A Note to Self: Butterflies, Flowers vol 3

Butterflies, Flowers vol 3 by: Yuki Yoshihara
non-fiction, manga, romance 190 pages
Book Count: 62

A Note to Self: Butterflies, Flowers vol 2

Butterflies, Flowers vol 2 by: Yuki Yoshihara
non-fiction, manga, romance 188 pages
Book Count: 61

A Note to Self: Butterflies, Flowers vol 1

Butterflies, Flowers vol 1 by: Yuki Yoshihara
non-fiction, manga, romance 190 pages
Book Count: 60

Note: all the notes are on the series as a whole.
This manga is called Chou yo Hana yo in Japan. It is from Shojo Beat Manga, but is actually josie manga. (shojo is geared for 10-18 year old girls, josie older teens and adult women.) As such it is rated M or mature. It has some nudity and sexual situations (think R movie level: breast, views from the waist up, carefull placements, lights going out.)

The story line is that the main character used to be part of a rich noble family, but they went bankrupt when she was 7. She is now 20 and got a job at a office. She finds out that her boss used to be a servant boy of her's. Note: he is at most 9 years older then her as he states that he isn't 30 yet whenever anyone calls him old. And now they are in a weird relationship where he is her boss, but also her servant and they fall in love.

Note on Picture Books

The next three books that I will be writing on are volumes of Manga. And I have already posted on a graphic novel this year (or last, not sure). This lead me to think that I should have a clear rule on books that are mostly pictures. So the rule for book counts will be: graphic novels and volumes of manga count as books. Comic books and magizines of manga will not count as they are too short. Online reading of chapters of manga that would add up to a volume in book formate will also not count as it is too hard working out page count. Also, because I am not physicaly holding the book much like how audiobooks are not added to the book count. (If I somehow read an e-book [not getting into why I think e-books suck] I will deside then how I will count them.)

A Book in Review: Haunted Heartland

Haunted Heartland By: Beth Scott & Michael Norman
non-fiction paranormal 468 pages
Book count: 59

This book is an odd combination of very well known stories and ones I have never heard of before even after reading other books on ghost stories only from the same areas. For example, the first story of the book is Resurrection Mary. Even if that name doesn't ring a bell you have heard some variation of the story as it is a well known urban legend. Resurrection Mary is a teen age girl that died long ago, but still enjoys going out dancing and getting rides back to her home. In this story she directs the young man she was dancing with or a cabbie to her current home, Resurrection Cemetery and either disappears on the way or walks thru the car/gate to get inside the graveyard. See, you do know the story. But, most of the stories I have never heard before, even in the MI part where I have read multiple books with ghost stories from this state.

The book is divided by state and includes a long list of sources in the end of the book making it different from most books of this type. It also works hard to be factual, so some of the stories do not have all the details added that books mainly interested in telling ghost stories do. It also will add commentary on some or additional information when the story and provable facts do not line up (dates etc.)or when they found additional information.

A Book in Review: The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove By: Christopher Moore
Fiction: humor, Sci-fi 304 pages
Book Count: 58

First, as you can tell with a quick search of this blog, I have liked every Christopher Moore book that I have read. (Go ahead and look, we'll wait.) Are you back? good. Now this book is about a small town in the fall. Due to a death, the town shrink takes everyone off their meds and puts them on a placebo, in case the antidepressant caused the death. As they are all dealing with the withdraw a giant sea beast moves into town. Along with causing an explosion and eating a few people it also causes all the townspeople to be horny. In then chaos/fun ensues. Also this book stars Kendra, Warrior Babe of the Outland.

A Book in Review: First You Build A Cloud

First You Build A Cloud and Other Reflections on Physics as a Way of Life By: K.C. Cole
Non-fiction, Science 212 pages
Book Count: 57

This book does a good job of explaining different ideas/theories/concepts in physics for people with a basic understanding of science (i.e. some high school/ college level science, but not majoring in science.) It talks about major scientist in the field as wall as tries to explain how things work/ why you don't understand a concept easily.

July- August Book Count:

Number of books read: 12
Pages read: 3784
Average number of days to read a book: 5
Average number of pages read in a day: 61
Average number of books read in a month: 6
Average number of pages read in a month: 1892

A Book in Review: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle By: Barbara Kingsolver
Non-fiction: food 352 pages
Book Count: 56

This book was surprising good for the most part. Giving the other places I have seen it references I expected it to be mostly crap. It was for the most part interesting. It is mainly about how the author spent their year of living off the land. There are a few parts about how people are destroying everything and using fossil fuels is evil, but it also has an essay on why you should eat meat. There was only one place where the liberal earth first BS really annoyed me. In one paragraph the author goes on about how the way we eat is killing us and the world. (Not that I am not saying that some ways we use aren't bad for both.) But, she both talks about how the generations after her's (she's 55) are living shorter lives, and that the world is going to be horrible overpopulated in 40-50 years. Now even just putting theses to facts next to each other make it sound a little silly. When you look at the data on the world's population it becomes more of an issue of one or the other, but both of these things can't be true. Her longer living, large generation will be mostly dead in 50 years. If people are dieing younger then a lot of the next one will be dead too. Most of Europe and much of Asia average less then the 2 children per couple needed just to keep population at nearly a standstill. (2 kids still equals a small negative as not all people have kids. And the average is closer to 1.) And many of the populations that have a large number of children do so as they know most of there kids will die before adulthood, so unless people live longer lives in the future in 2 generations we most likely will not have a population explosion beyond what the earth can handle. Anyway besides that there were some fun and worth while info in this book. Things like menus and recipes for the foods found in each month and info on what time each food grows. In both cases that dates will very slightly based on where you live, but it gives a good rough idea.

A Book in Review: Pickled, Potted and Canned

Pickled, Potted and Canned: How the Art and Science of Food Preserving Changed the World By: Sue Shephard
Non-Fiction: food/cooking 345 pages
Book Count: 55

This book goes over all of the major methods used in history to preserve food, the pluses and minuses of each method as well as how food preserving has changed/stayed the same threw out history. It goes into many key points in food history, and had some interesting things to say about them. For example, some groups of explorers that used early cans were thought to have died from lead poisoning from the cans; however, at that time they were exposed to so many other sources of lead, even if that is what killed them it might not be the cans fault. As I read it during the time of year that my garden is going crazy with tomatoes, and the peppers will soon be too, it made it all the more interesting as I am currently using some of the food preserving methods it talks about.

A Book in Review: Fiction first aid

Fiction first aid Instant Remedies for Novels, Stories and Scripts By: Raymond Obstfeld
non-fiction: writing 283 pages
Book Count: 54

Like every other book on writing this one has advice that goes against the advice in other books on the subject. This one's main oddity is the belief that if you get stuck at part of the story you should not skip ahead to the next part and then work to connect the two parts later as the author feels that getting stuck means that there is something wrong with the story so far that should be fixed. Also this book uses a constant editing method where you edit each chapter/scene before working on the next one. It does have a lot of good advice on how to fix common problems in writing. (However, it doesn't include the awesome "Old Spice Man" writing issue, "I'm in a chair!")

A Book in Review: Geek Love

Geek Love By: Katherine Dunn
fiction: 348 pages
Book Count: 53

I first picked out this book as an audio-book for a trip. The back cover made it sound like a book about a carnivel family that try to have children that were freaks (the freak show type, not just odd people). I didn't get to the audio-book, but read the paper book. The back cover didn't cover the story at all. First, it was told years later by one of the kids. Half the story is her life at the time dealing with her mother that doesn't remember her after her years of drug use and experimitation to creat freak children and with her daughter that was raised in an orphanage because she was too normal, who doesn't know that her mother is the abino hunchback dwarf in her apartment building. The rest of the book is about her life in the carnival from when she was very little until her current life started. It is an unusual book, due to the supject.

A Note to Self: King Lear

King Lear By: William Shakespeare
non-fiction: clasics/ play 125 pages

Book Count: 52

Note: the page count is only the play there were also 125 pages with notes on them of word/ saying meanings and a few pages of introduction about the play, Shakespeare and plays at that time.

A Book in Review: Angels & Demons

Angels & Demons By: Dan Brown
Really, really fiction, mystery 569 pages
Book count: 51

First, I would like to say that I only read the book because it was given to me and by finishing it I can put it in my garage sale this week and get rid of it. (Also, all the better to rant about what a piece of crap it is.) Second, I would like to suggest that no one goes to the head librarian at Ohio University- Chillicothe for help on research information as according to the acknowledgments he is in part to blame for this horrible book. As this book is a strange combination of things that you could learn with a five minute search on the Internet and complete BS. For example, it talks about the Catholic priest that worked on making The Big Band Theory (the science one, not the show), rips off Catholic teaching on science (as one of the characters own idea, not a church one as that would ruin the whole idea of the book), and then goes on and on about how religion and science are in this epic fight. The main plot is about the Illuminati, a group of scientist hunted down by the Church centuries ago now getting their revenge. It is always talking about scientific ideas that by their being science is naturally evil. A main character's parents refused to give him medicine when he's deathly ill, studying the origin of the universe is evil because God did it is all you need to know, etc, etc. And sure, some religions would say that, but not the one that the story is about. And then they finally get to something scientific that the Catholic Church has moral issues with and a bunch of cardinals state that it is a good thing! Frankly I do not know how these books became so popular, as anti-Catholic Protestants would be more likely offended by the pro-science anti-religion message of the first 400 pages of the book (ruining all the unfacts about the "evils of the Church" they would enjoy learning)and really Catholic hating seams like the only reason to read the book, its writing is OK, it has a fast pace, action but it is so much about religion.

A Book in Review: Battle of the Network Zombies

Battle of the Network Zombies By: Mark Henry
Fiction, paranormal 307 pages
Book count: 50

This is the 3rd book in a series of books about the life(unlife?) of a fanshionista zombie. In this one she is in despairt need of money and so gets a job being a judge of a reality show. The show is a contest to be the bodyguard of a wood nymph celebrity best known for his long list of ex-lovers. Along with zombies and the nymph the cast of characters includes: vampires, yetis, werewolves, sirens, and a Enenri (Japanese smoke ghost). The only problem with the show is that star is killed the first night. So Amanda (the main character zombie) takes all her knowledge from buying and never finishing Agatha Christy novels and turns the show into a mystery show where she is the detective working on finding out who the killer is.

A Book in Review: 30 Steps to Becoming a Writer

30 Steps to Becoming a Writer By: Scott Edelstein
non-fiction: writing 224 pages
Book Count: 49

This book has a lot of good advice and is useful for both people that like a structured program and those that like a more free from method. In fact a couple of the exercises is to try a couple different methods for writing to see which you like better. It also has you writing as part of reading the book. The only thing that I didn't like about the book is how they tell you to submit pieces. First, I don't see why you need a laser printer, as long as it is typed and printed on a printer that works well, would this be an issue? I understand if it was about pictures where the printer greatly effects the quality, but for written words? Also, although telling the basics of what is needed on a manuscript when send to be publisted is good, it would be better if he noted that anything that the magazine, paper, etc states in their requirements overrides this advice. But beside these two little things I over all liked the book.

A Book in Review: Skinny is Overrated

Skinny is Overrated: The Real Woman's Guide to Health and Happiness at Any Size By: Danielle Milano, MD
non-fiction, diet, health 209 pages
Book Count: 48

First, given the title would you think that the main point of this book is "You are too fat you must follow this lifelong, strick diet to be better"? This book SO upset me at points that I almost stopped reading it in the first chapter. Although it has a large amount of good information, the bad really outweighs it. For example, besides lying about the main point of the book it has advice like: watch the DVD of "The Secret" to think yourself thinner, as your friends are all exactly like you you need to get new thinner friends, and the only good kitchen tools are expensive ones. And although the main points of the diet are good, healthy and based on evidence (both scientific and experience based) as it is a life long one (as they are the best for real change) it is too strict and at time counterdictering. For example, in one chapter it says that you can only drink water, and an occasional beer or wine. Then in the next chapter it says that some fruit juice is fine as long as you think about the calories in it. It also lists iced tea as a drink you can't have, but earlier when talking about groups and times of people known for a healthy diet and good health talks about a group that drinks tea as part of the healthy things they do. It also has a number of rules that no American, over weight or not can follow all of the time. These include NEVER eating anything containing the following: fast food, deep fried foods (chips, fries, etc), trans fats,and high fructose corn syrup. As well as EVERY day eating: 3 meals and 1-2 snacks, dark green leafy vegetables, and 5-10 fruits and veggies. (OK, besides eating salads or greens everyday that part isn't hard, but we all have had days where we can't eat at normal meal times for us or you're traveling and the only food is a fast food burger and fries where if you are adding a normal pop or ketchup you have broke every one of the NEVER eat rules. If the diet was simply to not normaly eat these foods, I wouldn't have a problem with the rules, but its not.)

A Book in Review: The Girl in Alfred Hitchcock's Shower

The Girl in Alfred Hitchcock's Shower : A Murder That Became A Real-Life Mystery, A Mystery That Became An Obsession By: Robert Graysmith
Non-fiction, true crime, history, biography, film 289 pages
Book Count: 47

This is a book about many people. The main story is that of Marli Renfro, the uncredited body double in the Hitchcock film Psycho. It is also about the sexual revolution of the 60's, Alftred Hictcock, Francis Ford Coppola, a murderer much like the character of Norman Bates, the author of the book, the writer of Psycho, the murder the book is about, the murder of Janet Leigh's stand in, the Playboy empire, film history and the author's obsession with Marli Renfro. It mixes in all of these stories well, but one should have seen the movie before reading the book. Reading the info on all the work that went into the making of the film makes one want to see it again.

A Book in Review: Turn Coat

Turn Coat By: Jim Butcher
Fiction: Fantasy, 548 pages
Book Count: 46

This is a novel in the Dresden Files series. A graphic novel of the series is reviewed here. In this one Morgan, a fellow wizard is on the run from the White Council of wizards because he is thought to have killed one of the top wizards of the council. He comes to Harry for help. Harry is sure that Morgan is Innocent, but the only way to stop the White Council from killing him is to find the person that did it, a person on the inside who did a great job of framing Morgan. If he fails he too may be killed for helping a criminal. This book has many twists and turns in it as well as tons of different magical folk: wizards, vampires, skinwalker, werewolves, fairy folk and others.

A Book in Review: The Locavore's Handbook

The Locavore's Handbook The Busy Person's Guide to Eating Local on a Budget By: Leda Meredith
Non-fiction, food, environment 185 pages
Book Count: 45

First this book is badly named. It should be something like "The Locavore's Guide to New York City" as about 80% of the parts on actually eating locally are about her own experiences and resources for people living in New York or the surrounding area. There is some information for people living else where, mainly in web sites or other books, but the book is very much a NY book. For example, in all the recipes she uses honey instead of sugar, because there "is no local sugar" which is true for where she lives, but in MI just about every grocery store has sugar grown in the state. Also, like most books of this type it is very preachy. Although, it does talk about how you can save money on eating locally by growing or finding food, joining a CSA (community supported agriculture), and shopping the farmer's market at the right time most of its talk on budget eating is rants about how big business working with the government is artificially lowering the cost of bad foods. (Not saying that it isn't true, just budgeting advice shouldn't be, "You should pay more.")

An Audio Book in Review: Jessica's guide to dating on the dark side

Jessica's guide to dating on the dark side By:Beth Fantaskey
Fiction: YA, paranormal romance

This book is slightly different from other teen romances books about vampires as told by the girl in the relationship in that she is also a vampire. In fact she is a vampire princess. The only problem is that she was raised by hippies in Amish country and doesn't believe in vampires. Also, it turns out that the creepy guy that seams to be following her is the vampire prince that she was engaged to as a baby.


9 CD's 11 hours

May-June Book Count:

Number of books read: 14
Pages read: 5173
Average number of days to read a book: 4
Average number of pages read in a day: 85
Average number of books read in a month: 7
Average number of pages read in a month: 2587

A Book in Review:The Casebook of Forensic Detection

The Casebook of Forensic Detection: How Science Solved 100 of the World's Most Baffling Crimes By: Colin Evans
Non-fiction: science, crime, 355 pages
Book Count: 44

This case deals with the major sciences that are used to solve crimes, especially murder cases. It is divided into the major disciplines used: Ballistics, DNA typing, Psychological Profiling, Toxicology, etc. Each part starts out with a bit of info on the history and use of each science, and then list a number of cases that were solved with it starting with the earliest cases and following a chronological order. It deals with many well known cases like Sacco and Vanzetti, the Romanovs, John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, the Limburg kidnapping, and the case "Fargo" was based off of. In a couple of the cases where the the court's ruling is in dispute it will point out how with the scientific evidence the jury was given it only made since that they found the defendant guilty. There is one thing that I don't like about how they set the book up. With the exclusion of three cases all cases are labeled by the guilty party's name(s). (One was investigated around 100 years after the death, one was not concern with the crime as much as identifying a family, and one was about the forged documents more then the forger.) With some of the well knows case it's logical, but I would like if it was labeled differently for the most ones, so as I read the info I don't already know who the guilty party was.

A Book in Review: Fish out of Water

Fish out of Water By: Nary Janice Davidson
fiction: paranormal 270 pages
Book Count: 43

This is the 3rd and final book in the Fred the Mermaid series. Book two's review is the one before this and it links with the 1st book. In this book Fred is dealing with being the public face for the Underseas Folk, working on her best friend's/ boss's wedding (her boss still refuses to accept her resignation.) and her engagement to the prince of the undersea folk. Also her biological father shows up.

A Book in Review: Swimming Without a Net

Swimming Without a Net By: Mary Janice Davidson
Fiction: Paranormal Romance 281 pages
Book Count: 42

This book is the sequel to "Sleeping with the Fishes" which we have reviewed here. This book works as a stand alone book, but is much better to read the 1st book first. In this book Fred the mermaid is called to be part of a world wide meeting of mermaids, at the request of Prince Artur, who she hasn't seen in a year, but still wants her. When there she finds that mermaid culture dictates that in order to go after a woman all suitors much have a fair chance so he has also invited Thomas, who she also has not seen in a year. Her best friend Jonas (who is still dating her boss) also joins her. At the meeting she learns more about undersea folk, as they like to be called as well as her father and is force to make major decisions both for herself and all merfolk.

An Audio Book in Review: Abraham Lincoln : vampire hunter

Abraham Lincoln : vampire hunter By:Seth Grahame-Smith
fiction: paranormal, history

This is a book by the same person that wrote " Pride and Prejudice and Zombies". In this book we learn that Lincoln's mother was really killed by a vampire and from that time on he set out to kill them. In this book the whole civil war was really about vampires as slaves were used as food for the vampires that wanted to make America a vampire country. It was well written, but there were 2 things about it that bugged me, one which might just be do to it being an audio book. The first issue is that the story starts with the story of a writer who works at a small store. He is giving the journals of Lincoln in order to write a book about what is in them. This story fades away as the book goes on and is never picked up again. The second issue is that random sounding numbers are said a the start of different chapters, it isn't the chapter number and it doesn't seam to be noting which journal the story is from, it might be something that is easier to understand in the book format, or it could be something I missed the explanation on as I was driving while listening to it. But besides this, much like the other book by this author, if you didn't know better you would think that this was the actual story of Lincoln.


9 CD's 10 hours plus bonus documents for computer

A Book in Review: Encyclopedia Horrifica

Encyclopedia Horrifica - The Terrifying Truth! About Vampires, Ghosts, Monsters, and More By: Joshua Gee
Non-fiction children, paranomal, 129 pages
Book Count: 41

This book is a collection of small bits of information on verious paranormal things. It includes info on historic cases of people thought to be werewolves, modren ghost hunters, Vlad the Impaler vs. vampires, government test into ESP and other facts relating to the paranormal. As you can tell by the page count it is not very encyclopedic in its scope, but it does have a lot of little intresting tidbits that would be good as a start, which as it is a childern's book would make sence.

A Note to Self: Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn By: Stephenie Meyer
fiction: YA, paranormal, 756 pages
Book Count: 40

As readers of this blog know, I have stopped reviewing the "Twilight" books.

All I have to say is "Ha,Ha! If you didn't request "Eclipse" for me it would take a while before I got it and even longer for me to get this one. Now I know what happenes and you don't! (If you didn't get that, it wasn't for you.)

A Book in Review: The Skull of Truth

The Skull of Truth By: Bruce Coville
fiction: children's, fantasy, paranormal 195 pages
Book Count: 39

This book is part of the Magic Shop Books series. It is a read alone book, but has some of the same characters as the other's in the series. In this book Charlie happens appond the magic shop when running from bullies. In the shop he finds the skull of truth, Yorick (as in "Alas! poor Yorick. I knew him" from Hamlet.) Anyway, Yorick was cursed with only being able to tell the truth and anyone who owns him also is cursed with only being able to tell the truth. Charlie feels compeled to take the skull after looking into its eyes and asking it a question. Once he has it he wishes that he could give it back, but the magic shop has moved and the owner expects him to keep it with him until the shopkeeper comes back for it. This leads to many problems for Charlie who is a chronic lier. Also Yorick feels that there is something after them adding to Charlie's problems.

A Book in Review: The Ape Who Guards the Balance

The Ape Who Guards the Balance By: Elizabeth Peters
Fiction: mystery, historic 542 pages
Book Count: 38

This book is part of a series which I have reviewed other book in the series here. This book is much later in the series then the other books I have reviewed. In this book they deal with the suffergette movement in England as well as trying to change female's place in Egypt in that time. There are many differnt enemies after the Peabody-Emerson family this time. And due to the ablities of the people after them they have to be on constant alert to survive.

A Book in Review: The Origin Diet

The Origin Diet by: Elizabeth Somer M.A., R.D.
Nonfiction, diet, cooking 287 pages
Book Count: 37

I got this book as the premise sounded good, things evolve slowly, and it is well documented that early farming societies were less healthy then the hunter gatherers before them. But the diet really doesn't follow the premise. Mainly she talks about why eating like a caveman is good, but the diet covers all of the major "it" diets in nutrition. 1st, it is fine with a vegetarian diet for this plan,(hunting anyone?). 2nd, it is a low fat diet. You only eat chicken, fish and wild game on this diet, because wild game doesn't contain saturated fat! It of course does. It contains less then farmed animals, but it contains less fat over all, the percent of saturated fat to total fat is about the same as any other animal. 3rd, it uses milk, which is fine for people that aren't lactose intolerant as if you aren't intolerant to lactose your body has evolved to take milk. That's why they people who can drink milk are from parts of the world that have used milk the longest. But, you only use fat-free milk, which cavemen would never have. 4th, it is crazy about soy. Soy milk is used whenever she can. Sure, some cavemen could have ate soy, but they couldn't make the types of soy in this diet; soy milk, tofu, soy sauce, etc. Also, it includes information that is incorrect on other things, which as you know makes me questions any information that I don't already know is correct.

A Book in Review: Three to Get Deadly

Three to Get Deadly By: Janet Evanovich
fiction: mystery 300 pages
Book Count: 36

This is book three in the series that I reviewed book two of about 2-3 days ago. In this one she gets the job of bringing in an elderly man who was charged with a illegal concealed gun charge. (Which, everyone in her neighborhood considers a stupid charge as many people have guns hidden somewhere on them, and never bother to get the permit for it.) Anyway, he is also the beloved candy store owner in town. So, at first everyone that she knows is upset at her for trying to bring him in. Then she finds that he is connected with bigger crimes in the area. As the body count rises her neighbors are less mad at her picking on an old sweet man, but there are now masked men determined to stop her from finding him.

A Note to Self: Eclipse

Eclipse By: Stephenie Meyer
Fiction: YA, paranormal 629 pages
Book count: 35

I would like to note I only read this book now because SOMEBODY insisted that I do so, going so far as to use my library account info to request it on my account. As far as storyline if you don't know what happens the movie is coming out soon.

A Book in Review: Two for the Dough

Two for the Dough By: Janet Evanovich
Fiction: mystery 301 pages
Book Count: 34

This is book two in this series of books on Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter. I don't remember the first book being so dependent on the location in the storyline, but maybe after the creation of the show "Jersey Shore" I am more attune to the distinctive culture of New Jersey.(Insert your own joke about New Jersey here.) Anyway in this book Stephanie gets a bounty for a local guy that shot his best friend during a fight. She also gets sucked into looking for a storage space's worth of caskets for a creepy undertaker that is also hitting on her. Of course these two simple sounding tasks are anything but, and even with the help of her grandmother; fellow bounty hunter, Ranger; and cop friend/enemy Joe Morelli she gets herself almost killed on multiple occasions.

A Book in Review: The Saint John's Fern

The Saint John's Fern by: Kate Sedley
fiction: mystery, 246 pages
Book count: 33

This is a book in the Roger the Chapman Medieval mystery series. In this book a murder was committed, but the question that everyone has isn't who did it, but where are they. Many people saw the murder flee the scene of the crime, but no one can find them. Many people think he ate of the St. John's fern and became invisable. Roger isn't sure that doing so would make you invisable as although it is a well known belief that it can no one he knows has ever known of it really happening.

Blog Updates:

If you have been looking at this blog in the last couple days you may have noticed a few changes. As we have mostly been posting about books we are working on a few changes to make it easier to navigate threw past book postings. Let us know what you think about the changes.

A Book in Review: Save the Deli

Save the Deli: In Search of the Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen BY: David Sax
non-fiction: food, travel, religion 287 pages
book count: 32

This book is about the state of Delicatessens in the modren world. It is mainly about delis in the USA and Canada, but also includes info on delies in London, Paris, Belgium, Polland and the intresting fact that there really aren't any delis in Isreal. It is best read with a pastrami on rye. It is a travel guide, business guide, history, religion, and food book. Also, I now have more places on my list resraunts that I want to go to, but are way too busy.

A Book in Review:the curious incident of the dog in the night-time

the curious incident of the dog in the night-time By: Mark Haddon
fiction: 221 pages
Book count: 31

This is an unusual book. It is told by the main character; Christopher who is a 15 year old boy living in the small British town of Swindon. He also seams to be on the autism spectrum and have a brain wired much like Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie Rain Man. He loves math and science and is great at both. He has a photographic memory and must follow set routines. He hates to be touched and doesn't understand other's emotions or sayings. He can't lie and thinks that everything that is not literally true is a lie. (Which it why he can't understand common sayings.) In this book one of his teachers said that he should write a book, so as he can't make up a story he writes about the mystery of who killed his neighbor's dog. While trying to find the dog's killer he must overcome some of his issues with change and dealing with others. He also learns more about the people around him.

A Book in Review: Every Demon Has His Day

Every Demon Has His Day By: Cara Lockwood
fiction: paranormal 374 pages
Book count: 30

This book is a great mix of fun and adventure. Constance Plyd's almost ex-husband ends up killed by a demon in his garage. She is the main suspect of the crime. The new sheriff is an old boyfriend that she is still mad at, her dead husband refuses to leave her alone and she learns that she is a prophet that has to stop the creation of the Antichrist with the help of a talking dog in a pink sweater. (which she is allergic to.)

March- April Book Count:

Number of books read: 16
Pages read: 4100
Average number of days to read a book: 4
Average number of pages read in a day: 67
Average number of books read in a month: 8
Average number of pages read in a month: 2050

A Book in Review: The Hypochondriacs

The Hypochondriacs Nine Tormented Lives By: Brian Dillon
non-fiction: biography, medicine 268 pages
book count: 29

This book goes over the life of James Boswell, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, Alice James, Daniel Paul Schreber, Marcel Proust, Glenn Gould, and Andy Warhol. It also goes over the changes in what people thought Hypochondria was as well as how it was treated. It talks about why in each time that it goes over people thought that that time was the highest time for there being Hypochondriacs. It was interesting to read about how some famous people did so much while constantly feeling sickly.

A Book in Review: Nurture Shock

Nurture Shock: New Thinking about Children By: Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman
Non-fiction: parenting 23 pages
Book Count: 28

This book deals in depth with different new findings on how the brains of children and teens work. It is bases on scientific research both from lab testing and controlled experiments/ data collecting. It deals with many things like how TV watching isn't whats making kids fat, but educational TV may be making them meaner and why teen are wired for risky behaviors but not for being the stereotype angst filled teen. It's findings all boil down to two main points. First, kids do not think/respond/act/"work" like adults, which is why many things that should work, don't. Adults are thinking about what would work for them and why in a case, but for kids it is different. The second point is that positive traits are not always the opposite of negative ones, nor does it necessary stop them. For example, popular kids are the ones that best know how to control others. This is done with a careful balance of actions that are nice and are mean. It also points out how, because kids brains are still learning how complex issues work, things that you wouldn't think are an issue can be confusing to them. Like how lying is wrong, but if you get a horrible gift on your birthday, you still need to smile and say thank you, or even that if your birthday is in a week they may tell people you are 5 when you are still 4.

A Book in Review: New Moon

New Moon By: Stephenie Meyer
fiction: teen, fantasy, romance 563 pages
Book Count: 27

First, I reviewed the first book in the series here.
This book was better then the first book in the series. The crush like romance of the first book seams deeper this time making Bella's whinny/deeply depressed inner voice more logical and reasonable after Edward leaves. I did find all of the Romeo and Juliette talk in the book annoying only because of how all the fans talk about it being like the play. If the book says itself that they are like Romeo and Juliette saying that about it is silly.

A Book in Review: Stephen Fry in America

Stephen Fry in America by: Stephen Fry
Non-fiction: travel 313 pages
Book COunt: 26

In this book British actor/comic/writer Stephen Fry travels to every state in the USA. As he does so in less then 2 years with a large amount of it driving and leaves the country at least once during the time to work on a different show (this book is a companion to a TV special on the BBC) he misses a lot of major things for each state. In fact he only drives to the state line for Ohio. But, what he does see is a strange mixture of America. He repeatingly talks about how he didn't believe the world's stereotype of Americans before this trip and has grown to love America more after seeing it, but he also makes fun of America's love of over the topness and our cheeses. (Not like I don't also cringe every time the Kraft cheese commercial about American cheese comes on. "Hey look, its a bright orange processed milk based plastic like product, isn't it patriotic?") He does many things you would expect a TV show to do for each state (Salem on Halloween, car things in Michigan, wine tasting in Napa) but also many times just interacting with different people around the country (thanksgiving in a families home, watching a high school basketball game, ice fishing). Most of the book was fun to read. It had a sidebar for each state with information on the state like the capital, nicknames, state motto, bird, drink, tree, etc and famous people from there. It was originally written for a British audience and so often has British spelling, and word usage. It even has an American English word quiz at the end.

A Book in Review: Psych: The Call of the Mild

Psych: The Call of the Mild By: William Rabkin
fiction: mystery 279 pages
Book Count: 25

First, this book is based on the TV series Psych. As such, it would be most enjoyed by people who watch the show. There is some explaining of things that you would learn from watching the show, but I don't think that there is enough for the book to make sense without at least seeing the show a few times.
As someone that has seen the show, I liked this book. It did a good job of writing out some of the things that make the show so fun. It uses the start with the flashback to young Shawn and what it adds to the characters background fits with the show. It also has the pop culture you would expect in the show. (Add Lost joke here.)
In this book the guys all have to confront their worst fears/nightmares. Gus is out in the woods being chased by a "monster. " Lassiter has to deal with jurisdictions and working with others. Henry has to deal with his biggest fan, someone that has taken everything that he said in a school assembly and based his life around it. And we later learn what Shawn's nightmare is.

A Book in Review: Choosing a Dog for Dummies

Choosing a Dog for Dummies By: Chris Walkowicz
non-fiction: animals 305 pages
Book count: 24

First, I am not getting a dog now, I just felt like reading up on different breeds of dogs. That being said this book had a good amount of basic information on how to take care of a dog and listings on a wide variety of major breeds and a few lesser known ones. It is divided up by the types of dogs; hunting, herding,terrier, hounds etc.

A Book in Review: Johnny and the Dead

Johnny and the Dead By: Terry Pratchett
fiction: children's, sci-fi/fantasy 213 pages
Book count: 23

This book is book two in the Johnny Maxwell Trilogy. You don't need to read the first book in the series to enjoy this book, although after reading it you will want to read them all. In this book Johnny sees the ghost of all the dead people in his local cemetery. Only they don't want to be called ghosts. One was a communist who doesn't even believe in the possibility of ghost as he is an atheist as are all good communist. When ever confronted with the issue he makes fun excuses/reasoning for how he can be there but still be right about ghosts. The ghost learn that they are going to build over the graveyard and move them. They make Johnny work to save their graves and over time work on spending more time materialized and working to change things on their own. This book is written at about a 5-6th grade reading level.

A Book in Review: Sundays with Vlad

Sundays with Vlad: From Pennsylvania to Transylvania, One Man's Quest to Live in the World of the Undead BY: Paul Bibeau
Non-fiction: popular culture, lit, history 290 pages
Book Count: 22

First, I like this book because it points out what few book that have absolutely nothing to do with the subject say, "Nobody, nobody at all, thinks American Budweiser tastes good." It even suggest other jobs that the company could better spent its time doing like making chemical weapons (which, may still taste better then Bud.)

Besides that, this book is on anything Dracula/vampire related from the historic Vlad to Count Chocula cereal. It also includes the story of how the author researched the book, which is where the Budweiser info comes into play as he actually travels to the Eastern European countries connected with Dracula where one can buy beer made in the city of Budweis (now Ceske Budejovice) It has a lot of funny parts. (Imagine a middle aged man in a minivan going off to the goth clubs.) It has a lot of information as well. And each chapter deals with a different part of the story and starts with a intriguing quote from later on in the chapter.

An Audio Book in Review: Shoptimism

Shoptimism: Why the American Consumer Will Keep on Buying No Matter What
BY: Lee Eisenberg
Non-fiction, economics

This book was a good mix of stories and data with information from a wide variety of sources that are both for and against the way that Americans shop. It is divided into two sections one on the buy side and one on consumers.

13 CD's 14.5 hours

An Audio Book in Review:

We are starting a new section on audio books, as we had started listening to them more now that we are driving more everyday. It is still not going to be listed in our book count as we are not reading them, but after years of keeping a list of books, there have been more then one time that we have looked back on something to see if we had already read it, to re-read the major plot points before reading the sequel, or to recommend it to others.

Happy Passover!

A Book in Review: The Bizarre Truth

The Bizarre Truth: How I Walked Out the Door Mouth First . . . and Came Back Shaking My Head By: Andrew Zimmern
non-fiction: travel, food, TV 267 pages
Book Count: 21

This book tells the behind the scean story of many of the most well known eposode of "Bizarre Foods". It is fun to learn how some of the more unusual shows ended up happening. You also learn how the show was even thought up and made it to TV. It also has stories of what he thought about differnt events. I enjoyed reading this whille watching some of the shows at the same time.

A Book in Review: Writing Dialogue

Writing Dialogue By: Tom Chiarella
non-fiction, writing 151 pages
Book Count: 20

This book is only about writing dialogue in your fiction. It has a small section on the actual writing rules for dialogue, i.e. where to put punctuation, paragraphing etc. But most of it is about learning to write like people speak and writing in an interesting way. It has a lot of exercises for you to do to help to write better. This ranges from writing down what you say in a day and analyzing it to writing exercises of 1-2 pages. It had a lot of useful advice in it.

A Book in Review: King Arthur: Dark Age Warrior and Mythic Hero

King Arthur: Dark Age Warrior and Mythic Hero By: John Matthews
non-fiction: history, classic lit. 122 pages
Book Count: 19

This book has both information on the possible historic king Arthur as well as the ledgens of king Arthur. It goes indept on the world that the real Arthur lived in and well as the stories that the tales of Arthur may come from and the changes in the story over time to adjust to the times and morals of the day. It also has sections on all of the major figures in the stories and a section on the quest for the Holy Grail including earlier stories of a magic caldrun.

A Book in Review: The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters

The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters By: Rosemary Ellen Guiley
Non-fiction: reference, folklore, history, paranormal 337 pages
Book Count: 18

This is an A-Z book on vampire, werewolves and other paranormal beings. It is a good combination of legends and history. It includes folklore from around the world. It also includes historic events of "vampire" and "werewolf" attacks and their changing roles in books, movies, TV and other arts. It includes tons of information on landmark examples of vampires in the arts such as: multiple entries on the book "Dracula", season by season info on the show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and info on each book in the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. (Who interestingly was named Howard Allen Frances O'Brien at her birth.) It also has a section of further reading for each entry. The one major downside of this book is that it was published in 2005, since then there were many new things about the paranormal that has come out.

A Book in Review: Welcome to the Jungle

The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle By: Jim Butcher Illustrated by: Ardain Syaf
Fiction: sci-fi, graphic novel 106 pages(ish)
Book Count: 17

This is the first book in the graphic novel version of the Dresden Files. The characters look somewhat like the TV version of the story, but not like they copied the actors to make the book. The story was fast passed and interesting. In this one, local Chicago wizard, Dresden is investigating a murder in the zoo. The police want to make it a open and shut case of the monkey did it, but the facts don't add up. Even if you haven't read the novels or saw the show the book explains the background information, but in a way that isn't too boring for people that have previous experiences with the storyline.

A Book in Review: This Year You Write Your Novel

This Year You Write Your Novel By: Walter Mosley
Non-fiction: 103 pages
Book Count: 16

First, it did not take me a week and a half to read this 103 page book. I just haven't gotten around to post this before now (for many reasons ranging from illnesses to the power going out.) Anyway this book is meant to help you write a book in a year. One of the major pieces of advice goes exactly against the advice in the last book on this that I read, but still sounds like it would work for a lot of people. This book suggests that you set up a set amount of time that you are going to work on writing each day. Some days you may write the whole time, some you may spend re-reading or staring at the page, but still X minutes each day on writing. This advice sounds like it would work for many people depending on how you like to work, so I have no problem with that as advice its that he thinks the time should be 1 -1 1/2 hours a day in one chunk of time. He notes that that may be hard for anyone with anything else to do with their day, but offers no advice on how to carve out this time. Also, on things that I do not like about this book, after writing the whole story he counts every time you read it as a new draft, even if you make no changes to it! Reading a story doesn't change the words written down for it. You may think up new things about it and should of course read the story start to finish as part of revision, but that isn't a revision. As this book gives only a few pages of advice on how to write a book in a years time. (Including revisions) The rest is mostly basics on writing fiction: point-of view, plot, story development, etc. The end also includes a few paragraphs on trying to get your book published. Over all, if you have never read or written much before this and suddenly get the idea to write a novel, but have no idea how to, then this book is for you. If you are a reader, studied literature, write as a hobby or have read any other book on writing fiction and just are looking for a different writer's tips, you will more likely find this book to be boring.

A Book in Review: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim By: David Sedaris
Non-fiction essay 257 pages
Book Count: 15

This collection of stories includes everything from the Dutch version of Santa Clause with his 6 to 8 friends/former slaves that help him kidnap bad kids and send them to Spain to the time he looked like some crazy serial killer to a bunch of tourist at 3 am while drowning a mouse and putting together a human anatomical model. It also includes stories about many of his relatives from his old rich aunt to his little brother's baby.

A Book in Review: Antiques Roadkill

Antiques Roadkill By: Barbara Allan
fiction: mystery 287 pages
Book Count: 14

This is the first book in a series written by a couple. It combines mystery with antiques tips and advice. It is the story of Brandy Borne who is newly divorced and has to move back in with her Manic-Depressive mother. If that isn't bad enough her dog is blind and diabetic and it looks like someone was trying to set her up for the murder of an antiques dealer who swindled her mother out of almost all of their antiques during a time when she was off her meds. Both her and her mother spend the book trying to find the real killer getting them deeper and deeper involved with the murder.

Jan-Feb Book Count:

Number of books read: 13
Pages read: 3048
Average number of days to read a book: 5
Average number of pages read in a day: 52
Average number of books read in a month: 7
Average number of pages read in a month: 1524

A Book in Review: A Broom of One's Own

A Broom of One's Own: Words on Writing, Housecleaning & Life By: Nancy Peacock
Non-fiction: Memoir, writing 187 pages
Book Count: 13

This is a book about the life of an author that also cleans houses to pay the bills. It was a good combination of writing information, humor, and interesting stories. It would be a good book to get anyone that is struggling as a writer. Even people with published books have to work at writing and often at something else as well. At the end there is an interview with the writer as well as her advice for other writers.

A Book in Review: Extreme Brewing

Extreme Brewing: An Enthusiast's Guide to Brewing Craft Beer at Home By: Sam Calagione
Non-Fiction: cooking, hobbies 173 pages
Book Count: 12

This book is written by an owner of Dogfish Head Brewery. As such it has a lot of information about their beers. It even includes recipes for at home versions of a number of their brews. It includes basics for the first time home brewer as well as a lot of things for experiences brewers. It also has a lot of resources in the back as well as info on cooking with beer or tasting parties.

A Book in Review: Jaclyn the Ripper

Jaclyn the Ripper By: Karl Alexander
Fiction: historical, 334 pages
Book Count: 11

First, this book is not based on the theory that Jack the Ripper may have been a woman. It is the sequel to another book called "Time After Time" (which was made into a movie) about H.G. Wells having an actual time machine and Jack the Ripper (who was really Leslie John Stephenson in this storyline)stealing it. In this book Jack comes back from the end of time where he was imprisoned and due to problems with time travel ends up as a woman. Wells' wife has traveled to 2010 to warn her parents about a possible earthquake which is where Jack ends up as well. H.G.Wells goes to 2010 to find his wife and spends the novel finding her and trying to stop Jack, who he doesn't know is now a female.

A Book in Review: Carpe Demon

Carpe Demon : Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom By: Julie Kenner
Fiction paranormal, mystery 307 pages
Book Count: 10

I really liked this book. It had a interesting world in it and the book explained the ways of the world in a way that gave you all the info you needed, but didn't mess with the story line. This story is about Kate Connor a former demon hunter who had retired over a decade ago and currently spends her time as a stay at home mom to a 14 and 2 year old. She lives in a city known to be demon free and her husband and kids don't even know what she used to do. Then she runs into an old man that she thinks could be a demon in her local Wal-Mart. From then on she is sucked back into her former life in order to protect her family. Not only is she out of practice, but her closest friend in the Forza (the organization of demon hunters) is in Italy, and her husband is running for county attorney.

Quotes from Frederick Douglass:

- At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed.
- A little learning, indeed, may be a dangerous thing, but the want of learning is a calamity to any people.
- I didn't know I was a slave until I found out I couldn't do the things I wanted.
- People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get.
- The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.
- The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion.
- To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.
- Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.

Of Course:

So, as you may have noticed at the start of the month I said that I would try and post everyday this month. This of course caused massive computer issues. This is why I haven't posted for like a week +. Anyway, I am finaly back online, untill the company arives in a few minutes.

A Book in Review: Ancient Enemy

Ancient Enemy A Howard Moon Deer Mystery By: Robert Westbrook
Fiction: mystery 308 pages
Book Count: 9

This book has a lot of interesting twists and turns in it. It is both the story of a modern murder as was as an ancient mystery of the Anasazi peoples. It starts out with Howie on the stake out at a Chinese restaurant where his car is hit in a hit and run and he finds a severed head in the dumpster. From there it gets exciting. Although this is part of a series it can be completely read as a stand alone book.

A Book in Review: Family Feast for $75 a Week

Family Feast for $75 a Week By Mary Ostyn
Non-fiction: home economics, cooking 296 pages
Book Count: 8

Even though $75 is more then I usualy spent on food in a week, I thought that it would have some tips that would be helpful to me. And it did, just not as many as I thought it would. The first 77 pages were all on ways to save on your food bills. The rest of the book is recipes along with differnt little tips for how to save money. Although, most of the tips are good, she repeatily talks about how American eat more meat then you need and that cutting down on meat will save you money, but most of the recipes have about 1/2 lb of meat per person even in things like soups and caseroles that are easy to cut down on meat. It also has a lot of recipes that are from around the world, expecialy Ethiopian and Korean as she has adopted children from both countries. So, in short, it is a good book if you are starting on budgeting food as well as if you are looking for some low cost meals to make.

A Moment in African American History

The NAACP was founded on February 12th 1909. It was founded by a racially diverse mix of people including the son of a slaveholder. In its early years its leadership had a large amount of Jewish Americans who saw parallels between their slaver in Egypt to that in America. It's mission is "To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination."

A Moment in African American History

George Washington Carver invented 300 uses for peanuts. Peanut butter was not one of them. He also found uses for sweet potatoes, pecans and soy beans. But, he only applied for 3 patents as he wanted his discoveries to be free to use for others.

A Moment in African American History

Jack Johnson was the 1st African American Heavyweight champion. Along with his boxing carrer he is best known for patenting a wrench and flaunting social conventions of his time. Both of his wives were white and he enjoyed showing off the money he made as a boxer.

W. E. B.Du Bois Quotes:

* Herein lies the tragedy of the age: not that men are poor, — all men know something of poverty; not that men are wicked — who is good? not that men are ignorant, — what is Truth? Nay, but that men know so little of men.

* The worker must work for the glory of his handiwork, not simply for pay; the thinker must think for truth, not for fame

* Believe in life! Always human beings will progress to greater, broader, and fuller life.

* I insist that the object of all true education is not to make men carpenters, it is to make carpenters men.

* There is always a certain glamour about the idea of a nation rising up to crush an evil simply because it is wrong. Unfortunately, this can seldom be realized in real life; for the very existence of the evil usually argues a moral weakness in the very place where extraordinary moral strength is called for.

* The theory of democratic government is not that the will of the people is always right, but rather that normal human beings of average intelligence will, if given a chance, learn the right and best course by bitter experience.

A Moment in African American History

Madam C.J. Walker was the first female self-made millionaire. She was born in 1867. In 1906 she started her hair care products and cosmetics company. 11 years later she owned the largest American business owned by an African American. She used her business to help other women have well paying jobs and used much of her money to support charities.

A Moment in African American History

The theme for this year's Black History Month is: "The History of Black Economic Empowerment."

Quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

* Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.

* I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.

* Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

* Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.

* The church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.

* The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and, therefore, brothers.

* Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.

* All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.

* We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

* It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.

* In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

A Moment in African American History

Currently about 13.5% of the American population consider themselves African American.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Groundhog Day!

A Moment in African American History

Staring in 1863 the island of Roanoke in North Carolina was a freeman's colony for the families of black union soldiers as well as other freed slaves. Along with the union army providing safety to its residence, northern missionaries taught them to read.

Happy Black History Month!

or African American History Month, which ever it is now. As I have been only writing about books for the last month I thought I would join NaBloPoMo for this month so I would make myself write more and as it's the month that it is, I plan on writing about inportant moments/poeple/etc in the history of African Americans. (Look mom, I'm useing all of my American History classes for something!)

A Book in Review: Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Michigan

Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Michigan By: Bathroom Readers' Hysterical Society
Non-fiction: Local, history misc. 307 pages
Book Count: 7

This book is set up a bit differently then most bathroom readers. The sections are not divided according to the length of the story, only by the topic. Also there are no facts running on the bottom of each page. Besides that it is much the same. This book had lots of interesting information about Michigan, history, people, places, and events. Some interesting thinks that you learn is why different cites got their names including: Hell, Climax, Colon, Crapo, Nirvana and Zilwaukee. Also odd laws like in which city it is illegal to paint a sparrow so that it looks like a parakeet. And there is lots of information about the history of the automobile industry ranging from how Mr. Buick started in plumbing to the number of people that work at the auto show each year.

A Book in Review: Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom

Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by: Eric Wight
fiction: children's 85 pages
Book count: 6

This book is a combination of a novel and a graphic novel. It switches back and forth between the two styles. This makes it a more interesting novel that would work well for getting kids to read it. It is the story of a boy and his dog that enjoys a rich world of make-believe where he is a superhero/adventurer. In this story he shops cleaning his room causing him to have an adventure in cleaning after his room reaches the critical mass of dirt. So the story also has a moral to it.

A Note to Self: Dave Barry's Complete guide to guys

Dave Barry's Complete guide to guys By: Dave Barry
Audio Book


As this book was on CD, I'm not counting it in books that I read this year, but I have found that it can be quite useful to have all the books that I've read/listened to on this blog. Then if something looks familiar I can just search the blog to see if I read it. Which reminds me, at the end of last year I also listened to When you are engulfed in flames by: David Sedaris.

A Book in Review: The Ultimate Book of Useless Information

The Ultimate Book of Useless Information: A Few Thousand More Things You Might Need to Know (But Probably Don't) By: Noel Botham & The Useless Information Society
non-fiction: facts, humor, popular reference 215 pages
Book count: 5

First, like most books of this type I found things incorrect with the "facts," which really annoys me. This one was a lot better then most in that the thing that I knew was wrong was about ducks and echoes, which anyone that watches Mythbuster's knows their quack does echo, but you need complex sound machinery to find out. Also, they did the "sir" loin myth which at least is debated by people. Anyway, there were a lot of interesting facts in here, as well as quotes from famous people. It is arranged in short groups of similar facts. Each fact was only a line or two of the information with no back story, this makes it a quick read.

A Book in Review: Al Capone Shines My Shoes

Al Capone Shines My Shoes By: Gennifer Choldenko
Fiction: children’s, historical 270 pages
Book count: 4

This is book two in a series. I reviewed the first book here. In this book there is much more story about life on Alcatraz/Al Capone. Moose's (the 12 year old main character) letter to AL Capone asking to get his sister in a nearby school for people with special needs seam to have worked. Now he owes him. He gets notes in his laundry from Capone, now he needs to figure what to do about it. If he doesn't do what Capone asks he fears that his sister will be kicked out of the school, but if he does it could cost his dad his job and his family their home. After this story there is a section of information on life on Alcatraz in the 1930's.

A Book in Review: The Vengeance of the Witch-finder

The Vengeance of the Witch-finder by: John Bellairs completed by: Brad Strickland
fiction: children's, paranormal/Gothic mystery 153 pages
Book count: 3

Yes, this book is by the same person as the last book I read. I saw them at the library the other day and graped both of them. In this one a wizard and his nephew go to England to visit a distant relative and see their ancestral home. While there they learn more about the family member who lived there during the time of King James I as well as Cromwell. He was accused of being a witch and would have lost his life as well as his home if the witch-finder had not mysteriously died. With more digging into the houses history a secret map was found with a unknown space in the house's lawn maze. Inside this spot was a horror that was never meant to be found. Soon the family learns that the witch-finder was truly the evil one durning his life, and has come back to finish what he started in life.

A Book in Review: The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie

The Drum, the Doll and the Zombie by: John Bellairs completed by: Brad Strickland
fiction: childrens, paranormal/Gothic mystery 153 pages
book count: 2

This is a part of the series of books featuring Johnny Dixon. In this book a professor friend of his receives a drum at a convention after talking about Voodoo and voudon, the version of Voodoo practiced on the island of St. Ives. His best friend started playing with it doing his impression of Ricky Ricardo. (This book takes place in the 50's) Anyway, unknown to him the babaloo that Ricky was always saying in his singing was actually a variation of a name of a Voodoo god. This leads to the problems that they spend the rest of the book fixing. They have to fight a zombie, a voodoo priestess, and dark spells all in cases of life and death.

A Book in Review: I am not a Psychic!

I am not a Psychic! By: Richard Belzer and Michael Black
fiction: mystery, crime 260 pages
book count: 1

This book is written by the person that plays Detective Munch on Law & Order, Homicide: Life on the Street and numerous other shows. This would not be important except that although this is a fiction book, Richard Belzer is the main character of the book. Which is kinda odd in a mix of real life and fiction. Anyway, this book is about his investigation of a murder that happened decades ago but wasn't ruled as one. There was a huge conspiracy theory about what really happened as she was involved with a important political family and most everyone in anyway connected with the case died in mysterious ways. It is also about a trip to Vegas and a telethon hosted by a friend of his. As it is a book all these things end up entangled together.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

End of Year Book Count:2009

Number of books read: 78
Pages read: 19999
Average number of days to read a book: 5
Average number of pages read in a day: 55
Average number of books read in a month: 6
Average number of pages read in a month: 1667

A Book in Review: More Bones

More Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World by: Arielle North Olson and Howard Schwartz
fiction: children's, paranormal, fairy tales 157 pages
Book Count: 78

This is a collection of stories from all over the world, stories about magic, ghosts, witches and the things of the night. Most of the stories have a moral to the story, and/or a twist at the end. I like that it tells where each story is from, both in that at the start of each story it lists it's country or area of origin and that at the end is a listing of other books that the story is listed in. It would be a great book to read at a sleepover or camping trip for kids in upper elementary school.

Our New Year’s Resolutions:

As you can see (both online and in person) we have like 99% of you, failed in our resolutions this year. We were really close on the reading one, but have written only 1/2 a notebook and have gained a few pounds. So this year we will be more realistic in our goals.

1. We will work on our writing at least once a week. This is including writing, reading about writing, and typing out what I have been writing and saving it on one of the 3 thumb drives I got for Christmas. (as well as some where safer, I know to have multiple copies.)

2. Maintain my current weight or loose weight. Which, I know is the same as my unrealistic one from last year, but now I'm already at the top area of my normal range and am well on the way with weening which is always the worst for weight gain as not only do you need less calories, but as there are more snack times to make up for the nursing breaks you end up eating more too.

3. Not to have 3 resolutions this year. 2 should be enought this time.

NYR- Note to Self

The Bad Catholic’s Guide to Wine, Whiskey & Song: A Spirited Look at Catholic Life & Lore from Apocalypse to Zinfandel By: Zmirak & Matychowiak
Non-Fiction: Theology, Food & Drink, Music, History etc. 401 pages 2007
Book Count: 77
NYR page count: 1617

We have already read this book so to read our review of it click here.

Merry Christmas!!!

A Book in Review: Dracula: Trapped in Transylvania

Cracked Classics #1: Dracula: Trapped in Transylvania By: TONY Abbott
Fiction, children's classics 130 pages
Book Count: 76

No, I wasn't spending my Christmas reading a book about vampires. I read this days ago but between illnesses and getting ready for the numerous Christmas parties, I wasn't able to spend much time on-line, while still being able to think. Now about the book.

I have only one issue with this book, it was written for kids WAY to young for reading the actual book. It even notes this in the back of the book. Which, is fine for teaching kids about classic lit; however, it made me want to reread the book and kids who read this may want to read the book to even thought it is was to hard of a book for them. Besides that it was a great intro to Dracula told in a fun to read way. It covers all of the most important events in the book and even helps kids learn about the elements of a story. As it is about 1/3 of the length of the story and has its own story about the kids that get trapped in the book "Dracula" it is missing much of the details of the story. It is much like a story based "Cliff Notes" on the book for kids age 7-8ish. Overall, I liked the book and want to read more. It seams like a great way to teach kids about the great books that they may not ever read about otherwise.

A Book in Review: Teacher Haiku

Teacher Haiku by: Rady Howe
Non-fiction: poetry 166 pages
book count: 75

If my oldest child's teacher is reading this then you now know what you are getting from them, but in my defense I read it while waiting for her to get out of school. The book is a collection of 100 haikues for teachers that go from summer break to the end of the school year. There are also pictures. Many of the poems are funny, all are perfect for a minute of reading time.

A Book in Review: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies! A Book of Zombie Christmas Carols By: Michael P. Spradlin
Non-fiction: humor 81 pages
Book Count: 74

First, a note to the friends that got my husband this book. I really like all of the books that you got me, they are just a lot longer to read and so I finished this one first. Plus, it is a Christmas book, so I want to read it around now, while mine were not connected with any holiday from what I can tell.

Now, about the book. It is a book about Zombies and Christmas carols, carols about zombies, carols for zombies basically all the zombies you need to get threw the holidays. And there are pictures too.

A Book in Review: Dreamdark: Blackbringer

Dreamdark: Blackbringer By: Laini Taylor
Fiction YA, Fantasy 437 pages
Book Count:73

This book is the type that starts right in the action. As it also takes place in a world much different then ours it takes a little time to get caught up. That being said by 100 pages into the book I was wondering if it was too late to put the second book on my Christmas list. This book is the story of Magpie Windwitch, a fairy unlike any other. First, her grandfather is the West Wind and because of that she likes to wander the world, while most fairies never leave the area that they were born in. Also, she can do complex magic on accident. She hunts down devils. And there are more things that she learns about herself and her place in the world as she goes threw the book. In this story she is hunting down a being called Blackbringer who is unlike any other thing that she had ever hunted. Also, the last time he was caught it was by a group of the greatest warriors in fairy history, from back when fairies knew more magic. She is the only one she knows that will fight them. And the Blackbringer was sealed in his jar by the Djinn King one of the creators of this world who hasn't been seen in thousands of years. So, she will need to find him too.

Happy Hannukah!!

A little late, we haven't been really busy with holiday things, no not at all. Now I must get ready for this week's Christmas party. See you in January. (I hope to post before that sometime, but I'm not promising, what's with 6 Christmases [parties/get togethers] in one month!)

A Book in Review: Every Patient Tells a Story

Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis By Lisa Sanders, M.D.
Non-fiction, medical, science 251 pages
Book Count: 72

This book is written by a technical advisor for the show House, M.D. As such many of the stories she tells about the way that doctors find out about what is wrong with the patient deal with the same rare illnesses that they deal with on the show. But, you see how instead of a small team of doctors finding what is wrong with someone in a few days, many of these people had to wait months to years to find out what is wrong with them after seeing many different doctors and the doctor that finds out what is wrong often has to get help from many diverse people and places ranging from specialist to Google. It also deals with the history of medicine and how technology has changed how doctors diagnose illnesses both in good and bad ways. And, as always in every case it wasn't lupus.

Holidays in December

6 St. Nickolas Day
7 Pearl Harbor Day
8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception
11 Hanukkah Starts
12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
13 St. Lucia Day
16 First day of Las Posadas
21 Winter Solstice
23 Festivus
24 Christmas eve
25 Christmas
26 Kwanzaa starts
26 Boxing Day
26 St. Steven’s Day
31 New Year’s Eve