From "Good Reads"

A Greener Christmas by Sheherazade Goldsmith

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This non-fiction book has some really neat ideas and recipes. I copied the gingerbread recipe and plan to make it very soon.

The patterns and projects, for the most part, are simple. Instructions are easy to follow.

Would not mind having this book on my shelf at home.

Mentioned it on my Squidoo page December is Read a New Book Month!


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What a Disappointment!

Finished reading Scarpetta the newest novel from Patricia Cornwell. I was so hoping that the story would be a good one. Well, it was OK, but not the best Kay Scarpetta tome. I saw an interview in which Ms. Cornwell says we will be surprised by the outcome of the book (read: Who did the murders; who wrote "Gotham Gotcha".) I am not the sharpest pin in the cushion, but I sorta figured it out way too soon.

But, I must say that I read the book in less than a week. I am not a fast reader. I skipped over some of the computer techy stuff and psychoanalysis trivia. I missed out on nothing by doing so, buy the way. My motive in finishing this thick book was to get it back to the library as soon as I could. Being a former librarian, I know that there is a long waiting list on any Cornwell book, so renewing it was out of the question if I could not finish it during the check-out time.

Spoiler alert: Kay and Benton.

The are married. Not in bliss land, but that is reality. Sometimes the fun is in the hunting,trapping and taming. I am not quite convinced that their marriage will last. I hope so.

Lucy. What can one say about Lucy. I think I presently like Abby on NCIS much better.

I am glad to see Marino getting back to normal. He is much too interesting to disappear.

My recommendations:

Check the book out from the library or buy it used on Amazon, if you must.

If you are looking for a good read, try Laura Lippman. Visit my article on Squidoo, Laura Lippman & Tess Monaghan: Girls Detecting for my thoughts about this wonderful author and book series.

So you love Crime Fiction?

I do. Well, I guess I do. I never knew there were so many kinds of "crime" books out there. I recently learned about "Hardboiled" crime fiction. Wiki states that "The name comes from a colloquial phrase of understatement. For an egg, to be hardboiled is to be comparatively tough. The hardboiled detective—originated by Daly's Terry Mack and Race Williams and epitomized by Hammett's Sam Spade and Chandler's Philip Marlowe—not only solves mysteries, like his "softer" counterparts, he (and often these days, she) confronts danger and engages in violence on a regular basis."

Hmmm.

I have a Squidoo lens (http://www.squidoo.com/AdrianMcKintyandLeeChild)that features 2 authors with "hardboiled" characters. I find myself recommending the books by Adrian McKinty and Lee Child over and over. I absolutely find their two creations, Michael Forsythe and Jack Reacher, fascinating.

McKinty's series about Michael Forsythe has only three titles (so far), and all are great reads. Begin with Dead I Well May Be. It can be quite violent and unsettling at times, but do not give up. What Michael goes thru is very relevant to why he becomes so "hardboiled".

Jack Reacher is also green around the yolk. Begin reading this series with Killing Floor. It may not answer all the reasons about why Reacher is so tough, but it gives you an inkling. I actually read Echo Burning first. That book got me hooked and I was ecstatic to discover that there were lots of titles in this series. I recently completed the 12th of these novels. I was somewhat disappointed in the book as a whole, but not with the series and Reacher. See my review of Nothing to Lose at (http://www.squidoo.com/nothing_to_lose).

Give these two Hardboiled Authors a looksee.

Book Blogs

Just discovered Book Blogs--seems neat

View my page on Book Blogs

Nothing to Lose by Lee Child

I finished reading Lee Child's 12th Jack Reacher novel a few weeks ago. I spent at least a week writing a lens (page) on Squidoo about it. Go visit Nothing to Lose by Lee Child - the 12th Jack Reacher Book.

The book was pretty good. I am a slow reader, but I finished it in a few days. Jack Reacher is such a compelling creation and I love reading about all the situations he gets stuck in. He is like a troublesome chick magnet! He usually gets a girl and gets a fight as well.

Mostly, I liked the book because it was set in my favorite state, Colorado. I lived there for three years and cannot get back there enough. Lee Child did a wonderful job creating the mood for this Colorado setting with his descriptions of the flat plains to the east of the Rockies.

While surfing the web doing "research" for my Reacher lens, I discovered quite a bit of buzz about a possible movie of one of Mr. Child's books. Who should (or Could) play Jack Reacher. Boy was this fun to contemplate! If you go to my lens mentioned above, you will find the actors I believe would do a bang up job. My personal favorite is Ray Stevenson.

Presenting Lenore: Book Review: Down River by John Hart

Presenting Lenore: Book Review: Down River by John Hart

Found the above review of Down River by John Hart. Just another opinion--I guess I might need to read this book again. I was not as impressed as some.

St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nice reading. Learned lots of NASCAR trivia so I can relate to my husband. Give this book a try. Even if you are not a racin' fan, you will enjoy it.


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Be sure to check out Amazon for all the books bySharyn McCrumb.