70 - 73. The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter by Susan Wittig Albert

I've had the first three of these books for such a long time. When my sister bought the fourth, I decided it was time to read them. At first, I was a bit put off, thinking they were a little too precious and sweet; but I found myself enjoying the books immensely. I like how the author included actual history about Beatrix Potter and her love for animals shines through. The animals of the village of Sawrey are important characters in these books and I really started to look forward to seeing them again and again. As in her China Bayles series, Albert creates memorable and fun characters that are such a pleasure to read about. I plan on reading the next two that are out or almost out and see from The Cottage Tales website that two more are planned. Here's a brief synopsis of each book from that site:

The Tale of Hill Top Farm (2004) —The Tale of Hill Top Farm tells how Beatrix Potter acquired her farm in the tiny hamlet of Near Sawrey, and how her farm began to change her life.

The Tale of Holly How (2005) —A shepherd falls from a cliff, his sheep have gone missing, and Tabitha Twitchet, Crumpet, and Rascal, want to know how, why, and who. Add to this the mysteries at Tidmarsh Manor and Bosworth Badger's Brockery on Holly How, and Miss Potter has her hands full.

The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood (2006) —Rats, cats, fairies, and a lady with a mysterious past. Is she a witch, or just out to cause trouble in the Land between the Lakes? Beatrix discovers all the answers.

The Tale of Hawthorn House (2007) —A foundling baby, gypsies camped in the meadow, a fox on the loose, and a nest of unhatched eggs. Miss Potter has another flock of mysteries to solve!

They may be a touch on the fluffy side, but absolutely delightful, fun and easy to read.

Rating: 4.25

69. Nation by Terry Pratchett (Audio)

It was a struggle but I finally figured out how to download a book to my new Walkman. It was the perfect time to listen to Nation while I put my new Adirondack chairs together. Except for the fact that the sound of the drill drowned out some of the action, but I think I followed everything pretty well. Ermintrude is on a ship to meet her father where he is the governor on some out-of-the-way island. She is glad to be away from her domineering grandmother who believes she must behave as one who is 139 places away from the throne of England. Who would have believed that the plague would hit the country and wipe out 137 of the top royals, leaving Ermintrude's father as the next king. She doesn't know any of this when her ship is hit by a tidal wave and heaved onto a unknown tropical island, leaving only Ermintrude.

Mau is canoeing back to his island after performing his manhood tasks and looking forward to the rites that will make him officially a man when the wave hits. He survives only to find that everyone in his Nation has been killed by the wave. He finds Ermintrude who intorduces herself as Daphne (smart choice) and they begin to learn to communicate. Soon other refugees make their way to the island, and Mau makes himself responsible for them.

This is a great coming-of-age story of the two teenagers, but also a tongue-in-cheek look at politics, religion, customs and even race. The humor is not as laugh-out-loud as in the Discworld books, but definitely still there. The story of Mau trying to milk a nursing pig to get milk for an infant was hilarious. As always, Pratchett fills his book with great characters and interesting situations. And as always, I enjoyed this book. I wished I had paid a little better attention to the audio because I'm sure I missed some of the story. I may just have to listen again.

Rating: 4.25

68. Silence is Golden by Penny Warner

Somehow I got the impression that this book was set in Nevada. I thought Amazon was never wrong. Unfortunately, the book is set in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains in California. So I'm now trying to find another book to read for my Book Around the States challenge that is set in Nevada. Rats.

Silence is Golden is part of a series involving Connor Westphal, a deaf journalist who also has the knack of getting herself dangerously involved in crimes. She lives in the small town of Flat Skunk with an assortment of eccentric characters. I wondered how such a small town provided a livelihood for Connor's boyfriend who is a private detective. Dan does seem to be the sheriff's right-hand man but I don't know how that pays. The book begins with the discovery of gold on a local hill and suddenly the town is crawling with tourists. Then people start turning up dead. I didn't really have a clue who the murderer was until the end but it made sense. I've never read a book from the perspective of a person who can't hear and that aspect of the story was very well-done and very enlightening. However, the rest of the story was just so-so for me. I hope when I actually find a book set in Nevada, it will suit me better.

Rating: 3

67. A Patchwork Planet by Anne Tyler

Challenges

Book Around the States

Maryland

Barnaby Gaitlin is almost thirty, has a no-future job, divorced with a daughter he visits weekly, no love life, a disappointment to his family and himself. Because of his delinquent youth, his mother is on his case continually about the money spent bailing him out. The time he spends with her really set my teeth on edge. How can a mother treat her son that way. Because, in spite of everything, Barnaby is a kind, caring person and a very valued employee at Rent-a-Back, a company that provides a service mostly for older people doing things that they can no longer do. In an effort to improve himself, Barnaby begins a relationship with Sophia who represents stability to him and his family. In the end, he realizes that he has to live his life for himself and do the things that make him happy.

At first I really disliked Barnaby. He had no ambition, his thought processes were odd and sometimes creepy, he was at time a wimp and other times, rude; and he couldn't even remember how old his daughter was. But he grew on me as he begins to value his relationship with his daughter more and to learn to like himself better. I especially liked how Tyler portrays the older people in this story. She certainly doesn't sugar-coat age and its problems, but these people still have dignity and feelings. The best parts are Barnaby's interactions with his clients. The book started out very slowly but my interest increased as I read and I ended up liking it.

Rating: 4

66. Whiteout by Ken Follett

"This book is a bio-thriller taking place over a wintry Christmas holiday in northern Scotland and well larded with family drama. Toni Gallo is the driven head of security for Oxenford Medical (aka the Kremlin), a research facility working on a cure for Madoba-2, an especially virulent strain of Ebola. She also has a running feud with her ex, a local cop, and is pestered by the attentions of newsman Carl. But she really wants to be with her widower boss, Stanley, whose daughter Olga's husband, Hugo, is paying unwelcome attention to his sister-in-law, Miranda, herself in uneasy love with a milquetoast boyfriend, Ned, whose daughter, Sophie, is the object of young Craig's budding affections. It is not until midnight on Christmas Eve that all this soap is rinsed away, and the plot kicks into high gear, as a band of desperate, violent thieves, led by Stanley's wastrel son, Kit, lay siege to the well-defended Kremlin in the midst of a terrible blizzard. Predictably, things go suddenly, frightfully wrong. From here on out, Follett's sure hand at the controls of a high-octane plot delivers the expected thrills in expected ways."

David WrightCopyright © American Library Association.

I found this thriller pretty good up to the point about a third of the way when Follett throes in a really crude sexual line. A few pages later, he does it again. I almost quit, they were so sleazy and unnecessary, but decided to see if those were just anomalies. With the exception of a couple of teenagers fooling around, a bit that really had something to do with the plot and was written much better, Follett played it pretty straight until the very end when he decides to throw in a whole paragraph of ick. Actually this was not a bad story for its genre, but I was appalled at these few instances of smut. The worse part was that they were just stupid, had nothing to do with the story, and almost seemed to be written by someone else. I don't know if this is Follett's way of making the story more sexy (didn't work) or what. Anyway, I took a full point off my rating for the really dumb sexual nonsense.

Rating: 2.5

65. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

I hope my grandson loves to read when he is old enough to tackle this book. It was such a fun fantasy. The characters are wonderful from the skinny, always eating Number Two to tiny Constance Contraire to evil Mr. Curtain; I enjoyed them all. Maybe it's a little too black and white between the good guys and the bad but it fits well with this story. Mr. Curtain has hatched an evil plot to take over the world through subliminal messages. Mr. Benedict knows the only way to thwart him is with children so he tests children all over the city to find a team that will be able to infiltrate Curtain's stronghold. The four children: heroic but average-looking Reynie; skinny, fearful and bald Sticky (George) Washington; athletic Kate Weathers; and tiny and stubborn, obstinate and cranky Constance combine their talents to become the tools Mr. Benedict will use to save the world. There is so much humor in this book along with a few subtle self-esteem building lessons. And the suspense was just right. I can't wait to read the sequel. Rating: 5

64. Death Dance by Linda Fairstein (audio)

I had training in Provo yesteday so this Book-on-CD was my choice to keep me awake on the trip out and back. I really struggled driving out Tuesday so maybe the story just wasn't quite gripping enough. Assistant D.A. Alex Cooper specializes in sex crimes and the book begins with one; but the real mystery involves a murder at the Met that her colleague, Mike Chapman, a homocide detective, enlists her help on. (Sorry about that run-on sentence) The sex crime involves a Turkish doctor who drugs and then has sex with his unconscious victims. The case seems pretty cut and dried to me but the judge is quite the Neanderthal. I found his crude and sexist remarks quite unbelievable for a New York judge in this era. Maybe twenty years ago, judges viewed rape victims as asking for it, but do they still? The main mystery involved the murder of a prima donna ballerina who is thrown down an air shaft at the Met. We are introduced to some shady characters who are rich and powerful in the theatre scene. My real problem is that there are not very many clues that lead you to the actual murderer. But there is a good rescue scene and the descriptions of some of New York's theaters. Rating: 3.5

62. Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack

I have read other books by Josi Kilpack and have enjoyed them a great deal. She writes with a great deal of humor and insight into her characters. Lemon Tart is her first mystery and is part of a series of culinary mysteries. I know there are a lot of mystery series out there that include food and recipes and I've enjoyed them all. What I really like about this book is the heroine, Sadie Hoffmiller. She is a fifty-six year old widow, a little padded in the hips and doesn't always look perfect. She also is caring. generous, loves to cook and is the quintessential busybody. So when a neighbor is murdered, Sadie just can't stay out of the investigation. The results are often hilarious, sometimes sad, scary and unexpected. I really liked this book and the recipes look pretty good too. Unfortunately, I'm not much of a cook. Still I look forward to the next Sadie mystery.

Rating: 4.5

61. The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks

Challenges

Book Around the States

Tennessee

I guess it would be unrealistic to read a book from each state and not get one that deals with the Civil War. This is the story of Carrie McGavock and her attempts to make some sense from the battle that took place near her home. The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee is considered to be the bloodiest in history. 9600 men died within the space of five hours. It also created such a crushing blow for the Confederacy that the war ended at Appotomax just four months later. While the book includes details of that horrific battle, mostly it tells a fictionalized version of the hospital that was set up at Carrie's home and her efforts to take care of so many dying men. Two years after the war ended, she learns that a neighbor plans to plow up his field where fifteen hundred corpses are lightly buried. She gets permission, and with the help of many of the townspeople, the dead were dug up and reburied in a cemetery next to her house. Those are the facts. The rest of this pretty long book creates characters to suppose what could have happened to Carrie, her family, and some of those soldiers. I'm not sure if there is any basis for the relationship that develops between her and one of the amputees, but it seemed a little far-fetched to me. It was an interesting and very moving story, especially about the family who visits their son's grave many years later. Even so, I had a hard time getting through the whole thing. Hicks writing was beautiful and the historical was nicely blended into the fiction. I think I just had a hard time liking most of the characters including Carrie McGavock. Plus I'm not really a Civil War buff.

Rating: 3.75

60. If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern (Audio)

From the back cover: ~~"Everything in Elizabeth Egan's life has its place, from the espresso cups in her gleaming kitchen to the swatches and paint pots of her interior-design business. Order and precision keep life under control--and keep Elizabeth's heart safe from the pain and hurt she has suffered in the past. Being a reluctant mother to her six-year-old nephew while trying to keep her design business on tract is a full-time job for Elizabeth, and one that leaves little room for error--or fun. Until one day, when Ivan unexpectedly comes into their lives. The mysterious Ivan is carefree, spontaneous, and always looking for adventure--everything that Elizabeth is not. Yet just when Elizabeth is starting to trust him, it turns out that Ivan isn't at all who she thought he was. ~~Playful and at times intensely moving, this is a novel about how seeing isn't always believing. Full of Cecelia Ahern's trademark warmth and poignancy, If You Could See Me Now is a story of enormous heart--and just a little magic." ~~This book is a little bit romance, a little bit fantasy, with some psycho analysis thrown in. I'm not sure if I would have finished the book if I had read it. There was a point about half-way in the second disc that I became impatient with the somewhat heavy-handed messages that seemed imbedded into the story. I found Elizabeth to be humorless and mean-spirited and Ivan a bit fey. But I was on my way to Provo and I needed the book to keep me awake which it barely did. And I love the Irish accents of the two narrators. Plus I was quite concerned for the fate of Luke, the nephew, who seemed to be at the mercy of uncaring adults. Luckily, the book picks up and I began to enjoy it and to like Ivan and Elizabeth much better. I was kind of sorry to have it end. The ending itself was happy/sad which was perfect for this story. Because the audio was an abridgement, I wonder about the parts that were left out; but I can live with that. I recommend the audio with the male and female narrators and background music. I would gladly listened to more of Ahern's books--I may even read one. Rating: 4

59. Spanish Dagger by Susan Wittig Albert

I really thought that after reading these two books, I would be caught up with the whole China Bayles series; but I find there are five more I haven't read. Yay, something to look forward to. I usually get tired of a series after reading seven or eight and probably did with this one a couple of years ago. But I was ready to jump in again and have enjoyed the dip. In a few months, I'll look for some of those I've missed.

Again, this book begins with China planning a workshop with a friend, only this time they are making paper from native plants. But the real mystery revolves around the disappearance of Ruby's boyfriend. There are two murders in this book, and I figured out the murderer quite quickly. I must be getting into the author's rhythm. And even though Ruby and McQuaid, two characters I really like, play very little part in this book; I still enjoyed it a touch more than Indigo Dyeing. The pace was quicker and the Rottweiller is a fantastic character. As in all the Bayles books, Albert includes recipes using herbs and begins her chapters with usage, histories and myths involving various herbs. I recommended these books earlier as a great summer read, they are also fast reads. Sometimes that is just what you need.

Rating: 4.25

58. Indigo Dying by Susan Wittig Albert

I love the China Bayles mysteries. I have definitely not read these books in any kind of order, but it is still so easy to pick one up and get involved with China and her Texas friends. Each book also covers some craft or hobby that seems to fit into the mystery. This particular book, as you may imagine, begins with China and a friend planning a workshop to teach participants how to make dyes from native plants. The mystery itself was pretty easy for me to figure out, but I enjoyed the journey. First the town bully of an almost ghost town is killed by a booby-trap he created. Then a gorgeous journalist is found bludgeoned to death. Along with following China and her clairvoyant friend, Ruby, as they track down leads, Albert manages to throw in some environmental issues and lots of relationship twists. There are 18 books in this series now. If you can read them in order, do, because than you can follow how the relationship between China and McQuaid begins and develops. If, like me, you just grab one and get started; it's still okay. It's pretty easy to figure out what's going on. The books are great for a light summer mystery. Try to squeeze in two or three each year.

Rating: 4

57. The Lost German Slave Girl by John Bailey

Challenges

Book Around the States

Louisiana

I've put off reading this book because it didn't look very interesting to me. So I was pleasantly surprised with Bailey's telling of this true tale. He originally meant to write a treatise about slavery in the 1800's but found this story and knew he could incorporate his research into telling about Sally Miller. His facts are heartbreaking, unbelievable, and always thought-provoking. It's hard to understand the mentality that created and sustained slavery for so many years.

Sally Miller is believed by many to be a German girl who went missing at the age of five and was later found by other Germans when she was over thirty and a slave. The subsequent detective work and trial make up most of the story and it was pretty gripping stuff. I'm not sure I agree with Bailey's conclusions but it was still a great story and a sobering look at one of America's greatest shames.

Rating: 4.5

55. The Secret Life of Houdini by William Kalush and Larry Sloman - Audio

Harry Houdini was a fascinating man and this abridged audio of the book certainly makes him even more so. According to the authors, Houdini acted as a spy for the government before WWI and helped train American troops in the art of escape. It was interesting to learn how Houdini learned about locks which led him to train and develop muscle and breathing techniques that allowed him to survive while extricating himself from various predicaments. A great portion of the book deals with Harry's attempt to reach his mother on the other side. Because of his training in magic and sleight of hand, plus a stint of a medium early in his career, Harry was able to spot the tricks used by spiritualists of the day. He became an avid debunker of these frauds, costing him his friendship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who was a strong supporter of the Spiritualists movement. According to the authors, Harry continued to search for a true medium but was always disappointed. The book also suggests that Houdini's death from peritonitis caused by acute appendicitus was caused by foul means. Apparently it was his custom to allow men to hit him in the stomache. On the final occasion, a student hit him many times in the abdomen without giving his a chance to tighten the muscles. The mysterious student seemed to be in the pay of the angry spiritualists who were known to do away with their detractors. One of the most fascinating things about the book is how they explain many of Houdini's feats. He never claimed to be supernatural and always testifed that his act was always performed by natural means. Even so he was quite extraordinary. It was a fun book to listen to while traveling to Salt Lake this weekend. Rating: 4

54. Where Rivers Change Direction by Mark Spragg

Challenges

Book Around the States

Wyoming

Mark Spragg writes his memoirs of growing up on a dude ranch just east of Yellowstone National Park in the northwestern corner of Wyoming. You certainly get a feel for the ruggedness of this state while reading Spragg's book. His family bought the ranch when he was twelve and many of the chapters tell of the way he grew up learning to work really hard, his love for horses and nature, and his relationships with his brother, father and the cowboys who worked on the ranch. As for the guests who come to hunt, they are just background for some great stories. Some of the stories are fun, some are heartbreaking, but always beautifully told. So I really enjoyed this book until Spragg starts telling about his adult years. For a boy who seemed so well-adjusted and happy, he grew up to be pretty morose. Here he describes the ever-present wind of Wyoming which is enough to keep me from moving there. He says the state has the second highest incidence of suicide in the nation. I can understand that and maybe it explains why his adult chapters seems so depressing. The chapter where his mother is dying is so sad and hopeless. Spragg writes incredibly well, but I found the boyhood chapters so uplifting that the final few chapters were quite a let down.

Rating: 4.25

53. Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg

Challenges

Book Around the States - Missouri

First sentence: "After Elner Shimfissle accidentally poked that wasps' nest up in her fig tree, the last thing she remembered was thinking, "Uh-oh." " I chuckled right off the bat with this book and continued giggling through the first half. After that, it gets a little frantic and far-fetched. Elner is such an eccentric and fun character, that you fall in love with her just like everyone else in Elmwood Springs. Her niece, Norma, is high-strung and neurotic; but, just when you can't stand her, she does or says something to let you know that she is still a caring and giving person. When asked what she wanted readers to take from this book, the author said, "I'm hoping they will think of something I am trying to remember as well -- that the old cliché is true: life really is what you make it, and a lot is up to us. As Abraham Lincoln once said, 'People are about as happy as they make their minds to be' " Elner Shimfissle is one happy person and, through the events in this story, most of her friends and neighbors learn to be happier people as well.

Rating: 4

52. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

From the inside cover:

"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before -- and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love."

Well, all I can is Wow. I really loved this book. Even though I checked this out at the library, I am going to buy a copy for myself because I am sure to read it again. Katniss is such a fantastic character, so prickly and alone; but she discovers a caring side while competing against twenty-three other contestants. Collins descriptions are so in-depth and the action so compelling that I had a hard time putting the book down. Just when I thought things were winding down, she would throw in another twist. As I turned to the last page, still not sure how it would end, I was thrilled to see it wasn't ending. There's a sequel! I'm so glad to know this book lived up to the glowing reviews I have read. Add my recommendation to the list.

Rating: 5

Reading Meme

Thanks to Booklogged for finding me a fun meme. It's been such a long time since i've done one. Now I see she has another one on her blog but I'll have to think about that.

1. What author do you own the most books by? I'm too lazy to go count but I own a whole slew of Terry Pratchett, L. M. Montgomery and Dana Stabenow. Pretty eclectic, aren't I?

2. What book do you own the most copies of? I don't think I own more than one of any book. There have been a few times when I buy or mooch a book I already own. I just have to grit my teeth and mooch the extra off.

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? What are you talking about?

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with? Connor Larkin from Trinity by Leon Uris

5. What book have you read the most times in your life? When I was young, I read Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brinks 16 times. I've also read Anne of Green Gables quite a few times.

6. Favorite book as a ten year old? See my last answer

7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year? The Lesser Blessed by Richard Van Camp

8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year? Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver

9. If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be? The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

10. What book would you most like to see made into a movie? I just finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It would make a brilliant movie.

11. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read? The Brothers Karamazov.

12. What is your favorite book? I love so many books that are so different that I can't really pick one. So I'll list some: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, Anne of Green Gables By L M Montgomery, The Boxmaker's Son by Donald Smurthwaite, An Ocean of Air by Gabrielle Walker, Trinity by Leon Uris . . . I could go on and on.

13. Play? The Importance of Being Earnest

14. Poem? Wee Willie Winkie

15. Essay? No idea

16. Who is the most overrated writer alive today? Danielle Steele

17. What is your desert island book? I would die with just one book.

18. And . . . what are you reading right now? I just finished reading The Hunger Games (review will be posted shortly) and will be starting The Marble Faun by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Poor Hawthorne, The Hunger Games will be a hard book to follow.

51. Agent in Lace by Tristi Pinkston

Agent in Lace is Tristi Pinkston's new book and a departure from her usual historical novels. I've decided that it's my favorite. Definitely written for the LDS audience, I appreciate the way she includes LDS culture in the book without interpreting it, just assumes we know what she's talking about. Also, this book is pure entertainment, no overt attempts to hit you over the head with Mormon doctrine. It's just part of who these people are and that's the way I like my LDS fiction. There's not much mystery in the book, you know who the bad guy is right off the bat. The conflict revolves around whether Shannon and her FBI agent/bodyguard can stop him from killing her. Great suspense there. And the romance included was just right. Shannon and Rick, FBI guy, meet but there's no unnatural sparks or explosions. Their attraction builds slowly but in a way that would normally follow two people exisiting under dangerous conditions. I really like the characters. They are believable people. Not so good-looking and perfect that you hate them, but attractive, fun, sometimes klutzy, willing to laugh at themselves, caring of others. People you would like to know. Except Mark, of course, he's the bad guy. And Tristi includes just the right touch of humor. She really is funny. Just visit her blog (see sidebar) and read some of her posts. My only quibble is with the rate of return on those investments. I don't hear about too many people doubling their investment in six months and I work at a bank. I'll have to ask our consultant and see if he can hook me up with something. Anyway, very minor. I really enjoyed this book. It's a fun, quick read. Rating: 4.5

50. The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery

Challenges

Book Around the States - New Hampshire

Sy Montgomery has traveled extensively around the world to research her books about animals and the way humans interact with them. In this book, she tells about the adventures which occur at her own home in Hancock, New Hampshire when she and her husband become the proud parents of an emaciated piglet. The runt is named Christopher Hogwood (named after a British composer because pigs love classical music. . . who knew?) and, after surviving a precarious babyhood, he grows into a charming 750 hog. Along with sharing thirteen years of the antics of the sometimes greedy but always loveable pig; Montgomery also includes antecdotes from her own travels, her relationships with family and friends and satisfying tidbits and history of porkdom. I truly enjoyed the way she wove those into Chris' story. While I enjoyed the book and the glimpses into the lives of Montgomery and her neighbors, this probably isn't a story that will stay with me for a long time. Fun, interesting read even so.

Rating: 3.5