Bringing Elizabeth Home by Ed & Lois Smart

Subtitled: a Journey of Hope and Faith

This was the “true crime” pick for book group. We didn’t find it to be very much true crime. No details about what happened to Elizabeth were revealed, as they want to give her the option to tell her own story.

Also, it assumed prior knowledge about the case.

I didn’t enjoy this at all.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie is a unique investigator in 1929 London. She doesn’t quite solve mysteries, but does some type of psychology and sleuthing to help people find answers. This is the first book in a series, and sets up Maisie’s back story nicely. I found the characters to be engaging and I enjoyed the time period.

I’ll be reading the rest of the series.

Shadows of the Canyon by Tracie Peterson

Had to read this for my book group. Our topic this month was Inspirational Fiction and we each read one. I actually listened to this on audiobook. It was ok. I thought I’d like this history and the mystery but really it was too contrived for me.

Working as a Harvey Girl at the luxury resort of El Tovar, located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, Alexandra Keegan feels she is in a dream come true. But when her father’s indiscretions come to light and her mother is suspected of murder, Alex finds herself the center of some unwelcome attention. Will she soon find herself alone in the world?

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

I enjoy science fiction and this quick little classic was read for book group. Some interesting observations about human life. And I had a total flashback moment when it came to the short story “There Comes Soft Rains” as I vividly remember reading it in an English class. Good stuff.

The Giant’s House by Elizabeth McCracken

I really enjoyed this. I loved Peggy Cort, the main character and librarian. She had some wonderful observations about libraries and books and I found myself laughing out loud. This is a tender story and there’s a surprise twist at the end. However, the ending left me sad.

Classic Crave: My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

We read this in July 2006 for book group.

Anna was born as a genetic match to Kate, who has leukemia. Anna’s cord blood puts Kate into remission for six years, then the doctors do a bone marrow transplant and Kate is in remission again. However, now 16, Kate has kidney failure and Anna hires Campbell to legally have her medically emancipated so she can refuse to be Kate’s donor again. The story takes place during one week, with flashbacks provided by their mom and chapters are told from alternating points of view.

I love Jodi Picoult and this was the first book I read by her and I still think it’s her best. This is an excellent book, well-written, but be prepared with a box of tissues when you read it as it’s sad. And with all Jodi Picoult books, there’s an ending twist you don’t see coming.

An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks

Subtitled: seven paradoxical tales.

This was my book group pick. Our last of 2008 (we take December off). A little heavy for the final book of the year, but I’ve always wanted to read something by Oliver Sacks (the doctor from Awakenings). I also wanted to read about autism or Temple Grandin. One of the “tales” in the book focuses on Temple, another focuses on prodigies and autism. The other five focus on neurological disorders related to vision.

The first tale, “The Case of the Colorblind Painter” is highly technical and if I were the editor for this book, I would not have placed it first as it almost turned me off the book. However, the rest of the tales are quite interesting and the language is in more layman’s terms. Another thing I disliked were all the footnotes, but I found it easy to skip over those without losing the story or feeling as though I was missing something.

All in all I’m glad I read this. It was interesting and not something I probably would’ve picked up on my own.

What I Know Now edited by Ellyn Spragins

Subtitled: Letters to my younger self.

This was a book club pick and I actually had it on my shelf! (I hardly buy any books – hello? I work in a library). I had originally bought this book when I thought I’d participate in an online book discussion group but since I couldn’t ever get it together, this little book was sitting there waiting for me.

This is a quick, inspirational little book. About a page of biographical stuff about the person and then their letter. Lots of famous and successful women are included – some of my personal favorites and some I hadn’t heard of. This would make a great graduation present for a young woman (either for college or high school).

My one complaint – it ended too abruptly. I finished Trisha Yearwood’s letter and turned the page and then boom – nothing. I was let down there weren’t more letters to read. And reading this has made me want to write a letter to my younger self. Might be a good scrapbook page . . .

American Eve by Paula Uruburu

Subtitled:Evelyn Nesbit, Stanford White: The Birth of the “It” Girl and the Crime of the Century

Sorry no posts in awhile. I’ve been busy and also slogging my way through this book for book group.

With my use of the word slogging, you probably guessed I didn’t like it. If so, you’re half correct.

It got better after about 110 pages (but since I usually only give a book 100 pages- this would’ve been over on the other “started, not finished” list if not for having to read it for book group.

The topic is interested and I know little to nothing about the turn of the century or of Evelyn Nesbit. But the author used really big words in really long sentences, so it was not easy reading. Plus Nesbit’s life after the trial was given short shrift.

Can’t say I’d recommend it – but it should be an intersting discussion tonight.

When Good People Have Affairs by Mira Kirshenbaum

The title of this book cracks me up. And it’s a book club pick. So don’t read too much into the fact that I’m reading this book. We thought it would spark some good conversations at book group. The subtitle: inside the hearts and minds of people in two relationships led me to believe that we might understand more about people’s motivations in having affairs. And it seems that in most of the books I’ve read lately (Tenth Circle, Beach House) so I was interested in learning more about the thought process.

However, while I thought this was an interesting read it was not what I expected. What this book is really about is how 1/3 what the psychology of an affair is and then 2/3 how people in a love triangle can select the appropriate solution (stay with spouse, pursue lover, choose neither) so they’re not in two relationships. The decision making process was interesting and I think it contained relationship advice that people could use in evaluating their own long term relationships. Also, there’s a short chapter on “Building the Future” which contains good general relationship advice.

An interesting topic and should make for good discussion this month.