Abdul's Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Abdul's Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow 40 pages Abdul loves telling stories but thinks his messy handwriting and spelling mistakes will keep him from becoming an author, until Mr. Muhammad visits and encourages him to persist. Perfect book to help kids who are struggling with writing and spelling correctly. Helps them put their thoughts down without getting frustrated.

Thin Ice by Paige Shelton

Thin Ice by Paige Shelton-275 pages
                                                                                                                                        

Beth Rivers is on the run -cold and remote, Alaska seems tailor-made for her to hideout.  Sparsely populated with people who all seem to be on the run from something, she feels safer than she has for a long time.  As her memories begin to return from her traumatic brain injury, she begins to wonder if her assailant has followed her to this remote town, especially after a murder is committed.  After all her years working with her beloved grandfather who was a sheriff in the Missouri Ozarks, she becomes an invaluable asset to the sheriff in her new home.  The first in a new series.  I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next one.

Dark in Death by J.D. Robb

Dark in Death by J.D. Robb - 384 pages

Lieutenant Eve Dallas has another murder to solve.  It seems that someone is recreating murders from a book series.  She must determine who the killer is before more women are killed.

This is the latest J.D. Robb mystery by romance author Nora Roberts.  I listened to this one on audio.  I really enjoyed this book.  There is the perfect amount of mystery and suspense to character development by the main characters.  Another great entry in the series.

Who Was Roald Dahl? by True Kelley

Who Was Roald Dahl? by True Kelley - 102 pages

This is a book in the popular Who Was? biography series for children.  While not a huge fan of the series I did decide to read this book after listening to Dahl's two memoirs for children -- Boy and Going Solo.  I knew they had been fictionalized to a degree and hoped to learn more about the author.  However, it seemed almost as this book just condensed what was already in those books and added a couple chapters at the end on his life after the war. 

Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder

By William Anderson

395 pages

Many children and adults treasure the Little House book series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder between the years of 1932 to 1943. Although her readers know extensively about Laura’s childhood, this publication dives into Laura’s life as a mature and aging woman. This is accomplished by a selection of letters preserved by her daughter, Rose Lane Wilder, her publisher, and her young and old fans alike.  

Beetle Boy by Margaret Willey

Beetle Boy by Margaret Willey - 198 pages

Charlie  never intended to become the world's youngest published author at the age of seven.  He did it to cheer up his dad after his mom left.  However, it turned into a nightmare for him as his father started publishing the bedtime stories Charlie's mom told him as Charlie's own stories and then making him dress up as a beetle for author appearances.  Now it's twelve years later and Charlie is trying to pick up the pieces of his life . . .

This was an interesting book.  It was mainly told in flashbacks and introspective musings by Charlie.  While it was not my favorite book it was interesting to read.

A Duke's Temptation by Jill Hunter

A Duke's Temptation by Jill Hunter - 342 pages

Lily Boscastle ends her engagement when she witnesses her fiance kill a man although no one believes her story.  She is forced to take a position as the housekeeper to unusual Samuel St. Aldwyn, the Duke of Gravenhurst.  It is a very unusual household with secrets among the staff and the Duke.  Secrets that Lily is determined to discover.

I accidentally picked up this book thinking it was by another author.  I found the book to be a tad strange.  I thought the characters were very unrealistic  with certain scenes being improbable past belief.

The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills

The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills - 288 pages

This biography of the reclusive writer Harper Lee has been embroiled in controversy since publication.  Harper Lee has issued a written statement publicly denouncing the author which states the book was written without her cooperation.  After reading the book I tend to believe the news reports that state Harper Lee is in a different state of mind after a stroke in 2007 and that may have affected her feelings regarding the book.  Unless Mills is totally fabricating things she had cooperation from Harper Lee and her sister Alice to get such a detailed picture of their day to day life over so many years.  I find it telling that as far as I can tell the friends of the Lees mentioned in the book have not made any public statements denouncing the book. 

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books of all time and I really enjoyed the glimpse this book gave into the world of Nelle Harper Lee and her sister Alice.  It is a slow paced narrative weaving Chicago Tribune reporter Marja Mills depiction of daily life in Monroeville, Alabama with the memories gleaned from the two sisters regarding their experiences that shaped the book's creation and also how they lived in with the aftermath of book's enduring popularity.  It was particularly funny to hear how Harper Lee felt about the depiction of herself in the Truman Capote biopics.      

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas - 373 pages

Sara Fielding is in London to research her newest novel when she finds a Derek Craven, owner of a gambling club, being attacked.  For saving his life, she is granted access to the club for her research.  However, the more time she spends with Derek the more she is tempted to become more adventurous like her novel heroines.
This was another enjoyable historical romance from Lisa Kleypas.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - 318 pages

Hazel has been terminal since being diagnosed with cancer at 13 years.  Three years later she is surviving on an oxygen machine with the help of an experimental drug -- but she is still terminal.  She knows it is only a matter of time before she dies.  She determines to leave as little pain after her death as possible so she stays home other than to attend a couple of college classes and her weekly support group.  It is in support group that she meets Augustus Waters -- who completely changes her life.
I've been wanting to read this book for a while, so when it came in on audio I picked it up to listen to.  There were no great surprises in this book -- after all it is a cancer book.  You know this going into the story.  Even the plot twists were kind of obvious.  However, I enjoyed listening to the book.  The characters were fun.  I enjoyed the conversations and arguments they had about everything.  The main issue I had was that you didn't get emotionally involved so that when the death scene does occur you just think "about time".  Still, I'm glad I finally got around to "reading" it.

Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child

Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child

557 pages

Julia Child was a beloved American television personality from 1963 to 1985. She pioneered an entire genre of cooking shows well before the Food Network.

She was born Julia McWilliams on August 15, 1912 in Pasadena, California to a prominent land owner, John McWilliams Jr. and a college graduate mother, Caro (Weston) McWilliams. She was raised to be a debutant. She graduated from Smith College. After commencement, she was a free spirit and immature for her age. Her six feet, 2 inch frame and average looks didn’t help attract a husband. While all her friends were becoming engaged and marrying their sweet hearts, Julia struggled to find herself in the world.

During World War II she served in the Office of Strategic Services. There she met Paul Child. After a long friendship, they fell in love and married in 1946. Julia was thirty four years old and Paul was forty four.

After the War, Paul was stationed in Paris, France. Julia to occupy her time started taking cooking classes. Before long it became an obsession. She had finally found her niche. She went on to co-author a best-selling book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the rest was iconic television history.