Recent Reads {A Christmas Odyssey}

A Christmas Odyssey by Anne Perry - I think I've read all of Perry's Christmas novellas now, and all are quick mystery reads.  Some I definitely enjoyed more than others - there were a couple that seemed to leave more loose ends than I liked, and many end with a bit of a contrived "happy ever after" type of ending.  However, being novellas, there's a limit to how involved the mystery can be, because it must be presented and solved within 200 pages or less.  And being Christmas novellas, it's customary to have a happy ending with relationships restored and peace and goodwill winning the day.  So as long as one reads these expecting a sort of Hallmark movie rather than a dark and intricate murder mystery thriller, it's generally a satisfying read.  A Christmas Odyssey sees Henry Rathbone venturing into the seamy underworld of Victorian London, along with a couple of characters more suited to that environment, in order to locate the son of one of his friends.  The goal is to locate the young man, who has been living rather dangerously for some time, and to bring him home to his father for Christmas.  As expected, they do find him and eventually get him home to his father, but the search provides the storyline, and the character of Squeaky Robinson winds up being central.

Recent Reads {Duty and Desire}

Duty and Desire by Pamela Aidan - This is the second "Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman" in Aidan's trilogy focusing on Mr Darcy and his experiences during the time of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  Aidan continues to write in a style quite similar to Austen's, so that the thoughts and motives she ascribes to Darcy and Georgiana, and other shared characters are quite believable.  She also introduces several other characters from Darcy's circle of acquaintances and invents a life for Darcy during the 'silent period' of Pride and Prejudice.  This installment opens during the Christmas season at Pemberley and develops the characters of Darcy, Georgiana, and Colonel Fitzwilliam.  Darcy is still struggling to set aside his fascination with Elizabeth Bennet, and decides that he needs to actively seek a wife that will be more suitable as mistress of Pemberley and to his social status.  To that end, he accepts an invitation to an old schoolmate's house party, and the second half of the book is devoted to the events at that gathering.  One of the ladies at the house party does capture his attention, giving Elizabeth some competition, although she doesn't know it!  There are also some strange and disturbing events at the party, and Darcy and his intrepid valet, Fletcher, work to unravel the mystery.  Although the characters are believable, and this party of the storyline involving the revival of interest in occult practice in Great Britain at the time is true to history, I felt that I had somehow jumped into one of Carrie Bebris' "Mr and Mr Darcy Mysteries" unexpectedly.  To me, this seemed an odd turn for Aidan's story to take.  But overall, an enjoyable book that does have me looking forward to the conclusion in These Three Remain, since by the end of this book, Darcy is beginning to acknowledge to himself that Elizabeth's character is the standard by which he measures all other women, and there is the sense that he is realizing that he will not easily forget her, and perhaps doesn't want to.

By the same author:  An Assembly Such as This

Recent Reads {Feed Your Family for $12 A Day}

Feed Your Family for $12 a Day by Rhonda Barfield - I finished this guide to saving money on groceries awhile ago, so this brief review is past due!  The book was practical and written from real-life perspective, and I did find some useful information and ideas.  I particularly appreciated that it wasn't written as a step-by-step formula of what to do and in what order - it was a collection of suggestions and options, often with pros and cons of different approaches given so that the reader can evaluate what is likely to work for her own family.  Barfield includes a number of recipes that she has gathered and uses herself.  She also references many other resources that the reader may find helpful.  Near the end of the book is a "Checklist for Savings" where all the possible suggestions in the book are summarized in a bulleted list - I loved this because it saved me jotting down my own notes as I read, and gave me a quick reference to the things I decided we could try.  Barfield also includes an Appendix with her own real life shopping list and menus, which really adds to practical value of the book, as I could see exactly what she bought and how she used it.

Recent Reads {The Christmas Chronicles}

The Christmas Chronicles - The Legend of Santa Claus by Tim Slover - This little book was on the feature display shelf at the library and looked like a quick read so I decided to give it a whirl.  I was certainly right about it being a quick read, and it might even make a good read-aloud.  It was truly enjoyable as well!  The 'true story' of Santa Cluas is told with some unusual twists, presented as the biography prepared by Santa's court historian.  The story is sweet, and humourous in places, and has a fairytale charm.  i think it would be an especially fun read for those who still want to believe in Santa, and who enjoy having their children continue to believe.

Recent Reads {Silent on the Moor}

Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn - This is the third in the Lady Julia Grey series, and I found it just as hard to put down.  Raybourn has invented a cast of eccentric and fascinating characters, and intriguing mysteries for them to solve, and I've become a fan. 8-)  In this installment, Julia and her sister Portia visit Brisbane at his recently acquired property in Yorkshire.  The buildings are in disrepair, the inhabitants of the household are odd in the extreme, and it isn't long before Julia realizes that the people and situation are not simply strange - there is something sinister and dangerous going on.  As usual, she and Brisbane lock horns over what is to be done about it, and there is plenty of tension between them.  After an attempt on Brisbane's life, it seems that things should settle down and justice be served, but it's not quite that simple... 

I love Raybourn's style and unique characters, and look forward eagerly to reading the fourth Lady Julia book.  I own these first three, and I have a feeling I will buy the fourth rather than wait my turn for it at the library!

By the same author:  Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, The Dead Travel Fast

Recent Reads {An Assembly Such as This}

An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan - It was only a matter of time until I picked up another Jane Austen spin-off series, and this one by Aidan focuses on the story of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s point of view. Much more story-telling and detail than in Mr Darcy’s Diary, which I read awhile ago, and I thought the author did a fine job of presenting perspective on characters and backstory in a style very similar to Austen’s. This made it quite believable and gives very plausible motives for some of the actions Darcy and others took in Pride and Prejudice. This is the first of a trilogy of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman books, and follows Darcy through his first arrival at Netherfield and his initial return to London, speculating on what he was doing, thinking, and feeling upon meeting the Bennets and other residents of Hertfordshire.  So far I've found this novel in three parts to be entertaining and interesting.

Recent Reads {Silent in the Sanctuary}

Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn - I really meant to read other things before coming back to Lady Julia Grey.  But she is so likable I couldn't stick with my other books for long before deciding I needed to read 'just a couple of chapters' in this second in the Lady Julia series.  We are introduced to Lady Julia in Silent in the Grave, when she works with an enigmatic private investigator Nicholas Brisbane to find out who murdered her husband and why.  At the end of that book, she mentions that she doesn't see Brisbane again until they discover a body in a chapel.  Julia has been touring Europe with two of her brothers, and they receive an invitation from her father to come back to the family home for a Christmas house party.  Several of Julia's siblings and relatives are there as well, each with their own set of quirks and oddities, and some other guests, including Brisbane and his fiancee.  When someone is murdered in the family estate's chapel, and the entire party is also snowed in, Julia's father puts Brisbane in charge of the investigation and insists that Julia work as his partner.  The eccentric March family and its relationships, as well as the relationship between Julia and Brisbane, both move and impede the attempts to bring the murderer to justice in turn.  In the end, the murder is solved, of course, but Brisbane is gone again leaving the future rather uncertain - but just as in the first installment, Julia closes her narrative by mentioning that she and Brisbane would find a body when they next meet.  (in the third novel, Silent on the Moor)  I really will try to finish a couple of other things I'm working on before moving on to that one!  These Victorian mysteries are clever and peopled with such interesting characters that I find Raybourn's books rather hard to put down once I start.

By the same author: Silent in the Grave and The Dead Travel Fast

Recent Reads {The Constant Princess}

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory - It's no wonder Philippa Gregory is knowwn as the 'queen of royal fiction'  Reading this historical novel often felt like I was reading Katherine's personal diary.  I think that most of us are familiar with Katherine of Aragon as the first wife of Henry VIII, and view her as the older,  severely and stiffly religious queen that he set aside in favor of Anne Boleyn.  Fewer people remember much about a younger Katherine, when she was Catalina, the Infanta of Spain - a glamourous young princess who married the beloved older Tudor son, Arthur, and was prepared from babyhood to be the future Queen of England.  Gregory begins her story with Catalina's life in Spain and her arrival in England, and presents us with believable personalities for the historical figures that may explain some of their actions.  One of the scandals of the Tudors was the question of whether Katherine was a virgin as she claimed when she married Henry.  At the time, there wasn't any suggestion that her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated - it was only after Arthur died that this was asserted by Katherine and her duenna.  Later, when Henry VIII was planning to have the marriage annulled, it was asserted that she had lied about this.  Gregory believes that Katherine probably did lie, and offers us a very likely explanation for her motives in this book.  An thoroughly enjoyable read, as I'm coming to expect from Philippa Gregory. 

Recent Reads {Silent in the Grave}

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn - This was the second time I'd read this debut novel from Raybourn, and although it's been some time since I first read it, the ending still surprised me.  Well, specifically, the identity of the murderer surprised me - usually when I re-read a mystery, even if I'd forgotten the solution I 'see' all the clues clearly and remember the ending long before I turn the page.  In this case, I really did not remember who the murderer was until I reached that chapter of the book.  In my opinion, that was a mark of a good mystery!  Lady Julia Grey is a quirky and likable heroine, and since she narrates the story, her wry and witty observations of the other characters and her own actions provide plenty of humour throughout.  She is widowed within the first few pages of the book, and partners with another unusual character, Nicholas Brisbane, to discover who killed her husband and why.  Lady Julia comes from a famously unconventional family known for the daring exploits of both ancestors and contemporaries, yet she has aspired to be as quiet and normal as possible.  In unravelling the questions surrounding her husband's death, however, she proves herself to be rather capable of completely unconventional behavior as well.  A very entertaining and different period mystery, and I look forward to reading the sequels soon - two of which are sitting on my to-read pile now.  I'll have to finish a couple of library books first though! 

By the same author:  The Dead Travel Fast

Recent Reads {Surrender the Heart}

Surrender the Heart by MaryLu Tyndall - Yes, it's the typical, very predictable, standard romance storyline so common in that strange sub-genre affectionately known as "Christian romance"  And it's definitely LITE reading.  But I enjoy these types of books, I really do - just not a steady diet of them.  I think what makes Tyndall's books interesting to me is the settings - historical setting, usually at sea.  I don't consider the writing as good as many of the other big names (Karen Kingsbury, Lori Wick, etc) in this genre, for example, many of the descriptive phrases are overused and repeated throughout the story.  In this one, I lost track of how many times that somebody had perspiration beading somewhere. 8-/  They were doing strenuous work, and it was pretty hot, but seriously - "beading" every single time?  Anyway...  Like I said, the basic premise of these romances is the same every time as well - man and woman initially dislike each other, spend the majority of the novel sparring and trying to convince themselves and the other characters that they are entirely unsuited to each other while denying their growing attraction, then overcome all the odds of circumstance to protect or defend each other, and finally admit their deep and abiding love for one another in the final chapters.  Predictable.  But still can make for interesting reading, and I have to admit that I was engaged enough in this story that I stayed up late into the night finishing the final third or so.  As is also often predictable, this one is part of a planned series, so I will probably pick up the sequels when they are published so I can escape into another improbable set of coincidences with another improbable couple.  8-)

Recent Reads {The Intrigue at Highbury}

The Intrigue at Highbury (or, Emma's Match) by Carrie Bebris - I confess, I'm a little at loose ends as to what I will read now that I've finished all the (published) installments of Bebris' Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series.  Who am I kidding - my to-read list is still miles long.  ;-)  After having been just slightly disappointed in the previous mystery, I was delighted that this one seemed to me to be much more true to the characters and style of Austen and the earlier mysteries.  Elizabeth and Darcy are travelling near Highbury when they meet with thieves on the road.  In reporting the robbery, they meet the Knightleys (from Jane Austen's Emma) and the other inhabitants of Highbury, and naturally become involved in solving the murder that takes place shortly before their arrival.  Not surprisingly, the Darcys and Knightleys form a friendship as they investigate (and matchmake! Well, Emma tries to matchmake, and Elizabeth is with her most of the time).   There are several suspects, and the two couples don't agree on which are the most likely.  In fact, Mr Knightley requests Darcy's assistance in the matter because he and Elizabeth are not previously acquainted with the residents of Highbury and aren't prejudiced for or against any of them.  In all, a satisfying mystery with a happy ending to the subplot, and I am left anticipating another Darcy mystery.  According to Ms Bebris' website, she is indeed working on a sixth!

Recent Reads {The Fire}

The Fire by Katherine Neville - This is a long-awaited follow-up to The Eight and as with all sequels, I couldn't help wondering if it would live up to the expectations of the first book (or movie).  Neville says in the author's notes that she had never really intended a sequel to The Eight, which was published in 1988 and was set partially in the early 1970s.  However, real world events in the 2000s changed her mind and we now have a follow-up which focuses on the next generations of the original characters.  I do have to say that I liked The Eight better in that I was able to follow more of the thought processes of the main characters.  When Cat or Mireille (main characters in The Eight) would say or think that they had a new insight or clue to the mysteries they were unravelling, I usually understood what had triggered it and could follow their logic, even if I didn't reach a conclusion.  But in The Fire there were a lot of occasions when Alexandra (main character, Cat's daughter) would say that she suddenly understood what or why or how something had happened or what to do next, and I really had no clue what she was talking about, or how she could possibly have reached that conclusion.  Still, Neville delivers a fast-paced and intellectually challenging adventure that spans the globe and takes place in a couple of different centuries; full of intrigues and mysteries, twists and turns and surprises.  Do read The Eight first - I'm not sure that The Fire would be completely satisfying without the background of the mysteries and storylines of the first novel.  I think that both of these books would appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, mystery, or suspense novels.

Recent Reads {The Skin Map}

The Skin Map by Stephen R Lawhead - I've been a fan of Lawhead's writing for several years, but it's his historical based fiction that I've read - the Pendragon Cycle, the Celtic Crusades trilogy, King Raven trilogy, Byzantium, Patrick... which combine myth and legend with history and historical settings.  This new series looks more like science fiction, but essentially does the same thing - combines science fiction and fantasy with historical settings.  Time travel, alternate realities, historical events, mystery and intrigue, and adventure keep this first installment in the planned Bright Empires series moving right from the start.  The action shifts among several characters who find themselves in different times and places.  I interrupted my reading of this book several times to focus on other things, but when I was able to work on it, I found it quick and absorbing reading, and will be looking forward to the second installment, The Bone House.  I will have to wait almost a year though - it's not due out until September 2011.

Recent Reads {Have a New Kid By Friday}

Have a New Kid by Friday by Dr Kevin Leman - I actually like the kids I have and don't have enough bedroom space to acquire another one at this point...  An online friend has been recommending this book and sharing how some of Dr Leman's suggestions have been helping her family, so I picked up the book from the library to have a look for myself.  I skimmed through it fairly quickly and appreciated Dr Leman's common-sense and straight-forward approach to discipline issues, as well as his humour sprinkled throughout.  The basic premise is that we all need to be responsible for our own behavior, and that we need to teach our children to be accountable for their own choices.  I found that many of the things Dr Leman suggests are similar to what we have done or are doing in our home, and got many good ideas for handling some of the annoying behaviors we deal with.

Recent Reads {The Prince}

The Prince by Francine Rivers - I think this is my favorite in this series so far! I still have two of them to read, so I'll have to reassess once I've done that.  Have you ever had a picture in your head of how something happened in the Bible, and you know that it's unrealistic and couldn't have been that way but never really stop to try and readjust that mental image?  I have to admit, my picture of the rule of King Saul fits that pattern.  I read how Saul was chosen to be king of Israel and about his reluctance at the beginning, about all the events surrounding his reign and how David eventually came to the throne, and the mental picture I've had since I was quite young is pretty unrealistic.  I somehow imagined that after Saul was anointed king he moved into the palace and started wearing the crown to family dinners or something crazy like that. And I have never stopped to consider Saul's family, particularly his children, during that time, and wonder how old Jonathan was when his father became king or the family's reaction to any of the events.  Francine Rivers presents a far more realistic imagining of the life of Jonathan, adding personality and motives and emotions to a young man who has become the model of loyal friendship.   In reading this book, I thought about Saul's kingship - his successes and his failures - in terms of how it looked to his son and heir; and I appreciated the dilemma that Jonathan must often have found himself in - loving and honoring his father, yet protecting and being loyal to his friend.  It seems like Jonathan doesn't get much credit for his courage, righteousness, and faithfulness, but from what we know from the Biblical account, he must have been an outstanding man of noble character.  He might have made a very good king too, if his father had made better choices.  But Saul's sin and stubbornness cost much more than just the throne for Saul himself, his family and especially his son Jonathan paid a price as well.

Recent Reads {The Matters at Mansfield}

The Matters at Mansfield, Or, The Crawford Affair by Carrie Bebris - This is the fourth in the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series by Bebris, and although definitely an enjoyable read, in my opinion it is the weakest outing of the four.  Lady Catherine's daughter Anne, having long been bullied and coddled by her domineering mother, finally appears to grow something of a backbone and elopes rather than follow through with the marriage arranged by Lady Catherine.  It isn't hard to imagine Lady Catherine's reaction, especially when it appears that Elizabeth has been an accomplice to Anne's plans.  Not surprisingly, Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam accept Lady Catherine's demands that they ride in pursuit of Anne and her new husband, and the whole family assembles in Mansfield to try and sort out the matrimonial mess Anne finds herself in.  Some of the other aspects of the story were a little harder for me to believe.  I thought that Lady Catherine did not stay true to her original character as drawn by Austen throughout.  She continues to be bossy, inconsiderate,  and haughty, but I was taken somewhat aback at the few places in this book where her rudeness to Elizabeth and to Meg (a woman who claimed to be already married to Anne's new husband) too blatant to be entirely believable.  I would expect that she would be more inclined to act is though these women were completely beneath her dignity to even notice rather than to engage in name-calling.  Also difficult to believe that Mr Darcy would stand about and say nothing when Lady Catherine actually calls Elizabeth a "stupid, common baggage" - come, Mr Darcy! Even Lady Catherine in a high dudgeon during an emotional outburst shouldn't be allowed to abuse your wife in that way without so much as a comment from you!  All that being said, the solving of the mystery and resolution of the whole affair makes for an intriguing storyline, and Bebris delivers plenty of background on gentleman's dueling and other detail within the dialogue.  And a favorite feature was Meg's innocent assumption that Lady Catherine is losing some of her mental faculties due to advanced age.  Meg's comments and Lady Catherine's speechless shock at receiving them did cause me to laugh aloud.

Recent Reads {The Cat of Bubastes}

The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt by G.A. Henty - Confession: this is the first G.A. Henty book I have ever read.  It was on the reading list for Spencer's WorldLit and since the younger kids were studying ancient Egypt, I thought it would make a good read-aloud.  We started our schooldays by reading from this classic over the past few weeks.  At first Landon and Kennady were very reluctant, but I think their attitudes improved as we got further along in the story.  Kennady made several inquiries as to when the Cat would finally appear in the story, and indeed the title character doesn't make an appearance till about halfway through and (spoiler alert!) is dead within a chapter of her first appearance.  However, the circumstances surrounding the cat's death are pivotal in the outcome of the story so perhaps the title Henty chose isn't so odd after all.  Overall, we enjoyed the book and while no one has asked about other Henty books, I suspect there wouldn't be too much objection should another of his titles appear on our reading list.

Recent Reads {North by Northanger}

North by Northanger (Or, The Shades of Pemberley) by Carrie Bebris - The third Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery takes place after the excitement of their London season as they hope to spend a quiet and peaceful time at Pemberley awaiting the birth of their child.  What was supposed to be a pleasant trip to Northanger Abbey to renew a family acquaintance turns out to be an extremely odd adventure resulting in the Darcys being accused of theft.  A solution to some of their troubles brings about a fresh set of trials, however, as Lady Catherine de Bourgh stays with them at Pemberley for an extended time.  Elizabeth nears a breaking point with Lady Catherine several times, and I personally found myself cheering her on, and rather hoping she would tell the domineering and insensitive aunt to 'stuff it'.  8-)  This story doesn't have quite the supernatural overtones of the previous two installments, but unravelling the intrigue, keeping reputations intact, and managing difficult personalities while pregnant combine to test even Elizabeth's endurance and wit.

Recent Reads {Suspense and Sensibility}

Suspense and Sensibility by Carrie Bebris  - this second installment of Bebris’ Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries is as delightful as the first, continuing to develop the characters of Darcy and Elizabeth and introducing a fresh mystery for them to solve. They have agreed to sponsor Elizabeth’s sister Kitty for a London season but the charming and well-to-do young man that proposes to Kitty undergoes an inexplicable character change. As the Darcys try to find out what has happened and mitigate the damage to Kitty’s reputation by the horrid behavior of her fiance, they must deal with another supernatural mystery. Another quick and entertaining read that combines a fantasy-world mystery with Regency romance.

 

Recent Reads {The Warrior}

The Warrior by Francine Rivers - This second in the Sons of Encouragement series focuses on the life of Caleb, who was right-hand man to Joshua.  As did the first book, this fictionalized account really got me thinking about what it would have been like to escape from Egypt and then live in the Hebrew camps in the desert.  Caleb is remembered for his warrior spirit, and his determination to follow God unswervingly, and this story adds very plausible personality, background, and motive to the little we know from the Biblical account.

Recent Reads {Kilimanjaro}

Kilimanjaro - A Photographic Journey to the Roof of Africa by Michel Moushabeck, photography by Hiltrud Schulz - A book I ordered from the library expecting to use it for school turned out to be far more interesting to me than to the kids.  I did flip through so they could see some of the pictures, but they weren't very impressed.  I, on the other hand, was intrigued not only by the lovely scenery, but also the photos included of the people and headed to the introduction to find out a little more about them.  And wound up reading the whole book.  Now THIS is how I like to go mountain-climbing - reading about it and enjoying the spectacular views through the lens of someone else's camera.  I would love to go there myself, would love to be able to stand on the Uhuru Peak and see it all for myself, but I'll be honest - I'm not likely to take up mountain-climbing at this point.  Not even Kilimanjaro, which the author points out is the tallest mountain in the world that can be climbed without technical equipment.   Moushabeck, a publisher, tells how he impulsively asked to accompany a climbing-guide author on her climb of Kilimanjaro; and details the preparations for the trip as well as the eight days the group spent in climbing to the summit.  His descriptions of the people, sights, and sounds are almost poetic; and his own sometimes humourous observations make it a very personal story as well.  His wife, Hildi, is the photographer, and the images she captured are beautiful.  I don't think most people have a mental picture of Kilimanjaro that includes vast glaciers and ice fields - it's in equatorial Africa, after all! - but they are there, and Schulz's photos are stunning.

The Cuckoo Clock

The Cuckoo Clock by Mrs Molesworth - Kennady and I have been reading this book a little at a time at bedtime.  It seems like a really long time we've been working on it, but we've been interrupted by vacations and all kinds of things.  We have just one chapter left now so we will probably finish it tonight or tomorrow.  I found this book when I was a little girl - it was in a bookshelf at my Grandma's house, and I'm not sure where she got it.  It's possible that my Aunt Linda (who loves second-hand bookstores and old books) picked it up at a sale.  In any case, I was about Kennady's age or a bit older when I first read it and it was a favorite of mine.  I read it through every time I visited Grandma until I eventually took it home with me.  A few years ago I found it among my things stored at Mom's and brought it home with me, wondering if maybe Kennady would like it.  We've really enjoyed reading it together and I think it's grown her vocabulary and her ability to read aloud well.

I love the illustrations in the book too:

Recent Reads {Gold Fever - A Klondike Mystery}

Gold Fever - A Klondike Mystery by Vicki Delany - Somehow I missed the fact that this book was a sequel to another until I was several chapters into it.  I wonder if having read the first would have improved my experience with it?  I didn't sense that there were 'missing pieces' to the story that I would have known had I read the first book, Gold Digger, so I continued on.  I did like the characters and sense of atmosphere - the story is set in Dawson during the gold rush - and the identity and motive of the killer are not obvious until near the very end, so in that sense I liked this book very well.  However, I found that I wasn't sure which of the threads of the story were most important - the murder mystery? the potential romances? the son's relationships and ambitions? the mother's relationships and interactions?  All had some appeal and were intertwined in various ways, but I sometimes felt as if I was trying to listen in on too many different conversations at once.  At least the switches from first person narrative (when Fiona tells her story) to third person were obvious so I didn't have to wonder whose account I was reading.  The ending, while it tidies up the murder mystery, remains very open-ended, leading me to suspect a third in the series must be planned.  No news on the author's website as to when that may be coming out, and this book was only released in April 2010, so it may be a little while.  Although I don't give this book a ringing endorsement, I didn't dislike it either, so I may try to read Gold Digger at some point, and I probably will keep an eye out for whatever may follow Gold Fever, just to see what happens to Fiona and the rest of the characters in Dawson next.

Recent Reads {The Mysterious Benedict Society}

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart - I doubt I would have ever come across this book on my own, so I'm glad that one of the ladies in my book club stumbled across it and suggested it.  We had decided that maybe a juvenile lit book would be a good pick for September, in honor of back-to-school and also to make our reading load a little lighter during this busy time of year.  The Mysterious Benedict Society got our vote, based on the book jacket and artwork.  Turned out to be a good choice, in my opinion. :-)  Story summary:  A peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, asking "are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"  Out of the hundreds of children that turn out to take some unusual tests, only four succeed and are invited to join in a potentially dangerous secret mission.  They are called upon to combine their intelligence, creativity and resourcefulness in a strange undercover mission at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened; and become good friends as they face puzzles and threats.  And save the world along the way.  It looks like there is a follow-up or two to this debut children's novel by Stewart.  I'm recommending it to my own 11-year-old, but whether he will accept my suggestion that he read it or not remains to be seen.  Personally, I'm sure he would like it and I'd recommend it to young readers who enjoy a humourous story about spies and mysteries.

Recent Reads {The Red Queen}

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory - This is the follow-up to The White Queen, which I read a couple of months ago, and tells the story of Margaret Beaufort.  Lady Margaret is from the Lancaster branch of England's royal family and her son from her first marriage would be the Lancaster heir to the throne at the beginning of tumultous years of the Wars of the Roses.  It is very difficult to like Lady Margaret -right from the beginning of this fictionalized account, when she is only a child, she is portrayed as vain, self-righteous, self-important, sanctimonious.  Granted, life was undeniably hard for women during the late middle ages, and it seems to me often more so for those of noble families despite the obvious advantages of their wealth and privilege.  Considering that children in important families were often raised by guardians rather than their own mothers; young noblewomen had few recognized rights or property of their own, and generally no say in who or when they would marry; and girls were "wedded and bedded" and had become mothers by the time they were young teens...  perhaps we should consider it remarkable that any of them survived with their reason intact.  Lady Margaret, at any rate, fancies herself the English counterpart to Joan of Arc and models herself after the French saint; desiring to be recognized as God's chosen to lead her country and do God's will.  She is an insufferable hypocrite and considers herself to always be in the right and on the side of God, no matter how cruel and vindictive and deceptive her behavior.  She sees fault in everyone else and despises them all.  And yet, of course I was compelled to continue reading and see how her scheming and plotting turns out, for her son Henry Tudor does come to England's throne eventually (as Lady Margaret had always known was his God-given destiny...) and so begins the storied reign of the House of Tudor.

Recent Reads {The Priest}

The Priest by Francine Rivers - I thought this novelization of the life of Aaron, Moses' brother, would be a quick and interesting read and I was not disappointed.  I have enjoyed many of Francine Rivers' books in the past and she delivers again with this one.  This is the first in a series of five novels that focus on the lives of Biblical characters that don't usually get much attention because another character seems to steal the show.  But there are lessons to be learned from these "background" characters as well.  Aaron's contribution and role in the Exodus story is usually overshadowed by his younger brother, the larger-than-life (especially as played by Charlton Heston!) Moses, but these two men were partners in fulfilling God's calling of leading the Hebrews out of Egypt and establishing the descendents of Jacob into the nation of Israel.  I especially liked Rivers' telling of the golden calf incident - I have often wondered what on earth could Aaron have been thinking?!  It was interesting to read the scenario that Rivers presents for that scene, and the entire book prompted me to think about the Exodus events from other points of view and consider what Aaron might have felt or thought.  "Sons of Encouragement" seems an apt name for this series, and I will soon be starting the second in the set.

Recent Reads {Pride and Prescience}

Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged) by Carrie Bebris - Yes, it's me back on the Mr & Mrs Darcy tangents again.  This was a really enjoyable read, the first in a series of "Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries" that follow the couple after their wedding.  The story picks up on the wedding day, when the newly married Darcys and Bingleys find that Caroline Bingley is stealing the show yet again by announcing her own engagement and upcoming wedding.  The Darcys find the timing sudden and odd, and when they meet coincidentally with Caroline and her new husband, they find even more to wonder at.  A series of circumstances leads the cast of characters (the Darcys, the Bingleys, Caroline and her new husband, the Hursts, and a few others) to spend several weeks at Netherfield where strange and sinister events confront them, and only the Darcys seem to recognize the danger and work at solving the mystery and identifying the plotters.  The book was a quick read, and very engaging.  I liked it well enough that just this morning I bought my own copy of this and the following books in the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series.  My library doesn't own the second book in the series, so what else was I to do?  ;-)   I expect to dive into the second in the series just as soon as my order arrives in the mail.

Recent Reads {Remember Me?}

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella - This was another book club pick, and I'm having a hard time deciding how many "stars" I would assign to it.  I think it might be easier to say what I liked and what I didn't.  What I liked:  the storyline really was engaging, with a plucky and spirited lead character (Lexi, who wakes up in the hospital after an accident to find that the most recent three years of her life are gone from her memory - including the fact that she is married and has a new career).  She has an optimistic and humourous outlook and tries her best to adjust and learn about her new life and make the best of things.  The cast of supporting characters is interesting and I really found myself wanting to know how each situation would turn out and how characters would react.  Lots of humour along the way, some more touching and dramatic scenes, and I felt I could usually admire Lexi's can-do attitude and optimism.  What I didn't care for:  the language.  This was the big drawback of the book for me, and I imagine it would be for many of the readers I know.  Most pages were liberally sprinkled with f-bombs.  :-(

Recent Reads {The Eight}

The Eight by Katherine Neville - I first read this as a book club pick over a year ago, and loved it.  Honestly, not near as fond of the cover displayed here as I am of the cover of my copy, which has a chessboard with the white knight piece.  But that's really not important.  This is a thriller/medieval mystery/historical novel/romantic adventure story all rolled into one.  The actions jumps back and forth between two main characters and their respective time periods - Mireille, a French nun in the late 1700s; and Cat, a modern-day computer specialist in the 1970s.  Each finds herself on a quest to find and decode the secret of an ancient chess set with a mysterious power, and to find the scattered pieces of the chess set before the team of  "bad guys" does.   Intrigue, conspiracy, power struggles,  and dangerous situations are part of their daily adventures in the Game they are involved in.  In many instances, it's hard to tell who is on the White Team and who is on the Black Team - and even which team is considered the "good guys"  The first time I read it, most of the surprise ending elements were truly unexpected - I read the final chapters with all the storyline resolutions and realized that it all made sense but I hadn't seen it coming at all.   There is a sequel, titled The Fire, that is an upcoming book club pick, and I am eager to get started on it, in hopes that it will be just as enjoyable as The Eight.  If you want to read it, I do want to add a little disclaimer - the review blurb on the front cover of my copy says "Readers thrilled by The DaVinci Code will relish the mulit-layered secrets of The Eight."   In other words, if you're the type of person who was bothered by The DaVinci Code, you may not be comfortable with this either.  It is definitely a secular book, and subtly presents the idea that all religions have their basis in ancient mysticism, and also contains a couple of 'love scenes' that aren't overly graphic but are pretty descriptive nonetheless.

Recent Reads {unChristian}

unChristian by David Kinnaman - I really took my time reading this book, which is a compilation and commentary on what surveys of "outsiders" reveal about the perceptions of Christians.  I preferred to read it in short chunks and then mentally chew on what I'd read before tackling the next section.  The research is eye-opening and really quite sobering; it should move all of us that claim to be Christians to think through our own attitudes and how we are representing the Gospel.   Did you know that a large percentage of "outsiders" (those who do not attend church or profess Christian faith) view Christians as hypocritical, judgmental, anti-homosexual, or sheltered and out-of-touch?  Sadly, too often their perceptions are based on their interactions with Christians who have acted in an "unChristian" way.   It's up to us to change those perceptions, starting with the outsiders that we each have contact with, by actually living what we say we believe and accurately reflecting Jesus Christ to those around us.

Recent Reads {Mr Darcy's Diary}

Mr Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange - Yet another in the growing list of Pride and Prejudice off-shoots... this was a very quick read, I finished it in one day and found it interesting to speculate on Mr Darcy's point of view.  I'd call it a good "beach read" for anyone familiar with the storyline of Pride and Prejudice.  And I must admit that the Mr & Mrs Darcy mystery series will be coming up soon on my to-read list, as I seem to be in an Austen-exploitation-lit phase.  ;-)

Recent Reads {The Dead Travel Fast}

The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn - Quite some time ago, I read the Lady Julia Grey mysteries by Deanna Raybourn and enjoyed them.  Then a few weeks ago I spotted this new title by Raybourn and picked it up.  It's a vampire story!  After laughing at myself for my recent dive into reading about the "undead" I decided I would give this one a try too.  At first attempt, I found it difficult to stay engaged with the book and set it aside after the first chapter.  It's possible I was just too distracted at the time to focus on reading, because when I picked it up and restarted it several days ago, I found it to be another light read with an unconventional heroine and mix of mystery and folklore.  So after a false start, I did actually enjoy this book and will keep an eye out for more by this author.

Recent Reads {Mr Darcy, Vampyre}{Pride and Prejudice and Zombies}

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange - after reading (and loving!) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I couldn't resist checking out some other tangents to the Jane Austen classic.  This one was a quick, light read; and just like the zombie version, it's surprising how well the characters and storyline lend themselves to these "monstrous" adaptations! 



Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith - I decided to just include this one here too, since it's the same general idea - take a classic piece of literature and adapt it as a cheap horror thriller.  LOL  We chose this as our book club pick several months ago and all enjoyed it immensely.  We followed up the reading by watching one of the movie versions of Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth, we all agreed it was our favorite of the movie adaptations) and imagined the zombie appearances where they showed up in the book.  Great fun!

My apologies to the Jane Austen "purists" who are properly horrified at these treatments of her work, but I thoroughly enjoyed both of these, and am planning to read similar works such as Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters...  :-)

Recent Reads {The Queen's Lover}

The Queen's Lover by Vanora Bennett - Having read at least one of Bennett's books previously and enjoyed it, I picked this one up on a whim.  Historical fiction/novelizations always seem to catch my eye.  This one focuses on Catherine of France - a generation before The White Queen.  Catherine, a Princess of France, is brought up in a chaotic and odd royal family - her father, King Charles VI of France is mentally unstable and her mother has a reputation for scandal; the children are left to fend for themselves for long periods without anyone assigned to make sure they are properly clothed and fed.  An English delegation comes to negotiate a marriage between the English King Henry V and Catherine, and she meets Owain Tudor.  Eventually Catherine and Henry do marry and have a son who will be heir to both the thrones of England and France.  Unfortunately Henry dies while his son and heir is still an infant, and Owain Tudor is called into service again as part of the royal household.  Years later, of course, Catherine does marry Owain, giving the Tudor descendents their claim to the English throne after the Wars of the Roses.  Bennett tells her version of the story in a compelling way, keeping me turning pages even though I know from my history books what the outcome will be.  I enjoyed this book and think that anyone who enjoys historical fiction probably would as well.

Recent Reads {The White Queen}

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory - Another book club choice, this happens to be the first novel by Philippa Gregory that I've read.  I like historical fiction and I usually like biographies, so a novelization of a historical figure is very likely to get the thumbs up from me.  This book definitely met my expectations.   The title character is Elizabeth Woodville,  who married Edward IV of England in 1464 towards the end of the War of the Roses.  In many accounts, and in all of the other historical novels I have read, Elizabeth Woodville is characterized as a grasping, vindictive, power-hungry schemer.  In fact, she is presented as one of the 'bad guys'.  As we should know by now, there are usually two sides to every story, and Gregory presents this time period as it might have been seen from Elizabeth's point of view.  Not surprisingly, many of the things Elizabeth and her family did take on a slightly different flavor when one considers that her actions may have been motivated by love of her husband and children, fear for the safety of her family, and self-preservation; and not purely from greed or a thirst for power.   The White Queen is the first in a new series by Gregory, and I noticed that the second installment, The Red Queen, will be released soon.  I plan on reading it, and will be adding Gregory's other works to my "plan to read" list as well.

Recent Read: Descent Into Dust

Descent Into Dust by Jacqueline Lepore - I picked up this vampire-slayer novel on a whim at the library, and actually quite enjoyed it.  Dracula by Bram Stoker was a favorite of mine, and this story fits with that vampire-lore-style much more than the Twilight novels.  I admit I haven't read any Twilight, but as popular as it's been, I have a pretty good idea of the plot ideas it centers on - it just hasn't caught my attention but I may read them at some point.  In any case, Descent Into Dust is set in Victorian England, and is told in the first person viewpoint of the character Emma Andrews.  She is a widow visiting family when she is confronted with the supernatural dangers of a vampire presence, and discovers more about her own past and heritage as she attempts to defeat the vampire, protect those she cares about, and decide who she can trust.  It was an interesting storyline, and a fairly light and quick read.  This is the first in a planned series, with the second installment expected in March 2011.