Monday, February 28, 2011

Mistress of the Revolution/Catherine Delors/451 Pages

Forced to marry an abusive Baron instead of the man she loves, Gabrielle de Montserrat finds herself widowed and with a young daughter before she is seventeen.  Moving to Paris, she finds herself involved in the French Revolution and must escape death an imprisonment many times as a ci-devant Baroness.  She finds protection in her former lover, now a powerful judge in the new republic, and loses many friends and family members in the war. Catherine Delors does a magnificent job of portraying first a decadent and then a turbulent Paris in the late-1700's.  The characters are well-developed and very real.  The story is fast-paced and grabs you from the start. It is a very good read and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good historical read.

Into Thin Air/Jon Krakauer/397 pages

Jon Krakauer tells the harrowing true story of the trek to the peak of Mt. Everest in the spring of 1996 when 11 climbers lost their lives and others were injured seriously. He was doing a story for Outside magazine on a guided ascent to Mt. Everest, ironically three of the men who lost their lives were in fact guides themselves.

Jon Krakauer writes a descriptive account of his trek to Everest in the face of bad weather. You can actually almost feel what it was like- the howl of the wind, the blazing sun, the frigid landscape and the beauty of the highest mountain peaks in the world. Only to have it end in terrible tragedy when the worst cast scenario happens and many fingers are pointed.

I couldn't imagine what would drive anyone to want to risk their life and go through horrible altitude sickness, belowing freezing temperatures, windchills and treacherous climbs just to reach the top of a mountain.

Of Mice and Men/John Steinbeck/107 pages

This year our reading program included reading an oldie/classic selection. My freshman son was reading Of Mice and Men for his Comm Arts class. Since I read everything he does, this was a perfect fit! Or was it? I have to admit that I did not enjoy this book when I read it as a young teen. News flash: I still don't. My co-workers and I discussed whether or not a book had to be depressing to be a classic. That being said, this is the story of George and Lenny, two drifter ranch hands, and their dream of building a better life for themselves.

Urban Affairs/Elaine Viets/206 pages

Elaine Viets, formerly of the St. Louis Post Dispatch, published this compilation of her columns over twenty years ago. Even though she abandoned her hometown for shadier (Washington D.C.) and ultimately warmer (Fort Lauderdale) climates, she's still one of my favorites. Her insights on St. Louisians (city and county residents alike) are still surprisingly valid. I admit I had one than a couple Laugh Out Loud moments. This blast from the past proves plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

A Decadent Way to Die/McKevett/290 pages

This is the latest adventure of curvy private investigator, Savannah Reid. She runs the Magnolia Detective Agency in California. She brings her Southern charm and love of good cooking to every mystery. This one centers on who would want to kill a world-renowned doll designer Helene Strauss (think Madame Alexander over Marie Osmond.) The mystery almost takes a back seat to a situation concerning Savannah's assistant and friend, the ever-cheerful Tammy. For fans of the series, be prepared for some surprises and changes for the regulars of the novels.

The Mephisto Club / Terri Gerritsen / 468 KB

I don't remember the number of pages . . . how about KB. I love my ebook reader! (although limited on the titles).

Scary, does evil exist in the form of demons amongst us? You decide.

Arkadians / Lloyd Alexander 272 p.

Lucian runs to escape the wrath of the king when he discovers corruption in the palace. He commandeers a mule, Fronto, who once was a poet. He joins with a young girl named Joy-in-the-Dance who infuriates and attracts him, in turn. They meet people and hear their stories as they roam around the country. Joy-in-the-Dance uses her mystical powers to save the group as they get entangled with the conflict between the Bear Clan and the followers of mother goddess. The quest for a cure for Fronto takes them on many adventures.

1996 ALA Notable Children's Books

1995 Parents' Choice Awards - Story Books

Thursdays at Eight / Debbie Macomber 298 p.

Four friends, each in a different phase of her life, meet every Thurs at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast. Clare has been through a devastating divorce, Elizabeth is a widow in her late fifties, Karen is in her twenties looking to grow a career in acting, and Julia is turning forty. Friends share their ups and downs, from love to death to unexpected pregnancy and everything in between like sisters, family, mothers, and relationships. Debbie Macomber has morphed her genre from romance to women’s lives and relationships.

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes / Chris Crutcher / 216 pages

Heroism - that's what this book is about!  How seeming misfits rise above taunts, bullying, insensitive - and sometimes even cruel - adults, to become caring, self-sacrificing, belief-driven individuals.  Dealing with such issues as abortion, abuse, overweight kids, suicide, and abandonment, Staying for Fat for Sarah Byrnes, captures and holds the reader's interest as we wait for Sarah to emerge from her catatonic state, and as we witness swimmer Eric Calhoune's attempts to help her.  We learn that "most tough problems in the world run into each other. ...Our points of view - the way we perceive things - are inexplicably linked to our beliefs...Our beliefs color what we see."

ALA Best Book for YA

The Sledding Hill / Chris Crutcher / 230 pages

Eddie Proffitt is "not talking because it's one of the few things he can control when everything else is out of control..."  He lost both his father and his best friend, Billy Bartholomew within months of each other and was the person to discover both of their bodies.  Uniquely told from first person point of view, from the voice of the dead Billy Bartholomew, the book deals with censorship, misguided organized religion and the importance of freedom, including the right to read.  The librarian in the book teaches one class in high school- Really Modern Literature.  She requires that each student read 15 novels by living authors during the course and record at least one line from each book that is personally meaningful to the student.  One book is required, Warren Peece, by Chris Crutcher, and this is the book that raised a storm of controversy.  Great read!

A Turn in the Road/Debbie Macomber/ 400 p


In this latest installment of the Blossom Street series, Bethanne Hamlin is facing a difficult decision. Bethanne was introduced in the second book in the series, "A Good Yarn", when she enrolled in a knitting class to help get through a devastating divorce. Six years later, her ex-husband is divorced again and looking to reconcile with Bethanne. Despite encouragement from her family and the apparent remorse of her ex-husband, she is not sure what to do. When an opportunity arises to drive across the country with her mother-in-law and daughter, she thinks it will be a great time to think about what she wants. But the trip only complicates her choices when she meets someone who understands the pain of loss.


Fans of Macomber will cheer on Bethanne, Ruth and Annie as they deal with the unexpected turns their lives have taken.

The King of Attolia / Megan Whalen Turner / 385 pages

This is the 3rd book in the series about the fantasy kingdoms of Sounis, Eddis and Attolia. In this book, the thief Eugenides marries the woman he loves (the Queen of Attolia) but struggles because he does not want the responsibility of being king and fights against it. He does not have the respect or the loyalty of the Attolians who feel he is the puppet of the Queen. He survives several assassination attempts by members of the court. In the end Eugenides being the clever plotter that he is, strengthens the kingdom, wins the respect and loyalty of his subjects, and accepts his role as King. The characters are enthralling and you really care about them warts and all. The plot is complex and intriguing. The book gives a good view of what it is like to be royal and that's certainly not is all it's cracked up to be. It's stressful and lonely. My highest praise is reserved for books that are satisfying and leave the reader wanting more and that's exactly what these books do. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation/ by Simone Elkeles/ 234 pages

In this book, a 16 year old girl from Chicago is forced to go on a summer trip to her father's home country of Israel. She already resents her father because he and her mother never got married and she only sees him once a year. She really resents him when she feels forced into this trip. She meets her grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as some of their friends, and she experiences a completely different way of life.

Overall, I felt this book had a weak plot....too much predictability and unrealistic relationships formed over the course of only several weeks. I also felt like the author was intent on making a point about Israel/U.S. relations, which made parts of the story very didactic. I don't think I'll be recommending this one anytime soon.

Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have/ by Allen Zadoff/ 311 pages

This humorous YA novel is about an overweight high school boy. It chronicles the beginning of his sophomore year. He's dubbed himself the "second fattest kid" in his school, and he feels like his weight makes him invisible. His freshman year was spent on the Mock United Nations team, but he decides to try out for varsity football this year instead. In the process, he makes some new friends, loses his old best friend, learns a lot about the girl he has a crush on, and eventually realizes he likes neither the United Nations team nor the football team.

I really liked this story because it brought up real-life issues without being super-intense about any of them. The main character deals with friendships, relationships, and his parents' divorce, but all with a healthy dose of self-reflection and self-deprecation.

Ice Cold / Tess Gerrisen 322 p.

Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli searches for Maura Isles, a medical examiner and friend. On the spur of the moment, Maura joins a group going on a ski trip. When their SUV stalls during a snow storm, they end up isolated and stranded. The group finds refuge in the remote Kingdom Come, where something mysterious has occurred: meals are left on tables, cars still parked in garages, and no sign of residents. Footprints reveal someone is around, watching. Jane receives the news that Maura’s body has been found in a car crash. Jane, her FBI agent husband, Gabriel Dean; and Fr. Daniel Brophy, Maura’s lover, travel to Wyoming to conduct their own investigation. A local social worker clues Jane into the actual doings at Kingdom Come. The story alternates between what is happening to Maura and to Jane. Many plot twists, vivid depictions make this a story for the stout of heart.

What Happens in London / Julia Quinn 450 p.

Lady Olivia Bevelstoke spies on her new neighbor from her bedroom window after she learns that he may have killed his fiancée. The intriguing man is up to something. Who can spend all his time in a room. Sir Harry Valentine works as a translator for the War Office. She piques his interest -- who wouldn’t with a beautiful blond watching. When the Russian prince becomes interested in Lady Olivia, the War Office gives him an assignment, watch her… the spy spies on the spy! Sir Harry finds himself falling for her.

2010 RITA Winner for Best Regency

2010 Reading List (RUSA)

One Scream Away / Kate Brady 443 p.

Seven years ago Beth Denison’s testimony puts serial killer Chevy Bankes away. Bankes is out and using dead women’s phones to call and taunt her, driven by his psychotic need to hear her scream. Ex-FBI agent Neil Sheridan investigates this chain of murders that similar to a troubling case from his past. Neil is sure Beth is keeping a secret tantamount to the case – a secret she will do anything to keep. Bankes heinous crimes escalate as he moves in closer and closer. Neil and Beth’s romance is slow to develop. Bankes twisted psychology and the tension of the interplay between Bankes, Beth and Neil, overshadow the romance. Thriller readers will love this one.

2010 RITA Winner for Best First Book

Too Good to Be True / Kristan Higgins 379 p.

Grace Emerson, high school history teacher, manufacturers the perfect boyfriend to keep everyone from fixating on her love life especial since her ex-fiancé starts dating her sister. But what about a real Mr. Right? She tries an on-line dating service and attends a class on meeting how to meet Mr. Right. He can’t be the guy next door, ex-con, carpenter, who happens to have a great sense of humor and good-looking to boot. Told with humor and wit.

2010 RITA Winner for Best Contemporary Single Title

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Foreign Body/ Robin Cook/ 436 pp


This medical thriller explores the medical tourism phenomenon. Jennifer Hernandez is a few months away from graduating from medical school when she hears about her grandmother's death on CNN. From almost the beginning her grandmother's death seemed odd. Her grandmother, Maria, in an attempt to save money, flew to India to have hip replacement surgery. She died unexpectedly from heart failure a few hours after recovery. It also seemed like CNN knew about Maria's death almost before it happened. Her death seemed to start a trend of one unexpected death a night. Jennifer is immediately suspicious -- but even she couldn't imagine real reason her grandmother was targeted.


This was my first Robin Cook book. I enjoyed the premise of the book and the way that Jennifer went about figuring out what happened to her grandmother. I found the people behind the deaths to be not very believable. Their mistakes were obvious and I thought they made themselves too easily found out. They were committing a perfect crime and would have been overlooked if they hadn't started killing people every night. Plus they panicked and revealed themselves when the evidence was pointing away from them. I like my "evil masterminds" to be a little smarter than that! I know that Cook is a popular author so I'm thinking I picked up the wrong book as my first.

Friday, February 25, 2011

It Had to Be You / Susan Elizabeth Phillips / 376 pages

Phoebe Somerville ran away from home at 18 after being bullied mercilessly by her cousin, raped, and disliked by her father, Bert, the owner of the Chicago Stars football team.  In Paris, she is model to a famous painter, embarrassing her father and making a name for herself.  She returns for his funeral, turns it into a circus by her attire and her attitude, and inherits the football team conditionally.  She falls in love with the hunk, Coach Dan Calebow, and they struggle to make a success of the team and their relationship.  The story includes a kidnapping, great humor, and tender, touching love scenes.

RITA Award 1994

Soldier's Secret Daughter / Cindy Dees 217 p.

Jagger Holtz, government agent and spy, literally drops from the sky into Emily Grainger’s life just in time to join in AbaCo’s New Year’s Eve party. He’s looking for a way out of a difficult situation and incorporates Emily into his escape plan. He just didn’t plan on falling for her. Two years pass and Emily gets a cryptic message that leads her to rescue the man who disappeared after their night together. Jagger’s been held prisoner and believes she was responsible. Despite the suspicion, they work together to protect themselves and their daughter.

2010 RITA Winner for Best Contemporary Series Romance Suspense/Adventure

Runaway/ Wedelin VanDraanen/ 281 pages

Runaway is about 12-year-old girl on the run from the foster system. She has gone from one abusive home to the next since her mother died. This story is told in journal form. It was a quick read, and makes you think about how so many people end up homeless.

Winnie the Pooh/A.A. Milne/161 pgs


I know you are wondering why I would be blogging about "Winnie the Pooh" but as part of the Adult Reading Program we have to read our favorite childhood book and this is mine. It is still one of my favorite books to read - some of us never grow up!!
It was an enjoyable quick read and made me feel like a kid again. I just love that "Silly Old Bear".

Thursday, February 24, 2011

The Inheritance/Tamera Alexander/374 pp


In "The Inheritance", McKenna Ashford goes west with her brother, Robert, to start fresh in the town where her cousin's family lives. Having been a mother to Robert since the age of nine when her mother died, McKenna hopes her brother will finally give up his bitterness toward his distant and now dead father, and become the man God wants him to be. They get into town just in time to for her dear cousin's last hours as all but her young daughter, Emma, have succumbed to cholera. McKenna tries to be a mother to Emma and love her brother enough to keep him away from the saloon and the inevitable trouble that follows him. US Marshal Wyatt Caradon sees himself in young Robert and prays for him even as Wyatt feels drawn toward McKenna.

A wonderful story of faith and love.

2010 RITA winner Best Inspirational Romance

A Not-So-Perfect Past / Beth Andrews 251 p.

Nina Carlson runs a bakery and rents out the upstairs apartment to Dillon Ward knowing that he served time in prison. The town is decidedly cool towards Dillon. When someone crashes into her bakery, Dillon is the man to fix the damage. He gets an assistant—the juvenile who wrecked the building. Family and ex- caution her against hiring Dillon but she decides to stand on her own two feet. Secrets emerge about her ex-husband. Dillon wins over her kids. He tempts her. Is she ready move on?

2010 RITA Winner for Best Contemporary Series Romance

What I did for Love / Susan Elizabeth Phillips 404 p.

Georgie York, mega-teen star of a TV sitcom, lands in the middle of a paparazzi free-for-all when she is publicly cast off by her famous actor husband. Her film career has reached bottom – all of her comedic movies have produced rather lackluster results. Her father is driving her crazy – he is the force behind her agent. In Vegas, she runs into her detested former costar where she gets caught up in a hideous incident that leads to an outrageous elopement with none other than Bramwell Shepard – the bad boy costar who wrecks their sitcom. Bram’s looking to get his second chance at life and stardom and Georgie aims to undo the damage her ex has done to her heart and career. Will this fake Hollywood couple fine love in the LA limelight? Phillips is just delightful with her witty dialogue and quirky characters.

2009 Library Journal Best Romance Books

Dead Girls Are Easy / Terri Garey / 372 pages

Nicki Styx dies and lives to tell about it.  She is cautioned to remember the Golden Rule as she is ushered back to life after her mitral valve prolapse.  It is not yet her time to die.  Irene Goldblatt mysteriously appears in her room directing Nicki to visit her funeral and reassure her husband, Morty.  Next she is visited by the spirit of Caprise, a neighboring shop owner who had been dabbling in voodoo and is quite malevolent.  To these visitors, add one Dr. Joe Bascomb, who is married to a missing wife he believes to be Nicki's twin sister.  (Nicki was adopted and her adoptive parents were killed 6 years ago in a car accident.)  Nicki meets several other spirits and must deal with them, her relationship with Joe, her partnership with her gay best friend and business partner, Evan, and her quest to understand her N.D.E, the light, and religion.

RITA Award 2008 - Best First Book

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Lightkeeper's Ball/Colleen Coble/ pp 288

"The Lightkeeper's Ball" takes place in 1910. Everyone is uneasy about passing through the tail of Halley's Comet. Olivia Stewart has even more immediate problems. After her father's death in a mining accident, Olivia's sister agreed to marry the son of their father's partner to insure their financial future. When her sister drowns accidentally, Olivia's mother wants her to take her sister's place. But Olivia suspects that her sister's death was no accident. When Olivia goes incognito as Lady Davenport to investigate her sister's fiance,Harrison, she survives an attempt on her life and finds evidence that her father may not be dead after all. Her heart tells her that Harrison is someone she can trust but everything points to him as her sister's murderer. This mystery has a surprising conclusion that I didn't see coming. This book is the third in the Mercy Falls series.

Whale Talk / Chris Crutcher / 298 pages

This book is awesome!  I would recommend it to all mature, upper elementary kids and to all high school kids despite some bad language and suggestions of sexual activity.  The story is gripping; offers insights into the psyches of abusers and abused; and deals the injustices of racial prejudice.
Senior The Tao Jones puts together a swim team of misfits totally dedicated to the sport, and in the end, to each other.
Tragedy has followed T.J. all his life and is inescapable in the present.  T.J.'s dad suggests that whale talk could empower and improve the human race.

ALA Best Book for YA

A Secret Gift/Ted Gup/355p


This is the true story of a journalist who inherits an old suitcase belonging to his late grandfather. In it, amongst the correspondence and keepsakes, he finds an article cut from a newspaper in 1933 containing an ad from an anonymous businessman who wanted to help his community by giving out small amounts of cash to those who needed it. That anonymous businessman, "B. Virdot", was the author's grandfather and the suitcase also contains the letters written in response to the ad. Truly heartwarming story of generosity in the depths of the Depression. The letters written in response to the ad are heartbreaking in their descriptions of extreme poverty and yet hopeful of the future. The author researched the families and stories of many of them to weave a gripping narrative of the times.

I Beat the Odds/ by Michael Oher/ 250 pages

This was my first Overdrive download onto my iPad, and I loved reading it that way. The book provides a first-hand perspective on the events that made up Michael Oher's rise out of homelessness. It covers everything from his childhood to NFL draft day. He definitely makes a point to talk about the differences between his reality and the way his life was portrayed in The Blind Side (both the book and the movie). His biggest complaint about his portrayal in the movie was that they made it seem like he didn't know the basics of playing football when he had been studying sports players and their moves since childhood.

The book also focuses on the ways the foster care system failed Michael and ways adults now can mentor to other youngsters with bad home situations. It's a great look at a child's perspective on social services, social workers, and foster care.

Stork Raving Mad/Donna Andrews/309 pgs


This is book number twelve of the Meg Langslow series and is a very quick and light read. Meg is now 8 1/2 months pregnant and there is a number of Michael's drama students currently living at the house with them due to a problem with the heat at the college. When the dean of the English department ends up dead at their home, there are a number of likely suspects. Once again, Meg helps to solve the crime but will they know who the murderer is before she goes into labor??

Mostly Harmless/Douglas Adams/240 Pages

The last of five books in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, this book continues the story of Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, and Tricia (Trillian) MacMillan,  who once again end up in the same area of the universe.
Arthur ends up on a planet with few occupants and becomes their sandwich maker.  Trillian goes on to be a newscaster throughout time and space, and Ford finds a new copy of the hitchhiker's guide with disaster-causing potential.  Along the way, Arthur finds out he has a daughter, Random, from DNA donations, and that the mother is Trillian.  Together, they all end up back on earth in another dimension, only to find out that this one will be destroyed, too.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away / Joyce Carol Oates / 292 pages

A terrible accident occurs on the Tappan Zee Bridge over the Hudson River.  Jenna's mother who was driving dies and Jenna has head trauma, brain swelling, amnesia, facial lacerations, and cracked ribs, but she survives.  The truck driver also dies.  Jenna thought she saw an animal in the car's path; told her Mom to watch out; and may have grabbed the steering wheel.  She is the only witness to the tragedy.
Told in first person point of view, the story describes Jenna's path to recovery:  in the blue - a Demerol induced haze, in the raw - feelings and thoughts are raw and hurtful as knife blades; rehab; not re-establishing relationship with her absentee father and his new wife and family; moving in with her Aunt Caroline's family; starting a new school; meeting Gabriel Saint-Croix - Crow; and getting involved with drugs.  Jenna describes her life in 2 voices - before the wreck and after the wreck.  Crow helps Jenna come to terms with her accident, her father, and her new life.

Soup / Robert Newton Peck 96 p.

Robert Newton Peck tells his own story and that of his best friend and companion in adventure, Luther Wesley Vinson. Soup and Rob find fun stuff to do that get them into trouble. Like the time they threw apples from sticks, each trying out do the other as boys are apt to do, with Rob's flying into the inevitable window. How Soup talked Rob into rolling down a hill in a rotten apple barrel is any one's guess. Then there is their joint venture where they make their own pipes to smoke 'corn silk' tobacco. Add in a cast of characters and you see just how Robert Newton Peck grew up during the depression in Vermont. Be sure to read the dedication page found at the end of the book: "To the Reverend Luther Vinson, a shepherd of his flock, from his first sheep. Robert Newton Peck."

This Book Is Overdue; How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save the World / Marilyn Johnson / 272 pages

Although this book perhaps has a somewhat limited audience, the title is catchy and the text is entertaining, informative, and inspiring.  Ms. Johnson recounts her various interviews, meetings, and correspondences with amazing individuals impacting the library scene.  She praises librarians as "someone educated and committed to the preservation and dissemination of knowledge" and issues a challenge to us all..."The public library must remain 'the people's university'...and librarians can get involved and shape the future or they can sit back and watch the changes.

Phantom Tollbooth / Norman Juster/ 256 pages

Perhaps one of the funniest books ever written for children. Perfect for the young reader who likes word play and puns, this would also be a great read aloud for a family to share as they howl in laughter. Milo is bored, so so bored, with his life that he endures everything in his day without enjoying anything. One day after school he discovers a mysterious tollbooth in his bedroom, he puts it together, pays his toll and sets off in his little car to a fantasy world with the City of Wisdom, Sea of Knowledge, Mountains of Ignorance, the Doldrums and the cities of Digitopolis and Dictionopolis. He meets fantastic creatures and sets out on a quest to rescue the two princesses Rhyme and Reason and put all right with the world. There is a message, that all types of adventures await all of us in our world and in books each and every day, we only have to think, pay attention and take action to enjoy every second of every day. The book is liberally illustrated with Jules Feiffer's trademark drawings which are priceless and add a great deal to what is happening in the book. I hereby declare this a classic children's book to be enjoyed and treasured by all current and future generations!

Monday, February 21, 2011

The Double-Jack Murders: A Sheriff Bo Tully Mystery by Patrick McManus pp. 240


The third book in this series about a small town sheriff. Set in a very rural area where there is plenty of wildlife and great outdoor actions sequences.
The colorful characters are what makes this series fun. There is normally a murder but the series is light hearted and focuses on humor. The characters get themselves into unusual circumstances and it is fun to discover how they get themselves out of it.
I would recommend this series to our customers starting from book one.

Deep End / Chris Crutcher / 310 pages

Wilson Corder is a therapist working with abused children and their families.  When Sabrina Parker is kidnapped and he begins counseling her brother, Jerry, Wilson receives several threatening notes warning him off the case.  His daughter is attacked and his entire family is threatened.  He is called in to consult on a case involving a well-known, highly respected therapist suspected of child abuse.  Wilson risks his life to save his family from a madman and realizes that "Sometimes all courage is, really, is having nothing to lose."

Freaky Green Eyes / Joyce Carol Oates / 341 pages

Franky Pierson idolizes her father, a former Seattle Seahawks football player and famous announcer.  She suspects that he may be abusing her beautiful mother.  Convinced by her father that her mother is weak, selfish, and uncaring, Franky fails to find sympathy for her until her mother is missing.  Franky finds her mother's hidden journal and fears the worst.  Franky "crosses over" - realizing what her father is and what her mother was not.

Gateway Reader Award 2005-2006

The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett- pp 179


A young kid Steve Brixton gets assigned a school report about quilts and heads to the public library. Little does he know that quilting has a historical significance about sending secret country messages by spies.
Steve is an amateur detective and he has to use all his skills to escape all kinds of silly situations.
The author has exaggerated many chapters in funny unthinkable things that kids will just love.
Look for more in this series.
The CD Spoken was an easy listen.
Enjoy!

The Scorch Trials- James Dashner- pp.361


This is book 2 in the Maze Runner Series. I listened to this on eaudio. The narrator did a great job of keeping this excitement and suspense of this series. The group has escaped the maze but now have to deal with a dying planet. There is also a second group that is working on the same goals as the first.
This is an interesting read since you do not know what is reality or what is the cause behind certain actions in the book.
The author does a great job of leading the reader to the last book which should give the groups a final choice on their actions.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner- pp 375


If we needed to create a new humanity to survive in the end of the world how would we do it?
This suspense novel is about secret experiments to find the perfect human species to save the planet.
The book covers surviving physically and mental aspects of large groups working together. This book has some great action that is being made into a movie. If you liked Hunger Games, you will like this book.
This is book one of three.
See trailer

Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid/Bill Bryson/ 270 pp


"Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" had me laughing and remembering a time when moms pushed you out the door in the morning to play outside while she got things done. And it reminded me of all the trouble a kid could get into given the run of a neighborhood and little adult supervision. A fun book!

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption/Laura Hillenbrand/473 pgs

I know this is the third review you will have seen on this book but let me tell you it is an amazing story. It is the true story of a Army Air Corp bombardier whose plane crashes in WWII and his story of being lost at sea and then captured by the Japanese. During all of this, he never loses his dignity no matter what is thrown at him. It is a great lesson in what happened during this time without a lot of facts thrown at you. It is just the story of one man and the people he meets along the way and how they survive in what would be for most of us unsurvivable circumstances.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Something Wonderful/Judith McNaught/418 pp


"Something Wonderful" by Judith McNaught begins like many historical romances -- a young, plucky, but poor, commoner meets the handsome, jaded nobleman. He's drawn to her dispite their difference in status ... she falls hard ... but the plot doesn't follow the normal pattern. There's a killer on the loose and all evidence points to the heroine. How does true love find it's way when you aren't sure who to trust? This book kept my attention to the end.

Whisper a Warning / Laura Griffin / 369 pages

Courtney Glass meets her ex-boyfriend at a trail head after receiving several e-mail messages supposedly from him after their break up 6 months ago.  When he gets into her car, he accuses her of harassment as he, too, has been getting e-mailed.  A man wearing a ski mask jumps into the back seat and shoots David and attempts to shoot Courtney, staging a murder/suicide.  Spraying the assailant with mace, Courtney escapes and calls 911.  Courtney is a suspect which calls her past to the attention of the authorities, including Will Hodges, the newest homicide detective.  Will and Courtney are attracted to each other and this ex-soldier crosses the line from investigator to lover to life-saver to...  Great suspense!  Lots of action!

RITA Award 2010

Steel Trapp: the Challenge / Ridley Pearson / 324 pages

Fans of Alex Rider will enjoy this suspenseful story of 14 yr old Steven (aka Steel) Trapp who travels by train with his mom to the National Science Challenge in Washington DC. The geeky science nerd Steel possesses a photographic memory which first embroils him in a gang plot to fix the winner of the national lottery in order to fund terrorist groups and then allows him to outwit the badguys and foil the plot in the nick of time. Steel teams up with fellow kid scientist Kaileigh who has run away from home and travelled to the Challenge in order to discover who stole her invention. In spite of the adults who are either trying to catch them or benefit from Steel's assistance, Steel and Kaileigh use science, logic, and his photographic memory to come to the rescue. Pearson captures the essence of the adolescent who is tired of being treated like a kid, feels they are certainly smarter than most adults, but in the end comes to appreciate that being a kid is not all that bad. Hand this one to that 5th through 7th grade smart kid who needs to know that geeks can be heroes.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes / Eric Litwin


As a chair of the Building Block Committee, I have to say that I am particularly attached to all of this year's nominees. My favorite, however, is "Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes." You can download an audiofile of the author, Eric Litwin, reading/singing his story at http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/kids/gamesandcontests/features/petethecat/. I guarantee that it will you have you walking around your house (or the library!) singing "I love my white shoes..." with a spring in your step. I gave this book as a birthday gift to two 3-year-olds in the past month, and have been compelled to read it over and over and over (and over) again. Does this make me cry? Goodness no! There's no such thing as too much Pete the Cat.
Keep walking along and singing your song!

Friday, February 18, 2011

At Home: A Short History of Private Life / Bill Bryson / 497 p.


This book is an endlessly interesting and incredibly thorough history of the home and everything in it. Bryson goes through each of the rooms in his mid 19th century English country parsonage, discussing the history of each room, its functions, and the objects that inhabit it, primarily focusing on English and American history. In the drawing room, Bryson discusses the history of furniture; in the dressing room, the history of fashion; and in the nursery, he discourses on the often horrifying plight of children in the 18th and 19th centuries. These histories reach far beyond the home, however--discussion of the dining room leads to the history of salt & pepper, which leads to a history of the spice trade and the Age of Exploration. Anyone interested in learning the history of ice, how people fall down stairs, and how the lawn mower was invented, take heed!

Queen of Attolia / Megan Whalen Turner / 279 pages

Turner's series featuring Eugenides, the Queen's Thief, is totally intriguing and riveting reading. Queen of Attolia is the 2nd book in the 4 book series. In this book, the three mythical kingdoms are a war, and Eugenides must use his craftiness to overcome a most violent and tragic personal attack to form new alliances and defeat the forces that seek to overrun the countries. Besides a plot that moves along quickly, the characters are ones that you will believe and with whom you may identify. There's plenty in this book to think about; characters that are complex, consequences of actions, alternate solutions to problems, and the impact of behaviors. Just check out The King of Attolia (the next book) right away because you won't want to wait to see what happens. Oh, yeah, this is a kids book....great for about grade 5 & up....and proof positive that well-written children's books have great appeal to all readers and can be read on many different levels. Highly recommended.

Night Before Christmas / Brenda Novak, Day Leclaire, Molly O'Keefe

Three romances are set in the Christmas holidays.

Brenda Novak's On a Snowy Christmas tells the romance that blossom between two adversaries while campaigning for the same Senate seat in the aftermath of a plane crash in the high Sierras.

In Day Leclaire’s The Christmas Baby, Carrie Manning is having a bad hair year culminating with a baby left on her doorstep. Three couples find a healing of old hurts.

Molly O’Keefe won the 2010 RITA for Best Romance Novella for The Christmas Eve Promise. Merrieta Monroe finds romance when she returns home to Webster, Missouri, to work in her parent’s diner at Christmas time. It’s really the about reconnecting with family and past loves.

2010 RITA for Best Romance Novella

Whisper of Warning / Laura Griffin 369 p.

In this sequel to Thread of Fear, Courtney Glass finds herself in the chief suspect in the brutal murder of her former boyfriend and lawyer John David Alvin. Courtney has been in and out of trouble her whole life. She must prove she isn’t the murderer and is one of the killer’s intended victims. Will Hodges, investigating officer, resists her looks and her sharp tongue as he comes to realize that a powerful enemy has her in his sights.

2010 RITA Winner for Best Romantic Suspense.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

If I Stay / Gayle Forman / 199 p.


While in a coma following an automobile accident that killed her parents and younger brother, seventeen-year-old Mia, a gifted cellist, weights whether to live with her grief or join her family in death.

This book should appeal to Young Adults as many have (or will) fantasize about what would happen if they were in a coma and could still hear what their friends and family say about them.  Also the short length of the book makes it a good quick read for those reluctant readers.  But other than these two factors I really hope teens read this book because it covers topics like life, family, true love, growing up, and resilience.   The main character is going through something very tragic, and I think the author does a good job describing her loss and grief.  While reading this book it's hard not to think and reflect on your own life and loved ones.

Trial by Desire / Courtney Milan / 360p.

Okay, so I’m a sucker for a pretty face. 

This quick read is pretty straightforward.  Young Ned Carhart marries the lovely Lady Kathleen (Kate) and then promptly leaves her for a job located in China; in hopes he can prove to be a mature, trustworthy man.  Kate feeling completely abandoned spends the following three years running the household and learning to be independent.  She also rescued a few local women escape their abusive husbands.  When Ned returns home, Kate happens to be in the middle of a rescue of the wife of one of Ned’s closest childhood friends.  Ned and Kate have to rebuild their relationship and trust, which is difficult when both are keeping secrets. 

I liked the story, but of course the “secrets” that the main characters are hiding about themselves is never as horrific as the characters think they are.  This makes the second half of the book kind of drag as you just want the character to come out and just say what’s bothering them instead of whining and holding back all the time.  ;)

The Confession/John Grisham/418 pgs


This is the best John Grisham novel I have read in a while. It is the story of a career criminal who says that he has a brain tumor and is dying so he wants to confess to a murder for which another man has been convicted and is about to be executed. It gets into the details of what happens during a death penalty sentence and what could happen if the wrong person is put to death . There are a few twists and turns that you don't see coming but it was a great story and may make you think about how you feel about the death penalty.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

First Lady / Susan Elizabeth Phillips / 376 pages

Nealy Litchfield Case schemes to escape her life as First Lady if only for a few days.  After her husband is assassinated, she is pressured into staying on and serving as First Lady for her husband's successor.  She hate it!  Longing for freedom and an ordinary life, she disguises herself as a grey-haired older lady, and later as a pregnant one.  She catches a ride with ex-newspaperman Mathias Jorik and his 2 "daughters" after her car is stolen at a truck stop.  What follows is a heartwarming story and scenic trip along the less-travelled byways of America.

RITA Award 2001

Dream a Little Dream / Susan Elizabeth Phillips / 390 pages

This heartwarming sequel to Nobody's Baby But Mine follows the Bonner family as both Ethan and Gabe are married - Ethan to his childhood friend and secretary, and Gabe to Rachel Stone, widow of tele-evangelist, G. Dwayne Snopes.  After a stormy "courtship" Gabe is able to recover from the loss of his wife and son and open his heart to Rachel and her son, Edward (Chip).  This is the kind of book that makes you cry happy tears and encourages you to re-examine your view of God, family, and relationships.


RITA Award 1999

What the Night Knows / Dean Koontz / 442 pages

"Not all magic is black magic...Most magic is about wonder and adventure, new horizons, and learning how to fly...This isn't magic.  This is the kind of weird stuff that's real."  Dark magic is definitely at work in What the Night Knows.  Detective John Calvino is determined to prevent a copycat re-creation of a ghastly murder spree that happened twenty years ago and involved his own family.  The target this time is once again his family -his wife and three children, and the perpetrator is the same - Alton Turner Blackwood - whom John himself killed 20 years ago.  John and is family battle evil personified; realize that "when the divine enters the world from outside of time, it manifests through children and animals"; and "what the heart knows trumps what the night knows." 

Not Quite a Husband / Sherry Thomas 341 p.

Asquith is a surgeon physician in the 1890s, a rarity for her time and especially for her lineage. Marsden has a brilliant mathematical mind, is witty, handsome and well-liked. Two intellectuals, yet, Bryony Asquith’s marriage to Leo Marsden fails before it really gets started. The story opens with Marsden tracking her down in a clinic in India with a message from her sister. Her father is in ill-health. Reluctantly, Asquith agrees to make the trek back to England. The trek runs headlong into civil unrest and war (where Asquith gets to shine as a surgeon). Along the way the sparks rekindle between Marsden and Asquith. Asquith comes to realize that Marsden has loved her from their days as childhood neighbors. The explanation for their unhappy marriage is not revealed for some time – the source of the strife is real.

2010 RITA Winner Best Historical Romance

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Lucy & Desi / Warren G. Harris 641 p.

Lucy and Desi. One of Hollywood’s most famous couples. So popular that they are known by their first names. Harris tells their story with candor. Lucy is the Queen of the ‘B’ movies until 1940 when she teams up with a young Cuban singer, Desi, in the film Too Many Girls. Lucy and Desi began a romance that led to marriage. Harris tells of their pre “I Love Lucy” lives and romances. He describes their live together; the ups and downs, and their careers, Lucy’s radio show and Desi’s band show. He continues the insider view of their marriage and the flaws and its eventual breakup. Desi is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse that took care of production for their show as well as the force behind Desilu Productions. It was nostalgic to read about the most popular of all TV with the series still running today.

The Good Good Pig - the extraordinary life of Christopher Hogwood/Sy Montgomery/228 pgs


This is the story of Sy Montgomery, a naturalist who is more comfortable dealing with wild animals in their natural habitat then with people, who brings home a very sick piglet named Christopher Hogwood. This is the story of how Christopher changes her life completely and takes place in my home state of New Hampshire (which was pretty cool reading about places I have actually been to). It is a very good book, especially if you are a fan of Jon Katz's novels.

Bliss to You - Trixie's Guide to a Happy Life/Trixie Koontz as told to Dean Koontz/158 pgs

This story is written by Trixie Koontz who was Dean Koontz's dog and a service dog dropout. I had listened to the audio version of this book and enjoyed it. Trixie had written this book after she died and left a chapter on Dean's computer every morning. It is a collection of stories about enjoying and living life to its fullest. It was a very enjoyable story and I think that any dog lover out there will relate to this story.

The Darkest Evening of the Year/Dean Koontz/354 pgs


This is the first Dean Koontz novel I have read and it was mainly due to one of the main characters is a dog. I normally do not like a horror story but this is not really a blood and guts horror story. It is a story of a dog rescuer and the dog she saves who just happens to remind her of a former dog. The dog seems to have some unique powers and the twists and turns of the story will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I Have Lived a Thousand Years/ Livia Bitton-Jackson/ 224 pages

This is the memoir of Elli Friedmann, who was 13-years-old when she was taken to Auschwitz. As you can imagine it's a hard story to read at times. But, it is also an amazing story of survival. Any time I am reading stories about the Holocaust or true war stories, I have to remind myself that this is real. These terrible things were really inflicted on people by other people. Since this is the story of a 13-year-old girl, it is in the Young Adult section. I have read a lot of Holocaust memoirs, and this survivor, like others is very inspiring.

Building Block Nominees

I'm not sure that I have a clear favorite for the Building Block books. But, I do know that my 2-year-old does. He loves "The Terrible Plop". After reading it the first time, I explained to him how the apple fell and made a sound, and he thinks it's hilarious. So, I guess I would list that as my favorite, because he enjoys it so much.

Tick Tock/James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge/387 pages

This Patterson novel features Detective Michael Bennett, one of my favorite Patterson characters. Michael is a widower and a single-dad of 10 adopted children and the grandson of one wild and crazy Irish priest. His deep love and his close relationship with each of his children really seems to be almost as much a focus point of the book as is his handling of insane killers. Though still grieving Maeve, his saintly wife, in this book Michael starts to acknowledge the more-than-a-friend and more-than-a-nanny feelings he has for two women in his life. When you see a book with chapters that average no more than 3 pages, you know it's a plot-driven, nail biting, race to the end with pretty much formulaic characters. In fact, you know how every Patterson book will end, but maybe in our wild and crazy world, those endings are what we crave the most.

Bill Peet: an Autobiography/Bill Peet/190 pages

While this is a childrens book and was a Caldecott Honor Book, it will also be enjoyed by adult readers. Bill Peet, illustrator of many beloved children's books, tells his story from boyhood to parenthood with an emphasis on the time he worked for Walt Disney. He starts out telling about his life as a boy in Indiana, fun on his taciturn grandfather's farm, an absentee father who just showed up when he needed money, a mom who taught to support her family, making it through the Depression, struggling as a student, surviving the 27 years in the Walt Disney studios and finally his achievement as a reknowned illustrator of books. The story of the years with Walt Disney are highly revealing...almost cathartic in nature. What every reader will gain is how we are constantly recreated by our lives but also formed by our childhood. And the best thing of all, the book is filled with wonderful Bill Peet illustrations on each and every page. I am sooooo glad I read this!

Call Me Irresistible / Susan Elizabeth Phillips / 385 pages


Susan Elizabeth Phillips does it again! Each one of her books grabs you in the first few pages and won't let you go. Even though every book she writes stands on its own, many characters from her previous works make an appearance here. It makes me want to read all of them again.


Meg Koranda becomes the most hated woman in Wynette, Texas after persuading her best friend, Lucy Jorik, to cancel her wedding to the town's favorite son - the irresistible Ted Beaudine. Lucy disappears, and when Meg tries to leave town too, she's forced to survive on her own wit and some hard work. She butts heads with Ted and most of the town's other inhabitants with hilarious results. The ending is somewhat predictable but getting to that part was irresistible!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Forget me not/336p/Hinze

Forget Me Not pulled me in from the very first page and kept me guessing until the end. Besides being a great storyline the book also boasts an awesome cover.
A mysterious woman finds herself brought to the Crossroads Crisis Center
by a good Samaritan. When she wakes she finds herself dealing with amnesia with some crazy killers on her tail. Beaten and dealing with memory loss, she finds herself staring at what she believes is her own portrait hanging on the wall of the Center.
The woman in the portrait happens to be the dead wife of the Crisis Center owner, Benjamin Brandt. Ben can't believe it when the center calls and tells them that they have a woman at the center that resembles his deceased wife Susan. At first Ben finds himself angry at the young woman who so resembles his dead wife. He has been mourning the loss of Susan and his young son and feels like this woman is hiding something from him. They both agree to work with one another to unravel the truth behind how his wife and this woman are connected. Susan's look alike has a strong belief in God but will her faith be enough to keep her out of harm's way? Be prepared to lose track of time while you try to figure out the twists and turns in this story. Forget Me Not makes a great book discussion pick if you like Christian suspense and even includes a wonderful set of discussio questions. For a similar author you may like to try in DiAnn Mills.

Tandem/312p/Bateman

Tandem by Tracey Bateman – ISBN 9780307457172 - Another Christian Supernatural book from the author of “Thirsty”. This story takes place outside of Branson Missouri in
the little town of Abbey Hills. Lauryn McBride, is dealing with the fast decline of a father with Alzheimer’s and preparing the Chisholm estate belongings for auction. Little does she know that some of the antiques in the Estate will bring evil to Abbey Hills. Amede Dastillion receives a package from Miss McBride and it draws her to Abbey Hills to explore what family secrets she might find in Abbey Hills. Amede lives in New Orleans, and has been searching for her sister Eden for many years. Both Amede and her sister Eden belong to a very old vampire covenant. Once Amede arrives in Abbey Hills strange things start happening again, animal carcasses turn up and people are found murdered. Both women are working through family issues and their relationships with God. The book is very intriguing but it does bounce around which could be confusing at times to the reader. I am looking forward to reading more of Bateman’s titles.

Incarceron / Catherine Fisher / 442 p.

(Note: Yes, you can review a book that has already been reviewed!)

Incarceron is a experimental prison that was suppose to help reform inmates, but instead becomes a dark, desolate place that traps and devours human souls.  Prisoners, Finn and his friends, are trying to escape with help from Claudia, the Warden’s daughter who lives outside Incarceron.
I was a bit confused at the beginning of the story.  It was hard to visualize the two worlds and how they were set up.  There is plenty of action to move the story along and I want to stick with this series (there are 2 more books). 
YA’s will pick up interest in this story as there is a movie starring Taylor Lautner (ie the werewolf from Twilight) and perhaps Emma Watson (from Harry Potter) based on this book due out in 2012/2013.

Unveiled / Courtney Milan / 378 p.

Lady Margaret’s world is crashing around her when it is discovered that she and her brothers are illegitimate and therefore cannot inherit their ailing father’s Title and Manor.  Instead everything will go to Ash Turner a second cousin who has been waiting for the chance to seek revenge on the Old Duke, and has no plans to show any mercy towards the family.  As Lady Margaret’s brothers go out to find a way to convince parliament to reverse their decision and let them keep their Dukedom, Margaret stays behind disguised as a nurse to keep watch over her father and spy on the Turners.  I’m sure you can guess where the story goes from here…
The author’s writing style is a little more literary than the typical quick, formulaic, romance novel.  I thought there was a nice balance of detail in the setting and character development and plot. 
I would recommend this Romance to anyone that enjoys good writing and a little soap opera-ish drama. 

101 Weight Loss Tips for Preventing & Controlling Diabetes/Daly, et al./123 pages

This book was put out by the American Diabetes Association, and I picked it up to read for my father who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. The format of the book is very straightforward. Honestly, it doesn't include anything that we haven't heard before, but it would be informative for someone who is just learning the ins and outs of diabetes.

Secrets of Eden / Chris Bohjalian / 370 pages

Domestic abuse, murder, suicide, angels, and a small-town, Vermont pastor having a crisis of faith are some of the elements comprising Secrets of Eden.  Told in four voices:  Stephen Drew - the pastor, Catherine Benincasa - the prosecuting attorney, Heather Laurent - the well-known (fictional) author of angel books, and Katie Haywood - the orphaned daughter of the deceased, the novel examines the dynamics of spousal abuse and the meaning of faith in a profound, suspenceful, intimate style.

Saving Max/van Heugten/376 pages

Danielle Parkman, attorney and single mother, has her hands full with her teenage son Max. After discovering his journal, she takes him to a top psychiatric facility for diagnosis and possible treatment. A violent and fatal incident there puts both her and Max in a struggle with the legal system. She will do whatever it takes to clear her only child's name. The blurb on the cover promises "the best of John Grisham with a feminine twist." I wasn't impressed with the twist aspect. It was spoon-fed to us throughout the book. And while I believe you have to suspend disbelief to some degree with many books (and movies), the actions this mother takes is completely over the top.

The Year of Magical Thinking/Didion/227 pages

"Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends." Joan Didion, noted author, comes home one December evening with her husband, John Gregory Dunne, also a successful author. They have been visiting their comatose daughter who only days before fell mysteriously ill. As Joan begins to make dinner, John sits down at the table and suffers a massive and fatal heart attack. Joan begins her year of learning to cope as a widow and as a mother with a extremely ill adult child. While everyone can certainly sympathize with the author, the book is too clinical for me to relate to her plight. The book has been made into a one-woman play that recently played in St. Louis to good reviews. Possibly seeing this performed would be more satisfying.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Strategic Moves / Stuart Woods / 285

In this latest Stone Barrington novel, plot elements with all of Stone's friends, clients, lovers and employers interweave to leave Stone in a dangerous and exhausting balancing act from which he submerges mostly unscathed and a lot richer. Pinning down the elusive Osama bin Laden is even part of the story. Totally unbelievable...yes but you still can't stop turning those pages to find out what happens next. Reading this just to find out what happens when a most wanted fugitive uses a Mercedes to escape from a cargo plane in mid air is worth the few hours it will take you to reach the all nicely tied up ending. It's hard to choose a favorite character from the Stone Barrington books...maybe the trouble magnet Herbie Fisher, the sassy secretary Joan, the best buddy Dino, the all too lawerly Bill Eggers, the devious Lance Cabot, the wise Holly or Stone himself. I'm a little worried about Stone though...he's much too promiscuous and by now he must weigh 300 lbs and have a cholesterol problem from eating at Elaine's every night. Grab this book, pour yourself a jot of Knob Creek on the rocks, think about dining on Osso Buco with polenta and settle in for some fun time spent with Stone and friends.

Friday, February 11, 2011

All Things Bright and Beautiful / James Herriot 378 p.


Herriot continues the story of his day-to-day life as a small town veterinarian. We meet an unforgettable cast of characters including humans and animals: the brothers Siegfried and Tristan, Mrs. Donovan the local pet expert whom the townspeople consult, the widow Dalby who always gives Herriot special treatment even as she faces the loss of her herd and potentially her farm, and Granville Bennett, a small animal veterinarian who immobilizes Herriot with food and drink after a successful operation, and the goat has swallowed a pair of underwear belonging to the farmer. Herriot’s story of courting his wife warms the heart. And the story concludes with his call-up for WWII pilot training. One of my all-time favorites. Simple in story but deep in life's truths.

Rumpole on Trial / John Mortimer 243 p.

Horace Rumpole, the shrewd, tenacious, curmudgeonly barrister, is back in seven more tales of English justice. He deals with defending a ring of child devil worshipers, unscrupulous land developer (also the popular former cricket star), and his own dismissal from the bar. Intertwined are the returning characters, Hilda Rumpole A.K.A. She Who Must Be Obeyed, Claude Erskine-Brown, Mizz Liz Probert, "Soapy" Sam Ballard, and Mr. Injustice Graves add disturbances of their own. The title story is a gem. Imagine Rumpole in retirement!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Crescent Dawn / Clive Cussler / 548 pages

For pure reading adventure with a bit of history thrown in, you cannot beat Clive Cussler. In Crescent Dawn Dirk Pitt and his crew of family and scientist friends beat the odds and a sociopathic brother & sister seeking to restablish their claim to the Ottoman Empire and find a Roman galley with the most significant religious find of all time...relics of Jesus Christ. Do you have to suspend belief? Of course no ordinary human can escape by the skin of his teeth as often as Dirk Pitt but what fun it is to see what he's up against next and how he uses items at hand to escape the jaws of death. Reading one of his books is like being in a wild action adventure movie yourself! What do I like the most about Cussler's books featuring Dirk Pitt, his wife Loren, children Summer & Dirk and buddies Al Giordino and Rudi Gunn? Hmmm....he's a classic car collector and one of his cars is always featured in the book, Clive himself shows up as a character, the gadgets and ocean vehicles are phenomenal and there's some interesting history and science thrown in too.

2011 Missouri Building Block Award Nominees

All ten Building Block Award were delightfully enteraining and will appeal to most prechool and kindergarten age children.  My favorite was Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein.  This book was met with cries of "Read it again!" several times.  I also enjoyed The Great Monster Hunt, For Just One day, Pete the Cat:  I Love My New White Shoes, and The Cow Loves Cookies.  I sent the entire list of Missouri  Building Block Award nominees to a teacher in Texas with special recommendations for the titles mentioned.

Nobody's Baby But Mine / Susan Elizabeth Phillips / 376 pages

Jcdie Pulanski is asked by several Chicago Stars football players to find a woman for QB Cal Bonner's birthday present.  She finds Dr. Jane Darlington, a 35-year-old physicist who longs for a baby.  She has rejected sperm banks and her colleagues to avoid the risk of having a brilliant child who grow up as she had to, a freak of nature.  After Jane becomes pregnant and Cal discovers the preganncy, he insists that she marry him to make the baby legitimate.  She accompanies him to North Carolina, meets his family, befriends his rival and his cantankerous grandmother, and falls in love with him and his family....and they all live happily ever after....after many, huge, funny fights.  Laugh-out-loud humor.  Some bad language.

Romance   1998 RITA Award winner for Best Contemporary Single

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Crooked Letter Crooked Letter / Tom Franklin / 272 pages

Well, you might just want to think about this one for your next book discussion club. How did you learn to spell Mississippi? That's the source for the title and the setting for this book. It is a mystery but what will stick in your mind is the characters, how past decisions impact lives, and if we can "make good" our poor choices years later. The plot spans two time periods (early 70's and the early 90's), involves an unlikely friendship between two boys, pivots on unexplained disappearance of two girls, relates the impact of prejudices, and focuses on the families that shape us. It's a relatively short book that offers a good story and a lot of things to think about. There's humor too....chickens named after all the First Ladies!

What the Night Knows / Dean Koontz / 442 pages

Okay, I'm admitting this upfront. I am a serious Dean Koontz fan. That being said, I like some of his books and characters more than others. (At least he seems be writing all of his books himself....so there!) What the Night Knows is the Dean Koontz I love to read. Scarrrrry. Ghosts. Possession. Evil forces. Weirdness. Seemingly defenseless characters who through love or goodness or faith beat back the forces of darkness in our world. Yep. This is a good one so read it. You won't be sorry. Besides, that man has a way of using the English language to create just the right picture in your head. He has so much fun with words.

Secrets to the Grave / Tami Hoag / 449 pages

In this mystery, Tami Hoag continues the story of the characters from her book Deeper than the Dead. It's a page-turner and you will keep turning the pages even though you really have a suspicion of who the true murderer is. The story takes place in a time before databases, cell phones, and all those other technological gadgets that help to solve crimes, link cases and track down the bad guy. It's also a story of two "damaged" characters who find and help each other regain their strength and overcome their emotional and physical challenges through a deep and caring love which extends to others. So, the plot keeps you going and the characters make you care about them. What more can the reader want if they're looking for entertainment?

Juliet / Anne Fortier / 444 pages

Guess this one is a historical romance mystery. The author uses the intriguing idea of a modern-day Julie Jacobs delving into her heritage to discover she is a descendant of the original Giulietta Tolomei on whom Shakespeare based the play Romeo and Juliet. It's up to Julie, who discovers after her Aunt Rose's death that her real name is Giulietta Tolomei, to go to Italy in search of her inheritance and to resolve the centuries old curse placed on her family and other feuding families by a priest who was tortured to death. The plot switches back and forth between the parallel stories of the contempory Julie and historical Giulietta. Fascinating how the author does it. But just in case you're wondering, true love conquers all. Oh, Romeo, Romeo!

Mr Popper's Penguins / Florence & Richard Atwater / 138 pages

January reading....When I read this the first time 40 or more years ago, I thought it was hilarious. On re-reading it, I still think it's funny but it's interesting how my perspective changed. Somehow I was emphathizing with "Mama" Popper who had to put up with "Papas" eccentric fixation on Arctic regions and all wives who put up with their husbands hobbies. Really, as he set off to the North Pole I could see her waving happily and telling him don't hurry back, dear, we'll be fine. Sad to be an adult I guess. Anyway, it's still a great book, a funny story, and should be enjoyed by many future generations of young readers. I hope the movie doesn't ruin the book for kids! Robert Lawson's illustrations are priceless. Great book to read aloud and share some laughs with your child. Easy enough for a good 2nd or 3rd grade reader.

Fragile / Lisa Unger / 327 pages

January reading....An intriguing mystery more about character than plot I think. Does the past always come to light? Can the secrets that haunt us be resolved and lose their grip on our lives? The main character, Maggie wife of the sheriff and mother of a smart but rebellious teenage son, is a therapist in a small town where she has lived all her life. When a teenage girl goes missing, the past comes surging into the present and life-changing past mistakes and acts are revealed. Some characters are healed and some can never be healed. Listened to this one on audio which was a good choice I think.

Where's Your WOW / Robyn Spizman & Rick Frishman / 164 pages

January reading...These two authors try to help the reader plot ways to get to the head of the pack, be memorable with customers, and achieve success. There are plenty of stories of how successful people did it...including the authors regaling you with their own awesomeness. My intention was to discover ways public libraries could use what we do every day to generate our own WOW factor and gain new customers. No new techniques that I could determine or haven't seen before.

The Edge / Jeffery Deaver / 397 pages

I for one am proud to claim Jeffery Deaver as a fellow graduate of Mizzou. Maybe we were even on campus at the same time...did I hear him play folksongs, were we in the same class, did he see Tiger basketball coached by Stormin' Norman at Brewer Fieldhouse? Okay, enough with the Mitch Albom five people thing. I am never disappointed, bored or unsurprised with any of Deaver's books and The Edge is no exception. He creates a new, fascinating character Corte, who is a protection agent for the government and a serious game player...real games not videogames. The book centers on Corte's out-playing the ultimate "lifter" hired to torture and assasinate. (Eeew....that alcohol and sandpaper thing still has me cringing.) As always, in the end, Deaver will play with the reader with unanticipated plot and character twists. Oh, please, please, please forget the James Bond book and give us more Corte!

Trust Me on This / Jennifer Crusie / 291 pages

January reading...Okay, it's a romance with all the usual romantic elements. Dennie is a girl reporter who stops playing it safe and decides to leap off the cliff to jumpstart a real career in journalism. Alec is a government agent trying to set up and arrest a legendary swindler. As in all romances, the happy couple ride off into the sunset after they discover they should listen to those magnetic twinges and disregard what their heads are telling them. At least it has some older women characters who seem pretty plucky. If you need some mindless reading, then go for it.

The Thief / Megan Whalen Turner / 219 pages

January reading...Ah, this really did deserve to be a Newbery Honor book. The book centers on imaginary kingdoms with real-life issues and characters with courage and warts. It involves a quest, a dungeon, spies, a treasure, puzzles to be solved, cleverness, humor, skirmishes, trickery & treachery. Things are never as they seem in this wonderfully engaging story. Sure to be enjoyed by adults kids grades 5 & up who will anxiously read the sequels The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia and Conspiracy of Kings. Great for fans of Blue Balliet, Ellen Rasking, and even Rick Riordan. It's a book where you heave a sigh of pleasure as you read the last sentence.

Dead or Alive / Tom Clancy / 950 pages

January reading...Guess there is one good thing about the war on terrorism...authors have lots of fodder for books. In his usual detailed technical manner, Tom Clancy takes us on the search for the #1 most wanted terrorist in the caves of Pakistan. Back in the US, we are insiders who take part in the action of a special, secret Campus organization formed by former Prez Jack Ryan who grants them get out of jail free cards. Here you have a secret non-government organization who gets the job done by spying on all the other government sanctioned groups who can't seem to share or get their act together. Found myself slogging through to the end but got kind of tired of all the political posturing by the author. Just give us a good story; we can figure out the rest.

Tick Tock / James Patterson / 387 pages

Lawrence Berger has masterminded an elaborate plot which includes re-creations of infamous murders and bombings.  He has enlisted the aid of an ex Delta Force madman, Carl Apt, to enact the plan as he (Lawrence) is morbidly obese.  Targeting victims responsible for his firing as an abnormal psychology professor, he seeks to besmirch his famous family name. Michael Bennet, and an Irish cop with a priest for a grandfather and a rainbow family, must crack the crime spree.

Open Season / C. J. Box / 293 pages

Young Joe Picket, a Wyoming game warden new to the job, finds a body in the yard of his home.  His daughter's nightmare of monsters turns out to be true.  Joe investigates the murder and the scat found in the dead man's cooler.  Someone has murdered 3 hunters and an entire colony of Miller's weasels, a species thought to be extinct.  Suspended from his job, Joe persists in an investigation he has been told to abandon.  Great suspence!  This  book of for mature audiences. 

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Room/ Emma Donoghue/ 321 pages

This is the story of a boy who was born in a room and raised only in that room until he was 5 years old. His mother was kidnapped when she was 19. The room is 11 x 11 and this is the story of how they lived. At first, it was hard for me to get used to the story being told from the 5-year-old's perspective and how he talked and thought of things. But, it didn't take long before I couldn't put the story down. It's heartbreaking, but there is also a lot to admire in the mother and child.

Columbine/ by David Cullen/ 417 pages


This is a fascinating look at the details surrounding the 1999 school shooting in Littleton, CO. David Cullen spent 10 years analyzing information, and it really shows in the quality and depth of material. Some of the many interesting details that are included: information about school personnel, information about the shooters, information about the victims, information about how and when police/SWAT/FBI entered the school and how they responded, information about the immediate reaction and the ongoing reaction, etc.


The information is put together cohesively, and the book is so well written. I did not once feel like I was reading through endless facts. In fact, even though I knew the outcome, I still felt caught up in knowing what would happen next. Cullen sheds light on some common misconceptions about many aspects of the shooting (and the shooters themselves), and it really just makes for an enlightening read. Highly recommended!

This Book Is Not Good For You/ by Pseudonymous Bosch/ 394 pages


The third in the series! This one focuses on taste and CHOCOLATE, so I was immediately drawn in. The same three characters from before are caught up in another quest, this one involving a magic tuning fork. This book brought up more details from the characters' pasts, and it made the adults in the story more visible. I like that the series is becoming more and more detailed and intricate as the books go on...this story is not simply a different version of the second or first book in the series.

It ends with quite a cliffhanger, and I've already started the fourth book, so look for that review in the future! :-)

If You're Reading This, It's Too Late/ by Pseudonymous Bosch/ 385 pages


In this sequel to The Name of This Book is Secret, the 2 main characters find themselves involved in another mystery. This story is centered on the hearing sense (there is lots of music), and it concerns a "man-made" man that Cass and Max-Ernest must find. This book also introduces a third character to the group, Yo-Yoji.

Overall, I found it entertaining and interesting. I liked the dynamic among the three characters, and I felt more invested in the story since I'd read the first book and knew some of the background. Another good adventure story with fantasy elements that might increase its appeal with fantasy lovers.

Monday, February 7, 2011

MAD's Greatest Artists: Sergio Aragones: Five Decades of His Finest Works by Sergio Aragones 272pp

Anyone who has ever read MAD Magazine will love this collection of art by Sergio Aragone. Sergio is a genius for creating visual comedy with drawings. This was a fun book to read and the pictures were awesome. This book was in the adult collection but most of our MAD magazines are in the teen section. Some of the sections were fun to read looking back at the 1960's and 1970's. I recommend to anyone who wants to have fun with a book and does not take life to seriously.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Rat Trap / Michael Daley / 212 pages

Jeff lives on a space station with his Mom & Dad who are both scientists.  He has rescued a research rat, been accused of dismantling his robot Nanny, and has befriended an intellectually gifted computer.  Jeff & LB discuss philosophically the meaning of friendship, promise-keeping, and the greater good.  Rat, a lab-generated robot-like rat, is being hunted by the scientist who created him.  Rat saves the space station and realizes that freindship may be at least as important as freedom.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

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!

Friday, February 4, 2011

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.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

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!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

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.