August: A Month in Review

Today is the last day of August and it might as well be the last day of Summer by the way it feels outside. It is so much cooler and between the warm sunshine and soft breezes it's the perfect day for reading out of doors. I love it!

I'm actually a little excited that the hot Summer weather is drawing to an end. I love Summer, but I think I love Autumn more. There's something so cozy about reading on a soft warm afternoon or a cool crisp evening.

But to recap the month... Most of my August reads were on my projected reading list, which is a change from the last two months, where most were not. Of the seven books I hoped to read I finished five and added seven more that weren't on the list.

Those 12 books included:
1. Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.
2. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.
3. Heavens to Betsy by Maud Hard Lovelace.
4. Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie.
5. Betsy In Spite of Herself by Maud Hart Lovelace.
6. Betsy Was a Junior by Maud Hart Lovelace.
7. The African Queen by C. S. Forester
8. Betsy and Joe by Maud Hart Lovelace
9. The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton
10. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
11. Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie
12. Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

As you can tell by my list I am a little behind in posting reviews. But never fear, I shall have the rest of the reviews up within the first two weeks of September. Plus I have some very exciting news in the form of an announcement that will appear tomorrow -- Tuesday, September 1st -- so be sure to check back to find out more!

By the way, for those who are curious about the two books I didn't read from my August projected reading list they were The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel (a series of short stories by Baroness Orczy) and Rainbow Valley from the Anne of Green Gables series. I still plan to read Rainbow Valley, but have given up on The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. The League is a series of short stories that comes later in the series and I really want to read the books in order of the story's progression. Unfortunately I don't have access to the next in the series, so I have put that reading ambition on hold.

So what will I be reading next month? I am currently reading Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge, which was the selected book for my book club's September meeting. I am determined to have this 502 page book finished before the meeting. I expect this will happen as I've already made quite a bit of progress and it's not yet September.

I'd like to finish Rainbow Valley and perhaps get started on Rilla of Ingleside, we'll see.

Of course, I must read the next Agatha Christie mystery, which is The A.B.C. Murders.

And I've got a few other ideas of books I plan to read, but we'll see if I get to them or if something else lands in my lap to distract me. Curious? I hope you'll come back to see what I post.

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne

161 pages

Copyright 1926, reprinted 1988

Dutton Children's Books

New York, NY

I've always loved Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in The Hundred Acre Wood. I can remember watching a cartoon episode of his adventures almost every Saturday as a child. So I don't mind that he has become the most loved stuffed toy that my daughter possesses. Currently she loves anything Winnie-the-Pooh and is quick to point out "Pigget", "Tigger", "Owl", "Eeyore" and "Roo."

So I am glad I took the time to read Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne, as I'm not sure I've ever had it read to me.

For those unfamiliar with the book, Winnie-the-Pooh is the first of two children's story books about a young boy named Christopher Robin and his friends who live in The Hundred Acre Wood, including the lovable bear without much brain, "Edward Bear" also known as "Winnie-the-Pooh", also known as "Pooh."

The stories within Winnie-the-Pooh are told through narration, presumably the author (who happened to be the father of the real Christopher Robin). The book consists of ten chapters following the adventures that Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo share together. I found it interesting to note that in this first book about Pooh Bear there is no Tigger. Perhaps he'll appear in the next book?

While love, friendship, honesty, sharing and other such honorable traits abound in the stories they aren't really the point of the stories. Rather, the stories are meant to be cute, charming, and comical stories that children will love and which make excellent bed time reading. Between the excellent story tale writing and the scattered pen and ink illustrations throughout the pages Winnie-the-Pooh is a wonderful read-aloud for young children.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh a 5. It is a timeless classic that I can't wait to share with my daughter, perhaps next year after I've had a chance to add it to her personal library collection.

If you haven't read Winnie-the-Pooh be sure to add it to your list. You'll enjoy it as will the children you share it with.

The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton

242 pages
Copyright 1962
Harper & Row, Publishers
New York, NY

The Diamond in the Window is the first book in the Hall Family Chronicles by Jane Langton. The Chronicles consists of eight books that were published between 1962 and 2008.

The Plot:
Set in Concord, Massachusetts in the present day (present when published in 1962), The Diamond in the Window is a story that involves mystery, romance, adventure, and fantasy. While most of the story is written in prose a few quotes and some poetry is scattered within.

"Eddy and Eleanor Hall have always known that their family was a bit out of the ordinary. After all, they live in one of the most remarkable houses in all of Concord. But they never guessed just how extraordinary their house really is, or what tremendous secrets about their family's past it holds. That is, until they discover the magical attic room with its beautiful stained-glass window, abandoned toys, and two perfectly made-up, empty beds that seem to be waiting perhaps for two children just like themselves...." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
I was intrigued from the first page of The Diamond in the Window. As I quoted earlier this week in my Tuesday Teaser post, the opening paragraphs made for a compelling read. Ms. Langton writes well as a children's storyteller and I found the book both clever and amusing. The characters were fun as well, with some being easily likable and others appropriately despicable. That said, there was a point, about two thirds into the story, where my interest lagged a little. It wasn't really that the story dragged, because it didn't. It had more to do with the fact I wasn't excited to find so much of the story revolved around the 19th century belief of transcendentalism. I kept wondering where Ms. Langton was going with the story and why she focusing on this out-of-date philosophy.

As I read on the answer to these questions became clear. First, it is evident in her writing that Ms. Langton is both fascinated and passionate about Concord, Massachusetts history and its connection with the late 19th century transcendentalist movement. Second, in writing a story that involves beliefs and philosophies from generations past it only makes sense to include some of the local celebrities who played a part in the movement (Enter Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau). In turn these celebrities play a historic part in the story, which ties everything neatly together and makes for a very different type of story.

I was pleased to find when I reached the end of the book that even though Ms. Langton makes the transcendentalist movement a part of her story it isn't the point of her story. There is no "preachiness" in the story, it's just a means to an end. The real point of the story is a tale of mystery and adventure and good overcoming evil. The Diamond in the Window is definitely a fantasy with impossible adventures, some of which are a little weird like a dream... but for the most part the book is just plain fun. It reminds me a great deal of another children's book I read and reviewed, The Enchanted Castle by Edith Nesbit and also a little of a book I started, but never finished, The King in the Window by Adam Gopnik.

My Summary
Overall I can say I enjoyed The Diamond in the Window. It was a fun read, but with a somewhat predictable ending (but probably less so for young readers). On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The Diamond in the Window a 3.5. It was a good read, but I will admit the transcendentalism stuff kind of turned me off from giving the book a higher rating; still I might take a look at the rest of the Hall Family Chronicles at some point in the future. In the meantime, fans of The Enchanted Castle may find a winner in this book.

For more information about the series or about Ms. Langton check out this Wiki article.

What's On My Nightstand: August

It's the end of summer, although it won't feel like that outside for at least another month. Still the days are growing shorter, Labor Day is fast approaching and children are returning to school. I am hoping to set aside the light reading I was busy with for most of the summer and start into some classics, but we shall see.

The following books are what currently reside on my nightstand. Please check back next Monday for a review of August and for my September reading projections, which is slightly different than the What's On My Nightstand post.

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

Rainbow Valley is the next book in the Anne of Green Gables series, which I have been re-reading/reading since last autumn. I read the first five books years ago, but never read further in the series. My goal is to finish the series before the year end.

Just for fun I thought I would read the Homer Price books by Robert McCloskey. I think my mother read these books to my siblings and I as children, but I don't remember much about them. They're short quick reads for adults, so I thought they'd be fun and a good fill in between longer novels.

I have several other books waiting to be read, but those will have to wait for my August review/September reading projection post next week.

Well, that's what you'll find on my nightstand, but what's on yours? Leave a comment and tell me or link over at 5Minutes4Books as part of the monthly What's On Your Nightstand challenge.

Tuesday Teaser

The following is a little long for a quote, but it was one of the most compelling openings for a story that I've read in a while. I loved it!

"Edward Hall sat under the front porch of the big house on Walden Street in Concord, Massachusetts, and thought about his two ambitions in life. The first was to be the President of the United States. That was not very likely, but it was at least possible. The second was unlikely and impossible altogether, because he had been born into the wrong family. Why, oh, why wasn't his name 'Robert Robinson' instead of 'Edward Hall'?

"...If only fathers and mothers would be more careful when they chose names for their children! If only they would pick names that sounded well in Backwards English! 'Edward Hall,' for example, was all right in ordinary English, but it was terrible the other way around -- 'Drawde Llah' didn't sound like anything. But 'Robert Robinson' -- there was a name! If you turned it backwards and softened the 's,' it was transformed into a name as strange and fantastic as that of an ambassador from some foreign land -- 'Trebor Nosnibor'! Edward put his two ambitions in life together and whispered under his breath, 'Introducing the President of the United States, Mr. Tebor Nosnibor!' How glorious!"

(The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton, Chapter 1, page 1-2)

The African Queen by C. S. Forester

246 pages

Back Bay Books, November 200

Originally published Little, Brown and Company, 1935

New York, NY

Until two weeks ago I was ignorant to the fact that The African Queen was a novel first and then a film. But my ignorance was put to an end when I stumbled upon the novel by C. S. Forester (famous for his Horatio Hornblower series) while browsing the F-G aisle of a nearby city library branch. It only took a glance before I knew I had to read the book.

The Plot:

As World War I reaches the heart of the African jungle, Charlie Allnutt and Rose Sayer, a disheveled trader and an English spinster missionary, find themselves thrown together by circumstances. Fighting time, heat, malaria, and bullets, they make their escape on the rickety steamboat The African Queen... and hatch their own outrageous military plan. (Summary courtesy of the Publisher)

My Thoughts:

I admit I began reading this book with a few preconceived notions about the story. These notions were based on the 1951 movie (starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn), which I saw several years ago while visiting my grandparents. Even though I don't remember much about the movie I do recall that it was one of the few Humphrey Bogart movies I liked and I thought it was a romantic story. Readers be warned, one should never have preconceived notions about a novel based solely on the film adaptation. Even I knew this, but ignored it.

As a story-teller, Forester is definitely a master. The plot is fast-paced and tight, without bogging down over side plots or character back story. The prose is beautiful and includes vivid descriptions that make it easy for the reader to visualize Rose, Allnutt, the steamboat African Queen, and the African jungle and river with all its wild beauty and dangers.

As an action-packed adventure-love story, The African Queen does not fail the reader entirely. From the first chapter I was pulled into the story. It is exciting, interesting, suspenseful, and in the end unpredictable. But, for me, it was not entirely satisfactory.

Why wasn't it satisfactory? For starters, I never fully connected with the romance factor of this story. In the film version I watched as Allnutt's and Rose's feelings for each other first bud into camaraderie and friendship and then later blossom into love as they work together to overcome the many obstacles en route to their ultimate mission. But in the book I found their relationship more of a thrown-together solution for their loneliness and fear. I just didn't get the impression that their relationship was made from true love and respect for the other. It just didn't seem that it would really last the test of time.

The other disappointing aspect of the book was the ending, which I found to be very anti-climatic. Without giving anything away I will say this much -- the plot of The African Queen revolves around the hero and heroine achieving a goal, but in the end nothing goes according to plan and the reader, along with Rose and Allnutt, is left with an uncertainty of the future, which the author fails to relieve in his closing sentence, "Whether or not they lived happily ever after is not easily decided..."

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Note Content Warning: Due to movie censorship common in the 1950s the movie is clean of any language or love scenes. But readers should know novels (even those published in the 1930s) were not under the same restrictions. The African Queen novel contains some language (mostly using the Lord's name in vain) and a couple references to premarital sex, but no detail.

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My Summary:

Overall I would say I liked The African Queen "Ok." For the first part of the novel I liked the story, it was an interesting read, but in the end I was left unsatisfied. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate The African Queen a 2.5. I really liked the writing, if only the novel had ended differently it might have earned a higher rating.

Other readers may feel differently, but personally I still prefer the film adaptation (alterations from the novel and all). For those curious I've included a clip of the 1951 Theatre Trailer for the movie.

Friday Finds

It's been a while since I had a Friday Finds post. This week is special because I didn't just find some new books to read, I found some to add to my library!



Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, 1943. Hardcover, illustrated with wood engravings by Fritz Eichenberg. I know this is a depressing story, but I also know I need to read it and I couldn't pass up this edition, it was too beautiful. $2.50.

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne DuMaurier, 1952. Hardcover. I read this and reviewed it. I really liked the story as I had enjoyed Rebecca. I figured for the price I'd add it to my library. If I decide to give it away it'll go to my sister who's a Rebeccafan. $2.50.

Hungry Hill by Daphne DuMaurier, 1947. Hardcover with dust jacket. I know nothing of this novel, but thought it might make for a fun read. $2.50.

Frenchman's Creek by Daphne DuMaurier, 1942. Hardcover with dust jacket. Haven't read this one either, but have heard it's good. $2.50.

Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge, 1944. Hardcover. I am planning to re-read this for my book club's September reading. I already own a copy, but I couldn't pass this one up since it was such a bargain. Most copies of GDS in this book's condition are selling upwards to $10-15. I paid $2.50! I am sending this copy along to my friend Alison as she has been wanting to read it.

Mrs. Miniver by Jan Struther, 1942. Hardcover with dust jacket. I've seen the movie, curious about the book. $3.50.

The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. No publication date listed. Appears to be early 1900s, possibly earlier. A splurge at $5.00.

Five Little Peppers And How They Grew by Margaret Sidney, 1909. Hardcover with dust jacket. My mother read this aloud to my siblings and I years and years ago. I was thrilled to find my own copy. A slight splurge at $4.50.

Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne, 1961. Hardcover with dust jacket. My daughter adores anything Winnie the Pooh. While most of these rhymes and poems are over her head I did find a few I could read to her and she enjoyed the pictures. A good book to save for later at $3.50.

I am pleased. For less than $29 I was able to come home with 8 books, some classics, some with dust jackets and all hardbound. I was very pleased and plan to revisit the little antique shop in another month or so to see if anything new has been added. This find might have been a little pricier than the library sales, but the selection of classics and old books was definitely better.

Betsy In Spite of Herself by Maud Hart Lovelace

272 pages
Copyright 1946, reprint in paperback 1980
Harper Trophy
New York, NY

I'm on a roll... After reading the first four books in the Betsy-Tacy series I finally reached my favorite books in the series -- the high school years, which begin with Heavens To Betsy and eventually lead into Betsy's early adult years and the end of the series. Of course now that I've begun re-reading them I don't want to stop. And so only a day after finishing Heavens to Betsy I found myself reading, Betsy In Spite of Herself.

The Plot:
As Betsy in Spite of Herself opens it is the summer of 1908. Betsy is 15 and heading into her sophomore year at Deep Valley High School. Even though Betsy and her life-long friend Tacy still underclassmen they are "important members of 'the Crowd,' which is the center of all the exciting happenings in the school. But all the interest in examinations, dates, parties, and school games vanishes when Phil Brandish joins the Crowd, for Phil is new and handsome and has a b right red auto. Betsy decides she has to change her personality to fit her new sophisticated role, and a trip to Milwaukee gives her the opportunity. Whether or not she succeeds, things begin to happen after she returns home, and her great decision about herself is made at her first dance." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
As I said above, I love these books. Not only are they a part of my childhood (or rather teenage years -- as I read them and enjoyed them when I was about the same age as Betsy and Tacy), but they remind me so much of... well, me as a teenager.

At 15 years I was a budding author. I'd actually written and sold one story and I dreamed of becoming an best selling author and maybe even traveling the Great World. I loved having fun with my friends, attending parties, and even cheering at the occasional school basketball game. And like Betsy, I thought for a time that if I changed who I was -- in looks, dress, and personality, then I might draw the attention and companionship of those who I thought were "cool". But also like Betsy, in time I came to realize how silly that was.

As some readers may know (particularly if you're a reader of this blog) the Betsy-Tacy books are based off of the author's (Maud Hart Lovelace) own childhood and teenage memories and experiences. Most, though not all, of Betsy's friends and family are based off real-life friends and family members of Maud's. I think this fact makes the series that much more interesting. It's not just another historical fiction series, it's based on facts and thus in a very small way a biographical historical fiction series.

Between my own personal connection with Betsy's character and the knowledge that a real person just like Betsy actually lived, experienced, and felt the same things that I have makes the series so endearing to me.

But emotions aside. Heavens to Betsy is educational too. There are two things I've noticed while re-reading the Betsy-Tacy series. First, lessons are learned by Betsy and her friends, but their aren't presented in a preachy or lecturing way. Mrs. Lovelace weaves the story in such a way that any foolish decisions reap realistic consequences and the characters and readers are left to draw their own conclusions from such happenings. Unlike say... The Elsie Dinsmore books.

Honestly, I was never a fan of the Elsie Dinsmore series. I just couldn't stand Elsie's -- or the author's for that matter -- "goody-goody" attitude and preachiness (or so I viewed it). So when I came across the following paragraph in Betsy In Spite of Herself I almost laughed out loud:

"For a moment Betsy wondered wildly whether she should refuse to go. Elsie Dinsmore, she remembered, had refused to play the piano on Sunday; she had fallen off the piano stool instead. But Betsy had never thought much of Elsie Dinsmore..." (Chapter 12, page 127)

Second, without realizing it a reader can have a nice history and social studies lesson just by reading a Betsy-Tacy novel. I had forgotten how much attention Mrs. Lovelace gives to not only the exciting and unusual details, but also to the seemingly mundane and simple details.

The reader learns much about life in the early 1900s just by reading about Betsy's home, school, religious, and social life doings. And then there is the social and political comments that Betsy, her family and friend's make and observe throughout the books just as naturally as any family does today. When Betsy takes a trip to Milwaukee to visit her childhood friend, Tib the reader learns a great deal about what life was like for German immigrants to the United States prior to both World Wars. I found this aspect particularly enlightening considering the current status of international immigrants in America. It was indeed a very interesting read.

My Summary:
These books aren't just fluff. They bring out the best of my memories and I guess that's why I treasure them so. On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Betsy In Spite of Herself a 5. This is a great follow-up to Heavens to Betsy. But I warn readers... once you start you won't be able to set the series aside until you reach the end.

Stay tuned for further thoughts and interesting facts when I review Betsy Was a Junior and an exciting announcement concerning this blog.

For more details about the reprinting of the Betsy-Tacy series or to see my other Betsy-Tacy reviews click on the Betsy-Tacy label.

Tuesday Teaser

"Those island backwaters were silent places. Even the birds and insects seemed to be silent in that steaming heat. There were only the tall trees, and the tangled undergrowth, and the aspiring creeper, and the naked tree roots along the banks. It seemed as if the African Queen's clanking progress was the first sound ever to be heard there, and when that sound stilled, when they anchored to collect more fuel, Rose found herself speaking in whispers until she shook over the crushing influence of the silence."

(The African Queen by C. S. Forester, Chapter 3, page 59-60)

Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie

330 pages
Copyright 1934, reprinted by
The Berkley Publishing Group, 2005

Three Act Tragedy is the 16th mystery novel by the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie and the 9th to include Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. As was common with several of Christie's mystery novels, Three Act Tragedy was published under two different titles. First in the UK in 1934 as Three Act Tragedy and then in the United States in early 1935 as Murder in Three Acts.

The Plot:
Three Act Tragedy is divided into three Acts like in a play, though the story reads as a novel.

Act 1: "Thirteen guests arrive for a feast at Sir Cartwright's estate overlooking the sea. Among them, the estimable sleuth Hercule Poirot. One sip of a pre-dinner cocktail -- an excellent and very dry martini -- and the local rector drops dead."

Act 2: Another dinner party, another drink, another death.

Act 3: "Who's turning an intimate dinner party into a ghastly crime scene? And who's next? Leave it to Poirot to bring down the final curtain."

What's interesting about this novel is the fact that although it's a mystery solved by Hercule Poirot it takes a while before he makes a regular appearance in the story. While Poirot is present in the first Act he doesn't make another appearance until a few chapters into the second Act. In the meantime the deaths are investigated by Mr. Satterthwaite, Sir Cartwright and Lady "Egg" Lytton Gore.

My Thoughts:
This was indeed a clever mystery by the Queen of Crime and as is often the case with her novels some things weren't as they seemed and others were just as they seemed. Up could be down and down could be up. It was a fast and thrilling story, but not (in my opinion) one of her best works. It was good, but not great.

While I had my suspicions of "who dun it" throughout the novel I ended up being surprised both by who had committed the crimes and by their motives. In the past I've attempted to solve the crime before the detective and once I was successful, but for the most part I fail to take enough time considering the facts and thus end up missing something. I didn't seriously attempt to solve Three Act Tragedy, but instead read it for its entertainment value rather than taking the story plot seriously and puzzling my way through to the end. Perhaps that makes me a lazy mystery reader... but oh well.

I found the dialog in Three Act Tragedy to be particularly witty, with various sections I ended up quoting in my Book of Books. It was also, in a way, a romance, though this angle wasn't played up nearly as well as in some of Christie's earlier works, i.e. Murder on the Links (sorry no review) and The Man in the Brown Suit (reviewed).

Summary:
In the end I enjoyed Three Act Tragedy while it lasted, but it doesn't rank as one of my top favorites by Agatha Christie. I'm glad I read it, but there are others I've read that I would recommend first before this novel. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Three Act Tragedy a 3 to 3.5. It is well-written, has clever dialog and an unusual plot, but it was good, not great.

Stay tuned for my next mystery review: Death in the Clouds. To see my other Agatha Christie reviews click on the Agatha Christie label.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

563 pages
Little, Brown
Copyright 2006

Introduction:
If you thought the hubbub over Stephenie Meyers Twilight saga was coming to an end now that the saga, consisting of four novels, is complete, well you would be wrong. From the little research I've done online the number of Twilight fans and their excitement just seems to increase as time goes by. Of course it probably helps that the movie adaptation of the second novel, New Moon, is set to arrive in theatres this November.

And yet the fad doesn't stop there. I've noticed more and more authors and screenwriters are turning their attention to the living-dead, the immortal. In the last week I've seen two new vampire novels (i.e. Mr. Darcy, Vampire... Argh!!!! Don't even get me started!) and at least three new television shows about vampires that are set to air this fall.

If this annoys you, as it does me, there's only one thing to do. Find something else to read or watch and just wait. Like most fads, this too will pass.

That said... I make no apologies or excuses when I tell you I went ahead and read New Moon.

The Plot:
"For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella ever could have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning..." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts
Like its predecessor, New Moon is a dark romance. Of course because it is a story of vampires it follows that it is also a fantasy and a thriller. And yet as I read I was surprised to find it was also something more than that...

In the midst of the romance/fantasy/thriller Meyers weaves other threads that bring the characters and the story to life. Yes, Bella is a teenager who faces some unusual situations (i.e. vampire boyfriend), but she also faces some situations that are typical of any teenager. In New Moon she struggles with the loss of her first love, with figuring out who she is and what she wants in life, and with where her loyalties lie (family or friends). At the same time she makes new friends and loses some old ones. These are all things that modern teenagers struggle with on a daily basis. The unfortunate thing is Bella doesn't really know where to turn to find hope when all hope seems lost.

While I realize Meyer's doesn't hit a home run on many of these issues (there are things in the book I have problems with), I do realize that was never the point of the books. The Twilight saga is fiction. It's goal is to attract readers by creating a world they can identify with (for the most part) and at the same time entertain, be that through the romance or the thriller.

I found New Moon to be a little darker than Twilight, but I suppose that fits as the title itself not only refers to the darkest time in the moon's cycle, but also to this part of the story being the darkest part of Bella's life. Another subtle reference in New Moon has to do with the love story/tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

In Summary:
While I did end up liking New Moon, I didn't like it as much as Twilight. The story was definitely darker and there was one particular scene that gave me the shivers. At the same time, there were many unanswered questions from the first novel that finally got answered and as a reader I found that satisfying.

On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate New Moon a 3. I liked the story. I think Meyer is a creative author. She writes a book that is easy and entertaining to read, but they aren't classics. Her books are pure fluff and entertainment. Still, that's just what some readers look for in books. I enjoy it from time to time... I've especially enjoyed it this summer because my work has been so demanding. When I've read it has been mostly an escape to something that is creative, or mindless, or just fun.

What's Next?
I'm choosing to ignore the latest vampire novels, movies, and television shows that are riding the wave of popularity created by Twilight. So don't expect me to start reading Mr. Darcy, Vampire or watching Vampire Diaries on CW. I still plan to read Bram Stoker's Dracula at some point and I might finish reading the Twilight saga, but that's as far as I'll go.

John Adams DVD - Mini Review

John Adams

HBO Miniseries, Spring 2008

I am embarrassed to admit I have never finished reading John Adams by David McCullough. Early in our marriage my husband and I tried to read it together, aloud before bedtime. We made it maybe two chapters in before that tradition died. Reading before aloud before bedtime just doesn't work for us.

Since then the book has sat on my bookshelf awaiting my renewed interest, but that fact didn't stop me from watching the miniseries adaptation by HBO now available on DVD.

The miniseries is made up of seven 1-hour segments, which shouldn't take very long to watch... but took me four months. I had to borrow the DVD's from my local library at least five times before before I actually finished watching it -- but it was well worth the time.

The miniseries is well made and relatively accurate. I say relatively because I know there were some things left out (any strong focus on Adams' religious beliefs) and there were some things portrayed differently than historians believe is the truth (i.e. Adams' relationship with his youngest son, Charles). But over all it was a very good adaptation of the book... which I now have renewed interest to read.

I though the choice in actors was well made and the settings, costumes, etc. just added to the richness of the film. The only complaint I have outside of the above liberties taken is the sound quality. At times the conversations were so low I could barely make out what was said. I'd turn the volume way up only to be blasted when someone yelled or some loud noise was made. It was a tad annoying.

But that said, my favorite part was actually an extra on the DVD -- an interview with author David McCullough. It's a 39 minute interview covering the life of McCullough and his works. Very interesting and it causes me to retract my previous statement. If I could meet any living author I would choose McCullough. I'd forgotten about him when I answered the meme, but he is definitely someone I'd like to meet.

All this to say... I need to read John Adams. (I've read at least one other McCullough book and it's worth the time it takes to read.) I enjoyed John Adams the miniseries, but know the book will be even better.

For those who haven't seen the miniseries, yes I'd recommend it. But be warned. There are two scenes of nudity. The first is when a man is tarred and feathered, the second is when a women undergoes a mastectomy. There's enough warning for the viewer to look away if you know these instances exist.

For those of you who have seen the miniseries and have read the book -- leave your comments. I'd love to hear what you think.

Heavens To Besty by Maud Hart Lovelace

268 pages
Harper Trophy
A division of Harper Collins Publishers
Copyright 1948, reprinted 1980

Heavens to Betsy is the fifth book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. This story opens in the summer of 1906, which leads up to Betsy and Tacy's freshman year in Deep Valley High School.

It doesn't take long for the reader to realize Betsy is quickly growing up to be a lovely young woman. At fourteen she's wearing her hair up (instead of in braids), her skirts are longer (nearly covering her ankles), she's taking on new challenges, including writing contests, joining choir, and exploring a new church. And then there's the social realm of her life -- Betsy's friendships expand to create "the crowd" who together enjoy dozens of parties and festivities throughout the year. She's even falling in love for the first time... to a tall, dark stranger (T.D.S!) All this definitely makes Heavens to Betsy a fun read.

As I've mentioned in the past, the Betsy-Tacy books are a childhood favorite of mine. Perhaps that accounts for the warm fuzzy feelings I get whenever I'm reading a book from the series. Betsy's world, including life as a freshman in Deep Valley High School, is just so interesting, exciting, and entertaining that I actually found myself almost wishing I had been a teenager in the early 20th century and lived in a town like Deep Valley... almost.

I've always been fond of the Betsy's family, but became even more so after reading Heavens to Betsy. Mr. and Mrs. Ray exemplify marriage, parenthood, friendship, and hospitality at its very best and it in turn is carried on by Betsy and her sisters. And even though the Ray family members do have their differences they always work things out with love and respect. Their house is a home to all who enter, filled with love, laughter, and even intellectual discussions. The Ray home is the type of home I wish to have -- loving, supportive, entertaining, and a haven to all.

In addition to the wonderful characters, interesting setting, and entertaining plot, I also find Lovelace's writing style enjoyable to read and easy to follow. Her books always have interesting story plots with subtle, but important lessons, and are so full of detail that it is never a problem to imagine every day life in Deep Valley in 1906 as clearly as if I'd seen it myself.

As you can tell I loved re-reading Heavens To Betsy. I don't know that it is my favorite book in the series, but it definitely ranks up near the top. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Heavens to Betsy a 5. I just love this book.

The only objections a reader might have with this book has to do with the casual and lighthearted use of a Ouija board by Betsy and her friends during some of their Christmas parties. Although I don't know a whole lot about life in the early 1900s I will venture a guess that the use of Ouija boards by families like the Rays was more as a form of entertainment than anything serious. Still some readers may object, but I think this shouldn't stop them from reading and enjoying this book.

Personally I don't think I can over emphasize how much I love this series and that readers who have never read the series should be sure to add it to their TBR lists. If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables, Emily of New Moon, and the like, I can pretty much guarantee you will really enjoy these books.

While my first reading of the series was by way of library copies I did purchase the entire series about 10-13 years ago when Harper Collins Publishers was reprinting, since then the books have slipped back out of print. While I treasure the copies I have I hate the cover art (see above) as it poorly represents the books. The interior artwork (at the beginning of each chapter) by Vera Neville is far superior.

Readers who wish to obtain their own collection of Betsy-Tacy books may be able to find used copies through used book sellers and Amazon (editions and prices vary from low to high). Some readers may even get lucky and find copies at their local library, but there is some good news.

For the first time in over a decade Harper Collins Publishers is republishing the last six books in the Betsy-Tacy series! The print release date is set as September 29, 2009. For more information check out the Harper Collins Publishers website. (And note the cover art, it's by Vera Neville!)

Please note: the books are being combined with two novels per publication (i.e. Heavens to Betsy/Betsy In Spite of Herself cover Betsy's freshman and sophomore year, Betsy was a Junior/Betsy and Joe cover her junior and senior years, Betsy And the Great World/Betsy's Wedding cover the years following graduation.) The books will be selling for $14.99 and will be in paperback. This is indeed exciting news for all Betsy-Tacy fans.

~ O di immortales!

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Previous reviews: Betsy-Tacy, Betsy, Tacy and Tib, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, and Winona's Pony Cart.

Tuesday Teaser

"He hardly looked at her, but keeping his finger in the partly closed book... it was, she noticed, The Three Musketeers... asked what he could do for her in a tone that implied he hoped she would answer, 'Nothing. I'm just looking.'

"Nothing, thanks. I'm just looking," said Betsy obligingly. Then, realizing that she really had to buy five presents even though it meant delaying D'Artagnon's greatest feat she added, "That is, I can look around a few minutes if you're in an exciting place."

The boy grinned. "Oh, I've read it six times. Swell book!"

(Heavens to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace, Chapter 2, page 13-14)

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

859 pages
Published in serial form December 1854-April 1857
Reprinted: Penguin Books, 2009

I did it! I've finished Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens! And a worthy, though very long read it was!

The Plot
As is the case with most of the novels written by Charles Dickens there is one main plot and there are many subplots within a story. There are also one or two main characters and a host of supporting characters and extras. Little Dorrit is no different. I hesitated to write a summary of Little Dorrit as there are so many subplots to the main plot. In the end I decided to stick with the summary given by the publisher:

"When Arthur Clennam returns to England after many years abroad, he takes a kindly interest in Amy Dorrit, his mother’s seamstress, and in the affairs of Amy’s father, William Dorrit, a man of shabby grandeur, long imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea. As Arthur soon discovers, the dark shadow of the prison stretches far beyond its walls to affect the lives of many, from the kindly Mr. Pancks, the reluctant rent-collector of Bleeding Heart Yard, and the tipsily garrulous Flora Finching, to Merdle, an unscrupulous financier, and the bureaucratic Barnacles in the Circumlocution Office." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

Little Dorrit as a story covers many things. It is considered one of the best satires on poverty, riches, and imprisonment. It is also about the journey of self-awareness: how do you see yourself and your circumstances and how do your circumstances (both good and bad) impact who you are, who you become, and how you treat those around you? Little Dorrit is also a love story -- love lost and love found. Last, it is a mystery. From the start of the novel the mystery is woven and the threads aren't tied up until close to the very end in typical Dickens fashion.

My Thoughts:
I loved Little Dorrit. It was a great read. And I won't deny that it is a long and at times a laborious read, but it was still a great read. At 859 pages and written in 19th century English with multiple characters, story plots and threads for the reader to keep track of, Little Dorrit is no potato chip novel... It's more like a steak. With slow and careful chewing one can finish the "steak novel" and will feel a lot more fulfilled as a reader than those living solely on a diet of "potato chip novels." Nor can one survive solely on a diet of "steak novels" -- a diet with something lighter is definitely required from time to time. At least, that is my opinion.

Without a doubt Dickens was a phenomenal writer. The fact his novels are still in print 150 years later is a testament to that fact. By why is he so phenomenal? His novels speak biblical truth without being the least bit preachy. Lessons are taught in entertaining and lasting stories. (Sometimes they are even applicable to modern times and events.) The plots are thick and rich with detail and social commentary. His characters are unique, entertaining, quirky, lovable, and even at times despicable. His prose paints vivid pictures of people, places, and things. It is no wonder that the writings of Charles Dickens are considered classics. It isn't just because they were written over 150 years ago, it is because they are well-formed, well-written works of art.

My Summary:
On a scale of 1-5, 1being horrible and 5 being excellent it should be no surprise that I rate Little Dorrit a 5. I loved this novel and am pleased to have it included in my personal library. I encourage readers everywhere to give Dickens a chance. His books are not snack reading. They are the entree. They might seem a lot to take on when the book is first opened, but a reader, with time and practice they become easier to read, understand, and enjoy.

Wordless Wednesday: Curious George

Tuesday Teasers

"One of his customary evenings for repairing thither now coming round, he left his dwelling and his partner at nearly inine o'clock, and slowly walked in the direction of that grim home of his youth. It always affected his imagination as wrathful, mysterious, and sad; and his imagination was sufficiently impressible to see the whole neighbourhood under some tinge of its dark shadow. As he went along, upon a dreary night, the dim streets by which he went seemed all depositories of oppressive secrets."

(Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, Part II, Chapter 10, page 567)

July Wrap-up and August Reading Forecast

Well, July wasn't nearly as productive a month as I had planned it to be. I only read six (6) books, none of which were on my projected reading list for the month, and none of which were part of my current reading challenges. However, I did dedicate a great deal of my reading time to Little Dorrit. Unfortunately while I did read over half of the 848 page novel in July, I didn't finish it before the month's end.

I justify my reading laziness with the thought that reading during the Summer months should be relaxing, fun, and as time permits. There is plenty of time for heavy reading when the weather is nasty and one is snuggled up with a hot beverage and a blanket.

And so to recap what I did read...
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald (audio book) -- I've been curious about this story for some time. I enjoyed the story, even though it was sad. I think I'll skip the movie.

2. Bidding For Love by Katie Fforde -- I got suckered into reading another chic-lit romance. They make for great Summer reading. This particular story was a lighthearted, fun, and a fast read.

3. Tarquin of Cheapside by F. Scott Fitzgerald (audio book) -- The title of this short story intrigued me. It was an interesting and unsuaul story with an ending I didn't quite grasp.

4. The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry -- A cute coming-of-age fairytale romance for juvenile readers. Along the lines of Ella Enchanted. Fast, entertaining, and an easy read.

5. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella -- Hot off the press. This July 2009 release was a fast read and fun romantic comedy. I enjoy Kinsella's writing for the light reads that they are, great for the Summer.

6. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer -- I admit it. I gave in and finally read this pop-culture icon of a book. I didn't think I'd like it, I didn't think I'd even finish it. But ended up surprising myself not only by finishing it in 24 hours, but by liking the book. While I haven't converted into an obsessed fan, I think I may read the next novel in the series before the Summer is over, we'll see. Fast and entertaining read.

Projected August Reads:
I'm not going to make any more lofty goals for this Summer. I will say this:

I will finish Little Dorrit.

I plan to read Three Act Tragedy and Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie to catch up on my personal Christie reading challenge (read all of her books in order of publication).

And I also plan to read The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel since it's sitting on my nightstand.

If I have time I will also read: Rainbow Valley and Heavens to Betsy as part of my personal challenge to re-read the entire Anne series and Betsy-Tacy series. And if New Moon comes into the library before the end of the month I will probably read it too.

But seriously, no lofty goals... we'll see where I get to after I finish Little Dorrit.