BookTeaCatDog

Big Sis' January 2012 Reads

2012-02-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

It was a short month. And it's funny because I don't really know what else I did when I wasn't reading... I don't have anything to show for it... Although admittedly I spent a lot of hours playing with my iPhone so maybe I was playing too much Words with Friends to read another book...

Private #1 Suspect, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro - Jack Morgan is framed for the murder of his former employee/ex-girlfriend. It's a quick read, not too many twists and turns, but typical JP. Mom will like this one! I heard a bit about these co-authored JP books. Apparently Mr. Patterson writes out a VERY detailed outline (100+ pages!) and pretty much has the story the way he wants it when he hands it over to his non-ghost-writer. He is insistent that their names be on the front cover so that they get the credit they deserve. He's proud, apparently, to help aspiring writers break into the publishing world. After all, what publisher is going to tell him "No, we're not putting their name on the cover"? I like the fact that the story is indeed his, but that someone else has an opportunity to flesh it out and get some credit and a boost up into the publishing stratosphere...

Organize for a Fresh Start, Susan Fay West (Kindle edition) - An easy read, but I had some trouble reading it on a Kindle. But I am giving it a try. I am still having a hard time with so little text on a page, even when I shrink the font. I feel like I'm just swiping page to page to page constantly. Ms. West helps us understand why we're organizing, how to purge, how to save, and she's not afraid to recommend the use of a professional organizer when one is warranted. I found some good ideas in this book but it's not one I would return to for reference over and over so I guess it's a good thing that this is one I chose to read on my Kindle. The reason I chose it is that it was on sale for $0.00. The price was certainly right, even if the format is giving me a headache!

She Can Run, Melina Leigh (Kindle edition) - STILL giving it a try... This was a $3.99 special. Again, I see the value of some of these promo prices, although they're usually not on premium, name-brand authors, which means I have an opportunity to "find" a new favorite. Again, not the most pleasurable reading experience for me. I think this sort of solidified my feeling that Kindle books are going to be my vacation read method, but not my primary book format. I can SO see the value of not carrying an extra bag, not to mention the extra pounds (I carry enough of a surplus of those already!!!), so I'll be looking for books to read on the Kindle when I go to Florida in May, then to New Orleans the following week, then to Philly in August... But I'll not be reading much more on the machine outside of traveling time. And now on to the story itself: It was sort of a predictable read. Elizabeth was on the run from an abusive husband, hiding herself and her two young children on a rather remote estate. Of course, the gentleman who hired her died before she arrived and no one knew she was coming, but the weathered and gruff handsome heir, who coincidentally is a soon-to-be-retired police detective, sees she needs to stay, realizes she's hiding something, falls in love with her, and eventually saves her from her abusive ex, all while solving the mystery of the serial killer who lives in their midst. Easy to see how it was all going to wind up, but for $3.99, a few good hours of entertainment.

The 7th Month, Lisa Gardner (Kindle Edition) - Now I might STILL download these sorts of things... a short story by a favorite author, just a little something to entertain me in between hardcover releases, for the very attractive price of $1.99! As much, though, as I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lisa's books, this short story was a little disappointing; I wanted a bit more story. But for $1.99, with nothing else to read? This certainly fit the bill! It was sort of A Day in the Life of Detective D.D. Warren as she battles to find a retired cop's murderer before he/she murders again. A short story, yes, not enough to be a major release, but a cute interlude, so to speak...

DoodleBug Goes to Work

2012-02-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

DoodleBug began his work at the local community hospital today, after getting the approval of the program coordinator. His first official stop was with her in Labor and Delivery, although we'd walked through the hospital and stopped in the surgery waiting lounge on our way to her office. He got his photo taken for his very own badge, but will be reusing his predecessor, K the Magnificent's, hospital vest. He enjoyed himself tremendously, and I think will settle down very quickly into the routine. He is quite the charmer.

Middle Sis' January 2012 Books

2012-01-31T13:58:00.000-08:00

Final tally for 2011: 68 books read. Not bad, not bad at all. If I could get up my gumption to get rid of the dish, I'd get even more reading done. On to 2012...

97 Ways to Make a Dog Smile by Jenny Langbehn Amusing little book with few new ideas on how to get your pooch to smile at you, but one I hadn't tried and was inspired to--flinging rice cakes as if they were Frisbees. Got me to buy some rice cakes at Trader Joe's, and yes, they do fly. And yes, the dogs did spew rice everywhere eating them. And yes, I did discover that TJ's rice cakes are actually quite tasty to humans, too. And of course, with photos of dogs on every page, how could I not enjoy it---especially when one of the first photos is of a Samoyed?
The Outdoor Girls in Army Service by Laura Lee Hope We all thought, gentle reader, that my coincidental reading of World War 1-related books was over in this new year, but then I saw this one in my folder of children's books on my Kindle. And with fond memories of the Bobbsey Twins, I selected it. Written in 1918, just as the Yanks were entering the war, this, unlike the other WW1 books read last year, was written at the time. I knew propaganda had been heavy, but I hadn't realized how nasty and heavy until I read this book, aimed at young girls, and the snide and mean and jingoistic comments sprinkled throughout. It'll be a good long time before I play with the Outdoor Girls again; must let that bad taste recede.
Welsh Fairy Tales by William Elliot Griffis One of the first books I started when I downloaded the Kindle for PC app, I've sporadically read a tale here and there over the past two years, finally finishing the book this month. Interesting insight into Welsh cultural beliefs.
Coffee Break Mysteries by William S. Shepard Short story anthology of mysteries, some with recurring characters, some without. Some better than others, but still an enjoyable short break from a longer reading effort (Eugene Onegin by Pushkin in my case, which was recalled from the library, so I need to finish that tome at a later date).
Eliza by Barry Pain Edwardian-era gentleman who's not the brightest bulb is lucky to be married to a patient and much smarter woman. Probably not interesting to most modern readers, but gentle humor and an interesting contemporary view of Edwardian England's home life.
The New World by Patrick Ness Short story that provides background to Ness' science fiction series.
The Case of Jennie Brice by Mary Roberts Rinehart Easily the best book read this month. It is Rinehart, after all, and there's a reason her books are still in print. This one, published in 1913, is set in 1904 Allegheny City, PA (now part of Pittsburgh), a small city suffering through one of its periodic floods. Absolutely fascinating look at what was clearly the normal behavior in American turn-of-the-century towns beset by disasters, the mystery begins with people rowing via boats into the first floors of flooded houses to get to the second stories, where the inhabitants have all moved until the river recedes. Rinehart's physical descriptions of the flood, the noises, the eerie setting are all superb. If you like novels written during the gilded age of mysteries; if you like mysteries where the detective has to rely on brains and instinct and not modern technology; if you like psychological mysteries, you will like Jennie Brice. It holds up exceedingly well for today's reader. Recommended.
The Schmoldenese Falcon by John Northern Short story that combines mystery and science fiction, this parody of the Maltese Falcon is quite a good read. Very amusing in some sections, it's a very fast read.
Lunch with Miss Hepburn by Simon Worall Dull essay about the author's lunch with Katherine Hepburn shortly before her death. If you're a fan of Miss Hepburn, skip this. Her own autobiography is much more interesting and less irritating. If you're not a fan, skip it because it's very dull.
Design on a Crime by Ginny Aiken First in a new series about a decorator. I found the first three-quarters of the book extremely irritating. The author tries to build suspense by repeatedly hinting at some terrible trauma the heroine has undergone, but rather than build sympathy, all it made this reader want to do was commit her own personal reading sin--skip ahead to get past those sections. One knew, of course, what that trauma was the moment it was first breathlessly mentioned, although we had to wait until three-quarters through the book for the author to tell us. The murder itself was not mysterious nor cunning. The only positive I can say about this book is that unlike some Christian books, the main character spends most of the book angry at God because of her trauma. Once she capitulates to her faith, it's almost saccharine how instantly she is 'healed.' Free, and worth the price, sadly.
A Very Holly Christmas by Sheila Roberts Boring short story that did not get me into the holiday spirit.
The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton Excellent short story anthology, with some stories completely taking this jaded mystery reading junkie by surprise. One story was painful in its anti-Semitism, but ignoring how people really spoke and what they really believed at one point in history will not ensure people never believe those things again. Sometimes we need to face the ugly, to remember. Recommended.

Sunday...

2012-01-29T16:39:00.000-08:00

...Breakfast, and some nice lighting... (taken with my iPhone!)

The fireplace in our bedroom at the lakehouse, with the stone added over the past two weeks; now we just need to add the mantle...

My b'day cowl from Sister P. Thanks! (and I wore the headband today, too!)

Jan. 26., 2012

2012-01-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

Morning, Jan. 26, 2012

Jan. 22, 2012

Finally, a photo or two...

2012-01-25T13:28:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning

2012-01-23T13:20:00.000-08:00

Cat on the Bed

2012-01-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

Tea Mug

2012-01-21T09:09:00.000-08:00

Friday morning

2012-01-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

My Goofballs

2012-01-18T09:53:00.000-08:00

Big Sis' Photo #1

2012-01-17T06:39:00.001-08:00

, a photo by Krys72599 on Flickr.

I love Christmas lights, especially when they're mine!

It's January 17th...

2012-01-17T06:27:00.000-08:00

... and no one has posted here since January 6th.

So I'm taking it upon myself to post. Something. Anything.

How about this?

3191 Miles Apart

Here's the newest project from Stephanie and MAV. I bought their book for each of us, and I'm hoping we can do something similar at least once a month, or perhaps if we can just all take and post more photos on this here blog... Perhaps no theme is a good theme - just take 'em and post 'em people. Forget the once a month thing - let's just take photos and post them, snapshots into our busy lives, bits and pieces of what's going on around us...

I haven't been carrying my camera around, what with the arrival of my new iPhone, so I'll have to make a concerted effort to upload the photos I do take onto my laptop once a week (?) and post something here... Heck, I'd be happy with once every two weeks!!!

Let's try? I'm shooting for later this week... Hey, I bet I can post from my phone...

Dog Prints

2012-01-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

Well, DoodleBug and Mr. Big were wrestling the other morning, leaping into the air and ramming into each other, chasing each other around the backyard, then leaping into each others chests again. Mr. Big has not relaxed enough to trust flopping onto the ground, stomach up, like he did when he wrestled with our Pupgirl, but this horsing around is exactly what I hoped would happen, and which so often doesn't when you add an insane 2.5-year-old puppy-in-an-adult-dog-body to a home with a 12-year-old. So I don't mind coming home to the evidence of exactly what they have done while I was at work: snoozing in one spot. See the big piles of dried mud that have fallen off them?

Dog-body-sized dirt prints.

What's a little dirt between friends?

Mud packs are good for dogs, too.

Just because I love her.

Middle Sis' December Books

2011-12-31T15:12:00.000-08:00

Murder Past Due by Miranda James Cosy "Cat in the Stacks" mystery with a male college librarian/archivist in a small southern town. When a famous college alumnae and bestselling author is murdered the day after he donates his notes to the library, our hero swings into action to help an old college friend and her son, who are prime suspects. Male protagonists written by women sometimes seem more feminine than male, and that's certainly the case here--Charlie Harris is sensitive and introspective and not macho at all. And his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, his best friend and constant companion (how does he not get into trouble for taking his cat into the bakery?), is not the usual sidekick for a man, nor the pistol my Maine Coon cat is, but the chirping meow is recognizable to any Maine Coon owner. Too bad the cat on the cover is not a Maine Coon. Note to publishers: trying to sell a genre book will work better if you're accurate in basic details, like the cat prominently portrayed on the cover. Having the wrong breed on there just cheeses the cat-loving mystery buffs you're trying to attract, and non-cat-loving mystery buffs are unlikely to buy a book featuring a cat, so you might as well have the graphic designer get it right and please your target audience. Pleasant read, although the mystery is not mysterious at all and even a lackadaisical armchair detective can solve this one before the book is one-third read.

Death by Cashmere by Sally Goldenbaum Lovely setting in a fictional Cape Cod-type seaside town, the first in the series centered on the Seaside Knitting Studio introduces us to a group of women brought together by their love of knitting and food and proximity. Loved the setting, and would love to live there. Note to publishers: the copy editor needs to make sure that there is continuity through the book. After a big deal is made about the turquoise sea yarn (p. 82) Nell uses to make herself a scarf/shawl to wear to the gala event that is pivotal to solving the murder mystery, to have her go find her "black" shawl (p. 167) is just sloppy. Also sloppy: not keeping track of who is who: p. 167, Izzy is working on a sweater and Cass is working on a shawl for her mother, yet just a few scant paragraphs down, "Izzy put down the alpaca shawl she was making for her mother." And how could Izzy be playing with her toast (p. 215) when they weren't served breakfast until p. 216? (Yes, a point is made of Stella the waitress bringing their food.) It's hard enough keeping track during some passages of dialogue, when all four women are talking (Nell, Izzy, Cass, and Birdie) and no names are used; the reader doesn't need sloppy editing. I never found any of these women to have a unique voice or way or talking that came across in the written dialogue, and pages of unattributed dialogue were frustrating if the reader is trying to keep track of who knew what, when, and how. Again, the mystery is not mysterious, and this undiscerning armchair detective had the mystery solved halfway through the book without even trying, but the setting is so vividily described, and Nell such a nice woman, I'm sure I'll be back to visit Seaside.

The Middle Temple Murder by Joseph Smith Fletcher Enjoyable historic-period mystery (set in 1912) in which the murder of a mysterious stranger from Australia is solved by an honest newspaperman with a nose for following a cold trail. I very much enjoy mysteries where the detective has to use his brains and courage, not his cell phone and brute force, to solve the mystery. Complicated shenanigans where no one, except our hero, is what he seems.

Chili Con Corpses (The Supper Club Mysteries) by J.B. Stanley Contemporary series focused on a group of dieting friends who take a culinary class, which is disrupted by the murder of a classmate. Pleasant enough, also with a male protagonist who seems more feminine than male in his attitude and actions. Do men really sit around in coffee shops talking about what would be the perfect gift to buy a particular woman?

The Burglar and the Blizzard, a Christmas Story by Alice Duer Miller Historical mystery wherein the solving of the mystery may ruin our hero's (yes, another book with a male protagonist--it was a bit of a theme this month) chance at happiness. Enjoyable, fast read, neatly solved, no drama.

Begging Canines

2011-12-14T15:55:00.000-08:00

Middle Sister Reads in November

2011-12-01T12:21:00.000-08:00

Hmm, seems I read more in November than I thought. The monthly summaries, plus a new feature--a monthly Best Book Quote.

The South Beach Diet Wake Up Call by Arthur Agatston The latest South Beach book. Really, these aren't diet books but lifestyle books. In the first, Dr. Agatston presented his diet-for-life plan. In the second, he added exercise as diet alone won't cut it for most people. And now, he's come to understand the importance of sleep to our health and well-being. Sleep and health have been hot topics in health magazines for the last 18 months, and this book provides a plan to incorporate both more movement and more sleep into our 21st century, constantly-on-call lives. I used the second book and the accompanying cookbook to lose 14 lbs two years ago, and have kept them off ever since, so I admit to being prejudiced to like this book before I ever read it. Another plus--he specifically addresses parental concerns in this books, with columns in each chapter covering topics specific to children. A high recommendation if you think your New Year's 2012 goal will be to get healthy.
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle My online 19th century novels book group selected this classic mystery, the first which introduces Sherlock Holmes, for our November/December book. I hadn't read it in years, and had forgotten the premise (man tracks down killer of his sweetheart's father and the indirect killer of his sweetheart, over decades) and the plot device (presented in two halves, with the first centered on the present-day murder of the murderer, and the second presenting the back story). Not the best Holmes in my opinion, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Waiter, There's A Clue in My Soup! by Camille LaGuire Anthology of five short stories. I enjoyed this far more than I really expected to, given the historical Western setting of three of the stories. The two Mick and Casey mysteries were pleasant, and I liked the characters enough that I may search out more books featuring them. The Alibi was a classic murder plot--twisted. The Promise was a more predictable premise, but well written (and provides this month's Best Book Quote; see below). Waiter...is the weakest of the five in my opinion, as I had to read sections twice to make sense of the unraveling of the murder. However, that could have been my inattention at fault. I plan on looking for more novels by Ms. LaGuire.
The Haunted Pajamas by Francis Perry Elliott Ancient Chinese pajamas that mysteriously can affect the behavior of the wearer? Mistaken identities? Mischief and prison? Sounded like a great cheesy novel, but unfortunately, it was marred by the overeager use of some terminology designed to make the reader think the main character was a Bertie Wooster type. Sadly, he lacks Bertie's style and substance, and this writer was no Wodehouse. Some situations dragged on way too long and lost their edge and their supposed hilarity. Nor did I get a good sense of the era (it was published in 1911). And remember, I love reading old, old mysteries, so it takes a lot to disappoint me. In doing some archival research to determine how this book was received when first published, I learned there was a movie made in 1917--and now I am eager to track that down. Hopefully, it's better than the book.
June Bug by Jess Lourey Weak entry in a weak series. A long-lost diamond necklace is the prize object hunted by divers in Whiskey Lake, with a modern paste replica offered as a stunt by a not-so-local newspaper. The mystery is weak (and ick on the mental images of the dead body found in the denouement), the mean guy so appalling I cannot wonder why no one called the police on this creep (he trashes her house and defecates in her bath tub, and Mira doesn't call the sheriff, just cleans it up? I'd never liked her in the previous book in the serious I'd read, but at this little incident, she lost all sympathy she might have garnered from me.), and Mira's repeated lustful comments after the gardener got tedious very quickly (and if I were him, I'd think she was a loser, too). Skip this series. it's not funny, not quirky, not entertaining, and the mystery stinks.
Village Life in America 1952-1872 by Carline Cowles Richards Some of you may know I am entranced following the Disunion series in the New York Times, which has been tracing the beginnings of the Civil War and now, the actual war, through fantastic essays written by a number of historians. The photographs, reproduced contemporary editorial pieces, and modern critiques and assessments have been fascinating. While there are a number of Southern diaries and memoirs that have been published, there are far fewer Northern examples of the same to show how the Civil War was perceived there. This twenty-year diary follows a young lady in upstate New York. Some pluses: fascinating local reaction to McLelland's firing by Lincoln; local reactions and impressions of the war; the window into a middle-class home of the time. Some minuses: not deeply stirring or well written. Students of history may enjoy the different perspective.
Miss Mapp by E. F. Benson I found an online group who adore Benson as much as I do, and this was my first group read with them. The Chintz Wars! Miss Mapp's Food Hoard! The Kingfisher Blue Gown Tragedy! I love this book. I always love visiting Tilling. With my stressful November, it was the perfect book to take my mind off my troubles for a little while.

Okay, and now, for the Best Book Quote of the Month:

"A woman's soul can stretch. Can endure and suffer any stain and any pain. But a man's soul is hard. It breaks." Ma to Lola, in The Promise by Camille LaGuire (2006; nominated for the Short Story Mystery Fiction Society's Derringer Award in 2007).

Happy Birthday, M!!!

2011-11-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

Since, for some unknown reason, I am not able to post comments on some blogs here on blogpost, including The Mossy Nest, I will post a HUGE Happy Birthday to my favorite Samoyed boy here!

Happy Birthday, M!

Wish I could give you a big birthday hug!!!

Big Sis' October Reads 2011

2011-11-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hey, I had to mark this 2011 'cause I had an October Reads blog post LAST year! That was a fast year!!!

This month was nothing but entertainment. I learned nothing from my reading, I didn't come to any great epiphanies based on the books I chose... pure entertainment! Loved it!!! Here we go...

Heat Rises, by Richard Castle - The third book in a series of books NOT written by Nathan Fillion, I enjoyed this one immensely. Nikki faces down a crooked contractor, a series of hit men, and a notorious drug lord, all with great style and ease (I hear music in my head... LOL!). I've converted TWO people that I know of into Castle fans, and they're reading the books, too! I send my copies to Suzanne in AZ (hi, Suzanne!) and she enjoys them as much as I do!

Miracle Cure, by Harlan Coben - There's nothing new, right? This is a rereleased book, originally written in 1991, it's the story of doctors searching for a cure for AIDS, prior to it becoming such a widespread epidemic. He addresses the early views that it was a homosexual disease only, and comes up with a nice way to bring the danger of heterosexual AIDS transmission to the forefront of the story, if one can call anything about that disease "nice." Coben wraps up the story easily, and I enjoyed a glimpse into his early writing.

Bonnie, by Iris Johansen - Eve found her daughter, Bonnie. She had been kidnapped and apparently murdered many years before, and Eve has been searching for her all along, and that search was the basis for novel after novel. I'm so happy it was resolved but I truly hope Bonnie continues to appear to Eve in future stories. I love these characters and I'd hate to have this end their crime-solving just 'cause they found Bonnie.

The Christmas Wedding, by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo - This is another of his non-Alex Cross novels, very different from his usual crime fair. Gaby is getting married, to one of the three men who asked her. And she invites her children all back to the family home to see her get married on Christmas Day but she doesn't tell them who the lucky groom is. In fact, the groom doesn't know himself! Patterson brings each of the kids home, complete with their own personal baggage, and of course, since this is a wedding story, it all gets solved, neatly and tidily, but not disappointingly, by the time the wedding rolls around. This was a lovely, innocent, quick, fun read.

Hometown Girl, by Mariah Stewart - Another in The Chesapeake Diaries series, Brooke comes home to build a new life for herself and for her child, after her husband is killed in Iraq. She has no intention of falling in love, but of course, she becomes friends with Jesse and does. Fall in love, that is! This is another book written purely for enjoyment, a lovely innocent love story.

Only His, by Susan Mallery - Nevada is one of triplet sisters, the only one not engaged and getting married. We can't have that, can we?!? Of course she meets up with an ex-flame (~~NOT~~) and they wind up together again. She's a fun character, a strong woman in a man's career, and this was a fun story. Don't worry - there are three weddings by the end of the book!

Middle Sister's October Books

2011-11-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

Much of September and October was spent reading the first book below for my online 19th century novels group. I read this one to make up for having passed on reading Moby Dick. I'm not sure which is more punishing. The others were palate cleansers after Bronte.

Villette by Charlotte Bronte I hated this book. Okay, maybe hate is strong. Intensely disliked. That's no reflection on our book group moderator, who selected it. In fact, Villette generated a lot of discussion because people either liked it or hated it, so from a discussion standpoint, it was a great choice. Lucy Snowe was whiny, narrow-mined, superstitious, tractable, and liked to wallow in self pity. When I compare this novel to Jane Eyre, I find it difficult to believe they were written by the same author. This reads to me like someone’s first effort at a Gothic romance, written by an inexperienced teenager who pays no attention to consistency and is rather too fond of coincidences. For all my dislike of Rochester as a character, Jane Eyre as a novel is far more sophisticated in plot, characterization, and believability (can I use that made-up word?). And apparently one misses way too much if one reads a version without all the French translated (which was my fault, I admit). But I give Bronte her due--she has a way with descriptions of places and people, and I enjoyed that part of the novel.
The Love Talker by Barbara Michaels What better choice for my first Kindle library loan than one by my favorite author? And unbelievably, except for a few descriptive paragraphs, you would never have believed this was published in 1980; the story holds up that well. The romantic denouement may have been a little predictable, but I forgive Dr. Mertz that for her superb descriptions of a wintry Maryland night. I was shivering under my covers.
The Ninth Daughter by Barbara Hamilton First in a mystery series starring one of America's brightest first ladies, Abigail Adams. The Revolutionary War is one of the most interesting time periods in American history to me, and this novel takes place just before the famous Boston Tea Party. It reads as if Ms. Hamilton has done a beaucoup load of research into the time period, and I enjoyed it immensely, despite the slightly grim murder. I will join Abigail for more murderous adventures, I assure you. The Revolutionary War backdrop will be fascinating.
A Test of Will by Charles Todd My last venture, for a while at least, into mysteries centered around World War I. This novel is the first in this series that has many entries, and I had read good reviews of it. First, the pros: very well written, very well researched, and what a complicated main character. Cons: the plot device of Hamish? Meh. He got very old, very fast, after the first few chapters, and I was pleased that he seemed to recede a bit as the story, and Ian's interest and involvement in the case, deepened.
Mrs. Amworth and How Fear Departed from the Long Gallery by E.F. Benson Halloween reads of short ghost stories written by my other favorite author. Evil dead baby twins! Vampires! Loved them. No one has a way with words like Fred.
A Midsummer Night's Scream by Jill Churchill I needed some DVDs to listen to while I was making the daily drive on an out-of-town project for work. I knew there were a bunch of these books at the library by this author, I saw this one on DVD and thought why not? I enjoy a cosy mystery as much as the next cosy mystery buff. Not this one. Stilted conversations between the characters, a no-dimension love story, and why do we have to wait until Chapter 13 to find out whether our main character is a widow or divorced? There may be a lot of these Jane Jeffrey mysteries, but I'll pass them by, thank you. Oh, and audio book publishers? If your main character is supposed to be a big mystery genre fan, then make sure your paid reader pronounces well known real live authors' names correctly. It's pronounced Nye-oh, not En-gay-oh, Marsh. About a thousand websites will tell you this.
The House at Sea's End by Elly Griffths Number 3 in the Ruth Galloway series begins with the birth of Ruth's daughter, Kate. There may be no more unmaternal mother who is not a psychopathic killer than Ruth, but that's not a criticism. Griffiths did a nice job over the last novel and this one of addressing Ruth's sometimes scattered reactions to becoming a mother at 40. This novel begins with the discovery of 6 WWII-era skeletons on a deserted and eroding shoreline, which prompts modern murders in an attempt to keep Ruth and Harry from discovering what happened all those years ago. My impressions: too neat an ending with the 'voice from beyond the grave' cementing our unmasking of the original murderer. I am tired, so so tired, of the angst that both Ruth and Harry have over their one night stand, which resulted in Kate. And then another one, here? And then, just because of her one-night stand and the knowledge that Judy is keeping an eye on her daughter, the pages and pages of crazed worry about her daughter are virtually forgotten and Ruth wants to stay at the snowbound Sea's End and play house with Harry? I cheered when Tatjana told Ruth off for her behavior, that's how tired of the whinging I was. No, Harry, you cannot have both the beautiful and sexy wife and the once-a-year one night stand with a brainy woman you feel an intellectual as well as passionate yet confusing attraction to. It's not even as if they are enduring soul searching philosophical wrestling over whether an extramarital affair is moral--both think it's wrong. Yet they can't help themselves. Please, I am over this kind of nonsense. You're both adults, act like it. But again, like in earlier novels, I think Griffiths does a great job of crafting the setting, the lonely, wind-swept beach, the crumbling cliff face. But her characters are just not that sympathetic to me. I liked Judy in the last novel. This time, nope, I didn't. The commitment issues that all Griffith's characters apparently must have is boring after a bit. Next book it'll be Clough unsure of his relationship with Trace who finds someone to sleep with, a newly married Judy maybe? Or, here's a twist--Cathbad? Can we have more mystery and less internal angst? Although I'm glad Michelle has had her eyes opened as the book ended, I'm not sure I'll read the next to see her reaction. I just don't care about these characters.

Yea for Us Dogwalkers!

2011-10-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

"A 2011 study found that dog owners were 34% more likely to get at least 150 minutes of exercise per week than nonowners. Nearly half of the roughly 2,400 dog owners in the study reported that they exercise thirty minutes a day for at least 5 days a week; among the nonowners, only about a third exercised that consistently."

Cute and warm and fuzzy--and good for our hearts in more ways than one!

"How America Got So Fat (and So Sick)" by Arthur Agatson, M.D. Prevention October 2011, p. 107.

Little Sis' October Read--got one!

2011-10-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

I just read "Wither" by Lauren DeStefano. Marketed as teen fiction, it is one of those crossovers that is great for adults too. Interesting world in the future, where no one lives past 25 anymore, and the desperation that comes from the fear of death..Girls are abducted, children bought & sold as domestics (sound familiar?)....Oh, and a polygamous marriage is the new family unit.....!

Middle Sis' Books o'September (and a Couple I Forgot from August)

2011-10-01T16:09:00.000-07:00

Happy autumn! Now the perfect time to settle in with a god book and the soothing hot drink of your choice has finally arrived. Well, maybe for you, sisters, but it's still dang hot here in the desert. I forgot to include some books from last month, so here's what was on my nightstand this past very hot and very wet month.

Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers The classic whodunnit with an introduction that summarizes the backstory of Lord Peter Wimsey. I thought I'd read all of Sayers, but I don't remember this one. And that's a good thing--I can reread and enjoy them all over again. In this story, Peter's brother, the Duke of Denver, is accused of killing their sister Mary's fiance, and while denying the accusation, he refuses to provide an alibi. Enter Peter to untangle this family mess. Period talk and situations (early 20th century England). Very enjoyable.
The Tale of Applebeck Orchard by Susan Wittig Albert
The Tale of Oat Cake Crag by Susan Wittig Albert
The Tale of Castle Cottage by Susan Wittig Albert Yes, a Beatrix Potter mystery series marathon. I read that the last in the series, The Tale of Castle Cottage, was released this month, and realized I'd fallen behind. So in three marathon days (thank you, MCC, for the fieldwork with all the 10 minute down time stretches in which I could read), I finished off the series. Very cosy, but not for people who don't enjoy talking animals who take tea and have underground setts furnished with fireplaces and libraries. The only jarring note was where an incident from one book was recounted in the next, verbatim (which you would only realize if you read them back to back, as I did). I may cut and paste in my technical writing, but I don't like it in my fiction. But yes, the series ends on the real-life happy note of the wedding of Beatrix Potter and Will Heelis.Period talk and situations, with commentary by the author directly to the reader that some may find annoying after a while.
Goodness Gracious Green by Judy Christie Modern cosy novel centered on a small town. I'm not sure how I feel about this series. It didn't help that I haven't read the several that came before this one, and the author does a lousy job of introducing characters, assuming that her reader has been following the inhabitants of Green all along and knows them all. Well, after a little befuddlement, I got everyone straightened out. The book could have used a little editing work (e.g., at location 2612, our main character Lois thinks to herself that she wishes someone else would take over the conversation as she was uncomfortable with the talk, but she was the one who initiated it; location 3076, teeth are clenched, not clinched; some missing words at location 3098 found at location 3113). There are apparently no non-Christians in Green (and thus no need for separation of church and state and the fourth estate), nor any bad people or even unlikeable people. If you're in the mood for a super cutesy, schmaltzy, slight mystery with a squeaky clean romance, than you'll enjoy this series.
Saving Sailor by Renee Riva Young adult coming of age story set in 1968. The author has done a great job of getting into the mind of 10-year-old A.J. and reconstructing a more innocent childhood that reminded me strongly of my own. Except that A.J. is a bit more precocious and philosophical than I was at 10. I loved her parents and family life. I'd love to attend her family's big summer bash.This was a great book to read in the summer, taking place largely as it does during A.J.'s summer vacation, with flashbacks to when she got Sailor, her dog, and other events. Recommended for any age.
Walking Into Murder by Joan Dahr Lambert First in a new series. Professor Laura Morland is on a walking vacation in England (aha, now you know why I read it) when she gets caught in a torrential downpour. A tall, handsome stranger looms out of the dark and begs her to pretend to be his wife, and Laura finds herself in a strange manor house, populated by a strange family, with a strange corpse in her bed that disappears. There were some rough passages that could have used some editing (we know right away something is not kosher when Adrian shows his vault of priceless art to a complete stranger; people pop out from behind trees in the forest so often in one scene that it reads as repetitive and silly, not scary, and there were typos and other typeset and grammar mistakes that could have been caught). The Thomas and Catherine subplot seemed a bit contrived and coincidental; Catherine's character was useful, but making her Thomas' daughter was a bit of a stretch. Laura was almost too naive for believability as the heroine, and utters some senseless lines. But all in all, not a bad first effort. I might continue to read the series, especially if a good editor is hired to tighten the plot and prevent inconsistencies.

Big Sis' September Reads

2011-09-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

I know, September isn't really over until tomorrow, but I'm working from home today and have a few moments, so I thought I'd get a head start on this post... At least THIS month's won't be late!!!

Always Something There to Remind Me, by Beth Harbison - We all have a first love, that man (or boy! or significant other!) who, 10 or 20 years later, even though you've moved on and married and wouldn't trade your husband in for anyone, can still make your heart just go pitty-pat... Well, Nate is Erin's first love, and all of a sudden, while she's involved with Mr. Apparently Right, he appears in her life again. Beth does a good job of making us "feel" what Erin is feeling, and the resolution, Mr. Now vs. Mr. Then... I like it.

Kill Me If You Can, by James Patterson and Marshall Karp - What would you do if you found a bag full of diamonds, no one knows you have them, and you could travel the world, sell a few of them in Amsterdam, and live forever on the money? Regardless of your answer, this book has a tremendous twist and a surprise ending!

1105 Yakima Street, by Debbie Macomber - Another in the Cedar Cove series... Jolene is Bruce's daughter, and she and Rachel became close friends. Jolene needed a woman in her life, and Rachel was happy to be involved. Then Rachel and Bruce fell in love, got married and got pregnant, and Jolene is 100% opposed to this version of their family. I'm happy that there's a happy ending, and I liked this story...

Decision Points, by George W. Bush - This was a great read! I learned a lot. Of course it was great to hear his side of 9/11, but what I found more interesting, almost, was how important the interpersonal relationships between his staff and employees was to him. I already knew how important his family is to him, how patriotic he is... But the background to choosing a Supreme Court justice? Choosing a running mate? A Defense Secretary? A Secretary of State? Fascinating!

In Good Hands, by Kathy Lyons - Back in the day, when I worked at The Printed Word Bookstore, we got paid every Wednesday. And I bought all 6 new Harlequin romances once a month, in several of the series. Harlequin Blaze is a current series, and it's got a lot more sex in it than the old innocent romances did! This one includes some hospital politics, holistic healing, and a high-powered businessman - and some good old-fashioned sex!

In the Line of Fire, by Jennifer LaBrecque - Girl next door is getting married, boy next door is stationed overseas, in the line of fire. Her brother is supposed to come home to give her away, but can't so he sends boy next door in his place (they happen to be best friends). Girl next door decides, at the last minute, NOT to marry her fiance and escapes out the church window. Boy next door helps her escape and eventually they find each other. Predictable, but I've always loved this formula...

Bossypants, by Tina Fey - Not really a fan, but it was a fun read. She herself is a funny lady, and I enjoyed her twist on telling the story of her life. I wasn't all that interested in the 30 Rock or SNL stuff, since I don't watch either, but since I read a friend's copy and didn't spend a dime on it, it was a good book.

Lethal, by Sandra Brown - Honor and her daughter come face to face with an apparent felon, and even after witnessing a murder, they opt to run with him, and eventually they solve the mystery of the factory murders, they find out who's who, and they all learn a lot about themselves. I "know" how it ends, but I must say I would have preferred it to get wrapped up a bit more prettily, with a nice pink bow... There's nothing missing, but I like the whole "and they lived happily ever after" thing...

I Knew If I Waited Long Enough....

2011-09-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

The one advantage that the Barnes and Noble Nook had over the Amazon Kindle was the ability to borrow books from the library. However, when I decided I wanted a e-reader last year, I knew that I'd never buy a Nook (I'm still loyal to you, Frankie and the PW). I also knew that Amazon would eventually enable library lending, and when they did, it would be fabulous.

And it's here! And it is! I borrowed my first book last week--an older Elizabeth Peters (my copy is in Mom's house somewhere). I put an Sidney Sheldon on reserve for La Madre, since I bought her one earlier this year for her Kindle that she enjoyed.

So one of you will have to do us an enormous favor and load it on her Kindle when it arrives. Since we have the K2, our model doesn't have WiFi like the current models, which it needs to download automatically; we have to use our USB ports. A small price to pay for having just doubled the books available for us.

Hooray!!

Little Sis' September Read

2011-09-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

There may not be another one!
I read "Room" like Big Sis (I borrowed her book). It was compelling to read, for sure. Few spots had me at a loss, how a 5 year old had such complex thoughts and a huge vocabulary...I know, I know, nothing byt time to learn on his hands while in Room, but c'mon...You have to keep going, this book has the snowball effect, you can't put it down & ignore it for a while & go back to it. Kudos to the author for taking on such a formidable challenge!

Big Sis' August Books

2011-09-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

The Ideal Man, by Julie Garwood - I like Ms. Garwood's contemporary books and this was a good one. Dr. Ellie Sullivan witnesses a crime and needs protection from the bad guys, the Landrys. Enter Max Daniels, FBI man extraordinaire! I like the interaction between the two of them; sparks fly and of course, they get together eventually, but it's not a sappy ending...

A Stolen Life, by Jaycee Dugard - I watched the special on World News Tonight, where Diane Sawyer interviewed Jaycee. I admit to thinking, "Okay, she was 11. But really, when she HAD a chance to look up her mom on the internet, or escape when they were out in public, she didn't?!?" But her book really makes you understand the sense of safety she felt even though she was kidnapped and raped and forced to live in a single room in the backyard of those two nutcases. She explains why safety for her and her daughter(s) became more important than escaping to find the mom who might not even remember her... Of course, we know Mom never gave up and my heart leapt when they were reunited. Jaycee explains about the therapy she's going through, and will continue to go through. She admits that she doesn't know if a relationship with a man is in her future but she seems content and happy to be mom and daughter and self for now.

Cold Vengeance, by Preston & Child - Another Pendergast novel, and in this one, we locate Helen!!! Without giving anything away, I do think you should read these in order, otherwise this one will make no sense whatsoever!

Finding It, by Valerie Bertinelli - I bought this book when it came out but never bothered to read it. And I didn't read Losing It yet, but I will. She's an actress I've always liked and reading this book, well it felt as though you were just sitting over a cup of coffee with an old friend. She talks about losing the weight, enough to appear on a WW commercial in only a bikini. We get to know Tom, and her love for her son and ex-husband really comes across. It's nice that they're still friends, able to co-parent as a team.

Shoe Addicts Anonymous, by Beth Harbison - Toni introduced me to this series and I LOVE it! It's a quick read, a bit of mystery thrown in but the best part is meeting the women and making friends with them as they make friends with each other!

Secrets of a Shoe Addict, by Beth Harbison - #2 in the series, we meet sisters and new friends, we watch them make stupid decisions and work their way out of the consequences, eventually to become friends forever...

Thin, Rich, Pretty, by Beth Harbison - Although not part of the Shoe series, it's fun, too. Holly and Nicola meet at camp at about age 12, go through all the angst of not being thin enough, pretty enough or rich enough. Twenty years later, they're still friends, going through their own adult issues. Holly runs into Lexi, one of the thin, rich and pretty girls at camp, whose life now is not so wonderful. It's sort of fun how they meet up again, what they do to resolve 20-year-old issues, and even though the 80s nostalgia is almost better than the storyline, I liked it a lot...

Never Tell a Lie, by Hallie Ephron - Saw this recommended on a blog I read and thought, for $10 from Amazon, I'll try it... and it was pretty good! Melinda is last seen at Ivy's garage sale, and we find out later that she's not all there. Melinda, that is... It turns out she's a bit unstable, and eventually, when we find out where she's been, well it was a creepy stalker mystery and I liked it!

Middle Sister's August Books

2011-09-01T16:02:00.000-07:00

Not so many books read this month, as I was reading some textbooks and rewriting lectures for this semester's class. Here are the few books on the fiction/nonfiction front I managed to squeeze in.

The Agony Column by Earl Derr Biggers Fun historical mystery from 1916, Biggers is best remembered for his Charlie Chan novels, but he also wrote stand alones, including this and Seven Keys to Baldpate (one of my favorite classic films). Our narrator is a young man about the town drawn into a mystery in London when he decides to pursue a chance acquaintance. The plot twist is key: he falls madly in love with a woman he sees in a restaurant, writes a note to her via the newspaper's agony column (today's personals), and then writes her a series of letters describing the perilous mystery swirling around him. Extremely enjoyable! I recommend this one highly.
Lye in Wait by Cricket McRae (2007) First in the Home Crafting mystery series, this cozy introduces us to Sophie Mae Reynolds, her friend Meghan, and Meghan's daughter Erin, all sharing a house outside Seattle. When the neighborhood handyman is killed in Sophie Mae's soap making workroom, she's drawn into a mystery that threatens everyone she loves. Naturally, the investigating officer becomes her love interest (really, authors, this is getting to be a boring cliche), and the coincidences that come with the identification of the murderer are a little farfetched, this is not a bad introduction to the series and the characters.
The Knitter's Life List by Gwen W. Stenge (2011) Nicely illustrated and laid out introductory guide for new knitters, this books stakes its own claim to the over-saturated knitting book market by providing life lists to introduce each chapter. These life lists include yarn goals, pattern goals, and other bucket list entries (Who came up with the silly term bucket list anyway?). Honestly, this was the part of the book I disliked. I am not less of a knitter because I have no inclination to learn to knit socks; I only wear socks out here for about 3 weeks of the year. Heavy on Internet-promoted designers, with only a few of the older, pre-web designers mentioned. Limited in the kinds of patterns it discusses (scarves, sweaters,socks,, gloves, and bags) when there are tons of other things one can knit. But, great photos, great hand drawings illustrating the different kinds of sweaters and how their constructions differ (surely a big help to new knitters or those who've never tried a wearable), and hooray for the discussion on various knitting styles and how they are all the right way to knit if it's comfortable to you.Nice bibliography.
The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook by Deborah Robson and Carol Ekarius (2011) Great guide to all animals that provide fleece that can be carded and processed into yarn. This is a unique addition to the knitting literature out there. While it's for serious spinners and weavers out to expand their horizons, knitters with a passing interest in what they are working with will find the book useful for its easy to follow, well executed layout, great photography, and inclusion of more breeds of sheep than I knew existed. The authors included chiengora (spinning dog fur, and yes, they include a photo of a gorgeous Samoyed!), rabbit fur, and other unusual fiber options. Love the photo spreads showing the unprocessed raw fleece, the spun fiber, and gauge swatches for each fiber source. I don't harbor secret fantasies of living on a sheep farm to get all the yarn I want, but maybe some knitters and crocheters do, and if so, this is the book for them. To the rest of us, it's a handy reference to what a qiviut really is.
All Wound Up by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (2011) Latest collection of essays by the Yarn Harlot of blog fame. Pearl-McPhee muses on yarn, stashes thereof, and other mysteries of life. Fans of the Yarn Harlot will love this latest collection. Enjoyable light read. I was only disturbed to find that Pearl-McPhee can't even have dinner with her husband and children without knitting. Really, Stephanie, it's okay to let the needles lay and enjoy the moment. Those girls will be all grown up soon, and gone, and you'll wish you remembered more more about restaurant dinners with them than what socks you were working on. Hopefully, the socks will trigger a memory of the jokes they told, the food they ate, they way their eyes twinkled. But too many new knitters take the words of Serious Knitters like Pearl-McPhee to heart and think it's okay to knit anywhere, including church services, concerts, and anywhere they want to. It's just knitting, folks. You won't die taking an hour off from your current WIP.

I'm hesitant to include the next title, which sucked up several nights of precious reading time. It's one of the few books I've ever stopped reading. Cooking the Books by Bonnie S. Calhoun has a great premise: woman's mother dies, leaves her a bookstore (love that location for a mystery), and as daughter is looking to restart her life, she decides to at least give running the bookstore a try, despite not knowing anything about the business nor being interested in it.This backstory takes place before the book opens. When the story starts, Sloane has already been at the bookstore for a few months, has met a doctor she's romantically interested in, and is trying to figure out what to do with the bookstore. Some developers are trying to buy out the local small business owners to turn this block of Brooklyn into a high rise development, and Sloane is determined not to sell when she knows her mother would have resisted. Sounds great, right? But the book was in need of serious editorial help. After having read one-quarter of the the book, the most mystery we've had is two threatening emails. The author spends an inordinate amount of time trying to develop her characters into quirky, one-of-a-kind eccentrics but failed. Typos, grammatical errors, and ridiculous copy--no thirty-four-year old, even one who doesn't cuss, is going to use the phrase "great googa-mooga!" repeatedly. I stopped reading this galley, the first I've had to decline from NetGalley. As a first draft, this showed some promise, but it needs a lot of editing. A lot.

Big Sis' July Reads

2011-08-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

Yea, I know it's August already, and I have my August list ready to post, too... It's been a busy month, what with earthquakes and hurricanes and vacation days...

Room, by Emma Donaghue - I am SO totally against reading the "it" book when "it" is all everyone is reading or talking about... For instance, I resisted reading The Bridges of Madison County until WAY after the movie came out (yay, Clint!), and hated it on every page... So I was resistant to reading this book; after all, everyone on the train, the plane, and in the hotel was reading it, on every train and plane, and in every hotel I stayed in over the past year or so. But I saw it in Costco and it was under $10 so for some unknown reason, I gave in to the urge and bought it. And never looked back. I.LOVED.IT. It was a real adjustment to get used to the narrative style; it's written in the voice of a young boy who has never left the room he's being raised in by his mother, who's locked in this converted shed and not allowed out, but is trying to protect her son from her kidnapper/his father, keep him from being exposed to the sex/rape, and teach him what she can about the world he'll never know... Strange, yes, but very intriguing. The ending wasn't what I expected. I wasn't disappointed, but all of a sudden, it was over. And I wanted more.

Now You See Her, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge - Another quick read, about Nina, who marries young, escapes from the husband she thought she knew, and who she is forced to confront again, under the worst of circumstances...

Flowers on Main, by Sherryl Woods - Another book in the Chesapeake Shores series... This one actually took place before the others I read, but I went back to read them all and fill in the gaps... In this book, Bree comes home, a failure in her own eyes, even though her family doesn't agree. She starts a new life back home, doing something she never did professionally before, and discovers that the love of her life she left in Chicago was really NOT the love of her life, but a manipulative man who, under the guise of being her mentor, actually trashes her career because it was beginning to eclipse his. Bree finds love at home with her first love, Jake, the man she left for Chicago's bright lights.

Two for the Dough, by Janet Evanovitch - The first Stephanie Plum novel I've ever read, the second in the series... Old acquaintances, 24 stolen caskets, and a familiar Trenton, NJ... Yes it was a funny book and yes I liked her writing style but I don't think I'll be buying them all like I did the Harlan Cobens....

U Is for Undertow, by Sue Grafton - The author has made her way through the alphabet to "U," but again, as much as it was a decent read for my business trip, it didn't hook me into wanting to read all the other books in the series. I liked Kinsey Millhone, but it seemed hard to follow between the here and now and the back then... I did like the story line, digging up the truth about a client's past, only to find his memories were skewed and lead her down many a wrong path in solving the mystery... Just not a HUGE fan but I'd certainly pick up a few in the used bookstore...

Eyes Wide Open, by Andrew Gross - The author has co-written with James Patterson and the quick pace is reminiscent of JP... The story was interesting: a brother is drawn into his own brother's life, current and past, when that brother's son is found dead and suspected of suicide. The parents are convinced it wasn't suicide, but they are not the most reliable people you've ever met... Charlie winds up solving his nephew's death, and meets all sorts of unsavory characters along the way. Good read!

Quinn, by Iris Johansen - Another Eve Duncan tale, leading up to Bonnie, which is releasing this fall... So excited to feel this series drawing to a phenomenal conclusion... This particular book has a lot of past and present in it; we are there when Eve and Joe meet, and we're there while they search for Bonnie all those years later. Good book!

Split Second, by Catherine Coulter - Another FBI Thriller, Dillon and Lacey are at it again, this time solving a mystery tied, in a surprising twist, to Ted Bundy. There's another plot running throughout, starring Agent Carlyle, who I anticipate will be a bigger character in future books... These seem to run hot and cold, but I liked this one; the Bundy angle was pretty neat and wrapped up pretty well...

Justice, by Karen Robards - Witness Protection Program? Check. Disguise? Check. New life? Check. Low profile? Um, not so much... Jessica is supposed to stay out of the public eye, but unfortunately for her, a big win for her law firm puts her smack dab on the front page, and all those criminals she's hiding from? Guess what! They read the paper!!!

Port Mortuary, by Patricia Cornwell - I bought this when it came out in hardcover but never read it until this month; I'd started it but it wasn't one of her best and I just didn't care too much for the 1st half of the story. Eventually the familiar characters hooked me once again, but for such a big, thick book, this was probably my least favorite Kay Scarpetta story - too much book, not enough story...

Photo Challenge 5: Close Ups

2011-08-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Photo Challenge 5: Close Ups

2011-08-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

Close up: nature

Our next challenge?

2011-08-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

So, sisters, what is the next challenge?
I suggested close-ups, of anything, not something in particular. For instance, a close up of the pattern on my hotel bedspread...

Or a close up of the Vera Bradley pattern on my tech case...

So, it doesn't have to be textile-related, but how about "close-ups" as a theme for this month? (Which is half over, I might add!)

Sunrise

2011-08-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Sunrise, Saturday, 13 August 2011, 5:40 a.m.

Clouds 04/12/2011

2011-08-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

Taken specifically for this challenge.

Middle Sis' August Books

2011-07-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

Revolutionaries: A New History of the Invention of America by Jack Rakove (2010). Excellent history of several of the founding fathers, some famous, some not. The first half of the book looks at what changes led to the acceptance of an inevitable war for revolution, while the second half focuses on how the Constitution was devised. Rakove's analysis of the various regional differences in attitudes towards revolution was a new understanding to me, and fascinating. A hearty recommendation to read this book is offered.

Nature's Wrapture and Get Hooked on Tunisian Crochet, both by Sheryl Thies. Excellent pattern books, with good photos, charts, and written patterns. The Tunisian book in particular is stunning, with every pattern a winner.

King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard (1885). The summer choice of my 19th century literature group, this rollicking good tale was perfect for the summer--lots of adventure, mysterious people, a hidden treasure, and quite a bit of humor. And no, the movie is very different. Yes, there are a few slightly uncomfortable moments and words for a 21st-century reader, but the evolution of Allan Quatermain's views of the Kukuana, while not perfect and far from satisfying in today's world, was probably quite dramatic and unusual for his time and place.

The Agony Column by Earl Derr Biggers (1916) A classic mystery from the writer of Charlie Chan. The agony column, what we call the personals, is the lynchpin for the mystery and the romance. Cheesy mystery lover that I am, I thought I had guessed who the murderer was. Then I thought I was wrong. Then I thought I was right. And then I found out I was wrong! Deliciously, decidedly wrong! This short story, just 9 chapters long, is worth a read for the author's fantastic descriptions of London, the atmosphere before the outbreak of World War I, and a murder than will keep you guessing.

The Return of Captain John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller (2011) Another post WWI mystery (I told you in the last review column that there are a slew of them out now), this takes place in, you guessed it, 1920 London. Our hero is another returned soldier, damaged, trying to find his way in a world that no longer makes sense to him. The mystery is good, although a little drawn out; tighter editing and compression of timescales may have made this a more enjoyable read. There are two strong female protagonists that will appeal to a modern female reader. The author lists reference works at the end, something I always enjoy and approve of, especially in a historical setting as detailed as this. I had no idea who the murder was, but once this person was revealed, the entire M.O. was obvious without reading another paragraph, so don't expect anything unusual in the murder mystery itself. Read the book for a well-researched depiction of London in 1920 and a fairly good, although at times slightly tedious, mystery.

Dandy Detects, a Victorian San Francisco Story by M. Louisa Locke (2010) Novelette featuring Ms. Locke's protagonists from her Victorian San Francisco series--except the detective is Dandy, a small terrier owned by the son of a teacher. The short story is well drawn; the characters are finely etched and sympathetic with just a few short lines of description, and the murder mystery, while predictable, is believable. Nice introduction to this series. Award winner? No, but a pleasant hour's read.

The Amersham Rubies by Rhys Bowen (2011) Novelette that tells how Molly Murphy, the plucky Irish immigrant solving murder mysteries in 1900-era New York, solved her first mystery in Ireland. Enjoyable, and the backstory is a perfectly light summer's brunch book.

Clouds in NJ, 072711

2011-07-27T18:55:00.000-07:00

Straight out of camera (SOOC)

Clouds from Above

2011-07-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Took this photo from the plane on the way home from St. Louis...

There were some nice cloud formations today, just before we went into the theater to see HP7.2 for the third time, but by the time I parked the car, cloud photos were completely out of my head.

I'll watch over the next day or two for some more current ones; I don't want to cheat and put my 2009 photo in here...

I was thinking about another photo theme... how about close ups? Close ups of anything. A close up of your appendectomy scar, or a close up of the inside of a flower, or a close up of my dental implant... Something original, or something that looks really cool... What do you think?

Clouds from San Fran trip

2011-07-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

Afraid this is all I've got so far. Some cloud cover hovering over the I've-no-idea-what-they-are mountains, and the "mist" that rolls into San Francisco every day from the Pacific. It's very creepy when you zoom in, like something straight out of The Fog.

Storm Is Almost Here 07/23/2011

2011-07-24T15:59:00.000-07:00

Sunset--Storm's A'Coming 07/17/2011

2011-07-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

Early Mornng 07/08/2011

2011-07-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

Li'l Sis Summer Read=Christmas at Timberwoods

2011-07-07T18:34:00.001-07:00

Yes, Christmas in July! I just finished Christmas at Timberwoods by Fern Michaels. It's our bestseller #15 for October (I read an advance proof), so I wanted to read it. Pretty quick read, although not a fan of the writing style. Too many strangers are thrown together and while a connection is made, it lacked emotion; there was no sense that any time has passed, so the story seems rushed. It may only take place during the Christmas season, but heck, that's at least a month! And for some reason, the mention of snow & angels & Christmas trees did not create any pretty imagery in my mind as I read, so I was bummed. Oh, well!

Hoboken Clouds

2011-07-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

Not for our monthly assignment, but a photo of a front coming in over the city earlier this month... Far from the best photo I've ever taken (see the light reflections in the window?!?) but for sure a pretty dramatic example of the view from my window at work...

Looking forward to a nice cloud photo either over the lake, over the city, over the house, or in some random to-be-determined location sometime in July...

Summer Photo Challenge: Clouds

2011-07-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, gals, here's a free-floating photo challenge, with no end date. We finally are entering the season when we have weather out here, and ya'll have great summer thunderstorms, too. So how about a challenge to capture clouds? Dark, dense clouds. Roiling clouds. Sunlight streaming through clouds. Post when photoed, and let's just follow this theme through Labor Day, which sadly will be here by the time I blink at the end of this sentence. (If this is how fast time is going now, by the tme I'm 80 a year is going to go by in a nanosecond!).

And to get us in the mood, a cloud photo from 2010:

Middle Sis' June Reads

2011-07-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

While this looks like a short list, I've been reading an e-book galley for a couple of weeks now that I had hoped to finish by the end of the month; no dice. It's another post-WWI mystery, the first in another series, and I have to say, so far, so good. I've also been reading a newer textbook to update one of my lecture topics for my class this fall. So I have been reading more than this list reflects. Reviews next month. I'm sure you can catch the theme for this month's reading.

L Is for Lawless by Sue Grafton Okay, so I'm waaayyyy behind in the alphabet series, even more than you know, since I don't read these in order. But this was another good yarn spun by Ms. Grafton. Kinsey Milhone is asked to do a favor, an innocuous favor, for an old friend that spins out of control and sends her racing to a Texas hotel in hot pursuit of a duffel bag full of cash. Or is it? There are a few unresolved strands to the story, presumably purposefully left that way because Kinsey has no resolution (and never gets paid) to the entire mystery, so why should the reader? Strong entry in the series, with a more unusual premise to kickstart the action.

The Golden Retriever: All that Glitters by Julie Cairns Well illustrated introduction to the breed. Provides breed-specific information (coat, head, etc.), as well as general guidelines re: food, exercise, training, etc. She also provides a glossary to explain the field trial champion designations, which many breed books which focus on conformation do not. Excellent photos show the difference between the traditional field golden, and the golden retriever body and coat that has become popular over the past twenty years or so here in the states. CuddleMonster has the field retriever coat and body, by the way (someone at the dog park called him an Irish setter yesterday!)

The Essential Golden Retriever by Howell Book House and Golden Retriever by Peggy Moran Sense the theme? Lots of reading about the new zoo member this month. These are reviewed together because they are essentially the same book. If Moran's was first, and if I were her, I'd be peeved. Entire sentences and paragraphs are identical between these two books, and not just for general topics such as grooming. Let's face it, there's only a few ways to describe golden feathers. But there are lots of ways to discuss the history of the breed, and here is where the sameness of the two books is most apparent. Published by the same house, I was wondering if they bought the intellectual property rights to the one book and just re-packaged it with a different price point and no author acknowledgment in the other. If I had to chose one, go for Cairns' All That Glitters--more complete, better layout, and abundant gorgeous photos, so worth the extra money.

Does it count that I got caught up on magazines this month, including my quarterly Mystery Reader's Journal, the theme for which was Mysteries in London, which has added about 12 books to my want-to-read list?

Big Sis' June Books

2011-07-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

I think this is the first time I've ever posted my book list first! Yay, me!

Committed, by Elizabeth Gilbert - Gilbert is the author of Eat, Pray, Love. This book is about marriage, love and marriage in every different configuration that exists around the world. The love and relationship and marriage she had with her first husband, how she found the same but different with Felipe, everything they had to go through to be together. It was an interesting read. I got a lot of good quotes for my collection.

The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, by Andrea Kane - I met the author years ago, and in fact, had lunch with her when I worked for that NJ book distributor... After I read this book I sent the author a note and she kindly replied that "of COURSE she remembers me..." Nice woman, but Andrea, really? I'm thinking your mama raised you right... This is the start of a new series about a group of unconventional operatives who work together for "Forensic Instincts." They are hired to find Krissy and the story was good and the character development was good and I'm already waiting for book #2!

You Belong to Me, by Karen Rose - Karen is a Facebook "friend" so I knew this one was coming and I couldn't wait! She writes such great thrillers - lots of excitement and crime and drama. Lucy thinks her close friend is murdered, and although happily he's not, it turns out that the murderer is out to demand Lucy's attention and what better way than to kill people with a connection of some kind to Lucy?

Trader of Secrets, by Steve Martini - In this Paul Madriani novel, a Mexican hit man known as Liquida threatens his daughter Sarah and needless to say, NO ONE threatens his daughter! Paul and his cohorts travel to Asia and then to France to solve this one, but eventually have to rush home for another thrilling ending!!!

Beach Lane, by Sherryl Woods - Another in the Chesapeake Cove series, a light romance that's pure entertainment, no lessons to be learned, no deep meaning... Susie and Mack are friends, just friends, friends who spend every possible second together, friends who everyone knows are lovers-to-be... Now they just have to be convinced...

[edited to include...] Oops, forgot a book...

Two Kisses for Maddy, by Matthew Logelin - Matt is the author of a blog named matt, liz and madeline, dedicated to his daughter Maddy and his late wife Liz. Liz died within 24 hours of the birth of their daughter, after a pregnancy that wasn't the easiest... Matt was forced to step up and be mother AND father to his baby girl, and he freely admits he wasn't the responsible one in the family! He's a terrific author; his blog is one of my favorites. He's also set up a non-profit foundation in Liz's name, "giving hope to widows and widowers with young familes..."

Too Hot to Think

2011-06-27T15:26:00.001-07:00

It is currently 112 degrees Farenheit (44 degrees Celcius) at 3:25 p.m. It is too hot to think.

Why I Love My Kindle

2011-06-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

I know these photos are blurry, but you should be able to see what happened on Thursday to a brand new trade paperback I started reading on Wednesday. Yes, that's right, on the second day I was reading it. This is no cheesy fiction trade paperback. This is published by a reputable company who specializes in academic books like this one. The glue in the spine is dried out, and whole sections of pages are already falling out. I have come expect this from a cheesy novel, since apparently these are supposed to be disposable. But this is an academic text that costs $35, and I don't expect this from a company that is supposed to be conscious of academic tendencies to hold onto our books for decades, even though we zealously buy the next editions. Archival quality? Fat chance.

Big Sis' May Books

2011-06-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

Moonlight Cove, by Sherryl Woods - SW is an author I used to read years ago, back in my Harlequin Romance days. I liked her then for a quick and romantic read (those of us who didn't, used to read about it!), and I like her still, with an obviously more modern twist to her characters and her writing style. This is one of her Chesapeake Shores series, and the first one I've read. I'll find the others and read them, too. This one is about Jess and Will. She's fighting her ADD and he's an old family friend who grew up to be a psychologist but he's loved her forever. Jess has a hard time accepting that he's not just trying to "fix" her. Soon she learns that he truly loves her and once she takes a chance on love, well, there's your happily ever after Harlequin ending!

Driftwood Cottage, by Sherryl Woods - Here you go, book #2. Heather loves Connor. Heather and Connor have a baby. Heather decides she wants to get married. Connor will never get married. Heather leaves Connor with the baby and moves to - wait for it! - Connor's hometown, where she's welcomed with open arms by his entire extended family. Eventually Connor realizes love IS enough to overcome his lack of faith in the tradition of marriage, and he has to win Heather back. Spoiler alert: there IS a happy ending...

The Shadow of Your Smile, by Mary Higgins Clark - I used to like her books, but haven't read them in several years. This was the wrong one to choose. It was in paperback and I thought it would be a quick read during my work trip to Florida. It was quick, yes, but not very good, in my personal opinion. The story was disjointed and just didn't seem to "flow." I liked the premise: Sr. Catherine is up for sainthood. But someone knows she had a baby pre-sisterhood, and that baby stands to inherit her grandfather's fortune. We meet said baby when she's a 31-year-old pediatrician who's called to testify on the miraculous healing of one of her patients, supposedly thanks to her grandmother, the grandmother she never knew about who just happens to be the nun to whom the family prayed for their son's healing.

The Knitting Diaries, by Debbie Macomber, et al - That's strange... This is a 3-story anthology but when I went to amazon.com to refresh my memory of the charater's names, 2 of the stories seem so completely foreign - I have no memory of them! I clearly remember the first short story, where 10-year-old Ellen wants nothing more than for her adopted mom and her real dad to get together. I'm going to pull this book out of my stash and see if I even ever finished it... Although I wouldn't have had another title on my list if I didn't, but...

Chasing Fire, by Nora Roberts - I used to be a huge fan until I read an unedited manuscript and realized how very much this author relies on her editor for correcting grammatical and spelling and story errors. But I gave her a shot and this was a pretty good story. Dad is a retired fire jumper and finds love when he takes a principal her first buddy sky dive. His daughter is another fire jumper who finds good sex and then love with a colleague, which goes against her personal morals so that's a struggle. In the meantime they are both solving a couple of not-so-random murders and she is coming to terms with the loss of one of her colleagues in a fire the previous season.

10th Anniversary, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro - This is another in the Women's Murder Club series, and it's a good one. Lindsay Boxer forgets to call home to her newlywed husband when she's out solving a crime in chapter one. Oops. Yuki has found love with Jackson Brady, who just happens to be Lindsay's new and not-so-beloved boss. Oh, and he's married, too. While looking for the missing baby, Lindsay notices her biological clock is ticking a bit more loudly than before, so there's something else to distract her...

A Turn in the Road, by Debbie Macomber - When 70- or 80-year-old ex-mom-in-law announces she's driving cross-country on her own to attend a high school reunion, her ex-daughter-in-law decides to go along for the ride, as does her recently jilted young daughter. Just to mix it up a bit, the car breaks down, DIL meets a biker with whom she fights a strong attraction, grandma admits she wants to apologize to her ex-high-school love for leaving him for another, and granddaughter's ex calls from Europe to say he's wrong, he shouldn't have left... And just so it's not all too easy to wrap up, DIL's ex-husband has decided after several years that he was wrong to have left his wife and daughter for Tiffany and he's now divorced and wants to find his way back to his family. This is my kind of book: THREE happy endings!!!

Closer Than Blood, by Gregg Olsen - Now THIS is one I'm glad I picked up! I'm going to go and see if I can find some of his other books. I read through this whole thriller, about a murder, a previous murder no one knew was a murder, another murder no one knew was related to the first, and then there was a surprise twist that I NEVER saw coming!!! LOVED it!

Middle Sister's May 2011 Books

2011-06-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

I had more time for fun reading in May after school let out. Several of these were galleys read for NetGalley, although one is actually a reissue of an OOP title. All in all, a successful month as I enjoyed most of these. But there were two major disappointments.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum My book club is discussing this book this month, which I had never read. It was a short and fast read, and I was surprised by how vastly different the book is from the Hollywood movie. And better, in my opinion, without the saccharine overlay of the movie. I had no idea there were so many Oz books in the series until I went to get this one. I may try some of the later titles in the future; hearsay is that they are grimmer. Our book club discussion: was Baum telling the truth when he said it was just a childrens story, or are all the characters representations of the political and economic world of the late 19th century?
Died in the Wool by Elizabeth Ludwig and Janelle Mowery Do not read this book. I do not make such proclamations lightly, but this book was terrible. I had such high hopes--murder in a library. I love libraries! I love books! It read as if the two authors had independently written their chapters after only agreeing that any individual chapter would contain certain minimal information and no proof-reading of each other's chapters. The main character acted one way in one chapter, and very differently in another, was very immature, and acted inconsistently in the story, except for her consistently juvenile behavior. Although I don't remember reading her age, she must be in her early 20s and acts as if she's in middle school (e.g., the jealousy she exhibited to any woman that even talked to her boyfriend was so over the top I thought I was reading Sweet Valley High Twins Unmask a Murderer; or her reaction to the murder--sick to her stomach and then in the next paragraph eager, no hopeful, to see the murder scene again; and couldn't she ask the policeman to let the trapped bird out of the library rather than stand there and essentially think,' too bad.'). The policeman boyfriend takes her on an official interview? Have the authors never watched any police procedurals on television? And I know this is a Christian publisher, but no one would think her virtue compromised if she talked to a man in her office with the door closed, even though he is her boyfriend, who was there on official police business. I won't go into the odd vocabulary choices (bobbed her eyebrows? What does that mean? Waggled?), the horrible Kindle formatting issues, WHERE RANDOM parts of sentences would be CAPITALIZED in their OWN paragraph. My biggest gripe--no librarian would ever release the names of patrons to a policeman without a court order (in fact, M works in the library and they have had to deal with this exact situation, so I can assure you they don't just hand this information out as Monah did). The details of the murder seemed beyond improbable, but I honestly didn't care by the time I reached the end of the book. Had I not been reviewing this for NetGalley I'd never have finished this book.
Successful Dog Adoption by Sue Sternberg Decent book on adopting a dog from a shelter. The book is no help if you are adopting from a rescue organization, with different organizational structure. I also disagree with some of Sternberg's training tips. But in general an okay book to read if you are preparing to adopt your first dog or the first dog in a long time. I'd recommend Pat Miller or Ian Dunbar over this book, though.
A Lesson In Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear I usually like Maisie Dobbs, but not in this story. She seems to have gravitated away from the strong, independent Maisie to a love-sick Maisie. I enjoyed the setting (Cambridge, England, where I briefly lived; and a university setting anywhere would guarantee my interest), and Ms. Winspear writes as well as always. The hints of what life in early 1930 England was like are always a treat and underscore how much research Ms. Winspear has undertaken to recreate so faithfully this period. The mystery itself was predictable, but handled well. I hope the romance focus will not carry through in future stories. All in all, a good way to cleanse my palette after Died in the Wool (Blech! See above).
Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove by Audrey Penn Somewhat confusing in the early chapters, this YA book switches point of view, and from the natural to supernatural planes, a great deal, to the detriment of the plot at first. YA readers will enjoy the real danger the kids encounter, none of which is sugarcoated, and with pirates and supernatural stuff so popular these days, the topic of the book would seem to be a guaranteed seller. From an adult reader's perspective, although there's little character development (they area kids, after all), the setting is superb, and I really felt I was on Ocracoke Island, in the middle of a storm, or in a lost tunnel. The illustrations are excellent.
Lie Down in Green Pastures by Debbie Viguie Third in the series; I've read No. 1 and now No. 3, and I won't read another. Is he Superman? Rambo? No, Jeremiah is SuperRabbi! Watch him swing through trees and kill three men using a several hundred pound mountain lion and his hand as weapons. Clearly he's a former Mossad agent, although that's never named, because otherwise why would he be able to do what he does in the last third of the book (which, by the way, was way too much time to spend on this part)? And will Cindy ever grow up? She should have made progress with her jealousy of her brother and her inability to deal as an adult with her mother after the horrifying murders she's been through in three books now, but I suspect she won't as the author seems to be wedded to having Cindy throw darts at her brother's photo and winge that her family doesn't care about her. But then Cindy doesn't tell them what she's been through, so I guess she expects her family to be psychic. While Jeremiah was the more interesting of the two characters in the first book, the caricature he became in this book was disappointing. The reason for the murders seemed a little over the top and excessive, even in a day and age where we like to blame greedy corporations. The murders in this supposedly cosy series are anything but cosy, so don't be mislead that a series with a church secretary and a rabbi will be gentle--these are gruesome murders. No more for me. I like my cosies cosy.

IOU Some Purple Photos...

2011-05-31T20:50:00.000-07:00

So here you go... And these are NEW photos, not from my admittedly large stash of iris photos - we went to the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens last evening, after dinner, before dessert. I took my point-and-shoot camera; thank goodness the battery didn't die until AFTER I took my photos... All of these photos are SOOC (straight out of camera); I made no color adjustments, light adjustments or crops to any of these photos...

These last two photos were taken in our front yard.

Book Quote of the Day

2011-05-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

"One always has riches when one has a book to read."

Ursula Thurlow, in A Lesson in Secrets, by Jacqueline Winspear (2011, HarperCollins, Inc., Kindle edition).

Big Sis' April 2011 Reads

2011-05-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know these are late, but I have a valid excuse - I was sunning myself at the pool at in Cabo San Lucas... I think that's a pretty valid excuse in itself, vacation sans computer... But THEN I went to Sarasota, FL, to attend my first publisher sales conference, and it was exactly what I expected. More on that at my blog, when I have time to catch up...

A Heartbeat Away, by Michael Palmer - LOVED it! Palmer's usual suspense thriller, with some terrorists and some unidentifiable and fatal pathogens tossed in for good measure!

Night Road, by Kristin Hannah - I usually read her books, and I usually like every other one, but surprisingly I loved this one! Three children grow up together, 1 from the wrong side of the tracks and the other 2 quite privileged enough. But of course, money isn't everything. Lexi and Zack fall in love, but love isn't everything either. A tragedy splits them apart, tears the family and friends apart and it takes years to put it all back together again.

The Fifth Witness, by Michael Connelly - Another Mickey Haller story, the star of the recent movie, "Lincoln Lawyer." Foreclosures and murders and criminal courts, oh my! Very timely, and fun to read. I really liked the twisted ending!

Eve, by Iris Johansen - I'd hoped we would finally find Bonnie, but of course that would be the end of the series. But we do meet her dad, and Catherine Ling returns as a regular character. The emotional cliffhanger was great - this one didn't disappoint! (Even though Bonnie is still missing!)

Hush, by Cherry Adair - A new series, introducing a new cast of characters. While Zac and Acadia push their way through the Venezuelan jungle to find his brother, they clash with each other AND with the brutal kidnappers! Can't wait for Gideon's story!

Save Me, by Lisa Scottoline - Another author who just isn't consistent, in my book, but this one was great! Read it on the plane home from Mexico... If you had to choose, who would you save? Your daughter, who's somewhere in the school, or the two girls in your immediate care, in the cafeteria, immediately after the explosion? Would you take them out and return for your daughter? Or would you leave them to fend for themselves and look for your daughter, possibly leaving them to die? Tough decision, isn't it?!? Rose makes her choice, and finds that neither her choice nor the alternative were right!

Middle Sister's April Books

2011-05-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth van Arnim I love both movie versions, and this was one of the first books I downloaded to my Kindle last year--but I saved it until an April to read it. The book is as wonderful as the movie versions, and the one change made for the more recent movie improves the story immeasurably. I'm sure Ms. van Arnim would have approved that slight change. If you're weary and desperate for a change and unable to go on a vacation, take this sublime trip to Italy--you'll be glad you did.

Tom Swift and His Submarine by Victor Appleton Another trip down long out-of-print juvenile literature lane. Tom Swift was one of the creations of the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Although as a printed book, this might not appeal to today's young boy, I can see this as a highly successful cartoon, a la SpeedRacer. The first half of the book takes place in New Jersey, with a fictional Atlantis substituting for Atlantic City. In its attempt to blend cutting edge science and technology for the everyday boy, who would have believed that he, like Tom, could build his own submarine or dirigible, I can see why these were very popular books in the early decades of the twentieth century.

Purebred Rescue Dog Adoption by Liz Palika We all know what's on my mind these days, so no reason to say why I was reading this book, this month. Nice introduction to what adopting a rescue dog entails, the questions prospective adopters should ask themselves and the organization they adopt from, and potential issues with the new family pet.

The Alto Wore Tweed by Mark Schweizer Very funny first in a series of gentle mysteries starring the police detective/church organist and choir master of a small town in North Carolina who just happens to be filthy rich, too. Irreverent mystery humor, irreverent religious humor, irreverent uber-feminist humor, and likable characters make this a winner. So much so that I bought the second in the series when only halfway through the first. The mystery is not so challenging, but the people we meet and places we go are so engaging the journey races by. A couple of scenes will have you laughing out loud, so if you're easily embarrassed, don't read this in public.

Genes, Germs, and Civilization by David P. Clark Great idea--how have infectious diseases affected the course of human history--sadly not completely realized. Clark focuses on the same diseases to illustrate different concepts, and unfortunately that comes across as repetitive after a few chapter (surely there are other diseases aside from tuberculosis?). The lack of footnotes is disturbing even in a book aimed at the general public. His handling of history and archaeology is adequate, but clearly the work of a microbiologist (which Clark is) and not an historian (which Clark is not).

Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh by R. L. LaFevers Latest entry in the series aimed at 10-12-year-old girls. Theodosia is the daughter of archaeologists, and she and her mother go to turn of the twentieth century Egypt to dig in the Valley of the Kings. In order to conjure up Edwardian times without boring a modern girl, the author has Theo speak in very adult terms and style, with a modern understanding of socioeconomic, political, and historical interpretations, which left this adult wondering if Theo was really a time-traveling 26-year-old from the year 2015. Theo also is one of a long line of caretakers of ancient Egyptian knowledge and magic, and as part of a secret brotherhood out to stop Chaos from taking over, she gets to battle bad guys and use some nifty magical gadgets for which James Bond would trade his Austin Martin. This series definitely has to be read in order, as references are made to previous people and incidents without much, if any, explanation, and Theo seems to be suffering from extreme tween angst and its unclear if her parental observations are real or just tween imagination. Enjoyable enough despite these reservations, I'll look up the other books in the series. Excellent line drawings that accurately reflect story settings and add immeasurably to the mysterious ambiance.

Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs by Jean Donaldson Again, pretty obvious why I'm re-reading this classic book on how to re-train a dog that guards food, or toys, or you. An absolute must-have for any dog lover.

The Death and Life of Monterey Bay by Stephen R. Palumbi and Carolyn Sotka Excellent book tracing the affects of humans on beautiful Monterey Bay. The book opens with the first human presence in Monterey Bay (Native Americans), details the various commercial enterprises and their negative impacts on the life of the plants and animals that live there, and then traces the development of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This is how a science book is written for the general public--engaging writing, nice illustrations, great maps (I love maps! And I love a history book that takes the time to get the permissions from different archives to use maps from their collections), and footnotes (see, Mr. Clark it can be done easily and without distracting the reader). Several chapters focus on the sardine canneries made famous by John Steinbeck, while the last chapters deal with the modern development of the Aquarium. The interesting insight into the friendship of John Steinbeck, Joseph Campbell, and Ed Ricketts, all of whom lived at the bay and were influenced by the life they saw around them, the life of the bay they saw deteriorating, and the interconnections they explored in their conversations and their writings between the water, the fish and plants, and humans, was fascinating. Great summer read, especially if a trip to the Aquarium is in your plans.

Patty Fairfield by Carolyn Wells Trip down girls literature lane, where I love to visit. Patty Fairfield is introduced in this first in the series, written in 1901. With her father off for a year for work, Patty visits each of four aunts and their families, learning a different lesson about how to behave and what priorities are appropriate from each family. An interesting view into the very end of the Victorian era, this book also takes place partly in New Jersey. Patty ages across the series, so I will follow her to the final story, which I believe is just before or after her marriage, around the time of World War I. Such a great insight into what was acceptable behavior several generations ago, what normal family life was like, even details like clothes and social relations make this an interesting sociological read, which the author never would have imagined. The most interesting thing--there are parents and children who misbehave exactly the same way children and parents misbehave today. So much for arguments that some of the problems we see today have emerged since the 1960s.

More Purple

2011-05-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know how I forgot this purple shot--one of our bus stops, a purple metal saguaro cactus. Aren't these charming?

One of my African violets is blooming, and it's purple, too, but every shot came out fuzzy. My photos of the violet from last year came out fine, but I thought it might be cheating to use that one.

Surrounded by Purple

2011-04-28T18:51:00.001-07:00

Purple Pansies! In my flowerboxes...

Photo Challenge 3: Purple!

2011-04-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

I had no idea how much purple was around me when I started looking for it for this photo challenge. It holds up well in the desert sunshine, and provides a nice contrast to the eye, but the light washes it out and makes it impossible to photo with my point and shot camera. Purple is commonly used as an accent color on buildings, both residential and commercial. Perhaps that's because few of the native flowers are purple, and so it adds to the color palate. You'll just have to trust me that these are purple in real life.

My neighbor's iron gate.

Opuntia englemanii, I think--let me check that. It is an Opuntia cactus, and there is one variant that turns deep purple if we get freezing winter temperatures. We had that very deep freeze several nights running this winter. so purple cacti abound everywhere right now.

My neighbor's purple mailbox on an ocotillo post.

Another neighbor's purple wooden door. I love this house. The stuccoed wall is a lovely faded pink, and the turquoise and blue door just pop out.

A favorite blouse of mine (turn your head; another photo uploaded sideways). I love the ribbon detail, and the purple is very rich.

The building that used to be the day care at the university where I teach, and is now a student center. Believe me, it's purple.

Flowers!

More flowers!

One of my Guatemalan textiles. This covers my filing cabinets in my office.

Okay, purple is everywhere, even my post-it notes (insert registered trademark symbol here).

And last but not least, purple Easter M&Ms.

2011-04-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

The magnolia tree--the photo came out kind of dark, but when I adjusted it,

I didn't like it anymore. I like the purple combined with the gloom of

the overcast sky.

2011-04-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Our purple plum tree!

Are you psychic, Middle Sis?

2011-04-07T10:23:00.001-07:00

http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2011/04/06/color-of-the-month-april-2011/

ETA (by Middle Sis): I knew you were going to ask that. And yes, I am psychic. I know you are snorting and chuckling while you are reading this.

Purple Blast from the Past

2011-04-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know this doesn't really count, but the content is so purple I had to post it.

Hydrangea & a nightshade!!

Photo Challenge 3: Purple

2011-04-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm going to toss out the photo challenge: the color purple. Because I know it's Big Sis' favorite color, and because I want to save clouds for this summer, maybe July, when we actually have weather and will have clouds. Right now, unremitting blue sky only for months and months. Nary a cloud. So purple!

So, sisters, take some photos of purple where you see it over the next 2 weeks, and then come back and post your photos. We don't really have to take 2 weeks, I'm just trying to provide some structure.

And keep your eye out on the clouds for this summer.

Middle Sis

Big Sis' March Reads 2011

2011-04-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

This was a much better month - a grand total of 8 books, not the 2 or 3 I've been reading of late...

The Secret Soldier, Alex Berenson - The 5th John Wells story, this was the hardest one for me to get into; I'm not sure why. John is called out of his retirement (well, he might not be retired, but he's not working for the CIA any more) to go to France to meet with someone who wants to hire him for his particular "skills." The potential employer? The king of Saudi Arabia, who suspects his own brother of plotting against him in order to ensure his/the brother's son steps onto the throne, rather than the king's own (disinterested) son.

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, Ree Drummond - The Pioneer Woman wrote a book about her love story with the Marlboro Man. She started out posting the story on her blog and stopped somewhere around the wedding, I think, but her fans/readers demanded a more complete story! So this is it! It's written in the vein of a clean, non-smutty Harlequin romance - I had so much fun reading it! If you want to read a great blog, see some awesome photography, get some good recipes, learn a bit about homeschooling, go to her blog at http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/.

The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown - Brene is a human-behavior researcher and has written extensively about shame and fear. In this book, she writes about living a wholehearted life - she's another author I found through her blog, http://www.ordinarycourage.com/. This was a good book; she helps you learn to stand up to the unrealistic expections of others, and of ourselves.

Now You See Her, Joy Fielding - I really like Joy Fielding's books, but this one, for some reason, wasn't as easy to get into as her others. I never really like Marcy, the main character, but I'm glad I stuck it out - the ending wasn't what I expected, and that's always good! Marcy lost her daughter two years earlier in a tragic drowning. Apparently. She was never able to fully come to terms with her daughter's death, and now, in Ireland on a trip that was supposed to be her second honeymoon (she's now separated from her husband), she thinks she sees her daughter. I assumed I knew how the book would end - we all love a happy ending! - but I was truly surprised. It wrapped up a bit too easily for my tastes but it was still an okay read.

Love You More, Lisa Gardner - D.D. Warren and Bobby Dodge are back to solve the murder of a state trooper's husband, and apparently the trooper is the guilty party. The murder investigation is complicated by their frantic search to find the trooper's missing daughter. Is the mother/trooper/suspect also responsible for her daughter's disappearance? Did she really kill her husband? I am a big fan of Lisa Gardner's thrillers!

The Night Season, Chelsea Cain - Another Archie Sheridan mystery, this time with a historical flood as the background for a couple of current corpses... Here's just one tiny hint: did you ever expect to read a mystery where the murder weapon of choice is an octopus?!?! Gretchen Lowell isn't really part of this storyline at all, and that's okay...

Gideon's Sword, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - The authors have introduced us to a new main character, Gideon Crew, whose background is short and sweet - he spent years plotting revenge for the murder of his dad, and once that's accomplished, he's ready to just live in relative obscurity. But that's not to be - he's contacted by a private contractor who works for our government and asked to do a job for them, and for our country. While I don't like Gideon as much as I like Special Agent Pendergast (at least not yet), I'll give these books a shot - looking forward to the second one!

Live Wire, Harlan Coben - The description on amazon.com reads: "Edgar-winner Coben's 10th Myron Bolitar novel (afater Long Lost) is a perfect 10..." I'm not sure I agree it's a perfect 10; there were several Bolitar novels I liked better. But as always, it's fun to read a novel set in the locale in which I live, he does craft a mystery with a couple of twists and turns, and Coben brings some characters back from Myron's past... As usual, it's a great read, just not my favorite!

Middle Sister's March 2011 Books

2011-03-31T15:56:00.000-07:00

March turns out to have been a fairly productive month for me, book-wise, even if the books weren't extremely entertaining. So here we go:

The Lord is My Shepherd: The Psalm 23 Mysteries by Debbie Viguie Okay, let me tall you off the bat: Psalm 23 doesn't show up at all in this cosy Christian mystery. I'm not a big CF fan, but Lent started in mid-March, I was thinking maybe this would be a way to test the subgenre; I gave it a shot. I'd have to grade this book a C+. It was way too gory for a cosy mystery, and although there were not pages of descriptions dripping blood, most cosy readers are not thrilled to read about mass murders, like the entire Passover dinner of 12 people being murdered. Cindy, the main character, was very flat and uninteresting, but the rabbi was more fleshed out, and he'd make a better protagonist. The MO for the murder is more original than most cosy mysteries, and the denouement more harsh than one would expect in the genre. I might read another in the series.
Girls to the Rescue, Book 1:Tales of Clever, Courageous Girls from Around the World by Bruce Lansky While some stories in the collection are a modern uptake on classic folk tales designed to give the heroines more spunk for today's girls, other entries are original stories. Some stories are better than others, some more inspiring than others, some more exasperating than others (China? Unicorns?). I think I'd have been bored by these if I were a tween reader. Did I really just use the word tween? C+ for effort
Murder in the Gunroom by H. Beam Piper Pretty good mystery set in 1950s New England, with way more information on antique guns than I ever wanted to read about. Mostly male characters, as was the norm in the noir of the era, although at least one female character was portrayed as strong and intelligent. She's not in it much, though. But our hero, Jeff, is not overly macho or Bogie-esque, so this feminist reader was not put off by the masculine vibe the book gives off. B
The Prefect's Uncle by P. G. Wodehouse It's Wodehouse, it's funny, it's about cricket. Enough said. Even knowing nothing about cricket (and there is a lot of writing about cricket in this story) this story is still funny as Wodehousian dilemmas and disasters abound. Inspired me to suggest Bertram as my friend's new puppy's name. A
Sketches of Church History by James Craigie Robertson COE interpretation of the first 1500 years of the church, but since COE and RC share that history, it was another attempt to undertake some Lenten-related reading; well, some sort of Lenten-related reading. Anyway, interesting-enough tidbits on early church figures and saints, the Anglican point of view only became apparent in the last few hundred years the book covers. Given its publication date in the late nineteenth century, it was not as anti-Papist as it could have been. C
Ian Rutledge Mysterious Profiles # 24 by Charles Todd Novella-length promo about the creation of the Ian Rutledge mystery series, the mother-and-son team who write the series together, and short descriptions of each entry in the series to date. Solidified my desire to finally Make Mr. Rutledge's acquaintance. B
Antiques Roadkill: A Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery by Barbara Allan Another book written by a team, in this case, Max Allan Collins and Barbara Collins. I've read a couple of his mysteries and they were enjoyable. This wasn't. Brandy is an unsympathetic character (poor baby, reduced to one pair of Manolo Blahnicks--who are these people that worship shoe designers? I love shoes, and I think this is just weird. Sex and the City is over, people, this is the recession era.), unrepentent about her one-night stand yet furious the offended wife told Brandy's ex-husband about it. Shallow and self-centered. Mean to her mother. Vivian is eccentric, maybe starting to become a little senile, but nothing she said or did made me think she was as mentally unstable as the book kept insisting she was, and there was no excuse for the bad mouthing of their mother that Brandy and Peggy Sue continually did. And is the reader supposed to believe that Brandy knows anything about antiques? The tips were stupid (anyone who doesn't know not to try to wipe up dog pee be stepping on the paper towel in their bare feet deserves to do so--this is an antiques tip?) and could have been written by an 8-year-old who knows nothing about antiques. I could have faked it better, and I know nothing about antiques. I solved the mystery by the second murder and I don't even try to solve the mysteries I read. However, the chapter titles were very funny and clearly show someone, somewhere in this mess, has some talent. Constant references to the diabetic dog, but not one mention of Brandy giving the dog insulin shots (yes, I had a diabetic cat for 7.5 years, I know how you take care of a diabetic pet, and leaving extra water for it is not enough.). Throwing meth labs and interstate drug dealing into the latter third of the book seemed like a half-hearted attempt to put some edge on a cosy. Cosies don't need edge; they need a plot and characters the readers like. Will pass on the rest of the series. Unless the authors dump Brandy and focus on Vivian as the amateur detective--now that would be fun and worth reading. D

Big Sis' February Reads

2011-03-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

First, YAY, Little Sis! Glad you were able to take some time to read for pleasure last month!!!

And here are my February reads...

Tick Tock, by James Patterson and Michale Ledwidge - First of all, I love the Michael Bennett series of books. I love the idea that he's widowed (sad though that is) with 10 adopted children and a young Irish nanny named Mary Catherine. I like the recurring grandfather priest who seems to have an opinion on everything. I love the potential tension between Michael and Mary Catherine and I like how it almost came to fruition in this book. The authors developed a great bad guy in this story, and the way it turned out was a bit of a twist. The back story of the bullies out on the island was good, too, although perhaps their way of dealing with the bullies might not be the most ideal lesson to teach your children... Fun!

The Inner Circle, by Brad Meltzer - I've read several books by this author, and they were all located in the political arena of Washington, DC. This one topped them all 'cause it included books in the US archives, an old historical book seemingly belonging to George Washington, a possible psychic twist, and a bad buy I didn't really expect would be the bad guy!

The Secret Soldier, by Alex Berenson - I started reading these John Wells novels a few years ago. Sometimes I find them a bit difficult to follow - this one, for instance, although well-written as they all are, was tough because I really don't know anything about the history of Saudi Arabia and the terrorists and wars this country has been through. So I find myself reading the story and wondering if this particular fact is based on history or if this is part of the fiction that is the storyline... It still makes for an exciting read, though, if you're into spies and current terrorist history.

I started Ree Drummond's The Pioneer Woman: From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels in February and will have that review in March's Big Sis' Reads. Ree is the author of the blog "The Pioneer Woman" and I love her! She started her love story on the blog, but enough of her readers wanted the whole story so she put it into romance novel form, and the rest is history, as they say! Take a look at her blog - if you haven't read it, it runs the gamut from her life on an Oklahoma ranch to homeschooling to photography to cooking: she is also the creator of "Tasty Kitchen," a great cooking blog. The "Confessions" tab is her everyday. She's a great writer! More next month!

My Book Contribution!

2011-03-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

Ha, I actually finished a book last month! I read "The Woodcutter" by Reginald Hill, due out this August. (hee hee advance read!) I don't want to divulge too much prior to on sale, but I have to say it's hard to decide whether to like or dislike the characters, it was quite a story. Now that I share a home with a "woodcutter" of my own, the was the very first novel I have come across to feature a protagonist with this most dangerous profession. There are parts, though, that do seem distinctly British -- although, P, they are coffee drinkers in this novel, not tea!

Middle Sis' February Reads

2011-02-27T18:08:00.000-08:00

Actually, I think one or two of these may have been read at the end of January, but does it really matter? They got read, and that's what's important. (Can I have 2 contractions in a row?)

The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura (1906) Classic early treatise on the Japanese consumption and use of tea and Japanese culture and philosophy in general. Still an interesting read, even if some of the political and social allusions are a bit dated.
The Bake Sale Murder by Leslie Meier (2006) Stronger entry in the Lucy Stone mystery series set in Maine. I was disappointed by the St. Patrick's-themed mystery from a few years later in the series, but this one was better. Probably most readers find the intimate details of her family life the appeal of the series, and while I don't, I admit Meier's portrayal of how children and adults interact and speak is quite realistic.
Cape Cod and All the Pilgrim Lands by various authors (vol. 16, no. 4, 1922) Digitized version of a local Cape Cod magazine available for the Kindle, so with my secret desire to someday visit Cape Cod in full sway, I read it. Bits of local history and lore, including some less than interesting information on agricultural produce, but still an interesting slice of life in the 1920s in rural America, and Cape Cod before it became inundated with summer tourists. I'm including it here even if it isn't a real book since I read a book version of it.
For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose (2010) Interesting light historical read about the journey of botanist Robert Fortune to China before it was opened to the West with his explicit intent of stealing tea plants and tea seeds and anything he could smuggle out re: tea manufacture and propagation for the East India Company. Could have been improved with photos and maps, and footnotes for the extensive quoted material. A good read nonetheless.
A Mysterious Disappearance by Louis Tracy (1905) Edwardian mystery set in London centered on the mysterious disappearance and death of Lady Dyke. Enjoyable historical mystery.
Adopting an Abandoned Farm by Kate Sanborn (1891) Think it's a recent phenomenon that ignorant city folk move to the country to buy an old farm and experience the peace and serenity of rural life? And then pen comical stories of their plight? Nope, it's not. Kate Sanborn, early twentieth century writer and lecturer, rented an old farm and then wrote a short reminiscence of everything that went wrong. Amazingly modern in many ways and thoroughly enjoyable.
My Trip Around the World by Eleanora Hunt (1906) Privately published in 1906, this account of her journey was written by Mrs. Hunt for her grandchildren. She and family journey from Chicago through the Orient and India, through the Suez Canal, visited Egyptian monuments, and spent some time in Paris and London. Definitely dated re: perceptions of native culture and peoples, but a quick read that offers an interesting perspective on the Edwardian phenomenon of touring the world and some sites, like the Taj Mahal, that were already tourist Meccas.

Big Sis' January Reads

2011-02-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

It was a light month - only three books. The funny part is I don't really know what it is I did instead of read. Sure, hubby painted the hallway and the living room and my share of that work was decluttering and then reorganizing both spaces. Yes, I did go to a funeral which, with the repast, took almost an entire day. We didn't spend whole weekends at the lake so it's not like I was scrapping instead of reading... Oh, well, FYI, February isn't looking to break any records either...

Secrets to the Grave, Tami Hoag - I LOVE Tami Hoag. She's one of only two authors to whom I've written a fan letter... The twist to this book is it takes place over 20 years ago, before the days of DNA testing and CSI-like crime-solving, although the main characters are waiting for the day that DNA will help prove who the killer is... We have a few repeat characters: Vince Leone and Anne are now married and it's nice to see him in love with Anne, but he's still suffering from that bullet in his head... There are a couple of characters that really are quite off-putting - the child who is institutionalized but gets out to kill Anne, just to pique your curiosity...

What the Night Knows, Dean Koontz - This ghost story has a horrible twist: can the murderer of John Calvino's entire family come back from the dead to murder his wife and children??? John thinks so. And while I was reading this book, I was convinced. Leave it to Dean Koontz to scare the bejeezus out of me AGAIN!

Sing You Home, Jodi Picoult - Back in the day I used to have publishing connections and I would get books in galley format WAY before pub-date. Now I have to rely on the kindess of strangers - and it's not even their kindness to me, but whether or not they are being nice to Little Sis!!! She's still in contact with multiple publishers and stands a chance to score some ARCs (advance reading copies). Me? Not anymore. I work for a single publisher, and I love my job and my employer, but I DO miss that perk... Sing You Home isn't due out until March 1 so I did manage to read this one ahead of time. Ms. Picoult can certainly weave a tale that draws you in, and this was no different. I didn't like it too much at first, I didn't feel as though the characters were enough. But midway through the book I realized I was loving them both, Vanessa and Zoe. And I wasn't liking ex-hubby Max at all. I felt he turned into a weak man, a weak man who fell prey to a cult-like born-again sect... Not that I have anything against born-again Christians, mind you - but in the story you felt it was less about their faith and more about their leader/minister... Even though the book ended, ultimately, the way I wanted it to, it almost seemed too easy by the last couple of pages. It could have used a little more soul-searching on Max's part, a little more about his epiphany... But all in all, a great read, as usual, from Ms. Picoult!

Middle Sis' January Books

2011-02-20T15:33:00.000-08:00

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe Read for my 19th century literature book group. Loved it! Haven't read Poe in decades and had forgotten how atmospheric and Gothic and eerie he was.

The Evil Guest by Sheridan Le Fanu More nineteenth century Gothic creepiness. Maniacal husband, saintly wife, beautiful yet treacherous governess, isolated mansion--this book has it all. Perhaps a little stilted in its language, as befits a book published in 1851, but still enjoyable in 2011.

Death in the Stocks by Georgette Heyer More historic fiction, but more recent, Golden Age of Mysteries novel by the romantic writer, published in 1935. I read a couple of her mysteries when they were republished in the 1980s/1990s when I was at the wonderful Printed Word Bookstore. So naturally, when this was digitized for e-publication and Kindleized, guess what--I bought it right away. And I loved it. My favorite kind of mystery.

Lies, Damned Lies, and Science by Sherry Seethaler Nonfiction book that explains the scientific method to a lay public, with specific discussions of how media, advertising, politicians, and others can misrepresent and/or distort, either willfully or accidentally, scientific data. Very readable, with good graphics. Focuses on hot button issues for examples, such as genetically modified food.

Pets on the Bed

2011-02-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

Hey, Li'l Sis, remember your poll on your blog about who lets their animals sleep on the bed. The New York Times has an article about the practice, possible side effects (zoonoses), and interviews with people who do and don't let animals sleep in bed with them. I have no problem with the cats and dogs (if I didn't have a very furry dog who prefers to sleep on cool tile to additional body heat), but I think I'd draw the line at the potbellied pig.

Big Sis' December Reads - only one month late!

2011-01-26T13:46:00.000-08:00

December was not a month, apparently, where I read very much. I was a bit busy decorating, shopping, and vacationing... And I didn't read very much during vacation either, and I'm really not sure why... Perhaps because I got sick and started coughing up part of a lung???

Edge (Jeffery Deaver) - Oh, I hope Corte is a character who returns in future novels! I liked him, and I liked how the author made us think we knew everything about him until the last page, when we discovered we were missing a WHOLE LOT of Corte! He's with the Strategic Protection Department, one of those government agencies who don't exist on paper, and he's usually called in to protect and guard high-profile targets. I guess he'd be the first step before the Witness Protection Program... He is called in to guard a cop and his family from a worthy enemy, Henry Loving, who we find out killed Corte's mentor years before.

Rescue (Anita Shreve) - I love her books, and this one was no disappointment, but I will say it's probably my least favorite. Peter Webster falls in love, has a baby, his wife leaves, he raises his daughter all alone, and then in an ironic twist of fate, he goes looking for his ex to save his daughter from making the same mistakes her mother did so many years ago. Good story, but it wasn't one I "just couldn't put down."

Unbearable Lightness (Portia DeRossi) - Non-fiction from one of the actresses who made it big on Ally McBeal all those many years ago, a TV show I never watched but was a popular favorite with millions of viewers. Portia is now married to Ellen Degeneris, and apparently the happiest she's ever been. This is the story of her anorexia, and her denial that she was suffering from anything more than dieting to be a thin actress/model. She really explains her thinking and rationale so well; it makes it a bit easier to understand where people suffering from this terrible disease are coming from and what they are experiencing. I thought this was a well-written (well-edited?) book and although I didn't particularly like Portia before, I find myself "liking" her a lot more now!

Big Sis' November Reads - Really Late!

2011-01-26T13:35:00.000-08:00

So I finally found my list... Here you go...

Chasing the Night (Iris Johansen) - One of Iris Johansen's usual thrillers. I liked this one because for some reason, I liked Catherine Ling; even though it's an Eve Duncan book, Catherine and her search for her long lost son was the basis of the story. As always, I hoped Bonnie would visit, and as much as I LOVE this series of books, I REALLY want Eve to find Bonnie...

Call Me Mrs. Miracle (Debbie Macomber) - A short Christmas story, in gift book format. It should be turned into a made-for-TV Christmas movie, just like Miracle on 34th Street, etc. Holly needs a miracle to find that certain special Christmas toy for her nephew Gabe, and Mrs. Miracle and Jake come to the rescue.

Back Spin (Harlan Coben) - As always, I love reading about local spots here in NJ! And this backlist title that I missed during my first go-round with reading every Coben title I could get my hands on truly delivered! Some of this took place on Philadelphia's Main Line... And it had a great ending, too - I really liked this one!

You'll Lose the Baby Weight (Dawn Meehan) - A non-fiction book written by a mommy-blogger I read religiously - she's SO darn funny! Although I must admit I like her blog better than I liked this book. Although I haven't birthed no babies from my loins, so it doesn't apply personally, I liked some of her descriptions and laughed out loud in a few part, too! Plus she's personally going through a tough time right now, divorced mom of 6 with an ex who's chosen to be out of the picture... I figured she could use the royalty payment!

The Confession (John Grisham) - This one seems like a return to Grisham's guaranteed courtroom thriller format, and I loved it! Regardless of where you stand on the issue of capital punishment, this book was a great read! My politics have changed as I got older, but I didn't find this one too heavily weighted to one view or the other. Of course if you know anything about Grisham, you know where he stands on certain issues, and he's entitled to write a book from any side he chooses. This was a good one! Donte was in prison for a murder he didn't commit and there's all sorts of scrambling going on at the last minute. Will they get the governor to issue a stay? Will they save Donte? Will you like the ending or not? Read it and find out!

Play Dead (Harlan Coben) - Coben's 1st novel, and another backlist title I missed until last month! A good story, but you can definitely see that Coben's gotten better as he continues - this one was a good read, and I was not disappointed but either it was a bit disjointed at times or I was not reading with 100% concentration. I found myself thinking "?" a few times, but all in all, I'd recommend it!

Crossfire (James Patterson) - Kyle Craig returns!!! And Alex Cross is on the way to getting married!!! Will Kyle stop that with another murder? How did he escape? Will he get caught again or will he escape and return in another book? Who murdered those corrupt DC citizens? Was the murderer really a murderer, or a vigilante?

Next Photo Idea

2011-01-23T18:29:00.000-08:00

Just ran into this elsewhere - thought I'd put it out there... I know it's your turn to pick a topic for photos.

Someone on my scrapping blogs is choosing photos of a particular color one day each week. Photos of things purple, things green, things gold, etc.

Think about it!

Snow Photos from NJ

2011-01-17T16:25:00.000-08:00

Hopatcong State Park with what's left of the first 11" of snow that they got when we got our 2'!!! The ice fishermen were all out there with their little huts and their awls...

The view of the Hudson River and the Lackawanna Train Station from my office window, once the second snowstorm started - most of the first had melted off the pier, except for some of the piles that were shoveled or plowed against the wall...

Mom's house after the snowstorm of 2010! Love the western sun shining on the house...

The 2' of snow we got in December drifted to almost 3' on our deck - look how high it is under the picnic table!

My Dog Knows More Words Than Your Dog!

2011-01-17T14:54:00.000-08:00

The journal "Behavioral Processes" has published an article about a dog named Chaser who was taught to recoginze1,022 nouns. PBS' Nova episode will broadcast an episode on her in early February.

My dogs are way underachievers in this regard. Chaser is the Fulbright Scholar of dogs. Mine are more like school dropouts--they like to learn, but are inherently lazy (especially now in their old age), and like to do things humans find unpleasant, like eat poop. They're so dang cute, though, and they clearly understand way more than I'd care to admit.

Words/commands they do know: Up, down, sit, stay, come around, take a bow, spin, ride, outside, inside, shake, cookie (of course!), cat, Where's ----(fill in cat name)? stand, rub-down, give me your foot, lift, walk, wave, enough, look at me, nice ignore! chase, work, doctor--the usual doggy knowledge required to live with a human. But I like to read aloud to them, and we just finished "The Fall of the House of Usher" for my book group. Perhaps they know more than I think? Perhaps they know more than me.Their deep brown eyes seem to betray an age-old wisdom far beyond that of a creature solely concerned with finding something stinky to roll around in.

Middle Sis' December Books

2011-01-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

I hope you don't kind that I cheat and include the last book I read, as I technically finished the last few chapters on New Year's day. But it's a galley from NetGalley due to be published soon, and I don't want to have to wait all month to post my review. Not much reading this month, as I was a little too preoccupied with Stinkerbelle's medical problems to concentrate on reading and thinking about what I was reading. I went for books that didn't require too much concentration.

Tale of the Witch Doll by Mildred A. Wirt Yes, I confess, I still want to be Nancy Drew when I grow up. This long OOP series by one of the stable of authors who wrote the Nancy Drew books does Nancy one better, as Ms. Wirt was writing this under her own name for herself, not the Stratemeyer Syndicate, so she had lots more leeway with her heroine. This book introduces us to the series heroine, Penny Parker, who is Nancy gone rogue. Okay, maybe not rogue, but not the goody two shoes we love Nancy for being. Penny is a bit more irreverent, more sure of herself, more flippant with her father, and more realistic in some ways because of these traits. Penny is impatient; Nancy would never be impatient. Penny teases her father or talks back to him; Nancy never would. Penny's car is so decrepit it's out of service half the time and Penny can neither afford to repair it or put gas in it when it is running; Nancy never has problems with her little blue roadster. The mystery is a little darker, with The Criminal determined to kill His Archenemy. A little dated and maybe a little stiff and plenty formulaic, but loads of fun nonetheless. I have several other of Penny's adventures on my Kindle and can't wait to read them.
The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie Last year I briefly toyed with the idea of working my way systematically through all of Dame Agatha. I've read all the books, and many of the short stories, but haven't read most for more than 25 years. I may still take this on in 2011. Tommy and Tuppence are the lighthearted amateur detective series, and I needed lighthearted. Luckily, it's been so long since i read this or saw the BBC dramatization that I couldn't remember a thing about it. Perfectly written, of course, with tight dialogue, action, and enough background that the international intrigue made complete sense, even 80 years after the fact. Who wouldn't enjoy an Agatha Christie? Grab a big mug of tea, a scone, and settle in for a few hours of great storytelling.
The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman A to-be-published novella from established author Laura Lippman, whom I confess to never having read before. A riff on Rear Window and A Thief of Time, with our heroine on bedrest during the latter part of her pregnancy. Watching the daily visitors to the dog park across the street, she becomes concerned when one of the regular dogs appears, still on leash, but with her owner. Taking in the dog and determined to find the owner, the mother-to-be uses all her private detective skills and friends to find out what happened to the missing dog owner. This novella does a good job of incorporating modern technology into the classic bedridden detective tale while still providing a good dose of bone-chilling drama at the end. While the novella started off slow, it quickly picked up steam. I have to confess that the main character and her paramour didn't interest me very much, but Mrs. Blossom was very intriguing. I may read more inthe series just to find out more about this supporting character.
A Certain Dr. Thorndyke by R. Austen Freeman Classic mystery series from the golden era, Freeman's books aren't well known today, but they should be. The first half of the book is rather slow moving, and allows us ample time to get to know the criminal on the run. The second half is retroactive, and shows how 'a certain Dr. Thorndyke' solved the mystery. Although somewhat old fashioned, the female character is a strong and likeable woman and no shrinking Edwardian violet. I will definitely be making Dr. Thorndyke's acquaintance some more.
Lethal Lineage by Charlotte Hinger Okay, our mother raised us not to say anything if we couldn't say something nice, so I'll start with the positives. Although the descriptive blurb talks about murder in a church, this is not a preachy, Christian lit, proselytizing mystery. Just a mystery centered on a mysterious death in a brand new church in the farmlands of Kansas. The author realistically mentions the problems a May-December marriage may pose for the grown-up children involved, although there are few details to flesh this problem out and help us like our heroine. I really liked the historical research angle to the story, which was used to introduce us to some of the major players and their interrelationships. However, I am forced to admit I thought this book, another galley, was pretty bad. If I had received this as an acquisitions editor, I'd have sent it back for some polishing and re-working. There are some inconsistencies in the character that were unsettling (she's concerned about being blasphemous in our first encounter with her when she thinks "Oh God!" but later has no problem with calling a bishop a bastard) that could have been easily taken care of with a few sentences. The entire story hinges on a series of improbable coincidences, and far too many of them. The introductory chapters and the discussion of roaming Episcopal bishops and priests was so confusing I still don't understand it, and I wonder if the author had it straight in her own mind or just abandoned that part of the story because she couldn't make it make sense. The Hutu/Tutsi genocide angle was very far fetched, and could have been handled far better than it was. Overall, this reads like a second draft, not a final galley ready for publication. And the formatting was terrible on my Kindle--it was often difficult to tell who was speaking as paragraphs all ran together and no quotation marks were used. The book may have potential, but this needs a lot more work.

2010-12-30T19:38:00.000-08:00

Here is our tree, too. Poor angel, she's a little cramped up there, but from the front you can't tell!

I.O.U.

2010-12-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

November's books read post and December's will be due soon... can't find my list - I might have left it up at the lake - will check, post blizzard, when we make it up there later in the week!

MY Christmas Tree 2010

2010-12-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

This is our Christmas Tree 2010! I decided to put on only the white and silver and clear ornaments, and if I had enough, I was stopping there. Of course there is not a single tree I will EVER put up that won't include a couple of special, NON-white, NON-silver, NON-clear ornaments... The "K" ornament Daddy made for me and the red bleeding heart ornament that I bought in honor of him... I also included two homemade ornaments M and J made with Jack after his marriage broke up; I think they made them that next Christmas...

And no, I don't normally have a tire in my library, but that is/was one of M's gifts - one of hers died last week so J ordered a new one and it was delivered on the 23rd, just in time for Santa to take the credit!

Show Your Christmas Tree

2010-12-19T07:53:00.000-08:00

Maybe Late, But Here Are Middle Sis' November Books

2010-12-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

Better late than never, eh? I spent a lot of time reading The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope for my online reading group, and I'm halfway through it but am not sure I'm going to finish. I hate to admit that, as I always feel compelled to finish a book once I start it. There's so much incessant wallowing over the same thing for dozens of pages, dragging on and on and on... Lizzie refuses to give up the diamonds! Lord Faun is insulted by Frank Greystoke! Lucy Morris is offended by Lord Faun calling Frank Greystone "not a gentleman!" Frank is a weenie and won't tell Lizzie he is engaged to Lucy! Please. I'm not a big fan of melodrama, so while I appreciate Trollope's sly witticisms and acerbic social commentary, this is all getting on my nerves. Rather than opening the book with great anticipation, I open it with a sigh of resignation.

I've also been reading the brand new "The Death and Life of Monterey Bay: A Story of Revival" by Stephen Palumbi and Carolyn Sotka, and I am enjoying it immensely. It's sort of science-light, with the emphasis on the people who helped turn Monterey Bay around, but the history of Euro-American use of the bay for whaling and fishing is interesting and seems well researched. I will finish this one for sure. Lovely pen and ink sketches of the wildlife, and maps--I love books with maps.

So what did I read and actually finish last month?

Drop Dead Divas by Virginia Brown, the second in the Dixie Divas mystery series. I read this back to back with book one, and that may have been a mistake. The book begins the same way as the first novel did, with Bitty again accused of murder. Oh no, I thought, don't make this a habit, Ms. Brown, or I'll stop reading this series, but she quickly extricated Bitty from the circle of suspects, which is good. She also reduced the number of Divas running around, which was confusing in the first book--also good. A couple of little inconsistencies were present: one of the main characters this time around was a member of the Divas in the first book, but Trinket is musing in this second one that she'd be a great addition to the Divas; hopefully, this was straightened out before printing (I was reading a galley). Otherwise, not a bad entry in the series, although do insurance investigators really have access to the same--or better--Internet sources than the police? I hope Trinket gets over thinking her very well adjusted folks are teetering on the brink of dementia just because they want to enjoy their retirement, and will realize that she's seeing them as adults rather than as parents for the first time and it's clearly a shock to her.I hope the mysteries will not always involve an ex-amour of Bitty as that will get old fast. I also hope that Trinket stops babysitting Bitty, as their lawyer's insistence she do so after she, Trinket, was seriously hurt in a car accident made me quite annoyed. I do like how Ms. Brown is letting Trinket and the vet's romance move at an appropriately adult pace, but may I point out that people can tell the difference between bad singing and drowning or choking sounds and no one would burst into a bathroom without knocking? And may I also point out that real women do not engage in cat fights, ever? Very juvenile antics this reader did not appreciate. The scene of Chitling racing away from the lingerie store with a certain item in her mouth--hilarious! I was almost rolling over on the floor with laughter. The mystery is not so mysterious and easy to figure out, but the series does hold promise. I love a main character in her fifties who is active and full of life and vim and vigor.

To Have and To Kill by Mary Jane Clark Another galley read this month, with murder swirling around a soap opera actress. At first I thought the amateur detectives would be the mother-daughter pair, and I get excited, thinking a unique approach like that would be fun, but the main character is the daughter, Piper, an out-of-work actress dealing with a number of big changes in her life--moving back, hopefully temporarily, into her parent's home in NJ as she can no longer afford to live on her own in NYC, her mother's macular degeneration, and helping out at her mother's bakery may be a slide to abandoning her own career. I liked Piper, I liked her folks, I liked the premise. I hated the tweeting. Do twenty-somethings really wake up and reach to tweet before even visiting the bathroom? If so, I fear for the future. At least the author incorporated the tweeting into the story line because if she hadn't, I'd have decided never to read another in this new series again. I guess I am a Luddite after all. Although I was reading this on my Kindle, would a Luddite do that? Hopefully the next book will not make use of the same plot device. But it takes place in my old home state, NJ, so that's a plus, the mother-daughter dynamic could go in some wonderful directions, so I recommend this cosy.

The Sisters Grimm, Book 1: The Fairytale Detectives by Michael Buckley What if fairy tale characters were real? And lived in upstate New York? And what would happen if the giants were able to make their way down the beanstalk to wreak havoc as mercenaries for an evil Ever After out to seize power? And what if the only people who can stop them were a delightful Mrs. Grimm and her two granddaughters, descendants of Jacob Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm? Delightful children's story, the first entry in a series.

Chanticleer: A Thanksgiving Story by Cornelius Mathews (1850) Feel good slice of mid-nineteenth century life, this short novella will warm the cockles of your heart as it tells the story of the Peabodys and their Thanksgiving reunion. Scmaltzy? A little. Outdated terms? Yup, with a few cringe-inducing depictions of minorities. But the basic message about forgiveness and family love and patriotism still rings true (especially that last, this was a pre-Civil War story with striking parallels to the state of disunion present in the country today), and it was entertaining to read about thanksgiving 160 years before I settled down to my own.

And that's it. Sad, huh? But my students had their museum assignment that I had to research, write and grade, Mother of Mossy had bronchitis over Thanksgiving, and I spent way too much time with Mr. Trollope. Over 12,000 locations on my Kindle, and a mass market cheesy mystery is maybe 5000-6000 locations. It would be a very thick book I'd be lugging around if not for the magic of Fred my Kindle. Another coworker, after seeing mine and S's (she bought one after seeing mine) has now bought her own, so the Kindle Kult, as Homer calls it, expands. LOL

New Blog

2010-12-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

http://deerhavenduncanthewestie.blogspot.com/

Ok, I keep trying to maintain a site or a blog on behalf of Duncan the Great. Mustluvpets was about to bill me so I canceled it. I have a moonfruit website, but it's not on the www. and no one can ever find it. So heeeeerrrrrreeeees Duncan! I'm adding some ads & some news so there's more to get out of it than my bragging. I'm going to try to write every day -- Try!! Take my poll & tell your friends to enter their votes! Love, little sis

Photo Project Week 2 - Water

2010-11-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the out, Middle Sis - I have been waiting to find some good water photos but we haven't had rain, and when it showered, I was in Virginia where the rain was either (a) overnight while I was asleep in the hotel, or (b) it was so dark and I was outside for such a short time I didn't have the time to look for a good photo... Since you put in a couple of "oldies but goodies," I'll post a few of MY "oldies but goodies" here and will continue to look for some current water photos... We have some rain due in on Tuesday...

Water and babies? A sure win! (This photo doesn't really qualify 'cause I didn't take it, but it was so cute I threw it in there for fun!)

Caribbean Sunset, July 2009

Private Island, Caribbean, July 2009

Atlantic City, November 2010 - LOVE the sun on the water

Atlantic City, from The Pier Shops, November 2010

Atlantic City, November 2010

Photo Challenge 2: Desert Water Photos

2010-11-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

Nurturing water.

Temporary water.

And, some oldies but goodies...

Angry water.

Tranquil water.

Uneasy water.

How Cats Drink

2010-11-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

The New York Times is reporting today that the latest issue of Science includes an article that demonstrates how cats drink. Unlike dogs, who use their tongues to make a crude little cup (thus the lapping sound), cats apparently touch the tip of their tongue to the surface of the fluid and draw up a column of water (or milk) which they simply close their jaws around.Way cool science, Drs. Reis and Stocker.

Now, to watch the girls drink and imagine a column of water moving too fast for my eye to see...

Big Sis' October Reads

2010-11-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

I don't know what happened but I only read three (really? three?!?) books last month. Or I read more and didn't put them on my list and now they're gone, out of my head...

Naked Heat, by Richard Castle - I've dug around to try and find out who the author actually is, but have been unsuccessful. Castle is one of our favorite TV shows. They have some good writers and the chemistry between Castle and Beckett is fun to watch. This is the second book supposedly written by the TV show's main character, and the characters in the book are loosely based on the characters in the TV show. The main character from the TV show is listed as the author along with his picture on the back cover, and the acknowledgements are written as if he, Richard Castle, really wrote the book. Nathan Fillion is one cute guy and it's a fun twist, to show him in character as the author...

Don't Blink, by James Patterson and Howard Roughan - As usual, short chapters and easy to read, but it wasn't one of my favorites. So you're in the right place at the VERY wrong time and you're a witness to murder. And then you're investigating that murder. And you're dragged into things that really don't concern you simply because you were eating at Lombardo's Steak House when that hit went down... A quick and easy read, fun, but definitely not one of his best...

Shadowfires, by Dean Koontz - Originally written under the pseudonym Leigh Roberts before his Dean Koontz career took off, this was recently rereleased by the publisher in trade format. I'd never read it and for $9, I thought, "Why not?" And it was GREAT! All of Koontz' horror, twisted plots, lots of visual scenes that most definitely might cause nightmares... I'm giving this one to Little Sis to read - I know she'll like it! It includes genetic mutations, evolution, and murder, and would make for an awesome movie!!!

Middle Sister's October Reads

2010-11-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Diva Runs Out of Thyme by Krista Davies      First in the Domestic Divas mystery series, starring Sophie Winston, forty-something divorcee living in a fabulous old house in Georgetown, who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation when she finds a dead man in a dumpster at the grocery store. A dead man who turns out to have been a private investigator who was following her. Enjoyable mystery, with amusing ending with overtones of slapstick comedy. I was particularly enjoying this mystery because Sophie and her sidekick do what is rare in amateur detective novels--they tell the police what they've found, or at least try to. I found it refreshing that Sophie didn't think she was smarter than the detective (to whom, of course, she's very attracted; ditto him to her). Until Sophie found the poison vial and instead of calling the police, decided--stupidly--to try to catch the killer (of several people) herself. Very out of character with a woman who, up til this point in the story, was acting like a normal person. Disappointed this reader. I know, you'll say the author needed this to resolve the mystery. Well, I liked Sophie a lot up til then, and I instantly lost respect for her acting stupid. Which made me forget forgiving her being wishy-washy and unable to tell Humphrey that no, they were not on a date, and no, they were not involved romantically (this relationship was too junior high to be believed) and get annoyed by that whole subplot. Enjoyable enough I'll give Sophie another try, but if this smart amateur detective suddenly has another stupid moment, I'll be mightily disappointed. Lots of food talk in this mystery, and it made me eager for Thanksgiving dinner.

Lark Rise by Flore Thompson   Novelization of the author's childhood growing up in a very small, poor, rural community during the Victorian era in England. I had heard good things about this (and the two subsequent novels) online, and my local PBS station started showing the serialization made in England several years ago. I decided to read the first before watching the show (which is actually based on all three fictionalized memoirs by Thompson). While it's a very fast read, this first book has very little dialogue and is almost completely descriptive. While the people of Lark Rise seem resigned enough with their lot in life (they're not really happy, because they really have no experience of how things can be or were different elsewhere), I came away from it very happy that I live today. These people were extremely poor, and reading about their diet (or lack of much of one), the difficulty of just scraping by, and the general hard times of everyone in the village, I wondered how so many viewers of the television show could find it a wonderful escape and wistfully say they'd love to live then. I haven't watched the show yet, so maybe when you don't read about the one meal a day they ate, with just a tidbit of old bacon fat to flavor it and provide some protein, or the threadbare clothes, lack of daily comforts including sanitation, and all the other things we take for granted, it may seem an idealized way of life. Not to me.

Till Death Us Do Bark (43 Old Cemetery Road, No. 3) by Kate Klise and Sarah Klise Very enjoyable children's book about a boy who lives with an adoptive father and adoptive ghost-mother, and his adventures when he takes in the dog belonging to the town's wealthy benefactor after that man's death. The clues to solve the mystery of the bequest of the fortune were interesting and well done. I was delighted to look some of the coins up to discover that they are real, and as rare as the author says. Delightful drawings with somewhat Addams-family-esque light decay and spookiness to them to provide atmosphere. Besides, I was getting to play with three real live Irish wolfhound puppies while reading this book with an Irish wolfhound--who wouldn't have fun? Definitely worth the read.

Emma Darwin: A Victorian Life by James D. Loy and Kent M. Loy Biography of Mrs. Charles Darwin that ultimately fails to make the reader feel they know Emma. A great deal of time was clearly spent in reading archived family letters, tracking the many and evolving family relations (yes, I had to slip that word in here somewhere), and the authors do a good job of recreating the social, financial, and political world the Darwins and their family and friends inhabited. But Emma did not leave a diary, and did not confide her inner thoughts in her letters, so the reader ends the biography with no greater insight than that Emma was a wealthy woman who loved her children and her husband, liked music and spent her widowhood reading. The closest to a meaty issue covered in the book is that Emma and Charles held very different views on religion at the start of their marriage, but by the end, Emma had somehow changed her beliefs to mirror her husband's a bit more. But that change isn't well charted. Nor is how she contributed, by editing, to her husband's scientific writing. I'd have loved to see facsimilies of his writings, with her editorial comments or marks, to see how she contributed to his famous books. Her impressions of great scientists who were friends of her husbands, people like Charles Lyall, the father of geology; Huxley; and others are amusing, but superficial. Way too much of the book is spent discussing daily gastrointestinal information that Emma recorded for her children and Charles. A section discussing how Emma was very concerned with her family's health, with some examples, would have sufficed. Page after page and year after year, and chapter after chapter, of reading "C poorly" was a great waste of paper. The photos were nice, and the brief summary of the childrens' lives after their parents deaths was good, but the authors left out some of the other important people, like the Darwin's grandson who lived with them for many years, and just disappears from the story after he attains his adulthood. And how many descendants do Charles and Emma have? The authors thank one for his help, but it might have been nice to say "At the time of printing, Charles and Emma were survived by XX descendants." Some interesting insights onto Charles Darwin are provided, and anyone researching his life would find this an interesting addition to flesh out his character (especially his thoughts on marriage). What I remember several weeks later is that the Darwins were very affluent, which I hadn't known. Otherwise, Emma remains just another Victorian wife and mother, and I don't feel I know anything about her at all.

Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry   Completely charming story by acclaimed author Lowry about mice who live in a church and the trials they undergo when the Great X comes. Lowry skillfully weaves in life lessons a child may not recognize, about fortitude, and being kind even to others who aren't kind to you, and courage. The pen and ink drawings are delightful and charming. I absolutely loved this book. I'm only sad I don't know any children to buy it for when it's published.

The Blood Detective by Dan Waddell Murder mystery about modern English police trying to solve some gruesome murders that are connected, somehow, to a series of murders that took place over one hundred years ago. I enjoyed the use of genealogical research to investigate the historical murders, but some sections were way too long (the trial transcription, for example) and would have benefited from some judicious editing. Heather Jenkins, a secondary character, was the one I liked the most. Detective Foster and Nigel, the genealogist, were a little too angst-ridden for my liking. C'mon, Nigel, your 'scandal' turned out to not be scandalous at all, and Foster, it's been 8 years since your father died. Eat some vegetables and talk to a counselor if you still haven't resolved that. The murders were too gruesome for my taste, but I wanted to step out of my usual cosy mystery genre to try something new. The final twist that the entire story comes down to was just too coincidental for me, and I found the reason for the string of murders less than convincing. I might screw up my courage (when my stomach stops churning over the ick factor) to read another, but probably not for a good while. But well written, with attention to enough British police procedural detail to create a real atmosphere without overwhelming an American reader.

Guy Mannering by Sir Walter Scott    I read Ivanhoe (gulp) thirty years ago and enjoyed it, so when my 19th century literature reading group selected this for our fall book, I was excited. When the story finally picks up steam, it's very good, but the first one-third is very slow, with almost no dialogue. Make sure you read an edition that has a glossary in the back for the many, many Scottish dialectical phrases (not Gaelic) used by most characters. But if you're looking for a story with smugglers, hidden identities, a little romance, but not much swashbuckling, this is the story for you.

Dixie Divas by Virginia Brown   I'm going to read a galley of the next in this series, and as I happened to have had the first on my Kindle for months now, I decided to, for once, read a series in order. Dixie Divas is a lighthearted mystery with a 51-year-old divorced, likable main character named Trinket who has returned to her childhood home because she believes (mistakenly, it turns out) that her aging parents need her care. Reunited with her cousin and close friend Bitty, the two become involved in the murder of Bitty's ex-husband, the Senator, when they find him bludgeoned in a historic house they have to gone to visit to try to persuade the owner to allow the house on the local historical society's tour of historic homes fundraiser event. Trinket and Bitty are likable, as are their children and Trinket's parents (who never act like they need help, so Trinket's obsession at the beginning of the book that they are senile is obviously very wrong). The Dixie Divas, a group of hard-drinking, funny women who meet monthly as some strange twist on the Red Hat Society, are difficult at times to tell apart, and I think 1 or 2 fewer Divas would have helped me to keep them straight during the book. The mystery isn't very hard to figure out, but it's not supposed to be. We're just supposed to enjoy swilling mint juleps and seeing some Southern mayhem, and we do. But as for the disappearing body of the Senator: amusing, but if you really want to read how this can be handled superbly, read Edmund Crispin. The disappearing and reappearing decapitated head in one of his mysteries is hysterically funny.

Sisterly Chats

2010-10-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

"Why Sisterly Chats Make People Happier"

Photos by Lil Sis

2010-10-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

Lil Sis sent me these gorgeous autumn photos, because she knows I miss the changing seasons a lot this time of year. Aren't they stunning? Thank you so much, Lil Sis! They made my day!

Photo Challenge #2

2010-10-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it seems obvious that the next photo challenge should be Thanksgiving, as we're about to turn the page of the calendar into November.

But the Jane Voohees Zimmerli Art Museum in my old stomping ground, Rutgers University, has a theme for several exhibits and lectures of and on water. I think it might be intriguing to dovetail into that. I wish I was there to check the exhibits themselves out.

So, any preference? Water would be a challenge for me right now, as November is not a watery month in the desert, but that would definitely increase the challenge aspect.

News on the Dog Front

2010-10-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

The New York Times today has a story about how vets in Los Angeles are performing brain surgery (modeled on human brain surgery techniques) on dogs (and 1 cat) with Cushing's disease, a pituitary gland tumor. Cushing's disease affects humans, but affects dogs at much higher rates. The canine (and feline) tissue samples are going to be used to develop drugs that will benefit both human and animal patients.

Sammies develop Cushing's at somewhat above average rates, so this is is good news for all us Sammy lovers.

Book Quote of the Day

2010-10-21T10:53:00.001-07:00

"No sensible person thinks that having something written down is better than knowing it."
Scrates, in Plato's 'Phaedrus' (paraphrase)
Quoted in my Phi Beta Kappa Key Reporter, Fall 2010 issue.

Big Sis' Book Photos

2010-10-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

So my house is full of books. Books in the library, books in the kitchen, in the dining room, in the living room, in the hallway, in every bedroom. There are even two in the bathroom, in case of emergencies!

I collect various books. Yes, I'm a hoarder! I collect books on books. Books on decorating with books, books on making books, books on the history of books, books on publishing, books on bookstores, books on selling books... You name it - if it has to do with books, it stands a darned good chance of making it into my collection! Here's one portion of one shelf...

Here's one of my cookbook sections. I also have the entire right section of my library wall filled with cookbooks. Yes, I know, for someone whose strongest connection to cooking is her maiden name I am addicted to cookbooks and recipes!

Here's the library wall with a couple of display shelves thrown in for good measure. The left side (not visible) is signed first editions on the top 5 shelves, with assorted titles on the bottom two shelves. The second section, on the left in the next photo) is general fiction, Harry Potter, and children's books. The next section includes dictionaries and reference works on the top two shelves, with two sculptured buildings, a schoolhouse and nursery rhyme sculptures, with books about books below them. Just below that are a couple of shelves of motorcycle books and gardening books. In the center section are books about books, Shakespeare, some collected Depression glass and cobalt glass and photos, and miscellaneous picture books on the bottom two shelves. The fifth section includes health books, books on organizing your home and tons'o'decorating and home improvement books. And as mentioned before, the entire right section is cookbooks (also not visible in the photo).

Here's a close up of my Harry Potter section: books, ancillary products such as CD-ROM versions, collectibles, note cards, and a collection of Dan Fogelberg CDs thrown in there 'cause I just wanted it off the sofa!

And this is what I'm reading now...

So now it's your turn to pick a photo topic...

Photo Challenge: Books

2010-10-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, Big Sis, you posted the first photo challenge: books. I realized while searching for this theme to photograph that I must think of books very differently than you. They are not just paper or hard cover to me; they can be electronic, or audio, or even printed out. Perhaps reading material is a better term, but books seems a cozier word, an older word, and one that everyone understands without getting into boring specifics (like 'audio'). So it's less about the form, and all about the content to me. Sure, I recognize the traditional book is beautiful, but as long as I can read, I don't care what form the words come in. Here are just some of the books I live with (and more photos to come as I explore this theme a bit more).

My favorite book:

There are boxes of textbooks just like these stacked in my shed.

The top shelves of this bookshelf are cat and dog books and journals, the bottom, my class lectures and basic textbooks.

Some of my fiction books.

A very messy cookbook shelf.

All of this is why I love this: my Kindle. Currently I am carrying 337 books in my purse. I love that! As you can see from this page of my Fred, I have books, .pdfs for work, and even two word games.

How could you not love a Kindle when the screensaver rotates through pictures of famous authors, the Gutenberg press, and some gorgeous public domain book-related art? Dame Agatha and the Audubon birds are my favorites.

Since we have a library at work (not show, at least not yet), my messy cubicle uses the bookshelves to organize my current projects more than books. But note the scientific journals falling onto the floor.

And audiobooks. My current 'read' or 'listen' on my iPod.

But I also use Adobe overdrive. Here, a galley of a biography of Emma Darwin I am currently reading.

Big Sister's September Reads

2010-10-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

My Lies, by Meredith Maran - This was an interesting read, not because it was published by Wiley, but because I've always found the concept of "false memories" fascinating. This is Meredith's autobiography. She pulls no punches but writes with brutal honesty about her involvement in helping victims of abuse and incest. She talks about her marriage and how it failed. She talks about her later relationships with women. She came to believe that she was abused by her father when she was younger. She lets it split up her family; she becomes estranged from them all. But eventually she comes to believe that she remembered falsely, that he hadn't hurt her at all. And she admits the difficulty she faced in apologizing to her father, in growing close to her family once again.

1022 Evergreen Place, by Debbie Macomber - I always thought that the idea of living in a duplex next to the man you would eventually fall in love with was a great one. And this story proved it. A clean little romance that holds its own in the series.

Stories, edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio - This collection of short stories was strange, which I suppose I should have expected given that Neil was one of the editors, but I saw Jodi Picoult's name on the list of contributing authors and bought the book. Several of the stories really weren't my style, but for the most part I enjoyed them. At the very least, I enjoyed the format.

Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks - This is my all-time favorite Sparks title. Katie moves to a small town in North Carolina. We learn, eventually, that she is running from an abusive husband. In the meantime, she learns to trust again, and love again. She falls in love with Alex, and with his two children, and almost begins to believe she can have a real life again. Needless to say, Hubby Dearest shows up again and while all ends well, albeit tragically, the best part of the book is Katie's friendship with Jo. And that's ALL I'll say about it!!!

Spider Bones, by Kathy Reichs - Another book with Temperance traveling from Canada to North Carolina to Hawaii to save the day. How is it possible that the same man can be buried in several different graves? Read this one and find out!

And I just started Merchants of Culture, a non-fiction book about - drumroll, please! - the trade publishing industry! I'll let you know next month whether it was a good read...

Middle Sis' September Books

2010-09-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

This month I signed up with an Internet galley service, so I have reviews below of some recently published and about to be published books. I've been enjoying reading the galleys; I used to enjoy reading them at the PW bookstore. So, herewith:

The Janus Stone by Elly Griffiths (2011) Number 2 in the Ruth Galloway mystery series, and I admit that I haven't read the first. But mystery, archaeology, England--what's not to love? Well, unfortunately, some. The main character--a 40-ish female archaeologist--didn't quite resonate with me, but she may grow in future novels. The police inspector, Nelson, didn't elicit much sympathy from me, especially after he ends the critical denouement in a most unprofessional manner, quite at odds with his behavior up till then. Some of the secondary characters were more interesting than the main, and the author should redirect her efforts to bringing the leads to as much life as she did the secondaries. And I never did get used to the present tense, which I usually find awkward at best, pretentious at worst. But the Norfolk coast is superbly drawn, giving the novel a lovely, desolate atmosphere. The mystery itself was not too hard to figure out (and I don't even try to figure out whodunnit), but there certainly were moments of suspense. All in all, I can see potential in this series and this author. (galley edition)

Active Senior Living by Jan Curran (2010) Funny novel apparently based on the author's own experiences living in a active senior community while recovering from cancer. Who knew seniors were so randy? It's high school all over again, but with silver hair and walkers. A quick read, engaging, with a sympathetic main character and endearing secondary characters. Life does not end with retirement. That's good to know. (Kindle)

Brave New Knits by Julie Turjoman (2010) Interesting addition to the many knitting books flooding the market these days. New, young designers using the Internet to sell their designs are the focus of the book, although three well-established designers are also profiled as they talk about how they've come to use the Internet and online knitting communities to further their outreach. The founder of Ravelry (of which, in the interests of full disclosure, I have been a member since 2007, when it was in beta version), an online knitting community of over half a million knitters and crocheters, provides the introduction. Nice layout, good photos, and thoughtful array of projects for beginner knitters and experienced knitters alike. (galley edition)

Crocheted Prayer Shawl Companion by Janet Bristow and Victoria Cole-Gabo (2010) Followup to the first Crochet Prayer Shawl, which outlined how the prayer shawl ministry movement began and spread. Nice layout, nice photos, with added interest in commentary from the designers and prayers the crocheter can use while making these comfort shawl patterns. (galley edition)

Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz (2008) Another memoir by Katz of life on a New England farm surrounded by dogs, cats, donkeys, goats, even a cow and bull. I have to say I was somewhat put off in the first part where the death of a donkey Katz had rescued was described. Well, her death made me teary; the matter of fact disposal of her body upset me. Katz is a big animal lover, but has no problem sending the donkey's body off to to be, well, let's say remaindered, or adding a dog with lots of issues and needs to his overflowing household while he's having serious medical problems of his own that impede his own mobility. I appreciate the no-nonense farmer's approach to animal life, but Katz seems to want it both ways--to be recognized as a superior animal lover, who goes out of his way to take on rescues, and an unromantic farmer dealing with the realities of farm animal life. In reality, he's a middle-aged gentleman farmer who relies on others to run his farm, and takes on a very needy dog while he himself has to use a cane to get around--not exactly responsible in my book. I do agree with his dog-training philosophy, but he's probably find me a bleeding heart. Frankly, I'm not sure I'll read any others by him. Border collie and lab fans will delight in his dogs, though, as did I. (audiobook)

Read My Pins by Madeleine Albright (2009) I heard Ms. Albright being interviewed about this book very early this year, and since I've long been an admirer of her and of pins, I had to read it. Fascinating picture book of her extensive pin collection, with her recollections of where some were found, the people who gave her others, and the messages she tried to send with some of them during diplomatic missions. And she was the commencement speaker at my friend Sarah's graduation! (Who did I have, you ask? Greg Kinnear. Is it any wonder I passed on it?)

A Pinchbeck Bride by Stephen Anable (2011) Another second-in-series-and-I-haven't-read-the-first. Mark Winslow, the former comic improv, is invited to be a trustee of a Victorian mansion to help with grant writing, and discovers the body of one of the docents, strangled, and clad in Victorian dress. Interesting concept that doesn't live up to its potential. The older female trustees are not well drawn, and I was confused for a long time over who was who, and almost all the male trustees and men involved in the mystery turn to to be gay and hit on Mark (himself gay, but in a committed relationship; my gay friend would love to have that many men hitting on him). The author must have been trying to make the first victim multidimensional so as to to confuse the reader over the identity of the murderer, but her very many different personalities were so confusing and conflicting that it just devolved to not caring at all that she was murdered. None of the suspects were sympathetic, and Mark was also a rather bland character. Mark's relationship with his partner was handled pretty gracefully, but there was one allusion to a sex scene that was a little graphic (but all sex scenes make me squirm; I'm most definitely not a voyeur) and may turn off readers. Not sure if this one will move beyond the GLTB community. This straight reader doesn't care if characters are gay or not, as long as they're interesting. Sadly, most here were not. (galley edition--lots of typos and formatting issues, but some may have been Kindle specific)

Good Old Dog by Nicholas Dodman (2010) Excellent reference for owners and lovers of geriatric dogs. Most canine care books have a chapter or sometimes just a section on caring for the older dog, so it was wonderful to see a book devoted entirely to issues of aging. Full disclosure--my dogs are 9.5 and almost 11 years old, so I was greatly interested int he topic. Dodman is a well-known veterinarian, so the medical aspects of the book are well done, interesting, and cutting edge (even things I've not heard of, and I spend exorbitant amounts of money at a suite of vet office son my zoo). The one stumble is the usual veterinary trap of not thinking alternative medicines (like Chinese medicine, acupuncture, or reiki, etc.) merit consideration. If Dodman didn't feel competent to address these issues, inviting a specialist to write a chapter or appendix would have been useful. Many older dog owners, myself included, either use alternative as well as traditonal approaches, or are interested in learning about potentially useful and less stressful or harmful ways to ease our dogs into old age. Overall, a great reference that I will have to get to add to my dog library. (galley edition)

Identifying and Feeding Birds by Bill Thompson III (2010) Very useful barkyard bird guide that goes beyond traditional backyard bird guides to offer suggestions on different food, how to guides to build different feeders, and addresses usually forgotten topics like what plants will attract songbirds, what fertilizers should a birder use or avoid, etc. Great close-up photographs. I'd love a real copy of this book to supplement my traditional guides. My one problem--there are no regional discussions. The section on suet feeders doesn't mention that suet in the southwest melts and is a good feeding option only in the dead of winter. Brief tables by region of common backyard birds and tips would have been a handy improvement. (galley edition)

The Room in the Tower by E.F. Benson (1912) Another horror story to tingle my spine as Halloween approaches. Atmospheric short story about a man with a nightmare that comes true. Pictures that bleed, dogs scared of something no person can see, a remote tower room... Loved it! And not just because it's by one of my favorite authors. Will now seek out other Benson horror stories.

Photo Project Week 1

2010-09-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, since you suggested I choose the first photo subject... Books.

Let's take a few days to take the photo, and post it on Saturday.

Why don't we add the photos right to this blog post? The first person to post the photo can delete this commentary and just leave the subject and add their photo...

Middle Sister writes:
Nah, let's have a new post. I'm about to post my monthly reads list, so it will get lost. Okay, Oct 2, my photos of the theme books.

Photo Project

2010-09-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

So I think we sort of decided to do a photo project, right? Each of us would post a photo a week following a pre-determined theme? Have we decided when to start it and what the first few themes will be?

I'm in the mood to start something like this, and perhaps, after a few weeks, I can start putting together a project containing all the photos, yours and mine...

Do you know if there's a way to post both pictures in one post? Where you could post one and I could post the other? I looked at settings and you can have different authors, but can two people contribute to one post? Or will one of us have to email the photo to the other to have it added to a single post per theme?

I thought of a couple of other themes:
perspective
specific colors
sunsets (or sunrises)
our work desks
meals
flowers
self-portraits
friends

Or perhaps it might be better to simply post a photo a week, not following any particular theme or direction, but on the same day, let's say - just to see what photo we chose for that week, and how often they are similar in content, perspective, etc.

Let me know what you think. I'm going to start looking for photos...

patrysia writes...
Okay, I've just granted you and cookiedough admin privileges, which means you can edit my post and vice versa. So we could post photos in the same post.

Why don't you pick the first theme, pick the dates we wander with our cameras, and pick the day we need to post the photo? I'm not too keen on the friends theme, just because my real life friends, like me, are camera shy and Internet shy, and strangers might think you were some crazy stalker taking photos of them. I post lots of food photos anyway, so personally, I'd want to see that theme paired with something, like "garlic" or "fruit." But we could do that if you are in the mood to cook. I cook a lot more than you, I think, so that would be an easy one for me.

Okay, let's post and see how this looks.

Ah, it just adds text without noting who wrote what, so we'll have to identify ourselves.

This Weeks Photo

2010-09-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Unnamed pink rose in my backyard, blooming today, Sunday, 19 September 2010.

Photo Challenge

2010-09-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, since you're interested in posting photos weekly, how about a challenge? We all try to get photos of a theme, e.g., leaves (it's autumn where you are, even if not here), or a color, or something. Then we spend a week, toting cameras around, trying to spot that theme and capture it to share.

Interested? Want to suggest something?