May 2018

The Typewriter Revolution: 

A Typist’s Companion for the 21^stCentury

By Richard Polt

I read The Typewriter Revolution: A Typist’s Companion for the 21^stCentury while waiting for my 1925 Royal typewriter to be reconditioned.  It was the perfect time to read it, even though I didn’t know that when I purchased It. The book begins with “The Typewriter Manifesto”, parts of which are used as an interlude before each chapter.  I learned a lot about typewriters in general and some things about my Royal in particular.  Just about everything that a typist needs to know is in in the book, from typewriter mechanics to ventures into the 21^stCentury typosphere.

In addition to the useful content, the book itself feels like it will last a long time.  It feels solid and sturdy, yet it’s pliable and easy to manipulate.  I love the typewriter ribbon bookmark and all the beautiful photos of typewriters throughout the book.  The old black & white prints of photos on the front and back covers are particularly nice.  The Typewriter Revolutionby Richard Polt is an excellent reference tool and worthy addition to any aspiring typists library.

 Richard Polt is also the author of two websites: The Classic Typewriter Page and The Typewriter Revolution.  

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

By Edith Holden

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Ladyis the reproduction of naturalist Edith Holden’s 1906 diary.  The diary is divided into the months of the year, starting in January 1906. Each month contains a little bit of monthly lore, poetry and a recording of daily walks taken near her home in a small English village.  The words are written in Holden’s lovely handwriting.  She was a schooled artist and included many of her own watercolor illustrations of natural objects, plants, birds and insects.  The book is a beautiful reminder that nature can be magical, whether in 1906 or 2018.

Wonderstruck

A Novel in Words and Pictures

By Brian Selznick

I am a Brian Selznick fan and I have to admit that I loved Wonderstruckas much, if not more, than The Invention of Hugo Cabret.  The novel develops two parallel stories, one in pictures and one in words.  The two main characters are deaf, one by birth and the other by accident.  Both stories were easy to follow and merged successfully near the end.  The story is intriguing.  The pictures are haunting.  I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I’m not going to say more. I was extremely lucky to find a signed copy at a local library sale.  Loved and highly recommend Wonderstruck!

Plainsong

By Kent Haruf

Kent Haruf is my current favorite author.  Plainsongintroduced me to Holt, a fictional town in Colorado, the setting for all of Haruf’s books.  I got the feeling that it was a place that Haruf knew well.  I found the mood that he creates in Holt to be among the best I’ve read.  Haruf’s simple and stark descriptions build a sense of isolation and loneliness in Holt. The characters seemed so real that they could have walked off the pages.  It’s somewhat of a step back in time, but the people and situations could probably be found in small towns today. I loved the book and hope to read more by Kent Haruf.  Plainsongis a great read!

Alexander Hamilton

By Ron Chernow

Last spring, I saw and loved Hamilton on Broadway.  I’ve listened to the sound track countless times since then.  I decided to try the book that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to make the musical.  I thought that it might be interesting, which it definitely was.  The book was a fascinating trip into our countries history.  It gave me an entirely different perspective about the Revolutionary War  period and present day politics.  Race, the economy and states rights vs. national needs were and remain major issues.  Prior to seeing Hamilton on Broadway and now reading Chernow’s account, I had no idea about the role Alexander Hamilton played in our country’s history.  Alexander Hamiltonby Ron Chernow was thirty-six hour audiobook, but it went really quickly.  The narration was great.  The content was interesting and relevant. It’s definitely a significant read.

April 2018

Crenshaw

By Katherine Applegate

Crenshaw, written by Katherine Applegate, was a recommendation from my eleven-year-old grandson.  He had read it in school and really liked it.  That did not surprise me, because he loves cats and Crenshaw was an imaginary cat. The main theme of homelessness did surprise me.  It was presented in a sensitive way, but the harsh realities of being a homeless child were not hidden or watered down.  Both the story and the ending were realistic.  Although the story was sad, there was hope at the end.  I’m glad that children’s authors are reflecting the reality of twenty-first century life.  Definitely a good read.

Flat Broke with Two Goats: A Memoir

By Jennifer McGaha

Flat Broke with Two Goats: A Memoirby Jennifer McGaha is the April 2018 Overdrive Big Read.  When I saw that any member of Overdrive (in NJ) was able to check it out, I decided to give it a try. The memoir encompasses two main themes: the consequences of financial collapse and the realities experienced by new homesteaders. While the themes are interwoven, the book is not about the financial collapse, nor is it a homesteading how-to book. McGaha shares the realities that both had on her marriage and her family.  I enjoyed the significant and touching memoir.

Ender’s Game 

By Orson Scott Card

I’m going to begin my review of the entire Ender’s Game series with a disclaimer.  While I loved the book and the series, I do not share, support or endorse the author’s political and/or moral views.  I am reviewing the books, not the person.  I also have to mention that I have not seen, nor do I intend to see, the movie.  

That being said, I loved the book when I read it in 1999. It was one of the best recommendations that I’ve gotten from a former student.  I also loved the Audible audio version of the book.  My husband and I listened to the series on vacation in 2013 and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The multiple narrators did a great job and added to the excitement of the book.  I would definitely recommend Ender’s Game as a good read and a great listen.

Update: We listened to the book again in April 2018. While I still do not endorse the author or his views, the book itself (and the audio book) is great.  I started reading the book to our eleven-year-old grandson during his recent visit.  Then we listened to the audio book on the long trip taking him home.  This was my third time through the book and I still enjoyed it thoroughly.

Broken Harbor: Dublin Murder Squad, Book 4

Bu Tana French

Narrated by Stephen Hogan

Broken Harboris the fourth book in the Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French.  I have really enjoyed the entire series, especially Broken Harbor.The books are all very intelligently written psychological mysteries.  I love the way Tana French builds suspense and develops the characters.  In Broken Harbor, the detectives investigate the murder of an entire family. The investigation is complicated Kennedy’s kid sister and his rookie partner, Richie Curran’s, inexperience.  I also enjoy the Irish setting and speech.  It didn’t take long to figure out the meaning of “jacks” and “jumpers”.  The narration of this Audible book by Stephen Hogan was excellent and added a lot to the story.  Tana French is definitely a current favorite!

More 30 Second Mysteries

Spinner Books 

By Bob Moog and Jeff Pinsker

More 30 Second Mysterieswas our third Spinner Book.  My husband and I read it as a part of our shared breakfast reading.  It started our day with a little thinking and humor.  We easily guessed the mystery if the subject was within our experience range.  If it wasn’t, we had a hard time guessing and the clues didn’t help.  I have to admit there weren’t many that we didn’t guess, at least partially.  Our 11-year-old grandson seemed to enjoy it during his recent visit.  The entire 30 Second Mysteries series is a great-shared read.

The Female Persuasion

By Meg Wolitzer

I don’t buy many new books anymore, but I am very glad that I did decide to purchase The Female Persuasion.  I had seen it advertised as Barnes & Noble book club choice, both in the store and online.  It was an impulse buy and definitely was not what I expected.  Meg Wolitzer told a feminist story in a way that was engaging and thought provoking.  She approached being female and the topic of feminism from many different perspectives through both female and male characters.

The main relationship in the book was between Faith Franks, a baby boomer feminist, and millennial Greer Kadetsky.  They both grew and changed throughout the story, as did their relationship.  Greer learned a lot about feminism and living from Faith.  Faith learned about herself from her interactions with Greer.  Ambition is one of the main themes, experienced by Faith, Greer and other characters.  Class distinctions, sexual identity, aging, trauma and grief are among the other topics that are explored.  I definitely recommend The Female Persuasion.  It was a surprisingly good book.  

70 Things to Do When You Turn 70

Edited by Ronnie Sellers

I purchased 70 Things to Do When You Turn 70for my husband when he turned 70.  Since I’m approaching the same milestone, I decided to read it when he finished.  The book consists of 70 short essays about life at 70 or after.  The essays were motivational and probably could have been used for any book on aging.  Both of my favorite essays were near the end of the book.  “The Thank-You Prayer” by Lewis Richmond was a good reminder that being thankful helps ensure a happier outlook on life.  “Learn to See Through the Eyes of Love” by Tina B. Tessina was a special favorite.  She shared what she had learned from an experience with her broken Betsy Wetsy doll and her beloved Aunt Ida.  It’s a sweet story and also a good reminder to view yourself and the world through positive eyes.  The book is written in very large print, which will be helpful for senior eyes. It’s definitely a good read for those approaching 70 and/or those who one day will be.

March 2018

30 Second Mysteries Vol. II

A Spinner Book

By Eric Conley, Jeanette Miller, Bob Moog

30 Second Mysteries Vol. II was just as enjoyable as the first book by Bob Moog.  It’s a Spinner Book and can be played as a game.  The book is divided into sections that correspond with the spinner at the back. We read it straight through as a shared reading.  The mysteries cover a wide range of topics.  If we had experience with the topic, we were able to guess most of the solutions.  We probably never would have been able to answer the mysteries that were out of our range of experience.  We’re wondering how much our grandson would be able to guess and how much he would like it.  For two senior citizens, it was a fun read.

The Trespasser: Dublin Murder Series #6 

By Tana French

Narrated by Hilda Fay

I loved The Trespasserby Tana French.  It was the second book I’ve read in the Dublin’s Murder Squad series, although not the second in the series.  Antoinette Conway and Stephen Moran’s partnership is tested as they investigate the murder of Aislinn Murray, a person Antoinette knows from somewhere in her past.  The Trespasseris a great mystery with lots of suspense, but not a lot of needless violence. The narration by Hilda Fay was fantastic.  Her Irish brogue and spunky attitude added a lot to the story.  Definitely a good listen and/or read!

Me: Stories of My Life

By Katharine Hepburn

I enjoyed reading Me: Stories of My Life by Katharine Hepburn.  It was definitely a walk into the past.  She wrote about unfamiliar actors and movies I hadn’t seen, but that didn’t really matter. Her descriptions of the people and the movies were clear and interesting.  She gave a real glimpse into the glamor of the early 1900 movie scene. Hepburn also provided a window into a time and lifestyle that does not really exist any more.  Lots of photos are included and Hepburn’s writing style is informal and chatty.  I liked the book a lot more than I had originally imagined.  It would be of interest to movie aficionados, but was also interesting to one who is not.  I thought it was a good read.

Little Fires Everywhere

By Celeste NG

Narrated by Jennifer Lim

I really enjoyed listening to Little Fires Everywhereby Celeste Ng.  The story was engaging and the narration by Jennifer Lim was great.  The bonds between mothers and daughters were explored in a variety of relationships: traditional, single parenting, surrogacy, adoption, and abortion.  Reading the book brought some deep feelings to the surface for me and probably would for many women. Without giving away any spoilers, the fires were both literal and metaphorical.  It was definitely a good listen and would also be a good read. 

Kira-Kira

By Cynthia Kadohata

Kira-Kirais a sweet, but sad story of two Japanese sisters and their family.  Kira-Kira has dual meanings for the sisters,  both glittering and anything beautiful.  Life is anything but kira-kira for Lynn and Katie, but they search for it anyway.  I love the description of a game they played, looking for anything that they could see within a small square of grass. This young adult novel is a treasure for any reader.  It’s a sad, but good read.

Lives of the Musicians

Written by Kathleen Krull

Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt

Lives of the Musicians: Good times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thoughtwas an interesting, quick read.  Kathleen Krull wrote short, humorous chapters about different classical musicians.  The illustrations by Kathryn Hewitt added a lot to the stories.  This was another unknown gem, picked up at a library book sale. Definitely a good read!

February 2018

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House

By Michael Wolff

Narrated by Michael Wolff

I enjoyed listening to Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, written and narrated by Michael Wolff.  It’s hard to be living in 2018 and not be aware of the political situation in the White House.  I have enough background knowledge to know that the spirit of Wolff’s book is believable and true.  He built a good case for his vision of the White House chaos.  Wolff did a great job of narrating and I think it added a lot to the audio experience.  Fire and Fury is definitely a good listen/read! 

Run

By Ann Patchett

I am an Ann Patchett fan.  Although Runwas not my favorite book by Patchett, it did have her unique style and signature twists.  The story is woven around a 24-hour period during a snowstorm in Boston, Massachusetts.  The plot was somewhat predictable, involving mother issues, family relationships, racial and class divisions. There also was a slight allusion to the Chappaquiddick incident.  Despite the predictability, I enjoyed Runand felt it was definitely an engaging and enjoyable read.  

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter

By Margareta Magnusson

Narrated by Juliet Stevenson

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutteris very much in alignment with Marie Kondo’s idea’s about decluttering.  However, she approaches it from a different angle.  I was a bit put off by the title, but I’m glad I decided to give the book a try. There are some practical hints about how to clean, but much more is devoted to why it’s important to keep one’s house in order.  A big emphasis is put on how clutter affects families during a lifetime and after a person passes away.  Magnusson makes the point that it’s not easy to think about or discuss, but she stresses the importance of taking responsibility for the organization and disposal of our possessions.  I listened to the Audible version and felt the narration by Juliet Stevenson was appropriate and believable.  The book is a short, but significant listen and/or read.

Blessings

By Anna Quindlen

Blessingsis one of my favorite books by Anna Quindlen.  I picked it up at a local library book sale recently.  I knew the author, but didn’t recognize the book until I started reading.  The story involves an abandoned infant and the lives of the people who found her. It was interesting rereading the book as an older woman.  The first time I read it, I related more to the younger characters in the book.  This time, I felt more empathy toward Lydia Blessing, an old woman, and to her daughter, Meredith, who is probably about my age.  Quindlen wove the story with insight and sensitivity.  The reread was just as good as, if not better than, the original.  Blessingsis a good read!

A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L’Engle

Knowing that A Wrinkle in Timeby Madeleine L’Engle is considered a classic, I decided to listen to the audio book before the movie is released in a few weeks. I have to admit that I thought it was awful, possibly one of the worst books I’ve ever listened to and/or read. It was definitely too overtly religious for me.  The writing was terrible.  There was a lot of “telling”, rather than “showing” of action.  It was slow and boring. It’s not a book that I’d recommend or share with either children or adults. Maybe this will be a case of the movie being better than the book.  I certainly hope so.

January 2018

30 Second Mysteries: A Spinner Book
by Bob Moog

30 Second Mysteries: A Spinner Bookis a great book for a shared reading.  We read it straight through, but it can be used as a game. There’s a spinner for that purpose at the back of the book.  The book is divided into Who, What, Where and Why sections.  The clues are on one side with the answers immediately on the back, which we really liked.  The short mysteries were on various real life situations.  We were able to guess a lot of them, but some were tough.  It’s a great starting point for discussions.  We liked it so much that we purchased all the other spinner books. We found ours used through Amazon and Better World Books.  It would probably be interesting to use with older children.  We’re going to share it with our eleven-year-old grandson next time he visits.

Death In Darkness (Molly Sutton Mysteries Book 8

By Nell Goddin

Death in Darknessis my favorite book in the Molly Sutton series, so far.  As always, I love the setting and the many details of daily life in the French village of Castilliac.  The development of the main characters continues to grow, including Molly, her fiancé Ben and Officer Paul-Henri.  It was a good mystery with a satisfying conclusion.  I definitely look forward to more Molly Sutton mysteries.  This is an honest, voluntary review of a complimentary copy.

The Quiet Little Woman

By Louisa May Alcott

Nostalgia was the reason I picked up The Quiet Little Woman at our local library book sale.  I loved Alcott’s books as a child, and thought the twenty-five cents price couldn’t be beat.  It also had a Christmas theme, which was timely.  Unfortunately, the book was a big disappointment.  Times have changed and so have my views about girls being encouraged to be “quiet” and/or “little”.  I found the book to be anything but charming.  The writing was OK, but the values were not.  This one is going to back to the donation box.

The Woodcutter's Christmas

By Brad Kessler

The Woodcutter’s Christmasis one of my all time favorite books. I first read it in a bookstore. I started and couldn't put it down.  I love the sweet romance between the woodcutter and the homeless woman.  The fate of the trees is a sad lesson and one of the reasons I use a good, old-fashioned, fake tree.  My own copy of the book is now old and worn. I reread it at least once a year, usually out loud to my husband. It is a beautifully written, wonderfully simple book.

The Pharos Gate

By Nick Bantock

The Pharos Gateis another beautifully crafted book in the Griffin & Sabine series by Nick Bantock.  The continuing love story is, once again, told through letters and beautiful illustrations.  The entire Griffin & Sabine series is a literary and visual work of art.  The Pharos Gateputs some closure on the strange and haunting tale, but I would gladly welcome more.  I’m a Griffin & Sabine fan!

Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002)

By David Sedaris

I have to start by admitting that I’m a David Sedaris fan. I’ve read and enjoyed almost everything he has written. So for me, listening to Sedaris read his diaries was very interesting and entertaining.  He has the ability to look at and write about challenging periods of his life with a unique sense of irony and humor. His performance is fantastic and always adds a lot to his writing.  I would definitely recommend listening to the audio version of Theft by Finding.  It’s a great listen!

The Secret History of Costaguana

by Juan Gabriel Vasquez

Translated from Spanish by Anne McLean

The Secret History of Costaguanaby Juan Gabriel Vasquez was a pleasant surprise.  It’s historical fiction involving the Columbian revolutions around the time of Panamanian independence.  The book has been well researched and the political facts are accurate.  Seeing the United States intervention and colonialism during that period through the eyes of a Colombian author was very interesting. The story was woven around and references a book called Nostromo, written by Joseph Conrad in 1904.   The fact that I have no background knowledge of the revolutions, Central American politics, the Panama Canal, and/or Joseph Conrad did not prevent me from thoroughly enjoying the book.  It made me want to read Nostromoby Conrad.  The translation by Anne McLean was excellent.  The Secret History of Costaguanawas definitely a good read! 

December 2017

January 2017: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman is a sweet, without being overly sentimental, novel.  There were sad parts and I cried at the end, but it was not a sad novel.  The characters were well developed and I felt that I knew them all.  I don’t want to see the movie because I have a very specific vision of each one in my mind.  I enjoyed the book so much that I want to keep my own vision of the characters, the place and the story.  It’s a book that I’ll remember and will probably revisit.  For me, A Man Called Ove was an emotionally moving read.

December 2017: This was my second listen to A Man Called Ove, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first.  I loved being with Ove and his neighbors again.  I found myself crying at times, even though I knew what to expect.  A Man Called Ove passes the reread/re-listen test!

Julia’s Catsis a short, sweet book that will be appreciated by anyone who loved Julia Child and/or cats.  I was familiar with the facts of Julia’s life, but not her feline relationships. The stories, while true, were from an entirely different perspective.  Photos were included.  I love the little book and plan to find a permanent place for it near the cat books on my bookshelves.

I Feel Bad About My Neck is classic Nora Ephron.  I’ve read some of the essays before.  Published in 2006, Ephron’s thoughts and words were about aging. Her approach and humor were familiar. It was like visiting with an old friend.   Definitely a good read!

A Crafty Killing: Victoria Square Mystery: Book 1got Lorraine Bartlett’s new series off to a good start.  The mystery was engaging, drew me into the story and kept me there.  I liked the characters.  Katie grew on me as the story progressed.  I especially liked the Victoria Square/Artisan co-op theme. The rebuilding of the business aspect was interesting, as was Katie’s dealing with artists and crafters.  The story ended around holiday time, which made it a good December listen for me.  It was definitely a good book.  I’ll be interested in the continuing series.

I didn’t hate Gather ‘Round the Sound, but I’m certainly glad it was free from Audible.  Most of the stories were mildly engaging, but not great. It was a collection and included a little bit of everything: fiction, nonfiction and singing. I made it through to the end, but it wasn’t my favorite holiday read or listen.