The Diaries of Adam & Eve translated by Mark Twain and edited by Don Roberts

This morning at church, my friend Donna handed me this book. She had been looking for it for a long time, and had found it in a used bookstore. She was loaning it to me, because she thought I would enjoy it. She showed me how to read it, to be sure I noted that at the top of each page, it told you if it was Adam or Eve speaking. She thought it was funny and showed Twain's love of his wife. She particularly liked the ending. I asked if I could keep it awhile, because it might take some time to get to it. That was fine with her.

Well, I opened this afternoon and couldn't put it down! So clever, so witty, so true, and also sweetly poignant. I finished it in almost no time. It's just a little over a hundred pages long, and the illustrations (by Michael Mojher) are intriguing and beautiful.

I love how Twain's take on masculinity and femininity are played out in the dialogue between Adam and Eve. Adam's mostly clueless, and Eve is a talker. Yet there's a fresh innocence about them both and a truthfulness about their situation that is beguiling and not far removed from scriptural truth.

The editor, Don Roberts, took Twain's separate works on Adam and Eve and combined them into this narrative that is so charming and effective because of the way their views are juxtaposed. Apparently, Twain wanted them to be published together, even though he didn't get to it in his lifetime. The love between Adam and Eve develops and matures and is uplifting to observe. It apparently mirrors Twain's own love of his wife, Livvy. A very sweet read!

Origin by Dan Brown

This is my second Dan Brown book, and this one was similar in some ways to the other one. Same urgency in the story, compressed into 24 hours of peril and chasing and interesting settings. A little redundant in that way. Very predictable characters. Why did I read another one of these?!

Yet...this one had an interesting premise. Set in Barcelona and other parts of Spain, a rich scientist whose goal in life is to eradicate religion, is set on unleashing a new discovery that will discredit all faith in God. He is able to spontaneously generate life form in a test tube from basic elements, proving that life can spring from nothing. That part wasn't particularly intriguing. What WAS intriguing, though, was his prediction about what comes next. This was fascinating.

Our next iteration as humans is that we integrate ourselves with technology and evolve into "singularity" -- that moment when synthetic intelligence trumps human intelligence. It's artificial intelligence on steroids. It turns out that the mastermind behind a complex set of murders and malevolence is a supercomputer known as "Winston." As the story unfolds, his devious plan becomes chilling, because he doesn't view it as wrong. An interesting premise... The very technology that will help us solve complex problems like drinking water and global warming can also make us amoral. It's an interesting twist near the end of the book.

Religious people and "creationists" are thrown into the same unintelligent bag, and that's annoying. There doesn't seem to be room for people of faith to be thinkers... Although one of the main characters, Professor Langdon seems to straddle the faith conundrum artfully in an explanation of the difference between patterns and code. Patterns occur in nature and do not convey meaning. Code, like language conveys meaning. He cites DNA as an example of something organic in nature that ALSO has meaning, and therefore may have an intelligent creator. So...that was an interesting distinction.

Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis - A Simple Developmental Map by Thomas Wirthlin McConkie

This title is rather off-putting. I probably would have never bought this book if I hadn't heard the author interviewed by Jody Moore, a life coach. She interviewed him on her free podcast, "Better Than Happy" and he was fascinating to listen to. His basic premise is that adults continue to develop along a trajectory in a similar way that children do. Yet in our culture, we often consider adults as a group as "done," developmentally. And this book relates a lot of adult developmental research to adults who are religious and at times become questioners or strugglers in their faith journey. He calls this absolutely normal and gives a framework for development that is reasonable and reassuring.

McConkie himself left the LDS church for twenty years before returning with a new perspective. He has a wide view of the world and beyond that is very appealing to me and very inclusive. He chooses words carefully and respectfully. Here are some quotes that particularly resonated with me...

Page 15 - "We might redraw the cultural maps of Mormonism proper in order to allow different kinds of faith to flourish."

Page 33 - "A central premise in the study of adult development is that meaning making is an essential function of all human beings. The patterns we draw on to make meaning evolve over time in sequential and hierarchical unfolding. Put simply, meaning develops through stages."

Page 108 - "If properly recognized and assimilated, doubt can become an indispensable nutrient for a more robust faith."

Page 124 - "With an understanding that each stage of development comes with its strengths and challenges, its healthy and unhealthy manifestations, church leaders have an opportunity to recognize and reinforce the healthy aspects."

He names the 5 stages of Adult Development; from "highest" to "lowest" in this way:

• Strategist - essence: integrate
• Individualist - essence: include
• Achiever - essence: choose
• Expert - essence: defend
• Diplomat - essence: obey

We do not develop through all stages; they are not linear.  He writes a chapter describing the strengths and challenges of each stage. He also relates each stage to what he calls the "faith-doubt polarity" which is an intriguing way to think about each stage's manifestation of questioning. A fascinating way to organize complex information.

He cautions: (page 142) - "The names for the stages, the categories, the whole theory--it's all just a map. It's distinct from the actual landscape--from who we are. And yet a good map can help us get where we're going. We need good maps."

I find this all reassuring. I feel validated that my view is sometimes large and sometimes small...And that my tension in some situations where members' word choices reflect very narrow thinking is entirely normal. I don't need to judge, just reassure myself that there is room for all. As McConkie puts it: "It's beautiful to me that any stage can serve as a healthy and vibrant station." page 146

He writes on page 148: "...a faith crisis may simply be a developmental shift unrecognized, unsupported."

And I love this, from 149 -- "Development shows us that establishing Zion isn't simply a matter of converting others to our way of seeing so much as more deeply converting ourselves to seeing more of the Whole." WOW! Just wow. My kind of thinking and believing.

Winston Willyums and the Whimsical Windup Watch by Lee Gangles and illustrated by Christy C. Robinson

So this is Jeff Hoffman's second book, and the illustrations are just delightful! Our friend Christy did a professional job on these!

And I like this book better than Ferbert (see previous post). It's less redundant and keeps moving and is shorter and to the point. I like the relationship between the grandson and the "geezer" grandfather and friends in the Geezers' Home. It's also a great reminder for adults about how kids might misunderstand or not understand all the words we use with them...

One big flaw for me was using "your" for "you're" not once, but TWICE in this short book. AAAACCHHH! It you're going to win teachers over, you'd better get better editing/proofing going. The principal/principle debate that goes on in the text is handled pretty well, and I can see teachers using that discussion for good.

The bully, the unkind teacher, the principal are all stereotypes but maybe good springboards for discussion. I notice on his website that Hoffman offers teachers the text digitally so they can do read-alouds, etc., for FREE! That's impressive! I think it's an enjoyable read, and better than a lot of the stuff out there. I didn't really LOVE it, though. Clever tricks with the watch as a plot device for changing people...

The real delight though, is the illustrations that Christy drew. They are clever and really enhance the story. Well done here. I'm giving this to the boys along with the other book. I think it's cool for them to read books when they know the author and illustrator.

Ferbert Flembuzzie's Most Exotic Zoo by Lee Gangles

Lee Gangles is a pseudonym for our friend, Jeffrey Hoffman (and his wife, Amber), who are members of our Black Hills ward in Rapid. I saw their posts and excitement about his second book, (next on my list), so I thought I would support him by buying and reading this one. Another friend, Amber Hansen (Mt. Rushmore ward whom I've hiked with) illustrated the cover of this book.

It is an enjoyable, kid-friendly read. Lots of good names and fun fantasy. I was hoping for better than "good" because Jeff is a very bright lawyer. He touches on some interesting themes as Sophia, the main character in the story, deals with big problems of exclusion and even abuse at school. How people react differently to her after sensing something about her, after she's interacted with the magical animals in her father's zoo. It didn't quite all come together for me, though, in the way, say, Chronicles of Narnia does. Although there are some sweet hints about unconditional love, etc.

It's also a little long. The animals get a little tiring to hear about; although maybe kids would enjoy the funny names and magical things they do. I do admire the imagination it took to dream them up. And I liked the scene of father and daughter sitting in their tree when they read and talked...


A good first attempt, for sure! And I think the little boys will enjoy it when I pass it on to them...

Thirst - 2600 Miles to Home by Heather "Anish" Anderson

This hiking book is a good one. Well-written, introspective, with poetic descriptions of the Pacific Crest Trail. Anish is a strong woman who has felt "average" or "less than" her whole life. In hiking, she has found contentment in being exactly who she is. As she fights her mind demons, she gradually learns to overcome her fears and accept herself in a beautiful way. I wonder about her inability to lead a "normal" life, but in choosing what she has (life on the trail), she does so with integrity and grit and honesty.

This book goes back and forth somewhat from this present hike where she set out to set a record of hiking it faster than anyone before, and her previous hikes. The contrast between her earlier hikes and this one informs the reader in an interesting way. There is no time for much socializing because Anish is so driven to beat the time record in hiking this trail from Mexico to Canada. The descriptions of the scenery are beautiful, but fleeting as she traverses so quickly up the trail. There's still plenty of time to ponder what her brain is doing, though, and that makes for an interesting story We read about her ultra-marathoning, her amazing athleticism, and her apparent inability to believe that she herself is an athlete. Overcoming her overweight adolescence and early adulthood is an interesting journey that she chronicles well.

She doesn't dwell on her marriage or divorce much beyond the fact that it was an amicable divorce and she meeets her ex on the trail and has a positive encounter. I loved the story of when the fastest known hike record holder, Scott Williamson, found her on the trail and treated her to some organic groceries and wished her luck on her quest. It was also interesting to learn about people following her hike on Facebook and begin to call her "Ghost" and occasionally find and talk to her. These celebrity hikers are interesting to me.

I also became more motivated than ever to hike this summer and fall and beyond! The John Muir Trail overlaps with part of the PCT, and I would love to hike that! A cool learning curve for me! Not as a through-hiker, but as a day hiker, and perhaps with a grandkid or two! Here are some descriptions I highlighted as I read:

Page 51 - These thru-hikers often begin the trail solo, but most find that what they thought would be a lonesome human vs. wilderness experience becomes a chain of shared human connectedness.

Page 101 - Instead I continued on because of my stubbornness, yes, but also to allow scars to form when I wrestled with grief, memories, loss, and destiny on a sliver of trail in the moonlight. I was opening myself to true healing by finally dealing with my wounds. Sometimes all I had to do was acknowledge my own stubbornness. Others I had to rip off old scabs and let new ones form into thicker, beautiful scars.

Page 122- Encounter with Scott Williamson

See also September 2023 for my reread...

1st to Die by James Patterson

Robin, a woman we play pickleball with here in Bismarck, mentioned she was reading this series and that she really enjoyed it. She's a fun person, intelligent, and so I thought I would take a chance that maybe our tastes would be similar. I have read James Patterson before and found him ho-hum, but since this first novel in the "Women's Murder Club" series is set in the Bay Area, I though it might be really fun to read.

I have to say it was a real page turner! Patterson is great at short chapters that end in a way that makes you HAVE to begin the next one... Very enjoyable that way. However, the characters were disappointingly superficial, although likable. There was much to admire in the positive characters and nothing to admire in the perpetrator. Kind of predictable that way. And the settings, the streets and neighborhoods of San Francisco and some in the Napa Valley, were also superficial and were things that anyone just passing through casually would know about. Nothing special about the settings, either.

So...a good page turner with superficial characters, lots of plot twists and turns, and some gory murder scenes mean that this will be my first and last read in the series. Too bad. I really miss Kinsey Millhone in the Alphabet murder series by Sue Grafton. Maybe I should reread those?!

The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and illustrated by Terry Denton

I was browsing at Barnes & Noble and taking my time. This series looked like a good bet for either John or Henry. I decided I needed to read it before foisting it one of them...and I'm glad I did. It's not negative and nasty like so much that I see in the children's section. It delights in mischief and imagination. And there's just enough mayhem and silliness to delight them. I bought a brain games book also, and I think that's a better fit for Henry. I think this one will go to John. He has a vibrant imagination and the pictures will help him feel like he's making progress. This is part of a series and if he loves it, I can give him more. John will love the burping and wild monkeys and maybe I can convince him to share it with Henry!

Fare Thee Well by Joel Selvin with Pamela Turley

Leonard ordered this book because he has a long history with the Grateful Dead and wanted to read about the years after Jerry Garcia's death. The subtitle is: "The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead's Long, Strange Trip." I picked it up after he was done with it, and enjoyed it very much.

While I'm not and never was a Deadhead, I am familiar with their music and have enjoyed it over the decades. So this book's detailed accounts of what songs were played where and why was something I could connect with, even though it got much more detailed than I cared about... What was fascinating to me was the description of how the surviving band members interacted with each other and how each of them pursued their own individual passions, and how difficult it was to ever get them to cooperate together again.

As the story unfolds, the author meaningfully chronicles much of the culture around the Dead that made them what they were. These parts were the most interesting to me, having seen them in Colorado, and having been to the Fillmore (West). That the Dead themselves were unaware of the Deadhead culture was almost beyond belief, but as they learned to appreciate it, especially at the final concerts, it was gratifying to see. The chapter about all of this coming together was almost poetic and very lyrical. It took me back to the time of Peace, Love, and Rock n Roll, and that was fun to think about. And it's great to see that some vestiges of that are growing in succeeding generations...whether fueled by drugs or no, still there's some value there, I believe.

I didn't have much familiarity with individual band members, but I got to know them through this book. Phil and Jill Lesh come off by far as the villains and the most destructive of any of them, although their persistence did result in some final concerts. Their apparent selfishness is almost unbelievable, and I had to keep reminding myself that this is just one point of view.

Bobby Weir has always been an attractive person to me, and it was kind of disappointing to learn of his chronic problems with alcohol. I love his looks, his singing, his ways from the early days. Too bad he's not weathering well! Micky Hart is just a genius who is so far out there--good for him! Billy Kruetzmann wrote a book and hung out in Hawaii...it might be worth reading to get another perspective...

One part I especially enjoyed was the description of the final concert in the Bay Area. I read this through Eli's eyes, since he was there! It's always been kind of cool to me that he picked up Leonard's love of the Dead and is part of the next generation who is appreciating the creativity and culture that the Dead personified. Yes, it has its dark side, but the technological advances are pretty impressive. I also appreciated hearing that the mystical connections that that music spawned was able, occasionally, when it soared, to override the reunited group's problems and clashes. Very cool...

Boys in the Trees - A Memoir by Carly Simon

I read reviews about this book that encouraged me to give it a try. I'm very interested in the time period of when Carly got big, and I've always enjoyed her music. I thought it would be interesting to read about her life. And it was. But being the daughter of a publisher does not mean that she is either a good writer or someone who can process and see deeper meaning in her life.

So, I enjoyed the peek into celebrity life, especially the stories about Mick Jagger, James Taylor and Warren Beatty. Her stories about her childhood and growing up years in privileged New York and Martha's Vineyard were also interesting because her life was so different from anything I ever experienced growing up. The dinner parties her parents gave, her performances with her siblings as a youngster, her mother's infidelity, and her lack of interest or success at school were all foreign territory and therefore intriguing to me. Her struggle with stuttering and her coping methods were also interesting to read about.

What surprised me as the book went on was how she couldn't move on or recover from her marriage and relationship with James Taylor. She seems to be emotionally immature, even though she has lived passionately. It's a cautionary tale about too much self-indulgence, perhaps. Or too little desire to be a force for good in the world. I wonder about the mental health of her children or her own peace as she lives into old age. I still enjoy her music, but her voice and songs made me think she was someone who had something valuable to give. After reading her story, I don't think there's much to admire here. Too bad! Her next book, about her friendship with Jackie Kennedy, promises good stories, but I don't plan to read it because she's not introspective enough to draw any learning or lessons from her life. Or at least any of the kind that would be valuable to me. Sorry if that sounds judgmental--it's just that we life in different worlds. And hers is not one I care to inhabit again, even in a book.

The Soldier's Holiday Vow by Jillian Hart

I love Denise Anderson, a marvelous and powerful woman whom I got to know working in the temple. I asked her one day what she liked to read. She said she likes clean, get-away-from-it-all reading and suggested an author. I forgot about that conversation until she brought me this little paperback.

I should have known from the cover that this would be a lightweight book. It looks like a Hallmark movie set. I don't have the patience for Hallmark movies either, unless I'm in a certain mood. I obviously wasn't in the right mood for this because it made me ANGRY. What's up with that?

I think it's because these characters were not only shallow and predictable (as was the plot), but they the author kept repeating to the point of nausea, the same thoughts over and over and over again. So frustrating. So redundant. Yuck. Why did I stick with such shallow junk? Because I was hoping to be able to say SOMETHING positive to Denise when I return it to her. After all, this is one of her favorites. What I do I say to her? Yes, it is a get-away-from-it all book. And yes, it was squeaky clean. I guess that's all I can say.

And I will keep asking people for their suggestions, and hope I will find a good book buddy soon!

The Heart is a Lovely Hunter by Carson McCullers

Why do I keep finding stories set in such dismal environments? I'm not sure why, but here's another depressing time and place. However, the characters are fascinating, and the story portrays life in the 1930s as very hard and hungry. These are people who struggle and work and still don't get ahead. I almost gave up multiple times, but then there would be some eloquent speech by one of the characters, primarily the maid Portia's father, the black doctor in this small mill town. And then I would try to follow the thinking and the pain that this man was living. Fascinating.

The other fascinating character was Mister Singer, a deaf mute, who was completely embraced and revered by the other characters. He listened so sympathetically and meaningfully...It was perhaps intended irony that this character couldn't respond, and the ones who revered him projected his responses. At any rate, that was interesting. Also, the 13-year-old Mick was a girl with great musical power and memory...another interesting character. But these characters were in a story and setting so bleak and without any visible hope, that I almost stopped reading several times. The story ends without any hopeful rays apparent, or any resolve.

I did marvel at the sophisticated thinking and speaking of the characters since McCullers was only 23 when she wrote this. I picked this up at the used bookstore, thinking it was a classic. Maybe it is, or maybe it isn't...but I won't be picking it up again. It will go into one of the Little Library boxes around Bismarck.

Inferno by Dan Brown

On a recent trip to California, I was complaining to Sierra about my inability to find good books to read. I explained my methods of getting recommendations, and she had one of her own: had I ever tried Dan Brown? No, I admitted. Is he a good writer? Interesting characters? She said she thought I would enjoy the diverse settings of his novels and how much one can learn about the cities and the history he shares as his stories unfold. When we got back to South Dakota, she lent me Inferno, which is where I began. It had to be good, right, with Tom Hanks on the cover?!

Well, I have to say, it was just okay. It was good reading at the end of every busy day we had on a bike riding and pickleball trip across Minnesota. I didn't need anything great, just a little read to get me ready to sleep. This was a little more action and suspense than I'm used to, but nothing too violent or disturbing. The story moved right along, with details of miraculous escapes and twists and turns that got a little redundant....all set amidst the beautiful museums, art, and buildings of Florence. So it probably would have been more meaningful to me if I had been there and enjoyed those things as Sierra had, and then it would have been a nice memory-connection. It did make me want to explore Florence, though...

And the characters....very shallow. Kind of interesting, but only on a surface level. The villains were villainous and the heroes heroic, along with a turncoat or two. Just ho-hum. But what really surprised me was the absolute terror Dan Brown tries to instill in the reader about overpopulation. That theme is very thick throughout the book, along with terrible statistics and immoral solutions. One immoral solution is the crux of this story. All of the dire predictions about the impending doom of our planet are presented as scientific facts...this blatant political subplot interfered with my enjoyment of the book. Actually, not that much, since my enjoyment level was pretty low anyway, but I was surprised at this author's attempt to propagate his views. Maybe I'm just unaware of how bad our situation is, but this story did nothing to convince me of its veracity. If I were on Amazon, I would give this two stars--one for the beautiful descriptions of Florence and its art, and one for the introduction to Dante's literary work.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

This book was down in the corner "Little Library" box, so I pulled it out. The hype on the back cover promised intriguing, cerebral literature. The "Oprah's Book Club" stamp also sold it as worthy to carry home. Meh.

Edgar is a youth whose family raises dogs. They all have an uncanny ability to communicate with the dogs, and have perfected a breed that is intuitively tuned in to mankind in amazing ways. Yet this is all a little hazy and sci-fi, but interesting nonetheless. What could have been a fascinating read was darkened by murder, hatred, and anger in the characters. It was also a little vague and mysterious, or maybe I was too dense to pick up on the clues. I'm still not sure who murdered whom, but it made me sad. I'm taking it back to the box...

Still, I have to say, the characters were interesting, just not particularly likable. Edgar, though, was fascinating, and the story is told from his point of view. His inability to speak yet ability to communicate was interesting. And how he survived when he ran away was also interesting...but not particularly pleasant as he raided abandoned cabins and stole food, eventually landing with a loner who welcomed him in. Interesting yes, but I want to inhabit more pleasant environments!

And...the dogs loom large as fascinating characters...

The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley

This is another enjoyable entry into the Flavia de Luce series, one that made me chuckle, for sure. Bradley's characters are interesting and surprising and fun to listen to as they interact with each other. Dogger is getting more airplay now, since he's Flavia's partner. I anticipate that Undine will have a greater role in the future, but is still somewhat peripheral here. This story centers on a murder committed right before Flavia's sister Ophelia's wedding, and features some recently-returned Christian missionaries. Probably not worth a second read, but certainly entertaining for the time I spent with it. Off to Sierra it goes!

King and Maxwell by David Baldacci

So...the recent David Baldacci book I read was disappointing, with shallow characters. But this one is part of a supposedly popular series about a male/female private investigator team called King and Maxwell and so I thought I should give this author another try.

Disappointing. Like the other one I read, it had an exciting, complex plot of military and political shenanigans, and like the other one, the characters were shallow and flat. Even the supposed chemistry between King and Maxwell wasn't there. The kidnapping of an Army Special Forces man's son and the revenge of a demented military contractor were the major plot happenings, and they were interesting. I liked all the internet spying and satellite tricks, etc., but many of the coincidences as the case unfolded were not believable. Neither were the skills of Edgar, the guy who could hack into any system and learn whatever King and Maxwell needed.

However, it was a light, fun read on warm summer nights and afternoons when I needed a book to put me to sleep. But I'm done with this author. I don't think Mother liked him either, now that I think about it. I think I may have confused him with Richard Russo. He's one I KNOW she enjoyed. I may try him again in the future.

A New Constellation - A Memoir - by Ashley Mae Hoiland

I ordered this memoir because I enjoyed her first book, One Hundred Birds Taught Me to Fly, so much. This is the unfolding story of a young mother's experience of being diagnosed and learning to live with MS. It's a wonderful, vulnerable and deep account of her thoughts and reactions to this shifting of her world. There's her lovely poetic view and appreciation for human kindness. There isn't much about her faith or calling on it at all, which surprised me. I think anyone who is suddenly faced with a life-altering crisis, especially a health one, would relate to this book. It's a quick 86-page read, but probably not one I would read a second time.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

This was sitting in the Bismarck used bookstore, and I recalled having read it before, but I couldn't remember when. I had a positive vibe about the cover, so I thought, I'll give this one another try. It seemed the perfect summer read. And it is!

I love coming of age stories, and this one is particularly poignant and painful and hopeful. It is beautifully written. I could relate to Lily (the 14-year old whose point of view this book is written from) and her fascination with the women in the house she moves to, with their worship, and with the young man who also works at the house.  The time period, 1964, against the backdrop of emerging civil rights struggles in the South, is also very appealing to me. I lived this period, but was isolated from most of the pain in California.

The characters are wonderful, real, and complex. I want to be like the patient mentor August, who gently guides Lily through her confusion and loneliness. I want to be as trusting and pure as Rosaleen and May whose hearts are good and joyful. T.Ray, Lily's abusive father is hate-worthy, but his pain is almost palpable, so I'm less inclined to judge him harshly. This story is subtle and nuanced, with wonderful analogies about bees, honey, and life. And despite the painful and tragic circumstances, the story shows that courage and goodness and humanity are abundant in this world. And of course I loved the happy ending. I would enjoy reading a sequel that lets us see Lily navigate college and the civil rights movement...

One Hundred Birds Taught Me to Fly by Ashley Mae Hoiland

This book is like poetry. Her sentences are so packed with meaning, it has to be read slowly and savored, word by word. The illustrations are simple and beautiful. I love this author's perspective. She is open, she is faithful, she is inclusive. She inspires me to be better, especially within my often narrow focus. She writes beautifully and faithfully about her spiritual experiences and chafes positively against some LDS culture. In particular, she values the spiritual journeys of others. This is so refreshing. I love that this book is published by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at BYU. This gives me hope for our culture becoming more inclusive. Love it. I am reading it through for the second time...

Stone Cold by David Baldacci

One strong memory I have of summers growing up is seeing my mother laying on her bed, in front of the swamp cooker, enjoying a good read before enjoying the luxury of an afternoon nap. She enjoyed this author, and often exchanged these books with my cousin Stan's wife, Sharon. So when I saw this in the used bookstore in Bismarck, I thought if might be fun to pick it up and enjoy a summer read myself.

I think some of his other books are better, although it's been a long time since I've read one. This one is a real page-turner, with lots of tension and action, as the different threads of the story come together. Unfortunately, the characters are rather shallow, even though the story is good. The young father who begins the story is actually a hit man, systematically killing the CIA/FBI and other assorted spies who discredited his father and Russian-born spy mother. Lots of action, lots of interesting sites around DC and different modus operandi. It was the perfect "getaway" read this summer and totally engrossed me the hours I read it. Engrossing, but also a little disappointing that the characters weren't more interesting...

NOT worth reading again, but okay for what it is...

An Embarrassment of Mangoes by Ann Vanderhoof

This book was a list emailed to me by my sister Jane. This title intrigued me, and since it was on the list of perfect summer reads, I ordered a used copy from Amazon.

I was hoping for more story, more insights, and more depth. However, this author did gather and invent some delicious-sounding recipes as she and her husband explored the Caribbean. It was interesting to read about the couple's preparation to leave their lives in Toronto to live on their sailboat and sail for a year or two. Their struggles and adventures were mildly interesting and rather well-described. Would I bother to read it again? Probably not. But the unusual ingredients and people they met make me want to cook some of the exotic recipes. The local people were the most interesting characters, and it was also fun to get a peek into the "cruisers'" lifestyle.

Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart by Carrot Quinn

This author wrote in a repetitive style that reminded me of plodding along on a hike. I grew to like it. She repeats words in threes...like hike, hike, hike or hunger, hunger, hunger. She is inexperienced as a hiker, and we get to learn lessons right along with her. She's brutally open and honest and describes the culture of her group of hikers as being extremely close, dirty, and loving. It's an interesting mix! Also, the language is colorful, with an annoying amount of F bombs, but it's often quoting the conversations...

Quinn also reveals a lot about the LGBTQ culture, by describing herself as "queer" and recounts her infatuations with both a woman and later, a man. Somewhat graphic in her descriptions, it helped me learn about "trail trash" and how this group interacts with each other. Sexuality is almost a non-issue in some ways, it's treated so casually. Often the hikers are so filthy that it's hard to imagine a sexual encounter being particularly appealing--but that's just my own 68-year old perspective!

It was fascinating to read about the challenges...like getting sick on the trail, and breaking a tooth, for example. How one hitchhikes to a nearby town, how strangers help out, and how, in the end, no matter what, sometimes all you can do is put one foot in front of another. And she does... I could tell this is one tough woman. I like how she gradually gains strength along the trail and astounds herself with what she can do... 35-mile days, for example, over mountain ridges. She loves trees and the sky and describes them similarly to how I feel about them. She also describes how the trail becomes her whole world and reality. What's happening outside of the trail becomes irrelevant. And her mounting sadness as she nears the end of the hike is interesting too. Other authors are rejoicing that they've achieved their goal, while Quinn is melancholy and lost at the end. She basically wants to live on the trail, and since this book, is apparently doing just that: living on other trails. Good for her.

Bliss(ters) by Gail M. Francis

This is the story of how one woman hiked from Mexico to Canada, on the Pacific Crest Trail. I enjoyed this self-published book because it is well-written and has little pull-out sections that teach you practical things you need to know if you choose to do this thru-hike. Some examples of the pull outs:

• HYOH - Hike Your Own Hike
• Typical Contents of Traditional vs. Ultralight Packs
• Trailnames
• Typical Food
• Gear Changes at Idyllwild
• Using Toilet Paper When There's No Toilet
• Foot Care

Francis does a beautiful job describing the scenery she hikes and the interesting people she meets. It was enjoyable to travel with her during her resupply stops, during a rainstorm, or climbing a summit. It's much more upbeat and less introspective than Wild. It was interesting to learn about the culture that exists among thru-hikers and the way they enjoy Trail Magic and Trail Angels. And hitchhiking and food foraging...many common themes here from the other hiking books I've read. A good, solid read, especially when she hooks up with her Norwegian friend Knut...

Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery

My cousin Robin Kubler mentioned this book on Facebook, and when I read the reviews on Amazon, I decided it was worth a try. I'm so happy I did! This Grandma is incredible! And her story is very well told.  Ben Montgomery put great effort into trying to piece together her story, and it's very well-written. Grandma Gatewood had great challenges in her life, primarily because of an abusive husband. The story goes back and forth between her early life and her hike on the Appalachian Trail. It's so amazing to read about how determined she was and how tough!!! No good hiking equipment or shoes and yet, no excuses...just grit and walking day after day. I also enjoyed reading about how she stayed with farmers and others along the trail. It was a simpler time --the 1950's, and the trail was just being developed. Because of her "walk," it made news that enabled the trail supporters to gain funding and support to improve it. What an inspiring pioneer... There's also a children's version of this book that I bought and read to John and Henry. It's also very good and has beautiful illustrations.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I asked my friend Leslie if she had read anything good lately, and she didn't have an immediate response. But when she thought about it, she suggested this one. Good Kiddie Lit is always enjoyable, she said, and I agree. She said she enjoyed the writing style of this author and she thought I would too.

And I did. Very clever and often funny. Delightful prose and real dialogue. And the story is built around these very strange, old, black and white photographs. It's all very clever, but it's also very dark, and sometimes violent. It's not a world I would want to inhabit, and it's really kind of creepy for this to be something recommended for young people to read. I suspect they would like it because it's real, it's about alienated parents, and a fantastical world....but it's not a pleasant, uplifting, or wholesome place to be. If I'm going to engage in a fantasy, I want it to be sweet! This is not.

And...the worst part...the book doesn't conclude. It just gets you ready for a sequel. This is maddening--in the same way that The Rithmatist was maddening. I felt cheated and frustrated. This one's going to the used bookstore so I can trade it in for something better.

A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson

(1999)
This is the first of two books that Jann was reading and wrote about to me. This one is about Joan Anderson's first struggle to find out who she is when her empty nest made her feel empty and her marriage was lacking. She's only 50 in this book and so it's interesting to read about her thinking and how it develops over a year of living in relative solitude while she figures out what she wants to do and be.

Here's an excerpt: (from page 58)
She's describing some women customers who come into the fish market where she is working.

"I've never had the privilege of being "kept," if, in fact, it is a privilege. I look at the scrupulously scrubbed faces of these mannequinlike women and wonder, Does having it all make you happier or sadder? Does it make you free?

My back is aching, but several lobster tanks need to be scrubbed. I think I'm more than a tad bit jealous of them. Still, there are ground rules I'm certain they must live by, rules set up by their husbands and society that they must obey. Earning one's own keep has a great deal of merit."

I remind myself each time I want to quit that this job is about my independence as well as learning to rise above criticism, honor my ignorance, and deal with my occasional arrogance. And, having surrendered to a simpler life, I am finding excitement in little things that others might think dull."

This excerpt if typical of the honest and soft eyes through which this author sees the world. I really enjoyed her insights about her husband, her sons, and her daughters-in-law. She takes full responsibility for her feelings and thinking. She's honest and frank without being critical or judgmental. It's like being a cognitive apprentice for someone who wants to be content and who wants to let others also be content. I related to many of her struggles and appreciated her conclusion that she needs to let go of her urges to orchestrate and control others. It was also helpful and instructive that she found the right friend, Joan Erickson, who helped her thinking. Good friends have certainly helped me along the way.

And in this modern day, when many so-called feminists eshew the need or desire for a husband, it was refreshing to see how she was able to welcome her husband back into her life and to agree to build a new kind of marriage together. A very hopeful book. I liked it a lot.

Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis

Amazon has been recommending hiking books for me, ever since I ordered Wild by Cheryl Strayed. It's an easy sell, since I love hiking and I enjoy reading about it, too, especially during our Bismarck sojourn where the closest thing to a hike is a hilly arboretum.

This one looked like a winner after I read the reviews. And it is! I thoroughly enjoyed every single page. Davis is a young woman, trying to figure out her next step after graduating from college, and feels called to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. In some ways it's similar to Wild, in that it's the story of a solo woman hiker who learns a lot about herself in a thru-hike. Both women are incredibly open about their fears and their fearful situations, and both learn to keep hiking despite pain and cold and all kinds of obstacles. This book, though, is written by a less-troubled individual. She has great family support and it sounds like she always had, and it shows in her approach to the challenges. She has more confidence and more support along the trail. Yet, she has plenty to learn and does.

One thing I really appreciated about this story is how she gains confidence in herself and in her ability to be more open about her faith. She also does a good job of describing the people she meets and how they interact. She is a good example of someone who obviously and simply lives her Christian faith without apology or preaching, either in her life on the trail or in her writing. Her goodness just shines through and is obviously noticed and appreciated by others on the trail. She is able to convey this humbly and simply.

I also enjoyed the way she describes the scenery and it made me want to visit the White Mountains, the Smoky Mountains, and other beautiful places along the Appalachian Trail. I'd like to section hike the parts she describes someday...Not sure how or when, but I'm fascinated by how different it sounds from all of my Black Hills and Napa Valley hiking. I am going to keep this book around and read it again when I'm ready to plan a trip. It's full of appreciation for nature, other people, and the benefits of taking on a big physical challenge.

I'm thinking about ordering another copy to have on hand as a grad gift...I think even someone who doesn't hike would be able to appreciate the lessons learned, and maybe it would inspire someone to take on a big challenge.

Here are some of my favorite parts:

(page 287), when the end is in sight (after 2000 plus miles of hiking)

"Totally submerged, with my hair floating toward the surface and my limbs weightless around me, I embraced the unencumbered sensation of being surrounded by water. Rising back to the surface, I looked at my half-white, half-brown body beneath the water. I was amazed at the transformation that had taken place since Georgia. I never knew that I could be this fit."

"I looked up into the blue sky toward Katahdin. It was like a dream, too far away to touch but too close to be a mirage. I dipped down below the surface and came back up, but the mountain was still there. I laughed and looked up to the sky. I had done it."

(page 291) - After reaching the summit of Mt. Katahdin at the end of the trail, Davis describes her feelings:

"When the photo shoot was over, we turned around and started to hike back down the mountain. I don't want to say that climbing Katahdin was a letdown, because it wasn't. But I thought I was going to have an epiphany once I reached the top. I thought I would feel different at the brown sign marking the mountain summit.
But when I was there, I was just happy. "

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

I asked the Schmidtleins one evening what books they were reading...and they both heartily recommended this particular book, even though they said they liked others of his books as well. They said it was original and interesting. They like wholesome reading and this author is a member of the church and keeps it clean. They told me it was a little sci/fi and fantasy, but that there were interesting characters.

Well, the story was definitely sci/fi and kind of dark and even gruesome in parts. I found the characters shallow and somewhat predictable. What was amazing, though, was the author's ability to invent and share a whole method of fighting evil with chalk drawings that come to life according to prescribed rules. The whole idea of "chalklings" attacking and eating humans was not so impressive; what intrigued me was the idea of drawing lines of defense and offense that did different things. Ben McSweeney's illustrations were more interesting to me than the story! This whole world of rithmatics was somewhat allegorical to our creation and the way we fight. Seen this way, the story becomes more intriguing. But all in all, it's not a book I would ever read again nor recommend. But it might be more appealing to a young male reader who likes adventure and strategy. 

One more thing...I did get engaged enough in the characters to read the whole book to see if good would win over evil. And it did, of course, but not with any closure. Most plot threads were left untied and unexplained. The main character still had a big dream to fulfill. The last sentence in the book is a highly UNsatisfying, "To be continued." I threw the book down when it ended this way, pretty frustrated that I was hooked in for so long with so little resolution. Cheap author trick!!!

The Second Journey ~ The Road Back to Yourself by Joan Anderson

Jann recommended this book to me, so I wrote her what I thought about it...Here's my note to her, along with some additional comments:

I wanted to let you know tonight that I ordered both of those Joan Anderson books you mentioned, and The Second Journey came first and I'm almost done with it. I really enjoy it--though, like you, I think a good dose of Relief Society would have helped her a LOT! Or THE GOSPEL. Still, there are parts that resonate.  I'm interested in the first one also, but it hasn't arrived yet. I can imagine that you felt a special connection to this story because of your love of Scotland. That whole island experience is very well described and she quotes a lot of the writers and poets I like, like David Whyte and May Sarton. 

I admire the quest of a woman who has felt somewhat let down after devoting herself to her family. I think our doctrine and our church culture help us find a balance, and help us feel the nobility and importance of this mothering work, and Anderson didn't have that perspective. Also, I think I didn't devote myself to my family to the extent that I ever lost myself. I don't know if that's right or wrong, but I always had plenty of intellectual challenge away from home. It created a lot of guilt and tension, but was probably a good thing overall. And then I think about how two out of our three kids have left the church and wonder if my lack of devotion was a key factor in that. But I feel peace about most of it. Anyhoo, thank you for sharing that read! A good one. Not as deep as many that I read, and I enjoyed the lightness. 

A part that really resonated with me was her struggle to extricate herself from her mother's care. Wow. My sisters are so devoted to my father and yet, my older one is feeling the stress of trying to keep her partner in tow AND care for my dad AND the ranch. Neither Ann nor Jane has really cut loose. They see it as a huge blessing but I know the load can be heavy. Anderson's perspective on this could be seen as selfish, but I don't think so. I think it was her turn to have a life. 

And all of this book struck me as a FIRST WORLD journey. She complains about lack of resources, but let's face it, she's wealthy by most standards, just based on what she is able to do...It's a luxury to have a second journey, that's for sure! And....I would like to take myself on a little retreat. It's been awhile since I've done that sort of thing and I would love it. 

Later--this book is contributing to my thinking about setting a goal and doing it. This woman (above) went to an island in Scotland and hiked. I'd like to train to do something strenuous and challenging. Maybe train now (in Bismarck) and complete it during one of our breaks or as soon as we're done. Leonard is queing up documentaries for us to watch, and they are inspiring too! We watched one about the Barkley Marathon in Tennessee last night and it was fascinating. We like rock climbing docs too!

Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana

This amazing book is a chronicle of a sailor's life beginning in 1834, sailing out of Boston, around South America, and ending up in California. What's amazing is that it's true, is beautifully written, and gives a clear and disturbing look at the life of a sailor during that time. The edition I bought (from Amazon) includes two updates; one from 24 years and one from 76 years after the initial voyage. What's fascinating about the updates is that it gives further color to the author and his life, as well as a look at how the cities in California were developing.

One problem I had was that this edition's print was TINY. It was tough going to read. But the story was so fascinating, I read slowly and carefully, despite this problem. Another problem was the detailed description Dana gives of his sailing. Most of this vocabulary is lost on me, and while I wished I knew what was going on, there was too much obscure vocabulary and verbiage to look up without a serious study of the whole topic. Maybe someday? In the meantime, I tried to guess from context clues what was going on. Most often, Dana would be up on some rigging high above the ship and tying or ??? doing something or other with the sails. For someone with more knowledge, this would probably be enlightening, especially when compared to how ships are sailed nowadays.

I really enjoyed reading about the sailors' clothes, their food, their pastimes, what they talked about to pass the time, their struggles, the line between the officers and the sailors, and life in California under Mexico. These ships were hauling hides from California back to Boston, so the methods of curing the hides and loading them was also described in fascinating detail.

Here's an interesting passage describing how Dana passed his time on deck: (from page 153)

"I commenced a deliberate system of time-killing, which united some profit with a cheering up of the heavy hours. As soon as I came on deck, and took my place and regular walk, I began with repeating over to myself in regular order a string of matters which I had in my memory,--the multiplication table and the tables of weights and meaures; the Kanaka numerals; then the States of the Union with their capitals; the counties of England, with their shire towns, and the kings of England in their order, and other things. This carried me through my facts, and, being repeated deliberately, with long intervals, often eked out the first two bells. Then came the Ten Commandments, the thirty-ninth chapter of Job, and a few other passages from Scripture. The next in the order, which I seldom varied from, came Cowper's Castaway, which was a great favorite with me; its solemn measure and gloomy character, as well as the incident it was founded upon, making it well suited to a lonely watch at sea. Then his lines to Mary, his address to the Jackdaw, and a short extract from Table talk (I abounded in Cowper), for I happened to have a volume of his poems in my chest); "Ille et nefasto" from Horace, and Goethe's Erl Koenig. After I had got through these, I allowed myself a more general range among everything that I could remember, both in prose and verse. In this way, with an occasional break by relieving at the wheel, heaving the log, and going to the scuttle-butt for a drink of water, the longest watch was passed away; and I was so regular in my silent recitations that, if there was no interruption by ship's duty, I could tell very nearly the number of bells by my progress."

I love that description and often wonder how long I would last on such a journey without losing my mind! The hardships he endured and the frequent dangers are humbling to read about. Always cold, often hungry, NO creature comforts, and often cruel treatment and even flogging by the captain were part of the life of these sailors. This is a magnificent history and made me want to learn more about this time and this life.

This book was recommended to me by my brilliant friend Sally Palmer. When I told her I had trouble with the sailing parts, she was surprised. She had no trouble figuring out and picturing what was going on by the context.

Earlier in the book, Dana describes his joy at reading Mandeville, a Romance, by Godwin. It was a pure delight to him, since books were so rare on board and he savored this one. I'm planning to send this copy to my dad. I think he will really enjoy it, if he can be patient with the small font!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I love this book so much!
I read it several years ago, and I'm not sure why I didn't record it here. Recently, my friend Lyn asked me if I had read it, because she liked it so well. I was happy to have the chance to read it again, and I enjoyed every page. So well-written, so delightful in spirit, and wonderful, real, and courageous characters. I think there was a resurgence in interest in this book because Netflix made a movie based on it. The movie is vapid and uninspiring. I especially disliked the character playing Juliet. So disappointing!

This is one of those rare books that treats a heavy and tragic time with a light hand, sensitivity, and good, intelligent humor. I wish there were more books like this. It also does a wonderful job describing a time and place in history that I knew very little about...namely, the German occupation of Guernsey and the ensuing challenges. I think I'll keep it around and read it again when I want to enjoy a witty and deep read...

Big Magic - Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I enjoyed this book so much that I have read it multiple times. Here's why...I don't usually think of myself as creative. But i do have some artistic impulses. Usually, when I think of creative, I think immediately of Leonard and Eli. They are creative in ways that continually astound me--sometimes artistically and sometimes in their approach to a problem. Anyway, in thinking about this, I've come to realize that I am creative, too, just in different ways. And this book encouraged me to expand my definition and my practice of my creativity. She says, PUT IT OUT THERE and I'm trying to do that more. For example, I've been making some cards and embellishing the poetry with little pen and ink drawings. I like to draw and color with colored pencils. i enjoy it, and although my results look a little primitive, I'm generally happy with the results. I have bought a book that I hope will help me... We SHALL SEE! At any rate, I have now passed this book on to Melissa. She lives creatively, for sure! And I ordered a copy for Teal, for her birthday. I hope I hear from one or both of them about how they like it. I found it a delightful read and very encouraging. I like the idea of finding a deep passion vs. being a hummingbird. It's okay to be a hummingbird and explore lots of different avenues...staying long enough to learn if it's rewarding or not. That is more likely than finding a deep passion...at least it seems to be, for me. 

The Holy Secret by James L. Ferrell

Kathy in Bismarck gave me a beautifully inscribed copy of this book after I asked her if I could borrow hers. I heard her talk about it one evening and she was so positive about it, I wanted to read it. She mentioned having read it multiple times, so I thought it was one I needed to read, even though I suspected I had already read it at some point in my past. I was so enthused about C. Terry Warner, and the Arbinger institute that he founded, that I read a lot of their books probably 8 or 10 years ago. Ferrell is president of Arbinger, and I had read one of his earlier books for sure, The Peacegiver. They build on Warner's ideas, but are more allegorical. They don't resonate particularly well for me, and I'm not sure why. Warner is much more understandable to me and just makes sense. Ferrell tells stories, and they all seem pretty contrived. But his point isn't the story, it's the message.

As in other books of his, this one is a story. This particular one is about two men talking and learning together. I think in order to get more out of it, I need to read it again with my scriptures and try to trace the thinking in the examples. I did get a lot out of it, and am still thinking about his assertion that we need to learn to LOVE what is holy and that often, we do not. In particular, he believes we need to learn to love three things that will increase our holiness: the scriptures, the temple, and the sabbath.

A quote that stopped me in my tracks is this one, in the preface:

"If we do not enjoy holiness here, we will not have the opportunity to experience it there."

Another thought I liked is that we need to apply the cleansing agent of holiness. It reminds me of applying the atonement or of seeking and finding grace. All of these create a similar impulse and result, I think.

In his section on loving the holy scriptures, Ferrell's example of from the Book of Mormon is particularly fascinating and accurate. He explicates why Nephi continually mentions that his family dwelt in a TENT. And then explores all the implications of this and it really opens up the story more. It's a great example of how increased understanding really does enlighten the meaning and potential application. It helps me slow down when I read the scriptures and to ask more questions. The answers come easily in this book, and not so easy when I'm on my own! It's a worthy pursuit, however, and I have been trying more, especially during my scripture study opportunities in the quiet baptistry of the temple.

I definitely need to explore more the examples of holiness through temple worship and sabbath day observance. And I will!

The Pastures of Beyond by Dayton O. Hyde

I picked this paperback out of one of the "Little Library" boxes down the street in Bismarck. It has a wonderful painting of a cowboy on a bucking bronc on the cover, so I immediately thought I should pick it up for my dad. I'm glad I did!

This is the true story of a 13-year old from Michigan who goes out to Oregon to help his uncle run a ranch. It captures a rich time in history, beginning in the 1930s, when being an itinerant cowboy was a profession. He describes ranch life, cowboys, and rodeo life with admiration, humor, and clarity. The "yarns" told by both cowboys and Indians are funny and illustrate the humor of an era long gone.

It's not GREAT writing, but it's enjoyable. I could relate to the struggle of riding horses, the culture of the Indians, and the love of outdoors. At the end of the book, he describes how he founded the Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota. This was fascinating to me, since I've been out there. No one was around, but I know that country a little.

This will go in the mail to WHK. And it will give us something new to talk about on our Sunday night calls.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

This book was on the classics shelf at Bismarck's used bookstore. I had heard of it, and the cover accolades confirmed that it was a classic. A hefty paperback at close to 500 pages, I let it sit around awhile before I took it on.

And the beginning was rough. While well-written, I enjoy books that take me away to a pleasant place. This book's beginning did not. Set in pre-World War I Brooklyn, Francie is a young girl making her way through poverty and deprivation with her family. The vignettes of taking scraps to the junkyard for a penny and saving it in a bank nailed down in the closet were vivid and real. I'm pretty sure the author grew up living much of these conditions. They are sobering. For a bright young girl to be hungry and cold yet be brave and forceful was inspiring.

There were many lessons here... Unconditional love for her alcoholic father who understood her in a way her mother did not... Listening to her own inner voice when her teacher told her her stories were sordid...Her growing understanding and respect for her mother...Her mother's honesty...and refusal to take charity. I wondered about this family in today's social setting. Would they be on welfare? Are there mothers like this anymore? Great that she didn't want to accept help, but would having her children be fed not be better? And maybe it was the struggle that made her children ultimately successful and resilient. I wondered about the illiteracy in the family...and how Francie overcame it. How her mother relied on her mother's wisdom to read a page of the Bible and a page of Shakespeare every day so her children would be educated. So much here that was wise and so much that was heart-breaking.

I also liked how the author didn't hit us over the head with her own answers. She just relates her story with amazing clarity and vividness and lets the reader draw my own conclusions. I like the openness of that approach. It was also a peek into a world I know little about, in a time and place in America that I know little about. I feel like there were hardships there and then that forged courageous people who had to rely on each other to survive. Not all were admirable. Some gave up, some turned to crime. But this family survived and I grew in my respect for each member of the family as the story went on in time.

A truly inspiring and wonderful book, if you like real characters (I do!) with real problems. I liked understanding Francie's thinking, too, and could relate to each stage of her life. Though our worlds are very different, the author caught authentic female angst and pluck that was true.

Another note...this was a white family. Race didn't seem to enter into this narrative at all. I wonder why... Was Brooklyn all white? Immigration from "the old country" ie, Ireland, Germany, Austria was a thread throughout, but race was never an issue. Perhaps in that time the racial world was very separate. Although it's interesting to me that this never came up on the streets or in public transportation or in school...maybe it was a white world there then...???

One final note...it's books like these that are so meaty and inspiring that make me NOT want to waste my time on more vapid reading like I've been doing lately. I need a good source of good lit! Maybe I need to browse the classics more often!

The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley

Woohoo! Another delightful detective novel featuring twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce. This one is set alongside the River Thames, as the girls and Dogger are on holiday. It could be that it's been so long since I've read one of these that I've forgotten, but I think this one is funnier than any of the others. I used an orange highlighter to capture a few of my favorite lines, and I had to use it a LOT! I also liked how Flavia and her sisters seem to be getting along a little better. Daffy and Flavia actually collaborate in this story, which would have been unheard of before. Also, Dogger is becoming more central to the story. I heartily enjoyed every page of this one, and even paused to look up the art work the author referred to. It made it even more interesting. I'm amazed at the author's knowledge of poisons, chemistry, the Book of Common Prayer and all things Church of England; there are also many Catholic and biblical references that are fascinating. This book was the perfect escape on a very cold and snowy Bismarck day!

Here are some of my highlights:

"That was the great thing about Dogger: He could follow my train of thought as easily as if he owned the railway."

"The humble paper clip, in certain circumstances, can be of more practical use than a magic want."

"I'll bet there have been more truths told over an open coffin than in all the confession boxes in Christendom."

"The vicar stared at him as blankly as if he were one of Einstein's equations on a blackboard."

"She was coolly judging her effect upon our widening eyes, making us her mirror."

"I was rifling through Revelation when I had one. A revelation, I mean."

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

This intriguing title promised an interesting read. It did not deliver. There were too many characters in the book club and I never did get a handle on them. I was always confused about who was whom. And the occasional critique or discussion of Austen was pretty obscure. Still, some of the writing and characterization was enjoyable and well done. Not well done enough to read again or to especially recommend, though. These characters meet over the course of the year and a broken marriage comes back together. One part I enjoyed, though, was the way the author would describe the characters' individual pasts...they were often funny and colorful, especially the only male member of the book club, Grigg. He had a fascinating relationship with his sisters, and this was enjoyable to read.

Occasionally an interesting northern California place would be mentioned and that would enliven my interest. It was minimal, however. I almost didn't finish this, and now I'm a little sorry that I wasted my time. When I'm browsing a used bookstore, I need to get on Amazon and read some reviews before I put my money on the table! Life is too short to read a ho hum book. I've been doing that too often lately! Time to get on to something good and meaty!!!! Or light and fun????

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Newbery Medal (2015) on the front cover of this hardbound book caught my eye in the "Little Library" box down the street. When I first opened it, I was a little put off because it's written in verse. I wondered how a plot or characters could effectively unfold in free form poetry. I shouldn't have worried, though, because the characters really DO come alive, and the plot is excellent!

Twin boy basketball players tell their story and it's surprisingly moving to read. It's also a very quick page-turner because there's so much white space on each page. Despite that, though, the characters are real, and the writing is very clever and descriptive. I liked it enough that I'm giving it to Melissa and Gabe to share...they will love the basketball lingo and plays as well as the family drama that unfolds. I think the author did a particularly great job describing what happens to a young teen who discovers girls for the first time. Very enjoyable read!

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

The goldfish jumping out of the bowl on the blue cover of this book caught my imagination in the "Little Library" box down the street. It's quite a good story with some rather predictable characters. Melody is a fifth grader with cerebral palsy and a brilliant mind. This story traces her development as she figures out how to speak via computer and unleash her thinking and learning on the world. It's a good story in that it graphically illustrates how children in Special Ed are treated. The safety of the Special Ed room is well-described, as well as the challenge of "inclusion" and the social issues associated with that. That part is very well-done. The conversation of the fifth graders is a little dated, as is the technology, but it's still relevant. I especially liked the family life descriptions because the challenge of raising such a child is clearly described. I think it would be good for a class read because the ensuing discussion of differently abled children is important. Is it a great book? No... Worthwhile? Yes. The characters a little predictable? Yes... A little superficial? Yes. A good message? Definitely!

Stuart Little by E. B. White

I found this paperback in the free "Little Library" box down the street. It's a classic, so I thought I would read it and consider giving it to John and Henry afterwards. The illustrations are by Garth Williams and are quite delightful. They have just the right touch of humor that is evident in the story. Stuart Little is a tiny mouse born into a human family in New York and he has marvelous little adventures. They are interesting because Stuart has challenges because he's a mouse trying to make it in a human world. He has tiny little clothes and furniture show White's creativity. The story is charming, but I'm not sure it would hold the interest of my grandsons... I will probably offer it to them because it's a sweet story, but I won't be surprised if it's too tame to pique their interest. They are into Harry Potter now, so this may be too down to (literally) earth!

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

I asked my friend (and my daughter's mother-in-law) what books she especially liked... She mentioned this one. Sylvia and I have a lot in common, so I hoped I'd like what she likes in reading. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but this book was a disappointment. When I found it used in a bookstore, I thought, "Oh, this cover looks like a Romance novel." Not a good thing, in my book. Too vapid, too one-dimensional, shallow characters and luster-less writing. But, I thought, Sylvia really likes it! So I took it home and dove in.

The writing was better than the cover promised. Descriptive and entertaining. The characters were interesting, and not one-dimensional. But the plot didn't move along, it really sauntered and took some meaningless tangents. I didn't look forward to reading it; it didn't call me like a good book does at the end of the day. The plot felt ponderous. I didn't care a lot about the characters. The plot was mildly intriguing...a daughter sets out to find out about her mother's life before she had children. The plot went back and forth between the mother's past, set in World War II and the London blitz, and the present. The backdrop of the blitz and the attendant problems was interesting but not new.

All in all, blah. With a big surprise turn at the end, but that didn't even excite me much. I may give it to Sierra and see if she likes it better. If nothing else, maybe it will give us something to talk to Sylvia about! Plus, there may be more than one book with this title, and I need to verify that this is even the right one...

Cooking for Picasso by Camille Aubray

The title and the colorful cover of this book caught my eye in the used bookstore here in Bismarck. The lively shades of blue, so typical of the south of France, made the cover arresting. It turned out to be quite an enjoyable read. The plot was a bit silly and unrealistic, but made a good story. Like many books I seem to be reading lately, the time went back and forth between the present and the past. By the end of the book, the two stories came together. A modern young woman searches out her grandmother's past and in the process discovers a lot about her grandmother's life as a chef and as a cook for the real life Picasso. While the story is true fiction, the character of Picasso and most of the paintings described are based in history. Because I love Picasso's art, this was fascinating. The story is somewhat titillating and erotic as the young woman is seduced by Picasso, but it's rather tastefully done. Not X rated, but certainly a strong R!

Picasso's male chauvenism is illustrated through his conversations and actions. His wives and lovers make a few appearances, and his obsession with his art (if true) shows how selfish and unfeeling he could be. Ondine (the grandmother) and Celine (the granddaughter) are interesting characters and the writing is better than average. A great book? No. Enjoyable? Yes.

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

This book, with the girl in tall rubber boots on the cover, had attracted me when it first came out. When I found it in the "Little Library" for free, I snatched it up. I was totally enjoying the beginning of the book, where the 14-year old narrator describes her summer, when the story ended. It's actually a collection of short stories where some of the characters reappear. The author has a very wry sense of humor and her descriptions are insightful and funny.

It's been awhile since I finished it, but I recall thinking that I would like to read it again. The humor is often self-effacing and really elucidates the thinking of a 14-year old. If I take it up again, I'll write more. I'm not remembering enough to really describe my reactions right now...