A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

For anyone who enjoys Richard Peck's work, especially A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicago, A Season of Gifts is the next book you should pick up.

Mrs Dowdel is back. We saw her as the grandmother during the Depression, taking care of her granddaughter and, occasionally, her grandson. Here she is, older but just as feisty - always with a trick up her sleeve to right wrongs and keep bullies off balance.

I wouldn't say that I want to be exactly like Mrs. Dowdel, but I do like her style.

Kathi Linz

30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog

30 Days to a well-Mannered Dog: The Loved Dog Method by Tamar Geller tells dog owners the 7 basic needs of dogs. You learn to teach a dog good behavior by getting them to look to you for instruction, by reinforcing their good behavior, and deprogramming their wolf-like instincts without hurting them. Tamar Geller gives clear, simple instructions that will help any dog-owner train any dog.

I live with two dogs and have instituted several of her suggestions. It would be very useful for anyone contemplating getting a dog to read this book first. She tells you how to work with the dog from Day One.

Kathi Linz

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Lary Levin

Oogy, the hero of Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Larry Levin, is a most remarkable dog. Probably because he would not fight, Oogy was used as bait so some other dog could learn to kill. In Oogy's case, he wasn't killed in the battle, but having half of his face and one ear ripped off, and being abandoned with open wounds almost finished the job. When he was found, he was taken to an emergency hospital where they cleaned up his wounds and saved his life.

At first, Oogy was mistaken for a pit bull, but eventually the Levins found out that he was a dogo, an Argentinian breed known for its loyalty, love of children, avoidance of fighting, but a killing machine when necessary. These animals are used in hunting wild boars and jaguars. Imagine the size and power this type of dog has!

Oogy adopted a family who love to adopt. The twin boys were adopted and Oogy became "the third twin". His story is amazing.

I enjoyed this book as much as I did Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron.

Kathi Linz

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth by Mark Fisher had an odd feel to me. It reminded me of the story The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason which I enjoyed and appreciated.

This book contained good advice as "Set goals for yourself with a definite amount and a definite ending date" "Set your creative mind to work on what you want".

I was bugged by the twisting of Scripture to mean something other than the original intent. I believe the story could have stood on its own and carried off the strength of its message without the warped Bible passages.

Kathi Linz

Oprah, Miracles, and the New Earth: A Critique

The book Oprah, Miracles and the New Earth: A Critique by Erwin W. Lutzer (Moody Publishers) illustrates the differences between Christian Scripture and books by the New Age guests frequently seen on Oprah.

The term "Free-thinking Christian" as it applies to chosing the doctrines you like and the ones you don't is an oxymoron.

Kathi Linz

Knit to Be Square: Domino Designs to Knit & Felt

In Knit to Be Square: Domino Designs to Knit & Felt by Vivian Hoxbro, a knitter can learn how to knit mitered squares in such a way that they are attached as you work. One square builds on its neighbor giving a design that resembles diamonds with touching points. Many of the patterns use garter stitch making this a fun project for even a beginning knitter.

The book is heavily illustrated with photographs of each step in the process. The directions are clear and easy to understand. I am a nominal knitter at best, yet I understood their directions with no trouble.

If you are looking for something a little different - maybe something new to craft for Christmas - this might be the book for you.

Kathi Linz

Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook: All You Need to Cook a Foolproof Dinner

The Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook: All You Need to Cook a Foolproof Dinner has some interesting variations on traditional themes and recipes for leftovers. A few examples are: Southwestern Turkey, Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Stuffed with Wild Rice and Cranberries, several gravy and stuffing recipes, rolls, muffins, biscuits, Cornish Hen with Bulgar-Bacon Stuffing, Salmon with Cranberry-Pistachio Sauce, Slow Cooker Pumpkin Apple Dessert, and much more. Tasty!!

I wouldn't necessarily save all of these recipes only for Thanksgiving. They would be yummy any time of the year.

Kathi Linz

The Rough Guide to the Energy Crisis by David Buchan (333.79 Buchan)

This is a very informative book if one is interested in the energy crisis. The author provides a wealth of information about the various energy sources and describes the advantages and problems of each source including oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and a variety of renewable sources.
Submitted by,
Jim Wichman

Interstate 69 by Matt Dellinger (388.122 Del)

This book tells an interesting story about the political and social interactions that are part of attempting to build a major interstate highway. It also tells the story of several Indiana families who supported and opposed this highway.

Jim Wichman

Eating animals by Jonathan Safran Foer (available in Book on CD or Book-641.303 Foer)

This is a must read for anyone interested in a healthy environment and healthy eating. The author discusses factory farming and the toxic practices that are affecting the animals and the environment. Desensitized workers and unregulated or ignored regulations have lead to inhumane treatment of the animals and toxic land sites. Unnatural life spans and indoor living in cruel conditions are creating unhealthy animals affected by parasites and diseases. The suffering of the animals and the health risks involved through improper handling of the animals raises a serious red flag that something is very wrong.-Submitted by Terri Wichman

What in the Wolrd is Going On?: 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore

In What in the World Is Going On?: 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore, Dr. David Jeremiah compares current events to Biblical prophecy. A good deal of it will be familiar to those who have looked into this subject, but I did run into several new ideas. I admit that it made my hair prickle when the day after I read one of those ideas, that same issue was on the news.

The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet by Margaret Huber

The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet by Margaret Huber is basically a crochet stitch encyclopedia, although it does contain a few interesting patterns that use some of the stitches.

There were a few techniques that were new to me (or I did them so long ago that I had forgotten) including one called intermeshing crochet. It looks complicated, but is simply two mesh designs worked over each other. (Mesh is double crochet, chain, double crochet, chain...).
Another cool pattern was a spiral shape worked in four colors.

If you like to work with yarn, this is a book you won't want to miss.

Kathi

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

This author describes a tragedy that most of us do not think about.
-posted for Jim Wichman

Crisis Economics by Nouriel Roubini & Stephen Mihm

The authors have written a book that provides an easy to understand description of the finance world. The authors explain the recent financial crisis and its consequences. An excellent book. -posted for Jim Wichman

Perfect One-Dish Dinners: All You Need for Easy Get-Togethers by Pam Anderson

I checked through the recipes in Perfect One-Dish Dinners: All You Need for Easy Get-Togethers by Pam Anderson. I bet the dishes are very tasty, but they have lots of butter. If I made the dishes in this book, I would have to change out some of the ingredients for others a little less fat.

Kathi Linz