Review: Church of Marvels

Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Church of Marvels follows four people in 1895 New York. Sylvan is a privvy cleaner who finds a baby left for dead on his rounds. Belle and Odile Church are twins who grew up in the the Coney Island Sideshow whose lives are turned upside down by a fire, Alphie is a young woman imprisoned in Blackwell's Lunatic Asylum. These four characters all from very different backgrounds have secrets that are revealed throughout the story and whose lives are intertwined in the most unusual way.

I ended up really enjoying this book but the first half seemed slow and extremely mysterious. Each chapter is from a different character's point of view, except for Belle's. Although I followed the story in the first half, I just didn't know how these characters would end up interacting and it became frustrating at times. But once you get through that first part, the story sails and I thought it was quite a page turner. I loved the ending.

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Review: Between the World and Me

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Between the World and Me is Ta-Nehisi Coates' letter to his son discussing race relations today. Coates discusses his view of life as a black man in a world where the news is filled with issues and violence like Ferguson, MO, Trayvon Martin, and Freddie Gray. Coates talks about how he feels he is unable to control what happens to his physical body, the dream that many long for, and his time searching for his mecca.

The book seems bleak but offers a powerful message that should be read by everyone, regardless of race or creed. He does end on a hopeful note, with a poignant message left for his son and for generations to come.

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Review: Wishin' and Hopin'

Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute Christmas tale in the vein of A Christmas Story. This centers around the fictional character of Felix Funicello (supposed cousin of Annette Funicello) a fifth grader at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial school. Felix has to contend with the school snob, a new student who happens to be a hot and sassy Russian girl, and his best friend who is going through puberty. The class is assigned a major part in the school Christmas program and shenanigans ensue leading up to the big night.

Very funny read that I thought was at times laugh out loud funny. It wasn't as "Christmassy" as I expected, but was still a great read for the holidays!

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Review: The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe

The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe by David I. Kertzer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Pope and Mussolini is a very thorough look at the rise of Pope Pius XI and Benito Mussolini in the years leading up to World War II. Detailed are the Lateran Accords, the rise of Fascism in Italy, the strained relationship between the two men and their relationship with King Emmanuel, the many loves of Mussolini, and their eventual deaths. The author uses the fairly new release of Vatican and Italian documents from the period as resources. There is a lot of surprising detail and it is obvious that Kertzer did his research.

Well worth the read, especially if you do not know much about Italian/Catholic history of the time. It doesn't shine a good light on the Catholic leaders of the time, but ends with hope for the future.

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Review: Holidays on Ice

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cute, quick read. Typical David Sedaris humor. A couple of the stories fell a little flat for me, but overall, they were good for a chuckle. Sedaris pokes fun at the absurdity of Christmas commercialism and how many people tend to overdo things. Santaland was my favorite.

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Review: Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beautifully written story based on the classic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Chiaverini intertwines two stories, one set in the 1860s and the Civil War that follows Longfellow and his family and the events that inspired the poem, and the other a modern day story of parishioners of St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Boston whose lives are facing issues of struggle and concern. Chiaverini switches settings in each chapter, generally leaving a bit of a cliffhanger to each story. The final chapters tie everything together, leaving the reader with a message of hope and redemption. Despite what might be wrong in the world, ..."The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

I enjoyed the story, especially the background of Longfellow and his family. The modern story was sweet and pretty much ended as expected, i.e. predictable. This is not a riveting tale but a nice story that's especially poignant today with all that is going on in the world and makes for a great holiday read. I had one minor complaint in that there were a few grammatical/spelling errors. I read the Kindle version and suspect (hope) the issues were a result of the translation to that format. Chiaverini is an established author and I would expect her editor would not allow for so many mistakes.

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Review: One Man Against the World: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon

One Man Against the World: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon by Tim Weiner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One Man Against the World should perhaps be subtitled The Tragedy of America. The affects of Nixon's actions throughout his political career, left an indelible mark on the nation. Tim Weiner pulls information from newly released audio tapes and written documents to present the true character of Nixon during his administration from Vietnam to Watergate to his impeachment. Most people have an idea of who Nixon was, but Weiner shows the reader that there is much more than the public ever knew. All of the deceit and concealment is clearly laid out in shocking detail. The reader will also learn just how many people surrounded Nixon and helped to cover up his shenanigans and participate willing in his plans.

I think this is a must read for anyone remotely interested in politics and current events. It is chilling to know how easily a person in charge of a nation can abuse their authority the way Nixon did. Vietnam could have likely ended at the end of Johnson's term if not for Nixon. Nixon betrayed the nation and the affects are still felt today.

I received this book gratis through the History Book Club on Goodreads

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Review: The Hangman's Daughter

The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Hangman's Daughter is a work of fiction but is based on the author's ancestors. Jakob Kuisl is a 17th century hangman/executioner in the Bavarian town of Shongau. A young boy is found dead and immediately the town's burgomasters want to point the finger at the local midwives, suspected of being a witch. Jacob and his family know the midwife well (she delivered his kids) and vows to find the real murderer before he has to execute her. It's a bit action packed, with mystery and historical fiction.

I thought it was a great read and I am looking forward to the next in the series. I love the ancestral element/connection between the author and the main character. Although it is a dark story of murder and mystery, there is a bit of a comedy tone between Jakob and the young doctor in town, Simon, who has a thing for Jakob's daughter. One of my favorite reads this year.

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Review: Yes Please

Yes Please by Amy Poehler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love Amy Poehler's humor. Some of my favorite Saturday Night Live characters are a product of her imagination. Yes Please is Poehler's autobiography written in the same stream of consciousness that she is known for. Poehler talks about her childhood, how she got into comedy, her time in the Upright Citizens Brigade, Saturday Night Live, and most recently Parks and Recreation. She also discusses her marriage and divorce with Will Arnett and her children Archie and Abel. Poehler has had an interesting life and likely has many more interesting stories to tell.

I listened to the audio version of the book. She read it along with some of her friends like Seth Myers, Kathleen Turner, and Carol Burnett. The last chapter was read to a live audience. I thought it was the best chapter, but I like live recordings over a book that is just read in a studio. Where I enjoyed the book and learning about Amy Poehler, I didn't love the book. I thought it was a bit disorganized (like her) and rambling at times. It wasn't written in any chronological order. I think that is what bothered me about it. I also got tired of hearing about all the drugs she did or what drug induced haze had her writing different bits of her past comedy. Ultimately, I think she is a good, kind-hearted person with a lot of insane episodes in her life and she has a great way of telling her stories.

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Review: Encounters at the Heart of the World: A History of the Mandan People

Encounters at the Heart of the World: A History of the Mandan People by Elizabeth A. Fenn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Encounters at the Heart of the World is a detailed history of the Mandan people from the Missouri river valley area of North Dakota. This is a tribe that was once a large, thriving people that over time was nearly decimated. They battled natural elements, disease and rodents brought by European traders, and battled area tribes, losing 90% or so of their population. Today they are remembered and their descendants have begun to reignite the customs and ceremonies once celebrated by the Mandan people.

Very interesting look into a tribe that I had not previously heard (or remembered) of. Fenn does an excellent job of providing details about everyday life and the issues the Mandan faced.

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Review: If Someone Says "You Complete Me," Run!: Whoopi's Big Book of Relationships

If Someone Says "You Complete Me," Run!: Whoopi's Big Book of Relationships by Whoopi Goldberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love Whoopi Goldberg's sense of humor. This book is not so much a humorous book as it is a self-help book for the person who is struggling with relationships, Whoopi style. Whoopi has opinions and she shares them with you. You may or may not agree with the details, but the overall theme is that you have to take care of you first and be yourself before you can be in a relationship. Be honest and open from the start and never compromise.

I would have liked to see more of her humor coming through. It was still fun to listen to her read (I listened to the audio book) but overall it wasn't a book/message I thought I needed to hear, but it may be good for people that need a new outlook on their own relationships.

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Review: All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All the Light We Cannot See is a beautifully written tale of Marie-Laure LeBlanc and Werner Pfennig. Marie-Laure is a blind young woman living in Paris at the height of WWII and Werner is a young German orphaned boy recruited into Hitler's Youth. Marie-Laure and her father are forced to evacuate to St. Malo, France where Werner is eventually deployed to. It is there that Marie-Laure and Werner's paths cross. Two worlds collide in the midst of the bombing of St. Malo. They are each victims needing to be saved. They are each other's light.

This story is well-crafted with layers of themes and symbolism. It is thought-provoking and evocative. Doerr takes the reader on a sensory journey. It is written in short chapters that move back and forth in time, much like a puzzle that you put together piece by piece, you see the story piece by piece until you can make out the full picture. It is the perfect book for a book club or discussion group. It is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year.

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Review: Pepper: A History of the World's Most Influential Spice

Pepper: A History of the World's Most Influential Spice by Marjorie Shaffer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is really more about the history of the early pepper trade/trading route around Sumatra, as well as the Spice Islands, involving the East India Trading Company and the Dutch India Trading Company. I was hoping there would be more history on pepper, its usage throughout time, and uses today, but it really was more on how the trading of pepper influenced history. There was one great chapter on the current medicinal uses of pepper.

It was very interesting but not what I expected.

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Review: Beekeeping for Dummies

Beekeeping for Dummies by Howland Blackiston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great basic book for the novice/backyard beekeeper. Lots of step by step instructions as well as detailed discussions on bees and their behaviors, equipment, hive types, raising queens, and harvesting. I also like that the author explains the different types of medicines that can be used for diseases and pest issues while explaining their side effects and steers the reader toward holistic methods.

Worth having on hand as a go-to guide.

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Review: A Cherry Cola Christmas

A Cherry Cola Christmas by Ashton Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another lovely story about the town of Cherico, MS from Ashton Lee. The whole town is concerned when a large boot manufacturer pulls out of their bid to place a warehouse in the town of Cherico. The new business would help the town that is slowly losing its residents and shops to the bigger towns miles away. Maura Beth and the Cherry Cola Book Club members decide to opt for a Christmas celebration instead of the usual club meeting in December to try and lighten the mood among the town members, while a famous country star comes to town on his way to his next gig. Will he be the shining Christmas star that saves the town?

I always enjoy a visit to this homey little town in Mississippi. It wasn't as "Christmassy" as I expected but was still a fun read.

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Review: Come Rain or Come Shine

Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

True love will endure, come rain or come shine. The newest title in the Mitford series brings the story of Father Tim and his family full circle. We met Father Tim, a then bachelor Episcopal priest, in At Home in Mitford. He had an eye for his new neighbor Cynthia, an issue with his dog, Barnabas, who only behaved when scripture was spoken, and the problem of a young orphan boy whose best behavior included cussin' and spittin'. Dooley was ornery, rough, and begging to be loved. Throughout the series we have watched these characters grow, and in Come Rain or Come Shine, Dooley is about to wed his fiance, Lace, finish Vet school, take over the local veterinary, start a new life on a farm, and one other closely held secret. With only a few weeks to go, Dooley's adopted dad, Father Tim and his now wife, Cynthia pitch in, along with all of the quirky characters of Mitford to help Dooley and Lace have the wedding of their dreams.

I love coming home to Mitford. I don't know if this is going to be the last in the series. I hope not. I think this book opens up a new generation with new stories to tell. If this is the last book, I at least feel that the story is complete. We've seen Dooley grow up to be a wonderful man and husband. Father Tim has built a family and we have watched beloved characters come and go. Now it is time to see what stories can be told about the family of Doc Kavanagh.

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Review: Pumpkin Pied: A Gray Whale Inn Short Story

Pumpkin Pied: A Gray Whale Inn Short Story by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pumpkin Pied is a quick romp to one of my favorite places to read about, The Gray Whale Inn on Cranberry Island, Maine. MacInerney offers a great read for the fall season, to tied us over until her next full release in the Gray Whale Inn series. Natalie Barnes is on the trail of a new mystery. It's time for the annual Cranberry Island Harvest Festival and Pie Bake-off and someone is out to sabotage the festivities. Pumpkin Pied will have you grabbing for a pumpkin latte and cider donuts with this quick, cozy read.

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Review: Salt: A World History

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Salt...we dont't seem to get enough of it...some people crave it. It enhances the food we eat, it preserves and protects, it deices the road we travel, and it softens the water we use. It is an important mineral that has been used for centuries. Kurlansky follows the salt trail from its early days in Sichuan, China to the form we know today, often seen in that round box stamped with a girl and her umbrella. A very interesting look at the history of salt.

I enjoyed the book and learned more than I'll ever really need to know about it. I was hoping to get a little bit of information about how the human body reacts to it, but this is strictly a history of the usages and manufacturing of salt.

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Review: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Sixth Extinction is a very thought-provoking read about the state of our world and environment. Kolbert discusses the the five previous big mass extinction periods that have occurred in history and posits that we are currently going through the sixth. Each chapter follows Kolbert on travels throughout the world following different species that are currently going or have gone extinct and the issues and effects that caused their demise. My take on what was posed is that humans are a major factor in the decline of many species and our environment. If humans were not on Earth, it is quite likely that our planet would still change and evolve in some way, but man is causing irreparable changes that would not otherwise occur and we are helping to kill off our planet and very likely ourselves.

No matter your thoughts on climate change and evolution, I think this is and important read. It will make you think about how everything you do affects the world, yourself, and the future of our children.

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Review: A Lesson in Hope: A Novel

A Lesson in Hope: A Novel by Philip Gulley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is by far my favorite book of the Philip Gulley Harmony and Hope series. Sam Gardner is a jaded Quaker minister overseeing another dysfunctional congregation, Hope Friends Meeting. The church is thriving with twenty four members, doubling in size since Sam has taken on the ministry. Aged member Olive Charles passes away, leaving her estate in the hands of Hope Friends Meeting and every congregant seems to have a need or a use for the full million dollar inheritance along with Olive's house and Ford Granada. A wrench is thrown in all plans, when Olives drunken niece decides to sue the church for the entire amount. On top of that, Sam's parents have decided to move closer to the family and his brother is living in sin with a rival minister's daughter. Both of his boys are gone from home to college and the army, leaving Sam and his wife, Barbara, empty nesters. And Sam finds himself being propositioned by a lovely woman in a french braid.

This book was hilarious. Gulley is quite a humorist, but this book is much lighter than previous books and reminds me of a National Lampoon's Vacation story. I laughed out loud many times. In some of his previous books, especially in the Home to Harmony series, I felt that Gulley was presenting Sam as extremely jaded and almost depressed/depressing. Now he's just downright funny and has found some gumption in dealing with these crazy characters. I'm so happy that Gulley is back with this new series and am looking forward to his next one.

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Review: Just a Guy: Notes from a Blue Collar Life

Just a Guy: Notes from a Blue Collar Life by Bill Engvall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bill Engvall's humor shines through in his memoir Just a Guy: Notes from a Blue Collar Life. Engvall covers his life as a young tyke in a semi-dysfunctional home, his school years, dating, marriage and being a parent. Each chapter is a short story filled with his usual humor and positive outlook on life. He really is "just a guy" who loves his family and his life. Worth a read, or listen to the audiobook like I did. It is read by Engvall, so it makes it that more fun and engaging.

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Review: Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sedaris is great fun. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls is a series of essays about his dysfunctional family, his world travels, and his opinions on topics like flying, colonoscopies, learning to speak Japanese, and nuts. I listened to this one through Audibles and was glad I did. Some of the essays were read live with an audience and he had me laughing along with everyone else. If you've not yet experienced the humor of David Sedaris, check him out soon.

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Review: Eisenhower in War and Peace

Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eisenhower in War and Peace is an exhaustive look at Eisenhower's military career and an overview of his presidency. Jean Edward Smith goes into great detail on Ike's upbringing and rise in the military from his time at West Point through his tenure as Chief of Staff. One chapter is devoted to his time as President of Columbia University and the final chapters cover his two terms as President and his retirement spent at Gettysburg, PA. It is very well researched with some wonderful side notes that are worth the read.

I enjoyed the book and feel like I have a good understand of Eisenhower the military man. I think, though that Smith glosses over some things, or will introduce an aspect of Ike's life, but then never really ties it up later. I was disappointed that more was not included on his White House years and his retirement. It sounded like once he retired he did nothing more than write his memoirs and play golf, yet there was some commentary that he did get involved in some issues during JFK's tenure.

Eisenhower in War and Peace is still worth the read, but it does lead me to want to search out more books on his presidential years.

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Review: Something Like An Autobiography

Something Like An Autobiography by Akira Kurosawa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was introduced to Japanese film and drama in college by a wonderful, eccentric professor. He was passionate about the work of Akira Kurosawa and it certainly resonated with his student. Through this class I became fascinated with Kurosawa's movies. How could I not read his autobiography? Kurosawa is humorous, spirited, and sensitive. These are characteristic that obviously helped make him the wonderful filmmaker that he was. A very enjoyable look at his life and inspiration to re-watch his movies.

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Review: When the Emperor Was Divine

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A short but powerful story of a Japanese-American family torn apart during World War II. The father of a nameless family in California is arrested the evening of the Pearl Harbor attack. His family is eventually sent to an internment camp. Julie Otsuka shows the harsh realities that these innocent people had to endure before, during, and after their confinement.

Otsuka uses an interesting technique in keeping the family nameless. The reader never feels like they get to know the family well, which is likely the intent. They were one of thousands of families that suffered, they could be any Japanese-American family. The reader understands the distance put between them and their neighbors and friends, understands the shun and loneliness forced upon them. Although the message came through loud and clear, I thought the story could have been developed more. It was a short "novel" that dragged a little in the middle. It is worth the read, especially if you don't know much about the Japanese internment camps, but there are many other books out there that give a more detailed account.



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Review: Lesser Beasts: A Snout-to-Tail History of the Humble Pig

Lesser Beasts: A Snout-to-Tail History of the Humble Pig by Mark Essig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Pig. Considered the most intelligent of the farm animals. Over its long history, the pig has had a bad rap. Throughout the past they've been considered unclean, disease ridden, and unholy. Mark Essig provides a detailed account of the history of the pig from its first known existence 120,000 years ago in Hallan Cemi (in Turkey) to today's fascination with bacon. Essig also touches on today's concern over farm welfare and the trend toward snout-to-tail dining.

You would expect this to be a dry discourse about this lesser beast, but it is written in an enjoyable and sometimes humorous manner. The chapters roll through each era in history and provides a look at the pig's role in each. I most enjoyed the discussion on today's direction toward re-pasturing in the farming industry vs. caging and automation. Now pass me some bacon.

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Review: How to Be an American Housewife

How to Be an American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very poignant story of a Japanese woman, Shoko, who comes of age during WWII. Her family expect her to marry well, even an American, if necessary, much to her brother's chagrin. But she loved an Eta, an untouchable. Decisions are made, the family is torn apart, and a secret follows her to America. Told threw the eyes of Shoko and her daughter Sue, How to Be an American Housewife is about family and forgiveness.

This story is very loosely based on author Margaret Dilloway's mother. I enjoyed the writing and was sucked into the story quickly and throughout. It is thought-provoking, yet cheerful, leaving the reader on a hopeful note at the end.



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Review: The Story of a Photograph: Walker Evans, Ellie Mae Burroughs, and the Great Depression

The Story of a Photograph: Walker Evans, Ellie Mae Burroughs, and the Great Depression by Jerry L. Thompson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had high hopes for this little book on The Story of a Photograph, then as I read it I became a little disappointed, but by the end, I'm glad to have read it. The full title (The Story of a Photograph: Walker Evans, Ellie Mae Burroughs, and the Great Depression) and the synopsis provided on Amazon and Goodreads leads one to believe that there will be some discussion of the effects of the Depression on tenant farmers of the south as seen through the eyes of photographer Walker Evans. Evans was hired as a WPA employee during the age of the New Deal, to photograph the poor in the south to use as election propaganda. His photo of Ellie Mae Burroughs, the wife of a tenant farmer in Alabama has been one of Evans most famous photos and has become, as some have called it, the symbol of the Great Depression. Unfortunately, the story digresses and at times became more of a look at photography in the 1930s with diatribes on features like aperture and flash.

By the end, Thompson does a fair job of bringing it full circle to discuss documentary vs. documentary style through the lens. A photo is, after all, worth a thousand words and as the author states, "art is long, but life is short". All too soon, our memories may fade, but life captured in photos, can forever hold a moment in time.

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Review: Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History

Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The hurricane of 1900 that devastated Galveston, Texas is recounted in clear detail in Isaac's Storm. As usual, Erik Larson brings history to life as he introduces the reader to Isaac Cline, an up and coming scientist who is employed by the national Weather Bureau to head up the Galveston office, a place where no one expects any type of extreme weather. However, in the fall of 1900, one of the deadliest hurricanes to come on US soil strikes the town, nearly leveling the place and killing thousands of residents and vacationers.

Larson's writing is superb and well researched. Drawing on primary resources, including telegraphs, photographs, newspaper articles, and letters, Larson details Cline's life, the early days of the Weather Bureau, important events leading up to that fateful day, and Cline's part in it. Another great read from Erik Larson.

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Review: Saint Mazie

Saint Mazie by Jami Attenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Saint Mazie is inspired by the real life Mazie Philips-Gordon known as the Queen of the Bowery. Mazie was a staple of life in the Bowery section of New York int he 1920s and 1930s. Little seems to be known about her real life, so Jami Attenberg imagines the details and brings the character to life in her latest novel. Her story is told through diary entries and interviews from the people that knew her. Mazie spent her life helping others less fortunate and more broken (maybe) than herself. The owner/manager of the Venice movie theater in New York, Mazie met and interacted with the patrons of her theater who subsequently became her extended family. She was a tough woman with a loud mouth but a caring and loving heart.

I enjoyed the book and loved the layout of the diary entries along with the interviews that seemed to help fill in the holes. Keep in mind that the book is a work of fiction but is inspired by a real person. I've tried to do some research on Mazie to see where the line between fact and fiction is drawn, but it is hard to tell, which makes the story that much more interesting.

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Review: Cleopatra

Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stacy Schiff expertly recounts the reign of Cleopatra and her tumultuous relationship with Mark Antony. Drawing on the few known primary resources available, Schiff is able to give the reader an unvarnished view of Cleopatra, Antony, and Octavian. It is easy to get lost in the clear descriptions of times.

I do like how the author puts everything in perspective for the reader. For instance, I had not thought about how the Valley of the Kings had already been raided by Cleopatra's time and Troy would have been "ancient history" to her as well. I really enjoyed digging in deep into her life and be able to understand the times from her eyes.

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Review: A Place Called Hope

A Place Called Hope by Philip Gulley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After a few years of absence from his Home to Harmony series, Philip Gulley has returned with a new saga in Quaker minister Sam Gardner's life. Filling in for an ailing Unitarian minister, Sam unintentionally married Chris and Kelly, a gay couple. News soon gets out around the town of Harmony about Sam's heathen tendencies, sending Dale Hinshaw and the other elders of the Harmony Friends Meeting into a tizzy, threatening Sam's pastor-ship and livelihood. To top it off, his wife has decided it's time to go back to work, his oldest son is mid-way through his first year of college and his youngest is about to graduate and join the army, much to his chagrin. He hasn't had a raise in years and the bills are piling up. It's more than Sam can bear and he's feeling a bit worn out. He may have lost Harmony, but there is always Hope.

I missed this series and am so glad Gulley has renewed it. It is as funny as it is poignant. The characters and their antics will have you laughing out loud. The message is simple: tolerance. Accept people for who they are and know there are friends in the world who will not fail you.

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Review: Terry Jones' Medieval Lives

Terry Jones' Medieval Lives by Terry Jones
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was not at all what I thought it would be. Well, maybe it was half of what I expected. I came across this book and saw Terry Jones' name attached to it. I'm a history nut and a Monty Python fan. My expectation is that Terry Jones' Medieval Lives would blend some factual details of the way people lived during the medieval era with the lively humor of Monty Python. I was wrong, so very wrong. I indeed got a diatribe of medieval life, which may or may not be 100% factual. It does seem well researched, but I suspect that some liberties in conclusions were made. There was no humor, whatsoever. Very disappointing on that account. If I had wanted to read dry and boring, I would have picked up my 7th grade history book (written about 40 years ago).

If you're okay with straight information, compacting four centuries in 200 pages, then this is the book for you. For me, it was disappointment. I learned a little along the way, but mostly I feel asleep every 20 pages or so.

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Review: Wicked Springfield, Missouri: The Seamy Side of the Queen City

Wicked Springfield, Missouri: The Seamy Side of the Queen City by Larry Wood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wicked Springfield, Missouri is a quick run down of the illicit behavior of the residents of the Queen City of the Ozarks from the 1830s through the beginning of prohibition in 1919. Wood details fights, murders, gambling addiction, bootlegging and houses of ill-repute during the early days of the city. Included is the details of Wild Bill Hickock's time in Springfield and the notorious fight he had over a gambling debt that ended in the other guy's death.

The information is interesting, but reads a little dry at times. The author obviously did his research well and he included pictures, newspaper articles and advertisements. I grew up in Springfield, so I was interested to read about some of the city's history and given the subject, was glad that none of my ancestors were listed in the book.

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Review: Killer Jam

Killer Jam by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Killer Jam is the first in a new series by award winning author Karen MacInerney. Known for her Grey Whale Inn mystery series and Tales of an Urban Werewolf series, MacInerney begins a new tale centered around former newspaper reporter, Lucy Resnick. Lucy decided to leave her busy work life at the Houston Chronicle to purchase her grandparent's farm in Buttercup, Texas. Lucy expected a quiet farm life of milking Blossom the cow (aka Harriet Houdini) and makin' dewberry jam, but instead finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of cantankerous town matriarch Nettie Kocurek. While on the trail to clear her own name, Lucy also begins to unravel an old family mystery that could explain a long time rivalry.

I generally don't read many mysteries but I thoroughly enjoy Karen MacInerney's cozy mystery series. I especially enjoyed Killer Jam for the Texas references and setting. I am looking forward to further adventures in Buttercup, Texas.

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Review: The Flying Circus

The Flying Circus by Susan Crandall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, I am gushing over the latest Susan Crandall book. Like Whistling Past the Graveyard, Crandall tells a story of unlikely characters that come together through unlikely events to build an unlikely family bond. The Flying Circus finds Henry, Cora, and Gil, all running from their past and a broken family life. It is 1920s in America, a time when hucksters go from town to town making a living by entertaining the crowds. Henry is a mechanic, Gil a pilot, and Cora is a daring stunt woman on a motorcycle. They reluctantly form a barnstorming "flying circus" in order to make ends meet and survive another day. In a matter of a few months, they become a strong team and a close family. But they each hold a secret that rocked their past and if exposed, threaten to tear apart the family they have created. This book is a reminder that friends are often the family you pick and also that you really can never run from the past. At some point, it will catch up to you.

I really enjoyed this book and the colorful characters that Crandall paints. The middle of the book started to wane a bit for me, but it was needed story to help the reader understand the true spirit of each of the characters. For those that like a tidy ending, this has one. It will certainly make you go "Awww" at the end.

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