The Reivers

The Reivers
By William Faulkner
0679741925
I really really liked this book! Despite the back cover calling this a “comic masterpiece,” it actually was funny. (My view is: back covers of books lie.) So that was a pleasant surprise. The main character was so funny, alternating between tough-guy and “I want my mommy” and the rest of the characters were likable and amusing as well. There were a few things I would have liked spelled out more for me, such as- did Ned give that other horse something? He gave Lightning sardines, I think, but did he do something to the other horse? At one point it seemed that he did, but then the book never specifically said that he did, so I guess that was just my impression. The women in the story were amusing. My favorite parts were when they asked the main character if he had promised his mother not to do certain things, such as gambling. And he would tell them no, he didn’t need to promise his mother that. She just knew he wouldn’t do them. Very good look into his sheltered life and his mother’s trust in the bad things in life not touching her son.
9/10

Middlemarch

Middlemarch
By George Eliot
0192817604

Interesting book. I liked it, then I didn’t, then I did. I almost stopped reading a bunch of times, but then decided to stick with it until the end. I ended up liking it on the whole, but with no desire to ever read it again. It was a little odd jumping from character to character the first time. I had just gotten to know a group and suddenly, Eliot jumped to a totally new cast! I don’t think I ever really got used to it, but I accepted it and it wasn’t as jarring after awhile. Most of the characters were likeable, and they were all flawed. I can see why this book is considered a classic and it’s author one of “the” authors of the world.
8/10

Daughter of Lazarus

Daughter of Lazarus
By Albert A. Bell, Jr.
0870292153 (21)

Wow, this girl has more lives than a cat! Every time you think she’s in a no-win, no chances situation, she gets out of it! Seriously, good book. Well written and interesting look at life during this time. I expected it to stress Christianity a little more, maybe because it was Christmas while I was reading this, but it barely touched on it. That’s ok, it was a good book as it was and didn’t need any more… surprisingly. The main character was flawed, which was nice. The schemes, like the baby-switch, were interesting and nicely done. The danger seemed real enough to make me nervous during this and other schemes, which kept my attention.
8/10

Composition on the Net 2001

Composition on the Net 2001
By H. Eric Branscomb
0205330738 (16)

I’m sure this book was relevant when it came out. At this point, I knew basically everything in the book (what I didn’t know, doesn’t matter to my life). Doing searches, building websites, checking sources, it’s all here in easy to follow format. Since I’m feeling generous and this book did come out so long ago, I’ll be nice:
5/10

Mysterious

Mysterious
By Nora Roberts
0373218125

Another fluff book, that seems to be the theme so far this month. This was actually 3 books in one collection. This Magic Moment was cute, about an illusionist. Search for Love took place in France, very nice! And The Right Path was set in Greece. So all around, fun people and places to read about! As always, Nora Roberts’ characters are fun, there are a few lines that might even make you laugh out loud. Cute books.
8/10

Babysitters Club Super Mystery #2: Babysitters Beware

Babysitters Club Super Mystery #2: Babysitters Beware

Yes, I read this. I have been trying for years to collect the whole series, I have about half! So anytime I see one at a garage sale or whatever, I grab it. And it’s a compulsion: if I buy a book, I have to read it! I really hope my future daughter likes Babysitter Club books or I’ve been wasting a lot of time finding them all!
7/10

The Gazebo

The Gazebo
By Emily Grayson
0688167535

Love story, designed to be a tear-jerker, I think. I didn’t cry, but then I’ve never been in love so maybe that has something to do with it. Well-written, moving, interesting. It’s strange to think about how life might throw something so strange at you that you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering “what if?” I can’t believe that there was no way for them to be together, though. And just a few days before they’re going to get married, the telegram arrives? Why not the morning of the wedding, a bit more dramatic? I’d love to dismiss the book as a cliché, but I can’t. It was powerful in it’s own quiet way, moving. I can’t believe that in that day and age, they wouldn’t have gotten married earlier however. That part confused me, although it made sense in the middle when she was called back to the US. Guess if they had been married, he would have had a greater hold on her? Maybe he shouldn’t have kept putting her off when she asked, he ended up losing her over his desire to find a place to settle down before getting married. I think they were both a bit selfish in the beginning, and it came back to bite them. But I still feel bad for them, much as I shake my head at them in confusion.
8/10

A Creed for the Third Millennium

A Creed for the Third Millennium
By Colleen McCullough
0380701340

This review will have spoilers, so there's your fair warning. I was expecting something very different when I saw the cover of this book. And seeing who the author was, I got past that first reaction and decided to read it anyway. Wow, it was a tough book. I think it would have been better if the main characters had even had a flirtation, the ending would have been much more shocking. I honestly didn't see things coming, though some might say it was predictable. I was honestly shocked about the 'Judas' thing and I'm a Christian! I noticed his name in the beginning, but forgot about the similarities after a few chapters. So I was shocked that I didn't notice 'Judas' in the beginning too! The back of the book says "the woman he loves sets out to destroy him" which I found grossly inaccurate. I don't think she set out to destroy him as much as use him. He ends up destroyed, but even she didn't see the extent it would go to. She was just as shocked as everyone else, though she realized how he had played the part she had written for him- to perfection, more so than she had thought possible. The Chicago Tribune, quoted on the back of the book, calls it "passionate," which I disagree with. Again, I keep coming back in my mind to the thought that there should have been more between them than a tiny kiss and his declaration that she was more in need of love than anyone else. I do like the end, when Judith doesn’t do what the reader expects her to do! Finally, I thought, a moment of realism. All around, because I am itching to write my own scenes to insert, it only gets:
7/10

Summer Pleasures

Summer Pleasures
By Nora Roberts
0373218397

This was actually two stories in one book. It's funny, on the cover it talks about ONE summer changing two lives. In actuality, the book covers two separate summers. I think it's one year apart, although that's never made totally clear that I could tell. One character ages two years, but maybe there was a birthday in there? Either way, it's not told in one summer. Doesn't really matter, good stories anyway. I just taught about Robert Frank, a photographer who traveled across the country to create his book The Americans, which was originally published in France before finally finding an American publisher. Why do I mention that? Because it appears that Ms. Roberts is up on her art history again, because the second story covers this kind of cross-country project. Franks used 800 rolls of film in his quest to show the true face of America, although he was highly criticized for the picture that appeared- depression, hardship, bleakness. One Summer is a happier story and is a pleasant read. I'm wondering if the character of Shade may be based on what Robert Frank may have been like? Cynical but humorous. Interesting to contemplate. The first story shouldn't be overlooked, as it covers camping, one of my favorite summer past-times! As always, well-written characters and believable situations all around.
8/10

Daisy Miller

Daisy Miller
By Henry James

Wow. That was... odd. I really wanted to smack the girl most of the time, she was just so stupid. How could you not know what was being said about you?? Honestly! But then the ending! Wow, did not see that coming at all! This was my first Henry James book, and it was a very short 94 pages. Good book though, I liked the aunt most of all!
7/10

Frank Lloyd Wright's Houses

Frank Lloyd Wright's Houses
By Thomas A. Heinz
0517219689 (15)

Gorgeous pictures. Lovely views of this great artists works. The captions are informative and interesting. But the prose in the rest of the book, ugh! The information sounds like it was written for fifth graders, which maybe it was. There is no indication that the book is for a young audience, however, so I'm going to have to go with- Bad writing. Luckily, that ends about half-way through and you're left to savor the pictures for the rest of your time with the book.
6/10

Once a Princess

Once a Princess
By Johanna Lindsey
0380756250

I'm a sucker for stories about European royalty, I'll say that up front. That's why I read this book, fluffy though it was. A long-lost princess, found in America and brought back home to rule. (I loved *loved* Princess Diaries, in case anyone wants to know.) The characters were fun, especially the friends of the prince/king. I was a bit saddened by how much emphasis there was on the princess' virginity. There was so much back and forth on it, so much emphasis. That annoys me with fluffy books like this. There is so much emphasis always on the *woman* being a virgin. The man, of course, should have a vast and varied sexual history and maybe even (as here) a mistress. Gah, it's just such a stupid double standard and I'm tired of it. Nevertheless, this was a decent book and it gets a
7/10

The Egyptologist

The Egyptologist
By Arthur Philips
(Book on CD)

If you look up the word arrogant in the dictionary, the face of one of these characters is in there. And there is another character under self-serving, manipulative, conniving, and self-delusion. (Lots of characters!!) What a messed up batch of people the author has brought together! You're never sure who to trust and little by little, those ones you wanted to trust turn out to be just as bad as the rest! I saw the ending coming around disc 6 (out of 14), but then convinced myself I was wrong (not sure why), so the ending was a shock to me. The accent of the Aussie narrating is a real treat. The woman is at turns evil and innocent, shy and outgoing, a master of manipulation and a pawn. Just with her voice, which impresses me! There were a few loose ends that I wish had been tied up. Who was Macey, what did he think of all this? Did he have access to everything the reader did? The letter Margaret wrote but never mailed, was it true? Was she doing more manipulating and chicken out in the end or was she just scared to reveal the truth? And what about Hector and Regina?? Enjoyable read anyway, so it gets a
8/10.

Homeport

Homeport
By Nora Roberts
0515124893

I love Nora Roberts. And I love any fiction book that brings art into it. So this one was just my speed! Nora Roberts has been writing about art artifacts for a little while now (maybe she's gotten away from them, I never check dates on anything I read). And she always does such meticulous research into whatever section of art she's covering (Renaissance bronzes, downed cargo ships) that it's a treat to read her books.
8/10

Claw Your Way to the Top

Claw Your Way to the Top
By Dave Barry
0878576525 (28)

Well, that was odd. But so is Dave Barry, so that makes sense. I'm not going into the business world, so a lot of the jokes were just amusing. I'm sure if I was going into the business world, I would have found some of the jokes hysterical. Short book, just 86 pages, and cute.
6/10

Illusions

Illusions
By Janet Dailey
(Book on Cassette)

I'll admit it- I actually only listened to this because Allison Janney is the narrator. Very fluffy, even more so than my normal fluff. I liked it though, I loved how the ending turned out, it was a nice change from other fluffy novels. There were a few clichés, but not so many that it distracted from the story. And, only one scene I felt the need to fast forward through, so that was nice! I would have liked to have seen more of the main characters business associate because he was the most fun character there, but that's okay. All in all, a
7/10

Sarah

Sarah
By Marek Halter

Well, nothing like changing a little history, huh? Here's a tip: if you're going to write a story based on the Bible, don't contradict things in the Bible! That's just silly and makes you look like you didn't do your homework. Let's see, Abram and Sarai were half-siblings, not strangers who met in a stream one night. Pharoah ended up with a skin disease when he wanted to sleep with Sarai, thinking she was Abram's sister instead of wife. He didn't, as this book so... graphically describes it, sleep with her. Well-written and an interesting concept, but it didn't quite work for me.
5/10

The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym of Nantucket

The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym of Nantucket
By Edgar Allan Poe
(Book on CD then in a collection)

Listened to the first CD of this book, then the second simply didn’t work- there was nothing on it! Blank CD from the library, fun. So I found it in a book instead. It was an interesting read. The story was a little out there. It was a bit rushed, but that comes from being a condensed version, I think. I’m pretty sure I ended up reading a shortened version of the story, since it seemed too short. I wouldn’t want to read the entire version, it wasn’t really my type of story.
7/10

Saraband for Two Sisters

Saraband for Two Sisters
By Philippa Carr (Victoria Holt)
0499232077

I love Victoria Holt. Her books are always well-researched and take the reader to far flung places. This book is not one of those, unfortunately. That's probably why it's under a different name, but the writing also wasn't as good. It was more stilted and pretentious. Maybe that was on purpose, since the reader was supposed to be peeking at 2 girls diaries, but the girls should have gotten more mature voices as the years passed. Instead, the narrative dragged a bit. And the end... well, I won't spoil it but it was ridiculous.
5/10

The Great Train Robbery

The Great Train Robbery
By Michael Crichton
(Book on CD)

Two amazing books in one month! Actually, I was reading them at the same time, so this was very nice! This reminded me a lot of the movie Ocean’s Eleven- intricate plotline, likeable crooks, hair-raising adventure and close-calls. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone, it was just so wonderful! I loved the improvisational tactics that had to be used for them to avoid detection, it was so much fun to listen to them get out of those tight spots!
10/10