Cover to Cover Challenge discussion

2011 a new year, and books waiting to be read, no idea what will happen

Number: 1
Book: Knit Two
Author: Kate Jacobs
Date: 04 Jan 2011
Pages: 318
Review: This is an interesting, but complex novel about women's relationships. Jacobs hits on many of the problems and decisions faced by women: care of aging parent, choice of having a child, marriage or cohabitation, job, and even love. Darwin has craved for a child and after many miscarriages is now carrying twins. She is extremely superstitious and constantly worries. Anita loves Marty, but must now decide if marriage is right at her age. Dakota battles between a life of her own and following her mother's legacy. Luci wanted a child, and now that she has her daughter, she longs for the days of less stress and only her job. Luci also has the added burden of an aging mother. Catherine and James secretly meet for lunch, always having a place setting for dead Georgia. All the people are struggling with Georgia's death. Jacobs handles the different personalities well. Not a fast read or page turner, but an interesting book.

Number: 2
Book: A Reliable Wife
Author: Robert Goolrick
Date: 06 Jan 2011
Pages: 291
Review: The opening scene of Ralph Truitt waiting for his "mail-order" at the frigid, Wisconsin train station begins this intriguing story. The story unravels the horrors of life in the winter of 1907-1908. Ralph Truitt's tale centers on unrequited love and his quest for that last attempt of love and comfort. Catherine Land's saga begins at age of fifteen as a courtesan and as the current lover of her new husband's son, Antonio. And Antonio, the boy/man lives only for pleasure and his father's death. The tale involves love, hate, forgiveness, and hope for the spring that will soon unfold. Goolrick presents a story of Wisconsin that is not picture perfect, but is greatly flawed. In closing, Goolrick recommends a book named Wisconsin Death Trip, which inspired A Reliable Wife. The setting of the dark, bleak winter creates a sense of madness and despair.

ohh, that sounds good...and I have it in the pile...plus it fits a state I haven't read yet...yay!!

Number: 3
Book: Royal Flush
Author: Rhys Bowen
Date: 09 Jan 2011
Pages: 306
Review: This is another in the Royal Spyness series set in Scotland and England. Bowen inserts much historic data in writing of the current ruler, George V, the 2nd son of Queen Victoria. The bits of fact and rumor are delightful. The time frame is early 1930's, and Prince of Wales(David) has fallen for Wallis Simpson. Bowen introduces the second son, The Duke of York and his family, his daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth. Bowen provides a mystery in the rumor surrounding the Duke of Clarence-the oldest son of Queen Victoria. Bowen writes a light hearted mystery seeped in British tradition.

Number: 4
Book: Post-Mortem
Author: Patricia Cornwell
Date: 11 Jan 2011
Pages: 327
Review: I have never read any the Kay Scarpetta series, and I found this a well-written book. The medical discussion was too thorough at times, but Cornwell does a good job incorporating all the aspects of the story. She leads the reader to draw incorrect assumptions about the killer, only to surprise the reader at the end of the novel. Cornwell presents a realistic world where everyone has his or her own agenda. The description of the murder scene and all the infinite tasks to find the killer show the hoops that are necessary to find a killer. Of course, there is the character of Pete Marino who complicates matters. Is Pete a good or bad cop? Will Kay continue to fight for her career in a male dominated world?

Number: 5
Book: Alex Cross's Trial
Author: James Patterson
Date: 12 Jan 2011
Pages: 392
Review: I have read many of Patterson's books, and enjoy his easy reading style. I found this to be the best novel that he has written. I am surprised that Patterson chose to tell a Southern story, and a story that did not end with the trial decision anticipated. The story happens in 1906 in a small town in Mississippi and President Theodore Roosevelt has sent a lawyer on a secret mission to explore the tales of lynching of black people. Patterson presents a town torn between humanity dignity and fear of peers in the struggle of racial equality. The story is well told by Patterson.

Number: 6
Book: A Sudden, Fearful Death
Author: Anne Perry
Date: 15 Jan 2011
Pages: 439
Review: I had stopped reading this series and I have no idea why I stopped. This is set in Victorian England, and presents a society enmeshed in rules and regulations for each level of society. Medicine and surgery are in the early stages of development, and nurses do not have a professional entity. The story shows the helplessness of women in that age. A male member of the two different families rapes two young women and nothing is done. The main story centers on the murder of an outstanding nurse, and the trial of the alleged murderer. The plight of women and the emergence of surgery stand as the main attractions of this story. Perry does a wonderful job showing the feelings of the day in regard to these topics.

I got away from this series too and then got caught up again last year; I love Hester's strength and Perry captures the tone of the period so well. Thanks for the reminder.

Could you have gotten away from the series because of the film "Heavenly Creatures"? There was a lot of publicity/controversy around her because Perry is a real life murderer.

From Wiki:The daughter of Dr. Henry Hulme, an English physicist, Perry (then known as Juliet Hulme) was diagnosed with tuberculosis as a child and sent to the Caribbean and South Africa in hopes that a warmer climate would improve her health. She rejoined her family when her father took a position as Rector of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand when she was 13.

Together with her school friend Pauline Parker, Hulme murdered Parker's mother, Honora Rieper,[1] in June 1954. Hulme's parents were in the process of separating, and she was supposed to go to South Africa to stay with a relative. The two teenage girls, who had created a rich fantasy life together populated with famous actors such as James Mason and Orson Welles, did not want to be separated. They had hoped to go to England with Hulme's father after the divorce.
[edit] Murder and trial
Main article: Parker-Hulme murder

On 22 June 1954, the girls took Honora Rieper for a walk in Victoria Park in their hometown of Christchurch. On an isolated path Hulme dropped an ornamental stone so that Ms. Rieper would lean over to retrieve it. At that point, Parker had planned to hit her mother with half a brick wrapped in a stocking. The girls presumed that would kill the woman. Instead, it took 45 frenzied blows from both girls to finally kill Honora Rieper. The brutality of the crime has contributed to its notoriety.

Parker and Hulme stood trial in Christchurch in 1954, and were found guilty on August 29 of that year. As they were too young to be considered for the death penalty under New Zealand law at the time, they were convicted and sentenced to be "detained at Her Majesty's pleasure". In practice, this sentence meant they were to be detained at the discretion of the Minister of Justice. They were released separately some five years later. A condition of their release was that they were never to meet or contact each other again.

Parker and Hulme are not believed to have had any contact since their trial, as required by the conditions of their release.[2]

These events formed the basis for the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures, in which Melanie Lynskey portrayed a teenage Pauline Parker and Kate Winslet portrayed teenaged Juliet Hulme.

I had heard of this before and I have often wondered if that is part of what makes her depiction of the crimes and criminals of Victorian London so real...

I realize that Perry does an excellent job presenting the 1920's and the struggle of medicine and nurses. And the trials of women, worn out by too many children.

I have never see the movie Heavenly Creatures, but know of its existence. Two of the book clubs to which I belong have read Anne Perry novels, and we discussed Anne Perry's chaotic life. I enjoy Perry for the struggles and decisions that an individual must make. I just finished The Sins of the Wolf, and was strongly affected. What if, like Hester, one was wrongly accused of a crime? How would we handle this struggle for freedom?

Number: 7
Book: The Sins of the Wolf
Author: Anne Perry
Date: 18 Jan 2011
Pages: 436
Review: This William Monk mystery travels to Scotland where Hester Latterly awaits her fate in a murder case. Many interesting adventures highlight this novel one being the friendship of William Monk and Hester Latterly. As usual, Anne Perry does a superb job in presenting the setting and the characters, and in quietly exposing injustice. In this novel, we again encounter the public's opinion of nurses. Perry also shows the lack of reading skills of most people in the 1920's. The novel has many twists, especially the secret revealed in the last chapters

my take on Anne Perry - although i've never read her stuff...i'm a fan of you did the crime, did the time theory...she served her time in jail and was released...its time to move on...but i know there are lots of people who won't read her stuff for that very reason

Number: 8
Book: A Lonely Death
Author: Charles Todd
Date: 23 Jan 2011
Pages: 343
Review: Ian Rutledge must go to a Sussex village to investigate several deaths of men who served in WWI. The Todds provide many undercurrents such as an old case for a retiring chief inspector, Ian's hopes of love and promotion, and childhood pranks. Ex soldiers are being garroted by a lone killer, and the police cannot find the killer. When a fellow policeman is almost killed, Ian is arrested and spends time in jail. But Ian's problems are not only the murders. Ian loses two friends: one to suicide and one to an early death. The mother and son team do a superb job with characters and setting.

Debbie wrote: "I realize that Perry does an excellent job presenting the 1920's and the struggle of medicine and nurses. And the trials of women, worn out by too many children."

Another author who has managed this is Victoria Thompson in her series. The protaganist is a midwife and the plight of poor woman is frequently through out her books.

Number: 9
Book: Wicked Appetite
Author: Janet Evanovich
Date: 28 Jan 2011
Pages: 313
Review: Evanovich has lost her edge in telling a funny and entertaining story. In this latest novel set in Salem, Massachusetts, Evanovich presents characters with special powers. The powers are not amazing, and the action is slow. The story centers on Lizzie and Diesel trying to find the charms before Wulf. Along the way, Lizzie and Diesel obtain a tattered cat and an obscene monkey. Of course, Diesel, like Ranger in the Plum series, always drives a black, expensive car that becomes a mess and must be replaced. The book leaves no impression, other than time wasted on a poorly constructed story.

Number: 10
Book: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Date: 28 Jan 2011
Pages: 211
Review: I enjoyed this story set in one of the islands off the coast of Washington. I felt the draw of a community that knows one another. The story revolves around two unmarried brothers rearing their niece. The six-year-old girl, Holly, has not spoken since the death of her mother. But magic enters in the form of Maggie, a young widow and owner of a toyshop. Kleypas presents a story of imagery with a vivid description of the islands and the two brothers. Both brothers cater to man's need of drink. One brother, Sam, owns a vineyard; while the other brother, Mark, owns a coffee-grinding house. The story deals with family, relationships, and unconditional love. The story of the bulldog, Renfield, shows that love is blind and that everyone deserves love. This is a compact, but emotional Christmas novella. I am delighted to see that this will be a series.

Number: 11
Book: The Outer Banks House
Author: Diann Ducharme
Date: 03 Feb 2011
Pages: 291
Review: The story was well written with wonderful descriptions of the Outer Banks and the tensions in North Carolina after the Civil War. I thoroughly disliked the story about the romance between a plantation owner's daughter and the illiterate fisherman. The idea is charming, but for some reason, the rendering by Ducharme was distasteful. Many times, I wanted to discontinue reading, but since this is for a book club, I finished the story.

Number: 12
Book: The Charming Quirks of Others
Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Date: 05 Feb 2011
Pages: 256
Review: This is another in the Isabel Dalhousie series set in Scotland. In this episode, Isabel must investigate three candidates for principal in a local boy's school. I like Smith's style of exposing out private thoughts, even as we speak to individuals. Isabel is really a busybody, but justifies herself as a philosopher. I feel that at times, Isabel is too candid and too direct in her questions. Isabel is in love with Jamie, a much younger man. Together they have a small son. I feel that Isabel is not confident in this relationship, and eventually this will cause a rift. Smith's Dalhousie series always brings many hidden issues to the surface: love, hate, and death.

Number: 13
Book: What You Have Left
Author: Will Allison
Date: 08 Feb 2011
Pages: 210
Review: The story of a daughter's determination to find a father who abandoned her over thirty years ago and her struggle to find her own identity told in different voices. I enjoyed the first part of the book with the exploration of the life of Holly and her grandfather. Once the grandfather dies, the book falls into despair with gambling, addiction, and loss of purpose. Allison's use of different characters reminds me of Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, but will less substance.

Number: 14
Book: Murder on St Mark's Place
Author: Victoria Thompson
Date: 12 Feb 2011
Pages: 277
Review: Thompson writes of New York in the 1890's with a midwife, Sarah Brandt, as the main character of this mystery series, Gaslight Mystery. Thompson shows the plight of young, unmarried immigrants women who desire more than the hard life of a married woman. These unmarried pleasure-seeking women are called Charity Girls due to the fact that they give sexual favors for trinkets instead of money. Sarah Brandt jumps into the investigation of the murder of four of these girls when she learns the police will not pursue the murders. Thompson exposes the state of the police department in New York and hints at the reform started by Teddy Roosevelt. Thompson also points out the differences between the poor and the rich, and the origin of the term Knickerbockers. Thompson describes the pleasures and sights at the newly opened Coney Island, as well as presenting a perspective of the expense of pleasure. Sarah Brandt, a widow, is a strong-minded, independent woman at a time in history when women married or lived with parents. I hope to read more of this series.

Number: 15
Book: Morning, Noon, and Night
Author: Arnold Weinstein
Date: 15 Feb 2011
Pages: 429
Review: This is an interesting book that relates and explores life through books. At first, I thought that Arnold Weinstein would be pedantic and as boring as a textbook. Instead, Weinstein presents an educated and delightful journey into life via literature. I have read about 60% of the works mentioned, and feel compelled to read the other authors. Weinstein's book gives insight into the work of many different writers. I found Weinstein's jumping back and forth into life stages in the flow of the story to be irritating and confusing, at times. A book I plan to reread when I am not as rushed to finish reading.

Number: 16
Book: Murder in Little Italy
Author: Victoria Thompson
Date: 16 Feb 2011
Pages: 291
Review: I enjoy this series set in New York in the 1890's. The main character is a widowed midwife who always seems to fall into a murder investigation. In this story, a baby is born to an Italian man and his young Irish wife. The wife is murdered after the baby's birth. Riots and fights begin between the Irish and the Italians, with Teddy Roosevelt calling in extra help to quash the problem. Thompson presents the Italian immigrants who firmly believe in blood ties and will honor this tie regardless. Thompson also shows the plight of the factory girls and their life of drudgery. Thompson also exhibits the workings of Tammany Hall

Have you read Shirley Tallman's series? It starts with Murder on Nob Hill and is set in 1860's San Fransisco. The main character is a female lawyer.

Number: 17
Book: The Woman in White
Author: Wilkie Collins
Date: 21 Feb 2011
Pages: 564
Review: This is a book published in the 1860's when the style of writing greatly differs from the present. The epistolary novel is difficult to follow at times, and the lengthy discourse boring. Just when you begin to enjoy the novel, a new character begins his tirade. This is not a novel that I enjoyed.

Shay wrote: "Have you read Shirley Tallman's series? It starts with Murder on Nob Hill and is set in 1860's San Fransisco. The main character is a female lawyer."

Shay wrote: "Have you read Shirley Tallman's series? It starts with Murder on Nob Hill and is set in 1860's San Fransisco. The main character is a female lawyer."

Shay-I will be reading Murder on Nob Hill for next mystery book club discussion in April--looking for to SF

Number: 18
Book: Murder on Astor Place
Author: Victoria Thompson
Date: 24 Feb 2011
Pages: 278
Review: Of course, I never follow the correct order for books in a series. This is the premiere book of the Gaslight series set in New York City in the 1890's. I have already read two later books and enjoyed the series so much, that I have purchased all the earlier books. The characters are introduced from Sarah Brandt to Frank Mallory to Teddy Roosevelt. Thompson does a wonderful job showing the huge gap between the rich and the poor in their lodgings, character, rules, and clothing. I like Sarah who like a curious mouse can go anywhere in the city and fit-in. In this episode a daughter of one the wealthy families is murdered, but the family seems content to allow the murder to fade away rather than invite scandal. An interesting adventure into New York history.

Number: 19
Book: Murder on Gramercy Park
Author: Victoria Thompson
Date: 26 Feb 2011
Pages: 329
Review: I very much enjoy this series set in New York in the 1890's. In this installment, Sarah Brandt must help Mallory discover who killed a notable healer. At first, the police think that the "doctor" has committed suicide, but Mallory notices too many clues. The chief suspect is a son of Dr Blackwell's from his first marriage, until this lad is poisoned. Sarah takes the reader behind the scenes and into the secrets on the wealthy that live sordid lives. As usual, Thompson presents the innovations in medicine with the talk of x-rays. The noisy neighbor, Mrs. Ellsworth, provides a look into the world of superstition and seems to provide comic relief throughout the story.

Number: 20
Book: Reckless
Author: Andrew GRoss
Date: 01 Mar 2011
Pages: 504
Review: I have never read a novel by Andrew Gross, but have enjoyed Gross's joint ventures in writing with James Patterson. Gross and Patterson both employ the short chapter that tricks a reader into completing another chapter. Both men utilize a range of characters and settings that force the reader to continue reading just to discover what is happening. This novel centers on a worldwide plot to topple the financial world that reeks of reality. Has the world become like King Midas who never has enough power and wealth? As usual, both Patterson and Gross write a fast paced novel that demands that the reader stop and think about the world's corrupt practices.

Number: 21
Book: I Still Dream About You
Author: Fannie Flagg
Date: 04 Mar 2011
Pages: 311
ReviewThis is a book I really needed to read. Maggie Fortenberry has decided that life is worthless and she plans her death, fortunately life invades her plans and creates delays. Maggie is an ex-Miss Alabama and runner-up in Miss USA, but she feels that life is hopeless. I love the way that Fannie Flagg unravels the story and the suspenseful subplot of Edward/Edwina Crocker. So many good characters: Hazel Whisenknott, the midget woman with the huge and generous heart, Brenda Peoples, the fat, black lady attempting to become mayor in Birmingham, Alabama, Ethel Clipp, the extremely old real estate agent, and Babs Bingington, the vicious real estate competition. Fannie Flagg shows that the world reeks of evil, but somehow, goodness will prevail, and that our life is not as bad as we imagine.

Number: 22
Book: The Beat Cop's Guide to Chicago Eats
Author: David J Haynes
Date: 07 Mar 2011
Pages: 140
Review: This is a delightfully delicious book to read about the various eateries that cops frequent. What I enjoyed about the book are the added tidbits of history and the few recipes. After reading the book, I felt that Chicago cops must spend their entire shift deciding what to eat. I liked the flippant attitude of the authors and the afterword on what eateries were excluded. So much ethnic food is presented. I did find the aside blocks to be located inconveniently.

Number: 23
Book: Heartwood
Author: Belva Plain
Date: 09 Mar 2011
Pages: 311
Review: I have not read Belva Plain for decades, and I thoroughly enjoyed Heartwood, her final book. This is a story of a Jewish family centering on the women. Most of the story focuses on Laura and her quest to find herself. Iris, Laura's mother, must also learn many of life's lessons and know that love exists in many forms. The male characters in the book are undeveloped. Laura's husband seems like a weak, self-centered boy. His own mother admits Robbie's shortcomings. Theo, the patriarch, needed more detail. But in essence, the story highlights the many trials and joys that each family encounters.

Number: 24
Book: Nowhere Else On Earth
Author: Josephine Humphreys
Date: 12 Mar 2011
Pages: 341
Review: This novel is set in Lumberton, NC, during and after the Civil War. The story centers on a place in Robeson County called Shuffletown that housed a mixture of Native Americans and their families. The story discusses the turpentine business in North Carolina and the beetles and war that destroyed this business. The story recounts the terrors and hardships of the war, and shows that the Robeson County inhabitants had to fight off both the Yankees and the Rebels. I felt the story difficult to follow with the multitude of characters. This is not a book that I enjoyed, and do not plan to read other books by this author.

Number: 25
Book: Murder on Nob Hill
Author: Shirley Tallman
Date: 13 Mar 2011
Pages: 277
Review: I have never read Shirley Tallman or any of her books written under the pseudonym Erin Ross. I enjoyed this excursion into San Francisco history of the 1880's. Almost 99% of the facts presented by Tallman are actual events and individuals of California history, with the exception of the Golden Gate Bridge that was not started until 1933 and finished in 1937. As many reviewers have mentioned, all the historical data is not relevant to the plot development. Tallman almost mentions the plight of the Chinese, who were brought to California to complete the railroad, and their difficult existence. I did feel that Sarah Woolson ignores the restrictions of Society and I feel that these diversions would not be tolerated. What an exciting time for California: the Gold Rush had ended and given a few men wealth, the railroad tied the East and the West and created fortunes, plus the Otis elevator went into operation, and the street cars started their operation in San Francisco.

Number: 26
Book: One Was A Soldier
Author: Julia Spencer-Fleming
Date: 17 Mar 2011
Pages: 327
Review: Fleming introduces too many characters in the beginning of the novel and creates much confusion with this approach. I had to stop many times to reread and finally made a chart of the various individuals. The discussion leader, Sarah, presented a problem to me. What credentials does Sarah possess to lead a discussion/therapy group for war veterans? Another issue left hanging centered on Tally/Mary. Fleming does an excellent job in exposing the inner feelings of soldiers such as Trip and Will and Clare. Fleming also displays the waste and corruption by the government wherever huge amounts of money and equipment exist. At first, the extensive cast of characters and many with different aliases limited my enjoyment of the story. Finally, I was able to find the groove for the story and the climatic rush to the ending.

Number: 27
Book: Tick Tock
Author: James Patterson
Date: 19 Mar 2011
Pages: 387
Review: The Michael Bennett series is not one of my favorite James Patterson series. I feel that Bennett is too cocky and too invincible. Michael and his deceased wife Mauve adopted a ragtag assortment of ten children, which I feel defies common sense, especially, given the prejudice in society. Of course, Mary Catherine, the children's nanny spices up the mix. The romantic involvement between Mary Catherine and Michael falls short of reality. Michael stands a better chance with FBI agent Emily Parker. As usual, I enjoy Patterson's style of short chapters, and the utter deviousness of the villain. Yes, money can facilitate of sojourn of crime.

Number: 28
Book:
The Thanksgiving Coat
Author: Elizabeth A Hoadley
Date: 19 Mar 2011
Pages: 30
Review:This is a children's book written and illustrated by a mother and daughter team. I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations, which are paintings using mostly the primary colors of red, blue, and yellow. Hoadley presents a story too complex and too erudite for the audience of the book's illustrations. Hoadley tries to rhyme, but the words have no meaning for a child. I felt the theme was too vague.

Number: 29
Book: Corduroy Mansions
Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Date: 25 Mar 2011
Pages: 353
Review: This is another series by Alexander McCall Smith and is set in London with the main character Freddie de la Hay, a vegetarian Pimlico terrier. The story resembles the 44 Scotland series with all the quirky characters living in a specific block and also draws on the philosophical quality of the Isabel Dalhousie series. I enjoy the common attitude and every day life of the characters, such as a father trying to get his adult son to move and live his own life and a mother hating her own son and reverting to writing his biography. As with Smith's writing he seems to poke fun at life's serious issues such as infidelity, and state that life is too short to worry needlessly.

Number: 30
Book: A Lesson in Secrets
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Date: 26 Mar 2011
Pages: 321
Review: Jacqueline Winspear has taken us through World War I and the aftermath, and now the focus is the gathering storm in Germany and Adolf Hitler. Maisie Dobbs has been asked by the Secret Service to teach at a university and attempt to uncover plots against the Crown. Of course, a disaster happens when the director/principal of the university is murdered, leaving Maisie with a murder to solve. These are not the only problems in Maisie's life. She must try to help Billy and pregnant Doreen find a better home, attempt to sort her feelings for James, try to understand her father's new phase in his life, and help widowed Sandra with her problems. The story is interesting and of course, Maisie is one-of-a kind.

Number: 31
Book:
Murder on Washington Square
Author: Victoria Thompson
Date: 27 Mar 2011
Pages: 308
Review: I thoroughly enjoy this Gaslight series set in New York in the 1890's. In this story a young woman, Anna Blake, is murdered, and Sarah Brandt's neighbor, Nelson Ellsworth, is accused of the murder. Anna has been keeping company with Nelson Ellsworth, but on closer inspection, the woman also has a second boyfriend, Gilbert Giddings. Giddings loses everything due to his liaison with Anna: his job, his family, and his financial security. Sarah and Frank Mallory learn that Anna ran a trap for married men in which she blackmailed them. The story has twists and turns before the final mystery is solved. Of course, Victoria Thompson interweaves a little history of New York into the story.

Number: 32
Book: Murder on Mulberry Bend
Author: Victoria Thompson
Date: 28 Mar 2011
Pages: 346
Review: I really enjoy this Gaslight Series set in New York in the 1890's. In this caper, a young girl is murdered. Richard Dennis, an old friend of Sarah's, begins courting Sarah, much to the disdain of Frank Mallory. Victoria Thompson exposes the horrors of life for the poor, and the corruption of the police department. She also shows the vast distance between the rich and the poor, and the prejudices of the different nationalities. I thought that most Catholics were cordial to one another, but the Irish Catholics were biased against the Italian Catholics. Another interesting aspect of the story rests in the use of a lady's hatpin. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Number: 33
Book: The Red Garden
Author: Alice Hoffman
Date: 30 Mar 2011
Pages: 270
Review: The Red Garden is a series of short stories/tales centered on Blackwell, Massachusetts, spanning several hundred years. I was not expecting short stories, but a full novel. Plus, I am not a connoisseur of short stories. Many of the tales closely resembled old folk tales such as Johnny Appleseed and the eel lady and the bear lady. The book reminded me of Spoon River Anthology or Winesburg, Ohio, and I enjoyed those books more than The Red Garden. The setting was magical and the characters were interesting, but other writers have done this format better.

Number: 34
Book: Murder on Marble Row
Author: Victoria Thompson
Date: 01 Apr 2011
Pages: 313
Review: Teddy Roosevelt selects Frank Mallory to investigate and solve the death of a wealthy New Yorker. A bomb detonated in his office kills the man, Gregory Van Dyke. Of course, Sarah Brandt must assist Mallory since Sarah knows the families and can ask questions that Mallory cannot ask. Mallory is also investigating the murder of Sarah's husband, Tom Brandt. Mallory believes that Sarah's father, Felix Decker, is responsible for Tom Brandt's death. Thompson shows the confines of society, especially for women. As usual, Thompson throws into the story, many historic episodes such as anarchist, Emma Goldman, the use of bombs, medical advances, and the plight of the poor. In this novel, Sarah is trying to make a decision about the young girl, Aggie.

Number: 35
Book: Murder on Lenox Hill
Author: Victoria Thompson
Date: 02 Apr 2011
Pages: 291
Review: The story begins with Sarah determining that a 17-year old girl is pregnant. The mystery rests in how this could have happened, as the girl is "simple-minded" and always under the scrutiny of her parents. The mystery leads to the minister of the local church as even Frank Mallory assists Sarah in her search for the father of the baby. Frank is still investigating the death of Sarah's husband, Tom Brandt. Frank’s search leads him to the new field of psychology and Dr. Freud. Dr. Brandt was studying four women diagnosed with hysteria. The medical discussion in the book is interesting when compared to what is known today. I feel that the characters could have been better developed, and missed the meddling hands of Mrs. Ellsworth.

Number: 36
Book: London Bridges
Author: James Patterson
Date: 03 Apr 2011
Pages: 403
Review: Even with all the violence and killing, I enjoy reading a Patterson novel. I am amazed at the wickedness of the villains. In this novel, two mean men: the Weasel and the Wolf, have teamed together in a run to control the world. Wolf is the mastermind and no one knows his true identity. Wolf asks for billions of dollars and release of certain political prisoners in return for not destroying four major world cities. Alex Cross is now working with the FBI and he travels the world in an attempt to stop these vile men. The action is fast paced, a characteristic of Patterson's novels. I have decided that I do not like the first person narrative of Alex Cross. I do not want to know all his personal thoughts and feelings.

Number: 37
Book: Under the Mercy Trees
Author: Heather Newton
Date: 09 Apr 2011
Pages: 344
Review: This book reminded me of William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury. The main emphasis of the novel rests in the characters. I did not like the way the author jumped around from first person to third person in the narrative. Newton writes a Southern novel seeped in quirky and vindictive characters within the setting of decay as in the home place and the school. The story opens with the disappearance of Leon, one of five children born to a poor sharecropper/farmer in the 1920-1930's. At the end of novel, the reader is still unsure what has happened to Leon. One of the main characters, Martin, is homosexual. This is not developed nor explained well. Many of the characters lack dimension, the reader is unsure of the author's direction in the story. Maybe, the author needed to limit the characters and concentrate on fewer members of the Owenby family.

Number: 38
Book: Black Swan
Author: Chris Knopf
Date: 13 Apr 2011
Pages: 304
Review: This is my first endeavor into the world of Sam Acquillo, the fifth novel in a series centered in the Hamptons. This novel skirts from the Hamptons and has Sam and Amanda battling the elements on a sailboat journey from Maine to the Hamptons. Knopf spends over half the novel detailing all the nautical adventures, a little too much for this land lover. The characters are well described, as well as the current weather conditions. The weather and the sailboat reign as the main characters. Then the detour into the workings of software programming and of the software developers ruined any pleasure that this novel might have elicited. The weak attempt of Anika to seduce Sam unfolds like a Harlequin romance. This is not a series to garner my attention.

Number: 39
Book: The Weird Sisters
Author: Eleanor Brown
Date: 15 Apr 2011
Pages: 320
Review: I enjoy Shakespeare and especially the women in Shakespeare, but this book was not what I expected. Brown uses quotes from Shakespeare throughout the book, but she does not identify the passage. The three sisters: Cordelia, Rosalind, and Bianca are named for Shakespearean characters, and much of the story unfolds based on Shakespeare's plays. The three sisters have returned home because the mother has a lump in her breast and must undergo surgery and chemotherapy. Each daughter returns home for another secret reason. The story slowly unfolds; much too slowly as each daughter tries to resolve her problem.