September: A Month In Review

It is the last day of September and it is starting to fell like Autumn, even though it doesn't quite look the part. The leaves have only a hint of color, but the humidity has dropped and the air is becoming brisker in the early evenings.

This evening I took a long walk with my husband and daughter and enjoyed the quiet beauty of nature. It was the perfect evening to return and settle down with a good book, which is exactly what I'm planning to do once I finish this post.

I am pleased with my reading progress during the month of September. I finished off 10 books, bringing my yearly total to 79. Two of the ten books were on my projected reading list for September. One book didn't make it... I'm ashamed to admit I never got around to reading L. M. Montgomery's Rainbow Valley, which I've been planning to read for two months now. (sigh)

Here's my recap:

1. Highland Fling by Katie Fforde
2. Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge
3. The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
4. The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie
5. Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson
6. A Dog Called Scholar by Anne H. White
7. Carney's House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace
8. The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer
9. Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace
10. The Trees Kneel At Christmas

As you can tell by my list I am a little behind in posting reviews, but no worry, I shall have the missing reviews posted before the end of next week, if not sooner.

So that's what I read this month, but what is on my list for October?

I have a few definite reads: 1. Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry (chosen by the ladies of my book club to read before our next meeting). 2. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie (for my personal AC reading challenge). 3. Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery (which I stated in my recent What's On My Nightstand post will be finished before November. Don't believe me? Just wait and see!) And then of course I'm planning on reading several books by Maud Hart Lovelace for the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge. Mrs. Lovelace penned 24 novels during her lifetime I am planning to read and review not only the rest of the Betsy-Tacy series, but some of her lesser known works, so be sure to check back throughout the month.

And speaking of Maud Hart Lovelace... there's still time to join the challenge. Whether you are a veteran Betsy-Tacy fan or have never heard of Deep Valley and Maud Hart Lovelace, I encourage you to join the fun.

Well, I'm off to enjoy a quiet evening and a good book. Happy reading!

Carney's House Party by Maud Hart Lovelace

275 pages

Published 1949, reprinted 2000

Harper CollinsPublishers

New York, NY

Carney's House Party is the second of three Deep Valley Books by Maud Hart Lovelace. Although each of the Deep Valley Books takes place in the same town as the Betsy-Tacy books they are not linked any more than to have Betsy Ray make a guest appearance. Instead, as stand-alone novels, each book tells the adventures of a central character and her close friends and family within the much loved town of Deep Valley, Minnesota.

As a side note for those interested, you can read my review of the first Deep Valley Book, Winona's Pony Cart, which I reviewed earlier this year. And watch for my upcoming review of the last book, Emily of Deep Valley.

The Plot:

Carney's House Party takes place over the summer of 1911. As the story opens Carney Sibley has finished her sophomore year at Vassar College and is getting ready to leave the East Coast and return home to the Middle-West and more specifically, Deep Valley. Carney is excited because it is promising to be a wonderful summer as her parents have agreed to let her host a month-long house party with some of her best friends, including old chums Betsy Ray and Bonnie Andrews (recently returned from Paris) and her college roommate, the mysterious yet beautiful, Isobel Porteous.

And the summer is indeed is filled with adventure and fun for Carney and her friends as they frolic together enjoying picnics, swimming, boating, and fishing, dances and parties, or just hanging out and laughing together. To add to this, there are two surprises for Carney. First a new member is added to the crowd, the wealthy and unkempt, but endearing Sam Hutchinson, who appears to take interest in Isobel, and second, the return of Larry Humphreys (Carney's high school sweetheart) who moved to California four years prior. Love is in the air, but what everyone wants to know is -- will Larry and Carney get engaged?

My Thoughts:

For some reason I never got around to reading Carney's House Party when I was reading through the Betsy-Tacy books as a teenager. I wish I hadn't waited so long to look for a copy since it is now out of print and very expensive to purchase. Thankfully I was able to track down a copy through my local library and finally satisfy my curiosity about some of the unanswered questions I've always had. Questions like what happens to Larry and Carney? And what happened in Betsy's life between her senior year at Deep Valley High School in Betsy and Joe and her traveling Europe in Betsy and the Great World?

Over all I really enjoyed Carney's House Party. It is a fun, entertaining, and romantic read that, in my opinion, is equally as good as the Besty-Tacy stories. That said, Carney's House Party has its differences. Instead of spanning an entire year as is the case in the Betsy-Tacy series, this book covers just a summer. Because of this it tends to put a little more detail into the development of characters and the house party activities. Readers should not expect Carney's House Party to be an extension to Betsy and Joe, because after all the story is Carney's and is told from her perspective. I guess you might liken it to what the Road of Avonlea books are to the Anne of Green Gables series.

As is the case with her other works, Carney's House Party isn't just another romance set in the early 1900s. Mrs. Lovelace also manages to weave in subtle lessons and interesting historic details. I noticed several of these in Carney's House Party, but there were two that particularly stood out to me.

First, at one point in the story there is a casual reference made to a newspaper reporting that the Mona Lisa had been stolen from the Louvre in Paris. I love it when Mrs. Lovelace includes these little details because I'm always compelled to dig for more information when it's something I don't know much about, or in this case, I don't know at all. Another example is in Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown when a references is made to the Carnegie Libraries.

Second and on a deeper note, I found it interesting to note the worldview that Carney and her friends have towards college and careers and love and marriage. Life in 1911 was so much different for young women than it is in 2009. While more and more women were attending college they still did not have the right to vote and their futures were limited to a few careers or settling down to raise a family. What I like about the characters that Mrs. Lovelace created in her books is how balanced they always are. For example, Carney and her girlfriends have hopes and dreams that include a higher education and travel, but none of them are men-hating feminists, nor are they milk-toast women content to let others tell them how to live. It is clear throughout the book that Carney not only loves the challenge of attending a college like Vassar, but that she is excelling in her studies. She also believes in a woman's right to vote, yet dreams of one day herself becoming a wife and mother.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Carney's House Party a 4.5. If you've read the Betsy-Tacy series, but never taken the time to read this book you are missing out. Hopefully now that Harper CollinsPublishers reprinted the entire Betsy-Tacy series they will turn their attention to reprinting the Deep Valley Books.

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If you have read and enjoyed Carney's House Party, you might also enjoy Future In a Handbasket: The Life and Letters Behind Carney's House Party by Amy Dolnick.

The Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge Begins!

Welcome to the first ever Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge!

If you are a regular reader of this blog then you already know I am a long time fan of Mrs. Lovelace's writing, particularly the Betsy-Tacy series. I was introduced to the Betsy Ray by my mother, who, had herself, read the books as a teenager. I immediately fell in love with the stories and over the years have reread them several times, but I've never had the chance to share how great these books are to more than a few readers and only then by word of mouth. Until now!

Thanks to Harper CollinsPublishers, who have chosen to republish the last six novels in the Betsy-Tacy series, readers everywhere can now have easy and affordable access to some of Mrs. Lovelace's best stories. And so I ask you, what better time is there to launch a reading challenge then the week the books are released after being out of print for the last decade? There isn't. It is my hope that the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge will not only allow me to share my love of Mrs. Lovelace's books, but give you a chance to discover for yourself how timeless these stories truly are. Now, without further delay, let's begin!

First, to start: Link your blog (main site or permelink to an introductory post for this challenge) on the Mr. Linky below. I am planning to leave the Mr. Linky open until Saturday, October 10, so there is still time to spread the word if you know of someone who might be interested in joining in the fun.

Then throughout the month of October I will post various reviews and tidbits about Mrs. Lovelace and her books.

On Saturday, October 31st I will put a new Mr. Linky which will conclude the reading challenge. At that time feel free to put up one or all of the permelinks to your Lovelace Reading Challenge pots.

Happy reading!

The Tale of Despereaux: The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo

269 pages
Published 2003
Scholastic
New York, NY

I admit I am a little behind the times with this review. I'd heard of The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo at some time prior to the 2008 movie adaptation, but never gave it more than a passing glance. And then after seeing some positive reviews by other bloggers I added it to my TBR list. A few weeks ago while browsing the shelves of my local library I came upon it and decided it was time to read the story.

For those of you still unfamiliar with this children's novel, The Tale of Despereaux is an animal adventure and fairytale that is told through four sub-books within the main book.

In Book 1 the reader meets the unlikely hero of the story, Despereaux, a small mouse who was born with his eyes open and with overly large ears. Despereaux lives in a castle along with his family and a rather large mice clan. Throughout the chapters of Book 1 the reader comes to learn that Despereaux is not your average mouse. Instead of doing as the other mice do, (i.e. chew pages of books and chase after crumbs) Despereaux loves to read books and listen to music. It is because of his love for books and music that he meets the beautiful (human) Princess named Pea. And it is because of this meeting that Despereaux must set off on a great adventure and face many a danger to save himself and the Princess Pea.

Book 2: The story switches to the dungeons of the castle where the reader meets a young rat named Chiaroscuro (a.k.a. Roscuro). Through the chapters of Book 2 the reader learns what role Roscuro plays in Despereaux's great adventure and his sad connection to the royal family.

Book 3: Once again the story switches to another character, this time a young peasant girl named Miggery Sow, who dreams of one day becoming a princess. Throughout Book 3 the reader learns about poor Miggery's existence and what brings her to the castle and eventually leads her to play an unfortunate part in Despereaux's great adventure.

Book 4: The last book within the novel brings Despereaux, Roscuro and Miggery together (as well as some supporting characters) to reach the climax of the story and in time the fairytale ending.

Overall I found Ms. DiCamillo too be a good story teller. She weaves important lessons within The Tale of Despereaux and gives a nice twist on what could have been a run-of-the-mill fairytale by having a mouse play the part of the knight in shining armor.

The Tale of Despereaux is a children's story (intended for ages 9-12), but it can make for a charmingly short read for adults too, or even as a great read aloud to younger children (5-8). Because it is a book intended for young readers there are some things I should mention.

First, Ms. DiCamillo, as the narrator, does interrupt the story at intervals to define difficult words, or in some cases encourages the young reader to go look up a word when they don't know its meaning. For the adult reader this method of narrating can distract from the story, but personally I'm willing to overlook it as the novel is after all a children's story.

And second, there is one word of warning I would give with regards to The Tale of Despereaux. Throughout the book the story touches upon some scary and difficult subject matter (i.e. the death of a loved one, the physical and emotional abuse that Miggery Sow endures, the deplorable conditions of the dungeon, etc.). I would suggest parents take the time to preview the book before reading aloud or giving it to a young child to read, so they can be prepared to answer questions or concerns or hold off on sharing the story with too young a reader.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The Tale of Despereaux a 4. I really enjoyed the story and found it to be a cute, charming, fresh, and entertaining read. That said, I didn't run out and buy a copy. I was contented to borrow one from my local library. Although I enjoyed the story it is unlikely that I will re-read the book, at least not until my daughter is older.

As a side note, I still haven't seen the movie adaptation of The Tale of Despereaux, but I plan to borrow it from my library as well, as I'm curious to see if it's as good as the book. And because I enjoyed The Tale of Despereaux so much I am open to reading more of Ms. DiCamillo's works, particularly The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Watch for my review to appear sometime in the coming months.

Oliver Finds His Way by Phyllis Root

40 pages
Published 2002
Candlewick Press
Cambridge, MA

Oliver Finds His Way by Phyllis Root is currently one of my daughter's favorite stories.

The Plot:
While Mama hangs the wash out and Papa rakes the leaves, Oliver chases a big yellow leaf... all the way to the edge of the woods. Oliver stops. He looks around. Nothing is familiar. "Mama? Papa?" he calls. No answer. Oliver is lost! A small bear looks for -- and finds -- big courage and a way home. (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
There are so many reasons that I like this book. For starters, I liked that the story is actually based off a real-life incident from the author's own childhood. Although it's a story about a little boy bear, it's something that any child can identify with.

As for the text, Ms. Root's story is simple, but fun to read, even after the 20th time. The sentences are short and the words are simple, yet the story still contains depth and an interesting plot.

Mr. Denise's illustrations are another reason I like this book so much. They are perfect for this particular story and I just love the muted colors that he used to depict the fall colors of the leaves and bushes and also how adorably cute and roly-poly Oliver appears in his red plaid coat and denim overalls.

My daughter's favorite part of the story is when Oliver roars for his parents. Every time she has the book read to her she roars right along with Oliver. Then the other day I came upon her "reading" the book to herself; she was pointing out various things in the story and saying their name (i.e. yellow, mama, papa, baby, etc.) and roaring when she came to the pages where Oliver is calling for his parents.

Although Oliver Finds His Way was published for children aged 4-8 it makes for great read aloud for those as young as 2 (which is my daughter's age). And with the summer over and the leaves starting to change it's definitely the right season for a story about a boy chasing a yellow leaf. I found my copy in the children's section at my local library, but for those interested in adding to their children's library this might be a good book to consider.

A Dog Called Scholar by Anne H. White

158 pages

Published 1963

The Viking Press

New York, NY

A few weeks back I was browsing the children's book section for stories to read aloud to my daughter when I passed by the Juvenile section and A Dog Called Scholar caught my eye.

Out of curiosity I did a little digging on the Internet, but couldn't find much about A Dog Called Scholar or its author, Anne H. White. Apparently this book hasn't fared as well as other books from the same era, it and its author didn't even warrant a spot on Wikipedia. And because of this I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when I discovered it wasn't even properly listed on Shelfari, someone had posted the book but with the illustrator as being the author! (Yes, I changed it.)

But despite it's near anonymity I really enjoyed A Dog Called Scholar, so I'm hoping to draw some attention to it through this review.

The Plot:
A Dog Called Scholar is set in the present day (of publication, around 1963) in what I suspect to be a rural New England town. As the story opens a litter of Golden Retriever puppies has been born to two of Mr. and Mrs. Woodward Wilson's most prized "Wonder Dogs." Unfortunately while most of the litter appears to carry on their parents beauty and breeding, there is one little ball of fluff that appears different. Not exactly the runt, but definitely a little slow, this puppy is dubbed, Little Moo. It doesn't take long for Mrs. Wilson to decide they must be rid of Little Moo and as soon as possible before he has a chance of clouding the Wilson Wonder Dog name as well as their popularity.

Enter the Tucker family with their two children, Clem and Susie. Some time previous to this story the Wilson's stayed with the Tuckers while both family's were abroad in Europe. It is when Mrs. Wilson considers Little Moo's fate that she remembers she never properly thanked the Tuckers for their hospitality by way of a gift and that giving Little Moo to the Tuckers would be the solution to all her problems.

The Tuckers (excepting Mr. Tucker) are delighted to have their very own dog and it isn't long before Little Moo is adopted into the Tucker family and renamed Cubby... and then later Scholar. The rest of the story follows the comedic adventures of Scholar with the Tuckers and around town. The climax of the story actually comes in the last chapter when the Wilson's return, having learned what a wonderful dog Scholar turned out to be, and try to buy him back much to the distres of everyone, but Mr. Tucker. From this point until the end of the chapter and likewise the end of the book the story becomes a page-turner. What will be the fate of Scholar?

My Thoughts:
From start to finish A Dog Called Scholar is a delightfully charming and funny story about a dog and his family. In some ways it reminded me of a 1960s children's version of the popular Marley and Me (reviewed), but only a little (Scholar is not quite as crazy as Marley). A Dog Called Scholar is a great read for dog lovers of all ages, but especially for children. I would even say it could make for a great read-aloud to younger children and I'm adding it to the long list of books I want to share with my daughter when she gets a little older, as she is a big fan of dogs.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate A Dog Called Scholar a 4. It is a charming, yet dated story (there are lots of references to life during the 1960s which would be quite foreign to a child of the millennium), still it is a fun read and one that should not be quickly forgotten. Check your local library, they might have a copy. If not, used copies can be found online at a very affordable price (under $5).

As a side note, during my online research I discovered Ms. White published a few other novels, including one that Robert McCloskey illustrated. I definitely want to check that one out.

What's On My Nightstand: September

I've been participating in the What's On Your Nightstand? posts for over a year now. Just for fun I clicked over to see what I was reading last year at this time. Of the six books I listed I finished five. Not bad considering some months I end up reading dozens of books, just not the ones I mention in my Nightstand post, but then I guess that's what happens when you're a reader of books by whim vs. duty.

Last month I projected to read three books, one of those three books carries over to my Nightstand List for this month and I must admit I'm a little tired of it being there, but it's my own fault for not having read it. Nevertheless, I am determined that it won't be on my October Nightstand list! As for the others this month, they are all new.

Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery

(#7 in the Anne of Green Gables series)

Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson
(Book 1 of 4 in the Miss Buncle series)

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
(Selected by my book club for our November meeting)

A Dog Called Scholar by Ann H. White

Some of these books might be finished before the month of September is over and in that case I'm hoping to fill up October with some other books like Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie (for my personal AC reading challenge), perhaps Dracula by Bram Stoker, and of course several books by Maud Hart Lovelace as part of my Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge!

Speaking of which... Check back on Monday, September 28 for the launching of the first ever:

What about you? What are you reading? Check out 5 Minutes For Books to see what everyone else is reading or to post a link to your What's On Your Nightstand post.

Tuesday Teaser

In honor of today being the first day of Autumn I thought the following quote beautifully applicable for today's Tuesday Teaser:

"There is something very thrilling about standing in a place of shelter while a gale roars by over your head. One tastes the excitement of violence without the fear. Standing beside the herbaceous border under the west wall the air was as still as on a summer's day. Not a petal moved, not a grass blade was stirred, while all about them the October flowers had a brilliance that summer had scarcely known. The massed Michaelmas daisies and goldenrod, the dahlias and chrysanthemums, purple and scarlet and gold, seemed to burn with deeper and deeper passion as one looked at them, and the lawn after the morning's rain worse a green so vivid that one caught one's breath. A bonfire of dead leaves was burning in the corner of the garden, and the acrid smell of its blue smoke, mingled with the smell of wet chrysanthemums and the west wind from the sea was the authentic bittersweet smell of the turning of the year. There was something triumphant about the blaze of color, something of fortitude in the determined quiet under the garden wall, that mocked at dissolution. The gale might roar as it chose, but while that west wall of solid granite stood its ground the end was not yet for the garden. Life was not so easily extinguished, and spring trod upon winter's heels. It flaunted its colors in the face of death, and it laughed under its breath." (Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge, Book 1, Pt 1, Chpt. 1, pg. 10-11)

Agatha Christie, The Queen of Crime: My Reflections

It has been a fun week for bloggers and Agatha Christie fans, particularly those who've been following the Agatha Christie Blogging Tour that Mysteries in Paradise started and to which I am honored to participate. So far this week I've enjoyed reading an assortment of posts on the tour that range from reviews of her books, to photographic journals taken while touring Dame Christie's home, to quizzes and other interesting facts about the author. It has indeed been a very fun week!

I cannot remember now which book was my first Agatha Christie read, but I remember that from the first I've always been a fan. Since the early years of my teenage life I've read several Christie novels, but it was only last year that I set my own reading challenge when I decided to start from the beginning and read through all of her mystery/crime novels by order of publication. To date I've read 17... or rather 18 (see note below).

I didn't make much progress in 2008, as I had only read seven by the end of the year: The Mysterious Affair At Styles (no review), The Secret Adversary (no review), The Murder on the Links (no review), The Man in the Brown Suit, The Secret of Chimneys, The Big Four, The Mystery of the Blue Train. (Note: I skipped over The Murder of Roger Ackroyd because I'd read it just a year or two earlier and remembered too much of the plot to feel I could read and review with fresh eyes. Because of this I've changed my reading number from 17 to 18.)

It was towards the end of December 2008 that I started counting and realized if I didn't pick up the pace in reading her books then it could take me upwards to 10 years to finish my own challenge! And that was a bit daunting... So at the start of 2009 I began my new goal of reading at least one Christie novel a month, with the hopes of finishing 12-15 by the end of this year.

It's now September and I am on target with 10 books read thus far: The Seven Dials Mystery, The Murder at the Vicarage, The Sittaford Mystery, Peril At End House, Lord Edgeware Dies, Murder on the Orient Express, Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, Three Act Tragedy, Death In the Clouds and most recently The A.B.C. Murders.

Out of all 18 Christie mysteries I've read there hasn't been one I didn't enjoy, but there were definitely some that, in my opinion, were better than others. My personal favorites have included: Murder on the Links, The Man in the Brown Suite, and The A.B.C. Murders.

I'm amazed when I stop and think about the number of mysteries Christie penned. In addition to the 66 mystery novels Christie also wrote 160 short stories and yet, to date, I've not found one story that is too much like another. Yes, from time to time there are similarities (especially when she's taken an idea from a short story and years later expanded it into a novel), but for the most part the plots are fresh and the solution to the mystery is never the same. A reader is guaranteed, when picking up one of her books for the first time, to find a new "Who-dun-it" to puzzle over regardless of what they've read in the past.

What I like most about Agatha Christie's novels is that they are equally entertaining and mentally engaging. Part of me likes to sit back and just watch the mystery unwind and the other part of me likes the challenge of trying to solve the crime ahead of or at least at the same time as the lead detective. Because so many of her early works contained Hercule Poirot as the lead detective I've not had much time to solidify my opinion of the other detectives, but at this time I can honestly say I really like Hercule Poirot. Years ago I thought he was conceited and annoying, but I've really come to respect his methods and sense of humor. I also appreciate the "tastefulness" of her crime novels. That is to say, murder and mayhem is never pleasant, but Christie's writing style and choice of words keeps the story clean as she avoids unnecessary profanity or sexuality and the grotesqueness and baseness to which many modern writers fall. Of course this is mostly due to the time and place she wrote her novels, but nevertheless I appreciate it.

Yes indeed, Agatha Christie was a great writer and I think it well that she has been dubbed, "The Queen of Crime."

The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie

252 pages
Published 1936, reprinted 2006
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc
New York, NY

The A.B.C. Murders, also published as The Alphabet Murders is the 18th crime novel by Dame Agatha Christie and the 11th in the a series of mysteries involving the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot.

Once again Poirot is joined by his friend (and on-again-off-again crime solving partner), Captain Arthur Hastings, who has returned to England from his South American ranch to sort out some business matters. As is generally the case when he is present, Hastings narrates the story, although there are a few chapters where there is an exception and the story is told in the third person. Avid readers of Ms. Christie's works will note this isn't the first time she has varied the narrative and point of view within a story. She did both within The Man in the Brown Suit (1924) and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926), the latter being her most lauded work.

The Plot:
"Ascher in Andover, Barnard in Bexhill, Clarke in Churston – all are dead, each with an ABC Railway Guide found beside the body. A serial killer is on the loose, one who is determined to play games with the great Hercule Poirot. But can the Belgian detective come to grips with the mind of a psychopath? With the help of Hastings and Japp, Poirot must travel the length and breadth of England. Is he always destined to be too late?" (Summary courtesy of AgathaChristie.com)

My Thoughts:

"I admit,' I said, 'that a second murder in a book often cheers things up. If the murder happens in the first chapter, and you have to follow up everybody's alibi until the last page but one -- well, it does get a bit tedious." (Hastings to Poirot, Chapter 3, page 24)

From its very first pages The A.B.C. Murders is the furthest thing from tedious. It is an entertaining and engaging read with a fast moving plot, interesting and witty dialog, and a mix of characters that range from quirky to somewhat endearing and unique. As for the mystery I thought at one point I had the solution and that Ms. Christie's goal for the story was not for Poirot to solve the "who" of the crime, but the "why." But with the turn of a page, a close of a chapter... I realized I was wrong! Once again I was surprised by the ending and the tables were turned on the murderer as Hercule Poirot got the upper hand and solved not only the why, but the who of the crime.

I really enjoyed The A.B.C. Murders and have added it alongside Murder on the Links (no review) and The Man in the Brown Suit to my list of all-time Christie favorites. While this novel is less the mystery/romance that those other to novels are, it is still an excellent read as an action packed and truly puzzling Who-Dunit. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The A.B.C. Murders a 4.5 to a 5. This was one of Christie's best Who-Dunit's and I loved every minute of the read!

Readers who enjoy the screen adaptations will be interested to note The A.B.C. Murders has been adapted to the screen twice. First in 1966 with Tony Randall starring as Poirot and then again in 1992 with David Suchet as the Belgian detective.

Also another interesting note for fans of Christie's novels. In chapter 3 of The A.B.C. Murders Poirot and Hastings have a discussion of the "perfect" crime. what Poirot describes to be the perfect crime is actually the crime Christie uses in a later novel, Cards on the Table. I can't wait to get to that one!

In the mean time, check back next month when I review my next Christie novel and Hercule Poirot's next case, Murder in Mesopotamia.

Celebrating Book Blogger Appreciation Week

As I mentioned earlier this week there are several blogs I've chosen to follow because I find them interesting and useful as a reader or as a blogger. The following is a list of only 10 blogs. I could list all the blogs I follow, but it would make for a very long post and I wanted to keep this one short and to the point. Forgive me if you're not on this list. It probably means: 1) I don't know about your blog, yet, so leave a comment. 2) I've mentioned you in the past and so didn't this time. 3) I plan to mention you at some point in the future when I get a little more familiar with your blog. Or 4) You don't blog enough to warrant being mentioned. :)

And so without further adieu... Here are (in no particular order) ten blogs that I am currently following on Bloglines:

Semicolon. Even though Semicolon posts some great book reviews, my favorite aspect of the blog is the resources that she makes available to other bloggers, such as Saturday Review. Each Saturday book bloggers go to Semicolon and link to their top reviews or posts from the previous week by way of a Mr. Linky. I have found this not only to be a great way to spread the word about my blog and the books I've found, but also a wonderful resource for finding other book lovers and bloggers and wonderful books to add to my TBR list.

5Minutes4Books is another great blogging site that has both a diverse selection of reviews and an assortment of resources to bloggers. My two favorite resources on this blog are the monthly What's On Your Nightstand collection page and the Classics Book Club.

Fireside Musings and Never Jam Today are two blogs by two cousins. I don't remember how I came upon them, but it was some time last year and I've enjoyed reading their reviews and find their blogs both entertaining and insightful and sometimes our reading tastes overlap.

I admire both Reading to Know and Rebecca Reads for their daily devotion to reading and reviewing. I wish I had more time to read every day and more time to post reviews. I also wouldn't mind having the fan following that these ladies have at their book blogs.

Last, but not least, the following are four book blogs I've only just discovered. I've not been following them for long, but what I've read thus far has been informative and interesting:

My Individual Take (On the Subject)
To Live Fully Is To Become Multifarious
A Chair, a Fireplace, & a Tea Cozy
Jane Austen's World

Well, that's it for now. Happy Book Bloggers Appreciation Week to all of you!

Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge

502 pages

Published 1944

Coward-McCann, Inc.

New York, NY

I first learned of Green Dolphin Street (a.k.a. Green Dolphin Country) by Elizabeth Goudge as a teenager from an older married woman in my church. She claimed it was her all-time favorite novel. On this recommendation I read it, but didn't like the book. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why she thought it was so wonderful.

Now fast forward some 13 or 14 years and one of the women in my book club suggested we read and discuss Green Dolphin Street. She said she'd recently read it and found it to be one of the best novels she'd ever read on the subject of marriage and true love. Hmm... I thought, I might re-read this book and see if my opinion has changed. So I re-read it and now you get to hear my revised thoughts.

The Plot:
Green Dolphin Street is divided into four books and each book is divided into parts, with a different character of the story taking the central role of each part. The story itself spans the course of 45 plus years (from the early to mid 1800s to the late 1880s), two continents, and follows the adventures of three very different people and a supporting cast of unusual characters. The plot is very thick and thus a little difficult to summarize. I will do my best to outline it without giving away the best of the story.

As the story opens the reader finds themselves on the small channel island of St. Pierre, off the coast of England and France, during the early-mid 1800s. It is here that the reader is introduced to two very different sisters -- Marianne and Marguerite Le Patourel. Marianne is 16 and is described as an "elfin creature...totally without the beauty that distinguished her parents...with a passionate temper and brain that was too quick and hard and brilliant for her years and sex." Marguerite, on the other hand, at the age of 11 is already a "dimpled" and "fair beauty" with a bubbly personality, tinkling laugh, and a vivacious love love for life and desire for the happiness of those around her.

It is at this time that the two sisters meet the third and last central character of the book, one William Ozanne, age 13. Immediately Marianne sets her mind to win William as her own. But at the same time the reader realizes that it is not Marianne, but Marguerite with whom William has a special bond and is destined to fall in love. (The plot thickens...)

As the story progresses the children grow into young adults and their personalities become more defined. Marianne becomes a chic young woman with a quick mind and a quick tongue. She is very driven and adventurous and determined to get her own way, particularly when it involves the future of William. Marguerite has grown in beauty and is still a lover of life and laughter. William is likewise a lover of life, but too lazy in Marianne's opinion. Nevertheless, it becomes clear to everyone that William and Marguerite love each other... but unforeseen circumstances (and a little manipulation on Marianne's part) prevents William from professing his love to Marguerite before sailing off with the Royal Navy. (The plot grows thicker...)

While in the Far East William is tricked and robbed and ends up missing his boat, which leads him to accidentally go AWOL from the Navy, and in turn makes him a fugitive from his own country. With nowhere else to go William sails to a small colony in New Zealand to start his life anew.

A few years pass and with something of a job and home established, William finally writes the letter to request the hand in marriage of his one true love. But there's just one problem... In a drunken state of love, loneliness, and liquor William mixes up the sisters' names and accidentally asks for Marianne instead of Marguerite! (The plot thickens even more!)

But what of Marguerite? What will happen to William and Marianne? The rest of the story plot I leave to the reader to discover for themselves as that is the best way.

My Thoughts:
I have so many thoughts... For starters, the reason I hated this book as a teenager has to do with the fact I considered the story "broken" -- William and Marguerite were supposed to end up together... not William and Marianne! But as an adult (and perhaps being a married woman myself?) my perspective of this novel has changed. I realize that this story is not a predictably perfect romance, instead it is something more. On its face it is a beautifully unique tale of adventure and love in a time and place where the world was undergoing great change. But at a closer look it is also a somewhat upside down love story; it is a tale of true love, self-sacrifice and the journey to true happiness by letting go of what we want most and finding strength to do what we must. It is no fairytale, but it is very life-like.

One thing that has not changed is how I feel about Marianne. I didn't like her when I was a teenager and I still don't like her. But then, she is a very difficult character to like. She's got the tom-boy adventurous spirit that the modern girl appreciates, but she's also a very manipulative and selfish person. (Much like Scarlet O'Hara of Gone With the Wind or Becky Sharp of Vanity Fair, though I don't think Marianne is wicked like Becky Sharp was.) Marianne's spirit definitely drives the story, but there are so many other characters that the reader meets along the way whose impact upon each other and upon Marianne (just like in real life) makes the story come alive.

To add to this, Green Dolphin Street is jam-packed with Biblical symbolism and subtle lessons. Lessons about loyalty and friendship, true love in marriage, finding God in both the darkest moments as well as the most beautiful, and how selfishness brings hopelessness and loving sacrifice brings freedom. Throughout the story the reader can really see the ebb and flow of the main characters' spiritual and emotional lives.

Ms. Goudge is a beautiful writer. Some of the members of my book club complained that her writing was flowery and tended to make the story drag. But I didn't find this to be the case. Perhaps it helped that I'd read the book before and new how it would end, but either way, I just drank up her descriptive prose. Such imagery! Such depth! (Watch for such a quote next Tuesday as part of my Tuesday Teasers.)

There is so much more I could say about this book, but I will close with this. Green Dolphin Street is a worthy read. The ending is bitter sweet, but beautiful. There is much I took from this book and I highly recommend that you add it to your reading list. This is definitely a book that should be in print and be read! On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Green Dolphin Street a 5. A book to read and perhaps even own (which I do!).

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Note: In 1947 Hollywood adapted this book to the screen starring Lana Turner and Donna Reed. I've not seen the movie, but have heard that it is little like the book. It did win an Oscar for "Best Special Effects" I'm curious why that is. Maybe some day I'll get a chance to see the movie.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

If you follow any book blogs at all then it is very likely you already know this week is Book Blogger Appreciation Week.

From the various blogs I follow it's clear everyone has a different idea of how to celebrate. Some are posting interviews with bloggers, others are posting book or reading related memes, some have book give-aways, and others just a variety of details about themselves or the book blogging world.

After thinking it over I've decided to post two BBAW related posts. The first, today, is a meme I found over at My Thoughts Exactly entitled: 5 Words or Less, which I can tell you already I will turn into a 15 Words or Less Meme. The second post is set for Friday and will include a short list of book blogs I follow and why I think they're so great, so be sure to come back and check it out.

And now without further adieu... here is my 5 Words or Less meme...

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Not on a regular basis. If I do it might be apples and cheddar cheese.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
No! I do jot down quotes in my Book of Books.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?Bookmarks, post-its, tissues even!Laying the book flat open?
Bookmarks, Kleenex, or random scraps of paper.

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
I like both, but have been on a fiction binge for sometime.

Hard copy or Audio Books?
Hard copy. Audio Books are great for long car rides, but I haven't had any of late.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
I can do both, but prefer to stop at the end of a chapter.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
Depends. If the book is too hard to set down I wait.

What are you currently reading?
Check out my Shelfari shelf: http://www.shelfari.com/semehrens

What is the last book you bought?
The Real Mother Goose with Pictures by Blanche Fisher Wright

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
I have more than one book going at a time, but can only read one at a time. :)

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
It depends, usually stand alone books, unless it's a great story plot.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
There are three: Elizabeth Gaskell and Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Maud Hart Lovelace.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
I'm such a nerd, they're by genre (i.e. fiction vs. non fiction) and then author's last name.

What about you? Leave a comment and link to your own 5 Words or Less meme. And Happy Book Blogger Appreciation Week!

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If you're interested in learning more feel free to click on the Meme label to see other Memes I've posted about books, me and my reading habits.

Highland Fling by Katie Fforde

326 pages

Copyright 2003

St. Martin's Press

New York NY

It was purely on a whim that I picked up from my library Highland Fling, another of British romance writer Katie Fforde's books. Surprisingly enough it didn't turn out to be the type of read I expected.

The Plot (courtesy of the publisher):

"After a fight with her boyfriend, a business trip to Scotland is the perfect diversion for Jenny Porter, who works as a virtual assistant for a financial executive. Dispatched to assess a failing textile mill, Jenny instead finds herself determined to save it at any cost after befriending its charming employees. That cost might just be her sanity as she stretches her resources, patience, and compassion to the outer limits.

"As she gets to know the colorful Dalmain clan, Jenny just can't say no when asked to help run a mobile food stand, save the family business, put an overbearing matriarch in her place, rekindle an old romance, or throw a dinner party for sixteen on short notice. Then there's the problem of being attracted to the dashing yet abrasive Ross Grant, who has a way of showing up just when things seem almost sane and manageable.

"The majestic Scottish highlands, covered in purple heather and dotted with sheep and llamas, provide a dramatic backdrop while Jenny tries to pull everything together in time to save the mill and figure out her increasingly complicated personal life..."

My Thoughts:

As I said, it was purely on a whim that I picked up Highland Fling. I was currently working my way through a very long book and felt a brief reading diversion was needed. As you may recall I read two other books by Ms. Fforde (Practically Perfect and Bidding For Love) earlier this summer, and while I did have some minor objections (i.e. to the story and/or the writing style), I enjoyed them for the most part... At least for what the type of books that they are: chick-lit novels, stories of pure fluff, tales of love and adventure for the 20-something British girl. I rated both of those books fairly high between a 3 and 4. Unfortunately Highland Fling didn't fare so well. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate it a 2.

Why so low? Well, for starters I found several of the main characters annoying. I think Ms. Fforde was trying to develop a feisty relationship between the female and male protagonists. You know, the kind of verbal sparring that readers find so romantic in books like Pride and Prejudice, North and South, or even Anne of Green Gables. Unfortunately it didn't come off in this book. Jenny's character is rude and mean and the male protagonist is gruff and a little one-dimensional. As for the other characters, a few were likable, but most were a combination of snobbish, patronizing, selfish, and down right obnoxious.

The other problem I had with the book had to do with the quantity and quality of language and love scenes. Previously in my reviews I have praised Ms. Fforde's writing for it's lack of profanity. I cannot say the same of Highland Fling. There was a great deal of profanity, albeit mostly offensive to readers in the States rather than those in the UK. As for the love scenes -- while there was only one specific scene -- the characters in the book (particularly Jenny) seemed obsessed with lust rather than love. I found myself wrinkling my nose insead of sighing as I might have done while reading Pride and Prejudice, North and South, or Anne of Green Gables (to name a few.)

That said, I did find the whole story plot revolving around saving Dalmain Mills clever and unique. But in the end the book's "happily ever after" ending seemed to end on a rushed note and I was left thinking and feeling Highland Fling was just not one of Ms. Fforde's better books. In my opinion pass this one over and find something else to read.

New Release: Forest Born

Earlier this spring I read and thoroughly enjoyed The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. At the time I planned to read the next two books in the Books of Bayern series, Enna Burning and River Secrets so that I'd be ready to pick up the next book the series, Forest Born when it hit store and library shelves today (9/15/09). Alas, I lost sight of my goal and am no closer to reaching it today than I was two months ago. Nevertheless, I still plan to get there and in the meantime I wanted to let you know.

As I said, I really enjoyed The Goose Girl and have heard great reviews of the other books in the series, thus I have high hopes for Forest Born. If you're a fan of fantasy and fairy tales or Shannon Hale then you might want to check your library for this new book.

Agatha Christie Week (September 13-20)

The book world is an amazingly diverse universe. There are those readers who enjoy a good mystery and then there are others who do not. Either way, I think it's safe to say that most people (whether they love or hate stories of crime and intrigue) have heard of Agatha Christie.

Of those who have heard of her some may be fans, others may have only read a few of her books, and still others have not read a single one. Personally, I consider myself a fan. I've read several of her books and I enjoy them. But what of you? Read all her books? Some? None? Whatever your previous familiarity has been there is never a better time to become reacquainted or better acquainted with the Queen of Crime than now during Christie Week (Sept 13-20).

In honor of Christie Week Kerrie over at Mysteries in Paradise has organized her own blog tour that is scheduled to run from Sunday, September 13 through Wednesday, September 23. Each participating blog will post something special about Ms. Chrisite, be it a book or movie review, discussion, or various interesting tid-bits. It looks to be a fun week for mystery lovers.

For more information check out Mysteries in Paradise or click on the date specific links to follow the tour. Note yours truly is scheduled for Saturday, September 19. Check back to see what I post and of course, if you choose to take this opportunity to read a mystery by Dame Agatha Christie be sure to join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge so you can be part of the September 23rd closing post and ninth ACRC Carnival.

Tour sites:

13 September: Overkill

14 September: Reactions to Reading

15 September: Elizabeth at Miss Lemon Mysteries

16 September: Just A (Reading) Fool

17 September: Margot at Joyfully Retired

18 September: Crime Scraps

19 September: A library is a hospital for the mind...

20 September: Confessions of a Mystery Novelist

21 September: BooksPlease

22 September: TBA

23 September: ACRC Carnival #9

Happy reading!

"These little grey cells. It is up to them." ~ Agatha Christie

Friday Finds...

"My books are all novels as it is the human element which interests me most in life; some of my books are light and amusing and others are serious studies of character, but they are human and carefully thought out, and perhaps it is for these two reasons that my public is so diverse and ranges from university professors to old ladies and small boys!" ~ D. E. Stevenson

Once again I must give credit to my friend Alison, who between the two of us, has the gift for discovering long forgotten, but wonderfully great reads. Often times we're lucky to find these books have recently been reprinted by publishing companies like Persephone Books. It was Alison who tipped me off last year to Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson (reviewed), and also she who discovered that Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote more than children's stories -- I had no idea!

Thanks to Alison I learned of and read The Making of a Marchioness (reviewed), its sequel The Methods of Lady Walderhurst (reviewed), and the crem de le creme of Edwardian novels, The Shuttle (reviewed) -- all excellent reads.

This time Alison found D. E. Stevenson, who while to today's readers she remains relatively unknown, was during her life time a a very proliferate writer. Dorothy Emily Stevenson (first cousin to Robert Louis Stevenson) penned over 40 novels in the span of as many years. The particular novel that caught Alison's attention and now has mine is the first book in a series by Ms. Stevenson, Miss Buncle's Book (1934), which the British publishing company Persephone Books chose to reprint in late 2008. (Click on the Persephone link to read a summary of the book's plot.)

I checked around the Internet and very little information is available about any of Ms. Stevenson's books, but I was able to find an entire bibliophile of her books on Wikipedia and some personal information as well as fan reviews on two fan websites: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Garden/1024/ and http://www.destevenson.org/.

I am determined to get my hands on a copy of Miss Buncle's Book, but since neither of my libraries have this novel (or any in the series) I must find another way to get a hold of the book. The question now is -- do I spend $3.00 for temporary possession through Inter-Library Loan, or do I spend $19 plus shipping and spring for a copy of my own? Stay tuned to hear what I decide and what I think once I get my hands on this book.

Betsy And Joe By Maud Hart Lovelace

256 pages
Copyright 1948
Thomas Y. Crowell Company
New York, NY

"Say, you told me you thought Les Miserables was the greatest novel ever written. I think Vanity Fair is the greatest. Let's fight." ~ Joe Willard to Betsy Ray (Chapter 4, page 47)

Betsy and Joe opens during the summer of 1909, just months from the beginning of Betsy’s senior year at Deep Valley High School. Once more Betsy and her family (sans Julia who is traveling abroad) are vacationing at the lake where Betsy spends her days relaxing, swimming, writing letters and stories (she's determined to get published before the summer is over), and planning out her last year of high school.

Betsy learned a lot during her junior year and she is resolved to continue this pattern of growth and maturity as she starts the school year. For starters, she is determined to be a steadier and more loving individual. Betsy also plans to help more around the home, study harder, spend more time reaching out to others, and most of all -- rescue her long-time friend, Tony Markham, who has fallen in with a bad crowd. But what Betsy doesn't plan for ends up being the biggest surprise of her summer -- Joe Willard and she will finally get their chance to be together…

I think it's safe to say Betsy and Joe is my all-time favorite book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. It's the culmination of the high-school years and the reader finally gets to find out more about the handsome yet mysterious Joe Willard. And yet, it's not just another chapter in the "Betsy high school saga," for as is true with any of the books in the series, Mrs. Lovelace weaves a story that is both entertaining and endearing with subtle lessons and the adventures and tragedies that are found in real-life.

I find this coming-of-age novel romantic and yet still very realistic. It’s both entertaining and heart wrenching. Love is lost, love is gained, and love is even found where it's not expected. Betsy has to make a choice whether to help another or to follow her heart. Her faith is stretched as she watches those around her lose loved ones and yet carry on. She faces challenges head on, she's improved, she's matured... and yet she still makes mistakes. But I find her flaws and virtues just make her a more realistic and lovable heroine. She's not perfect, but you don't want her to be.

Yes, Betsy and Joe is definitely the culmination of the books following Betsy’s childhood and youth, but it's not the end of her story. Mrs. Lovelace drops various hints to the reader as to the future course of many of the characters in the book and the reader has the delightful opportunity of two more books about Betsy as she enters the Great World.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Betsy and Joe a 5. This is an excellent read and well worth your attention.

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Note: As I mentioned in my last Betsy review, Betsy loves to read. I noticed her novel of choice in this book was Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, which I read and reviewed this summer.

Mark Your Calendar! The Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge begins here at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind on Monday, September 28.

Tuesday Teaser

"Someone once said to me,' said Marguerite, 'that our home, our special country, is where we find liberation. I suppose she meant that it is where our souls find it easiest to escape from self, and it seems to me it is that way with us when what is about us echoes the best that we are..."

Green Dolphin Street (a.k.a Green Dolphin Country) by Elizabeth Goudge, Book I, Pt. III, Chpt. 1, pg. 107.

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

149 pages
Copyright 1943
Viking A Division of Penguin Books
New York, NY

This was my second reading of Homer Price by Robert McCloskey. The first time was when my mother read the book to my siblings and I as children, but it was so long ago I didn't remember much of the story. So when I came upon it in the children's section of the local library I decided to check it out and re-read it.

The Plot:
"Homer Price lives two miles out of Centerburg, where Route 56 meets 56A, but most of his friends and relatives live in town. They include Aunt Aggy and Uncle Ulysses, the Sheriff and the boys, Miss Terwilliger, Miss Naomi Enders, great-great-great granddaughter of Ezekiel Enders who founded Centerburg and who owned the precious formula for making Cough Syrup and Elixir of Life Compound. While Centerburg is not exactly nosey, precious little happens that the good citizens do not know..." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts and Summary:
I really enjoyed re-reading Homer Price, but then I've been a fan of McCloskey for as long as I can remember. As a little child, before I could read, I remember my parents reading to me other McCloskey books (Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal). There is something charming and timelessly classic about his books. Part of it has to do with the delightfully simplistic, yet detailed pen and ink illustrations. And then in the case of Homer Price it also has to do with McCloskey's writing style. The tales included in Homer Price wonderfully depict small-town life in the Midwest during the 1940s with all its quirkiness and charm.

My Summary:
Homer Price makes for an excellent read for new readers, or as a read-aloud for young children. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Homer Price a 5. It's a timeless classic that I'm glad has survived the decades and is still easily accessible. I'm planning to purchase a copy for my daughter's personal library and look forward to sharing it with her when she's a little older.

Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie

228 pages
Copyright 1935,
HarperPaperback Berkley edition, April 2000
New York, NY

Death in the Clouds is the next mystery in line to be read for my personal Agatha Christie reading challenge. As noted earlier on this blog I am reading my way through all of Christie's mysteries in order of publication. This will mark the 9th novel read this year and the 17th read since I began the challenge in early 2008.

The Plot:
Twenty-one people have boarded the Prometheus at France's Le Bourget airport for a routine, one-day flight to London. But what begins as an ordinary excursion over the English Channel turns into a most extraordinary case of murder when a female passenger is shot with the venom-tipped dart of a South African blowpipe. Even more bizarre is that the killing could go completely unnoticed by any other passengers--including Hercule Poirot, the brilliant Belgian detective, sitting not fifteen feet from the victim. (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
Death in the Clouds is a fun read. It is also a little unusual, for unlike most of Christie's novels this crime has a closed crime setting. There are only 20 possible suspects who were aboard the airplane when the murder occurs, surely then this is an easier case to solve, right? Wrong. While I did catch on and solve part of the crime, in the end I was at the mercy of Hercule Poirot to find out the answer to this "who dun-it." Still, Death in the Clouds is a fast and entertaining read with a few twists and turns that keep the reader turning pages.

During the read I found a few things quite funny. First, Poirot makes a couple references to previous cases -- cases that I'd actually read like, Three Act Tragedy, Murder on the Orient Express and Murder on the Links (sorry no review). Knowing what his casual remarks referred to made the story that much more entertaining and intimate a read. Second, Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector Japp makes an appearance in this book, which adds to the entertainment. Whenever he and Poirot get together there is always some witty banter to be read. The only one missing was Hastings, but other supporting characters made up for his absence and in the end I found myself really enjoying this mystery. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Death in the Clouds a 3.5.

Stay tuned for my next read, The A.B.C. Murders.

Betsy Was a Junior by Maud Hart Lovelace

248 pages
Copyright 1947
Thomas Y. Crowell Company
New York, NY

I actually read Betsy Was a Junior in August, but delayed my review because I wanted to post it after my announcement about the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge. I'm planning on one more Betsy-Tacy review this month, but then the rest of the books I read by Mrs. Lovelace will be saved for the reading challenge.

The Plot:
Betsy Was a Junior opens, as do all the high school books in the series, during the last few weeks of summer. While Betsy, now 16 going on 17, has had a wonderful summer at the lake with her family she is excited to get back home to Deep Valley and to school. She's made big plans for the upcoming year, which include capturing the attention of the mysteriously aloof, but very handsome Joe Willard, getting better grades, winning the coveted Essay Contest cup, and joining the committee to work on the Junior-Senior Banquet. If all goes to plan she expects to have the best school year ever!

And at first it seems like it will be the perfect year, especially when Betsy learns her childhood friend, Tib Mueller, has moved back to Deep Valley and the girls in the crowd form the first ever sorority at Deep Valley High. But then a few things go wrong and Betsy's plans start to fall apart or backfire. Before she realizes it she (and the crowd) are headed for trouble. If something doesn't change soon it could end up being Betsy's worst year ever!

My Thoughts:
As is the case with the other books in the series I found Betsy Was a Junior amusing, entertaining, and endearing. And of course it should come as no surprise, to those who've read my other reviews of the Betsy-Tacy series, that I loved this next installment of Betsy's high school years.

One thing I've noticed during my re-reading of this series is the fact these aren't stories filled with fluff. Yes, Betsy lives during a golden age and her life is filled with fun, fashion, and some frivolity, but none of the characters are one-dimensional. Mrs. Lovelace always manages to weave important details and principles into the story that adds a richness and make the characters come alive on the pages. Betsy has endearing qualities, but she she is not perfect. During her junior year she makes some good choices and some not so good choices, which lead to some tough consequences. But she faces them head on and comes out the other end no worse for the wear, but definitely a wiser and better individual. To me, this is the type of character the draws the reader in and gives them a reason to care what happens next in the story.

Another aspect that I love about the Betsy-Tacy books is how Mrs. Lovelace celebrates and honors not only the family and family traditions, but also faith, friendships, and just the little things that make life in a small town during the early 1900s so unique. It's the compilation of all these details that make the Betsy-Tacy books timeless treasures. Yes, a lot has changed in the last century, but the heart of the stories in the Betsy-Tacy books remain as applicable today as they were 50 years ago when the books were published, or 100 years ago at the time the stories were set.

My Summary:
On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Betsy Was a Junior a 5. I love this novel. So much happens and it is a truly enjoyable read, you have to read it!


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P.S. Throughout the series the reader sees mention of various books Betsy has read or is reading. I made a fun discovery while reading Betsy Was a Junior. At one point in the story it is mentioned that Betsy reads aloud to her girlfriends from The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I found this amusing because I just read and reviewed that same book in March. And in case your curious, Betsy has good taste in books... I loved The Shuttle.

Extra, Extra Read All About It: Library Hospital to Host First Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge

I have some exciting news! A Library is a Hospital for the Mind is hosting our first ever reading challenge...

I have made it no secret, I am a longtime and ardent fan of the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Earlier this year I began to re-read through the series and was ecstatic to learn that several of the books, which have been out of print for a decade, are to be reprinted and available for purchase on Tuesday, September 28 thanks to HarperCollins Publishers!

What better way to celebrate this great occasion then by hosting the first ever Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge on my blog! So for all of your readers out there -- whether you've read Mrs. Lovelace's books long ago, or only recently heard about them -- this challenge is for you!

Here's how to participate:

1. Start now by planning out which Maud Hart Lovelace books you most want to read. You don't have to read the Betsy-Tacy series, though I highly recommend them. In addition to the ten Betsy-Tacy books, Mrs. Lovelace also wrote three books as part of the Deep Valley series and twelve individual books on a variety of topics. Click here to see a full bibliography. (Almost all of the books are available through local libraries and book sellers, so be sure to check around if you can't find what you're looking for.)

2. Come back to A Library is a Hospital for the Mind the week of September 28 thru October 3 and sign-up to participate in the reading challenge using the Mr. Linky in my introductory Reading Challenge post. Be sure to post your name and link to your own post listing which of Mrs. Lovelace's books you plan to read, or even to your own introductory post. Be sure to use the permalink (link to the actual post, not just your blog.) This challenge is supposed to be lots of fun, so feel free to change around your list throughout the month if you feel the need.

3. Sit back, relax, and enjoy reading!

4. Come back on Saturday, October 31, 2009 and link up whichever of your Maud Hart Lovelace related reviews/posts that you wish to share. Be sure to use the permalink (link to the actual post, not just your blog.)

6. Visit around the other Reading Challenge participants' blogs and see what they have to say or which of Mrs. Lovelace's books they chose to read. Feel free to dialog with me or with them through blog comments or email. Find out what they like and why. Have fun!

That's it. So SPREAD THE WORD and I will see you back here on Monday, September 28th! In the meantime, you can copy the HTML code that is posted on the right-hand column of A Library is a Hospital for the Mind and use it to link your blog to the challenge. The direct link for the challenge is: http://libraryhospital.blogspot.com/search/label/Maud%20Hart%20Lovelace%20Reading%20Challenge.