Waiting for Daybreak by Kathryn Cushman

Waiting for Daybreak by Kathryn Cushman
Copyright 2008
Bethany House - Christian Fiction
315 pages
Author's website

What led you to pick up this book? I read Kathryn Cushman's first book, A Promise to Remember, a couple of months ago, and loved her writing style. Fortunately, she obliged me by immediately producing a second novel.

Describe the book without giving anything away. Paige is a pharmacist who once made a simple mistake that dramatically changed her life. Now, with an ailing mother in need of money for special treatment, Paige feels obligated to keep her history quiet when a new job opportunity with excellent pay comes along. But, the past has a way of coming back to haunt you.

Clarissa has led a charmed life and dreams of opening a new pharmacy in her grandfather's building. But, first she must prove herself as a pharmacist. When Clarissa's grandfather hires Paige to help out at the pharmacy, Clarissa does everything in her power to drive the intruder away. Will Paige continue to ignore Clarissa's arrogance and the dangerous errors that could hurt the patients who are their customers? Or, will she speak up and risk the loss of everything, including her mother's health?

What did you like most about the book? I love Kathryn Cushman's writing style; her books have a smooth flow that makes for quick reading, but she tackles tough themes. Also, there's always the question of "preachiness", when it comes to Christian lit, and I didn't find it preachy at all, although it was a little heavier on Christian elements than some of my recent Bethany House reads. While I strongly feel that nobody wants to read a thinly-disguised lecture about anything, including personal agendas that have nothing to do with religion, Christian writing is held under the proverbial microscope in a way that authors of few other genres have to deal with. Dean Briggs wrote an excellent post about the topic, entitled "Writing Beyond the Secular/Faith Barrier" at Breeni Books, this week. I highly encourage you to check it out.

What did you think of the characters? Cushman does a great job of creating characters who are Christian without pushing an agenda. I liked Paige a lot because she was going through some very challenging circumstances but she did her best to stay strong. As part of her struggle to keep up the faith, she carried cards with Bible verses to work, something I've never managed to get around to (but have thought about . . . shoot, I even have plenty of cards lying about).

There is also a wonderful, quirky character that I just adored in Waiting for Daybreak -- Ora, one of the customers, who readily recommends Bible verses by their location (book and verse number) but doesn't have the actual words memorized. While I'm not quite sure the author meant to say this, I thought the fact that those verses didn't always apply was a good example of how Christians often mean well but are totally off-base . . . human, in other words.

Was there anything you didn't like about the book? It had a bit of a sagging middle. And, it was a little hard reading about Paige's mother, since my own mother attempted to get into the well-known treatment center at which Paige's mother received her therapy. But, the cancer bit was simply a part of Paige's characterization and was important to the plot without the book becoming a "cancer book", so I never felt like tossing it aside because of either the cancer (which usually drives me crazy if it's central to a book's storyline) or the mother-daughter relationship. I did, however, feel like the fact that Paige's mother was treated far from home meant the pressure of the illness had a little less impact on the story.

Recommended? Absolutely. Waiting for Daybreak is a good story. I'm looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with in the future.

Cover thoughts: I wasn't thrilled with the cover when I saw it because Cushman's first cover also had a two-chick thing going, but it turned out to be every bit as perfect and relevant as that of A Promise to Remember.

Totally irrelevant side note: Bybee of Naked Without Books had a terrific discussion going, recently. What, she asked, is the phrase in the book which is the source for the title? Nobody knew. In fact, she came to the conclusion that there is no particular term and, therefore, one needed to be invented. She held a vote and the winner was "title drop". I grabbed a post-it when I came to the title drop in Waiting for Daybreak. Here is a part of the passage that includes the title drop, a conversation between Ora and Paige:

"If you lived in a city back in those days, and an army was outside the walls, when do you reckon would be the scariest time?"

"When the enemy started shooting arrows?"

"No. It would be in the dead of night, when you couldn't see a thing, but you could hear the clanking of armor as enemy soldiers surrounded your city, and the heavy footsteps of who knows how many. You're not sure what's out there, but it sure sounds like it's going to be bad. It's the time you'd want to get out of the city and quick, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"But see, this is all about staying and standing your ground. Things sound bad now and you've got no idea what terrible things are out there, but God's gonna help at break of day. You just got to have enough faith to stand firm all night at the city wall and wait for daybreak."

Isn't that wonderful? Thank you, Bybee, and heads-up to the Webster's people.

Before I totally forget, you really need to dash over and Estellify Yourself, if you haven't already. Yes, a new issue of Estella's Revenge is available for your reading pleasure! Wahoo!

Oh, oh, oh! This week I found a bookmark, upon the back of which I had written vocabulary words with page numbers. Has anyone else ever used a bookmark to keep track of vocabulary words? I did that for dinosaur years -- wrote the words, sometimes with an accompanying phrase, on the back of a bookmark and then defined them in a notebook when I finished each book. Because, let's face it, I'm a serious nerd. That's a good thing, in my opinion, as you may have noticed that a few very special nerds commonly make (and often generously share) excessive fortunes. Bill Gates comes to mind. Definining words in a notebook must have helped to expand my mind a bit, because only one of the vocabulary words on the back of that bookmark made me squeeze my eyebrows together, that being the word "penetralium".

Yes, of course I googled it, although I must say it was not an easy word to find:

penetralium – the innermost part of a building

Interesting.

No photos, today. I am still dragging and plan to sleep late for a couple of days to see if that helps. The husband is back from Florida! Wahoo! I can be a bum, again! Oh, no, I can't because I have Christmasy things to do. Well, it was a nice idea. I'm off to bed in my cozy penetralium. Very soon, I shall tell you about a pie. But, don't hold your breath because I need to get some sleep, first. Later, gators!

Wahoo! Wednesday - Where I Find Joy Edition

This may really end up the "terrible photo wahoo edition", but I was paging through my files, trying to figure out what to wahoo about and, at the same time, snuffling about Dewey . . . and I came across the photo at left. The lighting is lousy and the focus sucks, but that's not the point. The point is that it was a joyful moment.

My husband and I were out hawk-hunting, at the time. There's a red-shouldered hawk whose territory includes a small field about a half-mile from our house and hubby had spotted the hawk while he was out and about, then rushed home to fetch me (without breaking any traffic laws, of course). There are several goats and horses living in that field and as I moved closer to the hawk, snapping away, the farm animals spotted me and literally came running to greet me. Doesn't that goat look excited? That's a joyful goat, if you ask me.

Two horses stuck their heads over the fence and let me pet them (the goats couldn't quite reach) before deciding I had no apples or oats and, how strange, the human was making dismissive, back-pedaling gestures because of the husband-thing waiting in the car, so to heck with that. Anyway . . . Wahoo! for friendly animals! I get a tremendous amount of joy from the animals I photograph, in particular. And, my cat. I love my cat.

This one's going to be weird. Wahoo! for water! Seriously, I love water. I love soaking in a nice, hot bubble bath or a fizzy mineral bath . . . so I like smelly water. I love the patterns water makes; it's loads of fun to photograph. I love swimming in it and adore being clean -- which, of course, means soap is also on the joy list. And, darned if it isn't good for drinking, too, although I admit to being one of those people who guzzle bottled water. If you tasted our tap water, you'd understand.

Wahoo! for words! I know the rest of you are crazy about words, or you wouldn't be here. I actually used to sit and read the dictionary, as a child. Talk about a goofy kid. How many different ways do you think this piece of sign could be interpreted?

I was thinking it might be pretty funny on a t-shirt, but it's actually part of a pizza slogan plastered to the exterior wall of a convenience store.

I've been really tired, this week, so I'm going to keep this post short. Up next will be a review of Waiting for Daybreak.

Tuesday Twaddle, including October and November Round-ups

Photo twaddle: A montage of some favorite images from our visit to the Memphis Zoo. I'm particularly fond of the hugging gibbons on the lower right, although it's not a good photograph -- I was too close to get a clear shot.


I finished Waiting for Daybreak by Kathryn Cushman on Saturday night, so late that I forgot what happened at the end and had to reread the last 20 pages on Sunday. It's great -- a quick read and I enjoyed it. But, I don't really feel like reviewing, at the moment. So, maybe later, after the errands. Instead you get twaddle. Let's start with my reads in October and November, since I completely forgot to wrap up October.

Bookfool's October reads (those that were reviewed contain a link to the review):

Mozart's Sister - Nancy Moser - Historical fiction about Nannerl Mozart, Wolfgang's equally talented big sis.

Bedlam South - Mark Grisham & David Donaldson - A Civil War novel that takes place partly at an asylum and also follows two brothers through major battles.

Sarah's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay - Little Sarah locks up her brother in a cupboard to save him from the Nazis; later, a reporter becomes obsessed with unconvering her story.

Who Lied and Said We Left the Garden of Eden - Daniel Martin - not reviewed; too graphic for this blogger - the story of how the author became a homeless addict but eventually recovered and has created a decent life with wife and kids.

Occasional Therapy for your Midlife Years - Dr. Ellyn Gamberg - Advice for women and men going through the angst of middle age.

Operation Blue Light - Philip Chabot - One man's story about how he believes his psychic abilities were used by the government.

The Lost Diary of Don Juan - Douglas Carlton Abrams - Don Juan, retold.

The Swan House - Elizabeth Musser - Historical fiction about a young girl who must deal with loss, prejudice and buried secrets.

The Shack - William P. Young - not reviewed (borrowed copy); too theologically heavy-handed for me - A fictional tale about a man whose daughter is killed and later returns to the place of her death to visit with God, literally.

Just Jane - Nancy Moser - Historical fiction about Jane Austen, based on her life.

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat - Vicki Myron - not reviewed (library check-out); I liked it but I didn't love it - A memoir about a personable library cat and the librarian who found him.

Creepers - Joanne Dahme - Young YA - When a teenager moves into a house with a creeping vine problem, she and a friend must uncover the mystery of the missing girl and the lurking witch in order to stop ghosts from leaving very big, noisy hints.
Homeland Insecurity - Turchie and Puckett - Two former FBI agents describe how the FBI has lost power due to political maneuvering and why Americans are not as safe as we think.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick - not reviewed (library check-out), but I adored this book and would very much like to own a copy - The tale of a small boy who hopes that by repairing an automaton, he'll receive a message from his father. Beautifully illustrated.

Bookfool's November Reads (again with the link bit):

To Catch the Lightning - Alan Cheuse - Historical fiction about Edward Curtis (the Indian photographer) and his obsession with capturing Indians from every tribe before they disappeared.

Dirty Little Secrets of Buzz - David Seaman - A breezy but savvy little book about how to gain attention for your blog, product, business or self.

The Dharma King - B. J. Stroh - A thriller in which a young, wealthy American seeks to redeem himself by searching for the new Panchen Lama.

The Integrity Dividend - Tony Simons - A book about integrity in business and why integrity increases the bottom line.

An Abundance of Katherines - John Green - When a teenager is dumped by his 19th Katherine, he and his best friend go on a road trip to help him forget.

Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption - Robert Fate - A gritty crime novel with two private investigators, a redhead everyone seems to want to find and some very bad men.

The Adventures of Songha - Linda R. Caterine - The fictionalized story of a Savannah cat's life after moving to Las Vegas, to her new home.

Chasing Diana - Jack & Robin Firestone - A fictionalized screenplay about the Americans who passed Princess Diana's crumpled car, shortly after the crash.

Album of the Damned - Paul Garson - Photos of Nazis in their everyday lives as soldiers and regular people, with text that describes the slow indoctrination process.

Two Brothers: One North, One South - David H. Jones - Historical fiction based on a true story about two Maryland brothers who fought on opposite sides of the Civil War.

Flight to St. Antony - Tony Blackman - Mystery in which an insurance investigator must dig for the truth about a plane that ditched just miles short of its destination.

Grit for the Oyster - various authors - Inspirational writings for Christian writers.

Waiting for Daybreak - Kathryn Cushman - Will review soon - A pharmacist who has lost her job due to a single error must start over again and face a completely new set of challenges.

Recent favorite word verification combinations:

Exoskonk

Flamate
Trousete

Ninging
Aidabip
Colomar

Infisero

At some point, I think we're going to have to put our heads together and come up with a few definitions. Aren't those just the coolest fake words you ever did see?

Books that walked in my door, yesterday (we had the mail held over the Thanksgiving holiday):

Choosing to Be: Lessons in Living from a Feline Zen Master - Kat Tansey
Conan Doyle's Wallet: The Secrets Within - Patrick McNamara
My Sister Dilly - Maureen Lang
John 3:16 - Nancy Moser (sooo excited about this one -- thanks, B, for both!!!)

Next up will be a review of Waiting for Daybreak. Yesterday was a rough day for book bloggers. I hope everyone is slowly recovering from the shock of reading about Dewey's unexpected death and that eventually we will find some way to carry on the tremendous community-building activities that she created. Weekly Geeks was my personal favorite.

Lots of love to the rest of you crazy bibliophile bloggers,

Bookfool

This one's for Dewey

I think we all need a massive book blogger group hug, today, after finding out the news that our beloved Dewey has passed away. There are tributes all over the place and I think that alone shows her success at bringing together book bloggers as a community. For Dewey, I wish a beautiful eternity, surrounded by books and cats, free of pain and bathed in the kind of love and warmth that she generated in her lifetime. For those she left behind, I send my thoughts and prayers and wishes for strength. Goodbye, Dewey. We will miss you so much.

A Post-Thanksgiving Cocktail of Books and Cats and Other Fine Things

First, you get the Freaky, Big-Eyed Cat Photo because, frankly, I think this picture is hilarious:

That's our Miss Spooky, sitting on a dining table chair at Eldest Son's apartment in Memphis, where the entire family -- cat included -- spent Thanksgiving. Spooky does have gorgeous, big green eyes . . . but I think it's the angle that makes this photo look so wild. I took that shot with my phone camera.

From Turkeygate by Craig Medred -- I love the opening line of this article:

"Is this a strange country or what?"

After reading about people trampling each other for bargains (honestly, nothing is worth trampling a person, in my humble opinion), the availability of Christmas ornaments made from reindeer droppings, and a woman who blogs about nothing but Brian Williams' ties, I'm inclined to agree.

I hardly read a thing . . .

Thanksgiving was a reading wash, although I had one sleepless night during which I began to gobble up Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Compiled and Edited by Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell. How's that for a mouthful of title? I am absolutely loving it. Cornelia Henry had a wonderful matter-of-fact journal writing style, so one minute you're reading about her sewing projects, the weather, what a great man she married (although a bit soft-hearted) or what kind of illnesses are going around the area and the next minute you're reading about which states have seceded from the Union, followed by a remark about a troublesome drunkard or the joys of motherhood. Cornelia's journals are a pleasant hodge-podge and the book itself is loads of fun because it includes scads of other info -- documents like the Old Mr. Henry's will and photos of the family, copies of advertisements from the time period (1861-1868), etc.

Also, because I apparently overloaded on sad reading material, I have begun to read an incredibly funny book called Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte, the story of how Tarte went from city-dwelling, pet-free life to country life with a startling menagerie. Ah, just the right amount of levity to get the squeaking, rusty brain cogs rotating, again.

We went to the Memphis Zoo and everyone became bored with my incessant photo-snapping, including the tigers:

Yawwwn. Finally, even God became dismayed and sent rain around the same time Eldest left to avoid going into a coma. I did try to warn him that I'm not fun to hang out with because I take a million photos, but nobody believes me till they experience the pain of standing around waiting for me to move on to the next exhibit.

Many thanks to Eldest and Girlfriend for the delicious meal and to Eldest's Girlfriend for allowing me to paw through her sack of used books. I came home with two books and she didn't get a thing, although I have a bag full that I would have brought along with me if we'd had just a tiny bit more room in the car. Note to S: Just ask if I mention anything you're dying to read.

Still reading:

Hurricane of Independence by Tony Williams - but I haven't touched it in a week. I hope to get back to it, tomorrow. Because the hurricane was tragic, this book was one of the two I felt that I needed to set aside for a few days, but I'm enjoying it.

Waiting for Daybreak by Kathryn Cushman - A very quick read, which I will probably finish tonight, Waiting for Daybreak tells the story of a pharmacist whose life was dramatically altered by a single error (this one's fiction). Now, working at a new job in her hometown and trying to help her parents pay for her mother's expensive experimental cancer treatment, Paige faces an entirely new set of dilemmas. I love Kathryn Cushman's writing style.

The Pages in Between by Erin Einhorn - Another I haven't touched in a week, but plan to get back to reading, very soon.

Grit for the Oyster - Still loving the uplifting messages in this book. Even though I'm not currently writing for publication, I've found that this book is very inspiring and I've finally begun to think, "Maybe I can get back to writing the way I used to." I highly recommend this book for Christian writers who need encouragement.

Hawk to Patrolman ratio:

Vicksburg to Memphis - 31 : 2
Memphis to Vicksburg - 34 : 0

Wow, not a single patrolman. I was shocked, especially given the weather on the drive home and the fact that a lot of people were driving with serious lead feet. Here's what we ran into on the return trip:

That's another phone photo. I'm just as obsessive with the phone camera as I am with the SLR. You should see my Pop Art (a photo of a soft drink cup with a straw jutting out to the side -- well, I think it's cool).

Off to bed with me. Nighty-night!

Flight to St. Antony by Tony Blackman and some mindless jabber that will undoubtedly raise your IQ

Flight to St. Antony by Tony Blackman
Copyright 2008
Blackman Associates - Fiction/Mystery
303 pages

What led you to pick up this book? I like to read the occasional mystery (the more unusual or humorous, the better) and I love airplanes.

Describe the book without giving anything away. When a twin-engined passenger plane is forced to ditch within miles of a runway on the Caribbean island of St. Antony, aviation expert Peter Talbert is sent to investigate. Immediately, things become complicated as the crash recorder disappears, the presence of a drug lord on the plane is unearthed and survivors describe chaos in the business section not long before the crash. Peter must untangle the series of events that led to catastrophe while dodging drug runners, evading a murderer and falling in love with a survivor.

What did you like most about the book? This is not meant to sound bad, but my favorite part was the prologue -- the scene in which the stewardesses urgently prepare for ditching and then must work quickly to save as many lives as possible before the plane goes underwater. It's a nice, taut scene -- perfectly rendered, in my humble opinion. I read it while waiting for my son at school and didn't even notice his arrival at the car until I heard him open the trunk to put his backpack away.

Is there anything you didn't like about the book? I thought the writing was a little flat. There were moments of excitement throughout the book, but none had the intensity level of the ditching scene.

What did you think of the characters? Peter is a sharply intelligent, observant man. I liked trying to follow his train of thought, although I didn't always succeed. The book is fairly technical and his logic or conclusions sometimes evaded me. One thing that threw me was the fact that he often called people rude for mentioning that they've been warned that Peter is very direct. The author is British, so maybe mine is an American prejudice but I've never considered it rude for someone to say, "I've been told you're inquisitive," or, something of that nature. In fact, I consider it a bit of a compliment when anyone notices I exist. Otherwise, I thought Peter was an interesting character and I liked Helen, the flight attendant, as well. I thought they were a little needlessly gushy, calling each other, "My love" or "My dear," after only a day or two.

There is, in fact, a huge cast of characters and I was particularly grateful that the author added a "Dramatis Personae" at the beginning of the book. If the reader forgets a character's job title or can't place him, it's easy enough to flip back for a reminder.

Also: There's a list of acronyms and definitions at the front of the book.

In general: I liked the book, but I felt that it was lacking spark -- possibly because the dialogue seemed stiff to me. This is the author's 6th book (the 5th mystery; one of his books is non-fiction about his experiences as a Vulcan test pilot), but the first that I've read. Peter Talbert is a continuing character and I wondered if his character may have been fleshed out a bit better in previous installments.

Recommended? Yes, with a minor warning: The denouement is very sad. Once Peter uncovers the truth and discovers what happened on the airplane, it's hard reading. You can't help but imagine what it must be like for someone to really experience such a horrifying end. Otherwise, besides the fact that the writing is a little bland (if you're a lover of beautiful sentences, this is not the book for you), I thought the mystery was excellent and I enjoyed the way Peter slowly dug up the truth. I'd particularly recommend this book for people who love mysteries and find aviation fascinating.

Cover thoughts: I love airplanes, so just about all covers featuring an airplane appeal to me. I love the sunset and seascape in this one. It's very fitting, as the ditching of the plane takes place at night, near an island.

On this day in Bookfool's Reading History:

In 1997, I was reading Double Deuce by Robert Parker.
In 2005, I'd just completed The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble.
In 2006, I finished Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper

We're busy getting ready for the holiday and I'll be shutting down for a few days. I hope to resume posting on Sunday and Wahoo! Wednesday will return next week.

New running joke in Bookfool's House -- or, What My Blog and Holiday Inn Have in Common:

With Lisa's help, I set myself up for Google Alerts because I have not always received notice when people link up to me for memes and awards, etc. I've found email alerts extraordinarily handy, thus far, especially given my scattered nature. This weekend I had an interesting surprise when I received a Google Alert that led me to this site: 100 Blogs that will make you smarter. Page down to see my blog listed at #80, the 10th blog in the "literature" category. According to the Indiana University Press Blog, Alisa Miller of Online Universities compiled the list. Thank you, Alisa!

Getting sociable -- and accidentally letting you know what I looked like 4 years ago:

How have I managed to squeak by without a membership in the Book Blogs social network? I have no idea, but I've recently joined and have been sending out friend requests to bloggers whose icons I recognize. I'm signed up under my actual name, Nancy, as opposed to the usual Bookfool moniker. And, I've even loaded a photo to this one! Unfortunately, I'm not quite that thin, anymore. You can visit me, add me as a friend, gawk at the photo or dump books upon my blonde crown, here.

And on that note . . . there are 34 recognized definitions for the noun "crown" and 10 verbs listed at infoplease. If you have a diamond-encrusted noun version that you're tired of looking at and would like to give me, I'll be glad to take it off your hands. But, it's going to look kind of funny when I wear it to rake the lawn.

Wishes for a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving to the Americans!

Bookfool, off to do some critical Pre-Thanksgiving Laundry

Album of the Damned by Paul Garson

Album of the Damned:
Snapshots from the Third Reich
By Paul Garson
Copyright 2008
Academy Chicago Publishers/NF - History
408 pages, incl. bibliography and timeline

Album of the Damned is a glossy, beautiful picture book printed on quality paper that smells glorious when you turn its pages. But, it’s not your everyday coffee-table book. The cover of Album of the Damned is enough to stop you in your tracks. A baby wearing the hat of a Nazi officer? That’s the kind of image of Nazi Germany we’re not accustomed to seeing. The most common photos are stark, formal, horrifying -- scenes in which the Germans are obviously the evil overlords, herding Jewish prisoners like cattle at gunpoint or standing stiffly over skeletal prisoners.

Album of the Damned contains a few of the traditional images, but it’s not the typical, cold and formal photograph that is Paul Garson’s focus. Instead, he shows the opposite, the playful, smiling, human side of life as a Nazi. Open the book and the first photo you’ll see is a grinning, dimpled man in Nazi uniform and greatcoat, reaching out as if to shake the photographer’s hand, block the lens or make a thumbs-up gesture. Behind him stands another Nazi with a curious look, a third saluting and smiling. Below the photo, the author’s words: “Welcome to the Third Reich”. A quote by Christopher Browning, author of Ordinary Men: Reserve Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland reminds the reader that, “Explaining is not excusing . . .”

The 400 photographs in Album of the Damned are merely a small selection of the many photos Garson has collected. Most came from private photo albums and were taken by both soldiers and civilians. They were purchased by the author after he developed a private obsession that led him to collect entire albums, individual photos, personal letters, documents and newsreels. An extensive bibliography at the end of the book gives you an idea how much time and research went into the writing of Album’s text, which sometimes describes the photos but also leads the reader through the process of the growing Nazi mentality and its results -- begun by a few radicals, eventually to take over the minds and hearts of most Germans and those in many in other European nations. A few of the photos are professional photographs, but the vast majority are casual, informal photos of friends and family.

And, it’s that informality that leaves the reader stunned. Text describes how those relaxed happy people spent their working hours -- rounding up people considered inferior or dangerous in some way, guarding them as they were worked at slave labor on only 350 calories worth of food, lining them up against the wall and shooting them or leading them to gas chambers . . . then, going home to play with the kids or gathering for drinks and laughs. It’s that contrast between smiling faces in bathing suits or at sumptuous tables compared with the harsh reality of their murderous daily lives that shocks.

The book contains a timeline and is then divided into four parts, with an introductory section, “In the Beginning,” followed by “Part One: The Homefront”, “Part Two: Prelude to War” and “Part Three: The Battlefront”. The author adds a disclaimer reminding readers that the “accompanying text makes no claims at covering the subject matter in any complete manner” and that he “chose photos that ‘spoke’ to me and let them lead me where they would.” His interpretation of a few specific photos didn’t necessarily jibe with my own, but I understood his drift. The author’s objective was to show, through those photographs, how ordinary people can be indoctrinated into dangerous beliefs of superiority.

Through carefully written text and the chosen photos, Garson leads the reader to a deeper understanding of life as a Nazi and how all-encompassing the Nazi world became. A photo of a pre-Nazi children’s club is shown, followed by photos of boys in the Hitler Youth and young girls in the League of German Girls. A sample from a young girl’s letter shows how completely she was immersed in the thought that Jews were sub-human. Nazis are shown alternately cuddling animals and shooting them or horsing around with them. In one photo, two Nazis stand by as a man is attacked by their dogs.

Among my favorites:

--A photo of a happy young couple at their wedding, swastikas hanging over the altar behind them.

--A pair of portraits of a middle-aged couple. In the top photo, a wife stands behind a small balcony table, smiling as her husband intently reads Mein Kampf. In the bottom photo, the same couple at the same table, she pouring tea for her husband, who is now dressed in a Nazi uniform.

--Two photos of a tree stump with a hidden door carved into its side. In the first photo, a Nazi enters the door; in the second, the door is closed and one realizes the ingenuity and horror of this hidden sniper look-out.

The photos gradually become more graphic and disarming. Album of the Damned is not the kind of book you leave out where young children can flip through it. But, it’s the sort of book we all need to read -- a stark reminder of how easily people can become swayed into believing that one race or religion is superior to another, a memo to humans that evil may begin as a tiny germ and grow into a plague, a note to look about us and see that we haven’t necessarily learned the lesson the Nazis taught us.

This review will be posted in the December issue of Estella's Revenge. The book is so powerful and moving that I asked the editors if they minded if I cross-posted to my blog. I personally believe it deserves a great deal of exposure.

For the Love of St. Nick by Garasamo Maccagnone

For the Love of St. Nick by Garasamo Maccagnone
Copyright 2008
Booksurge Fiction
44 pages

As if it were arranged, the Pastor of the Church, a Monsignor Sadowski, escorted our group of six men up the twenty-eight steps to the kneelers beneath the crucifix. "Boys. There's seven tons of Jesus up on that redwood." I recall the Monsignor saying. All the men glanced upward.

For the Love of St. Nick tells the story of Tiger and Johnny, two little boys who pray to St. Nick for the safe return of their father from a secret mission during the Vietnam War. Johnny is the sickly and weak child whose mother died giving birth to him. Older brother Tiger has seen his brother ill with high fevers so many times that he knows how to give little Johnny an alcohol bath, if necessary. A woman by the name of Mrs. Pennington takes care of them.

Before their father (whom they refer to as "the commander") leaves for his mission, the two boys and the commander's pilot buddies spend a day in the woods choosing a Christmas tree, playing a joke on one of the men, eating hotdogs and making snow angels. That was my favorite portion of the book. A friend and fellow pilot promises to buzz the boys' cabin to let them know the commander has safely returned when the mission is over.

At 44 pages, this is a quick Christmas novella with a little bit of magic. It could stand some editing, but the story itself is touching and sweet and just a bit scary, as the boys are left briefly without their caregiver and Johnny almost immediately develops a high fever. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that it has an uplifting ending. While not the most brilliantly written story, I enjoyed it and think it's worth hanging onto for an annual reread. A part of me would rather frame it. Love that cover.

I was a little perplexed about the book's target audience, so I mulled for a couple of days. It has a beautiful cover that looks like it belongs on a children's book, but I think it's really for adults -- a tale of Christmas with a bit of nostalgia thrown in. The family is Catholic and prays to St. Nick, which struck me as rather odd but didn't offend me. I'd just forgotten that Catholics pray to Saints. I'm going to give this one a numerical rating, simply because I'm not sure I'm describing it well enough:

3.5/5 - A nice, nostalgic Christmas read.

Up next will be a review of Flight to St. Antony, which I've still not completed. We had a very busy, productive weekend of purging and shifting furniture and boxes. But, by the end of the day I was pretty much too tired to crack a book open.

The one story I managed to get around to: The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, a short story I consider a timeless Christmas classic. Here's the first paragraph:

One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.

I think The Gift of the Magi -- a story of two people who give up their most important possessions, only to find the usefulness of each carefully chosen gift lost because of the other's sacrifice -- never loses its depth of meaning and is particularly relevant during a time of hardship for many. Not meaning to compare this to the book above, by the way -- it just hit me that I really appreciate this story, at the moment.

We didn't go anywhere, this weekend, so you get an older photo. Can anyone identify this bird, for me? I can't find my bird identification guide, at the moment.

Kreativ Blogger Award, Bookworm Award Meme and Four Things Meme

Memes, awards, taggings. I confess; they're not my forte. They're a bit like that sock basket that lurks in the corner -- the kind of thing I convince myself I'll tackle later, even though I really love warm feet (and taggings are a warm fuzzy).

Thanks to all who tagged me for the following awards/memes, especially for showing remarkable patience! Also, please forgive me if I neglect to mention it if you tagged me for one of these because I just finally figured out a good way to keep track of all those taggings -- up till now, I've been relying on my faulty memory.

I was tagged for the Kreativ Blogger Award by Tara, Heather and Jenclair:



7 things I did before:
1. Read (always)
2. Played four musical instruments
3. Painted in oil and acrylic and sketched
4. Ran regularly
5. Wrote long, heavily-anecdotal letters (the kind you mail with stamps)
6. Traveled to Colorado on vacation every 2 years (pre-marriage)
7. Wrote fiction daily

7 things I do now:
1. Read (yeah, always)
2. Blog, blog, blog
3. Make bookmarks
4. Feed, clean up after the cat and two guys
5. Photograph birds
6. Photograph lizards
7. Photograph anything and everything else I see

7 things I want to do:
1. Go back to school to get that Master's degree
2. Get paid to do something I'm good at
3. Take more risks
4. Summon up the courage to occasionally call my sister
5. Follow up the Master's degree with a doctorate
6. Travel to Australia, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, New Zealand . . . I could go on
7. Return to hanging out with actual, three-dimensional humans on occasion

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex:
1. Sense of humor
2. Intelligence
3. The ability to listen (poor hubby really needs this ability -- actually, what he's good at is ignoring all that mindless chatter)
4. Honesty
5. Ability to think independently
6. Love of life
7. I have a thing for brown eyes and a nice smile

7 Favorite Foods:
1. spaghetti with caper sauce
2. cheese ramekins (a souffle) with asparagus
3. grilled cheese & tomato sandwiches
4. steamed vegetables of any kind with corn bread
5. thick, melty Mexican dishes (without meat)
6. pasta salad
7. veggie pizza

7 things I Say Most Often:
1. I beg your pardon?
2. Wahoo!
3. Come on, Kitty. Time to come inside. Please. Come on, Kitty. Spooky, get your butt in here!
4. Love you!
5. Drive carefully!
6. What kind of homework have you got, tonight?
7. What else can we get rid of?

I was tagged for the Bookworm Award meme by Heather and Teddy Rose:

The rules: Open the closest book to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56. Write out the fifth sentence, as well as two to five sentences following.

The following quote is taken from A Primate's Memoir by Robert M. Sapolsky:

I had spent all of college in the dormitories subsisting on the horrid purple-flavored yogurt that was their sop to the vegetarians, and during the vacation breaks when I had stayed in the dorm, my forays into preparing food on my own had consisted of going to the local grocery to buy purple-flavored yogurt. I was living on rice and beans and cabbage in camp, occasionally even managing to cook them adequately. I hadn't a clue what to do with the zebra leg.

Pretty intriguing, eh?

And, I was tagged for the Four Things Meme by Care, whom I could have sworn tagged me for another of those awards (if so, I can't locate the post):

I'm having a spacing problem with this one, so you get The Joy of Commas, as well.

Four Jobs I’ve Had:
Accountant, Bookstore Clerk, Waitress, Humor Columnist

Four Movies I Can Watch Many Times:
Ladyhawke, About a Boy, Sense & Sensibility, Galaxy Quest

Four Places I’ve Lived:
Kansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Michigan

Four TV Shows I Love(d):
Emergency!, House, M.D., Firefly, Northern Exposure

Four Places I’ve Vacationed:
England, Hawaii, Alaska, Maine

Four Novels (or series) I have enjoyed rereading:
The Count of Monte Cristo, Desiree, The Maltese Falcon, A Little Princess

Four Websites I Visit Often: Animus3, Other blogs, Google Reader, Blackle

Four Places I'd rather be right now: Australia, Italy, Wales, Hawaii . . . but, really, I'm fine right here, at the moment

Feel free to tag yourself, if you've missed any of these and want to play along!!

I have to go soak, now. I'm not human if I don't get my bath. Nighty night, everyone!

Bookishly Speaking

I know . . . this is supposed to be a book blog. I should occasionally mention books, right? Here's what I've recently finished and am currently reading:

Just finished:

Album of the Damned by Paul Garson -

That's Album of the Damned by Paul Garson - sorry about the funky blogger spacing dysfunction - A coffee-table sized picture book (with plenty of very informative text) that shows Nazis in their daily lives -- smiling, laughing, horsing around, the kids wearing military uniform bits, etc. I'll be reviewing this one for Estella's Revenge and will post a link when it's available.

For the Love of St. Nick by Garasamo Maccagnone - A very short Christmas story about two little boys who pray for the safe return of their father from a secret mission during the Vietnam War. I need to check and see to whom this book is directed (adults? children?) because I couldn't get a grip on that, but I loved the story and plan to review it ASAP.

Now reading:

Flight to St. Antony by Tony Blackman - An aviation mystery set on an island in the Caribbean. The hero is an insurance investigator who has been sent to determine the reason a plane was forced to ditch just miles from the airport in St. Antony. At this point, the Cockpit Voice Recorder has mysteriously disappeared. I'm really enjoying this, so far. The dialogue is a little flat, but the mystery is so interesting that it's still mesmerizing. I set it aside for a few days, so I'm only about 1/3 of the way through -- hoping to finish, this weekend.

Hurricane of Independence: The Untold Story of the Deadly Storm at the Deciding Moment of the American Revolution by Tony Williams - Not too far into this one, but I'm finding that at times I'm engrossed and at other times he totally loses me and I have to reread a few paragraphs to unravel details.

The Pages in Between by Erin Einhorn - The author's tale of her search to unravel her mother's history as a small Jewish child who was sheltered in Poland during WWII. This is particularly relevant to me because I just read Album of the Damned and have been recently reminded of how few Polish Jews survived the Holocaust. I'm not far into this one, but the first chapter had me all choked up. It's emotional.

Just walked in the door, today:

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Lathan - Another Pride & Prejudice spin-off. This will be my second. The first was such fun that I'm doing some serious finger-crossing that I'll be able to handle a completely different version of "The Darcys, after the wedding."

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Bookfool, who will be very busy cleaning and purging . . . again

Wahoo Thursday! Silly Animal Edition

Well, shucks. I managed to fix up a few photos for today's Silly Animal Wahoos, but then lolcats began to have problems and I've been unable to finish. So, you get a mere three with captions and one without. I hope you like this little bit of animal fun. The top three were taken at the Jackson Zoo on Saturday (that's some kind of primate's hand, in the second photo, but I was zoned in on photographing and didn't think to see what kind) and the final photo is our Miss Spooky.

Uncaptioned, but I was going to have him say, "Have Snack, Will Pose":

Quick note: Wahoos delayed

Because today is a book tour day, I don't want to obscure my post on the tour book. So, the wahoos will be delayed by one day. I'm going to wahoo, though. You can count on it.

For those of us who are becoming blind as bats, sorry about the tiny lettering on that photo. It says, "Wahoos are yummy." Silly kitty. Look in my sidebar to see her looking at me like I'm interrupting the nap time.

Right now, I have to go take my overdue books back to the library. Oops! Naughty, forgetful Bookfool! Come back and Wahoo! with me, tomorrow!

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.

The Adventures of Songha by Linda R. Caterine

The Adventures of Songha, the Amazing Savannah Cat
By Linda R. Caterine
Copyright 2008
Authorhouse - Fiction/Children's
66 pages


6-word review: Great story about an adventurous cat

The Adventures of Songha is the fictionalized story of a real exotic cat, part African Serval and part domestic cat, who is owned by the author. The tale of her adventures is told through the eyes of Songha -- a very smart little animal whose wild nature makes her yearn to run free. After several escapes that are followed by alterations to her home to block off the various escape routes she's located, Songha eventually settles down and becomes an indoor cat. Each adventure gives the reader a good idea of just how intelligent this little half-wild animal is as she knocks out a screen, opens doors and squeezes through small spaces.

This book is geared to a younger crowd, around that age when they're reading chapter books on their own -- also great for reading to younger ones, maybe a chapter or two a day. I think it's a lovely little book, very nicely written. This is the kind of book I would have read repeatedly as a child, in part because many of my favorite books had a cat hero/heroine. There are lovely black and white illustrations inside the book and photos of Songha on the front and back covers. Absolutely a gorgeous little book, terrific for the young cat lover in every family.

Chasing Diana by Jack & Robin Firestone

Chasing Diana by Jack & Robin Firestone
Copyright 2008
Lightning Source Fiction/Screenplay
154 pages

6-word review: Cliched characters, goofy plot, no answers

I've rewritten this first paragraph for clarity. Somehow, I managed to not mention that the Firestones were the only Americans present at Diana's fatal crash site.

I admired Princess Diana, as most folks did, and hoped that I'd learn a bit more about the circumstances of her death by reading this fictional account in the form of a screenplay, written by two Americans who were driven through the Alma Tunnel moments after the crash that killed Diana. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like the book said much of anything besides, perhaps, that the authors were pretty clueless as to what they'd witnessed and didn't have enough material to write a real book. After visiting their website, I'm not so certain about that. It does seem like they have plenty to say and there's a lot of information to be mined.

Because it's written as a screenplay, some people might find the format a little awkward to read. I've read screenplays in the past -- sometimes to compare a screenplay with a novel -- so the form didn't bother me. However, I thought the characters were a little cliched (sorry, don't know how to add an accent) and thinly veiled. The Firestone family becomes the Goodrich family, all of whom have given names that begin with the same first letter as their real-life names. James drinks heavily and pops pills; his brother snorts cocaine and wife Rhonda whines. Their son Ben is just kind of there.

From the authors' website, I learned that they made the Goodrich family deliberately dysfunctional and threw in people with guns to make the story more exciting. But, it didn't work for me. The bad guys were ever-present but inept. The Goodrich family was unlikable. Truly, I just wanted to know what the authors saw and didn't feel like I could honestly tell anyone the answer, after closing the book. One thing I think they did get across nicely was the pressure of being thrust into the spotlight. And, yet, even that was weakened by James' greedy desire for attention. This is one I struggled to finish. The interviews posted at their website are actually far more revealing; it would have been nice if they'd simply written an account of what they saw, what they believed to have occurred and why. Definitely not a Bookfool favorite. If you have reviewed this book, let me know and I'll add a link. I keep forgetting to do that.

Aha! Got one:

2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews

Up next: A review of The Adventures of Songha, the Amazing Savannah Cat by Linda Caterine

I've been tagged thrice, in the past week, and I'm trying to figure out how to fit those posts in. To the taggers, I thank you and I beg your patience.

I don't do Monday Mailbox posts because I'm not particularly organized (hahaha -- ask my husband if I'm being too kind to myself) but I got a book that has me absolutely drooling, this weekend. Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family is a book I received to review for Estella's Revenge. It is absolutely driving me nuts having that book stare at me. Oh, oh, oh it looks fabulous! I'd never thought of journals in this way, but one of the reviewers in the promotional material that came along with the book called this book an excellent work of "social history". I've never heard that term, but I like it.

Must dash off to fetch the kiddo, again. He's nearly 17, but doesn't particularly like driving to school in the morning if he's tired. Not a problem. It's an excuse to get out. Later, later!

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green: mini-review and quotes

Because I loved the book so much I want to own it (like I need more books -- but this one's worth a few rereads) I've decided to share a handful of quotes from An Abundance of Katherines. It's a library check-out, so I don't feel obligated to review this one but it's such a fantastic book that I hate to just skip it entirely. So, before I return the book to the library, a brief descriptive blurb with a few quotes.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green is the story of Colin, a child prodigy who desperately wants to turn his prodigious young self into a grown-up genius. Dumped 19 times, each time by yet another girl by the name of Katherine, Colin is fed up and depressed. To cheer him up, Colin's goofy friend Hassan suggests a road trip. During quiet moments, Colin decides to work on a formula that will predict how long a relationship will last by graphing all of his Katherine break-ups. But, in the process he discovers a few surprising realities about the world and both Colin and Hassan learn some life-changing lessons.

I don't feel like I'm describing it well enough, actually. An Abundance of Katherines is hilarious. Okay, so on to the quotes.

Crying adds something: crying is you, plus tears. But the feeling Colin had was some horrible opposite of crying. It was you, minus something. He kept thinking about one word--forever--and felt the burning ache just beneath his rib cage.

It hurt like the worst a**-kicking he'd ever gotten. And he'd gotten plenty.

The moment Colin sat down, Hollis asked Hassan, "Would you like to say grace?"

"Sure thing." Hassan cleared his throat. "Bismallah." Then he picked up his fork.

"That's it?" Hollis wondered.

"That's it. We are terse people. Terse, and also hungry."

Colin had only been in a nursing home once. He and his dad drove to Peoria, Illinois, one weekend when Colin was eleven to visit Colin's great-great-aunt Esther, who was in a coma at the time and therefore not very good company.

Hassan laughed silently, and he seemed so amused by the situation that Colin felt okay laughing, too. "This is some fugging snow globe of a day," Hassan said. And then he raced forward about ten paces, cupped his hands over his mouth, and screamed, "I AM BREAKING UP WITH YOU!" Still, though, a goofy grin was on his face.

I loved this book. The characters are unusually three-dimensional, flawed, sensitive, funny, human -- just wonderful. I can't recommend it enough. Again, not for the pre-teens, but the teenagers and grown-ups who enjoy Young Adult books will love it.

Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption by Robert Fate

Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption
By Robert Fate
Copyright 2008
Capital Crime Press - Fiction/Crime
287 pages


"I'm making a pot of coffee," he said, and fired up a Lucky.

I had already gone over to the hook board and gotten some car keys.

My partner was focused. "That's what I hate about travel. You can never get a decent cuppa joe."

The cleaning lady had come while we were gone. She'd left a window cracked and the old floor fan running. As a result, the place was close to odorless. But it hardly mattered. Otis started manufacturing odors as fast as he could.

"It's never about money with us, Mister Millett. However, there is something included in an estate sale that has come to my attention. From the library, a six-volume set on modern architecture. If I show interest, the price will skyrocket."

Sidecar Sanchez had one business: making book, and one passion: architecture.

"Books?" Otis said.

"I've seen them," I said to Otis. "They're at C. Bell's Rare Books. They're first edition, very nice condition."

At that moment I learned what was meant by a pregnant pause. Sidecar, Otis and R.J. all stared at me. I returned the bookie's gaze.

Reggie 'Sidecar' Sanchez's first words to me: "And you would know about this for what reason?"

"She reads everything," Otis said, as a matter of fact.

"Respectfully . . . she can speak for herself," Sidecar said.

Now it was my partner's turn to be ignored.

"Well, I said, "I've grown tired of these hyperbolic paraboloids and worse that are sprouting up all over the place in the name of architecture. It's rather pleasant to see good photography of the important structures. I guess that's the reason."

There was a pause, and then Sidecar smiled, shook his head and spoke to the heavens, "In snakeskin boots, no less."

Buford was trouble looking for someplace to happen.

I could go on quoting all day because, frankly, I loved this book. So, Me and I had a conversation about it.

Me: What's Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption about?

I: Two private investigators -- Otis Millett and Kristin Van Dijk (aka "Baby Shark") -- are sent to fetch the girlfriend of an outlaw named Travis Horner from Oklahoma but end up getting chased by killers throughout southern Oklahoma and northern Texas But why? What is it about Savannah Smike that makes her worth killing everyone around her? Otis and Kristin must untangle the mystery before it's too late.

Me: Why do you express such deliberate and dramatic affection for this book, a crime novel, no less. Aren't you prone to nightmares?

I: Unfair. One-question rule. First answer is that the book had, in my opinion, the feel of a Dashiell Hammett novel and I adore Hammett. The writing is direct and fast-paced, the action perfect and the dialogue believable. Second answer: Yes, I'm prone to nightmares and this is a bloody book. But, it's not gory to the point of nightmares, at least in my opinion. There's never any deliberate focus on the nastiness of the situations. It's mean and tense, but it's not disgusting.

Instead, the story is really about two tough private investigators solving a baffling mystery and forced to defend themselves from some very violent criminals. Both Kristin and Otis are dangerous but tender. Plus, it's not surprising that I loved the setting (mid-Texas to the Texas panhandle and southern Oklahoma) and the fact that the bootlegger and I share a last name. For those who aren't aware, Oklahoma is "home" to the husband and self and we both have relatives in Texas.

Me: This is the third book in a series. Did that cause you any trouble with the reading, since you've missed the first two?

I: Nope. There were moments that Kristin reflected on her past and I knew for sure that I was going to have to go back to read the first two (because I want to, since I enjoyed the book so much . . . not because I needed to fill in the blanks to understand). Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption stands alone well.

Me: What did you think of the characters?

I: The characters are all well-defined. Either you love them or you hate them, and that's how it's meant to be. I liked Kristin and Otis from the get-go.

Me: You forgot to mention the time period. What did you think of the time period and how did it effect the tone of the novel?

I: The story takes place in 1957 -- and Baby Shark and Otis work out of an office in Fort Worth, Texas. I think the time period lends itself well to this kind of story and I think my father-in-law, who lived in Fort Worth during that time, would agree that parts of Fort Worth were pretty rough. It seems like a natural setting for bad guys with guns.

Me: How did you get your mitts on this one?

I: The author sent it to me, at my request. Actually, I thought it was a mistake -- that I had requested a different book. But, I told him I'd be glad to read and review because I read a wide variety.

Me: And, the result was?

I: One of the best reads of 2008. It was gritty, exciting, a terrific way to shake up the reading.

Me: Was there anything at all that you disliked about the book?

I: Can't think of a thing.

Me: To whom would you recommend Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption?

I: Anyone who likes hard-boiled private eye novels, pulp fiction, mystery, action, adventure, Oklahoma and Texas as a setting. It's violent and bloody, but there's only a minor amount of language and a couple of references to sex -- no graphic sex scenes. The author also has a great sense of humor. I keep forgetting to say that.

Me: How many pairs of socks does it take to keep your toes warm when it's 57 degrees outside?

I: Two. I've heard you always ask weird questions toward the end of self-interviews.

Me: It's in my nature. Tell your friends and relatives this series would make a great Christmas gift for the crime-fiction loving people in your life.

I: What Me said.

Me: That just sounds ridiculous.

I: I know. Can I go eat supper, now?

Me: Yes, you may. The interview is over. Have a nice day, everyone!

Too gloomy for wahoos and finished a terrific book

Maybe I'll wahoo on Friday. Or, maybe I'll wait till next week, but I will definitely share some photos with you because it's pretty and photogenic outside, even if I feel like a total gloomy guts. It was fun getting a break from our piercing sunshine at first, but today is Day 3 of heavy overcast. Here's a shot of the leaves across the street, after yesterday's storm knocked them down. It was really quite lovely, after the storm ended, in spite of heavy cloud cover:

It's very possible that I'll never be able to live in the Pacific Northwest. My pale eyes and fair skin don't like bright sunlight, but I can't seem to function without it, after a few days. This next one looks like leaves in a river, but no . . . sadly, it's our back porch after the rain. You can see we had a pretty good downpour.

Down the street, a neighborhood dog (a very nice little guy; he's all over the place -- we have no leash laws, here) took advantage of an overturned trashcan and had a little feast along with some shredding fun:

Book-wise:

I just finished reading Baby Shark's High Plains Redemption by Robert Fate and it is just the most ridiculously fun book. Look for a very positive review of this one, hopefully by tomorrow. It's a crime novel with two private investigators -- Otis and Kristin (aka "Baby Shark") -- who are sent to fetch the girlfriend of an outlaw named Travis Horner from Oklahoma but end up getting chased by killers throughout southern Oklahoma and northern Texas.

Those of you who know me well are probably laughing about the name Travis Horner combined with Oklahoma. No, no, no relation!! He's a baaaaaad man. He is also fictional . . . and thank goodness for that.

I'm going to keep reading and re-reading Grit for the Oyster, for a while, so don't be surprised if it stays in my sidebar for weeks, possibly months. I wasn't kidding when I said it's uplifting. It just can't make the clouds go away. But, hey, it has a sunny cover. Maybe I should meditate on that cover, this afternoon.

Next up will be Two Brothers: One North, One South. I'm scheduled to review that one for a book tour, next week, and since it's a Civil War book I'm naturally very excited to finally have a reason to crack this one open -- it's been waiting for at least a month. I also plan to read Flight to St. Antony by Tony Blackman, an aviation mystery. I'm not a big mystery reader, but the atypical appeals to me in mysteries and I love all things aviation. Also, the author mentioned that his pilot hero has to ditch his plane in the Atlantic. Well, that did it.

I'm off to pick up kiddo, since it was supposed to rain and I'm over-protective. Normally, the kiddo is driving himself to school, now. Boy, that makes me feel old.

*Update* - I just read the prologue of Flight to St. Antony and I had it wrong. The "hero", aka protagonist, is an aviation expert and insurance investigator who must figure out what went wrong and why the plane had to ditch; few people survive the accident. The prologue describes the preparation and escape from the plane and it is intense. I didn't even notice when the kiddo walked up to the car. Usually, once the bell rings at his school, I can't focus to read with all those laughing teens walking past, if that tells you anything about how gripping that first bit turned out.

Hope everyone is having a terrific day! Happy reading!

Bookfool, who will work really hard on being chipper, next time