Matthew and the Bullies by Sarah, Duchess of York

Matthew and the Bullies
by Sarah, Duchess of York
Copyright 2010
Sterling Children's Books - ages 4-8

Matthew can run fast, but he's smaller than most of the kids in his class and because of his size, he is bullied. He's nervous about going to school but afraid to tell anyone about his problem. Matthew considers fighting back, but hasn't, yet. Sometimes, he lingers amidst a group of children to protect himself. But, it doesn't always work. When John and Daniel gang up on him, he runs away and cries.

A friend finds Matthew crying and she encourages him to talk to the teacher and his parents. His parents talk to the teacher and the teacher tells the bullies that picking on people will not be tolerated. She also talks to their parents to let them know about the bad behavior of their children and the potential consequences. After Matthew does a show-and-tell presentation of his athletic awards, he's pleased at how well he did. John and Daniel tell him they won't bully him, anymore, and Matthew asks them if they'd like to practice soccer with him, over the weekend. All is well.

What I liked about this book:

Matthew and the Bullies offers parents an opportunity to discuss bullying with their children and to let children know that they're willing to listen, that parents and teachers are there to help. There are some excellent tips by a psychologist in the back of the book.

What I disliked about this book:

It's a little too easy for Matthew, in the end -- pretty unrealistic, I thought. I especially disliked the fact that it turned out that Matthew was a talented athlete. What does that say to those who aren't? It's pretty common for brainy kids to be bullied, even at a very young age, and if they happen to be burdened with awkwardness and lack of athleticism, this book could just be like poking a bruise if it's read or handed to those children. I'm not sure how exactly I would have ended that book, but it definitely had an oddly narrow focus and a too-easy solution.

On bullying, in general, and the usefulness of this book:

Bullying and cruelty to those who are different is a hot topic, these days, due to the recent suicides of gay teens -- and it's an important one. Our own experience has taught us that teachers cannot be expected to catch everything, so the most important thing a parent can do is keep communication open with their children. In this way, I think Matthew and the Bullies is a book that one can use, in spite of its flaws. It's geared to younger children and opening up the subject early may help them to deal with it later in life.

The bottom line:

I'd advise purchasing Matthew and the Bullies when your child is on the younger end of the spectrum, as a way to open up the topic. But if your child is already being bullied because he's unathletic, skip it and find another book. As to the writing, it's a little flat and lifeless but gets the point across. The illustrations didn't thrill me. In general, I'd call this an average book and recommend it with slight hesitation because of its overly-simplified ending.

In other news:

No photos, today. But, I do have a kitty story. Isabel has always been fascinated with the toilet and today I made the mistake of flushing with the lid up. Little Izzy was sitting nearby and jumped directly into the toilet as it was flushing, then popped back out backwards. Oh, do I wish I'd had a video camera, although it's not likely I'd have carried it into the bathroom, anyway. Fortunately, Isabel got a clean-water bath. The jerky shake-off-the-water dance after her experience was half the fun. I'll call that my Wednesday Wahoo!

And, this is unusual for me: I'm planning to do a product review for CSN, which has about a million stores and sells everything from cat beds to human bed sets to cooking utensils and bookshelves . . . you name it. I've seen a lot of reviews of bookshelves and I actually have plenty of those, so I'm still pondering what exactly to review. It'll have to be something related to the blog, though, meaning something that has to do with books, blogging or cats. I'll let you know when I figure it out!

Just finished:

The Reapers Are The Angels by Alden Bell and
Take a Chance On Me by Jill Mansell

I enjoyed both and hope to review them very soon. My sidebar will give you an idea of how serious the review backlog has become. Eeks. It's kind of scary. I shall do my best to catch up, but you know how that goes. Don't hold your breath.

May your Wednesdays be full of wahoos and the rest of your days happy and healthy.

Bookfool, feeling wahooey

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo

Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo
Copyright 2009
Guideposts - General fiction
270 pages
Author's website

Emma's life has recently gone down the drain. A former professor at a prestigious university, she made her living studying Jane Austen and thought her husband was her Darcy or Knightley until a betrayal left Emma alone and jobless. Now she realizes Jane Austen's happily-ever-after romances have misled her.

Lured to England by a woman who claims to possess the correspondence Jane Austen's sister Cassandra told the world she destroyed, Emma ends up finding herself performing a number of tasks and only slowly getting a glimpse of a few choice letters that hint at the reason Austen chose not to share her secrets with the world. She's also thrown into the paths of two very handsome men, one of whom used to be her best friend.

What was Jane Austen's secret? Is Emma being led on a wild goose chase or will she be able to publish the letters and restore her tarnished reputation? And, what about those men?

I read Jane Austen Ruined My Life primarily because I was in the mood for something light; and, a quick perusal of the book made it clear that some fluffy fun was in store. Emma is a basically decent person in a disastrous situation. Low on money, out of a job and humiliated by her husband's affair, spending the last of her money on the chance that Cassandra Austen really kept her sister's letters is a big chance that could cost her dearly if it doesn't pay off.

What I liked about this book:

Jane Austen Ruined My Life is pretty predictable and I was in the mood for a book that was low on brain power. But, Pattillo still managed to surprise me now and then, which is always a positive thing. London is one of my favorite cities, so the setting is a favorite and I enjoyed reading about parts of London and locations related to Jane Austen that I haven't seen or experienced, yet. It was also very fun to read a book with a theoretical "What if?" about Jane Austen, simply because Austen is a fascinating character, herself. And, since Jane Austen Ruined My Life was published by Guideposts, it's clean. It does not, however, have any kind of Christian theme or elements, apart from the fact that Emma is the daughter of a preacher.

What I disliked about this book:

There were a few minor problems with the author's research and those kind of stopped me in my tracks, now and then, just to ponder how on earth she came to write them. For example, when Emma used the Tube, she didn't mention escalators or stairs and there was little description of the hustling, tightly-packed crowds. Instead, Emma boarded elevators. The London Underground is ancient and very unfriendly to the handicapped (and heavy-luggage burdened), although I can't say whether or not the stations the fictional Emma used did have elevators. Usually, they're really tricky to locate and a pain in the patootie to use, though, so it's an odd oversight. Most of the errors I caught or thought I detected (I'm no expert on London, myself) had to do with transportation.

Would I read this author again? Yes.

Cover thoughts: I used to write my thoughts about covers regularly and somehow managed to get away from doing so. This cover appeals to me because the soft edges and bright red against a muted background make for an eye-catching image, in my humble opinion. Does the cover give potential readers a decent idea of what's inside? Well, Emma never did lie around on a bench looking like she had a migraine, but she did sit on one and the cover depicts Emma's distress, so I'd say yes, it's pretty well done.

This is the 6th item I've read or watched for the Everything Austen II Challenge and I'm still pondering whether or not to wrap it up. I have an anniversary edition of the A & E Pride & Prejudice mini-series on DVD, which includes a Jane Austen documentary that I plan to view soon. So, you know . . . I'm going to carry on with my Jane experience, either way.

In other news:

It's raining!!!!! Squeeee!! We have had the longest stretch of no rain or hardly-any rain I think I've ever experienced in Mississippi, so it's pretty exciting. Also, I love a good thundery-rainy day. I spent all afternoon reading myself silly.

Just walked in (in the last week or so):

• The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook - from B & B Media for tour/review
• The Secret River by Kate Grenville - from PBS, with thanks to Paula for the recommendation
• Safe from the Sea by Peter Geye - from PBS, thanks to Amy's excellent review

Things I'm currently pondering:

• Why are people still signing up to follow my deceased cat on Twitter?
• Why haven't I bothered to remove my dearly-departed feline's Twitter account? Oh, yes, I remember. Not sure of the password, anymore. Eeks.
• Should I try to plot or at least come up with an idea for NaNoWriMo or just wing it, like I always have? Winging it seems to work better than planning for me, but I deeply desire to be a planner.
• Why am I suddenly in the mood to use bullet points?

This seems like a good time for a London photo.

Ah, the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon in London's lovely Green Park.

Happy Reading!

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Books that are calling to me and finding that their calls land upon a deaf ear

Since I'm not quite back in the mood to review, I thought I'd do something different and list a few books that have been calling to me but which I haven't managed to fit into the reading schedule, yet.

Books that are calling to me and finding that they are hollering into a deaf ear:

Baby Shark by Robert Fate

I read Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption in 2008 and absolutely loved it. Shortly after I posted my review, the author sent me an autographed copy of the first novel in the crime series, Baby Shark, with an hilarious inscription based on the fact that the bad guy in High Plains Redemption shared my last name. I've been anxious to read the book ever since, but I keep bogging myself down with review books (yes, in spite of that declaration in the sidebar, I keep taking on review books). Baby Shark is kept on a prominent shelf and it glares at me, now and then. I need to make time to gobble that puppy down.

Random Passage by Bernice Morgan

Random Passage is historical fiction set in Newfoundland, a stunningly evocative book I actually began to read and then set aside for a reason that doesn't occur often. It was so good that I wanted to devote myself to it completely. At the time, I was signed up for a Canadian reading challenge. For one reason or another, I kept putting it off until it ended up neatly filed on a shelf. Like the others on this list, I occasionally glance at it longingly and think, "As soon as I stop reviewing books for other people." Hmm, wonder when that will happen?

Under the Dome by Stephen King

And, yes, I also need to read The Stand. Confession: I am a sucker for the underdog -- in this case, meaning I like to read books by first-time or lesser-known authors and I tend to avoid those who are making millions, like John Grisham and Nora Roberts (James Patterson, Stephen King, blah, blah) because I figure they don't need me -- although, actually, I've read all of those authors and only one of them thrilled me. But, Under the Dome has appealed to me from the moment I heard about it and I don't let my silly prejudice against filthy-rich authors stop me from reading anything that does, in fact, pique my interest. However . . . it's so big. I mean, Under the Dome is a really, really BIG book and I'm a fairly slow reader. So, it's holding down the table top in our den, just waiting for me to pick it up.

The Ship of Brides by JoJo Moyes

Same song, different tune. I read Foreign Fruit by JoJo Moyes, a few years ago, and absolutely loved it. So I bought The Ship of Brides and The Peacock Emporium. The Ship of Brides is another chunkster but it also happens to be a post-WWII novel and you'd think that would be enough to make me sit down with it. A bunch of military brides from Australia traveling to meet with their husbands in England via a ship full of naval officers? Oh, oh. Want to read now!! But, again . . . fat book, obligations. Maybe if I picked up my computer and dropped it from the rooftop that would give me the reviewing break I need?

The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy

I don't even know where I heard of The Forsyte Saga, although I suspect someone in my reading group mentioned it. After hearing the title, I just happened to find the entire series on DVD in the library. I dragged it home and spent the entire week watching it, little by little. And, then I bought the book. You know the rest of the story. Incidentally, that is the cover of the DVD set but it's the same picture that's on the cover of my copy of the book. One thing I truly loved about the series was the casting. Several actors I'm very fond of were in the series, but The Forsyte Saga also introduced me to someone new to me, the uber-talented Damian Lewis.

Lewis played a particularly nasty character, but he did it so convincingly that I've sought him out elsewhere and have not been disappointed . . . except when he drops his lovely accent -- I hate that. I think there should be an organization devoted to saving British, Australian and other wondrous accents from being mucked up by American roles. Find an excuse to make your Brits and Aussies and Welshmen and Kiwis keep their accents and write it into the script! Are you listening, Hollywood?

Thus, we come full circle to the concept of the deaf ear. But, you never know. Maybe one ear will perk up and save an accent.

Enough for now. There are plenty more books begging me to make 2011 an ARC-free year. We'll see if I bother to listen.

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Fiona Friday and Mindless Meanderings

I absolutely love this photo of Fiona because it shows her typical patient, relaxed expression. She is such a lovely cat in both looks and personality. Fiona has continued to grow, since Isabel arrived, and she is a big, sturdy cat, now.

Some of you already know that yesterday was a banner day for our kitties. We've been slowly letting Isabel spend the night outside her room (the utility room) but I was planning to put her to bed in the usual way until I spent some time reading in the bedroom. Fiona was sleeping at the end of the bed on her cardboard scratching pad and it was cold, so I moved her onto the bed. Then, in marched Isabel, once Fiona had finished her luxurious bathing ritual and dropped off to sleep.

Fi was nervous, at first, afraid the little hellion would pounce on her. So, I petted her head and told her, "It's all right." Isabel was obviously tired and ducking in submission. Fiona relaxed and groomed Izzy. Izzy kneaded on Fi's belly a little, feeling instinctively mothered, I suppose. And, then Isabel walked around behind Fi and put both her paws around Fi's neck and groomed her head. Then, she curled up within inches of Fiona. Awww. I can't believe my two kitties have only known each other for about 7 weeks! I ended up letting Isabel sleep outside the utility room and was rewarded with the warmth of two nearby kitties, most of the night.

On the book end of life, I finished reading The Puzzle King by Betsy Carter, Thursday evening. I loved the ending and had to reach for a tissue when I read the brief Epilogue, which touched me deeply.

I'm getting close to finishing Nightshade by Andrea Kremer, a book my son gobbled down in a single evening. It's taken me a bit longer, but I'm enjoying my jaunt into a world of werewolves.

I'm also reading Detectives Don't Wear Seatbelts by Cici McNair, a former Mississippian and world traveler who now owns a private detective agency. And, I started Why We Need Love, edited by Simon Van Booy but the first entry bogged me down. I'm going to get back to that, today. It's an excerpt from Silas Marner and I think I was just too tired for George Eliot's lengthy sentences when I first picked up the book. Oh, and one more -- I started reading Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Patillo, two evenings ago. It's mildly fluffy and totally fun, thus far.

In other news . . . I'm a klutz. No, really. In the midst of the read-a-thon, my husband called to ask me to measure two prints so he could search for frames. I fetched one from the mantle and then climbed on a chair to retrieve the other from the top of a bookcase. I fell off the chair and hit the back of another dining chair, just below my ribs. Yeow. And, then I cut myself while opening a parcel. I was chatting with someone and told her I've become Superklutz and she said, "That's nothing. I sliced my lip open on a popsicle, this morning."

That definitely made me feel better.

Recent Arrivals (both from Paperback Swap):

So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore by Jacobsen and Coleman
The Republic of Nothing by Lesley Choyce

I tried to write a review, yesterday, and found myself staring at the computer, instead, so I've still got plenty of catch-up reviews to write. Hopefully, next week I'll feel more inspired. At least I'm enjoying the reading.

Update - forgot to mention:

If you subscribe to my feed, you will have probably noticed a number of posts containing nothing but lists of reads in years past, yesterday or the day before. That is because I just happened to find a stockpile of old calendars and decided to update my sidebar so that you can now peek into my past reading life as far as 1997. I began keeping track of books I'd finished primarily because I was reading a lot of titles by Dick Francis and the titles didn't necessarily have a clear association with his storylines, so I kept accidentally buying them twice. That was sometime in the 90's. During the early years, my reading wasn't always accurately recorded and often I had trouble reading my writing because my calendar was cluttered with children's activities, work schedules, travel notes, running mileage during the years I ran regularly . . . you name it. Sorry about that mess in your readers. Just page past it to get to the normal posts.

Happy Weekend, Everybody!

Lovable, furry old Grover Bookfool

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Dewey's Nine Lives by Myron & Witter

Dewey's Nine Lives by Vicki Myron
with Bret Witter
Copyright 2010
Dutton - Non-fiction/Animals
306 pages

We don't love cats out of need. We don't love them as symbols or projections. We love them individually in the complex manner of all human love, because cats are living creatures. They have personalities and quirks, good traits and flaws. Sometimes they fit us and they make us laugh in our darkest moments. And then we love them. It's as simple as that.

Dewey's Nine Lives is a book of nine stories -- two Dewey tales and seven other stories about cats who in some way deeply touched the lives of their humans. I gobbled down the first half of the book so quickly that I actually set Dewey's Nine Lives aside to force myself to extend the joy. I enjoyed it that much.

Each chapter of Dewey's Nine Lives is headed by the name or names of the cats whose stories are revealed within the following pages. I had some personal favorite stories, like that of Mr. Sir Bob Kittens, also known as "Ninja", a cat who was reserved enough that he was practically unadoptable but made his humans laugh when they discovered why he'd originally been nicknamed "Ninja". You just have to read it to believe it.

What I loved about this book:

As I read each of these stories, I couldn't help but think of my own cats and how they've touched our lives, often in similar ways. Our Sunshine, for example, was the most outgoing, empathetic and intelligent cat I've ever been owned by. I'll never forget the time I was crying and she climbed up on my chest, licked the tears off my face then tucked her head under my chin and stayed with me until I felt better. Most of the cats in this book are in some way special because of how they responded to their people, kept them company in their darkest hours, made them laugh, came running when they called. I smiled a lot while reading this book and occasionally wiped away tears.

What I disliked about this book:

These are small complaints, but the stories are often a bit meandering. Sometimes it takes the author a long time to get to the actual cat portion of a tale, although I always found that the background was relevant and helped you to understand the reason a particular cat was so special or important to helping a human get through rough times. I also kind of disliked the way the author inserted her own story into those of others -- although, again, there was a relevance to her comments about her own experiences and I've found that even as I'm writing this review there are many, many stories that I'm bursting to share. So, I can certainly understand why the author chose to do so.

Highly recommended to pet lovers everywhere.

Dewey's Nine Lives is a feel-good book about cats that any pet lover will appreciate, even those who aren't enamored of cats. I was surprised and pleased at the final story of the book, a continuation of the author's tale that connects to the story of another person with a very special cat.

The author politely warns readers that some stories may make them cringe and she doesn't necessarily condone how the humans chose to care for their cats. I felt that way about the many cats who spent their days outdoors and those who were not neutered, although we have always neutered but we used to have indoor-outdoor cats. After our Spooky was injured several times (once by a pack of dogs that nearly killed her) and after I read about how cats are contributing to the sharp decline in songbird populations, we opted to make our cats indoor pets. During her last years, we accompanied Miss Spooky outdoors and called her back if she started to walk out of sight. It's difficult to turn a cat who loves spending time outside into an indoor-only pet, so we started out fresh with Fiona and Isabel. They like sitting in open windows, but that's as close as they get to the outdoors.

My thanks to Dutton books for the Advance Review Copy of Dewey's Nine Lives! My copy will be traveling to the home of a cat-loving reading buddy in Upstate New York.

In other news:

Saturday's 24-hour Read-a-thon wiped me out, but I recovered pretty quickly. I've just been busy. We returned Kiddo to school on Monday and then went shopping for necessities and to check out whether or not Bookfool had a preference for particular monitor sizes (I'm not picky). Husband surprised me by ordering a new computer almost immediately. It will be a relief to have a computer that doesn't continually lock up. It's taking me forever to accomplish anything online. I'll warn you when I go offline to switch out computers.

Just walked in:

The Queen of Last Hopes by Susan Higginbotham - about Margaret of Anjou (from Sourcebooks)

The plan, such as it is:

Since I managed to finish three books and a graphic novel during the read-a-thon, I've got a bit of a backlog of reviews to complete, now. I don't want to give any of them short shrift (although I confess I might just skip Fables: Legends in Exile) but I don't plan to review them in any particular order, although I seem to be doing best alternating between adult and children's books, lately, so I may continue to review that way.

This post obviously requires a cat photo and today is Wednesday, so this one's a Wahoo!

I love it when my kitties hang out together harmoniously. Always very wahooey.

Happy Wednesday!

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

In which Yours Truly wraps up her Read-a-thon thoughts and decorates them in jungle print with a pretty cat

I was going to steal the Readathon End of Event Meme from Amanda the Zen, but then I decided . . . nah. I'm too much of a free spirit to use a standard old form. Instead, I'll just chatter the way I usually do. This time, I'll chatter in list form.

So . . . Bookfool's Ending Summary of 24-hour Readathon Experience:

1. It was cool.

2. Finished - 3 books already in progress:

Why Our Decisions Don't Matter, ed. by Simon Van Booy

The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen

Dewey's Nine Lives by Myron & Witter

3. Read from cover to cover:

Fables: Legends in Exile

4. New reads started:

Why We Need Love, ed. by Simon Van Booy

Detectives Don't Wear Seat Belts by Cici McNair

The Puzzle King by Betsy Carter

5. It would have been helpful to read the instructions a little more thoroughly; I didn't have a clue what the mini-challenges were about because I threw myself in so last-minute that I didn't bother to read about them. Silly Bookfool.

6. I am seriously ADD.

7. Cats are the bestest best reading companions, ever.

8. Next time, I'm stocking up on healthy snacks in advance.

9. There will be a next time.

10. I had as much fun taking cat photos as I did reading, but that's par for the course.

11. The reading was awesome. My goal was pretty much to finish those 3 books and start some new ones. I didn't care about page count.

12. If you pressed me, I'd estimate my page count was somewhere in the 4-500 range, but that's really just a S.W.A.G. (Scientific Wild-A**ed Guess).

13. Cave-in time: Approximately 01:00 Hours

Cat proximity at time of horizontalness: Fiona nearby; Isabel in her room for the night

Sense of satisfaction upon collapse: 10/10

Easily satisfied? Well, yes. But, I did meet my mental goal.

14. Because you can't end with 13 or certain people will get freaked out.

14 1/2. Next time I'll give something away and keep track of pages for donation purposes. I forgot about both and I always have plenty to share. Since I had no specific plan, the ASPCA is getting a donation because my cats have me thinking about the work they do to save animals.

I might just keep a single, running update post like Amanda did, next time, also. I'll ponder that for a few months. Hope everyone's having a super weekend! I do believe I'm going back to bed, now.

9:03 PM or it would have been if my stupid computer wasn't freaking out

<---Laziest cat on the planet.

<---Also, I finished Fables: Legends in Exile.

I don't read that slowly. But, I am certainly discovering that I'm not the type to sit and read all day long. It's amazing how many things there are to distract a gal who doesn't like to sit still.

Also, I like to study the illustrations in a graphic novel. I don't just read, glance and flip. But, geez, it was only 119 pages.

How are you doing?

6:16 PM Avoidance Technique Report

Avoidance: My specialty (at least, after 8 hours of attempting to read on a somewhat continuous basis).

I actually spent nearly two hours not reading, during which I:

1. Cooked and ate something decidedly low in nutrition, high in fat and very tasty

2. Opened the window and waved a plastic bag beneath the smoke detector to get it to shut up because apparently the oven is in desperate need of a cleaning.
3. Fed the kitties some Kitty Crack, aka "Fancy Feast".
4. Played laser tag with both furballs.
5. Danced to the On the Rocks (University of Oregon's a cappella all-male choir) rendition of "Bad Romance".
6. Replied to several email and Facebook messages.
7. Collected on my Mafia Wars properties (it's an illness).
8. Visited a few blogs to see who is Read-a-thon-ing because I neglected to put a link in my sidebar.
9. Watched a video of Kiddo and Girlfriend on a ride at the state fair (I'm guessing Girlfriend's scream is soprano).
10. Dashed out to say, "Hello!" to Kiddo and Husband upon their arrival.

I'm sure there's more. I did, however, manage to finish reading Why Our Decisions Don't Matter, edited by the delightful and dapper Simon Van Booy, once I finally became aware of the clock thingie and how it had continued to tick on without my knowledge.

And, then I played "Stuff On My Cat," as you can see. What's next? Hmm, think, think. I only have one book remaining that is in progress: Nightshade by Andrea Kremer. If it doesn't beg me to read it, when I return to my pillowy reading throne, I shall lop off its head. I mean, I'll decide what to read next when I get there. I'll eventually let you know. Obviously, I'm addicted to updating. And, possibly becoming even weirder than normal. Scary.

2:39 PM - Two down and where's the food replicator when you need it?

I'm not actually counting hours or minutes of reading, eating, goofing off playing Mafia Wars (blush), etc., but the last few hours were definitely rougher than the first few because I went all ADD and did a lot of jumping up and down to do other things, got diverted by crazed cats and stopped briefly to eat some salmon with capers that my lovely husband cooked for me.

When I finally resumed reading, the kitten marched right in and hopped back onto the bed. Fiona really wanted a playmate but finally ended up curled up near a sunny window on Kiddo's bed after nobody cooperated. We had some interesting moments during which Izzy played "feet attack" and chewed on the blanket but then, wham, she ran out of gas and fell asleep. Apart from squirrels scampering across the roof and a bird climbing on the window screen, it's been pretty darned quiet around here - very conducive to reading (or napping, but fortunately I haven't felt sleepy since the salmon).

I've just finally finished my second book, Dewey's Nine Lives -- a very fun read about cats who have made a difference in the lives of their humans. What's next? Umm, a little scrounging in the kitchen? Why does reading all day make a girl so hungry? After I dig up a snack, I'll start in on whatever grabs me. I think probably Simon's book, Why Our Decisions Don't Matter. I've been dragging out the reading of that one because I love it so much, but I still have Why We Need Love waiting, so it'll be good to move on.

This is so much more fun than housework or cleaning a garage. ;)

10:55 and I feel like a slug . . .

. . . but I'm having fun read-a-thoning. A literal pain in the neck convinced me it was time to get up and stretch. I've been reading Dewey's Nine Lives by Vicki Myron for the past couple of hours. I've got at least another 100 pages to go and I was yawning and aching, so I got dressed and whined at my husband, who promptly offered to fix me a coffee. Aww, how sweet is he?

Isabel has continued to keep me company, lolling around on the bed after a good 5 minutes of tail chasing that probably did some serious damage to the blanket. You can tell I don't care. It's just a blanket. We only use them for about 3 months a year, anyway. Fiona returned to my desk chair after we all had our morning snack (Me: cheese & onion sandwich; Cats; Iams chunky stinky stuff). The kitty girls are playing chase, now.

I'm enjoying Dewey's Nine Lives immensely and excited at the thought that the read-a-thon may free me up to start an entirely new set of books. I think the coffee is working. Was just a little worried that we might be headed toward nap-a-thon territory. Also, I think my seriously introverted husband is really, really enjoying the lack of chatter. He'd already warned me he was going to be in need of some recharging time, so this is great for both of us.

Back to reading!

8:44 AM and all's well

It's 8:45 (time just keeps on ticking into the future) and I have finished reading The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen. I hope I wasn't supposed to keep track of pages because that didn't occur to me, although I'd guess there were about 75 or so. Very sexy book, adventurous and with a satisfying ending.

Next up . . . not sure, but something from the sidebar or Fables. I'll figure that out after I have a snack, if I can find anything. I came into this so late that I didn't think to go shopping but those Mini Wheats just didn't do it for me.

Little Isabel, whom I often call "Tiny" (although she's up to a whopping 3.5 pounds) has joined me in the bedroom and Fiona is hogging my computer chair, so I'm perched uncomfortably on the edge for this update. She doesn't seem to mind sharing the chair. Told you she's a sweetie pie. Off to forage in the kitchen.

Good morning!

I completely forgot Fiona Friday, so here you go. A quick shot. I may post another pic, later, but there's nothing like a cat by a kimchi pot in the morning to get you fired up.

It's 6:42 am and dark as night in my home territory. I've fed the cats, eaten my Frosted Mini Wheats (dry - I confess, I am too shattered to pour water into a bowl to make oatmeal) and I'm preparing to start reading in approximately 17 minutes. I'll be starting with The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen because I'm enjoying it so much that I want to finish it!

More later! Happy reading to all!!

24-hour Read-a-thon - I'm signed up!

Would you believe that in over 4 years of blogging I've never signed up for a Read-a-thon? They've always appealed to me, since way back when our beloved Dewey came up with the concept -- and I've participated casually (without signing up) in the past. But, till last spring I had swim meets and other events that interfered.

This year: Kiddo's coming home for the weekend and hubby wants to clean the garage "while it's cool". However, it shot up to 88 degrees, today, so maybe I can get away with hiding in the bedroom to read. We'll see.

I don't have any books specifically set aside. My goal is to finish the three four books I'm currently reading and I also hope to read Fables: Legends in Exile, the first of the Fables graphic novels. After that . . . whatever grabs me, if I find the time. I will not go without sleep, so it'll probably be more like a 12-hour read-a-thon, at best. I've got hints of a sinus infection that's making my eyes puffy and sore, so I just can't do without the sleep. But, I'll keep you posted on what I manage to read.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to the Canadians!!

Persuasion, the BBC film on DVD

Persuasion by Jane Austen
The BBC production on DVD
Copyright 1995

When I sat down to watch Persuasion, last night, I didn't have the Everything Austen II Challenge in mind, but since watching a video qualifies as an entry in the challenge, you get to hear about my quiet evening watching a DVD with two sleepy kitties curled up nearby. I viewed the 1995 verson starring Ciaran Hinds as Captain Wentworth and Amanda Root as Anne.

Update: I can't believe I didn't even write what the story is about. Anne Elliot is unmarried and now considered well beyond marrying age, having been persuaded to reject Mr. Wentworth (her true love) because of his lack of income, 8 years in the past. Now, her family is on the verge of bankruptcy and when Anne goes off to stay with one of her sisters, Mary, she encounters her former love, now a captain in the Royal Navy. They're at first wary of each other, but tragedy and overheard conversations lead to the kind of ending you know you're going to get with Austen. So . . . back to my "review".

I flipped through 5 of the 6 years of reads in my sidebar and didn't find Persuasion, so apparently it's been more than 5 years since I read the book, which would account for my difficulty in remembering the storyline at the beginning of the movie. I did recall that Anne was considered beyond marriageable age and somewhat sickly-looking and, of course, that she was unable to marry the love of her life. But I couldn't remember why Anne and Wentworth parted.

Fortunately, while the movie is quietly paced and Amanda Root seems a bit devoid of expression a good portion of the time, the look of panic on Anne's face when Captain Wentworth shows up to pay his respects at her sister's house, followed by a conversation in which someone mentions why Anne rejected a completely unsuitable and common sailor (now returned from the first Napoleonic War a wealthy man) cleared things up nicely.

Anne and Wentworth's story is beautifully told in this film. The settings are lovely and the costuming goes a long way toward pointing out personality quirks. There are some nasty women in Anne's family and the outfits the characters wear tend to match their personalities -- Anne's clothing is as understated and demure as she is, while her icky sister Elizabeth's wardrobe matches her loud and offensive personality. I thought the fitting choice of outfits was a nice touch.

As the movie progressed, I became accustomed to Amanda Root and I liked her as Anne but I would have liked to see a little more obvious emotion. Reviews of a 2007 version describe the 2007 as more emotional but less accurate to the book than the movie I viewed. There's always a little give and take, isn't there? The accuracy to the book was admirable in the 1995 version, according to my memory and some comments at Amazon, and I will definitely watch it again and again. But, I'd also like to get my mitts on that 2007 version.

The best part, of course, is when Captain Wentworth signals Anne with a look to let her know he has left her a note -- and the heart-pounding moments as both Anne's and Wentworth's voices overlap in the reading of the note. It's terribly, wonderfully romantic.

Definitely highly recommended for the Austen lover.

Also worth mentioning is Samuel West as Mr. Elliot, Anne's cousin and the potential heir to her family's estate. Every time he showed up, I found myself struggling to remember where on earth I'd seen him. I had a feeling he was in one of the Hornblower movies, because I could visualize him in period costume but still could not place him. Sure enough, he played Major Edrington, a character I absolutely adored in "The Wrong War", an episode of Hornblower. He was also in period costume in Notting Hill, as the actor chatting with Julia Roberts in between the filming of scenes on Hampstead Heath.

Persuasion is my fifth entry for the Everything Austen II Challenge, but I don't feel as if I've finished. I'll ponder for a while. There's more reading I'd still like to do. Incidentally, Miss Fiona spent the better part of Persuasion happily curled on a blanket and Isabel spent the vast majority of the evening on my bed, but did pop by for a visit. Fiona gave the video four paws up -- or would have, if there'd been room to roll onto her back.

In other news:

I've kept in touch with Chef Alain Braux since reading his wonderful first cookbook, How to Lower Your Cholesterol with French Gourmet Food. Now, he's just released his second book, Living Gluten and Dairy Free with French Gourmet Food. I'm not sensitive to gluten, as far as I know, but it never hurts to find new recipes that are healthy and I'm looking forward to reading the book and giving some of his new recipes a try.

Also, if you haven't already seen them, you really must take a look at author Shannon Hale's beautiful twins.


©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Mr. Darcy's Obsession by Abigail Reynolds

Mr. Darcy's Obsession

By Abigail Reynolds

Copyright 2010

Sourcebooks - Historical Fiction

348 pages

"So you are the mysterious young lady who has been causing such an uproar. Since you are to be part of the family, you might as well call me Aunt Augusta. It is traditional to say it with a certain degree of exasperation."

"Aunt Augusta!" Darcy said. "This is hardly the time."

She pointed at him. "You see, Fitzwilliam is providing a fine example. He has the tone almost perfect. A few more years of practice, and he will sound exactly like his father."

Elizabeth made a slight curtsey. "You will have to forgive me, madam. It is beyond my thespian abilities to seem exasperated with someone I have just met. You will have to do something to exasperate me first."

Mr. Darcy's Obsession is yet another spin-off of Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice, this time imagining a world two years after Lizzy's visit to Rosings -- a world in which Darcy talked himself out of proposing, Mr. Bennet has died, the family estate has been entailed to Mr. Collins, and Jane has married a milliner.

When Darcy finds out about Elizabeth Bennet's reduced circumstances from an angry Bingley, he decides he must find out how she is doing in her new life as governess to her aunt and uncle's children in Cheapside. With that in mind, he journeys to Cheapside and traverses the street without learning a thing, until he meets a little urchin named Charlie.

Charlie is a smart little whippersnapper and he becomes Mr. Darcy's spy, enabling Darcy to renew his acquaintance with Lizzy by joining her for walks in a nearby park (and definitely resulting in the improvement of life for one little street boy). Will Darcy get over his pride and finally give in to his obsession, making Lizzy his wife? What will become of the rest of the Bennet family? And, what about poor Bingley? Will he ever return to London and find love?

To be honest, Mr. Darcy's Obsession is rather predictable after one has read the introductory material and become acquainted with the new background and storyline. Bingley is almost entirely out of the picture, now that Jane has married a much older man and is expecting a baby, but you can easily guess where that's headed. What's unexpected is the new cast created for purposes of changing the storyline. Reynolds has added to Darcy's family and the little urchin he pulls off the street to use as his extra set of eyes and ears is a charming addition.

The bottom line: If you don't mind a change from the original Austen, Mr. Darcy's Obsession is a pleasant, often clever, read and every bit as clean (no more than a kiss is exchanged) as the original. The additional cast adds a completely new dimension to the story and makes it unique. My only complaint is that sometimes I thought Mr. Darcy's intent was a little unclear, but one doesn't have to read far to untangle any confusion. Definitely recommended.

Just walked in:

How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway - An ARC passed on by a friend. Thank you, Paula!

Just walked in and out:

Isabel and her slave. We went to get the second half of her shots. Fingers crossed this batch doesn't knock her as flat as the last round.

People I don't know:

Because I haven't taken many photos, lately, and some of my favorite shots from vacations are those of total strangers, I decided I'll share one that I love of a family enjoying Trafalgar Square.

Aren't they lovely? They seemed to be having a very wahooey time. Incidentally, I chose to read Mr. Darcy's Obsession partly for the Everything Austen II Challenge and partly because I enjoyed The Man Who Loved Pride & Prejudice by the same author. I plan to read more by Abigail Reynolds. Mr. Darcy's Obsession is my fourth read for the Everything Austen II Challenge.

Happy Wednesday!

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Little Chimp's Big Day by Schroeder and McCue

Little Chimp's Big Day by Lisa Schroeder
Illustrated by Lisa McCue
Copyright 2010
Sterling Children's Books (ages 3 and up)

In the jungle, in a tree
Sits a little chimpanzee.
Mother said she'd be right back.
But now the branch snaps with a crack . . .

Little Chimp is off on an adventure that takes him into the mud with a frog, onto the back of a hippo, under a waterfall, up in a tree for a banana snack, all around the jungle until he wears out and mother chimpanzee conveniently shows up to put him to bed in a tree.

Little Chimp's Big Day would be a cute story even without Lisa McCue's marvelous illustrations, but her cheerful paintings truly make the book a winner. I've been a fan of McCue's artwork since we read and enjoyed a board book called Raccoon's Hide and Seek illustrated by McCue, when my youngest was quite small. All of us can still recite the rhyming text in that beat-up old book.

In Little Chimp's Big Day, that same delightful art is paired with equally memorable rhyming text and a sweet story. Little Chimp may be wondering where his mother has gone, but mother's not worried. She's quietly hiding, allowing her little one to explore while she keeps an eye on him. Sharp-eyed children will notice the mother chimp peeking through the trees and catch on to the fact that someone is watching out for the little one, even when he thinks he's all alone.

Highly recommended, but I'd especially recommend that parents with little ones who are having trouble with separation anxiety rush out to find a copy of Little Chimp's Big Day as it's a perfect story for reassuring children who are going through that "fear of abandonment" stage.

Just walked in:

Everything Christmas from WaterBrook for review
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (from PBS) and
Fables: Legends In Exile by Willingham, Medina, Leialoha and Hamilton (graphic novel, from PBS)

Just walked out:

My brain. I think it went for a nap with the cats. It is really cold in this house, though, and that ought to keep me awake. I am loving the cold, in case you're wondering. We're supposed to shoot back up to the 80's, this week. ~sob~

Last night I finished reading:

Mr. Darcy's Obsession by Abigail Reynolds - and I liked it. I think I'll review that one next, to break up the children's book reviews. I've got quite a backlog of children's books to review because of the Summer Reading Slump followed by End-of-Summer Blogging Block, both of which I hope never to experience, again, ever, ever.

This made me smile, yesterday:

The University of Oregon's a cappella group On the Rocks singing "Bad Romance". It's the dancing that made me smile but I love their voices. Awesome video. Warning: The song contains some bad language. It's a Lady Gaga song. It hurts me to type that "gaga" bit. Thanks to SuziQ for pointing out that bit of mad fun.

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Strange Happenings by Avi . . . because it *is* RIP season, even if I'm not signed up

Strange Happenings by Avi

Copyright 2006

Harcourt Books - Short Stories/Children (ages 9-12)

147 pages

Strange Happenings was on my wish list at Paperback Swap for at least 2 years before I finally managed to acquire a copy. I'm just telling you that so that you'll know what a patient soul I am.

There are 5 short stories in Strange Happenings. "Bored Tom" tells the story of a boy who'd rather be a cat (because cats don't have to do anything but lie around all day -- obviously, Tom has never met my hyperactive kitty girls) and describes what happens when Tom gets to change bodies with a stray cat he has adopted. "Babette the Beautiful" is the story of a queen who wants to give birth to a baby of flawless perfection and finds the answer to her wish is a little too much to handle.

"Curious" tells what happens to a boy who is so curious about the town baseball team's alien mascot that he can't rest till he finds out who is inside that costume. "The Shoemaker and Old Scratch" tells the story of a greedy shoemaker who makes a deal with the devil but doesn't know it. And, "Simon" tells about a hunter who gets his due after he kills the most beautiful bird in the forest.

Each story has a bit of a fairy-tale feel and they do tend to be horrifying in the manner of the old-style tales but not always in a gory way. Strange Happenings was definitely a good choice for that spooky time of year some of us have come to know as R.I.P. Challenge Season. Well, at least I think of it that way.

I didn't sign up for the R.I.P. V. Challenge since I have a two-challenge limit; but I still wanted to read something creepy. It fit; I'm satisfied. I can't say I loved the stories but I also can't seem to put a finger on why. Maybe it was the fact that they were a little too predictable. Maybe I wasn't in the mood for the level of payback in the average fairy tale. Honestly, I just don't know. But, I'm glad I waited 2 or more years for the book because it definitely was a perfect way to usher in fall and I do think it's worth reading, even though I didn't find it altogether satisfying.

I always regret it when I don't sign up for the R.I.P., incidentally. Someone remind me of that, next year, okay?

Sometimes kitties do lie around doing absolutely nothing. We call it "looking innocent".

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin
Book 2 in the Wings of Glory series (stands alone fine)
Copyright 2010
Revell - Historical Fiction/Christian/Romance
439 pages, incl. discussion questions

Jack turned right onto Abbey Gate Street, where window boxes teemed with flowers in defiance of the war. Whatever made Hitler think he could defeat the British?

Levitski pulled the mixture control lever on the center console. "Engine three off. Booster off."
Jack turned the ignition switch on the console. "Engine three off."
"Cowl flaps closed."
"Throttle closed. Harv, when you've got a moment, transfer fuel from three to two."
"When I've got a moment? Tell that to Jerry." Harv swung his guns overhead after a yellow-nosed Fw 190.
Jack looked outside. Chaos. Fighters in every direction, hundreds of them. Forts lagging and tumbling, fighters in flames, white American parachutes and brown German ones.

Lieutenant Ruth Doherty has a past and can't forgive herself for the mistakes she's made. Major Jack Novak has his own problems, but he's a man who loves a challenge and Ruth is one army nurse who is about as challenging as they come. Laid up in the hospital after he's wounded in battle, pilot Jack sets a goal to win Ruth over. But, he has no idea what he's up against. Ruth is single-minded, working hard to send money home to her orphaned siblings and not interested in dating because of her damaged past. And, yet, she's never felt more comfortable with any other man.

As WWII escalates and the casualties grow, they need each other even more. But, can Jack overcome his own battle with pride and admit what he wants to do with his life to both his father and himself? And, will Ruth ever let her guard down? Or will the war separate them, forever?

Well, gosh. I just realized how complicated this book is. First of all, there's the WWII backdrop. Jack is pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress in the U.S. Eight Air Force, stationed in England. WWII is one of my favorite historical time periods and I particularly love England as a setting, so that was the main reason I wanted to read this book. Against this war backdrop is a romance that seems impossible to overcome. The hero is, shall we say, a little on the cocky side? And, the heroine is a wreck. Ruth is determined never to marry or even date. Kissing throws her into total panic. Jack really throws her for a loop.

The seemingly impossible romance between Ruth and Jack takes place over a span of a little over a year, but during that time a lot happens. Jack and Ruth keep things platonic for a while, but now and then he's overcome with the urge to kiss her and Ruth goes ballistic. There is the usual black moment that one finds in every romance and it's a big one. I won't spoil it, but it was a bad enough black moment that I thought Ruth would be crazy to ever have anything to do with Jack, again. But, then, Ruth was a competent nurse but, emotionally, a little off her rocker so . . . lets just cut to the chase.

What I liked about A Memory Between Us:

I loved the historical setting. I thought the author did a pretty good job of giving you that "I was there" sense during the battle scenes,when Jack was flying. I absolutely adored the author's sense of humor; there were loads of light, smile-inducing, clever moments. I loved the nursing scenes, especially when Ruth shifted to a different job. I liked the friendships Ruth and Jack had on the side and how those developed and went through ups and downs. And, while I can't say whether or not the author's battle scenes were accurate, I thought they were suitably tense and mostly believable.

What I disliked about A Memory Between Us:

Ruth had an excellent reason to fear intimacy but I thought the thing she considered her "sin" was not sinful at all. I couldn't understand why anyone would consider what she did unforgiveable. However, I did understand that she was seriously damaged by a horrible experience. I just thought the focus was a little strange and it could have been more believable if handled a slightly different way. That is, of course, merely my humble opinion.

Jack's sin? Sigh. Same thing. I think he had a dilemma he needed to work through about his life and he did make a very serious error in judgment because of something horrible that happened in his past. But, the repetition of the word "pride" just drove me nuts. I thought he was cocky and a little arrogant; occasional use of slightly different wording might have helped.

In general:

A Memory Between Us is heavily focused on the romance and yet there are plenty of other things happening to the main characters when they're apart. So, you get plenty of time reading about Ruth's experiences as a nurse and her frustrations when she's paired with a good-looking but lecherous man during her training for a new job to earn more money for her siblings (reading about that new job is particularly fun because it's so interesting). And, Jack's arrogance isn't just the cause of the "black moment". It causes trouble with his best friend and may get in the way of his attempt at promotion if he doesn't get his act together. With the war going on, Ruth and Jack are thrown together, torn apart, thrown together. I found that surprisingly believable.

The bottom line:

I had mixed feelings about this book. I loved the setting but I had trouble fully believing the characters could be that distraught about their pasts -- traumatized, yes, but wracked by guilt? I had trouble buying into the sin and pride -- the guilt factors. When it comes to the setting, though, I thought everything was done very, very well. The nursing scenes had the ring of truth and most of the flight scenes did, as well. There were only a couple of times I thought a bombing mission would have been more believable if there'd been a bit less joking around. And, the endings of both stories of the individuals (separate from their romance) were satisfying. Confused, yet?

Well, let me just say this. It's very romantic, very heavily Christian, and seems to be well researched. If you like Christian romance and WWII settings, you'll more than likely enjoy it. There was a lot I liked and a few things that just drove me crazy. One thing, in particular, that just drove me off my rocker was the overuse of the word "groaned". Let them sigh, shake their heads or run their hands through their hair, now and then! The constant groaning just felt lazy to me. And, yet, I loved those battle scenes, Ruth's training, the dynamics between the hero and heroine and their friends and a lot of other side material so much that I'm really glad I read it.

So, I'm going to say I recommend it to romance lovers and WWII addicts, especially those who like a clean romantic read and don't mind a lot of talk about sin and a whole lot of moaning and groaning when the protagonists are frustrated. If you can overlook its flaws, there's a lot to love about A Memory Between Us. I liked it and would read more by the author.

In other news:

No photos, today! Huzzybuns and I spent half the day shopping for houses. We're still not convinced we want to go into debt, but decided we'd never get anywhere without at least seeing what's out there. We had a good time. After house hunting, we visited Kiddo and took him out to eat and shopping, which is always delightful.

Funny moment: When we were preparing to visit one house, the real estate agent said there was a note to be careful not to let out the hairless cat, Fiona. I told the agent we had a cat named Fiona . . . and an Isabel. She gave me a funny look and said, "The dog's name is Izzy."

That hairless cat was really something. I've never seen one in real life -- just photographs. She was bizarre to look at but a really friendly, lovable cat. And, Izzy the dog -- a bulldog -- was a sweet, shy girl. We had as much fun talking to and petting the critters as we did looking at the house.

Just walked in:

Infections and Inequalities: The Modern Plagues by Paul Farmer (from PBS)

Enough for now. I'm typing this late and it's past time for bed. Nighty-night!

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Books Read in 1999

January

1. Rip-off - Fay Faron
2. Travels with My Aunt - Graham Greene
3. Moses Supposes - Ellen Currie
4. The Holy Man - Susan Trott

February

5. Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
6. Breakfast of Champions - Kurt Vonnegut
7. Paramedic - Peter Canning
8. The Holy Man's Journey - Susan Trott
9. 100 Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

March

10. Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks
11. Rx for the Soul - David B. Wilhelm, M.D.
12. Dial 911 - J. Lloyd & E. Herman
13. EMT: Race for Life - Lloyd & Herman
14. Tending Lives - Echo Heron
15. Angels of Emergency - Donna Theisen
16. Trauma Center - Lloyd & Herman
17. Baudy Trauma - Dr. D. Page
18. Emergency! - Mark Brown, M.D.
19. EMT: Rescue - Pat Ivey
20. Talking Trauma - Timothy J. Tangherlini
21. Lights & Sirens - Joan and Ed Herman

April

22. The Burglar in the Library - Lawrence Block
23. Lights & Sirens, a Writer's Guide - Lowis Cowan & ?
24. Rescue Alert - Joan Lloyd & Ed Herman
25. Ill Wind - Nevada Barr
26. Firestorm - Nevada Barr

May

27. A Superior Death - Nevada Barr
28. Blind Descent - Nevada Barr

June

29. Full Circle - Karen Young
30. A Thin Dark Line - Tami Hoag
31. Plum Island - Nelson DeMille

July

32. Track of the Cat - Nevada Barr
33. The Fire Inside - Steve Delsohn
34. Reflex - Dick Francis
35. Most Wanted - Maggie Price

August

36. The General's Daughter - Nelson DeMille

September

37. Remember September - Jon Salem
38. One for the Money - Janet Evanovich
39. Roll Over and Play Dead - Joan Hess
40. Two for the Dough - Janet Evanovich
41. Three to Get Deadly - Janet Evanovich
42. Four to Score - Janet Evanovich
43. High Five - Janet Evanovich
44. Bringing Out the Dead - Joe Connelly
45. About Last Night - Stephanie Bond

October

46. Private Eyes - Jonathan Kellerman
47. Talking Mysteries - T. Hillerman & E. Bulow
48. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J. K. Rowling
49. Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream - Robert I. Simon

November

50. The Bone Lady - M. Manhein
51. Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
52. My Old Man and the Sea - David and Daniel Hays
53. But, I Love You Anyway - Sara Lewis

December

54. The Gift of Fear - Gavin de Becker
55. Swimming to Catalina - Stuart Woods
56. The Great Train Robbery - Michael Crichton

Books Read in 1998

January

1. To Have and Have Not - Ernest Hemingway

February

2. Rough Justice - Lisa Scottoline
3. Country Days - Alice Taylor
4. Fahrenheit 450 - Ray Bradbury
5. The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini - Cellini
6. The Eye of Anna - Anne Wingate
7. Scene of the Crime - Anne Wingate
8. Yakuza, Go Home - Anne Wingate
9. Pastime - Robert B. Parker

March

10. Dead Cert - Dick Francis
11. Burglars Can't Be Choosers - Lawrence Block
12. All That Remains - Patricia Cornwell
13. The Glass Key - Dashiell Hammett
14. The President's Daughter - Jack Higgins

April

15. Risk - Dick Francis
16. In the Presence of the Enemy - Elizabeth George
17. The Great Taos Bank Robbery - Tony Hillerman
18. Stand Before Your God - Paul Watkins
19. Archangel - Paul Watkins

May

20. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
21. Forfeit - Dick Francis
22. Twice Shy - Dick Francis
23. Calm at Sunset, Calm at Dawn - Paul Watkins
24. A Passage to India - E. M. Forster

June

25. The Old Man Who Read Love Stories - Luis Sepulveda
26. Extreme Measures - Michael Palmer
27. The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy
28. Letters from the Inside - John Marsden

July

29. Don't Point That Thing at Me! - Kyril Bonfiglioli
30. The Snapper - Roddy Doyle
31. The Prophetess - Barbara Wood
32. The Modigliani Scandal - Ken Follett
33. How to Save Your Own Life - Erica Jong
34. A Father's Heart - Karen Young
35. Brideshead Revisited - Eelyn Waugh

August

36. Straight - Dick Francis
37. The Third Twin - Ken Follett
38. The Promise of Light - Paul Watkins
39. The Titanic as Told by its Survivors

September

40. For Kicks - Dick Francis
41. The Story of My Disappearance - Paul Watkins

October

42. Notes from a Small Island - Bill Bryson
43. High Stakes - Dick Francis
44. When the Bough Breaks - Jonathan Kellerman

November

45. Flying Finish - Dick Francis
47. Available Light - Ellen Currie (note that I skipped a number, here -- my early calendars were not always complete)
48. Comeback - Dick Francis
49. Silent Partner - Jonathan Kellerman

December

50. Total Control - David Baldacci
51. Chocolate for a Woman's Soul - ?
52. The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian - Lawrence Block
53. Vertical Run - Joseph R. Garber
54. Callander Square - Anne Perry

Books Read in 1997

January

1. Homeland - E. V. Thompson
2. Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
3. The World of the Sea Otter - Stefanie Paine
4. The Body Farm - Patricia Cornwell
5. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts - Lillian Jackson Brown
6. While My Pretty One Sleeps - Mary Higgins Clark
7. Thunder Point - Jack Higgins
8. J is for Judgment - Sue Grafton
9. Angel of Death - Jack Higgins
10. D is for Deadbeat - Sue Grafton
11. Natural Causes - Michael Palmer
12. On Dangerous Ground - Jack Higgins

February

13. Jamaica Inn - Daphne DuMaurier
14. Body of Evidence - Patricia Cornwell
15. Postmortem - Patricia Cornwell
16. The Runaway Jury - John Grisham

March

17. Spy Hook - Len Deighton
18. K is for Killer - Sue Grafton
19. Spy Line - Len Deighton
20. Spy Sinker - Len Deighton
21. The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje

April

22. Faith - Len Deighton
23. Loves Music, Loves to Dance - Mary Higgins Clark
24. Wind Chill Factor - Thomas Gifford
25. Hope - Len Deighton
26. Charity - Len Deighton
27. Drink with the Devil - Jack Higgins

May

28. Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Russell Freedman
29. Born Free - Joy Adamson
30. Travels - Michael Crichton
31. Eleanor Roosevelt - Russell Freedman
32. Remember Me - Mary Higgins Clark

June

33. The Hot Zone - Richard Preston
34. Tomorrow When the War Began - John Marsden
35. A Far Cry from Kensington - Muriel Spark
36. The Robber Bridegroom - Eudora Welty
37. Islands in the Stream - Ernest Hemingway
38. Curriculum Vitae - Muriel Spark
39. Loitering with Intent - Muriel Spark
40. The Village - Alice Taylor
41. The Lover - Marguerite Duras
42. Return with Honor - Scott O'Grady
43. About Time (short stories) - Jack Finney

July

44. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
45. The Fallen Man - Tony Hillerman
46. Dead of the Night - John Marsden
47. The Third Day, The Frost - John Marsden
48. Longshot - Dick Francis
49. Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
50. Wild Horses - Dick Francis

August

51. Time and Again - Jack Finney
52. From Time to Time - Jack finney
53. Bodies of Water - Roseanne Cash
54. So Much to Tell You - John Marsden
55. This Side of Paradise - F. Scott Fitzgerald

September

56. The Thin Man - Dashiell Hammett
57. Acceptable Risk - Robin Cook
58. Diana in Private - Lady Colin Campbell
59. Darkness Be My Friend - John Marsden
60. Legal Tender - Lisa Scottoline
61. Absolute Power - David Baldacci
62. Chip Harrison Scores Again - Lawrence Block
63. Critical Judgment - Michael Palmer
64. The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams - Lawrence Block

October

65. The Burglar Who Thought He was Bogart - Lawrence Block
66. Gracie: A Love Story - George Burns
67. The Burglar in the Closet - Lawrence Block
68. Final Appeal - Lisa Scottoline
69. Everywhere that Mary Went - Lisa Scottoline
70. Contagion - Robin Cook
71. Running from the Law - Lisa Scottoline

November

72. Our Game - John Le Carre
73. Original Sin - P. D. James
74. The Cat Who Said Cheese - L. J. Braun
75. Mutant Message from Down Under - Marlo Morgan
76. A Simple Plan - Scott Smith
77. Thin Air - Robert B. Parker

December

78. Double Deuce - Robert B. Parker
79. A Long Line of Dead Men - Lawrence Block
80. The Godfurd Manuscript - Robert B. Parker
81. The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling - Lawrence Block
82. The Genesis Code - John Case
83. Mortal Stakes - Robert B. Parker

Books Read in 2002 (incomplete)

I found a calendar with only the first few books from 2002 listed, which means there's probably another calendar floating around, somewhere, although 2002 really looks like it was a bad year and I do recall at least part of that year sucked. If/when I locate a complete calendar, I will update.

January

1. Tell No One - Harlan Coben

February

2. Going Solo - Roald Dahl

March

3. Time Rider - Rickey Mallory

Books Read in 2001

January

1. Invasion of the Body Snatchers - Jack Finney
2. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
3. The Continental Op - Dashiell Hammett
4. The Woodrow Wilson Dime - Jack Finney
5. The Man with the Getaway Face - Richard Stark

February

6. Killer Germs - ?
7. The Redemption of Deke Summers - Gayle Wilson
8. Speaker for the Dead - Orson Scott Card
9. The Third Victim - Lisa Gardner

March

10. The Defiant Hero - Suzanne Brockmann
11. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
12. The Green Mile - Stephen King
13. Traveling Mercies - Anne Lamott
14. The Girls' Guide to Hunting & Fishing - Melissa Bank

April

15. Resistance - Anita Shreve
16. The Magician's Nephew - C. S. Lewis
17. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - C. S. Lewis

May

18. Manhunting - Jennifer Crusie
19. . Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J. K. Rowling
20. Big Trouble - Dave Barry

June

21. Nobody's Baby But Mine - Susan E. Phillips
22. Do Fish Drink Water? - Bill McLain
23. The Lawman Who Loved Her - Mallory Kane

July

24. Baby I'm Yours - Susan Anderson
25. Waking Up Alive - Richard A. Heckler
26. Something About Ewe - Ruth Dale
27. The Observatory - Emily Grayson
28. Seven Up - Janet Evanovich
29. Always Six O'Clock - Phoef Sutton
30. Zen in the Art of Writing - Ray Bradbury

August

31. Eclipse Bay - Jayne Ann Krentz

September

32. Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett

October

33. Dark and Stormy Rides Again - Scott Rice
34. Bounce - Don Roos
35. Mad About Maddie - Cheryl Anne Porter

November

Nothing at all! apparently, I was too busy driving to orthodontist appointments and around the UK to read.

December

36. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J. K. Rowling
37. The Dangerous Husband - Jane Shapiro
38. The Gazebo - Emily grayson
39. L. A. Confidential - the screenplay
40. To See You Again - B. Schrimmer

Books Read in 2003

January

1. The Burglar Who Sutdied Spinoza - Lawrence Block
2. Lead Poisoning: 25 Stories from the Wrong End of a Gun - Chris Pfouts

February

3. A Minor Indescretion - Carole Matthews
4. Grime & Punishment - Jill Churchill
5. Dr. Yes - Lisa Cash
6. Perfect Timing - Jill Mansell
7. Full Tilt - Janet Evanovich

March

8. Slightly Single - Wendy Markham
9. Mr. Maybe - Jane Green
10. Shopaholic Ties the Knot - Sophie Kinsella
11. Fourplay - Jane Moore
12. Thoughts While Having Sex - Stephanie Lehmann (Interesting note: I abbreviated this TWHS in my calendar -- maybe I was worried that the kids would see it?)
13. Amanda's Wedding - Jenny Colgan
14. The Man I Should Have Married - Pamela Redmond Satran

April

15. Improper English - Katie MacAlister
16. The Great Escape - Paul Brickhill
17. Backpack - Emily Barr
18. Still Life with Volkswagens - Geoff Nicholson
19. Agnes Browne - Brendan O'Carroll
20. My Life and Hard Times - James Thurber
21. Guilty Feet - Kelly Harte
22. The Chisellers - Brendan O'Carroll

May

23. The Granny - Brendan O'Carroll
24. People Have More Fun Than Anybody - James Thurber
25. Big Chief Elizabeth - Giles Milton

June

26. Coffe & Kung Fu - Karen Brichoux
27. Getting Over Jack Wagner - Elise Juska
28. Solo - Jill Mansell
29. The Count - Helena Dela

July

30. Seven-Week Itch - Victoria Corby
31. Snap Happy - Fiona Walker
32. Marion's Wall - Jack Finney
33. Can You Keep A Secret - Sophie Kinsella
34. Come Together - Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Rees
35. Combat Medic: Vietnam - Craig Roberts
36. A Compromising Position - Carole Matthews

August

37. Nine Months - Sarah Ball
38. Things My Girlfriend & I Have Argued About - Mil Millington
39. Under An English Heaven - Robert Radcliffe

September

40. The Year My Life Went Down the Loo - Katie Maxwell
41. The Nanny - Melissa Nathan

October

42. Something You Should Know - M. Hill
43. Second Prize - Chris Manby
44. Tricky Business - Dave Barry
45. Alamo House - Sarah Bird
46. Shocking Behavior - Jennifer Archer

November

47. The Wrong Sort of Girl - Valerie-Anne Baglietto
48. Mr. Commitment - Mike Gayle

December

49. Every Woman for Herself - Trisha Ashley

Books Read in 2004

January

1. Goose Eggs and Hoover Bags - Dawn Cairns
2. Old School Ties - Kate Harrison
3. The Time Machine - H. G. Wells

February

4. Nathaniel's Nutmeg - Giles Milton
5. Talking to Addison - Jenny Colgan
6. Sleeping Cutie - ?

March

7. Millie's Fling - Jill Mansell
8. My Cat Saved My Life - P. Schreiber
9. Who Needs Decaf? - T. Michaels
10. It's Open House - Jill mansell

April

11. In a Sunburned Country - Bill Bryson
12. Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport - ?
13. Two's Company - Jill Mansell
14. Aiding & Abetting - Muriel Spark
15. Good Girls Gone Bad - J. Medoff

May

16. Just Friends - Robyn Sisman
17. The Hatbox Baby Carrie Brown
18. New Cardiff - Charles Webb
19. I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith

June

20. One True Love - Stephanie Lloyd
21. The Scapegoat - Daphne DuMaurier
22. Amnesia Nights - Quinton Skinner

July

23. Frenchman's Creek - Daphne DuMaurier
24. Hot Pursuit - Gemma Fox
25. Plan B - Jonathan Tropper

August

26. Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell
27. Nadia Knows Best - Jill Mansell
28. Ex Libris - Ross King
29. The Underground Man - Mick Jackson
30. The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch - Marsha Moyer
31. The Restraint of Beasts - Magnus Mills

September

32. Sackett's Land - Louis L'Amour
33. 32AA - Michelle Cunnah
34. Separation Anxiety - Karen Brichoux
35. The Last of the Honky-Tonk Angels - Marsha Moyer
36. Cocktails for Three - Madeleine Wickham

October

37. Love and a Bad Hair Day - Annie Flannigan
38. Call Waiting - Michelle Cunnah
39. The Persian Pickle Club - Sandra Dallas
40. Boy Meets Girl - Meg Cabot
41. An Englishman in Paris - Michael Sadler
42. Happy All the Time - Laurie Colwin
43. Tell Me the Truth About Love - W. H. Auden
44. Does She or Doesn't She? - Alisa Kwitney
45. Flabbergasted - Ray Blackston

November

46. A Delirious Summer - Ray Blackston
47. The Four Seasons - Mary Alice Monroe
48. The Whitney Chronicles - Judy Baer

December

49. Persuading Annie - Melissa Nathan
50. To Have and To Hold - Jane Green
51. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
52. Princess in the Spotlight - Meg Cabot
53. Princess in Love - Meg Cabot
54. A High and Hidden Place - Michele Claire Lucas

Fiona Friday - Things to watch

Fi was a little torn between watching the baby cardinals outside or the little kitten rascal inside.

©2010 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this post at Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.