Reading Aloud to Children -- Who Does?

A friend of mine recently took her 15 month-old son for a wellness check-up. The pediatrician commented on how well his vocabulary was growing and inquired if my friend read aloud to him. My friend, an avid reader and book lover like myself, acknowledged that, yes she did read aloud to her son daily. She stated that she loved reading and loved to share her passion for books with her son. The pediatrician responded that reading aloud made such a good impact on children's development and that it was so sad how few parents actually take time to read to their children.

This got me wondering. How many parents actually read aloud to their children?

I am no expert on reading statistics so I did what most people would do... I searched the Internet and found a few statistics as reported by the The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES Fast Facts, Family Reading) in 2001. Their study showed a range depending on the age of the child, as well as the race and family income level. Still the statistics are astounding! For two year-olds the highest percentage of children read to by an adult (eg. parent) is still under 60% with the lowest being under 30%. It was worse with four year-olds as the high end was only 50% and the low end dropped to 20%!

I realize that literacy is definitely a serious problem in the 21st century and it grieves me to see it perpetuated in future generations. It also bothers me that so few parents (who can read) do not take more advantage of the free books offered through public libraries. With such availability I think there should be no excuse to share 30 minutes a day to read, tell stories, or look at pictures books with a child. As they saying goes: #Fail!

One, Two Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie

211 pages
Published in 1940, reprinted 1986
by Bantom Books

Hicksville, NY

One, Two Buckle My Shoe was published in the UK in late 1940. As was the case with several of Agatha Christie's novels it appeared in the United States a few months later under a different title: The Political Murders. For the sake of this review I will stay with the traditional of the two.

Which reminds me of random childhood memories where I would chant this rhyme (among others) while jumping rope or sitting bored in the car. Of course I only ever knew the first ten verses, so reading this book was not only educational (I learned the next ten), but intriguing as Christie take the children's rhyme and cleverly weaves it into the story and underlines each rhyme by placing them as headers to the ten chapters. Yes, very clever indeed.

One, two,
Buckle my shoe;
Three, four,
Knock at the door;
Five, six,
Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight,
Lay them straight:
Nine, ten,
A big fat hen;
Eleven, twelve,
Dig and delve;
Thirteen, fourteen,
Maids a-courting;
Fifteen, sixteen,
Maids in the kitchen;
Seventeen, eighteen,
Maids a-waiting
Nineteen, twenty,
My plate's empty.

For those curious One, Two Buckle My Shoe is the 28th crime novel by the Queen of Crime and once again Hercule Poirot is lead detective, although he is aided by the best of Scotland Yard, Chief Inspector Japp.

The Plot:
"What reason would an amiable dentist like Dr. Morley have for committing suicide? He didn't have emotional difficulties, money problems, or love trouble. What he did have was an appointment with Hercule Poirot, who is not persuaded by the suicide story. Poirot therefore takes it upon himself to question the good doctor's patients, partners and friends. He has a suspicion that Dr. Morley wasn't an unlikely murder victim after all. Nor was he the first..." (Summary courtesy of AgathaChristie.com)

My Thoughts:
One, Two Buckle My Shoe is a much darker novel than most Poirot stories and also more politically "involved" than other Christie reads from late 1930s and early 1940s. I suspect Christie was inspired (if you could use such a word) from the very horror England must have felt as they faced yet another war with Germany. In some aspects I found this novel reminiscent of two earlier Christie mysteries: The Secret Adversary (1922) and The Big Four (1927). The link between all three novels is that of murder for political gain vs. the traditional who-dun-it where the motive of personal gain (eg. love, greed, envy) play a central role.

As far as detective fiction goes One, Two Buckle My Shoe was a definite puzzler. It kept me guessing until the end, which is generally a sign of success for the author. But even though I thought this was a good read it wasn't at the top of my list of "best mysteries" by Agatha Christie. Still, I always enjoy a story where Hercule Poirot "gets his man" and sets to rest all the questions in your mind by the book's end.

Up next: Evil Under the Sun

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Other Agatha Christie Reviews:
*Novels published from 1920-1923 see note below.

The Man in the Brown Suit (1924)
The Secret of Chimneys (1925)
The Big Four (1927)
The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928)
The Seven Dials Mystery (1929)
The Murder at the Vicarage (1930)
The Sittaford Mystery (1931)
Peril at End House (1932)
Lord Edgware Dies (1933)
Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1934)
Three Act Tragedy (1935)
Death in the Clouds (1935)
The A.B.C. Murders (1936)
Murder in Mesopotamia (1936)
Cards on the Table (1936)
Dumb Witness (1937)
Death on the Nile (1937)
Appointment With Death (1938)
Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1938)
Murder Is Easy (1939)
And Then There Were None (1939)
Sad Cypress (1939)
One, Two Buckle My Shoe (1940)

Absent In the Spring by Mary Westmacott (a.k.a. Agatha Christie) (1944)

* Christie's novels written from 1920 (The Mysterious Affair at Styles) through 1923 (Murder on the Links) I read before I began this blog hence no reviews are currently available.

The Reading Mother by Strickland Gillian ~

Last night my book club met and we discussed The Classic Hundred Poems edited by William Harmon. I have definitely reached a place where I love poetry. But to know more of my thoughts you'll have to wait for my review, which will be posted next week. In the meantime I thought I would share a special poem, not included in the aforementioned collection, but one that was recommended to me by another lady in the club:

The Reading Mother
by Strickland Gillilan

I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be-
I had a Mother who read to me.

PBS Airs Masterpiece Mystery Special: David Suchet On the Orient Express

I know this is a little late, but it's something I really wanted to share since I am a big fan of Agatha Christie.

Last year I read and reviewed Murder On the Orient Express, one of her most recognizable mysteries starring Hercule Poirot. I really enjoyed the read, so when I heard PBS's Masterpiece Mystery would be airing a special about the infamous train I knew I wanted to watch it.

Unfortunately I was unable to catch it when it originally aired on July 7, but was happy to find it listed as a "re-run" several times throughout the month. I was finally able to catch it on last Sunday evening. The special is hosted by none other than Hercule Poirot himself...well sort of. David Suchet actually hosts, but as he has played in the role of Poirot for the last two decades it's easy to think of these two men, one a fictional detective and the other a real-life actor as one and the same. Personally I will be very sorry the day that Suchet announces his retirement from Poirot films.

I am extremely grateful to the producers of this documentary. While watching the program I looked up the actual train and discovered that while anyone can travel on it today tickets are rather pricey -- more than a cruise and without the same amenities (there is now shower/tub in any of the train cars). It's highly unlikely that I will ever spend $1300+ to travel by train from London to Istanbul, let alone Prague, so I truly enjoyed this special opportunity and was content to experience this trip secondhand. David Suchet On the Orient Express was a fascinating documentary that covers not only the history of the train, but allows the viewer to see the intricate and beautiful details of the train as well as the breathtaking views that usually only a passenger would be privileged to see. In addition to the education aspect I found the program very entertaining as Suchet's personal enjoyment and excitement was quite infectious.

If you have yet to catch this hour long documentary on the train made most famous by Dame Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express published in 1934 then there is still time. PBS' Masterpiece has made the program available online for a limited time (July 8-August 6, 2010). You can view it by visiting PBS Masterpiece: David Suchet on the Orient Express. But if you miss it online never fear, you can purchase the special as part of the Hercule Poirot Series X DVD collection at PBS' store or online at Amazon. You might also check with your library to see if this is a DVD they'd consider purchasing to add to their Agatha Christie collection.

And while I'm on the topic I will mention that last week I viewed the most recent adaptation of Murder On the Orient Express which aired on PBS Mystery in early July. It was very well made, though some of the artistic film angles (giving the affect you're on a moving train) were a bit dizzying at times; still it was a good view with only a few changes to the original story plot. I've yet to watch the older adaptations, but I intend too. Although I am a big fan of David Suchet I know as a true Christie fan I must watch the 1974 adaptation with Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, and Albert Finney to name a few (the list of famous actors and actresses in this film goes on like a list from Who's Who Hollywood in the mid 20th century). Perhaps I should check now to see if my library has a copy.

Related Links:
- Murder On the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (review)

- Murder On the Orient Express starring David Suchet, Eileen Atkins (PBS, Masterpiece Mystery 2010)
- Behind the Scenes: Murder On the Orient Express
- Q&A with David Suchet on Hercule Poirot

- Book Travel on the Orient Express

- Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Carnival

- Agatha Christie Blog Tour (September 1-30, 2010)

Wordless Wednesday: The Family Circus

The older I get the more I realize how realistic and applicable The Family Circus is. This was in Sunday's paper (7/25/10)

What's On My Nightstand: July 2010

I love reading in the summer, although we seem busier than other times of the year I do find that with the heat waves we get I enjoy being shut up with a good book on a hot day just as much as I enjoy it in the coldest and darkest nights of the winter. July was a good month for reading. I managed to finish three of the four books on my June Nightstand post as well as two others that were not listed.

The one "carry over" from my June Nightstand post was The Classic Hundred Poems: All Time Favorites edited by William Harmon. I had scheduled myself to finish this book before the end of the month as that was when my book club was next meeting and it was the book selected for us to discuss. But then there was a week or two when I thought I'd have to miss the meeting, so I slowed down in my reading. Now I'm behind... but at least I'll be able to attend. Looks like it'll be August before I have a chance to finish and review this collection. Stay tuned.

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie. The next novel on my list of Agatha Christie novels. It is number 29 out of 66 novels, which means I am nearly halfway through my personal reading challenge to read all of Christie's mystery novels by order of publication. Very exciting!

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As a side note Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise is hosting the second annual Agatha Christie Blog Tour (September 1-30, 2010). I have already signed up to participate and am very excited. If you are a mystery reader, mystery lover, or mystery writer be sure to: 1. Sign up to participate (there are still several dates available) and/or 2. Mark your calendar so you can take the tour and read what other mystery readers/lovers/writers have to share. There might even be some give-aways!)

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So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore. When I picked it up I knew nothing about this book, except that I once saw a video series by Beth Moore as part of a woman's Bible study. I discovered the book while browsing my local book store and decided to check it out. Stay tuned for further thoughts in my review.

I am sure several more books will make their way to my nightstand as there are still a few days left in July and August is a long month. If I have extra time I might jump for another Christie mystery... or maybe I'll polish off the last Myrtle Reed novel that I have awaiting on my bookshelf. Of course it's been a little while since I read D. E. Stevenson and I'm itching to get back into her books. And of course there are a plethora of recent publications I am curious to check out. At any rate there will be plenty to read and I hope you'll check back throughout the week to see the updates I make and read the reviews I've posted.

In the meantime be sure to link up your own Nightstand list at 5MinutesforBooks and while you're there check out what other bloggers are reading. And happy reading!

Monday Children's Picks

Looking for some fresh and fun books to read aloud to your children (or grandchildren, nieces/nephews, etc.)? Here are two favorites selected by my 3 year-old daughter during our recent library visit:


The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist. (Published by Scholastic, Cartwheel Books, 2007) This story is a very colorful and cute retelling of the The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. This book has been a regular read for our house; even my daughter is "reading" it to her dolls. I have more than once overheard her, "Not by the skin of my finny fin fin."


Delicious! A Pumpkin Soup Story by Helen Cooper. (Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007) The story of three friends: Cat, Squirrel, and Duck and their quest for a "Scrumptious", "Nutritious", but most of all a "Delicious!" substitute for pumpkin soup. Again, cute and colorful with an entertaining subplot involving some bugs. I've noticed there are more stories about these three friends and now that I have discovered how fun this read is I'll be looking for the others.

Summer At Tiffany by Marjorie Hart

258 pages
First Edition published in 2007
HarperCollins Publishers
New York, NY

"Do you remember the best summer of your life?" For Marjorie Hart nee' Jacobson it was New York City and the year was 1945.

The Plot:
"Marjorie Jacobson and her best friend, Marty Garrett, arrive fresh from the Kappa house at the University of Iowa hoping to find summer positions as shopgirls. Turned away from the top department stores, they miraculously find jobs as pages at Tiffany & Co., becoming the first women to ever work on the sales floor -- a diamond-filled day job replete with Tiffany blue shirtwaist dresses from Bonwit Teller's -- and the envy of all their friends. Hart takes us back to the magical time when she and Marty rubbed elbows with the rich and famous; pinched pennies to eat at the Automat; experienced nightlife at La Martinique; and danced away their weekends with dashing midshipmen. Between being dazzled by Judy Garland's honeymoon visit to Tiffany, celebrating VJ Day in Times Square, and mingling with Café society, she fell in love, learned unforgettable lessons, made important decisions that would change her future, and created the remarkable memories she now shares with all of us." (Summary courtesy of HarperCollins)

My Thoughts:
Once again I have Carrie at Reading To Know to thank for my learning of this book. Interestingly enough I don't remember seeing it although it's only been out for three years. It was through Carrie's review at 5MinutesforBooks that I discovered this delightful little read and first decided to add it to my own reading list. I call it a "little read" because it is physically small measuring roughly 7" x 5" and running just over 250 pages. (It is the perfect size for a summer read or a on-the-go-stick-it-in-your-purse read, but I digress.) It also feels little because it reads more like a light-hearted short story than it does a memoir.

Honestly I haven't read a more delightful memoir in some time, not to say the ones I've read haven't been good, they have -- it's just this one had something extra special about it. For starters, I've always been partial to stories about life during the early to mid 20th century, so it isn't surprising that I was quickly swept up into the story. At one point about a quarter of the way into the book I found myself holding my breath. I realized that I was waiting for that proverbial "other shoe to drop" at which point something bad would happen to the protagonist in the story. After all, isn't that what happens in most novels? Oh, but wait. I'd then remember that this is not a novel. This was real life. This was "the best summer" of her life and I started breathing again and relax.

I really enjoyed the sweetness to the story, Mrs. Hart is a wonderful story teller. I also enjoyed the fascinating knowledge one reaps from reading about life in a time and place foreign to oneself. Examples reach beyond the celebrity sightings of Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich, yes those were fascinating, but I also loved learning what life was like living in the Big Apple at a time when lunch could be bought for less $0.15 at the Automat; when ladies wore gloves and hats as part of their daily attire; and when the tallest building was the Empire State Building where it was rumored on a clear day you could see five states at once. (I should note that the Empire State Building held this status until 1972 when construction on the World Trade Center was finished. It has since gained back the status after the collapse on 9/11/01).

Another aspect that I loved so much about this book was how music played its own part in the story. Yes, there was dancing, there was singing, but there was also Marjorie's love for music and more specifically the cello. Leading up to her summer in New York City, Marjorie had been studying music at the University of Iowa with a focus on the cello, but during that busy summer of 1945 she wasn't able to give much time to practicing. Still the cello was a big part of her personality and it eventually found its way into her busy life and this story. I was excited to find that Mrs. Hart was a cellist as I love the cello. Beginning when I was 13 I played the cello all through Jr. High and High School and for a couple years after college. I never made a career of it like Mrs. Hart, who eventually became a professional and played in the San Diego Symphony, but reading Summer At Tiffany brought back some pleasant memories of my own.

Summer At Tiffany is definitely worth adding to your reading list. Copies are definitely a bargain online if you purchase through Amazon (new copies run just under $6 and used are less than $4 for hardcover copies). I was very surprised to find none of my local libraries had a copy, so I was left with the option to buy or request through Inter Library Loan. I have to say for the price they are online, if you cannot find a copy through your library it's worth the few dollars for this gem of a read.

Thank you Carrie for telling me about this book. I wish I had found it three years ago!

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Related Links:
Official Website for: Summer At Tiffany
Summer At Tiffany (Audio Book, unabridged)

Marjorie Hart's Author Page - HarperCollins Publishers
Smith Magazine's May 2007 Interview with Marjorie Hart
Marjorie Hart's Essay: Kappa Days

Tiffany & Co.

Happy (belated) Anniversary To Me!

Guess what? I just realized (a few days too late) that Monday was the second anniversary of the birth of this blog: A Library is a Hospital for the Mind. Wow... My own blog and I blanked on the date. I feel like I should go read in the dog house... Well, if I had a dog house.

As I reflect over the last two years I am amazed at the number of books I have read (181 from July 2008-2010), the things I have learned (too many to mention here), the people I have met, and the fact that reading is an unquenchable thirst for a person like me.

Well, even if this is a belated post -- Happy 2nd anniversary to A Library is a Hospital for the Mind! While we aren't quite where I thought we would be, we have come a long ways and there's still a life time before us. Here's to another year of books, to another year of writing and to a lifetime love of learning. Cheers!

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Related Links:
Welcome Post: July 19, 2008
First Anniversary: July 19, 2009

Year in Review: 2008
Year in Review: 2009

A Library is a Hospital for the Mind Master Reading List

Friday Finds

I am so excited about a collection books I found in the clearance bin at B&N last weekend. Apparently when a publisher decides to change the cover of a book, or a newer edition is printed B&N is quick to put the older selection on sale. You'll not find me complaining about that! I was able to pick up four classics all published with their complete text, in hardcover, and with reprints of their first edition illustrations -- all for a quarter of their original price!

If I were to complain about anything it would only be from my disappointment in the replacement editions that I found on the full price shelves. I noticed the same titles are now available for the browsing shopper, but only in cheap paperback with ugly covers or as abridged stories in hardcover. What a shame! And yet, because of this change I was able to find quite the bargain!

I selected these four books because three of the four were missing from my personal library. My paperback copy of The Secret Garden is in pretty sorry shape and I've been wanting to own Treasure Island, Black Beauty, and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. I told myself that I was investing in my daughter's future library, but I will admit I plan to read them myself as I've never read Black Beauty and I don't remember much of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

The other classics I discovered in the 50% off bin included Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows, The Little Princess, and Anne of Green Gables -- all of which I already own decent to nice copies. If you have a B&N store in your area be sure to check out their sale bin. You never know when you might find an unexpected treasure.

The House At Riverton by Kate Morton

470 pages
Published in 2006 by Atria Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc
New York, NY

The House At Riverton was originally published in Australia in 2006 as The Shifting Fog; it was Kate Morton's debut novel at the age of 30. I've been curious to read this book for quite some time. The cover art and the publisher's plot summary just tickled my mystery-loving readers palette. After reading and enjoying The Forgotten Garden and learning that Dame Agatha Christie makes a cameo (yet fictional) appearance within the story I knew I needed to add this to my TBR list.

Plot Summary Courtesy of the Author:

My Thoughts:
Is it possible to really like and really dislike a book at the same time? Some might call that emotion "lukewarm", but I can't say my feelings about The House at Riverton were that, in fact they were far from it. I really really liked this book and at the same time I really really didn't. And apparently I am not alone in how I feel I've noticed reviews from other readers range from a 1 star "I didn't finish it, too predicable, to cliche." To 5 stars "I loved it! Such a great read, I couldn't put it down."

So what made me feel so strongly mixed in my emotions? Well, on the one hand I did find the story slightly predicable and the characters a little cliche. The plot was unique, but it didn't take me completely by surprise. From nearly the beginning I had figured out a good portion of the mystery. And then there was the characters and settings, they seemed oddly familiar. I finally realized there were two reasons for this. First, Morton tends to make subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) nods toward a handful of 19th and 20th century classics (but more on that later). And second, there are certain characteristics and themes that mirror each other between Morton's first and second novels, something that is obvious to anyone who has read the books close together. I can only hope this will not be repeated too many more times in her novels as it could grow old.

On the other hand, there is something about Morton's storytelling that I just really enjoy. Despite the predictability I still found myself caught up in the story and turning page after page until late at night I reached the end and at last the puzzle pieces all fell into place. It is a compelling story.

Something else that I like about Morton's writing is that she keeps her stories fairly clean. I may not agree with the moral choices that some of the characters make, but there is little to no language and the love scenes are more implied than described and any that are mentioned are void of details. The only exception in The House At Riverton was when two-thirds of the way through I was jolted in my reading when I came upon the single use of the "F" word. I was not expecting it and it felt completely unnecessary and as if the publisher required it to make the book appeal to the masses. Still, if a reader is willing to overlook this, as it only takes up a tiny percentage of the story, I suspect they will find The House At Riverton an engaging read.

At this point I feel I should note to readers that The House At Riverton is not really a love story, though a few characters do get their "happily-ever-after." It is a mystery that revolves around a tragedy and it is a coming-of-age story for both the protagonist and two extremely different social classes during the earliest years of the 20th century. It reminds me a little of Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier, which I suppose is why I was not surprised to learn that Kate Morton claimed her inspiration for the book sprouted from several sources, including novels by Daphne DuMaurier, the Bronte sisters and Ian McEwan. In addition to the obvious (Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Atonement) I also noticed several other literary hints to such novels as Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

I realize not every reader will like The House At Riverton and honestly I'm a little surprised that I did. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it has to do with Kate Morton's storytelling. She just weaves a story that kept me reading.

If either The Forgotten Garden or The House At Riverton are ever adapted to the screen I would be interested in seeing them. I am already planning to check out Morton's third and latest novel, The Distant Hours, which will be available in November of this year. From what I can find on Morton's website this novel will be a little different, but there are still some of the same themes she used in her first two novels. I'm curious as to the reason behind this. Why is Morton inspired to write about these particular types of people? And will she be able to tell a story equally as compelling as her first two yet without echoing the feeling of deja vue? Guess I'll have to wait and see.

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Related Links:
Kate Morton's Website
The Forgotten Garden Reviewed

Wordless Wednesday: New Library Update

As you may recall a few months back I posted a picture of our local library during the destruction phase (see Our Library). Here's an updated photograph as they have begun construction on the new building. It will be six times the size of the old building. Completion is set for early spring 2011.

Tuesday Teasers: Old Rose and Silver

"Once there was a ship,' said Madame, softly, 'sinking in mid-ocean, surrounded by fog. It had drifted far out of its course, and collided with a derelict. The captain ordered the band to play, the officers put on their dress uniforms and their white gloves. Another ship, that was drifting too, signalled in answer to the music, and all were saved.'

'That was possible -- but there can be no signal for me.'

'Perhaps not, but let's put on our white gloves and order out the band."

(Old Rose and Silver, Chpt. 13, pg 182)

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

Two weeks ago we had a week long heat wave where temperatures hit above 100 for several days. It was awful. In an effort to keep my daughter and myself from going insane with cabin fever and yet keep cool I planned a trip to the city branch of our county library. It was a great idea... only several other parents had the same thought and it resulted in some hot and crabby children who didn't play well together in the children's play area and weren't really in the mood to look at books.

Still, we came away with some great finds. Here are two of my favorites from our recent reads:

Pigs to the Rescue by John Himmelman (Published by Henry Holt and Company through Macmillan April 2010). And yes, this is the "sequel" to Chickens to the Rescue. I didn't think Pigs was quite as good as Chickens, but it was funny and a cute read. I suspect by the ending that Himmelman might be planning a third installment titled Cows to the Rescue. I will be watching for that one in a year or two.

Ballet Kitty by Bernette Ford (Published October 2007 by Sterling Publishing). This is the first in a series of Ballet Kitty books. As one might guess the Ballet Kitty stories are about a little girl cat who loves ballet. They are short and sweet and fresh. Perfect as a read aloud to a little girl who likes anything ballet... (Ahem... like my daughter who is.... slightly obsessed.) You might recognize Bernette Ford's name as she is also the author of the No More Diapers For Ducky and No More Pacifier for Piggy stories.

Today was story time at our local library branch and we came back with another bag full of books to read. I've only had a glance, but I'm sure I'll have more titles to tell you about next week.

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

233 pages
Published by Longmans, Green & Co in 1932
Reprinted by Penguin Books in 2006

"Oh Charles. You do have heavenly teeth." Could there be a more bizarre introduction to a novel than that? And yet, that was exactly how I first learned of Stella Gibbons' comic novel Cold Comfort Farm.

One aspect of reading that I love is how you never know when or where you'll stumble upon an intriguing read. It might be while browsing in a library or book store, or while listening to the radio or watching TV. It's sometimes when you read a blog or even while reading a book that mentions another book. But probably one of my most unique introductions was reading a quote within a status update on Facebook -- it was the reference to Charles' heavenly teeth that first intrigued me with Cold Comfort Farm.

So what is Cold Comfort Farm about? Perhaps you're like me and have never heard of this book. If so it might be best summed up as this: A beautiful young socialite named Flora (recently orphaned) decides to move in with her country relatives, the gloomy Starkadders of Cold Comfort Farm. Each relative has their own unique problem and Flora soon turns life upside down on the farm as she applies some "modern common sense" to each situation in an effort to bring everyone a happily-ever-after.

Cold Comfort Farm is a comic novel that satires or parodies many of the late 19th century and early 20th century novels, particularly those by D. H. Lawrence and Thomas Hardy.

My Thoughts:
At first I found the story to be a bit of a muddle. Not only was I trying to piece together the characters (there are so many!) and settings (see below re: the time), but I was also trying to sort out the deliberately convoluted prose and "strained metaphors" that are supposed to add to the entertainment of the book. I learned later that some of the most "purple" paragraphs are marked with asterisks, which once you know this helps prepare you in your reading. Of course, with some books all of this might be enough to bog me down and cause me to lose interest, but not so with Cold Comfort Farm. Despite it all I still found the book to be a quick read and by the time I reached Chapter 6 I found myself adjusted to the writing style and that the characters and settings were fitting together like pieces to a puzzle.

As to the heroine... I can't say really whether I liked Flora or not. At times I found her noisy and annoying and yet, I couldn't help cheering a little as she tied up the loose ends and set off to her own happy ending. She's not a favorite character, but she was so much of this story I'm willing to overlook the annoying moments.

Looking back I realize it might have helped me if I had watched the movie first, but since everyone who's read the book raves about it I decided to wait until after I'd finished reading. Once finished I did request the movie from my library, I couldn't resist. This book just begs to be adapted to the screen and the 1995 adaptation starring Kate Beckinsale is a fairly true version. There were some modern aspects to the story, but nothing too shocking. (i.e. where something is implied subtly in the book it is semi-subtly depicted or stated in the movie, but nothing graphic.) The only loss is that due to time constraints some of the minor characters are dropped or morphed into other characters. If you want the story at it's fullest you should read the book first then watch the film.

One other interesting note I want to make about the book is its setting in time, which I referred to earlier. While Cold Comfort Farm was written in the early 1930s Stella Gibbons set the story to occur "some time in the future." This future date is not obvious at first, but does appear in some unexpected moments. Like the mention of the Anglo-Nicaraguan War of 1946, characters sending mail by air, and most strange of all when Flora has a conversation with a friend on the phone and he "tunes" in the television screen so he can see her while he talks with her. As I said, these are a little unexpected because so much of the story refers to what one might expect to find in the way of houses and machines, clothing and culture of the 1930s.

In the end I found Cold Comfort Farm a witty and very entertaining read, albeit very bizarre at times. There were numerous passages that I jotted down as they were just too funny not to quote. It is definitely one-of-a-kind novel and yet had hints of other stories. If I had to compare Cold Comfort Farm with other literature or films I'd seen I might describe it as: Mary Poppins meets Emma Woodhouse meets Jane Eyre meets Far From the Madding Crowd. No, it's just not your typical 1930s novel. And yet I found much of the plot predicable. From the introduction of each Starkadder and their peculiar situation I had an idea of how things would be resolved, but this didn't spoil the read. If you haven't read Cold Comfort Farm and you're looking for something entertaining and as they say "wickedly funny" then look no further.

For those curious about the author, Stella Gibbons began her writing career as a journalist, but eventually penned more than 30 novels and books of poetry from the 1930s through the early 1970s. Cold Comfort Farm was her first novel and the book that made her famous. She did write a couple short sequels in the 1940s, but I have not yet read them. For more information check out her Wiki-biography or these news articles.

Related Links:
Cold Comfort Farm (Google Books)

Poetry: The Pulley by George Herbert

When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
'Let us,' said He, 'pour on him all we can:
Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.'

So strength first made a way;
Then Beauty flowed, then Wisdom, Honor, Pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone of all His treasure
Rest in the bottom lay.

'For if I should,' said He,
'Bestow this jewel also on My creature,
He would adore My gifts instead of Me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
So both should losers be.

'Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness:
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to My breast.'

(The Pulley by George Herbert, 1630, published 1633)

Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattillo

274 pages
Published 2009
by Guideposts
New York, NY

I find the title and cover art for this particular edition highly amusing. It's clever, it's fitting (although the character in the story never wore a dress or lay on a bench like this), and the title is wonderfully tied to the crux of the heroine's story. Yet when I first saw this book (long before I read any reviews) I couldn't help but laugh. I imagined a twist on this book -- it is Jane Austen who is lying so forlornly on the bench and crying out "Modern fiction has ruined my books!"

It's no secret, I am not a fan of all the Austen-themed chic-lit that clutter bookstore shelves and call themselves literature. And yet.... and yet I occasionally find a rare gem amongst all the imitations. No, this is not on par with Austen's own literary works nor is it as good as some other modern works of literature, but it was by far one of the best Austen-themed novels I've read in a long time. Probably second to the likes of Austenland by Shannon Hale. (Read in 2007 before I started this blog, so sorry no review available.)

By now most of you probably know what this book is about, but for those who do not here is a quick summary. Emma Grant is a English professor who has just had her world turned upside down. She's lost not only her husband, but her career and now she's in England to take her revenge on Jane Austen. She believes that Austen, through her novels, has taught women that love and marriage comes with a "happily ever after" guarantee, but it is just a lie. What begins in the book as Emma's mission to prove this point and restore her career ends as an opportunity of a life time, a journey of self-discovery, and the chance for a new beginning. (For more in depth plot summary check out BethPattillo.com)

Jane Austen Ruined My Life was a much better read than I anticipated. I had already received rave reviews from two fellow book lovers (Carrie at Reading To Know and my friend Alison). Although they loved it I have to admit I was a little wary, especially after having just finished another Austen-themed novel that I disliked. (The irony here is that I only read the other novel because I thought I was reading the book Carrie and Alison had told me was a "must read"!)

One thing I noticed as I read Jane Austen Ruined My Life was that it wasn't a trashy romance. There's little to no language (at least that I noticed) and no intimate love scenes (excepting a few minor references made by the heroine to an affair her husband had prior to the book's beginning), still no graphic details, not vulgar conversations. It was rather refreshing to find in a piece of modern literature. While Pattillo is no Austen or Dickens, she is an entertaining writer and a breath of fresh air when it comes to chick-lit.

Jane Austen Ruined My Life is a sort of grown-up coming-of-age story, a journey of self-discovery for both Emma Grant and Jane Austen, the latter based on the author's fictional twist and interpretation of real life. I liked the quote fellow author Lori Smith made about this book: "A light and lovely fictional journey. [Pattillo] manages to strike the delicate balance of examining the clever, imaginary what-ifs of Austen's life while still respecting (and clearly revering) Austen."

Without giving away the ending (for those of you who have yet to read this book) I will say this much: the ending isn't the fictional fairy-tale "happily ever after". At first I felt a little cheated that the book didn't end as I expected, all lose ends tied up, etc. And yet, after some reflection on the book as a whole I realized that was the whole point of the book. The story couldn't end with a predicable "happily ever after" -- that would have made the story too predicable, too cliche. Life doesn't end just because the hero and heroine meet and marry. There is so much more that happens the next day after a love story begins. And even when life doesn't go as planned there is always time for a new beginning and a second chance. I believe Pattillo leaves the ending of Jane Austen Ruined My Life open to the reader for interpretation. You, the reader, get to imagine how the rest of Emma's life plays out. So, after this reflection I realized I liked that. It's different, but it is a happy ending for this book.

I've already been told I must read the next Austen-themed book by Beth Pattillo titled Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart. This book is not as might be expected, a sequel to Emma's story, but it does have some slight-connections. Because I enjoyed Jane Austen Ruined My Life I have already added this other novel to my TBR list, so watch for a review before summer's end.

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

271 pages

Published 1939 by G. P. Putnam's Sons

Reprinted in 2008 by Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers

New York, NY

Sad Cypress is the 27th mystery novel penned by Dame Agatha Christie. Although the first half of the novel is mostly told through the eyes of the accused, the case solving is once again to the complete credit of the Belgian with his little grey cells, one Hercule Poirot.

When it was first published Sad Cypress received mostly favorable reviews with it's lowest criticism being that it wasn't up to par with Christie's best yet still a thrilling read. I have to say I can agree with this. Sad Cypress may not be a top five, or even ten amongst the numerous novels the Queen of Crime penned, but it is an entertaining and thrilling read.

The Plot:

"At the center of this classic murder mystery is a classic love triangle. Elinor Carlisle always assumed she would marry her childhood friend and distant cousin, Roderick Welman. Instead he fell in love with Mary, whom Elinor and Roderick used to play with on their Aunt Laura's lavish estate. When Mary is gruesomely poisoned by morphine, suspicions naturally fall upon Elinor. Then Aunt Laura, who bequeathed her estate and fortune to Elinor, is also found to have died form a morphine overdose. The murderer seems obviously to everyone -- everyone, that is, except Hercule Poirot. The Belgian sleuth summons all his powers to unravel the intricacies of a case that seems deceptively simple on the surface." (Courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
Although I can't say this was one of my all-time favorite Christie mysteries I did find that this story got better and better with each turn of the page. It is the first courtroom drama to appear in one of Christie's novels and from the first line I was pulled into the drama as I watched everything through the eyes of the accused.

As I mentioned above, the book is divided into two parts. The first opens in the courtroom with Elinor standing trial for the murder of Mary, but then steps back in time to the events that led up to that very moment. The second part leaves Elinor and lets the reader watch first hand as Poirot single handily pieces clue upon clue and lie upon lie until he unravels the whole mystery.

I was especially intrigued by the title of this novel, Sad Cypress. It is also the name of a song contained in William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night which goes:

Come away, come away, death,
And in sad cypress let me be laid;
Fly away, fly away breath;
I am slain by a fair cruel maid.
My shroud of white, stuck all with yew,
O, prepare it!
My part of death, no one so true
Did share it.

Personally I find it fascinating when authors (or publishers) pull the title of a poem or song or the first line of some famous quote and tie it in with the story by making it the title of the book. I find that it adds another whole dimension to the story. And this story had plenty of dimension. The setting is quiet country village with a beautiful, but haunting estate. The characters are different, but not unusual. The murder weapon is poison, Agatha Christie's personal "favorite" if you could call it that. And although by the end of the book I had half-figured the mystery out I admit I was stumped as to the final "why" and had to wait for Poirot's big reveal. Still, it is a well-written mystery with plenty of red herrings and clues cleverly woven. I found the story easy to imagine and this is one that definitely translates well to the screen, although (as is often the case with 21st century adaptations) it hasn't always been faithfully translated, still the adaptations that are available do make for good television.

Although not a top book in my opinion I do still find I really liked Sad Cypress and that it is proof enough that the Queen of Crime just got better and better with each mystery. Sad Cypress is a must read for Christie fans as well as readers who love solving a good ol' who-dun-it.

As a side note, the copy of Sad Cypress I read was published 2008 (cover art pictured in the upper right corner of this post) and was what the library offered when I requested this title. But avid Christie fans, like myself, might find it interesting and fun to view the cover art that this title has been published with over the last 70+ years. To view head on over to DeliciousDeath.com book listings here.

Up next: One, Two Buckle My Shoe.

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Other Agatha Christie Reviews:
*Novels published from 1920-1923 see note below.

The Man in the Brown Suit (1924)
The Secret of Chimneys (1925)
The Big Four (1927)
The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928)
The Seven Dials Mystery (1929)
The Murder at the Vicarage (1930)
The Sittaford Mystery (1931)
Peril at End House (1932)
Lord Edgware Dies (1933)
Murder on the Orient Express (1934)
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? (1934)
Three Act Tragedy (1935)
Death in the Clouds (1935)
The A.B.C. Murders (1936)
Murder in Mesopotamia (1936)
Cards on the Table (1936)
Dumb Witness (1937)
Death on the Nile (1937)
Appointment With Death (1938)
Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1938)
Murder Is Easy (1939)
And Then There Were None (1939)

Absent In the Spring by Mary Westmacott (a.k.a. Agatha Christie) (1944)

* Christie's novels written from 1920 (The Mysterious Affair at Styles) through 1923 (Murder on the Links) I read before I began this blog hence no reviews are currently available.

Attention Readers: A Library is a Hospital for the Mind To Host Second Annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge!

Attention readers! Spread the word! The original Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge will be returning this fall to this blog: A Library is a Hospital for the Mind.

As some may recall, at the end of September and into October of last year I hosted the first Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge, which coincided with the re-release of the Betsy-Tacy series by HarperCollins Publishers. The challenge was not only a delightful time of re-reading for myself and many long-time fans of Maud Hart Lovelace, but also a fun and exciting way to spread the word to readers who had never read the books let alone heard of Deep Valley.

This year I plan to once again host the challenge, again through the month of October, and once again it will coincide with the re-release of Maud Hart Lovelace books. I am very excited to report that HarperCollins Publishers will be re-publishing all three books in the Deep Valley series: Winona's Pony Cart and Carney's House Party (combined together in one volume) and Emily of Deep Valley. These books will be available October 12, 2010. Although the Deep Valley stories are not continuations of Betsy Ray, Tacy Kelly, or Tib Mueller readers will be delighted to know these ladies do make appearances within the books, as do several other familiar and much loved characters. They are definite must reads for fans of the Betsy-Tacy series.

Here is a sneak peak of the cover art, once again beautiful drawn by Vera Neville, who illustrated all the high-school and later years in the Betsy-Tacy books.

Have I mentioned how excited I am?!?

I already own Winona's Pony Cart, as I obtained a copy when it was last reprinted about 10 years ago, but I was never able to get my hands on a copy of Carney's House Party or Emily of Deep Valley for my personal library. I first read them last fall when I discovered a branch of my local library had them shelved away. I plan to remedy this problem by purchasing a copy of each book as soon as they are available.

In addition the extremely loyal Lovelace fans or those living within driving distance to Mankato, Minnesota have the wonderful opportunity to attend the Deep Valley Book Release Party which will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2010. To learn more about this party please visit the Betsy-Tacy Society website or click here for a copy of the promotional flyer.

But even if you are unable to attend be sure to come back here on Friday, October 1, 2010 to sign up for the second annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge! I am planning an exciting month of book reviews, fun-facts and trivia posts, as well as some give-aways!

Hope you can join in the fun -- oh and spread the word! (If you'd like a copy of the reading challenge button (see top of post) to post on your own blog leave me a note with your email address or a way to contact you.

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Related Links:
Harper Perennial Modern Classics from HarperCollins Publishers
Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge 2009
The Besty-Tacy Society
More about Betsy, Tacy, Tib and Maud Hart Lovelace
Beyond Little House: Partnering with the Betsy-Tacy Society (July 17, 2010)

Books by MHL:
Betsy-Tacy
Betsy, Tacy and Tib
Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill
Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown
Heavens to Betsy
Betsy in Spite of Herself
Betsy Was a Junior
Betsy and Joe
Betsy and the Great World
Betsy's Wedding
Winnona's Pony Cart
Carney's House Party
Emily of Deep Valley
The Trees Kneel At Christmas
One Stayed At Welcome (with Delos Lovelace)
The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Scannell Whalen (biography of MHL)