September 2016

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes

by Diane Chamberlain

Audio Book

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes is one of two books that I’ve read recently that explores the theme of consequences.  The other was The Witness by Nora Roberts. In both books, a sixteen-year-old girl makes decisions that have life altering consequences.  Both girls need to change their identities and go into hiding for the rest of their lives. In The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, CeeCee makes a decision to participate in a crime.  This decision molds her character and her life.  It also affects the lives of her future family.  Diane Chamberlain wrote a compelling story about the loss of innocence and the consequences of mistakes made by a naïve young adult. The book made me think of mistakes that I made at sixteen and their consequences.  Chris Dukehart did a great job of narrating the Audible version.  The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes is definitely a good listen.

Broadsides from the Other Orders: A Book of Bugs

By Sue Hubbell

I loved Broadsides from the Other Orders: A Book of Bugs, but I also love bugs.  I bought this book years ago when I was teaching insects to second graders, because it contains lots of interesting stories and facts about lots of bugs. There are chapters covering all of my favorites: butterflies, ladybugs, daddy longlegs and dragonflies.  Lesser-known bugs, such as syrphid flies, were also discussed.  Sue Hubbell, a beekeeper from the Ozarks in Missouri, did a great job of making bugs interesting and relevant.  My only complaint was the ending.  I was left wondering what happened with the camel crickets!  It’s definitely not a kids’ book and probably not a scientific textbook.  It is, however, a very good read for people who have an interest in bugs.

The Intellectual Devotional: Health 

By David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim

It took us almost a year to finish The Intellectual Devotional: Health, eleven months to be exact.  We started on October 20, 2015 and finished the last week in September 2016.  My husband and I have read several of the books in the Intellectual Devotional series.  I have to say that this was our least favorite, so far.  Each week was divided into seven topics: Children and Adolescents; Diseases and Ailments; Drugs and Alternative Treatments; The Mind; Sexuality and Reproduction; Lifestyle and Preventative Medicine; and Medical Milestones.  The reading was dry at times, and totally gross at others.  However, as with all of the Intellectual Devotionals, it gave us a shared reading and something different to discuss.  We also learned a little along the way.  We’re on to Intellectual Devotional: American History, and then we will have read the entire series.  Definitely good books for shared reading!

Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Play Read by the Cast of the Stage Play

By Choderlos de Laclos

Audio from Audible

Les Liaisons Dangereuses is an enjoyable recreation of the play by the stage cast for Audible.com.  This version was in English and was told through letters read by the cast.  It was short, light and a little bit naughty.  Definitely an entertaining listen! 

Big Little Lies (Reread)

By Liane Moriarty