Excellent chronicle of the greed and audacity that propelled our nation's march to the Pacific.

For a natural history book club. Recommend it for many reasons - it does parallel today's events being formed around the race for resources prized by humans.

Also into Icelandic mysteries- just finished Ashes to Dust.

After reading IQ84 this summer I started reading the rest of the works of this weird unique Japanese author.

This is the first in the series, written in 1998. It's about a woman named Precious Ramotswe and takes place in Botswana. (what makes the name "Precious" significant in movies ot TV? I seem to remember someone getting some type of acting award and that name. Never watch awards and hardly ever go to the movies).

When I first started reading it, for the first 40 pp or so, I thought it was a kid's book, or YA, and thought maybe I'd take it back without reading it. A week later, gave it another look, and I think it's going to be okay. Definitely not a kid's book, at least not a little kid....

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/M_Authors/McCall-Smith_Alexander.html

Book 81 of 2012

in Kindle/Amazon.

Full disclosure: I am the author of this chick lit novel, and of course I would love it if any ladies on this board would be interested in reading it, but recently something very strange happened with this book and I'd like to share it with you:

A publisher in Estonia contacted me. She read the Kindle version and fell in love with it, and asked if I would be willing to allow them to translate my story and sell it in paperback in Estonia. Well, long story short, I said yes, we contracted, I received an advance (in American dollars), and the printing is occurring as I write this.

But now I will need to have someone to read it to me, as I don't speak Estonian.

Odd the things that happen in life that are least expected.

It must feel great to be published. All the best to you.

I've written three health/Alzheimer's books that were published around the country; a compilation of activity exercises for dementia patients.

Don't Tell the Moon is a Chick Flick story, far removed from the daily sadness I see as a Hospice nurse.

It is pretty cool. Will the book sell? Who knows. LOL. Either way, the process is interesting!

Time for some humor in the mystery...

Once you know the answer, by Duncan J. Watts.

Basically about how "common sense" is more culturally determined than we realize, how it can lead us astray, and maybe what to do about it. So far it's pretty interesting.

I'm really enjoying the book so far. It's set in Poland toward the end of World War 2. The only other book I've read by Bohjailan is Trans-Sister Radio. The two books couldn't be more different, but I really like both of them.

I'm also slowly making my way through Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century. I aim to read about 50 pages per week in this 700-page semi-tome, and I don't have enough read yet to render a decent opinion, but I'll keep going with it.

Finally, when I'm driving long distances or walking my neighborhood, I've been listening to Stephen King's The Stand. I read it many years ago, but it's fun listening to it here and there when I get time.

I was enthralled with this one; and that's become rare.

Also started The Face That Must Die by Ramsey Campbell.

Fictional story of Jane Bunker, a marine insurance agent and Sheriff's Deputy in Maine - formerly a homicide detective in Florida. So far, only 2 books in this mystery series.

In reality Greenlaw is a swordfish fisherman who's been in The Perfect Storm and in the news for a conviction of illegallly fishing in Canadian waters.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/05/29/perfect-storm-conviction-529.html


http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/G_Authors/Greenlaw_Linda.html


Book 82 of 2012

I don't know why, but I just couldn't keep my mind on this book, so I quit.

One of the earlier books in this series.

Purse book: Stardust by Joseph Kanon, which takes place among the German emigres in Hollywood during and after World War II.

25th in the Hamish Macbeth mystery series....(3 more to go after this one)

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/B_Authors/Beaton_M-C.html





Book 83 of 2012

This is the first of 3 in a British series about a 4-story apartment building called, "Corduroy Mansions," and its tenants. Trouble is, inside the jacket it doesn't say anything about mysteries, murders, etc., and I got the book under the impression that it was because it is listed in "Stop You're Killing Me," which only lists mysteries...we shall see...am only on page 14.

One of the main characters is a dog (pictured on the front cover), a Pimlico terrier named Freddie de la Hay, who likes to use a seat belt and is a vegetarian. I am a sucker for dogs..

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/M_Authors/McCall-Smith_Alexander.html (click on the link for this book and it'll take you to Amazon for a review)


Book 84 of 2012

No one caught my attention or interest.

As the most likeable character in the book (the only one I might add) he had only a few paragraphs of description. All the other characters had too much description.

I could not see a reason for his writing the book and am still upset over the time I wasted when I have a pile of good ones to read...

Pure and simple junk.