2009 in Review

Here it is finally! :)

Here are the books I read last year:


1.Glad Tidings by Debbie Macomber A+
2.Murder with all the Trimmings by Elaine Viets A+
3.Dana's Valley by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan A
4. The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky A+
5. The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells A
6.19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult A+
7.No Angel by Penny Vincenzi A
8.Other People's Business by Pamela Yaye A
9. Fit To Be Tied by Karen Kendall B
10.Nora, Nora by Anne Rivers Siddons A+
11.A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick A+ (fav this year)
12.If You Really Loved Me by Ann Rule B
13.The Messenger by Daniel Silva A
14.Darling Daughters by Debbie Macomber A+
15.The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark C
16.The Sanctuary by Raymond Khoury A
17.Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult A+
18.Love in the Fast Lane by Jenna McKnight B
19.Leap of Faith by Queen Noor A+
20.Domestic Affairs by Eileen Goudge B
21.Dog on It by Spencer Quinn A
22.Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli A
23.The Last Mermaid by Shana AbeDNF
24.Fade Away by Harlan Coben A
25.The Stamp of Glory by Tim Stafford C
26.Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde A+
27.Love at First Flight by Elizabeth Strohfus and Cheryl J. Young A+
28.The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger C+
29.Who Makes the Rules Anyways? By Stevi Mittman B
30.Hold Tight by Harlan Coben A+
31.Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon A+
32.Unspoken by Angela Hunt A+
33.A World I never Made by James LePore A+
34.Backspin by Harlan Coben A
35.The Great Shame by Thomas Keneally A+
36.Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde A
37.Dating Games by Leigh Michaels A+
38.One False Move by Harlan Coben A
39.The Note by Angela Hunt A+ (fav this year)
40. The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks A+
41.The Great Influenza by John M. Barry B
42.Austenland by Shannon Hale A+ (Another fav)
43.Waiting to surface by Emily Listfield-DNF
44.Lords of Corruption by Kyle Mills B
45.The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne A+ (another fav)
46.The Agency by Ally O'Brien-DNF
47.The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White B
48.Stalked by Brian Freeman A
49.In the Dark by Brian Freeman A
50.In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White A+
51.The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf A
52.Nefertiti by Michelle Moran B
53.The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe A+ (another fav)
54.The Baker Street Letters by Michael Robertson B
55.Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear A+ (Another fav)
56.The Midwife's Tale by Gretchen Moran Laskas B
57.The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews B
58.A Violent Grace by Michael Card A+
59.The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann A
60.The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere A+

Now for stats:
Favorites: 6 (if I counted right)
Chunksters: 10
Fiction:48
Non-Fiction: 9
New Authors: 37
Mystery: 14
Romance: 5
Stacks:42
Review: 5
Total Pages: 20,879

So for skipping the month of October for reading, I think I had a good year. Maybe not as good as years past but life and life changes have definitely made it interesting to read. I hope to read as many books as last year if not more, we'll see how this year pans out. I definitely read more of my own books and hope to continue to do that as well as more Christian books. :)

The Christmas Blessign by Donna VanLiere

Nathan Andrews is all grown up and in his third year as a medical student. He struggles to find a purpose when he sees so many patients dying and unable to help them. Meeting Megan Sullivan will not only change his life but might just be the pick up he needs. She also has a lot she can teach Nathan. Nathan has a lot to think about but maybe he'll finally understand everything his mother used to tell him.

Ms. VanLiere did a fantastic job in this book. It's been awhile since I have read The Christmas SHoes but I remember enjoying it very much. The flashbacks in this book helped my memory and gave great flow to the book. I was impressed with not only her handling of the different characters but how well she balanced all the emotion in the story. It never felt like it was over the top nor too much for me to handle in one book. I can't wait to read more of her work.

Nathan is stubborn but knows he wants to help people like he wasn't able to help his mom. He also has a great gift with children that is not easy to come by. His family is there to support him and he will need their support the more the story progresses. His father is steadfast and so amazingly nice. He never questions what Nathan wants to do but is able to turn it around so Nathan questions himself. Got to love that parent ability.

This is one author who I am so pleased to read again and I have more of hers on the stack that I borrowed from my mother. Ms. VanLiere has a way with words that is a joy to read. Definitely an author you'll see appear more on this blog.

Donna VanLiere/ Fiction/ Christmas/215 pages/5 out of 5

I hope to have my year in review up in a couple days.

December Stats amd Reads plus a Review

I normally don't put everything together but the fact that I am losing my laptop for a little bit has urged me to get things done.

Here are my stats and reads for December:
1.The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann 12-01-09 through 12-30-09 A
2.The Christmas Blessing by Donna VanLiere 12-30-09 through 12-31-09 A+

Total Books I Read: 2
New Authors: 1
Fiction: 2
Non-Fiction: 0
Chunkster: 0
Mystery: 0
Romance: 0
From the Stacks: 2
Books for Review: 0
Books I Bought:3 (2 with gift card)
Total Pages Read: 311

Now for the review portion:
The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman

This particular translation was done by Aliana Brodmann. I found her explanation of the story very interesting. As the story started and you got a glimpse into the children's world, I fell in love with Marie and the presents her Godfather Drosselmeyer would bring them. The little nutcracker was so sweet but there was more to his story. Her whole family thought Marie was making everything up including the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Godfather Drosselmeyer told a story how the nutcracker came to be. Marie even had a dream of meeting the nutcracker and going off to worlds unknown.

The book was really good but due to life, it took me forever to get through. The story was so different from the ballet. The action was really good and well paced. I loved the rhyming and how Marie refused to believe any different than what she saw in front of her. She was a strong willed little girl but she was loyal to a fault. Godfather Drosselmeyer was a great character who brought depth to the story than even I could imagine.

This is one book that I hope to read to both my boys. It may be awhile cause it was a little scary at times even for me. But I loved reading it and the pictures were gorgeous! Definitely one of the highlights of this Christmas season for me.

E.T.A. Hoffman/ Children's lit/Fiction/99 pages/ 4 out of 5

Well if you must know, I bought The Cat, The Quilt, and the Corpse by Leann Sweeney as well as The Fashion Hound Murders by Elaine Viets with a gift card I got in a work gift exchange. :) I then bought The Polar Express by Charles Van Allsburg with Christmas money from my grandparents. Well Wee One should be up soon, so off to go check on him. I'll post the other review and my Year in Review some time this week.

Blog Anniversary

Wow, I've had this blog for three years now. Check back tomorrow to see what's going to happen next!

Giveaway!!!

My dear friend Bookfool is giving away an awesome cookbook!

Here is the link:
http://bookfoolery.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaway-two-copies-of-how-to-lower.html

You'll have to copy and paste. I am not a big cookbook person but the ideas behind this one sound too good! So go check it out! Oh and if you decide to enter because of my blog tell Bookfool that Lover of Books sent you. :)

November Read and Stats

Alright as you can see I only read one book this past month. Between getting ready for LO (Little One), him showing up almost 2 weeks early, settling into life and sleep deprivation things are now just settling down.

I loved A Violent Grace and plan on picking up Nutcracker today. Not sure when since I have things to do around the apartment not sure when it will get done.

Off to make the BB (big brother)some lunch before he goes off to school.

1. A Violent Grace by Michael Card

Total Books I read:1
New authors:0
Fiction: 0
Non-fiction: 1
Chunkster:0
Mystery: 0
Romance: 0
From the Stacks: 1
Books for Review: 0
Books I Bought: 0
Total Pages Read: 194 pages

Off to get stuff done.

A Violent Grace by Michael Card

This is a deep intimate look at the hard road taken by Jesus. He is asked to not only give up his life to save others but at the cost of losing his relationship with his Father for awhile. Michael Card sets it all before you in twenty-one chapters. Taking each moment, one at a time, so that you can absorb it fully.

It felt so good to read about this as we enter the holidays. Many people know the true meaning of Christmas and this reminded me why that is so important. At first, I took one chapter a day but I wanted to finish a book this month. I found that it didn't matter how you read it as long as you took some quiet time to reflect on what was shown in the book. I've had this book for a very long time and am so glad I finally picked it up. I definitely want to read more by this author. He truly knows how to express himself whether in song or the written word.

Michael Card/ From the Stacks/ Devotional/ Christ/Non-fiction/ 194 pages

Tomorrow I start The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman. I am looking forward to reading this classic Christmas story.

My October Stats and Reads

Well I didn't finish a single book. :( Well between getting ready for the new baby and then his decision to show up a week and a half early among other things, my focus was elsewhere.

I am hoping to finish two books this month!

September Stats and Reads Plus a Break

1.The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe 08-28-09 through 09-01-09 A+ (another fav)
2.The Baker Street Letters by Michael Robertson 09-01-09 through 09-04-09 B
3.Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear 09-04-09 through 09-09-09 A+ (Another fav)
4.The Midwife's Tale by Gretchen Moran Laskas 09-10-09 through9-13-09 B
5.The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews 09-14-09 through 09-17-09 B

Total Books I read: 5
New Authors: 3
Fiction: 4
Non-Fiction:
Chunkster:
Mystery: 2
Romance: 0
From the Stacks:0
Books For Review: 0
Books I Bought:0
Total Pages Read: 1,755 pages

I can't review The Fixer Upper since it has been so long since I read it. I have a lot on my plate with getting ready for the new little one. :) Way too much to do and only about 2 weeks left. I'd like to read a book this month but we'll see. :)

Elizabeth Whitley always knew that she was to be in midwife. It ran in her family line and so she knew that was what she was supposed to do. Yet she lost her heart to a man who cannot return her feelings since he is in mourning. Taking care of her adopted daughter Lauren finally perks her up and keeps her going on. She must come to terms that she may never have children, learn to love again, and watch Lauren bloom.

Ms. Laskas has a fantastic emotional novel on her hands. Her characters run the gamut. I was impressed with the information she had to find and how records were kept even in the Appalachian mountains. I didn't know a lot about the place setting or the time that the book follows. The immense research that Ms. Laskas did really impressed me. Seeing the world through one person's eyes made it more poignant. Yet learning how to live and love the life you do have keeps running through the story.

Elizabeth had some hardships ahead of her. Not only with learning how to be a midwife but needing to stand on her own two feet. Her childhood love is unrequited for so long but she never gives up. Also figuring out how to be respectful and not push boundaries. When Lauren enters the picture, Elizabeth finds someone to put all her attention on and to help. Elizabeth's mother embraced everything about being a midwife. She just hopes that her daughter will follow and understand that there are parts that aren't so good. Lauren has an interesting life ahead of her with the gift she is given. The support she gets from not only her dad and Elizabeth keeps her going.

This debut by this author was a good start and I am curious to see what else she comes up with next. I am in awe of what she was able to write in one story. This is definitely an author I would more by. Some times I didn't quite understand Elizabeth's logic but figured it would reveal itself in the end.

Gretchen Moran Laskas/ New Author/243 pages/ Appalachian Mountains/ Historical Fiction/ 4 out of 5

I don't feel the cover represents the book as well but it's still nice. I'll pick up the next book I plan on reading tomorrow. Extra sleep would be a good thing to start out the week!

Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear

Maisie Dobbs has been called in to help on a case. There is a man who is threatening to do horrible things if his fellow soldiers do not get the help that they need whether it be pension or food. Having served as a nurse, Maisie might just have the insight into the world to help identify the letter writer. She has no idea how much over her head she will become or the fact that things will have to be monitored along the way. Can she do it before the worst happens?

Ms. Winspear crafts a story set in a time that one doesn't always like to remember. Yet through the pages, you get a glimpse into history and see how poorly things were handled. Yet her characters do their best to solve the crime and help the person involved if possible. The research involved in keeping a story like this accurate must be a lot. Yet I never felt like the story was rushed. The pacing was excellent!

Maisie is trying to find a way into her life. She is helping her assistant Billy Beale, yet making sure that he never feels like he is getting charity. She has the utmost respect for him and would hate to lose him. Billy's family is under a lot of stress and so Maisie wants to do her best to help them. Her best friend Priscilla makes an appearance and it was fun to see how those two relate to one another.

This series keeps on getting better! I truly hope Ms. Winspear continues it. There is a depth that I love and the time period just fascinates me. Maisie is a woman who truly wants to help others and it shows. I'm not sure where it could go next but I am pleasantly awaiting the next one, if there is one.


Jacqueline Winspear/ Maisie Dobbs series/ 302 pages/ England/ 5 out of 5

This one took a little longer than I thought it would but definitely was worth the time reading! I've started the next library book I have but not sure when I'll finish it.

The Baker Street Letters by Michael Robertson

Owning a law office that runs out of 221 B Baker Street is very inspiring. Yet having to read old letters written to Sherlock Holmes seems a little odd at times. Reggie Heath finds himself in an interesting predicament. His brother Nigel decides to head off to Los Angeles to help with the answer to the letter. Reggie gets very confused and follows after him. A twenty year old letter spins into place old secrets coming to the surface.

Mr. Robertson has an interesting premise but it seems to fall flat at times. A letter from an eight year old girl who writes to Sherlock Holmes seems a little odd at first. I took a little believability to question the fact that someone would write to a fictional character. Yet the dialogue and the story line flows fairly well.

I found Nigel to be reckless and down right annoying at times. Reggie was just trying to piece everything together. There were times that he even began to question what he was doing in America. Doubting the main reason for being there and wondering if he could help his brother out of the hole he had dug himself into. The side characters were there but never really seemed to bring the novel forward much.

An interesting premise yet it lacked something. I really liked it but the ending seemed rushed. I liked how all the pieces did finally fit together. I was pleasantly surprised with the lengths the criminals went to keep the secrets buried. A little over the top at times, but I was curious what the author had for the motives behind it all. I expected a lot more out of this book than what I got. It wasn't a book I felt I had to read just had hoped for more than what I got in the end.


Michael Robertson/Mystery/ New Author/ 277 pages/ 3 out of 5

I am off to bed here soon, had an early morning unexpectedly and I work tomorrow close. I am hoping the next book will be better.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer working on her dissertation But her mom calls her last minute asking for help to go through Connie's grandmother's house. While going through her grandmother's house, she comes across a key with the words Deliverance Dane written on a piece of paper attached to it. This launches Connie onto a quest for a book that will help her understand not only her family history but the Salem Witch Trials as well. She starts to have nightmares and begins to wonder if she is tied to that part of history more than she could ever imagine.

Katherine Howe has a great debut novel on her hands. Not only because of her love of history but the detail was really good. Yes some liberties were taken but not much at all. I was impressed how well the book flowed from the past to the present. The characters had depth and the bad guys were not always so easily figured out. The journey she had Connie take was one that took some time but never felt like it ended abruptly.

I really liked Connie from the beginning. She didn't follow the normalcy in life but she knew something was out there for her. It was just a matter of time to finding out what that could be and possibly could be used for her dissertation Her best friend Liz kept her grounded and asked her the tough questions even more so than her mentor Professor Chilton. Professor Chilton drove me bonkers. I understand wanting to push the limits and do your best. But there were times that I felt he was going a little too far. Behind the scenes was Connie's mom Grace. She knew the job ahead of her daughter wouldn't be an easy one. Yet she kept encouraging her to seek deeper. There were times that I found Grace a little out there but as the story unfolded things made a lot more sense.

This is one book that captivated my attention and I was so excited to get my hands on it! Katherine Howe weaves a story that just won't let you go from the beginning to the last page. The twists in the plot had me guessing to see what the book really was. The ending surprised me quite a bit and I was pleased with how it ended. I cannot wait to see what this author does next and hopefully it's something soon. Even if that means it's an entirely different subject.

Katherine Howe/New Author/ Salem Witch Trials/ Magic/ 371 pages/ Favorite of the year/ 5 out of 5

I was going to wait till tomorrow but I cannot! This book was sooo good! I just had to share. My friend Nancy on Bookfoolery and Babble read this one and I had to pick it up! Great story and I hope this author writes more!!

August Stats and Reads!

Books I read:
1.Lords of Corruption by Kyle Mills 07-31-08 through 08-03-09 B
2.The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne 08-03-09 through 08-04-09 A+ (another fav)
3.The Agency by Ally O'Brien-DNF
4.The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White 08-05-09 through 08-12-09 B
5.Stalked by Brian Freeman 08-13-09 through08-14-09 A
6.In the Dark by Brian Freeman 08-14-09 through08-16-09 A
7.In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White 08-16-09 through 8-20-09 A+
8.The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf 08-21-09 through 08-23-09 A
9.Nefertiti by Michelle Moran 08-23-09 through08-27-09 B

Stats:
Total Books I Read: 8
New Authors: 6
Fiction: 7
Non-Fiction:1
Chunkster: 1
Mystery:2
Romance: 0
From the Stacks: 2
Books for Review: 1
Books I Bought: 0
Total Pages Read: 2, 722 pages

I was hoping to have the current book I am reading done but was very tired last night after work. So will finish that one up today! :)

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

A family destined to be in the record books in Egypt. But when the Pharaoh dies, Nefertiti must be married to the younger son of the two. Her family doesn't think it is a good idea but Nefertiti is determined to see that it works. But the one caught up in it all is her sister Mutnodjmet. Her life is taken away from her as she serves her sister. She'd do anything for Nefertiti but as time goes by, she wonders what kind of queen Nefertiti wants to become.

Ms. Moran has definitely done her research. Yeah a few things were changed but this is fiction after all. The story swept me up and it was written very well! Ms. Moran certainly knew how to place a scene before you and keep you turning pages. The characters evolve at a good pace. There is a lot of the history I wasn't sure about but I was able to follow the story line in spite of it.

Mutnodjmet is a wonderful character. I grew to really like her and wish she was real. She had her head grounded and she'd help her family in any way she could within reason. Her knowledge of herbs was phenomenal for that time. Nefertiti started out knowing what she was to become. Yet along the way, I felt she didn't care what others thought. At first, it wasn't a bad thing but over time, I felt she needed to be a little more open. Now mind you, I don't know what it is like to be a first wife. I've never had to really vie for my husband's attention. So this situation wasn't something I could relate to all that well.

A powerful debut by this author and I am curious to see where the next book in the series goes. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get to it but I plan on it eventually. This author explains herself in the back of the book with some of the things she changed. I understood why she did but before then I had no clue that she had really changed anything. I was pleased with her writing style and how the characters unfolded in the story. This is definitely a new author to me and one that I'll pick up with each new book.

Michelle Moran/New Author/ Egypt/ Historical Fiction/ 462 pages/ 3.5 out of 5

I plan on starting The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane sometime today but have a few things I need to get done around here first. :)I hope it lives up to all the hype I've heard about it.

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

Calli has not spoken since she was four years old. Watching her mother lose her baby was enough but someone whispered words in her ear. Now her best friend Petra talks for her. But when both girls disappear, questions arise if something more sinister has happened in this small Iowa town. Now it's a race for time to find them and hope that they can catch whomever is behind it all.

Ms. Gudenkauf has a fantastic emotional roller coaster on her hands. Between the emotions and old ties between two of the characters and the desperation felt by the parents, you just cannot put the book down. Ms. Gudenkauf captured small town life so well. I was enthralled with not only the process that they had to follow to do a search but how it was broken. Emotions were running high and all the points of view presented in the book flowed so well.

Between Ben (Calli's brother), Antonia (Calli's mom), Sheriff Louis, Martin (Petra's dad), as well as Calli herself, you got a good glimpse into what was going on. There is a lot of drama going on in this small town. Calli gets swept up into it.

This is one book that captured my attention from the beginning. For being a debut, it was amazing! There were twists and turns that just kept me turning pages. The idea behind it all made me curious to see how it would play out. I was never quite sure who the suspect was from the beginning. Something didn't add up but I wasn't able to figure things out till the end. Definitely cannot wait to see what this author does next!

***

Okay so I am a little behind in posting. I just finished a book this morning so not sure when I'll post the review.

In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White

Being a white collar criminal, Neil White gets sent to Carville, Louisiana to a Hansen's Disease colony. He has to serve time for one year. Yet when he enters, he is determined to just muddle through. But after meeting some of the patients there, things look completely different. He must find a way to get through his time served and he has an idea to write this book.

Mr. White truly looks at things and is very honest about a lot of the situations that happened. He shows that everything is not as it appears on the outside. The phobias we have in society are not always founded in truth. There is a lot more underneath the skin than what we may first think. He also shows how he got to the colony and what happened. But his main focus was his time spent on the inmate side of the colony.

I'm at a loss for words since this book was not only well written but opened up my eyes. I never knew that such a place existed in America. But they truly do try to make the patients comfortable and I was blown away with the care that they do have in the colony. If you are looking for something different to read, this is it. It not only makes you think but makes you grateful for what you do have in life.


Neil White/ New author/ Non-fiction/ Louisiana/336 pages/ 5 out of 5
I've got a lot on my mind so may not start anything new to read till tomorrow. Here is another review of this book. :) http://bookfoolery.blogspot.com/2009/06/in-sanctuary-of-outcasts-by-neil-white.html

In the Dark by Brian Freeman

Jonathan Stride thought that he had battled all his demons. An old friend of Cindy, his now dead wife, Tish comes to town focused on solving the murder of Laura. It's a case that has been unsolved for over thirty years. There are secrets that just should not come to light. Someone is determined to keep it that way. But will Tish be able to?

Brian Freeman sure knows how to get you in this fourth novel. The series moves along at the right pace. The surprises in this plot are outstanding. He hooks you from the first page. The depth of his characters will only make you want to read more. This is an author who doles out the clues one at a time. He also weaves in some local history that amazed me.

Having this case resurface is difficult for Jonathan. Serena is by his side supporting him through it all. I could see how things weren't always easy for her. But she was in it for the long haul. I was glad to see Maggie back as well. She has grown a lot since the last book. The characters in the series are evolving and expanding so that you feel like you've been visiting with friends.

I can't wait for the next book in the series. It's well worth it. But this mystery is full of violence and secrets. Someone was murdered so that they would keep quiet. This is one book that won't be easy to read at night. All in all, I was pleased with the twist at the end of the book. I never saw it coming. Once again, Brian Freeman outdid himself!

Brian Freeman/Minnesota/ Mystery/ Murder/ 357 pages/ 4 out of 5

I am now working on a non-fiction a friend recommended. I am really liking it and hope to be done soon. :)

Stalked by Brian Freeman

Jonathan Stride is settled at home in Duluth, MN with his girlfriend Serena. The case Stride is working on will affect his personal life when he gets a call from his partner Maggie about her husband being shot. Serena also feels like she is being watched but by whom? Can they piece everything together to figure out what is really happening or will it be too much to handle?

Brian Freeman is a genius! The twists and turns in this book had me wanting to keep reading even though I had things to do. I had to force myself to put the book down. It had creepy thrilling moments and the dark undertones that ran through out the book were balanced right. The story never seemed over the top and the sub plots all ran smoothly with the main plot line.

Jonathan is stepping into a new area with Serena. He is trusting her implicitly as well as finding how they fit together. Serena's past is coming back to haunt her. Yet she always makes sure to let Jonathan in on what is going on for the most part. They even had a way of discussing things together that they had to keep secret because of the cases they were working on till things were solved. Maggie was always there for the two of them. Even though she lost her husband, she wanted to find out who was behind it and why. She is a very determined woman.

Brian Freeman definitely will hold your attention. If you like Harlan Coben, this author writes in a similar style. I cannot wait to read the next one in the series to see where things keep going. Some loose ends from another book were tied up at the end of this one. I never would have seen it coming. This is one author that I read every time!

Brian Freeman/Mystery/360 pages/ Minnesota/ 4 out of 5

Off to the next one in the series and then some non-fiction.

The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White

Wart, or Arthur, is training to be a squire under the eyes of Sir Ector's watch. Sir Ector's son Kay will become a knight. When in the forest going after a lost hawk, Wart meets Merlyn. Merlyn becomes the new tutor for Wart and Kay. The adventures range from fun to mind boggling. Wart has much to learn and Merlyn is there to help him. There are also things of that time period, jousting and such that must be found time to learn as well. Will Wart be able to take his place at the new king?

Mr. White created a world that took some time to get used to. Having not read a children's classic in awhile, I had to get used to the vernacular all over again. Once I was able to follow it, the stories unfolded and I couldn't get enough. Mr. White truly knows how to get you to step into another world with ease. He takes all different kinds of characters and historical people to make this story work. I was truly pleased.

The Young Wart, Arthur, was shy at first. He knew what his station in life would always be due to the fact that he didn't know who his parents were. Sir Ector was kind enough to take him under his wing. Yet there were certain things Wart knew he'd never do. Or so he thought. Merlyn was a fantastic character! I loved seeing a new take on Merlyn. The other characters of King Pelinore, Sir Ector, Madam Mim and others brought the cast to a completion. The range of their personalities were fun to watch unfold.

The adventures were so much more fun than the Disney movie. I was truly impressed with how much was followed yet the things that were left out were my favorites. The beginning dragged for me but by the end, I was sad to see it end. This was a fun romp in period fiction and I am curious to see what else was written by this author. I wouldn't read this to anyone under the age of 10 only since there is some coarse language used. There were times I was surprised I didn't burst out into song with all the bits of songs that were part of the story!


T.H.White/288 pages/Children's Fiction/New Author/4 out of 5

Off to a mystery, need a change of pace!