50 Words or Fewer, a Catch-Up Post

All of the following were either books I purchased or (in one case) checked out from the library; and, I see no reason to go around fretting about how much I'm writing if I haven't promised a review to anyone. So, I've decided to do a little catch-up with each description no more than 50 words long. At least, that's the plan.

Horrible Histories: Savage Stone Age by Terry Deary, Illustrated by Martin Brown - The first in the Horrible Histories series for children, recommended by a friend in Scotland and focusing on early humans, their lives, tools, and homes, stone circles, etc. Very entertaining, amusing, and informative.

Tenth of December by George Saunders (library book, not pictured) - Mind-bending short stories as diverse as the opening story about a teenager who must make a decision whether or not to try to save a neighbor from a horrible fate to wacky futuristic horror and, if I remember right, aliens. I waited too long to review this but thought it was exceptional and hope to someday own a copy.

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward - A snapshot of an impoverished Mississippi family including teen pregnancy and dog fighting with Hurricane Katrina as a backdrop. Harsh, raw, but not judgmental. Read for book group and only one person admitted to liking it. Most of us had trouble getting through the reading.

Harriet Wolf's Seventh Book of Wonders by Julianna Baggott - The story of an author's final work, missing and possibly burned, told through the eyes of three generations of women in the family (including the titular author, Harriet). A unique, quirky, engaging story.

The World According to Bob by James Bowen - The follow-up to A Street Cat Named Bob (which I've yet to read) continues the story of James and Bob's relationship as he struggled to pay the bills, heal relationships, and deal with a painful case of deep-vein thrombosis. I enjoyed the reading and am looking forward to the first book.

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham - Home in Cornwall after serving in the Revolutionary War, Ross arrives to find his father dead, his home run down, the love of his life engaged to someone else. Ross is a brooding character but hardworking with a huge heart. You can't help but root for him. I hated leaving this world when the book ended.

Mud, Sweat, and Tears by Bear Grylls - The life story of Britain's best-known survivalist, with focus on his youth, his time in the SAS, and his determination to climb Mt. Everest. I was most interested in how he recovered from his parachuting injury, why he joined the SAS, and how he became a TV personality. Much of this was glossed over but I still enjoyed the reading.


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