Killing Cassidy

Killing Cassidy: A Dorothy Martin Mystery by Jeanne M. Dams

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jeanne Dams books are always good. She has good characters and the plot is always interesting. None of them take too long to read and there isn't usually much gore either.

This book takes place in the town she grew up in and involves people that she and her first husband knew at the college where he was a professor. Dorothy and her British Inspector husband have come to Indiana when she receives a letter from the estate of an old friend from the college. He was a professor and microbiologist in his 90's and he felt that someone was trying to kill him. He left Dorothy a legacy and the money for a trip back to the US to investigate his death.

Dorothy and her husband are convinced that someone did manage to kill him and they try to investigate but they are hampered by not being able to tell anyone what they are doing. The list of suspects contains several old colleagues, former students and friends and until they eliminate them as suspects they can't let anyone know about the letter. Eventually, all of the subplots are nicely resolved and the culprit comes to a watery end.


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Flesh and Bone

Flesh and Bone: A Body Farm Novel by Jefferson Bass


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I felt that this book was better than the first one. I found it hard to put down even though I had a pretty good idea who the murderer was. It was a little harder to figure out who was framing Bill Brockton. The forensic details are a little gruesome, but the are handled pretty well.

This would be an excellent book if it wasn't for the diatribe against anyone who believes in creationism or intelligent design. I found it to be an intolerant and even bigoted. There are noted scientist who believe in intelligent design and to characterize anyone who doesn't believe what these authors believes as being delusional is uncalled for in a work of fiction. Actually, it is uncalled for in any venue. Unfortunately, this really spoiled the book for me. I, however, did not pitch the book in the trash unfinished...being more tolerant of someone who has a different opinion from mine than the authors.

I thought the characters were more developed, especially DeVries. The plot was pretty good if a little predictable. There were, however, several twists I didn't see coming.

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Rulers and Victims

Rulers and Victims: The Russians in the Soviet Union by Geoffrey Hosking

My review

6/13/09
This book is fascinating. For most of my life the terms USSR and Russia were synonymous, but I was totally wrong. First, the actual Russians are of Serb origin and were often quite different from the party leadership. I also figured that the Russian citizens were just like the US, but with Communist leaders. That's wrong also! We see ourselves as rugged individualist whereas the average Russian lived in a village which considered itself as a unit lead by village elders and responsible to group. When the Tzar or church levied taxes or recruited soldiers it was to the village as a whole. If one person ran off, the village still had to send the same amount of soldiers or pay the same amount of taxes. All their actions impacted the whole village, which resolved differences by agreement and not by a simple majority. Russians have always seen themselves as a part of a unit under some kind of authority. This gave me a whole different understanding of the use of communes.

I'm on page 103 and have already learned so much. The book is well written and pretty easy to follow, given the subject. So far, I am very pleased.
_____________________________________________________________
I'm on page 175 now and have been utterly fascinated with what I am learning about the Russian people. After the early days of the Revolution, the party leaders wanted a multi ethnic state which embraced the various traditions and languages of the many people who made up USSR. They built a policy which was like "affirmative action" for all the groups except the Russians, who were the majority. Ethnic areas would govern and teach in their native languages even though Russian had always been the language of government. However the populations were very mixed. Russians made up 35 to 45% of the population in all the various countries and a whopping 58.4% of Kazakhstan. Even in the Ukraine and Beloruss had large populations of ethnic Russians and yet the instruction and daily business was to be conducted in Ukrainian. This was very difficult as most of these language didn't have many of the terms that were needed to conduct business.

As with so many things, the idealistic plans of the reformers didn't take into consideration the impact on the country as a whole. People were driven out of their homes because they were of the wrong ethnic group or were considered "wealthy peasants" and left to fend for themselves. Skilled people turned into beggars or, if they were lucky, emigrated and soon there were not enough skilled people to keep the economy going and people were starving. What happened in the Ukraine was unimaginable. Eventually, they had to reverse the process and try to gather together what they had recently disbursed. Unfortunately, it couldn't be done. The Communists, who could bear no wrong, had to rewrite the history books so that the enemies were no longer enemies and old heroes were no longer heroes.

As I read this book, I am constantly thinking about the tendency of human beings to constantly look for simplistic solutions to complex problems. The Tzar had already made many reforms including freeing the peasants. Had there been no revolution, it is very possible that Russia would evolved into the kind of Monarchy we see in Great Britain and some of the other European countries. He was moving the country in a forward direction, but the Revolution happened and now the Russian Federation is trying to make up for 90 years of terrible decisions.

______________________________________________________________________________________
July 26, 2009

I've finished the book and found it to be fascinating all the way up to the end. I hope the author has written more about Russia. The last part dealt with the question of Russian history. A country without a history is shallow and the people are rootless. It's very important in sharing a common identity. The problem is how the events of the Revolution and Stalin are handled by history is very complex. Children must learn from textbooks, scholars must research and gain insight into their country. Everyday people need celebrations of a shared memory which bond them together.

On the other hand, a detailed study of the Communist excesses and the wholesale slaughter of so many Russians is not something the Communists want to have on display. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, people needed new celebrations and holidays. Celebrating Stalin's birthday was complicated, especially after many of the records of the government were opened. Memories, especially in the Ukraine were long and without force, people no longer wanted to celebrate such leaders.

After atheism was declared the state policy on religion, people often commemorated special events such as marriage at Lenin's tomb. Speeches were made there and reviewing stands for parades centered there. With communism in a shambles, there was a need for new people and things to celebrate.

I never thought about how necessary these celebrations and a shared history are in the life of a nation. I also never thought about how important a national personality and heritage were. These things are even necessary for members of the nation to protest against. I will never forget the burning of draft cards and flags during the 60's and burning a country's flags and presidents in effigy are still the number one methods of protest against a foreign government. All of these things point to a national identity.
What the country will do with the fallout from the past 100 years is a huge question with many ramifications.

Carved in Bone

Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'm still reading Rulers and Victims, but I find that I have to do a little lighter reading along with it. I liked this book pretty well. The characters kept my interest and I felt like the mountain dialect and customs were accurate for the region. Hopefully, some of these folks will turn up again.

I like forensic mysteries and this one taught me more about the human body that I didn't know. It is always amazing to see how the things that we do or happen to us leave imprints on our bodies. There were also enough subplots to keep the interest up and give a sense of time to the book.

Murder on the Trans Siberian Express

Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express: A Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov Novel by Stuart M. Kaminsky

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book. I have been reading books about Russia, or set in Russia and this gave me more insight as to how the average person lived under Communism and after the fall. The story threads are good, but once the Inspector is on the train, there is a little cloudiness as the various people converge. The author is able to draw fairly realistic characters for the most part, although some of the sub characters could have been made stronger. I would like to have know a lot more about the woman serial killer and her motivation. However, everything was neatly wrapped up without loose ends and the plot was brought to a satisfying conclusion. I'll definitely read another of his books.


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Love for Sale

Love for Sale by Jill Churchill


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is very light reading, but cute. I'm reading a heavy book about Russia, so this is a little relief. Grace and Favor is a mansion with strings attached. Robert and Lily were two rich young siblings at the time of Stock Market crash. Their wealthy father lost everything and killed himself. They were penniless when an uncle died and left them a mansion with a lot of strings. They have to stay there for 10 years, get jobs and give back to the town. They turn Grace and Favor into a boarding house with some interesting guests. The town just happens to have all sorts of crimes that connect somehow to the mansion. A friendly sheriff relies on help from Robert and Lily. In this case, a cheating radio preacher gets killed at the manor and there are all sorts of suspects. There are also some other things going around town, but all the strings are tied up neatly in the end.

There are some very promising characters in this book, but they need to be fleshed out more. I don't get a sense of the town either.

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A Midsummer Night's Scream

A Midsummer Night's Scream by Jill Churchill

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I think this is one of Jill Churchill's best. Shelly is trying to find a new caterer for Paul's business dinners and she has chosen a number of caterers to provide food for a theater group. Jane accompanies her to taste the food and help evaluate the companies. By the second day, a body turns up and there are a few candidates for the murder.

Along with the crime is the story of one of the stars of the play, and elderly actress who wants to take a needlepoint class with Jane and Shelly. She turns out to be a spunky and admirable character who provides some depth to the story. She has known Sylvia Sidney, actress, author and famed needle pointer. They all are fans of Sylvia's books, which I happen to also own. It was kind of interesting to want to chime in with my own opinions to add to the dialog of these three characters.

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The Accidental Florist

The Accidental Florist by Jill Churchill

My review

I was a little disappointed with the mystery part of this book. It was almost an afterthought and the reason for the murder was never given. Still, the main characters were delightful, as usual and the interaction with the odd characters was interesting. I think the characters in this series are better developed than Grace and Favor.


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The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

This is one of my favorite series. It has a comfortable, old-shoe feeling. I want to visit the characters just as I like to visit old friends.

#1
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love this book! I think I have read it 3 times. Every time a new one comes out, I go back and read them all again. I think that's because these books are not about plot, they are about relationships. Precious Ramotswe is a wonderful character and I would truly love to meet her. The books are beautifully written and remind me of Alan Patton's, Cry the Beloved Country. Both have captured the timelessness of Africa.

Precious Ramotswe solves problems for her clients, but the work of the agency is more like a vehicle to express the daily life and philosophy of an extraordinary woman. Her kindness and simple wisdom are a refreshing change from the hard-driving, iconoclastic female detectives that are so popular. I absolutely fell in love with her...even more so when I found some of the bush tea that makes up such a big part of her day. (It is actually delicious and I have been haunting the Internet to find more.) Do yourself a favor and sit down with a cup of tea and meet a new friend.

#2
Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith


rating: 5 of 5 stars
Again we meet Precious Ramotswe as her family begins to expand. Her friendship with Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni has become a trek towards marriage but before that can happen, her household is enlarged to 3 as she takes on the orphans Mr. Matekoni has been talked into rearing. Precious takes them in her stride and they prove to be charming and grateful adding a new dimension to the story.

Her secretary, who graduated with 97% at the Secretarial school has begun to take on detective duties and the contrast of personalities of all the characters becomes more marked. I feel like these are real people who have very little need to change or manipulate each other. In fact, this inclusiveness is one of the reasons these books feel so good. Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni has immature and almost worthless apprentices at his car repair shop and yet Smith doesn't just make them disappear. Mr. Matekoni struggles with his duties as a role model and teacher and you can feel his dispair at ever teaching them anything, but he continues to care about them and to try.

When I finish reading one of these books, I feel like I used to feel as a child playing with my dolls at the feet of my relatives when we all sat on the big back porch. As they chatted about the things that grown ups talk about, I felt a sense of security and peacefulness. At the end of this book, I felt like I had been visiting with a wise old friend. In fact, I even found some bush tea and now my friend and I sit together and drink tea every Saturday...I just realized that!

#3
Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith


rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reading these books is more like visiting with friends. If you are looking for action and plot, this will not really appeal to you, especially if you have read some of the others. These books are more of a slice of life.

This was one of my favorites because of the depression that overcomes Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. It comes over him so gradually and the people who love him are so concerned for him. I could almost feel myself becoming concerned for him also. Since I suffer from depression from time to time (not just the blues) I found the characterization very good. It's hard to portray how abnormal a person's thinking becomes and Smith does a great job. It's easy to stand on the outside and tell the depressed person to get out and visit friends, but the sick person feels that no one would like to be around him and that he is a burden to his friends; he thinks they would all sigh with relief if he got out of their lives.

And that brings up another thing I like about these books. The people are not perfect. They are a combination of the good and the bad and they all struggle to get along in the best way possible. They don't just walk away from each other either.


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#4
The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith


rating: 5 of 5 stars
In this book, Mma Makutsi, is becoming a better defined character. She is always looking for a way to use her training at secretarial school and her extraordinary 97% score. She decides that men need to know how to type in this computer age and thinks that they are reluctant to study with females in their class because they have come lately to a skill that has been associated with women in the past. She begins her school and is delighted to find that it is very successful.

There's a new detective agency in town and Mma Patience Ramotswe meets her new competition with poise and grace and triumphs because of her compassionate in insightful nature. Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni seems reluctant to set a date for the wedding after his depression and that is of some concern, but it all works out in the end.

This book, like the rest, is not about the crime solving. Most of the problems are typical, but not necessarily easily solved. They are mainly used as a vehicle to participate in the characters lives. Again and again loyal readers come back to check on our friends lives and enjoy visiting and drinking bush tea.

#5
The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith


rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first of these books that I listened to on a CD and I highly recommend it. I've loved the series from the beginning, but hearing the book read with the right pronunciation and the gently flowing voice of the reader makes them even better.

Again, this book is not about the mystery or the plot. It is a slice of the life of Mma Precious Ramotswe and the people who surround her. The book is filled with bits of philosophy and down to earth wisdom. Each of the characters is more developed, but none as much as Mma Potokwane, director of the large orphanage. Botswana has the highest percentage of AIDS/HIV cases in Africa, or in the world. Vast numbers of children are left orphans and while this book does not devote a lot of time to the problem, it is an ever present reality. Mma Potokwane is a large overbearing woman of great heart and soul. She loves her orphans and has had to beg, borrow and steal to get their needs met. She takes advantage of Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni terribly, but with the best intentions. He has repaired just about anything that has an engine and a lot more besides. Still, she genuinely loves, Mr. Matekoni and is willing to mastermind the long awaited wedding with Mma Ramotswe.

#6
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith


rating: 5 of 5 stars
Since so many people are writing reviews about these wonderful books and discussing the plot, I think I will talk about Africa and especially the way Mma Ramotswe feels about her home and her people. Reading these books has given me the same feeling I got from the beginning of Out of Africa and Cry, the Beloved Country. There is such a deep love of the land in these characters and I find myself wanting to be there with them. I also find myself remembering how I felt in the days of my childhood. There seemed no better place to be. Life was filled with troubles, but there was always the land and free and easy friendships to help me along. I think that may be what we all are relating to, or at least it is to me.

I also am reminded of a time in our lives where we were not so mobile and people lived in areas where we weren't homogenized. We had to learn to not only get along with some of the more unique and prickly members of our community, but often come to value them. I feel like my life was made much richer by relating to a local alcoholic who got saved at least twice a year, or the man who named all his sons after himself and called them each by nicknames to keep them straight. (I'm not kidding. There were four and they all had the same names.) We visited with people of varying ages and classes and our lives were made richer in a way that watching television in the evening never could. Maybe that is why these books appeal. I'm tired of Hollywood's two dimensional characters and long for what Mma Precious Ramotswe has.

#7
Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith


rating: 5 of 5 stars
There are so many great reviews of these books that it is hard to not be repetitive. This book was one of my favorites because of Mma Makutsi and her "blue shoes." Like so much else in Smith's books, the shoes are a vehicle for philosophy. There is a contrast between Mma Ramotswe's contented life and Mma Makutsi's need driven one. Mma Ramotswe sits under trees and looks at the land with such contentment and joy. She doesn't escape from her problems, but she does let the land put them into perspective. When I am reading these books, I am reminded to step back and thank God for all my blessings. I want to follow her example and live my life consciously instead of piling up task after task, goal after goal. Mma Makutsi, however, is always looking for new shoes that make her feel stylish and different from her usual self.

Here's a great example. I am a retired teacher and librarian. I homeschool my grandchildren, but it is now summer and I don't even have lesson plans to do. For the last four hours I have explored Goodreads and written reviews of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books trying to understand what they have taught me and why I like them. Still there is a little gremlin in my head telling me to stop indulging myself and get up and do some real work...like cleaning. Now, my house is just fine. There are things out of place, but there are no roaches, no visible dirt piles or much dust on furniture. Why would I feel that it was just play to stop and think about all the things I have learned from these books and to put them into words? Why would I feel that it is more valuable to sweep this almost clean floor, chase a bit of dust, and get rid of some clutter? I think that is what I like about Mma Ramotswe. She reminds me of what is important...and Mma Makutsi takes a giant step in realizing that in this book.

#8
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith


rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a little different from the previous ones and I think I felt a little threatened when Mma Mkutsi left the agency. I could almost hear myself saying, "Oh, no, this is my island of security! This is the wonderful, enduring, changeless land in Botswana that speaks to me through the old friends of this book. I don't want anyone to go away! Even Charlie is necessary. Don't change what's working!!!"

But then, even change is necessary to pique the interest and create tension. I have to tell you that I was very relieved when the problems were resolved and everyone got back in their places. I missed hearing more about Phuti Radiphuti and I expect that Smith will have to add another book to round out that character.

I have come to love Botswana as seen through the eyes of Mma Ramotswe. Here love of her country, the endless land, the wide big skies, the cattle and the simple needs of its people. I know things are changing and there are horrible problems with AIDS/HIV, but they are all played out on a background of the enduring land that Smith has managed to reproduce for us.


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Who's Sorry Now?

Who's Sorry Now? by Jill Churchill


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This time the mystery centers on a German/American who seems to be targeted for some hate crimes. Robert and Lily are involved along with their good friend, the young Sheriff. Suddenly an out of luck railroad worker is killed just when Robert has gotten him a job sorting mail. There doesn't seem to be anyone around who would wish to do him harm. Eventually, after meeting a number of new characters, the murder is solved.

There are all these young marriageable characters, but none of them seem to be pairing off. We keep getting hints that some of these folks care for each other, but from book to book, there doesn't seem to be much progression. There are a lot of quirky characters who could be developed more, but at this point, they are still too lightly drawn. I hope the author can flesh them out more in later books.

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Grace and Favor: Love for Sale

Love for Sale by Jill Churchill

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is very light reading, but cute. I'm reading a heavy book about Russia, so this is a little relief. Grace and Favor is a mansion with strings attached. Robert and Lily were two rich young siblings at the time of Stock Market crash. Their wealthy father lost everything and killed himself. They were penniless when an uncle died and left them a mansion with a lot of strings. They have to stay there for 10 years, get jobs and give back to the town. They turn Grace and Favor into a boarding house with some interesting guests. The town just happens to have all sorts of crimes that connect somehow to the mansion. A friendly sheriff relies on help from Robert and Lily. In this case, a cheating radio preacher gets killed at the manor and there are all sorts of suspects. There are also some other things going around town, but all the strings are tied up neatly in the end.

There are some very promising characters in this book, but they need to be fleshed out more. I'd love to see some of them come back again in future books.


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Who's Sorry Now? by Jill Churchill

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This time the mystery centers on a German/American who seems to be targeted for some hate crimes. Robert and Lily are involved along with their good friend, the young Sheriff. Suddenly an out of luck railroad worker is killed just when Robert has gotten him a job sorting mail. There doesn't seem to be anyone around who would wish to do him harm. Eventually, after meeting a number of new characters, the murder is solved.

There are all these young marriageable characters, but none of them seem to be pairing off. We keep getting hints that some of these folks care for each other, but from book to book, there doesn't seem to be much progression. There are a lot of quirky characters who could be developed more, but at this point, they are still too lightly drawn. I hope the author can flesh them out more in later books.

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In the Still of the Night by Jill Churchill

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Robert and Lily have a great idea for earning some money. They've invited a special guest to Grace and Favor, a reclusive author, and then invited paying guests who wish to attend his lectures, share meals with him and, in general, get to know him better. This book was filled with interesting characters and plot twists and turns. I'd say this is the best of Jill Churchill's that I have read. The characters are better drawn and more interesting. Lily's idea for the " resident author" weekend seemed great to me. I'd love to spend a weekend with some of my favorite authors in a relaxed setting like Grace and Favor!

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Going back in time: The Shoes of the Fisherman, The Clowns of God, Harlequin

I have been going over the lists in "Goodreads" and have found some great books I read long ago. Some of the better ones I am going to post here even though I haven't read them in a long time. They are books that made a big impression on me and in many ways guided my thinking. Maybe I'll find time to read them again.

The Shoes of the Fisherman by Morris West

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Pope is also the Vicar of Rome and this pope goes into the city disguised as a simple priest to see his "parishioners." What he finds are problems not solved easily, especially ones that deal with babies being born with severe birth defects due to a medicine for morning sickness. West doesn't let the characters get by with an easy solution.


The Clowns of God by Morris West

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is another great book by Morris West. Jesus has come as Redeemer in the modern age. One of the things that I will always remember is the incident that gives the book it's name. The "clowns of God" are children who are mentally or physically handicapped. The French have given them that name and feel that these children are especially close to God's heart. Jesus pulls one of the children towards him and tells his followers that he knows that they want a sign that he is really the Messiah and they want him to miraculously heal the small group of children in the nun's care.

He tells his followers that they need these children to complete their humanity. I won't spoil the rest by telling what he said, but it has stayed with me all these years.

Harlequin by Morris West

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is another Morris West that I'd like to read again. West poses some difficult moral dilemmas and doesn't let the reader opt for an easy answer.


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In the Still of the Night

In the Still of the Night by Jill Churchill


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Robert and Lily have a great idea for earning some money. They've invited a special guest to Grace and Favor, a reclusive author, and then invited paying guests who wish to attend his lectures, share meals with him and, in general, get to know him better. This book was filled with interesting characters and plot twists and turns. I'd say this is the best of Jill Churchill's that I have read. The characters are better drawn and more interesting. Lily's idea for the " resident author" weekend seemed great to me. I'd love to spend a weekend with some of my favorite authors in a relaxed setting like Grace and Favor!

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Black Earth City - When Russia Ran Wild

Black Earth City: When Russia Ran Wild by Charlotte Hobson

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fascinating book! The author was a college student from England who was in college in Voronezh during the tumultuous year which saw the break up of the USSR. Life there was changing daily and 70 years of anger and repression boiled up and was expressed in a chaotic existence. She showed what was happening in the lives of families and students who lived in a hostel/apartment as they tried to cope with the enormous changes in their lives.

The book is filled with raw emotion and pain. I felt very discouraged when I was reading it, but it was very compelling. It is well written and the author's style draws you in until you feel the despair of the people who are struggling as if they were drowning. At times, I felt overwhelmed with the obstacles with which these people are dealing.


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Agatha Raisin and the Curious Curate

Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate by M.C. Beaton

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another easy read. You have to just love prickly nosy Agatha. I've been reading heavy books about Russia and Africa the last 2 weeks and I just had to take a break with Agatha. In this book, there is a delicious curate who seems to take the hearts of all the ladies of Carsley, but when he turns up dead, Agatha, sans James, just has to find out why.


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The House of the Seven Mabels

The House of Seven Mabels by Jill Churchill

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great little mystery if you are looking for an easy read. It won't set the world on fire, but it's a great way to pass an evening.


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Rasputin's Daughter

Rasputin's Daughter by Robert Alexander

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Rasputin was such a quixotic individual and it's hard to sift through the historical record and get a clear picture. I found that this book fleshed out a lot of the known traits and activities of this enigmatic man in a way that made the contradictions more understandable. I also thought the author did a good job in relating the story from Marie's point of view. I came away from the book feeling like I was trying to accept all the contradictions in his life just as she had to. I also learned something that I either forgot, or never knew and that was that the Russian people did not know that Alexei was a hemophiliac. This was absolutely crucial to the decision to have Rasputin killed. Without this all important reason, it seemed to the aristocracy and the public that Rasputin was treating the Empress as a lover and that he had tremendous influence over public policy.


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The Bone Garden

The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Julia Hamill has bought her first home and finds a very ancient skeleton buried in the yard. Through a series of old letters and clippings from 1830 begins to uncover the story of the woman who was buried there. Letters from Oliver Weldell Holmes, Sr. give a picture of the Boston Medical College and his classmates, one of whom touches the life of the woman buried in Julia's yard. This is also the story of the plight of the Irish, especially young Irish girls who are eking out a living.

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Good Reads

I have discovered this wonderful website called "Good Reads." It is just what I have been looking for...a place to store a list of all the books I've read and a suggestion service for more books about the same subject. I'm like a kid in a candy store.

http://www.goodreads.com/

Give it a try!

The Romanov Prophecy: a Novel by Steve Berry

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent book! There is a lot of current and historical information in it. There is also a lot of suspense and action even though the ending is a little predictable. I would recommend it to anyone for a great read.






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Death of Glutton

Death of a Glutton by M.C. Beaton


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Hamish Macbeth again finds an unpleasant person to get murdered in his village. This time it is a truly obnoxious woman, who is a glutton in everything...food, people, spite, and bad manners. She is truly horrible! When she finally ends up getting killed, the reader is not surprised. The problem is that there are so many people who hated her and had motive to kill her, that separating the sheep from the goats is hard work for Hamish.

I liked this one better than most of them. There is something in seeing a truly frightful person get her comeuppance that is a great reading pleasure. We've all been taught not to gloat over a person's punishment, so the delight we feel in a book is a double pleasure...we don't even have to see the other person's side of the problem because he or she is not real. It's OK to hate characters in a book and this book provides a doozy.

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The Spy Who Came for Christmas

The Spy Who Came For Christmas by David Morrell

My review

This is a quick and easy mystery. The plot hinges on a baby who is to be the "Peace Baby," and has been stolen by a spy. The plot is a little thin, but it is great for pick-me-up reading.


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Switching to Russia: Russka: The Novel of Russia

Russka: The Novel of Russia by Edward Rutherfurd

My review

I've finished reading about Africa for a while and am switching to Russia. I plan to spend this summer reading about those two countries so I can plan history classes for next year's homeschool. I figure that our kids will need to know a lot about those two counties in the coming years and fortunately, in homeschool, I can change the curriculum to meet current needs.

This book is a great one if you want to understand the various ethnic groups that were gathered together to form the USSR. It is easy to see why these groups of people may not always get along. Edward Rutherfurd has done a thorough job in describing the various people and their folkways.

The English Patient

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this. The four people who end up at a villa which was being used as a field hospital in the closing days of WWII are unique and well drawn. The only weakness, I felt, was the reaction of the Sheik in the end. I felt that he should have stayed around longer and explored his new feelings. Other than that, it was a great book.


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The Darwin Conspiracy

The Darwin Conspiracy by John Darnton


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very interesting take on the question of Darwin's daughter and the letters Darwin left behind. I guess I thought Darwin's voyage was more of a fact finding expedition based on a well thought out theory. Instead it was embroiled with controversy before and after Darwin's famous theories. While a lot of this is speculation and fantasy, it does pose some interesting questions and sets Darwin's theories in context. Darwin was a plant collector who was looking for new sources for plants when he discovered this area untouched by humanity. The book doesn't actually deal that much with the actual theories, but more of Darwin's personal life and conclusions.

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Marjorie Morningstar

Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this in college and it had a great impact on my life. I decided to re-read it to see how I felt about it. What a pleasure! I could easily see why I related to it. Marjorie was trying to break free from here Jewish family constraints and pick a new pattern for her life. I had so many flashbacks when reading this! This is one of those really good books that is not depressing. It was fun watching Marjorie understand just what she wanted in her life and then enjoying her final decisions.


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Child 44

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was spellbinding, even better because it is based on a true story. Besides the mystery, this book is a window on Soviet life during the time of Stalin. It is hard to imagine how people's view of the world differs from that in a free country. I'd recommend this to everyone.

The story is based on the life of ANDREI CHIKATILO who was supposed to have killed over 52 children and young women. The events that led to his disturbed mind are not proved, but they were based on known facts. What is more fascinating is the detective who can't let this mystery go and the penalty he has to pay for discovering the murders in a Communist society that claims to have no crime because the "comrades" are all happy!

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The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book does not take very long to read, but it will stay with you for a lifetime. Without being a spoiler, I think I have to say that it is the quest that is the object and not the jewel. It is a beautiful book and one worth reading again.


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Eragon (Inheritance, #1)

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this book with my grandson who was 12 when we read it. The plot doesn't have much originality for an adult, but I think that kids will get enough pleasure out of it. There are enough adventures in it to hold kids interest without dragging the adventures out for too long.


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The Way of All Flesh

The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've read this book at least 5 times and I always come back to it. It has seemed to have something unique to say to me no matter what age I am when I read it. I first read it in my Freshman year of college and there were very few of us who really liked it. I couldn't understand why at the time, but I think I do now.



The book is very introspective and if you are looking for some kind of action or plot, this isn't the book for you. The main action takes place in the character's minds. Butler takes his main character and gives him an upbringing that is deplorable and then uses the rest of the book showing how Ernest works through the hand life has dealt him. I found some profound statements on the process of education and the effect on the young...things that are just as present today as in the 1700's.



This book is a wonderful book to take on a vacation when you have time to sit and ponder on Butler's ideas and relate them to your own life. I've read this at just about every major stage of life and learned something different each time.


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Books I've read recently

I have gotten into some fantastic books lately and I just have to pass them on. I heard about some of them in a podcast from the BBC book program. The topic was fiction book that recreated history in an accurate way. Using the Internet and the following books, I was able to fill in some gaps in my knowledge of world history in a very entertaining way.


The Catastrophist by Ronan Bennett is set in the Belgian Congo in the early 1960's. The plot centers on two writers who are caught up in the rise and fall of the charismatic leader, Patrice Lamumba. I remember the headlines vaguely, but was never able to set the memories in a clear context. The story focuses on a writer, James, and his Italian correspondent lover, Inez. While the book focuses on the relationship between these two, the awful history of that era unfolds with a nice balance.

Another book recommended was My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young.


This was set in Holland and Germany during WWII and is about the Lebensborn program conceived by Heinrich Himmler. The purpose of these camps was to birth and rear Aryan babies for the Fuhrer. Cyrla is half Jewish and she takes the place of her Aryan looking pregnant cousin in one of the camps. The book is well written and compelling and deals with a subject that is little known.

Next I found Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie which takes place in Nigeria and concerns the break-away state of Biafra. The story is told through the eyes of 13 year old houseboy, Ugwu. I remember seeing the starving children in Biafra and I sent some money, more than I could afford, for their relief, but never really understood the politics of their suffering. This book shows the reader the conflict from various people's viewpoint and I felt gave a good synopsis of the conflict. As with the other two books, this was very well written.

Dolphin Song

Dolphin Song by Lauren St. John


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a sequel to The White Giraffe and is also very good. Martine and her school class go on an ocean trip to watch the spectacular sardine run, but they are washed off the boat into shark infested waters and are saved by a pod of dolphins. They make it to a deserted island and have to learn to care for themselves and the dolphins. This is a great kids book with enough information to have adult appeal.

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The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel

The Lady Elizabeth: A Novel by Alison Weir


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is excellent! While it is fiction based on rumors Alison Weir's knowledge of the life of Elizabeth I allows the surrounding details of the story to support the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

There is a tremendous amount of background information on the life of the aristocracy during the period. What I was most impressed with and intrigued by was the extreme risk being a noble, or even a princess could be. There was such an undercurrent of suspicion and treachery and it made me think that their lot was hardly better than the middle class...if in fact, as good.

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The Poisonwood Bible

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Nathan Price drags his wife and four daughters to the Congo to preach to the natives. Unfortunately, he fits the 'worst of the missionaries' list hands down. He doesn't know how to relate to his family, much less natives. The story concerns the effect this move has on his wife and daughters. Each responds to the Congo in a different way. Two of the daughters stay in Africa and their personalities couldn't be more different.

I felt like Africa was a crucible for the family and each responded in a different way, showing what they were made of. As I try to write this review, I also find myself thinking of and old grindstone wheel that my grandfather had. The grindstone of Africa peels away layer after layer in the family and reveals the metal underneath.


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The White Giraffe

The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It touched off a passel of books about Africa and some internet research on white Giraffes. I found the whole subject very compelling. Martine’s parents are killed in a fire on her 11th birthday and she comes to live with her grandmother whom she does not know. There is so much mystery surrounding the relationship between Martine and her grandmother and between Martine's mother and her own mother. Martine makes friends with a white giraffe on the game preserve and manages to learn to ride it. (There is a video clip on YouTube of a man trying to ride a giraffe, but he only stays on for a few seconds. It looks almost impossible to me!) Martine forges ahead and finally finds out what her grandmother was afraid of as the story unfolds.

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Another Queen

Lately I have been reading about queens and The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran fit right in.

It is the story of the Princess Nefertari's princess's rise to power. Nefertari, was the niece of the famed heretic queen Nefertiti, became part of the court of Pharaoh Seti I after her family was deposed. She was highly intelligent and competitive with the young prince who was to become Ramesses II. It is a wonderful story of a highly intelligent young orphan whose friendship with Ramesses II leads them to the golden age of Egypt.

The book is well written and engaging. I found myself following along with the Internet to gain a deeper understanding of this remarkable young woman.

A Great Read!

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

This book was a real surprise to me. I wanted to read about a little know part of America's WWII experience, and expected a book that tore at my heartstrings like The Diary of Ann Frank What I didn't expect was a book that was truly "bittersweet." This is the story of a Chinese American boy, Henry, who fell in love with a Japanese American girl, Keiko, in WWII Seattle. They met at an exclusive private school to which they were both sent in an attempt by their parents to further Americanize them. Neither of them fit in and thus began the story a first love which never died despite her internment in a Japanese war camp.

The story is masterfully told by Jamie Ford and left me in tears. I felt like I knew these two people intimately and grew to love them. I have read that the Depression brought families and communities together in a way that prosperity never could. I think that is what sets this book apart. During the rough times during the war, people found a way to be happy and despite what happened to them, they were able to rise above it.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've read this several times over the years and always get something new out of it. Murphy, a conman and petty criminal, pretends to be mentally ill to get out of going to prison. He turns the ward upside down but is in a battle of wills with the control freak "big nurse." This time reading it, I found that there is a lot of me in both main characters. At times I am the iconoclast and at other times I am control freak. It interesting to me that I have never seen myself in the nurse before...hmmm... could I be learning something over the years?

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