Quick reviews

The last several fiction books that I read each merit mention, but I don't have enough to say about them to write a review about each. So here's a quick run-down of what I read this week.

King's Blood Four by Sherri Tepper is the first book in a trilogy, and I will probably start the next one shortly. It is fantasy about a world that is run by the True Game. Part chess, part magic, part religion, the True Game is deadly. The story was good, but left me a bit confused. I hope the next book clears things up!

Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell is pure escapist chick lit. It was a quick enjoyable read about a teacher who wins the lottery on the worst day of her life.

Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly features attorney Mickey Haller instead of cop Heironymous Bosch, and is a great read if you like attorney/cop/murder mystery books. Michael Connelly hasn't disappointed me yet.

Cross Country by James Patterson is a novel about Dectective Alex Cross, but is different than the others in the series because much of the action takes place in Africa. The depiction of the horrors of life in some wore-torn parts or Africa may help open the eyes of some Patterson fans who would never read non-fiction on the subject.

Book Review: Cruel and Usual Punishment

Title: Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law
Author: Nonie Darwish

Nonie Darwish spent the first 30 years of her life living under Islamic Law and writes passionately about the damage it does to women, men, and countries. She lays out the background of Islamic Law and how it fits into the agenda of worldwide jihad.

In addition to illustrating the horrors of life under Sharia law for women and those who aren't Muslim, Darwish traces the growing attempts to bring Sharia law to western nations, and exhorts the west to resist these attempts.

The book is very interesting, if a bit repetitive in places. The author's outline of the history of the spread of Islam and the political nature of the Islamic faith are very thought-provoking. I would like for those who are shouting for accommodation of Islam and arguing that there are benefits in Sharia law to read this book.

Not really a review

This isn't as much a review as it is a lament.

I am finding myself disappointed lately with authors I've always enjoyed. These are all authors who have an ongoing series with particular characters. I'm not sure when I noticed it first. It may have been that last Stephanie Plum book by Janet Evanovich that I didn't even finish. Not sure.

But it came to my mind again this week when I read Jonathan Kellerman's latest, Bones. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't the can't-put-it-down experience that his books used to be. Now I'm reading Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell and am having trouble getting into it.

So. Is it me? Or have some of these authors lost a bit of their oomph? Does the problem lie in long-running characters? Or have my tastes altered? What do you think?

Book Review: Homeschooling: A Family's Journey

I have a book about homeschooling to recommend. This kind of surprises me.

First, it is unusual for me to read a homeschooling book. Most of them make me crazy. And after thirteen years of this lifestyle, I certainly don't want to read that I'm doing it wrong! Secondly, many of them are useful to new homeschoolers or a subset of homeschoolers, but no one else would really want to read them. Homeschooling: A Family's Journey is a good book for long-timers, newbies, wannabes, and folks who would just like to understand homeschoolers a little bit better.

After I got this book home from the library I was trying to figure out what made me pick it up and look at it. It does say "HOMESCHOOLING" in red letters on the front, so I guess it isn't entirely surprising that I looked at it. But I think that what really got my attention was the picture of the family on the front. It was what we like to call a "pile picture." The family is kind of piled in, leaning on each other. They like each other. They aren't stuffy. They look like a family we could be friends with.

But the thing that made me bring it home was this sentence inside the front cover: "Today's homeschoolers succeed not because they do "school" things better than schools do--but because they do better things than school." Yes. In a nutshell. (This is part of the reason calls for accountability to the school-ish powers that be drives us crazy.)

So I decided to read it last night. Not with the highest of expectations, because It has been years since I read a book about homeschooling that really did anything for me. But I found myself engaged. I stayed awake late reading. I finished it this morning. I marked pages as I read because I kept finding nuggets that resonated. This book is about family and what education is.

Several of the pages I marked are going to turn into blog posts of their own. The book I read is from the library, but I'm going to buy my own so that I can mark it up and--eventually--loan it out. It is that good.

Why not one more

I was thinking about the reading challenges that I had seen, and decided that I might as well add the Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, since a large portion of the books I read come from the library.

There are three levels, and I guess I'll go for the 25 book level, even though 50 is possible.

I'll be posting them here as I read them:

1. Bones by Jonathan Kellerman
2. Archy and Mehitabel by Don Marquis
3. Homeschooling: A Family's Journey by Gregory and Martine Millman
4. Heat Lightning by John Sandford
5. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
6. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
7. Cross Country by James Patterson
8. Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
9. Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell
10. Terrorist by John Updike
11. Die in Plain Sight by Elizabeth Lowell
12. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
13. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
14. Lydia Bennet's Story
15. Red River by Lalita Tademy
16. Run for Your Life by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
17. A Red State of Mind by Nancy French
18. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
19. Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger
20. The Next Big Thing by Johanna Edwards
21. Glory in Death by J.D. Robb
22. Holly Would Dream by Karen Quinn
23. Sullivan's Law by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
24. Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
25. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger

World Citizen Challenge

I've decided that I want to put a little more effort into my reading challenges this year so I'm searching out some different ones that are out there. I've picked a few that I'm going to do. The first is The World Citizen Challenge.

I am picking this one for several reasons. First, it is non-fiction, which I have only really started reading for pleasure during the past couple of years, but enjoy immensely. Second, it encompasses things like history, economics, culture, and politics from an international perspective. Those are things that I would be reading about, but it will help give me some focus. Third, it's only seven books and can fit in nicely with the others that I am doing. These are the categories that the books will come from: politics, economics, history, culture or anthropology/sociology, worldwide issues, and memoirs/autobiographies. I will do one from each and then one more.

I'll be listing my books here and will link to it in my sidebar.

1. The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper (memoir/Liberia)(finished 2/20/2009)
2. Cruel and Usual Punishment: The terrifying global implications of Islamic Law by Nonie Darwish (Worldwide Issues) (finished 1/15/2009)
3. A Princess Found by Sarah Culberson & Tracy Trivas (memoir/Sierra Leone) (finished 8/31/2009)
4. Au Revoir to All That: Food, Wine, & the End of France by Michael Steinberger (culture/France) (finished 12/15/2009)
6. Seeds of Terror: How Heroin is Bankrolling the Taliban and Al Qaeda by Gretchen Peters (Politics/Afghanistan)

Suspense and Thriller Challenge

When I saw that there was a Suspense and Thriller Challenge, I knew that I had to join. These are the kind of books that always show up and divert my attention from other books I plan to read. These are my favorites for a quick, can't-put-down read.

Rules of this challenge:

* Read TWELVE (12) different sub-genres of thrillers in 2009.

* You do NOT need to select your books ahead of time. Also, you may change as you go.

* Your books can crossover into other challenges.

The sub-genres are listed at the challenge site.

I'll be listing my books here and they'll be ghosted as I finish them.

1. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb Futuristic mystery/thriller
2. Bones by Jonathan Kellerman Amateur Detective mystery
3. Heat Lightning by John Sandford Hitman Thriller
4. Cross Country by James Patterson
5. Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly Legal thriller
6. Die in Plain Sight by Elizabeth Lowell Romantic thriller
7. Run for Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge Serial Killer thriller
8. Divine Justice by David Baldacci Conspiracy thriller
9. Certain Jeopardy Military thriller
10. Execution Dock by Anne Perry Historical mystery/thriller
11. First Family by David Baldacci Private Detective mystery
12. The Fate of Katherine Carr by Thomas H. Cook Drama thriller

100 Book Challenge

I love this challenge. It's simple. Read at least 100 books in 2009.

Here are the rules:

1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.

2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.

3) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

I'll be listing my books here as I either decide to read them or read them. As I finish books I will orange them and put the date completed.


1. The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper (finished 2/20/2009)
2. A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffery Archer (finished 1/27/2009)
3. A Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein (finished 1/3/2009
4. The Reagan I Knew by William F. Buckley, Jr. (finished 2/12/2009)
5. Cruel and Usual Punishment: The terrifying global implications of Islamic Law by Nonie Darwish (finished 1/15/2009)
6. Bones by Jonathan Kellerman (finished 1/7/2009)
7. Archy and Mehitabel by Don Marquis (finished 1/7/2009)
8. Homeschooling: A Family's Journey by Gregory and Martine Millman (finished 1/8/2009)
9. Heat Lightning by John Sandford (finished 1/12/2009)
10. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling (finished 1/12/2009)
11. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (finished 1/17/2009)
12. Cross Country by James Patterson (finished 1/19/2009)
13. Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly (finished 1/22/2009)
14. Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell (finished 1/23/2009)
15. How the Missouri Synod Was Born by Rev Dr. William Gustave Polack (finished 1/23/2009)
16. King's Blood Four by Sherri Tepper (finished 1/25/2009)
17. Terrorist by John Updike (finished 2/2/2009)
18. Die in Plain Sight by Elizabeth Lowell (finished 2/4/2009)
19. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb (finished 2/7/2009)
20. Lydia Bennet's Story by Jane Odiwe (finished 2/8/2009)
21. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (finished 2/10/2009)
22. Red River by Lalita Tademy (finished 2/15/2009)
23. Run for Your Life by James Patterson (finished 2/18/2009)
24. A Red State of Mind by Nancy French (finished 2/23/2009)
25. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron (finished 2/24/2009)
26. The Survivor's Club by Ben Sherwood (finished 2/28/2009)
27. Everyone Worth Knowing by Lauren Weisberger (finished 3/2/2009)
28. The Next Big Thing by Johanna Edwards (finished 3/4/2009)
29. Glory in Death by J.D. Robb (finished 3/11/2009)
30. Class Matters by Correspondents of the New York Times (finished 3/12/2009)
31. Holly Would Dream by Karen Quinn (finished 3/13/2009)
32. Sullivan's Law by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg (finished 3/15/2009)
33. Weapons of Mass Instruction by John Taylor Gatto (finished 3/19/2009)
34. Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult (finished 3/21/2009)
35. Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger (finished 3/26/2009)
36. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (finished 4/1/2009)
37. The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution by Kevin R.C. Gutzman, Ph.D., J.D. (4/7/2009)
38. The Sharper Your Knife the Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn (4/8/2009)
39. True Detectives by Jonathan Kellerman (4/13/20089)
40. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb (4/17/2009)
41. Food Matters by Mark Bittman (4/19/2009)
42. Certain Jeopardy by Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky (4/22/2009)
43. Divine Justice by David Baldacci (4/27/2009)
44. Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb (4/30/2009)
45. The 8th Confession by James Patterson (5/2/2009)
46. A Dream Deferred: The Second Betrayal of Black Freedom in America by Shelby Steele (5/4/2009)
47. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner (5/7/2009)
48. The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen (5/9/2009)
49. Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster (5/11/2009)
50. The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer (5/13/2009)
51. Frederica by Georgette Heyer (5/18/2009)
52. Ceremony in Death by J. D. Robb (5/21/2009)
53. Allen County Photo Album 1852-1954 (5/23/2009)
54. Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer (5/25/2009)
55. A Perfect Mess by Eric Abrahamson & David Freedman (5/27/2009)
56. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (5/31/2009)
57. Execution Dock by Anne Perry (6/5/2009)
58. Wicked Prey by John Sandford (6/9/2009)
59. Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (6/15/2009)
60. Glenn Beck's Common Sense (6/18/2009)
65. The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer (6/22/2009)
66. The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly (6/25/2009
67. Origins of the Specious: Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language by Patricia T. O'Connor & Stewart Kellerman (6/29/2009)
68. Penguin Book of Gaslight Crime edited by Michael Sims (7/2/2009)
69. The Associate by John Grisham (7/9/2009)
70. First Family by David Baldacci (7/13/2009)
71. The Death of the Grown-up by Diana West (7/15/2009)
72. The Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir (7/19/2009)
73. Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer (7/21/2009)
74. Queen Takes King by Gigi Levangie Grazer (7/23/2009)
75. Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson (7/26/2009)
76. The Fate of Katherine Carr by Thomas H. Cook (8/1/2009)
77. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer (8/5/2009)
78. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (8/9/2009)
79. The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel (8/11/2009)
80. Liberty and Tyranny by Mark Levin (8/13/2009)
81. Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer (8/16/2009)
82. The Money Mystery by Richard J. Maybury (8/18/2009)
83. Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella (8/22/2009)
80. Arabella by Georgette Heyer (8/25/2009)
81. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child (8/28/2009)
82. A Princess Found by Sarah Culberson & Tracy Trivas (8/31/2009)
83. The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson (9/7/ 2009)
84. Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison (9/9/2009)
85. Generation Me by Jean Twenge (9/14/2009)
86. The Apostle by Brad Thor (9/17/2009)
87. The Solace of Leaving Early by Haven Kimmel (9/20/2009)
88. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (9/22/2009)
89. 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs (9/25/2006)
90. Vengeance in Death by J.D.Robb (9/27/2009
91. The Penny Pinchers' Club by Sarah Strohmeyer (9/29/2009)
92. Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain (10/4/2009)
93. Little Heathens by Mildred Armstrong Kalish (10/6/2009)
94. Killer Summer by Ridley Pearson (10/10/2009)
95. Blindman's Bluff by Fay Kellerman (10/14/2009)
96. The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer (10/16/2009)
97. The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky (10/18/2009)
98. False Colours by Georgette Heyer (10/22/2009)
99. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston (10/24/2009)
100. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (11/2/2009)
Life Among the Lutherans by Garrison Keillor (Humor)
Arguing With Idiots by Glenn Beck (Non-fiction, politics)
The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews (Chick Lit)
Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton
Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer (Regency Romance)
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by Jame Patterson
Going Rogue by Sarah Palin (Memoir, Politics)
Liar by Justine Larbalestier (YA Fiction)
Alex Cross's Trial (Historical Fiction)
Pursuit of Honor Vince Flynn
How to be Cool by Johanna Edwards
Sylvester by Georgette Heyer
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Seeds of Terror by Gretchen Peters