Queen Isabella

Queen Isabella
By Alison Weir
20 hours (book on CD)

Beautiful. As usual, with this author. I think the author liked the subject a bit too much, explaining away everything the woman did (including adultery and possibly murder) but talking about how it was a different time or disbelieving that she had anything to do with it. Came across at times as a bit too much protesting. Weir desperately wants the King to have not been murdered, therefore absolving Isabella of any taint of murder. But if Isabella ordered or covered up a murder and then believed that it occurred, I think she would still be guilty.
9/10

Waiting for Nick

Waiting for Nick
By Nora Roberts
0373239963 251p

(5th of 8) Was so happy to see Freddie and Nick get their story told! And I was rewarded, this was the best of the series (so far, I've got 3 left).
9/10

The Treasure of the City of Ladies

The Treasure of the City of Ladies
By Christine De Pisan
014044453X 180p

Good advice for the most part, for all types of women. Overly specific in what exactly should be said in certain situations, made those sections somewhat tedious.
8/10

Convincing Alex

Convincing Alex
By Nora Roberts
0373484224 225p

(4th of 8) Shoot, I knew she was going to kill off . That annoys me, knowing that 75 pages before it happens. Not enough of the rest of the family this time, still good. Like Bess' profession- fun new addition. And I like Bess, she's my favorite after Freddie now.
8/10

On Stranger Tides

On Stranger Tides
By Tim Powers
9781596061675 326p

I read this because I heard it's going to be what Pirates of the Caribbean 4 is being based on. Definitely could work! Very impressive storyline!
9/10

Falling for Rachel

Falling for Rachel
By Nora Roberts
0373484262 220p

(3rd of 8) My favorite so far of the series. I hope 10 years later, Freddie ends up with Nick, they were pretty funny together.
8/10

Persuasion

Persuasion
By Jane Austen
254p

Always liked this story, saw the movie before ever reading the book, oddly enough! Seems like a short story, just flies by. I was actually surprised when I realized how long it was.
9/10

Luring a Lady

Luring a Lady
By Nora Roberts
221p

(2nd of 8) Yeah, we get Yuri again! And even a little bit of Freddie.
8/10

Death and Live of Superman

Death and Live of Superman
By Roger Stern
055309582X 416p

Love Superman! How could I not like this book? Breat characters, fleshed out from the comic books (graphic novels? What's the PC term these days?).
9/10

Around the World in 80 Days

Around the World in 80 Days
By Jules Verne
via www.planetebook.com 279p

Loved it! How have I never read this book before? Very funny, good characters though somewhat flat, interesting and bizarre situations, very good.
10/10

The Colosseum

The Colosseum
By Keith Hopkins and Mary Beard
1861974078 181p

Very interesting! I didn't know a lot about the Colosseum, so this was a good starting point. Most interesting- the many plants in the building over the years. I hope the strange plants got there from seeds clinging to exotic animals furs.
8/10

Taming Natasha

Taming Natasha
By Nora Roberts
0373484232 223p

First in a series of 8. I'm glad, because this family is very funny! I like Natasha's father the best, Freddie second best. I liked how this book was set up around important/holidays- Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, the first day of school, even a birthday! I'm sure Freddie won't be in the other stories, so I'm glad the father will be. Oh, I take that back, looks like Freddie grows up and gets her own book! Great!
8/10

Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul

Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul
By Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
1558747141 383p

One of the best of the Chicken Soup books I've read so far.
9/10

Kristy for President

Kristy for President
The Baby-sitters Club #53
By Ann M. Martin
0590449672 148p

Cute.
8/10

The Mother's Recompense

The Mother's Recompense
By Edith Wharton
068418737X 272p

Why are her books always so horribly sad? And why do I love them anyway? Every step, my heart ached for her to tell someone, anyone the truth. It's not fair that she is exiled, even of her own making, while he is not. But that was and still is the way of the world, unfortunately. I think I felt most for Fred, his hoping for a happy ending, never knowing he's in an Edith Wharton novel and thus has no chance of one.
9/10

Mary Anne and the Memory Garden

Mary Anne and the Memory Garden
The Baby-sitters Club #92
By Ann M. Martin
0590228773 148p

So sad. More hard topics, death of a peer and drunk driving, handled very well.
8/10

The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages: Treasures From the Cloisters and the Metropolitan Museum of Art
875870368 249p

Too much emphasis on related, non-illustrated works, not enough on the particular work shown. Also, color photos were used on strange pieces, I thought they were strange choices for which got color and which didn't. After reading that book about forgery recently, I found myself wondering which of these are fakes!
7/10

Keep Out, Claudia!

Keep Out, Claudia!
The Baby-sitters Club #56
By Ann M. Martin
0590456571 135p

I don't remember BSC books hitting on such tough topics- this one is about racism and prejudice. Very well done, good storyline and good outcome. You can't change the entire world or other people. but there's no reason to let their attitudes ruin your life. No easy answers or tidy, simplistic ending, I like the ending here.
8/10

Black Belt Patriotism

Black Belt Patriotism
By Chuck Norris
9781596985582 189p

Mostly common sense stuff. But well written and some interesting ideas I hadn't heard of before. One example is his idea (which I'm sure he got from someone else) about illegal immigrants. Sending them back is not going to happen, money and timewise it's ridiculous to even think about. But they shouldn't be rewarded for sneaking in by being fast tracked for citizenship. So it was something like 2 years probation, 2 years work visa, 3 years something else... I don't remember exactly, but all in all it was a few years of staying out of legal trouble before taking the test to be a citizen. Another idea is the flat tax- tax what is bought. Not wages or anything else, but raise the taxes on what's bought. Of course, that'll encourage people to save, which the government doesn't want.
9/10

The West Wing Seasons 3+4: The Shooting Scripts

The West Wing Seasons 3+4: The Shooting Scripts
By Aaron Sorkin
568p

Very cool! Great behind-the-scenes snippets of stories, and of course the scripts are great.
9/10