The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton

by Carol6 Comments
The Man Who Knew Too Much by G. K. Chesterton I knew Chesterton as a religious writer. I think that one of the collections I read had a selection or two by him. I was surprised when I learned he was also a well-known mystery author. The Man Who Knew Too Much is more or less a collection of eight short stories featuring Horne Fisher. Fisher is a low-key man, seemingly uninterested but actually very observant and intelligent. He has many friends and relatives in the government, which add an interesting layer to these stories which take place in pre-World War I England. "I know too much," he said. "that's what's the matter with me. That's what's the matter with all o us, and the whole show; we know too much. Too much about one another; too much about orselves." (4%) But Fisher uses what he knows about human nature, about politics, about people to solve a variety of puzzling crimes. Each time we...
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Game Night- Dominion: Prosperity

by Carol3 Comments
Dominion: Prosperity Designers: Donald X Vaccarino Manufacturer: Rio Grande Games Year: 2010 Time: 20 - 30 minutes Ages: 8 and up First you need to know this is an expansion. You need to have either he original Dominion or Dominion: Intrigue to play, if only for the treasure and victory  cards. Second thing I need to tell you is that I really like Dominion a lot, so it's really no surprise that I enjoy this addition. Dominion, is probably one of my favorite games. Here's the blurb for this one. Ah, money. There's nothing like the sound of coins clinking in your hands. You vastly prefer it to the sound of coins clinking in someone else's hands, or the sound of coins just sitting there in a pile that no-one can quite reach without getting up. Getting up, that's all behind you now. Life has been good to you. Just ten years ago, you were...
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Accomplishments?

by Carol8 Comments
Looking back, I don't think I accomplished anything important in 2010. I participated in Relay for Life and volunteered at a couple of events at our church, but that's really about it. Well, maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way. I have a smart, funny, talented daughter who enjoys life. I have a wonderful husband, who is a great father. Granted, I can't take credit for either of those, but I do encourage them, cook, do the laundry, try not to complain about little things like the grass needing cut, help with homework. So, can having a happy, loving family be an accomplishment? I think that it is, but it's not the same as more concrete goals, like save $X, write a short story, read a classic you've always been afraid of. But what about my goals? To be honest, I'm not much of a goal-setter and to accomplish something in general it needs to first be a goal. What...
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Friday’s Tale: Vasilissa the Beautiful

by Carol14 Comments
"Vasilissa the Beautiful" Baba Yaga is a witch-like character from Slavic folklore that I don't remember from the fairy tales I heard as a child. Actually the first picture I have in my mind is from when I was watching the PBS cartoon Arthur with Amber a few years ago. I don't remember the plot of the episode, but for some reason one of the kids was imagining Baba Yaga's hut, complete with its chicken legs. Actually, Baba Yaga is a rather scary old woman. Apparently there are many tales that feature her, but the one I read for today is "Vasilissa the Beautiful." As happens to so many beautiful young fairy tale women, Vasilissa's mother dies early in the story. On her deathbed, she gives Vasilissa a little wooden doll. This wooden doll is magic. When Vasilissa feeds her, she comes alive, listens to Vasilissa's griefs and problems, and offers advice and assistance. Eventually, Vasilissa's father remarries and, surprise, surprise, the...
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The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

by Carol7 Comments
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (Suggested reading level: Grades 4-6) Imagination has brought mankind through the dark ages to its present state of civilization. Imagination led Columbus to discover America. Imagination led Franklin to discover electricity.  -L. Frank Baum Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere. - Carl Sagan The Egypt Game for me is all about imagination. Two sixth-grade girls, unlikely friends, come together because of their love of imaginative play. The girls, April and Melanie, along with Melanie's little brother, Marshall, sneak into the local antique dealer's back lot, and begin the Egypt Game. They set up altars and temples using what they can find. The read all the can about ancient Egypt in the library and base their ceremonies and activities on history and their imagination. The game becomes more and more elaborate as the kids create costumes and two sixth-grade boys join their group. When a girl is...
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