By Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran (Thorndike Press, 2023)
Genre: Fiction – Murder Mystery
Via: library
Pages (Print) 382
Kimber here. Telling you we weren’t going to do a “St. Patrick’s Day post.” Were not. Were not. WERE NOT!! But then…
This here “murder mystery” thingy sorta jumped off the shelf at The Book Place and landed in Mom’s book bag. Funny how that happens sometimes. But a cozy mystery by Jessica “J.B.” Fletcher set in Ireland? Well. Who can resist that? Especially on St. Patrick’s Day. So here we are.
You may be relieved to hear that we’re not doing a sappy Valentine’s Day post today. You know the type. Sparkly and swirly and romance-y and heart-y. Love birds and turtle doves and enough saccahrine to induce sugar diabetes. The ‘Ole Curmudgeon nixed that idea.
♥️♥️♥️
Thank you, ‘Ole Curmudgeon.
On this Valentine’s Day we’re all about book love. We’re focusing on why we love reading and giving you some examples of same. Like, books we really, really love.
Here are 10+ Reasons We Love Reading (what would you add?):
1. We get to visit all kinds of Really Cool Places and time frames. In our heads. Without coughing up a single penny for gasoline or airfare. Examples: A Tale of Two Cities. Doctor Zhivago. The Little Prince.
2. We meet some Really Cool Peeps. Characters that are relatable, endearing, surprising or intriguing and leave a lasting impression. Examples: Ferdinand the Bull. Curious George. Elizabeth Bennett. Edmond Dantes. Frodo. Reepicheep. The Boys in the Boat.
3. Reading expands our horizons. Ignites our imagination. Inspires. Challenges. Educates. Motivates. Examples: The Joy Luck Club. Lords of the Earth. In the Shadow of the Almighty. Masters of the Air. Ghost Soldiers.
4. We get to dive into some Really Cool Storylines. A compelling plot that captures the imagination and keeps us engaged is a special kind of fun. These stories often have universal themes like adventure, friendship, and courage. Often all of the above. And more. Examples: Call It Courage. A Christmas Carol. Black Beauty.Robinson Crusoe. The Velveteen Rabbit.
5. Reading offers emotional resilience. Reading often touches on deep emotions and experiences that resonate with readers of all ages – curmudgeons included! They address fundamental human concerns like love, fear, hope, and the need for acceptance. Examples: Fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. Aesop’s Fables.The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The Elephant Man.Les Miserables.
6. We get to discover and enjoybeautiful language. The use of rich, evocative language can make the reading experience more enjoyable and memorable. This includes both the narrative style and dialogue. Examples: Inkheart. A River Runs Through It. Spencer’s Mountain. Anything by Max Lucado. Charles Swindoll. Jan Karon. Richard Paul Evans. Brock and Bodie Thoene.
7. We get to meet new people. Explore different cultures, continents, concepts and cuisines. Examples: Born Free: Lioness of Two Worlds. James Clavell’s Asian saga series. The Good Earth. Out of Africa.Travels With Charley. My Antonia. The Old Man and the Sea. A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.
8. Good memories. Ever meet a book that made you smile when you re-visited it again? It’s like a hug from a long-lost friend. Examples: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Where the Wild Things Are. Goodnight Moon. Little House on the Prairie series. Anything by H.A. Rey, Virginia Lee Burton, or Margaret Wise Brown.
9. Sometimes reading changes everything. A book is so powerful or poignant or both, it can change your life. Example: The Bible.
10. We love discovering new and different takes on classic themes. These can include the triumph of good over evil, the importance of family and friends, and the journey of self-discovery. Examples: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Swiss Family Robinson. Pretty much anything by E.B. White.
11. We love reading books with layers of meaning that can be appreciated differently at various stages of life. This kind of book can be enjoyed multiple times. Each reading offers new insights. Examples: The Chronicles of Narnia. Peter Pan. Gulliver’s Travels. Alice in Wonderland.
12. Reading is magical. It opens a door into other worlds. Transports into different realms. Provides opportunities galore for adventure and exploration. Offers ringside seats at historic events. Much more. Besides. It’s fun! See items 1 – 11 above. You’re welcome.
We’ve read and enjoyed these titles as a family. All include strong characters, engaging plots, and superlative story-telling. All have stood the test of time. (Kimber: You may detect a big canine bias here. Because everything is better with dogs. Including the Great Outdoors!)
Here, in no particular order, are our 100% unscientific, completely subjective recommendations for 20 awesome outdoor classics for older children. How many have you read?
“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” ~Erma Bombeck
Happy Birthday, America!
And best wishes to all our dear readers for a safe and enjoyable holiday!
By Congressman Steve Scalise with Jeffrey E. Stern (Hatchette Book Group, 2018)
Genre: Non-Fiction
Via: Library
Pages (print): 281
That one small entry wound belied a massive, mostly internal hemorrhage that was about to kill me. I’d be dead in a matter of minutes, unless someone with some kind of x-ray vision happened to show up and was somehow able to see all the bleeding that couldn’t be seen. I needed a miracle.
In gripping You Are There fashion, Back in the Game tells what happened when one man opened fire at a baseball practice for Republican members of Congress on the morning of June 14, 2014, wounding five and nearly killing one: Louisiana congressman and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. And how Scalise fought his way back to the people’s House.
It’s Scalise’s moment by moment account of not only what happened to him, but of those who emerged in the seconds after the shooting began and worked to save his life and the lives of his colleagues and teammates when a lone gunman attempted the greatest political assassination in U.S. history.
The gunman came within a hair’s breadth of succeeding.
Kimber: Let me just say right out of the kennel that Back in the Gameis a book about heroes. Like:
According to family lore, one of us has roots in Ireland. So on this Saint Patrick’s Day we’re highlighting some of our favorite books set in and around the fabled Emerald Isle. Of course, we had to dig some up. And keep digging. And dig some more.
It took some effort. But one of us – the sweet four-legged one with a heart of gold – happens to be very good at digging. (Let’s just keep that our little secret, okay? – Kimber.)
So here are some of our favorite books set in Ireland. That we’ve actually read. Any of these ring any rainbows? In no particular order:
By Robert James Waller (John M. Hardy Publishing, 2002)
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 181
Via: Library Book Sale
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner…
A professional photographer who’s spent his entire life on the road “chasing good light” all over the world, Robert Kincaid* is reclusive and reserved. But he has his memories. Especially memories of a lonely farm wife he met sixteen years ago at a bridge in Madison County, Iowa.
Fast forward to 1981. Robert Kincaid of Bellingham, Washington is now sixty-eight years old. His best friends are a ’54 Chevy pickup truck named “Harry” and a golden retriever named “Highway.” As the years pile up, memories of four summer days in Iowa that had to last a lifetime begin to swirl. Robert decides to find them.
Kimber: Mom just called me in from the yard. ‘Bout time. That big yellow ball in the sky is starting to spread across the horizon like a giant egg yolk. Temperatures are dropping. The Powder Puff just sauntered past. Why that canine lets her owner deck her out in that green and red jacket + reindeer antlers, I’ll never know.
Anyway, when Mom opened the porch door, I caught a whiff of Something Warm and Wonderful inside. She says, “Kimber, dinner! Come!”
Mom and I have cooked up something short and sweet for you today. Well, actually we cooked this up last year. But who’s counting? Besides. Ya see, one of us is being a lazy slug today (Hi, Mom). Come to think of it, I, Kimber, am a bit tuckered, too.
Mom says solitude can be hard to come by in our rush-rush, hurry up, instant everything society. Grabbing a few quiet moments to refresh and recharge can be a challenge any time. But it’s particularly tough during the holidays, huh?
This One’s For You
So if holiday merry-making has you ready to tear your hair out or your festive feathers are a bit ruffled, this is for you.
Slow down. Grab a hot cuppa. Plop in a peppermint stick. Sit down. Put your feet up. Give Manheim Steamroller’s Stille Nacht (Silent Night) a listen. Five quiet minutes. You’ll be glad you did.
Know someone who could use a yuletide boost? Don’t forget to share!
Pages & Paws 