Kids Pick of the Week: Pink Me Up by Charise Mericle Harper

The Plot:
"Violet is looking forward to attending the 'Pink Girls Pink-nic' with her mom. Dressed from head to toe in her favorite color, she thinks about the crafts they will make and the games they will play. All that changes when her mom wakes up that morning covered with pink spots. The only other female in the family is the cat, but Pinky can't take her. Fortunately, Violet's dad doesn't mind wearing pink for the day, and, of course, he's the hit of the party." (Summary courtesy of Amazon)

My Thoughts:
If you have a 3 to 5-years old female living in your house chances are you hear a lot about the color pink. I realize that there are exceptions, but from my experience most young girls (at some point in their childhood) claim pink as their favorite color.... Although, to be honest my own daughter is split in her choice. Of late when she is asked what her favorite color is she will respond, "Pink AND purple!"

So when I came upon Charise Mericle Harper's book, Pink Me Up, I knew I had to bring it home. It was an instant favorite and declared "very silly!" by my daughter. I have a feeling we'll be reading it quite a bit in the weeks ahead.

Pink Me Up comes recommended to anyone with a little girl who loves pink!

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About the book:
Pink Me Up was published in February 2010 by Knopf Books for Young Readers, a division of Random House. It is 40 pages long and intended for children ages 4-8 years, though clearly a few children at 3 years will enjoy it just as much.

About the author/illustrator:
Charise Mericle Harper

Decision Points by George W. Bush

481 pages
Published in 2010
By Crown Publishers
New York, NY

"The nature of the presidency is that sometimes you don't choose which challenges come to your desk. You do decide how to respond." - George W. Bush

Decision Points is not your typical memoir, that is not if you're expecting a chronological retelling of George W. Bush's life. Instead, President Bush chose to focus on key decision points within his lifetime and by doing so, he presents a thorough picture of his background and what has made him the man he is today. Of course, because this is a presidential memoir it should come as no surprise that the majority of the book focuses upon decisions made during the eight years he served as President of the United States.

My thoughts:
Over the years I have found that some of the most fascinating reads are those written by or about people who have had a direct impact on the world in which I live, particularly books about American history and the American people. So it was with great interest and curiosity that I picked up President Bush's memoir, Decision Points. And I am happy to report that I was not disappointed.

From start to finish I found Decision Points to be a fascinating read of current events and recent history. We're not talking nitty-gritty gossip, but the key info as to the why and how President Bush made decisions, both personal and public.

If you think you already have the whole story when it comes to George W. Bush because you read the newspapers or watched the evening news, think again; there are always two sides to every story.

When making any decision I believe it is valuable to hear the "objective" outside view, but I also believe it is extremely valuable to include the perspective of the person on the "inside", the one making the decisions. One can read any number of books on the American Revolution, but to truly understand what life was like and why the Founding Fathers made the decisions they did one must read the personal writings of the founders, as well as books that detail their life and beliefs. In essence, until you learn what made them tick you cannot truly understand why they acted as they did. The same can be said of any modern statesman. Whether you agree with the person or not, you won't stand a chance of ever understanding why they act a certain way or believe a certain thing if you don't take the time to hear their point of view.

As far as the writing style, Decision Points is a easy read. Although President Bush addresses some complicated issues and details he doesn't let the reader get bogged down. His writing is simple, but intelligent and to the point. He says it like it is and doesn't mince words; even when admitting his own mistakes. He comes across as a humble man of faith; not at all one who plays pious or lives a life of hypocrisy. (One may wish me to note there was a smattering of profanity in the book, but always when quoting a previous conversation usually between one politician and another.) President Bush is mostly unapologetic about the decisions he made throughout his political and legislative career stating in the epilogue, "I knew some of the decisions I had made were not popular with many of my fellow citizens. But I felt satisfied that I had been willing to make the hard decisions, and I had always done what I believed was right." (pg. 474)

And that is actually what I admire most about President Bush. Regardless of what others think of his presidency or of him as a person, I personally admire that he took in all the facts, discussed and considered the options, and in the end always made the decision based on what he truly believed was right and good, not for his reputation or career, but for the country as a whole. He was a true example of a politician, one who serves the public not themselves.

Being president of the United States is quite an honor. Only 44 men have held the position in the last 222 years. You don't get on that list just because you want the job. Nor do you get there because you're popular. You get there because you have the experience, the courage, and the leadership to hold the position and you have earned the trust of millions of Americans. I hope those who read President Bush's memoirs do not read it with the goal to nitpick the past, but instead read it with an open mind so as to better understand the man who led the free world for the first eight years of this new millennium, through some of the most difficult decision points of American history.

In the end as President Bush points out within his memoir, history will be the final judge. If historians and critics can still mull over and argue about decisions made by our first president, George Washington 200+ years after his presidency ended, it will be some time before anyone comes to a final conclusion about the presidency of George W. Bush.

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Related Links:

Random House Publishers: Decision Points

Kindle: Decision Points ($14.99)

George W. Bush Presidential Library

The White House: George W. Bush (#43)

Review: Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

372 pages
Published in 2004 by
Barnes & Noble Books
New York, NY
(Originally published in 1859
by Chapham & Hall, London, England)

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way -- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Book 1, Chapter 1, pg 7.)

For years I have wanted to read A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, but just never made the time. And then, at the end of last year I determined I would not put it off another year, I would have the book read before the end of 2011! I asked the ladies in my book club if we could add it to our list of upcoming books to read, to which they readily agreed. This done, I started the book at Christmas with hope of having it read well before the scheduled time to discuss. Unfortunately my first attempt didn't turn out too well... I was sick over the holidays, under a lot of stress at work, and as a result completely unable to grasp what I was reading. So I set the book aside and waited a few weeks. At long last I picked it up again with new determination. And this time I succeeded!

The Plot:
A Tale of Two Cities is a historical romance written by one of English literature's best authors. The story is split between London and Paris during some of history's most explosive years -- the years leading up to and during the French Revolution and the "reign of terror." It is not only a tale of two cities, but it is a tale of two life choices -- the choice between good and evil, between compassion and tyranny, between selfless love and selfish hate. It is a powerful story of life.

My Thoughts:
A Tale of Two Cities is really told in the form of three sub-books. Book One: Recalled To Life sets the foundation of the story and as such does begin a little slow, but there are details here that become important to the reader much later in the book. While reading this part I found myself bogged down and felt clueless as to what was going on in the book. So, rather than give up I turned to Cliff Notes whenever I didn't understand a chapter or a scene, which greatly helped me get my reader's "feet" under me. So that by Book Two: The Golden Thread I was confident in what I was reading. It is at this point in the book that the story picks up the pace and the reader begins to see where the overall story is headed. This is also the portion of the book where Dickens focuses heavily on both the historical detail and the character development. Again, important details are tucked into the story that prove valuable in Book Three: The Track of a Storm. From this point on I could hardly put the book down, this is the climax of the story when all the details start to come together like pieces to a puzzle and at the very end the reader is left with the picture of the supreme sacrifice of selfless love and a powerful lesson for life.

A Tale of Two Cities is probably one of the best pieces of literature I have ever read. Yes, it's true and I am not alone. There were a dozen ladies at our book club discussion ranging in age, personality, and background, but every single one of the ladies read and loved A Tale of Two Cities. Yes, it is can be a difficult read, especially if you are unaccustomed to Dickens or 19th century literature, but it is a worthy read and one that every person should read.

I confess, if it wasn't for the ladies in my book club I do not know if I would have ever given Dickens a real chance. As a teenager I found him boring and too wordy for my liking. It was not until the book club read Great Expectations a few years back that I changed my mind. I joke now that I had no great expectations for Dickens, but that thanks to the ladies' encouragement I was able to finish the book and was thrilled to discover how wrong I had been. Since then I have gone on to read and enjoy Bleak House, Little Dorrit, and now A Tale of Two Cities.

So that brings me to you. If you have never read A Tale of Two Cities I exhort you to add it to your reading list for this year (or next). If you are like I was and have given Dickens a chance, but gave up, then I encourage you to give him another try. His writing is rich and will make you a better reader for the time you invest.

Here are some suggestions I have found helpful that might work for you:

1. Track down a copy of Cliff Notes or Spark Notes for the book you wish to read. No, this is NOT cheating, so long as you use it to aid with your reading of the actual book. While paperback copies of Cliff Notes are available in book stores, I find the free online versions to the best for my reading. The chapter summaries alone have helped me work through and appreciate some of the more difficult chapters in classic literature like A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens or The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

2. Watch a good film adaptation. I'm not normally a fan of watching a movie before reading the book, but in some cases I think it's very valuable. I watched the 2005 Masterpiece Theater adaptation of Bleak House before I tackled the book and found it very helpful as I was then able to keep the plot threads, characters, and dialogue clear in my mind. I've yet to see any adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities, but I have been told the 1935 version with Ronald Colman is excellent and true to the book and that the 1980 version with Chris Sarandon is likewise good.

3. Listen to an audio version. I've been told that one of the best ways to read a difficult book is to have it read to you. Instead of stumbling over difficult words or being distracted by foot or end notes the listener can sit back and let their imagination go as they listen to the story unfold. While Cliff Notes or Spark Notes are probably better for the visually minded, the audio version is generally better for those who learn best through audio. I am a visual person so I often find myself distracted while listening to audio books, but for those who are more audio-minded an audio book can take you places you would never go if you had to read on your own.

4. Find a group that is interested in reading the same book as you, purpose to read it (alone or together) and then plan to discuss what you liked or didn't like and what you learned.

5. Last but not least, have patience. Reading classic literature often takes time. It's rare for readers to be able to rush through reading a classic as might be done with a piece of modern fiction. I liken reading classics to eating a steak vs. modern fiction, which is like a bowl of soup. Eating a steak requires time. You have to cut small pieces, chew them and then swallow, while soup requires only scooping a spoonful and swallowing it. When reading a classic, don't put unneeded pressure on yourself; pace your reading. And don't feel bad if it takes you a lot longer to finish than other books you read.

Reading is really like anything in life. There is a learning curve. It takes time, practice and determination, but if you desire you can learn to read any book you pick up and often you will find that you surprise yourself with what you end up enjoying.

Good luck and happy reading!

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Related Links:

Kindle: A Tale of Two Cities ($0.00)

Project Gutenberg: A Tale of Two Cities (ebook)

Lit2Go: A Tale of Two Cities (audio book with lessons)

Librivox: A Tale of Two cities (audio book)

Cliff Notes: A Tale of Two Cities

Spark Notes: A Tale of Two Cities

Book Reviews: Books by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens Literature

At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern by Myrtle Reed

353 pages
Published in 1905 by G. P. Putnam's Sons
New York and London
The Knickerbocker Press

It's been a long time since I've reviewed a Myrtle Reed novel. I was first introduced to Ms. Reed in 2009 by a good friend who is also an avid reader. For those unfamiliar with Ms. Reed's writing, she was a best selling author at the turn of the last century who wrote mostly novels, but also dabbled in the art of cook books under the pseudonym, Olive Green.

Ms. Reed's novels are best known for their sweetness and charm as well as their sharp wit and social commentary. Although they are classified as "romance" they are by no means brainless fiction. Ms. Reed weaves together a cast that is both diverse and real-to-life. There is always some moral or social lesson to be taken from the story, but it is served in a way that makes the read more enjoyable rather than turning the reader away.

At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern was published in 1905 and was Ms. Reed's ninth book published and probably one of her funniest.

The Plot:
As the novel opens newlyweds, Harlan and Dorothy Carr arrive at their new home, a strangely built house dubbed by locals: the "Jack O'Lantern." Harlan and Dorothy, who inherited the house and surrounding farm from Harlan's recently deceased Uncle Ebenezer, quickly settle in to their new home, all the while puzzling over the numerous mysteries that surround the house, including a number of bedrooms that appear to have been built haphazardly onto the main house.

Who was this Uncle Ebenezer that Harlan never met and why did he leave the bizarre house to Harlan? The mysteries begin to unravel (and seemingly so does Harlan and Dorothy's marriage) as a number of uninvited guests,who claim to be distant relatives of Uncle Ebenezer, start turning up on the doorstep of the Jack O'Lantern.

What ensues is a summer of bizarre happenings and a mix of hilarious and sometimes painful family scenes, and a few serious moral lessons that all culminate into a most satisfactory ending.

My Thoughts:
I found At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern to be quite different than the other novels by Myrtle Reed that I have read. It seemed much more moralistic, but not in a negative way. In fact, I found the overall story a very enjoyable read. I thought the winding plot was clever and fresh as it kept my interest for the entire book, even through what some might consider the "slow parts." I also enjoyed the character development. As typical Myrtle Reed fashion the characters are diverse with some you love, some you love to hate and some that are just down-right hilarious.

I read somewhere that At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern was adapted to the silver screen in 1922. I imagine it must have been quite a funny and entertaining film, but unfortunately I'll never know, because like so many of the early films it is lost to time and no longer available for viewing.

What I did find while browsing the Internet was a review of this book in the New York Times newspaper from 1905. If you have time be sure to check it out: New York Times Review 1905.

I've now reached the end of Myrtle Reed books that are readily available to me, but there are still at least a half-dozen I've yet to read. As time and funds allow I hope to extend my search and read the rest of her novels. They are charming and entertaining reads that I always enjoy and encourage you to give them a read.

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Related Links:

Read The Book:
Google Books (FREE)
Project Gutenberg (FREE)
Amazon Kindle ($0.99)

Other Myrtle Reed Book Reviews:
The Spinster Book
Weaver of Dreams
A Spinner in The Sun
Lavender And Old Lace
The Master's Violin
Old Rose & Silver

Quotes & Book Teasers:
Tuesday Teaser: At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern
Tuesday Teaser: A Spinner in the Sun
Tuesday Teaser: A Weaver of Dreams
Tuesday Teaser: Lavender and Old Lace
Tuesday Teaser: Old Rose & Silver
Romantic Passages: Old Rose & Silver

Who Was Myrtle Reed?
Wikipedia: Myrtle Reed
Online Literature: Myrtle Reed
Chicago Magazine (Aug 2006): Myrtle Reed

What's On My Nightstand: March 2011

I did it! I not only finished all three books from February's nightstand posting, but of those three I finished one that had been waiting on my nightstand (both literally and figuratively) for the last two years: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. And best of all I read it in time for the upcoming book club meeting (tomorrow night). I cannot wait to discuss this book and then to post my own thoughts here.

So what is left on my nightstand as we finish off another month leaving winter behind and head into the beauty and warmth of spring? Honestly, not much. I'm waiting on several books via my library's inter-county library loan system as well as the statewide ILL program. What I read next will be a little luck of the draw -- which book I receive, what mood I am in when it arrives, etc. But here's what I am tentatively planning:

Known And Unknown: A Memoir by Donald Rumsfeld. I am very intrigued by this memoir. In the early pages Secretary Rumsfeld notes that he has lived for one-third of the history of the United States of America. In other words, he's been around for a while and seen a thing or two. I find this absolutely fascinating. And so far, the book is definitely just that, fascinating. I may be a while yet reading it as it is over 800 pages, but I hope to learn a lot and to return with a helpful review for those who are considering adding this book to their nightstand.


The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton. This is a 1930s era children's fantasy novel that until recently I'd never heard of; but as it comes highly recommended by Australian author Kate Morton (and a host of other reviewers on Amazon) I figured I'd give it a glance. Once glance was enough to spark my interest and now I'm waiting on a copy to arrive at my library's local branch. I am very much looking forward to reading this one.



The Hollow by Agatha Christie. The next mystery novel to read in my personal Agatha Christie Reading Challenge.







And then, if I have time... I keep promising myself I will start one of Angela Thirkell's novels. I suspect that I am being rather ambitious with my forecast and that several of these books will overlap into the month of May. I guess we will have to wait and see...

What about you? What is on your nightstand as we finish out March and enter April? Leave me a comment or head over to 5 Minutes for Books and post your own What's On Your Nightstand post.

Happy reading!

Friday's Fave Five: March 18

It's been a while since I have been able to participate in the weekly Friday's Fave Five as hosted by Living to Tell the Story. Once you're done reading here be sure to head over to post your own favorite five from the last week or see what other bloggers are listing.

This week my Friday fave five are:

1. A decade of memories. I rarely post personal information on this blog, I try to keep focused on the purpose -- books, but I wanted to mention that today marks the 10th anniversary of when my husband and I first got "together". It's been an amazing ten years and I look forward to the next decade.

2. New reads. I love that moment when I first learn a book I've been waiting on will soon be available to read! I had that moment this morning when I discovered that The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall will be available in bookstores (and libraries) across the country this coming May!

I first met the Penderwick family when I read The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy in the fall of 2008. I loved the story (as you can tell by my review) and was excited to discover Ms. Birdsall had written a sequel, The Penderwicks of Gardham Street, which I read in 2009. Now I am waiting with great anticipation for the third installment of this trilogy (or series?). If you haven't had a chance to check out these books be sure too. They are intended for readers ages 9 to 12, but they make delightful reads for adults too.

3. St. Patrick's Day. Until this year I never really thought much about St. Patrick's Day. It usually only meant that I would wear something green and we would have corned beef and cabbage for dinner, but having a child can change more than you think. For me it has made me think twice about holidays. I want to know the real reason we celebrate and I want to have fun.

So for this year's St. Patrick's Day I planned some special activities and surprises for my family. For starters, in the weeks leading up to St. Patrick's Day my husband and I read a few children's books about St. Patrick's Day (or Ireland). Unfortunately the selection of books to read for preschoolers is not very good and in the end our favorite book had nothing to do with St. Patrick's Day, but instead with the Irish festival of Puck. My daughter just loved the book King Puck by Michael Garland. It was an entertaining and charming story with cute illustrations.

Next, I took the time to familiarize myself with the real history of St. Patrick, which led to my post yesterday.

Then I planned a few art and craft activities with my daughter. And last I planned a fun dinner. We had the usually corned beef and cabbage (with potatoes and carrots), but I included a few child-happy treats like Leprechaun Gold jello (made with white grape juice and mandarin orange slices) and green dyed lemon-lime sparkling water. Then for dessert we had chocolate cupcakes with frosting shamrock's on top. It was a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to celebrating Easter next month.

4. Reading a classic. For the last few weeks I have been working my way through Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. I have wanted to read this classic for the last few years and finally worked it out so my reading would coincide with an upcoming book club meeting. We are set to discuss A Tale of Two Cities at our meeting next week. I have less than 100 pages left to read and the story has definitely reached the climax. It has been a fascinating read and I can't wait to enrich my understanding by discussing the content and history with my friends. Stay tuned as I plan to review this book after our meeting.


5. Village Lanterne by Blackmore's Night. I stumbled upon this video a few weeks back. It's a little cheesy at parts, but I love the "sound" of the song. It reminds me of the soundtrack to the 1987 movie, The Princess Bride. Enjoy.

Happy Friday! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

What is the real reason we celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

"For this sun which we see rises daily for us because He commands so, but it will never reign, nor will its splendour last; what is more, those wretches who adore it will be miserably punished. Not so we, who believe in, and worship, the true sun — Christ — who will never perish, nor will he who doeth His will; but he will abide for ever as Christ abideth for ever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty and the Holy Spirit before time, and now, and in all eternity. Amen." ~ Patrick's Confession

All About St. Patrick's Day

A Poem (Lorica) by St. Patrick

Tuesday Teaser: Tales from an African Vet

"The longer I live and work as a vet, the more I have come to realize that all creatures have a right to life, and that I should do everything in my power to save them."

~ Dr. Roy Aronson, Tales From An African Vet, Chpt 14, pg 155

Musing Mondays

This week's musing at Should Be Reading asks...

Do you have a favorite children's book? Either one that you loved as a child, or one that you discovered and still enjoy? Tell us about it!

What a difficult question! I have so many favorites, but if I had to pick one it would be:

Caps For Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slodbodkina.

Close runners up would be: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (currently in it's 75th year) and Corduroy by Don Freeman.

I have actually previously reviewed all three of these books and you can read more about them on my blog posting from July 2008 if you follow the link.

My love for children's books continues to grow as an adult, especially now that I am daily reading aloud to my daughter. My current favorite author/illustrator is Lisa McCue who has written and illustrated two books about a bunny rabbit titled: Quiet Bunny and Quiet Bunny's Many Colors.

"Little Bunny discovers the importance—and pleasure—of dancing to your own kind of music. More than anything, Quiet Bunny loves the sounds of the forest: the birds chirping, the wind whispering shhhhh through the leaves, and, especially, the night song all the rabbits listen to. But, one day, he wonders: how can I join in? Bunny wanders the woods asking animal after animal—but he just can’t ch-cheet like the cricket, ssssss like the hissing snake, or o-uuuu like the howling wolves. But nothing feels just right—until Quiet Bunny finds the wonderful beat that’s his and his alone." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

"Quiet Bunny loves the bright colors of spring: the yellow ducks, green frogs, and blue jays-everything but his own brown, wintry white fur. It takes the help of a wise old owl for Bunny to realize that it's the rainbow of colors-including his own-that makes the world so beautiful." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

While I loved both of these books (especially the illustrations), I think Quiet Bunny's Many Colors is my favorite. I love all the colors and it's the perfect book to read aloud as we enter the natural beauty of spring!

If you've not yet read any of these books I highly encourage you to look for them at your local library or bookstore!

Have a favorite childhood read? Leave a comment and let me know what you've read and loved or head on over to Should Be Reading and leave a comment for Musing Mondays: March 14.

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

562 pages
Published November 2010
Atria Books, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
New York, NY

I was very excited when I learned last autumn that Australian author Kate Morton had a new novel that would be released in November. I had plans to read and review it while still hot off the presses so I got my hands on a copy as quickly as possible and started reading... But then life happened. When it came time to review the novel I ran out of time.

So here I am, months later and very excited to finally sit down and put my thoughts here. So for any of you who are fans of Gothic fiction, or for those of you who have heard of Kate Morton and are still curious about her latest offering, The Distant Hours, let me enlighten you.

First, in her own words:

The Plot:


My Thoughts:
As I sat down to write my review of The Distant Hours I once again found myself torn by how I truly felt about the story. As was the case with both of Morton's earlier novels, The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden I both loved and disliked this novel. When I stopped to reflect on what made me feel this way it always came back to the very same reasons I both loved and disliked her earlier books. What reasons? Well, for starters let me explain what I love.

I just love Kate Morton’s writing style. Other readers may consider her writing too descriptive or wordy, but I do not agree. I find the story plots clever and unique and her writing creates vivid scenes that leap off the pages and pull me into the story. There is a richness to each novel that keeps my attention riveted to the very last page. I MUST read to the end to learn the answers to all my questions and to know the outcome for each character within the story. I love a book that can make feel this way while I read.

So what did I dislike? The most obvious objection I had was with the wicked behavior of certain characters. But beyond that I also found that I didn't like the dark and depressing shadow that draped the entire story. At first I thought it was just Kate Morton's modern take that made the book so dark, but the more I think about Gothic novels in general I realize it coincides with the "horror" aspect of the Gothic novel and this is what I truly dislike no matter the era in which the story was written. Not to say there is the same type of "horror" that you would find in a slasher movie, because there isn't. What I mean is that the dark and disturbing aspects of the book and the hopelessness of some characters makes the story a bit of a downer. As I read I wait for the moment when the "wicked" are punished and the "good" finally get to live happily-ever-after in peace, but the more I think about it I realize that such an ending doesn't often exist within the Gothic genre.

For example, consider the following novels: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, or even the more recent Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. All of these novels are tales that weave romance with tragedy and horror and very few of them end on any note of happiness. And yet they all have two things in common: there is the thrill of the read and there is always a lesson or principle to ponder, even after the saddest of endings.

I suppose if I stop to consider The Distant Hours in light of these facts I find it less disappointing. Still, I keep hoping that one day I'll read a novel by Kate Morton that will be just as thrilling, but will have a much happier ending.

Overall, my emotions aside I found The Distant Hours to be well written, well plotted, and an excellent read. ~

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Related links:
Kate Morton (Official website)
Simon & Schuster: Kate Morton's Official Page
Simon & Schuster: The Distant Hours
Kate Morton - Video about The Distant Hours

That Dodger Horse by Delos W. Lovelace

177 pages
Published in 1956
by New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company

Note: This is another book that I read in 2010, but I am only now getting around to reviewing. Please pardon the delay.

As regular readers of this blog will remember I am a big fan of Maud Hart Lovelace, so much so that I host an annual Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge every autumn. In the months leading up to the 2009 challenge (and during the challenge) I re-read Maud's popular and well-known Betsy-Tacy series as well as her recently republished Deep Valley series. Then in 2010 I expanded my reading to books outside the familiar and I read Gentlemen From England, a novel Maud co-wrote with her husband, Delos W. Lovelace. This in turn led me to pick up another novel by Delos, one written for young readers titled That Dodger Horse.

I am particularly intrigued with Delos, not only because he was an avid writer (journalist, biographer, and novelist), but also because he was the man that Maud loved. If she were Betsy then he was her Joe. In fact, she makes it no secret that she used many aspects of Delos when she created the character Joe Willard in her Betsy-Tacy books. And so, when I picked up That Dodger Horse and read that it was inspired by some of the adventures Delos had as a child while visiting his uncle's farm, I knew I was going to enjoy the read. It seemed exactly the type of book that Joe Willard would have written.

The Plot:

"A farm in Minnesota sounded like the end of the world to Glen. Any baseball teams there were certain to be small-town stuff, and even rumors of a tricky Morgan horse didn't intrigue him.

It was a big surprise to get out of the plan, meet Uncle Orlando, and find that Minnesota was a pretty nice place. It was a bigger surprise to find he liked the farm, and that it wasn't hard to make new friends. There was even a shortstop berth on the Grassy Point baseball team. it wasn't a bad team, either, though Otto Bolger, its star batter, seemed to dislike anyone he thought was a city slicker. It was Otto who dared glen to explore the dangers Indian Woods and got him into bad trouble.

The best part of the summer came with Dodger. Uncle Orlando bought the Dodger horse, a horse everybody knew you couldn't trust because he was so full of mischief. No doubt about it, Dodger was an extraordinary animal. He proved it that disastrous summer afternoon when the dark, whirling tornado hit.

From start to finish, it was an unusual vacation. By September Glen has changed a lot of his ideas. And those who read this lively, entertaining story will agree with Glen that a summer in the country with that Dodger horse is about the best thing that could happen to anyone." (Summary courtesy of the publisher.)

My Thoughts:
That Dodger Horse is a charming story filled with the innocent and fun loving adventures typical of children from my father's generation. As I read I could imagine my dad, as a young boy in the 50s and 60s, doing many of the same things -- playing baseball or dropping off a rope swing into a fishing hole or maybe exploring nearby woods with one of his friends.

The only drawback is that the book is a little dated, but that is to be expected of a book that is nearly 60 years old. The obvious difference is with the language (i.e. vocabulary, slang, a turn of phrase, etc.) are clearly from a different time, but rather than finding them hokey, I felt they made the story that much more interesting and fun for me to read. The only objectionable scene that I can remember is after Glen disobeys his uncle, which nearly results in some terrible consequences. To some this part of the story may be objectionable, but I believe taken in context of the time and place where the story is set it doesn't darken the story and perhaps a lesson can be learned by more then Glen.

Overall That Dodger Horse was a light and entertaining read and I am glad I tracked down a copy (even if it is a slightly marred library discard). I think, depending on the reader, That Dodger Horse could easily be enjoyed by young and old readers alike. Yes, the clothing styles and turn of phrases have changed, but the love for adventure that is born in every child's heart remains the same from generation to generation.

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Related Links:

If you like the sound of That Dodger Horse then be sure to check out a few other titles that you might likewise enjoy:

* Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield
* A Dog Called Scholar by Ann H. White (reviewed)
* Homer Price by Robert McCloskey (reviewed)
* Henry Huggens by Beverly Cleary
* Smoky, The Cow Horse by Will James (reviewed)
* My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craigshead George (reviewed)
* The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall (reviewed)
* Mr. Wilmer by Robert Lawson (reviewed)
* Freddy Goes to Florida by Walter R. Brooks (reviewed)

Towards Zero by Agatha Christie

276 pages
Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons in 1944
Reprinted in 2001 by St. Martin’s Paperbacks
New York, NY

“I love a good detective story, but they begin in the wrong place! They begin with the murder. But the murder is the end. The story begins long before that." ~ Towards Zero by Agatha Christie

The Plot:
"What is the connection between a failed suicide attempt, a wrongful accusation of theft against a schoolgirl, and the romantic life of a tennis player? To the casual observer, apparently nothing. When a houseparty gathers at Gull's Point, the seaside home of an elderly widow, earlier events come to a dramatic head." (Summary courtesy of AgathaChristie.com.)

My Thoughts:
I actually read Towards Zero at the beginning of December 2010, but with some unexpected changes to my life I wasn't able to review it and one thing led to another until I realized it was almost March and I hadn't even marked the book "read" on my virtual book shelf! Thankfully I keep notes on nearly all the books I read, so refreshing my memory for this review wasn't too difficult even though now nearly four months had elapsed. But please note, my forgetfulness should not in any way reflect upon the book. Towards Zero is a thrilling read that left me guessing up until the very end... To that zero hour.

Although a completely fresh story and setting, I did find that Towards Zero was a little reminiscent of one of Christie's earlier works, And Then There Were None, except for the blessed fact that this story ends on a much happier note than its predecessor thanks to the clever mind of Superintendent Battle.

And speaking of Battle, I found it interesting that Towards Zero is one of only five Christie mystery novels to feature the Superintendent as lead investigator. Another interesting fact is that it is also the last novel to feature him at all. Clearly by the mid 1940s Hercule Poirot was the front-runner in detective stories and it appears other detectives (i.e. Colonel Race, Miss Marple, Tommy & Tuppence, etc.) only made appearances at times when Christie really needed a vacation from the Belgian and his little gray cells.

As noted Towards Zero was published in 1944, which was the middle to end of World War II. While I always enjoy a Christie mystery I've found that this decade wasn't exactly her best. Looking back over the 34 novels she had written by this point most of my favorites actually date from the previous decade, the 1930s. But if I were to pick one with in the 1940s that I enjoyed as much as Towards Zero it would have to be N or M? Still, there are five more novels to read and review before moving into the 1950s so I suppose there's still a chance I could change my mind.

In the meantime, I definitely recommend Towards Zero as a mystery read. It has an excellent story plot, an interesting setting and array of characters, and an exciting and somewhat challenging psychological puzzle to solve. In summary, it is clever enough to feed your thirst for thrills yet not so great that you won't find yourself passing up the chance to read more novels by the Queen of Crime.

Up next, Death Comes As The End.

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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)
Evil Under the Sun (1941)
N or M? (1941)
The Body in the Library (1942)
Five Little Pigs (1942)
The Moving Finger (1942)

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

Agatha Christie, An Autobiography

* 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.

Mrs. Tim Flies Home by D. E. Stevenson

Published in 1952, reprinted in 1974
By Holt, Rinehart & Winston
New York, NY
284 pages

Mrs. Tim Flies Home is the final book in D. E. Stevenson’s four-part Mrs. Tim series. For those not yet familiar with the lovable Hester Christie, a.k.a. “Mrs. Tim” stop reading this review and go read my reviews of Mrs. Tim of the Regiment, Mrs. Tim Carries On, and Mrs. Tim gets a Job. Although the Mrs. Tim books can be read in any order I personally think they are best if read in order of publication. By doing so the reader’s familiarity with Hester and her friends and family grows just as the characters relationships grow and mature with time.

The Plot:
“Leaving Tim (now a colonel) in Kenya, Mrs. Tim flies home to her children for the summer in her beloved North Country. A stopover in Rome allows for the unexpected renewal of an old friendship with Tony Morely – a friendship regarded as highly suspect by fellow passenger Rosa Alston.

Once installed in The Small House in Old Quinings, a host of local characters – some familiar to followers of Mrs. Tim’s adventures – brighten and shadow Hester’s life. Tony Morely turns up, but so does Rosa Alston with her gossipy innuendoes. Mrs. Tim has a trying time with a singularly unpleasant landlady, but two young romances enliven the village, and Mrs. Tim closes her diary on a note of infectious happiness.” (The publisher, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1974)

My Thoughts:
I had bitter-sweet feelings as I picked up Mrs. Tim Flies Home. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the series and I felt as though I was meeting with some friends for the very last time. And yet, as far as a final book in a series can go, Mrs. Time Flies Home was very enjoyable and tied up a few loose ends nicely and left a few to the imagination of the reader.

As I read I found myself once again marveling at how comforting the Mrs. Tim books are in spite of the simplicity of their plots. Mrs. Tim Flies Home is a charming story filled with witty tales of domesticity in post war (WWII) England. There’s something about the dialogue, narration, and characters that drive the story with the occasional plot twist or intrigue.

I confess my only regret, if I am allowed to have one, is that throughout the series many couples find true love and live “happily-ever-after” including Tim and Hester, but for Tony Morely. Tony was one of my favorite regulars in the series. I just loved his sense of humor and charm and I always hoped, right up to the last quarter of this book, that he would find a woman who could rival Hester for his admiration. But in the end I suppose Stevenson felt it far more romantic and much more Tony-like to leave him a bachelor who remains a very dear friend of the Christie family. In retrospect, I suppose I can accept that.

Overall I definitely loved the Mrs. Tim series. The first in the series was reprinted by The Bloomsbury Group Publishers in 2009. I heard a rumor that they may go on to publish the rest of the series. I hope it's true, because this is one series I definitely am happy to own and to recommend.

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Related Links:

Mrs. Tim of the Regiment - Reviewed
Mrs. Tim Carries On - Reviewed
Mrs. Tim Gets a Job - Reviewed

Tuesday Teasers: Mrs. Tim of the Regiment
Tuesday Teasers: Mrs. Tim Gets a Job
Tuesday Teasers: Mrs. Tim Gets a Job
Tuesday Teasers: Mrs. Tim Flies Home

Happy Birthday D. E. Stevenson

Other D. E. Stevenson books reviewed