Review: The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York

The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York by Alex Palmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very interesting look at the life of John Duval Gluck, Jr., who happens to be the author's great-granduncle. Gluck lived during the Jazz Age in New York and was founder of The Santa Claus Association, a group dedicated to reading the letters of poor children writing to Santa Claus with their wishes and wants at Christmas time. On the surface, Gluck seemed to be nothing but a kind and generous man whose goal in life was to offer these poor children a chance to believe in Santa and have a wonderful Christmas day. For years, these letters ended up in the Dead Letter Office of the New York Postal Service to be destroyed, along with a child's hope for a Christmas gift. In 1913, John Gluck took on the task of receiving, reading, and investigating these letters and finding donors to fulfill the requests. Under the surface, though, was a man who seemed to stay one step ahead of everyone, and used his position with The Santa Claus Association and his position with a bogus boy scout organization to bilk money out of thousands of people.

I found Gluck to be a fascinating character. He seemed to be a very typical con artist who could capture everyone's heart and be that guy that everyone wants to know, but has you completely snowed. The author has you almost feeling sorry for the guy, but eventually, you realize that he was just a crooked man. This was a well written account of some interesting New York history.

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Review: The Christmas Pearl

The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cute story about love and redemption. Theodora reflects on her childhood growing up in the south when the holidays were as much about the process of preparing for Christmas Day and following family traditions as it was about the actual day of gift giving. There was reverence in decorating the house, baking cookies, the process of filling out the beautiful crèche, and enjoying time with family. Pearl was the family housekeeper who acted as Theodora's surrogate mom, and who kept the house running well. Theodora's memories centered around Pearl who was simply a part of the family. Theodora is now a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Without Pearl, the home seems to have lost the sparkle and spirit it once had. Theodora's family is a hot mess. No one gets along, and there are strained relations among siblings and cousins. What the house needs is a Pearl of wisdom and a visit from an old friend from beyond to help get the family back on track.

This is a sweet holiday story that will help remind the reader what the season is all about. Life is too short to dwell on what divides us. Perhaps we all need a Christmas Pearl.

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Review: Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored

Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored by Mary Gabriel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story follows the life of Victoria Woodhull, a pioneer in women's rights, the first woman to run for President, the first woman stockbroker (along with her sister Tennie), and a proposed spiritualist. Victoria lived during the gilded age in New York and was aquainted with the likes of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Victoria's life was a rags to riches story. Scandal often followed her and her family and were often fighting legal battles due to the scandalous stories they printed in their own weekly newspaper, leading to her moniker Notorious Victoria.

This is a well researched and written account of Woodhull's life. The incidents she often found herself in were often unbelievable, but Mary Gabriel does a fine job of bringing the reader into the mindset of the day to understand how Victoria and her sister Tennie found them in such precarious predicaments. It's a great book to read, to understand how far women have come and appreciate those who stood up for women's rights.

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Review: The Christmas Wish

The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a sweet little book. It is about a young girl named Anja whose greatest wish is to be one of Santa's elves. Her journey takes her on a magnificent trip where she is helped along by some great creatures.

Full of beautiful pictures that will get you in the spirit of the holidays. It makes a great story to read to little ones in the few days before Christmas.

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Review: The Christmas Wish

The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

This was such a sweet little book. It is about a young girl named Anja whose greatest wish is to be one of Santa's elves. Her journey takes her on a magnificent trip where she is helped along by some great creatures.

Full of beautiful pictures that will get you in the spirit of the holidays. It makes a great story to read to little ones in the few days before Christmas.

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Review: The Silver Baron's Wife

The Silver Baron's Wife by Donna Baier Stein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the fictionalized story of Baby Doe Tabor, the wife of Horace Tabor who made his riches in the Colorado Matchless Mine and subsequently lost it all. Elizabeth "Baby Doe" hailed from Oshkosh, Wisconsin where she grew up and married her neighbor Harvey Doe. This book follows Baby Doe from her marriage with Harvey to her life with Horace Tabor in Colorado where she was eventually left alone by family and friends. As a devout Catholic and a divorcee, society and family turned their backs on the woman who really only wanted to work in the mines and be with her daughters.

This was a wonderfully written story that seems to stay pretty true to life. The author fictionalized the conversations and thoughts of this strong woman, who was considered a pioneer in the mining business. It is a sad story of how she was treated and I'd like to think she was the kind woman that the author portrayed her as. Her life seemed devoted to her husbands and children. It's sad how they ultimately treated her. When I first moved to Dallas and later Colorado, I had heard of Elizabeth Tabor through the restaurant chain Baby Doe's Matchless Mine. It was the place to go for Mother's Day (oddly enough) for brunch in the 1800s decorated eatery. Past that, I knew little about the lady behind the mine. I am glad to have this chance to learn more about her.

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Review: Steampunk: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Steampunk: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol by Zdenko Bašić
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is not my first time reading Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol but it is the first time I have read his stories “The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton” and “A Christmas Tree”. I picked this particular version up not because of the other stories but because of the steampunk illustrations by Zdenko Bašić. I love steampunk art, so this book caught my eye. The pictures are wonderful and puts a whole new haunting spin on the classic Christmas story. I wish there were more illustrations, particularly with the lesser known stories, but it is still worth checking out if you are a fan of the art or the author.

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Review: A Wedding at The Paragraph Ranch

A Wedding at The Paragraph Ranch by Kay Ellington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another enjoyable story in the Paragraph Ranch series. In this second installment, former English professor Dee Bennett has made her home back in Claxton, TX. Her mom is now in her own home in a nearby retirement village and her daughter has decided to return to school on the east coast. Dee finds herself without a job and is still waiting to get her book published. For the time being, Dee is able to pick up work part time at both the library and the local paper, where she is covering the campaign of a local home town hero for Texas Railroad Commissioner. As it turns out the former high school quarterback has a few skeletons in his closet and it's up to Dee to uncover the truth. Add to the mix a feisty pair of goats and a whole town of quirky characters.

I enjoyed this cute story that takes place in west Texas. My only real dislike is that it takes place during the Obama / McCain race that makes it a bit outdated and a bit of a political soapbox. I think a fictional race would be more appropriate and appeal to a wider audience. For a "cozy read / mystery" this is one of the more well written, "less cheesy" selections that I have come across.

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Review: The Paragraph Ranch

The Paragraph Ranch by Kay Ellington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dr. Dee Anna Bennett-Kaufmann has come home to her family's ranch in west Texas to help care for her ailing mother who was recently run off the road by an unidentified truck. Dee is one of three siblings, but the only one who had time to spare for their mother, who suddenly seemed a burden for everyone. It came at a time that was strained for Dee, with a summer fellowship upcoming to finish her book for her tenure at the college where she taught Literature. Enter a daughter who was having her own crises, a non-existent boyfriend, and issues with the hired help for Dee's mother. Then there was the mystery around the subject of her book, that needed to be solved and various family members who continued to throw wrenches into the schedule.

Kay Ellington did a wonderful job of sucking the reader into the story and drawing a picture of life in lazy west Texas. I thought it was well written and was completely engrossed into the story and the characters. This is the first of a series and will be digging into the second one right away.

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Review: Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls

Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls by Lauren Graham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you are a Gilmore Girls fan, you'll like this one. Lauren Graham's fast talking humor shines through in this short memoir. Covering the time from her early childhood, through her first stint as the wacky single mom to the end of the series (or is it?) with the recent Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life mini-series, Graham discusses her life breaking into show business and behind the scene stories.

You definitely get a sense that Graham is very much like her character Lorelai: impulsive, fast talking, quirky, and caring. She's down to earth and very relate-able. I enjoyed getting to know her through her stories and reading about some of the day to day behind the scenes filming the 2016 reboot of the show.

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Review: In the Dark Streets Shineth

In the Dark Streets Shineth by David McCullough
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very short book with a very short speech by David McCullough giving some background on two Christmas songs, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." He gave this speech during a Christmas concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Also included in this book are the speeches that FDR and Winston Churchill gave on Christmas Eve in 1941.

I read the Kindle version of this book and finished in less than a half hour. The print book came with a CD. You can find an excerpt of McCullough's presentation of his speech on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Y8u... He has a great voice and it's an enjoyable piece to watch.

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Review: News of the World

News of the World by Paulette Jiles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In 1870s Texas, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd spends his days going from town to town reading selected news articles to the local townspeople for their entertainment and his pocketbook. Offering the news of the world, Kidd, a veteran and hero of three wars, travels a circuit around north Texas, far from his own home in San Antonio. He is approached by a freed slave, Britt Johnson, who has saved a young 10-year old girl that had been abducted by a tribe of Kiowa Indians. She is the only survivor of her immediate family in a brutal massacre. Johnson is able to convince Kidd to take young Johanna Leonberger back to her aunt and uncle in Castroville, TX, not far from San Antonio.

During the trip, Johanna, who now only understands the language of the Kiowas, learns to communicate with Kidd and forms a bond on their long trip home. In typical western fashion, the two fight off Indians and bad guys, and stop along the way to visit the people of the local towns and read the news of the world.

This is such a great story with a heartfelt ending. I fell in love with the old man and the young girl. I most enjoyed reading about Texas in the 1870s as the two made their way across the state. I'm looking forward to reading more of Jiles' work.

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Review: The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt

The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T.J. Stiles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very, very, very exhaustive and detailed tome on Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. He was quite a man and a pioneer in the steamship and railroad business. Considered one of the robber barons of the gilded age, Vanderbilt made friends and enemies on his rise to the top of the financial and transportation business. He was a smart and cunning man. You either loved or hated him depending on which side of the deal you were on. He was a powerful man and he deserves a powerful biography. This is it!

Stiles follows Vanderbilt from the time he started working for his father running an import / export business on an old sailboat through his time building paddle boats and steamships, building a route from Nicaragua to California during the gold rush, moving into the railroad business and to his death at the age of 82. He almost died many times due to crashes and ill health, but he rallied each time and persevered through to be one of the richest men in the world.

This book really deserves a higher rating, but it was too much for me at the time I was reading it. I appreciate the details. Stiles was well researched and it shows. I will certainly take a stab at his other works, but for this reading, I found myself struggling to stay interested and often found my mind wondering at times.

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Review: Charlie the Choo-Choo: From the world of The Dark Tower

Charlie the Choo-Choo: From the world of The Dark Tower by Beryl Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is such a cute little children's story from the King of horror. Beryl Evans is Stephen King's pseudonym, the name coming from one of his characters in The Dark Tower series. Charlie the Choo-Choo is not a horror story but a lovely book for young kids, about an old coal powered train and his trusty engineer, Bob. Charlie and Bob have spent years making the St. Louis to Wichita run until a new diesel train is brought in to take Charlie's place. Is it retirement time for Charlie?

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Review: Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners

Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners by Therese Oneill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever dreamed of living in the time of Jane Eyre? Gone With the Wind? Do you desire to float around in big hoop skirts and highly styled hair to lounge around while men and servants wait on you hand and foot? Well this book is here to squash your dreams! Living the Brontë life was anything but glamorous. In fact it was downright disgusting at times. Unmentionable will pluck you out of the 21st century and drop you smack dab in the middle of the 19th century, giving you a tour of all things important to the Victorian woman. From examining crotch-less undies and corsets, to daily ablutions, to understanding why a woman should not lick their parasol, to...oh my god, what is up with all that silverware, to understanding your place as a wife and mother without being labeled as hysterical, Unmentionable will thoroughly, and hilariously cover all of these subjects.

Therese Oneill does a wonderful job of using 19th century resources, including ads, medical books, and photographs to present the reader with the sordid details of Victorian life for women young and old. Her humor lightens the mood as you travel through time. Some are laugh out loud moments, some are a bit uncomfortable. The reader is sure to be shocked and amazed, and at times horrified. Ultimately, today's woman will appreciate the modern times we live in.

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Review: Christmas Angels: A Novella

Christmas Angels: A Novella by Viola Shipman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas Angels is a wonderful little tale about a young woman named Kate, who is getting through the holidays after a breakup with her boyfriend. Kate is a holiday decorator who has a chance encounter with a client who is also struggling through the holidays after the death of his wife. He is a single dad whose son has had to grow up too quickly, but learns that life goes on after our cherished ones leave and angels are all around.

This is a great short story to get you in the mood for the holidays.

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Review: Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places

Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ghostland is a book about the history behind haunted places. It is broken up into four categories: homes, commercial buildings like bars/brothels/restaurants/hotels, civic buildings like asylums/cemeteries/prisons, and cities/towns. I had expected to read about the hauntings of these buildings, the sordid details of the ghost's past with some irrefutable evidence that disembodied spirits are roaming around the U.S. What you actually get is the details of haunted stories connected to the buildings and then the actual history of the building that actually ends up disproving or contradicting these legends. Typical of oral history that is passed on from generation to generation, stories get retold, and often incorrectly. In some cases, they are plain made up. Colin Dickey gets to the heart of the stories. He follows some paranormal investigators, joining them on their outings, often coming up with butkiss. Where often the author refutes or corrects the stories once he's researched the buildings and the people connected to them, he doesn't necessarily come off as a skeptic, leaving the reader to decide if there are ghosts out there.

I found this to be a very interesting book that is well worth the read if you like ghost stories. Dickey covers subjects like the Salem Witch Trials, the Amityville House, the Winchester House, and various locations in New Orleans. The author is witty and has a comfortable writing style that keeps you engrossed and entertained.

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Review: The Secrets of Lizzie Borden

The Secrets of Lizzie Borden by Brandy Purdy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is the fictionalized account of the life of Lizzie Borden from her young life in Fall River, Massachusetts to her death. The book supposes that Lizzie had a hard life dealing with a miserly father and and a stepmother who looked to bilk Lizzie and her sister Emma out of their inheritance. It also supposes that she was a very romantic person dealing with the feelings of being unloved by anyone. Her father drilled into her head that because he was financially well off, that people would only love her for money and not herself. Her relationships seemed to confirm those feelings in her. After being humiliated one too many times by her family, Lizzie does the deed she is renowned for. The author also considers what Lizzie's life was like after the trial.

I've always been interested in the Lizzie Borden story, since the time Elizabeth Montgomery played her in a movie about the murders back in 1975. Very interesting book, and I think likely closer to truth than fiction. I loved the detailed descriptions, yet I think it was a bit too graphic in some aspects, that I don't think were necessary. Worth the read if you are a Lizzie Borden fan but I think I'd prefer something that is a non-fictionalized account.

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Review: Fatal Frost

Fatal Frost by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Once again a killer is loose in Buttercup, Texas, where novice farm girl Lucy Resnick is struggling to maintain her grandmother's farm by adding goats to the mix. While picking up her new wards Hot Lips and Gidget, Lucy and local goat farmer Peter notices a nearby house on fire. They arrive on the scene and find the body of Krystal Jenkins, a local young lady who has a sordid and secret past. After a few days, Lucy's friend Molly is arrested for the murder. Lucy quickly goes on the trail of the real killer to clear her friend's name. All while dealing with her ornery goats, looking for Molly's runaway teen, and dealing with her own woes concerning her boyfriend's ex-wife and a long visit from her parents for the holidays. All clues are pointing to the wife of a highfalutin wannabee tele-evangelist who seems to have his own little secret.

I generally don't read many mysteries but I thoroughly enjoy all of Karen MacInerney's cozy mystery series. I especially enjoy her Dewberry Farm Mysteries for the Texas references and setting. I am looking forward to further adventures in Buttercup, Texas.

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Review: Drunken Fireworks

Drunken Fireworks by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is not your typical Stephen King but it is a cute story from the master storyteller. Alden and his Mama win some money in a lottery and a life insurance windfall. They spend their summers at Lake Abenaki drinkin' their days away and watching the Massimo clan across the pond. During the Independence holiday, Alden enjoys shooting off some fireworks and sparklers, which eventually lead to The Fourth of July Arms Race. Every year gets bigger and bigger until 2015 when the place is set a blazing.

This was a fun story to listen to. Tim Sample does an excellent job of narrating as Alden.

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Review: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Radio Dramatization

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A Radio Dramatization by Jerry Robbins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great Audible edition of the classic tell of the headless horseman. Loved the way the readers bring the story to life with all of the classic radio dramatization and sounds.

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Review: I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas

I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas by Lewis Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm a huge fan of Lewis Black. I listened to this book on Audibles during a recent road trip. It is Black's usual rant on the subject of Christmas from the view point of an angry Jew. It was good and worth listening to, but I like his live stand up better. He hits on all kinds of subjects around the holidays, including dinner with his non-Jewish friends, traveling during the holidays with a USO tour to the Middle East, gift giving and his love of food.

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Review: The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness

The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is such a sweet (and at times bittersweet) story of the connection octopuses have with humans. They are fascinating sea creatures that are incredibly smart with very interesting personalities. This is not a scientific discourse on the cephalopod mollusk but a story behind three specific octopuses, Octavia, Kali, and Karma, from the New England Aquarium. Sy Montgomery spent many hours connecting with these girls, following their short lifespan. She is able to connect the reader to these wonderful animals through her stories and make you feel like you know them just as intimately as if you were the one visiting daily.

This is a very touching book that will make you want to go out to your local aquarium and just sit and stare at the octopuses. If you do, perhaps you'll make a new friend.

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Review: 84, Charing Cross Road

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Helene Hanff, American author and screenwriter had a thing for English books. In 1949 she write a little used bookstore in London inquiring about a list of old books that she can not find at reasonable costs in America. That letter began a 20 year friendship by mail with Frank Doel, his family, and the staff at Marks & Co. Booksellers at 84 Charing Cross Road. Helene is witty and sarcastic, Frank is kindhearted and warm.

This was a cute read and I enjoyed Helene's humor. In less than 100 pages you fall in love with these people and hope that Helene makes it to England to met everyone at 84 Charing Cross Road. Helene is certainly someone I would have like to have met.

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Review: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This isn't really a book about books, as the official synopsis says, but it is about how books can bring together a town and a group of vastly different people. Sara, a young single woman from Sweden has been writing Amy, an older woman from Broken Wheel, Iowa about books. Encouraged to visit Amy's hometown, Sara comes to Broken Wheel to meet Amy and the people that she has been reading about in her letters. As it turns out, Broken Wheel is not quite what Sara expected and she is forced to lean on the residents to help her out since her host has passed away. Soon Sara opens a bookstore in the dilapidated town, bringing mystery, excitement, and love into their sad world.

This is a very quirky book, reminiscent of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Fun characters and a happy ending.

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Review: Six Scary Stories

Six Scary Stories by Stephen King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is a selection of six stories selected by Stephen King for a competition he judged to promote his collection Bazaar of Bad Dreams. All six are well written short stories. The collection reminded me of a mini Tales from the Crypt collection. Worth reading if you're a horror fan. None of them were very gruesome, except for the last one.

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Review: Loving Eleanor

Loving Eleanor by Susan Wittig Albert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lorena "Hick" Hickok was an AP journalist who covered Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt's wife Eleanor in the late 20s. She met the first lady of New York and continued to cover her until Roosevelt won the 1932 Presidential election. Hick and Eleanor became steadfast friends and many historians believe that they had a deeply intimate relationship. Loving Eleanor is the fictionalized account of that relationship from Hick's perspective based on over three thousand letters written by Hick and Eleanor throughout their friendship. This book shows Eleanor in a way most people have never thought of her. Many know about FDR's philandering ways, but many did not realize that Eleanor was a deeply loving person, who may have also had several affairs herself with both men and women. She was devoted to family, friends, and domestic causes. She was definitely her own woman.

The book is really from Hick's point of view but the reader will definitely get a sense of what Eleanor was like on a personal basis, away from politics. I found Hick to be a bit whiny and selfish who didn't always seem to understand that she had a friendship / relationship with the First Lady of the United States and a woman that had her own agenda in life. They were likely very much alike, so much so that it caused occasional riffs. I'm not sure I cared so much about some of the intimate details, but I did like getting to see a different side of Eleanor than I had known / realized. I've always admired Eleanor's work and spirit and this has caused me to want to read more about her.

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Review: The House of Twenty Thousand Books

The House of Twenty Thousand Books by Sasha Abramsky
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sasha Abramsky gives us a detailed look at the life of his grandfather Chimen Abramsky, a Jewish atheist and scholar, who amassed over twenty thousand books on subjects entailing communism, socialism, and Judaic studies. Chimen primarily lived in England after leaving his home country of Russia as a young man. As a rebellious son of a well-known Jewish Rabbi, Chimen covertly departed from his faith and joined the Communist Party for many years. He worked in his in-law's bookshop in England and began to collect rare, important works from communist and socialist leaders and scholars including Karl Marx. Chimen was most comfortable at his home with like-minded friends and colleagues talking and debating political and religious ideals and theories. Later in life, he was unable to continue supporting the ways and means of the Communist Party and changed his focus to Judaic studies.

I found Chimen to be a very interesting subject to read about. While claiming to be an atheist and following the tenets of socialism, Chimen never really broke away from his Jewish heritage. Very likely that is due out of respect for his father Rabbi Yehezkel Abramsky. Chimen was very complex and was obviously a very learned and respected man. His collection of books was astounding and became the heart and soul of his home. Although a very interesting look at Chimen, I was not so interested in all of the details around the communist and socialist rhetoric.

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Review: Tales of the Peculiar

Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For fans of Rigg's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, this book of short stories "fairy tale" style will give some background into some of the peculiar people that are encountered in the series. There are ten short fairy tales as told by Milliard Nullings, the invisible man in the Peculiar Children series. Some of the stories may seem similar to normal fairy tales, but each gives some background on peculiars, including ymbrynes. This is a good companion to the series.

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Review: A Gathering in Hope: A Novel

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

A Gathering in Hope is the third in a series about jaded Quaker pastor Sam Gardner. Sam and his wife have now settled in quite nicely to Hope, Indiana as the spiritual leader of Hope Friends Meeting. His congregation is growing and is becoming quite diverse with the addition of a lesbian couple and a new family with twin baby girls. Time for Hope Friends to spruce up the nursery. The most recent addition appears to be over 100 endangered bats that have taken up residence in the church attic and nearby trees. The Department of Natural Resources comes to inspect the colony and puts a halt to any services or activities until after mating season, when the bats will leave for a while on their own. In the meantime, Sam has to deal with the church elders who are busy preparing a remodel and expansion of the church. The Hope Friends are now left to find a new meeting place while the bats fornicate in the attic, until all 100+ wing residents are found in a garbage bag outside of the meeting house. Crazy antics ensue until the culprit is found.

I love Gulley's writing. He has such a sarcastic sense of humor that I love. The characters are quirky but lovable. I think the book before this one was his funniest, but this one is right behind it.

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Review: The Land of Oz

The Land of Oz by Tim Hollis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you ever visited North Carolina in the 70s, you likely heard of the little amusement park The Land of Oz based on the popular children's novel and MGM movie Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum. The park was nestled atop Beech Mountain near Banner Elk / Boone, North Carolina. During the winter, the park was a ski resort, but in order to extend the revenue season, the summers saw the area transformed into a park complete with Uncle Henry's Home, The Yellow Brick Road, and the Emerald City. As you walk along the brightly painted walk you would encounter Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch. For anyone who was even a remote fan, the park provided an afternoon of fun. The park officially closed in the 80s and has since fallen into disrepair, until a few old fans and local realty agent began to bring it back to life. The park is now opened on a limited basis on special weeks(ends) in the spring and fall. This book is basically a photo journal of the park from its inception through its current state. Most of the photos are from the original park's publicity shots and souvenir book, as well as some photos from park employees and realty agency that is currently the owner of the property.

I vividly remember visiting the park as a young girl. I was always a fan of the Oz books, and the movie. I still have the souvenir book we purchased at the park and L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz book that I bought at the park bookstore. This was a great little book to stroll down memory lane. I hope to someday visit again on one of the park's special weekends.

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Review: A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder

A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder by Michael Pollan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Michael Pollan dreamed of a small building on his property that he could go to in solitude and read and write. Just a place of his own with a nice view that added to his property and didn't seem like an out building plopped up in the backyard. A Place of My Own is about those couple of years that he spent with his friend, an architect, and a contractor / carpenter, bringing his dream to life. He really wanted something that he could easily enough build himself, but he soon found that he needed some help. So much more went into creating his "simple vision", but what he was left with was exactly what he wanted and needed.

I've read Pollan's Food Rules and enjoy his straight talk with a little sarcastic humor. I think many people can relate to wanting to build a dream home or some dream space to call their own. This book is a reminder that you sometimes have to work hard for your dreams and that they may not always be as easy as you think. If you ever plan to build, you may want to peruse this book. I will say that at times he got long winded on architectural theories and ideals, but loved the underlying sense of humor he uses.

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Review: Lily Tomlin: The Kindle Singles Interview

Lily Tomlin: The Kindle Singles Interview by Tom Roston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short interview with Lily Tomlin, hosted by Tom Roston for Kindle Singles. I've loved Lily Tomlin since I watched her on Laugh-In. In person, she seems to be the same funny lady I grew up watching. She seems very open and honest with a no-holds-barred attitude. The interview covers her time at Laugh-In with characters like Edith Ann and Ernestine to her time on 9-5 with Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton. The main focus is a promotion for her movie Grandma and her Netflix original show Grace and Frankie.

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Review: If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran

If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran by Carla Power
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If the Oceans Were Ink is about secular author / journalist Carla Power's yearlong journey to study the Quran with renown Islamic scholar Sheikh Mohammad Akram Nadwi. Power grew up living between St. Louis, Missouri and Afghanistan, and eventually landed in Oxford, UK where she met Akram. They struck up a friendship and she decided to learn more about the Quran and Islam, a religion she was often exposed to during her travels abroad. Akram, being a Quran purist scholar, introduced her to the text and its message(s) from a purist standpoint. Touching on many points of the Islamic faith such as traditional dress, fatwas, Islamic women scholars, the home, trips to Mecca, and freedom, the Shiekh offers his view based strictly on the scripture of the Quran.

I think this should be required reading for everyone. As with many religions, followers often quote scriptures from their faith's spiritual text, so is true with Muslims and followers of Islam. What the reader ends up with at the conclusion of the book is a different view of Islam than what is portrayed in the media and from those who either are not part of the faith or from those that use Islam for a political agenda. I think the book is not without its flaws. I don't think that Akram was always consistent with his beliefs and was at times contradictory. However, the book offers a lot to think about and allows for a great discussion. It is a great book for people of all faiths, as well as Agnostics and Atheists, to get a better idea of Islam and the Quran. It may inspire you to full read and understand your own faith based text and to consider reading the Quran for comparison / contrast.

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Review: The Food of a Younger Land: The WPA's Portrait of Food in Pre-World War II America

The Food of a Younger Land: The WPA's Portrait of Food in Pre-World War II America by Mark Kurlansky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Food of a Younger Land is a look at pre-WWII regional food in the United States. Kurlansky took a series of articles and recipes written under the Works Progress Administration's (WPA) Federal Writers’ Project (FWP) and compiled them into this gem of a book. These were articles and recipes intended for a project called America Eats but was abandoned around the time World War II broke out. The book is regionalized into the Northeast, South, Middle West, Far West, and Southwest areas of the US and has stories gathered through oral history as well as some old recipes you won't find in modern cookbooks like Nebraska Lamb and Pig Fries, Georgia Possum and Taters, and Montana Fried Beaver Tail. What you end up with is a wonderful look at life in the 30s and 40s, as well as details around the writers of the FWP, many who went on to have successful writing careers, like Eudora Welty and Zora Neale Hurston.

I particularly enjoyed the Introduction to the book that goes into details about the Works Progress Administration and the FWP. Kurlansky does a wonderful job of giving detailed background into the program and how he came upon the collection of writings. He also introduces each section to give you an idea of how the regional foods have changed over the years and what may still be used today.

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Review: Zombie Club 3

Zombie Club 3 by Sonia Rogers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the final installment of the Zombie Club series, the sixth grade students of the Military Club, now known as the Zombie Club, continue to battle the undead as they make their way to safer zones. The group and their families (the ones that are left) start to make their home at Fort Leonard Wood until the zombies take over. Their best bet for survival has them back on the road and on the run. They'll have to battle more of the monsters and pick up more survivors along the way. How will they survive?

Sonia Rogers continues her new series aimed at youngsters in Zombie Club 2. This is a great series for kids looking for adventures with the undead.

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Review: Invincible Louisa

Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short biography of the life of Louisa May Alcott. The book begins with an introduction to her parents and their life growing up until they meet and marry. It then covers the span of Alcott's life and her work as a nurse, teacher and writer. The reader gets to know all of the real life people behind the beloved characters of Little Women and what inspired Alcott to write the book.

This is not a riveting book but for those who loved any of Alcott's books growing up will enjoy getting to know the writer who was the real Jo March. I am one of those fans and was thoroughly entertained. It has inspired me to re-read the Little Women and her other works.

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Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It is important to note that this book is a play script and it was not exclusively written by J.K. Rowling. I'm not sure how much of it is by Rowling herself. The story follows Harry and Ginny Potter's son, Albus, nineteen years after the final installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Albus and Harry have a strained father / son relationship that seems to be exacerbated by Albus being placed in the Slytherin house at Hogwarts, along with Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius. The two boys become fast friends while their fathers remain enemies. After an argument with his father and overhearing a special request from an old family friend, Albus goes off to school and recruits his friend Scorpius to right a past wrong. In near Harry Potter fashion, the boys cause more problems than fix, causing the whole cast of original Potter characters to intervene.

I consider myself a Potter fan, but not an uber-fan. I enjoyed the script, but something seemed to be off. It doesn't quite hold the same excitement and it seems like the script writers are just trying to recreate Potter with a new generation. I would go see the show. Maybe the appeal would be better in person. Personally, I'd be good with the series ending as it did and see a new series for kids (and adults!). Uber-fans will likely enjoy this script. For others, it will probably only garner an "okay" rating.

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Review: Library of Souls

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Library of Souls is the final installment of the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. Separated from their peculiar friends, Jacob and Emma are on a race to find them and return them to a time loop. They quickly learn that they have been taken to a fortress in Devil's Acre, a most horrible slum area of Victorian England. They must battle some foes and encounter even more peculiar people along the way, and learn the secret behind the Library of Souls. The history behind Jacob's peculiar grandfather and his contribution to the Panloopticon are also explained.

I loved this series and I think book was my favorite. I just love the idea of the author taking some bizarre photos he has found in places like rummage sales and antique shops, and building a whole series of books around these picture. How creative! It's a little bit history, a lot of fantasy, and a bit of horror wrapped up into a very...peculiar...story.

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Review: The Gray Whale Inn Kitchen: A Collection of Recipes from the Bestselling Gray Whale Inn Mysteries

The Gray Whale Inn Kitchen: A Collection of Recipes from the Bestselling Gray Whale Inn Mysteries by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Readers of Karen MacInerney's Gray Whale Inn mysteries will love this little gem of a cookbook. It is full of recipes from her first six books in the series, two of her short stories and one from her upcoming installment. The book concludes with a teaser chapter from Whale of a Crime to help hold you over until its release.

Looking forward to stirring up some of these comfy foods, like Rustic Sausage and Cheese Lasagna and Caramel Glazed Buttermilk Bundt Cake.

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Review: Pacific: Silicon Chips and Surfboards, Coral Reefs and Atom Bombs, Brutal Dictators, Fading Empires, and the Coming Collision of the World's Superpowers

Pacific: Silicon Chips and Surfboards, Coral Reefs and Atom Bombs, Brutal Dictators, Fading Empires, and the Coming Collision of the World's Superpowers by Simon Winchester
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pacific is really a set of essays by the author about historical events and people centered around the Pacific Ocean. Winchester takes us on a chronological journey starting with the testing of a-bombs at the Bikini Atoll in the 40s and 50s and ending with the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, leaving the area defenseless at a time when China was wielding its strong arm of power. Along the way we learn about such things as the rise of Sony Corporation, the influence of surfing on island culture, the bleaching of coral reefs and how the Earth's weather patterns begin and end in Polynesian paradise. Pacific is primarily historical, but covers environmental concerns, and military/politcal events.

I enjoyed this book and the individual stories. Some peaked my interest more than others, but overall I found it to be an intriguing book.

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Review: Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World

Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great micro-history from Mark Kurlansky. This is a deep look into the history of cod. When thinking of cod most us of instantly visualize Gordon fish sticks or fish and chips, but cod has a rich history that has been the cause of wars, has inspired explorers and traders, and influenced Clarence Birdseye to develop modern freezing methods. Once plentiful, cod fishing in Europe and America is now mostly restricted to allow stock to replenish, due to the over harvesting throughout time. It is still a controversial topic to the fishing industry and politics.

What I like about these micro-histories is the look into a common item that ends up having a history that has affected life world wide. Kurlansky delivers in a well written and, at times, humorous way to keep the reader engaged and entertained. Lots of interesting recipes, too, as far back as the middle ages. Needless to say, where the recipe for roe and liver sounds intriguing, it will likely never make its way to my dinner table.

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Review: American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia by Joan Biskupic
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I first started reading American Original, I hadn't really realized that it was written prior to Scalia's death. I had expected a biography of the man, which it is in part. What Biskupic really focuses on is Scalia's theory of Originalism; that is, interpreting the law the way the constitution was written. Each chapter focuses on a different topic and the cases about them such as civil, human, and women's rights, the Bush v. Gore election, religion, and cases where the justices should recuse themselves from certain cases. Biskupic's aim is to show that Scalia played the originalism card when it suited him. For the most part, he did follow his own theory. What did come across in the book is that Scalia was a likable person, whether or not you agreed with his politics and rulings. That is evident in the way he spoke and captivated his audience, and his strong friendships with people on both sides of the political coin. Although he stayed far to the right on his politics, he had a strong bond and friendship with Ruth Bader Ginsberg, his almost polar opposite on the bench.

Where the book was interesting and I learned a lot about Scalia, it didn't wow me. I did like how each chapter focused on the cases around noted topics, but I didn't feel the author was driving a particular point, other than "this is Scalia, he's an originalist, and this is how he ruled, and oh, by the way, he was a "character". I am curious, now, about his later years, just prior to and including his death. All in all, if you are interested in Scalia and his decisions in cases, it's worth reading. It is well written but it is not a page turner.

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Review: Unreasonable Men: Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican Rebels Who Created Progressive Politics

Unreasonable Men: Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican Rebels Who Created Progressive Politics by Michael Wolraich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unreasonable Men covers the rise of progressive politics at the turn of the century from the end of Teddy Roosevelt's tenure as President, during Taft's tenure and through the election of Woodrow Wilson. Roosevelt often butted heads with the likes of "Fighting Bob" La Follotte who led the progressive movement. This was an era of a decisive split among Republicans that certainly echo's today's political environment. So much can be compared to the 2016 election season.

Wolraich does a wonderful job of bringing the reader into the times and understanding the political climate of the Taft era when the unreasonable man tries to adapt the world to himself rather than adapt to the world. Definitely worth the read for anyone interested in politics today.

I received this book gratis from the History Book Club and our friends at St.Martin's Press


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Review: The Nonprofit Board Answer Book: A Practical Guide for Board Members and Chief Executives

The Nonprofit Board Answer Book: A Practical Guide for Board Members and Chief Executives by BOARDSOURCE
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BoardSource is a leader in nonprofit governance. Having worked with thousands of nonprofit organizations, BoardSource has become the go-to resource for board members, officers, and staff in leadership skills and effective board service. This is a quick read, meant as a reference for many topics that organizations may face. Topics include Basic Board Functions, Board Structure, Board Member Selections and Development, Board and Committee Meetings, The Board's Role as Fiduciary, Board-Staff Relations, and Organizational Change.

This should be required reading for all nonprofit board members and executive staff.

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Review: The Nightingale

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a very haunting story of World War II from the perspective of two sisters at odd with each other, each trying to find their place and survive in Nazi occupied France. Their mother passed away when they were young and their father didn't know how to handle the grief and or the girls. Vianne creates her own life and family in Carriveau, France away from her father in Paris. A rebellious Isabelle was forced to move in with her sister once the Nazis occupied the area. Vianne and Isabelle are constantly under the eye of an SS soldier billeting in their home. Unable to stand by helplessly, Isabelle joins the Resistance under the code name The Nightingale. Vianne finds her own way of helping the cause.

This story is powerful. These two strong women defy odds to help the helpless, putting their lives at risk. You cheer their successes and your heart breaks for the loses. The story is at times graphic in its descriptions of the atrocities that occur, but is a page-turner to the end. Although this is a work of fiction, the reader should understand that there were brave women who risked their lives to help save many people who would have easily perished. It was a tough read and extremely sad at times. It is a different perspective from most other WWII stories out there. It was well worth the read.

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Review: Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention

Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Before reading this book, I knew little about Malcolm X. I knew he was a civil rights activist in the 60s, promoted a more "violent"(or less peaceful) approach, and was assassinated. I had not read his autobiography, nor had I watched the Spike Lee film on his life. Marable uses oral histories, FBI files, and many other resources to follow the account of Malcolm's life from his family history until his death. Marable's theme was one of Malcolm reinventing his life after different phases in his life, from life on the streets, through his tenure with the Nation of Islam, his trip to mecca, and his assassination.

What I learned was that Malcolm X was a very learned and charismatic man. He was bold and at times shocking, but he wanted to learn and be a spokesman for the Afro-American common man of the 60s. He may have advocated violence or the use of force "if needed", he never used it himself, and after his trips to Africa and Egypt, he immersed himself in orthodox Islam and started on a course of a more peaceful means of civil rights. It is, of course, unknown if he would have continued along that path had he not been killed given the tension of the times, but I would have like to think that he might have. He was a controversial figure and still is, but he was a very smart and engaging person whose ideas on civil rights still resonate today.

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Review: Effective Leadership for Nonprofit Organizations: How Executive Directors and Boards Work Together

Effective Leadership for Nonprofit Organizations: How Executive Directors and Boards Work Together by Thomas Wolf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book covers a broad range of topics that are essential to running an effective nonprofit organization. It is taken from the viewpoint of both the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees, mainly the Chair or President. Topics covered include the role of the Executive Director and the Board, changes in personnel, difficult situations/difficult people or personalities, fundraising, changes in management or board leadership, multiple boards, dual Executive Director models, and effective meetings.

This is a great primer for those new to nonprofit organizations and board memberships, as well as for those of us that have spent entire careers working with these types of groups. Wolf uses real life scenarios to drive home his points and finishes each chapter with a set of questions that can be use as a self-assessment to determine the health of your organization.

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Review: Devil in the Grove Thurgood Marshall the Grovelend Boys and

Devil in the Grove Thurgood Marshall the Grovelend Boys and by Gilbert King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gilbert King did an amazing job chronicling Thurgood Marshall's involvement in the case of the Groveland Boys. In 1949, among the orange groves of rural Florida, a young, white couple stopped alongside the road, getting their car stuck in the mud. Two young, black men, on leave from the Army stop to help. Tensions rise between the man and the two young men and accusations of rape against the wife are made the next morning. It was a case known throughout the country and the stellar Thurgood Marshall, then an attorney with the NAACP - LDF, comes to Florida to help defend the boys and two others that got caught at the wrong place and the wrong time.

King puts the reader smack dab in the middle of the Lake County, Florida, a hotbed of racial tension where the long arm of southern justice ruled the area. This should be a must read for everyone. It is a difficult topic to read, but it shows the reader how far we have come in the fight for Civil Rights and how far we still need to go. Marshall was a hero to many and his tenacity is something to be admired.

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Review: The Charm Bracelet

The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A charm bracelet. Each charm tells a different story. Each charm is a link to the past and offers hope for the future. A family heirloom that is unique for each wearer. For Lolly, her daughter Arden, and her granddaughter Lauren, each charm has a significance in their lives. Three generations of women reconnect during a Memorial Day weekend at Lolly's place on the shores of Lost Land Lake in Minnesota. Lolly is getting older and have troubles remembering, so Arden and Lauren make the trip back home to check on Lolly, while the concerns and stresses in their own lives are never far away. During their visit, Lolly reveals the stories of each charm on her bracelet and gives the girls some hope and guidance for their own troubled lives.

I really love the concept of this story. My own mom had a wonderful charm bracelet that she filled (two actually) as I was growing up. Much like the story, each charm was a beautiful memory for my mom. Once I was married, I started my own charm bracelet, that sadly I've not kept adding to in recent years (that's about to change). As I was reading this book, I would remember my mom's own bracelet jangling in the wind, much as Lolly's did. Viola Shipman did a wonderful job of bringing that bracelet to life. This was a heartfelt story with a clear message to remember the past, have faith in what the future holds, and to hold dear the important people in your life.

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