An Interview with Moi

Today is my birthday. I thought it might be fun to share a little bit about myself, so I took a post I saw on Lenore's blog and changed it up a little. Enjoy. :-)

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

1. What is your all-time favorite book?

I don't know if I could list just one... I think I could list my top 10 favorites. My current most favorite book is The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett, but that is likely to change as it has in the past. I have also read and loved: Bleak House by Charles Dickens, Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell, and Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. To see my other favorites please click here.

2. What's your all-time favorite book cover?

I love books that are hard cover with dust jackets. The more classic/old-time the book looks the more I love it. My set of Jane Austen novels are like this, they are almost as nice as some of the old classics I have been lucky enough to find. On the other hand, the ugliest book I ever bought was the paperback copy of A House to Let that I found online. It was pictured with one cover, which I liked, but arrived looking totally different. Instead of a picture of a house the cover was all white with the only text being the title and author in black type on the front. I was very disappointed. What was the publisher thinking?!

3. If you could meet one author who would it be?
Another difficult question. I think it would be Robert Lawson, the children's author and illustrator. I've always loved his books and think it would have been fun to meet him in person. Although I'd be happy meeting any of my favorite authors. Unfortunately almost all of them are dead. Of the current authors I enjoy, I think it'd be fun to meet Shannon Hale.

4. What book would you love to be able to read again for the first time?
Hard choice. There are so many wonderful books that are amazing as first time reads, but if I had to choose I think I'd say the Harry Potter series. Not a classic, but a series I did enjoy. Now that the movies are nearly finished I wish in a way I could re-read the series and be kept in suspense and surprised once again at how things end.

5. What TV shows do you like to watch?
I don't dedicate a lot of time to TV, but I am hooked on LOST. I also enjoy The Office. From time to time if there is a good adaptation I will watch PBS/BBC's Masterpiece Classic and Masterpiece Mystery. I enjoy re-runs of The Gilmore Girls (now on DVD). The two shows I enjoy watching with my husband include Good Eats (Food Network) and the BBC show Top Gear, both shows are very funny and educational.

6. What are your hobbies?
I love reading and I belong to a book club. I also love to write. I like being out doors, especially swimming and hiking during the warmer months, but they aren't exactly hobbies more leisurely activities. I do participate weekly in kickboxing, yoga and pilates classes at our local gym and I love them. And I guess you could say remodeling is a hobby. We've been remodeling our house inside and out and from top to bottom for the last four years, so I guess that should count.

7. What is your dream destination?
I want to go to Europe, more specifically England. I made my husband promise to take me before I'm 50. So there's plenty of time for it to still happen.

8. What is your favorite trip ever?
Probably the 5 year wedding anniversary trip my husband and I took to Hawaii. It was the most relaxing trip I've ever taken... short over our honeymoon.

9. Where will you be on your birthday?
At the beach with family.

10. What are a few random details about you?
I spent the first 20 years of my life living in upstate NY, never moving once. I then moved to the Washington, DC area where I've since lived (but moved within the area four times).

I enjoy coffee (particularly the "foofy" drinks like a mocha or a latte), but I also love a good cup of tea and some fresh scones. Perfect on a dreary day when I have some quiet time and a good book... something that doesn't happen very much anymore, so it is a real treat when it does.

I've been married for 7 years in July and we have a daughter who will be 2 years old on our anniversary.

I work part-time from home as an office manager/HR/accountant/payroll manager for a non-profit organization. This requires a lot of patience, creativity, and ingenuity from me as I juggle the details and take care of my house and family.

I am a born again Christian - have been since I was a young child. This fact definitely impacts my worldview

I was born on Memorial Day (when it was still celebrated on the day (May 30th) vs. the last Monday of the month). I rode in my mother's arms during the car ride home as infant car seats weren't widely used or required by law.

Spring 2009 Book Swap Sign Up -- CLOSED

UPDATE ON 6/6/09: THE SPRING BOOK SWAP IS NOW CLOSED. WATCH FOR A POST IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS LISTING THE MATCHES FOR OF ALL PARTICIPANTS.

The Spring Book Swap sign up is now open! Please review the rules before signing up. For more information about the Spring Book Swap click here. The sign up will close June 6, or after the 50th participant has joined. (Note: the Mr. Linky I normally use is down for maintenance, so please click on the button below, which will take you to the page to fill in your information.)

----------------------
THE RULES:
----------------------
1. You should only sign up to participate in the book swap if you are actually willing to follow the rules. This means you are willing and able to respond within the set time-limits for the swap.

2. Once you sign up you will be matched with another participant. You initiate or respond to communications from your match concerning the books you will swap.

3. You must contact/respond to your match within one week of the sign-up ending and your match being made. You must have your book shipped to your match before the end of June.

4. You will select your favorite non-fiction book and mail it to your match and they will do likewise. Books can be mailed directly from an online source (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc.) or purchased at a store and then mailed personally by the participant.

5. 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.

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

7. Only the first 50 participants will be included in the swap. If this swap is successful we may increase the number for future swaps.

Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery

227 pages
Bantom Classic Books, 1992
Harper Collins Publishers
New York, NY

This was my second reading of Anne's House of Dreams by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I read through the first five books in the Anne series as a teenager, but never further. Last fall I picked up the series again this time determined to read my way through to the very end, Rilla of Ingleside.

Published in 1917, Anne's House of Dreams opens in the weeks leading up to Anne and Gilbert's wedding and then proceeds through the first two years of their marriage and life in their new home, Anne's very own house of dreams. It is a beautiful story with some of Montgomery's best island imagery. Reading a book by L. M. Montgomery will make any reader feel as though they've lived for a time on P.E.I. -- or at least that they MUST visit it.

In my opinion Anne's House of Dreams is the perfect finale of Anne focused books. From Anne of Ingleside to Rill of Ingleside the story focuses more on Anne's family than on Anne's adventures and dreams or "coming-of-age". Not to say they aren't good, I've heard they are wonderful, but I did feel a little sad as I closed Anne's House of Dreams. Anne is no longer a starry-eyed girl with a wild imagination. I'm nearing the end of the series!

I think Anne's House of Dreams is one of my two favorite novels in the Anne series. I just love getting to eavesdrop on Gilbert and Anne's relationship (something I missed as it was very one-sided in the letter form of Anne of Windy Poplars). And then there are the comical and endearing characters including Miss Cornelia, Captain Jim, Leslie, Susan, and Owen with their own assortment of drama and adventures. Which helped to make up for the lack of beloved Green Gables/Avonlea characters.

I bought my copy of Anne's House of Dreams, as I am slowly collecting the entire series for my personal library. I definitely encourage readers who have never read the Anne books (or in a long while) to take some time to read through the series. The books are not difficult to read (i.e. they are easy to follow, understand, etc.), they are very sweet and entertaining stories, are relatively short (less than 300 pages), and are easy to access (almost every public library has the series in paperback, some also in audio book format).

Anne's House of Dreams is a comfort read for me. It made me want to snuggle down in by a crackling fire in a little cottage by the sea, just like Anne and Gilbert. It made me wish for a simpler, slower paced life...but then I'd remember all the conveniences we have in the 21st century and feel maybe I wasn't so wishful after all. One thing is certain, life was so different 100 years ago.

On a scale of one to five, one being horrible an five being excellent I would rate Anne's House of Dreams a 4.5 to 5. I loved this book. I look forward to reading the next in the series, Anne of Ingleside, especially since I have yet to read it.

------------------
As a side note, I know many fans of the Anne books have seen the atrocity that Kevin Sullivan called Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story. I saw his adaptation (a.k.a. Anne of Green Gables overhaul and re-write) when it first aired on TV and I cannot tell you how disappointed I was with the story as a whole. It robbed the viewer of the best scenes, the best characters, of the real Gilbert and Anne. Take their wedding. I mean, all that build-up, all that waiting... and Anne and Gilbert's wedding is over in 10 seconds and nothing like in the book. I was shocked and annoyed. Well, all I can say is skip the movie, it's a waste of time. Montgomery's version of the wedding, of Anne and Gilbert's relationship and life together as laid out in Anne's House of Dreams is exactly as the reader hopes it to be. Which makes sense, as after all she did create the characters.

Wordless Wednesday: Library Book Sale Finds

I found 19 books and paid $2.25, what a deal!

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

Books: The Fables of Aesop retold by Frances Barnes-Murphy, collected and illustrated by Rowan Barnes-Murphy, The Hilarious Adventures of Paddington (5 volume set) by Michael Bond, Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann, Choo Choo by Virginia Lee Burton , Little Fur Family by Maragret Wise Brown, A House for a Mouse by Kathleen N. Daly (A Little Golden Book), Baby Farm Animals by Garth Williams (A Little Golden Book), Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, Corduroy by Don Freeman, The Tree House Mystery by Carol Beach York, The Trolley Car Family by Eleanor Clymer, Go Dog Go! by P.D. Eastman, Corderoy's Party by Don Freeman, Here Come Trainmice by Wong Herbert Yee, and The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss.

What's On My Nightstand: May

It's nearly the end of May and that means time for another look at what is on my nightstand.


Currently I'm reading Smoky: The Cow Horse by Will James. I stumbled upon this old western in my local library. It looked interesting, smelled like a fantastic old book... so I picked it up to read.










I am also reading Anne's House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery. I started re-reading the Anne series last fall with the intention of reading the entire series. I read the first five books when I was a teenager, but never got further than Anne's House of Dreams. I'm excited to finally get to the point where I left off.







At the May meeting of my book club we selected two books to read before our next meeting in July. The first is a short novella co-written by Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Wilkie Collins, titled: A House to Let. I am so excited about this read and can't wait to get started.








The other book selected by my book club (since A House to Let is so short) is a much longer read, Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. This book and A Tale of Two Cities has been on my list of books to read, so I'm glad for an excuse to pick this one up.



Stay tuned for my thoughts on this and the other books sitting on my nightstand.



Want to share what is on your nightstand? Leave a comment with a link on this post or head over to 5 Minutes for Books to share with other readers and bloggers.

On the Incarnation by Saint Athanasius

On the Incarnation was one of two books selected for the May meeting of my book club. Unfortunately I never got around to finishing the second book (Confessions by Saint Augustine), but it remains on my list of books to finish! (Yes, right there with Milton's Paradise Lost.) But I digress. What is important is that I did finish one of the two books. 

On the Incarnation is a little book (97 pages) written by Athanasius, a Greek theologian who lived in the late 3rd and into the early 4th centuries. Athanasius penned On the Incarnation when he was only 19 years old. His purpose was to defend the Biblical truth of the trinity against the heresies that were being spread around the World, and in particular by named Arius.

In spite of the fact this book was written nearly 1,700 years ago it has been translated well and makes for an fast and fairly easy read. Athanasius' writing style is almost poetic and his thoughts and views are interesting and as applicable to readers today as they were in the 4th century. In my opinion, On the Incarnation is a true classic, a must read that should be included in every readers' bucket list of "books to read before I die." If you read Plato, you should be sure to read Athanasius. And if that isn't enough to convince you, maybe this will. Fans of C. S. Lewis may be interested to know that he was an admirer of Athanasius' works, including On the Incarnation, which in turn impacted some of Lewis' own writings. Lewis wrote an introduction for On the Incarnation, but readers should pay attention if purchasing the book as not all printings include this introduction.

On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate On the Incarnation a 4.5. It's a worthy read. Those unwilling to take the leap and purchase a copy for themselves can read the book in its entirety at Spurgeon.org.

Friday Finds: The Adventures of Paddington Bear

I was first introduced to Paddington Bear many years ago when my mother read to me a short children's story about a little bear from Darkest Peru who came to England and lived with the Brown family. I remember that Paddington wore a blue coat and a red hat and he loved marmalade. While I was a fan of Corduroy and had my own Corduroy bear, my older sister had her own Paddington Bear.

Now, all these years later I have rediscovered Paddington. It began a few weeks ago when I stumbled upon a 2-disc DVD set, "The Complete Paddington Bear Collection" (with 42 cartoon stories), at my local library. The cartoons are cute, witty, and entertaining for children and adults. At the time we had borrowed a portable DVD player from some friends for my trip out West, so I played a few of the cartoons for my daughter -- and she really enjoyed them. That's all it took, I was sold. I tracked down the DVD set on Amazon for only $6! and purchased our own set.

Now fast-forward a few weeks. Last Saturday one of the local library branches was having a book sale. Unfortunately by the time I arrived all the "collectors" books (i.e. the ones I was looking for) were sold, but I still came away with some great finds all from the children's section.

One of my great finds was a 5-volume box set of Paddington Bear stories by Michael Bond. The box set published in the 1970s cost me all of $0.62 and included five paperback books: A Bear Called Paddington (1958), More About Paddington (1959), Paddington Helps Out (1960), Paddington At Large (1962), and Paddinton At Work (1966).

I've since discovered that there are four additional Paddington books: Paddington Takes the Air, Paddington Abroad, Paddington Goes to Town, and Paddington Marches On, so I will have to be on the look out for them. Each Paddington book includes chapters and runs less than 150 pages, ideal as a read aloud for young children, or as a read-alone for children 9-12 years.

I am very excited about owning these books and look forward to sharing them with my daughter.

Spring 2009 Library Hospital/Reading to Know Book Swap

It's once again that time -- time for the next book swap co-hosted by yours truly at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind and Carrie at Reading to Know.

The goal of the swap? To share much loved books with new found friends. During our Autumn book swap we invited participants to share an all-time favorite book with their swap-match. Then in the Winter swap participants shared their favorite children's book. This time around our theme is Non-fiction books (i.e. non-fiction, biographical, history, etc.) **NOTE: Participants should try to keep the books from being too dry or tome-like. Non-fiction can be fun to read and this is a great way to share a book you've read and enjoyed with another reader.

The Rules:
1. You should only sign up to participate in the book swap if you are actually willing to follow the rules. This means you are willing and able to respond within the set time-limits for the swap.
2. Once you sign up you will be matched with another participant. You initiate or respond to communications from your match concerning the books you will swap.
3. You must contact/respond to your match within one week of the sign-up ending and your match being made. You must have your book shipped to your match before the end of June.
4. You will select your favorite non-fiction book and mail it to your match and they will do likewise. Books can be mailed directly from an online source (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc.) or purchased at a store and then mailed personally by the participant.
5. 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.
6. Book swaps are permanent unless you and your match agree to another arrangement.
7. 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 29th of May and link your blog up to the Mr. Linky we will be providing. Sign up will remain open for approximately 1 week (through June 6th) or until the first 50 participants are signed up, whichever comes first. So spread the word and be sure to check back here Friday, May 29.

In the meantime, spread the word! We invite you to copy our Book swap button and use it to link to this book swap from your blog.

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

(To view previous swaps please click on the Book Swap label.)

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

266 pages
Originally published: 1934
Reprinted by Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc.
New York, NY

Murder on the Orient Express is probably one of the more well known mystery novels by Agatha Christie. My first memory of it is seeing the 1974 movie adaptation advertised on television, though I've never actually watched it. Murder on the Orient Express is the eighth "who-dunit" by Christie that features Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and his famous "little gray cells" and it is the third novel in which Captain Hastings does not appear as the narrator. (The other two being The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and The Mystery of the Blue Train.) Like several other novels by Christie, Murder on the Orient Express was published under two titles. The UK version was published as Murder on the Orient Express in early 1934, but the US version, published later that year, was published as Murder in the Calais Coach to avoid confusion with another novel by Graham Green titled Orient Express.

As Murder on the Orient Express begins Poirot is traveling back to England after closing up an important case in Syria. Hoping to travel in the comfort of first class, Poirot is surprised to find the entire first class cabin in the Calais Coach is booked up, something unusual for the time of year. After a little finagling by the train director and a passenger failing to make the train, Poirot gets his sleeping berth and the train starts off. During the trip it comes to Poirot's attention that not only is the train unusually full, but it is filled with a variety of people from different classes and races, likewise unusual. But the most unusual occurrence is the train is stopped by a snow storm one of the passengers is murdered -- stabbed to death twelve times! What unfolds is a very puzzling mystery that only Hercule Poirot may be able to solve... And of course he does.

I found Murder on the Orient Express to be one of the most cleverly written detective novels I've read in a while. I did pick up on several clues as I read, but the solution to the case eluded me to the very end. My one objection was to the ending of the story. I struggled with the way the case was closed having some moral objections, but I can't say anything more without giving away the story. All I can say is, had I been in Poirot's shoes I might have handled the situation differently, but it wouldn't have been easy to do so.

The writing in Murder on the Orient Express is typical Christie style -- easy to read, a page turner with lots of interesting characters and clever dialog, and if the reader follows the plot closely they will experience quite a mental exercise. The one drawback is the story does lack action. Excepting in the first few pages the entire novel takes place on the train. Most of the text consists of dialog and descriptions, which makes the reader realize how ideal Murder on the Orient Express would be/is for a stage play or movie.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent, I would rate Murder on the Orient Express a 3.5 to 4. I really enjoyed the mystery and I think it is one of the better Christie novels I've read as far as the story plot, clues, and how the mystery is answered. I can't say it was my favorite as there have been other stories that I have enjoyed more, but I think Murder on the Orient Express is one of the top Christie mystery novels to be read.

In closing I quote a book review by Isaac Anderson from the March 4, 1934 issue of the New York Times as he sums up my thoughts exactly: "The great Belgian' detective's guesses are more than shrewd; they are positively miraculous. Although both the murder plot and the solution verge upon the impossible, Agatha Christie has contrived to make them appear quite convincing for the time being, and what more than that can a mystery addict desire."

Check back in June for my next Agatha Christie mystery review: Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Betsy And Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace

180 pages

Copyright 1943, renewed 1971

Published 1979 First Harper Trophy edition

New York, New York

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown is the fourth book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Besty, Tacy, and Tib are growing up. At 12 years-old they permitted to do lots of things on their own including trips together or alone to downtown Deep Valley. Even Julia and Katie (Betsy's and Tacy's older sisters) are growing up. They are in high-school and have boys carrying their books. It won't be long before before Betsy, Tacy, and Tib leave their childhood behind and follow the older girls into Deep Valley High. In a way, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown is the perfect story to segue between the girls adventures as children and the adventures they have as young ladies. I think because of this and because of the books strong focus on the arts (literature, theatre and music) Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown is my favorite book covering Betsy's early years.

As is the case with the three previous novels, Mrs. Lovelace packs the short novel with many exciting experiences and has the girls uncovering wonderful surprises. It would spoil some of the fun if I were to list them all here, so I will only mention a few such as... making surprising new friends, matinees at the Deep Valley Opera House (theatre), riding in the first horseless carriage (automobile) to arrive in Deep Valley, and (my personal favorite) exploring the new Carnegie Library.

I found a few details of Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown quite amusing. For starters, as the story opens the girls have discovered dime novels, which are in general frowned upon by the girls' parents. What made me laugh was which book it is that causes the ruckus in the Kelly and Ray homes -- none other than Mary Elizabeth Braddon's Lady Audley's Secret (1862). I laugh because in 2009 that book is considered a classic right alongside the works of Dickens, Austen, and Wilkie Collins, yet in 1901 it was still considered "cheap literature" and a sensational or controversial read that is by no means equal to Dickens or Shakespeare. It is interesting to see how public opinion and literary tastes/opinions change over time. And interesting too that it is a book I really enjoyed. What does that say of my literary tastes? Hmm...

Another aspect that I enjoyed was Betsy's introduction to the new Carnegie library. During the first two decades of the 20th century the millionaire philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie funded over 1,680 public libraries in the United States in order to further self-improvement in citizens through reading. One such library came to Deep Valley (the fictional town version of Mankato, MN) and Betsy's parents encourage her self-improvement by letting her spend every other Saturday at the library on her own. Some of my favorite quotes from Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown are found in the chapters where Betsy first visits the library:

"She thought of the library, so shining white and new; the rows and rows of unread books; the bliss of unhurried sojourns there and of going out to a restaurant, alone to eat." (Chapter 6, page 78)

"The Children's Room was exactly right for children. The tables and chairs were low. Low bookshelves lined the walls, and tempting-looking books with plenty of illustrations were open on the tables. There was a big fireplace in the room, with a fire throwing up flames and making crackling noises. Above it was the painting of a rocky island with a temple on it, called The Isle of Delos. 'That's one of the Greek islands,' said Miss Sparrow. Miss Sparrow was the young lady's name; she had told Betsy so. 'There's nothing more classic than Greece,' she said. 'Do you know Greek mythology? No? Then let's begin on that.' She went to the shelves and returned with a book. 'Tanglewood Tales, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Mythology. Classic,' she said. She went back to the shelves and returned with an armful of books. She handed them to Betsy one by one. 'Tales from Shakespeare, by Charles and Mary Lamb. Classic. Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes. Classic. Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift. Classic. Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain. Classic, going-to-be.' She was laughing and so was Betsy. 'You don't need to read them all today,' Miss Sparrow said." (Chapter 7 page 84-85)

As you can guess, I just loved Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown. It was a fun story and filled me with warm happy memories as I read; especially of my childhood libraries. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown a 5. This is definitely a series to buy verses borrow. The good news is the early years (books 1-4) are still available in paperback and I've read that the later years (books 5-11) will once again be available in paperback later this year.

For more information about the earlier Besty-Tacy books check out my reviews here. And for the later books, stay tuned. Reviews to come.

Wordless Wednesday: A young bookworm

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella

389 pages

Copyright 2008

The Dial Press, a division of Random House, Inc.

New York, New York

I read the entire Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella in early 2008 and had a love-hate relationship with them. I loved the comical aspects of the stories and the light fluff that made them easy reading... but I hated the stressful situations that occurred in each novel, they stressed me out until everything was resolved and I was assured of a happy ending. And yet, I read on until I finished the series. At some point I realized they were a guilty pleasure for me, some "snack reading" in between meatier books and classics. So, since I've finished the series and it's been a while since I've read some modern chick-lit I thought I'd give one of Kinsella's stand-alone books a try.

Remember Me? is about a young working class British gal who wakes up in the hospital with amnesia. All Lexi Smart can remember is what happened to her three years previous to her accident. To her it feels as though she's lost three years of her life... But maybe it isn't so bad after all. Lexi finds her "new" life a dream come true -- she's got the body of a brunette barbie doll, a high paying job, and lives in a millionaire flat with her very sweet and absolutely gorgeous husband. Everything is almost perfect and once she regains her memory it will be perfect... But then Lexi learns things aren't what they seem... But why? How did she become who she is? If only she could remember!

Remember Me? is a romance with drama typical of British chick-lit (i.e. Bridget Jones Diary). What does that mean? It means Remember Me? has its funny moments mixed in with some difficult situations, but overall remains a light read with a happy ending. Personally I found myself struggling with some of situations included in the book, particularly those involving Lexi and her friend's morals. Their worldview is different than mine thus I did not connect with the characters as I might in other books. To add to this the book had a fair amount of language (including the "f-word", which is really common in modern British literature and films) and some bedroom scenes/discussions (both intramarital and extramarital) that readers may wish to skip over (or maybe skip the book altogether). Despite all these negative aspects I still wanted to finish the story. It has such a clever plot. Seriously, what would you do if you woke up and found you weren't who you thought you were, or that you didn't have the same friends and that your spouse was a complete stranger? It is definitely compelling and got me thinking.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Remember Me? a 2-2.5. It's not that I hated it, because I didn't... I just can't say that I loved it, there was too much in the way for me to connect with the characters, especially the heroine..

If you're looking for a good clean story involving a married couple, one of which has amnesia and can't remember anything you should check out the 1940 film I Love You Again. (Netflix anyone?) And if you aren't terrible concerned with mild language and implied love scenes you might be interested in the Harrison Ford film, Regarding Henry. Either of these I think were better at telling the story than Kinsella did in Remember Me? Harsh? I don't mean to be, but well, there you have it.

I do plan to give Kinsella another try at some point in the future. She is one of those writers that makes for a good brain break -- a beach book -- or a time-killer for some. Borrow don't buy this one if you wish to read it.

The Methods of Lady Walderhurst by Frances Hodgson Burnett

304 pages
Copyright, 1901, by Frederick A. Stokes Company
University Press, John Wilson and Son
Cambridge, U.S.A.

The Methods of Lady Walderhurst is the continuing story -- a sequel -- to The Making of a Marchioness by Frances Hodgson Burnett. **Please note: because of the nature of this story I cannot post a review without giving away a little of the Marchioness ending, so if you wish to avoid a spoiler, better wait to read this review until after you've read The Making of a Marchioness.

That said... The Methods of Lady Walderhurst picks up very soon after the proposal scene at the end of The Making of a Marchioness. Emily Fox-Seton is back in London staying with Lady Maria Bayne while awaiting her wedding to Lord James Walderhurst. The novel, like its precursor, does start off a little slow and appears to be a simple romance novel of what life is like in the "happily ever after" that was promised in Marchioness. But if the reader sticks out the first few chapters the story does pick up and turns from a simple romance into a story of drama and suspense.

There are two threads to this story. The first thread follows two very different marriages -- that of Lord and Lady Walderhurst and that of Lord Walderhurst's heir presumptive, Captain Alec Osborn and his wife, Hester Osborn. The two couples have vastly different relationships and outcomes by the end of the novel. The second thread follows the drama that surrounds Lady Walderhurst when Lord Walderhurst leaves for an extended business trip to India. What begins as mysterious occurrence and an accident soon leads Lady Walderhurst to think someone might be trying to kill her!

Because of this some might consider The Methods of Lady Walderhurst a sensational novel typical of the late Victorian period, but that doesn't mean it's bad. I found it to be an enjoyable page-turner that reminded me a little of 1860 novel The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (a favorite of mine). It has subtle lessons woven into the story that make it a much meatier story than what might be found in a modern sensational novel. It is also an interesting read for those who have a historical interest in the late Victorian era. Burnett's story depicts realistic relationships amongst the cast of characters as well as the gender and class roles typical of the era.

Some readers may object to the involvement of East Indian mythology and witchcraft that two characters bring to the story, but this is not the message of the novel, more of a means to clarifying the drama and danger and add to the suspense and mystery. It should not be found any more objectionable than any villainous behavior would in a novel.

Overall I enjoyed The Methods of Lady Walderhurst. It wasn't exactly what I expected (just a story of romance). It was much more and I found it to be a delightful surprise and a fun read. As the story progressed I began to care more for certain characters and had more and more difficulty putting the book down, I kept thinking, "Just one more page and then I can stop reading." By the time I reached the end I was very satisfied.

I don't think it was quite as good as The Shuttle (still an all-time favorite), but they are two totally different stories so they aren't really comparable. I am glad I read The Methods of Lady Walderhurst and definitely recommend it to others who have read The Making of the Marchioness or who are looking for a romance with melodrama set in at the turn of the last century. Individual copies are rare, but the two books have been reprinted into one paperback and can be found online. I bought my copy through Amazon from a book seller in the South who in turn bought it as a library discard.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate it a 3.5 to a 4. I have enjoyed reading Burnett's novels for adults as I've always enjoyed her children's stories. I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

Eight is Enough Meme

This isn't really book related, but it is another fun meme that I found over at Alyce's blog At Home With Books a week or so back. I thought you all might enjoy learning a little bit more about me, so here we go:

8 Things That I'm Looking Forward to:
1. Sunshine. The 10 day forecast has been rain, rain, rain... I think we're coming up on sunshine in about 7 days.
2. Having time to read either once work is done and while my daughter naps, or later this evening.
3. A vacation at the beach this summer. Lots of swimming, sunshine and relaxing... oh and reading!
4. Every evening when my husband gets home from work and we get some down time.
5. Finishing the remodeling projects in our current home.
6. My birthday... 26 days away.
7. Being around and sharing my daughter's life, watching her grow up.
8. Celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary with my husband on some romantic get-away not within driving distance. (Not for another 3 years)

8 Things that I did Yesterday:
1. Finished reading a book.
2. Ate homemade blueberry pancakes for breakfast.
3. Went to church.
4. Watched an episode of The Gilmore Girls.
5. Played "Tea" and with play dough with my daughter.
6. Stayed up way too late.
7. Planned meals for the week.
8. Read blogs.

8 Things That I wish I could Do:
1. Have more time to read.
2. Quit my job.
3. See my own books published.
4. Travel to England.
5. Teleport myself anywhere I wanted, avoiding long hours of travel.
6. Speak fluently in a foreign language (1 year of Spanish doesn't count).
7. Draw or paint really well.
8. Fly in a hot air balloon.

8 Television Programs That I Watch:
1. LOST
2. The Office
3. The Gilmore Girls (on DVD)
4. Masterpiece Classics (on PBS)
5. Masterpiece Mystery (on PBS)
6. Curious George (with my daughter)
7. Good Eats (Food Network - when it's a new episode or one I haven't seen)
8. Planet Earth (Discover HD - when it airs)

I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you would like to participate in the meme please leave a link to your post. I would love to read your responses.

April: A Month in Review and Looking Ahead

Another month has come and gone and here we are into May! I can hardly believe that spring is nearly passed.

April was a very busy month for me between work and traveling and the general things in life that take up time, but I was able to meet several of my goals.

In April I read 7 books. At the start of the month I finished a book that has caused me great curiosity over the years: Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I also read several books from various series including: Anne of Windy Poplars by L. M. Montgomery, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Hill by Maud Hart Lovelace, and Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Parliament by Paul Gallico. And as part of a personal reading challenge I started last year, I also completed another Agatha Christie mystery, Lord Edgware Dies (a.k.a. Thirteen for Dinner), which makes 13 read with 69 to go. To give myself a break from all the drama of Brideshead and Lord Edgware I enjoyed a fairytale romance and swash-buckling adventure in The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. And just before the close of the month I reminisced while re-reading the children's classic and 1939 Newbery Honor Award book, Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. (Note: Click on the links to view my reviews)

I think seven books is pretty good considering almost all of them were in my list of predicted reads in my March: A Month in Review post. Looking ahead to May I am planning to read the sequel to The Making of a Marchioness, which I read earlier this year. I also plan to get into the book club selections before our May 20th meeting, and plan to finish off the 14th Christie mystery. Aside from that I may pick up another Anne book, or maybe a Betsy-Tacy, we'll see. I am hoping for some fun surprises in May, so stay tuned.