Snow Play by Birgitta Ralston

Face it: we live in Iowa, it's winter, and sooner or later we'll have snow. Until then, take some time to plan fun family snow adventures, as suggested in Snow Play. From snow angels and simple snowmen, to elaborate sculptures, snow slides, and structures big enough to stand up in, this idea book offers clear instructions, lists of tools and equipment, suggested difficulty of projects and the length of time each should take. It also sparks the imagination, especially the section called Magical Lights, which includes a winter campfire, snowball lanterns, and even a frosted cake. This year, be prepared for winter with plans to get the family outdoors and make something fun and unusual with ideas from Snow Play. You'll find this book in the Juvenile Non-fiction section (J796.9 Ral) but most of these activities need an adult helper, so dig out the long underwear.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (FIC Dif)

At age 18, Victoria has aged out of the California foster-care system with nothing to help her make her way on her own - except a love of flowers and an understanding of their language that she learned at her longest and most-loved foster home.

Initially homeless, Victoria finally finds a job with a florist and gradually learns to make her way. Her inability to relate well to others or let her guard down long enough to make friends hinder her adjustment. It is only while working with flowers that she is truly complete and at peace. And not until she comes to terms with her past and that long-ago most-loved foster home will she be able to move forward completely.

The book is written in chapters that alternate between Victoria in the present day and Victoria at age 9. Gradually both stories are told and we come to understand why Victoria is the way she is and hope that she will be able to overcome those early obstacles.

I can't tell you exactly why I loved this book. Perhaps it was the emphasis on flowers and their hidden meaning (the author includes a brief dictionary in the back). Or perhaps it was the author's ability to make me completely understand the way the young Victoria felt, her fears and insecurities. Or perhaps it was the way the author was able to make the adult Victoria, surely not very likable at all, likable. Whatever the reason, I looked forward to reading this book, slowed myself down when I got near the end, and mourned its completion.

Bones under the Beach Hut by Simon Brett

Ah, a British mystery. So right away you know there is not going to be much gore (which is fine with me). It will be about the people and slowly figuring out what really happened. It is so much more fun to have a crime solved this way than in a DNA lab. You might have surmised that there are some bones.......and they were found under a beach hut. Carole Seddon is one of those people who seem to attract mysteries. She is sub leasing a beach hut when she discovers a burned section of the hut. As with all cozy mysteries it is not really about the crime - but the journey we take on the way to having the crime solved. The characters are....well they ARE characters! There are little side mysteries that also kept me entertained. If you like this genre you will enjoy this book!

Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard

We have lots of books by Ms. Shepard in our library but they are teen books. So normally I wouldn't have paid any attention to this one - except that I loved the cover. And that led me to reading the back of the book which led me to take it home! I enjoyed it a lot - it's full of family secrets within a dysfunctional family. Sylvie has recently been widowed. She has a married son, Charles, and her adopted son, Scott. Sylvie's passion is the private school which was founded by her grandfather. She has served on the board and appears to be prouder of that school than she is of either son. Scott has been helping with the wrestling program there. Everything falls apart one night when the school calls to tell her that there has been an 'incident'. A student appears to have killed himself - and perhaps it was a result of hazing. Oh, and did I mention that the student was a wrestler? But this really isn't about the wrestler. It is about the family's reaction to this possible scandal and one by one the layers of family secrets are revealed.

White Truffles in Winter by N.M. Kelby (FIC Kel)

Word of warning: Don't read this book if you're hungry.

In the last year of her life, the wife of Auguste Escoffier, renowned French chef, is determined that he will create a dish just for her and name it after her. After all, he has created dishes for many other famous people, including the actress (and his one-time lover) Sarah Bernhardt. Why not his wife?

To do this she must rely on help from their cook, a local peasant girl named Sabine. And in this time right before the beginning of World War II (1935 to be precise) and in very reduced financial conditions, money to buy the necessary ingredients is hard to come by. Sabine comes to the task reluctantly, not being a particularly good chef and not quite sure about this family she has come to live with.

The author tells the story of Escoffier, his relationship with Bernhardt and other dignitaries of the time. She also interweaves the story of his marriage to the French poet Delphine Daffis and their longtime estrangement. Much about his life is unknown but I found myself mesmerized by the author's writing style and description of foods and cooking. (And also, often hungry.) The novel jumps back and forth in time and is told from different points of view, including the last book Escoffier is writing, but I found it easy to follow and enjoyable.

I suppose this could be considered a sad book since two of the main characters are facing the end of their lives but it is also a book about love and finding yourself and hope and I enjoyed it very much.

The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy

I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a WWII story but a little atypical because it takes place on the island of Guernsey. There is not the bombing, soldiers marching and midnight raids associated with most stories of that era. It is the story of Vivienne de la Mare. Her husband is off at war, she has two daughters and her mother-in-law, Evelyn, is slipping into dementia. The last boat is leaving for London and Vivienne is taking her daughters there to stay with her sister. Evelyn refuses to leave. At the last minute Vivienne decides she can't get on that small boat with her children and takes them home. Days later there is a bombing and the Germans arrive. Four soldiers move into the house next to Vivienne. Instead of vicious Nazis, she finds out that they are just men - who hate this war as much as she. They have real professions, real families and real fears. And she falls in love with one of them. It was an interesting story with believable characters.

Press Here by Hervé Tullet

Whenever I read a review of a children's book that includes the word "interactive" I envision flaps to lift, tabs to pull, pop-up pages and all sorts of things that could be torn or worn out. I consider Press Here to be the most ingenious interactive book for children I've ever seen, and it doesn't have a flap, tab or pop-up anywhere. What it does have is a single yellow dot in the middle of a page, with the instructions to press the dot and turn the page. Voila! Two yellow dots. Do it again, and there are three. Subsequent instructions lead to new colors, more dots, dots sliding this way and that, getting bigger and smaller. And all the while, there are subtle little concepts like counting, patterns, left and right, color mixing. A preschooler will need someone to read the instructions to make the book work. But I've watch teens and adults caught up in the fun of this book and buying in to the ruse that the actions are necessary to make the dots do their tricks. This is a great gift book; just don't be surprised if you see the older sibling or cousin (or grandparent for that matter) of the child you give it to shaking the book or clapping over the pages.

All Our Wordly Goods by Irene Nemirovsky

Nemirovsky was a very talented writer who died at Auschwitz in 1942. Some of her works have just been translated into English and I will be keeping my eyes open for more to come. Google her name to read about the background of this woman and you will appreciate her books even more. This novel takes place between the 'war to end all wars' and World War II. It is a fascinating look into life when the line between classes was not crossed by most. Except Pierre and Agnes were in love. Pierre broke his engagement to Simone, a rich woman whose money would have helped the factory owned by Pierre's grandfather. He married Agnes, was declared a non-person by his grandfather and was soon sent off to war. The feuds that were started during this time reverberated for years to come. The story is so well-written. The characters are well-defined. You really get a feeling for France during the wars. If you like a book with a historical feel I highly recommend this one.

Unmeasured Strength by Lauren Manning 973.931 Man

I read a lot of fiction, but when it comes to a story of courage there is no novel that compares to a true story. I finished this book some days ago, but it remains in my mind. I can not imagine enduring the pain or despair of Lauren for two minutes, much less years. Lauren was living a normal life - a husband, a child and a job. It was a normal morning. Before Lauren could get out the door the phone rang. A small problem with a rental property she and her husband Greg owned caused her to be running late. There are many people alive today because they too were running late that morning. It was September 11, 2001. I remember hearing parts of Lauren's story in those days after. She had just arrived in the building when the big fire ball came roaring into the lobby. Over 80% of her body was burned. This book gives some background on Lauren, tells the story of what happened that morning and then the part of her life that is unbelievable. The odds she beat, the pain she endured, the love and support of her family and the emotional trauma of learning bit by bit what happened to her Cantor Fitzgerald family. In November she began to ask about some of her colleagues. For some reason, the part that got to me was when Lauren asked Greg to get some things out of her office. "He said he would, but I noticed that his manner was a bit awkward. I asked a few other questions and then said, "How do the buildings look? Have they been dismantled?" "Crews are working on them," Greg answered." If you read this book you will have found a new hero. It is simply an incredible story.

Kitchen Counter Cooking School by Kathleen Flinn 641.507 Fli

I loved Flinn's first book which told about her experiences attending the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. Back home she wasn't sure where she wanted her live to go....and then she saw this woman in the grocery store. Her cart was filled with examples of what not to eat for a healthy life. After covertly (she thought) following her around the store, Flinn approached her to ask a few questions and make some suggestions of things that would be healthier and cheaper. Although the woman didn't get down on her knees and promise to convert, this event gives Flinn an idea. She recruits some volunteers - woman who thought they were terrible cooks, or they thought they couldn't afford to eat 'real' food or they didn't have any idea about how to fix food. She visits these women in their homes. (The group included women who were single, married, rich and not so rich and of all ages.). Each was asked to prepare one of her typical dishesl. Flinn also went through the pantries to take inventory. I was embarrassed just thinking about my own stash of food! Then the 'classes' began. (I copied down some of the tips for myself! She was right about the way to hold the knife and cutting an onion went better than usual too!) I loved getting to know the 'students'. Flinn even inspired me a bit! I might actually make something....tomorrow.

Lost December by Richard Paul Evans

If you are a fan of Evans' books you will not be disappointed. Although I am not generally a fan of 'mushy' books I always like his book. Part of it might be the time of the year and part of it might be because he really is a good writer. Luke Crisp had a mixed childhood. He lost his mother to cancer when he was young. Fortunately he had a great father and they grew very close. Luke began working in his father's business - Crisp's Copy Centers. By the time he graduated from college he was ready and eager to take on the family business. But his father wanted him to get a graduate degree in business. Luke wasn't opposed to the idea - until his father pushed him to go East and go to Wharton. When he arrives at school he is very lonely until a pretty girl talks to him and introduces him to her friends. Eventually Luke gets an education - the hard way. Think Prodigal Son!

The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman

If you like reading books that are set during WWII, this one is good! I appreciated the story even more when I read the author's notes at the end of the book (which I would suggest you read first!). Many of the situations and events in the book actually happened - just not all to our fictional characters, Lenka and Josef. At the beginning of the book Josef is getting ready to attend the rehearsal dinner for his grandson. One can quickly grasp what life is like for this old man. At the dinner he meets the widowed grandmother of the bride. There is something about her that startles him. He believes he is looking at the wife he married before war broke out and they were separated. Then Richman throws us back to the past where we meet a young Lenka and the man that she will love forever. It is a powerful story told against the background of some of the last century's darkest days. I don't think we can ever be reminded often enough of what happened then - Lest we forget. If this type of book appeals to you I would highly recommend it.

Siren Song by Cat Adams

This is the sequel to Blood Song, and was just as good... actually I take that back, it was better. Blood Song started out kinda slow, while Siren Song jumped right in the same day that Blood Song ended.

Celia is an abomination. She was a human bodyguard that was attacked in Blood Song by a vampire - but was not fully changed. Because of that partial change her heritage from her grandfather was brought forth, she is also part Siren. At her best friends wake (in Blood Song), Celia is summoned to the island of the Sirens, to stand trail for using her Siren powers on so many mortal men.

Teaming up with some old friends and some possibly new friends, she sets off for the island to meet her Siren relatives and to stand trial. While on the island, her friends who are still on the boat they took are attacked by a demon - the same demon we are introduced to in Blood Song. Celia then regroups her team, adds a few Siren allies and makes plans to defeat the demon once and for all.

This was definitely a great read. Refreshing to see some no so common fantasy creatures (such as the Sirens and Demons), great to get away from the common vampire (that has become so mainstream that it is now boring to read about).

I recommend this book to any science fiction / fantasy reader - know that there is "language" in this series, and the books DO need to be read in order.

The Christmas Note by Donna VanLiere

It is that time of year when I enjoy a quick dip into the world of the Christmas novel. Gretchen has moved to be closer to her mother. She is not doing it to help her mother, but just the opposite. Gretchen is now a single mother with two children who are missing their father. In the condo next door lives Melissa. She is very abrupt, unfriendly and just down-right weird. One day a man knocks on Gretchen's door to see if she knows where Melissa lives. He is trying to find her to break the news that her mother has died and she has one week to clean out the apartment or he is throwing everything away. Melissa is at work and the man asks - well actually tells Gretchen that she needs to pass on the message. No way does Gretchen want to undertake that task. She avoids it for a while but eventually she does. Turns out Melissa and her mother weren't exactly close and she has no intentions of cleaning out the apartment. Eventually Gretchen talks her into doing it by offering to help her. Thus begins a rocky 'friendship' of sorts. It is a short book, so try to put a little Christmas magic on your reading list. Tis the season.

Betrayal of Trust by J. A. Jance

I listened to the audio book from Jance's series featuring J.P. Beaumont (now working in a Special Homicide Unit. He and his wife Mel are called to the Governor's mansion. The Governor actually went to school with J.P. - although they hardly ran in the same circles. She found a video on the cell phone of her husband's grandson. It appears to be a snuff film - the victim a young girl being strangled by a blue scarf. A similar blue scarf is found in the boy's room. Obviously this is ....well too obvious! The boy denies everything -but then he commits suicide. There is a lot going on in the book - family relations, modern technology, and missing kids. As a side story Beaumont is doing a lot of reflecting back to his own childhood. He has been contacted by a woman who claims to be his cousin. Although he longs for a family connection he is not rushing into a meeting until this case is over. It was a good mystery - as are all of her books.

running away to home by jennifer wilson 305.891 Wil

(and yes I know that I didn't capitalize - but that is the way the title was done on her book. She's the author and she gets to decide!)
I enjoyed this true story of Jennifer, her husband Jim and their two young kids. They are Iowans and were living in Des Moines where he was an architect and she was a travel writer. When they were young and childless they had dreamed of having an adventure and living abroad somewhere. Then they had kids and so it began - lots of driving around, buying stuff, fixing up the house....................... They end up going to Croatia which is where Jennifer's roots were. I won't go into how they made the decision- that is part of book! Jennifer goes over first to check out some things. After reading one paragraph of that section I know I would never have gone back much less moved there. But they are better people than I am! There was one short part of the book that had a little too much geneaology in it (I skimmed that part) but the rest of it was very interesting. I need to find out what happened to their lives after this year in Croatia - if the 'lessons' learned stuck with them or if they went back to their crazy lives!

the Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

This was a typical Sparks book - and that was just fine! It is a love story but not too sloppy - or else I wouldn't be reading it! There are some mysterious pasts that are unraveled and a little bit of the supernatural thrown in. It is the story of Amanda and Dawson. She was a 'good girl' from a prominent family. He was really a good kid but from a family whose reputation was so bad that he really didn't have a chance. So of course they fell in love in high school. But a tragedy broke up the relationship. Twenty-five years later they are reunited in a strange way. An old man, Tuck, has died and his lawyer has contacted both Amanda and Dawson. Tuck had given Dawson a place to hide from his family. Amanda met him through Dawson and later began her own friendship with him when she came to town to visit family. As always, Sparks has done a good job with his characters.

Beauty in Bent Grass by Ruth Ada Clark 977.7 Cla

This is a short, but very touching book. It is written by the mother of Christian John Clark. Christian was originally his middle name, but his parents changed it because John Clark is too common of a name and they were afraid there would be a mix-up in the hospital. And there were many trips to the hospital. Christian was a hemophiliac who grew up in Northeast Iowa. It is really unfair that I wrote that sentence. I should have first of all said that he was a boy of uncommon courage, a wonderful brother and son, and a very talented photographer. He didn't want to be know as 'the hemophiliac'. The suffering caused by that disorder is unbelievable. Then add to that the fact that he was HIV positive because this was all happening before the medical world knew to look out for tainted blood. There are lots of things that could have caused the demise of Christian. He died young (in his 20's) - but not of illness or disease. A car accident. Now decades later his mom uses some of her son's journals and her own memories to write the story of Christian. The title of the book comes from something he pointed out to his mother when he was taking pictures of things that she thought were ugly. He pointed out that there is even beauty in bent grass. You can't help but be inspired by this young man.

The Call by Yannick Murphy

This is a quick read and I found it to be an interesting book. Murphy writes in a different style which I found refreshing for a change. It would take too long to describe it here but it is short and to the point. The other thing that interested me was that the main character, David, is a Veterinarian and we learn a lot about rural vets have to do (and most of it isn't pretty!). David takes his son, Sam, out to do some hunting. Sam is up in one 'stand' (I think that is what it was called!) and David is in another. A shot rings out and Sam falls from the tree. Although the gunshot wasn't very significant, he lands on his head and is in a coma. David did not see who fired the shot and the police were unable to find any evidence. David is obsessed with finding the guilty party - and everyone he looks out becomes a possible suspect. I really liked the book and would like to do some more reading by this author.

The Fifth Vial by Michael Palmer

This book is several years old but I came upon it in the audio book section and took it home. Like all of his medical thrillers this one was well-written and a page-turner - well, I of course didn't have any pages to turn with an audio book but you get the idea. There are three main characters in the book and although they seem disconnected Palmer weaves their three separate stories into one. Natalie is a world-class athlete and a medical student. Academically she is a good student, but sometimes she says what she thinks - next thing she knows she is on the verge of being kicked-out permanently. But her mentor tries to smooth things over and to keep her busy during her "time-out". He sends her to South America to present a research paper. She never gets a chance because her cab driver takes her to a deserted part of town and when she tries to escape she is shot.
Ben is a private detective. He's had two other careers before this one and he still hasn't found his passion. He is thinking of hanging it up when he is approached to do some more detecting. This job takes him to Florida to try and get an i.d. on a man killed on a highway.
Joe Anson is working in Africa on an important medical breakthrough. He might not finish because his lungs are giving out on him.
An interesting, well-paced mystery that you might want to check out if you didn't read it the first time around.

She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

This isn't the best book I've read, but I still enjoyed it. There are parts that I really enjoyed and could relate to. At the beginning of the book Ariel Baxter is moving to a new neighborhood that she is dying to live in. The downside is she has to leave her best friend and neighbor. That is painful for both of them. Soon after moving in she meets her new neighbor, Justine, and finds out that she is living in the house of Justine's best friend who had to move. So everyone is going through best-friend withdrawal and feeling at odds without having a strong supportive friend nearby. Ariel is organizationally challenged (another thing I related to!). Justine is pretty much a Martha Stewart. Justine plans to take Ariel under her wing and teach her how to get her act together and have the perfect home. As it turns out, Justine's life isn't quite as perfect as she lets on.

Bedbugs by Ben Winters

Yes, this was a little bit of a creepy book to read - and I finished it last night as I was laying in my bed. Yes, I did check out the sheets. Anyway, back to the book! It is the story of Alex and Susan. She has given up being a lawyer to stay home with their daughter and hoping to restart her dreams of being an artist. Alex is running his own business. Things are going pretty well but Susan has finally convinced Alex that they need to get out of their tiny apartment. They find one that appears to be a steal. After moving in Susan begins to find bites every morning. Neither Alex nor daughter Emma appear to be a target. Susan begins to feel that she is losing control and everything is falling apart. It's a psychological thriller! It's a short book - I read it in one day. Interesting characters and more than a few facts about bedbugs! Read it if you dare.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Charlotte's Web, The Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden . . . Classic children's books stay with us long into adulthood. And when we grow up, we switch to reading only books written for adults, whether they will be considered classics or not. More's the pity, because most adults end up missing out on some wonderful new titles being written for their children and grandchildren. Brian Selznick's new book Wonderstruck is just such a book. A talented writer and artist whose groundbreaking book The Invention of Hugo Cabret was awarded the Caldecott medal in 2008, Selznick has gone one better than that with his new title. It's a masterpiece of story and story-though-pictures, with so many supporting details woven seamlessly into the overarching storyline that the term "genius" comes to mind to describe the vision that brought forth this book.
Get yourself in line for a copy of Wonderstruck and plan to spend an evening (or two, maybe) being entralled by this masterful storyteller. If you have children third grade or older, read it together. Let them interpret, analyze and pore over the pictures that tell Rose's story, and you can be the narrator of Ben's life. You'll all be richer for the experience.

(The Indianola Public Library has two copies of this book in the New Juvenile Fiction section. You may have to place a hold to ensure your chance to check it out. It's a quick read so you shouldn't have to wait too long!)

Room by Emma Donoghue

I work one weekend a month and so I have the Friday before that weekend off... which happens to fall on the day the Library has morning bookclub. This months book was Room by Emma Donoghue. It sounded like an interesting book, not one of my normal books (no magic, spaceships or creatures of any kind!), but one that I might enjoy... so I checked out a bookclub copy and dove right in.
Room is written from the perspective of 5 year old Jack. He lives with his "Ma" (her name is never given) in Room. Room is a shed turned nightmare for Ma. 7 years ago "Old Nick" tricked Ma, who was 19 at the time, into getting into his truck, and she has been locked in Room since.
Ma and Jack spend 100% of their time together, neither can be alone, they only have each other. Ma makes Room save for Jack - providing a day to day routine, including meal times, exercising, reading, craft time, and other educational activities.
But when an opportunity to escape appears, Ma convinces Jack to help them get out of Room and that is when things start to get a bit crazy for little Jack. He has only ever known Room, never been outside, never worn shoes, never talked with anyone but Ma. Now he is bombarded with this new world he didn't even know existed, and all he wants is to go back to Room where it is safe.
So, I went to Bookclub this past Friday to listen to the regular members discuss this book. The entire group is women, and the majority are 60+. What surprised me was that I took away from this book almost the same things as the other ladies in the club (of those that spoke up at least). Ma was a wonderful character doing her best to provide a safe environment in Room for Jack. Keeping Jack out of sight when "Old Nick" would come in at night.

I really enjoyed this book. It has some moments that you just can not put the book down, you have to know what happens next. I got very little sleep the week I read this, I could not put the book down. Highly recommended.

Going Home: finding peace when pets die by Jon Katz 155.937 Kat

I love dogs. I love to read. But normally I do not combine the two - especially if I have any indication that the dog is going to die. (I know he's going to die - I just meant during the book!) I did love Marley and Me, but it took me over a year to get up the nerve to read it. Right now I have two adorable Yorkies waiting for me at home. This month they turn 15 1/2 and 14 1/2. That's old. That is really old. So the time is approaching. I know what needs to be done and I will be able to do it as I have done for past pets. I just thought I might need a pep-talk about my responsibilities. I was only able to read two or three pages a night - because I cried all the way through. A few days ago I got home from work and decided to just finish the book and the cry in one sitting. It isn't a very long book but it is long on good advice. I hope you are not in a situation where you need a book like this. If you are preparing for this sad event, buy a new box of Kleenex, grab this book and find a private place to read.

Second Nature by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Sicily Coyne is a cute 13 year old. Her life is pretty typical. One December she is at Lady Chapel along with about 50 other people. They are practicing Christmas carols. And then her life changed forever. With unbelievable speed a fire began to sweep through the chapel which was so old that it was exempt from fire codes. Sicily's father, Jamie - a captain with the Fire Department - arrived quickly on the scene. Twenty-six kids were rescued. Jamie died in that fire with a child in his arms. Twelve years later Sicily is not so typical. She does have an education, an appartment, a boyfriend and a good job as a medical illustrator. She also keeps her nose in a jar. She doesn't like to eat out in public because she has problems getting the food to the back of her throat. The fire destroyed her face. This story is set in the future - no dates, but transplants have continued to improve and Sicily has an opportunity to get a new face. Of course it is not without risk. Should she take the chance or keep things the way they are? She is getting married in a few months - what does her fiance think she should do. You have probably figured out that she does opt for the transplant - but I am not telling you anything else! In this book you will also meet a few characters from Mitchard's past book. I enjoyed the story.

Long Drive Home by Will Allison

In time of stress people don't always do the right thing. Perhaps none of us know how we would react in any given situation. For Glen Bauer everything changes in an instant. Glen is happily married and the father of Sara (who I think is 8). His wife, Liz, commutes to a high-powered job. Glen is an accountant who mostly works at home and therefore is in charge of picking up Sara from school. He has done it hundreds of times. But this time is different. It starts out with a little road rage. But it ends with an accident. A teenager is killed. Glen realizes that no one saw the accident - except for Sara. When the police come, Glen finds himself changing the story to make him look less guilty. It just might work - except what did Sara see and what will she tell her mom? And then there is that pesky detective who is a bit like Columbo. It gets harder and harder to keep Sara away from him. As Liz begins to learn more about what happened, their marriage begins to dissolve. It is a short book but powerful.

The Very Thought of You by Rose Alison

I really liked this book. It begins with a description of an old Historic House in England. At the end of this prologue we learn that an old woman is sitting on a bench - she is dead and clasping a letter in her hand. Now the book rewinds to 1939 and an England on the brink of war. Students of history know that thousands of children were evacuated from London out to the countryside for safety reasons. It is a bit unimaginable to think of young children being taken from their homes and parents (or mothers in most cases) to an entirely foreign environment to live with strangers and in some cases scores of other young refugees. This is the story of Anna. Her father is away fighting the war and young Anna finds herself on a train to the unknown. She ends up with 70 other children on an estate owned by a crippled man and his beautiful wife. (They have a story to tell.) The book follows Anna's time in exile and up to the end of her life. Ms. Alison does a wonderful job of showing the effects of childhood experiences on the rest of one's life.

Lightstone by David Zindell

Finally have time to blog about this book that I finished almost a month ago! This is the first book in a series of three I believe.

The story follows Valashu Elahad of Mesh (Val for short) on a journey to find the sacred Lightstone, a golden cup with magical properties. The journey starts out with an assassination attempt on Val but it is not the last.
Val is accompanied by two close friends, Prince Maram Marshayk of Delu and Master Juwain Zadoran of the Brotherhood. They begin their journey to a far kingdom where a king has asked those who wish to search for the Lightstone to make an official commitment to it.
On the journey to get there they meet up with Kane. He is very mysterious about everything, so they are hesitant to trust him, but allow him to join their group. On the outskirts of the kingdom they meet up with Atara Ars Narmada of Alonia and the Wendrush, also known as Atara Manslayer of the Kurmak. She is so named because she took a vow to kill 100 men, and she can not be wed until this vow has been completed.
Finally at the kingdom, they receive the blessing of the king and are joined by two additional adventurers, making their group a total of 7 people.
There is a prophecy; "The seven brothers and sisters of the earth with the seven stones will set forth into the darkness. The Lightstone will be found, the Maitreya will com forth and a new age will begin. A seventh son with the mark of Valoreth will slay the dragon. The old world will be destroyed and a new world created."
The seven brothers and sisters have joined, and they are gradually getting the seven stones through the journey.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I got a into the story I couldn't stop, and I plan to finish the rest of the series as well! If alot of details and strange names scare you away from reading a book this is not the series for you, but if you like something that's a bit different but still "on earth" this is a great story!

At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson 643.1 bry

I loved this book!!! I listened to the audio book which I think really added to my enjoyment. It is not a book for everyone. But I happen to love history and trivia. This would be the perfect book for a long car trip. (It also worked well for some weed-pulling and needlepoint!) Bryson takes us through every room in the house and gives us an interesting historical background on why that room exists. Some of things I already knew but I was astonished at the wealth of information he presented in the book. No, I didn't stay up late to listen to the book and no, I didn't rush home to continue reading it. But I was always interested and fascinated by the information. If you are a Bryson fan be sure to check out this one. And if you haven't been introduced to this author, try it - you might become his next fan!

French Lessons by Ellen Sussman

I picked up this book because of the title. I used to teach French and thought it would be fun to read about a book set in Paris. I did enjoy it. It is the story of Josie, Riley and Jeremy who are all in Paris but for different reasons. They have all signed up for French lessons (no surprise to you I'm sure!). They aren't taking the traditional ones in a classroom. They are taking the ones where you get a personal tutor and then you spend the day in Paris! So we learn the stories of why these three are here and what they are hoping to gain. Josie has had her heart broken. Riley is living in Paris because of her husband's job - but she feels her husband moving away from their relationship. Jeremy is married to a famous actress and isn't sure that her world is what he wants. We also learn about the three tutors and their interconnecting stories. It was a quick, easy read. I will warn you that I would rate it R if that matters to you (one way or the other).

Allergic Girl by Sloane Miller 616.975 Mil

This is a book about food allergies. No, I don't have food allergies. Although I could name some people with this affliction I have never shared a dinner or living quarters with them. So why, you ask, did I even read this book? I don't know. I liked the cover, which made me pick it up. I read the inside flap and it sounded sort of interesting. I read a few pages and I liked her style. So I read it! It really broadened my horizons about a subject that really is important in this day and age - because so many people are afflicted with this problem. And for many, it is a life-threatening condition. Ms. Miller did a great job of telling her story and challenges - from the time she was a small child to dating. Imagine, she has to explain to anyone she dates what her allergies are and what to do if she comes in contact with one of the allergens - not the most romantic of topics! If anyone in your 'world' has this problem I would highly recommend that you read this book. It will help you understand what you can (and should do) and be a little bit more sympathetic (perhaps not grumble so much that you don't get peanuts on the airplane!).

the Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer

I have ever read anything by Meltzer until I listened to this book, but I definitely want to read more. On the back of the book there were quotes from people and publications comparing him to Grisham, Turow and Baldacci. I personally thought he wrote more like Dan Brown in The Da vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Our hero in this book is Beecher. He was your basic nerd in school. One pleasant memory he has kept through the years is that of Clementine. She was a tough girl - and he had admired her. There was even a kiss that happened between those two - and all these years later Beecher still remembers. Today Beecher is an archivist who works in the National Archives where the sitting president likes to come once a week to relax and look at old documents and books. This week it happens to be the same day that he is meeting Clementine! Yes, after all of those years he gets a chance to make a new first impression and he is nervous. She is the one who contacted him (on Facebook, of course!) because she wants him to help her find out who her father was. It was a political thriller that was full of historical trivia that I just love! It was a story of old crushes, friendships and of the age-old question - "Who can you trust?". Check it out!

The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman

This was a good book. It is much heavier on the characters than on the mystery - which happens to be just the way I like it. It is about five people who were great friends when they were young. Three of them , Gordon (aka Go-Go), Sean and Tim are brothers. The females in the group were Gwen and Mickey. Gwen's father is a doctor and her mother is an artist (not one that actually earns money from it!). Mickey lives with her mom and stepfather. Her life was not very stable and she loved to come to Gwen's house where Gwen's mom kept special treats just for her. The girls spent hours with the brothers exploring the woods nearby. When the book begins these people are all grown up. Gwen's mom has been gone for a long time. Her father is getting ready to return home to his house after breaking his hip. Although they could afford to hire overnight help, Gwen decides to take on that duty herself - mostly so she can absent herself from her husband. She hasn't seen those friends for many years. But Go-Go is dead and that will lead to a reunion - and the revelation of a few secrets!

Dead by Midnight by Carolyn Hart

I listened to this mystery and I enjoyed it a lot. It is what I call a gentle murder mystery. There is little violence - there are murders but we don't get a blow-by-blow of the gruesome details. Our 'heroine' of the story is Annie Darling who owns a bookstore named Death on Demand. Like earlier characters such as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Diane Mott Davidson's Goldie, Annie is a nice ordinary person - but people are always being murdered around her! She ends up helping to solve the crime. Not by means of forensic science but by just being an observant person who knows human nature. In this book Annie has hired Pat Merridew who, until recently, had worked at a law firm. She was basically fired and was desperate for the job - even though she doesn't seem to know much about murder mysteries. She didn't have much time to learn about them either because she is soon dead. The police want to attribute it to a suicide - but Annie thinks that doesn't make any sense. A light, entertaining book.

The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon

I always enjoy a good mystery and this one was very appealing to me because it takes place in a school. I taught for over three decades and although there were some mysteries here and there, we never had an actual murder at school. Armitage Academy is not a public school. It is a very prestigious boarding school with a long history. Madeline is teaching English at the school for one year (thanks to some string-pulling by her sister who is an alum of the school). Along with the teaching there are other duties - including supervising (and living in) one of the dorms. The end of the school year is in sight when the unthinkable happens. One of Madeline's 'charges', Claire, is found dead in her dorm room. The school is thrown into chaos and the mystery grows when it is determined that Claire had recently given birth - and there is no baby in sight. Except for a small group of girls, no one had even noticed that Claire was pregnant. Now they are looking for a murderer and a baby. Madeline tries to help by talking to some of the students and she uncovers a secret society - could they be responsible for what has happened? Do you really think I am going to tell you????

The Medium Next Door by Maureen Hancock 133.9 Han

As soon as this book was cataloged I knew that all other books would be stopped immediately so that I could read this one! I love reading about psychics and the afterlife. Hancock tells her story of growing up and trying to hide her abilities. After a bad car accident the voices that she had tried so hard to suppress came back full-force. She started using her gift, but it was only after 9/11 when she was bombarded with spirits wanting to get messages to their loved ones that she truly accepted her gift as a wonderful thing. Maureen has comforted the dying and the families of the dying. She has assisted law enforcement with the search for missing people. She is involved with her two nonprofit organizations. If you feel that no way is any of this true, then of course you won't be checking out this book! However, if you are open (even a little) to this idea, please take the time to read it. I think you will find it to be very comforting.

The Sixes by Kate White

I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a mystery that takes place in a small private college run by Glenda. Years ago her best friend, Phoebe, was harassed and targeted at school by a group of girls. She left the school with painful memories but she did gain a best friend in Glenda. All grown up, both women have found success. Phoebe has been writing celebrity biographies that have become bestsellers. But the life that Phoebe has been living in Manhattan changes suddenly. Her long-time boyfriend decides it isn't working and leaves her. She could have survived except next she is accused of plagiarizing. She is innocent, but you know how that goes! Glenda offers her an escape to regroup and stay out of the limelight. Shortly after Phoebe begins teaching, the body of a female student is found. Phoebe offers to help Glenda find out some information about a "secret society" called The Sixes because they might have had a hand in the murder. Given her own past history, it is difficult for Phoebe -but she will do anything to help her friend. It was fast-paced and interesting. If you like mysteries, check it out!

A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear

In this continuing story of Maisie Dobbs, our heroine is recruited by the British Secret Service. She is able to take the assignment without hesitation because she has inherited a large amount of money from her mentor. Her assignment is to procure a teaching position at a college in Cambridge. Not the college in Cambridge, but a small one founded by Greville Liddicote who wants his college to be devoted to the goal of peace in Europe. During the war he wrote a book about a group of children who go to the battlefield and ask their fathers to come home. That book led to some soldiers refusing to fight anymore. Maisie gets the job as a philosophy teacher (for which she is well qualified). Her 'real' job gets muddied a bit when there is a murder at the school and she begins sleuthing. For me the joy of a Maisie Dobbs book has little to do with the plot. It has everything to do with the time in history (post WWI) and Winspear's ability to remind us of the emotional results of a war that has been over for years. If this sounds like something that would appeal to you, I would strongly recommend that you begin with the first one of the series. (It is called Maisie Dobbs.

Kindred Spirits by Sarah Strohmeyer

I really liked this book. It is a touching story about friendship. These friends belong to the Ladies Society for the Conservation of Martinis. Loosely translated that just means these four women discovered they had a common bond one night after a PTA meeting - and not just that they liked martinis! (By the way, there are lots of martini recipes given throughout the story.) There is always something special about the way a group of friends can create a safe zone where they can do all of their venting and celebrating. They think they know everything important there is to know about one another. Then the unthinkable happens. Lynn is diagnosed with cancer. She battles bravely for two years and then has had enough. The Ladies Society had a pact that if something happened to one of them, the others would go sort through her belongings. (I smiled at that because I had the same pact with two friends!). What they find will lead them to question if they ever really knew Lynn. And then it leads them on a journey to fulfill Lynn's last request of them. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline.

Next to Love by Ellen Feldman

I listened to the audio book of Next to Love and really enjoyed it. It is a wonderful look at small town America during the Second World War and the way the War affected people for years to come. The story takes place in a small town in Massachusetts where Babe, Millie and Grace grew up. Now America is going to war and things are going to change quickly and forever. I thought Feldman did a great job of describing the atmosphere of the times. Naturally there is love and loss (of innocence and of men). The book continues through the years with these women and their families. America is changing and so are they. If you like to read things with an historical perspective, check out this book. I don't think you will be disappointed.

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

When Lucy Hull, the childrens' librarian at the Hannibal Public Library, arrives at work one morning, she is surprised to find her favorite patron camped out there. Ten-year-old Ian Drake has run away from home. Concerned about him and his relationship with his parents, Lucy lets Ian talk her into taking him home - a drive that leads them from Missouri to Chicago to Pittsburgh and, finally, Vermont. Is Lucy a kidnapper? Or has she been kidnapped?

I will admit to misgivings in even ordering this book. Librarians suffer from such a weird stereotype that I wasn't sure I wanted to add "kidnapper" to the common lore. But universally good reviews finally convinced me.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and her description of Ian. I'm not sure that her description of his home life was convincing enough to make Lucy convinced she was in the right to run away with him. But I also think that Lucy knew that and her inner dialogue about what she was doing and how it was going to end (and where she was going to end up - in jail?) was part of what made the book interesting and kept my attention. And, really, what librarian or person who loves books and reading wouldn't enjoy all the literary references?

State of Wonder by Ann Pachett

I read the book jacket of this book and didn't think I would really be interested in it. But I do like Pachett's books so I decided to take a chance. (Did you ever meet anyone braver than I am!). I actually listened to the audiobook and the reader did a great job. The story centers around a pharmaceutical company in Minnesota. They have a researcher, Dr. Swenson, who is studying a tribe in the Amazon jungle. The women in this tribe are having babies in their sixties and beyond. I don't know who would find that appealing but the company thinks there is big, big money for them if they can figure out why. Swenson has been down there for years with very little contact much to the dismay of the greedy company. So the company has sent Anders Eckman to check things out. Before Anders relays any useful information, word is sent that Anders has died of an illness. Now they send Dr. Marina Singh off to check on things for the company and see what she can find out about Ander's death at the request of his widow. I quickly became involved in the novel and enjoyed every minute of it. Complex characters, a geography and culture lesson, a bit of romance and of course......a mystery! What did happen to Anders and why won't Dr. Swenson call home????

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

I am so hooked on Lisa See's books! If you loved Amy Tan's books but haven't tried See's, you need to rush to the library because you have a treat in store. My history background is lacking when it comes to China so I have been getting an education along with my entertainment. Dreams of Joy is a follow up book to Shanghai Girls. That was the story of Pearl and May two sisters who escaped from China (the Japanese were invading) and came to L.A. Now it is 20 years later and Pearl's daughter Joy has escaped L.A. (no invasion - she is just angry with her family, idealistic and really didn't think this all through) to go to Shanghai. She finds her biological father, a famous artist, and goes with him out in the countryside where he will be teaching people to draw. (Not people with talent, just people - part of Mao's Great Leap Forward.) Joy thinks it is all a wonderful idea, she is with her wonderful father, and falls in love with a wonderful guy. That is the first part of the book - after that it is not so wonderful. Pearl risks everything to return to China and bring her daughter home. It was a terrific book. I have learned more about China from this author than I ever did in school! Highly recommended - but read Shanghai Girls first!

Room by Emma Donoghue

This book is really different! It is told from the voice of a five-year-old boy named Jack. It begins on his fifth birthday. Jack doesn't have a party like most five-year-old kids because his life is different. He has spent all five years of his life in one room. His mother has tried to make his life as normal as she can. From Jack's point of view she has been completely successful because he knows no other way of living. His mom does whatever she can to keep Jack's mind stimulated, his body healthy and his heart full of love. Eventually they are able to escape - but there is no way for Jack to escape the consequences of spending his whole life in one room. It is a fascinating book.

Escape by Barbara Delinsky

I can't imagine that every woman has not thought of escaping her life at one time or another - even if only for a day. That is why it is easy for the reader to understand Emily and her 'escape'. She lives in Manhattan with her husband Tim. Well, 'live' might be a bit overstated. They reside there but as for living, there is not a lot of that. Both she and Tim are lawyers. Tim is hoping to become a partner in his law firm in a few months, so he has been working insane hours. Emily thought she would take her law degree and help victims of corporate greed/abuse. Part of it came true. She spends her days calling victims - but she is doing it to help the corporation, not the victims. And is she at least calling from a comfortable office? No. It's a cubicle. One day she has had it. She walks out of work, packs and drives away (in her husband's car that he is very fond of!). None of this was planned but she soon knows where she is headed. During college she spent a summer in New Hampshire. Before the invention of the cell phone I am sure it was much easier to escape. But Emily has to try and explain to her husband, to her boss and to her parents what she is doing - pretty tough because she doesn't know what she is doing! An entertaining book.

10th Anniversary by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

This is the tenth (in case you missed that reference in the title) book in the Women's Murder Club series. I don't read many of Patterson's anymore but I never miss a book in this series. For those who are not familiar with the members of this club, they are Detective Lindsay (who has just gotten married), Assistant D.A. Yuki Castellano and Cindy, a newswoman (whose last name I can not remember!). Lindsay is investigating the case of a teenager who was left for dead. She has a newborn baby who is missing. Yuki is prosecuting a woman who (alledgedly!) murdered her husband. She is under a lot of pressure to win a convinction. As always, it is fun to read about the interaction between the friends as they try to solve crime.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Hannah writes good books and this one is no exception. Like the book I blogged about previously, this is another cautionary tale - this time it is about teens and drinking. The book opens with an introduction about Lexi, the daughter of a drugged-out mother. She has been in and out of foster homes for years. Her life changes when her social worker tells her that she has great news - Lexi does have a living relative even though her mom always said there was no one. It is her great aunt, Eva. Although Eva lives in a trailer with not much money, she welcomes Lexi into her home and gives her the love that Lexi has always craved. Her first day of school (high school) is scary, but she has been in this situation many times before. Feeling the rejection in the lunchroom she heads outside and sees a girl sitting by herself. When she approaches her, the girl (Mia) warns Lexi that to be seen with her is 'social suicide'. Immediately the two bond and Mia takes Lexi home to meet her family. Mia's dad is a doctor, her twin brother Zach is the heart-throb in town and her mom, Jude, is mother-of-the-year material. Over the next few years Lexi becomes an integral part of the family. Until one tragic night. The characters are likable and believable. It is a story of love, despair and forgiveness. It's a good one - don't miss it!

This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman

The Bergamots are a normal middle-class family in the process of transitioning to a different life. They have left a small college town to move to New York City. It is a great career move for Richard. His wife Liz has given up her academic life to see that the children get settled in. Jake is 15 and although he was nervous about finding friends, he has landed in a group at his private school. Coco is the six-year-old whom they adopted from Chinese. One of her new friends is having a birthday night at the Plaza Hotel (with mothers invited!). Jake is off that night to his own party. It is not chaperoned and things are a bit wild. Daisy, an eighth-grader, finds Jake attractive and makes some advances. Jake tells her she is too young and thinks that is the end of it. But the next morning he receives an email with an attachment from Daisy that is rated XXX. He should have deleted it but instead he forwards it to his friend Henry. Henry calls Jake immediately but it goes to voice mail before he can answer. By the time he retrieves the message from Henry, it has been forwarded on, and on and on. This is the story of how social media can ruin lives in the blink of an eye. It is a horror story if you have kids who have access to computers. I don't, but I still found it to be very scary.