Two more finished books for the Read-a-Thon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13532290-a-wicked-war" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333576659m/13532290.jpg
" />A">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13532290-a-wicked-war">A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico by Amy">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/41851.Amy_S_Greenberg">Amy S. Greenberg

My rating: 3">https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/740189559">3 of 5 stars


Not a military history of the Mexican War, but more the story of five men involved in it and how a little remembered event affected US history for years afterward.  Not a shining moment in US history.



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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15798336-a-spoonful-of-sugar" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344370751m/15798336.jpg
" />A">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15798336-a-spoonful-of-sugar">A Spoonful of Sugar: A Nanny's Story by Brenda">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6459201.Brenda_Ashford">Brenda Ashford

My rating: 3">https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/740194221">3 of 5 stars


Okay, but...a little cloying.



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Mid afternoon break for Read-a-Thon

Just as I was starting my second book, A Wicked War by Amy S. Greenberg, Lorie came over with her books, which led to discussions.  And then Lee came with his book and that led to more discussions with the two of them.  And veggies and dip to much. 

Then Lorie had to leave to buy feed for her horse and now Lee has gone, so it is time to get on with my book.  Am still hopeful of several others visiting before the day is done, if only so they will eat some of these cookies.

First book of Read-a-Thon Shaman by Kim Stanley Robinson

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17669062-shaman" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px">https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1364007577m/17669062.jpg
" />Shamanhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17669062-shaman">Shaman> by Kim">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1858.Kim_Stanley_Robinson">Kim Stanley Robinson

My rating: 4">https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/739838190">4 of 5 stars


This is a good coming-of-age-in-the-Ice-Age story.  There is much realism, with just a touch of the mystical that holds the shamanistic force here.  Many things are not fully explained but simply accepted as part of what life is. 



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And the first post of Read-a-Thon day.

To answer the questions:
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I'm reading in Middle America, the Kansas City area, to be more precise.
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? Come on. That's like asking a mother who her favorite child is.
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? I made pumpkin cookies just for this event--and I hope to eat them all.
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I'm a reader and have been for the last sixty-five years. I'm retired now, but keep busy volunteering and traveling. (And thank you for holding this readathon while I'm at home.)
  5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? I'll do more of the hourly activities.

And I'm starting off With Kim Stanley Robinson's Shaman while I eat my breakfast.

Dewey's 24 hour Read-a-Thon

No book review today, but an announcement of the October 2013 Read-a-Thon, which is this Saturday, beginning at 7 a.m. I will be hosting an open house come read with me event for the whole 24 hours. Feel free to attend for as long as you can. There will be food involved. Hope you can get in some reading during the course of the day.

Who Are We Really?

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A book about family, about language, about human nature, about secrets, about memories.

To recount the plot is to involve pages of spoilers, but the story of siblings Rosemary, Fern, and Lowell will remain with me for a long time. The things we do for family and the things families do to us! Oh, I left out one of my favorite characters--the ventriloquist's dummy Madame DeFarge.



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It's Summer--Time to Chill Out a Little

We've already had 90 degree weather here, so it's time to start looking for books to cool off. Here's one for busy readers--it's short, it's entertaining, and it's even mildly educational. The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a factual history of times when the Thames froze over you'll need to use one of the books listed in the back of the book. But if you would like a short, chronological feel for reactions by the citizens across the centuries, this is a delightful way to experience the cold, the awe, and the wonder of a river iced over deep enough to work and play on it.


Each "chapter" is only a few pages long, more vingettes that short stories, but each has it's own voice. Although each instant is dated, you might want a reference handy as there are only a few references to the current ruler. (Unless you are a big history buff and have things like that memorized.)

I give this a 3.5 or even a 3.75.

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