November wrap-up

by Carol11 Comments
November was a great month, all-around. I read14 books, although a couple of reviews aren't up yet. The Snake Scientist by Sy Montgomery Strega Nona’s Harvest by Tomie dePaola Frankenstein by Mary Shelley X Marks the Spot by Margaret Hall The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman One Hundred Butterflies by Harold Feinstein Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham Chosen by Desire by Kate Perry Thank You, Sarah by Laurie Halse Anderson Bear Portraits by Jill Greenberg Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby You Wouldn’t Want to be Sick in the 16th Century! by Kathryn Senior Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado I'm happy that I read one classic this month. Of the others, 8 were kids books and 2 were coffee table art books. I made some progress on my challenges and joined another one. Operation Actually Read Bible- I read Psalms 31-60 and Isaiah  1-31. (NIV) 100+ – I’m at 136. What’s in a Name? – Completed A-Z – 46/52 Wilkie Collins – 0/2 Shelf Discovery – 0/6 Women Unbound - 0/5 At home...
Read More

Teaser Tuesday

by Carol12 Comments
Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from...that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given. Please avoid spoilers! My teaser: For a month before Christmas he turns his sleuthing genius to tracking down unusual wrapping papers, fine ribbons, and artistic stickers; and he spends the last two days creating beauty. So it was that when Attorney John S. Bondling called, Inspector Queen was in his kitchen, swathed in a barbecue apron, up to his elbows in fines herbes, while Ellery, behind the locked door of his study, composed a secret symphony in glittering fuschia metallic paper, forest-green moiré ribbon, and pine cones. -pg. 286, "The Adventure of the Dauphin's Doll" by Ellery Queen, in Murder for Christmas edited by Thomas Godfrey Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of...
Read More

Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby

by Carol7 Comments
Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby (Suggested reading level: Ages 9-12) This book is a magical read for December. One of the tree-dwellers, Larry, a glass snowman, has waken up on the tree after a long sleep only to discover that his brother is missing. Larry, his girlfriend Debbie, their pet Tinsel and a new-comer to the tree, break the rules, leave the tree and set off to find Larry's brother. On their journey through the house they face many dangers, not the least of which is the cat, and learn a deadly secret about their safe world on the tree. Amber (9) and I read this together and both enjoyed it. To use Amber's words, "Larry and Splint rock! It's awesome." It was a fun read, with lots of adventure for the pint-sized heroes and Amber definitely did not see the twist coming at the end. I did, but that's partly because I had to peek ahead, just to make...
Read More

You Wouldn’t Want to Be Sick in the 16th Century! by Kathryn Senior

by Carol6 Comments
You Wouldn't Want to Be Sick in the 16th Century! by Kathryn Senior, illustrated by David Antram (Suggested Reading Level: Ages 9-12) This is the first of the You Wouldn't Want to... series that I've read, but I was definitely impressed. Fun and factual history go hand in had in this short book, and parts are just downright gross, which is always attractive to kids. The introduction sets the stage. Your name is Nicholas Knight, and you are a barber surgeon in the 16th century, known in England as Tudor times. (pg. 5) We then learn about how patients were diagnosed, "surgery" techniques, infections and the plague. We travel to a battlefield in northern France and aboard a ship during the Spanish Armada. We're even present at the bedside of Queen Elizabeth I. This is not always a pleasant experience—she becomes bad-tempered and bitter as she gets older. (pg. 28) To be honest, I learned a lot about medicine in the 16th century, most of which I...
Read More