Framed and Booked

127. Forest Born by Shannon Hale

2009-12-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

Forest Born is the fourth in the Bayern series of fantasy books which Hale has so wonderfully created. The Goose Girl remains my favorite but I can get carried away in any of her books. I loved her foreword where she states that the series was supposed to end at three but then she had to tell this tale but it is the absolute last except . . . She has a great sense of humor and that shows in her writing, plus she is gifted in her wordcraft, creating characters and descriptions that pull you in. This book tells the story of Razo's sister, Rin, who has the gift of tree-speaking; but also the terrible gift of people-speaking. Rin is so afraid that she will misuse her gifts, that she doesn't use them at all. There is a lesson here to develop your talents but to also make up your mind immediately to use them for good and not be swayed by selfish and unworthy intentions. If you haven't read Shannon Hale's books, now is a good time to start. I've read all but two and loved them all. Rating: 4.5

123 - 126. Short Christmas Stories

2009-12-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

The Mitford Snowmen by Jan Karon This is a very short story about the townspeople of Mitford spontaneously building snowmen on Main Street. It has many of the characters we come to know and love in the other Mitford books and is written with the same gentle humor and love.
Rating: 4

Christmas in Haggerty by Betsy Brannon Green Green's Haggerty series involve a young LDS mother, her FBI husband and their odd Southern neighbors as they work together to solve mysteries. In this fun Christmas tale, the mystery involves geneaology and finding out about the crying baby Kate dreams about each night. The side tale covers the town of Haggerty's Christmas door decoration contest and how several women try to one-up each other in order to win the prize. It's all good fun and heart-warming as well. Rating: 4.25

Up on the Rooftop by Jean Z Liebenthal It's Chritmas, 1937 in the small town of Wind Valley. Through the mouth of a seven-year-old girl we fee the nostagia of a more simple and wholesome time. The Christmas spirit comes through as we follow the tales of children being children and neighbors being neighbors. There is a Christmas pageant and a wonderful ending as the narrator learns the truth about Santa Clause and the true meaning of Christmas. Rating:

I Heard the Bells of Christmas Day by Lloyd and Karmel Newell For several years, my mother has given all of her kids and grandkids Christmas books to be opened before Christmas. This is the one she gave me this year, saying this is her favorite Christmas Carol. The illustrations by Dan Burr and absolutely breathtaking as we follow Henry Longfellow through his life up to the writing of this poem. The Newells also includes historical facts about the customs of the era, the Longfellow home, and other interesting tidbits. At the end of the book is a piece written by Daniel Warner called, "Longfellow's Christmas." In an accompanying DVD, Edward Hermann does a wonderful dramatic presentation of this piece from the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra in the background. And listening to the Choir sing this song with the bells ringing at the end gave me chills. Thanks, Mom, for a great Christmas experience. Rating: 4.5

122. Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah

2009-12-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

I don't read too many romances and really only care for those that include a healthy dose of humor. But I felt a romance with a Christmas setting would probably be more palatable so I hunkered down with Comfort and Joy, looking for some love and Christmas spirit:. Joy Cabellero is not feeling the Christmas sprit in her home or her job as a high school librarian. She is recently divorced after finding her husband in bed with her best friend who also happens to be her sister. One night, she arrives home with a scrawny Christmas tree strapped to the top of her car only to find her sister waiting on the front step. Stacey begs forgiveness but also needs to tell Joy that she is pregnant and to invite Joy to the wedding. Losing it completely, Joy drives to the nearest airport and boards a charter flight to a place called Hope. The place crashes, but Joy walks away from the crash and finds herself at an almost defunct bed and breakfast. Here she meets 8-year-old Bobby and his father, Daniel. You guessed it, love is in the air. Up to this point, the story is well-told. The author does a great job of portraying Joy's despair and loneliness, Bobby's sorrow at the death of his mother and anger at the father he hasn't seen for four years; and Daniel's confusion and ineptitude in dealing with the son he knows so little about. Still, it is all very predictable but sweet and Christmassy. Then the story takes a huge twist which should have made it more interesting but which was so unbelievable and odd that I couldn't get past it. Like all romances, it ends happily. I just didn't like the plot twist.

Rating: 2.75

121 Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

2009-12-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

There must be dozens of versions of the Cinderella fairy tale, but this one belongs at the top of the list. Ella is a great character who was given a terrible gift at her birth. That gift curses her throughout her life as others learn about it and take advantage of her because of it. But she manages to be a fun, intelligent, courageous girl in spite of the curse. The story includes the standard fare of the mean stepmother, two ugly stepsisters, a handsome prince, and a fairy godmother; all much more enjoyable characters than in the basic story. There is just more substance to them, bad or good. I really enjoyed this fun, light story and hope that the other book I have by Levine is just as good. I haven't seen the movie based on Ella Enchanted, but I heard it wasn't as good as the book. Too bad as I enjoy Ann Hathaway. Maybe I'll watch it anyway. Stay tuned. Rating: 4.5

120. Silent Night / All Through the Night by Mary HIggins Clark

2009-12-13T17:58:00.000-07:00

This book contains two short novels that Mary Higgins Clark wrote specifically for the holiday season. My problem is that her mysteries have always seemed formulaic so I haven't read her books for quite some time. After listening to her autobiography, I thought I would give her mysteries another try. She is just very likeable.

Silent Night Catherine is in New York City with her two sons, Brian and Michael, on Christmas Eve. Her husband is in the hospital being treated for cancer. She and the two boys decide to pass some time seeing the Christmas sights but she accidentally drops her wallet. Brian, the younger son, sees the wallet fall and be picked up by another woman. He knows it contains the St. Christopher medal which they are taking to Dad the next morning which he knows will guarantee Dad's recovery. He follows the woman to try and retrieve the wallet and the medal. Cally had picked up the wallet without thinking. She is desperately poor and thinks the rich woman who dropped it will probably never miss it. Unfortunately, her escaped convict brother is waiting when she arrives home, sees Brian, and decides to use him as a hostage. The rest of the story deals with how Cally and Catherine deal with their circumstances and the police investigation. It is really a story about the power of faith and prayer. While it is sappy, it is still a good read for the Christmas season.

All Through the Night This story features a couple Higgins has written about before, Willy and Alvirah. A young woman gives birth in her hotel room and leaves the infant with a note at the front door of St Clement's church. However, at the same time, a man is stealing money and a silver chalice from the church, sees the baby pram and uses it to help him make his getaway. He is surprised to find the baby inside and takes her home to his great aunt. Seven years later, the man is planning to take his "daughter" to Mexico; and the woman is searching for her child. Willie and Alvirah see her visiting several times at the church and take her under their wing. At the same time, a friend has been disinherited by her sister; and Alvirah is sure the will has been created under shady circumstances. This story is even sappier than the first, but Willy and Alvirah are such fun characters that it makes the drippy ending more bearable.

I doubt if these two tales will become standard holiday reading at my home, but they are short and filled with Christmas spirit; so I will probably read them again in the future.

Rating: 3.75

119. Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card

2009-12-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

Ender's Shadow is the third in the Ender series that I have read. I loved Ender's Game and really enjoyed Speaker for the Dead. I just find the character of Ender fascinating and interestingly complex. But Shadow is actually more about another character, Bean, a young boy incredibly small for his age who is even more brilliant that Ender. I found I had to work hard to suspend my disbelief at how much the infant and toddler Bean was able to do in order to survive. Eventually the story explains some of his unnatural abilities and ably ties that information into explaining some of Bean's shortcomings. Card wrote this book quite a while after Game, but wrote it as a parallel story, just from Bean's perspective. More than anything, it made me want to go and reread Ender's Game with this new perspective on what happened. And also, because I loved the character of Ender, and this book almost expalins his abilities away. Having said that, I still thought Card wrote a brilliant book with such a creative premise for the future. I just want Ender to remain a hero in my mind like he was after reading the first book. Now his heroism and talents are more ambiguous.

Rating: 4.5

118. A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

2009-12-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

Oswald T Campbell is a loser. He's an alcoholic, has emphysema but still sneaks a smoke, his ex-wife is his only friend and his doctor has just told him he only only a few months to live. In order to prolong his life, Oswald moves to a small town in Alabama. Again, Fannie Flagg has created a townful of quirky characters including Jack, the redbird who lives in a small grocery store. In this sentimental tale, Oswald grows to love the town and its citizens especially a small child named Patsy who has been abandoned by drifters. In an effort to get Patsy the medical attention she needs, Oswald and the town grow even closer together with a culminating event right after Christmas. Yes, it's predictable and super sweet; but at Christmas time, it fit right into my mood and gave me a good Yuletide lift.

Rating: 4.25

117. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

2009-12-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I listened to A Thousand Splendid Suns by this author and found it dark and dreary. I wished I had read instead of listened to it because I sensed I would have enjoyed it much more. But because it was quite depressing to me, I put off reading The Kite Runner. About all I knew was it took place in Afghanistan; and I haven't really liked the books I've read about that country. I should have paid more attention to the reviews of others because this is a fantastic book. The author begins the story before the overthrow of the Afghan monarchy, before the Soviet invasion, and before the regime of the Taliban. So I was able to get a sense of what the country and culture was like when it enjoyed a more peaceful and prosperous time. Peace and prosperous are relative terms here as I believe many of the inhabitants were always quite poor; and it has always had a history of violence. But I liked getting a look of that earlier time period.

The story revolves around a young boy, Amir, and his relationship with the family servant's son, Hassan. There is a pivotal event which shapes and colors Amir's actions for the next twenty years. The reader also follows Amir's complicated relationship with his father through this time period as they flee Afghanistan to settle in the United States. Amir eventually returns to his boyhood home to finally redeem himself for his actions when he was twelve.

I loved Hosseini's writing. It is lyrical, expressive and haunting. This book will stay in my mind for a long time. The story itself is so compelling. At first I didn't really like Amir or his father; but as the characters develop and the book follows them over the course of the years; I developed more feelings for them. And the theme of redemption is wonderfully presented. Halfway through the book, as Amir returns to Afghanistan, I could hardly put the it down. This is one of the few books I've read that makes me want to see the movie. I highly recommend it. There is some profanity (not much), some violence; definitely filled with stark realism; but so beautifully written and such a moving story that you shouldn't miss out on it.

Rating: 5

116. Bloodroot by Susan Wittig Albert

2009-11-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

This novel departs from the usual China Bayles mysteries. It doesn't take place in Pecan Springs; and the usual eccentric Texas characters are missing. China travels to her mother's childhood home, a plantation in Mississippi, to help care for the aunt who raised Leatha. Aunt Tullie is old, grumpy and suffers from a rare genetic disease. This discovery is just one of the many things whihc concerns China about her aunt's situation. Shortly after China arrives, an old childhood friend is found in his truck which has been covered by the Bloodroot River. An young servant at the plantation turns up missing as well. She remembers seeing a body being dug up in the garden when she was ten. There are a lot of mysteries and drama going on and China eventually solves all of them. I just missed the Pecan Springs setting and people. They make the books so much more fun and interesting. This one was a little flat for me.
Rating: 3.75

115. 13 1/2 by Navada Barr

2009-11-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

I love the Anna Pigeon mystery series that Barr writes which all take plae in National Parks. Anna is such a great character and I love learning more about the parks. I was excited to read this book which is a departure from the other series.

I would call 13 1/2 a psychological thriller rather than a mystery. There are flashbacks in the lives of the two main characters: Dylan, who is sent to prison at the age of 11 for killing his parents and baby sister, and Polly, who runs away from her abusive mother after her stepfather attempts to sexually abuse her. The details of the family murder are pretty brutal and so is Polly's life before she leaves home. Of course, the book has a twist. I figured that part out quite quickly, but I'm not sure that the author was trying to keep it a big mystery. The true suspense comes form wondering if the characters in the book will figure everything out before history repeats itself. Barr does an incredible job in keeping the reader on the edge of her seat as the final drama unfolds.
Rating: 4

114. The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker

2009-11-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

Let me begin by telling you what this book is not. It is not an LDS mystery or romance; it is not an LDS conversion story; and it is not an exposé of unsavory secret Mormon practices. Elna Baker is a single, Mormon comedian living in New York City and this is her story of how she tries to reconcile her belief system with the social practices of the Big Apple. Throughout the memoir, Baker shares her experiences at seven Singles Halloween Dances. Her costumes are a riot, but her hopes of meeting "The One" Mormon male are dashed each time. Then there are the other single pitfalls (pratfalls?) just lurking for the naive young Mormon. At first, she is overweight, but losing the weight brings a whole new set of problems: dating a lot more but with non-Mormons who don't understand the "wait until marriage" mentality. I think her experiences are spot on for a lot of young single LDS women. What I really liked about Baker was the way she would turn to God and the scriptures for answers and help. I liked how she shared the peace she felt when receiving answers. I loved some of her stories, so hilarious; others made me cringe, what was she thinking to share that with the whole world. Her complete honesty was totally refreshing except for a few times when it was too too much. To be fair, in her dedication; she does warn her parents: "This book . . . aside from the nine F-words, thirteen Sh-words, four A-holes, page 257, and the entire Warren Beatty chapter . . . is dedicated to you. You might want to avoid chapters twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, anything I quote Mom saying, and most of the end as well. Sorry, am I still cute as a button?" It's always a good thing when you start a book laughing, isn't it? I like that she tested her beliefs which in the beginning only strengthened them. What I struggled with was the way she tried to make deals with the Lord, never a good idea because what you want may not be the best for you. As in any life, faith is on ongoing process; and it seems fitting that it is still ongoing for the author as well. I really did enjoy the book except for the profanity and some sexual encounters, again way too much information there.
Rating: 4.25

113. This House of Sky by Ivan Doig

2009-11-15T17:19:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying that I loved Doig's English Creek. And House of Sky contains the same lyrical, breathtaking prose and cowboy realism. After getting his PHD in history, Doig decides instead to write a book about his father, a Montana sheeprancher; and his grandmother, the mother of Doig's mother who died when he was six. The two have a hate/dislike relationship but overlook that in the interests of raising Ivan. Still, they're both quite the characters. I learned a lot about sheep ranching, enough to confirm that sheep really are stupid animals and a lot of work. I learned that a family can live with so little, overcome so much; and still develop that binding love that remains with you all your life. As I said, Doig writes beautifully and tells a good story. However, midway through the book, I lost a little interest. The final scenes were pretty gut-wrenching and I was glad to have Kleenex close by. While I didn't like House nearly as much as Creek; I'm still looking forward to reading the rest of Doig's books which are sitting on the shelf. I classified these as western literature. If you like the great outdoors, ranching, horses, tough men and tougher women; you should read this book.

Rating: 4

112. The Fairy's Mistake by Gail Carson Levine

2009-11-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, it is fun to read a book in just one night. I can do that when there are only 84 pages involved. The Fairy's Mistake tells the tale of twin sisters, one good and one bad and her mother's favorite. Rosella does all the chores including fetching water from the well. She graciously gives an old woman (the fairy in disguise) a drink and is rewarded by spewing jewels from her mouth every time she speaks. Myrtle (bad sister) tries to find the fairy to get a similar reward but offends a knight (again, the fairy in disguise) and is punished with bugs and snakes coming from her mouth whenever she speaks. Yuck. Shortly, a prince joins the tale and things don't go quite as the fairy envisioned them. It's such a cute, funny story, written very simplistically so children will enjoy it as well. Great way to spend an evening.

Rating: 3.75

111. English Trifle by Josi Kilpack

2009-11-08T22:13:00.007-07:00

English Trifle is the second in a series of culinary mysteries starring Sadie Hoffmiller. This book sees Sadie and her daughter, Breanna, visiting England with Breanna's boyfriend, the next Earl of Garnett. As they wait in the manor's sitting room for Liam to come down to say goodbye before they head back to the States, Sadie and her daughter discover a body pinned to the wall with a fireplace poker. Naturally, they miss their flight and tumble into all kinds of trouble as Sadie pokes her nose into everything, getting more things wrong than right until it all works out in the end. While I loved Sadie in the first book, now I found her to be a sort of a caricature of the busybody, gauche American. Some of her actions just didn't seem to be believable, although she does become more likeable as the investigation progresses. The story also had your stereotypical patronizing English lord and snooty British servants. And it just didn't seem as humorous as the first one. Having said all that, the book did become more interesting the further I got into it as it was a good mystery. And there were some fun recipes for English cuisine. I just feel bad that I didn't feel the same connection with Sadie that I did in the first book. I still plan on reading Kilpack's next book, Devil's Food Cake. Sadie is back in America and I hope I find her more appealing.
Rating: 3

110. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

2009-11-07T22:34:00.000-07:00

After reading six books straight from the Narnia series, I felt I needed a good dose of adult realism. Ahh, Jodi Picoult, just the ticket, get myself immersed in some real life issues and away from children's fantasy and C. S. Lewis' Biblical retelling. Like the other Picoult books I have read, this one deals with some social, medical, political; and, to my dismay, religious issues. While it is certainly not children's literature (a man is stabbed in the throat with the end of a broom handle), there is definitely an element of fantasy to this book as well. It took me about halfway through the book to just suspend my disbelief and read the story for what it was. Here is a synopsis from Amazon:

Picoult bangs out another ripped-from-the-zeitgeist winner, this time examining a condemned inmate's desire to be an organ donor. Freelance carpenter Shay Bourne was sentenced to death for killing a little girl, Elizabeth Nealon, and her cop stepfather. Eleven years after the murders, Elizabeth's sister, Claire, needs a heart transplant, and Shay volunteers, which complicates the state's execution plans. Meanwhile, death row has been the scene of some odd events since Shay's arrival—an AIDS victim goes into remission, an inmate's pet bird dies and is brought back to life, wine flows from the water faucets. The author brings other compelling elements to an already complex plot line: the priest who serves as Shay's spiritual adviser was on the jury that sentenced him; Shay's ACLU representative, Maggie Bloom, balances her professional moxie with her negative self-image and difficult relationship with her mother. Picoult moves the story along with lively debates about prisoner rights and religion, while plumbing the depths of mother-daughter relationships and examining the literal and metaphorical meanings of having heart. The point-of-view switches are abrupt, but this is a small flaw in an impressive book.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.
Eventually I began to enjoy the religious issues that Picoult presents because she lets the reader draw her own conclusions. I've heard very little about the Gnostic Gospels and found that information very interesting. I felt that she did carry the Messianic comparisons a little far, but she also capably portrayed the polarizing effects of religion; something mankind has yet to find a way to overcome. I like the use of four narrators as it allows you to get to know those characters so well as they unfold the story. Picoult's research into so many different topics never fails to astound and impress me. I always learn something when I read her books. It's always good to see other viewpoints. Even though I struggled with this book at first, I ended up liking it very much. Except for the epilogue; that was over the top.
Rating: 4.25

104 - 109 The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis

2009-11-04T08:29:00.003-07:00

A year ago, I decided to begin at the first reading this series of books. Loved The Magician's Nephew. There's no explanation for the fact that I had not read the rest, but now I have remedied it. I wanted to read all the books before any more movies are made to color my reading. I'll do a brief synopsis of each book for those few who, like me, have never read them. I understand there is some controversy over the order of the books, but I'm calling The Magician's Nephew number one and going on from there.

2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe If you haven't read this book, surely you've seen the movie. I had and maybe that's why I hadn't read the book. I thought it was fun, James McAvoy cute, and the entire production quite inventive. Overall though, it was just okay for me. So I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the book so much and didn't have images of the movie in my mind as I read it. Basically, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy explore a house they are staying in during the evacuation of London in WWII. They come upon a wardrobe, hide in it and magically find themselves in the land of Narnia. There is an evil witch who uses Edmund for her wicked purposes. The other three find their way to Aslan, the Lion ruler, who helps in the battle against the witch. Strong Biblical symbolism like the first book.

Rating: 4.5

3. The Horse and His Boy What's not to love about a talking horse. I'm sure Mr. Ed was patterned after Bree, the Narnian horse who helps Shasta escape from Calormene. Shasta is a very heroic boy who does what is right even though he is petrified. Susan, Edmund and Lucy play small parts in this book, but as adults. Rating: 4.25

4. Prince Caspian I also saw the movie based on this book and enjoyed it very much. Therefore, I was disappointed in the book. There is not nearly as much interaction between the Pevensies children and Prince Caspian as was depicted in the movie. Romance between Caspian and Suan? Not at all. In fact, Susan whines a lot. There just seemed to be a lot more traveling in this book and not as much action. The talking animals were fun though, and I love the descriptions of the trees awakening. Rating: 3.5

5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Edmund and Lucy return to Narnia bringing their obnoxious cousin, Eustace Scrubb, along. They join King Caspian on his ship, the Dawn Treader, as he goes on a quest to find the seven noblemen banished by his uncle in the last book. They must sail to the End of the World to complete the quest and have some great adventures along the way. Joining them is Reedicheep, the fighting mouse, who brings some great comic relief to the whole voyage. This book is one of my favorites in the series. Lewis shows great imagination and his descriptions are so vivid. Rating: 4.75

6. The Silver Chair Isn't it sad that as the children age, they are no longer able to return to Narnia? I miss the four Pevensies; but fortunately, Eustace Scrubb is no longer obnoxious and can still visit. On this go-round, Scrubb and a schoolmate, Jill Poole, are sent into Narnia with the task to find and rescue Price Rilian. Puddleglum, a Marsh-wiggle, serves as their guide and is one of the funniest characters in the series. He is such a pessimist but also brave and resourceful. Scrubb, Poole, and Puddleglum have some great adventures as they travel to the northern world of the giants and then underground into the lair of the wicked witch. Another fun read. Rating: 4.75

7. The Last Battle In this book, Scrubb and Poole return to Narnia where many years have passed since their last visit. An ape has convinced many Narnians that a donkey wearing a lion skin is really Aslan and commands them to do things in Aslan's name. In this way, he slowly gives Narnia over to its enemies. Tirian is the king and along with his friends makes a last stand against the Calorenes and evil. While I know there is a lot of Biblical allegory in all the books, it is certainly the strongest in this one, which may explain why I didn't like it as well. In the others, I could enjoy the adventures and the fantasy; but Battle is so Biblically heavy-handed that the story suffered for me. Or maybe I just got tired of the whole series. Or I'm not into stories about Armageddon. Whatever. Not only that, but I really hated what happens to Susan. Sorry, can't tell you more. Rating: 3.25

My seven books in this series were published by different publishers. The first four were from Harper Trophy and I definitely liked them the best. Each book had a map of Narnia and outlying areas in the back, plus a map in the front which showed greater detail of where that book's action takes place. I love maps. Plus the cover art on these four by Chris Van Allsburg was wonderful, reminded me of The Goose Girl cover on the first edition. The Silver Chair did have a map and a listing of the main characters of all seven books. Always helpful. I know there are those who feel the books should be read in the order that Lewis wrote them as it helps the reader to understand the allegories better. I read them chronologically and liked that just fine. It's pretty hard to miss the symbolism anyway. I liked reading my own feelings into them except for the last book pretty much spelled it all out. I think my favorite book was The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. My favorite characters were Puddleglum and Shasta. Overall, I really liked this series and wished I had read it when I was younger.

103. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny

2009-10-26T18:35:00.000-06:00

I've said it before so I'll say it again. Armand Gamache is one of the best crime solvers in the fiction world. Here's a description from the book that illustrates him and Penny's fine writing. As a segueway, Penny has just described Gamache's two associates: "And Gamache? He knew he was neither the hound nor the hunter. Armand Gamache was the explorer. He went ahead of all the rest, into territoy unknown and uncharted. He was drawn to the edge of things. To the places old mariners knew, and warned, "Beyond here be monsters." That's where Chief Inspector Gamache could be found. He stepped into the beyond, and found the monsters hidden deep inside all the reasonable, gentle, laughing people. He went where even they were afraid to go. Armand Gamache followed slimy trails, deep into a person's psyche, and there, huddled and barely human, he found the murderer." This man is one of fiction's great characters. Penny also develops fantastic supporting characters. In this book, the Morrow family (the chief suspects) are far from likeable, but always interesting. The staff at the Manoir Bellechasse where the murder occurs are also drawn well. One of the things I really liked about Rule was the delving into Gamache's history with his father, coinciding so well with the family dynamics of the Morrows. The mystery was not easy to solve, I didn't have a clue; but at the conclusion, I thought it made sense and small clues had been thrown into the story. Here's another quote from a character counting his blessings that I really want to remember: "We're all blessed and we're all blighted. Every day each of us does our sums. The questions is, what do we count?" This book is a keeper and I am anxiously awaiting the paperback publication of Penny's next one.
Rating: 4.75

102. The Tale of Briar Bank by Susan Wittig Albert

2009-10-20T19:52:00.001-06:00

This book is the fifth in Albert's Beatrix Potter mystery series. They contain interesting tidbits about the famous author who created the Peter Cottontail books. Each story follows Beatrix as she visits her favorite place, her Holly How farm in Near Sawrey. A mysterious death occurs and Beatrix helps solve the mystery. The parts that I don't like quite as much are the conversations of the animals who share the village with the humans. It's all a little too cute but not over the top. That is until The Tale of Briar Bank. More than half of the book revolves around the animals, especially the badgers, and their conversations and ideas of how Mr. Wickstead really died. The actual facts of his death were actually silly to me. Plus, there is not enough of Beatrix Potter and the interesting people who live in the surrounding area. On top of that, the author talks to the reader a lot more than I remember her doing in the previous books. I found it quite distracting. On the whole, this book was quite disappointing to me. I still plan on reading the rest of the series because I'm enjoying the budding relationship between Beatrix and Will, but I hope the animals will play a smaller part in the next novels.

Rating: 3.5

101. Kitchen Privileges by Mary Higgins Clark (audio)

2009-10-20T19:36:00.000-06:00

I believe I've only read one Mary Higgins Clark mystery so I'm not sure why I mooched this audio version of her memoirs. However, I'm glad I did. It's great when an author narrates her own book because you know that emphasis is placed where she wants it and the lines are read the way they are meant to be. I was also surprised by Clark's Bronx accent. It made her seem more folksy and less like the high-powered hoity-toity author that I imagined. I know she is high-powered and rich and has well-connected friends; but in her memoir, she comes across as likeable and funny. My mom and I listened to the book as we drove to Salt Lake and back. There were several incidences where we chuckled and even laughed out loud. Clark related some great experiences: some were so sad, others heroic, most all were interesting. She is a remarkable woman to have gone through all she did, raise five children mostly alone, sending them to college and still hang on to her dream to publish a novel. It wasn't until the kids were in college because she really hit the big money with her second novel. And we shared in her elation and joy. I don't know if I will become a Mary Higgins Clark mystery fan or not, but I do admire the woman and recommend her memoir.
Rating: 4

100. Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper by Peter Hill

2009-10-18T20:06:00.000-06:00

In 1973, Peter Hill is a Scottish, hippy art student had two ambitions as a child: to be a lighthouse keeper or a marine biologist. He gets the chance to fulfill the first dream, and this book is the memoir of his six months spent in three lighthouses off the west coast of Scotland. Hill writes beautiful descriptions of the places he visits and the characters he meets. Some of the anecdotes he shares are hilarious. There is a lot of in-depth description of the routine in keeping a lighthouse, which was mostly fascinating. What really intrigued me was how the people in Scotland responded to Watergate and Vietnam, watching the news and commenting on Richard Milhouse Nixon and Kissinger. As a high school student, I was truly bored with the news reports of both; so I was amazed at the response of these ordinary people in Scotland. Another fun aspect of this book was the pop culture of the early 70's. It was also one part where I lost interest as I am so unfamiliar with the British TV and music scene that Hill discusses so much. Overall, it was a well-written, informative and fun book that I truly enjoyed, with some points off for profanity.
Rating: 4.75

99. Seventy-Seven Clocks

2009-10-09T22:02:00.000-06:00

This book follows Arthur Bryant and John May in 1973 as their experimental unit, the Pecular Crimues Unit, or PCU, moves to a new location. PCU and the two detectives quickly become the focus of attention as a bizarre set of murders take place targeting an old English watch-making family. May is a urbane and GQ kind of guy while Bryant is rumpled and eccentric. They think differently which has always led to their impressive crime-solving success. But these particular crimes may be the undoing of the unit as there seems to be little pattern or reason for such wildly odd, almost Victorian murders. The family's attorney dies with a snake bite, one brother is killed by an exploding watch while the other has his throat slit by a substitute barber, the sister dies from poisoned face powder. The extended family is gathered together but are critical of the police effort and not cooperative at all. Through it all, May and Bryant rush around London trying to find clues in outlandish ways while keeping their tempers when dealing with the Whitstable clan. I really enjoyed the characters of Bryant and May. Their sarcasm and sensitivity blend so well. Also, Fowler writes with a great deal of humor which I always enjoy in a mystery. The description of the watchmaking guild as well as other London locales I've never heard of added to my interest. I found the whole book to be an engrossing thriller, keeping me involved from start to finish. My only complaint is that the solution to the crimes is quite outlandish, bordering on Jules Verne type science fiction. Even so, Fowler wrote it so that it made sense; it just wasn't something I could have figured out on my own. I just found out my sister has several more in this series so I'll probably be borrowing on in the future.
Rating: 4

98. Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Patillo

2009-10-04T20:52:00.001-06:00

I love the cover of this book, she's so dramatic. I wonder how many women out there read Jane Austen only to realize that marriage was not necessarily the happily-ever-after Jane wrote about. Emma Grant did and now she wants to bring Jane down. A college professor who specializes in Austen, Emma's life is in shambles after catching her husband with her teaching assistant and being accused of plagiarizing same assistant. Out of a job, broke and desperate, Emma flees to London to find the lost letters of Austen and reestablish her creditability. Along the way, she becomes reacquainted with an old boy friend from college who is a college professor and meets a handsome English professor from California. You'd think she'd be suspicious but she's pretty focused on those letters. So this book combines romance, mystery and history. I learned more about Austen than I had known before and enjoyed the mystery and romance aspects. Along the way, Emma has to face her own choices both past and future. It was a fun and easy read. I enjoyed it very much. Here's a great book quote: "My life was disaster, but there were still books. Lots and lots of books. A refuge. A solace. Each one offering the possibility of a new beginning."

Rating: 4

97. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2009-10-03T11:16:00.000-06:00

This is the second book in The Hunger Games Trilogy. I loved the first book and was not disappointed with Catching Fire. We follow Katniss and Peeta as they return to District 12. Things are considerably different than before the Hunger Games took place, but there is great conflict between Katniss and Preisdent Snow, the leader of their world. Rumors of rebellion across the twelve districts are being heard and President Snow hold Katniss to blame. With her life and those of her loved ones in grave danger, she does all she can to mollify the president and still hold true to her principles. While some of the action is a repeat from the first book, Collins is able to create different dangers and turmoil to afflict the victims of the despotic ruling class. There is so much intrigue and suspense that the book is hard to put down. Plus the story is one that remains in your thoughts. Katniss is truly a memorable character and I really enjoyed her. At first, I was a little put off by a repeated storyline but I soon became engrossed in the action. My only complaint with this book is the abrupt ending. What a cliffhanger, and I don't even know how long I have to wait for Book Three. Rats. These books remind me a bit of a book by Gerald Lund, The Alliance, where a super strong central government, even though much more benevolent than the Capitol, still strives to control all those who are under its power. It's one of my favortie Lund books and features similar struggles by people who want more freedom in their lives. Definitely put me in the ranks of all those who are loving this trlogy.

Rating: 4.75

96. Murder on a Bad Hair Day by Anne George

2009-10-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

This is the second book I have read in this series and I liked it even better than the first. Two people are murdered in different ways; and their connection is the Outsiders art displayed at a local gallery. Sixty-year-old Patricia Anne attends the gallery opening with her older sister, Mary Alice; and soon become involved with the suspects, possible victims, and investigating police. It's a good mystery, but the real joy of these books is the relationship between the two sisters. Their obvious love for each other is couched between teasing, sibling rivalry and memories of long-ago disagreements. They're great characters and this book is hilarious. A great one when you want a cozy mystery with humor.

Rating: 4

95. Borderline by Nevada Barr (audio)

2009-09-28T18:24:00.000-06:00

After reading Nevada Barr's last Anna Pigeon book which took place on Isle Royale, I was afraid that Barr had lost her touch. I really did not like that book. But, I am happy to say that Anna Pigeon is back in top form in this book: Recovering from the ugly killings on Isle Royale, Anna has been granted a leave of absence to pull herself together and try to save her Park Service career. She and her husband, Paul, travel to a national park along the Rio Grande and take a river trip with four teenagers and their river guide. Before the day is over, there are three bodies and a newborn baby. With help and hindrance from park service officials, politicans and some nefarious characters, Anna solves the murders at the peril of her own life.

This was a great book to listen to on my trip last weekend. Anna dealing with the newborn was a great touch of humor with some aaaaah moments thrown in. The mystery was tight and, even if I figure it out early on, there was an unexpected twist involved. I've read most, if not all, of this series. With two exceptions, (see above and the one about spelunking which just made me uncormfortable, she described the caves so well) I have enjoyed them all. It's a great way to learn about some of national treasures and the park system itself. I think my favorites were the one taking place in Mesa Verde National Park and the one on Ellis Island.
Rating: 4