifies for some of those extra points.  -ENJOY! 

Son of the Mob/ Gordon Korman/ 262 pages

Vince Luca is the son of mafia boss Anthony Luca. He wants nothing to do with the family business, but just seems to keep getting involved. Then he finds himself dating the daughter of the FBI agent that is looking to bring down his father. Will Vince ever get out? And will he be able to continue dating the "FBI princess"?
It was an okay book. Kind of funny, but not great...

Ramona and Beezus/Beverly Cleary/159 pages

Ramona is the pesky, stubborn and imaginative sister of Beatrice Quimby. This book tells of Beezus(the nickname given by her sister) and her troubles and trials with Ramona as she tags along to her art class, plans her own birthday party without permission and generally drives her sister nuts.

These Ramona books were some of my favorite when I was young and I enjoyed reading it again; it brought back good memories.

Fat Chance/Julie Hadden/249 pages

Julie Hadden, of the biggest loser, recounts her time on the ranch and the personal sturggles she went through before, during and after her time on the hit show. She shed about 100 pounds, actually became friends with the tough trainer, Jillian Michaels, but more than than she found strength she didn't know she had and a deeper faith in God. A few months after coming home she received an even bigger blessing in answer to a dream that she had been praying and hoping would come true for years.

I was very inspired and motivated by her personal struggle and encouraging words.

Unchartered Territori/Tori Spelling/214 pages

Tori Spelling writes her third book on her life, this one focuses on her health problems, marriage struggles and her infamous problems with her mom, Candy Spelling. She seeks out any and all sources to help with these issues including psychics and her friend who tries to heal her body with weird animal pastes and removing items from her house that have bad energy.

It is a fluff book though very interesting to look inside the lives of those in Hollywood. I feel for Tori as she seeks for so many answers to her problems and I also admire her honesty and openness about her life.

Decision Points/George W. Bush/481 pages

Former President George W. Bush writes about his time in office and the specifics on major decisions he has to make regarding 9/11, the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, nuclear weapons in Iran and fighting AIDS in Africa.

President Bush writes in an easy to read format while making the reader feel the weight of the decisions any U.S. president must wrestle with on a daily basis. I was impressed and proud to live in this country and have the leadership we have regardless of who is in office.

Fahrenheit 451/Ray Bradbury/190 Pages/National Book Award

Imagine a world where books are banned.  If you get caught reading or with books in your house, the firefighters come and burn your books and house to the ground and you go to jail.  It's censorship gone overboard as the Government tries to control the knowledge of the people for their benefit.  Gone are the historians, professors, and thinking men and women.  Just do as your told, be entertained with what you are provided with, and don't ask questions.  This is the future world you are drawn into in Ray Bradbury's novel.  Can one man change it? No, but when he meet another with similar views, together they work to stop the burning and lay a foundation for a future where people can think their own thoughts.  Ray Bradbury's book was published in the 1950's, before big-screen TVs, internet, cell phones, tiny portable radios, etc., yet he invented similar devices for his story; he was very ahead of his time.

Chase / Jesse Haas / 250 pages

Phin Chase is a well-read orphan in coal-mining Pennsylvania in the 1800 's.  He witnesses a murder, is almost murdered himself, and is accused of the murder.  On the run from Plume - a Sleeper, and Fraser - a mysterious man with a magnificent black stallion,  Phin remains true to himself and his mother's teachings as he sacrifices self, and possibly freedom, for integrity, loyalty, and self-respect.

The Salmon of Doubt/Douglas Adams/299 Pages

After the untimely death of Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in 2001, someone discovered his unfinished book, The Salmon of Doubt, in one of his desk drawers.  This compilation of his newspaper and magazine articles, short stories, essays, interviews, and, finally, the unfinished book gives a glimpse into the mind of Douglas Adams.  For me, it explained why he wrote about what he did, and will make re-reading the Hitchhiker books a real treat for me the next time around.

An Uplifting Murder/Elaine Viets/293 pages

Mystery shopper Josie Marcus stumbles into yet another murder,this time in a lingerie shop. The shop is run by one of her high school teachers, and the victim is a bully from high school as well. Set in St. Louis (home of the famous "where did you go to school" question), Josie must solve the murder as well as relive some unpleasant memories from her high school past. Viets, a born and raised St. Louisan, knows the neighborhoods and surrounding cities well. It's always fun to figure out which mall, store or restaurant she is describing when she is using aliases. Always a fun, fluffy read.

Half Price Homicide/ Elaine Viets/263 pages

In the latest Dead End Job Mystery series, Helen Hawthorne decides to finally come back to St. Louis to clear her name and stop living "under the radar" in Florida. First, she must help solve a murder in a second-hand shop where she works. Elaine Viets is a St. Louis native who currently lives in Florida. She has other series that are set in St. Louis, but it is gratifying that she finally let this one spend a little time here as well. Helen accomplishes everything she sets out to do and ultimately ends up back in Florida, but some new unfinished business in St. Louis will no doubt bring her back in the future.

Every Last One/Anna Quindlen/299 pages

Mary Beth Latham is first and foremost a mom, putting her children ahead of everything. With three children, she always has her hands full, but she is also always conflicted about giving too much time and effort to one child when another may need her as well. She lives with the guilt all mothers have when they feel they can't fulfill everyone's needs. Her marriage is satisfactory, comfortable and predictable. Everything changes in one night of horrific violence. Mary Beth must make a new life and find a way to forgive herself.