A Month In Review: June

And here we are again, at the end of the month and half way through the year. So in a way it seems fitting in a way that I've read half way to 100 books in six months.

Over the last six months I have noticed a couple patterns forming in my reading. First, I seem to average reading between six and eight books a month, which astounds me considering my reading time is mostly between the hours of 9 and 11pm.

Second, for the first time in probably 14 years I have been reading a lot of fluff -- a lot of "potato chip" novels. I'm not sure if it's the fact it is summer time and I'm in the mood for some warm-fuzzy romances, or if I'm just needing something light to read since my life is so hectic. At any rate, I have spent a fair amount of my reading time reading chic-lit and I'm not sure when this mood will pass.

Here is a recap of what I read, click on the links to read my reviews:

1. A House to Let by Charles Dickens & Others
2. The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
3. The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
4. Winona's Pony Cart by Maud Hart Lovelace
5. Why Didn't They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie
6. Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
7. A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
8. Practically Perfect by Katie Fforde
9. Anne of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery

As for projections for the month of July... I am determined to finish Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, even if not before the July 18th book club meeting. Then I am moving on to the next Christie novel, Three Act Tragedy. If I have time I would also like to read Rainbow Valley and perhaps Betsy Was a Freshman, as both are next in line of the Anne and the Betsy-Tacy series I am re-reading. Of course because it is Summer I am tempted to just read a lot of fluff, so we'll see. Check back and find out!

To see what I've been reading check out my other A Month In Review posts or my Master Reading List.

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

128 pages
Copyright 1958, printed 1976
Dell Publishing Co, Inc.
New York, NY

A Bear Called Paddington is the first of a series of 15 books by English author, playwright, and screenwriter, Michael Bond.

The Plot:
Mr. and Mrs. Brown first met Paddington -- a most endearing bear from Darkest Peru -- on a railway platform in London. A sign hanging around his neck said, "Please look after this bear. Thank you." So that is just what they did.

From the very first night when he attempted his first bath and ended up nearly flooding the house, Paddington was seldom far from imminent disaster. Jonathan and Judy were delighted with this havoc and even Mr. and Mrs. Brown had to admit that life seemed to be more filled with adventure when there was a bear in the house. (summary courtesy of A Yearling Book, Dell Publishing Company)

My Thoughts:
As I mentioned last month, my earliest memories of Paddington Bear date back to my childhood. My family had a short children's book that included a few stories about Paddington Brown, all of which are also included in Bond's first book, A Bear Called Paddington. I distinctly remember Paddington had a blue coat with toggles and a funny hat, that he often got into scrapes, but was always very polite, and that he loved marmalade sandwiches. All those memories pretty much sum up the Paddington stories in a nutshell.

A Bear Called Paddington is a relatively simple and fast read for adults, which is not surprising as the book was originally intended for readers aged 9-12. As a child I remember liking the stories and now as an adult I found the stories contained in the first book to be funny and entertaining. There isn't a chapter where something doesn't go wrong, but a lesson is usually learned, adventures are had, and things are always made right in the end. Paddinton is a sweet, but very curious little bear, whose adventures and antics will continue to win the hearts of readers of all ages through the ages. I look forward to sharing the books with my daughter when she is a little older.

My summary:
On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate, A Bear Called Paddington a 4.5. I really enjoyed the book.

Most readers should be able to locate these books at their local library, but in the event they cannot, copies are still available in print at book stores and online. I purchased the first five books in the series at a local library sale for $0.62! And for those interested in the BBC animated television series, The Adventures of Paddington Bear, you can learn more about it by reading my review here.

Quoting Anne

"Her child was safe... Gilbert was somewhere battling to save another child's life... Dear God, help him and help the mother... help all mothers everywhere. We need so much help, with the little sensitive, loving hearts and minds that look to us for guidance and love and understanding."

~ Anne's prayer (Anne of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery, Chapter 6, page 33)

Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

357 pages

Copyright: March 2004

Random House

New York, NY

Can you keep a secret? Ok, well it's not really much of a secret since I'm posting it here on my blog. The truth is, I've been slacking in my reading of classical literature. The weather is warmer and the days sunnier (after all it is officially Summer!) , my life is busier than ever and I just haven't had the attention span for anything meaty. Instead I've been drawn to light fluffy chic-lit and that's exactly what you will find if you pick up: Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinsella.

The Plot:
Can You Keep A Secret? is the story of Emma Corrigan, a 20-something British woman with "a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets..." Secrets she keeps from her boyfriend, her family, her coworkers, and even from her best friend. Secrets that she keeps to herself... Until one day during a fateful plane trip, she spills every single secret to the handsome stranger sitting next to her, in a sort of final confession before the plane crashes... But then the plane doesn't crash. It lands safely and Emma goes home only to return to work on Monday and discover that the stranger on the plane isn't really a stranger after all... He's the American CEO of the company she works for... and he's visiting her office for the week... and he knows every one of her deepest darkest most humiliating secrets!

My Thoughts:
Can You Keep A Secret? is fluffy chic-lit at its best -- a light-hearted romantic comedy with a shot of girl-power and lessons to be learned. One being, while some secrets are best kept to ourselves, others are better brought to the open. Friendships and relationships thrive on truth and being honest with ourselves as to who we are.

In keeping with the formula of a romantic comedy, Can You Keep A Secret? has its highs and lows, but ends on a happy note for the heroine and for the reader. I am not the first person to say this, but I think it is worth repeating. Yes, chic-lit is all fluff, but Sophie Kinsella is really good at writing fluff and making it fun to read. I really enjoyed Can You Keep A Secret? and found the story fairly believable, although I did struggle with how quickly Kinsella resolved a messy situation in a few chapters that should have taken a lot more clean-up in real life.

The only caveat I have with this book is in the content. I did find the language a little heavier and the sexual content a little more frequent than in The Undomestic Goddess, but not quite as bad as in Remember Me? I certainly don't look at these books as examples of fine literature or as a "how to" for modeling my life, but they are entertaining if you skip or skim over the bad parts. Keeping this in mind I would recommend Can You Keep A Secret? to fans of the Shopaholic series.

For those curious you can read the reviews I wrote on Kinsella's other books by clicking on the titles: Remember Me? and The Undomestic Goddess. Unfortunately I read the Shopaholic books in 2008 before I started this blog, so I do not have any reviews of that series.

My Summary:
On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate this piece of chic-lit a 3 to 3.5. I had fun reading it and would actually consider seeing it if adapted to the big screen.

Which reminds me... I recently saw something about Kate Hudson starring as Emma in a movie adaptation of Can You Keep A Secret? While I think this story would make a fabulous film, I must admit I am disappointed to see yet another of Kinsella's books being adapted to an American setting. I really think they should have been left where they were set -- in Britain, like what was done with the Bridget Jones movies.

What's On My Nightstand: June

Ok, I was not prepared for today. I some how had it in my mind that next Tuesday would be the What's On My Nightstand post. Ack... So here we are nearing the end of the day and I'm just getting to my post. Forgive the briefness...

It's June 23 and the following books are currently sitting on my nightstand and are in varying degrees of being read:



* Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. Reading this for my book club. I must have it finished by or before July 18th... though I somehow thing it is unlikely since it's already June 23 and I'm only 30 pages into the 859 page book.









* A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond. I've been curious to read this book and it is now is becoming a mental break for me on those evenings when my brain is fried and I can't bear to pick up 19th century literature.









* Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. This book has been on my nightstand for at least a month and before that it sat on my bookshelf for nearly a half a year just waiting to be read. The reason I am making such slow progress is that I've categorized it as a bed time read. It's a book my husband and I are reading together, which means on those nights when we don't get to bed until very late we also don't read... which lately has been every night.





So that's what I'm reading right now. I wish I had more to post about, but stay tuned as I will give my month in review and reading projections for July next week.



In the meantime, if you are curious to know what other bloggers are reading be sure to check out 5MinutesForBooks. Or if you have your own list stop by there to link your list.

Attention Mystery Lovers

If you have ever read an Agatha Christie novel and enjoyed it then maybe it's time you check out the Agatha Christie Reading Carnival hosted by Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise.

Today is the 6th carnival with twelve bloggers participating, and yes that includes my own post from A Library is a Hospital for the Mind.

I want to thank Kerrie again for hosting this monthly carnival and for opening it up so others can participate. It is an added incentive to finish my own personal Agatha Christie reading challenge each month.

As for the rest of my readers, I encourage you to hop over and check out the carnival and read some of the reviews... Or maybe even consider participating next month (or sometime before the end of the year).

Why Didn't They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie

288 pages

February 2002 (first published 1934)

St Martin's Miotaur (Mass Market Paperback)

New York, NY

The Book

Published the same year as Murder on the Orient Express (1934), Agatha Christie returns to England for the setting of her next crime/murder mystery novel, Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

As was the case with three earlier books (The Sittaford Mystery, Lord Edgware Dies, and Murder on the Orient Express), Why Didn't They Ask Evans has appeared under two titles. First as Why Didn't They Ask Evans in the UK in the fall of 1934 and then as The Boomerang Clue in the United States in early 1935. But unlike those three other novels, I'm still not clear as to the reason for this change, or for the particular choice in title. I guess it will remain a mystery of sorts.

Another unique aspect of the book is that Why Didn't They Ask Evans? is one of only 12 novels (out of 80) that does not include any police or private detectives in the solving of the crime. As noted in the synopsis below, the crime is discovered by a country vicar's son, Bobby Jones and later investigated and solved by Bobby and his childhood friend Frankie (also known as Lady Frances Derwent). For those readers who need a break from Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple, this might be the book for you. As I read I was particularly reminded of two of Christie's earlier works: The Secret Adversary (1924), which includes two friends, Tommy and Tuppence, who take on sleuthing for some extra cash, and The Seven Dials Mystery (1929), which includes long-time friends Bill Eversleigh and Lady Eileen Brent (a.k.a. "Bundle").

The Synopsis
Was it a misstep that sent the handsome stranger plummeting to his death from a cliff? Or something more sinister? Fun-loving adventurers Bobby Jones and Francis Derwit's suspicions are certainly aroused-especially since the man's dying words were so peculiar: Why didn't they ask Evans? Bobby and Francis would love to know. Unfortunately, asking it of the wrong people have sent the amateur sleuths running for their lives-on a wild and deadly pursuit to discover who Evans is, what it was he wasn't asked, and why the mysterious inquiry has put their own lives in mortal danger... (summary courtesy of Amazon.com)

My Thoughts
When I started reading the book I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it. The first few chapters seemed a little slow and I started to wonder if Christie might have lost some of her pizazz when writing this novel. But then, within a few chapters, the story picked up speed and I realized how wrong I was. Why Didn't They Ask Evans may have a slowish start, but it definitely becomes a page turner with the necessary plot twists to keep the reader involved until the very end. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Why Didn't They Ask Evans a 3.5. It was a good read, but not Christie's best. As mentioned above, fans of Murder on the Links, The Secret Adversary, and The Seven Dials Mystery may also enjoy this novel.

A Few more interesting details

I read an interesting fact online about the Why Didn't They Ask Evans character Bobby Jones. Apparently Christie used Bobby's character as a teasing nod to the famous American golfer, Bobby Jones. While the Bobby Jones of the book is horrible at golf, the real Bobby Jones was considered one of the greatest golfers of that era. (In modern times this might be like an author publishing a mystery that includes an amateur golfer and sleuth named Tiger Woods). I imagine it was quite humorous for readers in 1934 and 1935 who were familiar with the real Bobby Jones, a four-time winner of the US Open.

Another interesting fact about Why Didn't They Ask Evans? is that it was the first of Christie's novels to be adapted to the screen following her death and following a long hiatus when the author refused to release filming rights for her books. The reason being she had become very unhappy with several movie adaptations of her books in the early years. At any rate, Why Didn't They Ask Evans? was released in 1980 and was such a success that many more of her novels have since made it to film. Today's readers will be interested to note that there has been a new adaptation of Why Didn't They Ask Evans? which is to air next month as part of the 2009 Masterpiece Mystery series on PBS. Although I am excited about this, I was sorry to also read about some of the major plot changes, including the addition of Miss Marple to the story! (I can only imagine what Christie would have said if she were alive today.) Nevertheless, I do plan to watch the adaptation since I haven't been able to get my hands on the 1980 version.

And speaking of July... stay tuned for my next review: Three Act Tragedy -- the return of Hercule Poirot.

Friday Finds

It's no secret I love old books. I love the way they smell, I love the yellowed pages and the black and white illustrations. I even love it that discovering them is like finding a lost treasure.

My most recent find is the first in a series of 11 children's books titled Billy and Blaze by C. W. Anderson (Clarence William Anderson).

As you might guess the Billy and Blaze books are about a young boy and his horse Blaze, which he receives as a surprise birthday gift in the first book, Billy and Blaze. The rest of the books in the series follow the adventures Billy and Blaze have together along with their dog-friend, Rex.

While most of the books in the series contain some key lesson along with lessons on the proper care for horses, Billy and Blaze is mainly the setting of the series. The book begins, "Billy was a little boy who loved horses more than anything else in the world..." and continues as his dreams begin to come true. The story is short, sweet, and simple with a happy ending for Billy and the reader.

But it wasn't just the story that caught my attention, it was also Anderson's pen and ink illustrations. Yes, they might be considered dated in nature (what boy today wears a tie and dress shoes while horseback riding?), but they are also beautiful works of art, I just loved looking at them.

Although intended as an early reader book, the writing style is simple enough and the illustrations are frequent and full-page in size, that I decided to read it aloud to my 23 month-old daughter. Apparently she liked the book well enough too as she sat and listened while I read, occasionally pointing to the animals in the illustrations (and making the appropriate animal sound).

Having enjoyed the book I became curious to learn more about C. W. Anderson. I Googled him, and found some details about his life. Like Will James, Anderson loved horses a great deal. He not only spent a great deal of time riding and caring for them, but would also spend hours drawing very detailed pictures, which eventually led him to writing his own books. Altogether Anderson wrote and illustrated over 40 books, including his best known Billy and Blaze series.

Anderson's first book, And So To Bed was published in 1935 and his last, The Blind Connemara in 1971. Readers may also stumble upon his work in other areas as he illustrated a great number of books for other authors as well as a couple covers of the Saturday Evening Post.

Have I pricked your curiosity? The good news is a few of his books, including Billy and Blaze are still available in print for less than $7. As for those that are out of print, I'd suggest checking your local library (you never know) or a used book seller (in person or online).

First Family by David Baldacci

We interrupt these positive book reviews for the unexpected... a review of a book I not only didn't like, but I didn't finish reading.

I first discovered First Family by David Baldacci while browsing the book selection at Costco. I've always enjoyed a good political thriller, especially when it's set in Washington, DC and involves the White House. And it looked like First Family was just such a book. I'd never read anything by Baldacci before, but made a mental note to check the book out sometime, perhaps at the library. Especially when I read the description on the book's dust jacket along with the praise, "David Baldacci's most heart-pounding thriller to date..."

The Book Summary:
"It began with what seemed like an ordinary children's birthday party. Friends and family gathered to celebrate. There were balloons and cake, games and gifts. This party, however, was far from ordinary. It was held at Camp David, the presidential retreat. And it ended with a daring kidnapping... which immediately turned into a national security nightmare. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell were not looking to become involved. As former Secret Service agents turned private investigators, they had no reason to be. The FBI doesn't want them interfering. But years ago, Sean King saved the First Lady's husband, then a senator, from political disaster. Now, Sean is the one person the First Lady trusts, and she presses Sean and Michelle into the desperate search to rescue the abducted child. With Michelle still battling her own demons, and forces aligned on all sides against her and Sean, the two are pushed to the absolute limit. In the race to save an innocent victim, the line between friend and foe will become impossible to define... or defend." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts
Because First Family is a new release (copyright April 2009) the book has been in high demand at my local library, but after only a month and a half wait I was finally able to pick up my reserved copy and began to read.

And thus followed a series of disappointments. The first being that I expected the story to closely follow the President and the First Lady, hence the title, right? Wrong. It's not actually about the First Family... it's about the First Lady's brother and his family and via them the President and First Lady. Ok, no big deal, it's close enough. I kept reading.

But then there was the two private detectives, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. First Family is clearly not the first book by Baldacci that King and Maxwell star, so as I read I felt I was missing a lot of back story and inside jokes. Perhaps I'd feel differently if I had first read the book where they initially appeared. Still, I kept reading.

First Family is filled with the typical amount of violence found in the book's genre and some sexual content, neither being too graphic, but both a little more than I was willing to handle at this time. The criminals appear hardened and nasty, or at the very least insane. The language is moderate yet frequent, with a fair amount of crude insults included. Added together the book began to lose me.

And call me critical, but I felt the writing style was cheap-fiction, the type of book an author cranks out in order to keep his/her name on the top seller list or to hurry up and meet a deadline in order to make the leap from bookshelf to movie theatre. The plot itself, while intriguing, just wasn't pulling me in like other political thrillers have. Instead I found myself wishing I was reading one or more of the books sitting on my nightstand.

And so I guess it is no surprise that by chapter 10 I called it quits and began flipping through the last two chapters to see how the author wrapped up the story. I was relieved to see I had made the right choice. The way the story ended I wouldn't have been happy, it wasn't at all what I expected and I am glad I didn't spend the time to read all 89 chapters and 452 pages.

My Synopsis
The long and short of it is this, I just didn't find First Family a great or even good read. On a scale of 1-5 (1 being horrible and 5 being excellent), based on the 10 chapters I did read and 2 additional chapters I skimmed, I would rate First Family a 1.5 to 2. This is a book that's headed back to the library where someone else can give it a chance. As for me... I'm moving on to something else.

Wordless Wednesdays: How to Pass the Time While Riding in a Car

Unfortunately she stopped "reading" when I started taping. (Video: 19 seconds long, taken 6/1/09)

Tuesday Teasers

"What did he say?" asked Frankie curiously.

"He said: 'Why didn't they ask Evans?'"

"What a funny thing to say. Nothing else?"

"No. He just opened his eyes and said that -- quite suddenly -- and then died, poor chap."

"Oh, well," said Frankie, turning it over in her mind, "I don't see that you need worry. It wasn't important."

"No, of course not. Still I wish I'd just mentioned it. You see, I said he'd said nothing at all."

"Well, it amounts to the same thing," said Frankie. "I mean it isn't like 'Tell Gladys I always loved her,' or 'The will is in the walnut bureau,' or any of the proper romantic Last Words there are in books."

(Chapter 5, page 32 - Why Didn't They Ask Evans by Agatha Christie)

Winona's Pony Cart by Maud Hart Lovelace

107 pages

copyright 1953

First Harper Trophy edition, 2000

Harper Collins Publishers, Inc.

New York, NY

In addition to the ten books that make up the Betsy-Tacy series, Maud Hart Lovelace also wrote three more books about life in Deep Valley during the turn of the last century. The three books include Carney's House Party (c)1949), Emily of Deep Valley (c)1950) and Winona's Pony Cart (c)1953). Although I have long been a fan of the Betsy-Tacy series until last week I had never read any of the Deep Valley books.

And so, having just recently finished Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, I thought it as good a time as any to pick up and read Winona's Pony Cart. (Especially since the next book I'm to read in the Besty-Tacy series takes the girls from their childhood and into the world of high school, football games, and house parties.)

Winona's Pony Cart is set some time between Betsy, Tacy and Tib (when the girls are 7 going on 8) and Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill (when the girls are 8 going on 9). Readers of the Betsy-Tacy series will most likely remember Winona Root from her appearance in Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, when she becomes friends with the threesome and invites them along to view a matinee at the Deep Valley Opera House.

In this book the story centers on Winona Root and her well-to-do family. It is autumn in Deep Valley; the trees are bursting forth in beautiful color and Winona is very much looking forward to her eighth birthday. At first she is hoping for a miniature printing press, like what is used at the Deep Valley Sun newspaper where her father works. But then she decides she wants a life-sized baby doll, which sounds perfect.... Until she realizes what she really wants above all is her very own pony! But even though her father says no to the pony Winona is still hopeful. In fact, she's so hopeful that she starts to believe that she IS getting a pony and even tells her classmates, including Betsy, Tacy, and Tib about the gift; never stopping to think what might happen if she is wrong. To add to this mess, Winona decides to extend party invitations to her classmates and acquaintances even though her mother has set a limit of fifteen, all of whom have already been invited. As the party day approaches Winona has two things on her mind... What will she name her pony? And what will her mother say when all the extra children show up? What happens next makes for quite a story. The end result is another sweet story by Mrs. Lovelace that is both whimsical and comical.

But as much as I enjoyed Winona's Pony Cart I just didn't like it quite as well as the Besty-Tacy books. I think a big part of it has to do with the fact that Winona Root is a spoiled child. While she is a nice child, she has some annoying habits, including bragging to her friends and getting carried away with her expectations. Still the story turns out all-right and lessons are learned. Overall I found it to be a clean and entertaining story that works great as a read aloud to young children, or a read-alone for young readers.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Winona's Pony Cart a 4. It's a great story by Mrs. Lovelace, but just not quite as good as her other works. (Maybe I'm just prejudiced to the Besty-Tacy books?) One bonus is the illustrations by Vera Neville, they are simply beautiful. In closing, fans of the Besty-Tacy books who are looking for some more Deep Valley stories shouldn't miss the Deep Valley books.

--------------
Note: I don't remember where I got my copy, it was bought some years ago and is the only Deep Valley book that I own. Unfortunately all the Deep Valley books are currently out of print, but used copies can be found on a varying scale of prices for those interested.

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

374 pages

Copyright 2005

A Dial Press Book

A Division of Random House, Inc.

New York, New York

I meant to bring this book along with me for our beach vacation, what better to sit on the beach and read than something quick, easy, and funny (i.e. British chic-lit). Instead I brought along what I was currently reading (a couple classics) and waited until I got home to start The Undomesitc Goddess by Sophie Kinsella.

My Thoughts

Although I was rather disappointed with the last book I read by Kinsella (Remember Me?), I decided to give her another try and I'm glad I did. I ended up enjoying The Undomestic Goddess. Although I felt some of the story was predicable, Kinsella did throw in a few twists that I didn't anticipate resulting in a story that was clever and funny with a fair amount of that warm-fuzzy romance that is typical of chic-lit. My only complaints would be with two aspects of the content and with the ending. The ending it seemed to drag out a little, I think Kinsella could have wrapped the story up a chapter or two sooner if she'd cut out some of the round and round emotions the heroine has, but otherwise she tied up the story quite nicely. As for the content, there are really only two downsides to the book. The first is the mild to moderate amount of language (typical of British chic-lit though not quite as heavy as in Remember Me? or Bridget Jones' Diary). And the second is the one mild-ish love scene (pre-marital), but there is enough hints leading up to it a reader can easily skip past it if they wish. Both aspects would probably make this book into a PG-13 if rated as a film.

Book Plot Summary (no spoilers)

Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership. Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer—and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope—and finds love—is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does…will she want it back? (summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Summary

Overall I enjoyed The Undomestic Goddess. It's definitely a borrow vs. buy in my opinion and should be an easy find for most readers as it is a recent publication and by a still fairly popular author, especially since the movie adaptation of the first two Shopaholic books. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The Undomestic Goddess a 3 to 3.5, If it were a little more PG rated in its content I think I'd rate it a little higher, but for what it is -- I liked it.

The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by Wm. Paul Young

250 pages
Copyright 2007
Windblown Media
Newbury Park, California

Dun-dun-dun-da! (dramatic sound) Last weekend I finished the somewhat controversial, but #1 New York Times bestseller, The Shack by Wm. Paul Young.

I first learned of The Shack last fall. Everyone seemed to be talking about how great this book was, so I added it to my "TBR" list. Then I learned a little more about the story plot and I decided it wasn't for me and I took it off. But then I read Carrie's review over at Reading To Know and I got to wondering again whether or not I should read it. My indecision was put to an end when I received a copy for my birthday by a family member. Ready or not I now knew I had to read the book. If nothing else, then to get it off my mind and iron out my own opinion.

So I started The Shack on the drive home from our vacation last weekend -- it was a long car ride and by the time we arrived home I only had three chapters left to read, which I finished before the weekend was over. It has taken me a few days to collect my thoughts and the following is my review.

Book Summary
The Shack is the story of Mack (Mackenzie Allen Phillips) who is overcome with "the Great Sadness" when his youngest daughter is abducted and murdered while on a family vacation. The turning point in the story comes when Mack receives a note from God asking him to return to the shack where the police found some of his daughter's clothing (though her body was never recovered). Mack goes to the shack, but isn't sure what to expect. The rest of the story is about what Mack finds and how it forever changes his life.

My Thoughts
Overall The Shack is a fast and fairly easy read, unless of course the reader wishes to take time to ponder the depth of the conversations Mack has while visiting the shack. From what I could gather there was a lot to think about in this story. It was definitely more than just a story of a father who is grieving the loss of his daughter.

There were little nuggets of truth in the story and there were also some weird things -- things I didn't agree with and things portrayed in a way I personally didn't like. But as I read I kept in mind the fact that The Shack is a work of fiction. It was never intended to be a devotional, or a "how to for Christians", or an addition to the Bible. In fact, Young has clarified in interviews, that he never intended to publish The Shack for the general public to read. It was a story he wrote to share with his children and close friends. (It was only after strong encouragement by his friends that he even submitted the book to a publisher.) But it was published and so I think the best way to explain what The Shack is would be to say: it is a fictional story of what happens to a man dealing with one of the greatest grief in life. It might be considered on par with the fictional "fantasy" works of Frank Peretti. Some people may agree with the contents of the story and conversations within the story, others may not. But most readers will be safe if they keep in mind it is a work of fiction. And if the book brings up questions in the reader's mind they should jot them down and take the time to pursue the answers both themselves and with their Pastor or church.

As I mentioned above, I was disinterested in this book because of the plot. I didn't want to read a story about a child being kidnapped and murdered, especially a little girl since I have a little girl. But that wasn't the point of this book. It was a means to an end, an element of the story plot to bring about the message of the story. Details were not included, for which I was grateful.

If you could say I learned anything while reading The Shack it might be that I was reminded how important it is to leave all my worries -- both the small and the impossibly big -- in the hands of God. It is so easy to be afraid and to stress over the problems here on earth (both at home and around the world). It is so easy to fear evil; to fear the unknown troubles that are predicted in the future, but to fear is wrong. Christians should be wary and should be proactive for Christ, but they should also trust in the Lord. God is always with His children, even in the darkest moments. Because we live in a fallen world there is evil, but that doesn't mean God can't help us through it (think of the martyrs who died for Christ hundreds of years ago... or even today).

Summary
On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The Shack a 2.5 to 3. My opinion might be summed up in the statement, "it was OK." It wasn't by any means a phenomenal piece of literature. It felt at times a little cliche, but the idea -- the story plot was unique and somewhere out there it might impact people for the good. I'd advise readers to remember it is a piece of fiction and to borrow vs. buy this book until you know for certain if it's one you want to pass on. It might also behoove the reader to find out what their own pastor or church leader's opinion of the book is.

A House to Let by Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilkie Collins & Adelaide Anne Procter

102 pages
First published 1858, reprinted 2004
Indy Publish
Boston, Massachusetts

Some time ago my friend and fellow bibliophile, Alison, and I were searching online for future reading ideas. She stumbled upon a little known book titled A House to Let which was co-authored by five authors, among the most notable of the five were Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Wilkie Collins. Intrigued I put the book on my list to read one day... That day finally came. At the May meeting of my book club both A House to Let and Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens were selected as our reads before the next meeting in July.

A House to Let was first published in 1858 in an edition of Dickens' Household Words magazine. The story is split up in six chapters or segments. And with the exception of the first and last chapters, which were co-written by Dickens and Collins, each chapter was written by one of the five authors. Gaskell wrote the second, Dickens the third, Procter the fourth, and Collins the fifth, with Dickens handling editing for the entire novel. Apparently the story was enough of a success and enjoyment to write to encourage the group to join forces again and co-write The Haunted House in 1859.

At 102 pages, A House to Let is a short novel told in the first person by an elderly spinster named Sophonisba (a.k.a. Sarah), who has moved in across the street from a run down and abandoned house. Sophonisba's interest is sparked when she learns that the house, shrouded in mystery, has not been let for years and will never let. With the aide of an old admirer, Jabez Jarber, and her devoted servant, Trottle the research and sleuthing begins and by the end of the story the mystery is solved and things are put right in typical Dickens fashion. Throughout the story various characters, stories, and possible solutions to the mystery are submitted to Sophonisba, including stories of romance, tragedy, epic poetry, suspense, and swashbuckling adventure.

Overall I enjoyed A House to Let. I admit, I did find it a little slow at first, not because of the wording, but because I had no idea what I was getting into (the used copy I bought turned out to be a different edition than I expected and it didn't include a description or introduction to the story on either the inside or outside of the cover). Nevertheless, if the reader is persistent the story does pick up and reward the reader in the end.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate A House to Let a 3.5. I really enjoyed the story. I think it was a fun read, especially considering the number of celebrated authors involved in its creation. But I don't think it was said authors' best work. Still, if a reader is curious to read something by Collins, Dickens, or Gaskell, but is daunted by the length or wording of their individual novels, this might be a good place to start.

Unfortunately copies of A House to Let are hard to locate. None of my local libraries possessed a copy, so I ended up buying one online from a used bookseller for $3.50. Although it wasn't the edition I wanted, I decided to keep it and it now rests amongst my other Collins, Dickens, and Gaskell novels.

--------------------
Note: For those interested in reading one or more of the stand alone novels by these authors I recommend: North and South, Wives and Daughters, Ruth, and Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. I've only read one by Wilikie Collins entitled, The Woman in White, but it was excellent! As for Dickens, my favorite so far has been Bleak House, but I've heard many wonderful things about David Copperfield and Oliver Twist, and A Tale of Two Cities, I know they are great reads and I plan to read them one day. Oh and, stay tuned for my review of Little Dorrit.

Smoky, The Cow Horse by Will James

310 pages

copyright 1926, renewed 1954

Charles Scribner's Sons

New York, NY

As I mentioned in my What's On My Nightstand May post, I stumbled upon Smoky: The Cow Horse by Will James while browsing the fiction section of my local public library. As has happened many times in the past, once I discovered the book I was determined to bring it home and read it, not only because the story plot seemed interesting, but also because the book smelled so incredibly good, just as an old book should.

Published in 1926, Smoky was an instant hit. The book was published in September of that year and reprinted ten more times before the end of year! It won James the Newbery Medal for children's literature in 1927. It also caught the attention of Hollywood which resulted in three film adaptations over the next forty years, including a version with Fred MacMurry (a favorite actor of mine) in 1946, a version which was narrated by Will James himself in 1933, and most recently in 1966.

Smoky is the story of a horse, born in the wild and trained by a cowboy to become one of the best cow horses in the western United States. The book, told in the third person, but from Smoky's perspective, chronicles the adventures Smoky encounters throughout his life, as well as the friends and enemies he makes along the way.

I believe what Will James wrote in the preface of the book illustrates perfectly what the story of Smoky is all about: "To me, the horse is man's greatest, most useful, faithful, and powerful friend. He never whines when he's hungry or sore footed or tired, and he'll keep on going for the human till he drops. The horse is not appreciated and never will be appreciated enough, -- few humans, even them that works him, really know him, but then there's so much to know about him... The horse I wrote of in this book is not an exception; there's quite a few like him... Smoky is just a horse, but all horse and that I think is enough said."

Generally I am not a big fan of westerns. I enjoy them, but I don't read very many of them. I guess growing up I saw more than my share of western movies (my family owned the entire John Wayne collection of movies on VHS). For a long time I felt a little burned out when it came to tales of cowboys, horses, and shoot-'em-up westerns. And so, when I began reading Smoky I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it, but I can honestly say I did.

Smoky is an interesting, fast paced, and humorous read. James' writing style is unique -- he wrote as he talked , which means the book includes its share of slang and informal English. Still the book was an easy read and I found the book realistically and beautifully depicted what life was like in the wild west for both man and beast during the early part of the 20th century. I think it's important to note that because Smoky was intended as a children's book there is a lack of extreme violence and language. But it isn't missed. I was impressed, though not surprised with how well the story is told (including the bad), how black the blackguard is depicted, all without spelling it out in a vulgar or profane way.

Overall, I really truly enjoyed Smoky. I learned a lot about horses, cowboys, ranches, rodeos and the like all the while being caught up in the exciting adventures that Smoky encountered. My heart strings were pulled, I laughed, and when I reached the end of the story I was pleased and inspired to imagine what happened in Smoky's remaining days.

Yes, Smoky was a fun read. A true American classic from the 20th century that should not be forgotten. It is a great read for young and old readers alike and a fun read aloud for young children who have an interest in cowboys and horses. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Smoky: The Cow Horse a 4. I really enjoyed this book and hope to share it with my children one day. While I borrowed this copy, I am on the lookout for any used copies of James' novels. If the others are as enjoyable as Smoky they are books I'd consider adding to my personal library.

As a side note, for those interested: Will James wrote and illustrated 23 books, all of which include his own beautiful pen and ink illustrations. For more information check out the Nevada Writer's Hall of Fame website, the Will James Art Company, and The Will James Society.

Spring Book Swap Closes & Matches Are Made

It's official, the third book swap, co-hosted by Carrie at Reading to Know and myself here at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind, has come to a close. Our theme this time around was Non-fiction books and I am excited to report that we have 10 readers participating. As always, I can't wait to see what books will be swapped!

For those who signed up please see below for instructions on what to do next. For anyone who missed out... Don't worry, we'll be hosting a Summer Book Swap in the late summer over at Reading to Know, so please check back in a couple months and sign up then. (Note: the theme will be different. i.e. Autumn 2008 was all-time favorite book, Winter 2009 was favorite children's book, etc.)

Instructions:
1. Using an random sequence generator I put in each participants number (as associated with their name on the sign-up) and drew out the following matches:

* S. Mehrens at Library Hospital has been matched with Ronnica at Ignorant Historian
* Laura at Lines in Pleasant Places has been matched with Amy at Hope Is the Word
* Katharine at Woollywotnots has been matched with Veronika at True Harbor
* Page Turner at Lines From the Page has been matched with Carrie at Reading to Know
* Madonna at My Own Little Acre of the Internet has been matched with Deanna at Mom - Musings

Don't be worried if you match may already have your chosen book or vice versa, don't worry, just have a second or third choice as a back-up in case that happens. (If it does, please let me know so I can update the final swap list.) Hopefully it won't! When everyone has settled on what books they will swap I will take the final list and post it here.

In the meantime, please remember the following rules:
* Books should be in Excellent, Like New, or New condition unless you and your match agree to another condition. **Please note** We are not expecting you to give away your only copy, but to pick your book to swap and then go get a new copy (or if out of print, a copy in good or like new condition) and send that to your match.

* Book swaps are permanent unless you and your match agree to another arrangement.

* You must have your book shipped to your match on or before Saturday, June 20th!

** Please note. My apologies as I neglected to mark this swap as available to US residents only, so there is a possibility that some participants are from outside the USA (i.e. Canada and the UK). If a participant is matched with someone from another country and does not wish to pay the extra shipping please let me know as soon as possible as we might be able to make a switch.

* Last, be sure to blog about the book you received from the swap. Then, come back on Wednesday, July 1st and I will post a Mr. Linky for you to come link up your reviews of the book you swapped so that everyone can see what was shared.

As Carrie said in February... Let the swapping commence! Have fun as you expand your libraries and your reading!

A Month In Review And Looking Ahead: May to June

May was a busy month, but I was happy to finish the following eight books:

* The Methods of Lady Walderhurst by Frances Hodgson Burnett
* Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
* Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace
* Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
* On The Incarnation by Saint Athanasius
* Anne's House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery*
* The Penny Whistle by B. J. Hoff
* Smoky The Cow Horse by Will James
(Note: Click on the links to view my reviews)

These eight books bring my year-to-date reads up to forty-two. I'm already ahead of where I was last year at this time... not that I was competing with my total from last year... Ok. Well, maybe I was... just a little.

Of the books I projected to read in my April Month in Review post I finished five out of six. Not bad.

I'm looking forward to June, as summer always seems the best time to read since the days are long and books can be enjoyed out of doors as well as in. My June predictions are limited to: A House to Let, another Agatha Christie and another Betsy-Tacy book, all of which I expect to be definite reads. As for any other reads, including Little Dorrit, I am open to see what I finish and what else I find to begin. I hope you'll come back to find out!

Happy Summer everyone!

Wordless Wednesday: A Young Reader

Normally I try to post a photo that is book related as a "Wordless Wednesday" post, but the other day I found a 20 second video clip of my daughter reading from back in late March. Enjoy!

Book Quotes: A Writer's View On Reading

"It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones."

~ C. S. Lewis (introduction to On the Incarnation)

The Penny Whistle by B. J. Hoff

153 pages

Bethany House Publishers, 1996

Minneapolis, MN

I stumbled upon The Penny Whistle by B. J. Hoff while browsing the shelves of my local public library. The title caught my attention and the brief description included on the dust-jacket flap interested me, so I brought it home.

Set in the coal mining town of Skingle Creek, KY in the mid 1890s, The Penny Whistle is the story of how a kindly teacher and two of his beloved students impact the people of their town for the good and together bring about a miracle.

The Penny Whistle is the type of book that you find adapted to the screen for The Hallmark Channel. It's a Christian-faith empowering story, a feel-good story of love, faith, and hope, and a tear-jerker of a novel. Because it is told through third-person narration and character dialog there is little action and flowery description, but it still manages to make for a quick, easy, and fairly enjoyable read (I finished it in one evening). It is the type of book that works well for both young and old readers alike.

Overall, I did like The Penny Whistle, even if it isn't from my typical genre. I found the story believable and refreshing in a wholesome way. On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent, I would rate The Penny Whistle a 3.5 to a 4. It's no classic; it's not even great literature, but it is a sweet story with a great message.

--------------------------------------

Note: For those interested B. J. Hoff has her own website where you can learn more about her books and read her personal blog.