The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

The Big Over Easy is the first in a series of "Nursery Crime" tales by Jasper Fforde and was originally published in 2005.

Set in the town of Reading in modern day England, The Big Over Easy follows Detective Inspector (DI) Jack Spratt, Sergeant Mary Mary, and the rest of the staff at the Nursery Crime Division (NCD) as they unravel the string of clues surrounding the death of Humperdinck Jehoshaphat Aloysisu Stuyvesant van Dumpty, also known simply to his friends and business associates as "Humpty Dumpty."

While the story centers around Humpty's death and the police investigation that ensues, there are also several subplots. Most of these involve a cast that resemble characters from age-old nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and Greek Myths (i.e. three bags of wool, a bean stalk, and a Titan who stole fire from Zeus, just to name a few). But the biggest subplot revolves around the rivalry between DI Spratt and Detective Chief Inspector Friedland Chymes, who was once Spratt’s partner, but has moved on to “bigger and better things” including being the darling of the local media and a member of the elite "Guild of Detectives." Chymes despises Spratt and as the story progresses it becomes apparent he will stop at nothing to gain control of the Humpty case... even if it means closing down the NCD and putting an end to Spratt's career.

Although categorized as a science-fiction/mystery (the entire story is set in an alternative reality), The Big Over Easy is not a children's story. The story content and plot are dark in tone (graphic detail of a couple murder scenes) and the dialog has a moderate amount of profanity.

That aside, at 400 pages Jasper Fforde's writing is generally easy to follow, the mystery is truly puzzling, and the end, despite some silliness, includes a traditional reveal. I only have two complaints and both have to do with this book being written in an alternative reality.

First, I found the newspaper clippings included at the beginning of each chapter distracting from the story. It almost felt as though Fforde, in his exuberance for detail, got carried away with too much detail. I found myself skimming the clippings in order to hurry up and get to the next paragraph involving the main plot. Unfortunately I also, from time to time, found it difficult to keep track of all the details in the alternative reality world. But maybe this is less of a problem later in the series?

Overall I found The Big Over Easy a clever, but quirky story. It reminded me a little of the animated films Shrek or Hoodwinked, but only in the fact that both movies and this book pull much (if not all) of the cast from famous folklore resulting in an unorthodox, yet entertaining mystery.

On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent, I would rate The Big Over Easy a 3.5. I liked it, but there were certainly aspects that I wasn’t crazy about. Still, I do plan to read Fforde's next "Nursery Crime" novel which involves a blonde and a few bears (sound familiar?), but I am not in a hurry.

This is a series I’d advise borrowing vs. buying...unless you have a taste for quirky books.

Friday Finds...

I opened the mailbox this afternoon to find one of my favorite sights... a small square envelope wrapped package. A new book! Or in this case a new-to-me book. Which leads me to this week's Friday Finds...

A few weeks ago, after listening to me gush over L. M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle, my friend Veronica took a few minutes to share her latest find, A Weaver of Dreams by Myrtle Reed, a bittersweet story of love lost and love found. We weren't even finished with our conversation before I was online searching for my own copy.

I was pleased to find a copy of this 1911 novel in near mint condition for only $5 (including shipping). Stay tuned for my review, which will probably appear before the end of February.

Closing the L.M. Montgomery Reading Challenge

Today is the end of the L.M. Montgomery Reading Challenge and you can find the links to my reviews of The Blue Castle and Anne of the Island by clicking on the hyperlinked titles or by visiting the closing post at Reading to Know.

In closing I wanted to share a few of my own personal memories of L. M. Montgomery's books and Prince Edward Island.

1. I first was introduced to Lucy Maud Montgomery when I was 12 or so and my older sister was reading the series. She loved the books and although she's never been as avid a reader as I, she read her way very quickly through the entire series. Not long after I started reading them, but only made it to Anne's House of Dreams. Just last fall I set a goal of reading through the entire series -- all the way to the end. At the same time I am working to collect the series for my own personal library.

2. I don't remember the exact date, but I think it was also around this time that I first saw the Anne of Green Gables movie and later Anne of Avonlea, both that I watched again and again with my sister and our best friend and even on my own.

3. In my early teen years my sister and best friend and I had our own Anne of Green Gables tea. We made raspberry cordial and served it with sandwiches and cake. We decorated the table with wild flowers we had picked.

4. When I was 14 and then again when I was 16 my family took a two week vacation to Prince Edward Island. We visited Green Gables and walked down Lover's Lane. We also attended the play Anne of Green Gables that was showing in Charlottetown. We stayed in a cottage near the beach on south side of the island.

5. Our visits to PEI were made by taking a ferry across the Northumberland Strait. During our last visit we met a local family who had moved to PEI from British Columbia. The father was hired to help build the bridge connecting New Brunswick to PEI. He gave my siblings I each a piece of material (a little cement plug) like those used in making the bridge. I still have it stored away as a memorable keepsake.

6. When I was a young teenager I read the Emily of Deep Valley series (a favorite of mine). Inspired by something Emily did in the first book I wrote myself a letter on my 14th birthday to be read on my 24th. I still have that letter. And then later on my 20th birthday I wrote another letter to open on my 30th. Both are tiny personal time capsules.

What's On My Nightstand: January

In the month of January I've already read nearly a dozen books, my nightstand has been full, and I've got more books on order. It doesn't seem possible that January is coming to an end, but here we are and it's time for the monthly "What's On Your Nightstand" posting.

Currently if you were to come into my bedroom and look you would find the following books beside my bed...

I found out about this book through two friends who were discussing the series at a party. The series currently has two books with a third promised by 2010. Detective Jack Spratt is the protagonist and he works for the Nursery Crimes Division in the English country town of Reading. In The Big Over Easy Jack investigates the unexpected death of Humpty Dumpty. Stay tuned for my review.

I've read Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, so it only makes sense that I would read The Scapegoat next. I know nothing about this book other than it involves two men who trade places, but I've always enjoyed the thriller aspect of Du Maurier's novels, so I'm looking forward to starting this one.

Last fall I stumbled upon The Penderwicks while browsing my local library. This is the sequel and if it's anything like the first I expect it to be a fun read. You can read my review of The Penderwicks here.

I've not read a lot of C. S. Lewis. My experience with him has been The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity. This book was chosen by the majority during the last book club meeting, so I've determined to give it a try.

That's what is on my nighstand list for now, what's on yours? Leave a comment and let me know, or link to your own post. For other Nighstand postings check out 5MinutesforBooks's January post.

Behind A Mask by Louisa May Alcott

Anyone familiar with Little Women (the book or the movie) will recall how Jo March took to writing "sensational" or "blood-and-thunder" tales under the assumed name of Joseph March. So many aspects of the character Jo March are reflective of her creator, Louisa May Alcott. Case in point, in addition to the numerous novels penned under her real name, including Little Women, Alcott also wrote a few thrillers under the masculine sounding nom de plume, A. M. Barnard.

And she fared quite well. At one point Alcott's novels (both the sweet and the sensational) were in such demand among readers and by publishers that she taught herself to write with her left hand so she could write twice as much and for twice as long. (I leave it to another reader to determine if this was a bad idea or one of pure genius. I have not read enough of Alcott to form an opinion at this time.)

Behind A Mask (a.k.a: A Woman's Power) is a thriller novella that was published in 1866 and originally credited to A. M. Barnard (but now republished under Alcott's real name). I first came upon this book last summer while browsing the local library's online catalog and blogged about it during a Friday Finds post.

I found Behind A Mask (a total of 128 pages) to be a fast paced read -- one that I could hardly put down once I had begun. From the opening lines the reader is swept into a tale of mystery, love, betrayal, and deception. Jean Muir, a demure and somewhat pretty young Scottish governess, has come to stay with the Coventry family and tutor the only daughter, Bella. Almost immediately she wins over the affection and loyalty of Mrs. Coventry, Bella, the youngest son Edward (or Ned), and Sir John, their uncle, with her sweet nature and many talents. But not everyone is beguiled. Miss Muir is met by suspicion and haughtiness in Gerald, the lazy elder brother and master of the home, and Lucia, his cousin and assumed fiance...

"For several weeks the most monotonous tranquillity seemed to reign at Coventry House, and yet, unseen, unsuspected, a storm was gathering. The arrival of Miss Muir seemed to produce a change in everyone, though no one could have explained how or why..." (Chapter iii)

To some Behind A Mask is a multi-layered story. Yes, there is the thrilling plot with twists and turns and a surprise ending, but also throughout the story are lessons learned and an underlining of what was considered in the 19th century as "forward thinking" or feminist ideology. Personally, I viewed Behind A Mask as pure entertainment, more of a Gothic tale than a social commentary. As is the case with most "blood-and-thunder" tales, Behind A Mask involves a willful and narcissistic protagonist who causes emotional and relational injury to those encircling them.

Although not quite the same it is a little reminiscent of the more happily ending Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon or perhaps even more modern works like Daphne Du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel that leaves the reader a little mystified.

For a reader who enjoys a story of mystery and mischief Behind A Mask is a great little read. And oddly enough, even though I'm usually the type that prefers happily-ever-after endings, I actually liked this story!

On a scale of one to five, one being horrible and five being excellent I would rate Behind A Mask a 3.5. It was an intriguing read that I enjoyed and would recommend readers borrow from their library. For those curious, a free downloadable version is available online and inexpensive paperback copies can be found at Amazon.

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P.S. If you like the sound of Behind A Mask you might also like: Mary Elizabeth Braddon's Lady Audley's Secret, Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White, or Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca or My Cousin Rachel. All are excellent reads.

Bloggy Giveaway Quarterly Carnival!

CONTEST IS CLOSED (1/31/09 - 10:00pm EST) THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING! The winner is DANIELLE (#49) as selected by Random.org. CONGRATULATIONS, Danielle! Your book and gift card will be on their way shortly.

This is an exciting week for book lovers nationwide... it's the Bloggy Giveaway Quarterly Carnival week!

Last quarter I gave away a two-volume hardcover set of Middlemarch by George Elliot to Amber.

This time I am giving away two items: the first is a paperback copy of Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. I enjoyed this book when I read it last fall and you can read my review of Ella Enchanted (both book and movie) by clicking on the hyperlinked title.

The second item is a special bonus -- a $5 gift card to Starbucks. Even if you aren't a coffee drinker you can find other treats at Starbucks including hot or iced teas, hot chocolate, desserts, or cool beverage accessories.

If you are interested here's how to enter my contest and possibly win!

1. Option A: Subscriber to this blog (using Blogger, Bloglines, GoogleReader, etc.). Once you subscribe please leave a comment at this post letting me know you have done so. If you have subscribed to this blog in the past, please see Option B.

Option B: Browse this blog, find and read one of my book reviews (that you haven't read before), and leave a comment at this post telling me what it is that you particularly enjoyed (or did not enjoy) about a specific review (or reviews).

2. Leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you. Or if you have a way to be reached by your blog, leave a valid link back to your blog where I can contact you.

3. Contest open to U.S. residents only (sorry) and ends on Saturday evening, January 31st. I will announce the winner and contact them around February 1st or 2nd. (The winner will be selected using a random number generator.)

In the meantime, even if you don't win I encourage you to come back for the Winter Book Swap in February and watch for other Book Giveaway's in the future. To increase your chances of winning something (books, gift certificates, non-book items, etc.) this week be sure to check out Bloggy Giveaways by clicking here.

**NOTE: Be assured I will contact the winner and will mail the prize. Generally books are sent "media mail" so they may be a little slow to arrive but they will be sent.

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of the Island is the third in the series of Anne books by L. M. Montgomery. This book follows Anne as she leaves Prince Edward Island to attend Redmond College in Nova Scotia. Over the course of the four school years and four summers Anne makes many new friends (and a few kindred spirits), finds a home away from home at Patty's Place, witnesses her best friend get married and another friend pass away, becomes an author, is proposed to by several men of varying personalities and circumstances and refuses all of them, and yet in the end discovers true love.

Along the way Montgomery wove in many delightful scenes of beauty and comedy through the settings of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Redmond College and the endearing characters readers have come to love in the earlier books.

I really view Anne of the Island as the culmination of the coming-on-age books in the series, which began with Anne of Green Gables. From this point on in the series Anne is grown and the story takes on a different path, yet the books are just as special. While Anne of the Island doesn't hold as much action as Anne of Green Gables, it does have more of a plot than the second book, Anne of Avonlea did and for that reason Anne of the Island ranks a little higher in my opinion, almost equal to Anne of Green Gables. (To see my reviews of the first two books click on the hyperlinked title.)

This was my second reading of Anne of the Island, the first being during my high school years. And I found that I enjoyed it just as much now as I did then. Many wonderful memories from my own childhood and college years surfaced as I read this book, particularly those from the lazy yet pleasant summer days where two of my own kindred spirits and I explored the woods near our homes. There is something special about a book that can do that.

Interestingly I found myself reminded of another set of books I read during my high school years, The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. While they are not to be compared with each other I think it is safe to say any fan of the Anne series looking for some new reads should take the time to read through the Betsy-Tacy series, they were a favorite of mine and equal my feelings for the Anne series.

As I've mentioned before, until recently I did not own any of the books from the Anne series, shocking I know! I started off listening to Anne of the Island on audio book, but found the reading too slow going, so on a whim I decided to start collecting my own copies. I bought Anne of the Island on Wednesday evening and finished off the book in a few evenings. While I do enjoy the multi-tasking that an audio book allows, I just didn't have the patience to listen to this story, I wanted to read it myself.

Readers familiar with the Kevin Sullivan Canadian film adaptations will find in this book a story that is vaguely familiar, yet different from the Anne of Avonlea film. The movie plot is a mix of stories from Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, and also Sullivan's own imagination. However in spite of this casserole of plots and scenes, the astute reader will recognize a few quotes and scenes in the book that are also in the movie... and yet even in those only a few are verbatim or said by the same character. While I have always loved the Sullivan adaptations I have come to love the original books even more. As good as they are, the movies are missing a certain richness (in characters, scenes, and dialog) that is only found in the books. I can't help but hope some day another adaptation of the series will make it to the screen, something a little truer to the books that will reintroduce them to the next generation. In the meantime, I think watching the movies is a great way to enjoy the books when reading isn't possible.

On a scale of one to five, one being horrible and five being excellent I would rate the book: Anne of the Island a 4.5. I really enjoyed this book, I almost think I loved it. This is definitely a book for every readers personal library and one that can be read over and over through a life-time. It is a great read aloud or book to share with younger readers, yes even some boys.

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Note: Anne of the Island was the second book I selected for the the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge. I plan to read the next in the series Anne of Windy Poplars, but not in time to include it in this challenge. Look for my review of it sometime in the next month.

Upcoming Book Give Away

It's almost time for the next book give away!

Check back next Monday to find out what I am giving away and be sure to check the Bloggy Giveaways website for more ideas of cool things you can win.

Friday Finds

The other night I had the rare opportunity to spend a couple hours browsing through a bookstore. It was a treat!

While there I found several books that interested me and I have since added them to my "To Be Read" list. Not everyone of these books is guaranteed to make it to my nightstand, sometimes a book that looks interesting by its title or description turns out to be a bad selection when I get a chance to look at it closer. But for now, with very little information here are the books I found and think I might read in the future.

I think since February is "Black History Month" I will plan to read one of these two books at that time, though I'm leaning towards Gifted Hands since it has been adapted to film and will be in theaters soon.

I'm not very sure about either of these books. I am hesitant to read any non-fiction works by authors I know little or nothing of. My greatest fear is that they will try to spin their political views into the story, but I won't know until I get a closer look at the book. As for Mockingbird, I'm mostly curious because so little is known about Ms. Lee, she never authorized a biography so this book is written from bits and pieces of information that was made available.

The Secret of Lost Things is a recent publication and I've seen several good reviews. It's a book about books... and looks interesting. I saw Swann's Way in the discount bin at B&N, but didn't buy it. I've heard of Proust, but never read anything of his. I've seen read that Swann's Way is a must read for everyone. I'm curious.

This is a new book for 2009. It's very short, less than 50 pages, and has the most charming pen and ink sketches. I definitely have to read this book, it's too cute to pass by and reminds me a little of the Brambly Hedge series I reviewed last year.

Read any of these and posted a review? Let me know by leaving a comment with your thoughts or a link to your blog.

Bookshelf Meme

It's been a while, but Carrie at Reading to Know tagged me in the Bookshelf Meme and I realized today that I never responded with a post. Well here it is!

Tell me about the book that has been on your shelf the longest.

This is a difficult one to answer as I have several books on my shelf that I carried with me from my previous home before I moved states away and got married. I think possibly the one set that has been on my shelf the longest would be The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. I first learned about this series in my early teen years, they were favorites of my mothers when she was a teenager.

Two books from the series (Betsy Was Junior and Betsy And Joe) currently sit on my bookshelf. I stumbled upon them at a library book sale when I was 18. They were published in hardback during the 1940s and are in excellent condition. Later I added the rest of the series when they became available as new printing by Harper Collins, but unfortunately I've since managed to lose them in a box in my parent's attic. I've searched and searched but never been able to locate that box. I hope one day to find and add to my bookshelf the rest of my missing books.

Tell me about a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (i.e. a person, a place, a time, etc.)...


There are many memories linked to the books on my shelf, but to answer this I have chosen Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My first memory of this book, or rather the Little House series is as a young child. My dad used to read to my siblings and I each night in turn. On my turn I remember sitting on his lap in the rocking chair as he read through the Little House series. I remember especially The Long Winter being a loooong book.

I also remember my sister and I using our colored pencils to bring color to the black and white illustrations in the book.

Little House in the Big Woods is actually my daughter's book. It was given to me just before her birth and waits on my shelf for the day when my husband or I will read it aloud to her. I plan to to collect the rest of the books in the series as time and availability allow.

Tell me about a book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used book store, prize, etc.)...

As I have mentioned this before, I obtained an entire collection of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets at a used bookstore when I was a teenager and living in New York. It was completely by accident that I even stumbled upon the set, but I was proud of my find because I obtained 40 books for $0.50 each and I thought that was an excellent deal. The books are in hardback and in fairly excellent condition. I am not a big reader of Shakespeare, but I do enjoy reading the plays from time to time and I love that I have my own copies.

Tell me about the most recent addition to your shelves...

Yesterday I used the last of a gift card to add two new books to my personal library. The first, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens was on my 2009 Reading Projection list and the second, Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery is on my nightstand and one of my selections for the L. M. Montgomery challenge I joined. Until now I didn't own any of the Anne series and it might seem odd to buy book three alone, but I've recently read the first two books and figured I could go back and fill in with them at a later time.

Tell me about a book that has been with you to the most places...

The only book that has gone with me to the most places would be my Bible. Whenever I travel I take it with me.

The one book that has traveled the furthest with me was King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green which I was reading at the time of our trip to Oahu, Hawaii in 2007.

Tell me about a bonus book that doesn't fit any of the above questions...


Years ago I stumbled upon Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater while browsing the local library. I remember I really enjoyed the story -- a great read aloud for kids, but also a fun read for adults, but what I remember most is the illustrations. Robert Lawson is one of my favorite illustrators. He has illustrated numerous books, most famous Ferdinand and Ben and Me. He also wrote and illustrated one of my favorite books of all time, Mr. Wilmer, which Carrie at Reading to Know read and reviewed recently.

It has been years since I've read Mr. Popper's Penguins, but having just remembered it is on my bookshelf I am tempted to re-read it this year.

The Rules:
1. Tag 3-5 people, so the fun keeps going!
2. Leave a comment at the original post at A Striped Armchair, so that Eva can collect everyone’s answers.
3. If you leave a comment and link back to Eva as the meme’s creator, she will enter you in a book giveaway contest! She has a whole shelf devoted to giveaway books that you’ll be able to choose from, or a bookmooch point if you prefer.
4. Remember that this is all about enjoying books as physical objects, so feel free to describe the exact book you’re talking about, down to that warping from being dropped in the bath water...
5. Make the meme more fun with visuals! Covers of the specific edition you’re talking about, photos of your bookshelves, etc.

I tag the hostesses of the following blogs:
Marie at Fireside Musings
Rebecca Reads
Noelle at Never Jam Today
Alicia at Confessions of a Bookaholic
Becky's Book Reviews

Have fun!

Book Swap 2nd Ed.

Calling all book lovers, it's that time again!

Do you have a book that you love and just can't help telling all your friends about... even those who aren't that into books? What if you were to find someone with an equal interest in books that you could swap your favorite book for their favorite book? Now's your chance!

As some of you may remember last fall I hosted a bookswap with Carrie at Reading to Know. After the success of our first book swap we decided to hold one each quarter/season and take turns hosting. This next swap, the Winter Book Swap, is Carrie's turn, so while I'm posting an introductory post about the swap all the action for this swap will take place over at her blog.

The goal of the swap? To share much loved books with new found friends. During the last swap we invited participants to share an all-time favorite book with their swap-mate. For our Winter Swap we are focusing on children's books. Perhaps you have children or grandchildren of your own, or maybe you don't have kids, but love children's stories or maybe you collect them for future use in your own family or your classroom. No matter the reason we invite you to join in and share your children's book of choice.

The Rules:
1. You only sign up to participate if you are actually willing to follow the rules.
2. Once you sign up you will be matched with another participant. You will take your favorite children's book of choice and mail it to your match and they will do likewise.
3. 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.
4. Book swaps are permanent unless you and your match agree to another arrangement.
5. You must have your book shipped to your match before the end of February.
6. Only the first 50 participants will be included in the swap. If this swap is successful we may increase the number for future swaps.

How to join in? Come back on the first of February and link your blog up to the Mr. Linky we will be providing. Sign up will remain open for 1 week or until the first 50 participants are signed up, whichever comes first. So spread the word and be sure to check back at Reading to Know on February 1.

In the meantime, spread the word! We have a new updated button and we invite you to copy this button and put it in your side bar. Click here to get the code for our button.

If you have questions, please leave a comment and either Carrie or I will get back to you as soon as possible.

The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

In the last two weeks I have breezed through the stack of books I borrowed from the library and so came upon the next Agatha Christie novel a little sooner than planned. Published in 1930, The Murder at the Vicarage is the first Miss Marple novel and is set in the small country town of St. Mary Mead.

In this novel Colonel Protheroe, a man despised by nearly all of St. Mary Mead, is found murdered in the vicarage study. There are a number of suspects, but to every one's surprise almost immediately an individual comes to the police and confesses to the murder, weapon in hand... but then not long after another individual claims to have killed the Colonel. Who is the real murderer and what was their motive? For the rest of the story Christie takes the reader down a story path that twists and turns with each new suspect and clue. I expect even the most studious of readers will be mislead a time or two by the red herrings found along the way. In the end, quite surprisingly to all involved, it is one of St. Mary Mead's old maids, Miss Jane Marple, who solves the crime.

Overall I liked The Murder at the Vicarage. As far as a mystery novel it was clever and believable, but as a story it was not a favorite. It seemed to be missing something that I can't put my finger on -- it just wasn't up to par with some of Christie's earlier mysteries. Perhaps Miss Marple has something to do with this opinion...

Up until the publication of The Murder at the Vicarage Agatha Christie had published nine crime novels, five with Hercule Poirot and the four with an assortment of amateur detectives and police officers. The Murder at the Vicarage is told through a narration by the Vicar and so it seems to the reader most likely the Vicar who will solve the crime, perhaps with the aide of Miss Marple a gossipy old neighbor who has strong and generally poor opinions of people. But as I mentioned, it is actually Miss Marple who solves the crime. This shouldn't have come as a surprise since I knew it was a Miss Marple novel, but it did because the story had been so strongly led by the narrator. And then there is Miss Marple as a character. In this debut novel she is decidedly different than later appearances. Apparently as Christie brought Miss Marple back in future books she adapted her character to something more palatable to the reader, still an old maid, but one who is generally liked, extremely clever, but less gossipy. I prefer the later Miss Marple to this earlier one.

As a side note, I found it interesting that out of the 80 crime novels Agatha Christie wrote, only 12 starred Miss Marple, while a whopping 33 had Hercule Poirot as the lead detective. Also, after appearing in The Murder at the Vicarage the reader doesn't meet Miss Marple again for over a decade, when she next appears in The Body In the Library in 1942. Curious.

On a scale of 1 to 5, one being horrible and five being excellent I would rate The Murder at the Vicarage a 3.5. It was good, but not up to par with some of Christie's earlier works. Those looking for a good old "Who-Don'it" may find this an enjoyable, clever and quick read.

Don't Make Me Count to Three! by Ginger Plowman

Stepping out of the normal genre reviewed at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind, Don't Make Me Count to Three! is a non-fiction parenting book for mothers. As a disclaimer, I admit I am generally not a fan of parenting books or advice books. I find so many of current parenting, advice, or even devotional books tend to be of little help. Often times the author comes across as bossy and superior, shallow, or downright bizarre. But every now and then I come across a book that reaches to me where I am for that moment.

You might say Don't Make Me Count to Three! happened along at just the right moment. I was lent a copy by a friend and young mother, who in turn had picked it up upon the recommendation of a mutual friend and mother of ten. I have a lot of respect for the mother of ten and thought I'd give the book a chance.

The author, Ginger Plowman is a mother of two and the founder of Preparing the Way Ministries, which focuses on encouraging and counseling women on a number of topics, including parenting. I don't know Mrs. Plowman or her ministry personally, but from my brief encounter with her through this book and a little online research, it appears she is a woman who has a true relationship with God and seeks to follow His counsel as laid out in the Holy Bible.

Don't Make Me Count to Three! specifically focuses on parenting from the mother's perspective. The subtitle of the book is: "A Mom's Look at Heart-Oriented Discipline" which is the main focus of this book. While Plowman does address various parenting styles, including the infamous "Don't make count to three!" and "Wait till we get home!" her goal is to help guide mothers towards a parenting style that puts an end to threats, repetition of commands, and the raising of voices and instead apply scripture in a practical way to training children.

As part of this book Plowman does discuss spanking, and is pro-spanking, but she clearly details what she believes are the boundaries of both scripturally, physically, and emotionally appropriate spanking. However, spanking is not the emphasis of her training and even anti-spanking parents should be able to glean helpful advice from this book. What is emphasized is the parent taking time to work with each child to teach them what God expects and instructs them to do and how to put those instructions into action through proper behavior, attitudes, outlook, and speech.

While not all parents will agree with everything Mrs. Plowman shares I found that her advice and counsel was logical (i.e. well-balanced) and founded on scripture. Overall I did enjoy the book. As a reader, I found the writing style easy to read and the chapters simple, but stocked full of information. This is one of those books that ends up more as a reference than a one-time read. On a personal level I found Plowman's advice as encouragement to me as a mother. I don't want my toddler to just act right, I want her to desire to do right as she grows older. I want to be able to interact with her -- to talk and listen -- and really get to know her as a person. And yes, that means not threatening, repeating myself, or raising my voice. Most of all I want her to be obedient to her parents and to God.

On that note, I want to point out that this book is for any parent interested in help with training and discipline, but there isn't a lot of detailed advice for parents of really young children. While there are some great tips for practicing while the child is young (i.e. teaching them to come when they are called, the first time, etc.) most of the instruction is aimed at parents of children 2 years and older -- in other words, children who are able to verbally interact with their parents. But this shouldn't discourage mothers from reading this book, as I said, there are some great tips that can be used for toddlers and the rest can be filed away and referenced as needed.

On a scale of 1 to 5 I'd rate this book a 4. I liked it and I thought it was solid, helpful, and encouraging to parents. Mrs. Plowman comes across as a real mother and very down to earth, not at all preachy or superior. It is doubtful that every library has a copy, but used copies are available for less than $8 on Amazon.

I should also note that fans of Ted Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart may find Don't Make Me Count to Three! of particular interest since Mrs. Plowman does include a couple quotes by Tripp. Although I have not Shepherding a Child's Heart I have not heard much, if any, negative feedback.

Nothing But the Truth by Avi

Nothing But the Truth was the 2008 "One Book-One Community" selection at my local library. As part of the annual event free copies of the selected book were given to interested patrons. Last year I picked up a free copy of The Book Thief. I had mixed feelings about that book, but didn't overly dislike it, so I thought I'd give this year's book a try.

The One Book-One Community event was held in October of 2008, but it took me until January 2009 to finally get around to reading the book. Of course, if I had realized the 213 page book would only take 2 1/2 hours to read I might have picked it up sooner.

Nothing But the Truth is a modern day social commentary told through a series of diary entries, memos, newspaper articles, and transcripts of conversations. (In a small way the format reminded me of a book I read in high school, Up the Down Staircase.) And for this fact alone it might be a worthwhile read.

The story in summary is about Philip, a ninth-grader at Harrison High School. Philip doesn't really care for school, except math... and track. His dream is to join the school track team and eventually become an Olympic track star. Unfortunately Philip is not permitted to join the school's track team because of a failing grade in English. As a result Philip takes his anger out on his English and Homeroom teacher, Miss Narwin, by trying to provoke her during the routine morning rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. While Philip does succeed in upsetting his teacher everything is made worse when he chooses not to tell the truth. And soon one lie snowballs into more lies and misunderstandings and problems that are further reaching than anyone imagined possible.

Overall I didn't like Nothing But the Truth; it irritated me. Phillip is immature and behaves like spoiled brat. His parents, especially his father doesn't help matters, particularly when he doesn't take the time to really listen to his son, nor does he stop to ask the appropriate questions. Instead Mr. Malloy makes assumptions and coddles his son. At one point he actually preempts his son's explanation by telling Phillip that no matter what his son says, he is on his side, the son can do no wrong. Argh!

Then there is the school board and the administration who behave disgracefully by starting out strongly in favor of the truth, but in the end weakening before popular opinion and the need to pass the school budget (i.e. money). Argh!

To add to this, the story gets out of hand when it is printed in newspapers and carried around the country. The American public responds in superior moral outrage to what they believe is the truth, but is really a biased story full of errors. Unfortunately when the truth is told to one reporter it's such old news it never makes it to print. Argh!

All this irritated me because it could very possibly happen anywhere in today's society. What saddened me most was not just Philip's lie, but that nothing was done about it. So many views distorted the facts that no one really knew what was going on or that Philip was lying. He lived with his lie and it made him miserable. No one seemed to know how to help him, least of all his parents.

In Nothing But the Truth, Avi has written a compelling commentary of society: be it of the family, the school, the media, or the public response to the media. But the lesson he wished to teach was that there are serious consequences when we don't tell the truth. Nothing new to me, but I have to wonder if others have learned something from reading this book.

On a scale of one to five, one being horrible and five being excellent I would rate this book a 2.5. I didn't like it, so I almost rated it a two, but added the half point because it is a lesson that many people could learn today and it is an unusual approach to teaching it.

This isn't a book for my personal library, so I'm planning on giving it away. For those interested I would suggest checking your local library rather than spending money, unless you find yourself particularly attached to it.

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Note: Nothing But the Truth by Avi has nothing to do with the 2008 film by the same title.

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

As I mentioned previously in my post about the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge, I've only ever read her Emily series, half of the Anne series, and Kilmeny of the Orchard. Why I haven't read more is beyond me. I have truly missed some great reads!

I chose The Blue Castle as my next Montgomery read as part of the Reading Challenge for two reasons: first, it is a favorite of my friend Carrie at Reading to Know (who's hosting the reading challenge), so much so she named her photography business after it. And second, because I was given a copy when my friend Alison was cleaning out the duplicates from her personal library. So The Blue Castle came with high recommendations and was easily accessible, both signs that I had to read it soon... Unfortunately I managed to misplace it for a week and a half, so my reading was delayed, but once I got started I almost couldn't put it down!

The Blue Castle begins... "If it had not rained on a certain May morning Valancy Stirling's whole life would have been entirely different. She would have gone, with the rest of her clan, to Aunt Wellington's engagement picnic and Dr. Trent would have gone to Montreal. But it did rain and you shall hear what happened to her because of it..."

That is a fantastic opening to a book! So much intrigue, it just pulls the reader in begging to know more of Valancy and her adventures. In summary and without any spoilers, the story of The Blue Castle is the story of a 29 year-old "spinster" Valancy Stirling who has spent her entire life living under the thumb of her overbearing mother and meddlesome and judgmental relatives. It is only when she discoverers a shocking truth about herself that Valancy takes matters into her own hands (i.e. rebels) and breaks free to create a new and fresh life for herself. A life that is filled with adventure, beauty, friendship, and even love.

I loved, loved, LOVED this story. The Blue Castle is set in the 1920s in a rural part of northern Ontario, Canada (the only novel written by Montgomery to be set entirely off Prince Edward Island). This is not Anne of Green Gables, but that's fine, I didn't expect nor did I want it to be. The Blue Castle is a quirky, witty, down to earth, but romantic story. Montgomery's writing is still beautiful and refreshing to read. Throughout the novel she paints vivid pictures of nature and the characters that allows the reader to not only see it in their own imagination, but almost feel as if they have been there and it is a personal memory.

As far as the characters, Valancy may not have Anne Shirley's temper, but she does have a clever dry wit and sarcasm that gives her character a delightful spark. Her family once referred by Valancy as being part of a "snobocracy" are quirky, meddlesome, obnoxious, and somewhat ridiculous, but still a key element to the story. The hero of the story has much more detail and personalization to his character than some of the heroes in Montgomery's other books. He is easily the perfect match for Valancy.

Woven into the romance of Valancy's dreams and new life Montgomery included a few subtle lessons, social commentary if you will. Lessons in friendship, charity, generosity, and true Christian brotherly love for a neighbor. Not all the characters in the book learn these lessons, but those who do are forever changed. At the beginning of the novel Valancy's life is dreary and depressing, but that changes, she changes. Some readers may consider the ending "contrived", but I thought it very L.M. Montgomery-ish and the end was justified by the twists and turns of the plot. It wasn't exactly how I expected it to end, but I closed the book with a smile on my face. It is a very satisfying read.

My only objections would be that the introduction to the story did seem to drag on several pages longer than it should have, but the richness for the story makes up this and it is really just a minor fault if it could even be called a fault. Also, (and not at all Montgomery's fault) I disliked the artwork on the cover of my paperback. As is the case with several of the recent printings, the book cover artwork a picture of Valancy with a man, but neither look remotely like their characters in the book, or even like people looked in the 1920s. Between the cover and the fact my brain was stuck in Anne of Green Gables mode I had some difficulty picturing Valancy in the right time period. Again, this isn't Montgomery's fault, more a fault of my own imagination added to by the poor choice in artwork by the publisher and illustrator.

The Blue Castle was L.M. Montgomery's first attempt at writing an adult novel. In my opinion she succeeded, although it has never had the success of her novels intended for younger readers. Montgomery was able to tell a story that entertained, but also addressed adult themes (i.e. alcoholism, illegitimacy, female independence, romance, etc.) in a tasteful and appropriate way. She dealt with them realistically, but didn't gloss over or romanticize the issues, nor did she delve into gritty details or graphic scenes. My friend Alison remarked to me the other day how much she appreciate a love scene penned by Montgomery. It is more romantic in its simplicity than any detailed love scene from a modern novel could ever hope to be. All this to say, while this was intended for adults, it could be appropriate for younger readers (teenagers).

On a scale of one to five, one being horrible and five being excellent I would rate The Blue Castle a five. I loved this book, it was a breath of fresh air after my most recent read. For those interested this is definitely a book to be added to a personal library, but if you aren't able to buy, be sure to borrow a copy from your local library.

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Note: Be warned the article about The Blue Castle on Wikipedia contains the entire story plot from start to finish. A reader should not view this article unless they are planning to cheat and spoil the fun of reading this great story.

Tuesday Teaser Quote

In a slight variance of the Tuesday Teaser I am posting a quote about a book within a book that I am currently reading:

"It was permissible, even laudable, to read to improve your mind and your religion, but a book that was enjoyable was dangerous. Valancy did not know whether her mind was being improved or not; but she felt vaguely that if she had come across John Foster's books years ago life might have been a different thing for her. They seemed to her to yield glimpses of a world into which she might once have entered, though the door was forever barred to her now..." (Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery, Chapter 1)

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett

I first discovered the The Thin Man movies (1934-1947) starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles when I was a teenager. They are a mix of detective "who-donit" and comedy with witty dialog and charming chemistry between Powell and Loy. Until recently I had no idea these movies were initially inspired by a book.

Published in 1934, The Thin Man is Dashiell Hammett’s final novel. In the novel, former private detective Nick Charles and his wife Nora, have come to New York City to spend Christmas. While there they get pulled into a murder investigation involving one of Nick’s former employer, Clyde Wynant and his lawyer, ex-wife, and family. To complicate matters Wynant, the key suspect, has skipped town. Throughout the story as Nick and Nor try to discern the truth and solve the murder, the reader is introduced to a variety of characters, mostly the “lowlife” of the city who spend their nights moving from one speakeasy to another.

As mentioned above, I had seen The Thin Man movie years ago, so I was fairly acquainted with Nick and Nora Charles, though I remembered nothing of the plot or ending. What really surprised me, a book lover, was how much better I liked the movie adaptation. Between the two the story plot remains the same, but the details differ. The book is much grimmer. Case in point, the son, Gilbert Wynant and his morbid interest in topics like cannibalism... but more on that later.

Literaries consider Dasheill Hammett one of the greatest authors of "hard boiled" detective fiction. Hard boiled is defined as a literary style that portrays crime, violence, sex in an unsentimental light. I think another word might be "raw."

It is believed that Hammett drew many of his ideas for stories from his personal experiences while working as a private detective before World War II. It wasn't until after the War that Hammett retired from solving crime and began to write about it. His total works include six detective novels and numerous short stories of crime and mystery. His most famous works include The Thin Man and The Maltese Falcon. Both are listed on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list and the latter, which was also adapted to film starring Humphrey Bogart, and was called one the greatest movie of all times by movie critic Roger Ebert.

To some degree I can see why people laud The Thin Man as a great book. Hammett's writing style is unique, the story is fast paced and interesting, and as a mystery it is a tight and clever story. But in the end I just didn't like it.

To start with, for the first ten chapters I found the prose choppy and difficult to follow. But then, either I got used to it, or Hammett's writing improved, because after Chapter 10 I stopped noticing it.

As for content, there is much that could be considered "objectionable" by readers. First, the language rates strong into the moderate range. Second, although set during prohibition, alcohol is very prominent in the story. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that in every scene the characters were downing some form of alcohol, pouring a cocktail and about to drink, or had just finished multiple drinks. It's a wonder that Nick isn't in a perpetual state of drunkenness for the entire story. Third, the violence ranges from mild to moderate. The murders in the books aren't too descriptive, particularly in comparison with today's standards and fall onto the mild end of the scale. It is the four page story about cannibalism in the United States, that Wynant's son Gilbert reads that pushes the violence into the moderate zone. Why Hammett felt this part was important to the story plot I'll never know, but I can say this -- a reader of The Thin Man is safe skipping these four pages without losing anything valuable from the plot. Overall for a 1930s novel there isn't much detail on any of these objections, but it is very evident for those who have seen the movie adaptations that the Hollywood censors did clean up the story.

I realize not everyone will agree with me, and perhaps it is not very literary of me, but in my opinion if you want to enjoy The Thin Man skip the book and watch the movies. On a scale of one to five, one being horrible and five being excellent I'd have to rate this novel a 1 to a 1.5. However, if you are curious and want to read the book, borrow don't buy it.

Because I did find Hammett's writing style unique I may give him another try and read The Maltese Falcon, but it won't be any time soon. I'm just not the "hard boiled" reading type.

Something Funny for fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

My book club met this week and one of the ladies there shared a funny website called Austenbook that tells the story of Pride and Prejudice through Facebook type messages.

For those who have ever been on Facebook and have read Pride and Prejudice, this is pretty funny, go check it out.

But those who have not... If you aren't familiar with Facebook, it probably won't make a lot of sense. And those of you who haven't read Pride and Prejudice... shame on you! Go read the book before you check out this site!

One Hundred And One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

Before it was the 1961 Walt Disney animated film One Hundred And One Dalmatians it was a children's story by Dodie Smith. I never knew this until I stumbled upon a copy of the book at my local library book sale.

For the most part the plot remains the same between the novel One Hundred And One Dalmatians (a.k.a The Hundred And One Dalmatians) published in 1956 and the animated film, though there are several discrepancies between the two when it comes to details. (More on that later.)

For those unfamiliar with the story, One Hundred and One Dalmatians is the story of two dalmatians, Pongo and Misses Pongo (a.k.a. Misses) who live with their "pets", Mr. and Mrs. Dearly and the Dearly's former Nannies, Nanny Cook and Nanny Butler. Not long after the Dearlys and the Pongos both get married Misses gives birth to a litter of 15 puppies. Also around this same time the entire household encounters a former classmate of Mrs. Dearly, Cruella deVil and her husband, Mr. deVil. The deVils are in the fur trade -- Mr. deVil makes fur clothing and Cruella wears it. And it is immediately obvious that the only animals Cruella likes come in the form of a fur coat or stole.

The story takes a sinister turn when the puppies mysteriously disappear after a visit from Cruella. Through the "twilight barking" (a form of communication amongst the dogs of England) Pongo learns the puppies have been dog-napped by henchmen hired by Cruella and they will be made into fur coats.

With the aide of various dogs and cats across the English countryside, Pongo and Misses set out to rescue their puppies only to discover they must save not only their 15, but another 82 puppies of varying sizes.

The rest of the story follows very much the same story plot that the 1961 animated film does, with a few minor variations. The most obvious changes from the book to the film were the details of who made up the 101 dalmatians. In the movie it is Pongo and Perdita and 99 puppies, but in the book the adults are Pongo and Misses (as referred above) with two additional adult dongs, Prince and Perdita, and then the 82 puppies. Another interesting variation from the book to the film has to do with the Dearlys. In the film they are named Radcliffe and Mr. Radcliffe is a musician, but in the book Mr. Dearly is a financial wizard who makes a fortune solving the English government's financial problems.

Overall The Hundred And One Dalmatians is charming and fun and imaginative read. The villains are villainous, but the good guys win and all is put right with a proper happily-ever-after ending. I really enjoyed the story and plan to read it to my daughter when she's older. I would definitely recommend this to readers, both young and old.

At 199 pages it makes for a great read aloud to children, but could be read easily enough by older children on their own. I found the book a relatively fast read that had short chapters and a clear writing style. The only objectionable material would be in the villainous behavior of Cruella, but Ms. Smith makes a point of depicting Cruella in a very devilish way so any objectionable behavior should be able to be excused by the reader as par to Cruella's wickedness.

On a scale of one to five, one being horrible and five being excellent, I would rate One Hundred And One Dalmatians a 4 or 4.5. I really liked this book. I found it a refreshing change from another work I read by Ms. Smith earlier last year.

Readers should be able to find a copy at their local library to borrow, but I think this is one book that readers should consider adding to their personal library, it's that good a read.

As a side note for those who have read One Hundred And One Dalmatians, Dodie Smith wrote a sequel, The Starlight Barking, but from what I can tell it is much more fantastical of a story and not quite up to par with the original.

Reading Challenge: Lucy Maud Montgomery

Carrie over at Reading to Know has posted a new reading challenge for 2009: the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge. Carrie's goal in establishing this challenge is not only for readers to have fun, but to also learn more about Lucy Maud Montgomery as well as the worlds she creates in her works.

I am somewhat familiar with Lucy Maud Montgomery. As a teenager I read the Emily of New Moon series, about half of the Anne of Green Gables series, and Kilmeny of the Orchard. Also when I was 14 my family took a summer vacation to Prince Edward Island, which included a visit to Green Gables... but that is the extent of my knowledge and considering the fact that Montgomery wrote 20 novels, a series of short stories, a couple books of poetry, and some non-fiction works (including an autobiography), that isn't very much.

And so I thought the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge was a good excuse as any to get me reading more of this great classics. I've chosen at least two books to read this month (the challenge runs January 1-30).

The first is Blue Castle. I was so excited to start this book... but have somehow managed to misplace it in my house within the last 24-hours! I'm hoping to find it before the week is over and I'm forced to pick up another book.

The second selection is Anne of the Island. As I mentioned I read the Anne series years ago, but only made it to Anne's House of Dreams. This time I plan to read all the way to the end. You can check out my reviews of Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea by clicking on the links.

If you would like to join in the fun head over to Reading To Know and sign up. The Mr. Linky's Sign-Up will be available until Friday, January 9. Readers can read one or all of Montgomery's works, or however many they wish. The challenge will run for the month of January ending January 30.

Stay tuned for my own reviews of The Blue Castle and Anne of the Island.

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie

For a couple weeks now I've been itching to read another Agatha Christie mystery. After waiting around for the only copy our library owns I finally was able to sit down and begin the next published novel by the Queen of Crime, The Seven Dials Mystery.

In The Seven Dials Mystery (published in 1929) we revisit the country estate "Chimneys", which has been let by Lord Caterham while he is traveling abroad with his daughter Lady Eileen Brent (a.k.a. Bundle). (You might remember Chimneys, Lord Caterham, and Bundle from my review of an earlier novel, The Secret of Chimneys.)

This book opens as a group of young people (approximately aged 20s-30s) are on holiday visiting Lord and Lady Coote, who have let Chimneys. However things turn sinister when a practical joke involving eight alarm clocks and a late sleeper goes bad. A guest is found dead, one of the alarm clocks is missing, and someone has mysteriously lined all seven of the remaining clocks in a row next to the deceased. This makes for a thrilling start to the murder mystery, but The Seven Dials Mystery is more than just murder. The plot also involves a secret society, government secrets, international criminals, cat burglars, Scotland Yard, amateur sleuths, and a little comedy and romance thrown in for good measure.

The main detective in this novel is Superintendent Battle of Scotland Yard. He is aided by a few of the gentry, including Bundle, her friend Bill Eversleigh of the Foreign Office, and Jimmy Thesiger a friend of the deceased. Bundle's character is fun and amused me in particular. She reminded me a little of Nancy Drew... or what I imagine Nancy Drew would be like if she was a little older and set as a British royal.

As often happens when reading a Christie novel, I picked up on various clues through the book, but soon forgot them as the fast paced plot brought forth other details and clues. The result was that I reached the end thinking, "Oh yeah! I had forgotten about that!" and "Wait a second..." as I flipped back to an earlier section of the book to check on something. But overall I was satisfied. The Seven Dials Mystery is a good crime novel and Christie was also successful in including a love story as one of the subplots of the novel without deluding the main plot, the "who don-it", which I enjoyed very much.

Interesting to note, around the time The Seven Dials was printed Agatha Christie commented, "I was gaining confidence over my writing now. I felt that I would have no difficulty in producing a book every year, and possibly a few short stories as well." Clearly this was true. By 1929, when The Seven Dials was published, Agatha Christie was the author of nine crime novels (published one every ear, excluding 1921), 30 short stories and a book of poetry.

On a scale of one to five, one being horrible and five being excellent, I would rate The Seven Dials Mystery a four. It may not be my favorite Christie crime novel, but it was a very good read and I really enjoyed it. As I mention every time I review a Christie mystery -- I would advise borrowing from your library vs. buying these books, unless you don't mind spending a few dollars for a cheap paperback. I personally always borrow.

Stay tuned for my next Agatha Christie review some time in the next month... Murder at the Vicarage, the first Miss Marple mystery!

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Note: As is always the case do not read up on The Seven Dials Mystery at Wikipedia until after you're finished reading. Wikipedia's plot descriptions are guaranteed spoilers and are only good as follow-up reads or for the literary lazy, which you don't want to be. Trust me!

Happy New Year! ~ Looking Forward to 2009

One thing I love about a new year is very much the same thing I love about a new book.

There are 365 days ahead of me and I won't know what's special about them until I live out each day. Every day is a small adventure filled with surprises sometimes good and sometimes bad, but by the end of the year I have a treasure trove of memories.

It is likewise with books; I open a book and it's like beginning a new adventure, a respite for myself from the tough parts of life. Each page I turn leads me further on the adventure and by the end of the year I look back at all the stories I've read and all the memories I have and I feel richer in knowledge and imagination than I did the previous year.

I am really excited about this new year, 2009. Already I anticipate many changes in my personal life (hopefully more good than bad). I already have a list of books I can't wait to begin reading. And I am thrilled to have a place where I can write down my thoughts and share them with my book blogging/reading friends, yes that's you.

When I created this blog last July I didn't have a lot of expectations, but in the past six months it has grown and spread and become more than I dreamed possible. And so as we launch into a new year I thought it was as good a time as any to redecorate the blog. If I had to set a goal or purpose for this blog in 2009 I think I'd have to say it is my hope that A Library is a Hospital for the Mind will be a tool. A tool that will help blog readers weed through all the books out there and locate a couple of special interest to read; books that will help them find rest and refreshment; books that are a respite from their life -- the ultimate hospital for the mind.

But before I launch into the year I wanted to stop and thank Kelly for all her work redesigning this blog. I met Kelly several years ago at my previous employment. Since then she has started her own photography business and just this past year expanded it to include a blog design service. Kelly has is extremely gifted when it comes to photography and design. If you are interested in learning more about her photography business or in having your blog remodeled head over to Informal Moments Photography for more information. (Note: Kelly is located on the East Coast, so if you are looking for someone who calls the West Coast their home I would be remiss if I didn't mention another friend and book lover, Carrie at Blue Castle Photography. And yes, I know a LOT of photographers.)

Happy New Year!