thornton37814's 75 books in 2011 - thread 3

This thread is continued from http://www.librarything.com/topic/115453

146. Saint's Gate by Carla Neggers - Agent Emma Sharpe has been called back to the convent where she was once a novice by Sister Joan to comment on a painting. Emma's family had been involved in art restoration for years and now Emma investigates art crimes for the FBI. Sister Joan goes to the tower where the painting is located, surprising a thief. When Sister Joan doesn't return as expected, Emma sets off to find her. She encounters a novice named Cecelia along the way. She finds Sister Joan dead, it becomes a matter for local law enforcement, but naturally, she gets involved. Another FBI agent, Colin Donovan is in the area. Her boss Matt Yankowski comes up from Boston. Colin's friend Father Finian Bracken also plays an important role. All the crimes seem to be related to a period shortly after Sister Linden made the convent known for its art. I found this an enjoyable read. I liked the Maine setting. I enjoyed the characters. The plot was different from a lot of mysteries. While there is a touch of romance, I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a romantic suspense because the lead female character is law enforcement official instead of a governess, secretary, or other household servant. This review is based on an electronic galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review. 3.5 stars.

Starred! Nice review, too :)

Thanks, Anne!

Checking in, Lori!

Thanks, Stasia! Glad you found the new thread.

Reporting an abandoned book: The Clarinet Polka by Keith Maillard - Jimmy Kaprowski returns to his hometown of Raysburg, West Virginia following his deployment to Vietnam. He had never planned to return. Steel is the chief industry. There is a large Polish-American community. Unfortunately, I could not continue to read this book. It was one in which I did not feel a connection and the amount of profanity used by Jimmy and his friends was more than I was able to tolerate. I'm a little sad about this as I was really curious how he was going to incorporate the musical theme. At the point I abandoned it, we had earlier been introduced to Jimmy's sister who played piano well, loved polkas, and was learning to play trumpet. However, we had not been introduced to a clarinet player.

ETA: This means I need to check out a different book to complete West Virginia in the 50 states challenge and that I will be taking one book off the TIOLI for this month. I have already identified a West Virginia book that I'm sure will be a winner and much more to my liking.

#6: I have already identified a West Virginia book that I'm sure will be a winner and much more to my liking.

I certainly hope so!

147. Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke - Have you ever read a book that wasn't quite what you expected, but which was quite good nonetheless? This is such a book. I expected that the author would employ a reader's advisory tone in his writing; however, he approached the subject from the perspective of learning to love books and literature. He demonstrated the value of reading both Christian and non-Christian books to one's spiritual growth. He also offered tips on how parents could inspire children to love books and to pastors on how to get church members appreciate and read books. There are many quotes from the Bible and from other writers throughout the book on the value of reading. He encourages readers to create marginalia, but only in books which are their own. Even though this book was not what I expected, I found it to be extremely valuable. I received an advanced electronic galley from the publisher through NetGalley for review, but I intend to purchase my own print copy of the book. I found myself highlighting many passages as I read through the galley on my Kindle which will be valuable to me as a librarian who enjoys promoting reading and literature. 4 stars.

Sounds interesting!

148. Shrouds of Holly by Kate Kingsbury - Samuel and Baxter are gathering holly when they come upon a man swinging from a tree. Soon the horses and carriage return to the Pennyfoot Hotel without the original occupants and with the dead body. The concern is only amplified when Samuel returns on foot with a head injury and little recollection of the events. Cecily instigates a search for her husband. Samuel slowly regains his memory. Cecily is convinced that P.C. Northcott is incapable of finding the murderer and continues her investigation. The cast of characters at the Pennyfoot is always charming. Cecily's involvement in the case did not seem to be quite as natural as in some previous cases. Although this book has a Christmas setting, the holiday theme is minimal, and the book can be read at any time of the year. While it was an enjoyable read, I found a little of the spark of previous installments missing in this one. 3 stars.

I have to confess. I doubt that I'll get much read the next few days. I'll be glued to The Weather Channel watching this hurricane. Praying for the safety of everyone on the East Coast.

Oh my goodness, it's "that" season again. I have my fingers crossed that firstly, people stay safe from this hurricane and, that this Hurricane Season is a light one.

Now we have earthquake excitement. Felt it here in East Tennessee.

That earthquake was quite a surprise, out here on the west coast we sort of expect that sort of thing, but I didn't expect to hear of an earthquake that was centered in Virginia.

149. Lick Creek by Brad Kessler - Emily Jenkins lives in a home with her mother on Lick Creek in West Virginia. Her father and brother had died in the mines. Her mother was in the depths of despair. Now electricity is coming to the area. The surveyors mark the route the line is to take, but it comes too close to her home for Emily's taste. She altered the route. One day one of the workers falls from a pole near the house and is severely injured. Emily's mom Ada takes the man into her home, regaining a purpose in her life. It brings other changes as well. This is a beautiful novel with realistic characters and rich images of the landscape and events. 4 stars.

I hope 75 x 2 is a dandy read for you, Lori!

Lick Creek sounds interesting, Lori. Thanks for review. Be safe with weather over the next few days.

150. Who Has Seen the Wind by W. O. Mitchell - This is the story of Brian O'Connal's childhood in a small town on the Saskatchewan prairie. It's full of memorable characters and even some amusing scenes in the life of a small town. I especially enjoyed Brian's first visit to the farm when he lived with his uncle for a time. The dialect sometimes made it difficult to read, but it's a book that would make a terrific read aloud for elementary aged children. The physical dimensions of the book I borrowed through interlibrary loan made it somewhat uncomfortable to read, but the illustrations made up for it. 3.5 stars.

Nice review of Who Has Seen the Wind; I've only read that once many, many years ago - something I might revisit.

Who Has Seen the Wind looks like a book I would enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation, Lori.

151. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - I can't believe that I waited so many years to make the acquaintance of Francie Nolan, her brother Neeley, and her parents Katie and Johnny. They reside in Brooklyn. Francie learns quickly that she is the only one in her class whose parents were born in the United States. The others were children of immigrants. Francie excels in school, especially in writing. She loves to read, although the librarian in her neighborhood library is not going to win any customer service awards. This is just a nice, clean novel about growing up in a poor family and working toward making things better for the next generation than it was for your own. I'm sure that I'll revisit this book in the future. 4.5 stars.

I felt the same way when I read A Tree Grown In Brooklyn earlier this year, I couldn't believe that I hadn't read it before now!

It was definitely my favorite book of August. I'm not big on re-reading books because there are are so many books begging to be read. It's one of those few books that I know I will re-read.

>21 thornton37814:: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of my favorite books, Lori. I'm glad you liked it too! I was excited to see you reading it during last weekend's readathon. I read it in my youth and then again a decade or so ago. It stood up well to the test of time.

I've had a busy few days or it would have been finished sooner! I'm positive that my time for reading is going to be less this month than it has been over the summer so I've been very cautious about posting too many titles to the TIOLI although I've got several more reads fitting challenges identified if time permits.

152. The Mind and the Machine: What It Means to Be Human and Why It Matters by Matthew Dickerson (sorry - the touchstone is weird for this author) - Dickerson draws upon philosophy, science, psychology, and literature as well as theology to draw his conclusions about the human experience in a digital age. He uses analogies to simplify some concepts. He draws heavily from the writings of B. F. Skinner, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien in his arguments. The second part of the book was far more engaging than the first. This is one of the better treatments of the subject from a Christian perspective. It should appeal to the academic community. The second part will also have some appeal to a much broader community. 4 stars.

#21: I am going to get to that book one of these days. I am. I promise.

#26: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation, Lori.

Stasia, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is such a memorable book that you'll be asking yourself why you kept putting it off when you do read it.

I know, I know. I just get sidetracked by the new. . .

153. Murder by the Glass by Michele Scott - Isabel Fernandez is arrested for the murder of her ex-boyfriend's new bride where she is catering the wedding. Her friend Nikki Sands who works for Derek Malveaux's Vineyards is convinced that Isabel didn't do it. Because Isabel was an immigrant, the judge refuses bail. Lots of suspects; lots of revealed secrets; a romantic triangle; a predictable perpetrator. I enjoyed the first in this series much more than this installment. 3 stars. (Actually I was torn between a 2.5 star and 3 star rating and decided to give it 3. It's more like a 2.75 star rating.)

#30: I think I will give that one a pass. I hope your next read is a better one for you, Lori!

Actually, Stasia, I enjoyed it even though it wasn't all that good. That's the funny part! I guess liking the characters helps, but if the next one in that series isn't better, I'll probably abandon it.

#32: Yeah, I can see abandoning the series if it is not working for you. There are just too many good ones out there!

154. The Body in the Gazebo by Katherine Hall Page - Faith's friend Pix is leaving town to attend functions associated with her child's wedding. However, her mother has been ill so she gets Faith to check in on her. Pix's mom Ursula begins to share a family secret with Faith in hopes that Faith will be able to solve it. In the meantime, $10,000 of the minister's discretionary fund has gone missing, and Faith's husband Tom is being accused by the vestry. Faith must also work to discover who has framed her husband. Both mysteries are intriguing. Because the mystery of the "body in the gazebo" is 70 years old, this installment is quite a bit different in that involves a lot of storytelling and listening. 4 stars.

155. Murder Past Due by Miranda James - Athena College archivist Charlie Harris moved back to Athena after inheriting his aunt's home. It was his aunt's wish that he continue to board college students in the large house. The current student is Justin. He's just learned that he is the son of a famous writer who is a native of the town of Athena. No one really likes Godfrey Priest (the famed author). When he turns up dead, suspicion turns to Justin and his mother Julia. The man he's called father all these years is hospitalized at the time. Charlie really doesn't believe that Justin or Julia is responsible for the murder so he sets out to investigate. His housekeeper's daughter Kanesha is the acting chief deputy and is in charge of the investigation. There are lots of motives and lots of suspects when a womanizing man such as Godfrey Priest is the victim. As the novel progresses other motives are discovered as well. I really enjoyed this first installment in the series. Athena does not seem to be based on any of North Mississippi's towns or colleges. It's a private college in a town that appears to be small. There are some aspects that resemble Ole Miss and Oxford, but there appears to be no town square, and the town seems to be smaller than Oxford. The towns with private colleges such as Blue Mountain don't seem to be a match either. I absolutely loved Diesel, Charlie's Maine Coon cat. Diesel goes almost everywhere with Charlie -- to work, out shopping, and even to a memorial service. 4 stars.

Hi Lori, you've read a few interesting crime mysteries recently but I especially liked the sound of the Betty Smith book; you wrote a very compelling review for that one.

Anyone have a chainsaw handy? Free wood available.

Oh, my! Don't you just hate to lose trees?! We lost way too many of them this way:

#35 Lori, glad you liked the Miranda James book. I liked his Jimmie Ruth Evans mysteries and I'm sorry Dean's not doing these anymore.

>39 lindapanzo: Linda, I have one of those Jimmie Ruth Evans books in a stash, I think. I don't think I've ever read it. I'll have to see if I can find it.

>38 countrylife: I don't like the way you are losing your trees. Wildfires are scary. I remember being very near a forest fire in the Holly Springs National Forest in Mississippi when I was very young. We were having some sort of extended family gathering at my sister-in-law's parent's house (probably while my brother was home from the military or something). Most of the men went out to help fight the fire. It scared me with them being out there helping fight the fire. I suspect that I thought they were closer to the fire than they actually were because I don't remember any of them with burns, and I now know they were probably creating a line to try to contain it.

156. Dewey by Vicky Myron - What an endearing story of Dewey Readmore Books, the library cat who put the town of Spencer, Iowa on the map! I enjoyed the story of his rescue from the book drop and adoption by the library. I saw a lot of similarities between my own cat and Dewey in some aspects, but Dewey is much more of a people cat than mine has ever been or will be. It's a great story of a cat who shared the love he had to give with a town in need of it. 3.5 stars.

P.S. - I can't believe that a proofreader let the spelling get through as "Dewy" in one place.

>41 thornton37814: I can't believe that a proofreader let the spelling get through as "Dewy" in one place.

It wasn't a misspelling, it was an homage to Dewey's namesake, author of the Dewey Decimal System and advocate for spelling reform. By the time he died the fellow born Melville Dewey was writing his name "Melvil Dui," but he experimented with many different spellings through his life.

Yeah, that's the ticket. They meant to do that.

If it was intentional, it was not obvious. I must have a read that sentence/paragraph about 3 times trying to figure out why they missed it.

157. Christianity and Literature: Philosophical Foundations and Critical Practice by David Lyle Jeffrey and Gregory Maillet - This book would make a great introductory textbook to the study of Christian themes in literature. As I was reading it, I was reminded of a Sunday School class that I attended in Wyoming many years ago where we studied a poem by George Herbert and compared it to the Bible. It was a meaningful exercise and one that I repeated on my own as a devotional study afterwards. This book actually points out some of the works of literature which might be explored, whether poetry or fiction, and points to the themes that might be explored in some of these. The authors also utilize philosophy in exploring some of the works and in establishing a framework for their study. This is not a book which establishes a new interpretation of anything, but rather one which consolidates some of the research to make its study easier, making it ideal for use as a textbook. There are good bibliographies at the end of each chapter for those wishing to explore the subjects covered in more depth. 3.5 stars.

I went to both Knoxville Borders stores today to see if there was anything left on the shelves worth rescuing. Someone told me that the Turkey Creek store had more than the Deane Hill store so I started there (although I found the opposite to be true).

Haul from the Turkey Creek store:

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
Angel Island: Immigrant Gateway to America by Erika Lee & Judy Yung

Haul from Deane Hill store:

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas
The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich
The Great Hunger: Ireland, 1845-1849 by Cecil Woodham-Smith
The Romanov Bride by Robert Alexander
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Stealing Lumby by Gail Fraser
The Promise of Lumby by Gail Fraser
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell
A Deadly Row by Casey Mayes
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
New Hampshire Atlas & Gazetteer by DeLorme Corporation
New York Atlas & Gazetteer by DeLorme Corporation

I love those atlases when I'm working on my genealogical research. Several of the books were on my wish list so I'm happy to have been able to get copies at such great prices. There is one book on this list that I thought I'd put back down on the shelf. I'm afraid I may have put down a book I intended to keep instead, but I don't remember what it was.

That looks like a great bunch of books!

Nice lot of books! I read Thread of Grace last year and thought it very good.

Wow, a fantastic and enviable haul of books there.

I was pretty sure that I'd seen a review of Thread of Grace somewhere on LibraryThing and remembered the review as being a good one. The bad thing about the haul of books is that I have no idea when I'll get around to reading them all. My current "to be read pile" method is to put them in numbered boxes and put the box number in my private comments so I know where to find them when I get ready to read them. I'll probably hold one or two out for October!

158. The Ninth Daughter by Barbara Hamilton - I have mixed feelings when it comes to making historical figures stars of serial fiction. On the one hand, I love the visit with that time period in a more readable fashion. On the other, I have a problem when it comes to placing the historical figure in situations in which they probably never were. Such is the case with this first installment in a series of mysteries featuring Abigail Adams, wife of later-to-be president John Adams. In this installment, one woman is dead and another is missing. It appears that a member of the Sons of Liberty, perhaps even her husband, may be responsible or have been framed. She is determined to find the real person before the English officials arrest her husband. I loved the references to historical persons. I am familiar enough with Boston and its streets and neighborhoods to have visualized and placed the geographic references. What I couldn't quite believe were the activities in which Abigail Adams engaged in the novel for a woman in that time period. In spite of my problem with the believability of the novel, it was an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.

ETA: This is a book I received through SantaThing last year. I finally got around to reading it!

I read her Patriot Hearts last year and had the same thoughts you did about The Ninth Daughter. It was interesting to read about the historical place setting, but not the way she visualized her characters. I gave it 3 stars, but never got around to reviewing it.

>50 thornton37814: I agree with everything you say, Lori -- a mystery-solving Abligail Adams with modern ideas is quite a stretch! -- yet I really liked The Ninth Daughter and its sequel, and I'm looking forward to the next one. I've tried other mystery series using historical people (the Jane Austen one comes to mind) that I haven't chosen to continue, but for whatever reason, I've been able to suspend my disbelief on this series.

>51 countrylife: I hadn't heard of Patriot Hearts. A different view of historical figures is a frequent problem in historical fiction, I think. Sometimes I find an author's interpretation interesting, even if I don't agree with it, and other times it just irritates me.

159. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny - Clara finally has a solo art show at a prominent museum in Montreal. There is a party back in Three Pines after the opening. The next morning the body of a childhood friend (and later enemy) of Clara is found in Clara's garden. The victim was an artist who had been a recovering alcoholic. The beauty of this novel is that it is a novel of contrasts, with the light and dark metaphor playing prominently into it. Her characters are realistic and flawed. Gamache allows Agent Lacoste to take the lead in this investigation to see if she's ready for a likely upcoming promotion. The officers, especially Jean-Guy, are still dealing with the psychological aftermath of the ordeal in the last novel (Bury Your Dead). There are hints of what will come in future installments. Do I really have to wait a year for the next one? The only consolation is that with Penny, it is worth the wait. 4.5 stars.

Nice review of A Trick of Light. I've read a few of the Three Pines mysteries, and I'm glad to hear that Clara finally has a solo art show. She's earned that by now!

I just bought A Trick of the Light and can't wait to read it. I love the Three Pines mysteries! But I agree that it is hard to wait between installments. It is one of the few series that I stay caught up with.

Excellent review, I love realistically flawed characters!

Great review of Trick of the Light! I have Bury Your Dead waiting for me, as soon as I finish my current book.

160. Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith by Douglas Groothuis - This is one of the best works on apologetics that I've ever encountered. The author approaches the subject from a philosophical perspective and uses arguments that show how to reason with persons of different religious persuasion whether they believe in a major religion, are atheist/agnostic, or are pluralists (as so many are today). He shows how popular culture has influenced some misconceptions that are frequently encountered as well. He avoids the use of jargon. When he does use a term that might be considered jargon, he explains it very simply and uses analogies/illustrations so that the concept is very understandable. There is also a glossary of some terms. The author's bibliography and footnotes demonstrate his mastery of the subject. The index is great. It is a HUGE book, but it's very readable. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

I picked up The Ninth Daughter on impulse but the more I hear about it, I think I'll wait a while before I read it.

Cheli, It's not awful. It's just that I'm too much of a real historian to enjoy it as much as others who are less picky might. However, you do have to wonder why a person would write historical fiction (even in a cozy mystery format) if they are not going to be true to cultural elements of the period in which they are writing.

161. A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Bartlett - Ezra Hilton, owner of a Artisans Alley, is found dead. Katie Bonner, widow of Ezra's former 10% partner, becomes executor and majority owner in the business upon his death. She'd had little to do with the business up to that point, but hated her job with an overbearing boss. She quits and decides to run the shop which is about to go under. She also doesn't think the detective is doing all he can to resolve the crime so she sets out to investigate on her own, gathering as much information as she can about the artisans. With Katie's background in marketing, we can begin to see hope for survival of the struggling business as she takes over operations. I found myself liking most of the cast of characters that will likely be repeats (although I must confess that there might be one or two that I wouldn't mind seeing charged with a future crime). I had the feeling that this book is mostly a set-up and introduction for the rest of the series. There's really very little action, and I feel we didn't get to know the detective quite as well as we should, although there were some revelations near the end about him. She did manage to keep me guessing who the perpetrator was throughout the novel although I had already guessed some aspects of the solution. Not a bad start for this series! I look forward to reading more about Katie and seeing how the gallery and her relationships with some of the men progress during the course of the next installment. 3 stars.

162. A Stir in the Waters by Mark A. Kramer (touchstones not yet available) - When I first learned of this book, I thought that the book's title sounded like a work of fiction. When I saw the beach scene on the cover, I thought the same thing. Then I saw the subtitle which indicated that the book was about infant baptism.

This book will have very little influence on Christian scholars. It's not even on their radar. Not a single library owns a copy. The book was self-published by Xulon Press. There is a time and place for self-published works. (I use them quite a bit in genealogical research.)This work, however, needed to see the touch of an editor's hand.

This book bears the mark of a self-published work from the first word to the final word of the book. The grammar is poor. Sentence structure is very weak. There are many fragments throughout the work. The author mixes personage (1st, 2nd, 3rd person) in his prose. There are problems with typography (too many fonts), formatting, particularly of numbered lists, but also of shading, headings, etc.

The author takes issue with some topics but fails to adequately argue his points. Part of the problem is that he attempts to base his argument on a Greek word, yet He has failed to utilize basic sources for word studies.

Throughout the book, the author calls the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the "NASV" when he is listing how the various English versions translate certain terms.

This one earns a very generous 1/2 star.

youch! I've had a couple of those 1/2 star doozies; don't know why I kept plowing through.

I would not have read this one at all if it had not been assigned to my review team. I sped-read through it. It's too bad we don't have a way to show we've rated something and given it 0 stars (or a negative amount of them).

eww! ½ star --that's my designation for really bad.

I've got Crafty killing though....somewhere on the TBR shelf.

Great review on the Christian Apologetic's book. Quite a tome to get through, I'm guessing? And poor you - plowing through a half star read!. I guess you had to do it though. I think my worst rating here on LT is 2. 5stars - however, no one is assigning me anything, thank goodness!

The Christian Apologetics book was 752 pages thick (probably about 675-685 pages before getting to the bibliography and index).

163. A Dark and Stormy Night by Jeanne M. Dams - As Dorothy Martin and her husband Alan Nesbit head to a country estate for the weekend, the stage is set for a variation of Agatha Christie's classic locked house mystery, And Then There Were None. A hurricane-like storm hits soon after their arrival, uprooting trees and flooding the river. A body is found under one of the uprooted trees. Soon more bodies are discovered and other members of the party disappear. With communications cut off even in the modern age depicted in the novel, Alan, a retired law enforcement officer, takes it upon himself to gather evidence and begin the investigation even though he has no authority and lacks jurisdiction.Needless to say, Dorothy also gets involved. It's an interesting twist on the classic Christie novel. 3.5 stars.

I'd tried to locate this one at the library for the July TIOLI. When I went either at the end of June or the beginning of July to try to check it out, no one could find it. I've been looking for it every time I've gone to the library since. I had a few minutes and began browsing shelves. I finally located it this time. When I went up to check it out, I told the volunteer that was checking out items that they would probably discover that I had a hold on the book. She cancelled the hold for me!

164. Shaking the Family Tree by Buzzy Jackson - Buzzy Jackson, who earned a Ph.D. in history, shares her ventures into the world of family history. She begins with her first local genealogical society meetings, has her own mtDNA and her father's Y-DNA tested, goes on a genealogical cruise, encounters her Alabama relatives, and visits the Family History Library in the course of the book. While I enjoyed the book, I didn't love it. It was written in a slightly more contemporary conversational tone than many books of this nature. It was interesting to see her impressions of some of the most prominent genealogists in the field. Some of these descriptions had me laughing. Although she emphasized the importance of documents, I sometimes had the same feeling that I have watching episodes of "Who Do You Think You Are?" on television, namely that too much was jumped. I realize that her intention was not to provide a detailed account of tracing her line, but I would have preferred an approach that resembles the methodology taught by the leading genealogists. I purchased this book after hearing the author speak at the National Genealogical Society's conference in May 2011. Because I enjoyed her keynote address so much, I expected to like the book more than I did. There are portions that should be read by those new to genealogical research. They will identify with someone who was going through what they are encountering as they begin their family history research. Experienced researchers have little to gain by reading this, except for an occasional laugh or two as they recognize their genealogical colleagues and picture them as the author did. 3 stars.

I just bought a copy of And then there were none this week, it would seem LT is trying to tell me something.. it will be my first ever Agatha Christie as well and then I can move on to the variation as your review sounds good for that one.

165. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - Catherine Morland, who enjoys reading novels, finds herself in a twist on one as she accompanies neighbors to Bath. She soon finds herself as a guest at Northanger Abbey where she falls for Henry Tilney, the son of the owner, a rather nasty general. This is Jane Austen's take/parody on a gothic novel. I tried to read this one about 35 years ago when I read a lot of romantic suspense and Gothic novels. I did not like it at that time, probably because of the linguistic and grammatical differences in reading a novel written at the time of Austen versus that of a novel written in the 1970s. I found myself enjoying it much more this time. While Catherine is not in quite the lowest of circumstances of many heroines of Gothic novels, she is not as affluent as Henry's family so there is a difference in social class. Catherine experiences many things in this novel including the betrayal of a friend. 4 stars.

>70 KiwiNyx: KiwiNyx, the Dorothy Martin novel is part of a series, featuring Dorothy (an American living in England) and her husband (whom she married during the course of the series). While I think you could enjoy this one on its own because of the fact that it is mainly a variation on the locked house mystery, I would be remiss in not encouraging you to read the others in the series first. The plot itself stands on its own. I think you might be missing a bit about the background of the characters Dorothy and Alan though.

What's one more new series to add to the rest of them that I want to begin.. thank you for pointing that out, I'll make sure I target book 1 first.

166. Windflower by Gabrielle Roy - This is the story of an Eskimo woman living in northern Quebec's Nunavit region, specifically in Fort Chimo along the Koksoak River, who becomes pregnant by an American serviceman. She did not know the soldier's name because it was a difficult name for her. She refused to name the soldier, even though she recognized him, because she realized he would be disciplined for his conduct. The story is also about her son Jimmy's growth and coming of age. This is a beautiful story with rich language that paints a picture of the harsh life in the Arctic regions of Quebec. The attitudes of the people in that area along with the clashes in cultures between the white man and the natives is also depicted. The novel does a good job of showing the role of religion and the clergy in the area. This is a book that deserves a much wider audience. 4.5 stars.

ETA: When I ordered this book via Interlibrary Loan, I thought I was ordering a book with a Labrador setting which would finish off that location in my Canadian Challenge. When I compared the locations mentioned to an atlas, I discovered the book was actually set in northern Quebec. I'm glad I read it anyway because it's an absolutely beautiful book.

Don't you love serendipitous finds like #166...I think you may have started a trend here. This sounds like something I'd really enjoy, and I'm off to troll the ILL catalog now. Thanks for letting us know about it.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. The other book by Gabrielle Roy on my wish list definitely has been promoted to a higher spot!

Great review of Windflower, sounds like a great read ... added to the wish list! :)

Thanks for visiting Chelle. I hope you enjoy it when you get around to reading it.

Great review of Windflower, Ellen! I did the cross country Canadian read last year, and if you need a good book that takes place in Labrador, try Annabel by Kathleen Winter. It may not be to your taste, but I very much enjoyed , as did many LT'ers - and it got good reviews. Just my 2 cents!

167. Bitter Lemons by Lawrence Durrell - Lawrence Durrell journeyed from Britain to Cyprus in the mid-1950s. He describes his experiences on the island as well as the landscape and culture. He gives an inside look at some of the political turmoil that was taking place at the time. I particularly enjoyed the few passages in the book that mentioned some of the Biblical events that took place on the island. Apparently there is still a tradition on the island that describes how Paul and Barnabas ate olives as they were traveling to a village. In another place it mentions where Barnbas was buried. I cannot say that I really enjoyed the political aspects of the novel. The author mentions in the introductory pages that this is not a political book. It really isn't, but it was impossible to write about this particular period in time without mentioning how the political events of the day were shaping everyday life. There was a strong anti-British element which ultimately resulted in independence from Britain after the days covered in the book. 3.5 stars.

Hi Lori: I think I'm going to start that net galley Sweet Invention book. I know you didn't like it and I'm kind of sorry I asked for it.

But, time to bite the bullet and give it a shot. I'd like to clean out my outstanding net galleys and maybe start over, fresh, in a month or two.

(Though I asked for, and received, the Tom Seaver book yesterday.)

Nice review of Bitter Lemons. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I haven't read it, though I've owned it for years, and my husband is from Cyprus. He's actually a refugee from the 1974 war with Turkey. I need to track down my copy!

>81 lindapanzo: Linda, I hope you enjoy it more than I did.

>82 AMQS: Anne, I probably would have never read it had I not needed a book on Cyprus for the Europe Endless Challenge. I had identified several possibilities and that one sounded the most promising of those I had not read. (I am sure I would have preferred a re-read of M.M. Kaye's book set there.)

168. The Moravians in Labrador by an anonymous author - This book, written by an unknown person and published in the mid 1830s, details the missionary efforts of the Moravian Church among the Esquimaux (aka Eskimo) people of Labrador. The work details what like was like among the natives and missionaries. Food was sometimes difficult to come by. After the Moravian missionaries had been there a few years, they finally got to the point that a ship arrived from England once a year. The hardships were incredible, but the Moravians did appear to have a great deal of success in evangelizing the Eskimos. There seemed to be quite a bit of repetition in the book, and there was a lot of what I would call "padding" or "fluff" in the text by including conversations, particularly those of a spiritual nature, which probably were not exactly as they are written. I would have preferred a more concisely written historical account. It's difficult to provide a rating to a book that was written in another time and probably for another purpose other than that which I read it. In the end, I chose to rate it by today's standards. While the book contains glimpses into the culture and into the evangelization efforts, there is little here that would compel an individual to read this account. A journal article or book essay containing the essence of the historical and cultural nuggets and written in a style more engaging for late 20th or early 21st century readers would be much more engaging. 2.5 stars.

169. Black-Eyed Susan by Jennifer Armstrong - Ten-year-old Susie lives with her family on the Dakota prairie in a sod house. Her mother is very unhappy with life on the frontier and quite obviously misses her family and a more affluent life-style back East. Susie wants to find something to cheer up her mom when she and her dad go to town to purchase another quarter section of land. An encounter with a family moving further west proves to be the prescription for her mother's misery. This is a well-written children's novel that does a good job of describing the hardships faced by the pioneer settlers of the Dakota Territory. The author has done a good job with historical research to make the novel accurate in regards to homesteading and other period details. I do question if the target audience would appreciate this work as much as adults. It probably lacks the action younger readers require to hold interest. 4 stars.

170. If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Joffe Numeroff - Giving cats cupcakes can lead from one thing to another. The outcome of the sequence of events is fairly predictable. It's a cute book that preschoolers would probably enjoy. The illustrations are not award-worthy, but they do compliment the story. 3 stars.

I was browsing the books at Sam's Club tonight and saw the picture book. Because it was a book about cats, I had to read it right there in the store! I didn't purchase it though.

171. The Technologists by Matthew Pearl - MIT's first class is about to graduate. Before they do so, a madman is at work in the city of Boston, creating a distrust of technology among the people. Will these students be able to discover his identity and thwart his plans before Boston is destroyed? I found this to be a captivating read. The characters were interesting and well-drawn. The attitudes toward technology and Darwinism were interesting to explore. It was also interesting to see the attitudes towards a woman being enrolled in MIT pursuing education in a male-dominated field. My interest in the book never waned. There are enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing the identity of the madman until almost the end. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. 5 stars.

Is that 5 out of 5 stars? Sounds like an excellent read.

Yes - 5 out of 5. It was a great read!

A stir in the waters sounds like a waste of a perfectly good tree! What with that at one extreme and The technologists at the other, you've certainly had variety in the quality of your reads!

Definitely, Genny. Your description fits it pretty well. I would probably have never read A Stir in the Waters if it had not been assigned to my team.

172. The Brass Dolphin by Caroline Harvey - Lila Cunningham learns that her father has borrowed money against their home and that now the bank is repossessing it. Her employer and friend owns a home in Malta that they never use so they decide to send Lila and her father there. They arrive at a time just before World War II breaks out. It isn't long until they are taking cover from the bombings. Lila had begun working for a Count who was a historian, but she begins helping a new friend with her hospital in the city after the war erupts. Lila also begins to see a different side to her father. I really enjoyed most of this World War II story which had some of the feeling of a romantic suspense while not being pretty light on the romance and with more of a war theme than the darker suspenseful tones. Ultimately I did not like the manner in which the book was resolved and lowered my rating because of it. 3 stars.

173. If God, Why Evil? by Norman Geisler - Norman Geisler addresses the problem of evil in this work. He examines arguments made by some that claim that God and evil cannot co-exist and offers Biblical answers. His audience for the book seems to be more of a lay audience than an academic one, although he clearly knows where philosophers and popular Christian writers stand on the issue. One of the more appealing sections to the lay Christian audience may be his appendix addressing theological issues in the popular fiction book, The Shack. The subtitle may be misleading as there is little new ground covered by this book. This book is just a convenient and concise handbook of the reasons Christians have been advocating for centuries. His parables and true-life examples should appeal to lay readers. 3 stars.

174. A Light in the Storm by Karen Hesse - ***SPOILER ALERT: This review will contain spoilers.*** Amelia Martin is the 15-year-old daughter of the assistant lighthouse keeper off the coast of Delaware as this diary begins in late 1860 and continues through 1861. She turns 16 in the book She keeps the first watch at the lighthouse.Delaware is a border state in the issue over slavery. Much of the Southern part of the state is aligned with the South, while the north tends to be more aligned with the Union. A group of runaway slaves makes Amelia realize the magnitude of the differences in her parents. Her mother believes the slaves should be sent back to their owners. Her father believes they should be helped to freedom. While Amelia has agreed with her mother in the past, something about her encounter with them makes her realize that her father is correct. It isn't long before South Carolina secedes from the Union--something that Amelia considers completely unacceptable. Other Southern States follow South Carolina's lead gradually. The tension at home begins to mount. Her mother becomes more withdrawn over time and has physical and medical problems. Her mother eventually moves in with Amelia's ailing grandmother. Her father serves divorce papers on her mother. I really enjoyed this look at the tensions in a divided community due to the war. In several places, Amelia referred to what was happening in Tennessee to Union supporters during this time. Since I live a section of Tennessee that had strong Union sympathies, these mentions were interesting. However, there was some unevenness to the writing. I felt that the author used a 20th century solution to the marriage problem. Divorce was not as commonplace in the 19th century as it is in 21st century America, and while it was not unheard of, they were more difficult to obtain. I felt the author made it too easy, even in the strained relations due to ideologies. I also felt that the diary ended rather abruptly and that its conclusion was in an awkward place and that it should have continued until one of the major events in 1862. I also felt that the Epilogue wrapped things up a little too tidily and left little room for the reader's imagination of what the future might have been for those persons mentioned in the diary. It's a good, but not a great, work of fiction. 3 stars.

175. The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark - Art Croft and his sidekick Gil ride into a Nevada town, discovering that cattle rustlers have been at it. Art first attempts to help efforts to stop the formation of a lynch mob. Well, if you can't beat it, join it. He and Gil join the posse to pursue the rustlers, as much to prevent their becoming suspects as anything else. This western shows the forcefulness of mob psychology, particularly as some of the characters reflect in the closing chapter. Westerns are just not my thing. I do think this one is better written than most of this genre are. II have never seen the movie which was based upon the book, but I suspect that I would have enjoyed it more than the book itself, which is something I rarely say. The action just seems to lend itself to that format. 3 stars.

176. Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger - The discovery of the town's judge's body is the impetus that springs former sheriff Cork O'Connor back into action. He is partially Anishinaabe Indian. The frigid northern part of Minnesota is the setting for this mystery that takes place just prior to Christmas. His marriage is in trouble. He claims to want reconciliation even though he pursues an affair with a local waitress named Molly. As the story unfolds, many characters are in danger. More murders are revealed. A native American concept called "Windigo" plays an important role in this novel. I found this to be an interesting read, full of action. While I think there are some elements of the plot that could have been a bit tighter, the action was sufficient to move it forward. The use of the native American concepts reminds me of author Tony Hillerman's use of them. The unique setting of Krueger's novel provides contrast to the deserts of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. 3.5 stars.

Lori...good commentary on Iron Lake. This was the featured free Friday book from Barnes and Noble last week to download for my Nook. I was also able to put a couple others on hold at the library to download in ebook format. I'm liking my NOOK more and more - especially when I can get introduced to some fun new series, which this one sounds like it might be.

I actually had planned to read this one for that "elements" TIOLI challenge a few months ago, but the library's copy had gone AWOL. I happened to mention it last month to one of my co-workers. A week or so later, she brought me her husband's paperback copy to read. It fit one of this month's challenges, so I worked it in! I'm glad I did. We ordered his most recent book recently for our library. It seems to be checking out fairly well.

177. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson - This is an excellent piece of historical fiction about the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. The narrator is an early teenage girl named Matilda whose family operates a coffeehouse. When the fever hits, many persons begin fleeing the town. Readers will empathize with Matilda as she encounters the attitudes toward fever victims and the treatments, may of which were ineffective, that were used. The author does a good job of bringing the historical elements to life. She explained that Philadelphia was the largest city in the United States at the time and brought the death toll to life for readers when she explained how many were expected to die early in the book. I suspect that the book will be enjoyed by some younger readers and not by others, but this book would be a great springboard for discussion in classes of the epidemic, medical treatments, etc. 4 stars.

178. The Midnight Tunnel by Angie Frazier - Suzanna "Zanna" Snow lives in Loch Harbor, New Brunswick where her parents manage a hotel where wealthy New Englanders come to vacation annually for the entire summer. Her uncle is a famous detective in Boston, and Suzanna desires to be like him. She reads detective novels and keeps a notebook to record her observations. It's about the best she can hope for since nothing exciting ever happens where she lives. Then, one of the hotel guests goes missing. Suzanna begins her investigation even before her famous uncle arrives to conduct the official investigation. He arrives with an apprentice, about her age. Suzanna continues her investigation, partnering with the young apprentice. This is a novel that fourth and fifth graders will probably enjoy. I disliked the use of Tarot in the story line and wished that the author had not used this, because it is not a book that I, as a Christian, can recommend. Otherwise, it is a great read for those who enjoy Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew type books. 2.5 stars.

179. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton - A poor rural farmer in Starkfield, Massachusetts is involved in a love triangle with a poor relation of his older, ailing wife who has come to live with them. It was a marriage which probably should have never occurred in the first place. Readers see how this affects his relationship with his wife. Wharton is a master at painting a picture with words. While I'm not convinced this story would have played out this way in real life, the author's descriptions make the book worth reading. I'm not sure that I really liked Ethan or his wife that much, but I did like Mattie. It is her story that made me sad. 3.5 stars.

Nice review! I read Ethan Frome this month, too. Oh, it was sad.

180. Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett - Tricia Miles owns Haven't Got a Clue mystery bookstore in the book town of Stoneham, New Hampshire. At her booksigning event at the store, local author Zoe Carter turns up dead. Tricia doesn't have a lot of confidence in Sheriff Wendy Adams' ability to solve the case so she begins her own investigation. The subplot of a geese problem has a couple of great moments, but overall I think it detracts from the book. This is just a fun, cozy read. Most veteran cozy readers will be able to determine who the perpetrator was mid-book, but I don't think it will mar their enjoyment of the book as they see the plot unfold. With a cat named Miss Marple, what's not to like? 3.5 stars.

181. Desert Sojourn by Debi Holmes-Binney - After a failed marriage and a need to find herself, Debi Holmes-Binney decides to embark upon a 40-day desert experience to find herself. She barely gets there before she encounters a rainstorm and then a blizzard. She is aware of the threat of wild animals as well. In the early chapters of the book she expresses a need to draw closer to God, but then she takes along Thoreau, but not her Bible. I couldn't help but question whether or not she was serious about the spiritual aspect of her experience. As the narrative played out, she rarely revisited the spiritual side. She did reflect upon the words of the cashier who had told her to remember that she was not alone, but she felt that cashier was wrong, so she must not have believed in God's presence. The author has done a good job of telling of her adventures in the earliest days of her journey, but after she reaches the midway point, she rushes the narrative. The first 200 pages relate the first 20 days of her adventure. The next 40 tell of her last 20. I can't help but wonder what reflections she may have had during those days that were not recorded in this book. What is written is well-written, but the omissions during the time she was probably most reflective about her experience are too serious to be overlooked. 3 stars.

I was browsing the New Book Shelf at the public library the other day, when a couple of cookbooks caught my eye:

182. Farm Fresh Flavors by Randall L. Smith - Organized alphabetically by vegetable, this cookbook offers suggestions for tasty ways to prepare things from the garden. The thing that really impresses me about the cookbook is the simplicity of the recipes. While some use more ingredients than others to achieve a desired flavor, none are that difficult to prepare. Another thing that impressed me are recipe variations that are sometimes offered along with the recipes. For example, there are 20 variations to a simple mashed potato recipe that will make it just a little different each time it is prepared. The chef's notes with each vegetable offer tips on working with each vegetable. There is also a section dedicated to things such as vinaigrettes and butter compounds that will be useful for many recipes. There is also a section on cooking techniques that includes preservation methods for foods. My biggest complaint about the cookbook is that there are no photographs. I checked this cookbook out of my public library, but I intend to purchase a copy for myself. 4 stars.

183. A White House Garden Cookbook by Clara Silverstein - The title of this book is a bit misleading. One might assume that all the recipes come from the White House kitchen, but that is not the case. The authors use the White House Garden reinstituted by Michelle Obama as an inspiration for this cookbook. While some of the recipes do come from the Obama White House, others come from previous First Family recipes, including one from Martha Washington's kitchen. Others come from community gardens across the United States that have been inspired by the White House Garden which Mrs. Obama hoped would encourage children to eat healthier. The narrative in the text is a bit too complex for children. At times, it is a bit too dumbed down for adults. I think that the family, in general, is the intended audience. The cookbook is well-illustrated. We see pictures of each vegetable in the garden with the accompanying recipes. Some of the recipes are more appealing than others. There is a diagram of the White House vegetable garden along with a photograph of its replica planted by Burpee Corporation in Pennsylvania. This would be a great cookbook to have in a home where there are children because the layout and photographs will appeal to them and might get them interested in foods and cooking. 3 stars.

So many times, when I go to your book for the review, it is the *only* review posted! Of all the reviewers who I follow, that seems to be the case most frequently with yours. You must read a lot of brand new or obscure works. Anyway, I found it an interesting observation!

Farm Fresh Flavors sounds like a really good one to have for a core cooking guide, what with all the variations included. My husband made me a cookbook cabinet decades ago, which I've insisted on dragging from house to house. He told me at the time that when it was full, I'd be done buying cookbooks. It's been full for some time. Now I'm wondering what I can switch out to accommodate that one...

You just have to move something to another bookshelf where he won't spot the extra cookbook!

184. Wicked Autumn by G. M. Malliet - Max Tudor is a former MI5 agent who is now the vicar of Nether Monkslip. The novel opens with a Fayre where one of the women turns up dead. Max joins with the local law enforcement to solve the crime. I had a hard time with the New Age elements in the first third of the book. Once the narrative progressed past that point, they were not so pronounced. The village has its share of quirky characters. It leans more to the cozy side than to the police procedural. The vicar's past experiences afford him a less meddlesome role than that of most amateur cozy sleuths, particularly as his opinions are sought. I did not really like the way the novel was wrapped up. I would have preferred for the revelations to have come out a bit differently. Still, this is a good series debut. This review is based on an ARC loaned to me by a friend. 3 stars.

185. Life in the Vatican with John Paul II by Luigi Accattoli - The author and photographer of this volume were granted more access than are typically granted to reporters covering the Vatican. The reader is able to catch a glimpse of what life in the Vatican is like through the pictures and narrative. The narrative is not as engaging as that of some books aimed at the tourist market. The photographs, however, convey the setting to the reader in more powerful terms. The book came up a little short in delivering the promised "insider's look" into the Vatican. The Vatican was still able to guard much of its privacy. This book was written several years before then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI. Readers are able to get a glimpse of the role he played at the Vatican before becoming Pope. 3 stars.

Your review of The Ox-Bow Incident is interesting. I picked up copy somewhere and haven't read it yet; I didn't realize it was really a Western--I thought it was just a book set in the West. I don't really like Westerns, either, so that's probably one that will sit on the shelf for a while!

186. Death at Whitechapel by Robin Paige - This mystery, set in the early years of the 20th century finds Jennie Churchill, mother of Winston, being blackmailed. She goes to her friends Kate and Charles Sheridan for help. There's a rather convoluted tie-in with Jack the Ripper. I found myself not really believing the plot and wondering why the author would even try to string together the events in such a manner. This one is not up to the author's usual standards. 2.5 stars.

>109 carlym: Westerns are not really my thing either. It had the usual elements of westerns though -- bars, a posse, and even a woman. I didn't really know what to expect from the book.

187. Blackwork by Monica Ferris - It's nearly Halloween, and Ryan McMurphy accuses stitcher and beer-maker Leona Cunningham of witchcraft. He soon ends up dead. Although many of the townspeople believe Leona put a hex on Ryan, Betsy is convinced that Leona's Wiccan beliefs would only be used for good. I did not enjoy the plot involving Wicca and witchcraft. I think this mystery could have been just as effective with the method used for killing without that element marring my enjoyment of the novel. I've enjoyed previous installments in the series, but if the author continues to feature pagan practices, I will abandon the series. The method utilized in the murder and the motive were interesting and unusual for a cozy mystery. 2.5 stars.

188. The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton - Lara McClintoch is taking a break from the antique business after a recent divorce from her husband. She doesn't want him to be able for him to obtain a larger divorce settlement. When a friend asks her to come to Merida, Mexico, she does so, even though she doesn't know a lot about the nature of what he wants. When she arrives, he cancels their first dinner and then disappears, turning up dead. The Mexican officials confiscate her passport so that she can't leave the country. She doesn't have a lot of faith in the investigator, so she begins an investigation of her own, placing herself in danger. It was a fun read that I couldn't put down. I'm not sure that I ever sorted all the characters fully in my mind though. I'm not sure if that is because of the rapidity of my reading or if that would have been the case had I read it in a slower manner. I do believe that some of the characters were developed more than others. It's not my favorite in the series, but it's worth the read if one is interested in the Mayan culture. 3 stars.

189. Cherries in Winter by Suzan Colon - Suzan Colon lost her job as a magazine writer. Although her husband is employed and has benefits, she must still watch her pennies. She turns to economizing, rediscovering her grandmother's recipes. She includes moments in her family's story from three generations. Unfortunately the narrative did not flow well and was full of poorly constructed sentences and incomplete sentences. What should have been an enjoyable read for me turned out to be a chore. The best part of the book were the copies of the handwritten or typed recipes. 2.5 stars.

Lori, I read Cherries almost two years ago. I rated it higher than you did, probably because of the way she addressed the "hope" part of her story, the book coming, as it did, during a very low point in my life. I did like the recipes I tried, but otherwise, I'd have to agree with your assessment of the book.

I've never read Lyn Hamilton but I should. Maybe for my 12 in 12 "authors/series new to me" category.

Linda - I've enjoyed the ones by Hamilton that I've read. The copy I read actually belongs to fellow 75er cbl_tn (Carrie). She got me hooked on them.

Cindy - I think the writing was what bothered me most about Cherries in Winter. I think I would have liked it much better if I had not been distracted by wanting to edit it.

Linda, I jumped into Lyn Hamilton's archaeological mysteries in the middle of the series. The Etruscan Chimera was the first one I read, and it's still my favorite. My other favorite in the series is The Celtic Riddle. I eventually did go back and pick up the ones I had missed earlier in the series. The Xibalba Murders was the first book in the series, and I didn't like it as well as some of the later books. I think it would work to start with The Maltese Goddess (book 2), then skip to The Celtic Riddle (book 4) and go back and pick up The Xibalba Murders and The Moche Warrior (book 3) later. Books 1 & 3 are connected to each other, but in a lot of ways they're not tied as closely to the other books in the series.

I want to re-read The Xibalba Murders. I had forgotten that part of it took place in Merida, and I've been to Merida since I read the book. I may be going there again soon.

Knox County Public Library is celebrating 125 years. They've put up an (almost) 11 minute documentary about the library's history. It's very well done. It's on the library's site or here on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UUjLXJIyqk

190. Eggs Benedict Arnold by Laura Childs - One of the co-owners of the funeral home turns up dead on his own embalming table. He's someone everyone in the town loves, so no one can quite figure out who would have a motive to murder him. As Suzanne and Sheriff Doogie investigate, they turn up a wide range of possibilities and motives. I enjoyed this second installment in the Cackleberry Club series even more than the first. The girls' reaction when visiting an abandoned cemetery is one that many genealogists such as myself often have. There are lots of red herrings. This is one that will keep many readers guessing to the very end, even if they read a lot of mysteries. 4 stars.

191. The Shallows by Nicholas Carr - Nicholas Carr, like many others, noted that attention spans are on the decrease. He notes changes in the print media brought about by the age of the Internet. Many newspapers have gone under; others have declared bankruptcy. Formats have changed for both newspapers and magazines to make the experience more Web-like. He acknowledges that sometimes it is even difficult to remain focused on a blog post which is more than a few paragraphs long. He notes the presence of e-readers, but at the time he wrote the book, they had not gained the full audience they have now so he didn't feel that they were influencing reading that differently. There is much to think about in this book because Carr also analyzes the experiences of previous generations and the changes they experienced. One of the most thought-provoking sections is one which shares the results of research on multitasking. I think this title would create great discussion among faculty members. I'm not sure that I agree with all conclusions he makes. I find that I am able to stay concentrated and focused while readings books and e-books on my Kindle reader. I am sometimes overwhelmed by information coming to me by way of the Internet through Facebook or my RSS reader for blogs, newspapers, etc. I find that I'm able to often read a headline and pass up an item. I do have trouble staying focused on longer blog posts because I am usually more pressed for time when I'm reading these online items. I realize the need to be offline, so I've prioritized reading and find other ways to keep myself from staring at a screen (both computer and television). I think that the author alludes to the Internet's ability to be addictive, but he probably doesn't address it forcefully enough. This is an important book that is certain to be discussed for years to come. 4 stars.

As I was looking for another book the other day, I spotted a book on my shelves. Since I will be making a business-related trip to the city very soon, I decided that it was time to pull this one down and read it.

192. K.C.: A History of Kansas City, Missouri by A. Theodore Brown (touchstone doesn't work) and Lyle W. Dorsett - This is a rather dry and tedious read. It focuses on the political history of the city and very little on its settlement, progress, and other things that would have made it a more engaging read. It is also flawed by its lack of footnotes/endnotes. The authors do have a list of sources used for each chapter at the end of the book, but the failure to tie these references to specific points is a major failure. 2 stars.

Needless to say, it could have stayed on the shelf as it just didn't create any interest for me. About the only thing I'm mildly curious about is whether or not there is still a Petticoat Lane in the city. (There were a couple of photos from different time periods of this downtown thoroughfare.) I'm more curious as to whether or not there is "A little hotel called the Shady Rest" on the street.

Is everything still up to date in Kansas City?

I've long wanted to visit that city but have never been. See the Royals. Have some BBQ. Listen to some jazz.

I'll let you know about Kansas City after I've been.

193. Prevention Healthy Favorites: Chicken Recipes by the editors of Prevention Magazine - I downloaded this small cookbook from Kindle when it was free for a short period. It offers a great selections of recipes using chicken that will appeal to many people. The recipes offer differing tastes because so many are influenced by International cuisines. The formatting on this Kindle version is much better than many books formatted for Kindle and offers photographs of many of the recipes. 4 stars.

194. Cookie Swap Cookbook by Gooseberry Patch - A cookie swap is a popular holiday event for some groups and organizations. This little book offers recipes that are a little "dressier" than cookies that we usually make to satisfy a child's sweet tooth. These are the types of cookies you would make for a special occasion but not necessarily for the household's cookie jar. 3 stars.

195. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow - Kate Shugak is asked to look into the disappearance of a park ranger who is the son of a Congressman and of a detective sent to find the ranger. Working for her former employer Jack on behalf of the FBI, Kate returns to the park which was her home for so many years to question relatives and friends. It's not long until she's dodging bullets herself. Although this series is long-running, this is the first book that I read in it. I enjoyed the mystery, but I would have enjoyed the book more with a little less profanity which seemed to be concentrated in a few scenes. I will probably read more installments of this series in the future. 3.5 stars.

196. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley - Young Flavia befriends a gypsy whose tent burned down. It's not long until the gypsy is injured by an intruder to her caravan. She would have died had Flavia not arrived unexpectedly. Then a local man turns up dead. Flavia finds herself suddenly interested in a religious sect in the area. She puzzles through many clues as well as plenty of red herrings to find the truth. Of course, the Inspector on the case is a bit upset that she keeps contaminating his crime scenes. Flavia's character continues to delight in this installment of the series. 4 stars.

197. Law, Power, and Justice in Ancient Israel by Douglas A. Knight - This book was not what I expected. I expected a book written in layman's terms, but this volume was far more technical and will probably only appeal to those with a legal background. This was provided by NetGalley for review. 1 star.

198. The Country of Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett - Times are changing in 19th century Maine as a visitor to the village of Dunnet Landing discovers while with various area residents and hearing their stories. I loved her descriptions of the area, particularly those of the landscape and vegetation. I loved this short little book. It's one that I'm certain to go back and revisit later. 4 stars.

So glad to hear that you loved In The Country of Pointed Firs I have it out from the library and in my stack to be read this month. Sounds like one I am going to enjoy.

199. Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast by Bill Richardson - After reading this slim volume, I'm ready for a nice relaxing vacation to the Bachelor Brothers' wonderful establishment where I can just relax and read. The story alternates between the twin brothers Virgil and Hector and some of their guests. This is a book that will resound with book lovers. 4.5 stars.

So glad someone else loved Bachelor Brothers Bed & Breakfast - it's right up there with Three Pines as the place I'd love to run away to (bad grammar, but great dreams).

I've had that one in my stash for awhile. I'm glad that I finally got around to reading it! I think it's going to be one that I keep so that I can re-read it in the future. I don't generally re-read books because there are so many others calling my name, but this is one that will probably be an exception to that rule!

200. The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner - Eric Weiner visits countries around the globe in a quest to find happiness. As he would begin many of his journeys, I would say to myself, "He's not going to find happiness there." Why? Because true happiness is not found in a certain geographic location or in material things. I would have loved a little more description of the geography and a little less on his pursuit of happiness. I found myself dissatisfied with the book because it did not meet my expectations in describing those countries and their cultures in a broader sense. Instead, we get a small glimpse of what one small subset of the country experiences. The author's writing is better than many similar books although there is room for improvement. It's not a bad book -- just a book that didn't quite meet my expectations. 2.5 stars.

My memory of Weiner's book is similar to yours, but when I went back to my review - there wasn't one! I had to trace back to my 999 Challenge thread to find what I said:

I started reading this book last summer. The jacket blurb looked interesting, and the writer's affiliation with NPR caught my eye. However, I found reading the book to be a chore, and gave up about 50 pages into it. I skimmed through but just couldn't seem to find the point. Then later, I saw a review by another LTer who indicated he had 'read' it as an audio book, and that same day, it popped up on the recently added page of Overdrive at my library, so I downloaded it. I'm really glad I gave it a second go. This is one I probably now will want to re-read and get a used copy to keep here on the shelf.

The only thing I'd say now is that I didn't buy the book, and two years later, have no desire to re=read it. No accounting for taste, OR........for the way a book will "sit" with you depending on the point in your life when you pick it up!

After I posted my review, I noticed that some of the folks who listened to the audio version liked it better. I think I first heard of the book at East Tennessee Library Association's Book Brag two or three years ago. I think the geographic aspect was what caught my attention, and I really expected more of a sense of place than what the book delivered. The chapters are long-ish, so if one chapter doesn't really grab you, you are stuck with it for awhile unless you just decide to abandon that chapter. It's not one that I'm likely to re-read. I got it free on the Kindle when it was offered awhile back so at least I didn't invest money in the book.

Lori,

I read this book a few years ago and all I remember about it were three stats:

optimists are happier than pessimists
Republicans are happier than Democrats;
wealthy people are happier than poor ones;

which I probably could have figured out all on my own. The book didn't impress me either.

That about sums it up, Cheli! There was very little in the book that one could not have determined without visiting all 10 countries. When I rated it on LT, I felt I was about the only one who wasn't thrilled with it. I'm glad some of you had similar experiences.

201. The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell - Two bodies have washed ashore the Swedish shore in a lifeboat. They realize that the murder did not take place in Sweden and are happy to hand off the investigation to the Latvian police when it is discovered the men were Latvian criminals. When the Latvian officer is murdered shortly after returning to his country, Kurt Wallander is sent to Latvia to help investigate. He's drawn into an investigation where he quickly realizes that one of the officers with whom he is working is corrupt -- but which one is it? Wallander cannot trust anyone and does not speak the language. This was my first Kurt Wallander mystery. He's a likeable detective, but he's definitely flawed, mainly because of his lack of experience. I'm definitely interested in reading the earlier installment of the series and future installments to see how his investigative skills strengthen as he gains more experience. 3.5 stars.

202. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley - It's nearing Christmas, and in order to keep the family in house and home, the Colonel has agreed to allow a movie crew to shoot on location at Buckshaw. The star of the show is one of the most famed actresses of the time. It's about 40% of the way into the book before we get to the corpse. Needless to say, 11-year-old Flavia will get involved in the investigation. This is the first in the series where Flavia has spent the majority of the time at Buckshaw. I enjoyed this change. Flavia is always a delight! I enjoyed all the literary references in this installment. While the book is set during the Christmas season, it's a book that can be enjoyed year-round. I would encourage reading the earlier books before reading this one because there are some things that will be appreciated only by those who have followed the series. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be written. 4 stars.

203. Teaching and Christian Practices: Reshaping Faith and Learning edited by David I. Smith and James K. A. Smith - As with most books of essays, the writing of the various essays is uneven. Some are written with data from research the professor conducted; others are very philosophical. Most of the writing is of the dry tone used by many in academia. I was quite disappointed that this book failed to deliver the type of material that it promised. Too many of the essays were written by professors associated with a single institution. There were a few token essays written by persons at a handful of other institutions, but 2/3 of the essays were written by professors affiliated with the college where the editors teach. Broader representation and at least a few chapters exhibiting a more practical approach rather than a philosophical or statistical approach are needed. 2.5 stars.

It's entirely possible that I'll finish another book before I go to bed tonight, although I likely won't get the review posted until tomorrow! I guess I've been pretty productive with reading today. That's a good thing because this football game isn't going the way I want it to go.

204. A Praying Life by Paul Miller - Books on prayer are a dime a dozen. This one added very little to the discussion. The thing that sets it apart from other books is the author's use of examples from the life of his autistic daughter. At times I wondered if I was reading a book on prayer or a book that related lessons taught to parents by autistic children. While some of the author's content was good, it was not presented in a unique manner. The author conducts prayer seminars, and the thought occurred to me as I was reading the book that he is probably better at conveying his thoughts audibly to an audience than in print. This book will appeal to many Christian readers, especially those who enjoy reading about special needs children. 3 stars.

205. The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley - A delightful book about a bookshop that is haunted by the ghosts of unread books. It's the sequel to Parnassus on Wheels. I liked the first a little better than this installment in the Roger Mifflin series by Morley, but it's a good read that resonates with book lovers nonetheless. - 3 stars.

206. Blackman's Coffin by Mark de Castrique - This is the first in the series featuring Sam Blackman, a Veteran who served as a Chief Warrant Officer until he lost a limb. He becomes acquainted with Tikima Robertson, another former veteran who visits veterans, while in the VA hospital in Asheville, North Carolina thanks to an error on a government form. When she turns up dead, Sam, along with Tikima's sister, Nakayla, sets out to investigate. The solution appears to lie in the past. There's a handwritten journal penned by Thomas Wolfe and action at the famed Biltmore Estate. There's even an interesting geological slant that shows the author did his homework to come up with such a gripping narrative. This is an outstanding first in series. Having already read a later installment, I can truly say that this mystery series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. 4 stars.

Hi Lori, I'm just catching up with your thread. I also enjoyed Fever 1793 and I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn last year after seeing it mentioned on LT. They were both great reads. You have lots of interesting things in your thread - I'm sitting here with a pen and a notebook!

Hope you enjoy the ones you decide to read, Susan.

207. Bleeding Heart Square by Andrew Taylor - I had a very mixed reaction to this book. It is fairly well-written with more depth than many mysteries, but the only character I really truly liked was Lydia. I did not dislike the journalist Rory, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I liked him. I really disliked every other character in the book. I was not a fan of the communist/fascist theme in the book. Although the plotting for the mystery was done well, I just didn't really like it. I think the main reason for this is the dislike of the characters around whom the plot centered. I also felt that the writing could have been a bit tighter, shortening the length of the book. The book takes place in the 1930s. I really don't know a great deal about the expected behavior of persons in England during that time period, but I found myself questioning whether some of the characters, particularly women characters would have done some of the things they did. I am willing to try future novels by Taylor as long as these characters are not in the book and the communist/fascist theme isn't revisited because I think he is capable of producing a novel that I might enjoy. This one just didn't quite measure up. 3 stars.

Happy Thanksgiving Lori!!!

>147 tjblue: Thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes.

208. Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett - Liss MacCrimmon is excited to have her former dance troupe in the greater Moosetookalook area. The manager of the troupe turns up dead after eating a scone filled with mushrooms. Liss had been very careful to make sure that the food served contained no mushrooms as she was well aware of his allergy, as were other members of the troupe. Who wanted him dead? Are there irregularities in the troupe's finances? There are lots of questions which need to be answered. Liss is happy that there is a new investigator on the scene. It's bagpipe-playing Gordon Tandy. While the mystery itself is fairly predictable and is longer than needed, the characters, the cat, and setting of this series are so delightful that the series has become one of my favorites. Dunnett provides just the right amount of humor to provide a little comic relief without making it unrealistic when the scene grows intense. I'm looking forward to the next installment. 3 stars (although I sentimentally want to rate it higher)!

Happy Thanksgiving, Lori.

I read the Christmas book by Dunnett. I need to get back to these.

Hope you are having a lovely Thanksgiving, Lori.

I'm finally relaxing. I spent all morning in the kitchen. We were so stuffed that we didn't eat dessert. I ended up sending 2 of the 4 pies I made with my brother's family. There is no way Dad and I can eat all of that ourselves. We've got plenty of leftovers though.

209. The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie - Narrated by the Vicar, Mr. Clement, this book features Miss Marple. Colonel Protheroe is discovered dead in the vicar's study after the vicar has been called out to visit a sick parishioner. There is no shortage of suspects, and most of them have alibis for the time of the murder. There is, in fact, a bit of confusion about the time of the murder due to the vicar's habit of setting clocks fast in order to be punctual. The Vicar works with the police in order to help solve the murder, but is his neighbor Miss Marple who provides the solution. It's been a long time since I had read this installment. While it's not my favorite Christie novel, it is one that is quite satisfying to those who don't want a mystery's solution to be overly simplistic. 3.5 stars.

Good grief....I stop by after being gone for a bit and find five more that simply must be read! I have the Agatha Christie and the Morley as Kindle Freebies, the Dunnett,and the de Castrique, are both authors I've enjoyed in the past so I'm putting these on my list, and the Andrew Taylor is very intriguing....bears investigating.

I've read Andrew Taylor's The American Boy, but that's the only one so far. Sorry to hear Bleeding Heart Square didn't really work for you.

210. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lilian Jackson Braun - It's been years since I have read one of the "Cat Who" books. I gave up on the series after noticing that the books were declining in quality. When the audiobook of this installment was donated to our library right before my Thanksgiving week trip, I decided to try it on the trip. I'm not a big fan of audiobooks because I'd rather read the books, but I thought I would give this one a try. It was delightful to revisit the characters in Pickax again. I love Moose County and its inhabitants. However, this book fell short in many ways. Long time fans will be disappointed by developments in the relationship between Qwilleran and Polly. There appears to have been a murder, but unless I didn't catch the development as I was listening, the murder was never resolved in spite of Koko's yowls insisting that there had been a murder. Without giving away the plot, I'm just going to say that Qwilleran's reactions to a development in the closing chapters of the book are quite unnatural. The narrator did a good job giving voices to the different characters. While this book is short on plot and very flawed, I still found it a pleasure to return for a visit to Pickax. 2 stars.

Tina - I'm sure I've probably added that many to my wish list recently from yours!

Susan - Thanks for stopping by. I haven't given up on Taylor as an author. His writing was strong. I just think my dislike of the characters ruined it for me.

211. The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini - Sylvia discovers a journal tucked in with some old family quilts. The journal was written by her ancestor's sister and documents the family's settlement on Elm Creek farm and involvement with the Underground Railroad. As she begins reading its pages, her friend Summer begins doing research at the county historical society. Sarah and Matt begin an archaeological excavation on the property. As a genealogist, I did not want to put this one down! I occasionally wanted Summer to seek out another source that might have held an answer, but it would have been rushing the story to prematurely reach the place that source might have led. This is my favorite in the Elm Creek Quilts series to date! 4.5 stars.

The quilting series sounds charming, and just the sort of thing I would like, but they seem very expensive here in the UK. I'll keep an eye on the Kindle price to see if they ever become more reasonable!

I have had fun reading through your thread this afternoon!

You have lots of good mysteries I want to look into. I also read Fever 1793 this year and your review of the Karen Hesse book was quite helpful. She is my favorite author of historical fiction for children, but I have not read that one yet.

I am curious if you liked Hesse's other books better. My favorite book of hers is Letters from Rifka, about a Jewish/Russian girl.

This is the first Karen Hesse book that I've read that I recall having problems that I noticed.

212. Unsolicited by Julie Kaewert - This mystery involves Alex Plumtree who owns a publishing firm in London and a manuscript by an author using the pseudonym Arthur that is about to reveal a World War II era crime. Although the plot lent itself to promise, its delivery was disappointing. The end result was more like an amateur sleuth engaged in espionage than an exploration of the actual crime and gathering results. The action seemed to center on Alex's attempts to foil and go after his pursuers. I would have preferred an investigation into the crimes revealed by the manuscripts. Disappointing! 2.5 stars.

#162 Several Kaewert books have been sitting on my shelves well, for forever. After reading your review, I'm not sure I want to start that series just now.

>163 lindapanzo: Linda, as I recall, this book is more espionage/thriller than cozy. I liked this one much better than Lori did, but I also like that genre while Lori doesn't.

Carrie Beth does like espionage much better than I do. After I rated it, I looked at her rating, and she gave it 4 stars. I think I expected it be closer to a cozy or procedural novel.

If there's such a thing as a "cozy thriller", I think that would characterize this series. I've read three or four from the series, and I think they all involve a lot of physical danger, pursuit by initially unknown parties, figuring out the reason for the pursuit, and trying to catch the pursuers before being caught.

Not my style of book at all!

Now that I've thought about it a little more, it occurs to me that the Lyn Hamilton archaeological mysteries have similar plots. The books in both series usually have an object that has some secret attached to it. (An antique or artifact in the Hamilton books, and a book or manuscript in the Kaewert books.) The police are only marginally involved. They don't have the subject expertise to figure out the secret. More often than not, the hero is on his or her own to work things out because it would be difficult to convince the police that the secret exists or that the hero is in any danger.

I don't see a similarity in Lyn Hamilton and this Julie Kaewert at all. Lyn Hamilton's "sleuth" does a bit more investigating. I didn't see investigation as much as reaction in the Kaewert book.

It seems, though, that the investigations are primarily associated with the antiques/artifacts rather than of people (although the investigation of the artifact eventually points to a person). It's been quite a while since I read a book from either series, so I'm thinking in very broad terms and not of any particular plot.

But she had to investigate (and it was interesting) . . . Kaewert's amateur sleuth only reacted. We never saw into his reasoning for his actions.

213. A Burial at Sea by Charles Finch - Charles Lenox, member of Parliament, is asked to go to the Suez Canal on official business. Aboard the naval ship, one of the officers is murdered. The captain asks Lenox to investigate. Before long there is a mutiny attempt, then another murder. Lenox must determine which sailor is behind the murders. This was my first venture into this series. I found Lenox a likeable enough sleuth, but I had some questions that went unanswered because I had not read the previous installments. The author probably did not provide enough background in places for those new to the series. I also felt his reason for going to Egypt was a bit contrived and unrealistic. I was also a little disappointed in the manner in which the fate of the ship criminal was resolved. I have had earlier installments on my wish list, and I do want to go back and read some of those. This book was received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be written. 3 stars.

214. Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? by John Fea - Fea, a professor at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, has done a good job presenting a balanced view of his topic in a readable manner. He has taken a look at various founding fathers, their personal religious views, comparing them to others in similar places and times, and seeing how it influenced their lives. He has also taken a look at whether it was their intent for America to be a Christian nation or not. His use of extensive sources is evident. I think that his conclusion of no conclusion makes it a perfect book to provide for discussion among college students and other groups interested in the subject. Some may criticize that he did not take a side in the argument, but the fact that he did not sets this apart from other studies of the subject, leaving the reader to make his own conclusion based on the evidence presented as well as additional study. 5 stars.

Great review, Lori.

I want to invite everyone to watch our Living Christmas Tree which will be streaming live at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Sunday, December 11 at http://www.fbcmtn.com. They may have the program available for offline viewing later, but I'm not sure if they will or not.

215. Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind by Mark A. Noll - In this book, author Mark A. Noll offers a follow-up to his much discussed The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. He examines the problems that keep many Evangelicals from being more scholarship-minded, the progress made in recent years, and offers a critique of Peter Enns' book Inspiration and Incarnation. Noll's book is both readable and engaging, but persons who are not familiar with the other books mentioned should probably take a look at these before reading this one. 4 stars.

Lori, I didn't see your Living Christmas Tree post until last night, so missed the live stream. I used the search box on the website to see if it would still be available to view, but apparently not. The events page didn't link to a viewing, either. I've been wanting to see one of these concerts for years, so I'm sorry to have missed it. I'm sure it was beautiful!

I don't know if they are planning to post it or not. If they are, they could be doing some final editing before posting since they recorded all three nights. The children's program from the previous week is posted under Sermons.

216. Cat Deck the Halls by Shirley Rousseau Murphy - The story opens with a young girl witnessing a murder. I fear that I've made the mistake of starting a series with the 13th book. Even though I love cats and believe they can communicate somewhat (certainly not as the cats in this novel did though), I somehow found it difficult to adjust to the role the cats played in this novel. The story seems to be well-written and well-plotted, but I just had difficulty suspending my belief enough to really enjoy it. 3 stars.

217. A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas - An enjoyable poem focusing on memories of Christmas. The book is sparsely illustrated. 4 stars.

218. Romancing the Roads by Gerry Hampel Davis - When you pick up a travel book that allegedly covers the United States east of the Mississippi River, you know that entries are going to brief. I expected more of a narrative or diary about the author's travels with mentions of interesting offbeat places upon which she stumbled. The words "discoveries" and "serendipities" were in the book's description, but the book definitely failed to deliver off-the-beaten-path places or serendipitous discoveries. Instead, what we have is a poorly executed plan for a book that one would expect in a self-published work but not in a book coming from a publishing house. The author completely omits four states (for which she apologizes in the introduction). The only areas of the country which are treated remotely well are New York City and the coastal areas of Florida. Why would anyone driving want to drive in New York City? Why didn't she cover other areas of New York which would have been more appealing? Why didn't she go visit some of Vermont's covered bridges? Why did the author barely include Boston (only about two paragraphs) and completely omit other parts of Massachusetts including Cape Cod and Cape Ann? Why did the author fail to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or any locations in East Tennessee? At times, I felt that all I was reading about were pricy hotels and their equally pricy restaurants. Occasionally she would include a few shopping destinations. Very few tourist attractions were included and those that were received minimal treatment with the exception of a few. Most of the little narrative included was not engaging. There were also several things that were inaccurate and dated. Under Nashville, she calls the Grand Ole Opry "Opryland." (Opryland was a theme park that has been gone well over a decade.) She also includes Opry Mills which was flooded in early May 2010 and has not yet reopened with the exception of the Bass Pro Shop and perhaps one or two other stores. For a work that was published in late 2011, I think there could have been some indication of its status in the notes as the place she visited will not likely be the same one that visitors of the future will see. (I've seen one volume travel works that have done a far better job than this one. Save your money. Your AAA Tour Books and many online sites will be more informative. You are more likely to find interesting local places to eat by using the Food Network's online resources for shows such as "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" or by using Yelp or other social media sites with dining ratings. This book was received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be written. 1/2 star.

219. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber - In this final installment of the Cedar Cove series, Beth's daughters arrange for their father to spend Christmas with them. They are hoping that Beth and Kent will reunite. Beth finds ten puppies on her doorstep. She must find homes for all of them. We get to revisit most of the characters of the previous installments in the series in this final Christmas installment. I've only read a few of the books in the series, mostly the Christmas books, but I've enjoyed the ones I have read. I can understand why longtime fans of the series will be sad to see it end. 3.5 stars.

220. Three Wise Cats by Harold M. Konstantelos and Terri Jenkins-Brady - This is a charming re-write of the story of the wise men. In this rendition, they are accompanied by cats. There were two major problems I saw. The first is the timing of the wise men's visit as Jesus was likely a couple of years old by the time they found the Messiah. The second had to do with the lands from which the wise men came. The Biblical narrative specifies that they came from the East, but in this rendition they appeared to come from the West -- Athens and Alexandria. In spite of its flaws, this is a book that I plan to keep for future re-reading. 3.5 stars.

Wow, so many Christmas themed books. I've not read anything seasonal yet, might have to remedy that one.

For those who wanted to watch our Living Christmas Tree but missed it, it is now online at: http://vimeo.com/33699323. Hope you enjoy it.

I'm sorry to hear the Cedar Cove series is over. I've got a couple more to read, but hoped they would continue for a while. They're so sweet and small-town-y (or what I imagine a small town is like in the US, which is probably just fantasy!).

That's a good way to describe the series. I think I enjoyed it for the same reason that I love Jan Karon's books and the Lumby series! They give you a nice warm feeling. They are perfect reads around the holidays too!

221. A Wee Christmas Homicide by Kaitlyn Dunnett - Every Christmas there is a hot item. This year it is a "tiny teddy," and Moosetookalook appears to be the last place in all of New England to have them in stock. Liss spearheads a marketing campaign so that all the merchants of this small town benefit. One of the tiny teddys is shot. It's not long before there is a death. Was the death related to the tiny teddy craze, or was it just coincidental? Liss can't resist getting involved in the investigation in spite of the dangers she encountered in the past and the warnings of her friends and the investigators. This is an enjoyable series because of the setting and the characters. The mystery itself could have probably been a bit more focused. At times it seemed like it was going too many directions at once. In spite of its weaknesses in plotting, it's a quite enjoyable read, and I'll look forward to future installments. 3 stars.

I love Kaitlyn Dunnett and really should read more of her stuff. I think it will be February before the library waiting list clears on this one.

Dreadful news out of Egypt about a fire that destroyed some irreplaceable manuscripts: http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=106385

222. Edible: A Celebration of Local Foods by Tracey Ryder and Carole Topalian - It's easy to understand why this book has received praise from so many publications. It's much more than just another cookbook. The first part of the book is mostly narrative with short articles that celebrate local foods around the United States. There's plenty of humor infused with the writing. For example, in one article the writer was praising kudzu as a food source. Having grown up in the South, I was well acquainted with the nuisance and laughed as the writer gave humorous examples of how it spreads quickly, compared it to some poisonous vines, and discussed harvesting it from someone else's yard. (I don't want to give away the laughs! You'll have to read it yourself.) The book is illustrated by full color illustrations throughout that compliment the work itself. The recipes are mouth-watering and quite doable. Some persons will likely be disappointed that this is not a vegetarian cookbook. However, it celebrates local game, free-range animals, fish and seafood, etc. as well as produce. While I think I will pass on the kudzu recipes, I saw many recipes that I want to try. I borrowed this book from my local library; however, it is remaining on my wish list as I want my own copy. 4 stars.

223. The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook edited by Sara Roahen and John T. Edge - Interesting cookbook that comes from the Southern Foodways Alliance. The editors have chosen recipes that depict the foods that depict the food you would likely encounter on a Southerner's table. The recipes reflect the different cultures located throughout the South and the foods available specifically in certain region. There are stories with the recipes. It's a great cookbook with a binding that should make it ideal for those actually using it while cooking. 4 stars.

224. Persuasion by Jane Austen - Anne falls in love with Capt. Wentworth but there are obstacles to their relationship. It's classic Austen. I liked but did not love this final Austen novel. Based on my previous experiences with the author's works, I am likely to enjoy it a bit more each time I re-read it. 3 stars.

For those interested, I think my favorite Austen is Northanger Abbey. I think it is because I loved all those Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney type novels so much back in the 1970s. Time to decide which book gets to be 225 or "triple the 75 challenge." I think it will be a Christmas one! I believe Agatha Christie is winning the contest! I should be able to read it and Wishin' and Hopin' before Christmas!

Merry Christmas Lori!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!!!

Merry Christmas Lori!

225. A Holiday for Murder by Agatha Christie - This edition I read is called A Holiday for Murder. Simeon Lee's family comes in for Christmas, but it's not long before his body is discovered. It's definitely murder, and it definitely had to be someone who was in the house. The case belongs to Supt. Sugden, but Poirot just happens to be staying at Sugden's superior's home at the time of the murder so he takes a look at the evidence as well. The oldest son Alfred also urges Poirot to investigate as he is not certain of Sugden's ability. Poirot is convinced that the character of the deceased man is the key to this investigation. This mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I really did not see this ending coming. Great mystery, especially for a Christmas one. Although this is set around Christmas, it can be enjoyed anytime. 4 stars.

ETA: This is also known as Hercule Poirot's Christmas.

mistletoe smooches!

mistletoe smooches!

Wishing you all the very best Lori!

Merry Christmas to you, Lori, with best wishes!

Merry Christmas, Lori!

I saw this Cranberry Nut Coffee Cake recipe online. It looked good so I decided to try it. I did add the orange peel to the batter it suggested because I like the combination of cranberry and orange.

I couldn't get him to stretch up to the hook where the stocking was hanging this morning so I had to hold it.



So far, he's played with the stocking and the catnip ball and completely ignored the balls with the jingle bells on them. He's sniffed the packet with the catnip treats!

226. Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb - I did not attend a parochial school, but this book, written by Wally Lamb, gives me a glimpse of what it might have been like to have done so. It chronicles a couple of months in the first semester of fifth grade year for Felix Funicello, a cousin of the Annette of Mouseketeer fame. The joy in this novel is the way that ir chronicles everyday life for everyday people. From the Pillsbury bakeoff to local TV shows starring groups of kids to the school Christmas pageant, we get a glimpse of life in 1964. It's a wonderful, feel-good story about a much simpler time than the present-day. I was amused by the stories at the end of what became of the various players in the story. 4 stars.

My 2012 thread will be here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/129159

I'll continue to post 2011 reads here through December 31. I anticipate finishing 2 or 3 more books before year's end.

227. Death's Autograph by Marianne MacDonald - Dido Hoare owns an antiquarian bookstore in London. Her ex-husband comes back into her life and soon ends up dead. It's apparent that the murderers are seeking something but haven't yet located. What are they after? Dido along with the police and other authorities must find out. I expected more of a cozy mystery, but this one is more of a thriller with a few cozy aspects mixed in. The plotting was not as strong as it could have been. I really did not like the ending. 3 stars.

I hope you had a wonderful Christ-mas, Lori. Can't wait to see your 2012 reads!

228. Engaging the Culture, Changing the World by Philip W. Eaton - Eaton has written a book that is certain to be discussed by faculty members at Christian colleges and universities across America. As he challenges his readers to examine the reason for the existence of the university and the constituencies they serve, he presents examples from the Amish, medieval Benedictine monks, and the Puritans as models for the types of counter-cultures Christian universities should embrace. It's a thought-provoking read, full of philosophical and literary explorations. 4 stars.

229. Sounds of Murder by Patricia Rockwell - Great beginning to a series featuring a psychology professor who studies sound. Pamela's grad assistant Kent discovers the body of another psychology professor in the computer lab, strangled by a pair of speakers. He runs to get Pamela. They call the police. It becomes apparent that the murder was committed by someone in the department, but who? Pamela's expertise in sound helps solve the murder. I look forward to further installments in this series. 4 stars.

Just looked at my book recommendations. LibraryThing generated this one: Death by Pantyhose. My first reaction? YES. They kill me every time I wear them!

SNORK.......#207......choked on my hot choc.....I agree I agree. That's why I love living in Maine...we just wear jeans and socks....enjoy your holiday weekend.

I wear knee-high hose as often as I can get by with it. I wear sandals as much as possible in summer to avoid hose!

230. Emily Dickinson and the Art of Belief by Roger Lundin - This work, while well-researched, is not very readable. As a disclaimer, I must state that I read this in the Kindle version. I have no idea how the quotes were formatted in the original edition, but the manner in which quotes, particularly those featuring her poetry, had a lot of em dashes to indicate line breaks which made it not flow as well and which were distracting. I also felt that the author relied too much on quotations and did not analyze the material as much as he could have. While the author takes a look at Dickinson's use of the Bible and remarks on or alluding to faith in her letters and poems, there is no definitive answer to the question of whether or not she was really a believer or not. Doubt is shown at several times, but comfort in the Bible is taken at times as well. In the introduction, the author tells why he is placing source information in the back of the book and trying to leave the narrative free of cumbersome source citations. The book itself, however, begs for a more carefully sourced narrative because its audience is likely to be more of an academic than lay one. When we got to the end, there were numbered endnotes. The bibliography is quite extensive. There are several useful indexes. 3 stars.

This concludes my 2011 reading. Join me for 2012 here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/129159