Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb

Feb17

Usually I like to snap a photo of the book I read because personally if I’m browsing at a book store a cover I have seen is far more likely to catch my eye than a title. I can’t remember authors to save my life (that was never my job in the Battle of the Books) and I’m iffy on names, but I can usually spot a familiar cover. Hopefully it’ll help someone else out one day as well.

But today I’m refusing to share.

I think I’ve mentioned this before so forgive me – but seriously. Do the cover artists even READ the books?

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with the same spiel (which I thought you spelled schpeil until tonight, who knew?) as last time, so I won’t get into it again!

P.S. Usually when I read before bed I get sleepy after a few chapters and go to sleep. All of Robin Hobbs books have had the opposite effect on me. This has resulted in much less sleep than planned on. It’s dangerous, just thought I should warn you!

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond

Feb16

Have you visited The Pioneer Woman‘s website? She makes me want to eat large amounts of food, take better pictures, laugh a lot, and add a few more kids and dogs to my life. In addition to her very active blog she also writes books, first a cookbook and now this one:

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels is her and her husbands own true love story. It’s funny, in a neurotic, cute, lovable sort of way.

Would I recommend it? Yes, although if you’ve read all her website there isn’t too much new here though it is fun to read it all at once.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Feb8

Geeze Jessie couldn’t you read a new author?

I know, I know, there are already three of Gregory’s books I’ve done my tiny reviews on. What can I say? I love her!

For whatever reason reading about the royal families plotting to destroy each other and take the throne while using their children as pawns never gets old for me.

Would I recommend it? Yes.

On a different topic altogether in the background of the picture you can notice Piper sleeping on the couch (because as Johnny pointed out that is where she is usually to be found) and my stereo in the hole in my wall, (just because Corky asked).

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

Feb8

I checked it out for you and I’m happy to report that book one of The Rain Wild Chronicles is just as good as the rest of Hobb’s books.

So, go get Assassins Apprentice and start at the beginning.

Would I recommend it? What are you waiting for? Assassins Apprentice, chop, chop!

Also if you really feel the need six of her other books can be found in the fiction archives, but they all say the same thing:

Gotta start with Assassins Apprentice.

Flight of Passage by Rinker Buck

Feb3

I love books that suck you in and teach you something new about things you didn’t even think you wanted to know about.

That was this book.

Before and after reading this book I have no desire to fly a plane (I chalk it up to this problem), but in the middle of the book…

…in the middle of the book it almost seemed like a great idea.

Would I recommend it? Yes, if only to find out what two teenage boys in an airplane do when confronted with prairie dogs, yes.

A Garden For A Groundhog by Lorna Balian

Feb2

Happy Groundhogs Day!

Actually I’m not a big fan of Groundhogs day.

We live in Wisconsin, there is ALWAYS six more weeks of winter.

This Groundhogs day the groundhogs at my house today may be smarter than my husband.

My husband is on the road to work in the below zero wind chill, and blowing snow, you know the blizzard that’s caused the state to declare a civil emergency in this area.

I’m certain the groundhogs are sleeping through the blizzard instead of checking for shadows.

So, who’s smarter John or a groundhog???

But, regardless of my own feelings on Groundhogs Day (or my husbands activities) I thought the girls should have a book so they could learn the whole crazy Groundhog Day tradition. I picked the cutest looking one from the pile at the library and headed home not expecting much.

The book is about the O’Learys and their little farm. On about page three I thought this book might have something going for it:

Then Mrs O’Learys response to Groundhogs Day really had me hooked…

By the time Groundhogs Day really rolled around I was loving it.

When spring came and Mr O’Leary put in action his plan to foil the ground hog I was planning a new blog.And by the end I was convinced that this is the best Groundhogs Day book ever!

Would I recommend it? Yes!

Doomwyte by Brian Jacques

Jan13

Hello my name is Jessie and I love books with talking mice, and shrews, and otters, and moles with funny accents, and any other little woodland talking creature as well.

I think that by this age most have out grown their love of small furry talking creatures, but…well…I haven’t.

This is one of the newer Redwall books and I love all of these books.

I love them because the good guys always win.

Because even though they win the war they usually lose a few good “men” along the way.

Because swords are not in themselves evil, just the nasty varmints who wield them.

Because friendship always wins.

Because there is always a riddle to solve.

Because the Dibbuns (children) are always getting into mischief.

And most importantly, because when all the fighting is done there is always a feast.

I read Mossflower when I was in middle school, it’s still my favorite, but well, as you can see I thought the rest were pretty good too…

Would I recommend it? Yes, I’d rank it among my favorites, but if you’ve never read any I always recommend starting with Mossflower. I’m impatiently waiting until I’m able to read these aloud to Ivy. Unfortunately we are currently at the point that even a Franklin book is enough to start Ivy shaking with fright. I’m thinking we’ve got quite awhile before we can read about marauding sea rats, raven tyrants, and wildcat queens!

Sleep is for the Weak edited by Rita Arens

Jan10

Did ya catch the title?

Let’s look at it, just in case.

Now, either you feel an overwhelming urge to read a book with such a title, or you are someone like my brother (Hi Ty!) and have no interest whatsoever.

One more time..

Would I recommend it? I’m here to tell you, that so long as you fall into the overwhelming urge to read camp, you won’t be disappointed.

The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg

Jan4

After quite a few “fluff” books I thought I’d go for something a little more serious. This book certainly fit the bill.

The subject matter is deep and often unpleasant and the book is populated with unlikable characters, sounds great so far doesn’t it?

BUT, the characters have depth and realism beyond what I expected when I first started the book and the writing is interspersed with great lines like this:

“I kept my smile tight to hold back my pride and stuck all my fingers between all my toes for the low pull of pleasure.”

Would I recommend it? Yes. Not any easy read but a good read.

Widow’s Walk by Robert B. Parker

Dec28

This spring I read Robert Parker’s westerns; Appaloosa, Resolution, Brimstone and Blue Eyed Devil and very much enjoyed them but I didn’t see what else he had written until just now.
While I usually avoid murder mystery type books I was feeling brave at the library the other day and picked this up. Same sparse wording, quick reading, dry humor, manly men with brawn and guns defending dumb beautiful women, different setting- same feel.