The Dinosaur Hunter by Homer Hickam took me through some interesting twists and turns. I wasn't ever quite sure who were the "good guys" (other than Mike Wire, the main character) and who were on the other side until the very end.
Mike, an ex-cop/retired P.I., works as a cowboy on a ranch in Montana. One gets the impression that, if it isn't the end of the world, you can see it from there. Part of the ranch is leased from the Bureau of Land Management, and thereby hangs the tale.
Norman "Pick" Pickford asks permission to hunt for dinosaur bones on the ranch. He claims he never sells bones, he only hunts them for scientific research. (Do I hear a "Yeah, right!?") Town politics, a cranky BLM agent, Russian mobsters, and a Hollywood director all get involved, making for a strange summary, but a very entertaining book. One of them gets killed - and it's not because of the bones.
Kathi Linz
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals by Linda Carr
If you like sewing and have little ones who love stuffed animals, I have just the book for you. Pick up Wild and Wonderful Fleece Animals with Full-Size Patterns for 20 Cuddly Critters by Linda Carr.
The list of "critters" ranges from spider and octopus to panda and penguin. I personally wouldn't mind having the tiger or hedgehog.
Come and grab this book to stuff an Easter basket, make a happier birthday, or fulfill a holiday wish.
Kathi Linz
The list of "critters" ranges from spider and octopus to panda and penguin. I personally wouldn't mind having the tiger or hedgehog.
Come and grab this book to stuff an Easter basket, make a happier birthday, or fulfill a holiday wish.
Kathi Linz
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
"Facts Are Subversive" by Timothy Garton Ash
I highly recommend this book if you are interested in recent world events and how facts play a part in understanding these events. -Jim Wichman
Thursday, March 10, 2011
wear this, toss that! by Amy E. Goodman
An interesting book with great color photos of what to and not to toss. She says at the beginning the book is for all ages and shapes, but truly--her ideas "fit" young adults or older adults in very good shape! The book may help you get started on weeding your clothes, makeup and more.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross
A patron told me I should read Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross because it was funny. I didn't find "funny" in it, but it was quite a gripping story.
Miss Julia's controlling husband dies suddenly of a heart attack leaving her with millions of dollars that she knew nothing about. Not too much later, her husband's illegitimate son is left on her doorstep. She may have been the only person in town who didn't know about him. The plot thickens several times as people try to talk/trick her out of her fortune or steal the boy right out from under her nose.
While I was reading the book, I thought that some of the decisions Miss Julia made were not completely thought out, but if I were in her shoes, I might not have been any smarter.
I enjoyed it well enough to go looking for the second book in the series.
Kathi Linz
Miss Julia's controlling husband dies suddenly of a heart attack leaving her with millions of dollars that she knew nothing about. Not too much later, her husband's illegitimate son is left on her doorstep. She may have been the only person in town who didn't know about him. The plot thickens several times as people try to talk/trick her out of her fortune or steal the boy right out from under her nose.
While I was reading the book, I thought that some of the decisions Miss Julia made were not completely thought out, but if I were in her shoes, I might not have been any smarter.
I enjoyed it well enough to go looking for the second book in the series.
Kathi Linz
Monday, February 28, 2011
Savvy by Ingrid Law
I like picking up the Newbery Award winners and honor books. I don't think that being an adult stops a person from enjoying well-written children's books. So I checked out a book called Savvy by Ingrid Law.
The Beaumont children become "gifted" on their thirteenth birthday. None of them know ahead of time what their "savvy" will be. Grandpa can cause the earth to move. One brother can make weather change. Mom's ability is that she learns things very quickly causing the people around her to think she is "perfect". Mom tells her children that everyone has a savvy, it's just that theirs are a little different from most people.
Mibs is just short of her thirteenth birthday when her father gets into a terrible accident. He's in a coma at the hospital about 90 miles away. When Mibs wakes up on her birthday, she believes that her savvy is to wake things up. (This, by the way, is NOT her actual savvy.) She determines to get to the hospital to wake up her father. Thus begins a trip unlike any I've ever read about in any other book.
The sequel is called Scumble. It's a term that means getting control of your savvy.
The Beaumont children become "gifted" on their thirteenth birthday. None of them know ahead of time what their "savvy" will be. Grandpa can cause the earth to move. One brother can make weather change. Mom's ability is that she learns things very quickly causing the people around her to think she is "perfect". Mom tells her children that everyone has a savvy, it's just that theirs are a little different from most people.
Mibs is just short of her thirteenth birthday when her father gets into a terrible accident. He's in a coma at the hospital about 90 miles away. When Mibs wakes up on her birthday, she believes that her savvy is to wake things up. (This, by the way, is NOT her actual savvy.) She determines to get to the hospital to wake up her father. Thus begins a trip unlike any I've ever read about in any other book.
The sequel is called Scumble. It's a term that means getting control of your savvy.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Title: Harmony: a New Way of Looking at Our World
Authors: Charles, Prince of Wales; with Tony Juniper and Ian Skelly.
Call Number: 577 Cha
The authors describe the environmental damage that our industrial society is creating around the world. They attempt to identify the changes in our philosophy that allows most of us to be unaware of the problem. Then the authors propose a different but old philosophy that would help us to make changes to help solve these problems.
-Posted for Jim Wichman, retired IDNR nursery program manager who supervised the production and shipping of 150 million tree seedlings to Indiana landowners.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
"How do you ever know that you really know a person?" The Pilot's Wife proposes this question and leaves you asking many more. Questions about love and marriage, trust and betrayal, and human relationships are explored in this novel by Anita Shreve.
This Oprah Book Club selection is one of several Shreve novels set in a large New Hampshire beach house that started out as a convent. Kathryn is awakened in the middle of a cold winter night with horrible news - her husband's plane has gone down - no survivors.
In the days and weeks that follow, Kathryn must cope not only with her own grief, but also her daughter's difficult adjustment, the publicity, the questions, and the growing uncertainty of her husband's past.
The Library's book discussion group, the Fantastic Fictioneers, rated The Pilot's Wife 8 out of 10. Enjoy this Anita Shreve book and well as her other beach house novels: Fortune's Rocks, Body Surfing, and Sea Glass.
Jane Kaufman
This Oprah Book Club selection is one of several Shreve novels set in a large New Hampshire beach house that started out as a convent. Kathryn is awakened in the middle of a cold winter night with horrible news - her husband's plane has gone down - no survivors.
In the days and weeks that follow, Kathryn must cope not only with her own grief, but also her daughter's difficult adjustment, the publicity, the questions, and the growing uncertainty of her husband's past.
The Library's book discussion group, the Fantastic Fictioneers, rated The Pilot's Wife 8 out of 10. Enjoy this Anita Shreve book and well as her other beach house novels: Fortune's Rocks, Body Surfing, and Sea Glass.
Jane Kaufman
The Walk by Richard Paul Evans
At the beginning of The Walk by Richard Paul Evans, Alan Christofferson's life is as near perfect as a human's can be. His wife McKale is the center of his life and his business is prospering.
When McKale has a disabling accident, Alan devotes himself singlemindedly to her care. Even though this is a proper prority, is turns out to be a disasterous mistake. Alan's business partner destroys Alan's business. When McKale dies, Alan believes he has nothing left to live for, but with almost her dying breath, McKale makes Alan promise to live.
Alan decides to walk across America from Seattle to Key West. What begins as an escape gradually turns into a journey of discovery. The road is neither smooth nor easy, but Alan persists.
Even without high suspense in the plot, I find myself looking forward to the next part of the journey.
Kathi Linz
When McKale has a disabling accident, Alan devotes himself singlemindedly to her care. Even though this is a proper prority, is turns out to be a disasterous mistake. Alan's business partner destroys Alan's business. When McKale dies, Alan believes he has nothing left to live for, but with almost her dying breath, McKale makes Alan promise to live.
Alan decides to walk across America from Seattle to Key West. What begins as an escape gradually turns into a journey of discovery. The road is neither smooth nor easy, but Alan persists.
Even without high suspense in the plot, I find myself looking forward to the next part of the journey.
Kathi Linz
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Age of Autism by Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill
The authors provide a good discussion of autism and the difficulties in finding the cause of this disease. Also, the authors point out the dangers of polluting our environment with mercury.
Call Number: 616.85882 Olm
Call Number: 616.85882 Olm
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Learn to Do Yo-Yo Crochet by Wendy Harbaugh
The book Learn to Do Yo-Yo Crochet by Wendy Harbaugh teaches you a technique to make rows (and other shapes) of crocheted circles. You join the rows as you go, so there is no sewing to do at the end of the project.
If you don't mind crocheting along a chain, this is a fun way to create many interesting and useful items.
Kathi Linz
If you don't mind crocheting along a chain, this is a fun way to create many interesting and useful items.
Kathi Linz
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Greenhouse Gardener's Companion: Growing Food and Flowers in Your Greenhouse or Sunspace by Shane Smith
I'm trying to learn how to use -well, not a proper greenhouse - more of a season extender. I picked up Greenhouse Gardener's Companion: Growing Food and Flowers in Your Greenhouse or Sunspace by Shane Smith. This book has EVERYTHING you could possibly need to know to be successful at starting, raising, and even overwintering plants for food and beauty.
Kathi Linz
Kathi Linz
Organic Crops in Pots: How to Grow Your Own Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell
Organic Crops in Pots: How to Grow Your Own Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell has great ideas for using readily available containers to grow everything you love to eat.
Kathi Linz
Kathi Linz
Crops in Pots: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs in Easy-Care Containers by Bob Purnell
I'm starting to think ahead to spring. Crops in Pots: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs in Easy-Care Containers by Bob Purnell gave me some excellent ideas for ways to expand my garden space, plants that I might grow differently, and different plants that I might grow. Blueberries in a pot. Who'd have thought it? I'm glad someone did and then shared it with the rest of us.
Kathi Linz
Kathi Linz
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne and translated by Jordan Stump
Looking for a classic to read, I picked up The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne, translated by Jordan Stump. Although I'd never heard of this book, since it was written by Jules Verne & since the back of the book claims that some consider it to be his masterpiece, I decided to let it fill my desire for a classic & started reading.
The book follows the lives of a handful of men & a teenage boy after their hot air balloon drops them on a deserted island. The group is very knowledgeable & hardworking & so is able not only to survive in their new environment but to live an enjoyable life with many unexpected amenities. The author goes into some detail about the science & mechanics of how these amenities are achieved on the island.
I liked the characters & enjoyed their camaraderie. (I admit, though, that the group's complete & often-vocalized trust in the engineer of the group was a little irritating.) I also found it enjoyable to imagine the places on this imaginary island & the small world that the group had created for themselves.
A warning: This translation by Jordan Stump includes an introduction by Caleb Carr. This introduction includes the solution to the mystery that is mentioned in the book's title so if you don't like spoilers, don't read Carr's introduction until after you've finished the book. I wish someone had warned me!
Monica Boyer
The book follows the lives of a handful of men & a teenage boy after their hot air balloon drops them on a deserted island. The group is very knowledgeable & hardworking & so is able not only to survive in their new environment but to live an enjoyable life with many unexpected amenities. The author goes into some detail about the science & mechanics of how these amenities are achieved on the island.
I liked the characters & enjoyed their camaraderie. (I admit, though, that the group's complete & often-vocalized trust in the engineer of the group was a little irritating.) I also found it enjoyable to imagine the places on this imaginary island & the small world that the group had created for themselves.
A warning: This translation by Jordan Stump includes an introduction by Caleb Carr. This introduction includes the solution to the mystery that is mentioned in the book's title so if you don't like spoilers, don't read Carr's introduction until after you've finished the book. I wish someone had warned me!
Monica Boyer
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