We the Animals by Justin Torres
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Look at these adorable cookie cutters. I just love when something common is re-done to be something cool!
http://www.otisfundraisingideas.com/fundraisingideas/10-very-cool-cookie-cutters

The Job by Douglas Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was pretty good. Suspenseful.

View all my reviews

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My son read this and asked me to read it so we could talk about it. Great book. It is really a jumping off point for much discussion about family, disabilities, museums, and much, much more.

View all my reviews

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

The Line by Olga Grushin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great writing. Compelling characters. A page turner. Even better once I read more about what the book was based on (but DON'T read about that first).


View all my reviews

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't know why I only "really liked" this book instead of loved it.  Wonderful writing.  To me, I felt like I was really in South America reading this.  Something about the writing style gave it a foreign sense.  Perhaps I did not care about the characters as much as I expected?  I think that was it.  Beautiful to read.


View all my reviews

From the Land of the Moon

From the Land of the Moon by Milena Agus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the best book I've read in a very long time.  Great writing, great story, surprises throughout. Beautiful.


View all my reviews

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Fun book about, well, fun.

The Game Makers: The Story of Parker Brothers, from Tiddledy Winks to Trivial Pursuit by Philip E. Orbanes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love books like these that tell the story of a family or business.  This one I really enjoyed. My master's is in Leisure Studies so this was right up my alley. Well done - could be edited down a bit. Not every single detail needs to go into a book.  Overall, enjoyed it.


View all my reviews

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson




I tried. I can't finish. 70% through but it's just so badly written. It's an assault to my intelligence. Great title, though.



View all my reviews

Goodbye, Gretchen

Such a good dog. A long, healthy, happy life. Today, one month shy of being 14 years old, she had to be put down. We knew it was coming and that did not make it ONE bit easier.

Ready for tomorrow's biographical presentation of Ben Franklin.

The Adults: A Novel by Alison Espach

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book started out really interesting. I read 25% of it the first night. Amazing writing, clever storytelling and characters. But halfway through the book...it fizzled. It seemed the author spent way more time on the first half then quickly had to finish to meet a deadline or something. Characters didn't develop fully, and the quality of writing seemed closer to first than final draft, so that was disappointing.



View all my reviews

Book Review: A Widow's Story

A Widow's Story: A Memoir by Joyce Carol Oates

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I've not read anything by JCO before, but wow, her writing is perfection. The subject matter is tough, sad, heartbreaking, but so well done.



View all my reviews