The Human Bobby by Gabe Rotter

The Human Bobby
by Gabe Rotter
Copyright 2010
Simon & Schuster
General Fiction
289 pages

Bobby Flopkowski has everything a man can want: a lovely wife, a dream house in Beverly Hills and a new baby. He's a successful physician who shares a practice with a good friend. Then Bobby's first love shows up and as one small but meaningful mistake leads to a complicated set of events, disaster and heartbreak, Bobby's life is altered, forever.

At the beginning of this novel, Dr. Flopkowski is a homeless addict living on a beach. He's been sharing a tent with a friend and is completely cut off from his old life. Now, without a wife, a child or a home, he reflects on how his life unraveled and eventually has a revelation about the crime that led to his downfall. Convinced he can get back the life he used to love, Bobby sets out to gather evidence. Will anyone believe Bobby has discovered the truth? Or is Bobby simply too far gone on drugs to know what's going on?

I had a terrible time trying to decide what to write about this book because of its ending. I don't want to give away the ending, but let's just say you're expecting one thing and then the author completely turns the entire concept on its head. Like? Dislike? Rough question. Initially, I was stunned and dismayed by the ending because I felt like Gabe Rotter had been yanking my chain, and yet I flew through the book and felt prone to forgive the ending and mentally rework it on my own. The Human Bobby is well-written with believable, often annoying, characters. As Bobby makes mistake after mistake, you get the urge to talk to him. "Noooo, Bobby! Don't do that! Your wife will never forgive you! That person might be dangerous!" I felt very invested in the life of the protagonist.

So, apart from that ending, I loved the book. I'm still waffling about the ending. If you don't mind having everything thrown totally out the window and a new concept dumped in your lap at the end, The Human Bobby is a good book, a bit of a quick drag behind a fast car and surprisingly hard to put down. But, there seem to be an awful lot of doctor-gone-bad books, so I wouldn't say it's wholly original. The characters are unique, the ending has a "used" feeling and was a bit of a let-down.

The bottom line:

Good writing, interesting characters, and a bit of a page-turner as the reader anxiously speeds to the conclusion. But, that ending . . . I just didn't care for it. The more I think about it, the more I wish he'd taken the reader to the expected ending. However, The Human Bobby would be a decent book club read, simply because I think the reaction to that ending would be mixed and make for interesting conversation. What if it hadn't ended the way it did? One could discuss Bobby's downfall, as well. Did everyone see it coming? What choices should he have made? I think there's a lot of fodder for discussion.


©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.

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.

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott
Copyright 2010
Simon & Schuster Young Readers
275 pages

Ally Ryan's mother has no idea what she's about to put her daughter through. Orchard Hill, the home Ally grew up in until her father's hedge fund disaster, is in her past. Or, it should be. Most of the families on the Crest invested in the fund and the Ryans left in disgrace; some of Ally's lifelong friends experienced major losses and she's understandably embarrassed.

But, those who are left behind have no idea just how bad the disaster was for Ally and her family. Not only did they lose all of their own money and possessions, but Ally's father abandoned the family. Where did he go? Is he even alive? Ally has no idea where to even begin to look.

Now, back in Orchard Hill, she and her mother have moved into a condominium on the "normal" side of town. Although some of them have truly suffered, Ally's friends are still living on the Crest. Some of them still have second homes. They still eat Sunday dinners together, hang out at the country club and scoff at the "Norms". Ally's mother is a teacher at Ally's high school and she hopes she and Ally will be able to resume their friendships if not exactly the same old life. She has no idea . . .

When Ally meets Jake Graydon -- the boy who lives in her old room in the house they used to own -- and plays a quick game of basketball with him on the court her father built for her, there's definitely something magnetic going on. Jake likes her relaxed athleticism and manner. But, he's become a part of the clique to which Ally used to belong. Will he risk losing his place amongst the Cresties to date Ally? Or will her angry friends drive Ally and her mother out of town?

Oh, boy, where to begin? This book really grabbed me. As young adult books go, I thought the storyline was excellent -- a great conflict, interesting setting, good set-up for potential disaster or romantic resolution and solid writing. The pages flew. The characters are believable. Ally is a very likable character. She's athletic but not a braggart. She knows exactly how big the mess is that she's getting into, but she absolutely, utterly refuses to let people stop her from being who she is, doing what she wants to do in school and, as much as possible, she resists taking on the humiliation that justifiably belongs to her father. Most of her old friends simply assume that her father ran off with the money, at least for a time.

What I didn't like about the book has become a common complaint for me. There's an awful lot of horrendous language. I know the so-called "f-word" is not considered as taboo amongst the younger generation as it is amongst mine, but still . . . it grates. I've read plenty of excellent young adult books in which the swearing is kept to a decent minimum, if not totally absent. So, I didn't personally care for the language.

Otherwise, there was only one thing I disliked about the book -- and it's a biggie. There is no resolution, whatsoever. None. In the end, you do find out what happened to Ally's father. But, that's it. You know what happened, but nothing has been resolved. Ally's relationships are iffy, although I'm sure most people will have developed a preference amongst her love interests. The book simply ends . . . just ends.

I received the book from Simon & Schuster and happened to have a card that was tucked inside the book, so I wrote to the director of marketing of the Children's Publishing Division and asked her if the abrupt ending meant the book was the beginning of a series. She politely responded that She's So Dead to Us is the first in a trilogy. [relieved sigh]

In general, I simply do not understand this kind of no-resolution ending, but at least it's nice to know that the story will be continued, which hints that there will be a resolution to the various threads of Ally's tale, somewhere down the line. However, if I was buying the book I would honestly just wait until the entire trilogy had been released before buying or checking out. If I'd known in advance that the book simply cannot stand alone because it doesn't end, I wouldn't have even read it. On the other hand, it's a grabber with great characters and a terrific storyline. I certainly don't regret reading the book and I'd like to read the rest.

Wow, dilemmas, eh? My son's long-time friend, Alexandra, has borrowed quite a few books from me and we've talked about endings. I think we're pretty much in agreement. Each book should have some sort of resolution, but it's okay for some things to be left unresolved if there will be more books in the series. To have nothing resolved at all is unnecessarily annoying.

But, darned if we don't both end up rushing out for the next book in a series, if it's good enough. And, She's So Dead to Us is, I must say, awfully good. I was particularly fond of Ally's nutty friends, the Idiot Twins, and their crazy antics. And, as the book progresses, things happen in a realistic manner. Some of her friends soften up a bit and the Idiot Twins totally lack the angry judgmental feelings that her other friends express, early on. There's an awful lot to like about the book. I just wish authors would realize that it's not necessary to leave absolutely everything unresolved in order to tempt people into buying another book. In fact, at times a cliffhanger ending makes me so angry that I refuse to read on. I don't want to get sucked into that ploy.

A compelling enough book will still manage to lure me to the library, at the very least. In this case, I will read on.

4/5 - An excellent piece of young adult writing that suffers from the unfortunate Cliffhanger Syndrome. But, the story, writing, characters, setting and situation are all so beautifully set up that it's hard to criticize too fiercely and I hope to read the next two books in the series. This was a "can't put down" type of book.

Addendum: I neglected to look at the release date on the spine of this book and jumped the gun a tiny bit. The official release date is 5/25/10.

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
Copyright 2008
Harper Teen - YA
307 pages

Danielle is 18 years old and she's a thief. Her mother has trained her to live under false identities, scope out the homes of the wealthy and then help steal their silver. She and her mother can never stay anywhere long enough for her to do normal things like go to school and develop lasting friendships.

When Danielle and her mom move to a small town called Heaven, things change. Danielle starts to make friends and, even worse, realizes she's falling for a police officer. Then her mother becomes gravely ill. With so many alterations occurring in her life , Danielle has some serious decisions to make. Should she continue pursuing the only life she's ever known? Or, is it time to transform herself into someone new and follow her dreams?

I have mixed feelings about Stealing Heaven, the first book I've read by Elizabeth Scott. I liked Danielle and I adored Greg, the police officer who pursues her. And, Danielle's unexpected, new best friend was a really lovable character. But, there were some niggling little annoyances and one big one. First, Danielle's mother never addresses her by name; she refers to her as "baby", as in: "I've been out a lot, been seen a lot, and this is a small place, baby." I hate that. "Babe" is fine, but "baby" as a term of endearment (if that's what it is) drives me nuts. It's a personal issue, but one that really grates my nerves.

Second, I really disliked Danielle's mother. Not only does she think it's fine and dandy to keep her daughter out of school and involve her in breaking the law on a regular basis -- she's insistent. She doesn't want Danielle to change. I suppose the testing of loyalties makes for a nice bit of tension but it still ticked me off. Should she continue to do whatever her mom, essentially the only person she's ever really known, says she should? Or, should she listen to Greg, a man who makes his living putting handcuffs on people like Danielle and her mother?

In fact, Danielle's mom is just a terrible mother, all-around and . . . . SPOILER ALERT!!!! I'M ABOUT TO GIVE AWAY A SHOCKING REVELATION THAT YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO KNOW IF YOU PLAN TO READ THE BOOK!!!!

. . . the biggest thing that bugged me about Stealing Heaven was the revelation that Danielle's mother, who casually slept around, allowed one of her flings to sleep with Danielle and even encouraged him. That nearly made me throw the book across the room. Involving her daughter in theft was one thing, but encouraging statutory rape (Danielle was 15 at the time) and then standing in the hallway, kissing the guy and laughing at her daughter was just a bit too much.

END SPOILER!!!!! IT'S SAFE. YOU CAN COME OUT FROM BEHIND THE COUCH, NOW . . . OR WHEREVER.

I continued to read, although I could never soften toward Danielle's mother one bit and kind of wished someone would lock her away and throw away the key so Danielle could get on with her life.

Some positives:

1. Stealing Heaven is a quick, light read with a heroine who is confused but basically good at heart.
2. Apart from the fact that her mother called her "baby" (sound of fingernails on chalkboard), I thought the dialogue was well-written and I liked most of the characters.
3. The ending is pretty terrific.

3/5 - If you're going to come up with a character who sinks as low as Danielle's mother, I want to see her punished. I've knocked off a couple of points for Disturbing Crime Encouraged by Mother and the minor annoyances I mentioned. Overall, an average read - good writing, but too disturbing for this chick. If you plan to let a teenager read it, I'd advise reading the spoiler and talking to your teenager to make sure he or she knows just how wrong Danielle's mother was.

In other news: We had our 4th snow, last night!!! It was just flurries and Mr. Snowman has gone bye-bye (actually, he's Mr. Snowball, now), but I am not jaded. I walked outdoors in bare feet to take some lousy pictures of white dots. It was fun.

Speaking of which - my feet are cold. I still can't get used to that. Being barefoot and going out in flip-flops are just facts of life in Mississippi. On our Big Snow Day, we took a side jaunt to buy some fuzzy socks at the 70%-off winter sale. There's just no excuse for paying full price on fat socks when you live in It's Ding-Dang Hot And The Humidity's Likely to Kill Ya If the Skeeters Don't country.

Book-wise: I'm still reading the Beth Moore book for which I posted a sneak peek earlier today, So Long Insecurity. The first chapter was a little repetitious, but the rest of the book has been enjoyable. I will review it when I finish, of course. I haven't gotten far into Island of the Swans but what little I've read is fabulous and I'm looking forward to focusing on that book, soon. I'd say, "That'll give me time to catch up on some reviews," (oy, she's a chunkster) but making comments like that is serious jinx material. Been there, done that.

Gotta go. Happy President's Day to the Americans!

I bought this book with my very own money, earned by shoving my husband out the door regularly and sending him to travel the world without me.

Tickle Tut's Toes & Catch Picasso's Rooster by J. Appel and A. Guglielmo - Books 3 & 4 for Children's Day

Tickle Tut's Toes by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo

Copyright unknown - don't see it, that is

Sterling Books - Children's/Board Book

Ages 3 and up; contains small parts

From the "Touch the Art" series

Tickle Tut's Toes is a conundrum. It's a board book from a series of touchy-feely art- and history-based books, much like the classic Pat the Bunny but each book has a specific theme. Because there are decorations - things to touch or move (like the burlap bandages hanging from a mummy, above) the book is not suitable for children who are young enough to stick things in their mouth. So, my first thought was, "Oh, I love this!" and my second thought was, "Who the heck do you read it to?" I had to ponder that for a while.

The pictures in Tickle Tut's Toes are part illustration, part photograph, which makes them bold and colorful -- perfect for drawing in a distractable little one. The text is rhythmic and, frankly, a bit on the stupid side. For example: "Have you ever seen a kid touch a pyramid? Well, you just did." But, here is where the concept came together for me. While you can't leave Tickle Tut's Toes or its companions at a child's level if your child is at chewing-on-books stage, they're perfect for reading to a little one who is unwilling to sit still for long but enjoys hearing the sound of a voice reading rhythmic verse while observing the play of bright colors.

As your child ages, he'll appreciate the "Artifacts" section at the back of the book. In this section, each Egyptian artifact is identified by its name, origin, time period and current location along with a one-paragraph description.

Catch Picasso's Rooster, also by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo is much the same, but it contains photos of works of modern art set in colorful backdrops. Same bright colors, same rhythmically moronic verse (sorry, I just do not like the words, rhythmic or not) and things to touch, feel or yank off and munch. But, of course, you won't let your kid tear a feather off the rooster's head and eat it. Instead, you'll read to him/her and let them touch then stick it on a high shelf.

Catch Picasso's Rooster has an "Artifacts" section, as well. This time you'll learn the title and artist of each work of art, when it was created, where it resides and a bit about the artist.

Love, hate, love, hate. I don't think I would go rushing out to buy these particular board books, myself, because I recall the point of board books was to have something my child could hold and chew on without worry. But, I can still recite the words to Raccoon's Hide and Seek, one of our favorites, so I know I didn't just hand board books to my children and walk away. I read them aloud. I rocked and read, read in bed with them . . . and then left them down at child level so they could handle them and (if they must) chew on them. If you're interested, I suggest seeking the books and looking inside before you purchase. Consider whether you or your gift recipient is willing or interested in reading and then moving the book to a safe location.

Next up will be a review of The Handy Answer Book for Kids (and Parents). Tickle Tut's Toes and Catch Picasso's Rooster were books 3 & 4 for Children's Day. My thanks to Sterling Kids for the review copies.

How to Roast a Lamb by Michael Psilakis

How to Roast a Lamb: New Greek Classic Cooking
by Michael Psilakis
Copyright 2009
Little Brown - Cookbook/Memoir
288 pages

First the review. I'll post our favorite recipe separately. The most important thing you need to know about How to Roast a Lamb is that it's not just about roasting lamb. It's a big, hardback book that combines recipes with the author's personal story about how his Greek/Cretan roots, large family gatherings, love of food and fortuitous entry into the restaurant business became a lifetime pursuit that led to owning a series of restaurants and becoming a chef.

Psilakis' story is fascinating. His parents left Crete after WWII, when conditions were terrible and there were severe food shortages. I've read a couple of books about Crete during WWII, so it was easy for me to visualize post-war conditions. When he left for New York, Michael's father brought along seeds from the family garden, which he used to begin a new garden in the U.S. During Michael's childhood, he was put to work in the family's huge garden, taught how to dry and save seeds from each year's crops and, at times, also helped his mother in the kitchen. His family sounded a lot like the family of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and I have to admit I was a little envious reading about their huge gatherings.

The recipes come from years of creating recipes in his restaurants, often using traditional recipes but with some updating. Psilakis makes an unfortunate assumption that people can acquire the ingredients he uses just about anywhere -- a pretty common assumption made by people who are accustomed to life in a big city. This is unfortunate for us because we have to drive 60 miles just to get some ingredients he considers basic and others would have to be either ordered online or substituted. And, even his substitute ingredients (mentioned in the opening of the book) are impossible, difficult or expensive to acquire. He frequently uses a confit, sauce or viniagrette that must be prepared separately.

So, we were a little limited as to what we could make but there is plenty of variety in How to Roast a Lamb. The author has separated the recipes into sections that indicate what they're all about - "My Father's Garden" has recipes made from ingredients in a backyard garden, for example. There are fish recipes, recipes from Psilakis' first menus, game recipes, spreads and other recipes specifically for celebrations and recipes designed to be cooked for large gatherings. Finally, there is a section on "The Aegean Pantry" in which the author shares recipes for confits, spice mix, several vinaigrettes and candied fruits to keep on hand.

My opinion of the book, in general, is that it's a gorgeous book that I love looking at and reading but which seems pretty impractical for our household. I can't say that would be true everywhere. If you live in or close to a city where you have access to a wide variety of herbs, cheeses, seafood and vegetables, you might really enjoy the book.

My husband's opinion: "Most of the recipes are too complex." I should qualify his statement with the comment that the author is of the opinion that if you're having a large gathering, there's nothing wrong with spending days -- literally, up to a week -- cooking in preparation. I think that's lovely if you can do it and if you have good reason, but we have almost no family at all and zippo "gatherings" or parties, at this point in time. And, in spite of his comment, we've found a few recipes we like. I'll share our favorite in my next post.

3.5/5 - Gorgeous book, great personal story packed with personal photos and beautiful photos of each of the recipes but impractical and a bit complex for the ordinary cook. Particularly recommended for those who enjoy cooking complicated menus for large parties and have easy access to a variety of fresh ingredients, including seafood and herbs.

The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason

The Blue Umbrella by Mike Mason

Copyright 2009

David C. Cook - Fiction/

425 pages

Includes an interview with the author and a glossary

This will be another quickie review. It's currently 3:48 AM and I can't sleep because the next-door neighbor left her driveway spotlight on and it shines directly through our blinds. Someday, I'll order a blackout curtain.

Zac Sparks is ten years old when his life changes dramatically. After his mother is killed by lightning, he's snatched up by his two evil aunts, Esmeralda and Priscilla Henbother, and taken to their mansion in Five Corners. The two Aunties and their father, who is known as "Dada", can't be pleased. Dada is, in fact, so frightening that every time Zac sees him he faints dead away and has to spend time recovering in bed.

Zac not only is subjected to frequent beatings but also is sent on a mission to steal an umbrella from Sky Porter, a homely man who runs the general store.

Zac grows tired of being beaten with his aunties' cane but he has a great deal of difficulty convincing himself to steal from Sky, the only truly friendly person he's met in a town full of oddballs. Then, Zac finds out the secret of the umbrella and makes an assumption that colors his opinion of Sky. The umbrella has dangerous powers. What will happen when the umbrella falls into Dada's hands? Can Zac and his growing circle of friends retrieve the umbrella before it's too late?

Zac's story is an interesting one, but I must admit I felt I was dragging myself through the book because the beatings were too frequent and upsetting. There are so many people who seem to be just flat evil and the child abuse is hard to take. Zac is even forced to ask for more srikes, each time he receives a slap of the cane on his backside. The ending is a bit happily-ever-after and I liked that, the mystery of the umbrella, and the slow revelation that there were actually quite a few good people in Five Corners. However, they came into the picture a little too late for me to find this book really enjoyable.

2.5/5 - Creative storytelling, unique but disturbing. I don't personally think it's suitable for middle readers -- perhaps teenagers. I love the glossary and think the writing is decent, if not a bit magical. But, it just wasn't the book for me.

A side note: The Blue Umbrella's publisher is David C. Cook, a Christian publisher. There are some hints about heaven and the book ends with a scripture but that's about it as far as Christian references, unless I missed something. I found myself thinking the book was a bit harsh for a publisher of Christian books.

Day by Day Armageddon or Pardon me while I bite that juicy ankle of yours and turn you into a zombie . . . by J. L. Bourne

Day by Day Armageddon by J. L. Bourne

Copyright 2009

Pocket Books - Fiction/Horror/Zombies
199 pages

I fell asleep early and woke up late, so I'm not quite finished with this book (and a storm is coming, which means I need to go ahead and write before I must shut off my electronics).

Day By Day Armageddon tells the story of a man in the American military surviving against growing odds. When a plague hits China, American doctors are sent to help determine the cause and stop the plague. But, it quickly becomes apparent that the disease is spreading too rapidly and even the doctors are not returning. Americans are evacuated from embassies in China and other far-east posts, but it's too late. Someone has brought the disease to the United States.

Called in to his military base, the nameless rogue diarist has already been stockpiling Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's), guns and ammunition, water and other supplies he thinks he may need to wait out the spread of the illness. Then, the truth comes out. The plague causes people to die and then come back. Zombies are roaming the streets and they kill with a single bite.

As the book progresses, our hero finds that he is not alone. He and his neighbor John take jaunts out of their homes to acquire food and supplies, then eventually have to leave San Antonio. As the book continues, they slowly pick up more refugees and they're no longer lonely but now they have to deal with the need for more food, more medical supplies, more drinks. Will they survive or is it too late for the few survivors and the world in general?

I flipped to the end of the book because I'm that kind of girl and it turns out the book is "to be continued". So, even if I'd made it to the end before I sat down to write, I know there's more to come.

Written as diary entries, the story is told entirely from our rogue's viewpoint. Harry wrote a fantastic review at Temple Library Reviews. As he mentioned, the nameless protagonist is a bit like McGyver, jerry-rigging devices to keep the zombies out while they forage for food or sleep for the night, hot-wiring cars, creating diversions. I loved that. The book is suitably creepy and sometimes a little gross, with descriptions of rotting flesh -- which, I suppose, you have to expect from a zombie book that takes itself seriously.

The downfall of this book is terrible English. At one point, the protagonist mentions his typos. I'm assuming his entries are typed on a laptop, although there are fake smudges, circles, underlining, etc., in "handwriting"-type script to give it the appearance of having been printed out and remarked upon or added to. Unfortunately, it's not just typos that get in the way of smooth reading. Poor grammar, misused words, misspellings -- you name it, English teachers would have a field day with their red pens (and an editor should have). I'm assuming the idea was to leave it be and make the entries appear genuine, but not editing made the writing very, very rough and sometimes you have to figure out which word is missing or translate the meaning.

Regardless, Day by Day Armageddon is a fun diversion. My son and I had a great conversation about the book, yesterday. I told him it was basically one man against the world and he said, "That would be like Dawn of the Dead." I said, "Really? That's a movie with a rogue hero?" He said yes, and then started to tell me what kind of supplies you need for a zombie invasion and I informed him of what he was forgetting. If you have a teenage boy nearby, preparation for a zombie invasion is a tremendously fun topic. Day by Day Armageddon is not a well-written book, but I like survival and had fun imagining what I would do if I were in our nameless protagonist's place. He doesn't simply hole up in his house for the duration, so there's plenty of action.

3.5/5 - A fun diversion but errors in grammar, spelling, etc. make it hard for a person with an editor brain to get through.

See the little bend in the left-hand side of Mississippi? Mississippi is the state with Jackson as its capital, in case you're not proficient in geography. We're at that bend in the river. I've borrowed this radar snap from Weather Underground to show you what's coming. Yikes. Batten down the hatches! I've got to make a Walmart run, and I think I'd better hurry.

Kitty is on the mend and I should be able to bring her home, this afternoon! Wahoo!!!! Thanks to Sarah Reidy and Pocket books for letting me join in on this tour. Hope everyone has a fabulous day!

Update: Expensive Kitty is home! She looks terrible and appears to be completely blind in her bad eye, at the moment (she's a bit stumbly), but she's obviously glad to be here and is eating well. We only got a little wet. The blustery wind of this morning seems to have petered out when the rain arrived. I've finished the book and toward the end Harry's comments about the book being entirely plot-driven without much depth to the characters has been reinforced but the book is about constantly moving to escape a growing threat so the characters don't necessarily require a great deal of depth. I love the fact that the cast, which grew as Unnamed Protag picked up a few stray humans, seldom stayed in one place for long because it keeps things moving. Hopefully, the publishers will bother editing the second book. All those errors were really annoying, but I still had fun reading and thought it was worth the time.

I neglected to warn that there's plenty of violence, gruesome description and bad language. It's not constant, though. Mostly, it's a story of survival and an entertaining, escapist read.

Update #2: It just occurred to me that since this book is suspenseful and creepy, it qualifies for the RIP IV. All right! Another challenge book down! I'm finally actually succeeding at a challenge!! Party on, dudes.

Nothing but Trouble by Susan May Warren (review)

Nothing but Trouble by Susan May Warren

Copyright 2009

Tyndale House - Fiction with a little romance, a little mystery, and a Christian theme

352 pages

Author's website

The strangest thing happened during the reading of this book. I was sailing along, enjoying the book and then . . . wham . . . it suddenly began to bore me. I don't know whether it was fatigue talking, although the scene that lost my interest was definitely a dull one, but I spaced out and put the book aside all day. When I returned to the book, it pretty much flew again, except for the occasional scene that just lost me.

Nothing but Trouble starts a series with PJ Sugar, a fairly recent convert to Christianity who has been dumped by her preacher boyfriend because he doesn't think she'd make a good minister's wife. Just after the breakup, PJ's sister Connie calls and says, "I need you." What Connie needs is someone to babysit her 4-year-old while she honeymoons for 2 weeks. PJ was driven out of her hometown, 10 years ago, and has moved from one state and job to another, insecurity and trouble following her seemingly wherever she goes. She's not so certain she wants to return to face her demons (and her former boyfriend, Boone) but, then again, she has no interest in sticking around Florida, now that she's been dumped.

She packs her possessions and drives home to Minnesota for the wedding, runs into just about everyone she doesn't want to encounter (including Boone), reunites with her old friend Trudi, and then ends up sleuthing when Trudi's husband, Jack, is accused of murder.

The story is very light, fluffy, occasionally slapstick, the mystery lightweight. I thought PJ's sleuthing scenes and the banter between PJ and Jeremy -- a man who claims to be Jack's brother and joins her in her hunt for evidence -- were terrific. PJ and Jeremy have a great rapport and it's those moments when she inadvertantly falls back into trouble that I like PJ best. Jeremy is typically nearby when something goes wrong. I also adore the aunt-nephew relationship. PJ walks in a stranger and eventually becomes "Auntie PJ" to little Davy. Scenes with little Davy are charming and realistic.

There's really a lot to like about the book and I did like it. But, a smattering of dull scenes that made me space out (and the one that led me to set it down for a day) lessened the experience. I think it might have had something to do with Boone -- the ex-boyfriend. Boone just didn't do anything for me, as hunky male characters go.

3.5/5 - Slightly above average. Great characters and breezy writing, but the occasional boring scene threw me out of the groove. I liked Nothing but Trouble enough that I desire to read more by the author. The book has a definite Christian theme, although it just pops up on occasion, almost out of the blue. Maybe that was the problem. I did feel a little lost during the scenes where people were talking about Peter.

Next review: Don't Call Me a Crook by Bob Moore. Oh, boy. That one's a doozy.

Gotta go to bed, though. We'll talk about Bob, tomorrow.

Never Say Diet by Chantel Hobbs (review)

Never Say Diet by Chantel Hobbs
Copyright 2007
Waterbrook Press - Fitness/Self-help/Christian
223 pages
Author's website

It's time to refuse the scam and let it be known that diets don't work! Temporarily, yes, but not for the long haul. A 2007 Stanford University study took 311 women, who averaged forty years old and 189 pounds, and put them on one of four diets: the low-carb Atkins and Zone diets, or the low-fat Ornish and LEARN diets. After six months the Atkins dieters had lost 13 pounds, the others 6 to 8 pounds. But then all the dieters started to regain what they had lost. After a year the Atkins dieters had regained 3 pounds, the othere 3 to 8. Why the rebound? Because none of the dieters was able to stick to the plan. And even if they had, they would have trimmed only a handful of pounds.

Don't depend on a diet program to change you. You are the only one who can make the necessary decisions and then follow through to change your life. You can become as fit, toned and healthy as you want to be. It isn't easy, but if you really want it, you will make it happen.

I'm having a bit of trouble formulating my thoughts about this particular book, so let's start with the basics: Never Say Diet is part memoir and part fitness/weight-loss advice. Author Chantel Hobbs was morbidly obese and loved to eat. She developed bad habits early and was overweight even as a youngster. Eventually, she reached the point that she realized the way she lived was likely to reduce the length of her life. She made the decision to overhaul her lifestyle and lost a significant amount of weight -- nearly 200 pounds. The author began simply by going to the gym, where she forced herself to exercise for 30 minutes each day. Gradually, she began to increase her workouts, study nutrition and alter her way of eating -- and even became a marathon runner.

What I loved about this book is that in many ways I agree with her philosophy. The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to change the way you think about food and exercise. Eat good foods, build muscle and take in fewer calories than you're burning and you will lose weight. She calls altering the way you think about food and exercise making a "brain change". I don't necessarily agree with how she went about her own weight loss -- particularly the fact that she started by doing workouts that could easily lead to injury because she didn't gradually ease into exercise, instead throwing herself into 30-minute recumbent bike rides at a [probably expensive] gym, leaving her with rubbery, sore legs and drenched in sweat. She could have easily ended up with an injury and shut herself down cold.

However, the thought process is great and it's my personal opinion that just about nobody can lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off unless they're ready and have the mindset that they want to lose weight for themselves. Dieting for other people isn't motivating enough.

The book is written from a Christian perspective as the author is a Christian. She considered God and the strength she gained from praying and leaving her life in God's hands a crucial part of the process. I don't think it's necessary to be a Christian to read the book and get something out of it, but there's plenty of God between the covers. Because I'm a Christian, I liked her thoughts about turning things over to God.

There were a few things I didn't like about the book, all essentially minor. One is that she is critical of all diet plans. I do believe there are other available programs that emphasize nutrition and lifestyle changes; it's a little harsh to throw all diet plans into one bucket and fish out the word "scam" to broadly describe absolutely every diet plan in existence.

The author does have a point that a lot of diet plans are expensive and they aren't necessarily educational. You can end up spending a tremendous amount of money to have meals provided and not learn a thing about how to eat right because someone is doing the thinking for you. But gym memberships generally are pretty costly, as well, and the author began by working out in a gym. It's a little two-faced to say, "Don't choose this expensive option, but -- hey, I chose another one that hits the wallet just as hard." She does, however, make some suggestions for other ways to get going. There are some photographs and exercises, all of which are performed with a large exercise ball and may include hand-weights or a medicine ball.

The author claims that the best way to initially handle a change in perspective about eating is to make food boring -- and then she advises against eating specific foods. Pickles, in particular, surprised me. They're extremely low in calories and I personally think they're a great snack alternative for those times when you're craving something salty with crunch. I also truly believe healthy food doesn't have to be bland or boring. Taste has to be relearned if you're accustomed to high-fat, salty or sugary foods but with the right spices good food can taste amazing. Fortunately, she does list some excellent "premium fuel" alternatives.

Finding balance is the important thing. I've tried hard to introduce family times that make physical activity fun and natural. My kids like to have swimming relays, hula-hoop contests, and their own cheerleading competitions in the living room. By making exercise such as walks, bike riding, hiking, skating, or shooting hoops a family fun time, you're changing up the movie-and-ice-cream afternoons and adding a health benefit.

Oh, yeah. That I agree with. I'm all about finding balance. We don't have movie-and-ice-cream afternoons, though, and never have. I kind of hate ice cream. You wanted to know that, right?

I got this book and the accompanying Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer to read for a blog tour (you can read an excerpt of Never Say Diet, here). I'm not sure what I think of the Personal Fitness Trainer, in general. It's essentially a journal with blanks for specific information -- room to list everything you eat, records of how much you've exercised and to places to describe your feelings. There's a little rehashing of her story, some encouragement, scriptures and added advice. There are a couple of brief recipes for easy, healthful protein drinks to use as breakfast substitutes or snacks and other food recommendations. I guess my overall impression is that it's not a necessity but it could be helpful for those who need added guidance. I won't personally use it . . . at least not right away. That's because I'm involved in a very nicely structured exercise program, though, and I don't want to confuse the two.

If you choose to read the book and adopt the author's methods, I'd caution you to ease into exercise rather than following her example of throwing yourself into a vigorous routine right off the bat. I don't think she advises mimicking her early choices, but it's still worth mentioning. In general, I think Never Say Diet is a very good book that is easy to read and offers some good advice.

Coming up next: Reviews of Grace for the Afflicted by Matthew Stanford and Written in Blood by Sheila Lowe, as well as my next giveaway. I can't predict when I'll get to those posts, but I'm shooting for As Soon As Possible.

Just walked in: Voices Under Berlin by T.H.E. Hill and The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey. Plus, a half-dozen pairs of double-layer running socks for my husband. I was so relieved when I discovered the postman didn't merely come to my door because I was weighing down his truck with books (again). He likes to rib me about that.

Cat and I sat on the porch and read, again, today. Our high was somewhere around 70. Lest you turn green with envy, be aware that any time it gets into the 60's in Mississippi we end up swatting away mosquitoes. Still . . . it was darn near perfect. I wish those of you who are dealing with icy weather a very safe week!

The Pages In Between by Erin Einhorn

The Pages In Between by Erin Einhorn
Copyright 2008
Touchstone - Nonfiction/Memoir/History
276 pages

Subtitled "A Holocaust Legacy of Two Families, One Home," The Pages In Between is less a story of the Holocaust than it is a daughter's search to uncover the remarkable story of her Jewish mother, who was hidden in Poland during WWII, and her family's far-branching roots in the area.

What led you to pick up this book? WWII is one of my fascinations and this book was showing up all over the place. I just couldn't stand it; I had to read it.

Describe the book without giving anything away. Well, hmm, I'm not sure what could be referred to as giving anything away, but I'll separate anything that could possibly be considered a spoiler. The author's mother was a baby when her parents were shipped to Auschwitz -- she was not with them when they were herded onto a transport train. Erin Einhorn's grandfather, however, managed to escape from the train and stayed free just long enough to spirit his daughter into the hands of a Polish woman who agreed to hide her. He survived the war, retrieved his daughter and eventually moved to the U.S. with daughter Irene and a new wife. Irene never really said much about her escape, instead brushing off her daughter's inquiries.

The majority of Jews of Polish ancestry probably spend a week or two seeking out answers in the country. The author, a journalist, took a year's leave of absence from her newspaper job and moved to Poland, instead. As she uncovered her family's history, she ran into some interesting complications and I truly don't believe I can describe this book without mentioning the tragedy that hit her family, so . . .

Potential spoiler warning . . . skip if you're afraid I'll tell you too much

. . . During her year off, Einhorn's mother died. I think it's important to mention because the author found and met the son of the man who saved her mother from the Nazis, but -- here's where it gets weird -- the woman who sheltered baby Irene took compensation for hiding the child and the compensation was major: a complex of buildings owned by the child's father's family. There are some other twists and turns, but the reason I think it's important has to do with the fact that eventually the story focused as much on her effort to regain ownership of the building as it did on the family history.

Okay, you can uncover your eyes, now.

What did you like most about the book? In a way, it reads a bit like a mystery as the author began to dig for the truth about her mother's past and discovered not only some very fascinating bits of family history, but also that some of the family legends and a few of her mother's memories were not accurate.

How did you feel about the real-life characters involved in this author's tale? I got so darned involved. That was good; I really wanted to learn about her family's history. And yet, there were some things that bothered me about the people. It was really very difficult to tell whether or not the Polish family who took in Einhorn's mother did so without the simple ulterior motive of acquiring property. And, yet, you have to admit that matters little when the result was the sparing of a life.

And, then there's the author. She is probably a very nice person, but she came off as whiny and obsessive. I say she's probably nice because it appeared that she made friends easily and you have to admire her diligent efforts to uncover the truth. But, it was kind of hard to tell just what on earth she was really after. I guess in order to understand my own feelings about her search, you have to understand that my mother was similarly secretive about her past. And, because I've never felt compelled to dig further, I found it a little bizarre that the auther was obsessed enough to actually move overseas. Overkill? Hard to say. I don't think we all necessarily feel the same need to uncover family secrets, so I respect her burning need to find answers.

Was there anything you didn't like about the book? The whole mess about that set of buildings just seemed ridiculous to me. On the one hand, I understand the author's curiosity and why people who are related to a Holocaust survivor would want answers about what happened to their family members and to discover information about their ancestry and where they came from. I know scattered bits about my own history and it's fascinating; my French ancestors were among the Protestants driven out of France hundreds of years ago -- same story, different place and religion. But, I don't understand why anyone would expect to have property that has been in someone else's hands restored to them a generation or two hence. So, I really kept hoping the author would just walk away from the property issues, do her research and tell the good stories. I didn't care about the buildings; it's the people that are important, in my humble opinion.

Recommended? Yes, but with a warning that you have to be a little patient to get to the good stuff. I would call this an average read because I personally wanted to slap the author upside the head and say, "Give up on trying to get the building problem cleared up and just focus on the real story, the history of your family." But, that's me. I wouldn't tell anyone to avoid this book, but I will say it was not a personal favorite. It will, however, probably stick with me for a while. There are some haunting details that keep rolling around in my head.

Anything else worth mentioning? The author was adamant that she had learned an important lesson: she went to Poland with a prejudice against Polish people and left with the understanding that humans are the same everywhere. She met and befriended some truly amazing, generous people. I was particularly impressed with the kindness of those who traveled with her, translating conversations and documents.

Cover thoughts: The cover grabbed me because of the top photo. I wanted to know who those people were, whether they lived through the war, what stories they could tell. The building at the bottom is a clue that the story is not just about the people, but I didn't catch that. It's all relevant to the content and it works for me. I like it.

Moving right along: For some reason I don't fully understand, I just signed up for Twitter. Why? I must be feeling lonely, which probably means I need to get a couple of kittens. Anyway, I haven't figured out exactly how one twits, but I already knew there was something wrong with me. Feel free to let me know what on earth I'm supposed to do.

No great photos, this week. That weather was really something. I need to go on a field trip. Have a great weekend!

Two Brothers: One North, One South by David

Two Brothers: One North, One South
By David H. Jones
Copyright 2008
Staghorn Press - Historical Fiction
317 pages, incl. appendix
Author's website

What led you to pick up this book? I was offered the opportunity to read it for a book tour and jumped at the chance, due to my newfound interest in the Civil War.

Describe the book without giving anything away. Two Brothers is a fictional story based on the lives of real characters. The emphasis is on the story of William and Clifton Prentiss from Maryland, who ended up on opposing sides of the Civil War -- William a Confederate and Clifton an officer for the Union. Walt Whitman befriended the mortally injured William as he lay dying in the same hospital where brother Clifton's wounds were being tended. After William's death, the elder Prentiss brothers join Walt Whitman at Clifton's bedside as Whitman describes the tales William shared during his dying days. Interspersed within the narration of William's experiences are the stories of several women who worked tirelessly to help supply the Maryland Battalion of Confederates with arms, uniforms, flags, mail from home and other essentials, often risking their own lives in the process.

What did you like most about the book? As in the case of any historical fiction, I enjoyed the learning process. There are many, many details about the Civil War to absorb and I've only recently come to understand why people dedicate decades to the study of the war and its players. I particularly enjoyed finding out that Maryland was a state with divided loyalties -- occupied by the Union but with many citizens who had ties to Virginia and thought of themselves as Southern. For some reason, I've always thought of Maryland as patently northern. Probably because it looks like it's way up on the map, from my angle (way down here in the Deep South).

Is there anything you didn't like about the book or topic? I found the prose rather heavy; it read more like non-fiction than fiction in that the characters, in their dialogue, spoke as if they were reciting details from a textbook. In particular, each character was at first identified by his or her entire name and title, regardless of how long it was (J.E.B. Stuart, for example as Colonel James Ewell Brown Stuart) and then often still abbreviated with a middle initial. All of the characters knew names, dates, places . . . things I would not presume that everyone could spit out at a dinner party. At one point in time, an important female character was rattling on about certain events and I thought in reality I could imagine someone walking up to her and saying, "Hetty, dear, you're being tiresome."

What did you think of the characters? In spite of their dialogue, I found that I cared about them and particularly enjoyed reading the little stories within their story, details that I presume the author mined from letters, news articles and other historical documents.

Just an aside: My own ancestry includes a set of brothers who fought on opposite sides of the Civil War. They lived in Missouri and, if memory serves me, I believe they were twins. Someday, I hope to dig through my mother's geneological treasures to locate the details.

In general: The use of too much historical detail is common amongst less experienced authors and I got the impression that was the problem with this book. I kept muttering, "Back story! Back story!" when it became overwhelming. If you can handle the fact that the characters are rather wooden because of overdone historical detail, it's worth reading for the information. I don't know how it would appear to those who have researched the Civil War and are already familiar with such detail.

Recommended? With reservations. I had difficulty finishing the book because I got bogged down by all those lengthy names and the dry dialogue. I would call it an average read -- not my favorite Civil War read, thus far, but I think it has its merits. There are certainly some exciting moments.

Cover thoughts: Love the cover, with half of a Confederate uniform and half Union. It tells you exactly what the story is about, as does the title. Also, the book is printed on good quality paper and has a nice, shiny cloth cover beneath the jacket -- with silver lettering and two flags on the spine. It's a really pretty book.

To Catch the Lightning by Alan Cheuse

To Catch the Lightning
by Alan Cheuse
Copyright 2008
Sourcebooks - Fiction/Historical
502 pages

Our mules are laden high with supplies, and the beasts we ride are weighted down with our bodies. The sun is rising up over the eastern walls of this great and glorious declivity, a monument to time so vast that none of us can any more imagine it whole than the mayfly can picture the turning pages of a calendar. Cliff upon cliff leads away in ranks to the north and west, and yet it appears as though no dimension exists but the one in which we're standing. All else around us remains only an arm's length away. This makes me think of the childhood notion that one had only to reach out with a hand to snare a star.

I'm going to have to divert from normal review mode for this one. There's just too much I want to say about it. So, self-interview.

Me: So, tell everyone about the book, without giving anything away.

Myself: That's not a very original interview question.

Me: Complain, complain.

Myself: To Catch the Lightning is historical fiction about the life of Edward Sheriff Curtis, the renowned photographer who made it his mission to capture photographs of Native Americans in every tribe in the United States, to record them before their ancient traditions and costumes disappeared.

Me: The viewpoints are important because my alter ego, I, tells me that you're a little perplexed as to the way this book was written.

Myself: Yes, definitely. There are multiple viewpoints. Rather than having Curtis describe his life in first person or from a more distant perspective, the author chose to show Curtis primarily via the viewpoint of William E. Myers, assistant to Curtis for many years. That's not a bad thing, in and of itself, but the author didn't stick entirely to the thoughts of Myers. Instead, he did what writers refer to as "head-hopping", describing how Curtis thought and felt, as well as Myers' own point of view. Sometimes, head-hopping doesn't bother me a bit, but in this case I thought the author's portrayal of his subject was a bit . . . presumptuous. It grated my nerves in a way that few books of this type do.

Also, there is a second much-used narrator, Jimmy Fly-Wing. Jimmy was a Plains Indian who left his home and family, quickly learned English and became a scholar. Eventually, he crossed paths with the Curtis expedition. He seemed unable to find a place in either his native world or the city life of the modern European transplant.

Occasionally, Edward Curtis' wife, Clara, shares her thoughts.

Before I stomp all over the book, ask me about the good and please remember that I actually enjoyed the book but had a lot of problems with it, as well. So, hang in there.

Me: Will do. Tell us what you loved about the book.

Myself: I really enjoyed learning about the life of Curtis -- how the combination of an expedition to Alaska with some wealthy men in addition to some early experiences photographing Native Americans gave him the idea to capture on film way of life that was quickly disappearing. Also, his struggles to fund his expeditions and the angst of his marital troubles were interesting. Myers appears to have been a brilliant linguist and extremely dedicated to helping Curtis with his fieldwork; I found that I admired him and his efforts. I was also fond of Clara for her strength and business sense, although I thought Cheuse's portrayal of her was quite negative. For one thing, he describes her as not particularly attractive. I've looked her up online and I think she was lovely. Stylistically, sometimes the writing was lyrical and dreamlike.

Me: Sometimes?

Myself:

Yes, and here is one thing that really, really annoyed me. The author frequently wrote lovely passages that were interrupted by common language -- as in vulgar choice of terminology. I thought his use of the vulgar destroyed the flow and the literary beauty of the book. This isn't a very good example of a nice passage, but this shows you a bit of the common language that intervenes:

I was a middle child, with two ahead of me, tall and strong boys, and two behind me, two, as it happened, mewling and puling girls. My brothers took care of themselves, and I looked forward to the day when I would live that way. The babies below me stayed on the tit and made for worries during the winters when it became difficult for them to eat and breathe.

The use of "on the tit" instead of saying that the children were breast-fed just jerked me right out of the moment. Bodily functions, in general, were described using common terms. I found them intrusive and out of place.

Me: So, what did you think of Cheuse's portrayal of Curtis?

Myself: I'm not trying to be picky, here, but okay . . . I'm a fairly obsessive amateur photographer, so I feel like I have an understanding of the process, the art of composition and the emotions involved in finding the subject matter, setting the scene, or simply capturing a moment. I thought that the meaning and, particularly, the joy involved in the process of photography were completely missing from this book. There's more emphasis on the spirituality of his experiences with Native Americans and the angst of his personal life (money trouble and friction with the wife), as well as the constant travel than of the photography. It also appeared that Cheuse diverted from the true time-line. I could be wrong about that, but in historical fiction I feel very strongly that one should use reality to frame the fiction and it certainly didn't appear that the bare bones were in the right places.

Me: Any other criticisms, She Who Picks Books to Pieces.

Myself: Sigh. Yes, one more. I had a strong feeling that the author intruded and forced his own beliefs on Edward Curtis. That is simply an impression and I could give you some specific examples of why I believe that, but I don't think it's worth going into. My opinion only. Also, I thought Jimmy Fly-Wing's story was just flat weird, even though he serves as an excellent example of the difficulty aboriginal people have in adjusting, when their customs and traditions are swallowed up by new ways and their land is stolen. I thought he treated the natives with empathy and the wife with contempt. Poor Clara had to have been a very strong woman, running the business and rearing children as a single parent most of the time, but she was portrayed as whiny and mean-spirited.

Me: So, would you recommend the book?

Myself:

Yes, with slight hesitation. In spite of the many negatives mentioned, I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading the book. It's a breezy read, in many ways, and Edward Curtis was such an interesting man that it was really quite enjoyable to learn a bit about him. Aside from the fact that he took photographs of Indians, there wasn't really a thing that I could have told you about Edward S. Curtis before reading the book. To Catch the Lightning piqued my curiosity enough that I'd like to read more about Curtis (and have read a bit online). I've added Anne Makepeace's biography of Curtis, Edward S. Curtis: Coming to Light, to my wish list. I do think the author tried too hard to be stylish and went overboard, to be honest. I'd have liked a more straight-forward writing style.

Me: Do you think you'd read more by the author?

Myself:

Yes, definitely.

I: Not to intrude or anything, but I think it's rude and bizarre that you never include me in your interviews.

Me: Hey, you were mentioned way back at the beginning.

Myself:

Don't you mean "I was mentioned"?

I: You guys are losing me.

Me:

Someone say this interview is over.

Me, Myself and I

(in chorus): The End.

More weirdness will be available for your reading pleasure in future posts. Hope you had a nice weekend!

Bookfool, who absolutely abhors that Daylight Savings Time "fall back" business. I like longer evenings, thank you very much.